Midnight Mania! 99% Chance Nick Diaz Returns In 2021

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

It’s been just about six years since Nick Diaz last stepped into the Octagon in a bout ultimately ruled a “No Contest” opposite Anderson Silva. One must reach back all the way to 2011 for Diaz’s most recent win, his return to the UFC opposite BJ Penn.

Yet, the former Strikeforce kingpin’s return will nevertheless be a major event and likely headliner … if it happens. Diaz’s manager Kevin Mubenga went on Fanatics View to speak about Diaz’s return to training a few months ago, and he largely promised that Diaz would fight next year.

“He took a little break last month and now we’re going to pick it back up in December and go into the new year hopefully with a new deal done,” Mubenga said (transcription via MMAJunkie). “(We’ll) make sure the money is right and the opponent is right and we’ll be able to move forward with all of this.”

As for the specific chance that Diaz returned next year, Mubegan sounded pretty confident that everything works out.

“99.99999 (percent),” Mubenga said. “We just got to get everything else right with the organization and everything. We’ll be able to move forward. He’s been training. People want to see (that). We’ll he’s been training as you can see for the last few several months. He took a little break now. Now, it’s time to get back on there and just go through it. You don’t want to overtrain and over-exhaust yourself, especially when you don’t have a date yet. But it was good to be able to go through the regiment and go through that small camp there to kind of feel everything out (and) get back with everyone (like trainer) Cesar Gracie.”

If Nick Diaz does indeed return next year, who should he fight? My vote goes for a rematch with Carlos Condit, which seems like an appropriate challenge with real history behind it.

Insomnia

Regardless of personal use, I think the MMA community as a whole is rightfully so tired of fighters getting fined and results being overturned for weed.

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As promised, councilman Tito Ortiz is the gift that keeps on giving.

Darren Till has been blocked by Mike Perry for ages, but that does little to stop the trolling.

Brian Ortega gifted his father a brand new truck!

Open request: please send me every Hockey Judo clip ever.

Ronaldo Souza works his head movement ahead of his battle with replacement foe Kevin Holland:

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Is Francis Ngannou’s uppercut vs. Alistair Overeem the greatest one-punch KO in UFC history?

Damon Jackson feints to draw out a reaction/freeze his foe, then drops the right hand … like three times in a row! “The Leech” returns opposite Ilia Topuria on Saturday.

Precise body work ends this Muay Thai bout:

Random Land

A modern love story!

Midnight Music: On tonight’s edition of 2020 critically acclaimed albums I didn’t listen to on release, Jessie Ware’s What’s Your Pleasure is catchy as hell. If anyone misses disco, this is the record for you!

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.