Midnight Mania! UFC 259 Reportedly Scores 800k PPV Buys

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

UFC did not hold back with UFC 259, as three separate title fights and four UFC champions topped a talent-rich event. From top-to-bottom of the 15-fight card, there were recognizable names and entertaining performances, and it would appear that the gamble of putting all these titles on the line at once paid off.

Per a report from Sports Business Journal, UFC 259 sold an estimated 600k pay-per-view (PPV) buys domestically, as well as an additional 200k internationally. For an event headlined by anyone other than Conor McGregor, those are really strong numbers, particularly since UFC recently raised the PPV price an additional $5.

That’s not even to mention the financial benefits of the ESPN deal regarding PPV percentages.

It’s a particularly strong result for Israel Adesanya. “Stylebender” may not have captured the Light Heavyweight title, but he continues to move significant numbers. He may not be “the biggest star in the sport at the moment” as his coach said, but selling a substantial amount of PPVs will indeed help convince Jon Jones that the eventual super fight is still worth pursuing.

Of course, the victorious champions Jan Blachowicz and Amanda Nunes benefit from the exposure and pay bump as well. Plus, strong numbers like these likely set up the stage for a higher profile rematch between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling.

Insomnia

Rogerio Bontorin is not handling his knockout loss to Kai Kara-France particularly well (WATCH IT!). Generally, fully conscious people do not fall on their own faces.

Congratulations to Chase Hooper on his BJJ black belt!

Dominick Cruz just cannot help but roast TJ Dillashaw.

Poorly done Photoshops are much better than good ones.

It can be easy to get too confident on the wall …

Reminder: Anthony Smith should have taken the DQ and title vs. Jon Jones.

What is the craziest reason a UFC fight has been cancelled?

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Here’s one of the most perfectly brutal pull counters that you’ll ever see.

Teah got caught throwing his uppercut with his chin just a bit too high. Uppercut vs. Overhand is always a scary battle

Misha Cirkunov’s strangle game is no joke.

Random Land

Bouncing into the upside down:

Midnight Music: I don’t believe I’ve chosen a CCR song yet, which seems like an oversight, and I’d like to personally apologize to Jim Miller.

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