Midnight Mania: Another Roster Purge?!?

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

The UFC machine keeps on turning. As The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 31 ramps up and new Contenders Series match ups are continually announced, the roster has to shed some fat in order to bulk up once more in the next few months.

Just two days ago, seven athletes received their pink slips from the world’s leading MMA promotion. The bleeding has yet to stop, however, as eight more fighters have been removed from the UFC ranking’s eligibility, which is generally a surefire sign that the fighter has been released.

Per UFC Roster Watch, UFC has released Featherweight Don Shainis, Welterweight Takashi Sato, Bantamweight Aaron Phillips, Bantamweight Journey Newsom, Light Heavyweight Maxim Grishin, Lightweight Erick Gonzalez, Welterweight Orion Cosce, and Lightweight Nick Fiore.

Several of these athletes were winless inside the Octagon, but that’s not true of all. With seven UFC fights on his record, Japan’s Sato was likely the most established. Unfortunately, he lost four straight en route to his release, most recently coming up short opposite Themba Gorimbo.

Maxim Grishin is the next biggest name to be released. A well-traveled veteran prior to his UFC signing, the 39 year old won two of his five fights inside the Octagon. He exits the promotion having lost his most recent fight opposite Philipe Lins last weekend at UFC Vegas 73.

Insomnia

Charles Oliveira’s bottom game is so f—king sweet. Kevin Lee’s knee has never been the same!

There’s zero chance this Lightweight match up isn’t an absolute scrap!

I like this fight too. Can Ion Cutelaba throw another one away, or will Ovince Saint Preux circle into the fence with his hands by his waist?

I’d watch Demetrious Johnson grapple Mikey Musumeci, but I hope it doesn’t cost him the ligaments in his knees.

Undefeated (5-0) Irish prospect Shauna Bannon has been signed to UFC.

Cedric Doumbe being injured is a significant bummer for PFL.

Silly occurrences like this are why fouls aren’t automatically penalized in MMA — how was the body puncher supposed to know his opponent was going to leap into the air?!?

Slips, rips, and KO clips

There really hasn’t been anyone else quite like Andy Hug. Axe kicks never die!

Can Teofimo Lopez keep his win streak going this weekend?

Stiff as a board.

Random Land

A second motor cycle clip in two days — but a very different one!

Midnight Music: A classic cover.

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