Midnight Mania! Hooker Goes Under The Knife

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Dan Hooker’s presence at UFC Austin will be missed.

The Kiwi slugger was scheduled to face Bobby Green in the five-round co-main event this weekend (Sat. Dec. 2, 2023), but an injury last week derailed those plans. For the second time in less than six months, Hooker suffered a broken arm. According to Hooker, the injury happened again because his arm never fused properly the first time, and the only solution has been to go back under the knife for repair and an injection of bone marrow.

“The Hangman” waisted little time in getting the ball rolling, going back under the knife on Monday.

“Surgery done and dusted this morning,” Hooker wrote on Instagram. “Not my first and definitely won’t be my last time under the knife haha. Can see how this isn’t everyones cup of tea but I’m built for this game. Just a scratch baby, can’t wait to scrap again.”

Filling in for Hooker against Green will be Jalin Turner, the lanky Lightweight whose powerful kicks broke Hooker’s arm back in July. “The Tarantula” hasn’t fought since their back-and-forth war, so he’ll be looking to rebound from that close defeat. Green, meanwhile, won his last bout versus Grant Dawson with a shockingly quick KO and is looking to keep building momentum up the Lightweight ladder.

Perhaps the victor will end up in the cage with the repaired “Hangman” sometime in 2024.

Insomnia

Olivier Aubin-Mercier always had some slick tricks in the clinch. All the best to “The Canadian Gangster” in retirement!

Just in case anyone thought refereeing is only bad inside the Octagon …

I’m very much looking forward to Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington. The pre-fight press conference … less so.

Khamzat Chimaev is working with Olympic gold medalists and refining his wrestling further.

Sodiq Yusuff with a comparison that concerns me:

In the Bang Muay Thai system, following a right hand with a roll into a left high kick is referred to as the Condit (for good reason).

Derek Brunson looks the same, just a bit more lubricant and different lighting.

Mike Perry is an icon, and nobody can tell me otherwise.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

I don’t endorse children fighting in professional competition, but damn if those kids can’t strike with tremendous form and technique.

A lovely reminder that bad MMA can actually be fun to watch.

The open side counter claims another victim.

Random Land

A neat comparison.

Midnight Music: One of my favorites covering one of my favorites.

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