Midnight Mania! Shavkat Claims Belal Ducking December Title Fight

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

When Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards to win the Welterweight crown, “The Bully” revealed some grand aspirations. Muhammad announced his intentions of defending the title often, taking on all comers, and jumping up to 185-pounds to dethrone Dricus Du Plessis.

According to most fight fans, the most logical next contender is Shavkat Rakhmonov. The undefeated Kazakh talent has finished all his opponents, and he’s riding a six-fight win streak opposite quality opposition like Geoff Neal and Stephen Thompson. There are other good options like Ian Garry and Jack Della Maddalena, but Muhammad has spent most of his time online talking trash with Kamaru Usman. The former Welterweight kingpin is a great fighter, but he’s lost three in a row and shouldn’t be considered until back in the win column.

Rakhmonov is frustrated. “Nomad” is actively campaigning for his title shot, and based on his recent social media post, it’s not going very well.

He wrote, “After all the talk about being an active champion, truth is Belal isn’t even ready to defend his title this year.”

At the moment, the Welterweight title picture is very up in the air. It could simply be that UFC already has plans for their December pay-per-view (PPV) and needs Muhammad to defend in January, regardless of whether the planned opponent is Usman or Rakhmonov.

Insomnia

This throwback photo of future Polish champions Jan Blachowicz and Joanna Jedrzejczyk is my favorite social media thing I’ve seen in weeks.

Pannie Kianzad lost three in a row to solid competition, but she was still ranked in the Bantamweight Top 15. A somewhat surprising cut?

Take a look at the full undercard for UFC Vegas 98:

Who should Israel Adesanya fight in his return? I think a reasonable step back — like a Brendan Allen or so — would make the most sense.

Demetrious Johnson takes us inside the world of Street Beefs:

Stop sending Ben Askren your Laura Sanko fan mail!

Luke Rockhold and Craig Jones are enjoying that post-competition glow.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

I always enjoy when a fighter too lanky for overhands still has a good overhand.

A close range onslaught produces a nasty cut and stoppage victory.

Ducked directly into a full power knee …

Random Land

After and before Korean BBQ.

Midnight Music: Rock, 1973

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