Midnight Mania: Frozen Mac Enraged By Chandler Vs. Oliveira

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Conor McGregor is the biggest star in UFC history, but the sport is currently moving forward without him.

The recent years have not been kind to McGregor, who is faced with all sorts of negative statistics ahead of his continually delayed return to action. In the last seven years, McGregor has won just a single time. He’s 36 years old and trying to return from a grotesque leg break. For all his modern talks of titles, “Notorious” pulled out of his scheduled July headliner vs. Michael Chandler because of a broken pinky toe.

More importantly, the Irishman is busy posting political rants and getting hammered in Philadelphia bars. The situation has grown so desperate that Chandler — the eternal optimist who has sacrificed years of his career to score the McGregor match up — has moved on too. Earlier tonight, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Chandler is returning to action in November at UFC 309 in a rematch versus former Lightweight kingpin Charles Oliveira.

This news come as White claims McGregor will return in 2025 despite the former double champion’s insistence that he could return to the cage sooner. Based on his social media reaction, McGregor is annoyed on both accounts, talking trash to Chandler and demanding a return date.

“Chandler saw that takedown getting stuffed and mauled and officially dipped,” McGregor wrote on X. “Little Fat P—sy. I’m at the hard rock hotel Florida for the bare knuckle tonight. Got tested earlier today by DFSI. Give me my f—king date!”

McGregor’s inability to score a return date offers some credence to the theory that UFC is intentionally icing out McGregor in order to improve their upcoming broadcast rights deal negotiations. Having McGregor contracted for two fights is millions of dollars more valuable than a single fight, and UFC surely wants to maximize what’s left of McGregor’s combat sports career.

While still just a theory, it wouldn’t be the first time the valuable asset was shelved.

Insomnia

Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje feels like a really obvious booking, but I would kind of prefer to see Dan Hooker vs. Gaethje in a new match up. Hard to go wrong with Lightweight match ups!

There are drawbacks to being buddies with Renato Moicano.

Mickey Gall title run starts now!

Former Bellator Welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov (27-1) is now a free agent. UFC signing incoming?

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has signed with a major streaming service. How popular can the promotion grow?

Khalil Rountree could become the first hardcore singer to capture a UFC title … that I’m aware of!

They didn’t have to do Rampage like that!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Throwback to Merab Dvalishvili earning his UFC roster position by knocking out future Bellator champion Raufeon Stots.

Beautiful body shot after backing his opponent into the fence:

Marched forward into Southpaw, drew the check, but instead fired a left hook upstairs:

Random Land

A scary thought.

Midnight Music: Indie, 2009

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