Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Top-ranked Bantamweights are heading to Abu Dhabi! According to a first report from Ag. Fight and confirmed by MMA Fighting, Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo is verbally agreed as part of the upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi event, which is scheduled for August 3 inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Vera is currently ranked No. 4 at 135-pounds. “Chito” was last seen in the Octagon opposite Sean O’Malley, who used him as a punching bag for most of five rounds. Prior to that defeat, Vera won five of his previous six to establish himself as a top-tier Bantamweight, though Cory Sandhagen did also dominate the Ecuadorian talent in the midst of his rise.
Meanwhile, Figueiredo is chasing gold in a second weight class. The Brazilian’s Flyweight title reign ended with a back-and-forth rivalry opposite Brandon Moreno, but he’s been perfect since moving up to Bantamweight. “Daico” beat up Rob Font then stopped Cody Garbrandt at UFC 300 (watch here), earning the No. 6 spot in the UFC rankings.
Two men enter the cage, but only one leaves as a Top Five-ranked contender relevant to the title mix. Who ya’ got?
https://t.co/cnswlzJGVB
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 24, 2024
Alex Pereira was actually taking it pretty easy until his partner tried to punch his way off the wall.
Paulo Costa is studying his opposition!
I don’t fully understand Alexander Volkov’s latest Instagram skit.
Get more limber with the help of Georges St. Pierre (and a stick).
Islam Makhachev’s UFC 302 fight camp is presumably about wrapped up, and the champ has surely earned some downtime.
Maybe my immaturity is showing, but I love a press conference shoving match.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
A massive face plant from the recent Road To UFC fights:
Gheirati almost chambered his knee before unrolling the push kick, and that angle caught his opponent off-guard.
It won’t happen, but Kyoji Horiguchi getting a second chance at a UFC title would be so cool. His name would go so far in avoiding the constant Flyweight rematches …
Random Land
The fastest animal on the planet in action.
Midnight Music: Country, 1974
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
