Welcome to Midnight Mania!
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s Bantamweight division just received a major match up. According to Super Lutas’ Leo Guimaraes, Olympic Judo gold medalist and No. 3-ranked Bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison will is targeted to fight No. 2-ranked Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 from Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 5, 2024.
Harrison is undoubtedly the biggest name at 135-pounds currently. Though she’s not the champion, Harrison built up an excellent record in Professional Fighter’s League (PFL), where she was champion numerous times. She made her UFC debut earlier this year at UFC 300, dominating Holly Holm en route to a second-round submission win (watch here).
It’s perhaps a bit of a surprise that Harrison isn’t fighting for the title after the victory, but perhaps that confirms champion Raquel Pennington will face fellow The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) rival Julianna Pena next?
As for Vieira, “Fenomeno” has won three of her last four bouts, only coughing up a split-decision to Pennington in the last three years. Most recently, she defeated Pannie Kianzad in July 2023. A Judo and jiu-jitsu black belt, Vieira might have the physicality the keep up with Harrison better than most.
It’s almost certainly a title eliminator, so there’ll be plenty on the line in “The Beehive State.”
Insomnia
Matt Hamill has his own reaction to the newly legal 12-6 elbows, and let’s just say, it’s a bit unexpected!
Per Paddy Pimblett’s management, “The Baddy” will be sticking around UFC rather than testing free agency.
The Baddy has signed a new deal with @ufc he’s very happy to see his value has been acknowledged & handsomely rewarded. Congrats to all involved.
— Graham Boylan ☘️ (@GrahamBoylan) July 26, 2024
Michel Pereira vs. Anthony Hernandez certainly feels worthy of 25 minutes.
Alex Pereira and Sean Strickland throwing down (in a controlled manner) for a full six minutes!
Giga Chikadze accuses Arnold Allen of sending spies into his camp, which doesn’t sound like a very “Almighty” thing to do.
You can send as many spies as you want in my training room but tmrw night no one will help you in the octagon! #UFC304 @ufc
— GIGACHAD (@giga_chikadze) July 26, 2024
UFC is investing an extra $25 million into the Apex to use it less? Somehow, that doesn’t sound likely to me …
Dana White: We’re gonna travel more with the fight nights. The other thing is we’re actually…the Apex is going under construction. We’re actually expanding the Apex. It’s gonna be bigger and better. We’re doing like a $25M expansion on the Apex.pic.twitter.com/4HYoOSSfD0
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) July 26, 2024
Did I not specifically predict earlier this week that Jake Paul and Mike Perry would be on a podcast together? They seem destined to be bros.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Great angle on this anaconda choke.
Two really aggressive charges forward pay off massively!
Real friends, how many of us?
Random Land
Quite a twist at the end …
Midnight Music: Funk, 1974
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.