Welcome to the chaos of Midnight Mania!
In the wake of UFC 313, Jiri Prochazka found himself unexpectedly in the spotlight. The former Light Heavyweight champ was keenly watching the intense showdown between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. Despite a unanimous decision victory for Ankalaev over Pereira, Prochazka took to social media to extend his congratulations and even suggested he was game for a third fight against Pereira, who has beaten him twice already.
Oddly enough, Ankalaev didn’t take kindly to the compliment. Instead of gratitude, he fired a shot at Prochazka, accusing him of being a fraud and telling him to rack up more wins before even dreaming of another title opportunity – something Prochazka hadn’t even mentioned asking for!
Not one to stand idle, Prochazka responded on Monday, clearly agitated by the unexpected criticism. He noted how Ankalaev was warm and friendly in person before this public spat, likening his behavior to a manager-driven script more suitable for a soap opera than a fighting arena. Prochazka also took a dig at Ankalaev’s fight tactics, promising to show who’s superior when they eventually meet in the octagon.
On The Ariel Helwani Show, Prochazka made his feelings clear, “I don’t appreciate what he’s saying. He talks a lot, but he doesn’t even know me. It’s all a show.” Continuing on, Prochazka called out Ankalaev’s apparent change of heart, recounting their cordial encounter in Las Vegas. “He was all smiles then, but now he’s acting like he’s some gangster. His win over Pereira wasn’t even impressive.”
Concluding with a flourish, Prochazka declared, “He’s the real fraud. People don’t even see him as a true champion right now.”
Amidst these heated exchanges, there’s talk of a rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev. Should Pereira decide to change weight classes and pursue new challenges, the simmering feud between Prochazka and Ankalaev could stoke some excitement in the 205-pound division.
Over in the unpredictable realm of MMA Twitter, there’s some bizarre drama over the ownership of UFC Roster Watch and Roster Tracker – both now under one individual’s control. It’s a soap opera in its own right, drawing unexpected laughs.
Meanwhile, Takeru impresses with his lightning-fast mitt work, and Bryce Mitchell stirs the pot with his controversial takes, needing to consult none other than Ja Rule for confirmation.
Elsewhere, Carlos Prates remains effortlessly cool, even while smoking, and despite a rough night at UFC 313, Rei Tsuruya showcases a beautiful drop seonagi.
Looking ahead, I’m eager to see Anthony Hernandez take on a Top Five Middleweight. He’s laid down the gauntlet for Khamzat Chimaev, questioning his endurance when facing Dricus Du Plessis.
In our usual lineup of explosive highlights, Liam Harrison adds another victory to his record, suggesting he might not be hanging up the gloves just yet. Former UFC fighter Yohan Lainesse reminds us of the unpredictable nature of the sport with a classic knockout.
Special thanks to Ashley, one of our dedicated readers, for sending in some unconventional content. Keep them coming!
And as the night closes, we segue into some 1999 hip-hop vibes for our Midnight Music playlist. Sleep tight, fight fans! More martial arts shenanigans will be upon us soon.
