Welcome to Midnight Mania!
This weekend (Sat. June 10, 2023), UFC will venture north to Vancouver, British Columbia for UFC 289, the year’s seventh pay-per-view (PPV) offering. Though it remains headlined by a women’s Bantamweight title fight pitting Amanda Nunes against Irene Aldana, the card has been battered by injuries and cancellations for weeks.
Now, a report from MMA Junkie has detailed the full broadcast team, a crew which does not include podcasting legend Joe Rogan. “Our generation’s Larry King” does not typically commentate on international events, but seeing as Vancouver isn’t much further from Austin than other locations in the states, some fans were hoping he would still work the night.
Filling in for Rogan will be “The Irish Dragon” Paul Felder. Rounding out the cage side commentary team will be former double champion Daniel Cormier as the second color commentator, while Jon Anik will be in his usual lead position. In addition, Megan Olivi will fulfill the roving reporter role, and Bruce Buffer will be 360’ing his way around the Octagon.
See the rest of the UFC 289 fight card and PPV lineup right here.
Insomnia
RIP young man.
Tragic news from Russia.
In Amur Region 16-year-old MMA fighter died from a spinning wheel kick.
According to the rules, all underage participants were required to compete with helmets. However, the judge allowed the boy to fight without it. pic.twitter.com/FaHZiHTWzX
— Fedor’s nephew (@FdrNphw) June 4, 2023
From a blow to the head, the fighter fell & lost consciousness. Later died in an ambulance.
Russian MMA Union and investigative authorities are looking into this incident.
Per @ILazorin
— Fedor’s nephew (@FdrNphw) June 4, 2023
UFC’s greatest three minute fighter and THE LATDOG released all in one day. I’ll be choosing to remember Ilir Latifi’s Light Heavyweight bouts rather than his more recent ones …
❌ Fighter removed: Makwan Amirkhani
— UFC Roster Watch (@UFCRosterWatch) June 5, 2023
❌ Fighter removed: Ilir Latifi
— UFC Roster Watch (@UFCRosterWatch) June 5, 2023
It’s good to see a Jon Jones side quest that doesn’t involve the authorities.
Who remembers To Catch A Predator? Apparently, that’s a viable way for MMA fighters to create content online, which is both crazy and pretty heroic.
… How did these two get in this position in the first place?
Breaking down the unfortunate injury at UFC Vegas 74:
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t usually stop guys with one shot, but this was CLEAN!
33 finishes in 37 wins — Mamed Khalidov is a legendary finisher who’s beaten some great fighters.
Strikers who can control exchanges while flowing backwards are the coolest.
Random Land
Gravity is a choice.
Midnight Music: Rock, 1973
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
