Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya was just as wild as most expected (watch here).

The main event of UFC 305 was a back-and-forth affair for most of four rounds. Both men started the first round strong standing, then “DDP” briefly took the lead in the second with his wrestling attack. Adesanya regained the third round with active body strikes that really gave him momentum, but Du Plessis managed to hurt him and secure the late win via rear naked choke.

There was a moment during the final sequence where Adesanya was taken down by a left hand from “DDP.” After getting back to his feet, Adesanya pointed to the ground and was then promptly rocked by heavy punches and forced to submit. The commentary team felt that “Stylebender” was trying to copy Max Holloway’s signature point-and-brawl, a maneuver made famous by his KO win over Justin Gaethje.

Adesanya explained it differently on his YouTube channel. The former champion explained that he was simply pointing out that he had stumbled and did not want to encourage the charging Du Plessis.

“Let me explain, because the commentary booth got it wrong,” Adesanya began. “I was moving, then my right ankle rolled and I tripped as he threw. To the untrained eye, it looked like at the time – I think maybe (Dominick Cruz) said, ‘That was a really bad punch he took’ – and it looked like I was shaken.

“I stood up, walked around in a circle and pointed at the ground while looking at (Du Plessis). (Daniel Cormier) said, ‘He’s pointing at the ground like Max Holloway, like, come here!’ No. I said to him, ‘I tripped. You didn’t rock me. I didn’t want him to think he rocked me.'”

Since Holloway’s legendary win over Gaethje, we’ve seen a few fighters try to replicate the “Blessed” stand-and-bang spot on the ground. It hasn’t paid off so far, which is perhaps further proof that Holloway really is the baddest guy around.

As for Adesanya, it remains to be seen what comes next for “The Stylebender.”

insomnia

I really enjoyed the post-fight respect between Adesanya and Du Plessis. I kind of expected some lingering bitterness from at least one side, so that’s cool to see.

Nate Diaz didn’t want that Gabi Garcia smoke!

The downside to being on the UFC roster for any length of time is that you’ll eventually end up on the wrong side of the highlights.

Elite Jiu-Jitsu fights are so much fun.

Joe Rogan and his colleagues seem to have cheered on “Stylebender.”

I just can’t get over how good the fight between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway is. Two talents of a generation will try to chop each other’s heads off!

Luke Rockhold’s CJI debut did not go according to plan.

Slips, cracks and KO clips

Sanchez stood his ground and caught his opponent in mid-movement with a nasty two-punch counter combination.

A perfect high kick from multiple angles:

When I see this, I get a dull pain in the ligaments of my left knee.

Random country

The risks of seaside real estate.

Midnight Music: Soul, 1967

Sleep well, you crazy people! There’s still more martial arts madness on the way.