Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Perhaps unexpectedly, UFC 274 proved to be rather big business for the promotion. Sports Business Journal reports that the event sold over 400k pay-per-view (PPV) buys, making it the best-selling UFC event of 2022. While this is the first event of the year in which PPV numbers have been leaked, we now have a ceiling for the previous four events of the year.
UFC 270-UFC 273 were headlined by Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane, Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2, Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington, and Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung. Neither the Heavyweight title unification nor a grudge match featuring a proven PPV draw surpassed Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje, an excellent title fight with little additional drama.
It’s a big win for “Do Bronx,” who received PPV points despite his issues on the scale. Interestingly enough, Oliveira’s previous two title fights also had the buy information released: UFC 269: “Oliveira vs. Poirier” sold 500k while UFC 262: “Oliveira vs. Chandler” clocked in at an estimated 300k. Oliveira’s reputation as a hugely entertaining champion and consistent finisher is really paying off!
The next major PPV for the promotion is UFC 275 in Singapore on June 11, headlined by Glover Teixeira vs. Jiri Prochazka and featuring a second title match between Valentina Shevchenko and Taila Santos.
Insomnia
Jared Cannonier doesn’t seem like he enjoyed hanging out with his peers at UFC 274.
Fat Paddy jokes aside, Pimblett has never missed weight inside the Octagon, and Hadley has …
If you didn’t get a chance to listen to the Pat Barry interview, do yourself a favor and never correct that decision.
take that 30k crypto bonus from Rose and give it to Ariel Helwani for sitting through listening to Pat Barry have a 30 minute existential crisis live on air without driving a pencil into his ears
— MacMally (@MacMallyMMA) May 11, 2022
The recent post from Anthony Johnson prompted some speculation about “Rumble,” who isn’t looking all that large?
Paulo Costa finds a flaw in the new advertisement that features Israel Adesanya.
they should have at least cut off the swollen tits part
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) May 11, 2022
Cub Swanson doesn’t seem like he’s slowing down at 38 years of age.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
A recent Strawweight signing to keep an eye on …
Andrea Lee with the brutal triangle/armbar combo plus added elbows:
One hell of a comeback from the boxing archives!
Random Land
Use the force?
Midnight Music: I just posted a Black Midi song like two weeks ago, but they also just announced a new album and released a single, so … my hands are tied.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.