When a nuclear explosion goes off on planet MMA, ground zero is Twitter. Everyone scrambles to the crater of impact to lob their sarcasm, GIFs, or the rare well-thought out analysis. All colors and creeds of society are brought together, at least as many exist within the UFC’s key male demographics of 18 to 49. Perhaps the best thing about it though, is that it isn’t just Joe Schmoe and the girl next door talking about it, it’s other fighters as well.
That’s right, the very barbarian gladiators and gladiatresses (?) we hoist onto pedestals, descend briefly to our level to react as fans. As soon as daddy Dana White plastered the footage of his poster child Conor McGregor sparring Paul Malignaggi, you could practically smell the animated reaction popcorn. The footage was better than expected and so were other MMA fighter’s reactions. If it was up to us, they’d all get a bonus.
I guess getting punch is the new push https://t.co/bmyulayZu0
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) August 12, 2017
SOMEBODY ON PAULIE’S SIDE PLEASE!!! pic.twitter.com/ydbTE99Rj1
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) August 12, 2017
Paulie was like “He pushed me!” pic.twitter.com/BfPY9cnNOC
— Gerald Harris (@GHurricane) August 12, 2017
Definitely not a push https://t.co/W8iPLRfFIT
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) August 12, 2017
Giving Paulie the benefit of the doubt that he won the previous RDs…Those last 2 RDs tho?! Nahhh, it was ugly and that’s all ppl remember!
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) August 12, 2017
Looks like a knockdown to me https://t.co/fcr8MXpinS
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) August 12, 2017
So I just saw the clips of Paulie malignaggi getting his ass whipped lol that shit is embarrassing
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) August 12, 2017
Push? Punch? Trip? Off balance? https://t.co/aefL3iNqW9
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) August 12, 2017
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 8/12/2017.