Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking look back over the three biggest stories of Monday, May 12, 2025.
Khamzat kept his receipt, buries Belal after UFC 315 title loss — ‘I never support fake people’: I wouldn’t consider myself a huge Belal fan, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to fight a fellow contender in your division. Mr. Smesh Everyone should probably understand that fact …
UFC 315 results: Matches to make for ‘Belal vs. Jack Della’ main card winners: My No. 1 fight to make in the aftermath of UFC 315 would be “JDM” vs. Shavkat. Why not Islam? See the next headline …
Islam Makhachev earned Jack Della Maddalena title shot after UFC 315, but Ilia Topuria the bigger fight: Aside from Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, Islam vs. Topuria has to be the single biggest headliner available to the promotion right now. If victorious, there’s no reason Makhachev can’t jump up in weight afterward …
Insomnia
Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones on Russian TUF would’ve been downright comical AND likely ended in some kind of international criminal charges. There’s no way those two spent a month in proximity without an act of violence!
Daniel Cormier reveals he turned down an offer to coach against Jon Jones in a Russian MMA reality show
“I can’t do a month in Thailand opposite side Jon Jones. Especially when I can’t fight that dude no more.”
(via. @dc_mma) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/6Htknuzc0y
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 12, 2025
Jose Aldo reflects on a legendary career! In my eyes, Aldo is still a worthy GOAT candidate, as well as one half of arguably the best title fight ever in his rematch vs. Chad Mendes.
This may have been my last time inside the Octagon.This week, I faced one of the biggest battles of my life, and it wasn’t against an opponent, but within myself.
Over the past few years, I rekindled the dream of becoming a champion once again. I trained as I always did, gave… pic.twitter.com/Cv9FVWsLt7
— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) May 11, 2025
more than I ever had. But while cutting weight, something inside me said: “You don’t need to do this anymore.”And I listened.
It’s time to move forward.To live for my wife, for my kids. To celebrate the story I wrote with every war, every belt earned through blood and faith. pic.twitter.com/Vu30NHmo2k
— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) May 11, 2025
Thank you, Dana White and @lorenzofertita. Thank you to the UFC.And most of all — thank you, my fans.You were the fuel behind every walk to the cage. You made me a king.
If this was my farewell, know that I leave in peace.With a heart full of gratitude and my head held high. pic.twitter.com/CoJwrQNszy
— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) May 11, 2025
Belal Muhammad’s physical transformation in the last decade has raised more than a couple eyebrows …
Some wrestling fans online aren’t impressed by Kyle Snyder’s recent arrest after years of preaching on the mic …
How many YouTube prank shows have ended in violence? At least Sean O’Malley is better prepared to throw down than most.
Sean O’Malley pranked some dude and he said he would have knocked him out
“Both of y’all would have probably been SLEPT”
“Im a golden gloves boxer”
pic.twitter.com/UTh4DBlEoZ
— Combat Casuals (@Combat_Casuals) May 12, 2025
Not bad for a boxer! Jack Della Maddalena continues to do so many interesting things on the canvas.
Kamaru Usman keeps it classy in response to Belal’s title loss.
Kamaru Usman clarifies he’s not happy about Belal Muhammad’s loss, despite what some fans assume.
“People are so invested in this game to where they think that I’m supposed to be happy because Belal lost. Why would I be happy because he lost? I hadn’t fought him yet. I’m not… pic.twitter.com/n7NCH9LqJw
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 12, 2025
… Robert Whittaker on the other hand? Less so.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Valentina Shevchenko has been cracking opponents with that right hook for 20 years now.
At no point in Mirko Cro Cop’s legendary career did you want to eat that left high kick.
A rare tapout win from the early career of Michael Bisping!
Random Land
Today I learned Catholic relics are incredibly hardcore.
Midnight Music: Alternative, 1997
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.