Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Thursday, July 17, 2025.
- No more PPVs? Turki Alalshikh, DAZN announce end of On Demand model in historic move: ‘It’s damaged boxing’: Combat sports moving away from the PPV model is long overdue!
- UFC 318: Israel Adesanya slams haters trying to ‘discredit’ Dustin Poirier’s interim title win — ‘He is a champion no matter what’: I agree with “Stylebender.” There are some exceptions, but by and large, winning the interim belt makes you a champion in my eyes. On that night, Poirier was the best!
- UFC 318’s Max Holloway has a little warning for MMA fans picking Ilia Topuria to steamroll Paddy Pimblett — ‘He’s super good’: Good thing Ilia Topuria has already made it a habit to steamroll “super good” fighters.
Insomnia
Nobody can ever accuse Nate Diaz of aiming too low.
Maybe Renato Moicano is exaggerating his claim of turning down $200k? It is kind of hard to believe.
I don’t know if Moicano collected his claim but I do know he was not one of the few names left on the list that had not verified his info & that if he did forfeit it he wouldn’t have gotten close to 200k since he had only 3 fights in the ufc at that time starting at 8/8. https://t.co/HHCnbi5kLY
— John S. Nash (@heynottheface) July 17, 2025
Michael Johnson is bringing some extra motivation to his UFC 318 main card bout versus Daniel Zellhuber.
Michael Johnson to Daniel Zellhuber
“You’re probably a fan of mine… that’s your obsession with me. I think it’s a little gay, but it’s okay.” #UFC318pic.twitter.com/wNCVjuujt1
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 17, 2025
Everyone on X are making things very weird in the replies, but it is difficult not to think of the athletic potential here.
Max Holloway was already a genuine talent when he debuted at 20 years old, but his growth has been astounding to watch.
I don’t like to find myself agreeing with Brendan Schaub.
“We’re f*cked! The sport (UFC) is dying in America.”
Brendan Schaub on Dana White turning the UFC into WWE, doing interviews and breaking news with the NELK Boys:
“The NELK Boys can’t even name five UFC fighters. Go to Ariel, talk to Luke, Chuck, Petesy… the smartest minds in… pic.twitter.com/7purxgvVjP
— No Context Ariel Helwani (@NoContextAriel) July 17, 2025
Manel Kape has some of the most consistently weird trash talk in UFC history.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Firing two counter punches instead of one is a good idea.
Even at Atomweight, getting caught on one leg can end the fight.
Degli timed that counter right perfectly!
Random Land
Save the rhinos.
Midnight Music: Pop, 1965
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
