Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
- Dana White responds to Khamzat’s UFC demands — and ‘Borz’ fans are not gonna like the answer: This is textbook Uncle Dana non-answer.
- Jon Jones slams Daniel Cormier for calling Khabib the GOAT: ‘Jealousy runs so deep through your blood’: “Bones” knows how to make the conversation about himself each and every time. It’s a gift!
- Oh Lord! Yair Rodriguez bails on Noche UFC 4 main event, Jean Silva gets new opponent (Updated): Jean Silva never should have been booked versus Yair anyway — a title eliminator vs. “Aljo” was the real move.
Insomnia
Michael Page on the RAF canvas is the most unexpected crossover of the year.
I am also not a math guy, but this doesn’t seem like a particularly impressive payout if you play with the numbers at all. There are easier
ways to make $60k a year (and that’s before manager fees and gym dues).
If this is true and UFC is actively not allowing its fighters to even grapple Muhammad Mokaev, the odds of a UFC return are grim.
Juicy drama! Kelvin Gastelum alleges that Din Thomas worked as a mole from Tyron Woodley against Robbie Lawler ahead of their Welterweight title fight.
Gym bros are laughing at a two-plate bench PR, but it really goes to show how irrelevant bench press is to fighting. Most of the folks who bench heavy can’t do the gymnastic work GSP is pulling off either!
Ian Garry genuinely has one of the nastiest oblique kicks ever. It looks painful even when it doesn’t jar the knee.
Unironically excited for Johnny Walker’s Heavyweight move. The potential for hilarity is high.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
People are ragging on 21-year-old Carlos Prates for saying “No Mas” here, but that’s better in the long run than getting knocked out cold. His chin is still rock-solid 12 years later!
You don’t see a rear hand uppercut counter inside the jab every day.
Grabbing a single-collar tie, conversely, is a common way to smash the jaw with an uppercut.
Random Land
Never doubt the power of a push kick.
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Midnight Music: Alternative, 1991
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
