Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.
- NCAA Heavyweight champion Greg Kerkvliet officially turns attention to MMA, signs with management: Want to make UFC great again? Convince more NCAA All-Americans and champions to make the jump.
- Sonnen: ‘Lying’ Justin Gaethje ‘does not have an ingrown hair,’ UFC 324 ‘cover-up’ is ‘worse than the crime’: Ingrown hair is the world’s oldest excuse for a gross skin infection. It’s like claiming “I have allergies” while being sick with the flu — nobody is buying it.
- Diego Lopes convinced changes will lead to UFC 325 win against Alexander Volkanovski: ‘I fixed many things’: Lopes rocked Volkanovski twice while fighting poorly/failing to adjust, so I could easily see him finding better success a year later.
Insomnia
Arman Tsarukyan was booked to fight twice last year and shot himself in
the foot twice. Like everyone else, I would love to see him fight Ilia Topuria, but he has to take his share of the blame here.
This kills the Jamie Mullarkey.
PFL found CEO Peter Murray has left the company after eight years.
Kamaru Usman apologizes for releasing the private conversation with Anthony Joshua. Not sure I buy the “slipped my mind” reasoning …
Johnny Walker with some scenic shadowboxing in the famous Calico Basin of Red Rock, Nevada.
Stephen Thompson might be the youngest 42 year old alive.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Bas Rutten is one of the forgotten greats. Stabbing a wrestler with front kicks 27 years ago? Outrageous.
This is a textbook example of spinning off a caught kick.
Take an elbow, give an elbow.
Random Land
Some very cool hognose snakes.
Midnight Music: Black Star released a decade ago today on David Bowie’s birthday just two days before his death — an incredible final artistic statement.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
