Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
- Merab Dvalishvili admits he cannot take down UFC White House’s Ilia Topuria: ‘It’s impossible’: Topuria vs. Arman/Islam needs to happen, Topuria vs. Arman/Islam needs to happen, Topuria vs. Arman/Islam needs …
- Ilia Topuria fires back at Justin Gaethje’s dad? ‘Your son already knows who I am … you will too’ | UFC White House: Strangest beef in recent memory?
- Tito Ortiz reveals near-death boating incident: ‘I hit the water going 55 miles per hour’: Tito Ortiz is both a legend of the sport and staple of Midnight Mania — all the best in recovery, champ!
Insomnia
I hope Daniel Marcos is making good money and able to fight often in PFL.
“Since my last fight in November, I did exactly what was asked of me. I finished my opponent, and since December, I have stayed ready to compete again. I spent months training, going through fight camps, and waiting for an opportunity. A negotiation never materialized; a contract renewal never came.
I simply kept waiting because I trusted that the moment would eventually arrive. In the end, the decision was made not to continue with me—and to this day, I still lack a clear explanation as to why. I cannot control those decisions, but I can control how I respond to them. I am grateful to every person who has supported me along this journey—especially those who have stood by me through both the victories and the difficult times. My mindset remains unchanged. I continue to train, I continue to grow, and I remain ready to compete. To everyone who follows me and believes in me: this does not end here. I am hungrier than ever, and I am prepared to prove it—anywhere, and against anyone.”
I can’t stop watching this clip. Chunky Adrien Broner can still kill a man!
Rei Tsuruya with an excellent demonstration of dextrous foot-fighting in grappling:
Dana White has really been in the mood to drop societal hot takes lately … and that’s the extent of my commentary.
Derrick Lewis casually walking away, chuckling as the man on the canvas reconsiders his entire life …
I’m not sure what to make of Cal Calavitta’s training protocols and their effectiveness vs. drawbacks, but Cub Swanson’s thoughts here are interesting.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Power punches from the clinch and dirty boxing range:
I wonder what would break/pop if somebody waited too long to tap to a Scottish Twister.
An audible jaw-jacking. You can hear the whiplash!
Random Land
Kool Aid pineapples are an insane trend … I wanna try ‘em.
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Midnight Music: Psychedelic rock, 2002
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
