Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Friday, May 1, 2026.
- Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis officially booked for UFC 329 clash: We complain about UFC matchmaking often, but this is a great booking, an exciting fight appropriate for both men.
- Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA fight card, start time, date and location | Romero vs. Nicholson: I hope bare knuckle MMA can grow in popularity, it’s a more logical progression to me than bare knuckle boxing. The gloves change grappling!
- Not again! Sportbooks panic following ‘irregular action’ on UFC Perth betting line — ‘Money has flooded in’: To my eye, this feels like an appropriate odds swing, because Steve Erceg was way too large of a favorite in the first place.
Insomnia
I’ve seen a lot of weird stuff in combat sports, but tear gas is a new one.
Given Gerald Meerschaert’s extensive history of making weight, missing here feels like an ominous sign
that “GM3” is injured, unmotivated, or both.
Roughly six weeks after his bout versus Axel Sola, Mason Jones still hasn’t received his “Fight of the Night” money.
Muhammad Mokaev showing his his functional strength:
Melquizael Costa and Joanderson Brito absolutely THROWING DOWN in sparring.
Absolutely proving the point, Arman Tsarukyan responded to this accurate meme with the comment, “Let’s wrestle then.”
Slips, rips, and KO clips
The most telegraphed left uppercut of all time countered in comedic fashion:
Greeting a takedown attempt with the perfect knee!
Speaking of perfect knees! Getting speared to the body while mid-punch/mid-exhale is really a worst-case scenario.
Random Land
Keep your eye on the prize.
Get involved with Mania community in The Feed!
Midnight Music: Punk rock, 1979
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
