Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.
- Dana White heaps praise on incoming Contender Series prospect Bella Mir: ‘A one-of-one unicorn’: Bella Mir has all the credentials of a future great, but you can’t count your chickens before they hatch in combat sports.
- ‘Stressed’ Din Thomas flamed for quitting (literally) on Gillian Robertson after uninspired UFC 330 loss: ‘Stand behind your fighter’: I’m glad Din already apologized for his UFC 330 outburst, because it was ugly work.
- Former UFC title challenger questions Islam Makhachev’s Welterweight future: ‘His game has to change’: It’s always difficult for grinding wrestlers to go up in weight. Strength and size are major components to holding somebody down even if there’s technique involved too.
Insomnia
I would pick Fatima Kline over Mackenzie Dern RIGHT NOW and with ZERO HESITATION.
Gotta love when MMA crosses into the mainstream.
Want to meet UFC fighters? Book a morning/early afternoon flight the day after a UFC event.
Every once in a while, a fighter either gets unlucky or lands on UFC matchmakers’ bad side. Trevin Giles is one such athlete …
I hope Edson Barboza enjoys his retirement. He left it all in the Octagon every time.
Speaking of leaving it all in the Octagon, this is a nice video package for “The Damage” Darren Elkins.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Here’s the thing about being a 6-7 professional fighters and having an ugly record: matchmakers are no longer trying to build this guy. As a result, he’s facing good prospects and maintaining a .500 average. Guys like this are often quite good but were missing the career management element of “making it” as a fighter.
Notice how Sotero hooked the far leg in the addition to the heel he was attacking — nasty!
Pretty sure King threw his back out on one of those early right hands but persevered anyway.
Random Land
Is this the future of martial arts?
Get involved with Mania community in The Feed!
Midnight Music: Shoutout Malcolm Wellmaker for producing for the inimitable Chief Keef.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
