Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025.
- Thanks but no thanks! Nate Diaz accepts last-minute fight against Jake Paul, but ‘it isn’t meant to be’: The only way to make Paul vs. Diaz 2 remotely watchable is if it’s an MMA fighter. Otherwise, nobody cares.
- Pic: Shredded Khamzat stuns UFC community with chiseled physique, skeptical fans credit ‘Russian Creatine’: I don’t find it suspicious when athletes look really cut up while actively working out. That’s how it works!
- PFL inks new TV deal, ditches ‘overly complicated’ tournament format — ‘Now is the time for us to conform’: This is a necessary step for PFL if it’s to succeed. They have to be able book the best fights available if they’re going to actually carve out a spot in the MMA landscape.
Insomnia
Jiri Prochazka embodying the famous Bruce Lee quote about practicing one kick 10,000 times. In fairness to the great “BJP,” he is really good at stringing together 1-2s and 1-2-3s from either stance with his foot on the gas. Ask Khalil!
Kevin Holland will not be returning to the Octagon in 2025 … probably.
Chepe Mariscal vs. Pat Sabatini is an underrated UFC 322 banger. Both men are highly skilled!
Topical.
The obvious answer to this prompt is The Showtime Kick, but I’d love to hear some alternate answers. My first thought: Dan Henderson’s H-Bomb somehow not killing Jake Shields has to be one of the hardest shots to not finish a fight.
A very fun Featherweight matchup, but I would have thought Melquizael Costa would receive a step up in competition given his recent run.
Dmitry Bivol shows off his hand speed on request:
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Chaos in the Oktagon!
I can’t remember a hook kick KO more recent than Shawn Jordan vs. Derrick Lewis. Sick!
Former UFC Featherweigth Andre Ewell is still snapping chins.
Random Land
Never would I have guessed that rats were capable of hunting bats.
Midnight Music: Indie rock, 2003
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
