Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.
- CJI to also pay New Wave $1 million after judging controversy: It’s a good thing rich guys love jiu-jitsu, because there’s no way the promotion isn’t bleeding money after all these major payouts.
- Shrunken, deflated Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson nearly unrecognizable in latest red carpet pics — ‘Is that Al Roker?’: The Rock wisely decided he didn’t want to have a heart attack at 55 years of age and shed some muscle — you’re not supposed to look like a WWE Superstar forever!
- CJI 2 video: Teen phenom Helena Crevar wins highest ever paying women’s BJJ tournament: … See Above.
Insomnia
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (8-2) scored an awesome knockout tonight on Contenders Series with this slick lead leg high kick KO, earning a contract and blowing Dana White’s mind!
Quite possibly my favorite unranked Bantamweight match up in recent memory.
Here’s a goofy throwback pic ahead of UFC Paris:
Professional predictions of Canelo vs. Crawford — who ya’ got?
Anecdote of the week: my would-be opponent for my third professional fight pulled out about 10 days removed from the fight. I was down to about 135 pounds heading into fight week but immediately binged on cereal, milkshakes, and sadness. A few days later, I accepted a bout on the promotion’s next card scheduled for eight weeks later, stepped on the scale, and was shocked to find I weighed 154 pounds — about nine heavier than I’d ever been previously. The magic of salt and water retention!
Of all the fighters … why let Sergei Pavlovich punch you?!?
I enjoy the uniqueness of the strangely rectangular Dirty Boxing belt. Good for “Bigi Boy!”
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Ran into the left hand (but a beautiful cross check at the start of the clip!):
It’s a real shame Alex Caceres left the UFC after failing to get fights booked consistently. Everybody likes “Bruce Leeroy!”
Firing as you bounce off the ropes is risky, but it can pay off …
Random Land
Hardcore home renovations.
Midnight Music: Folk rock, 2015
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
