Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start things off by looking back at the three biggest stories from earlier today:
- Arman Tsarukyan has been named the official backup for this weekend’s Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira lightweight title fight at UFC 317. While Tsarukyan is a worthy backup, let’s hope he isn’t called into action.
- Khalil Rountree revealed that he suffered a torn meniscus three weeks before UFC Baku. He still dominated former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill while landing multiple knockdowns along the way.
- A middleweight matchup of surging contenders Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho will headline UFC Paris on September 6. Since Ciryl Gane isn’t headlining UFC’s return to France it’s safe to say his next fight will be a title shot against newly-promoted UFC heavyweight king Tom Aspinall.
Insomnia
How well did Dana White break up this potential brawl between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford?
Canelo’s trash talk is beginning to heat up.
Is anyone more confident than Ilia Topuria?
Who would have won?
GSP reveals how close he really was to fighting Khabib:
“After Khabib retired, Dana called me and asked me if I was interested in fighting Khabib. I found that was strange. I didn’t really believe it. I said let me think about it. Then I called Ali Abdelaziz and Ali says that… pic.twitter.com/zOYZn1CpgG
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 23, 2025
What could this be?
This is a pretty important tidbit.
Kevin Lee still feeling it from his comeback TKO loss.
Did Nazim Sadykhov deserve more?
.@Naz_MMA on earning the $100k bonus at UFC Baku
“In Baku, double bonus, fight of the year candidate…
I can’t grasp my head around it, not all of it, not at once. It’s just gonna maybe take me a few days. Maybe it’ll never come.” pic.twitter.com/35t9nXLdkT
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 23, 2025
Justin Gaethje won a Ferrari this past weekend? Dope.
Is Movsar Evloev screwed?
Jon Jones’ attorney has shed some light on the former UFC champion’s recent legal issue.
Statement from Jon Jones’ Attorney, Christopher Dodd:
As Jon’s lawyer, I am stunned by the Albuquerque Police Department’s decision to charge him in this new case. In the thousands of cases I have handled in my career, I have never seen a case as strange and unwarranted as this…
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 23, 2025
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Dominated!
This was pretty savvy stuff from Khalil Rountree Jr. this past weekend.
Random Land
G.O.A.T.!
Sleep well, Maniacs! More MMA madness will be on the way.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
