Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, June 18, 2025.
- UFC 319 has ‘no backup anymore’ as top contender dumps Du Plessis-Khamzat for Caio Borralho — ‘Conditions changed’: Borralo vs. Imavov has been the fight to make for the last six months. Hurry up and book it!
- Report: Ben Askren still hospitalized but responsive, in need of lung transplant – ‘Keep praying’: Earlier today, Ben Askren’s wife also posted to Facebook essentially confirming this report with some additional detail. Her comments can be viewed here. Keep “Funky” in your thoughts.
- ‘Embarrassed’ Sean O’Malley just realized how silly he looks after watching Cody Garbrandt – ‘That’s how people see me’: Maybe Sean O’Malley is a better trash-talker than we’ve realized, this is a great roundabout burn posed as self-reflection.
Insomnia
I’m not exactly sure what a host of Hype Fighting position entails but Tony Ferguson in front of a camera not receiving more head trauma is a great turn of events.
The link-up you least expected. Arman Tsarukyan and Tony Ferguson will become the hosts of the Hype Fighting shows in Thailand this summer. @TonyFergusonXT will also host their Reels Fighting side project. pic.twitter.com/CKgDwxgZ0i
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 15, 2025
Rampage better be careful, his son is closing the gap!
Derek Brunson is 41 years of age and hasn’t fought since November 2023, but he’s not retired yet!
I have so much MMA knowledge and cage experience. I’m ready to show case my adjustments . At this point I don’t need to fight , but I enjoy fighting & training . I have a solid 2 years left . My last fight I fought a former PFL world champ and made light work of him 30-27.…
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 16, 2025
Mateusz Rebecki’s reward for winning (arguably) the best fight of 2024? A tough opponent in the Apex!
I feel like this meme might be missing Fedor as the OG Khabib? Surely we can expand.
(In addition to Eddie Alvarez also). Still, give Volkov his title shot! He beat Ciryl Gane dammit!
Malcolm Wellmaker is going to be a star if he keeps sleeping people.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Much better form and strategy here than the average women’s MMA headlock throw.
A beautiful high kick off the clinch from ex-UFC fighter Blood Diamond:
We talk about Yoel Romero’s longevity and ferociousness as an older fighter, but Francisco Trinaldo deserves to be in that conversation too! Long live Massaranduba!
Random Land
A belated Happy Father’s Day to my readers and — more importantly — this tortoise!
Midnight Music: Hip-hop, 2015
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
