Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking look back over the three biggest stories of Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
- Boxing world stunned as Jake Paul enters WBA rankings, eligibility pool for immediate cruiserweight title shot: At some point, Paul will be smashed by a real boxer, and the day draws ever closer.
- Joe Rogan blamed for botched face off between Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett at UFC 317 — ‘This is WWE’: How dare Rogan set the UFC up for the biggest PPV headline of 2025 between the two of the sport’s like five active stars? Dastardly.
- Surprise! UFC’s Bo Nickal signs with Hulk Hogan, debuts for Real American Freestyle on Aug. 30: Nickal is smart to stay active in the competitive wrestling scene, which will always be an optional source of income for the prospect.
Insomnia
It’s been quite a few years since Joe Rogan traveled internationally for fights, but Ilia Topuria in Spain is enough of a draw to sway him.
Michael Bisping says Joe Rogan would fly to Spain to commentate Islam vs Ilia — and remember, Joe never commentates outside the U.S. This just shows how big of a superfight this is.
“Joe Rogan said if that fight happens in Spain at the Bernabéu Stadium, Joe Rogan would go… pic.twitter.com/ghMMkFQcpD
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 30, 2025
I’m told this fight isn’t yet signed but is in discussion. It would be quite the step up in competition for Raul Rosas Jr …
Ilia Topuria continuing to plant seeds for his eventual super fight versus Islam Makhachev. He said the exact opposite like two days before UFC 317!
Ilia Topuria says Islam Makhachev ran away from him:
“If the UFC offered him to fight Justin Gaethje… I think he would stay at 155…
He knows I’m dangerous. He knows I’m gonna put him to sleep. Even Khabib [knows].”
@TMZ_Sports #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/SuwMWrb0GQ
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 2, 2025
Is “Zombie Jr” JooSang Yang a future star? His recent knockout is probably my favorite of the year.
It takes a certain level of delusion to become a world champion.
Tyson Fury unleashed on Usyk today:
“Usyk is coming off two fights with me. It’s debatable whether he won or not. But he didn’t win them. He got the decision, which is all that matters. If I was going to come back, I would come back for Usyk. It would need to be in England”
— Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) July 2, 2025
The Nick Diaz legacy lives on.
Colby Covington is one of the great speakers of our time.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Dixon used the right hand to sidestep towards the outside and set up his angle for the left hook.
Former TUF champ Diego Brandao is still picking up wins at 38 years of age.
This cageside clip of Joshua Van vs. Brandon Royval is 100% worth watching again.
Random Land
This feels ominous.
Midnight Music: Blues, 1980
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
