Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
- Eddie Hearn on TKO’s issues with Turki Alalshikh: ‘If you don’t fall in line, you don’t work for him’: The power dynamics in boxing are changing, and it’ll be really interesting to see how things shake out in the next few years.
- All is forgiven! Arman Tsarukyan named UFC 317 backup fighter for Islam-Topuria title fight: Arman Tsarukyan should be the back up even given his injury. He’s the best young Lightweight contender out there by a considerable margin.
- Hyped prospect Payton Talbott added to UFC 317 (against a very, very good fighter): Felipe Lima has shown serious promise, but he’s not a chain wrestler quite like Raoni Barcelos, so I’m expecting a slugfest here.
Insomnia
Demetrious Johnson is one of the best MMA grapplers ever, surviving on the floor with him is a tall task for anyone, let alone a social-media-boxer-streamer like KSI.
Whatever amount of props Kamaru Usman is getting after UFC Atlanta, he deserves more.
Congratulations to Gilbert Burns, official American citizen!
Johnny Walker is more self-aware than I might have realized admitting how goofy his own KO losses tend to look.
Name a better wordsmith, I’ll wait.
Will Ilia Topuria be quicker and more powerful up at 155-pounds, or will the size disadvantage be a problem?
Aljamain Sterling catches more strays than almost anyone on the roster, let alone as a decorated ex-champion!
The Merab pick up-and-carry is becoming a signature technique.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Randy Costa’s penchant for starting quickly and ending fights in the early exchanges seems to fit well into the BKFC style.
That’s a big tree landing with a definite thud.
The angle on armbar slams always looks so unpleasant and painful for the victim.
Random Land
Do you ever read a paragraph and want to opt out from civilization?
Midnight Music: RIP to the great Brian Wilson.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
