Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Michael Page on the RAF canvas is the most unexpected crossover of the year.
I am also not a math guy, but this doesn’t seem like a particularly impressive payout if you play with the numbers at all. There are easier ways to make $60k a year (and that’s before manager fees and gym dues).
If this is true and UFC is actively not allowing its fighters to even grapple Muhammad Mokaev, the odds of a UFC return are grim.
Juicy drama! Kelvin Gastelum alleges that Din Thomas worked as a mole from Tyron Woodley against Robbie Lawler ahead of their Welterweight title fight.
Gym bros are laughing at a two-plate bench PR, but it really goes to show how irrelevant bench press is to fighting. Most of the folks who bench heavy can’t do the gymnastic work GSP is pulling off either!
Ian Garry genuinely has one of the nastiest oblique kicks ever. It looks painful even when it doesn’t jar the knee.
Unironically excited for Johnny Walker’s Heavyweight move. The potential for hilarity is high.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
People are ragging on 21-year-old Carlos Prates for saying “No Mas” here, but that’s better in the long run than getting knocked out cold. His chin is still rock-solid 12 years later!
You don’t see a rear hand uppercut counter inside the jab every day.
Grabbing a single-collar tie, conversely, is a common way to smash the jaw with an uppercut.
Never doubt the power of a push kick.
Get involved with Mania community in The Feed!
The 5 most Impactful Fights in MMA (not just UFC)
Sakuraba beats Hoyler: Ima catch some hate for this, but proving the guys that made the thing were in fact, not all that cool is a thing. This is probably because I’m a Fadda guy and generally dislike the Gracie narrative, but piss off.
Royce Gracie wins UFC 1. Again, kind of a f’ the Torries thing for me, but it’s impactful
Bonnar vs Griffin 1. The thing that saved the UFC
Conor vs Aldo. Co or is hands down the biggest impact in MMA. Like him or not, he was the sport. Aldo is still my FW GOAT. I don’t get caught up in promotion only nonsense. Conor smoking him instantly made the biggest name in the sport’s history.
Khabib vs Conor. The opposite of my last statement. I cannot remember a singular sporting event besides the Gatti Ward stuff or any given Tyson run that was more anticipated than this fight.
Midnight Music: Alternative, 1991
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
