Midnight Mania! Jon Jones breaks bread with Hasbulla, Krylov vs. Guskov, and Thick Topuria

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Let’s start the night off by taking look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

1. UFC 317 fight card: Dana White breaks Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira headliner, vacant Lightweight title on the line: Nothing can quite compared to Topuria vs. Islam, but there’s zero doubt in my mind that everyone will be extremely hyped for this Lightweight showdown by fight day.
2. Jake Paul’s MVP promotions accused of refusing to pay full purse, leaving boxer stranded in Florida: It’s hard to say from the outside whether this is a case of sour grapes or genuine misconduct, but this is definitely bad optics for Jake Paul and company.
3. Brad Tavares re-signs with UFC to try and break Michael Bisping’s wins record: I’m glad UFC didn’t cut Tavares off a win, that would’ve been poor treatment after many years of good, consistent work for the Middleweight iron man.

Insomnia

Breaking bread with Hasbulla does seem a whole lot easier than fighting Tom Aspinall.

I feel the need to disclose that this is fake/a meme, but it made me laugh all the same.

The bright side of the best three Team Lobo fighters all struggling with cage-cutting is that the team can bring somebody in to help address the flaw ... right?!?

Daniel Cormier sets the record straight, reminds “Bones” he didn’t want any smoke when “DC” was an active Heavyweight champion.

Jose Aldo’s gas tank may be diminishing with age, but those skills remain SHARP!

Ilia Topuria looking thick, solid, and tight ahead of his Lightweight return.

Nikita Krylov making a fairly quick comeback after his first career KO loss against a dangerous puncher? What could go wrong!

Top-tier corner work ...

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Michael Morales’ whole vibe as a fighter to me is athletic youngster who doesn’t respect the punches coming his way. Think Gilbert Burns can teach him a lesson?

A pretty infamous execution from a few years ago ...

Awkward way to fall ...

Random Land

A rare white bison.

Midnight Music: Indie folk, 2014

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.