Midnight Mania! Shevchenko Cut, Generous Gaethje, And 500 Days Of Aspinall
03/26/2025 12:00 AM
Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
First and foremost, let's take a look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, March 25th (aside from continued Cain Velasquez coverage, which we discussed last night).
- Artem Vakhitov opts to re-sign with GLORY rather than join UFC Roster: This has to be one of the worst examples of UFC cheapness. Light Heavyweight is desperate, kickboxers have become some of UFC's biggest stars in recent years, and the promotion still can't pony up more than 10 and 10? Wild.
- Colby Covington talks wild s—t about Paul Felder: I don't believe any of this "Chaos" story, but it's very funny that this is Covington's reaction to Felder mildly claiming that his trash-talking persona is dying away.
- Gable Steveson wants to meet with Dana White: Heavyweight is so miserable that Steveson is probably already a Top 15 contender right now (based on Mick Parkin vs. Marcin Tybura). Sign him up!
Insomnia
Is it wise to treat the future of the Heavyweight division this way? Tom Aspinall should be two undisputed title defenses deep into his legacy by now.
Tom Aspinall has been Interim champ for 500 days pic.twitter.com/BOwq80yr4E
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) March 25, 2025
I honestly didn't know Antonina Shevchenko was still an active UFC fighter.
Abdul Razak Alhassan, Antonina Shevchenko, and Molly McCann all removed from the UFC active roster.
— Borrachinha Depot (@FullContactMTWF) March 25, 2025
Justin Gaethje is putting all those "Fight of the Night" bonuses to good use.
Justin Gaethje donates part of his UFC winnings to pay for low income students scholarships to help with their college education:
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) March 25, 2025
"I give scholarships to students who need what the UFC pays me"
My mother is a teacher and she always instilled in me the value of education.… pic.twitter.com/hDu6Lftfjb
It's easy to see why Ilia Topuria is so confident in his star power when Spain treats him like an absolute God.
Ilia Topuria got a street named after him called 'Paseo Ilia Topuria' in Toledo, Spain
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 25, 2025
@KOlmeneroMMA#UFC#MMApic.twitter.com/wpcGwbrlCp
Karate Combat does jiu-jitsu matches too sometimes, otherwise I'm not sure Muhammad Mokaev has any business in the pit.
Karate Combat teasing a big name fighter set to compete at #KC54 in Dubai on May 2nd.
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) March 25, 2025
✅2x IMMAF World Champion
✅(23-0) amateur MMA
✅(14-0) Pro MMA
✅(7-0) UFC
Safe to say the only fighter to fit this description is Muhammad Mokaev especially with Mokaev posting the fight… pic.twitter.com/CFHZVnUHO2
Who's hype for UFC Mexico City?
Officially Mexico Fight Week! pic.twitter.com/wZeQ1rOaB0
— Show Me the Money Podcast (@showmethepod) March 24, 2025
Takeru may have fought Rodtang with several serious injuries, which is exactly what I would expect a Japanese kickboxer headlining in Tokyo to do.
Takeru responds after Noiri revealed that Takeru broke his ribs and sternum 2 weeks before the fight.#ONE172pic.twitter.com/vGev9Z6JEE
— Tetsuya (@TetsuyaMT789) March 25, 2025
Leon Edwards' performance was exactly as disappointing as Sean Brady's was excellent.
The most impressive thing about Sean Brady's performance was not the submission, pinning, nor passing
— William - Open Note Grappling (@OpenNoteGrapple) March 24, 2025
It was how well he disrupted Leon's base
Watch how Brady floats over Leon while he uses his hands and feet to pick apart Leon's base, advance position, and wear Leon out pic.twitter.com/HWNvzDxypU
Somebody go check in on "The Iceman."
That gut pic.twitter.com/f33nQnfwRb
— NRM84 (@Mappy6984) March 24, 2025
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Toes pointed into the liver can be an instant fight-ender.
— !zzy | イジ－ (@izzydoa_) March 24, 2025
Like a shotgun blast to the face.
Unreal jab pic.twitter.com/4qtmLrS3oo
— Jack Slack (@JackSlackMMA) March 25, 2025
It doesn't take a genius to see why successful Combat Sambo fighters tend to do really well in MMA.
Fedor in his sambo days. pic.twitter.com/eFCtesFE7p
— Blaine Henry (@BlaineHenryTFL) March 24, 2025
Random Land
This insane "morning routine" has taken X by storm. Hope everyone has a banana peel handy!
The morning routine pic.twitter.com/HLhpwpKib8
— Tips For Men - Fashion | Essentials | Luxury (@tipsformenx) March 20, 2025
Midnight Music: Experimental rock, 1970
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
