LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 26: Dana White, President and CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship attends the Zuffa Boxing 11 Official fight card at Copper Box Arena on September 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026.
- Rookie Report Card: Grading the lone Octagon newcomer UFC Vegas 121 post-mortem: I have no idea if Luis Hernandez is any good, because beating Sedriques Dumas means nothing.
- Payton Talbott vs. Sean O’Malley? UFC 332’s Talbott explains how plague of broken feet stranded him on sidelines: While I do think Sean O’Malley would be a difficult matchup for Talbott — one of his worst, really — I also don’t think “Suga” would ever fight an unranked opponent.
- Jake Paul slapped with $10 million lawsuit for ‘execution’ of brain-damaged boxer, MVP responds: The entire Heather Hardy situation is sad, but I don’t expect this lawsuit to go anywhere.
Insomnia
Based on Dana White’s recent focus on boxing (and even Power Slap) over MMA, this is a hard line to buy. Total Eddie Hearn victory?
Dana White on not attending tomorrow's Tyson Fury/AJ press conference: "No cause I was here. I would have been there if I didn't have The Contender." pic.twitter.com/Wxd3oulLkm
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) September 30, 2026
UFC legends meet for another staredown:
View this post on Instagram
“Mass brawl at a baby shower” is a very funny collection of words.
🚨Billy Joe Saunders has been sentenced to 15 months in jail, suspended for 18 months for his part in a mass brawl at a Baby Shower in 2021
The Former 2 Division World Champion used a beer bottle to assault people on three occasions as well as punching multiple people.
Another… pic.twitter.com/sJS1oUXxd8
— Tokkerū (@ATokkers5) September 29, 2026
I love Jiri Prochazka, but perhaps this energy could be better spent learning the samurai method to avoiding left hooks?
Jiri Prochazka eats a tarantula 🤢
(via @jiri_bjp) pic.twitter.com/UzYPGK0u35
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 29, 2026
Sean Strickland vs. Nassourdine Imavov is almost confirmed. Who do DDP and Khamzat fight in the interim?
We're discussing pay now. Once that detail is squared its locked in. The issue is no one cares about the fake Frenchman. We're almost there 👊 #JesuisCharlie https://t.co/s7Bq48W9Pb
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) September 27, 2026
Alexandre Pantoja has to be bumped higher for having a steel mid-section as well.
🗿✅ Pound for pound GREATEST chins in UFC history
This one was harder https://t.co/6GFa3hk6Jb pic.twitter.com/CjIpFQWnIW
— ape (@qpe) September 28, 2026
Anyone reading this remember Mac Danzig? His career featured some underrated scraps.
View this post on Instagram
Slips, rips, and KO clips
It takes guts or stupidity to fight a GLORY champion on the regional scene for no money and no glory (pun intended).
KOTY du former champion GLORY 🫨🫨🫨
Le timing du genou est phénoménal! Et pour le coup son adversaire avait vraiment pas mauvais
Tyjani Beztati 🇲🇦🇳🇱 monte à 4-0 en MMA!
Via levelsfightleague (YTB) pic.twitter.com/xvNwamzxbx
— Parlons Pieds-Poings 🦶👊🥊 (@Parlons_PP) September 26, 2026
The d’arce is such a great counter to the underhook get-up, which is used in every single MMA fight that involves wrestling.
Gustavo Sousa snatches a nasty standing d'arce choke to render Paddy McCorry unconscious. New Cage Warriors Middleweight champ. What an upset #CW210 pic.twitter.com/0bxs7QzSRZ
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 26, 2026
I am reminded of Nick Denis’ UFC debut knockout from many years ago.
WOOOOOOOOW!!!!
🇪🇸Pablo Colado (3-0) noquea brutalmente al portugués Vitor Enrique (3-2) con un codazo en el primera asalto, espectacular lo del domador #WOW32 #MMASpain pic.twitter.com/YXyXNFb8Hw
— Pelunaton (@pelunaton) September 26, 2026
Random Land
After last week’s new cat appearance, a new penguin species has now been discovered!
A new penguin species discovered after more than 100 years
A remote group of gentoo penguins has been recognized as a new species after dna revealed they were different from other gentoos pic.twitter.com/4JqAvtnBJb
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) September 29, 2026
Get involved with Mania community in The Feed!
Midnight Music: Jazz, 1959
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.