Midnight Mania! Russian Fighter’s Gaethje Flip Goes Horribly Wrong In Viral Video
· Yahoo Sports
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
Visit forestarrow.help for more information.
- UFC Houston’s Sean Strickland unimpressed by new bonuses, Paramount pay bump: ‘No one’s getting paid more’: Strickland is surprisingly among the most vocal athletes campaigning for better pay … or at least acknowledging the problem openly.
- Merab time! Former UFC champ signs with RAF, debuts April 18 in Philly: Merab Dvalishvili is absolutely built to compete in RAF, but hopefully they don’t match him with some elite 22-year-old from the world scene.
- UFC superstar reacts (poorly) to Zuffa Boxing’s absurd $15 million Conor Benn one-fight deal – ‘I’ve never heard of him’: One wonders is a popular UFC star could eventually break away and do their own thing like a Jake Paul? Is anyone aside from McGregor big enough?
Insomnia
GRAPHIC VIDEO: We have seen fighters copy Max Holloway’s signature point down to horrible results, but this is the first time I’ve seen the Justin Gaethje backflip backfire so catastrophically.
Alexander Sineshchuk is in good spirits following his viral celebration:
— Matysek (@Matysek88) February 24, 2026
"I didn't quite nail the somersault, but it's okay, I won't try that again. I'll celebrate my victories more modestly from now on." pic.twitter.com/fQcnDAhE7B
I’m sure UFC could buy the entire competitive jiu-jitsu scene, but the question remains why? BJJ just isn’t very fun to watch, and I’ve been grappling for 16 years!
You knew it was only a matter of time pic.twitter.com/GlNSSQxgAa
— Open Note Grappling 📝 (@OpenNoteGrapple) February 24, 2026
Never take anything a devoted pro wrestler says without a grain of salt, but Josh Barnett has quite the explanation for Antonio Inoki slapping the crap out of Lyoto Machida!
This was not an "Inoki Slap" or to "symbolize respect and fighting spirit". Inoki-san struck Lyoto after the fight because he was pissed at Lyoto's performance, and I should know because not only was I there, but I was involved in booking the fight in the first place. https://t.co/kiwSZgUMkF
— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 (@JoshLBarnett) February 23, 2026
The most Australian clip of the week!
Alexander Volkanovski catches a snake on his farm. 🐍 pic.twitter.com/dRryM2Z5dd
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) February 24, 2026
Goodbye Vicente Luque, I enjoyed your Welterweight rise greatly. Does anyone believe a Middleweight move will rejuvenate his career?
Vicente Luque moves to middleweight to face Kyle Daukaus at #UFC327 👊
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 24, 2026
Who ya got?? pic.twitter.com/kSCA6oU01o
Does Oscar De La Hoya have painted on abs? Is this some kind of implement? Those hands still look sharp but I can’t look at anything else.
Oscar DeLaHoya said he’s “inspired by last nights (fight)” and that “his journey begins today” 👀👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/kN4JBjKOND
— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) February 22, 2026
Slips, rips, and KO clips
A good fight to look back it! Both men have come a long way.
Ilia Topuria vs Youssef Zalal pic.twitter.com/25MxmGi1zQ
— Cage Pulse (@Cage_PulseMMA) February 23, 2026
Edgar Chairez is an underrated Flyweight who has only lost to really good opponents.
Quelle séquence de fou… Cháirez vs Van on n'en parle pas assez pic.twitter.com/BbuDTQ7JwE
— The Highlight (@TheHighlightFR) February 23, 2026
Both guys standing tall with their chin high, one falls immediately.
Brutal 10 second KO by Rui Maeda. DAMN #GLADIATOR034pic.twitter.com/b8wk24lgZg
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 23, 2026
Random Land
Avalanche beats train.
Midnight Music: Indie rock, 1993
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.