Midnight Mania! UFC removes ‘Combatant In Chief’ video

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

For many years now, UFC and President Donald Trump have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship. Back in the early 2000s when UFC and mixed martial arts were not legal or welcome in many parts of the country, the promotion found a home for UFC 30 and 31 at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

A friendship between Dana White and Trump has remained over the years as a result. White has twice spoken for Trump at the Republican National Convention, and he’s helped put Trump in connection with UFC fighters to help him campaign.

However, it appears UFC may be distancing itself from the Trump presidency, as the promotion recently removed a documentary titled “Combatant In Chief” from the UFC website.

White described the documentary as follows a couple years ago, “It’s the 25th anniversary of the UFC and we’re doing 25 documentaries with 25 badass directors for the 25th anniversary and one of them is the story of how President Trump let us come to the Taj (Mahal) for the first fight and he and I went to the residence after that.”

There has not been an official statement on why the video has been removed, so perhaps there is an alternative reason. More likely, however, is that UFC is looking to distance itself from the soon-to-be former president after the incident at the capitol. The move comes just hours after companies like Facebook and Twitter have temporarily or permanently banned President Trump from their platforms — it certainly doesn’t seem like a coincidence.

Maybe White fears retribution from Joe Biden?

Insomnia

Brandon Moreno with a callout that is equal parts savagery and politeness:

Not long after their title fight was officially announced (again), Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling are bickering on Twitter.

Another fight rescheduled by COVID-19:

Paulo Costa has graceful kicks for a big muscle man.

Kyler Phillips is majorly talented, but isn’t this a sort of weird step backwards for Song Yadong?

I’m fairly sure I’ve posted this before (I do like 260 Midnight Manias per year, forgive me if it all blends), but either way, it’s so worth re-watching!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Probably the most kickass highlight clip I’ve posted in a while:

Gi chokes get sneakier every year!

Pain.

Random Land

I will always appreciate the gutsiness of skateboarders.

Midnight Music: On what would have been his 74th birthday, David Bowie’s estate has released a pair of covers: Bob Dylan’s 1997 folk rocker “Tryin’ To Get To Heaven” and John Lennon’s famous scream into the void, “Mother.” Bowie forever!

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