issue 218
June 2025
Fighters Only’s social media editor, Paul Browne, picks out his highlights from the past month on MMA social media.
MERAB’S FIREFIGHTER TRYOUT
When Merab Dvalishvili says he’ll carry the division, he means it. During their UFC 316 bout, Merab hoisted Suga Sean O’Malley over his shoulder like he was rescuing him from a burning building and seemed to be enjoying every moment. Forget fight promos. This was the best emergency services audition we’ve ever seen.
https://x.com/fightpicsgohard/status/1931578453813297580
GOAT RETIRED WITH A WHISPER, NOT A WAR CRY
No video montage. No Octagon farewell. Just plain text on a white background. He respectfully bowed out with a written post that felt more like a journal entry than a victory lap. It was humble, grateful, and almost vulnerable. For a man known for grand entrances, brutal finishes, and chaotic headlines, this soft goodbye was almost jarring. But maybe that’s the point. Jonny Bones started as a quiet phenom and exits the same way.
https://x.com/JonnyBones/status/1936597970947834353
CHIMAEV DROPS RARE TRAINING FOOTAGE
Khamzat Chimaev rarely gives fans behind-the-scenes treatments, but ahead of his UFC 319 title bout with Dricus Du Plessis, he shared footage of what looks like a slow-motion sparring drill, leaving fans equally intrigued and confused. Is it light technical work? A recovery session? A red herring? For a fighter who usually keeps his camp airtight, this kind of public peek is almost unheard of. Fans aren’t quite sure what to think.
OLIVEIRA’S WEIGHT-CUT LOOKS LIKE A FAMILY AFFAIR
In a sport often portrayed as solitary, Charles Oliveira’s UFC 317 weight cut looks more like a team retreat. The shot shows ‘Do Bronx’ surrounded by a significantly sized crew, hands on shoulders, words of encouragement, and a palpable sense of unity. It’s a tribe in sync. The embrace, the trust, the energy all point to why Oliveira has always felt bigger than just one fighter.
https://x.com/espnmma/status/1938291454884929795
MMA'S MOST CORDIAL FACE-OFF
No pushing. No posturing. Just polite murder vibes. At the UFC 317 face-off, Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira exchanged words that were equal parts respect and raw intent. It was the kind of exchange that gives you those full body chills where two respectful killers acknowledging the storm ahead without raising their voices. No drama. Just destiny.
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