Zach Arnold
Zach Arnold first started writing about combat sports in 1996. He is a veteran professional wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts writer who frequently covered both the California and Nevada athletic commissions starting in 2010. His archived writings can be found at Fight Opinion.
ONE FC behaved like the UFC in Japan this weekend
Chatri Sityodong embraced every stereotype of Dana White and raised all sorts of hell when ONE FC held a major event in Japan. How will his enemies respond?
The Saudis yank the UFC's leash
Endeavor and the UFC are finding out that the Kingdom has a seat at the table.
Boxing ref Tony Weeks at center of controversy after quick stoppage in Ortiz vs Lawson
Boxing ref Tony Weeks is in the center of a controversy after his quick stoppage of Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Frederick Lawson
An insider's deep dive on how UFC got California to sanction Power Slap
How California doctors, attorneys, regulators, and Corporate America said yes to the UFC's plans for slapfighting.
Why did California sanction Power Slap? Part 2
How California doctors, attorneys, regulators, and Corporate America said yes to Dana White's Power Slap.
Exclusive: Why California sanctioned Power Slap: part 1
Bloody Elbow's Zach Arnold puts the CSAC's decision to greenlight Power Slap down to a witches' brew of case law, big business, national politics, and personal aspirations.
Dana White's boss uses investor call to send a message to the UFC & WWE
Ari Emanuel's unmistakable imprint: no one at TKO, UFC or WWE is bigger than the Endeavor machine.
Is California going to sanction Power Slap?
When UFC 298 in Anaheim was announced, you knew a curve ball was coming but will it be a present for Power Slap?
Finding fool's gold: Where's the oil money for MMA?
Recent negotiations and deals made by MMA organizations PFL, ONE, and RIZIN reveal some hard truths.
UFC didn't bother to celebrate their 30th anniversary
How can the UFC, a company at its all-time peak be so awkward in telling their full story?
UFC antitrust case will hinge on Las Vegas jury
Dana White ignored his own advice. How will UFC fare in an antitrust trial in Vegas?
How UFC's greed lost both Francis Ngannou and their crown as undisputed kingmaker
Zach Arnold explains what the UFC lost by not agreeing to Francis Ngannou's wishes to box, while under a UFC contract.
Ari Emanuel's UFC fire sale
Endeavor boss Ari Emanuel has been making huge moves—what's he up to and why?
Who is drug testing czar Piro: FBI, surveillance, and a conflict of interest?
New UFC hire George Piro has a very impressive résumé but none of it has anything to do with sports or drug testing.
The UFC and Fury vs. Ngannou are heading to Saudi Arabia - is it safe?
Promoting fights in the Middle East might seem like easy money for the UFC, and others, but it comes with serious security concerns.
The future of MMA hinges on Scott Coker
For a zombie MMA promoter, Scott Coker sure has the future of a lot of people riding on him.
CSAC going broke? California is cruising for a bruising
The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) recently expressed concerns about going broke. What happened?
The UFC has a trump card in the anti-trust case
How does the UFC limit future court challenges against its active business practices? Arbitration.
Selling the UFC? Does Endeavor have a new plan if this lawsuit proceeds?
The threat of injunctive relief against the UFC and massive class-action settlements will generate a swift corporate reaction from Endeavor.
Is the UFC shifting to a government contractor business model?
The UFC's new aggressive model of sold shows is about to melt down the regulatory barriers for athletic commissions.
Will states that want UFC events be forced to get Power Slap too?
Is Endeavor looking to make Power Slap part of the UFC package?
Is New York looking to take advantage of Cali's increased fees on fight promoters?
Is New York moving to lure MMA and boxing promoters away from California with low, low taxes?
Bloody Elbow investigates: California's boxing pension fund and how it bodes ill for MMA
California's boxing pension fund has been maligned over its mismanagement. The state is now looking to use it as a template for an MMA pension fund.
California's MMA pension fund may be too good to be true
There's an MMA pension fund in the works in California. However, serious questions remain about that state's handling of boxers' pensions.
California's controversial boxing pension fund lost a million dollars
There's a boxing pension fund in California. However, most boxers in the state have never heard of it and fewer have actually gotten paid.
Follow the money: California's boxing pension fund
California's boxing pension fund didn't pay out a dime to a single boxer for six years in the 2000s. Where did that money go?