Sports Politika
How UFC star Khamzat Chimaev was banned from entering the US
The UFC reportedly wanted Khamzat Chimaev to headline UFC 300. However, he is unable to enter the US due to his connections with warlord Ramzan Kadyrov.
How Bloody Elbow got inscribed on munitions bound for Gaza
Israeli MMA fighter Haim Gozali did not take too kindly to my article exposing his hatred towards Palestinians. So he inscribed my name on an artillery shell bound for Gaza.
We can all learn from Muhammad Ali’s solidarity with Palestine
Muhammad Ali opposed Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. He also loved and respected his Jewish friends and family.
The new kings of MMA and boxing: Saudi Arabia’s path to sporting dominance
Analyst Stanis Elsborg joins Sports Politika to discuss his groundbreaking research into the power players behind the kingdom's sports strategy in MMA and boxing.
For the UFC, bigotry is the main event
Some of the UFC’s top stars harbour xenophobic and sexist views. Instead of distancing itself from bigots, the organization uses them to sell fights.
Sports cannot—and should not—avoid the war in Gaza
Athletes are being killed, activism is being stifled, and the IOC and FIFA are under pressure to take action—there is no avoiding the Israel-Palestine war.
How to piss off a Russian oligarch
Karim Zidan looks back at his coverage of Ziyavudin Magomedov, the Dagestani oligarch who wanted to buy the UFC who is now languishing in Russian prison.
That time I was cornered into watching MMA with a war criminal
In this week's Office Hours, I look back on more of the more absurd tales from my time in Russia, which include watching MMA with a war criminal.
Mo Salah, Mo Problems
Mo Salah, the Egyptian icon, has long been considered the 'Pride of the Arabs,' yet that status has come into question amid Israel's war on Gaza.
The Israeli MMA fighter celebrating Palestinian deaths
Israeli MMA fighter Haim Gozali is among the prominent figures spewing hate and cheering the slaughter of Palestinians.
Henry Kissinger, the war criminal who preached peace through sports
Beyond his warmongering influence in Washington, Henry Kissinger also knew how to leverage sports as part of his diplomatic arsenal.
Dublin riots expose Conor McGregor’s role in stoking anti-migrant hate
The UFC’s biggest star, Conor McGregor is among the agitators stirring chaos and hate in Ireland. Now he is reportedly being investigated by Irish police.
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou: Saudi Arabia's juggling act
While Saudi Arabia strives to captivate the world with its lavish events like Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou and lofty national aspirations, it remains unable to mask the stark challenges faced by the kingdom and the wider region
UFC 294: Avoiding US sanctions on Chimaev, and censoring speech on Palestine
The UFC, so-called champion of free speech, found a way at UFC 294 to circumvent U.S. sanctions against Ramzan Kadyrov while simultaneously censoring pro-Palestine expressions within its platform.
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.
How Russia's mercenary groups found their warriors in MMA gyms
MMA fighters were among the Wagner Group mercenaries who found themselves embroiled in an attempted uprising in Russia.