Karim Zidan
Karim Zidan is a investigative reporter and feature writer focusing on the intersection of sports and politics. He has written for BloodyElbow since 2014 and has served as an associate editor since 2016. He also writes for The New York Times and The Guardian. Karim has been invited to speak about his work at numerous universities, including Princeton, and was a panelist at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival and the Oslo Freedom Forum. He also participated in the United Nations counter-terrorism conference in 2021. His reporting on Ramzan Kadyrov’s involvement in MMA, much of which was done for Bloody Elbow, has led to numerous award nominations, and was the basis of an award-winning HBO Real Sports documentary.
Indian wrestling champion accuses federation president with ties to Modi of sexual exploitation
Protests continue to intensify in India after one of the country’s most decorated athletes accused the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and ruling party MP of sexually exploiting women wrestlers. Vinesh Phogat, a medalist at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, revealed that at least 10 woman wrestlers confessed to her that […]
World boxing champ Usyk compares Putin’s Russia to ‘Third Reich’
As the invasion of Ukraine approaches its first anniversary next month, Oleksandr Usyk took aim at Russia, referring to the country as an incarnation of the “Third Reich.” Speaking in a video posted on his Instagram, the 35-year-old world heavyweight champion added that Russian president Vladimir Putin is furthering “Hitler’s work.” “The Russian Federation is […]
MMA fighter-turned-mercenary awarded medal from Putin for service in Ukraine
An Armenian MMA fighter who was later recruited as as a mercenary for the infamous Wagner Group has been awarded a medal by Russian president Vladimir Putin for serving in Ukraine. Hayk Gasparyan, 31, was awarded the Order of Courage by Putin himself during a ceremony in Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia, earlier this […]
MMA fighter who appealed to Kadyrov to help locate missing aunt found dead on train
A Russian MMA fighter who appealed to Ramzan Kadyrov last year to help find his missing aunt in Chechnya has been found dead on a train. Georgiy Gagloev, 25, was reportedly found dead on board a train traveling from Moscow to Vladikavkaz. His body was discovered during a stop in Rostov-on-Don. A source who spoke […]
Khabib has no plans to pursue political career
Khabib Nurmagomedov has no plans to enter the political arena following his decision to leave his budding mixed martial arts coaching career behind. According to Russian state-run media outlet Tass.ru, the former UFC champion is likely to focus on other his other businesses outside of the sport. “Khabib does not plan to pursue a political […]
Report: Saudi Arabia in talks to buy WWE, expand sportswashing empire
In the wake of Vince McMahon rejoining the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) board of directors to begin a potential sale process for his company, Saudi Arabia has reportedly emerged as a potential frontrunner to purchase the world’s largest wrestling promotion. According to various reports, the controversial kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has shown interest in […]
D.L. Hughley and Jamie Foxx criticize media’s response to Dana White assaulting wife
Actors Jamie Foxx and D.L. Hughley are among the prominent figures concerned by some the media coverage of UFC president Dana White assaulting his wife. Last week, footage published by TMZ showed White slapping his wife, Anne, while the couple were at a New Year’s Eve party in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The next day, […]
Khabib Nurmagomedov retires from MMA coaching to ‘spend more time with his family’
After a successful year of coaching that saw him create several new champions, Khabib Nurmagomedov appears to have announced his retirement from mixed martial arts coaching. The former UFC lightweight champion shared an Instagram post that suggested he was leaving the sport. “The year certainly turned out to be a very busy and successful,” Nurmagomedov’s […]
Iran executes karate champion amid nationwide protests
Two men, including a karate athlete, have been executed for their alleged role in anti-regime protests in November. Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini were hanged early Saturday morning, according to the state-affiliated Fars News. The pair were were convicted of killing a Basij paramilitary force member during nationwide protests that started after the […]
Former UFC fighter charged after multiple assaults on girlfriend cause seizures
A former UFC fighter has been charged after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend on two separate occasions, one of which caused her to have a seizure. Cain Carrizosa—real name Cain Castillo—was charged in Washington County’s Fifth District Court with second degree felony aggravated assault and domestic violence, as well as robbery. According to ABC4.com, the first […]
Roy Jones Jr. wants to fight Fedor Emelianenko in an exhibition bout
Roy Jones Jr. is angling for a fight against one of the greatest heavyweight in mixed martial arts history. The former four-division world champion recently revealing his interest in pursuing an exhibition bout against Fedor Emelianenko. “Yes, such a fight is possible as an exhibition,” Jones, 53, told Tass.ru. “We have already somehow negotiated on […]
UFC fighter allegedly involved in a brawl at Spanish bar
A UFC fighter was allegedly involved in a group melee at a bar in Spain earlier this week. Security footage showed featherweight contender Ilia Topuria attacking a fellow patron at the bar after twice being showed by him for apparently no reason. Topuria could be seen playing a retro arcade game alongside Spanish singer media […]
Oleksandr Usyk hopes for ‘peace’ in Ukraine in 2023
In a video message posted on Instagram, world heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk expressed his hopes for “victory” and “peace” in his native Ukraine in 2023. “I want to wish only one thing – what I want, and what all Ukrainians want,” Usyk said according to Ukrainian publication Sport.ua. “We want victory, we want peace, […]
Kadyrov’s MMA promotion plans Grand Prix tournaments with $10m prize fund
Ramzan Kadyrov continues to expand his influence over the sport of mixed martial arts. Most recently, the MMA organization owned by the Chechen dictator accused of gross human rights abuses, Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), is planning to hold grand prix tournaments across all weight classes with a total prize fund of $10 million. The news […]
Former UFC fighter and Kadyrov ally reportedly died under mysterious circumstances
Abdul-Kerim Edilov—the former UFC fighter who moonlighted as a babysitter and martial arts coach for Ramzan Kadyrov’s children—has died. The news was first reported by Chechen opposition movements 1ADAT and Niyso, both of whom revealed the news on their respective Telegram channels. According to 1ADAT, Edilov passed away on the morning of Dec. 29. The […]
Kadyrov is attempting to expand his MMA empire in Russia
Ramzan Kadyrov—the republic of Chechnya’s warlord accused of harrowing human rights abuses—is attempting to purchase one of Russia’s oldest fight promotions to expand his mixed martial arts empire. BloodyElbow.com has confirmed that the Kadyrov-owned Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) is currently in negotiations to purchase veteran Russian MMA organization AMC Fight Nights. The deal is yet […]
Ramzan Kadyrov’s son wins pro MMA debut in farcical fight
With UFC star Khamzat Chimaev in his corner, Ali Kadyrov—son of Chechnya’s dictator Ramzan Kadyrov—earned his first professional mixed martial arts victory at Friday’s ACA 150 show. The 15-year-old defeated fellow debutant Islam Akbarov by TKO in the opening round of what was obviously a fixed fight. The two fighters sparred in the cage for […]
Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov’s son set for pro MMA debut
After months of training with UFC fighters, one of Ramzan Kadyrov’s teenage sons is set to make his professional MMA debut. Ali Kadyrov, 15, is will face Islam Akbarov in a three-round bout on the preliminary portion of the Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) 150 event Friday in Chechnya. The bout was first announced Thursday by […]
Former UFC champ trains with Ramzan Kadyrov’s son
Despite ongoing U.S. government scrutiny regarding the relationship between UFC fighters and Chechnya’s strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, another former UFC champion has has chosen to affiliate with the dictator’s family. Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt was photographed training alongside fellow UFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev and Kadyrov’s son, Ali, in Dubai last week. Ali posted the […]
Sean O’Malley declined invite to attend birthday party for ‘murderer’ Ramzan Kadyrov’s son
After a trio of former UFC champions were criticized for visiting Chechnya at the behest of the republic’s tyrannical leader Ramzan Kadyrov, another UFC fighter recently claimed to have rejected a similar offer. UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley revealed during a recent episode of his Bromalley podcast that he turned down an invitation to attend a […]
Khaibib visits Morocco’s national team during Qatar World Cup
Khabib Nurmagomedov was among the notable athletes to visit Qatar during the 2022 World Cup. The former UFC lightweight champion paid a visit to Morocco’s national football team in Doha ahead of the team’s third-place game against Croatia. Nurmagomedov posted a picture showing him standing alongside the entire Moroccan national team at their hotel Thursday. […]
Ukraine sanctions former UFC champ for supporting Russia’s invasion
A former UFC champion is among the notable names facing Ukrainian sanctions for supporting Russia’s invasion. Petr Yan is one of 56 athletes that Ukraine’s parliament approved for economic sanctions following a draft resolution Tuesday. The list was comprised of athletes who “systematically and actively support the war against Ukraine, legitimize the military invasion and […]
UFC star admits he attended Kadyrov’s teenage son’s birthday party
Justin Gaethje is facing some online backlash following a recent trip to Chechnya at the behest of the republic’s dictator Ramzan Kadyrov. It began when the former UFC interim lightweight champion found himself in a back-and-forth with Dave Portnoy, the founder of sports and pop culture blog Barstool Sports. Gaethje accused Barstool of “bending over” […]
Ramzan Kadyrov calls out Dana White after UFC 282 split draw, demands his fighter be made champion
Following a split draw in the UFC 282 main event that saw Ramzan Kadyrov’s fighter, Magomed Ankalaev, denied a UFC championship, the Chechen dictator has called out the organization and its leading figure. In a rare English language social media post Sunday, Kadyrov took aim at UFC President Dana White and blamed “politics” and “dirty” […]
UFC star Khamzat Chimaev trains with Kadyrov’s children in Dubai
Khamzat Chimaev continues to draw attention to his ongoing relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov, the dictator accused of human rights abuses ranging from forced disappearances and assassinations to an ongoing purge of Chechnya’s LGBTQ+ community. The UFC star was recently pictured training alongside two of Kadyrov’s teenage sons during a recent trip to the United Arab […]
Joe Rogan accuses The Rock of using steroids: ‘There’s not a f***ing chance in hell he’s clean’
Joe Rogan has taken aim at one of the world’s most popular celebrities. The UFC commentator and host of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast questioned Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s physique and urged the former WWE superstar to be honest about how he got so “massive.” “The Rock should come clean right now,” Rogan said. “He […]
Critic of Ramzan Kadyrov reportedly killed in Sweden
Tumso Abdurakhmanov, a Chechen dissident known for his vocal criticism of Chechnya’s strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov, has reportedly been killed. According to Chechen opposition movement 1ADAT, the dissident blogger was reportedly killed shortly after going missing in Sweden. “Tumso was shot at night by a group of people,” 1ADAT said in a social media post […]
Cuba to allow female boxers to compete after decades of restrictions
For the first time since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, Cuba will allow female boxers to participate in the sweet science after decades of restrictions. Cuban officials with the National Institute for Sports (INDER) announced during a press conference Monday that women would be able to take part in official competitions. Officials also revealed plans to […]
Russian oligarch who sponsored Khabib handed lengthy prison sentence
The oligarch who once funded the career of former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has been handed a lengthy prison sentence this week. Ziyavudin Magomedov, 54, was sentenced to 19 years in a maximum security prison after being found guilty on charges of embezzling state funds and organizing a criminal group. The ruling, which was announced […]
Boxing referee admits he cheated to help Manny Pacquaio win fight in 2000
Carlos Padilla, the Filipino referee who oversaw the WBC international super-bantamweight championship bout between Manny Pacquiao and Nedal Hussein in October 2000, has admitted to cheating in order to help Pacquiao win the fight in his hometown. Speaking on the World Boxing Council (WBC) YouTube channel, Padilla revealed that he “prolonged the count” after Pacquiao […]