Politics
UFC, MMA and combat sports' involvements and intersections with politics.
Iranian karate champion given 15 minutes to plead case before receiving death penalty
Mohammad Mehdi Karami was also not given final rights to speak to his family before execution.
MMA champ joins Russia’s war; now stationed in occupied Ukraine
Vladimir Mineev is reportedly stationed in the occupied eastern Ukrainian territory of Donetsk, where he is expected to take part in Russia’s ongoing offensive.
UFC vet Arroyo hid his anti-Bolsonaro views in the gym
Former UFC middleweight Antonio Arroyo shares why he does not support former president Jair Bolsonaro’s politics.
Aldo wants to put a plaque in his home: Bolsonaro stayed here
Jose Aldo explains why he wanted former president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro to stay in his Orlando home.
Indian wrestling champion accuses federation president with ties to Modi of sexual exploitation
Vinesh Phogat says she fears for her safety after speaking out against the Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
MMA fighter-turned-mercenary awarded medal from Putin for service in Ukraine
Hayk Gasparyan, a mercenary for the Wagner Group, was awarded the Order of Courage by Vladimir Putin during a ceremony in January 2023.
MMA fighter who appealed to Kadyrov to help locate missing aunt found dead on train
Georgiy Gagloev was found dead on a train travelling from Moscow. Reports suggest the death may have been "violent."
Khabib has no plans to pursue political career
The former UFC champion plans to focus on his non-MMA businesses and spending time with his family.
Report: Saudi Arabia in talks to buy WWE, expand sportswashing empire
The controversial kingdom’s Public Investment Fund is reportedly interested in purchasing the world’s largest wrestling organization.
Iran executes karate champion amid nationwide protests
Mohammad Mehdi Karami was hanged in Iran after being convicted of killing a Basij paramilitary force member.
Oleksandr Usyk hopes for ‘peace’ in Ukraine in 2023
The World Heavyweight champion took to social media to share his message of hope.
Kadyrov’s MMA promotion plans Grand Prix tournaments with $10m prize fund
The Kadyrov-owned Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) revealed its plans in a press release last week.
Report: Bolsonaro takes up residence at Aldo’s FL home
No word on whether or not he was lucky enough to get the ‘Minions’ suite.
Report: Former UFC fighter and Kadyrov ally died under mysterious circumstances
Abdul-Kerim Edilov’s death was reported by Chechen opposition movement 1ADAT.
Kadyrov is attempting to expand his MMA empire in Russia
The dictator’s MMA organization, Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), is in talks to buy one of Russia’s established promotions, AMC Fight Nights.
Ramzan Kadyrov’s son wins pro MMA debut in farcical fight
Ali Kadyrov defeated Islam Akbarov on the preliminary portion of the ACA 150 event.
Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov’s son set for pro MMA debut
Ali Kadyrov is scheduled to face Islam Akbarov in a three-round bout on the preliminary portion of the ACA 150 event on Friday in Chechnya.
Former UFC champ trains with Ramzan Kadyrov’s son
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is the latest athlete to train alongside Ramzan Kadyrov’s son, Ali.
Sean O’Malley declined invite from ‘murderer’ Ramzan Kadyrov
The UFC bantamweight revealed turned down an invitation to attend a birthday party for the Chechen dictator’s son in November.
Ukraine sanctions former UFC champ for supporting Russia’s invasion
Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan was among the athletes sanctioned by Ukraine’s parliament this week.
UFC star admits he attended Kadyrov’s teenage son’s birthday party
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje was also adamant that he "never met" the Chechen dictator.
Kadyrov calls out Dana White after UFC 282 split draw, demands Ankalaev be made champion
In a rare English language social media post Sunday, the Chechen dictator took aim at the UFC and Dana White for the UFC 282 main event controversy.
UFC star Khamzat Chimaev trains with Kadyrov’s children in Dubai
The UFC fighter is regularly pictured alongside Ramzan Kadyrov’s teenage sons during recent training sessions in Dubai.
Critic of Ramzan Kadyrov reportedly killed in Sweden
Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov has been reported killed nearly a week after he went missing.
Former UFC champs shoot guns in Chechnya at warlord Kadyrov’s invitation
Kamaru Usman, Justin Gaethje and Henry Cejudo visited Chechnya this week at the behest of dictator Ramzan Kadyrov.
First ever boxing center to be built in Palestine
A total of 2,600 square metres of land has been designated for the venue, which is set to be officially opened in 2024.
Fedor: Russian athletes are treated like ‘hostages’ due to bans
The legendary heavyweight fighter appealed to the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) to allow Russian athletes back into international competitions.
WWE returns to a Saudi Arabia at risk of ‘imminent attack’
Karim Zidan delves into the WWE’s latest foray to Saudi Arabia despite human rights concerns and threats of an "imminent attack" from Iran.
UFC champ Islam Makhachev visits Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov
The newly crowned UFC lightweight champion was pictured alongside the Chechen dictator over the weekend.
Kadyrov squashes beef between Chimaev and Team Khabib
The Chechen dictator took to Instagram to proclaim that there are "no problems" between Chimaev and Abubakar Nurmagomedov.