787 - Octagonal Relations feat. Karim Zidan (12/4/23)
Sports journalist Karim Zidan returns to the show to catch up with Felix about the world of combat sports and their attendant politics. They discuss responses to Israel/Gaza in the MMA world, developments in Saudi Arabia’s use of sports for soft power, political use of fight sports in Chechnya, and the deep bromance between Dana White and Donald Trump.
Find Karim's writing at: https://www.sportspolitika.news/
Follow Karim at: https://twitter.com/ZidanSports
Prod note: we’re putting out two public episodes today, partially to re-align the episode numberings to keep Monday eps even and Thursday eps odd. Obviously something only I care about, but also just letting you know to expect a regular Patreon ep this Thursday.
Comments (82)
Just watched Fighting in the Age of Loneliness and all I want now is a Felix MMA podcast.
Honestly my only question about the UFC is who tf do they think they are? They charge insane amounts for ppv on top of an ESPN+ subscription and only 1 out of every 10 cards is actually entertaining or have marquee fighters. For comparison, the NHL is valued at 42 billion and is easily #4 in major North American sports while the ufc just sold for 4 billion.
Very good episode with Karim, great points about what buying Newcastle United has done for the reputation of the Saudis in England. Before the confirmation, their fans were vehemently against been owned by Saudis due to their human rights record but that is hardly mentioned these days. They're doing really well in the game now and the media doesn't bother bringing up MBS' record any more, they get favourable coverage as an underdog and get given loads of primetime matches that go with the Saudi timezone. It's all a bit of a joke.
Trump is a terrible person & habitual liar, and again, terrible person, but damn if he doesn't have actual interests and a personality.
I had no idea this would be so fascinating. Great job, Felix and Karim!
This dude is awesome. One of the best chapo’s this year
Great ep guys
Fucking terrific episode. An all-timer
super dope ep, top shelf chapo.
In hindsight buying sports and sports teams is such an obvious soft power move. If owning a pro team can turn duds like Jerry Jones, Bob Kraft, and Mark Cuban into respected celebrities, it can do the same for anyone
This was an awesome episode. Now convinced that Saudi Arabia will ruin football for good
Bummer
I always enjoy listening Felix talking he’s excited about.
I listened to this 3 times. Great EP Felix
Karim rocks. Great ep
Wolves.. Please be sure to take your double dose of Vitamin B(iederman) this week! Suppository form is optional 👆
This is actually a fantastic episode. It looks at the world around us through a special lense in the greatest of Chapo tradition.
I wish Kyrie wasn’t at fucking idiot last year so he could actually speak out
Karim "I"ll take it one step further for you Felix" Zidan is a g
When he says Felix you know he’s about to drop a major bombshell
Karim is a legend, not only for the stuff he reports on but the absolute scum he has the deal with on socialsr who can't handle the facts surrounding the sport
fantastic conversation
Cool ep
Double Felix got me so twisted imma bouta spill some dna but seriously: don't wait another seven years to have Karim back
S-tier guest Hope he's invited back in 2024
2 minutes in and I'm very excited, I love UFC almost as much as I love being a dirtbag leftist
KSA recruiting all these footballers is just phase 1, I think. At the moment the Saudi League can buy marquee veterans. Like a richer MLS. But the league has no respect bc their teams don’t play European giants (Real Madrid, etc). At some point, KSA will buy their way into the UEFA champions league, or they will pump FIFA with money to make a Club World Cup. Then you’ll see Al-Hilal v Bayern for a major trophy.
They surely will, but I doubt they can see it through long term. Saudi Clubs have no pedigree or culture, it will feel like an exhibition match.
Loved it
Official Chapo foreign affairs expert Felix Biederman.
whoa, a twofer
Hate sports. Didn’t think this would engage me. Rewinded parts of the episode 3x to jot notes. Incredible.
Wait shit can I see your notes is this gonna be on the exam oh fuck
I saw this and thought “eh, sports episode, whatever.” Boy was I being nearsighted.
writing papers for finals right now, for every argument going to start it with “Now Felix, “
this was a very interesting episode. loved it.
Fantastic episode
Not as monied but middle eastern despots love bodybuilders. They’re always hosting the pros. I imagine having unlimited means makes a lot of muscle.
Terrific episode. Have enjoyed Karim’s writing previously but super interesting to hear him on a platform like this. Great to hear a good ten minutes of footy talk on Chapo without a gooner reference
this is beyond pynchon level
i love the Chapo sports reports.
Monday Night's alright for fighting!
I like Will and Matt’s niche interests a lot more than Felix’s
Their niche interests converge in one place and one place only: the mandingo fight in Django Unchained.
love karim but get mike perry on the podcast felix.
Dana White he wore a shirt U A E A I
why wont companies support an islamist terrorist group?! surely if chechen brawlers can get behind them… well have you tried living on top of trillions of barrels of the sweetest crude? what a couple of stunads
god what a perfect fucking type of dumb guy racism. "Oh he's speaking his crazy Caucasus langauge now? must not be important otherwise he'd say it in english" also, that video of kadyrov and his dumbass kids ogling a bunch of AA guns in pickup trucks was really funny
I unfortunately re-became a F1 fan and the sportswashing is unreal. Azerbaijan had races in '21 and '23 like within weeks of doing extreme war crimes in nagorno-karabath and no one said anything. Of course they've been in Saudi since forever notwithstanding Yemen. at one point in 2022 they had to postpone a free practice because houthi rockets were falling within eyesight of the track
am also an F1 fan and I remember the discussions of having a GP with rockets flying overhead being met by some with complete disregard. the fawning articles about how quickly Saudi Arabia is “evolving” thanks to “outside exposure” through these events are insane. but hey, can’t beat the Aramco dollars!
major bag alert
Damn dude. Hamza comin in hot. A real one.
This is a great break from repeatedly watching Fighting in the Age of Loneliness
that doc legit got me into combat sports and i am a full blown fighting nerd now
Karim Zidan is Egyptian? He appears to use more general Arabic pronunciation than the Egyptian variant
He said he has lived all over.
Don’t care what the subject is, always love Felix led episodes
this is such a fantastic ep. kudos to the slopgods for bestowing such beneficence -- open mouth full slop can't lose
"Partially"
Shit. That was pretty interesting. Now back to editing the AC wikipedia. AC Origins which took place in ptolemaic Egypt actually had the best narrative of the whole series and it was a decent game. Debate me. The games got way too bloated after that tho.
Man sorry origins itself is way to bloated and not focused enough and the story doesn't get to be the main point of focus as a result and gets left behind
Bring back Virgil >:3
wikipedia editors finally liberated from the tyranny of Odd Episode Monday era
Someone get this to Luke Thomas ASAP
Luke has some lib tendencies but his politics are solid overall. He actually interviewed Felix for fighting in the age of loneliness on his old radio show. Part one is on YouTube
I want some Khamzat Chimaev chat in this episode (haven't listened to it yet)
Thank you for resetting the numbers, Chris. Thank you for the two-for today.
Not ball.
Double the slop. This piggie is about to get some heartburn 🐷🐷🐷
Oh? Did a sportball happen?
worse: a Politicsball
I’ve been a Belal Muhammad fan for a while (one of like 10 in the world) I hope he captures the belt this year for Palestinians. I hope they discuss the weird right wing Twitter accounts that are pro-Palestine like Jake Shields (also an mma guy)
My former trainer was roommates with Belal in Milwaukee & evidently Belal owes money years later
Hell yeah. The slop must flow
Double Feature a go go Baby!!!
Two eps?? Were some lucky piggies
double slop ‼️
If John Brandon can keep getting Family Guy characters into Fortnite he might just have a shot at 2024.
UFC fans are either losers or pretty cool people, no in between
Last time I was this early it was early
Wasn’t this guy one of the first Chapo guests way back in ‘16?
Yup, he spoke a lot about Dagestan