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787 - Octagonal Relations feat. Karim Zidan (12/4/23) (Patreon)

Published:
2023-12-05 02:00:33
Imported:
2026-06

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Content

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.

Files

Comments

Mark

Wasn’t this guy one of the first Chapo guests way back in ‘16?

William

Last time I was this early it was early

Juan Gonzalez

UFC fans are either losers or pretty cool people, no in between

Jacob

If John Brandon can keep getting Family Guy characters into Fortnite he might just have a shot at 2024.

Henry

double slop ‼️

Kevin

Two eps?? Were some lucky piggies

Tim Mullen

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)

TugNuggins

Oh? Did a sportball happen?

Mike Loudin

Double the slop. This piggie is about to get some heartburn 🐷🐷🐷

Nolan

Not ball.

Matt James Rich

Thank you for resetting the numbers, Chris. Thank you for the two-for today.

Christian Johnson

I want some Khamzat Chimaev chat in this episode (haven't listened to it yet)

KapZachlan

Someone get this to Luke Thomas ASAP

Christian Johnson

My former trainer was roommates with Belal in Milwaukee & evidently Belal owes money years later

Tim Mullen

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

KapZachlan

100%, that’s how I found out about Felix in the first place. Luke was/is the only MMA journalist I can stomach

Tim Mullen

I used to be a hardcore fan but I’ve fallen out of it in the last year, but Morning Kombat was my favorite coverage. Ariel is a great interviewer imo and gets a lot of unnecessary flak but he’s a little low T for me hahaha

Tim Mullen

Lmao I have a soft spot for wrestlers but that is typical wrestler behavior lol

etienne

wikipedia editors finally liberated from the tyranny of Odd Episode Monday era

KapZachlan

I feel ya, I still watch MK and the live chat, but besides the occasional free OneFC card or boxing of late, I’m the same way. Not giving Dana a nickel at this point. I feel like I mostly still watch Luke to get the latest on the anti trust suit

Ivan Lopez

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.

Malaparte_Animal

this is such a fantastic ep. kudos to the slopgods for bestowing such beneficence -- open mouth full slop can't lose

Nick M

Don’t care what the subject is, always love Felix led episodes

Dan

Karim Zidan is Egyptian? He appears to use more general Arabic pronunciation than the Egyptian variant

EliteBaalKnowledge

This is a great break from repeatedly watching Fighting in the Age of Loneliness

Hook miss

I was calling for Belal to get a title shot after he beat the shit out of Brady lol

darragh O

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

darragh O

Yous are just confirming to me you don't know about real MMA journalists. Just the very mainstream, like Luke Thomas is mid but good for mainstream. If you want quality go watch jack slack or listen to the bloody elbow podcasts. We have to remember fighting in the age of loneliness was done in collaboration with Jon Bois

K H

Damn dude. Hamza comin in hot. A real one.

etienne

worse: a Politicsball

dog stone

that doc legit got me into combat sports and i am a full blown fighting nerd now

etienne

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

Doug Cartel

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

Tim Mullen

Oh yeah dude, bloody elbow is so underground. Quit hitting the bottle.

mersham has some bad news

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

dog stone

Luke interviewed Karim on his show a few weeks ago, was sick

Colemanonymous

love karim but get mike perry on the podcast felix.

Elliot robinson

I like Will and Matt’s niche interests a lot more than Felix’s

T

Their niche interests converge in one place and one place only: the mandingo fight in Django Unchained.

ben

i love the Chapo sports reports.

Joe

this is beyond pynchon level

Robin Palmer

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

Tim Mullen

I know he beat a hurt Gilbert, but he has a better claim than Colby. I hope Leon breaks his jaw just like Kamaru

Joshua Garcia

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.

Ivan Lopez

You’re right I actually intended to edit my answer to say starting with Origins the series became bloated. There’s no edit button though. It got so bad that I couldn’t even complete the Gods DLC even though that is so cool, I just got burnt out. I didn’t even try with the games that came after.

Cam C

Fantastic episode

Daniel Dresden

this was a very interesting episode. loved it.

Adam

writing papers for finals right now, for every argument going to start it with “Now Felix, “

Joe

I saw this and thought “eh, sports episode, whatever.” Boy was I being nearsighted.

Ladan

Hate sports. Didn’t think this would engage me. Rewinded parts of the episode 3x to jot notes. Incredible.

C. Andrew

Wait shit can I see your notes is this gonna be on the exam oh fuck

K H

Official Chapo foreign affairs expert Felix Biederman.

Hot Rod

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.

Michael Martin

2 minutes in and I'm very excited, I love UFC almost as much as I love being a dirtbag leftist

Hernan Melzi

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.

ploob

S-tier guest Hope he's invited back in 2024

Hot Rod

If it were just about marquee veterans I would agree with you. That was the thought behind the Chinese Super League 5 years ago. China bought some guys but their league still sucks. the PGA/LIV takeover that is the difference here, for me. If KSA offer FIFA or UEFA a bag of money they will have to take it or risk a hostile takeover and monopolization of the sport.

Hot Rod

It’s a fascinating topic nonetheless

Matthew Krueger

Double Felix got me so twisted imma bouta spill some dna but seriously: don't wait another seven years to have Karim back

Joel.

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

Brandon Pasqualotto

Karim "I"ll take it one step further for you Felix" Zidan is a g

Ethan

I wish Kyrie wasn’t at fucking idiot last year so he could actually speak out

NoPrefect

This is actually a fantastic episode. It looks at the world around us through a special lense in the greatest of Chapo tradition.

Cullen S

Wolves.. Please be sure to take your double dose of Vitamin B(iederman) this week! Suppository form is optional 👆

Cam

Karim rocks. Great ep

MiCast

I listened to this 3 times. Great EP Felix

i guess

I always enjoy listening Felix talking he’s excited about.

Jonathan Nathan

When he says Felix you know he’s about to drop a major bombshell

Daniel Nava Rodrigues

This was an awesome episode. Now convinced that Saudi Arabia will ruin football for good

Jimmy McMillan

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

EXN

Fucking terrific episode. An all-timer

dipcoin

There already is an expanded club World Cup happening in 2025 with 32 clubs, including Asian champions league clubs, which will certainly include KSA clubs.

Luke Rybuck

He said he has lived all over.

northco

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!

northco

I do think Origins is the best of the more recent RPG focused games, and I’m often bored enough to play through bloat, but man were Odyssey and Valhalla needlessly long. I liked Odyssey a lot but I could not finish it if my life depended on it

Tucker McCann

This dude is awesome. One of the best chapo’s this year

Philo Marx

I had no idea this would be so fascinating. Great job, Felix and Karim!

Max Beta

Trump is a terrible person & habitual liar, and again, terrible person, but damn if he doesn't have actual interests and a personality.

Sam L

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.

Nolan

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.

Sarah S

Just watched Fighting in the Age of Loneliness and all I want now is a Felix MMA podcast.