CounterPunch explores the upcoming UFC White House spectacle and the Hollywood, DC, and Gulf power brokers at the nexus of US politics, sports and entertainment. Host Eric Draitser welcomes veteran combat sports journalist Nate Wilcox, Editor-in-Chief of The MMA Draw, to the show to discuss the White House event, the mythology around Trump's relationship with the UFC and Dana White, the role of Ari Emanuel and TKO Group in monopolizing combat sports and playing all sides of the power structure, the Gulf monarchies and their projection of soft power, the overlap between entertainment, finance, and geopolitics, and so much more.
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Nate Wilcox is a veteran combat sports journalist and editor best known as the founding editor of Bloody Elbow, a premier mixed martial arts publication. Launching the site under the SB Nation network, Wilcox hired the original editorial team and spent over 15 years building the platform into a leading voice for investigative reporting, renowned for its coverage of MMA finances, fighter pay, and antitrust lawsuits. During his tenure, he also developed the syndicated SBN MMA consensus rankings featured in USA Today. Following Vox Media's downsizing and the subsequent sale of the publication, Wilcox transitioned his focus to The MMA Draw, an independent Substack newsletter and podcast network. Through The MMA Draw, he serves as Editor-in-Chief, offering sharp analysis on fight culture, promotional monopolies, and the complex business behind combat sports.
Eric Draitser is an independent political analyst and longtime CounterPunch contributor and host of CounterPunch Radio. You can find his exclusive content including video interviews and analyses, articles, podcasts, commentaries, poetry and more at patreon.com/ericdraitser and on Substack @ericdraitser.
