Lots of people are throwing around the word “architect” or “visionary” these days in boxing.
For us MMA lifers, we’ve seen this song and dance before. But now it’s time to introduce our fellow boxing friends to this world of TKO politics.
This week’s MMA Draw podcast is specifically for boxing fans who are wondering what just happened to the sport they loved and how TKO’s money ball strategy of arbitrage is about to create all sorts of chaos.
There’s only one way to describe the impending TKO Takeover week launch on Paramount Plus: strange.
You’re not alone in thinking that the Zuffa Boxing fight card the night before UFC 324 has as much importance to the future of combat sports.
At the heart of this project is Dana White. Or at least that’s what TKO wants you to think. Is Dana White still a key man for UFC and TKO business?
This week’s edition of The MMA Draw podcast takes a closer look at Dana White’s 2026 TKO campaign. Is he a rodeo clown? How effective is Dana White at distracting those inside the business who still think that this is 2010 Dana White?
Or, as Zach made the case on this week’s podcast, is Dana White TKO’s version of Sean Hannity? Who is Zuffa Boxing being marketed to, and what framing are they using to market their impending attempt to monopolize boxing?
Boxing fans like to lecture others that boxers won’t fall for the U Fight Cheap marketing strategy. We’re about to find out whether or not that is true.
Meanwhile, the bottom is falling out for the rest of the non-TKO legacy competition in both boxing and MMA. Look no further than the recent lawsuit by Vergil Ortiz against his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya/Golden Boy. At the heart of this lawsuit is a key DAZN-reliant clause in the Promotional Agreement:
Many top boxing promoters made the calculation to funnel themselves into the Saudi sphere of influence, and DAZN was a key part of that strategy. Without DAZN, what media rights deals are left on the table in 2026?
It’s like watching rats run into the mousetrap to chase the cheese. Now they’re caught.
This kind of environment creates incredibly chaotic conditions for someone on the outside-looking-in to exploit and take advantage of. Meet boxing’s new money mark shark, Ed Pereira.
Zach will have updates later this week on The MMA Draw Newsletter on Substack regarding both the DAZN & Ed Pereira boxing stories. Big money is at stake. Reputations are on the line.
If you’re not a paid subscriber, give the free portion of this week’s podcast a listen. Sign up. You will not regret it. Our track record for accuracy and reporting is as good as it gets. Our critics called us crazy and conspiracy theorists. We often turned out to be both first and correct on record-breaking stories involving billions of dollars in transactions.
As a bonus, on this week’s MMA Draw podcast, Zach reveals a surprise dark horse prediction for who he thinks may take over Dana White’s slot should TKO look to replace him as their frontman.
You can check out The MMA Draw Podcast on Substack via the following feeds:
Nate Wilcox is Editor-in-Chief of The MMA Draw. He founded BloodyElbow.com in 2007 and sold it in 2024.
Zach Arnold is a lead opinion writer for The MMA Draw on Substack. His archives can be read at FightOpinion.com.
