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Lionel Messi is a paid Saudi tourism ambassador while Argentina bids to host the 2030 World Cup against Saudi Arabia. David Beckham signed a $150 million, 10-year deal to be Qatar's brand ambassador — prompting an English comedian to threaten to put £10,000 through a wood chipper unless Beckham quit.
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At 53:40 · chapter starts 52:55
The sportswashing conversation sharpens into two case studies. Lionel Messi — Roger's GOAT, 'a remarkable little man who runs with the ball as if it's stuffed inside his boot' — has signed on as a paid ambassador for Saudi tourism, visiting scenic locations and declaring his love for the country [1] — Roger Bennett "Lionel Messi is a paid Saudi tourism ambassador while Argentina bids to host the 2030 World Cup against Saudi Arabia. David Beckham signed …" 53:40 . The problem: Argentina is reported to be bidding for the 2030 World Cup against Saudi Arabia's joint bid with Greece and Egypt, meaning the world's greatest footballer is simultaneously the face of his country's rival bid. Roger calls it simply 'dystopian.' Tommy adds that Messi reportedly earned $120 million last year [2] — Tommy Vitor "Messi reportedly made $120M in a year: Tommy Vitor noted that Lionel Messi reportedly made $120 million in the past year, making his report…" 56:26 , making the Saudi deal feel less like financial necessity and more like a character choice. David Beckham's situation is equally striking: a reported 10-year, $15 million-per-year Qatar ambassador deal [3] — Roger Bennett "Beckham's Qatar deal: $15M/year for 10 years: David Beckham reportedly signed a 10-year deal worth $15 million per year to serve as Qatar's…" 57:52 has infuriated English fans. British gay comedian Joe Lissette went viral by threatening to feed £10,000 through a wood chipper unless Beckham renounced the deal — noting pointedly that 'you married a Spice Girl, which is the gayest thing a human can do.' Beckham has not responded.
Tommy Vitor highlighted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently cut a $2 billion check to Jared Kushner, illustrating MBS's pattern of buying influence with powerful figures.
Tommy Vitor noted that Lionel Messi reportedly made $120 million in the past year, making his reported £25 million Saudi tourism ambassador deal puzzling.
Roger Bennett reported that Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly turned down a Saudi tourism deal worth $5 million, far less than Messi's reported offer.
David Beckham reportedly signed a 10-year deal worth $15 million per year to serve as Qatar's brand ambassador, drawing significant backlash from English fans and media.
Thomas's wife deferred her CrossFit career — she's in the global top 1% of athletes — to put him through law school debt-free. He wants her to chase the dream now; she wants the emergency fund and house down payment first. On a $200K lawyer income with no debt, the opportunity cost is just a few months of slower saving.
Underground calisthenics battles are exactly like UFC meets a rap battle — 150 people crowded around a circle, fighters walking out with masks and chains, nicknames like 'Extra Money' vs 'Calisthenics the Prince,' and people throwing money and betting. The battle set: 100 burpees, 50 muscle-ups, 75 dips, 75 squats with a 65-pound dumbbell. This is the next big spectator sport.
Rico Verhoeven controlled the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion for approximately 10 rounds — and had his appeal upheld when officials admitted the fight was stopped after the bell. The result was never overturned. Rogan calls it either incompetence or corruption, and argues the money behind Usyk made an upset politically inconvenient.
Rogan lays out a blunt case: boxing's 3-judge system is structurally broken, and the judges know who the promoter wants to win. Glory's 5-judge format is the right model. Corruption doesn't have to be conscious — just knowing Usyk is the cash cow is enough to tilt the scales.
With the Usyk-Wilder fight stalling and Fury-Joshua coming too late, the real fight the world wants is the rematch. Rico is a free agent. Usyk vacated his belts. The story is unfinished and both Rogan and Rico know it. His Excellency Turki Alasheikh already called for it ringside — the question is money.
Rico texted Jason Statham during the Canelo-Crawford fight. Statham showed Rico's highlight videos to promoters. Two days later, Rico was on a call about fighting Anthony Joshua. When Joshua pulled out, Rico pitched Usyk himself — Undisputed vs. Undisputed. Usyk said yes in two weeks. The whole thing started with one text.
Every heavyweight who faced Usyk tried to move to the right — straight into his power hand. Rico and Peter Fury identified the obvious solution: move left, away from the left hand, and smother him with size. It sounds simple. Nobody had done it. That one adjustment was the foundation of 10 dominant rounds.
MMA fans boo when fights go to the ground. They love stand-up. Kickboxing is pure stand-up. Yet it barely exists in America while boxing and MMA are enormous. Rogan's diagnosis: no promotion machine. If the UFC got behind kickboxing the way they've built MMA, it would explode. The talent is there — the storytelling machine is not.
A nation of 17 million people gave the world Ramon Deckers, Peter Aerts, Badr Hari, Melvin Manhoef, Rob Kamen, Ernesto Hoost, and Rico Verhoeven. Rico's theory: the country is so small that every gym shares knowledge freely. In the US, you need a flight. In Holland, you drive 40 minutes and spar the national champion.
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