The multi-platform reporting archive of Zain Bando — featuring national written bylines for The Sporting News and On SI, weekly podcasts, video interviews, and on-site event coverage from press rows across the country.
Press Row · Credentialed On-Site Access · In-Arena Reporting
Showing 15 items
On Sports Illustrated (On SI)
Executive 1-on-1 sit-down with Professional Fighters League CEO John Martin on the tournament season, strategic acquisitions, and the fight business.
Ohio State On SI · Football
A late-May look at Ohio State’s playoff path, national perception, and schedule pressure waiting for Ryan Day’s Buckeyes.
Ohio State On SI · Big Ten
A utility-driven schedule piece giving Buckeyes readers the early broadcast windows and timing details they need before fall.
Ohio State On SI · Betting
Early market lines frame two must-win regular-season checkpoints for a Buckeyes team chasing playoff seeding and a Big Ten title.
MMA Knockout · UFC
A fight-news follow-up on the Chimaev-Strickland rivalry and how the middleweight title picture could shift over the next six months.
MMA Knockout · MMA Business
A payout-focused follow-up on MVP MMA’s Netflix debut, Ronda Rousey’s return, and how the card positioned itself against UFC.
Empty The Bench Network
A solo show built on research, prepared notes, and athlete-focused angles covering CFP expansion, UFC pay-per-views, and national races.
Empty The Bench Network
UFC, Bellator, PFL, and regional fight previews, post-fight recaps, and interviews with fighters, corners, and coaches.
Fight Capital Global
Interview with Ryan Vevon Rapaport on freelance sports journalism, the necessity of on-site presence, and shaping the MMA narrative.
Fight Capital Newsletter #34
Featured commentary alongside Tracey Lesetar-Smith and Xander Simms examining what is driving combat sports’ global commercial expansion.
BJPenn.com · Bellator 288
On-site Bellator 288 reporting from Chicago with promoter Scott Coker detailing future arena plans and market viability.
Medill Reports · College Football
A deep-dive feature profile on the Oklahoma defensive back at the start of his pro journey, grounded in player discipline.
Inside NU · Northwestern Basketball
A columnist’s argument making the case for Northwestern men’s basketball as the Wildcats turned into a top Big Ten storyline.
Writing Illini · ReliaQuest Bowl
On-site bowl game reporting from Tampa as Illinois closed its 2022 campaign against Mississippi State.
Illinois Student Broadcasting
A specific reel of on-air work spanning Rollin’ Illini, the A to Z podcast, and play-by-play and color commentary for Illinois women’s basketball and softball.
Solo sports analysis and comprehensive combat sports archives on major podcast platforms.
A solo show built on prep, not hot takes — conversation-style episodes covering the week’s biggest stories across college football, the four major leagues, combat sports, and postseason races.
UFC, Bellator, PFL, and the regional scene — previewed, recapped, and put in context across the show’s 2023-2025 run. Less hype, more reporting.
ZB Sports Media provides on-location coverage from major venues across the United States.
Big Ten Football Media Days
UFC 319
United Center, Chicago · On-site, credentialed coverage
NCAA Final Four
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis · Credentialed championship coverage
Big Ten MBB Championship
Chicago & Minneapolis · Credentialed tournament coverage
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium, Orlando · On-site, credentialed bowl coverage
Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium, Nashville · On-site, credentialed bowl coverage
2023 ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa · On-site bowl game reporting
Super Bowl LVII Media Week
Phoenix, AZ · Medill Explores selected cohort
Bellator MMA (288 & Series)
Wintrust Arena, Chicago · Cage-side credentialed media
NCAA MBB Tournament Rounds
Regional Sites · Credentialed tournament media
Selected features in regional and national publications documenting Zain Bando’s journey in sports journalism.
The News-Gazette
An early feature profile on building a sports journalism career while living with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy — a perspective that continues to inform our person-first reporting.
BroBible
A national write-up documenting a viral collegiate sports moment at the State Farm Center in Champaign.
Medill School (Northwestern)
Selected as one of 10 Medill Sports graduate students to report on-site at Super Bowl LVII Media Week in Phoenix, Arizona.
Every byline, fight recap, profile, and column — auto-aggregated and updated in real time.
