Adin Ross went off on Stake founder Eddie Craven during a recent livestream over Kick’s sponsorship of Run Nation Championship, a combat league where heavyweight fighters sprint at each other full-speed and collide head-on.
Ross told Craven he deserves prison time for backing it:
“I ain’t gonna lie. Eddie, you got to go to prison, bro. Besides the gambling, you’re sponsoring this event. Eddie, why are putting Kick… What is this, bro? Someone’s going to die, that’s a fact, 100%.”
What is Run Nation?
Run Nation grew out of a social media trend called “run it straight” that went viral in Australia. Two people run at each other as fast as they can, crash together, and whoever’s still standing wins. No boxing gloves, no wrestling rules, minimal safety measures.
The Kick logo is plastered at the starting line where fighters begin their charge and in the center where they collide.
Ross’ Concerns
Ross called the league a CTE factory. CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is the brain disease from repeated head impacts that’s destroyed countless football players and boxers.
Neurologists have called for these events to be banned. The concussion and long-term brain damage risks are massive. Many participants are regular people chasing viral fame and prize money, not trained combat athletes.
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren called the format “stupid” and dangerous. Medical professionals warn young people might copy the stunts without understanding the risks.
Craven-Ross Clash
This isn’t their first blowup. Their relationship has been deteriorating for months.
In November 2024, Ross accused Craven of manipulating view counts on Kick. He claimed the CEO could edit anyone’s viewer numbers and was “supplying” viewbots while publicly claiming to fight them.
When Ross started gambling on Rainbet instead of Stake, Kick slashed his payout.
“They literally straight up said, ‘Unless you’re on Stake, we’re lowering your shit,'” Ross said.
Drake got involved, calling Craven a “goof” and saying he wanted to fight him “for free.” Drake eventually deleted his entire Kick account over frustrations with the platform.
