Ariel Helwani
At a glance
- Named MMA Journalist of the Year at the World MMA Awards every year since 2010, including 2026
- Launched The MMA Hour in 2009, then Uncrowned with Yahoo Sports in 2024
- Hosts The Ariel Helwani Show several times a week
Overview
Ariel Helwani is an MMA journalist born on July 8, 1982 in Montreal. He has covered MMA since 2006. In June 2009 he launched The MMA Hour on MMA Fighting, an interview show that became one of the sport's regular fixtures. He later moved to ESPN, where he worked from 2018 to 2021.
In 2024 he launched Uncrowned, a combat sports brand, with Yahoo Sports. He has also contributed to HBO's Real Sports since 2022. At the World MMA Awards, he has been named MMA Journalist of the Year every year since 2010, and he won the award again in 2026.
What you'll find
His main format is The Ariel Helwani Show, which airs several times a week on Uncrowned. The show runs through interviews with fighters, coaches and executives, along with talk about the week's news, recent event results and upcoming fights, often with guests who just fought or are about to.
Ariel Helwani is also known for his scoops: fight announcements, signings and card news, which he often breaks first on his X account. His long-form interviews give fighters time to talk about their careers, their contract talks and their plans, beyond simply promoting their next fight.
Why follow
Following Ariel Helwani gets you much of the MMA news the moment it breaks. His scoops on X often come before official announcements, and his show regularly hosts the fighters at the center of the news, before or after their fights, while the story is still fresh.
His path from The MMA Hour to ESPN and then Uncrowned also shows how MMA coverage has changed over twenty years. His record at the World MMA Awards, with a journalist of the year award every year since 2010, reflects the standing he has with his peers and with the fighters he covers.
MMA Official's take
Ariel Helwani is for fans who want MMA news fast and for those who enjoy long interviews with fighters. He suits English-speaking fans who follow the UFC and the major promotions and want to hear fighters speak at length about their careers.
Start by following his X account for scoops, then watch an episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, ideally the one after a big UFC event. You will hear the night's winners talk through their fights and what comes next for them.