At a glance
- Character created by Dave Schmulenson, known for his yellow aviator sunglasses
- YouTube channel launched in 2014, fight week interviews
- About 383,000 subscribers as of September 2026
Overview
The Schmo is the on-camera persona of Dave Schmulenson, from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, instantly recognizable by his yellow aviator sunglasses. A University of Arizona graduate, he worked at USA TODAY Sports Media Group, NFL Network and Comcast SportsNet Chicago before building his own channel.
The YouTube channel dates back to 2014, is independent and had about 383,000 subscribers as of September 2026. During event weeks it posts almost every day.
What you'll find
The core format is short interviews shot during fight week and at media days, mixing news questions with humor. The Schmo has interviewed Dana White, Georges St-Pierre, Tony Ferguson and boxer Tyson Fury.
In September 2026 the channel posted Brendan Allen picking the next middleweight champion, Belal Muhammad on Islam Makhachev, Gilbert Burns questioning Khamzat Chimaev's cardio, Joe Pyfer on Sean Strickland's next fight and several Chael Sonnen reactions. It also caught Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman backstage after their wins at the RAF 13 wrestling event. Guests aren't limited to fighters: the channel also had The Real Tarzann ranking the three most dangerous animals, and Joe Pyfer naming the best fighters in combat sports.
Why follow
Videos usually run a few minutes and go straight to one question: a prediction, a reaction, a take on a rival. You hear from fighters right before or right after they compete, in a looser setting than a press conference. Video titles state the question up front, so you can pick what interests you at a glance.
The posting volume lets you follow a fight week almost day by day, from media day to post-fight reactions. Around a single card, the channel can post more than ten clips in a week.
MMA Official's take
The Schmo is for fans who want to hear from fighters directly in short clips, on the phone or between longer shows. There is no technical analysis here: the questions target personality and predictions. If you prefer long sit-down interviews, look to podcasts instead.
Start with a big event week, such as the RAF 13 run with Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman and Chael Sonnen, to get a feel for Dave Schmulenson's interview style. From there, search the channel for a fighter you follow to find his past fight week appearances.