At a glance
- Yahoo Sports and Ariel Helwani partnership announced August 20, 2024
- Official launch in October 2024 from a New York studio
- Covers MMA, boxing and wrestling
Overview
Uncrowned is the combat sports brand of Yahoo Sports. The partnership between Yahoo Sports and Ariel Helwani was announced on August 20, 2024, after Ariel Helwani left MMA Fighting. A special preview of The Ariel Helwani Show aired on September 13, 2024 from The Venetian in Las Vegas, and the official launch followed in October 2024 from a Yahoo Sports studio in New York.
The newsroom is led by editor in chief Shaheen Al-Shatti, formerly deputy editor at MMA Fighting, with writers including Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes. Ariel Helwani was named MMA Journalist of the Year at the 2026 World MMA Awards, credited to Uncrowned.
Shaheen Al-Shatti, who previously worked at MMA Fighting and The Athletic, is a three-time MMA Journalist of the Year nominee. Chuck Mindenhall's resume includes The Athletic, MMA Fighting, The Ringer and ESPN. Ben Fowlkes has co-hosted the Co-Main Event MMA podcast since 2012. Keith Idec covers boxing and Cameron Hawkins covers wrestling.
What you'll find
The flagship is The Ariel Helwani Show, planned for four times a week at launch, with commentary, analysis and long-form fighter interviews. Eric Jackman, Conner Burks and Frank Lenz were among the supporting hosts announced at launch.
Petesy Carroll hosts The Craic with Petesy Carroll, a weekly MMA show covering the UFC, the PFL and other promotions. Alongside the shows, Uncrowned publishes news and analysis on MMA, boxing and wrestling.
Everything is distributed on the Yahoo Sports combat hub, on the website and app, on YouTube, on social media and on all major podcast platforms.
Why follow
Uncrowned brings several well-known names from American MMA media under one brand. The Ariel Helwani Show books fighters and other figures in the sport for long conversations, picking up where The MMA Hour, which Helwani launched in 2009, left off.
The written coverage from Shaheen Al-Shatti, Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes adds analysis and reporting to the shows. Because it also covers boxing and wrestling, you can follow all three sports in one place.
MMA Official's take
We recommend Uncrowned to fans who followed Ariel Helwani at MMA Fighting and to anyone who wants long interviews with headliners. Boxing and wrestling fans will find plenty too.
Start with an episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on YouTube or as a podcast, then add The Craic with Petesy Carroll for a weekly look at MMA news.