207 avsnitt • Längd: 120 min • Veckovis: Torsdag
“The Ariel Helwani Show” is the flagship program for Uncrowned. Every episode will feature interviews with the biggest names in combat sports, and analysis from Helwani and The Boys in the Back.
The podcast The Ariel Helwani Show is created by Ariel Helwani. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off a stacked show by reacting to the official launch of Queensberry Promotions on DAZN (02:06) and previewing the upcoming heavyweight scrap between Joe Joyce and Filip Hrgovic (10:14).
Pat Brown joins the show on the heels of his spectacular pro debut (13:35) and discusses whether he's ready to carry the mantle as the face of British boxing.
Then, Deontay Wilder breaks his silence (32:58), discussing his comeback, whether a Francis Ngannou fight is still in the cards, and who remains on his hit list.
After the duo reacts to Wilder's words (1:03:30), they recap wins by Mikaela Mayer (1:04:46) and William Zepeda (1:08:50) over the weekend, before delivering the Parting Shot (1:12:49).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show (00:45).
Eddie Hall, the 2017 World's Strongest Man, discusses his massive KSW fight against Mariusz Pudzianowski, training with Tom Aspinall, beating the Neffati brothers in a viral 2-on-1 and more (07:26).
Ryan Bader discusses his PFL release, what's next for his career, his old UFC rivalry with Daniel Cormier, landing the role of Mark Coleman in The Rock's new Mark Kerr biopic and more (35:30).
Yoel Romero discusses his knockout victory in the official Dirty Boxing debut, his viral "go" interview before the Israel Adesanya fight, advice he'd give to Adesanya after the former champ's latest loss and more (1:02:10).
Former UFC title contender Jessica Eye break news of her BKFC signing and discusses her plans in bare-knuckle boxing (1:39:57).
Wrestling royalty Bret Hart discusses his latest (and third!) WWE Hall of Fame induction, his legendary match with Stone Cold Steve Austin, his view on modern wrestling, Hulk Hogan's recent criticism and more (2:00:59).
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Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show by reacting to the latest GFL news (04:22).
Jorge Masvidal goes all-in on a potential UFC comeback fight against Leon Edwards. He also discusses Colby Covington's latest loss, his boxing adventure with Nate Diaz, why Tom Aspinall could be the one to finally give Jon Jones problems, plus more (15:19).
Loopy Godinez discusses her big win over Julia Polastri at UFC Mexico, getting sick in Mexico and dealing with bathroom-related issues during the fight, what's next and more (42:31).
Mike Perry discusses the latest with BKFC and Dirty Boxing Championship, getting offered an MMA fight against Dillon Danis under the Misfits banner, potentially challenging Robbie Lawler in bare-knuckle and more (1:01:10).
MMA legend Urijah Faber discusses his decision to return to active competition, his GFL trilogy fight against Renan Barao, the big money involved with GFL, life after fighting and more (1:39:34).
Ariel and the crew react to the busy weekend in combat sports, including Brandon Moreno's big win at UFC Mexico (2:17:10)
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There was a lot of negativity around last week’s London event, so it was only fair for Petesy and Chuck to have veteran U.K. journalist Chisanga Malata back on to give his firsthand impression of what it was like to be in The o2 to witness Sean Brady’s dominant win over Leon Edwards, that put the cherry on top of a rough night for the Brits (1:50).
Following the UFC London debrief, Chuck and Petesy give their thoughts on the lightweight title picture and weigh in on who should fight Islam Makhachev next, Ilia Topuria or Charles Oliveira (30:47).
Finally, the lads move on to Conor McGregor’s run for Irish presidency, and whether his latest comments mean that we’ve seen the last of “The Notorious” as a combat sports athlete (49:46).
The Boys in the Back try to untangle the log jam at the top of the UFC's lightweight division (03:12), including who's going to be next for Islam Makhachev?
Then they dive deep on UFC Mexico City, starting with the main event between Brandon Moreno and Steve Erceg (27:58), before moving on to the co-main event (53:29) and Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer (1:01:47).
Plus, the Parlay Pals make picks (1:27:19), list their P4P Mexican dishes (1:40:00), and Super Chats (2:01:14).
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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with more thoughts on Cain Velasquez's sentencing, including a statement from Velasquez's longtime agent Mike Fonseca (05:18).
During On The Nose, the gang answers all your latest questions about the coverage of Conor McGregor, fallout from the James Krause betting scandal, Donn Davis' big money offer to Jon Jones, and more (10:50).
Longtime WWE star Baron Corbin, aka Thomas Pestock, discusses his WWE departure, being blindsided by the whole experience, signing with MLW, whether the WWE locker room dislikes Logan Paul and more (1:18:25).
Charles Oliveira discusses Ilia Topuria's recent attacks, the state of the UFC lightweight division, whether it's title shot or bust next, a target date for his return and more (2:03:22).
Norma Dumont discusses her rise to UFC bantamweight title contention, discovering that her husband/coach cheated on her before Noche UFC, wanting Kayla Harrison next and more (2:35:26).
Alex Pereira joins in-studio for his first interview since UFC 313, discussing what went wrong in his loss to Magomed Ankalaev, what he wants next, why he contemplated pulling out of the fight, plus much more (3:00:29).
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Ariel Helwani goes solo for this edition of Ariel x Ade, kicked off by Darren Barker's sitdown interview with Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren (05:26).
Barker joins the show (18:27) to go behind the scenes and discuss hot topics including Daniel Dubois' next fight (20:22), Dana White and TKO entering the boxing arena (23:43), whether now's the time for Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury (27:13), and more.
Hall of Famer Jim Lampley joins the show (43:16) to pay tribute to legend George Foreman and tell stories from their time as colleagues and friends.
Finally, Helwani recaps big wins by George Kambosos Jr., Tiara Brown, and Cherneka Johnson (1:06:49), before looking ahead to a busy boxing weekend (1:09:11).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show with the latest news on Cain Velasquez and the James Krause betting scandal (07:47).
Raul Rosas Jr. discusses his UFC Mexico City return against Vince Morales, how he got Carl's Jr. to give him his own burger, chasing Jon Jones' fabled UFC record and more (32:28).
Steve Erceg discusses his UFC Mexico City main event against Brandon Moreno, battling imposter syndrome, his disdain for "diva" Muhammad Mokaev and more (59:34).
Former two-time GLORY Kickboxing champion and Contender Series alum Artem Vakhitov discusses why he spurned a UFC contract and announces his GLORY return against Rico Verhoeven (1:28:31).
Olympic champion and head coach of the Oklahoma State wrestling program David Taylor discusses Wyatt Hendrickson's monster upset of Gable Steveson, Hendrickson's future and more (1:58:27).
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Ariel Helwani and the crew kick off the show by looking back at the weekend in combat, including Sean Brady's victory over Leon Edwards at UFC London (08:38).
Tom Aspinall discusses his much-anticipated meeting with the UFC brass in London, the latest in the Jon Jones saga, Leon Edwards loss to Sean Brady and more (42:10).
Nathaniel Wood discusses his big win over Morgan Charriere at UFC London, battling intrusive thoughts before the fight, ditching "The Prospect" nickname, who he wants next and more (1:14:07).
Sean Brady discusses his monster performance against Leon Edwards at UFC London, his animosity with Edwards after the fight, Ian Machado Garry's complaints, a potential title shot and more (1:34:17).
Teddy Atlas discusses the passing of George Foreman and reflects on the life of the boxing legend (2:06:42).
3PAC is back! Ariel Helwani, Chuck Mindenhall, and Petesy Carroll reunite to react to UFC London, starting with Sean Brady's spectacular submission of Leon Edwards in the main event (03:57).
Next, they move to the co-main event, which saw Carlos Ulberg edge out a decision against Jan Blachowicz (32:11), before moving on to Kevin Holland's bounce back win over Gunnar Nelson (41:06).
The trio take a detour to discuss Petesy's night out with comedian Shane Gillis (47:28) and then get back on track to wrap up the rest of the card (53:36).
They close the show with a tribute to legend George Foreman (1:00:38) and touch on results from around the combat sports world (1:05:03) before saying goodbye.
Veteran U.K. journalist Chisanga Malata of The Sun joins the show to talk about the buzz in London (2:43) ahead of Leon Edwards’ main event clash with Sean Brady. After Michael Bisping claims that Sean Brady was a nightmare matchup for the former welterweight champion, Petesy and Chuck weigh-in on how they feel the two match up (21:29).
After speaking with surging light-heavyweight Carlos Ulberg in the lead up to his co-main event meeting with Jan Blachowicz, Chuck talks about the impression Ulberg gave him ahead of the biggest test of his career (33:20). The lads look at the rest of the card and discuss some interesting storylines they are excited to see play out (40:50).
Petesy breaks the news to Chuck about KSI pulling out of his boxing bout with Dillon Danis (47:28), before they take a look at the fights GFL announced for their debut event in May (48:51).
Finally, the lads give their picks for the main event and the co-main event of UFC London (01:07:00).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to Magomed Ankalaev hinting at the Alex Pereira rematch already having a date (02:21).
They preview UFC London from top to bottom (08:28), before being joined by Ariel Helwani for some breaking news (1:10:06).
Then, they deliver their UFC London picks (1:31:42) and debut a brand new Fight Feasts, featuring an English breakfast (1:40:02).
Finally, The Boys list their top P4P British fighters (1:57:47) and answer your questions (2:16:07).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a look back at Jon Jones stopping a mugger on the anniversary of his world title win at UFC 128 (03:14).
Ariel and the gang answer all your latest On The Nose questions about Tom Aspinall continuing to wait for the Jones fight, Sean O'Malley's chances at featherweight, and more (13:51).
GLORY Kickboxing CEO Marshall Zelaznik breaks some big news and outlines the promotion's plans for 2025 (1:15:40).
GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven teases his next fight and discusses his dominant kickboxing run, potential progress on a Francis Ngannou matchup, plus more Rico (1:32:29).
Cory Sandhagen previews his UFC Des Moines main event against Deiveson Figueiredo and discusses his push for Sean O'Malley, lessons from Umar Nurmagomedov, brutal body shots, plus more (1:46:43).
Wrestling legend Bill Goldberg guarantees a WWE retirement match in 2025, tells crazy stories about the WCW and early MMA era, talks potential feuds with Gunther and Roman Reigns, plus more (2:17:23).
The show closes with more On The Nose questions (3:11:22) and Super Chats (3:31:51).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo begin the show with a discussion about Alycia Baumgardner joining Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (08:04).
They look back at Saturday's card at Caribe Royale, featuring Edgar Berlanga's big knockout (16:45), Omari Jones' sensational performance — and ring attire, and Austin 'Ammo' Williams victory in the main event (24:59).
Then, they react to 'King' Callum Walsh's latest win and the level of opposition he's faced thus far in his career (27:06).
Next, they're joined in back-to-back interviews by Sebastian Fundora (31:38) and Cherneka Johnson (47:03) ahead of their fights this weekend.
Next, a look at Nick Ball's win (1:01:30) — and kick — leads to a conversation about whether Ball should be Naoya Inoue's next opponent (1:05:32).
Finally, the show concludes with a conversation about reports of Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Lamont Roach running it back (1:11:27). Plus, the Parting Shot from Jack Turner (1:17:56).
Ariel Helwani and the crew kick off the show with the latest news and notes in combat, including a deep dive into Conor McGregor's White House visit and the reaction to it back in Ireland (7:07).
Gunnar Nelson previews his UFC London fight against Kevin Holland and discusses his two-year MMA layoff, the way in which his relationship with Conor McGregor has changed, plus more (30:50).
Jalin Turner opens up about his MMA retirement in a wide-ranging and remarkably candid must-see interview (1:00:47).
Morgan Charriere looks ahead to his UFC London return against Nathaniel Wood and discusses the rise of MMA in France, fighting in enemy territory, his pirate diamond chain and more (1:35:55).
The crew rejoins Ariel to discuss John Cena's heel promo in Brussels and the crowd reaction (2:03:09), before closing the show by answering some Super Chats (2:28:49).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a little of college basketball bracket talk (01:10).
Jeremy Stephens discusses his surprise UFC signing, taking another gamble on himself with a one-fight deal, his future with BKFC and more (08:30).
Leon Edwards previews his UFC London main event against Sean Brady and reflects on his title loss to Belal Muhammad (34:03).
Edwards' longtime head coach, Dave Lovell, then joins us to do the same (59:01).
Bo Nickal discusses his May 3 bout against Reinier de Ridder at UFC Des Moines, the problem with the UFC APEX, his issue with UFC's rankings, trolling Khamzat Chimaev and more (1:31:45).
Gordon Ryan discusses Tom Aspinall's grappling, trolling Dillon Danis, working with Bo Nickal, rampant steroid use in jiu-jitsu, competing for UFC and more (2:07:43).
Petesy Carroll joins us to ring in St. Patrick's Day the proper Irish way (2:44:46) and reaction to Conor McGregor visiting the White House.
Petesy Carroll is joined by Uncrowned’s Ben Fowlkes to discuss Beniel Dariush potentially leaking Dustin Poirier meeting old rival Max Holloway in his retirement fight (8:39).
Just after getting the show underway, the news hits of three weigh misses for this weekend’s Apex card (14:40), before the conversation returns to Poirier (19:59).
The lads ponder when Ilia Topuria will make his 155-pound debut with Charles Oliveira’s camp claiming that the Brazilian has a fight booked for International Fight Week (29:15).
In the wake of UFC 313, Petesy and Ben weigh-in on the changing narrative around Alex Pereira, with the likes of Daniel Cormier claiming the defeat to Magomed Anakalev underlined how the knockout artist is simply too small for heavyweight (39:56).
With the announcement of Paul Hughes’ homecoming bout against Bruno Miranda taking place in Belfast in May, Petesy asks Ben if he thinks PFL fumbled the bag by not immediately booking the Irishman’s rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov (50:58).
Finally, the return of Jeremy Stephens is brought into focus and the lads wonder if his re-signing to the UFC is a bad thing for BKFC on the back of his highly publicized knockout of Eddie Alvarez in Philadelphia (59:58).
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The Boys in the Back start the show by reacting to a few bits of breaking news: Naoya Inoue has his next fight (01:41) and Jeremy Stephens is back in the UFC (03:48).
Then they dive deep, aiming to answer a simple question: Does the UFC have a star problem (09:46)?
Plus, they preview UFC Vegas 104 (1:34:05), make picks (1:45:09), deliver P4P rankings (1:53:26) , and answer your questions (2:11:55).
Ariel Helwani answers all your On The Nose questions about Dana White and TKO's foray into boxing, the Tate brothers at UFC 313, Justin Gaethje calling for a title shot, and more (09:18).
MMA legend and old friend Mayhem Miller reunites with Ariel to discuss his challenging road to recovery, the harsh reality of life after MMA, the current state of UFC champions and more (1:02:20).
Rising flyweight Joshua Van discusses his big UFC 313 win over Rei Tsuruya, his placement on Uncrowned's "Top 25 under 25 for '25" list, his street fighting past and more (1:33:38).
Jan Blachowicz discusses his UFC London return against Carlos Ulberg, Bryce Mitchell's disgusting comments, his emotional double shoulder surgery, Magomed Ankalaev as champ and more (1:59:12).
Undefeated Irish heavyweight Thomas Carty joins in-studio to discuss Sunday's boxing match against Dajuan Calloway on the Callum Walsh vs. Dean Sutherland undercard, training with Tyson Fury, the decline of Conor McGregor, Dana White and Turki Alalshikh's boxing plans, plus more (2:26:40).
The show closes with more of your On The Nose Questions (3:06:44) and Super Chats (3:45:54).
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Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show with their reactions to another press conference for the Times Square card and wonder why Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney aren't fighting (07:00).
Next, they listen to comments from Oscar De La Hoya (10:16) and Eddie Hearn (14:00) about Dana White and TKO teaming with Turki Alalshikh and react to the promoters' thoughts.
Prompted by comments from Ariel's interview with Lou DiBella (20:30), the duo debates the recently floated idea that boxing is 'broken.'
Then, they discuss Chris Eubank Jr. being fined £100,000 for slapping Conor Benn with an egg (27:02) and whether the punishment fits the crime.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. joins the show to recap his recent performance, look ahead to what's next — could it be Terence Crawford — and talk about his love of the Harry Potter series (31:46).
Finally, the show closes with reactions to NYSAC denying Lamont Roach's appeal for the Gervonta Davis fight (51:31), Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez talks heating up (55:32), Tyson Fury's tease (1:00:22), and Johnny Fisher vs. Dave Allen 2 being announced (1:03:37). Plus, the Parting Shot (1:14:33).
Ariel and the gang kick off the show by debating Uncrowned's latest pound-for-pound MMA rankings update following Alex Pereira's loss to Magomed Ankalaev (02:36).
Longtime boxing promoter Lou DiBella stops by in-studio to discuss the state of the sweet science, how TKO's new boxing venture will change the industry, why the current system is broken and more (10:56).
WWE superstar Natalya Neidhart joins in-studio to discuss her emotional WWE journey, becoming the women's GOAT, how Triple H changed the company, John Cena's heel turn and more (1:18:51).
Rafael Fiziev discusses his short-notice loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 313, why he's mulling a featherweight move and more (2:20:05).
Ariel Helwani reacts to everything UFC 313, from Magomed Ankalaev's title win over Alex Pereira, to Justin Gaethje's "Y'all Must've Forgot" performance, and more (01:54).
Mauricio Ruffy stops by following his Knockout of the Year worthy win over King Green to discuss his harrowing road through MMA, how Neymar assisted with his highlight-reel KO, his pursuit of Islam Makhachev, the success of the Fighting Nerds team and more (1:07:24).
Jiri Prochazka talks shop about Alex Pereira's loss to Magomed Ankalaev, the new champ's post-fight comments, his past run-in with Ankalaev and more (1:32:31).
Dillon Danis joins in-studio to discuss his upcoming fights against KSI and Tony Ferguson, training with Alex Pereira before the Magomed Ankalaev bout, how much he's making to face KSI, Logan Paul's lawsuit, battling alcohol addiction, getting blackballed from UFC and more (2:02:03).
Ariel Helwani joins The Boys in the Back to react to UFC 313, beginning with Magomed Ankalaev shocking Alex Pereira in the night's main event (00:30).
The crew wonders what's next for Pereira (09:14) and whether the outcome was good for the UFC (16:07). Could this be the end of Pereira's reign (24:30) and where does he fit into the UFC's plans for Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall (28:06)?
Next, they discuss the thrilling co-main event between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev (30:07), before recapping the rest of the card, including Ignacio Bahamondes' slick submission (39:30) and Mauricio Ruffy's spectacular knockout (42:11).
With all the talk of what lies beyond UFC 313 for Alex Pereira, are we discounting the fact that Magomed Ankalaev is by far his hardest test at 205 pounds? Petesy Carroll, Ben Fowlkes and Shaheen Al-Shatti discuss how a victory would impact the iconic Brazilian striker’s legacy (4:03).
As for the chief support, the lads ponder whether Justin Gaethje will be a changed man following his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway when he rematches short-notice stand-in Rafael Fiziev (29:56).
The conversation then turns to TKO and whether its boxing revolution will be as easily executed as most people are anticipating (44:32).
Petesy shares thoughts from the homeland about Katie Taylor’s big Croke Park fight never coming to fruition, as her trilogy bout with Amanda Serrano has been confirmed for July at Madison Square Garden (59:11).
Finally, the trio predict what Ilia Topuria is teasing with a recent post online (1:07:25) and try to formulate a way to destroy Chuck Mendenhall’s reign as Uncrowned’s king of picks (1:14:22).
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Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo are together again in studio to react to the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull press conference (03:43).
They look ahead to Alvarez's planned showdown with Terence Crawford (05:57), before doubling back to analyze the faceoff between Alvarez and Scrull (10:19).
After highlighting the significance of The Ring Magazine belt (11:17), the duo discusses Bruno Surace and Jaime Munguia running it back (20:50) and Martin Bakole's return against Efe Ajagba (25:59).
Next, they react to the announcement of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano booking their trilogy bout (28:56) and wonder if Claressa Shields could wind up on the undercard (32:32).
The conversation shifts to the WBC ordering Dmitry Bivol to fight David Benavidez (46:41).
Finally, the show closes with speculation about who could headline the newly formed TKO boxing promotion's supercards (49:55), including mention of UFC champion Alex Pereira potentially facing Oleksandr Usyk.
The Boys is the Back kicks off with breaking news that Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano have booked their trilogy fight at Madison Square Garden (02:04).
Then, they break down the UFC 313 main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev from all angles (07:01), jump to the event's co-main event (50:42), and speculate on whether Oleksandr Usyk could be Alex Pereira's next fight (59:30).
Next, coach Brandon Gibson, joins to analyze Pereira's wrestling and whether he'll be able to hold off Ankalaev's attack (1:16:43). Plus, he provides an update on Aaron Pico's status with the PFL and gives thoughts on Jon Jones facing either Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira.
The Boys visit a Brazilian churrascaria for Fight Feasts (1:44:52) before making picks (2:00:58), delivering their top P4P faceoffs (2:13:33), and answering your questions (2:40:00).
Ariel and the gang react to the breaking news of TKO and Turki Alalshikh partnering to create a new — and potentially revolutionary — boxing promotion (06:03).
First Round Management's Malki Kawa checks in with the latest on star clients Jon Jones and Ilia Topuria, as well as Mike Perry's Dirty Boxing Championship and more (1:05:57).
"Big" John Fisher, father of boxer Johnny Fisher and leader of the Romford Bull Army, discusses his viral fame, Johnny's career as a heavyweight contender, Chinese food and more (1:36:07).
Ade Oladipo joins us in-studio to debate the latest in the boxing world and take on GC in a nail-biting Aviron challenge (2:02:32).
Ariel answers all your latest On The Nose questions about UFC 313, the big boxing news, and much more (3:18:09).
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On a special edition of Ariel x Ade, live from the press conference for the Times Square boxing card, Oscar De La Hoya joins to give his immediate reaction (02:35).
Then, Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo give their own reactions to the press conference (13:06) and ponder the logistics of how an event in Times Square can be pulled off (23:21).
Next they check in on earlier action from London, where KSI slapped Dillon Danis with a pancake during their press conference (24:40).
Looking back to the weekend that was, the duo discusses the controversial Gervonta 'Tank' Davis vs. Lamont Roach fight (29:01) and Davis seemingly alluding to a potential fight against Jake Paul (42:57).
Continuing the rewind, they address Paddy Donovan's disqualification against Lewis Crocker (49:22) and the fallout from Chris Eubank Jr. slapping Conor Benn with an egg (56:49), before delivering the Parting Shot (1:01:27).
Valentina Shevchenko previews her UFC flyweight title defense against Manon Fiorot, discusses the chances of a Zhang Weili superfight next and more (04:08).
Oban Elliott talks his new UFC contract, the options for his next fight, Jorge Masvidal, John Cena's heel turn and more (35:47).
ESPN's Marc Raimondi previews his new NWO book and discusses how Cena's heel turn compares to Hulk Hogan's, Alex Pereira's chances against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, and more (1:05:19).
Ariel and The Boys in the Back react to KSI slapping Dillon Danis with a pancake at their press conference (1:38:28).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the program by reacting to the Gervonta 'Tank' Davis vs. Lamont Roach controversy, John Cena's shocking heel turn, UFC Vegas 103 and more (06:11).
Rafael Fiziev eases us into UFC 313 fight week by previewing his short-notice rematch against Justin Gaethje (41:01).
Uncrowned's Keith Idec checks in with the latest on the Davis vs. Roach controversy and what's next for "Tank" (1:03:25)
Daria Berenato — aka WWE's Sonya Deville — joins us in-studio to discuss her WWE departure, why a potential MMA return may be next, her terrifying experience with a stalker and more (1:37:34).
MMA legend Tony Ferguson calls in to break news of his GFL bout against Dillon Danis and discuss his emotional UFC release, rejecting the KSI boxing match and more (2:44:48).
Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to discuss TKO’s imminent arrival in the boxing world, in conjunction with Saudi Arabia (2:50), and TKO president Mark Shapiro suggesting the Ali Act is flawed.
During the show, news broke of a massive boxing card taking place in Times Square, so the lads give their thoughts on hosting an event in that unique location (35:12), before the conversation turns to the UFC’s media rights, which will be up for grabs before the end of 2025 (44:48).
Finally, Petesy asked Chuck and Ben if the build-up to Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn has made a splash across the pond (58:42).
The Boys in the Back, react to another Wednesday night news drop by Dana White (02:47), including Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree headlining UFC Kansas City, Justin Gaethe vs. Rafael Fiziev 2 getting slated for UFC 313 and Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva being booked for UFC 314.
Next, they discuss news of a deal being close with Saudi Arabia to launch a TKO boxing league (22:39), check in on the Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn press conference (29:47), preview UFC Vegas 103 (35:44) and make their picks for the weekend (49:03).
Finally, The Boys deliver their P4P lists of movie fight scenes (1:00:48), and answer your questions (1:31:48).
Ariel Helwani and the crew kick off the show by answering all your latest On The Nose questions about options for Tom Aspinall if the Jon Jones fight doesn't materialize, Patricio Pitbull's potential to become a UFC champ, and some show production behind-the-scenes (11:39).
Sean Brady checks in ahead of his UFC London bout against Leon Edwards and discusses how the fight came to be, Belal Muhammad's recent comments and more (01:32:36).
Jean Silva discusses his sensational showing at UFC Seattle, his journey through MMA, a potential UFC 313 short-notice fight next week and more (02:01:42).
Joseph Parker discusses his second-round knockout of Martin Bakole, his chaotic week in Riyadh, Daniel Dubois' mysterious withdrawal, a potential Anthony Joshua rematch and more (02:31:11).
Alexander Volkanovski previews his UFC 314 vacant title bout and discusses his MMA future, how many fights he has left, how his year off impacted his thoughts on retirement and much more (02:59:02).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show by reacting to the explosive press conference for Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn (2:16), which culminated with Eubank Jr. slapping Benn with an egg during their faceoff.
Then they react to other moments from the press conference (9:44), before bringing in Josh Padley, fresh off his admirable showing on Saturday's supercard from Riyadh (25:09).
The duo dives deeper on The Last Crescendo, starting with the main event which saw Dmitry Bivol claim revenge against Artur Beterbiev (44:08), and discuss whether a trilogy or David Benavidez should be next (47:20).
Focus shifts to Joseph Parker's short-notice knockout against Martin Bakole (54:40) and where the win places Parker in the pecking order.
Next, they touch on Vergil Ortiz's victory over Israil Madrimov (1:05:42), the controversial draw between Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (1:09:05), and Agit Kabayel stopping Zhilei Zhang (1:12:04).
Finally, they preview Gervonta 'Tank' Davis' upcoming about against Lamont Roach (1:15:23), before delivering The Parting Shot (1:24:01).
Ariel Helwani and the gang react to breaking news of Dan Hooker's injury withdrawal from the Justin Gaethje fight at UFC 313 (04:39).
Patricio Pitbull discusses his much-anticipated UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez, DMs he sent to Rodriguez, his challenge to Aljamain Sterling, whether he would've retired if UFC said no, plus more (31:30).
Song Yadong discusses his UFC Seattle main event win over Henry Cejudo, the fight-ending eye-poke, Cejudo's comments since and more (57:51).
Yair Rodriguez previews the other side of UFC 314's bout against Pitbull and responds to Pitbull revealing their DMs (1:31:58).
Aiemann Zahabi looks ahead to his UFC 315 bout against Jose Aldo and discusses how the fight came together (2:09:15).
Ariel Helwani and the gang break down every angle of the busy weekend in combat sports, from UFC Seattle and the main event's controversial ending due to an eye poke, to Bivol vs. Beterbiev 2 and beyond (08:41).
Boxing legend Jim Lampley joins us in-studio to discuss the historic weekend for the sweet science, his new book, his adventures through boxing history and much more (1:01:56).
Michael Chandler previews his UFC 314 bout against Paddy Pimblett and talks llia Topuria's lightweight move, Conor McGregor's latest, Patricio Pitbull's move to the UFC and more (1:59:16).
Austin Vanderford discusses his successful short-notice UFC Seattle debut, Nikolay Veretennikov's post-fight dramatics, his wife Paige VanZant's recent run with Power Slap and more (2:30:02).
Diego Lopes previews his UFC 314 bout for the vacant featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski and talks Topuria's decision to drop the belt (2:51:16).
The Boys in the Back are joined by Uncrowned's Keith Idec to react to a massive night of fights from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The conversation begins with Dmitry Bivol's redemption, beating Artur Beterbiev in their rematch to become undisputed light heavyweight champion (06:13).
Next they touch on showcase performances by Joseph Parker (11:01) and Shakur Stevenson (14:39), playing matchmaker for each in their respective divisions.
Finally, they discuss controversial scorecards in the fight between Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz (18:41), which resulted in a draw, and Agit Kabayel's big win over Zhilei Zhang (20:41).
Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall are joined by Drake Riggs, who is on site in Seattle for Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong, to discuss a crazy week of news in the combat sports world.
First, they look at Ilia Topuria vacating the featherweight title, leading to Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes competing for gold in the UFC 314 main event (06:12), before the conversation switches to Paddy Pimblett’s biggest fight to date against Michael Chandler (22:16).
The discussion turns to the welterweight shake-up that saw Jack Della Maddalena granted a title shot against champion Belal Muhammad (40:32), with Sean Brady stepping in to replace JDM against Leon Edwards in London.
Reacting to yesterday’s episode of The Boys in the Back, the lads consider NewYorkRic’s comment on the obvious size difference that will exist between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria should their clash happen (48:51).
Finally, Riggs gives insight on the biggest storylines from Seattle (1:00:00) before Mindenhall discusses whether the short notice replacements have affected Saturday’s boxing blockbuster from Riyadh (1:07:00).
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The Boys in the Back are joined by Ariel Helwani to recap a massive night of UFC news (01:46), including including Ilia Topuria vacating his title, the UFC 314 and UFC 315 main events, and more.
Then, they address recent social media posts by Johnny Eblen and the trend of disgruntled PFL fighters (01:01:35).
Next, they preview Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 (01:07:55) and UFC Seattle (01:27:03), before Ariel rejoins to break news of Bryce Mitchell's next move, a grappling match against Israel's Ilay Barzilay at Karate Combat 53 (01:41:16).
The breaking news continues, as plans for Deiveson Figueiredo and Cory Sandhagen to headline a UFC Fight Night in Des Moines, Iowa are revealed (02:12:08).
The Parlay Pals give their picks (02:19:43) and debut a brand new Fight Feasts celebrating some Seattle staples (02:26:40).
Finally, The Boys deliver their P4P rankings of fantasy fight card locations (02:44:18) and answer your questions (02:59:11).
Ariel Helwani reacts to breaking news from UFC president Dana White on Wednesday night: Ilia Topuria has vacated the UFC featherweight title, making way for Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to battle for the belt at UFC 314 in Miami (00:41).
Ariel reveals rumblings of Topuria potentially facing UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (01:23), before breaking down the rest of UFC 314, including Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett (02:57) and Patricio Pitbull's UFC debut coming against Yair Rodriguez (03:27).
But that's not all, London will be getting Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady (05:02) due to Jack Della Maddalena sliding into the UFC 315 main event against UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad (05:57).
Muhammad Mokaev kicks off the show by discussing his road since exiting the UFC, his recent run-in with Dana White, whether the relationship is repairable, his salary in Brave FC and more (05:34).
ONE bantamweight kickboxing champion and former two-division Muay Thai champion Jonathan Haggerty previews his Thursday title defense against Wei Rui and discusses his future goals in MMA (38:46).
Caio Borralho discusses the state of the UFC middleweight division, his continued surprise at Dricus du Plessis, training with Alex Pereira and Khamzat Chimaev, teaching math, plus more (01:03:32).
Ariel Helwani answers all your latest On The Nose questions about Aaron Pico's free agency, the crew's recommendations, relationship advice, hockey fights, the latest in the composting saga, wild hypotheticals and much more (01:50:29).
It's a massive fight week on Ariel x Ade and Mr. Oladipo joins live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The show begins by looking back at big wins by Keyshawn Davis (03:14) and Arnold Barboza Jr. (10:13) and recapping the grand arrivals for Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 (12:23).
Ade sits down for conversations with Joseph Parker (19:30) and Daniel Dubois (36:12) before the duo discusses Oleksandr Usyk saying he plans to fight the winner, as well as UFC champion Alex Pereira (42:14).
They react to breaking news of Floyd Schofield withdrawing from his fight against Shakur Stevenson (45:28) and speculate on who Stevenson could potentially fight on short notice (46:15).
Ade's interviews with Dmitry Bivol (52:10) and Artur Beterbiev (58:49) are followed by predictions for the card (01:05:07).
Next, some news and notes, including the booking of Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron 2 (01:12:38), Teofimo Lopez headlining a card from Alcatraz prison (01:13:58), and Ryan Garcia fighting Rolly Romero in Times Square (01:16:36).
Finally, the show closes with Keyshawn Davis' stoppage win as the Parting Shot (01:18:26).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show by laying out MMA's own version of the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament (06:46).
Dricus du Plessis discusses his latest UFC middleweight title defense over Sean Strickland, Belal Muhammad's recent comments, his game plan to stop Khamzat Chimaev and more (31:23).
Jared Cannonier discusses his "y'all must've forgot" win over Gregory Rodrigues, how he's somehow still competing at an elite level at age 40, what's next in his UFC career and more (01:06:51).
George Lockhart, Joseph Parker's nutritionist, previews Saturday's gigantic boxing card and Parker's upcoming challenge against IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, plus more (01:31:01).
The Boys in the Back rejoin Ariel to discuss outstanding news and notes, including an update from Eric Nicksick on his relationship with Sean Strickland (02:06:41).
Ariel Helwani and the gang react to the busy weekend in combat sports (23:53).
Youssef Zalal discusses his big UFC Vegas 102 win over Calvin Kattar, why he believes Kattar and his team were cheating, his road back to the UFC after his failed first stint, Topuria vs. Volkanovski 2 and more (41:13).
Bruce Buffer discusses his UFC Hall of Fame reveal, the remarkable road that led him down this path, how much longer he has left before retirement, his brother Michael Buffer and more (01:03:13).
Keyshawn Davis joins in-studio to discuss his WBO lightweight title win, the culprit of the racist package left at his hotel room during fight week, harrowing struggles with mental health, Gervonta Davis and more (01:39:25).
Song Yadong discusses his UFC Seattle main event against Henry Cejudo, his fast-improving English, the state of the bantamweight division and more (02:43:45).
Dominick Cruz discusses the emotional decision behind his UFC retirement, injuries he's suffered throughout his career, what's next for him, surprising messages of support he's received, favorite memories and more (03:12:16).
Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindehall give their thoughts on the split between Sean Strickland and Eric Nicksick (4:36), on the back of the UFC middleweight claiming he would no longer have the Xtreme Couture head coach in his corner after UFC 312.
While pondering wether the two would reconcile, the conversation shifts to Anthony Smith and Rampage Jackson (31:36) squashing their beef that arose from Smith’s criticism of Jaxxon Podcast’s handling of an interview they had with controversial featherweight Bryce Mitchell. The lads discuss what impact the growing number of fighter publications has on journalism and consider whether situations like this will happen more because of it.
Not a single MMA fighter made Sportico's list of the 100 highest-paid athletes for 2024, so Petesy and Chuck weigh-in on whether that is a shocking revelation or completely expected (43:06) and forecast if discussions about fighter unions will likely sprout around the time of the UFC’s new broadcast deal being announced.
Finally, they take a quick look at this weekend’s Apex extravaganza (54:23).
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The Boys in the Back start the show by reacting to Sean Strickland saying coach Eric Nicksick will no longer be in his corner (05:32).
Then, with Valentine's Day approaching, the Boys play matchmaker for several of the UFC's recently announced fight cards (14:03).
Next, they discuss Oleksandr Usyk saying he wants to fight Alex Pereira (37:47) and preview UFC Vegas 102 (43:32)
Finally, The Boys make picks (01:03:50), give their P4P rankings of matches made in heaven (01:12:00), and answer your questions (01:32:01).
Ariel Helwani answers all your latest On The Nose questions about Dana White's stance on free speech, whether UFC fans being priced out at live events, romantic gestures for Valentine's Day, and more (08:16).
UFC analyst Megan Anderson discusses Eric Nicksick's viral comments about Sean Strickland, Zhang Weili's win over Tatiana Suarez, Manon Fiorot potentially getting skipped in favor of a Valentina Shevchenko superfight and more (33:37).
UFC legend and ONE Championship executive Rich Franklin discusses the latest ONE news, his MMA legacy, whether he'd entertain a comeback with GFL, getting grounded knees to the head legalized in North America and more (01:02:28).
Matchroom's Eddie Hearn discusses Anthony Joshua's next move, Jake Paul's drama with Canelo Alvarez, the upcoming Feb. 22 super-card, whether Tank Davis vs. Shakur Stevenson happens in 2025 and more (01:33:46).
Aleksandre Topuria discusses his successful UFC 312 debut, what it's like being the brother of UFC champion Ilia Topuria, his MMA journey, whether GC actually looks like Guram and more (02:08:28).
Ariel picks back up with all your On The Nose questions about whether Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall will happen, the ongoing Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud, fights thats belong in the UFC Hall of Fame, the lightweight GOAT, and more (02:36:02).
Ariel x Ade kicks begins with thoughts and condolences to the family of Irish boxer John Cooney, who tragically died after suffering a brain injury following his title fight (02:55).
Then, Ariel and Ade break down the dramatic Canelo Alvarez negotiations (05:25), the finalized four-fight deal — including a highly-anticipated Terence Crawford fight (14:08) — and what's next for Jake Paul (27:20)?
The duo looks ahead to Jack Catterall vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. (29:16), before being joined by Catterall's manager Sam Jones for a lively chat (32:39).
Next, they preview Keyshawn Davis vs. Denis Berinchyk (50:22) and recap Derek Chisora’s win against Otto Wallin (55:05).
Finally, they review Queensbury's opening schedule (01:01:09) and provide a Parting Shot, which wonders who Chisora could face in his 50th fight (01:10:38).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show by discussing UFC's impending media rights negotiation, Top Rank Boxing and ESPN parting ways, and PFL's upcoming schedule (05:07).
Combat sports lawyer Erik Magraken discusses the resolution of the UFC anti-trust lawsuit, how fighters can get their money, TKO's recent comments about boxing's Ali Act, the tragic situation with Lei Zhenhuan and more (18:16).
Bubba Ray Dudley, WWE Hall of Famer, discusses his role on WWE's new "LFG" series, Jey Uso's decision to challenge Gunther for WrestleMania 41, who should win Elimination Chamber and face Cody Rhodes, the greatest tag teams ever and more (48:34).
KSI discusses his March 29 boxing match against Dillon Danis, the notable opponents who turned him down, Jake Paul's failed pursuit of the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez fight, the profitability of Misfits Boxing and more (01:06:41).
Eric Nicksick discusses Sean Strickland's unsuccessful title rematch against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, Strickland's poor performance, criticism Strickland has received since the event, the latest on Francis Ngannou and more (02:07:04).
Ariel Helwani reacts to UFC 312, Dricus du Plessis and Zhang Weili's one-sided title defenses against Sean Strickland and Tatiana Suarez, what's next for both, plus more (06:57).
Din Thomas discusses his criticism of Sean Strickland's performance at UFC 312, Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, how he became the UFC's cageside corner analyst, the lightweight GOAT debate and more in an in-studio appearance (01:34:23).
Rory Karpf and Din Thomas discuss working on UFC's "Dana White Lookin' For A Fight," the release of their new action thriller "Grace Point," and much more in a joint in-studio interview (02:14:00).
Luke Rockhold discusses Sean Strickland's tepid performance against Dricus du Plessis, his past gym run-in with Strickland, whether Strickland had staph infection, getting traded in GFL to pave the way for a Chris Weidman rematch, and more (02:44:54).
Zhang Weili discusses her UFC strawweight title defense over Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312, why she asked to fight Suarez, a potential superfight with Valentina Shevchenko next, acting in her first big movie, her relationship with Joanna Jedrzejczyk and more (03:15:13).
Ariel Helwani joins the Boys in the Back on the UFC 312 Post-Fight Show to react to Dricus du Plessis' domination of Sean Strickland in their rematch (01:45) and the champion's future appointment with Khamzat Chimaev (13:00).
Next, they move on to the spectacular performance of Zhang Weili against Tatiana Suarez in the night's co-main event (18:08), before recapping the rest of the card (27:38).
Ariel Helwani joins The Craic to give insight on Canelo Alvarez signing with Riyadh Season, his bout with Jake Paul not coming to fruition and the emerging rivalry between MVP and Turki Alalshikh (00:16).
Uncrowned’s Shaheen Al-Shatti and Ben Fowlkes then give their takes on all the developments described by Helwani (20:09), before the conversation turns to UFC 312 (31:33).
The lads ponder whether Sean Strickland’s staph infection (49:51) will take a toll on him during his rematch with champion Dricus Du Plessis and discuss Tatiana Suarez finally getting her opportunity to fight for a title against Zhang Weili (51:52).
After, the trio give their picks on the main event and co-main event of UFC 312 (1:01:50) before the conversation turns to the retirement of legendary bantamweight, Dominick Cruz (01:06:04).
The Boys in the Back preview UFC 312, starting with the main event matchup that pits champion Dricus du Plessis against challenger Sean Strickland (01:13), while also addressing Khamzat Chimaev's looming presence (23:27).
Then, it's on to the co-main event between champion Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez (36:51), before debuting a brand new Fight Feasts focused on Australian cuisine (47:42).
Denis Shkuratov of Submission Radio gives The Boys insights from fight week, including the potential arrival of Chimaev in Sydney (01:05:18).
Next, they react to news that Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford is already off after being recently reported for September (01:34:06), Jake Paul's role in the shakeup (01:42:16), and Jon Jones' teased announcement (01:48:01).
Mysterious Frank joins to make picks (01:53:01), unveil P4P mustache rankings (01:58:54), and answer your questions (02:25:11).
Ariel Helwani answers all your latest On The Nose questions about UFC 312, including Sean Strickland's media day comments, plus Conor McGregor's team potential intervening, a query about the show's credits, and more (08:51).
Vinicius Oliveira discusses his big UFC Saudi Arabia win over Said Nurmagomedov, origins of his "LokDog" nickname, embracing his "Russian Hunter" gimmick, how he'd fare against Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov, Mega Pizza orders and more (35:42).
Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan have a heated virtual face-to-face ahead of their March 29 rematch (01:04:13).
Jasmine Jasudavicius discusses her UFC Saudi Arabia win over Mayra Bueno Silva, her experience dealing with the paint fumes in the Saudi locker room, potential fights against Erin Blanchfield, Alex Grasso and Maycee Barber, plus more (01:31:49).
The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll rejoin Ariel to answer more On The Nose questions and YouTube Super Chats (01:53:34).
Ariel x Ade kicks off with a discussion about Derek Chisora's 'last stand' (05:42), before being joined by his promoter Frank Warren (09:37), who also touches on Tyson Fury's future, Daniel Dubois' next fight, and more.
Next, they address the reported September bout between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford (28:07) and whether Jake Paul could play spoiler in a potential bout against Alvarez (30:45).
Recapping the weekend, the duo wonders what's next for David Benavidez after his win over David Morrell (45:11) and who will be able to challenge Claressa Shields (54:41).
The conversation moves to potential opponents for Anthony Joshua (59:59) and the duo delivers the parting shot (01:11:32), before closing on the newly announced KSI vs. Dillon Danis fight (01:14:23).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to breaking news that KSI will box Dillon Danis (06:57), before addressing Dana White's recent comments about hate speech (27:14).
Then, Helwani and the Boys in the Back react to Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford being finalized and whether Jake Paul can play spoiler (47:26).
Chael Sonnen goes off about Conor McGregor's decline and why the UFC can't book him, Bryce Mitchell's controversial comments, Israel Adesanya's losing streak, the WWE Royal Rumble, why Jon Jones can't retire, UFC's superstar shortage and much more in a classic unfiltered "American Gangster" conversation (01:02:34).
Finally, the show closes with a discussion about Patchy Mix requesting his PFL release and proposed UFC-PFL trades for Mix (02:10:49).
Ariel Helwani reacts to Israel Adesanya's stunning loss at UFC Saudi Arabia, David Benavidez's big win over David Morrell Jr., the WWE Royal Rumble, Bryce Mitchell's disgusting comments, plus much more from the chaotic weekend in combat sports (09:54).
Michael Page discusses his UFC Saudi Arabia win over Shara Magomedov, what's next, whether a move to light heavyweight is actually feasible, Magomedov's post-fight excuses and more (01:02:33).
Terrance McKinney discusses his UFC Saudi Arabia knockout of Damir Hadzovic, why he's somehow never gotten a UFC post-fight bonus, how paint fumes in the Saudi locker room affected fighters' performances and more (01:22:24).
David Benavidez discusses beating David Morrell Jr., his pursuit of Canelo Alvarez, fighting the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2, why Terence Crawford is going to upset Alvarez and more (01:42:54).
Karolina Kowalkiewicz joins us in-studio to discuss her UFC status, rebounding from her five-fight losing streak, retirement rumors, Bryce Mitchell's abhorrent comments and more (02:05:07).
Joe Hendry discusses his WWE debut at the 2025 Royal Rumble, John Cena's life-changing advice, wrestling Robert Whittaker and getting help from Chael Sonnen, his backstage encounter with Triple H, plus much more in a special in-studio interview (02:54:01).
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UFC Saudi Arabia is in the books, so the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll give their immediate reaction to Israel Adesanya's stunning defeat at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov, including what to make of Adesanya's skid and what could be next for both fighters (00:44).
Then, they discuss Michael 'Venom' Page stopping Shara Bullet's undefeated streak and whether the UFC would be wise to push Page (21:56).
Finally, they recap the rest of the card, including another fun performance from Vinicius 'LokDog' Oliveira (39:17), Fares Ziam's upset win (41:25), Shamil Gaziev's big KO (46:00), the reliably quick work of Terrance McKinney (49:13), Jasmine Jasudavicius becoming a contender (50:13), and more.
Petesy Carroll is joined by Uncrowned’s Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to discuss Bryce Mitchell and Conor McGregor’s latest controversies.
The trio discuss Bryce Mitchell’s outlandish statement about Adolf Hitler being “a good guy” (3:11) and consider whether Dana White’s reaction to the situation is sufficient (04:16).
Then, they look at differing reactions from the MMA community, with Jan Blachowicz offering to educate Mitchell (23:44) and Conor McGregor offering compassion to the featherweight (25:11).
The conversation then moves onto the vitriolic tweet from McGregor, laced with racial slurs, going after his old foe Khabib Nurmagomedov (36:01) and question what the Irish fighter has left to give to the sport of MMA (46:02).
Finally, the trio gives their thoughts on UFC Saudi Arabia (50:26) before giving their picks for the main event (59:08).
The Boys in the Back start the show by reacting to Bryce Mitchell's recent antisemitic and homophobic remarks (01:38).
Then, they preview UFC Saudi Arabia, headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov and featuring Shara Bullet vs. Michael 'Venom' Page (06:55).
Next, they touch on the boxing match between David Benavidez and David Morrell (49:16), as well as WWE's Royal Rumble (52:21), the two other events on a packed combat sports Saturday.
The growing feud between Conor McGregor and Paul Hughes is discussed (55:34), before turning attention to a brand new Fight Feasts, featuring a review of four of Philadelphia's best cheesesteaks (01:01:37).
Mysterious Frank joins for the Boys to make picks (01:23:17), give their P4P pirate rankings (01:37:13), and answer your questions (02:06:24).
Michael 'Venom' Page previews his UFC Saudi Arabia fight against Shara Bullet and discusses how he plans to exploit Magomedov's striking patterns (03:07).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer all your questions in the latest edition of On The Nose (20:32).
Paul Hughes discusses his Fight of the Year contender against Usman Nurmagomedov, whether a rematch is next, and responds to Conor McGregor's nationalist attacks after the UFC star's latest social media tirade (59:37).
Boxing legend Jim Lampley breaks down all angles of David Benavidez vs. David Morrell Jr. and discusses the state of the sweet science (01:32:47).
Finally, On The Nose resumes to close out the show (02:35:46).
Ariel x Ade is back with two guests ahead of a big fight weekend.
First, the duo discusses the highly anticipated showdown between David Benavidez and David Morrell (08:24).
The GWOAT Claressa Shields joins the show to preview her battle with Danielle Perkins for undisputed gold and respond to chatter about Amanda Serrano and Laila Ali (12:18).
Skye Nicolson joins to break news of her title defense against Tiara Brown in Sydney, Australia on March 22 (32:50).
Next, they react to the full Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn fight card announcement (51:08), Jaron ’Boots’ Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis being booked (53:15) and ponder what's next for Naoya Inoue (55:30) and Diego Pacheco (01:00:28).
Finally, they circle back to Benavidez vs. David Morrell and speculate on whoever is victorious facing the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch (01:03:33), and give this week's parting shot (01:08:17)
Chris Weidman discusses his GFL signing, expectations for the new MMA organization, the GFL fights he wants most, how much the promotion is paying fighters and more (06:00).
BKFC founder Dave Feldman discusses the success of KnuckleMania, Ben Rothwell and Jeremy Stephens' free agency, Conor McGregor, whether Mike Perry vs. Robbie Lawler is next and more (32:11).
GFL founder Darren Owen discusses the promotion's inaugural draft, the results leaking early, whether the draft was predetermined, the Rashad Evans situation, pay-per-view and event plans, likely matchups for 2025 and more (01:00:35).
Ariel and The Boys In The Back kick off their annual WWE Royal Rumble lottery (01:28:31).
Israel Adesanya discusses his UFC Saudi Arabia fight with Nassourdine Imavov, his evolving relationship with Alex Pereira, his new connection with Robert Whittaker, why he handled past beefs poorly, dealing with fame and more (02:04:14).
Ariel Helwani reacts to BKFC KnuckleMania 5, Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes and much more from a loaded combat sports weekend (20:35).
Ben Rothwell discusses his BKFC heavyweight title win and reveals he's a combat sports free agent — with sights on some big names next (01:29:42).
Dan Hooker previews his UFC 313 fight against Justin Gaethje and discusses finding out from Gaethje's YouTube channel, his odd UFC 300 experience, Islam Makhachev's win over Renato Moicano and more (02:01:29).
Jeremy Stephens discusses his BKFC KnuckleMania 5 win over Eddie Alvarez, the hostile reception he got from the Philly fans, his road to bare-knuckle success and more in an emotional interview. He also reveals that he, like Ben Rothwell, is now a free agent (02:33:17).
Alex Pereira discusses his UFC 313 title defense against Magomed Ankalaev, his conversations with Jon Jones, his run-in with Jamahal Hill at the UFC Performance Institute, his sister's fighting career and much more in a special in-studio interview (03:04:25).
On today’s episode, Petesy is joined by fellow Irish media members Andy Stevenson and Donagh Corby.
Corby, who is on the scene in Dubai, gave his account of the incident between Irish and Dagestani fans at the PFL’s weigh-in for the fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes (3:00).
Stevenson underlined the impact a Hughes win could have on Irish MMA (18:00), before rebuking claims that this is a one-fight card (23:00) and lads gave their picks for the main event (32:00).
The conversation moves to Arman Tsarukyan’s sticky situation with the UFC and whether the lads believe he should lose his title opportunity due to an eleventh hour UFC 311 withdrawal (40:00).
They also discuss the idea of Sean O’Malley meeting Cory Sandhagen instead of the former champion facing Merab Dvalishvili in a rematch (47:00).
Finally, the lads rank what event they’re looking forward the most this weekend between PFL, BKFC and the highly anticipated GFL Draft (51:45).
The Boys in the Back are heading to Philadelphia for BKFC KnuckleMania V, headlined by Eddie Alvarez vs. Jeremy Stephens.
They break down the card (01:43) and reveal their Philly plans, including a cheesesteak tour, a potential showdown with GC's new rival Sean Brady, and more (20:39)
Next, they react to the new videos of Conor McGregor interacting with the Jake and Logan Paul (29:05).
Petesy Carroll joins to preview the incredible matchup between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes headlining PFL's Road to Dubai Championship Series (49:46).
Finally, The Boys gives their picks (01:09:23) and P4P sandwich rankings (01:20:48) before answering your questions (01:59:39).
Ariel Helwani kicks of the show with a super-sized edition of On The Nose, with topics including a potential superfight between Alexandre Pantoja and Merab Dvalishvili, Dana White saying Arman Tsarukyan won't get the next title shot, Conor McGregor palling around with Jake and Logan Paul, and more (33:38).
Jeremy Stephens joins to preview his BKFC KnuckleMania V main event against Eddie Alvarez and tell some old school stories, including the time Dana White nearly bailed him out of jail on fight night (01:32:44).
NewYorkRic and GC jump on the Aviron bike for the latest chapter in their competition and Sean Brady crashes the show to call next (02:13:48)!
Robert Whittaker is back to talk about his newly-found friendship with Israel Adesanya, break down the middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland, and discuss his recovery after the Khamzat Chimaev fight (03:02:33).
Jack Della Maddalena outlines his own recovery and looks ahead to his UFC London showdown against Leon Edwards (03:34:25).
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Ariel x Ade kicks off with a reaction to the news of Keith Thurman's planned comeback (07:35).
Then, the duo discusses the fact that Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney will compete on the same card, but not against each other (10:44).
Next, they touch on talks of Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford heating up (20:54), before bringing in Conor Benn to preview his potential showdown against Chris Eubank Jr. (30:25).
Finally, they recap Misfits X Series 20, including Darren Till's win against Anthony Taylor and KSI's short-lived matchup with Wayne Bridge (59:32).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back discuss the status of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall and react to the latest combat sports news (05:38).
Anthony Smith announces his retirement fight, tells a powerful story of receiving support from Bryce Mitchell before his most recent bout, reveals he asked the UFC brass to compete in Power Slap and more (31:39).
Aljamain Sterling discusses Merab Dvalishvili's big win over Umar Nurmagomedov, why Merab will be the 135-pound GOAT, a potential fight against Patricio Pitbull, Payton Talbott's first career loss and more (01:35:06).
Ariel Helwani breaks down UFC 311 from all angles, including Islam Makhachev's title win over Renato Moicano and Merab Dvalishvili's remarkable performance against Umar Nurmagomedov (02:52).
Merab Dvalishvili discusses his UFC 311 title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov, why Nurmagomedov wasn't his level, the champ's various injuries, how he tricked the California commission into letting him fight, his relationship with Dana White and more (33:49).
Merab Dvalishvili's coach John Wood discusses nearly pulling the champ out of UFC 311, why the Umar Nurmagomedov fight ended up being "easier than expected," Dvalishvili's game plan and more (01:07:39).
Arman Tsarukyan discusses the back injury that forced his UFC 311 withdrawal, Dana White's comments, potential fights against Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler, plus more (01:33:04).
Josh Barnett breaks down Islam Makhachev's UFC 311 submission and discusses why UFC fighters are stupid, weight cutting in MMA, past experiences with Donald Trump, how he'd fix AEW and more in a wide-ranging in-studio interview (02:00:48).
Renato Moicano discusses his UFC 311 title loss to Islam Makhachev, the whirlwind day that led to the opportunity, how his goals have changed, "spoiled brat" Paddy Pimblett's reaction and more (03:02:36).
Jiří Procházka discusses his UFC 311 win over Jamahal Hill, why he was motivated by Hill's trash talk, sharing a drink with Hill afterward, shaving his hair for fan battling cancer, what it'll take to get a third Alex Pereira fight and more (03:33:40).
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On the UFC 311 Post-Fight Show, Ariel Helwani joins the Boys in the Back to react to Islam Makhachev's dominant performance against Renato Moicano (06:21).
Next, they discuss the co-main event, which saw Merab Dvalishvili finish strong to hand Umar Nurmagomedov his first career defeat (16:51).
Ariel gives an update on Dana White's comments from the post-fight press conference, including his declaration that Arman Tsarukyan would not be next for Makhachev (25:56).
They touch on Jiri Prochazka's highlight reel knockout of Jamahal Hill (32:40), before recapping the rest of the card (39:35).
Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes for an episode jam-packed with breaking news.
Fowlkes speaks about the mystique surrounding Team Khabib and the Dagestan collective (04:06) after covering them for Uncrowned.
Then, the lads react in real time to the breaking news that Arman Tsarukyan has withdrawn from the UFC 311 main event due to injury (13:46).
Mindenhall gives insights on Merab Dvalishvili after spending time with the bantamweight champion at Syndicate ahead of his clash with Umar Nurmagomedov (27:22).
News of Renato Moicano stepping up to face Islam Makhachev breaks (37:28), before the conversation returns to the co-main event (43:09) and Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill (53:22).
Reports surface about Tsarukyan's injury, leading to Ariel Helwani giving intel on the situation (57:55), before more news breaks, with Chris Weidman announcing his retirement on the UFC's weigh-in show (01:07:26).
Finally, the lads react to Islam Makhachev's social media post regarding the eleventh hour change of opponent (01:11:56).
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The Boys in the Back can't wait for UFC 311, so join them for a mega preview.
Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) & Conner Burks (GC) begin by breaking down the main event rematch between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan (00:37), before being joined by Ben Fowlkes to discuss the dominance of the team from Dagestan, led by Khabib Nurmagomedov (28:46).
Next, they break down the rest of UFC 311, including the incredible co-main event that matches Merab Dvalishvili with challenger Umar Nurmagomedov (44:45).
Fight Feasts for this week samples Armenian cuisine (01:24:40) for an unforgettable experience, while Ric finally gets his wish of Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn being booked (01:39:47).
Frank joins the fun to make picks (01:47:34) and the Boys reveal their P4P lists of must-make rematches (01:54:55), followed by your questions answered (02:13:21).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to PFL's new format being revealed (05:04) and the highly-anticipated fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn being signed (08:16).
Then Ariel answers all your burning questions in the latest edition of On The Nose (19:47).
Patricio Pitbull discusses his departure from PFL, what it took to finally get released from his contract, his goals as a free agent, top targets for a potential UFC debut and more (40:14).
Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza Jr. go face-to-face in a virtual showdown ahead of their Feb. 15 final eliminator bout in Manchester (01:02:53).
Chuck Mindenhall previews everything UFC 311 and discusses his Uncrowned features on Payton Talbott and Merab Dvalishvili (01:28:10).
Action Bronson discusses working out with Joe Rogan, the Khabib Nurmagomedov plane incident, calling out Bad Bunny for a WWE match, On-Air Jordan's matzo balls and much more in an instant classic in-studio interview (01:58:05).
Holly Holm discusses her UFC exit, why she asked for her release, what she wants next, whether a return to boxing is in the cards, surprising street fight stories from her childhood and more (03:09:29).
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Ariel x Ade is back, beginning with the hosts' reaction to Tyson Fury announcing his retirement (05:47) and whether they're buying it. Will Fury end up facing Anthony Joshua and if not, is there anybody for AJ to fight next (14:44)?
Next, they discuss the biggest news emanating from Ring Magazine's recent awards show, including Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn talks heating up (24:19).
Ariel's conversation with Shakur Stevenson produced callouts of Gervonta 'Tank' Davis and Lomachenko (40:49), while Ade sat down with Daniel Dubois for an exclusive interview (46:52).
Then, they react to Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney crossing paths at the Ring awards (59:13), whether Canelo vs. Terence Crawford has momentum to get done (01:03:29), and 'Tank' Davis' absence from the mix (01:07:16).
Finally, they close the show with Moses Itauma's wishlist (01:10:26 ) and a parting shot that looks back at Jai Opetaia knockout of David Nyika (01:17:33).
David Benavidez and David Morrell, the WBC interim light heavyweight champion and WBA light heavyweight champion, go face-to-face in an explosive virtual showdown ahead of their Feb. 1 title bout (05:53).
John Wood, Syndicate MMA head coach, discusses Merab Dvalishvili's preparation for Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, what's next for Khalil Rountree Jr., Tim Welch's shouting from the corner and more (31:45).
O'Shea Jackson Jr., award-winning actor and wrestling superfan, discusses the latest with WWE, Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar, working with so many pro fighters on Den of Thieves 2, his feud with AEW fans and more (01:02:54).
Mackenzie Dern discusses her revenge win over Amanda Ribas, being open to returning to jiu-jitsu with CJI, Tatiana Suarez's strawweight title bout against Zhang Weili, UFC's push into competitive jiu-jitsu and more (01:50:51).
Ariel Helwani reacts to breaking news of Bellator champ Patricio Pitbull finally being released from his PFL contract (02:33:25).
Ariel Helwani breaks some news about the future of Bellator and PFL, discusses Tyson Fury's retirement announcement and more (07:33).
Cesar Almeida discusses his monster knockout at UFC Vegas 101, his path through the sport, how UFC's $50,000 bonus check changed his life, what's next and more (44:54).
Shakur Stevenson previews his Feb. 22 fight against Floyd Schofield and discusses why Gervonta "Tank" Davis seems to dislike him so much, potentially fighting Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2025, criticism from Timothy Bradley and more (58:08).
Dominick Cruz discusses his UFC Seattle return against Rob Font, whether it'll be the final fight of his legendary MMA career, his roots in the sport, what happened with Henry Cejudo, why he admires Demetrious Johnson's career beyond the cage and more (01:31:12).
Matt Cardona stops by in-studio to discuss a possible WWE or AEW return, his collectibles obsession, stories from the indies, his infamous death match with Nick Gage, the creation of his Zack Ryder character and much more (2:12:39).
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Chuck Mindenhall returns to The Craic, joining Petesy Carroll to discuss a potential location shift for UFC 311 due to the California wildfires (03:07).
The lads also give their takes on reports from Brazil claiming Alex Pereira will move to heavyweight (07:36) to take on Alexander Volkov at UFC 313 and reports that PFL will half the prize money for their tournament in 2025 (28:17).
They also ponder why Dominick Cruz will not be taking on Henry Cejudo next month in Seattle (45:40), before briefly touching on this weekend’s Apex card headlined by McKenzie Dean vs. Amanda Ribas 2 (51:30).
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The Boys in the Back kicks off with Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) and Conner Burks (GC) discussing Joe Rogan's claim that Jon Jones would need to be paid $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall... and the immediate retraction (11:52).
Then, they touch on Dana White joining Meta's board (34:35), before turning attention to PFL slashing their tournament prizes from $1 million to $500,000 (42:08).
Next, they preview UFC Vegas 101 (51:09) and Mysterious Frank joins to make their picks for the weekend (1:04:33). GC also reveals his 2025 futures (1:10:13).
Finally, The Boys give their P4P rankings of months of the year (1:30:41) and answer your questions (1:56:28).
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Ariel Hewani and The Boys In The Back answers all your questions in 2025's debut edition of On The Nose (14:13).
Moses Itauma discusses his path as boxing's top heavyweight prospect, why he's confident he can break Mike Tyson's record, whether he regrets skipping the Olympic path, meeting Ariel in Paris, who he wants to fight next and more (01:04:21).
BKFC President Dave Feldman shares unbelievable stories from his past and discusses KnuckleMania V, his relationship with Mike Perry, Conor McGregor's status and more in a must-watch in-studio interview (01:35:36).
Payton Talbott discusses his UFC 311 fight against Raoni Barcelos, acting in a recent short film, drinking expired dog food, having dinner with Frank Ocean, his experience on a YouTube dating show and more (02:24:20).
Matt Hamill discusses his incredible news of being able to hear for the first time due to powerful new hearing aid technology, the next generation of Hamills venturing into combat sports, his history with Jon Jones and more (02:53:07).
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Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo celebrate the year in boxing with their first annual awards show.
The duo hands out 14 awards for 2024, including Fighter of the Year, Knockout, Promoter, Event, and more. Plus each man makes one wish for 2025.
Kazeem Famuyide grades WWE's Netflix debut and discusses The Rock's return, Hulk Hogan getting booed out of the building, whether the show grabbed new fans, what's next for Roman Reigns and more (06:41).
Kevin Lee discusses the latest with the GFL, chasing Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov fights, wanting to rematch Tony Ferguson in 2025, his brother's success, "coward" fighters who are afraid to speak up for themselves and more (37:48).
Cain Velasquez discusses his new GFL gig, Tom Aspinall's predictable patterns, his UFC career and short-lived WWE stint, lessons he's learned over the years, his upcoming sentencing and more in a wide-ranging interview (01:04:59).
Darren Till crashes Anthony Taylor's interview in an explosive back-and-forth ahead of their Misfits Boxing main event on Jan. 18 (01:33:11).
Finally, Ariel Helwani and Petesy Carroll react to darts phenom Luke Littler's dominant performance at the PDC World Darts Championship (02:01:30).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back celebrate the year that was with the long-awaited, never-duplicated 12th Annual Helwani Nose Awards. The gangs hands a monster list of 25 MMA awards for 2024, including Fighter of the Year, Knockout, Submission, Fight, Upset and much, much more.
The Craic caps off 2024 by looking back at the year in European MMA.
Petesy Carroll is joined by journalists Andy Stevenson, Chisanga Malata, and Donagh Corby to discuss the biggest winners and losers.
The show begins with Ilia Topuria’s strong case for Male Fighter of the Year and his recent talk of moving to lightweight (03:13).
Next, the discussion centers on Dakota Ditcheva’s meteoric rise through the PFL tournament and her Female Fighter of the Year candidacy (10:01).
The conversation turns to Tom Aspinall’s presence at Jon Jones’ UFC 309 title fight and whether he’ll be able to force the heavyweight showdown (18:56).
Then, they touch on the continued dominance of fighters from Dagestan (23:48) and the success of PFL’s efforts in Europe (27:16), including the potential future for England’s Lewis McGrillen (31:15).
Finally, they close with a discussion on the fallout from Conor McGregor’s civil case (41:30).
In this special episode, Ariel Helwani looks back at some of his classic interviews and tells the untold stories behind each, including:
Nick Diaz before his Strikeforce fight against Paul Daley in April 2011 (09:05)
Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller in Las Vegas right before UFC 84 in May 2008 (28:09)
Rashad Evans in the immediate aftermath of UFC 128, where former teammate turned rival Jon Jones defeated Shogun Rua to become UFC champion in March 2011 (35:14)
The infamous Undertaker interview seconds after Brock Lesnar’s defeat at the hands of Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in Oct. 2010 (43:51)
Pro wrestling royalty including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg Jim Ross, and Paul Heyman speak after Brock Lesnar’s incredible comeback against Shane Carwin at UFC 116 in July 2010 (57:03)
King Mo’ Lawal’s emotional locker room interview after beating Gegard Mousasi to become Strikeforce champion in April 2010 (01:06:57)
Rampage’ Jackson in rare form after his loss to Jon Jones at UFC 135 in Sept. 2011 (01:15:33)
Petesy Carroll is joined by journalists Andy Stevenson, Chisanga Malata, and Donagh Corby on The Craic to preview the upcoming year in European MMA.
The conversation begins with predictions on whether Tom Aspinall will finally get a crack at Jon Jones (03:58) and if Ilia Topuria will be able to bring a UFC event to Spain in 2025 (10:03).
Next, they discuss whether Shavkat Rakhmonov will be able to capture UFC gold (18:00) and Leon Edwards' place in the welterweight title picture (26:15).
Then they look outside the UFC and forecast what the future holds for Dakota Ditcheva, Paul Hughes, and Muhammad Mokaev (28:44).
Finally, they break down the rumored boxing match between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul, discussing whether it will happen and the potential magnitude of that event (42:05).
Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back — NewYorkRic and GC — and Petesy Carroll to look ahead to 2025.
They list fights they need to see (04:26) and discuss what will be the biggest stories of next year (19:12).
Then, they forecast Breakout Fighter of the Year (31:58), how many new UFC champions will be crowned (49:53), Female Fighter of the Year (53:41), and Male Fighter of the Year (01:02:12) for 2025.
Finally, they each make one bold prediction for the year (01:17:23).
The Boys in the back react to Oleksandr Usyk's win over Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated rematch.
Uncrowned's Keith Idec joins The Boys to talk about the judges scores (03:17), Fury's strategy and reaction in the aftermath (04:48), and who Usyk could fight next (06:23).
Next, Keith discusses whether it's finally time for Fury to face Anthony Joshua (08:32), where Usyk ranks all-time (10:16), whether AI judging can take hold (14:25), and if Moses Itauma could be the future face of British boxing (16:43).
Finally, the Boys take a look at the official scorecards (21:17) before signing off.
Chuck Mindenhall joins Petesy Carroll on the latest episode of The Craic to sink his teeth into forecasting whether Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall will happen in 2025 (03:54). The lads also discuss the build-up to Usyk vs. Fury 2 (19:14), the sentiment (or lack there of) for Logan Paul vs. Conor McGregor (35:49), Paul Hughes in the US (51:26) and another big sell-out show in Paris (59:40).
The Boys in the Back, Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic), Conner Burks (GC), react to Alex Pereira's cryptic social media posts about not fighting Magomed Ankalaev (01:07).
Then, they dive deep into the highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury (23:10).
In honor of Usyk, Fight Feasts visits Ukrainian restaurant Veselka, before GC gives out a few picks for the weekend (58:11).
The Boys, now joined by Mysterious Frank, give their P4P rankings of 'New Year, New Me' script flips and answer your questions (16:34).
Finally, Ariel Helwani crashes the party to give an update on Conor McGregor's rumored fight with Logan Paul (01:55:13).
Johnny Fisher previews his heavyweight fight against Dave Allen on the Usyk-Fury 2 undercard and discusses his time in Saudi Arabia, Turki Alalshikh, his history sparring Allen before his rise as a top prospect and more (04:13).
Tyron Woodley discusses signing with the Global Fight League, the details of his GFL contract, his first MMA matchup in 2025, advice to Joaquin Buckley and Merab Dvalishvili, untold early stories of Colby Covington and more (33:50).
Paul Hughes joins in-studio to preview his Bellator lightweight title fight against Usman Nurmagomedov and discuss Christmas in Ireland, Nurmagomedov's past drug-testing failure, what makes a perfect Guinness pour and more (01:08:27).
Kai Kara-France discusses the state of the UFC flyweight division, his case for a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja, why Manel Kape needs to be taught a lesson and more (01:53:27).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your On The Nose questions about 2025 fights, relationship advice, end-of-day routines, who's going to end Cody Rhodes' title run, Dana White's involvement in the modern day UFC product, holiday traditions and much more (02:25:20).
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DAZN commentator Adam Smith previews Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 (03:29).
Aljamain Sterling discusses his UFC 310 loss to Movsar Evloev, what's next in his career, whether he's considering retirement, concerns about Merab Dvalishvili's emotions before the Umar Nurmagomedov fight and more (37:15).
Sean Brady discusses the state of the UFC welterweight division, why a fight against Leon Edwards in London makes the most sense, Belal Muhammad's chances against Shavkat Rakhmonov, reassessing Ian Machado Garry after his loss to Rakhmonov and more (01:11:29).
Ariel Helwani discusses the Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul rumors and whether there's any truth to McGregor's claims (01:48:00).
Ariel x Ade is locked in on the year's biggest boxing match, the heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.
To begin, Ade Oladipo reflects on his time so far in Riyadh, site of the fight, including the reaction on the ground to the massive event and his run-in with Usyk at the hotel gym (05:11).
Next, hear Ade's exclusive sit-down with Fury, followed by Ariel's reaction to the interview and Ade's insight into Fury's demeanor (14:36).
The duo discuss what's at stake for both fighters and Ade predicts Saturday could be Usyk's final fight (24:22).
Following another exclusive sit-down, this time Ade's conversation with Usyk (34:42), Ariel reacts to the emotional moment in which Usyk references his father and wonders where Usyk fits in the conversation of greatest heavyweights ever (40:34).
Then, the pair react to DAZN's broadcast team for the event, including 'The Voice of Boxing' Adam Smith and Ade himself (48:08).
The undercard gets its moment, as Ariel and Ade break down important fights for Johnny Fisher and Moses Itauma (51:10).
Finally, the show closes with a recap of Dillian Whyte's win over Ebenezer Tetteh and Bruno Surace's shocking knockout of Jaime Munguia (01:17:48).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down the weekend in combat sports, headlined by Joaquin Buckley's one-sided win over Colby Covington at UFC Tampa (09:11).
Darren Till discusses Tommy Fury's bizarre withdrawal from their Misfits boxing match, Fury's "shameful" behavior, why he's devastated by the situation, potential replacement opponents and more (01:04:10).
Jiří Prochazka previews his UFC 311 fight against Jamahal Hill and discusses a potential middleweight move, Hill's recent run-in with Alex Pereira, fans shaving their heads to mimic his unique hairstyle, his new shoe brand, fighting his ego and more (01:31:17).
Patricio Pitbull discusses the latest with Bellator fighters' ongoing frustrations with the PFL, makes a plea to Donn Davis to formally request his release, targets several UFC standouts and more (02:02:19).
Cub Swanson discusses his spectacular UFC Tampa win over Billy Quarantillo, whether he's planning to retire, his legacy in MMA and much more (02:33:01).
Petesy Carroll is joined by Uncrowned colleagues Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to forecast potential issues GFL may face ahead of its proposed April launch date (00:30).
Fowlkes shares details on his recent report regarding a growing number of disgruntled Bellator fighters (34:28) and Mindenhall provides key takeaways from his recent interview with Colby Covington (49:03).
The Boys in the Back — Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic), Conner Burks (GC) and Mysterious Frank — kick off the show with a recap of the Yahoo holiday party and GC's book club (02:25).
Then, The Boys preview UFC Tampa (09:09), headlined by Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley, and wonder what's next for Covington with a win or loss. Is this the end of his run as a top fighter?
Next, Mysterious Frank joins The Boys to make their parlay picks (01:07:39) and reveal their P4P rankings of holiday movies.
Finally, they close the show by answering your Super Chat questions.
Ariel Helwani responds to recent comments by Belal Muhammad and Jake Shields, before bringing in The Boys In The Back to answer your On The Nose questions, including the gang's most desired boxing fights, best holiday gifts, and much more (25:41).
Alexandre Pantoja discusses his UFC 310 title defense over Kai Asakura, his callout of Demetrious Johnson, potentially facing Kai Kara-France or Deiveson Figueiredo next, why he'd smash Sean O'Malley and more (58:15).
GFL founder Darren Owen announces the launch of the Global Fight League, unveils a massive roster that includes seven former UFC champions, plus many more details about MMA's newest team-based organization (01:33:12).
Anthony Pettis and Kevin Lee explain why they signed with the GFL and answer questions about the new team-based MMA organization (01:59:57).
Finally, The Boys in the Back rejoin to react to the GFL news (02:13:46) and answer more questions (02:35:27).
Ariel x Ade is back! Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show with a temperature check on the building excitement around Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 (04:24). Then they discuss whether a potential Wladimir Klitschko comeback makes sense for the winner (10:20).
Next, they digest the early rumblings of a fight between Teofimo Lopez and 'Boots' Ennis, before Helwani proposes Keyshawn Davis vs. Andy Cruz take place on the same card (20:55).
Sparked by Richardson Hitchins win over Liam Paro, the two talks about a potential pairing of Hitchins with George Kambosos (32:17).
Heavyweight Joseph Parker joins the show to preview his upcoming bout against Daniel Dubois and express his desire to face the winner between Usyk and Fury (42:33).
The duo dives deep on 'Tank' Davis' recent comments about retiring after 2025 during the press conference for his fight against Lamont Roach, wondering what's going on with Davis (01:02:51)?
Finally, they react to Tommy Fury pulling out of his fight with Darren Till and whether his explanation passes the smell test (01:10:57).
Randy Brown reacts to his controversial UFC 310 loss to Bryan Battle and Battle's viral comments after badly missing weight for the bout, calls for judging reforms in MMA and more (09:04).
Merab Dvalishvili, the UFC bantamweight champ, vows to slap Umar Nurmagomedov after UFC 311's wild kickoff press conference, previews the title matchup he never wanted, explains his explosive altercation with a UFC 310 attendee and much more (36:41).
Arman Tsarukyan previews his UFC 311 title rematch against Islam Makhachev and discusses grappling Khamzat Chimaev, what it's like to have Khabib Nurmagomedov sitting in Makhachev's corner, a potential Charles Oliveira rematch and more (01:05:53).
Renato Moicano vows to finish Beneil Dariush at UFC 311 and discusses all of the latest MMA news, from Ilia Topuria teasing a lightweight move to his prediction of Belal Muhammad upsetting Shavkat Rakhmonov and more (01:31:15).
Finally, Ariel and The Boys in the Back answer some YouTube Super Chats, including the Fight Feasts budget, chicken shop rankings, and more (02:10:41).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down UFC 310 from all angles, including Alexandre Pantoja's impressive win over Kai Asaura and callout of Demetrious Johnson, Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry, Uncrowned's latest pound-for-pound rankings and more (10:35).
Bryan Battle reflects on his UFC 310 win over Randy Brown and discusses his bad weight miss, his struggles in camps, playing the heel role, why he wouldn't have accepted the bout in Brown's position and more (01:02:56).
Chase Hooper discusses his big UFC 310 win over Clay Guida, how Mikey Musumeci taught him the armbar technique, criticism from the UFC commentary booth, what it's like fighting a legend, his growth in the UFC and more (01:23:40).
Michael Chiesa stops by after his UFC 310 win over Max Griffin and discusses the likelihood of returning for UFC Seattle, chasing Demian Maia's UFC record for rear-naked choke submissions, already having a name he wants next and more (01:44:36).
Demetrious Johnson discusses Alexandre Pantoja's win at UFC 310 and subsequent callout, which promotion offered him $2 million to come out of retirement, whether there's a number that could bring him back to MMA and more (02:02:31).
Ian Machado Garry looks back at his UFC 310 fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov, responds to Kamaru Usman and much more (02:36:44).
Finally, Ariel and the boys wrap up a very busy weekend in combat sports: from the explosive UFC 311 press conference to Dana White’s comments on Conor McGregor to Tommy Fury pulling out of the Darren Till fight (03:07:54).
On the UFC 310 Post-Fight Show, Ariel Helwani reacts to Alexandre Pantoja's impressive finish of Kai Asakura, including a discussion on who could be next for the dominant champion. Would Demetrious Johnson come out of retirement for a flyweight face-off (02:40)?
Next, Helwani reflects on Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry's close fight in the co-main event and Rakhmonov's faceoff with champion Belal Muhammad (13:51).
Then, a review of the controversial scorecards in Ciryl Gane's win over Alexander Volkov (26:01) and a recap of the rest of the card (27:36).
Petesy Carroll is joined by Uncrowned colleagues Chuck Mindenhall and Shaheen Al Shatti to look ahead to UFC 310 and debate whether Ian Machado Garry has a real chance of beating the 170-pound boogeyman, Shavkat Rahkmonov.
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The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to the surprise announcement of UFC 311's top two fights (00:41).
Plus, Petesy Carroll joins The Boys to preview Saturday's stacked UFC 310 fight card, including the intriguing co-main event between Ian Machado Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov (43:51).
Next, a brand new Fight Feasts featuring Kazakh cuisine and The Boys make their parlay picks (01:10:07).
Finally, pound-for-pound rankings of the best headwear in MMA history and your questions answered (01:49:05).
Ariel Helwani answers your On The Nose questions about Syracuse alumni, Islam Makhachev's future, the state of Uncrowned's Yahoo partnership two months in, Carl Froch's offer, the gang's reactions to Ariel's beefs, Ian Machado Garry's self-belief, Dubai chocolate, Ariel's compost saga and more (11:30).
Wade Plemons previews his Misfits Boxing debut against HSTikkyTokky on Jan. 18 and discusses his damaged relationship with KSI, how the opportunity came together, his fight night swerve for the announcement, his bet proposal to KSI for the Misfits fight and more (35:07).
Marcelo Garcia announces his ONE Championship comeback against Masakazu Imanari and discusses his battle with stomach cancer, Dillon Danis' departure from the gym, steroid culture in jiu-jitsu and more (01:30:35).
Henri Hooft, head coach of Kill Cliff FC, discusses Shavkat Rakhmonov's fight against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310, the viral sparring footage Rakhmonov and Garry, the two's relationship in the gym and more (01:58:37).
On a wild episode of Ariel x Ade, Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo begin with a tribute to Israel Vazquez, who died after battling cancer (03:09).
Then, the pair react to the stacked fight card being made official for Feb. 22 in Riyadh, headlined by the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch and featuring Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker in the co-main event. Next, they discuss Boots Ennis' notable omission from the card (06:32).
Turki Alsheikh drops in for a one-of-a-kind interview on a variety of topics (40:02) including how the Feb. 22 supercard came together, why Boots is not fighting, a potential Wladimir Klitschko comeback, Francis Ngannou potentially facing Deontay Wilder or... Jon Jones?!
Then the two interview Liam Paro, who battles Richardson Hitchins in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Dec. 7 (01:07:10).
Finally, the duo recap the Galal Yafai and Sunny Edwards fight, including the audio from Edwards' corner and his retirement announcement, before closing on the revelation that Wade Plemons for Misfits Boxing (01:15:18).
Shavkat Rakhmonov previews his UFC 310 fight against Ian Machado Garry and discusses how the bout came together, why an interim title isn't on the line, who else turned down the opportunity, the infamous sparring sessions between he and Garry, and more (08:27).
Petr Yan discusses what's next after his UFC Macau win over Deiveson Figueiredo, his callout of Merab Dvalishvili, a potential rematch with Sean O'Malley, why Umar Nurmagomedov isn't ready for a title shot, whether he regrets fighting Dvalishvili while injured and more (17:47).
Michael Chiesa previews his UFC 310 fight against Max Griffin and discusses his winding journey through the sport, his special connection with Bruce Buffer, why Joaquin Buckley is the dark horse at 170 pounds, his prediction for Rakhmonov vs. Garry and more (46:11).
Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Ben Fowlkes preview UFC 310 from all angles, including Kai Asakura's attempt to make history against Alexandre Pantoja, Ian Machado Garry's chances against Shavkat Rakhmonov, overlooked gems on the card and much more (01:09:43).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back reflect on Dakota Ditcheva's $1 million win over Taila Santos and debate where she ranks among the best fighters in the world, whether or not PFL's system is working, whether Ditcheva is the new face of the promotion and more (19:06).
Dakota Ditcheva looks back on her brutal knockout of Taila Santos, her future in PFL, where she ranks among the greatest female fighters in the world, whether she'll jump back into tournament again in 2025 and more (46:56).
Eric Bischoff discusses his latest project with MLW, how WWE's Bloodline storyline compares to the NWO, why there's no hope for AEW, the business of wrestling and more (01:13:58).
Ciryl Gane previews his UFC 310 rematch against Alexander Volkov and discusses his inactive 2024, Jon Jones' win over Stipe Miocic, who stands a better chance against Jones between Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall, whether the Jones loss haunts him and more (02:06:40).
Ian Machado Garry previews his UFC 310 co-main event against Shavkat Rakhmonov and goes scorched earth on Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman and much, much more (02:34:55).
Ariel Helwani responds to Carl Froch over the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson saga and reveals how Froch responded to his offer (03:24:36) .
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your On The Nose questions about PFL's ongoing issues with Bellator fighters, proper public bathroom protocol, UFC's continued support of Kron Gracie, Ariel's cameo on Netflix show "The Cage," Uncrowned's coverage of Conor McGregor's sexual assault verdict and more (06:43).
Michael Chandler reacts to his UFC 309 loss to Charles Oliveira, criticism he received from UFC commentators for back-of-the-head punches, his viral leg injury, why the loss was so painful, the status of a potential fight with Conor McGregor, his Thanksgiving pound-for-pound and more (01:00:53).
Ariel rates the gang's Thanksgiving pound-for-pound rankings and gives his own definitive list for the holiday feast (01:34:59).
Bryan Battle previews his UFC 310 fight against Randy Brown and discusses his viral heel promo at UFC Paris, his nickname change, memorable experiences being a bouncer, why he enjoys crushing someone's hopes and dreams in front of their family and more (02:02;25).
Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo react to the massive plans for Feb. 22, with a fight card reported to be headlined by Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker, with the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch and Boots Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz expected as well (05:09).
Then, they discuss who Shakur Stevenson and Conor Benn respectively will fight next, followed by a deep dive on the Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai rivalry (24:50).
Next, they check in with George Kambosos Jr. for an interview about his future, before closing with the news of Olympian Pat Brown signing with Matchroom and preview of Misfits & DAZN: X-Series 19 from Qatar (47:10).
Mike Perry discusses his recent arrest, the launch of Dirty Boxing Championship, why he's trying to emulate Dana White as a promoter, criticism from the Karate Combat president, why Yoel Romero makes perfect sense as Jake Paul's next opponent and more (16:45).
Rosie Perez discusses her experience calling Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul, the criticism her commentary received, what haunts her about the event, Tyson's performance, her career as an Emmy Award winning actress and more (01:02:22).
Brendan Loughnane discusses his PFL championship bout against Timur Khizriev, the $1 million prize, how he played peacemaker for Ariel and Darren Till, the wave of criticism PFL is receiving from high-profile Bellator fighters and more 01:34:57).
Ryan Garcia discusses his Jake Paul callout, whether he's serious about the fight, his upcoming exhibition against Rukiya Anpo, lifestyle changes he's made since his suspension from boxing, why he'll whoop Devin Haney even worse in a rematch and more (01:54:35).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In Back discuss the Conor McGregor verdict, the latest fallout from McGregor's case, Petr Yan's big win over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau, the Jiri Porchazka vs. Jamahal Hill booking for UFC 311 and more (07:44).
Chris Weidman discusses losing his UFC 309 booking against Eryk Anders on fight day, what happened, whether he was paid for his efforts, his continual run of bizarre luck, getting re-booked for UFC 310, Merab Dvalishvili's rise as UFC champion and more (01:15:29).
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson discusses a potential comeback fight against Rashad Evans, why he's pissed off at Jake Paul, the saga of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, why he thinks Stipe Miocic was a tougher challenge for Jones than Aspinall could ever be, his love life and more (01:44:35).
Eddie Alvarez discusses his BKFC KnuckleMania main event against Jeremy Stephens, why Tom Aspinall would have nothing for Jon Jones if their bout hit the mat, the mistakes MMA promoters continue to make outside of the UFC, Conor McGregor's BKFC ownership and more (02:29:41).
Conor McGregor lost his sexual assault civil case. Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes react to McGregor being found liable for a December 2018 sexual assault in Dublin.
The Boys in the Back preview UFC Macau (02:24), headlined by Deiveson Figueiredo taking on Petr Yan in a fight that could produce the next bantamweight title challenger, before looking ahead to next week's PFL Championship (56:21).
Next, UFC women's bantamweight champion and honorary Parlay Pal Julianna Peña joins the show to discuss her expected matchup with Kayla Harrison, wanting the trilogy fight against Amanda Nunes and to make her pick for the week (01:04:58).
Finally, Mysterious Frank enters the mix for The Boys' way too early P4P rankings of Thanksgiving dishes and to answer your questions (01:38:42).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys in The Back begin On The Nose with questions about Jake Paul's next fight, the trio of Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall and Alex Pereira, who on the show would be the best companion for a long road trip, and more (12:17). Plus Petesy provides an early look at Dagestan x Ireland 2 in the form of Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes.
Gable Steveson discusses his WWE exit, what really happened, his foray into the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, helping Jon Jones prepare for Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, whether an MMA fight is in his future, his return to collegiate wrestling with the University of Minnesota and more (01:01:20).
Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian discusses Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, Netflix's streaming issues, the unprecedented commercial success of the event, the impact it had on boxing, Francis Ngannou's comments, Michael Irvin claiming the fight was rigged and more (01:47:50).
Darren Till discusses fighting Tommy Fury, the chaos with John Fury at the kickoff press conference, why he signed the contract without knowing his purse, his plans in boxing, whether he'll really throw a kick if the fight is going poorly, training with Tyson Fury in the past and more (02:32:55).
On the debut episode of Ariel x Ade, the duo unite in studio to discuss the biggest topics from the world of boxing.
First up, the aftermath of Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, including Tyson's fitness, who Paul should fight next and the event's success on Netflix (03:23).
Then, they tackle the fallout from the controversial result of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano, before talking about the newly announced bout between Tommy Fury and Darren Till, including the madness of their first press conference (24:01).
Eddie Hearn joins the show to talk about Katie Taylor's win, give his own feelings on Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, and forecast whether Jai Opetaia and Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez will end up meeting (43:56).
The pair close the show with a recap of Riyadh Season Latino Night (58:45), who Canelo could fight next, and a reaction to the latest Ryan Garcia news (01:17:37).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back discuss the latest in Conor McGregor's civil trial, the drama between Darren Till and Tommy Fury at their kickoff press conference, the importance of Nov. 19 in MMA history, the state of the UFC welterweight division, and more (07:11:).
Chael Sonnen joins in-studio to discuss the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall saga, Mike Tyson's loss to Jake Paul, how Chael nearly ended up managing a young Francis Ngannou, Donald Trump's UFC ties, the strategy behind contract negotiations, and much more (33:30).
Mikey Musumeci discusses his defection to the UFC, what went wrong in ONE Championship, the state of his old promotion following a rash of criticism from former fighters, UFC's future plans for high-level jiu-jitsu, pizza preferences, and more (01:59:20).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back react to Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul (11:24) and UFC 309 (48:00), breaking down every angle of Netflix's entry into combat sports, Jon Jones' one-sided title defense over Stipe Miocic, whether a Tom Aspinall fight is going to actually happen, and more.
Bo Nickal discusses his UFC 309 win over Paul Craig, the boos, criticism from Daniel Cormier, why the crowd's "overrated" chant was a compliment, his assessment of his performance, whether he's ready for the Khamzat Chimaevs of the division, what's next, and more (01:35:44).
Oban Elliott discusses his UFC 309 knockout win over Bassil Hafez, making history as a Welshman at Madison Square Garden, his family's reaction to the weekend, Chael Sonnen's advice before Saturday's walkout, Derek Cleary's wild scorecard, and more (02:01:43).
Tom Aspinall discusses his week at UFC 309, Jon Jones' win over Stipe Miocic, his assessment of Jones' performance, whether Miocic's loss is more because of his age or Jones' abilities, how he would've fared against Saturday's version of Jones, sitting next to Jones' family on fight night, and more (02:59:09).
On the UFC 309 Post-Fight Show, Ariel Helwani reacts to Jon Jones' dominant performance against Stipe Miocic and weighs in on whether Jones will face interim champ Tom Aspinall (01:03).
Next, Helwani recaps the co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler and forecasts what could be next for each, including a potential rebooking of the Conor McGregor fight for Chandler (18:06).
Finally, he touches on Bo Nickal's win over Paul Craig (21:44) and the rest of the card's notable performances (25:17) before bringing in The Boys in the Back, Eric Jackman and Conner Burks, to cap off the night from Madison Square Garden (30:37).
On the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Post-show, Eric Jackman and Conner Burks react to Jake Paul's decision win over Mike Tyson and whether the fight lived up to expectations. Was it a success for Netflix and who will Jake Paul fight next (00:42)?
Then, they recap another instant classic fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, including the controversial scoring and refereeing (25:10).
Finally, they end by reacting to breaking news related to UFC 310 and the new co-main event between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garr (33:47).
Chuck Mindenhall returns to The Craic to discuss a bizarre UFC 309 media day from Jon Jones and to look forward to a blockbuster weekend of combat sports.
Petesy and Chuck try to wrap their heads around Jones’s comments on Tom Aspinall, the size difference he cites while also calling for bouts with light-heavyweights Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill and him being complicit in the fight week focus not being on Stipe Miocic (2:27).
The lads also give their thoughts on Tyson vs. Paul and how Paul’s promotion of Amanda Serrano has some Irish pundits sweating (48:56).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show with Ariel Helwani to discuss the drama surrounding UFC 309 and the mysterious return of the old UFC gloves (2:19).
Next, they break down the rest of the card, including a look ahead at what could be next for Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic (38:01). Tom Aspinall? Alex Pereira?
Then they debut Fight Feats from New York institution Katz's Deli (01:31:42), followed by a preview of the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul airing on Netflix (01:41:31).
Finally, Mysterious Frank joins the Boys to give picks for the weekend and run down their P4P lists of celebrities who could've been fighters (02:16:16), before answering your questions (02:38:44).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your On The Nose questions about Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, Jon Jones' latest comments, the crew's spirit fighters, the top five MMA regional promotions, Ariel's experience attending the infamous Montreal Screwjob, hot dog preferences, plumbers, and more (12:43).
Oban Elliot joins in-studio to discuss his UFC 309 showdown against Bassil Hafez, linking up with Chael Sonnen, the story behind his mugshot, what his family would think of his success, why he still works on the railway from time to time, his experiences with WWE, and more (01:23:06).
Carlos Prates discusses his UFC Vegas 100 win over Neil Magny, the origin of the Fighting Nerds team, his obsession for cigarettes, his journey through martial arts, his year-end goals for 2025, and much more (02:17:54).
Aljamain Sterling joins in-studio to discuss his UFC 310 fight against Movsar Evloev, Merab Dvalishvili's win over Sean O'Malley, making his own walkout song, his motivation at featherweight, why he would've likely retired if he lost to Calvin Kattar, reaction to his meeting with UFC officials on the "Fight Inc." documentary, and more (02:35:39).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down a big combat sports weekend that saw Carlos Prates, Jaron "Boots" Ennis, and Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez pick up wins, plus more (04:28).
Eddie Hearn discusses Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, his distaste for the fight, Jaron "Boots" Ennis' lackluster win over Karen Chukhadzhian, whether a Terence Crawford fight will actually happen, the potential impact of Netflix's move into boxing, and more (27:21).
Stipe Miocic discusses his UFC 309 fight against Jon Jones, the lack of respect he's being given, why he called Jones a "b*tch" and Jones' viral reaction, whether he fights again after UFC 309, the Tom Aspinall dilemma, and more (01:01:45).
Bo Nickal discusses his UFC 309 fight against Paul Craig, his relationship with Donald Trump, Khamzat Chimaev's win over Robert Whittaker, recent wins by Shara Bullet and Reinier de Ridder, Darren Till's criticism, the massive betting odds for the Craig bout, and more (01:32:20).
Michael Chandler joins in-studio to discuss his UFC 309 fight against Charles Oliveira, why his loss to Oliveira is one of his most painful memories, the latest in the Conor McGregor saga, why he blames himself for how the McGregor situation played out, and more (02:01:46).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down the latest in the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall saga (03:09:11).
Petesy Carroll is joined by Shaheen Al Shatti and Chuck Mindenhall to discuss Jon Jones’ comments on Tom Aspinall not proving enough to be granted a title shot (0:00), the future of the UFC Apex on the eve of it’s (alleged) 100th event (40:22), and the fear they have for Mike Tyson next week (57:06).
The Boys in the Back, Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) and Conner Burks (GC), are on the road to UFC Apex 100, so they're reminiscing about some of the best moments at the illustrious venue (01:54).
Then, Mysterious Frank joins The Boys make parlay picks (52:16) give their P4P rankings of apex predators (01:00:53), and answer your questions (01:26:56).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down the UFC's future with Dana White's close ties to incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, the latest in Conor McGregor's sexual assault case, UFC Vegas 100, and more (04:24).
Katie Taylor discusses rematching Amanda Serrano on the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul card, criticism of the Tyson vs. Paul fight, concern for Tyson, landing on a U.S. stadium show before competing at Croke Park, fighting at a catchweight, potential retirement plans, and more (44:21).
Brandon Moreno discusses his vintage UFC return against Amir Albazi, braving the Edmonton cold, his hiatus from MMA, having negative thoughts during his losing streak, his new coffee hobby, his focus on regaining the UFC flyweight title, and more (01:04:30).
Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez discusses his WBC super flyweight title defense against Pedro Guevara, where he ranks on the pound-for-pound list, his first interaction with Eddie Hearn, Japanese McDonald's, Naoya Inoue, criticism of Saturday's matchup, why Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul isn't a real fight, and more (01:28:34).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your On The Nose questions about Conor McGregor's ongoing civil trial, controversy with Mysterious Frank's in-show drops, Sage Northcutt's bizarre career, WWE Crown Jewel, the difference between McDonald's in Ireland, the UFC's current lack of spectacular champions, and more (01:53:31).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back discuss how they're feeling about Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul as the big fight looms (15:21).
Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, discusses his concerns for Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, the new changes to the Unified Rules of MMA, the impetuous for the changes, whether Jon Jones' only career loss should now be overturned, further changes MMA needs, and more 39:35).
Frank Warren, headman at Queensberry Promotions, discusses his blockbuster broadcast deal with DAZN, whether the deal gets done if he hadn't mended fences with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom, Daniel Dubois' next fight, news for 2025, thoughts on Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, and more (01:15:20).
Youssef Zalal discusses his big win at UFC Edmonton over Jack Shore, his roller-coaster road back to the UFC, how brother's untimely passing affected his career, being inspired by past opponent Ilia Topuria, considering early retirement, the night he picked up boxing, kickboxing, and MMA wins in the same evening, and more (01:39:51).
Todd DuBoef, president of Top Rank, discusses Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2, what it's like to work for Bob Arum, the state of the business, the effect of Saudi Arabia money in boxing, Naoya Inoue's future, Keyshawn Davis, Top Rank's upcoming broadcast deal, Dana White's criticism, and more (02:10:41).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down the state of the UFC welterweight division following Belal Muhammad's injury withdrawal from his UFC 310 title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov (09:36).
Shavkat Rakhmonov discusses Belal Muhammad dropping out of their scheduled UFC 310 title fight, how he found out about the news, what happens next, the option of fighting for an interim title, Ian Machado Garry, Muhammad's title victory over Leon Edwards, and more (31:07).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back recap the highs and lows of UFC Edmonton (01:08:22).
Jasmine Jasudavicius discusses her big UFC 310 win over Ariane da Silva at UFC Edmonton, why she walked out to "La Bamba," her mindset, running into Tracy Cortez, her fight night routines, getting a post-fight bonus, kicking trees, and more (01:27:47).
Aiemann Zahabi discusses his UFC 310 over Pedro Munhoz, his five-fight UFC win streak, the running joke about how much he looks like Ariel, how working with a mindset coach has changed his career, Georges St-Pierre's role in the gym these days, and morev (02:01:29).
Sayif Saud discusses Brandon Moreno's vintage win over Amir Albazi at UFC Edmonton, Moreno's path back to the belt depending on what happens at UFC 310, how difficult life is in the UFC flyweight rankings, Pantoja vs. Asakura, Geoff Neal's recent win over Rafael dos Anjos, and more (02:30:40).
Valentina Shevchenko discusses recapturing the UFC flyweight title with a win over Alexa Grasso, her world travels since winning back the belt, her determination to make a statement in that trilogy fight, people's narratives leading into the bout, a potential Zhang Weili superfight, and more (03:05:29).
On the latest episode of The Craic, Petesy is joined by Uncrowned’s Chuck Mindenhall to discuss the cultural resonance of The Rumble in the Jungle on its 50th anniversary (05:42).
Legendary father and son duo Richard and Jack Shore join the show from Edmonton ahead of Jack’s bout with Youssef Zalal (40:45).
The Boys in the Back are live for a special Halloween edition, but first Ariel Helwani joins the show to give an update on the breaking news that Belal Muhammad is out of UFC 310 and what that means for the main event (04:27).
Then, Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) and Conner Burks (GC) preview UFC Edmonton (35:22) before bringing in The Craic's Petesy Carroll to dive deeper on the card (51:57).
Finally, Mysterious Frank joins The Boys to make parlay picks (01:13:15), give P4P Halloween candy rankings (01:21:15), and answer your questions (01:49:27).
Kade Ruotolo discusses his upcoming ONE Championship fight against Ahmed Mujtaba, the experience of winning CJI, whether he'll do CJI again, his injury woes, advice for Michael Page ahead of his first big-time grappling match, the Olympics, and more (07:50).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer all your On The Nose questions about the road for Max Holloway after UFC 308, whether Khamzat Chimaev should jump Sean Strickland in the middleweight queue, the backlash from the Dana White vs. Francis Ngannou coverage, the team's worst injuries, Ireland's history with Halloween, Petesy's addition to the show, the first UFC events we've ever attended, the crew's bagel controversy, and much more (39:50).
Michael Page discusses his Polaris 30 grappling main event against Carlos Condit on Saturday, how the match materialized, why this is something he wanted to explore at age 37, advice from Kade Ruotolo, originally being booked against Donald Cerrone for Polaris, Belal Muhammad's ascent up the UFC welterweight division, his loss to Ian Machado Garry, wanting to fight Shara Bullet at 185 pounds, and more (01:32:28).
Mike Malott discusses his UFC Edmonton return against Trevin Giles, what went wrong against Neil Magny, his grueling road to building himself back up from that loss, why he wants to be an example for the next generation, the adjustments he's made for Giles, and more (02:00:06).
Jaron "Boots" Ennis discusses his upcoming IBF welterweight title rematch against Karen Chukhadzhian, his experience since signing with Matchroom, his reaction to having to fight Chukhadzhian as his mandatory, recent baffling decisions made by the IBF, his quest to unify the title, what he did wrong in the first Chukhadzhian fight, partnering up with Bam Rodriguez, whether the Terence Crawford fight will ever happen, and more (02:32:17).
Before the show ended, Ariel calls his old friend Daniel Cormier to get his response after what Derrick Lewis said about him at the UFC Edmonton media day (03:22:47).
Brian Sutterer MD, YouTube physician extraordinaire, breaks down Robert Whittaker's grisly jaw injury, Myktybek Orolbai gnarly eye, plus much more from the wreckage of UFC 308 in a fascinating medical deep dive (05:36).
Marlon "Chito" Vera discusses wrestling training with Arman Tsarukyan, changes he's making after back-to-back losses, why he wasn't impressed by the Las Vegas Sphere, comparisons between Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira, his 1987 Buick Grand National, his plans after fighting, and more (01:02:43).
Diego Lopes discusses his experience as UFC 308's back-up fighter, Ilia Topuria knocking out Max Holloway, mistakes Holloway made against the champ, why a fight against Alexander Volkanovski in Sydney in early 2025 makes the most sense, how he'd fare against Topuria, his win over Brian Ortega at the Las Vegas Sphere, and more (01:02:43).
Alexandre Pantoja discusses his UFC 310 defense of the UFC flyweight title against Kai Asakura, how Kyoji Horiguchi is helping to prepare him, the state of the flyweight division, his growth in the fight game, wanting to train with Demetrious Johnson, keeping perspective, and more (01:28:55).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back get into a heated debate over Uncrowned's debut MMA pound-for-pound rankings (02:11:37).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back react to UFC 308, whether Ilia Topuria has a case for Fighter of the Year after his knockout of Max Holloway, Khamzat Chimaev's pursuit of the title after his demolition of Robert Whittaker, and more (18:15).
Lerone Murphy discusses his UFC 308 win over Dan Ige, sticking with his "The Miracle" nickname, challenges in the lead-up to Saturday, Ilia Topuria's knockout of Max Holloway, Topuria vs. Volkanovski 2, wanting Brian Ortega or Josh Emmett in March 2025, his chief hater, and more (01:00:58).
Ariel Helwani dives deep into the Dana White vs. Francis Ngannou feud following White's latest comments (01:25:23).
Darren Till discusses the latest in the MMA world, why UFC/PFL needs to make Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall, Khamzat Chimaev's win over Robert Whittaker, why Chimaev deserves the next title shot over Sean Strickland, his mental health, what's next for his career, and more (02:34:17).
Alexander Volkanovski discusses his weekend at UFC 308, Ilia Topuria's knockout of Max Holloway, his in-cage conversation with Topuria, how long he's willing to wait, the future of his "Old Man Volk" character, whether he regrets decisions that led to him losing the title, the Fighter of the Year debate, and more (03:05:21).
On the the UFC 308 Post-Show, Ariel Helwani gives his immediate reaction to Ilia Topuria star-making performance against Max Holloway, including the knockout itself, Topuria's next fight and Conor McGregor's social media responses (53:22).
Then, he covers Khamzat Chimaev's return to his dominant ways, finishing Robert Whittaker and setting up a potential title opportunity (21:21). Finally, Helwani recaps the rest of the night's action (29:48).
Denis Geiko from Russian-focused MMA publication, Red Corner, returns to The Craic to talk Khamzat Chimaev opening up on depression, Islam Makhachev possibly facing the winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway and the Russian contingent at UFC 308 (06:45).
Lerone Murphy also joins the show to preview the biggest test of his career against Dan Ige and dive deeper on his nickname 'The Miracle' (40:08).
On the second episode of The Boys in the Back, Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) and Conner Burks (GC) react to recent comments by PFL's Donn Davis and then deep dive on the UFC 308 main event between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway (02:12).
Executive Producer Ariel Helwani crashes the show (again) to give a scorching hot take/prediction (43:32).
Next, the Boys break down the UFC 308 co-main event and Khamzat Chimaev's potential (01:12:38).
Plus, the relaunch of Fight Feasts, a new segment debuts, and your questions answered with the help of Mysterious Frank (01:35:53).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys in the Back kick things off by answering your On the Nose questions about UFC 308, Khamzat Chimaev's bizarre UFC journey, Donn Davis' most outlandish claims, what it's like to cover fighters you intimately know, Uncrowned's next live show, go-to karaoke songs, and much more (15:58).
Uncrowned's Chuck Mindenhall and Shaheen Al-Shatti join Ariel to preview all things UFC 308 (01:03:08).
Arnold Allen discusses Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway, wanting a fight against Yair Rodriguez, his dreams of growing a mullet, touring Buckingham Palace, his bathroom adventures, his YouTube channel, and more (01:32:28).
Rico Verhoeven discusses a potential Francis Ngannou showdown, his past training sessions with Ngannou, why the two clicked, his next GLORY heavyweight kickboxing title defense, whether the Ngannou fight could actually happen, Alex Pereira's remarkable UFC success, and more (02:06:28).
Regis Prograis previews the Jack Catterall fight against and discusses his Devin Haney loss, why he plans to do bare-knuckle boxing before his career is over, whether Conor McGregor is potential future opponent, his love-hate relationship with Matchroom, and more (02:33:21).
Tom Lawlor discusses the intricacies of the $375M settlement in the UFC antitrust lawsuit, why the UFC veteran and pro wrestling star is happy with the result, changes that may result from these lawsuits, the possibility of a fighters' union forming in the future, his wrestling career, and more (03:01:31).
Ariel and the Boys in the Back kick off the show by diving into the craziness kicked up by Craig Jones in the great Brendan Schaub vs. Nate Diaz debate (10:42).
Aleksandar Rakic discusses his UFC 308 fight against Magomed Ankalaev, what went wrong with his past two bouts, Khalil Rountree's recent title challenge against Alex Pereira, whether a title shot is on the line against Ankalaev, and more (42:19).
Eric Nicksick discusses Francis Ngannou's knockout win over Renan Ferreira, the emotional dump of the experience, enlisting Tom Aspinall to help with strategy, what he wants next for Ngannou, their conversation with Cristiano Ronaldo, how Ferreira motivated Ngannou, whether a Rico Verhoeven superfight is a viable option, Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway, and more (01:01:02).
Dan Hardy discusses the fallout from Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira, whether it was a late stoppage, how many peak years Ngannu could have left, Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway, whether Holloway is better at lightweight rather than featherweight, Johnny Eblen's place in the middleweight landscape, and more (01:29:20).
Dan Hooker discusses his recent travels, the fallout from his victory over Mateusz Gamrot, his recent interactions with Conor McGregor, whether a bare-knuckle fight is somewhere in his future, if a McGregor fight is actually a possibility next, where Justin Gaethje fits in the lightweight mix, and more (02:00:51).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys in the Back kick off the show by looking back at the busy weekend in combat, headlined by Francis Ngannou's big win (09:26).
Francis Ngannou discusses his thunderous PFL debut against Renan Ferreira, his emotional reaction to the experience, fears and nerves beforehand, his locker room conversation with Cristiano Ronaldo, the decision to wrestle Ferreira, whether it was a late stoppage, Jon Jones' reaction, if he's going to continue fighting, potential boxing matches, whether he's the GOAT heavyweight, PFL Africa plans, and more (34:53).
Paul Hughes discusses his massive PFL win over AJ McKee, problems with his training camp, knowing he'd catch McKee with a knee, the madness of one judge scoring the fight for McKee, his fired-up post-fight interview, why he gassed after the first round, his callout of Usman Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor's involvement, and more (01:06:03).
Craig Jones discusses his adventures since CJI, having lunch with Pablo Escobar's sister, the success of CJI, the struggles of ADCC, Mo Jassim stepping down as ADCC head organizer, fighting Jassim in Karate Combat, how CJI performed compared to ADCC, his match with Gabi Garcia, when CJI 2 will happen, a Nate Diaz vs. Brendan Schaub grappling match, Gordon Ryan, and more (01:31:22).
UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili discusses his life since beating Sean O'Malley, the incredible scenes in Georgia following his win, his conversation with Turki Alalshikh, O'Malley's calls for a rematch, why he went easy on O'Malley in their fight, reports of Umar Nurmagomedov potentially fighting again before a title shot, and more (02:03:36).
Anthony Hernandez discusses his UFC Vegas 99 main event win over Michel Pereira, how Pereira woke him up early in the fight, why he expects to be UFC champ in a year, honoring his father's legacy, and more (02:35:01).
It's a 3PAC reunion on the Helwanivision Post Show. Ariel Helwani is joined by Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall to give their immediate reactions to the PFL Battle of the Giants PPV.
The boys talk Francis Ngannou's emotional win (08:31), whether he's truly the Baddest Man on the Planet, what's next for the lineal heavyweight champion, snd whether the UFC would co-promote with PFL to book Ngannou x Jones. Plus, Paul Hughes' arrival as a major player (42:07), Cris Cyborg's continued success, and notes from the rest of the night's fights (50:07).
U.K. MMA legend and head of talent operations for PFL, Dan Hardy (04:19), joins the video debut of The Craic to give insight on Francis Ngannou and all things PFL: Battle of the Giants.
Paul Hughes (33:39) also joins the show ahead of the biggest test of his life when he meets A.J. McKee in the opening fight of the main card.
Alex Pereira stops by The Ariel Helwani Show for a special Thursday bonus episode (04:21)!
The UFC star and savior of 2024 joins Ariel Helwani to talk the status of a heavyweight move, Jamahal Hill's trash talk, Jake Paul's challenge, a targeted date for his UFC return, Steven Seagal's advice, Israel Adesanya's recent comments, Magomed Ankalaev, his near pull-out from UFC 307, plus much more.
Then, Ariel gives an update on the bantamweight division (43:19), and finishes things up by answering questions from the SuperChatters (45:56).
On the debut episode of The Boy in the Back, Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) and Conner Burks (GC) speak to The Mac Life's Oscar Willis (12:04) on the heels of his impressive BKFC win, preview PFL's Battle of the Giants PPV and answer your questions live (01:36:46) from the chat with the help of Mysterious Frank. Plus, Ariel Helwani crashes the show (02:01:47).
On the debut edition of On the Nose (8:47) of the Uncrowned era, Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your questions about the transition to the new era, UFC's Contender Series, the job of MMA media, and more.
Chris Eubank Jr. (21:26) discusses his IBO middleweight title win over Kamil Szremeta, his viral comments about why he signed with Boxxer, his various encounters with Conor Benn, the status of the Benn fight and targeted dates, his strained relationship with his father, betting on himself to eventually land Canelo Alvarez, and more.
Flyweight GOAT Demetrious Johnson (01:07:50) walks us through his journey to retirement and discusses what led to the decision, his emotional announcement, favorite moments from his Hall of Fame career, his quest to reach perfection, regrets, whether UFC or ONE Championship won the trade, dream fights and MMA GOATS, plus more.
Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen (2:33:33) beams in from Riyadh to discuss Saturday's title rematch against Fabian Edwards at PFL: Battle of the Giants, the truth behind their alleged spitting incident, what it's like to spar Sean Strickland, a potential light heavyweight title bout against Corey Anderson, Sean O'Malley's comments on Monday's show, Derek Brunson's recent callout, and more.
Brandon Royval (3:00:42) discusses his UFC main event win over Tatsuro Taira, following through on his desire to train with Taira, the timing of the next flyweight title fight, why he hopes Kai Asakura shakes up the division at UFC 310, Dana White's recent comments, why he's delighting in causing the UFC matchmakers headaches, his willingness to spend every penny he owns building a youth center in his hometown of Denver, and more.
On the Nose continues (3:18:57) with questions about the lineal BMF champion, phone addiction, the great Parlay Pals vs. Parlay Boys debate, and much more. Tom Aspinall also calls in from Wednesday's WWE event to share his unexpected in-ring encounter.
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (31:51) discusses his UFC 308 title defense against Max Holloway, why the BMF belt isn't on the line, his plan for Holloway in the first 10 seconds of the bout, why he bought his own BMF belt, his viral reaction to Holloway's knockout of Justin Gaethje, why Alexander Volkanovski was a much tougher challenge than Holloway, Conor McGregor's comments about him, challenging Islam Makhachev at lightweight, and more.
Renato Moicano (01:03:22) reflects on his UFC Paris win over Benoit Saint Denis, his viral shoulder injury, Paddy Pimblett, Dan Hooker, his first trip to Europe, world history, taxes, why he wanted to finish Saint Denis with a guillotine, getting beaten up by Dustin Poirier, the UFC rankings, and more.
Kayla Harrison (01:32:47) reacts to her UFC 307 win over Ketlen Vieira and dishes on her back-and-forth with UFC champ Julianna Peña, Peña's callout of Amanda Nunes, why PFL executives continue to take shots, going to the hospital during her latest cut down to 135 pounds, Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco, homeschooling her children, and more.
Dustin Poirier (02:01:29) unveils his plans for the final chapter of his career and discusses why he's 95% certain he'll be able to get it done, not wanting to wait, what's keeping him around, his recent run-in with Conor McGregor, the possibility of a Justin Gaethje trilogy fight, rematching Dan Hooker, and more.
Ade Oladipo (02:43:36) joins for a sneak peek of Uncrowned and DAZN's new boxing show "Ariel x Ade," plus riffs on Beterbiev vs. Bivol, Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, the possibility of a rematch for Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua, the saga of Conor Benn, Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake, and more.
The new era of The Ariel Helwani Show and Uncrowned kicks off with a loaded lineup.
After a spirited intro (02:25) where he runs down all the new shows coming to our channel, Ariel is joined by NewYorkRic, Conner Burks and Petesy Carroll to look back at the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol and the controversial scorecards. The crew briefly touches on Brandon Royval's win over Tatsuro Taira and the two title fights announced for UFC 310.
Francis Ngannou is the show's debut guest (49:29), opening up about dealing with the tragic death of his son and refocusing on MMA after boxing Anthony Joshua. Ngannou goes on to respond to Dana White's comment about his earnings, preview his fight against Renan Ferreira, and pick his winner in the upcoming Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight.
Next, Michael Chandler joins the show to talk about the Conor McGregor fight being cancelled, his booking against Charles Oliveira being a No. 1 contender fight, and who he thinks will win between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan (01:29:05).
Sean O'Malley returns and gives an update on his recovery from hip surgery and expresses his desire for a rematch with Merab Dvalishvili (02:00:05). O'Malley combats the narrative of being dominated by Dvalishvili and explains why he thinks the champion is scared of Umar Nurmagomedov.
UFC women's bantamweight champion Julianna Peña reunites with the 'Parlay Boys' to explain why she believes the judges got it right at UFC 307 before taking aim at Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison (02:30:27).
Finally, interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall returns to properly celebrate his UFC 304 win, go deep on overcoming pre-fight nerves, definitively announce he's the backup for Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, and respond to Francis Ngannou claiming he's still the best heavyweight in the world (03:04:22).
Before we say goodbye, the boys surprise Ariel with a message from his closest friends in the biz and family (03:46:29).
This week’s episode takes a look at English Premier League giants Arsenal revising its post-match protocol after Conor McGregor found his way onto the pitch for an impromptu kick about with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
The great Philip O’Connor returns to discuss why the English football club are taking this so seriously, if the club really thought McGregor could injure Saka and how the former double champion missed an open goal by not challenging Rice on changing his international affiliation from Ireland to England (03:33).
John Nash, the north star on all things related to the UFC antitrust lawsuit, gives us the low down on the latest motion in the case that saw former fighters give morbid insights into their post-fighting lives as they urge the judge to settle the suit for $375 million (33:37).
Ariel and the boys are back to recap UFC 307 (3:46) and then look ahead. Who does Alex Pereira fight next and will it be at light heavyweight or heavyweight? (20:42) Plus, they discuss whether Pereira locked up Fight and Fighter of the Year on Saturday night.
Julianna Peña reclaimed the UFC women's bantamweight title, so will it be Amanda Nunes or Kayla Harrison who she faces in her first defense? (49:33)
Then, they circle back to the rest of UFC 307 (59:53), including Mario Bautista's victory against Jose Aldo and whether it was the right booking , Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland ending via injury, and Joaquin Buckley with another big win at welterweight.
Finally, they wrap up with a look at the weekend in combat sports (1:16:51), headlined by Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol from Saudi Arabia.
Ariel reacts to UFC 307, including the thrilling main event between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. (01:26)
Then he weighs in on Julianna Peña recapturing gold in a controversial decision (18:28), Kayla Harrison remaining undefeated in the UFC, and what could be next for the women’s bantamweight division.
The Craic is back and this week Petesy previews UFC 307.
Fresh off cornering Merab Dvalishvili to UFC gold, John Wood looks to upset the apple cart again when he leads Khalil Rountree Jr. into battle with promotional golden goose, Alex Pereira. Wood joins the show to discuss Rountree Jr. embracing his underdog status, being bolstered by Dvalishvilli’s win and much more (04:41)
The Man in The Hat, Chuck Mindenhall, is reunited with his 3PAC brother to discuss whether the 'untouchable theory' applies to Alex Pereira (34:02). According to the theory, when a champion is perceived to be at their most powerful state, against an unassuming challenger, all kinds of crazy can occur. But is Chuck picking against his fellow Danbury native?
Petesy talks about difficult selfies, growing a beard and gives his pick for 'Underdog of the Week' (01:02:26).
First up, Ariel and the boys react to UFC Paris on Saturday (05:45). They discuss what has gone wrong with Benoît Saint Denis and how amazing Renato Moicano has looked as of late. In addition, they talk about Moicano’s incredible post-fight promo and a potential fight against Paddy Pimblett. The boys also discuss the rest of the card, including Bryan Battle’s heel promo on the French crowd.
Later, they talk about the bizarre circumstances surrounding boxer Sandy Ryan getting paint thrown on her as she headed to MSG fight Mikaela Mayer on Friday (28:04).
Then, the discussion shifts to the upcoming PFL PPV main card and whether the card is worth the price tag (35:27).
Finally, the boys preview UFC 307 and all the storylines heading into Saturday’s event (42:27) and finish up with a review of the Mr. McMahon documentary on Netflix (56:22), as well as a recap of the recent UFC class action lawsuit settlement news (1:04:34).
One of the foremost French voices in the sport, Guillaume Duseaux of La Sueur, joins the show to set the table for UFC's big Paris card and explains the explosion in popularity MMA has witnessed in the country since the sport’s legalization in 2020.
Following up his pick of Merab Dvalishvili — which brought home the first parlay of The Ariel Helwani Show's new era — Petesy speaks to his “Underdog of the Week” Kevin Jousset, who takes on Bryan Battle in Paris. The 2-0 UFC welterweight explains why he went to Scotland to learn to speak English, training with Alex Volkanovski in Australia, moving to City Kickboxing and his pursuit of Ian Machado Garry.
Petesy details his experience covering an MMA event in Paris and explains why he thinks the popularity of the sport in the country is difficult for the English-speaking community to comprehend.
Ariel is back from London, so he and the boys reacts to his Wembley Stadium experience for Daniel Dubois' shocking KO of Anthony Joshua, his Conor McGregor interview - including McGregor’s potential 2025 return, Dana White's latest boxing plans, a UFC Paris preview, and more.
Returning to The Ariel Helwani Show feed for the first time since its inception in 2022, The Craic with Petesy Carroll goes behind the scenes at the soft launch of The Ariel Helwani Show at the Venetian Sportsbook in Las Vegas, the day before UFC 306.
Featuring commentary from the all-new Uncrowned roster with appearances by the man of the moment, Ariel Helwani, his loyal lieutenant NewYorkRic, the biggest baby face in the industry Conner Burks, the legendary bard Chuck Mindenhall and Uncrowned editor-in-chief, Shaheen Al Shatti.
Petesy recaps all the thrills and spills of a magical launch in Sin City.
Ariel is joined by the boys to recap a memorable night at Sphere in Las Vegas where new champions were crowned and the UFC put on one of the most memorable shows in their history.
Plus, they react to the UFC 309 news and talk about Canelo Alvarez’s win over Edgar Berlanga.
Ariel Helwani and the gang reunite live from The Venetian in Las Vegas to kick off the Uncrowned era on a special debut edition of The Ariel Helwani Show. Chael Sonnen, Eric Nicksick, Deiveson Figueiredo, Steve-O, Jim Lampley, Roy Jones Jr., and Casey O'Neill join the star-studded lineup, plus plenty of old friends and new on the eve of UFC 306 and Canelo vs. Berlanga.
The boys are back! Ariel, NYR, GC and Frank recap a crazy summer in their lives, while talking about how they ended up at Yahoo! Sports and all the exciting Uncrowned plans in the works.
Plus, they talk about our live show this Friday at The Venetian in Las Vegas, our launch date, and more.
And a little fight talk, too: Demetrious Johnson’s retirement, Sean Brady’s win and the vibes ahead of this weekend’s massive events in Sin City.
Enjoy! And welcome back.
A special one night only show in Newark, New Jersey--live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 31st 2024! Featuring interviews with Daniel Cormier, Alex Pereira w/ Plino Cruz, Kayla Harrison, Arman Tsarukyan, Al laquinta, Aljamain Sterling.
On today's episode, Ariel returns to give you a conversation with pro wrestling legend Eric Bischoff. Together, the guys discuss Endeavor's purchase of WWE, if the upstart AEW has what it takes to topple WWE (11:32), Tony Khan's fitness for leadership (15:49), MJFs upcoming free agency (17:16), and much more.
Eric Bischoff is a titan of the professional wrestling industry. He is the former Executive Vice President of World Championship Wrestling, the pro wrestling organization that competed head on with Vince McMahon’s WWE, most notably in the ‘90s. After leaving WCW, Bischoff joined WWE’s creative team. Now a proud resident of Wyoming, the 68-year-old WWE Hall of Famer lives a much quieter life than when he was one of the biggest names in the business.
Today's episode is brought to you by My Postglow! Take advantage of a limited-time offer of 10% off before the 4th of July to secure a meaningful gift for your child at discounted price at MyPostglow.com.
Did Ariel give Luciana a bad wedding gift? Is Luciana woke? These are the things Ariel Helwani and Luciana Andrade ask each other while catching up after several weeks away from the show. And of course, they take some questions from the fans, tackling questions like:
Plus, Luciana loses her blue check on Twitter and she also opens up about her past visits to a psychic.
And guess what? Ariel and Luciana will go LIVE on Ariel's YouTube channel next week! Subscribe to Ariel's YouTube channel so you can get the notification when they go live.
FOLLOW:
With nearly 163K followers on Instagram and another 100K on Twitter, Chamatkar Sandhu is a must-follow when it comes to breaking MMA news.
But many of you, especially the newer fans, probably don’t know much about the man behind the accounts you follow on social media.
Today, in a conversation with Ariel's producer TST on “The Found Generation with Troy Farkas," Sandhu talks about the insane growth of MMA, his career trajectory, and he also gives TST some life advice. The lads discuss:
For more insightful and inspiring conversations from “The Found Generation with Troy Farkas,” please subscribe to the show on YouTube.
#ArielHelwani
From Los Angeles, Ariel Helwani and Luciana Andrade answer your questions about life, love, work, and any other bizarre thing you can think of. On today's episode, the two friends catch up while answering questions like:
And much more!
To ask Ariel and Luciana a non-MMA question on future episodes, please submit it to arielhelwani.substack.com or write it in a review on our Apple Podcasts page!
FOLLOW:
The newly crowned (virtual) friends Ariel Helwani and Luciana Andrade are back this week to take more of YOUR questions about life, love, work, and everything in between! On today's episode, the dynamic duo answers questions from fans like:
And much more!
To ask Ariel and Luciana a non-MMA question on future episodes, please submit it to arielhelwani.substack.com or write it in a review on our Apple Podcasts page!
FOLLOW:
In another installment of the unnamed Q&A show featuring Ariel Helwani and Luciana Andrade, the two friends field some of the following questions from the fans:
And much more!
To ask Ariel and Luciana a non-MMA question on future episodes, please submit it to arielhelwani.substack.com.
FOLLOW:
After making waves across the internet for her appearance on The MMA Hour two weeks ago, fan favorite Luciana Andrade joins Ariel for a new show where the two friends answer questions from listeners/viewers about everything that isn't mixed martial arts.
In today's inaugural episode, Ariel and Luciana field questions like:
And much more!
To ask Ariel and Luciana a non-MMA question on future episodes, please submit it to arielhelwani.substack.com.
FOLLOW:
With the 2023 World Baseball Classic upon us, Ariel speaks with one of his longtime best friends, Jason Takefman, who Ariel believes to be one of the smartest men in the business of baseball. On today's episode, Jason gets you pumped up for the WBC by getting into the following:
And more, including top story lines and the team he's betting on to take home the WBC trophy.
Jason Takefman is currently a sports business consultant. He spent nearly 10 years with the Vancouver Canadiens, a minor league affiliate of MLB's Toronto Blue Jays. He's also worked with the UFC and the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL.
If you enjoyed this episode of the program, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or giving us give stars on Spotify!
Last week, Ariel shocked the sporting world when he released the list of his current top-five favorite athletes on the planet. One of those five was today's guest, Brennan Johnson, the 21-year-old phenom forward for Ariel's favorite football club: Nottingham Forest. And on today's episode, Johnson joins a giddy Ariel for a wide-ranging conversation about the following:
Plus, a cameo from a British boxing star!
Brennan Johnson is currently this season's leading point-scorer for Nottingham Forest. Born in Nottingham, he is the son of David Johnson, who formerly played for Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Forest, and other clubs. He is considered one of the bright young stars in the English Premier League.
Missed the podcast? Let us know by leaving "The Ariel Helwani Show" a review on Apple Podcasts!
The founder of All Elite Wrestling joins Ariel for a conversation about:
Plus, the guys talk about Khan's busy schedule and other performers AEW might go after.
Tony Khan is an American businessman, promoter, and sports executive. He is the son of Shahid Khan, who owns the Jacksonville Jaguars and English Premier League club Fulham.
To support our show, simply give The Ariel Helwani Show a 5-star rating on Spotify and subscribe to Ariel's YouTube channel.
The host of "The Rich Eisen Show," the face of NFL Network, and former ESPN personality joins Ariel for a conversation about his long run as one of the top faces and voices in American sports media. The guys discuss:
Plus, Eisen tells Ariel why this is the Buffalo Bills' year to win the Super Bowl!
"The Rich Eisen Show" airs Monday-Friday from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Beginning in September, the show will stream for free on Roku.
If you want to support our show, simply give "The Ariel Helwani Show" a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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The lead singer of the iconic rock band The Smashing Pumpkins and owner of the legendary pro wrestling organization NWA joins Ariel for a wide-ranging conversation about the business of professional wrestling. The guys discuss:
And much more!
If you want to support our show, simply give "The Ariel Helwani Show" a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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The former Head Writer at WWE and current SVP of Development at Seven Bucks Productions joins Ariel to talk about his time working alongside the biggest names in WWE, which he covers in-depth in his new book, There's Just One Problem...: True Tales from the Former, One-Time, 7th Most Powerful Person in WWE. The guys discuss:
Plus, Gewirtz and Ariel share memories from Syracuse and thoughts on the current state of professional wrestling.
The book hits shelves on August 16. You can pre-order a copy of the book here.
If you want to support our show, simply give "The Ariel Helwani Show" a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The legendary American boxing promoter joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about his Hall of Fame career and business ventures, discussing things like:
Plus, he talks about women's boxing, his unlikely journey to HBO Sports, what it's like owning two minor league baseball teams, and much more.
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For more on Lou and the latest in boxing, you can visit dbe1.com.
If you want to support our show, simply give "The Ariel Helwani Show" a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The 43-year-old British boxing great, who returns to the ring on July 2 after a 10-year layoff, joins the show to discuss:
And much more.
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For more from Ricky, you can follow him on Twitter @HitmanHatton.
If you want to support our show, simply give "The Ariel Helwani Show" a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers
The iconic American actress joins Ariel on the show to discuss a whole host of topics! Such as:
And much more.
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For more from Rosie, you can follow her on Twitter @RosiePerezBKLYN.
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Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers
The retired Canadian professional wrestler joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about his career in the ring, his work with WWE behind-the-scenes, and the entire pro wrestling industry as a whole. He and Ariel discuss:
Plus, thoughts on Owen Hart and much more.
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For more from Lance, you can follow him on Twitter @LanceStorm.
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Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers
The New York Giants offensive lineman joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion about his NFL career, mental health struggles, and his less-than-ideal upbringing. Feliciano tells Ariel about:
And much more.
For more from Jon, you can follow him on Twitter @MongoFeliciano.
If you want to support our show, simply give "The Ariel Helwani Show" a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It goes a long way!
Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers
The prolific sports journalist, TV personality, and author tells Ariel about his 29-year run at ESPN and some of the biggest and most controversial stories he's covered. The guys discuss:
For more from Jeremy, you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @jeremyschaap.
If you want to support our show, simply give "The Ariel Helwani Show" a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It goes a long way!
Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers
One of boxing’s rising stars joins the show a few weeks ahead of his June 4 showdown with George Kambosos Jr. After telling Ariel how he discovered boxing, Haney discusses his relationships with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Terence Crawford, and Eddie Hearn, why he had to leave Matchroom to sign with Top Rank, why he converted to Islam in 2021 (26:30), how he plans to avoid the pitfalls of fame (29:42), and much more.
You can follow Devin on Twitter and Instagram @RealDevinHaney.
Devin Haney is a 23-year-old American professional boxer who boasts a pristine 27-0 record. He is currently the WBC world champion and is set to face George Kambosos Jr. for the undisputed lightweight title in Melbourne, Australia, on June 4.
For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.
Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers
The prolific Action Bronson joins the show this week! He’s an MMA superfan and one of Ariel's favorite entertainers, and he stops by to talk about the creative process behind his new album, Cocodrillo Turbo. He also talks about his favorite locations to perform, how losing over 150 pounds has made him better on stage, his pro wrestling fandom, AEW’s Hook using one of his songs as his entrance music, hanging out with Alexander Volkanovski, Nathan Diaz's holdup with the UFC, his thoughts on the greatest diss track of all-time, and much more.
You can follow Action on Twitter @ActionBronson and Instagram @bambambaklava.
Action Bronson is a New York-born rapper, actor, and entertainer. His new album, Cocodrillo Turbo, drops on April 29. For more information, please visit actionbronson.com.
For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.
Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers
Ariel's favorite fitness instructor joins the show! After Ariel thanks her for helping him figure out life last year, Lovewell tells Ariel all about her wide-ranging career, which has taken her to the big stage alongside the megastars of the music industry, boutique fitness studios in New York City, the gardens of Martha's Vineyard, and now to one of the world's leading health and fitness companies, Peloton. In this conversation, Lovewell discusses the role of therapy in helping her improve at her job, the beauty of the collective shared struggle in her classes, and if she expected Peloton to reach the levels of success that it has. Plus, she goes behind the scenes of her life, telling Ariel what it was like growing up in a low-income family in ritzy Martha's Vineyard (16:20), her parents' divorce, a devastating loss she suffered in her mid-20s (45:38), and much, much, more.
You can follow Emma on Twitter and Instagram @emmalovewell. To learn more about her, please visit livelearnlovewell.com.
Emma Lovewell is a cycling instructor for Peloton, an American exercise and media company that helps people live their best lives. A renaissance woman, Lovewell came to Peloton after several years as a touring professional dancer, where she performed alongside the likes of Drake and The Rolling Stones. Her love for music shines through during her classes, where she offers motivation and positive thoughts to all that participate in her rides.
For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.
Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers
One of the nation's top NFL reporters joins Ariel for a conversation about Glazer's public struggles with mental health issues, which he refers to as "the gray." Glazer tells Ariel why he decided to start speaking out about his struggles, how he hid his crippling anxiety for years, how his worst experiences have paved the way for the life he lives now, and so much more. Plus, he tells Ariel why he started training MMA, his relationships with Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture, and about his new book, Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety into Motivation and You Can Too.
You can follow Jay on Twitter and Instagram @JayGlazer.
Jay Glazer is an NFL insider for FOX Sports and is one of the stars of the award-winning studio show FOX NFL Sunday. He is also the co-founder of Merging Vets and Players (MVP), an organization that trains combat veterans to reach their highest levels of performance after serving in the armed forces, as well as co-founder of the Unbreakable Performance Center.
Glazer's new book -- which features a foreword from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson -- is available now.
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Before heading off to Dallas to cover WrestleMania for BT Sport, Ariel catches up with professional wrestling journalist John Pollock. The two old friends preview pro wrestling's biggest event by discussing topics like Ronda Rousey's relationship with the fan base, if Cody Rhodes will square off against Seth Rollins like everyone expects, and Pat McAfee's highly-anticipated return to the ring. Plus, the guys also talk about their favorite WrestleMania matches of all time, as well as MJF's upcoming free agency in 2024.
You can follow Pollock on Twitter and Instagram @iamjohnpollock.
John Pollock is Canadian professional wrestling and MMA journalist. He's the co-founder of PostWrestling.com, a news site that covers all the biggest stories in the crazy world that is professional wrestling.
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Maxwell Jacob Friedman, one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling, joins Ariel to discuss his young -- but very successful -- career. MJF tells Ariel when he first developed an interest in pro wrestling and then discusses his journey to AEW, if he thought AEW would be a formidable competitor to WWE when the promotion first launched, and what AEW is doing so well right now. He also discusses his influence, getting rejected by WWE early on and his appearance as a child on “Rosie.” Plus, he talks about his upcoming free agency in 2024, his love for the business side of pro wrestling, how long he hopes to pursue this career, and much more.
You can follow MJF on Twitter and Instagram @The_MJF.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman is an American professional wrestler who currently wrestles for All Elite Wrestling, the top competitor to WWE. At just 26 years old, MJF is considered to be one of the biggest stars in not just AEW, but all of professional wrestling.
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One of Ariel's best Hollywood friends joins the show this week to discuss Astin's acclaimed acting and singing career. The Pitch Perfect star tells Ariel what it was like growing up as a guy in musical theater, and also about his first big break. Then, Astin tells a great story about how he was selected for Pitch Perfect, why the movie franchise took off, and his well-documented relationship with then-co-star Anna Camp. They also discuss stories about his burgeoning solo music career, upcoming roles, and how he was nearly cast in an NBA show and a documentary about former UFC champion Chris Weidman.
You can follow Astin on Instagram and Twitter @skylarastin.
Skylar Astin is a New York-born actor, singer, and songwriter. His first big role was as Georg in the Broadway show Spring Awakening. He then earned a role as Jesse in cult favorite Pitch Perfect, which catapulted him into the national spotlight. Since the 2012 hit, Astin has appeared in 21 & Over, Pitch Perfect 2, and Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist, among others. He's also set to play a role in the upcoming 18th season of the award-winning TV show Grey's Anatomy. On top of that, he recently announced he'll star alongside Geena Davis in the pilot of a CBS show.
For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.
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The prolific sportswriter joins the show to discuss his illustrious writing career. Pearlman tells Ariel about the moment he knew he wanted to be a journalist and the 1999 incident that helped take his writing career to new heights while he was at Sports Illustrated. Then, Pearlman talks about his transition to writing books, the art of biography writing, how many more books he hopes to write, what still motivates him, and the surprising answer to what he hopes his legacy is.
Jeff Pearlman is an American sportswriter. A former senior writer for the prestigious Sports Illustrated, Pearlman is most known for his work as an author. He has written nine books, six of which have appeared on The New York Times' bestseller list. One of his books, Showtime, has recently been made into a docuseries which is airing now on HBO. It's titled Winning Time, and it focuses on the unforgettable 1980s Los Angeles Lakers.
Pearlman is also the co-host of the Two Writers Slinging Yang podcast and the writer behind one of Ariel's favorite Substack pages.
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One of America's favorite sports broadcasters joins Ariel to talk about his 27-year run at ESPN, which concluded in spring 2021. The guys discuss Mayne's political commentary on social media and how ESPN executives felt about it, as well as Mayne's bold decision to enter into contract negotiations without an agent (15:52). Plus, he tells Ariel whether he still watches SportsCenter, if he holds any resentment toward ESPN for asking him to take a paycut, if the highlight show will ever make a comeback, his 2016 interview with Conor McGregor (29:22), his relationship with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (34:26), and his work with Run Freely, a charitable organization that provides financial support to veterans.
Kenny Mayne is an American sports broadcasting legend. During his 27-year run at ESPN, Mayne entered American households as the host of SportsCenter and as the star of many unforgettable "This is SportsCenter" commercials. He also contributed to off-the-beaten-path stories, most notably in horse racing, motorsports, among many others.
You can follow Kenny on Twitter @kenny_mayne and Instagram @mayne.kenny.
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One of Canada's sports broadcasting legends joins the show to talk about his legendary career, telling Ariel stories about his iconic SportsCentre show on TSN and his relationship with his then-co-host, Jay Onrait. Plus, the guys discuss O'Toole's decision to leave TSN for the new FS1 in 2013, why he wasn't happy at FOX, his eventual return to TSN, moving from Toronto to Los Angeles, an online battle with Katie Nolan, and some of the demons he's battled since leaving TSN again last year.
Dan O'Toole is a Canadian broadcaster known mostly for his role alongside Jay Onrait on TSN's SportsCentre in the early 2000s, a show whose popularity rivaled that of Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann in the United States. After enjoying many years of success at TSN and FS1, O'Toole left TSN (again) in 2021 and is now the host of the podcast, Boomsies! with Dan O'Toole.
You can follow Dan on Twitter and Instagram @dangotoole.
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One of Ariel's favorite Hollywood personalities (and teenage crushes) joins Ariel for an extensive conversation. The two discuss a number of topics. like Burke's Jewish roots, the importance of mindfulness and mental health, her exit from Dancing with the Stars in 2013, if she regrets posing for Playboy, her eight engagements, and advice she'd give to her younger self. Oh, and some CRAZY love stories that you have to hear to believe.
Brooke Burke is a businesswoman, TV host, mother, and health and fitness guru. After rising to prominence on E!'s Wild On! and several other TV shows, Burke parlayed her success into hosting Dancing with the Stars from 2010-13. Since then, she's founded Brooke Burke Body, a home workout fitness app, among other projects.
You can follow Brooke on Twitter and Instagram @brookeburke.
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In a wide-ranging conversation about his INSANE life, Steve-O tells Ariel about his journey from clown school to the big screen. The guys discuss many things, like how a college breakup led to his daredevil career, using his body for medical testing, his relationship with Johnny Knoxville, how the idea for Jackass came to fruition, the intervention that turned his life around, his 14-year sobriety, the closest he's ever felt to death, and so much more.
Steve-O is a widely celebrated actor, comedian, author, podcaster, and stuntman. Known most for his work on the early 2000s popular TV show Jackass, Steve-O is also a massive MMA fan. His YouTube channel has 6 million subscribers and he also hosts the podcast, Wild Ride! with Steve-O. In 2011, he co-wrote Professional Idiot: A Memoir, which provides a deeply intimate look into Steve-O's life.
His new movie, Jackass Forever, is available in theaters now. You can follow Steve-O on Twitter and Instagram @steveo.
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One of Ariel's childhood heroes joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion about his new book, The Last Enforcer, and many other topics, like Oakley's relationships with Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing, memories of playing for the '90s Knicks, his trade to the Toronto Raptors, the infamous 2017 incident with James Dolan at Madison Square Garden, the current state of the Knicks, and who Oakley would like to fight in a celebrity boxing match!
Charles Oakley played 19 seasons in the NBA, suiting up for the Knicks, Raptors, Wizards, Bulls, and Rockets during his illustrious career. He's most known for his 10 seasons in New York, where alongside Ewing, John Starks and, for a period, legendary coach Pat Riley, he helped the Knicks become one of the most popular teams in the league. He is also the founder of The Charles Oakley Foundation, which focuses on helping serve underprivileged communities.
You can follow Oakley on Twitter @CharlesOakley34. His new book, The Last Enforcer, is available now.
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One of the most celebrated names in Hollywood joins Ariel for a conversation about his busy career before the guys talk about Lopez' high school wrestling days, the recently revamped Saved by the Bell on Peacock, things he hasn't accomplished yet, how he tries to stay neutral in political debates, how he's navigated his career during the pandemic, and much more.
Mario Lopez is an American actor, producer, talk show host, and entertainer. Known most for his role as A.C. Slater on the '80s hit sitcom Saved by the Bell, Lopez has also appeared on hit TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and Pacific Blue, as well as movies like Colors and Eastside. Lopez currently hosts Access Hollywood and Access Daily, and co-hosts the 3 Knockdown Rule podcast, as well as the nationally-syndicated radio show On with Mario Lopez.
You can follow Lopez on Twitter @mariolopezviva and Instagram @mariolopez.
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One of the best pitchers in baseball joins Ariel for an honest conversation about many subjects, like Snell's love of MMA, why he feels the need to give back to the community, and his Twitch channel. Plus, Snell opens up about his infamous May 2020 comments in the early stages of the pandemic (21:42), MLB's current lockout (26:30), the controversial decision to pull him from Game 6 of the 2020 World Series, baseball's unwritten rules, and much, much more.
Blake Snell is a pitcher for the San Diego Padres. The 29-year-old left-hander is entering his seventh season in the big leagues and his second in San Diego. He spent five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, winning the 2018 AL Cy Young Award after boasting an astounding 21-5 record and 1.89 ERA. Snell helped lead Tampa Bay to the World Series in 2020, where the Rays fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.
You can follow Blake on Twitter, Instagram, and Twitch @SnellZilla4.
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One of the most respected voices in sports media joins Ariel for an open and honest conversation (and I'm glad we're having it). The two friends discuss Le Batard's new outlook on life thanks to the founding of his new company, Meadowlark Media, and his relatively new marriage. He also discusses the separation of his personal and professional lives, why he's happier than he's ever been and the importance of therapy in his life. Then, the guys trade stories about their respective times at ESPN, with "El Bastardo" Le Batard opening up about his exit from ESPN, and if he ever regrets joining the company in the first place (33:20).
Dan Le Batard is one of the most celebrated sports media personalities of the 21st century. Before founding Meadowlark Media in early 2021, LeBatard spent a decade at ESPN hosting The Dan LeBatard Show w/ Stugotz and Highly Questionable. Prior to joining ESPN, LeBatard wrote for The Miami Herald in his beloved home city of Miami.
You can follow Dan on Twitter and Instagram @LeBatardShow.
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The prolific Michelle Beadle joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion about her life during and after her 8+ years at ESPN. Among many subjects, Beadle opens up about her unceremonious exit from the company, her infamous comment about not watching football, behind-the-scenes drama and much more. Plus, she talks about her solo international travels, how she landed her new gig covering the San Antonio Spurs, and an exclusive scoop!
Michelle Beadle is a sports media personality currently covering the San Antonio Spurs. She also hosts the What Did I Miss? podcast with The Athletic. Formerly of ESPN and NBC, Beadle has hosted high-profile shows like Get Up!, NBA Countdown, SportsNation and more.
You can follow Michelle on Twitter @MichelleDBeadle and Instagram @michelle.beadle.
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To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.
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The greatest surfer of all-time joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation, beginning with his MMA fandom and an online battle with Paulo Costa a few years ago. Then, Slater opens up about the dangers of surfing and why he doesn't fear death like most people do (27:18) and why sharks don't worry him too much. Plus, he reveals to Ariel how much longer he plans on surfing (45:08) and also talks about his controversial decision to not get the COVID-19 vaccine and failing to qualify for the Olympics this past summer. Lastly, Slater discusses his role on Baywatch in the mid-1990s (59:44) and the relationship with Pamela Anderson that ensued a few years later.
Kelly Slater is widely considered to be the greatest surfer of all-time. The winner of 11 World Championships, he is both the youngest and oldest surfer to ever win a WSL title. At age 49, Slater still competes at a world-class level.
You can follow Kelly on Twitter and Instagram @kellyslater.
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On today's episode, the famous actor and pro wrestling superfan joins Ariel to talk about his time working for WWE over a decade ago. Then, the guys discuss differences between WWE and AEW, his time training in Albuquerque, NM, his movie plans for 2022 (47:30) and his 20-year marriage to actress Sarah Michelle Gellar (57:05). Also, Prinze Jr. reveals his plans to get back into the wrestling business in a big way next year. Make sure to listen to the very end to witness a special bonding moment between the guys!
Freddie Prinze Jr. is an American film and TV actor, writer and producer. He is also the host of WWFreddie - Wrestling with Freddie, a pro wrestling podcast. He has starred in “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “She’s All That,” “Scooby-Doo,” and much more.
You can follow Freddie on Twitter @RealFJR and on Instagram @realfreddieprinze.
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To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.
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In this special Wednesday edition of the show, Ariel talks to former NFL linebacker AJ Hawk about his post-football career as a broadcaster and as co-host of The Pat McAfee Show. In this wide-ranging conversation, Hawk discusses his relationship with former teammate Aaron Rodgers (18:57), how the NFL treats its players upon retirement (53:30), his love of MMA and his own fighting experiences, why he says yes to everything and why he and his wife got engaged after only four months of dating. Plus, Hawk gives Ariel some workout advice!
AJ Hawk played 11 seasons in the NFL, spending nine of them with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers selected Hawk No. 5 overall out of Ohio State in the 2006 NFL Draft, eventually winning the Super Bowl with Green Bay in 2011. After walking away from football in 2016, Hawk has been an analyst for Fox Sports, hosted The HawkCast and has become a regular fixture on The Pat McAfee Show.
You can follow AJ on Twitter and Instagram @OfficialAJHawk.
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To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.
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The world-renowned adult entertainer joins Ariel for an honest and open conversation about her career. She tells Ariel why left nursing to pursue performing, how her family and friends feel about her field of work, and how she separates her work from her personal life. Plus, she discusses the biggest misconceptions about her industry and why she loves MMA so much.
Kendra Lust is widely considered to be one of the top performers in adult entertainment. A huge MMA fan, she also co-hosts the Beauty & The Beast podcast alongside UFC fighter Julian Marquez.
You can follow Kendra on Twitter and Instagram @kendralust, as well as her podcast's YouTube channel.
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The Formula 1 superstar joins Ariel to talk about Ricciardo's Bills fandom and obsession with watching the UFC, among many other things. Then, the guys discuss Ricciardo's illustrious motor racing career, where Ricciardo opens up about his rise in popularity, if he has any regrets, his decision to change teams again in 2020, the importance of putting yourself first, dealing with critics and much, much more.
Daniel Ricciardo is one of the top Formula 1 drivers in the world. The 32-year-old Australian-born racer has won eight Grand Prix in his career, the most recent one coming in Italy this past September. Ricciardo gained even more fame in 2019 with the release of the popular Netflix series, Drive to Survive, a docuseries that took viewers behind the scenes of life as a Formula 1 driver.
You can follow Daniel on Twitter and Instagram @danielricciardo, where he has a combined 8.2M followers.
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One of Ariel's favorite sportswriters joins the show to tell the story of his media journey, which began when he covered the elite New York City high school basketball scene. Then, Isola discusses landing a gig with The New York Daily News and the magic of covering those '90s Knicks teams. Plus, he tells Ariel how his relationship with the Knicks eventually soured (39:17), why it's harder for reporters to fairly cover the NBA today (55:32), and much more.
Frank Isola is an American sportswriter who covered the New York Knicks for The New York Daily News from 1995-2017. He then wrote about the Knicks for The Athletic. Today, he co-hosts a SiriusXM radio show, serves as a Nets studio analyst for YES Network, and is also a regular contributor to ESPN's "Around the Horn" and "Pardon the Interruption." He is also the author of the 1999 book, "Just Ballin': The Chaotic Rise of the New York Knicks."
You can follow Frank on Twitter and Instagram @TheFrankIsola.
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The New York-born actor joins Ariel for a wide-ranging conversation, beginning with a discussion about Rapaport's role in the 1995 film Higher Learning, where he portrayed a Neo-Nazi. The guys also discuss Rapaport's Knicks fandom and why he's decided to publicly criticize the team he loves so much. Plus, Rapaport opens up about his beef with Kevin Durant (31:42), why he started speaking out about politics on social media, what he still hopes to accomplish in his career (49:46), and the tragedy that rocked the movie industry last week.
Michael Rapaport is an American actor, comedian, podcaster, and fantasy football guru. He has appeared in more than 60 films (Deep Blue Sea, Dr. Doolittle 2, etc.), several TV shows (Friends, Atypical, etc.) and has also directed an award-winning documentary.
You can follow Michael on Instagram @michaelrapaport. He also hosts the I Am Rapaport: Stereo Podcast and will continue a comedy tour next month. For more details, please visit michaelrapaportcomedy.com.
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The world-renowned Canadian-born broadcaster joins Ariel to discuss why, after eight years, she decided to leave WWE in 2020 (5:41). Plus, she talks about her short-lived acting career (26:42), how she met her husband (current AEW star Jon Moxley), if she plans on joining AEW (57:52) and how difficult it was to work for WWE at times.
Renee Paquette (formerly known as Renee Young) is a Canadian-American broadcaster. Before spending eight years with WWE, she worked for The Score and BiteTV in Canada. She left WWE last summer and now focuses on her podcast, weekly radio show with Miesha Tate, and her four-month-old baby.
You can follow Renee on Instagram @reneepaquette, check out her new book Messy in the Kitchen and listen to her podcast Oral Sessions wherever you get your shows.
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One of the best American tennis players of the last 20 years joins Ariel for a candid conversation about the Netflix documentary, "Untold: Breaking Point," which chronicles Fish's battles with mental health, which unexpectedly led Fish to pull out of an important 2012 U.S. Open match against Roger Federer.
Fish tells Ariel about his toughest days, how he pulled himself out of the darkness, the importance of family and friends during tough times, why he doesn't judge anybody anymore, why more male athletes need to speak out on mental health issues, and so much more.
Once ranking in the top 10 worldwide, Fish's career highlights include quarter finals appearances in the 2007 Australian Open, 2008 U.S. Open, and 2011 Wimbledon Championships, as well as a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Fish now serves as the captain of America's Davis Cup team, appears in celebrity golf tournaments and even practices mixed martial arts.
You can follow Mardy on Twitter @mardyfish, visit his web site mardytennis.com, and check out "Untold: Breaking Point" on Netflix to learn more about him.
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Ariel's favorite sports journalist joins the show to talk about his untraditional path into the business and how that path eventually took him to Muhammad Ali's house, telling Ariel a bone-chilling story you have to hear (32:43). Plus, Brunt discusses the state of the newspaper business (19:51), why he's never had a social media account (26:56), the biggest regrets from his legendary career and if he thinks baseball will ever return to Montreal (hint: his answer gets Ariel very excited.)
Currently a drive-time radio host and commentator for Rogers Sportsnet, Stephen Brunt is a staple of Canadian sports journalism. He spent nearly 30 years at The Globe and Mail, one of the most reputable papers in all of Canada. He is the author of over 13 books and is widely considered to be the voice of Canadian sports.
You can follow Brunt...nowhere. He doesn't believe he needs social media to do his job.
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Heelwani's biggest enemy joins Ariel to put their feud aside to discuss real life matters, such as McAfee's childhood dreams of getting rich (10:18), how he created the "dumbest life of all-time" and what it was like playing alongside Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts (22:25). Later on, the guys also talk about the 2010 arrest that turned McAfee's life around (28:10), his time with Barstool Sports, his rocky relationship with ESPN, Aaron Rodgers' regular appearances on his show and SO much more.
Pat McAfee is the host of "The Pat McAfee Show," a popular daily sports YouTube show that also airs on SiriusXM. He spent eight seasons as a punter for the Indianapolis Colts, retiring in 2017 to pursue a media career that's taken him to Barstool Sports, ESPN and the world of professional wrestling.
You can follow Pat on Twitter and Instagram @PatMcAfeeShow.
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On the first episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, new WWE champion Big E joins Ariel to talk about the mental health struggles he dealt with as a kid, the benefits of meditation and the challenges he still faces today as one of the faces of WWE. Plus, he offers some advice to Ariel and anyone else who's struggling with their mental health (39:10).
Ettore Ewen, also known as Big E, is the current WWE champion. He is also the co-host of The New Day podcast. You can follow him on Instagram @WWEBigE.
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Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers
Hello friends! It's Ariel Helwani back in your lives. On this episode, I introduce my new podcast where I'll talk to big names inside and outside of the sports world.
I've always wanted to do something like this, and I hope you follow along the journey with me. Follow the show wherever you get your podcasts and on my YouTube channel.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.