The Ariel Helwani Show

The Ariel Helwani Show

By: Ariel Helwani

Language: en

Categories: Sports

“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.

Episodes

Ilia Topuria's fighting future, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier renew rivalry, more | The Craic
Jan 09, 2026

The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll kicks off the new year alongside Uncrowned’s finest, Chuck Mindenhall and Shaheen Al-Shatti.

First up, they discuss how concerned we should be about Ilia Topuria’s fighting future following the UFC lightweight champ’s recent court proceedings (5:20).

Another UFC lightweight with no title-fight news is Arman Tsarukyan. The trio react to Dana White’s interview with Robbie Fox, where he shed light on why (17:30).

The 155-pound division continues to make headlines, this time with title contenders Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker clashing in a social media war of w...

Duration: 01:18:50
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier's budding friendship? First Annual Backie Awards, more | The Boys in the Back
Jan 08, 2026

The Boys in the Back return to react to recent news, including PFL's former CEO departing, UFC Houston fight announcements, and LFA's new broadcast home (03:21).

Next, they cover the unexpected talk of friendship between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, before discussing some of the other biggest rivalries in MMA history (13:06).

Plus, the Boys debut the first annual Backie Awards (44:36), listen to your voicemails (1:19:14), and answer your Super Chats (1:56:23).

 

Duration: 02:04:55
2026 MMA Prediction Show: Will Ilia Topuria fight? Do Jon Jones and Conor McGregor return?
Jan 07, 2026

Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to review their predictions from last year, then forecast the MMA landscape for 2026.

After giving their Must-See Fights (10:53), Breakout Fighters (45:39), Stories To Watch (58:58), and Male and Female Fighters (1:21:27), the crew predicts how many new UFC champions will be crowned (1:33:50), play a round of True or False (1:41:16), and each make one bold prediction (1:58:49).

The show closes with a debate about the Michael Morales record controversy (2:16:21), Super Chats (2:53:43), and some other news and notes (3:05:02).

Duration: 03:14:23
The 2nd Annual Ariel x Ade Boxing Awards, plus a supersized On The Nose segment
Jan 06, 2026

Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo reunite to roll out our second annual boxing awards spectacular, but first, they honor Anthony Joshua's close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele (07:32).

The duo hands out hardware in 20 categories, including Fight of the Year (18:26), Knockout of the Year (23:12), Trainer of the Year (1:09:08), Promoter of the Year (1:16:24) Moment of the Year (1:41:49), Female Fighter of the Year (1:53:52), Male Fighter of the Year (1:59:21), and many more.

After saying goodbye to Ade, Ariel is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll for a supersized edition of On The Nose, with...

Duration: 04:09:28
The 13th Annual Helwani Nose Awards: 2025 Edition
Jan 05, 2026

Ariel Helwani, The Boys in the Back, and Petesy Carroll ring in 2026 with the long-awaited, never-duplicated 13th Annual Helwani Nose Awards.

Before getting into the categories, the show pays tribute to MMA media member Abbey Subhan and Anthony Joshua team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele (08:28), then looks back at some of the moments we missed over the break (21:23).

The gang jumps into the most comprehensive awards in sports, with categories including Performance of the Year (36:00), Fight of the Year (39:51), Knockout of the Year (52:19), Rivalry of the Year (1:33:33), Story of the Year (3:11:24), Female Fighter of...

Duration: 04:07:25
Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua aftermath, Eddie Hearn, Nakisa Bidarian, Andrei Arlovski, Harley Cameron in studio, weekend recap, news & notes
Dec 22, 2025

Ariel Helwani starts the final live show of 2025 with a recap and reaction to Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, including the big winners and losers, before The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join him to further break down the aftermath and forecast what’s next for both Paul and Joshua (04:07).

Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn is back to provide his perspective on Joshua’s knockout of Paul, Paul’s game plan and toughness, Joshua’s rising star power, potential bouts for Joshua against Tyson Fury and Rico Verhoeven, Katie Taylor’s next fight, the brewing Zuffa Boxing rival...

Duration: 04:26:28
Live From Miami! Feat. Jorge Masvidal & Kayla Harrison | The Ariel Helwani Show
Dec 19, 2025

The Ariel Helwani Show is live from Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Miami!

After welcoming in the capacity crowd (00:30), Ariel is joined on stage by UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison (07:50) to discuss her upcoming fight against Amanda Nunes and more.

The King of Miami, Jorge Masvidal, joins Ariel and ATT teammate Harrison on stage (29:05) to talk about the gym's dynamics, break down Harrison vs. Nunes, and tease his own 2026 comeback.

Ariel wraps up the show by answering questions from the crowd (56:55).

 

Duration: 01:31:17
Tom Aspinall hits back, Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua arrives, Merab x Zuck | The Craic
Dec 18, 2025

For the final Craic of 2025, Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall to round out the combat sports year.

They open by previewing this weekend’s crossover fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua on Netflix (04:38).

Shifting back to MMA, the duo discuss Tom “Bully” Aspinall’s message to Ciryl Gane and how the buildup to their rematch is shaping up compared to the first meeting (28:45).

Then it’s over to the PFL, where news of Movlid Khaybulaev’s positive drug tests has caused ripples. The guys react to what it means for the PFL titl...

Duration: 01:01:43
Chael Sonnen, Holly Holm, Sam Alvey, Skye Nicolson, On The Nose, more
Dec 16, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll, answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Francis Ngannou’s free agency, booking fighters on the show, corporate jargon, The Beatles, and more (11:29).

‘The Bad Guy’ Chael Sonnen is back to discuss John Cena’s retirement match, Ilia Topuria stepping away and the UFC lightweight title implications, Alex Pereira saying he won’t be on the White House card, Dana White’s claims about Francis Ngannou putting hands on him, Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, memories from the UFC on ESPN era, an...

Duration: 03:50:29
Dana White vs. Francis Ngannou reignited, John Cena retirement match botched, massive weekend recap, Shakur Stevenson, Tyson Pedro, Kevin Vallejos, Patrick Habirora
Dec 15, 2025

Ariel Helwani brings in The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to react to the final UFC event of the year, starting with a review of Manel Kape’s big win and whether it was enough to earn a title shot, before moving on to the best moments from the now-over ESPN era, Francis Ngannou’s interview from last week and Dana White readdressing their interaction, and John Cena’s retirement match (12:16).

Rising UFC star Kevin Vallejos makes his show debut, discussing his knockout of Giga Chikadze, being awarded a performance bonus for his spinning backfist, intend...

Duration: 04:08:01
Dana White & Francis Ngannou's fractured relationship, Ngannou's next move, more | The Craic
Dec 12, 2025

The Craic is back! As usual, Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall and Ben “Big Time” Fowlkes.

This week’s biggest story is the escalating back-and-forth between Dana White and Francis Ngannou. The crew breaks down their interviews and what the exchange really means (5:05).

Next up, the lads tackle whether Merab Dvalishvili still deserves Fighter Of The Year after his loss to Petr Yan, and who might take the spot instead (38:48).

Another end-of-year competition comes to a close with the Uncrowned MMA picks, and Ben Fowlkes addresses his disappointing bottom-of-the-table finish (49:21).

Fina...

Duration: 01:13:34
Too many new UFC champs? UFC Vegas 112 & PFL Lyon previews, P4P finales, more
Dec 11, 2025

The Boys in the Back submit their final show of the year, starting with some news and notes, including Kron Gracie being forced out of his VFL fight (02:49) and Islam Makhachev defending a potential Kamaru Usman title shot (04:04).

After a conversation about the massive amount of turnover for UFC champions in 2025 (22:42), the Boys preview UFC Vegas 112 (41:18) and PFL Lyon (1:14:39), before touching on John Cena's retirement match (1:25:45) and making picks (1:35:53).

The Boys deliver their P4P lists of finales (1:40:48), then answer your voicemails (2:05:22) and Super Chats (3:00:47).

Duration: 03:08:54
Francis Ngannou, Tatsuro Taira, Jalin Turner, Chris Duncan, On The Nose, more
Dec 10, 2025

Ariel Helwani begins the show by reviewing the latest war of words between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili after it first appeared they'd buried the hatchet (02:19).

Francis Ngannou returns to talk about being approached to fight Jake Paul, his prediction for Paul’s fight against Anthony Joshua, his relationship and contract status with PFL, who he might fight next, Ciryl Gane’s eye-poke on Tom Aspinall, Alex Pereira’s chances against Jon Jones, and address Dana White’s claim that Ngannou put hands on him (16:50).

Ariel hits some news and notes and answers a few question...

Duration: 03:55:27
Kron Gracie in studio, Maycee Barber, Caroline Dubois, Mansur Abdul-Malik, On The Nose
Dec 09, 2025

Ariel Helwani starts the show with On The Nose, touching on the heated back-and-forth between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jamahal Hill, why MMA retirements don’t stick, how Paramount will recoup its UFC investment and how that impacts fighter pay, and more (11:24).

Maycee Barber is back to break down her UFC 323 win over Karine Silva, discussing her health heading into the fight, the illegal upkicks she received, chasing a title shot, wanting to rematch Alexa Grasso, not being impressed by Valentina Shevchenko’s performance against Zhang Weili, and more (1:03:51).

Mansur Abdul-Malik brings his infectious energy to the...

Duration: 04:06:36
Massive UFC 323 reaction, Champ Joshua Van, Payton Talbott, John Wood, Dr. Brian Sutterer on Alexandre Pantoja’s freak injury, weekend news & notes
Dec 09, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with his reaction to UFC 323, including the excellence of Petr Yan in his upset win over Merab Dvalishvili, Joshua Van becoming the second-youngest champion in UFC history, Henry Cejudo’s retirement, and more (02:38).

Dr. Brian Sutterer MD joins to discuss Alexandre Pantoja’s elbow injury, UFC initially suggesting it was a shoulder injury, the timetable for Pantoja’s return, MMA’s overall injury risks, Tom Aspinall’s eye injury and continued complications, and more (45:08).

Ariel reacts to Dana White’s recent comments about Aspinall, and the latest updates about the White Ho...

Duration: 04:12:42
UFC 323 Post-Fight Show: Petr Yan stuns Merab Dvalishvili, Joshua Van wins after freak injury to Alexandre Pantoja
Dec 07, 2025

Ariel Helwani is joined by Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall to react to UFC 323, starting with Petr Yan's stunning upset of Merab Dvalishvili (01:48).

Next, they discuss the co-main event, which saw Joshua Van become the second-youngest champion in UFC history due to Alexandre Pantoja suffering an arm injury early in the fight (26:20).

After touching on the performances of Tatsuro Taira (43:50), Payton Talbott (47:12) and Jan Blachowicz (56:13), 3PAC recaps the night's prelims (58:48).

The show concludes with a review of some newly announced fights for UFC 325 (1:04:22) and Chuck's final thoughts (1:11:28).

Duration: 01:15:46
UFC 323 Preview: Merab's historic year, PPV era ends, Conor McGregor legal updates | The Craic
Dec 05, 2025

The Craic is back to kick off the festive season.

With Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunited, they open the show by giving their take on the recent UFC on Paramount fight card announcements (4:21).

Then, the lads get into this weekend’s fights at UFC 323 and debate whether a win over Petr Yan would cement Merab Dvalishvili as fighter of the year (17:03).

The flyweight division is also host to some big matchups. The trio break down former champ Henry Cejudo taking on rising prospect Payton Talbott (42:30), and the co-main event barnburner be...

Duration: 01:13:51
Combat sports gone crazy, UFC 323 preview, Ali Revival Act hearing, more | The Boys in the Back
Dec 04, 2025

After a week away, The Boys in the Back return to preview UFC 323, but first, they discuss the TKO-backed Ali Revival Act (02:43) and some of the wild announcements and rumored bookings across the combat sports landscape (13:53).

They quickly touch on UFC's new meal plan (33:20), before previewing UFC 323 from top to bottom (39:20) and making picks (1:27:36).

Finally, they deliver their P4P Vans (1:38:55), listen to your voicemails (1:53:47) and answer your Super Chats (2:38:40).

Duration: 02:49:54
Malcolm Wellmaker, Bill Haney, TNA President Carlos Silva, Abdullah Mason, Chris Bungard in studio, Terence Crawford stripped?!
Dec 03, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to Terence Crawford being stripped of the WBC super middleweight title, Mike Tyson’s support for the Ali Revival Act, Oleksandr Usyk’s feelings on Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, and more (03:07).

TNA President Carlos Silva joins to talk about the promotion’s new broadcast deal with AMC, how the deal came to be, plans for 2026, TNA’s relationship with WWE, Joe Hendry joining WWE, and more (17:44).

Bill Haney is back to discuss his son, including his review of Devin’s last performance, their relationship with Eddie Hearn, pot...

Duration: 04:05:18
Tom Aspinall first interview since UFC 321, Sean O’Malley, Arnold Allen, On The Nose
Dec 02, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering your questions about the UFC 324 main event, Ronda Rousey’s comeback, how to convert casual fans, and more (05:14).

Tom Aspinall returns for his first interview since UFC 321, responding to critics who believe was looking for a way out, discussing what he learned from the experience, his behind-the-scenes exchange with Daniel Cormier, comments about switching to boxing made by his father Andy, Ciryl Gane being a tough matchup, Dana White’s reaction after the fight, Jon Jones’ barbs, his potential timeline for return, and more (1:01:28).

Sean O...

Duration: 03:41:21
Kayla Harrison, Tony Ferguson, Lerone Murphy, Joshua Van, Lamont Roach in studio, massive weekend recap, more
Dec 01, 2025

Ariel Helwani begins the show by recapping the massive UFC 324 and UFC 325 announcements, including reaction from fighters involved in the fights or fighters passed up for title opportunities (05:25).

Joshua Van stops by during UFC 323 fight week to preview his matchup with Alexandre Pantoja, talk about his calmness before the storm and his longer-than-average layoff, react to Kyoji Horiguchi’s return and callout, and more (26:21).

WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach joins Ariel in-studio ahead of his super lightweight scrap with Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz to discuss his rivalry with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and a potential rematch, appeal...

Duration: 04:08:34
BREAKING: Dana White announces HUGE UFC 324 and UFC 325 cards on Paramount, plus Ilia Topuria news; Ariel Helwani reacts
Nov 28, 2025

Ariel Helwani give his immediate reaction to Dana White's major announcement during halftime of Chiefs-Cowboys on CBS (01:05).

Ariel addresses a statement by UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria about his future (02:38), before running down all the UFC 324 matchups announced by White (04:03) and the new main card start time (06:10).

Then, he tackles the UFC 325 announcements (07:46), before giving his final thoughts on both cards (08:58).

Duration: 00:23:42
Vince Russo, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Alfie Davis, Winged C, McGregor x Khabib rivalry renewed, On The Nose, more
Nov 26, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the final show before Thanksgiving by acknowledging the Uncrowned team, before answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Khabib Nurmagomedov’s NFT launch, Conor McGregor and Khabib’s war of words over the NFTs, Ilia Topuria’s inactivity, Ian Machado Garry’s brash personality, and more (33:39).

Wrestling legend Vince Russo stops by to promote his upcoming engagement with Juggalo Championship Wrestling, assess the current wrestling landscape for WWE, AEW, TNA and others, and tell stories from the glory days, including memories of his partnership with Vince McMahon, his beef with Eric Bischoff...

Duration: 04:09:45
Shavkat Rakhmonov, Arman Tsarukyan returns!, Carlos Prates, Renato Moicano, Devin Haney, Ben Whittaker, more
Nov 25, 2025

Ariel Helwani begins the show by speaking to UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who discusses the difficulty of returning from a knee injury that required surgery, going into the Ian Machado Garry bout injured, being cleared to return early next year, being willing to fight again to prove he’s the No. 1 contender, believing he’s the hardest matchup for Islam Makhachev, and more (06:24).

Devin Haney returns, talking about his big win over Brian Norman Jr., shutting up his critics, Eddie Hearn’s comments after the fight, feeling Conor Benn is not on his level, being willing to fig...

Duration: 03:34:10
Arman Tsarukyan, Ian Machado Garry, Tyron Woodley, Nakisa Bidarian, UFC Qatar & massive weekend reaction
Nov 24, 2025

Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC Qatar, including a debate with The Boys in the Back about whether Arman Tsarukyan and Ian Machado Garry should be next for the respective champions of their divisions (04:30).

Garry then joins the show to break down his win over Belal Muhammad, discussing his takedown defense, the controversial eye-poke, whether he’s done enough to earn a title shot, Shavkat Rakhmonov or Kamaru Usman as potential challengers, his viral run-in with Khamzat Chimaev, and more (42:30).

Tsarukyan is next, breaking down his own big win against Dan Ho...

Duration: 03:52:37
UFC Qatar Post-Fight Show: Arman steamrolls Hooker, Garry dominates Belal; full card reaction
Nov 22, 2025

Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall give their immediate reactions to UFC Qatar, kicking things off with Arman Tsarukyan’s second-round submission of Dan Hooker (5:00).

Next, the guys debate whether Ian Machado Garry’s decision win over Belal Muhammad in the co-main event is enough to earn him a title shot against pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev, and map out the rest of the welterweight division (22:45).

Ariel and the guys then turn their attention to the rest of the card, highlighting the standout performances that caught their eye (42:30).

A separate storyline emerged back...

Duration: 01:05:45
Arman Tsarukyan headbutts Dan Hooker?! Who's next for Ilia Topuria? Jake-Joshua presser reaction | The Craic
Nov 21, 2025

The Craic returns with its usual trifecta: Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes are back to get you ready for the weekend in combat sports. 

To kick off the show, the guys break down UFC Qatar’s main event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker (1:21).

They also dig into the co-main event: Ian Machado Garry vs. Belal Muhammad, and discuss the stakes for the welterweight division, including what Garry would need to do to earn a title shot with a win (24:24).

To wrap up their UFC Qatar discussion, the trio spotlight their favorite mat...

Duration: 01:12:20
Kamaru Usman can't be next for Islam Makhachev, can he? Belal Muhammad's wild comments, UFC Qatar preview | The Boys in the Back
Nov 20, 2025

The Boys in the Back kick off the show with news and notes, including a UFC Qatar shakeup (01:22), Ryan Garcia's next fight (02:55), and a wild media day comment by Belal Muhammad (05:18).

Then, they breakdown the welterweight title picture and the recent momentum behind Kamaru Usman (13:41), before previewing UFC Qatar top to bottom (23:00).

Finally, The Boys make picks (1:14:07), deliver their P4P worst P4P lists by Mysterious Frank (1:16:37), and listen to your voicemails (1:31:45).

Duration: 02:15:59
Conor & Nigel Benn, Kyle Daukaus and Frank Smith in studio, David Otunga, Fatima Kline, Kamaru Usman doesn't deserve title shot
Nov 19, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by celebrating the anniversaries of Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua and Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez, two epic fights that took place on the same night in 2011 (02:30).

UFC strawweight contender Fatima Kline makes her show debut on the heels of her victory over Angela Hill at UFC 322, breaking down the win, reflecting on being able to fight at Madison Square Garden as a native New Yorker, expressing her desire to face Tabatha Ricci, and more (10:29).

Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith joins Ariel in-studio to discuss Jake Paul vs. Anthony...

Duration: 03:56:31
Tony Khan FINALLY in studio, Valentina Shevchenko in studio, On The Nose, news & notes
Nov 18, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a look at the first faceoff between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker and reaction to Joaquin Buckley’s message to Islam Makhachev (03:19).

UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko joins Ariel in-studio to break down her big win against Zhang Weili at UFC 322, reflect on the early days of her career, discuss how she controls her emotions, respond to critics of her fighting style, accept Amanda Nunes’ challenge to fight at 125 pounds, react to talks of Ronda Rousey’s comeback, and more (15:17).

AEW boss Tony Khan sits down with Ari...

Duration: 03:47:50
UFC 322 aftermath, Dillon Danis brawl, Jake vs. Joshua official, John Kavanagh & Cesar Gomezlince in studio, Bo Nickal, Benoit Saint-Denis, Ethyn Ewing
Nov 17, 2025

Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC 322, including Islam Makhachev’s domination of Jack Della Maddalena, the legacy comparisons between Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who could be next for Makhachev, Dillon Danis’ brawl with the Dagestani fighters, and more (05:33).

Benoit Saint-Denis joins fresh off his 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush, breaking down the quick finish, weighing in on Makhachev’s move to welterweight, giving his prediction for the Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker fight, and more (1:00:35).

Ethyn Ewing makes his debut following a big upset win over Malcolm Wellmaker, looking back at how th...

Duration: 04:52:58
UFC 322 Post-Fight Show: Islam Makhachev crushes Jack Della Maddalena, makes history
Nov 16, 2025

Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall give their immediate reactions to UFC 322, starting with Islam Makhachev's dominant performance against Jack Della Maddalena, to capture UFC gold in a second weight class (01:24).

After weighing in on whether the main and co-main events were "boring" (16:38), the crew discusses incredible knockouts by Michael Morales (30:39) and Carlos Prates (35:17), before circling back to Valentina Shevchenko's shutout against Zhang Weili (38:13).

They recap the rest of the stacked card (45:44), then transition to the all-out brawl between Dillon Danis and some Dagestani fighters in the crowd (58:17)

The show concludes with...

Duration: 01:14:45
UFC 322 preview, Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm 10-year anniversary, more | The Craic
Nov 14, 2025

Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite for your weekly dose of The Craic.

After reacting to the UFC 322 weigh-in results (4:14), the lads preview the stacked MSG card top to bottom (8:11).

Shifting gears to boxing, the crew break down this weekend’s Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn rematch and question if the hype is lacking (47:05).

Up next, Jake Paul is back in the headlines, this time with Anthony Joshua floated as a potential opponent. Petesy, Chuck, and Ben assess Paul’s chances in that matchup (51:13).

Today also marks the 10-yea...

Duration: 01:22:31
UFC 322 preview, Islam Makhachev chases Anderson Silva's record, Alex Pereira vs. Khamzat Chimaev?! | The Boys in the Back
Nov 13, 2025

The Boys in the Back kick off the show with some news and notes, including Alex Pereira challenging Khamzat Chimaev to a grappling match and TKO's new partnership with Polymarket (07:04).

Then, the conversation turns to UFC 322, starting with Islam Makhachev potentially tying Anderson Silva's record for the longest winning streak in UFC history and the potential for Jack Della Maddalena to pull off the upset (19:29).

After breaking down the stacked card (47:34), they make picks (1:34:27), deliver their P4P rankings of MMA grapplers (1:38:42), listen to your voicemails (1:49:39), and answer your Super Chats (2:25:52).

Duration: 02:32:19
UFC 322 preview, Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua?! Jalin Turner, Big John McCarthy, Coach Tim Welch, Gareth A. Davies, On The Nose
Nov 12, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recognizing the anniversaries of UFC 1, UFC on FOX 1, UFC 205, and UFC 281, which all took place on Nov. 12 (03:38).

The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions, with topics including criticism of Dana White, the relevance of 'UFC Embedded,' what happens after the studio cameras stop rolling, Thanksgiving dinner guests, and more (10:44).

Jalin Turner joins to discuss his decision to return to MMA, how he landed on Edson Barboza as an opponent, overcoming mental hurdles ahead of the comeback, learning to...

Duration: 04:15:19
Malcolm Wellmaker in studio Muhammad Mokaev, Chris Padilla, Is Dana White political?
Nov 11, 2025

Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to discuss some news and notes, including the first faceoff between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena, Adin Ross spending time with Makhachev, Khabib, and their team, and more (06:06).

Muhammad Mokaev joins on the heels of his head-kick knockout at BRAVE CF 101, talking about the foot injury he suffered in the fight, his desire to return to the UFC and the potential path back, how he would do against UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, his recent communication with the UFC, wanting to face Sergio...

Duration: 03:55:53
Chael Sonnen in studio, Leon Edwards, Claressa Shields, Josh Hokit, Jon Jones reaction, massive weekend recap
Nov 10, 2025

Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC Vegas 111, including Gabriel Bonfim’s stoppage of Randy Brown in the main event and Chris ‘Taco’ Padilla’s plea for a performance bonus (07:49), before quickly touching on this weekend’s boxing, including Vergil Ortiz’s big win and action from Misfits (24:27).

Leon Edwards joins to preview his UFC 322 fight against Carlos Prates, speaking about Prates having him as his phone wallpaper, facing a striker for the first time since Nate Diaz, who he hopes to face after Saturday, his thoughts on Ian Machado Garry and Jorge Masvidal, and more (33...

Duration: 04:12:01
Netflix's Dana White gambling documentary, UFC betting scandal continues, more | The Craic
Nov 07, 2025

The Craic is back! As always, Petesy Carroll is joined by regulars Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes.

They open the show with the UFC gambling scandal, beginning with the ironically timed announcement of Netflix’s upcoming documentary on Dana White’s own gambling exploits (0:22).

The trio then react to further developments in the scandal, including unearthed comments by Isaac Dulgarian (15:00).

Switching to boxing, Petesy gets Chuck and Ben’s take on the cancellation of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis on Netflix, and whether Francis Ngannou would be a suitable replacement (40:55).

Another heavyw...

Duration: 01:18:57
UFC betting scandal, Jon Jones calls Tom Aspinall 'overrated,' Jake Paul's next fight | The Boys in the Back
Nov 06, 2025

The Boys in the Back begin the show with some news and notes, including Reug Reug being forced to withdraw from ONE 173 due to a car accident (01:13), Claressa Shields signing a massive new promotional deal (02:58), and more.

Next, The Boys break down Jon Jones' recent comments about Tom Aspinall being a "one-trick pony" and "overrated" (4:58), before digging deeper on the UFC's betting scandal and the potential impact to the MMA gambling ecosystem (17:59).

After speculating on who Jake Paul will end up fighting next (46:20), the Boys preview UFC Vegas 111 (56:40), then close the show with their P4...

Duration: 02:37:53
Dana White reacts to UFC gambling controversy, Michael Chandler, Gable Steveson, Lou DiBella in studio, On The Nose, more
Nov 05, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering your questions about the UFC’s betting scandal, Ronda Rousey’s bitterness toward MMA, Most Valuable Promotions’ decision to remove Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis from the Jake Paul fight, and more (06:14).

Promoter Lou DiBella joins Ariel in-studio to discuss boxing news, including ‘Tank’ Davis’ latest controversy and Most Valuable Promotions’ position, not being in favor of three-minute rounds for women’s boxing, TKO’s involvement in the sport, his reaction to the Ali Revival Act, gambling in combat sports and suspicions of fight fixing, and more (58:25).

Michael Chandler is...

Duration: 03:37:55
New gambling allegations, Jake vs. Tank cancelled, Aljamain Sterling, Norma Dumont, coach Marc Montoya, PFL CEO John Martin in studio
Nov 04, 2025

Ariel Helwani begins the show by reacting to the cancellation of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, as well as Francis Ngannou’s emergence as Paul’s potential next fight (02:29).

Norma Dumont joins on the heels of her victory over Ketlen Vieira to discuss the win, believing she’s earned a title shot, being willing to fight Julianna Peña, Ronda Ronda teasing a comeback, and more (14:37).

New PFL CEO John Martin joins Ariel in-studio for an open conversation about his time as Turner CEO and his intersection with combat sports over the years, including conversatio...

Duration: 03:30:09
MASSIVE UFC betting controversy, more referee blunders, Mike Perry, Steve Garcia, Misfits co-founder Mams Taylor, more
Nov 03, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with commiserations for the Toronto Blue Jays and their valiant attempt in the World Series (01:41), before moving on to the controversy surrounding Isaac Dulgarian’s loss to Yadier del Valle and suspicious betting activity on the fight (15:29), and the bizarre ending of the fight between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Ante Delija (44:45).

Mike Perry joins to talk about his win over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82, recovering from the damage he took in the fight, Frankie Edgar’s removal from the card, the latest Dirty Boxing show and Gable Steveson’s victory, wanting to return...

Duration: 04:36:53
What happens now at heavyweight? Ronda Rousey hates MMA, ‘Tank’ Davis' civil suit | The Craic
Oct 31, 2025

The Craic returns with its dynamic trio: Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes.

Up first, a deep dive into the future of the UFC heavyweight division following the fallout from Ciryl Gane’s eye poke against Tom Aspinall (5:20).

Two fighters looking to make their mark on the division are Jon Jones and Alex Pereira. The lads discuss the two MMA stars angling for a potential superfight (26:00).

Pereira’s been putting in the work for that bout, but with an unexpected training partner. The crew breaks down the viral clip of him grappling with...

Duration: 01:08:21
Scariest MMA fighters ever, Jon Jones trolls Tom Aspinall, Uncrowned Films BTS with E. Casey Leydon | The Boys in the Back
Oct 30, 2025

On this spooky edition of The Boys in the Back, the Boys reveal their costumes, before discussing Jon Jones' latest barb aimed at Tom Aspinall (07:36) and Joaquin Buckley's bizarre feud with Alex Pereira (11:20).

After quickly previewing UFC Vegas 110 (14:06) and making picks (26:54), the Boys are joined by E. Casey Leydon (30:31), the newest addition to the team, about the launch of Uncrowned Films, his early days on the road with Ariel Helwani, and more.

The Boys close the show with their P4P rankings of the scariest fighters in MMA history (56:30), your voicemails (1:18:33), and Super Chats (02:03:26).

Duration: 02:08:45
Devin Haney in studio, Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva faceoff, Matt Brown, Ludovit Klein, news and notes
Oct 29, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with some news and notes, before reeling off some of MMA’s best post-fight speeches, inspired by the anniversary of Nick Diaz’s callout of Georges St-Pierre after UFC 137 (03:05).

Devin Haney joins Ariel in-studio to preview his fight against Brian Norman Jr., address criticism of his ability to take a punch, discuss his rivalry with Ryan Garcia, other opponents he considered before landing on Norman, the current state of Top Rank, the Ali Reform Act, Jake Paul vs. ‘Tank’ Davis, and more (33:23).

UFC veteran Matt Brown is back, speaking his mind...

Duration: 03:38:07
Tom Aspinall & Conor McGregor updates, Charles Jourdain, Fabio Wardley, Quillan Salkilld, Dr. Brian Sutterer, On The Nose
Oct 28, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with first-timer Quillan Salkilld, fresh off his devastating knockout of Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 321, to talk about the aftermath of the knockout; being concerned for his opponent; planning to train with Jack Della Maddalena, who’s also from Perth; learning about MMA from playing the UFC video game; wanting to fight Renato Moicano, and more (05:26).

Dr. Brian Sutterer is back to dive deeper into the conversation around Tom Aspinall’s eye, following the accidental poke he suffered at UFC 321, including the trauma itself, how it was handled by the doctors in the...

Duration: 03:16:14
UFC 321 reaction, Ariel goes off on Aspinall critics, Chael Sonnen, Mackenzie Dern, Jim Miller, Joseph Parker
Oct 27, 2025

Ariel Helwani opens the show with a recap of UFC 321, including his reaction to Ciryl Gane’s controversial eye poke against Tom Aspinall, how the foul was handled by officials, Dana White’s comments in the immediate aftermath, before talking about what can be done to prevent fouls moving forward, the rest of UFC 321, and more (02:39).

Chael Sonnen joins to give his thoughts about the UFC 321 main event, explaining his comments on the ESPN post-show, discussing the rematch and Aspinall’s potential game plan, whether anything can be done to reduce eye pokes, and talks of Alex Pereir...

Duration: 04:10:19
UFC 321 Post-Fight Show: Controversial eye poke ends Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane, Mackenzie Dern is UFC champion
Oct 25, 2025

3PAC — Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall — are back to dissect UFC 321.

Reaction begins with the night's controversial ending, as Ciryl Gane accidentally pokes Tom Aspinall in the eye, leading to a stoppage and No Contest in the main event (01:07).

After giving kudos to the evening's referees (30:03), the crew discuss Alex Pereira's reaction to the main event on social media (35:09) and what they expect to see from Jon Jones (36:53).

Next, they break down Mackenzie Dern's win over Virna Jandiroba to capture the UFC strawweight title (39:08) and Umar Nurmagomedov surviving second-round danger to defe...

Duration: 01:13:05
UFC 321 preview, Conor McGregor 'saved,' Tom Aspinall to boxing? | The Craic
Oct 24, 2025

The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes get together to unpack the biggest stories in MMA.

To get things underway, they preview UFC 321’s title fight headliner: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane (5:30).

With another championship on the line, the crew discuss the stakes in the co-main event between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern (31:30).

Plus, Dana White teased new UFC scheduling in a recent interview. Could this mean better start times for European fans? The trio break down what the changes might mean (48:40).

And of course, Conor McGregor’s ba...

Duration: 01:19:49
UFC 321 Preview: The Tom Aspinall Era Begins, Fight Feasts: Best Fish & Chips in NYC | The Boys in the Back
Oct 23, 2025

The Boys in the Back are locked in for UFC 321, so join them as they preview the card, starting with the main event that pits UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall against foe Ciryl Gane (01:51).

After breaking down the the vacant UFC strawweight title fight between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern (23:24), the Boys hit the rest of the stacked main card (31:40) and prelims (49:21).

Finally, they make picks (1:03:14) and debut a brand new Fight Feasts, in which GC searches for NYC's best fish and chips (1:15:18).

Duration: 01:28:31
Kurt Angle, Payton Talbott, Aiemann Zahabi, Frank Warren, UFC 321 preview, more
Oct 22, 2025

Vibes are high today on The Ariel Helwani Show, as Ariel gives his thoughts on the premiere of Uncrowned Films’ first entry, “What is BKFC?” (10:15).

Wrestling legend Kurt Angle joins the show on a special date, the anniversary of his first WWE title win — against The Rock — and the anniversary of his first interview with Ariel. They discuss his upcoming commentary gig for Real American Freestyle, Hulk Hogan recruiting him for the role, Vince McMahon’s influence in shaping his WWE heel persona and promo work, Colby Covington using his entrance music, and more (16:32).

Payton Talbott is b...

Duration: 02:42:21
Boots Ennis and Jazmyn Nyx in studio, Bo Nickal, Anthony Pettis, Andy Foster, On the Nose, more
Oct 21, 2025

Ariel Helwani starts the show by celebrating the Blue Jays’ ALCS win, before pivoting to some Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane talk (03:52).

Next, The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions, including thoughts on the likelihood of Conor McGregor fighting at the White House, Frankie Edgar’s false start with BKFC, the mysterious phone image at UFC Vancouver, and even the debut trailer for Uncrowned’s first film (12:43)

Anthony Pettis honors coach Duke Roufus, who tragically died last week, opening up about their special relationship, dealing with the em...

Duration: 04:27:29
Oscar De La Hoya at his home, Derek Moneyberg in studio, Chito Vera, Mike Malott, full weekend recap
Oct 20, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a tribute to coach Duke Roufus, who tragically died on Friday (00:10)

Then, the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to recap UFC Vancouver, starting with the main event between Brendan Allen and Reinier de Ridder. After an in-depth conversation about MMA refereeing, the crew covers the rest of the card and other news and notes from the weekend (06:26).

Mike Malott joins following a big win over Kevin Holland at UFC Vancouver, expressing frustration over some controversial low blows, feeling Holland embellished the groin shots and...

Duration: 04:30:42
Alex Pereira: Heavyweight Savior, Ronda Rousey's Comeback, Weidman-Silva 3 | The Craic
Oct 17, 2025

Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite for your weekly dose of The Craic.

First up, they dive into what’s next for Alex Pereira and his possible move to heavyweight, and how it could shake up next week’s title clash between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane (4:02).

Next, the guys react to the Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva trilogy announcement set for the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis Netflix boxing event (25:46).

Another surprise comeback rumor making the rounds is Ronda Rousey’s potential return. After her recent comments hintin...

Duration: 01:11:28
Is Merab Dvalishvili having the best year in MMA history? Weidman-Silva 3 boxing match announced, UFC Vancouver preview, more | The Boys in the Back
Oct 16, 2025

The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to Most Valuable Promotions announcing Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva will box on the Jake Paul vs. 'Tank' Davis undercard (01:11).

Then, they discuss Merab Dvalishvili's 2025 run and whether, with a dominant victory in December, it will be the best year a fighter's ever had (08:29).

After previewing UFC Vancouver (25:54), the Boys make picks (1:05:07), deliver their top 12-month runs in MMA (1:14:08), listen to voicemails (1:44:49), and answer your Super Chats (2:22:20).

Duration: 02:28:18
Sean Brady, plus Diamond Dallas Page, Danny Garcia, and Jeff Pearlman all in studio, Contender Series heads to Paramount+
Oct 15, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping his experience at the Colombia vs. Canada soccer game, before Petesy Carroll joins to react to Ian Machado Garry’s comments from Tuesday’s show. The Boys in the Back jump in to discuss the appeal of Contender Series and its potential next landing spot (02:09).

Sean Brady is back to talk about accepting his fight against Michael Morales, not wanting to wait around for another opponent, No. 1 contender fights no longer being guaranteed by the UFC, feeling like the promotion wants Carlos Prates to emerge from the welterweight pack, and...

Duration: 04:20:55
Cory Sandhagen, Ian Machado Garry, Mikey Musumeci, Paulie Malignaggi, On The Nose
Oct 14, 2025

Ariel Helwani, The Boys in the Back, and Petesy open the show by talking about the latest round of UFC fight announcements, then answering On The Nose questions (29:49).

Mikey Musumeci is back to discuss his UFC BJJ 3 victory, address the YouTube views controversy surrounding the event, open up about the level of scrutiny he faces, his relationship with Craig Jones, the Derek Moneyberg drama, and more (1:02:17).

Paulie Malignaggi explains why he’s returning to the ring, before the conversation gets contentious when discussing Dana White and Zuffa’s entry into boxing, and Malignaggi challenges Conor McGr...

Duration: 03:38:24
Merab Dvalishvili, Darby Allin and Hornswoggle all in-studio, Charles Oliveira vs. Max Holloway next?
Oct 13, 2025

Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back begin the show by reacting to Charles Oliveira's big win at UFC Rio, and discuss whether Max Holloway should be his next opponent and if the UFC can make it happen in Hawaii. Plus, more discussion on Jose Aldo's retirement, the rest of UFC Rio, Dave Allen coming up short, and Jaron "Boots" Ennis' successful debut at 154 pounds (09:56).

AEW superstar Darby Allin joins Ariel in-studio to give a taste of his extreme lifestyle, talking about climbing Mount Everest, the development of his character, how skateboarding in his youth prepared...

Duration: 04:07:46
UFC to have huge 2026? Eddie Hearn takes on Dana White in MMA? UFC Rio talk | The Craic
Oct 10, 2025

The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll calls on Chuck Mindenhall to talk this week's biggest headlines.

They kick things off by reacting to Ariel’s loaded 2026 superfight forecast from Monday’s Helwani Show. Can 2026 live up to its decade-old predecessor, 2016? The guys break it all down (00:32).

Also on this week’s programming was Ariel’s interview with Eddie Hearn, whose comments about MMA ruffled some feathers. He teased a potential promotional move into the sport, and the guys discuss how big his involvement could become (32:17).

One promotion still struggling to break through is the PFL...

Duration: 01:05:14
Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira: Biggest fight in UFC history? Charles Oliveira's new nickname, UFC Rio preview | The Boys in the Back
Oct 09, 2025

The Boys in the Back start the show with some news and notes, including Malcolm Wellmaker's next assignment (02:19), Justin Tafa stepping away (03:31), Carl Froch teasing a return (05:01), and Alex Pereira returning to Brazil and the tire shop where he worked (07:21).

Next, The Boys discuss Pereira's call to fight Jon Jones on the UFC's White House card and the impact it would have at both heavyweight and light heavyweight (14:37).

After breaking down UFC Rio (36:53), they make picks (1:08:17) and rank their P4P New York City boroughs (1:17:07), inspired by Charles Oliveira's nickname "Do Bronxs."

The...

Duration: 02:57:25
Eddie Hearn in studio, Dan Hooker, Carlos Ulberg, Paul Hughes, Channing Tatum, wrestling legend Raven
Oct 08, 2025

 Ariel Helwani starts the show with news from the combat sports world, including the tragic passings of Arturo Gatti Jr. and Suman Mokhtarian, plus Sean Strickland getting married (06:18).

Carlos Ulberg returns, addresses Jiri Prochazka saying he turned down a fight, then talks about only having four weeks to train for Dominick Reyes, being front row for Alex Pereira and Prochazka at UFC 320, how a potential Pereira fight plays out, and more (19:27).

Paul Hughes joins to discuss his rematch against Usman Nurmagomedov, the controversial scoring, referee Keith Peterson’s actions during the fight, his respect for Nur...

Duration: 04:03:16
Arman Tsarukyan, Petr Yan, Joe Pyfer, Sergio Pettis, reaction to Conor McGregor suspension, On The Nose
Oct 07, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering questions about Ronda Rousey's return and Gina Carano as a potential opponent, whether Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones is good for Tom Aspinall, future projects for Uncrowned Films, and more (07:34).

Petr Yan is back and believes he deserves the next UFC bantamweight title shot. He talks about Merab Dvalishvili's UFC 320 win, being willing to fight the champion on Dec. 6, only being 50% in their first fight due to an injured hand, and more (32:53).

Joe Pyfer joins following his UFC 320 win, discussing dealing with a hand...

Duration: 03:19:52
UFC 320 reaction, Jiri Prochazka, Youssef Zalal, Veronica Hardy, coach John Wood, more
Oct 06, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping a wild weekend, starting with his experience at BKFC Newark, before moving on to UFC 320 and Alex Pereira's callout of Jon Jones (05:24).

Coach John Wood discusses being in the corner for back-to-back fights at UFC 320, with Merab Dvalishvili picking up a huge win and Khalil Rountree Jr.'s valiant effort against Jiri Prochazka. Wood details Dvalishvili's dominance, the potential of Ateba Gautier, and more (1:02:53).

Youssef Zalal is back after a big win, talking about the submission and Josh Emmett's verbal tap, his callout of Lerone Murphy, why...

Duration: 04:05:49
UFC 320 Post-Fight Show: Alex Pereira gets revenge on Magomed Ankalaev, Merab Dvalishvili becomes bantamweight GOAT?
Oct 05, 2025

Ariel Helwani is joined by Petesy Carroll to give their immediate reactions to UFC 320, starting with Alex Pereira's blistering knockout of Magomed Ankalaev in their rematch (00:26).

After discussing what could be next for Pereira — Jiri Prochazka, Carlos Ulberg, heavyweight (09:16) — they break down Prochazka's own impressive win over Khalil Rountree (22:12).

Next, they look at Merab Dvalishvili's dominance against Cory Sandhagen and wonder whether he's cemented himself as the bantamweight GOAT (22:56).

Performances by main card winners Youssef Zalal (32:10) and Joe Pyfer (36:18) get mention, before wrapping up with a review of the prelims (40:33) and BKFC's show in N...

Duration: 00:56:57
50-45?! Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2 Post-Fight Show
Oct 03, 2025

Ariel Helwani & Petesy Carroll give their immediate reactions after PFL Champions Series 2, headlined by the highly-anticipated rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes.

They begin with a discussion about the main event, including the controversial scorecards (00:45) and where Hughes goes from here (33:31).

Next, they cover Corey Anderson’s win in the co-main event (34:26) and Sergio Pettis‘ highlight reel knockout (34:52).

Finally, they wrap up the rest of the card (36:00) and discuss PFL’s viability as an international brand (39:36).

Duration: 00:46:20
UFC 320 weigh-in reaction, Conor McGregor's White House plans, Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2, more | The Craic
Oct 03, 2025

The Craic is back! On an old school episode of The Craic, Petesy Carroll is joined by Brazilian powerhouse journalist Guilherme Cruz. Together, they react to the UFC 320 weigh-ins and talk Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev (00:49).

Shifting from Brazilian MMA to Irish MMA, Petesy Carroll brings in Ireland’s top MMA journalists, Donagh Corby and Andy Stevenson, to cover the latest Irish combat sports news, starting with a breakdown of the UFC welterweight clash between Ian Machado Garry and Belal Muhammad (27:57).

From one Irish MMA star to the next, the guys move on to Conor Mc...

Duration: 01:08:21
Conor McGregor says White House fight 'signed,' UFC Qatar reaction, UFC 320 & PFL preview | The Boys in the Back
Oct 02, 2025

The Boys in the Back begin the show by reacting to Conor McGregor's recent update about fighting at the White House (02:12) and two huge fights announced for UFC Qatar: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker and Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry (08:06).

Next, they preview UFC 320 (20:15), PFL Champions Series 2: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 (1:19:04), and BKFC Newark (1:28:15), before making picks (1:40:30) and debuting a brand new Fight Feasts (1:45:22).

Finally, the Boys deliver their P4P documentary rankings (1:59:23), listen to your voicemails (2:22:43), and answer your Super Chats  (3:10:31).

Duration: 03:13:09
Mark Kerr, David Feldman in studio, Does the UFC need Alex Pereira to win at UFC 320?
Oct 01, 2025

Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back kick off the show by answering your On The Nose questions (05:20).

MMA pioneer Mark Kerr joins to discuss the making of the original “The Smashing Machine” documentary, why he decided to open up about his struggles with addiction, receiving the call from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson about wanting to lead the new film, where he is now in life, and more (34:28).

BKFC founder Dave Feldman is back in-studio to preview the promotions debut in New Jersey, including Frankie Edgar’s status and the animosity between Mike Perry and Jeremy...

Duration: 02:43:32
Mateusz Gamrot, 'The Smashing Machine' Director Benny Safdie, Fighting Nerds Head Coach, Amir Khan, Tom Nolan, Zombie Jr.
Sep 30, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a brief review of "The Smashing Machine," and reaction to Artem Lobov withdrawing from his return fight (05:37).

Mateusz Gamrot is back to talk about his short-notice fight against Charles Oliveira, what it was like to get the call and his emotions after, getting advice from teammate Dustin Poirier, being energized by fighting in enemy territory, and more (12:16).

Fighting Nerds head coach Pablo Morão Sucupira talks about the formation of the team, their rapid ascent, handling criticism during a rough patch, believing they will still create champions, how t...

Duration: 03:15:18
Ben Askren, Demetrious Johnson, Diego Lopes, Dana White's hypocritical 60 Minutes interview, massive weekend recap
Sep 29, 2025

Ariel Helwani is back and kicks off the show with some news and notes, including his time in Montreal for Most Valuable Promotions’ Prospects 15 card (07:33), Zuffa Boxing’s deal with Paramount (10:09), Dana White’s "60 Minutes" interview (15:56), fallout from UFC Perth and its impact on UFC 320 (33:01), Wanderlei Silva getting knocked out after his fight (48:33), and more.

Demetrious Johnson returns to discuss training with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, break down Merab’s fight against Cory Sandhagen, predict whether Merab could have beaten prime Dominick Cruz, react to Ronda Rousey’s potential comeback, and more (59:35).

Ariel and The Boys i...

Duration: 03:25:09
Oleksandr Usyk challenges Jake Paul to MMA fight, Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev get lost in translation | The Craic
Sep 26, 2025

Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes come together a fresh edition of The Craic.

They kick off the show by breaking down the verbal jousting taking place between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira ahead of their clash at UFC 320 (6:12).

From there, attention shifts to Din Thomas, who floated the idea of a UFC–PFL trade: Magomed Ankalaev for Dakota Ditcheva. The crew breaks down his comments (15:48).

It’s Oleksandr Usyk vs. Jake Paul next. In a surprising callout, Usyk took to X to challenge Paul to an MMA fight. The guys make sens...

Duration: 01:06:11
Conor McGregor calls for $100 million, UFC Perth preview, PFL simplifies their titles | The Boys in the Back
Sep 25, 2025

The Boys in the Back double up this week and the show begins with a recap of all the stuff they missed since Monday, including Charles Oliveira getting Mateusz Gamrot (01:37), Jake Paul and Gervonta 'Tank' Davis facing off (07:53), PFL simplifying their title structure (19:37), Conor McGregor calling for $100 million to fight at the White House (48:38), and more.

Plus, a UFC Perth preview (57:40), picks (1:23:26), P4P Three-Namers (1:27:11), voicemails (1:47:19), and Super Chats (2:22:46).

Duration: 02:32:07
Ariel Helwani Reacts to Classic Interviews, Vol 3: Justin Bieber, Chael Sonnen, Nate Diaz, Jorge Masvidal
Sep 24, 2025

Ariel Helwani reacts to some of his classic interviews, providing additional insights and behind-the-scenes stories for each.

This volume includes one of Ariel's first conversations with Chael Sonnen, prior to him becoming 'The Bad Guy' (02:50), Andrei Arlovski and the infamous 'How's Taste' moment (13:23), pop superstar Justin Bieber getting grilled (24:02), Bob Arum blasting the UFC and its fanbase during the early days (34:52), Ariel's first meeting with Jorge Masvidal (52:56), and an instant-classic Nate Diaz interview (1:04:49).

Duration: 01:17:30
The MMA Beat: Dissecting recent media issues, Dana White’s press conferences, old war stories, more
Sep 23, 2025

The MMA Beat is back! Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes discuss journalistic topics including the controversy around platforming Andrew Tate (04:35), Dana White's media strategy and approach to recent press conferences (18:31), the current state of MMA media (25:31), building relationships with subjects, in this case fighters (44:47), on and off the record conversations (59:11), and more.

Duration: 01:10:56
Al Iaquinta IN STUDIO! Charles Oliveira needs an opponent, Ronda Rousey comeback, more | The Boys in the Back
Sep 22, 2025

The Boys in the Back are joined all show by Long Island own's 'Raging' Al Iaquinta, as they react to hot topics, including the hunt for Charles Oliveira's opponent (03:13), the latest news on the UFC's White House card (10:17), Raja Jackson's arrest (17:52) and Ronda Rousey teasing an MMA comeback (19:39).

After talking a bit about Iaquinta's teammate Merab Dvalishvili (26:14), the trio discuss WWE's debut on ESPN (36:25), the UFC antitrust settlement (43:07), the failed GFL launch (48:34), and Frankie Edgar making his return for BKFC (49:19).

Iaqtuina talks about life after retirement as a real estate agent (57:04), then transitions to the...

Duration: 02:47:17
Fall of Fighting Nerds? Raja Jackson’s arrest, remembering Tom Gerbasi | The Craic
Sep 19, 2025

Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes begin this week’s episode by discussing the doomsday thinking surrounding The Fighting Nerds after they hit a poor run of form in UFC main events (05:57).

The conversation then moves onto Raja Jackson’s arrest and the realization that he will likely be a huge commodity for fight sports promoters on the back of his streamed assault of independent wrestler Syko Stu last month (26:05).

After that, the lads take a look at the viral moments that were created at Thursday’s Chris Eubank vs. Conor Benn 2 press conference, with E...

Duration: 01:21:35
White House card latest, Arman Tsarukyan watching Ilia Topuria's pockets, P4P crossovers, more
Sep 18, 2025

The Boys in the Back kick off the show with the latest flurry of updates about the UFC's planned White House event (01:50), including Conor McGregor and Dana White hinting at McGregor headlining the card.

Next, they touch on Arman Tsarukyan's comments about Ilia Topuria's wealth (35:27), before delivering their P4P crossovers (48:58), inspired by Topuria's continued war of words with boxer Terence Crawford.

Finally, the Boys listen to your voicemails (1:29:23) and answer your Super Chats (2:16:50).

Duration: 02:20:53
Ariel responds to Dana White, Julianna Peña, Timeless Toni Storm, Torrie Wilson, On The Nose, more
Sep 17, 2025

Ariel Helwani opens the show with a tribute to combat sports writer and friend Thomas Gerbasi, who passed away (00:22).

The Boys in the Back join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions, touching on Dana White’s recent comments about Ariel on "Impaulsive," Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier, Sean O’Malley’s next fight, and more (20:10).

WWE Hall of Famer Torrie Wilson reflects on her career, including getting her start after being recognized by Kevin Nash, being intimidated in the early days, the development of her character, what it’s like to be backstage now, her dedi...

Duration: 03:51:31
Shakur Stevenson, Ricochet, Yoel Romero, Alexander Hernandez, remembering Ricky Hatton, more
Sep 16, 2025

Ariel Helwani opens today’s show by reacting to Anthony Hernandez withdrawing from his Oct. 18 fight against Reinier de Ridder and Brendan Allen stepping in (05:18).

British broadcaster Adam Smith is back on the show to reminisce about Ricky Hatton and celebrate his life (12:13).

Shakur Stevenson returns to break down Terence Crawford’s dominance against Canelo Alvarez and discuss his own future, including potential fights against Teofimo Lopez and Ryan Garcia (37:48).

Alexander Hernandez recaps his win over Diego Ferreira at Noche UFC, working with a farmer on the mental side of the game, UFC’s prom...

Duration: 03:58:40
Massive weekend recap, Terence Crawford, Eddie Hearn, Gable Steveson, Zuffa Boxing review, Ricky Hatton memories
Sep 15, 2025

Ariel Helwani begins the show by touching on the death of Ricky Hatton (3:34), before recapping a loaded combat sports weekend, starting with Terence Crawford's win over Canelo Alvarez (09:25), Eddie Hearn's brewing rivalry with Dana White (16:25), White's fingerprints — or lack thereof — on the card itself (29:47), Turki Alalshikh's growing influence (39:09), Noche UFC (1:01:27), and Ilia Topuria's continued callouts of Crawford (1:06:19).

Crawford himself joins next to break down the win, talking about fighting up two weight classes, reacting to Canelo's frustrations during the fight and his comparison of Crawford to Floyd Mayweather, and responding to Topuria (1:22:50).

Journalist Tris Dixon, the...

Duration: 04:31:55
Live from Belfast: Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan post-fight reaction show
Sep 14, 2025

Petesy is live from Belfast with full coverage of Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan.

He gives his verdict on the decision (02:38), shares post-fight reactions from Lewis Crocker and Eddie Hearn (05:22), and sits down with Gavan Casey to break it all down (21:14).

Duration: 00:45:46
The Smashing Machine review, Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford press conference & weigh-in reaction | The Craic
Sep 12, 2025

Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite to cover the week’s biggest topics.

First up, Ben gives his exclusive review of The Smashing Machine, starring with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, off the back of his private screening (7:08).

The crew then breaks down the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terrence Crawford presser, where Dana White faced pointed questions on fighter pay (26:34).

The guys talk big picture about the boxing matchup, where their hype levels stand with fight night looming (49:14), and give their final picks (56:44).

The other boxing fight taking place this weekend is Lew...

Duration: 01:18:12
Mega Preview: Noche UFC & Canelo x Crawford, GC's 'Phillies Karen' hot take, P4P with a twist | The Boys in the Back
Sep 11, 2025

The Boys in the Back kick off a loaded show with remembrance for 9/11, before moving on to news and notes including TKO COO Mark Shapiro revealing details of UFC's rights negotiations (04:22) and Ilia Topuria's response to Terence Crawford (09:18).

Next, they preview Saturday's stacked lineup, starting with Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford (17:03) and finishing with Noche UFC (45:49).

After making picks (1:11:04), the Boys deliver their P4P, with a twist (1:21:12), before wrapping up with your voicemails (1:44:53), including GC's controversial stance on the 'Phillies Karen' (1:57:38), and Super Chats (2:41:14)

Duration: 02:50:20
Charles Oliveira, Joseph Parker, Jaime Munguia, Alexander Hernandez, On The Nose, more
Sep 10, 2025

Ariel Helwani begins the show by answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Andrew Tate, Mike Tyson vs. Floyd Mayweather, and more (05:37).

Alexander Hernandez joins to preview his Noche UFC fight against Diego Ferreira, discuss his new nickname, the turning point in his career, and more (1:04:03).

Charles Oliveira is back to announce his new collaboration with Project Rock, then look back at his loss to Ilia Topuria, look ahead to his matchup with Rafael Fiziev, and reveal details about his weight cuts (1:27:11).

WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker joins to discuss...

Duration: 03:49:52
Diego Lopes, Carlos Prates, Paul Craig, Corey Anderson in studio, more
Sep 09, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a check-in on Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight week (03:19).

Diego Lopes returns ahead of this weekend’s Noche UFC matchup with Jean Silva to break down the fight, respond to Silva’s proposed bet, talk about accepting fights against Yair Rodriguez and Aaron Pico, and more (13:46).

Carlos Prates looks back at his highlight-reel knockout of Geoff Neal, before discussing a tough night in Paris for The Fighting Nerds, his upcoming meeting with Leon Edwards, his prediction for Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev, wanting to rematch Ian Mach...

Duration: 03:11:43
Darren Till, Maven Huffman in studio, Benoit Saint Denis, Bryan Battle, Modestas Bukauskas, UFC Paris recap
Sep 08, 2025

Ariel Helwani is back, starting with his reaction to UFC Paris and specifically Nassourdine Imavov’s big win over Caio Borralho (07:45).

Benoit Saint Denis discusses his flawless performance against Mauricio Ruffy in Paris, bouncing back in a big way after the lows of 2024, wanting to fight Mateusz Gamrot, and more (23:10).

Darren Till returns with thoughts on the state of the influencer boxing scene, potential fights against Andrew Tate and Jake Paul, his continued feud with Carl Froch, and more (51:47).

Bryan Battle calls in to reveal details of his recent PFL signing, then talks ab...

Duration: 04:04:27
Tom Aspinall x Ciryl Gane Presser Reaction, UFC Paris, Tyson x Mayweather?! | The Craic
Sep 05, 2025

The Craic is back from its summer hiatus. Petesy Carroll is joined by Craic regular Ben Fowlkes, and they kick things off by reacting to the Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane press conference (5:08).

Next, the guys unpack the fallout from Rampage Jackson’s interview with Ariel earlier this week, and Petesy and Ben weigh in on the former UFC star’s comments (28:02).

The boys then talk the recent update to the potential White House UFC card, and touch on Kayla Harrison’s visit to meet the President (40:00).

After that, the boys react to The Sma...

Duration: 01:24:54
UFC Paris preview, Anderson Silva gets $10 million, Kayla Harrison at the White House, more | The Boys in the Back
Sep 04, 2025

The Boys are back from vacation and jump into news and notes, including Bo Nickal getting booked against Rodolfo Vieira (01:50), Kayla Harrison's visit to the White House (04:25), and Anderson Silva's reported payout from the UFC antitrust lawsuit (11:06).

Next, they preview UFC Paris from top to bottom (15:41), before making their picks (59:45) and debuting a brand new Fight Feasts focused on French cuisine (1:03:28).

The Boys close the show by delivering their P4P rankings of "French" things (1:21:06) — anything with French in the name/title — and answering your voicemails (1:32:50) and Super Chats (2:09:19).

Duration: 02:11:28
Rampage Jackson, Alex Pereira in studio, Chael Sonnen, Luke Rockhold, Deontay Wilder, Andre Ward, On The Nose
Sep 03, 2025

After quickly hitting some news and notes, Ariel Helwani is joined by Chael Sonnen to discuss his busy weekend with Real American Freestyle and CJI 2, the response to his initial comments on Raja Jackson, and his surprising prediction for the White House card main event (11:21).

Deontay Wilder recaps his win over Tyrrell Herndon, before talking about feeling rejuvenated and wanting to fight until he's 50, teasing a potential fight against Francis Ngannou, and more (1:03:01).

Luke Rockhold returns on the heels of his loss to Darren Till and addresses his future, including the topic of retirement and...

Duration: 05:11:15
We're back! Raja Jackson and UFC 322 reactions, Mackenzie Dern, Aljamain Sterling, Tom Lawlor, Charles Johnson, weekend recap
Sep 02, 2025

Ariel Helwani and the crew are back from vacation, so they start with a catch-up on all the things they missed, including reactions to Raja Jackson's situation, UFC 322 being announced, the combat sports weekend — Misfits, Real American Freestyle, and CJI events, Jake Paul vs. Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, UFC Shanghai, and more (15:50).

Charles Johnson joins to discuss his big win in Shanghai, give a prediction for Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van, and more (02:02:26).

Mackenzie Dern is next, previewing her strawweight title shot against Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 (02:45:06).

Tom Lawlor talks about his wrestling career, be...

Duration: 04:41:44
Khamzat Chimaev is boring? UFC welterweight drama, Jake Paul vs. 'Tank' Davis | The Craic
Aug 21, 2025

On a special Thursday edition of The Craic, Petesy Carroll tackles the week’s biggest stories alongside Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes.

They kick things off by debating whether Khamzat Chimaev’s recent middleweight title victory over Dricus Du Plessis has fueled the perception that he’s becoming a boring fighter (2:15).

Alongside Khamzat Chimaev in the main event, UFC 319 was also set to feature Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev. But Battle’s second consecutive weight miss led to the fight’s cancellation and his release from the promotion. The trio discuss what his cut says about how...

Duration: 01:22:04
Who's next for Khamzat Chimaev? Jake Paul vs 'Tank' Davis?! UFC Shanghai & PFL previews | The Boys in the Back
Aug 20, 2025

The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to breaking news that Jake Paul will be fighting Gervonta 'Tank' Davis in November (02:18).

Sparked by Dana White announcing Reinier de Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez for October, the Boys discuss who Khamzat Chimaev will face in his first title defense (10:04).

After previewing UFC Shanghai (26:56), we get the official announcement for Paul vs. Davis, so the Boys give their takes on the updated details (54:07).

Following a brief look at the conclusion of PFL's championship round (1:05:15), the Boys make picks (1:07:33), deliver their P4P...

Duration: 02:10:16
Ariel x Ade, episode 39: Moses Itauma's trainer Ben Davison talks massive win and next fight, Mick Conlan and Dan Canobbio join, more
Aug 19, 2025

Ariel Helwani is flying solo for this episode of Ariel x Ade, but he’s bringing three guests with him.

First, trainer Ben Davison joins to discuss Moses Itauma’s first-round stoppage against Dillian Whyte, Itauma’s seemingly limitless potential, who the phenom might fight next, whether it’s too soon for the Oleksandr Usyk fight, and he gives an update on Anthony Joshua’s status (02:59).

Next, Dan Canobbio stops by to give his own take on what’s next for Itauma, Joseph Parker needing to be next for Usyk, Daniel Dubois splitting from trainer Don Charles...

Duration: 01:16:45
Dillon Danis in studio, Mike Perry & Jeremy Stephens faceoff, Lerone Murphy, Carlos Ulberg
Aug 19, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with Lerone Murphy, who talks about his highlight-reel knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319, practicing the spinning elbow, champion Alexander Volkanovski’s callout for December, his weight cut, and more (07:53).

Dillon Danis is back in studio with Ariel to discuss a variety of topics, including his upcoming Misfits fight, why he’s not facing Tony Ferguson, believing he can submit Khamzat Chimaev, the ongoing lawsuit with Logan Paul’s wife Nina Agdal, and more (31:37).

Dillon’s upcoming opponent, Warren Spencer, drops in to respond and things get heated (1:13:53), then Ariel an...

Duration: 02:54:46
Francis Ngannou, Paulo Costa in studio, Michael 'Venom' Page, Bryan Battle, Tim Elliott, UFC 319 reaction
Aug 18, 2025

Ariel Helwani opens the show with a full recap of UFC 319, including a response to the chatter of Khamzat Chimaev being “boring” (02:28).

Paulo Costa joins Ariel in-studio to react to Chimaev’s victory, talk about the UFC’s decision not to have him front row in Chicago, his game plan for a potential Chimaev fight, their past run-ins, making his acting debut, and his faith (1:01:00).

Then, Paulo dusts off the clippers to give NewYorkRic another haircut (1:58:11).

Francis Ngannou is next, reacting to recent comments by PFL Chairman Donn Davis about their first event in Afric...

Duration: 04:26:55
UFC 319 Post-Fight Show: Khamzat Chimaev dominates Dricus Du Plessis; Who's next? Ariel Helwani reacts
Aug 17, 2025

Ariel Helwani is joined by Petesy Carroll for their immediate reactions to UFC 319, starting with Khamzat Chimaev dominating Dricus Du Plessis to become UFC middleweight champion (01:24).

After breaking down the fight, they wonder who Chimaev could face next, including reactions to a real-time callout by Sean Strickland (13:01).

Helwani quickly recaps the rest of the card (23:37), before returning to individual performances including: Lerone Murphy's masterful knockout of Aaron Pico (30:04), Carlos Prates' return to form against Geoff Neal (38:18), another win by Michael 'Venom' Page (43:26), and Tim Elliott's major upset against Kai Asakura (48:37).

Finally, they touch...

Duration: 01:01:33
UFC 319 weigh-in & press conference reaction, Conor McGregor’s not cut, more | The Craic
Aug 15, 2025

With UFC 319 right around the corner, Petesy Carroll joins forces with Ben Fowlkes to break down the card’s biggest talking points.

After reacting to the weigh-in results (7:23), they dive straight into the main event. Is this Khamzat Chimaev’s coronation, or are fans once again underestimating Dricus Du Plessis? The boys tackle it all (11:03).

UFC 319’s co-main event, Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico, is another intriguing matchup. Petesy and Ben debate whether UFC debut jitters could affect Pico and if Murphy is being overlooked as a betting underdog (28:14).

Next, the duo break down t...

Duration: 01:17:46
UFC 319 MEGA PREVIEW: Can Dricus du Plessis stop Khamzat Chimaev? Top UFC on ESPN moments, more | The Boys in the Back
Aug 14, 2025

The Boys in the Back are here to preview UFC 319, including a full breakdown of the can't-miss championship fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev (3:50).

After previewing the rest of the card (41:15), the Boys briefly look ahead to the latest PFL championship fights (1:22:34) and make picks for the weekend (1:25:56).

Next, they debut a brand new Fight Feasts, focused on food from the 'Windy City,' and deliver their P4P rankings of moments from the UFC on ESPN era (1:51:59), before closing with your voicemails (2:25:06) and Super Chats (3:03:07).

Duration: 03:10:14
Karrion Kross in studio, Darren Till, Paul Hughes, Shayna Baszler, BKFC breaking news, Ariel fires back at Logan Paul
Aug 13, 2025

Ariel Helwani opens the show by reacting to PFL announcing the rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes (04:52) and recent comments by Dana White about how fighters will benefit from UFC’s new rights deal (19:57), before answering your On The Nose questions (34:58).

Karrion Kross joins Ariel in studio to discuss his new best-selling book and address the conversation around his unexpected WWE departure. He talks about WWE’s contract offer, speculation that his departure is kayfabe, whether AEW made an offer, reports of fan signs being confiscated, revealing his viral WrestleMania promo was a work, advice he rece...

Duration: 04:07:09
Ariel x Ade, episode 38: Moses Itauma and Dillian Whyte interviews, Eubank-Benn 2 booked, ‘Boots' 154 pound debut, 'Tank' charges dropped, more
Aug 12, 2025

Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladpio, joining from Riyadh, kick off the show with a discussion about Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte (00:45), including Whyte confronting Ade about his prediction for the fight during their roundtable (01:11).

Ade’s full sitdown with Whyte (08:28) is followed by quick reaction and then his chat with Itauma (24:24) and brief reflection on that conversation. They also discuss the other heavyweight bout between Filip Hrgovic and David Adeleye (44:27).

Next, they touch on the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn rematch being booked for November (47:03), Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis making his 154 pound debut against Uisma Lima...

Duration: 01:18:36