The Ariel Helwani Show

Latest Episodes:

The 12th Annual Helwani Nose Awards: 2024 Edition Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

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.

2024 European MMA Recap: Ilia Topuria's rise, Conor McGregor civil case, more | The Craic Jan 03, 2025

Show notes

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).

Helwani Reacts: Classic interview stories including Rampage Jackson, Nick Diaz, the infamous Undertaker x Brock Lesnar run-in, and more Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

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)

2025 European MMA Predictions: Jones vs. Aspinall? Topuria in Spain? | The Craic Dec 27, 2024

Show notes

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).

2025 MMA prediction show: Will McGregor fight again? Fights we must see? FOY Awards? Much more Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

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).

Usyk vs. Fury 2 post-fight show: What's left for Usyk? Do we finally see Fury vs. AJ? Dec 22, 2024

Show notes

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.

Do we believe Dana on Jones vs. Aspinall? Conor vs. Logan? Usyk vs. Fury 2, Paul Hughes US tour | The Craic Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

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).

Latest on Conor McGregor vs. Paul brothers, Alex Pereira's cryptic posts, Usyk vs. Fury 2 preview, more | The Boys in the Back Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

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).

Tyron Woodley, Kai Kara-France, Paul Hughes in studio, Johnny Fisher, On The Nose Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

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).

Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned

Is Conor McGregor x Logan Paul actually real?! Plus, Aljamain Sterling, Sean Brady and Usyk x Fury 2 preview with Adam Smith Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

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).

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