It’s been a good week for Ariel Helwani. The MMA host and reporter broke the internet Monday with his interview with WWE superstar CM Punk. The conversation, which showcased Helwani’s strong interviewing skills, produced candid responses from Punk on a prior situation in AEW, which he had not publicly addressed. Since yesterday, it’s generated nearly a half million YouTube views, and spread like wildfire across social media.
Today, Helwani joined Casey Stern for a conversation on his podcast ‘Unfiltered‘. During the discussion, which covered the UFC, WrestleMania, and NY Knicks, the two men got into a little bit of media talk. When asked if he thought MMA could become what it is now, Helwani explained why he did.
“When I got to Syracuse in 2001, I looked up to the likes of Marv Albert and Bob Costas,” said Helwani. “I wanted to be just like them, but when I was growing up in the Montreal Jewish community, there weren’t a lot of kids who had the same dream as me. They wanted to be doctors, lawyers, accountants or follow the family business. I was pretty unique. But then I got to Syracuse, and I’m surrounded by a thousand kids who have the exact same dream. I have always liked to be someone who is a little bit different.”
Helwani shared how he told his parents of his interest in changing direction. “In 2001, I told my parents ‘everyone here’ (at Syracuse University) is the same. Everyone here has a similar dream and goal. I don’t want to follow them. There is this sport called MMA. There’s this thing called the UFC, which at the time was 8 years old. It isn’t being covered the way I think it should be covered. As a general sports fan, I see how other sports are being covered including Boxing. Where’s the professionalism? Where are the outlets and interviews? I said, ‘maybe I could be the voice of this sport. Maybe I could be the Howard Cosell of this sport.”
The belief Helwani had in the UFC growing larger was supported by his claim that he told his parents in 2001 that he felt the sport could be as big as any of the other major professional sports. Here now in 2024, the sport is broadcast on ESPN, more mainstream, and more popular in America than Boxing.
Stern and Helwani also explored the dynamic of creating an ensemble show. After expressing his love for the way Mike and the Mad Dog was built, Stern asked Helwani how much of his success with a full cast is by accident or by design.
Helwani added, “I grew up with Howard Stern. I grew up listening to all of this. I remember Mike Breen doing the updates on WFAN with Imus, and I loved the family, and all that stuff. It’s why I admire what McAfee has built with his boys, and I admire what Dan Patrick has built, and Rich Eisen. Those are the best shows in my opinion.”
He continued, “I have always felt like it’s never been about me. So much so, that when I was doing a Saturday morning Combat Sports radio show at Syracuse, I created a producer, a fictitious character named Lester, who I would speak to but he would never speak back to me,, just so I could have the banter with someone. That’s how much it was ingrained in my brain.
The MMA host went on to explain how he tried to create characters at ESPN but was met with a lot of resistance. He’s thankful for the group he has around him now, and feels it makes for a better show.
