Ariel Helwani, one of the top MMA insiders, who has spent the last three years doing shows with Vox Media and Spotify’s The Ringer, has confirmed he is leaving those companies for a new venture. Helwani posted a video on social media from Europe discussing his career, why he has decided to leave and when he will announce what is next. Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post had first reported the possibility of this happening in mid-June.
“A couple months ago I mentioned that the majority of my contracts are coming to an end on August 15th,” Helwani said in his video. “August 15th is right around the corner, and so I thought it would be good to update everyone. This has been an incredible three-year stretch post-ESPN. I got to do a lot of cool things with a lot of great people, and in particular my contracts with both Vox Media and Spotify came to an end or are coming to an end on August 15th. After many, many, many, many months of contemplating and dissecting and thinking about what the next move should be, I’ve decided to move on from both companies”
With that, Helwani looked back on the three years since he left ESPN.
“Like I said, it’s been an unbelievable three years,” he said. “I honestly couldn’t have dreamt of a better scenario post-ESPN than this, working for two incredible companies filled with incredible people.”
This was the second time around for Helwani with Vox Media and he said, “It was amazing. I felt like I got my voice back. I got my confidence back…And the main reason I went back there was because of the studio and the people. And, you know, both didn’t let me down and very hard to leave, very hard to move on.
“As far as Spotify goes, what an opportunity to work with some amazing people over there as well, to reunite with my old friends, to do a show…It allowed me for the first time in my career to connect with people, to connect with fans in a sort of real time setting, to work under the legendary Bill Simmons is an opportunity and a memory that I will always cherish as well. And I was just really proud to work for that company, to work under the Ringer umbrella.”
Helwani said he was offered deals from both companies to stay, and that he also talked with outside companies which he said he would name at a later date. For the time being, Helwani wanted more so to address the places he would be leaving, but he did offer some clues as to what is coming.
“Right now, I am not ready to announce what the next step is, what the next chapter will be,” he said. “It is one that I’m incredibly excited about. Just consider how much I love Vox and my studio and the people there and MMA fighting. Consider how much fun I had with Spotify and the Ringer. And that should tell you just how amazing this next chapter is in my mind, because it had to be something truly amazing to say goodbye to them.
“And so, in due time, in the next probably few days to weeks, not exactly sure when, but definitely before Labor Day, I will announce the next step, the next chapter. I will announce everything that we have going on. It has been in the works and we’re almost quite there, but I’m not quite ready to do it.
“The next step is going to be amazing. I’m so excited. It’s kind of a dream that I have been thinking about for a while finally coming to fruition, and I can’t wait to share it with all of you. And I can’t wait to let you know more about what will be happening in the very near future. So, stay tuned on that.”
