Ariel Helwani said he had a big announcement coming and that it had to be big if he was going to leave Vox Media and Spotify. Today, Helwani and Yahoo Sports announced a multi-year partnership to launch Uncrowned, a new combat sports media brand. Uncrowned will produce MMA, boxing, and wrestling content.
“I’ve had the great privilege of working alongside Ariel before and am thrilled to be able to do that again, at Yahoo Sports, and to build the leading combat site and community together,” said Ryan Spoon, President of Yahoo Sports in a statement.
“When I began this journey over 20 years ago, the goal was to be much more than just another sports journalist,” Helwani said. “This deal signifies a major milestone toward that goal. I’ve always wanted to own my content, and I’ve always wanted to lead. And we are finally here, with the great Yahoo Sports by my side. What a dream.”
The flagship program will be The Ariel Helwani Show, which the company said will, “deliver combat commentary, analysis, and in-depth interviews with some of the biggest names in sports.” Eric Jackman, Conner Burks, Frank Lenz, and Petesy Carroll will join Helwani for the show which will air four times per week with bonus episodes prior to major combat events.
The Craic with Petesy Carroll was also announced. The show is described a, “a weekly MMA-focused show hosted by Carroll that features interviews with key figures in UFC, PFL, Bellator, and more.”
The announcement also said there will be new boxing and wrestling focused shows which will be announced in the coming months. There will also be written reporting and analysis from Helwani and a team of combat sports experts.
Uncrowned content will be shared on various platforms, including a new central arena on the Yahoo Sports website and app. It will also be available on social media sites, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.
