Yahoo Sports and Ariel Helwani Team Up to Launch Uncrowned, A New Combat Sports Media Brand

NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2024 - Yahoo Sports announced today a multi-year partnership with award-winning insider Ariel Helwani to launch Uncrowned, a new combat sports media brand. Uncrowned will produce comprehensive MMA, boxing, and wrestling coverage, including:

• The Ariel Helwani Show, a flagship program hosted by Helwani that delivers combat commentary, analysis, and in-depth interviews with some of the biggest names in sports. Helwani will be joined on the show by Eric Jackman, Conner Burks, Frank Lenz, and Petesy Carroll. It will run four times a week, with special episodes timed to major combat events. 
• The Craic with Petesy Carroll, a weekly MMA-focused show hosted by Carroll that features interviews with key figures in UFC, PFL, Bellator, and more. 
• New boxing and wrestling-focused shows, to be announced in the coming months.
• Written reporting and analysis from Helwani and a world-class team of combat experts.

Uncrowned content will be distributed across multiple platforms, including in a new combat hub on the Yahoo Sports website and app, ​​as well as on YouTube, social media, and all major podcast platforms. 

In Helwani, Yahoo Sports is adding yet another expert voice with a strong presence and audience across multiple platforms. Helwani is a 14-time MMA Journalist of the Year with millions of followers on social media and YouTube. 

“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. 

"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."

Uncrowned will debut with a special preview of The Ariel Helwani Show live from The Venetian in Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 13. The show will look ahead to a major weekend of combat in Vegas, headlined by UFC 306 at The Sphere and the Canelo Álvarez-Edgar Berlanga bout at T-Mobile Arena. Beginning in October, episodes will air live from a new Yahoo Sports studio in New York City. 

###

About Yahoo
Yahoo serves as a trusted guide for hundreds of millions of people globally, helping them achieve their goals online through our portfolio of iconic products. For advertisers, Yahoo Advertising offers omnichannel solutions and powerful data to engage with our brands and deliver results. To learn more about Yahoo, please visit yahooinc.com.