Ariel Helwani, a prominent figure in MMA journalism, has shared that he is stepping down from his role as the host of The MMA Hour and leaving his position with Spotify. This marks a significant shift in the world of mixed martial arts media.
Helwani’s career has been influential in the sport’s development. Over the decades, he has become a key voice in MMA, starting from his early days at a radio station and moving through major roles at ESPN. His comprehensive coverage of the sport has helped elevate MMA’s profile and bring important stories to fans.
During his time as host of The MMA Hour, Helwani was known for bringing on some of the sport’s biggest names. His return to the show after a stint at ESPN was a notable moment for the MMA community. Over the past few years, he managed to push the show to new heights, engaging fans and guests alike with his insightful interviews and commentary.
However, as Helwani himself has shared, all good things eventually come to an end. In a heartfelt social media post, Helwani announced his departure, reflecting on his time post-ESPN:
Ariel Helwani to Depart From The MMA Hour Following Latest Announcement?
“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,” Helwani wrote. “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… I couldn’t have dreamt of a better scenario post-ESPN than this, working for two incredible companies filled with incredible people.”
Despite some mixed opinions about him, Helwani’s contributions to MMA journalism are widely recognized. His departure leaves a noticeable gap, but it also stirs curiosity about what comes next for him.
As for The MMA Hour, its future is currently uncertain. Helwani’s departure leaves a big void, and it’s unclear who will step into his shoes or how the show will evolve moving forward.
Do you think Ariel Helwani can be replaced on The MMA Hour? Would the show still have that same feeling? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
