The Ariel Helwani Show

Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC Qatar, including a debate with The Boys in the Back about whether Arman Tsarukyan and Ian Machado Garry should be next for the respective champions of their divisions (04:30).Garry then joins the show to break down his win over Belal Muhammad, discussing his takedown defense, the controversial eye-poke, whether he’s done enough to earn a title shot, Shavkat Rakhmonov or Kamaru Usman as potential challengers, his viral run-in with Khamzat Chimaev, and more (42:30).Tsarukyan is next, breaking down his own big win against Dan Hooker, talking about his desire to finish the fight, head-butting Hooker at the weigh-ins, his respect for Hooker, having his father at the fight, Paddy Pimblett potentially jumping him in line, his expensive taste, his run-in with Ilia Topuria and their brewing beef, and more (1:06:47).Most Valuable Promotions founder and CEO Nakisa Bidarian is back to discuss Jake Paul’s upcoming fight against Anthony Joshua, starting with the decision to remove Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis from the original matchup, how the Joshua fight came together, and other potential names discussed, including Francis Ngannou, Ryan Garcia, and Terence Crawford. He also touches on how much Joshua stands to make, the risk being taken by Paul, critics of Paul suggesting his fights are fixed, Dana White’s comments about the fight and Ngannou (1:37:50).Ariel and The Boys give their Jake vs. Joshua press conference thoughts and react to some scenes from UFC Qatar, including a few fantastic impressions (2:13:24).Tyron Woodley returns to preview his boxing match against Anderson Silva, explaining how the fight came together, responding to Darren Till’s comments about the fight, reacting to the Jake vs. Joshua fight, and more (2:53:33).The show closes with mention of Rico Verhoeven’s retirement from kickboxing and his potential next move, PFL’s announcements for its first show of 2026, including Dakota Ditcheva taking on Denise Kielholtz, Yaroslav Amosov joining the UFC, and your Super Chats (3:29:44).

Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall give their immediate reactions to UFC Qatar, kicking things off with Arman Tsarukyan’s second-round submission of Dan Hooker (5:00).Next, the guys debate whether Ian Machado Garry’s decision win over Belal Muhammad in the co-main event is enough to earn him a title shot against pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev, and map out the rest of the welterweight division (22:45).Ariel and the guys then turn their attention to the rest of the card, highlighting the standout performances that caught their eye (42:30).A separate storyline emerged backstage, where Garry and Khamzat Chimaev were involved in a physical altercation.To wrap up the show, the trio break down the footage and what led to the clash (57:23).

The Craic returns with its usual trifecta: Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes are back to get you ready for the weekend in combat sports. To kick off the show, the guys break down UFC Qatar’s main event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker (1:21).They also dig into the co-main event: Ian Machado Garry vs. Belal Muhammad, and discuss the stakes for the welterweight division, including what Garry would need to do to earn a title shot with a win (24:24).To wrap up their UFC Qatar discussion, the trio spotlight their favorite matchups on the rest of the card (35:23).Fresh off their first press conference, the chaps weigh in on the striking size disparity between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua after their faceoff (41:33).To close the show, the crew react to Rico Verhoeven vacating the GLORY Kickboxing heavyweight championship, and talk the latest PFL news (55:45).

The Boys in the Back kick off the show with news and notes, including a UFC Qatar shakeup (01:22), Ryan Garcia's next fight (02:55), and a wild media day comment by Belal Muhammad (05:18).Then, they breakdown the welterweight title picture and the recent momentum behind Kamaru Usman (13:41), before previewing UFC Qatar top to bottom (23:00).Finally, The Boys make picks (1:14:07), deliver their P4P worst P4P lists by Mysterious Frank (1:16:37), and listen to your voicemails (1:31:45).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by celebrating the anniversaries of Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua and Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez, two epic fights that took place on the same night in 2011 (02:30).UFC strawweight contender Fatima Kline makes her show debut on the heels of her victory over Angela Hill at UFC 322, breaking down the win, reflecting on being able to fight at Madison Square Garden as a native New Yorker, expressing her desire to face Tabatha Ricci, and more (10:29).Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith joins Ariel in-studio to discuss Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, including the risk Paul is taking, the pressure on Joshua to knock out Paul, doing business with Most Valuable Promotions, his war of words with Simon Jordan, TKO Boxing and their efforts to pass the Ali Revival Act, the aftermath of Conor Benn’s win over Chris Eubank Jr., what’s next for Benn, and more (39:38).Former WWE star David Otunga stops by to talk wrestling and legal topics, starting with Raja Jackson’s arrest for felony assault, then touching on the controversy surrounding Andrade’s non-complete clause and the restrictions within WWE contracts, his start in reality TV, and John Cena’s retirement tour (1:25:33).Kyle Daukaus is in-studio following his big UFC 322 win, discussing his journey back to the UFC after being cut, the incredible success he’s had since returning, his propensity for the D'Arce choke and his 'D'Arce Knight' nickname, wanting to fight Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, and more (2:01:34).Conor Benn is our final guest of the day, recapping his win over Chris Eubank Jr., giving his review of Eubank’s performance, explaining where their families’ rivalry now stands, and revealing who he wants to fight next, including mention of both Ryan Garcia and Mario Barrios (2:49:51). Conor’s father, Nigel Benn, also jumps in to discuss the rivalry and what he wants next for Conor (3:13:14).The show ends with your Super Chats (3:24:02).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a look at the first faceoff between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker and reaction to Joaquin Buckley’s message to Islam Makhachev (03:19).UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko joins Ariel in-studio to break down her big win against Zhang Weili at UFC 322, reflect on the early days of her career, discuss how she controls her emotions, respond to critics of her fighting style, accept Amanda Nunes’ challenge to fight at 125 pounds, react to talks of Ronda Rousey’s comeback, and more (15:17).AEW boss Tony Khan sits down with Ariel for a highly-anticipated interview, touching on AEW’s upcoming Full Gear show, the state of the company, their deal with HBO Max, WWE’s efforts to counter-program their shows, their television ratings, criticism from Eric Bischoff, the absence of some top AEW stars, whether he regrets how things played out with CM Punk, and more (1:15:17).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer your On The Nose questions, including mention of Dana White saying Francis Ngannou grabbed him by the shirt, Kai Kara-France being removed from the UFC rankings, dream fights for the White House card (2:36:50).Plus, your Super Chats (3:37:42).

Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC 322, including Islam Makhachev’s domination of Jack Della Maddalena, the legacy comparisons between Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who could be next for Makhachev, Dillon Danis’ brawl with the Dagestani fighters, and more (05:33).Benoit Saint-Denis joins fresh off his 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush, breaking down the quick finish, weighing in on Makhachev’s move to welterweight, giving his prediction for the Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker fight, and more (1:00:35).Ethyn Ewing makes his debut following a big upset win over Malcolm Wellmaker, looking back at how the short-notice opportunity came together, having to make the weight, being called to compete at Madison Square Garden, what he wants to do next, and more (1:21:31).Bo Nickal returns to discuss his bounce-back win, how he set up the highlight-reel head kick, his placement on the UFC 322 card, his post-fight speech, when he plans to fight again, and more (1:44:12).SBG head coach John Kavanagh reunites with Ariel in-studio to discuss his new venture with Upper Sports Management, the latest on Conor McGregor, the state of the gym, and more. Then, USM’s founder and CEO Cesar Gomezlince joins the conversation to talk about Michael Morales’ massive UFC 322 win, making the case for Morales to get the next welterweight title shot, and more (2:05:17).The Boys in the Back join Ariel to react to the official announcement of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, including the impact on Joshua’s legacy and whether Paul should be concerned about his health (2:58:57).Old friend Ade Oladipo stops by to further discuss Paul vs. Joshua, whether Paul stands a chance, the reaction to the fight in the UK, Conor Benn getting revenge against Chris Eubank Jr., having no interest in the trilogy, Joseph Parker’s positive test, and more (3:34:45).

Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall give their immediate reactions to UFC 322, starting with Islam Makhachev's dominant performance against Jack Della Maddalena, to capture UFC gold in a second weight class (01:24).After weighing in on whether the main and co-main events were "boring" (16:38), the crew discusses incredible knockouts by Michael Morales (30:39) and Carlos Prates (35:17), before circling back to Valentina Shevchenko's shutout against Zhang Weili (38:13).They recap the rest of the stacked card (45:44), then transition to the all-out brawl between Dillon Danis and some Dagestani fighters in the crowd (58:17)The show concludes with quick mention of Conor Benn's revenge against Chris Eubank Jr. (1:09:59) and Chuck's final thoughts (1:11:26).

Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite for your weekly dose of The Craic.After reacting to the UFC 322 weigh-in results (4:14), the lads preview the stacked MSG card top to bottom (8:11).Shifting gears to boxing, the crew break down this weekend’s Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn rematch and question if the hype is lacking (47:05).Up next, Jake Paul is back in the headlines, this time with Anthony Joshua floated as a potential opponent. Petesy, Chuck, and Ben assess Paul’s chances in that matchup (51:13).Today also marks the 10-year anniversary of Holly Holm’s historic knockout of Ronda Rousey, so the guys reflect on what it means a decade later (1:00:02).To close out the show, the trio give their UFC 322 picks (1:09:22), and answer your Super Chats (1:13:19).

The Boys in the Back kick off the show with some news and notes, including Alex Pereira challenging Khamzat Chimaev to a grappling match and TKO's new partnership with Polymarket (07:04).Then, the conversation turns to UFC 322, starting with Islam Makhachev potentially tying Anderson Silva's record for the longest winning streak in UFC history and the potential for Jack Della Maddalena to pull off the upset (19:29).After breaking down the stacked card (47:34), they make picks (1:34:27), deliver their P4P rankings of MMA grapplers (1:38:42), listen to your voicemails (1:49:39), and answer your Super Chats (2:25:52).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recognizing the anniversaries of UFC 1, UFC on FOX 1, UFC 205, and UFC 281, which all took place on Nov. 12 (03:38).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions, with topics including criticism of Dana White, the relevance of 'UFC Embedded,' what happens after the studio cameras stop rolling, Thanksgiving dinner guests, and more (10:44).Jalin Turner joins to discuss his decision to return to MMA, how he landed on Edson Barboza as an opponent, overcoming mental hurdles ahead of the comeback, learning to embrace having his family at fights from Ian Machado Garry, and more (59:13).Coach Tim Welch gives his immediate reaction to reports of Jake Paul boxing Anthony Joshua, before getting into his breakdown of UFC 322, Sean O’Malleys next fight, his prediction for Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan 2, and more (1:28:07).'Big' John McCarthy talks about his return to refereeing, the state of officiating in MMA, how improvements can be made and implemented, his stances on recent refereeing controversies and the Ali Revival Act, and more (1:57:24).Gareth A. Davies is back to bounce around the boxing world and discuss the Paul vs. Joshua reports, the buzz for Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2, plus a special guest appearance by impressionist Al Foran (2:37:47).The crew rejoins Ariel to dive deeper on the Paul vs. Joshua report and answer a few more On The Nose questions, before turning to your Super Chats (2:58:36).

Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to discuss some news and notes, including the first faceoff between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena, Adin Ross spending time with Makhachev, Khabib, and their team, and more (06:06).Muhammad Mokaev joins on the heels of his head-kick knockout at BRAVE CF 101, talking about the foot injury he suffered in the fight, his desire to return to the UFC and the potential path back, how he would do against UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, his recent communication with the UFC, wanting to face Sergio Pettis, being offered a fight against Patchy Mix, and more (33:23).Chris ‘Taco’ Padilla makes his debut on the show, breaking down his big win over Ismael Bonfim, including his reaction when Bonfim missed weight by five pounds, explaining his recent career turnaround, the story behind his viral post-fight interview where he pleaded for a performance bonus, his beef with Daniel Cormier’s commentary, and more (59:50).Ariel reacts to Dana White’s recent comments about being non-political, talks of Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria heating back up, and then answers your Super Chats (1:33:49).Malcolm Wellmaker joins Ariel in-studio to preview his UFC 322 bout, look back at his beginnings in construction, give insight into his relationship with the fans, break down the power in his right hook and his wrestling game, predict how long it will be before he’s fighting for the UFC title, express his desire to be the one to beat Merab Dvalishvili, and more (2:34:17).

Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC Vegas 111, including Gabriel Bonfim’s stoppage of Randy Brown in the main event and Chris ‘Taco’ Padilla’s plea for a performance bonus (07:49), before quickly touching on this weekend’s boxing, including Vergil Ortiz’s big win and action from Misfits (24:27).Leon Edwards joins to preview his UFC 322 fight against Carlos Prates, speaking about Prates having him as his phone wallpaper, facing a striker for the first time since Nate Diaz, who he hopes to face after Saturday, his thoughts on Ian Machado Garry and Jorge Masvidal, and more (33:28).‘The Bad Guy’ himself, Chael Sonnen, is back in studio to talk about his future foray into politics, Josh Hokit’s promo paying homage to Chael, the UFC’s betting scandal and potential ramifications for the promotion, his criticism for Valentina Shevchenko and how her UFC 322 fight has been promoted, who he expects to headline the White House card, Jon Jones deserving to be in the UFC rankings, Ronda Rousey’s return, and more (1:00:51).Josh Hokit makes his debut on the show, breaking down his viral promos and reacting to Chael Sonnen’s appreciation for the promos, talking about his collegiate football and wrestling careers, his callout of Valter Walker, training with Jon Jones, his exit from the PFL, and more (2:09:20).Claressa Shields returns on the heels of her massive $8 million deal to discuss the stress of being a free agent, being close to signing with Most Valuable Promotions, potential fights against Mikaela Mayer, Shadasia Green, and Franchon Crews-Dezurn, moving on from the Laila Ali fight, wanting to win a third Olympic gold medal, and more (2:35:06).The show concludes with a few bits of news and notes, including Islam Makhachev’s welterweight physique, the buzz — or lack thereof— for UFC 322 and Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2, Paddy Pimblett teasing a fight against Ilia Topuria, whether the UFC should revisit talks of Topuria vs. Makhachev, Jon Jones’ recent round of comments, and more (3:14:38).

The Craic is back! As always, Petesy Carroll is joined by regulars Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes.They open the show with the UFC gambling scandal, beginning with the ironically timed announcement of Netflix’s upcoming documentary on Dana White’s own gambling exploits (0:22).The trio then react to further developments in the scandal, including unearthed comments by Isaac Dulgarian (15:00).Switching to boxing, Petesy gets Chuck and Ben’s take on the cancellation of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis on Netflix, and whether Francis Ngannou would be a suitable replacement (40:55).Another heavyweight making waves is Jon Jones, following his recent podcast appearance where he called Tom Aspinall a quitter. The guys react, and talk what’s next for the UFC heavyweight division (57:00).To round out the show, they spotlight Ben Fowlkes’ new Uncrowned feature on Frank Shamrock and answer your Super Chats (1:03:03).

The Boys in the Back begin the show with some news and notes, including Reug Reug being forced to withdraw from ONE 173 due to a car accident (01:13), Claressa Shields signing a massive new promotional deal (02:58), and more.Next, The Boys break down Jon Jones' recent comments about Tom Aspinall being a "one-trick pony" and "overrated" (4:58), before digging deeper on the UFC's betting scandal and the potential impact to the MMA gambling ecosystem (17:59).After speculating on who Jake Paul will end up fighting next (46:20), the Boys preview UFC Vegas 111 (56:40), then close the show with their P4P rankings of fight siblings (1:17:19), voicemails (1:36:34), and Super Chats (2:20:06).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering your questions about the UFC’s betting scandal, Ronda Rousey’s bitterness toward MMA, Most Valuable Promotions’ decision to remove Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis from the Jake Paul fight, and more (06:14).Promoter Lou DiBella joins Ariel in-studio to discuss boxing news, including ‘Tank’ Davis’ latest controversy and Most Valuable Promotions’ position, not being in favor of three-minute rounds for women’s boxing, TKO’s involvement in the sport, his reaction to the Ali Revival Act, gambling in combat sports and suspicions of fight fixing, and more (58:25).Michael Chandler is back to talk about his major movie role in "Road House 2," his upcoming wrestling match against Chad Mendes for Real American Freestyle, still wanting to compete on the White House card and potentially sitting out until then, his confidence in fighting Conor McGregor, his reaction to Rousey’s stance on MMA fandom, and more (1:59:23).Gable Steveson, fresh off his knockout at DBX 4, is back to break down his budding MMA career, training with and learning from Jon Jones, his next fight, Jones’ potential meeting with Alex Pereira, and more (2:29:27).After some news and notes, Ariel wraps up with more On The Nose questions and Super Chats (2:49:00).

Ariel Helwani begins the show by reacting to the cancellation of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, as well as Francis Ngannou’s emergence as Paul’s potential next fight (02:29).Norma Dumont joins on the heels of her victory over Ketlen Vieira to discuss the win, believing she’s earned a title shot, being willing to fight Julianna Peña, Ronda Ronda teasing a comeback, and more (14:37).New PFL CEO John Martin joins Ariel in-studio for an open conversation about his time as Turner CEO and his intersection with combat sports over the years, including conversations with Dana White, his perspective on the UFC’s control of combat sports, changes made to the PFL’s format once he took over as CEO, the release of Larissa Pacheco, developing homegrown stars like Dakota Ditcheva, the promotion’s partnership with ESPN, their upcoming media rights deal, and more (30:47).Aljamain Sterling returns to talk about his wedding, cornering Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320, his recent comments about Tom Aspinall and the aftermath of the eye-poke, the fan response to his take, whether he thinks the UFC gloves are an issue, his reaction to the UFC’s betting scandal, who he wants to fight next, and more (1:31:52).Coach Marc Montoya, Isaac Dulgarian’s trainer for UFC Vegas 110, joins to defend his own integrity and discuss the controversy surrounding Dulgarian’s fight due to suspicious betting activity, what he experienced on fight day, kicking Dulgarian off the team, his belief that Dulgarian will not fight again, and the success of some of his other athletes at the gym (2:06:02).Ariel closes the show with more discussion about the betting scandal, including UFC fighter accounts, and Super Chats (2:34:10).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with commiserations for the Toronto Blue Jays and their valiant attempt in the World Series (01:41), before moving on to the controversy surrounding Isaac Dulgarian’s loss to Yadier del Valle and suspicious betting activity on the fight (15:29), and the bizarre ending of the fight between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Ante Delija (44:45).Mike Perry joins to talk about his win over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82, recovering from the damage he took in the fight, Frankie Edgar’s removal from the card, the latest Dirty Boxing show and Gable Steveson’s victory, wanting to return to the UFC for the White House card, calling out Nate Diaz, and more (1:00:26).Misfits co-founder Mams Taylor is back to discuss the promotion’s deal with Andrew Tate, how they landed on Chase DeMoor as the opponent, KSI’s reaction to Tate being named CEO, a potential KSI vs. Tate fight down the line, Dillon Danis and Tony Ferguson’s next fights, and more (1:35:20).Steve Garcia joins on the heels of his UFC main event win against David Onama, breaking down the fight, then addressing his pre-fight comments about Alexander Volkanovski, his criticisms of Movsar Evloev’s fighting style, his desire to be BMF champ, and his friendship with Charlie Kirk (2:04:10).Yahoo Sports Senior Sports Betting Analyst Ben Fawkes joins Ariel in-studio to dive further into the UFC’s betting scandal, including how the sportsbooks handled the situation, comparisons to recent events in other sports, and more (2:35:49).Ariel closes the show with some other news and notes, including Bo Nickal’s placement on the UFC 322 card, Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis being on shaky ground and potential new opponents for Paul, Jon Jones' latest plea to fight at the White House, Ronda Rousey’s disdain for the MMA community, and more (3:12:54).

The Craic returns with its dynamic trio: Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes.Up first, a deep dive into the future of the UFC heavyweight division following the fallout from Ciryl Gane’s eye poke against Tom Aspinall (5:20).Two fighters looking to make their mark on the division are Jon Jones and Alex Pereira. The lads discuss the two MMA stars angling for a potential superfight (26:00).Pereira’s been putting in the work for that bout, but with an unexpected training partner. The crew breaks down the viral clip of him grappling with Mark Zuckerberg (34:00).Next, the trio reacts to Gervonta 'Tank' Davis’ latest legal troubles ahead of his upcoming Netflix boxing match with Jake Paul (36:09).Another controversial headline doing the rounds is Andrew Tate’s appointment as the new Misfits Boxing CEO. Petesy and the boys unpack what it means for the future of crossover fights (41:25).To close the show, the guys react to Ronda Rousey’s recent comments about MMA fans, a take that didn’t exactly land well with the community (55:08).

On this spooky edition of The Boys in the Back, the Boys reveal their costumes, before discussing Jon Jones' latest barb aimed at Tom Aspinall (07:36) and Joaquin Buckley's bizarre feud with Alex Pereira (11:20).After quickly previewing UFC Vegas 110 (14:06) and making picks (26:54), the Boys are joined by E. Casey Leydon (30:31), the newest addition to the team, about the launch of Uncrowned Films, his early days on the road with Ariel Helwani, and more.The Boys close the show with their P4P rankings of the scariest fighters in MMA history (56:30), your voicemails (1:18:33), and Super Chats (02:03:26).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with some news and notes, before reeling off some of MMA’s best post-fight speeches, inspired by the anniversary of Nick Diaz’s callout of Georges St-Pierre after UFC 137 (03:05).Devin Haney joins Ariel in-studio to preview his fight against Brian Norman Jr., address criticism of his ability to take a punch, discuss his rivalry with Ryan Garcia, other opponents he considered before landing on Norman, the current state of Top Rank, the Ali Reform Act, Jake Paul vs. ‘Tank’ Davis, and more (33:23).UFC veteran Matt Brown is back, speaking his mind about recent regulatory meetings related to the Ali Reform Act, the UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement, penalties for fouls in MMA, Dana White’s reaction to the UFC 321 main event, TKO Boxing’s potential impact on that sport, fighters needing additional protections, and more (1:33:20).Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman join the show for a virtual faceoff, talking about how their upcoming boxing match came about, their mutual respect, whether Silva feels he needs revenge after their MMA fights, Weidman dealing with Silva’s different styles, Silva’s admiration for the sport of boxing, reconnecting after Weidman’s leg break, and Weidman being an underdog one more time (2:15:26).L’udovit Klein makes his show debut, talking about his incredible UFC 321 win, requiring surgery for the broken ankle he suffered during the fight, considering Arman Tsarukyan a ‘dream fight,’ expecting to be sidelined for several months due to the injury, representing Slovakia on the global stage, and more (2:55:01).Ariel wraps up with your Super Chats (3:11:53).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with first-timer Quillan Salkilld, fresh off his devastating knockout of Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 321, to talk about the aftermath of the knockout; being concerned for his opponent; planning to train with Jack Della Maddalena, who’s also from Perth; learning about MMA from playing the UFC video game; wanting to fight Renato Moicano, and more (05:26).Dr. Brian Sutterer is back to dive deeper into the conversation around Tom Aspinall’s eye, following the accidental poke he suffered at UFC 321, including the trauma itself, how it was handled by the doctors in the cage and at the hospital, and the timeline for recovery. He also touches on how bare-knuckle boxing compares to MMA in terms of injuries, the possibility of Ben Askren coming back to compete, and more (26:06).Charles Jourdain joins following his big win over Davey Grant at UFC Vancouver, talking about the Jean Silva loss motivating him to move to bantamweight, the impact of becoming a father, his younger brother Louis’ success on Contender Series, wanting to fight Marcus McGhee, his friendship with Aiemann Zahabi, how fouls should be handled in the cage, and more (59:35).WBO interim heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley stops by after his massive TKO against Joseph Parker, addressing the controversial stoppage, dealing with newfound fame, being confident about fighting Oleksandr Usyk next, whether the fight could headline Wembley Stadium, his respect for Parker, and more (1:32:22).Ariel brings in NewYorkRic and Petesy Carroll to answer your On The Nose questions, including more about the Aspinall eye poke, potential rule changes, the crew’s worst sport experiences, before closing the show with Super Chats (2:58:00).

Ariel Helwani opens the show with a recap of UFC 321, including his reaction to Ciryl Gane’s controversial eye poke against Tom Aspinall, how the foul was handled by officials, Dana White’s comments in the immediate aftermath, before talking about what can be done to prevent fouls moving forward, the rest of UFC 321, and more (02:39).Chael Sonnen joins to give his thoughts about the UFC 321 main event, explaining his comments on the ESPN post-show, discussing the rematch and Aspinall’s potential game plan, whether anything can be done to reduce eye pokes, and talks of Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones (1:16:40).Ariel answers Super Chats (2:20:46), before being joined by Joseph Parker, who breaks down his fight against Fabio Wardley, including his preparation, the referee’s stoppage, having no ill will toward Wardley, and who he wants to fight next (2:32:17).Jim Miller, who has been vocal about fouls and MMA gloves in the past, joins to talk about the UFC 321 main event, giving his perspective on how to penalize fighters who break the rules, responding to comments by Demetrious Johnson on the topic, outlining the potential long-term impact of eye pokes, and more (2:55:17).New UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern is back to recap the big win, talk about the emotions after capturing UFC gold, how her daughter reacts to her fights, Din Thomas’ comments about the fight being “insignificant,” whether she wants to fight the division’s previous champion Zhang Weili, and more (3:24:26).Ariel wraps the show with more of your Super Chats (3:49:55).

3PAC — Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall — are back to dissect UFC 321.Reaction begins with the night's controversial ending, as Ciryl Gane accidentally pokes Tom Aspinall in the eye, leading to a stoppage and No Contest in the main event (01:07).After giving kudos to the evening's referees (30:03), the crew discuss Alex Pereira's reaction to the main event on social media (35:09) and what they expect to see from Jon Jones (36:53).Next, they break down Mackenzie Dern's win over Virna Jandiroba to capture the UFC strawweight title (39:08) and Umar Nurmagomedov surviving second-round danger to defeat Mario Bautista (44:34).They recap the rest of the card (52:13), before Chuck provides his final thoughts (1:09:12).

The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes get together to unpack the biggest stories in MMA.To get things underway, they preview UFC 321’s title fight headliner: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane (5:30).With another championship on the line, the crew discuss the stakes in the co-main event between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern (31:30).Plus, Dana White teased new UFC scheduling in a recent interview. Could this mean better start times for European fans? The trio break down what the changes might mean (48:40).And of course, Conor McGregor’s back in the headlines. Petesy and the boys dissect his recent “spiritual journey” comments (54:30).To close the show, the guys answer your Super Chats (1:06:15).

The Boys in the Back are locked in for UFC 321, so join them as they preview the card, starting with the main event that pits UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall against foe Ciryl Gane (01:51).After breaking down the the vacant UFC strawweight title fight between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern (23:24), the Boys hit the rest of the stacked main card (31:40) and prelims (49:21).Finally, they make picks (1:03:14) and debut a brand new Fight Feasts, in which GC searches for NYC's best fish and chips (1:15:18).

Vibes are high today on The Ariel Helwani Show, as Ariel gives his thoughts on the premiere of Uncrowned Films’ first entry, “What is BKFC?” (10:15).Wrestling legend Kurt Angle joins the show on a special date, the anniversary of his first WWE title win — against The Rock — and the anniversary of his first interview with Ariel. They discuss his upcoming commentary gig for Real American Freestyle, Hulk Hogan recruiting him for the role, Vince McMahon’s influence in shaping his WWE heel persona and promo work, Colby Covington using his entrance music, and more (16:32).Payton Talbott is back to break down his upcoming fight against Henry Cejudo, talking about the difficulty of finding opponents, his respect for Cejudo and their past training sessions together, not seeking favorable matchups and wanting to test himself, and his recent rock-climbing expedition, and more (45:02).Aiemann Zahabi returns to the show following his big win over Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at UFC Vancouver, revealing he broke his forearm in the fight, responding to Vera’s claims he was robbed by the judges, doubling down on his Sean O’Malley callout, admitting his respect for bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, and more (1:13:05).Promoter Frank Warren is the final guest of the day, previewing the heavyweight clash between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley, then touching on Moses Itauma’s potential next opponent, Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the space, Queensbury’s 2026 plans, whether Tyson Fury will return, and shares memories of Ricky Hatton (1:51:10).Ariel answers your Super Chats to wrap up the show (2:20:23).

Ariel Helwani starts the show by celebrating the Blue Jays’ ALCS win, before pivoting to some Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane talk (03:52).Next, The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions, including thoughts on the likelihood of Conor McGregor fighting at the White House, Frankie Edgar’s false start with BKFC, the mysterious phone image at UFC Vancouver, and even the debut trailer for Uncrowned’s first film (12:43)Anthony Pettis honors coach Duke Roufus, who tragically died last week, opening up about their special relationship, dealing with the emotions, and reliving memories from their championship-winning partnership (42:56).Jade Gentile, formerly known as Jazmyn Nyx during her NXT tenure, joins Ariel in-studio to discuss her early soccer career, her WWE tryout, why she decided to turn down WWE’s offer after not getting a raise, receiving reality TV opportunities, controversial comments by her boyfriend that drew backlash from the wrestling community, being open to remaining in wrestling, and more (59:10).Bo Nickal is back to preview his UFC 322 matchup with Rodolfo Vieira, speaking about not having a game plan for Reinier de Ridder and being humbled by his first career loss, his analysis of de Ridder’s loss to Brendan Allen, and the potential of fighting Khamzat Chimaev at the White House (1:57:58).Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is in-studio following an impressive victory in his 154-pound debut, touching on the difficulty of the cut to 147 pounds, his love of Philadelphia and the city’s sports teams, eyeing the Vergil Ortiz Jr. fight next, believing he’s the best in the world, the proposed Ali Revival Act, wanting to fight in the UK, training and sparring with Canelo, and makes a prediction for Jake Paul vs. ‘Tank’ Davis (2:26:08).California State Athletic Commission Executive Director Andy Foster joins to discuss the Ali Revival Act, defending the bill from ‘negativity’ and explaining why it would help boxing, acknowledging the potential for creation of a league format in boxing, the loss of top end boxing broadcasters and its impact on the sport’s economics, addressing the lack of boxers and boxing promoters at the CSAC public hearing, before closing with a back-and-forth about recent officiating blunders (3:11:15).The show ends with Ariel answering your Super Chats (4:04:56).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a tribute to coach Duke Roufus, who tragically died on Friday (00:10)Then, the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to recap UFC Vancouver, starting with the main event between Brendan Allen and Reinier de Ridder. After an in-depth conversation about MMA refereeing, the crew covers the rest of the card and other news and notes from the weekend (06:26).Mike Malott joins following a big win over Kevin Holland at UFC Vancouver, expressing frustration over some controversial low blows, feeling Holland embellished the groin shots and how the controversy is overshadowing his victory, reacting to Holland’s tweets after the fact, expecting to enter the UFC rankings, and more (1:02:04).Ariel visited Oscar De La Hoya at his home in Las Vegas to discuss a host of topics, including ‘Boots’ Ennis’ recent win and a potential meeting with Vergil Ortiz Jr., Top Rank not yet securing a broadcast deal, the launch of Zuffa Boxing and proposed amendments to the Ali Act, his relationship with Ryan Garcia, Jake Paul vs. ‘Tank’ Davis, Golden Boy’s next broadcast deal, and more (1:24:39).Derek Moneyberg sits down in-studio to open up about his businesses, his interest in combat sports, taking inspiration from BJ Penn in earning his black belt, his relationships with various fighters, his beef with Sean Strickland and their viral interaction, his challenge to Strickland for a public match, his upbringing and previous career as a dating coach, settling his differences with Mikey Musumeci, social media marketing and bots, and more (2:15:21).Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera returns following his loss to Aiemann Zahabi and speaks about the aftermath, feeling like he did more damage despite landing less total strikes, not being defined by his three-fight skid, leaving the arena immediately after the fight, his high hopes for fellow Ecuadorian Michael Morales, and more (3:20:28).After a few bits of news and notes, Ariel answers your Super Chats (3:56:30).

Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite for your weekly dose of The Craic.First up, they dive into what’s next for Alex Pereira and his possible move to heavyweight, and how it could shake up next week’s title clash between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane (4:02).Next, the guys react to the Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva trilogy announcement set for the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis Netflix boxing event (25:46).Another surprise comeback rumor making the rounds is Ronda Rousey’s potential return. After her recent comments hinting at a 2026 comeback, Petesy and the boys weigh in (42:20).To close the show, the trio break down their favorite matchups from this weekend’s UFC Vancouver card, then answer your superchats (57:08).

The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to Most Valuable Promotions announcing Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva will box on the Jake Paul vs. 'Tank' Davis undercard (01:11).Then, they discuss Merab Dvalishvili's 2025 run and whether, with a dominant victory in December, it will be the best year a fighter's ever had (08:29).After previewing UFC Vancouver (25:54), the Boys make picks (1:05:07), deliver their top 12-month runs in MMA (1:14:08), listen to voicemails (1:44:49), and answer your Super Chats (2:22:20).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping his experience at the Colombia vs. Canada soccer game, before Petesy Carroll joins to react to Ian Machado Garry’s comments from Tuesday’s show. The Boys in the Back jump in to discuss the appeal of Contender Series and its potential next landing spot (02:09).Sean Brady is back to talk about accepting his fight against Michael Morales, not wanting to wait around for another opponent, No. 1 contender fights no longer being guaranteed by the UFC, feeling like the promotion wants Carlos Prates to emerge from the welterweight pack, and more (38:08).Youngster Steven Spice joins to discuss “Supercar Saints,” the film chronicling his journey with a brain disorder and the celebrities he met along the way, including Daniel Cormier and John Cena. He also expresses his love of pro wrestling and asks Ariel for journalism advice (1:00:59).Boxer Danny Garcia joins Ariel in-studio to preview his fight against Daniel Gonzalez, his 10th time headlining Barclays Center in Brooklyn. After suggesting it might be the final fight of his illustrious career, he give his thoughts on Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the sport, championship belts, potential amendments to the Ali Act, the top fights of his career, boxing’s best promoters, and more (1:19:31).Journalist Jeff Pearlman is in-studio to preview his new Tupac biography, “Only God Can Judge Me,” telling never-before-told stories about the rapper’s complicated life and legacy. He touches on his other media endeavors, including his New York Times best-selling books and podcast (1:53:55).Wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page is back on the show, this time in studio, to promote his “Change or Die” docuseries, where he helps people, including boxer Butterbean, make healthy lifestyle changes. He looks back at wrestling storylines from years past, including an angle involving Undertaker’s wife, and reminisces about career moments involving Vince McMahon, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, and others (2:55:27).

Ariel Helwani, The Boys in the Back, and Petesy open the show by talking about the latest round of UFC fight announcements, then answering On The Nose questions (29:49).Mikey Musumeci is back to discuss his UFC BJJ 3 victory, address the YouTube views controversy surrounding the event, open up about the level of scrutiny he faces, his relationship with Craig Jones, the Derek Moneyberg drama, and more (1:02:17).Paulie Malignaggi explains why he’s returning to the ring, before the conversation gets contentious when discussing Dana White and Zuffa’s entry into boxing, and Malignaggi challenges Conor McGregor to a winner-take-all fight (1:33:13).Cory Sandhagen returns to look back at his fight against Merab Dvalishvili, admitting he may have gotten cocky in second round and Merab hits harder than he expected. He also calls for the Sean O’Malley fight next (2:05:05).Ian Machado Garry explains why he’s fighting Belal Muhammad rather than Sean Brady, predicts his next fight will be for the title, explains there’s no bad blood with Belal, reacts to his son’s favorite fighter being Carlos Prates, predicts Prates ‘sparks’ Leon Edwards, and more (2:30:05).Ariel closes the show with more On The Nose questions and your Super Chats (3:05:17).

Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back begin the show by reacting to Charles Oliveira's big win at UFC Rio, and discuss whether Max Holloway should be his next opponent and if the UFC can make it happen in Hawaii. Plus, more discussion on Jose Aldo's retirement, the rest of UFC Rio, Dave Allen coming up short, and Jaron "Boots" Ennis' successful debut at 154 pounds (09:56).AEW superstar Darby Allin joins Ariel in-studio to give a taste of his extreme lifestyle, talking about climbing Mount Everest, the development of his character, how skateboarding in his youth prepared him for life, knowing he needed to go to AEW and reaching out to Cody Rhodes to get it done, previously being homeless by choice, and more (58:12).UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is in-studio with Ariel when news of him headlining UFC 323 breaks. The pair react to Dana White's announcement, look back at his win over Cory Sandhagen, including the five sparring rounds he did on fight day, and discuss his current relationship with the UFC and potentially training with Mark Zuckerberg (1:55:59).Dylan Postl, a.k.a. wrestling legend Hornswoggle, sits down with Ariel in-studio to look back at his career, including his start at 17 years old, his relationship with Vince McMahon and others from the locker room, and his new nostalgia deal with WWE. He also talks about being a dad, running his own promotion, and his beef with actor Peter Dinklage (2:54:10).

The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll calls on Chuck Mindenhall to talk this week's biggest headlines.They kick things off by reacting to Ariel’s loaded 2026 superfight forecast from Monday’s Helwani Show. Can 2026 live up to its decade-old predecessor, 2016? The guys break it all down (00:32).Also on this week’s programming was Ariel’s interview with Eddie Hearn, whose comments about MMA ruffled some feathers. He teased a potential promotional move into the sport, and the guys discuss how big his involvement could become (32:17).One promotion still struggling to break through is the PFL. Petesy and Chuck discuss the underwhelming buildup to one of its biggest matchups, Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov 2 (53:43).To wrap up the show, Chuck gives the lowdown on this weekend's Ice Wars and the duo answer your Super Chats (1:02:52).

The Boys in the Back start the show with some news and notes, including Malcolm Wellmaker's next assignment (02:19), Justin Tafa stepping away (03:31), Carl Froch teasing a return (05:01), and Alex Pereira returning to Brazil and the tire shop where he worked (07:21).Next, The Boys discuss Pereira's call to fight Jon Jones on the UFC's White House card and the impact it would have at both heavyweight and light heavyweight (14:37).After breaking down UFC Rio (36:53), they make picks (1:08:17) and rank their P4P New York City boroughs (1:17:07), inspired by Charles Oliveira's nickname "Do Bronxs."The show wraps as it always does, with The Boys listening to your voicemails (1:38:55) and answering your Super Chats (2:47:41).

Ariel Helwani starts the show with news from the combat sports world, including the tragic passings of Arturo Gatti Jr. and Suman Mokhtarian, plus Sean Strickland getting married (06:18).Carlos Ulberg returns, addresses Jiri Prochazka saying he turned down a fight, then talks about only having four weeks to train for Dominick Reyes, being front row for Alex Pereira and Prochazka at UFC 320, how a potential Pereira fight plays out, and more (19:27).Paul Hughes joins to discuss his rematch against Usman Nurmagomedov, the controversial scoring, referee Keith Peterson’s actions during the fight, his respect for Nurmagomedov and his team, and more (47:48).Dan Hooker is back to preview his fight against Arman Tsarukyan, explaining where his animosity toward Arman comes from, believing Arman is a rich “daddy’s boy,” responding to Arman’s comments about them being locked in a room, and discusses his 1 Minute Scraps promotion (1:17:39).Actor Channing Tatum joins ahead of the release of his new movie "Roofman," his life before acting, dealing with impostor syndrome, portraying real-life characters, working with Cung Le and their friendship, his love of MMA, and more (1:44:41).Eddie Hearn is in-studio to talk about his Netflix series, the recent signing of Ben Whittaker, his growing rivalry with Dana White, his potential interest in entering the MMA space, Chris Eubank’s claims of Matchroom delaying his ambulance and potential legal action, Shakur Stevenson’s next fight, and more (2:09:46).Wrestling legend Raven joins to discuss his upcoming documentary, whether he has any regrets, why it ultimately didn’t work out with WWE, not watching wrestling anymore, his hardcore MMA fandom, and more (3:05:04).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering questions about Ronda Rousey's return and Gina Carano as a potential opponent, whether Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones is good for Tom Aspinall, future projects for Uncrowned Films, and more (07:34).Petr Yan is back and believes he deserves the next UFC bantamweight title shot. He talks about Merab Dvalishvili's UFC 320 win, being willing to fight the champion on Dec. 6, only being 50% in their first fight due to an injured hand, and more (32:53).Joe Pyfer joins following his UFC 320 win, discussing dealing with a hand injury before the fight, why his game plan was so wrestling-heavy in the first round, his desire for a top 15 fighter next, his new nickname, and more (1:01:08).Sergio Pettis returns to talk about his highlight-reel knockout at PFL Dubai, what Khabib said to him after the win, training his spinning techniques, wanting to be PFL bantamweight champion, taking a boxing match in India, fighting for Rizin, and more (1:29:16).Ariel and the Boys in the Back react to breaking news of Conor McGregor's suspension for violating the whereabouts policy of the UFC's anti-doping program, and answer more On The Nose question, including Ariel's tortured fandom (1:50:52).Arman Tsarukyan is our final guest of the day, previewing his fight against Dan Hooker, explaining what will happen if they cross paths before the fight, reacting to Hooker saying it's on-sight, before talking about training with Khamzat Chimaev, his viral food videos, and more (2:30:58).The show closes with your Super Chats (3:10:25).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping a wild weekend, starting with his experience at BKFC Newark, before moving on to UFC 320 and Alex Pereira's callout of Jon Jones (05:24).Coach John Wood discusses being in the corner for back-to-back fights at UFC 320, with Merab Dvalishvili picking up a huge win and Khalil Rountree Jr.'s valiant effort against Jiri Prochazka. Wood details Dvalishvili's dominance, the potential of Ateba Gautier, and more (1:02:53).Youssef Zalal is back after a big win, talking about the submission and Josh Emmett's verbal tap, his callout of Lerone Murphy, why it was such a long layoff between fights, wanting to return in December, and more (1:32:15).Veronica Hardy breaks down her win over Brogan Walker, opens up about gaining confidence and overcoming her own doubts, being coached by Sean Strickland, her broadcasting career, and more (1:56:18).Jiri Prochazka continues the train of UFC 320 winners, explaining why he didn't feel danger against Rountree, why he was so emotional while watching Alex Pereira's win in the main event, before revealing that Carlos Ulberg turned him down, wanting to confront Ankalaev and his manager about their social media posts, and more (2:32:32).Finally, the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll re-join Ariel to give thoughts on Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2, circle back to Ariel's time at BKFC and UFC 320, and wrap with your Super Chats (2:57:40).

Ariel Helwani is joined by Petesy Carroll to give their immediate reactions to UFC 320, starting with Alex Pereira's blistering knockout of Magomed Ankalaev in their rematch (00:26).After discussing what could be next for Pereira — Jiri Prochazka, Carlos Ulberg, heavyweight (09:16) — they break down Prochazka's own impressive win over Khalil Rountree (22:12).Next, they look at Merab Dvalishvili's dominance against Cory Sandhagen and wonder whether he's cemented himself as the bantamweight GOAT (22:56).Performances by main card winners Youssef Zalal (32:10) and Joe Pyfer (36:18) get mention, before wrapping up with a review of the prelims (40:33) and BKFC's show in Newark (54:43).

Ariel Helwani & Petesy Carroll give their immediate reactions after PFL Champions Series 2, headlined by the highly-anticipated rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes.They begin with a discussion about the main event, including the controversial scorecards (00:45) and where Hughes goes from here (33:31).Next, they cover Corey Anderson’s win in the co-main event (34:26) and Sergio Pettis‘ highlight reel knockout (34:52).Finally, they wrap up the rest of the card (36:00) and discuss PFL’s viability as an international brand (39:36).

The Craic is back! On an old school episode of The Craic, Petesy Carroll is joined by Brazilian powerhouse journalist Guilherme Cruz. Together, they react to the UFC 320 weigh-ins and talk Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev (00:49).Shifting from Brazilian MMA to Irish MMA, Petesy Carroll brings in Ireland’s top MMA journalists, Donagh Corby and Andy Stevenson, to cover the latest Irish combat sports news, starting with a breakdown of the UFC welterweight clash between Ian Machado Garry and Belal Muhammad (27:57).From one Irish MMA star to the next, the guys move on to Conor McGregor’s latest headline-grabbing interview, reacting to his claim that his fight is signed for the White House card (37:58).To close the show, the trio looks ahead to tonight’s PFL superfight: Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov (54:13).

The Boys in the Back begin the show by reacting to Conor McGregor's recent update about fighting at the White House (02:12) and two huge fights announced for UFC Qatar: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker and Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry (08:06).Next, they preview UFC 320 (20:15), PFL Champions Series 2: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 (1:19:04), and BKFC Newark (1:28:15), before making picks (1:40:30) and debuting a brand new Fight Feasts (1:45:22).Finally, the Boys deliver their P4P documentary rankings (1:59:23), listen to your voicemails (2:22:43), and answer your Super Chats (3:10:31).

Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back kick off the show by answering your On The Nose questions (05:20).MMA pioneer Mark Kerr joins to discuss the making of the original “The Smashing Machine” documentary, why he decided to open up about his struggles with addiction, receiving the call from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson about wanting to lead the new film, where he is now in life, and more (34:28).BKFC founder Dave Feldman is back in-studio to preview the promotions debut in New Jersey, including Frankie Edgar’s status and the animosity between Mike Perry and Jeremy Stephens. Plus, Feldman reacts to recent comments from Darren Till and Luke Rockhold, talks about wanting to sign Jorge Masvidal, wanting to make Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz, BKFC’s current valuation, and more (1:02:29).Ariel talks more about his upcoming BKFC plans, and answers more questions about McGregor’s White House demands, the appeal of Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira, and more (1:45:01).

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a brief review of "The Smashing Machine," and reaction to Artem Lobov withdrawing from his return fight (05:37).Mateusz Gamrot is back to talk about his short-notice fight against Charles Oliveira, what it was like to get the call and his emotions after, getting advice from teammate Dustin Poirier, being energized by fighting in enemy territory, and more (12:16).Fighting Nerds head coach Pablo Morão Sucupira talks about the formation of the team, their rapid ascent, handling criticism during a rough patch, believing they will still create champions, how the team takes the next step, and being in attendance for Wanderlei Silva getting knocked out (32:58)."Zombie Jr.," JooSang Yoo, makes his show debut to discuss his dedicated fan base, meeting "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung for the first time, being on "Dana White: Lookin' for a Fight," continuing to use the "Zombie" moniker, and more (1:02:46).After Ariel and The Boys in the Back share more thoughts on "The Smashing Machine," the film's director Benny Safdie joins to express his passion for combat sports, talk about the film's realism and choices he made to mirror the original documentary, including recreating specific MMA settings and props, and his mission to pay tribute to MMA pioneers (1:42:13).Amir Khan joins from Nigeria to discuss his transition into boxing promotion, putting on his first event, Dana White's entry into the sport, being comfortable in retirement, the passing of Ricky Hatton, and more (2:07:49).Tom Nolan is our final guest of the day, breaking down his win at UFC Perth before taking about training at 14 years old, overcoming his first professional loss, preparing for a championship run, and his exchange with Joe Schilling after the win (2:31:28).

Ariel Helwani is back and kicks off the show with some news and notes, including his time in Montreal for Most Valuable Promotions’ Prospects 15 card (07:33), Zuffa Boxing’s deal with Paramount (10:09), Dana White’s "60 Minutes" interview (15:56), fallout from UFC Perth and its impact on UFC 320 (33:01), Wanderlei Silva getting knocked out after his fight (48:33), and more.Demetrious Johnson returns to discuss training with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, break down Merab’s fight against Cory Sandhagen, predict whether Merab could have beaten prime Dominick Cruz, react to Ronda Rousey’s potential comeback, and more (59:35).Ariel and The Boys in the back rank Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s movies (1:23:47), before discussing Alexander Volkanovski’s next opponent (1:33:36), and who will headline the December card (1:36:16).Diego Lopes recaps his huge win over Jean Silva, before talking about the bad blood between his camp and the Fighting Nerds, the viral video of him throwing up after the fight, offering to fight Charles Oliveira on short notice, feeling like he might get the next title shot, and more (1:40:18).Ben Askren open ups about his double lung transplant and recovery, including his initial symptoms, going into the hospital and his experience there, how his family is dealing with everything, inspiring others through his journey, his long-term prognosis, the support he’s received, and more (1:59:44).Finally, Ariel and The Boys touch on Ronda Rousey (2:41:18), Conor McGregor’s White House demands (2:46:07), Terence Crawford’s run-in with police (3:00:22), and more.

Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes come together a fresh edition of The Craic.They kick off the show by breaking down the verbal jousting taking place between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira ahead of their clash at UFC 320 (6:12).From there, attention shifts to Din Thomas, who floated the idea of a UFC–PFL trade: Magomed Ankalaev for Dakota Ditcheva. The crew breaks down his comments (15:48).It’s Oleksandr Usyk vs. Jake Paul next. In a surprising callout, Usyk took to X to challenge Paul to an MMA fight. The guys make sense of the bizarre matchup (28:27).Then, the boys turn to UFC Perth’s underwhelming ticket sales and what they reveal about the state of UFC event pricing (40:23).One fighter at UFC Perth with momentum is Dominick Reyes. Chuck draws from his recent piece to marvel at Reyes’s resurgence after a brutal four-fight losing streak (48:32).Finally, Petesy previews his first NFL game in Dublin, with Chuck and Ben giving him their top tips for the experience (56:04).

The Boys in the Back double up this week and the show begins with a recap of all the stuff they missed since Monday, including Charles Oliveira getting Mateusz Gamrot (01:37), Jake Paul and Gervonta 'Tank' Davis facing off (07:53), PFL simplifying their title structure (19:37), Conor McGregor calling for $100 million to fight at the White House (48:38), and more.Plus, a UFC Perth preview (57:40), picks (1:23:26), P4P Three-Namers (1:27:11), voicemails (1:47:19), and Super Chats (2:22:46).

Ariel Helwani reacts to some of his classic interviews, providing additional insights and behind-the-scenes stories for each.This volume includes one of Ariel's first conversations with Chael Sonnen, prior to him becoming 'The Bad Guy' (02:50), Andrei Arlovski and the infamous 'How's Taste' moment (13:23), pop superstar Justin Bieber getting grilled (24:02), Bob Arum blasting the UFC and its fanbase during the early days (34:52), Ariel's first meeting with Jorge Masvidal (52:56), and an instant-classic Nate Diaz interview (1:04:49).

The MMA Beat is back! Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes discuss journalistic topics including the controversy around platforming Andrew Tate (04:35), Dana White's media strategy and approach to recent press conferences (18:31), the current state of MMA media (25:31), building relationships with subjects, in this case fighters (44:47), on and off the record conversations (59:11), and more.