Ariel Helwani Biography
Ariel Helwani is a Canadian journalist. He has primarily covered mixed martial arts (MMA) since 2006. In addition, he held special status with the UFC and is an MMA reporter.
Ariel Helwani Age|Birthday
Helwani was born on July 8, 1982. Therefore, he is 39 years old as of 2022 and celebrates his birthday on 8th July every year.
Ariel Helwani Height|Weight
Helwani’s height is 5 feet 11 inches (approximately 180 centimeters). Moreover, he weighs 79 kilograms.
Ariel Helwani Family
Helwani was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to his parents Claude (father) and Pina (mother). His father is from Egypt whereas his mother is from Lebanon.
Ariel Helwani Wife
Helwani is happily married to Jaclyn Stein, ANZIE’s jewelry CEO and jewelry designer. Moreover, the couple has three children together, a daughter named Claire and two sons.
Ariel Helwani Education
The journalist grew up in Mount Royal, Quebec, and Westmount (a Montreal suburb). He went to the Akiva School and Herzliah High School.
Moreover, he graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in Syracuse, New York in 2004.
Ariel Helwani Career
Since 2006, Helwani has covered mixed martial arts professionally. Moreover, before joining ESPN in May 2018, he worked for MMA Fighting. Additionally, the journalist formerly served as an ‘MMAInsider’ for Fox Sports 1’s weekly UFC Tonight show and another pre-and post-event programming. He was formerly the host of The MMA Hour podcast and is the former co-host of the Sirius XM radio show Fight Club. Additionally, he is the MMA Beat show on YouTube. He is the Mixed Martial Arts Journalists Association interim vice president.
Previously, he hosted a show called Ariel & The Bad Guy with ChaelbSonnen at ESPN. Moreover, for all ESPN platforms, he hosted his podcast and reported on MMA.
UFC 199 controversy/ UFC lifetime ban
Helwani and two colleagues were escorted out of UFC 199 before the main event in June 2016. They were banned for life from all UFC events and their press credentials were taken. However, without notifying UFC first, he earlier reported the return of Brock Lesnar at UFC 200 hours before the UFC announced it on the broadcast.
Mayweather vs. McGregor ban
Hours before the first press conference in Los Angeles, Helwani claimed that he was removed from the Showtime broadcast team for Mayweather vs. McGregor press tour.
ESPN
Helwani joined ESPN from SB Nation’s MMAFighting.com in June 2018. Additionally, shortly after ESPN announced their 5-year, $1.5 billion rights package with the UFC, his employment at ESPN began. He hosted Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Twitter and YouTube, Ariel and the Bad Guy on ESPN+, and the DC & Helwani podcast while at ESPN. Moreover, the broadcaster contributed to occasional ESPN broadcasts of the NBA.
However, he announced his departure from ESPN in June 2021 after failing to reach terms on a new contract.
Return of The MMA Hour
Helwani announced his return to MMA Fighting and Vox Media as host for The MMA Hour and SB Nation’s MMA Fighting in June 2021. Also, he announced joining The Ringer and BT Sport.
Ariel Helwani Net Worth
Helwani’s net worth is $8 million.
