Ariel Helwani
MMA Sports Reporter
“I'm seriously living my dream. I really didn't think this was going to happen and it's happening, so to you, I say: Keep fighting. Keep doing your thing.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationAriel Helwani
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
Was a shy kid but always liked to do a fake interview-style "postgame" after he and his friends would play basketball.
Looked up the best universities for broadcasting, decided to go to number one: Syracuse University.
Originally didn't get into Syracuse's communications school, felt like it was a major setback.
Became painfully shy and introverted in college but found refuge in doing a two-hour sports radio show every week.
Says something inside of him clicks when the cameras come on, and his shyness evaporates.
After school, he set up a blog, gave himself a deadline: if he didn't start making a profit within six months, he'd go back to a desk job.
Started "hustling" and emailing any and every fighter he could; was surprised by how many were willing to talk to him.
Felt self-conscious until a female fighter and the president of the UFC both told him he was a good interviewer.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
MMA Sports Reporter
I interview the top MMA fighters and industry leaders and have been covering MMA professionally since 2006.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Journalism
Sports
Accomplishing Goals
Interviewed By
New York City
It's the last week of the team's six-week Roadtrip-and also Hannah and Antoine's first time in New York City. While there, they meet up with MMA (Mixed Marital Arts) reporter Ariel Helwani who talks about his beginnings as a shy kid to becoming one of the most notable MMA sports reporters in the world. At the end of their conversation, he stresses to the team, "don't give up on your dreams." Antoine, Hannah, and Nika then move on to their last interview at the CNN headquarters where they meet with anchor Soledad O'Brien who talks about the hard work it takes to follow a dream. Afterward, the team reflects on the events of the trip and the people they met before signing the Green RV and saying their goodbyes.
