UFC lightweight wishes Ariel Helwani good luck after journalist announces departure from Spotify and Vox Media: "You always got my support"
UFC lightweight Terrance McKinney voiced his support for Ariel Helwani after the latter's big announcement about what's next.
Over the last few years, Helwani has worked with Vox Media and Spotify to take the next step in his journalism career. During that time, the legendary Canadian-American reporter brought back his show, The MMA Hour, where he interviews high-profile fighters, coaches and public figures.
Helwani recently announced that most of his Vox Media and Spotify contracts end on August 15. Earlier this week, the 42-year-old posted a seven-minute X video revealing he won't be re-signing.
Helwani added the following caption to his X video:
"Life update: Goodbye Vox Media and Spotify. Thank you for three incredible years. Next (very exciting) chapter: [Soon]"
Many people took to the comment section and supported Ariel Helwani. UFC lightweight Terrance McKinney had this to say:
"Good luck with anything you do brotha you always got my support"
Since signing with the UFC, Terrance McKinney has made several appearances on The MMA Hour. McKinney started his promotional tenure with two first-round finishes, quickly becoming a fan favorite. The 29-year-old has since endured ups and downs, leading to a 5-4 record under the UFC banner.
Ariel Helwani reflects on Vox Media and Spotify tenure
Before joining Vox Media and Spotify, Ariel Helwani worked for ESPN. Helwani has openly talked about how his creative freedom and journalism methods were shot down by the giant, creating a need for change.
During the previously mentioned X post, Helwani had this to say about his experience with Vox Media and Spotify following his ESPN tenure:
"This has been an incredible hthree-year stretch post-ESPN. I got to do a lot of cool things with a lot of great people... Like I said, it's been an unbelievable three years. I honestly couldn't have dreamt of a better scenario post-ESPN than this, working for two incredible companies filled with incredible people."
It's unclear what's next for Ariel Helwani. Regardless of where he goes, the Canadian-American journalist will bring his massive following and strong connections to combat sports, making him a beneficial addition to any media company looking for MMA coverage.
Watch Helwani's extended announcement video below: