The Schmo and Ariel Helwani are two famous MMA journalists who have been involved in a long-term feud. Their beef began back in 2018 when they met and Helwani allegedly gave Schmo his wrong e-mail ID. Since then, Schmo has taken offense due to Helwani’s actions and they have never reconciled. However, at The PRIME Card, to everyone’s surprise, Helwani made an appearance on The Schmo’s video.
The Schmo, real name Dave Schmulenson, was present during The PRIME Card which featured Logan Paul vs. Dillon Danis and KSI vs. Tommy Fury. Helwani, on the other hand, was the man assigned to conduct the post-fight interviews.
Schmo was making a video with comedian Andrew Schulz backstage when he called himself the No. 1 journalist in MMA. Schulz pulled Helwani in and told him that Schmo said this. Helwani clapped back by saying, “[I am] No. 1 in combat sports.”
In multiple interviews, Schmo has claimed that he met Helwani at a UFC press conference in 2018. During an episode of the Real Eyes Recognize Podcast, Schmo said, “I love everybody in the sport, but I don’t like him [Ariel Helwani]… He big-timed me when I tried to introduce myself to him in 2018, gave me a fake email address. We’ve just had kind of just never been on the right footing.”
Schmo even called out Helwani for a fight in the name of charity. The Schmo even brought Dana White on his podcast to call out Helwani. However, Helwani refused the fight and also denied claims of giving a fake e-mail ID.
Ariel Helwani denies claims that he gave The Schmo his fake e-mail ID
Helwani has had his fair share of beef with multiple fighters. Although he has been part of the business for a long time, he has not got around a way of not inciting hatred among fighters for him.
Another chapter in Helwani’s beef with Schmo came when Sean Strickland gave an interview to The Schmo. Strickland proposed a cage match for both the journalists and offered to be Schmo’s cornerman.
During an episode of The MMA Hour later with Chris Curtis, Helwani addressed the beef. He explained how they first met in 2019 (instead of 2018 as claimed by The Schmo), and that he did not share a fake e-mail ID. Helwani made it clear that he was not interested in fighting anyone. He also said that he met The Schmo during Jake Paul vs. Tyrone Woodley and according to Helwani, Schmo admitted to doing all this to stay in the limelight.
To: @arielhelwani
Xoxo💋: The Schmo pic.twitter.com/PwAEltw8mx— The Schmo (@TheSchmo312) April 12, 2023
Schmo was outraged. He posted a long text on X where he called the veteran journalist a “keyboard warrior”. He attacked Helwani and said that he did not admit to anything during the Paul vs. Woodley bout.
Update: Ariel Helwani tweeted about his latest interaction with The Schmo. He was asked about the “awkward interaction” and he responded, “Schulz pulled me in. I dunno. My voice was shot.
Schmo and I had a good chat on Friday. Beef squashed, at least I think so. I’m too old for this shit. Wish him the best.”
Schulz pulled me in. I dunno. My voice was shot.
Schmo and I had a good chat on Friday. Beef squashed, at least I think so. I’m too old for this shit. Wish him the best. https://t.co/2vrkwcZPFs
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 15, 2023
It seems that the long-term feud between the two has finally taken a backseat. However, these are still only Helwani’s thoughts. The Schmo has made no statements regarding it yet.