"The Fight Before the Fight" with Ariel Helwani

Real Sports Podcast host Max Gershberg speaks with renowned mixed martial arts reporter and sports journalist Ariel Helwani about the dangerous consequences MMA fighters face as a result of severe weight cutting prior to a fight. Helwani details why the extreme practice persists, who is ultimately to blame, and what state commissions and the UFC are -- and are not -- currently doing to try to make the sport safer. [The interview starts at 15:42.] Watch Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO Max. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Om Podcasten

Go even deeper into the award-winning coverage of Real Sports with exclusive conversations with correspondents, sports figures and experts on the Real Sports Podcast. This bi-weekly series is hosted by Real Sports producer Max Gershberg. The podcast offers an insider look at stories from the latest episode of the show. It also takes a look back at pieces from across the archive, revisiting the show’s biggest interviews and stories.   The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, including HBO Max. And watch new episodes of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, every month on HBO Max.