ESPN has seemingly found their replacement for Ariel Helwani in the fight game. Mike Coppinger is joining the network as their newest combat sports reporter. The writer who most recently worked for The Athletic should have a wide-ranging media role like Helwani’s. Although, Coppinger has focused more on boxing than MMA throughout his career.
The reporter will fulfill news, analysis, storytelling, and live event coverage for both boxing and mixed martial arts. Along with writing, he will appear on TV and radio.
“Sources: I’m so excited to join ESPN,” Coppinger wrote on Twitter. “It’s genuinely a dream come true. Will be covering boxing and MMA, beginning with coverage from Las Vegas next week for UFC 264. Today is Day 1 and I can’t wait to bring everyone combat sports coverage for the best platform in the world!”
Coppinger started his career as a freelancer at USA Today before growing his role there and eventually being their lead boxing writer from 2015 to 2017. He moved on to the same role at Ring Magazine before spending the past two years at The Athletic as a boxing insider.
“We are excited to welcome Mike Coppinger to the ESPN combat sports team,” senior deputy editor of ESPN.com Cristina Daglas said in a press release. “He has been a leading voice in the boxing space, breaking news and providing smart analysis as well as compelling behind-the-scenes storytelling. He will bring those skills and more to our many platforms.”
This hire comes during a big month in combat sports, with trilogy fights going down in UFC (Dustin Poirier v. Conor McGregor) and boxing (Tyson Fury v. Deontay Wilder).
“I’m excited to join the already formidable boxing and MMA team at ESPN among the likes of Max Kellerman, Mark Kriegel, and Joe Tessitore,” Coppinger said in the press release. “To cover the fight game for ESPN is truly a dream come true. Through breaking news, analysis and storytelling, the goal is to shine a light on combat sports for fans around the world.”