The Bill Simmons Podcast Why Giannis Won’t Be a Knick, UFC’s Latest Boom, the Movie Theater Renaissance, Six Stages of Sean Penn, and ‘One Battle After Another’ With Ariel Helwani and Wesley Morris
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Oct 8, 2025 
Ariel Helwani, a leading MMA journalist, shares insights on why the Knicks' hopes of landing Giannis Antetokounmpo are dim due to asset limitations. He also discusses UFC's bright future and the potential of 2026 being a landmark year with exciting matchups. Film critic Wesley Morris dives into the revival of movie theaters, celebrating the return of original films thanks to bold studio choices. He analyzes Sean Penn's evolving career and provides thoughts on Paul Thomas Anderson's latest project, highlighting its depth and importance.
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Streaming Deal Upside For Major Fights
- Paramount Plus deal and potential returns (Conor, Rousey, Jones) create rare upside for UFC and can revive pay-per-equivalent interest.
- Ariel argues streaming rights can supercharge big event promotion and star returns.
WWE+ESPN Equals Strategic Programming
- WWE on ESPN and cross-promotion show modern sports media aims to target weak weekends and program tentpole events.
- Ariel credits Nick Khan for bringing WWE into ESPN and says WWE fans will follow the platform, helping subscriber growth.
Theater Return Fueled By Shared Experiences
- Moviegoing is rebounding because people crave shared theatrical experiences for premium films like IMAX-driven originals.
- Bill and Wesley see a renewed appetite for original, director-driven movies beyond franchise content.