Emma Bramford sits down with Charly Arnolt to get behind-the-scenes insights into why the UFC nails every broadcast, even when things go wrong.

The lights blazed over the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on 27 April 2024, as UFC Vegas 91 roared into its main card. As fans tuned in, behind the scenes, a crisis was unfolding. Announcer Joe Martinez suddenly fell ill, and the show was live on ESPN. In that pressure cooker moment, the UFC’s unwavering commitment to keeping the action rolling would be defined not by a KO but by a reporter’s courage. Charly Arnolt was on site as the cage side reporter and post-fight interviewer when a producer approached her to fill in for Joe. Initially, Arnolt was stunned. 

“I was like, ‘I’m sorry, what are you asking me?  I told him I was like, ‘Listen, I have to be honest. I don’t know that I’m comfortable doing this.’ Why did I say that? Because obviously, I was scared of botching an announcement on national television on ESPN. I’ve never done this responsibility for UFC, and I was scared. So, I told them, ‘I don’t think I can do it.’ 

The producer walked away, but backstage, her mind was racing. Fortunately, Arnolt was approached by two UFC makeup artists who saw her doubt and refused to stand for it. 

“They look at me, and they’re like, ‘What’s wrong with you? Of course, you can do it. You’re super talented. You’re a professional. Why would you say you’re uncomfortable? You need to do it.’”

MAKING HISTORY

Arnolt took their advice, got the brief from the producer, and walked into the octagon while her hands shook, but her voice was steady.  She announced the winner of the women’s flyweight bout between Karine Silva and Ariane da Silva, then introduced the co-main event fighters, Bogdan Guskov and Ryan Spann. The crowd didn’t know they were witnessing history. Arnolt didn’t either. 

“I had no idea at the time that this was a history-making moment. I thought I was just filling in. I never imagined I’d be making history!”

When she learned she’d become the UFC’s first female octagon announcer, she was overwhelmed. 

“I almost said no to doing the announcements. I almost said no, and now I’ve made history, that is so fucking cool!”

This moment was more than one person’s triumph. It was a testament to the UFC’s ethos. When challenges arise, the team comes together to keep the show going. From the producers who acted fast to the colleagues who lifted each other up, every piece of the machine worked as one. 

“It was scary for me, and everybody around me was just so believing in me and gave me the confidence that I needed.”

A CAREER THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY

"I've been working in television since I graduated from college. I started the very traditional way, working my way up through local news. I was a one-man-band reporter. I had my tripod and my camera, and I would head out on my own to get the story, do the interviews, come back, and edit everything myself. Very tedious process started out in West Virginia. And from there, I was able to just keep working my way up. I always knew I was passionate about sports because I grew up playing sports, and my father's a big sports guy. So, you know, after a while I was done with the doom and gloom of the news. Let's focus on what makes people excited, like what people turn to escape from everyday reality, which is sports."

THE NEW PATH

Then came an opportunity that would alter her career forever. 

"WWE came into the picture,” she says. “I had already verbally committed to go be a sports anchor in Washington, DC. But then WWE was like, we have an open position. You killed it in your audition. Do you want to work here? All my mentors were like, WWE, probably a position you won't take 10 years from now, whereas you can always go to DC. So, I'm like, OK, I'm going to WWE. I had no idea of the exposure I was going to have. I mean, it was like an international scene. I was traveling all over the world. My social media absolutely blew up. I still have people who are like, Oh my god, Charly from WWE."

SHARING THE SPOTLIGHT

The UFC’s team has always embraced teamwork, where each person tries to help their coworkers. When asked if she enjoys working with untrained newcomers, Arnolt lights up.

"Oh my gosh, of course, yeah, I love it. I feel like that's still like what a lot of the UFC guys are, even like that, if they have some training, they're not too impressed. They're here to be themselves. And I love that. I love the authenticity. So, they were so impressed with my job that I did at the Power Slap auditions that they were like, well, not only do we now want you involved with Power Slap, but also let's get you involved with UFC. I did my first fight reporting in July of 2023, and it went well. And that was it. I officially became ingrained in UFC as one of the rotating reporters. The thing I love about UFC is the personalities that you get to speak with are just so raw and real. The crew that I work with at UFC is just phenomenal. They're so supportive. They are so uplifting."

SECRET FAN

Arnolt’s love for combat sports traces back to her childhood, even if her parents didn’t approve. 

"It was WWF at that point in time, it was when DMX was still a faction, and the era of Stone Cold Steve Austin. And the rock – Dwayne Johnson. So, like appropriateness for a sixth grader, not so much necessarily. I remember on Thursdays, I would go to cotillion, and I would learn how to ballroom dance, set a table, and learn my manners. And then I would come home and watch Thursday night SmackDown. My parents were like, Charly, like, this is not appropriate. So, they banned me from watching WWF. So, I would sneak down to the basement to watch. And then it's just funny how, you know, later in life, I was like, well, I'm going to work for the place that you banned me from watching, huh?"

AUTHENTICITY ABOVE ALL

Arnolt balances her UFC work with roles at Fox News and Outkick, which is a combination few sports organizations would embrace. 

"When I'm in New York City, where I live, my full-time job, cause UFC is not a full-time job for me. I'm an independent contractor. Megan Olivi obviously does all the pay-per-views. Otherwise, you know, it's Heidi or me on a rotating basis. I do a streaming show five days a week on Outkick in the mornings. I'll be on Jesse Waters prime time tonight. There are so few places like UFC, being probably one of the only events that would ever be like, hey, yeah, we have a reporter who also talks about politics for a living. But that's why the UFC is so wonderful. They truly allow their talent to be exactly who they are. Dana White is the most authentic person I've ever met in my entire life. He was along with Donald Trump on the campaign trail. Dana is the last person to do exactly what's expected about him. He's going to be himself, and that is what has trickled down not only to the people that work for UFC, but also the fighters."

ADVICE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

When asked what advice she’d give to women entering broadcasting or journalism, Arnolt emphasizes growth and authenticity. 

"Well, I think the same advice goes for really any area in television and broadcasting, you just gotta commit to the craft,” she says. “You gotta learn and soak up everything you can. You gotta be like a sponge. I like the way that John Anik is such a perfectionist when it comes to name pronunciations and Megan O'Leary, the way she tells stories. So, I just think it's soaking in everything you can and just committing yourself to learning.”

In every role she’s taken on, from local news reporter to WWE host to UFC’s first female octagon announcer, she has proven that the greatest victories often come when we push past our fear and step into the ring, ready to do whatever it takes to keep the show going.