The Schmo is Dave Schmulenson, a sports interviewer from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, known for his yellow-tinted glasses, animated delivery, and conversations with some of combat sports’ biggest names.
But before he built a career asking questions in character, Schmulenson wanted to make it as himself. The struggle to get that opportunity helped inspire the personality fans recognize today.
Why Did Dave Schmulenson Create The Schmo?
Schmulenson grew up outside Chicago idolizing Michael Jordan. When playing professional basketball stopped looking realistic, talking about sports offered another way to stay close to the games he loved.
Breaking into broadcasting proved difficult. Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, he recalled sending out tapes and dropping them off at stations without getting the response he wanted. He pursued production work and other opportunities to get a foot in the door.
The character began taking shape in 2015 as he joked around with roommates in Los Angeles. Glasses, a jacket, and his interest in impressions helped turn his sense of humor into an on-camera identity.
“If you don’t want to give David Schmulenson a chance then I will do it in character,” he told Van Vliet.
What Makes His Interviews Different?
Schmulenson describes his approach as “sports first, comedy second.” His influences include broadcaster Craig Sager, comedian Rodney Dangerfield, and the wrestling personalities he watched growing up. Those influences help explain the combination of loud clothing, exaggerated delivery, and sports questions.
“If you’re not first, you gotta be different.”
The premise of The Schmo and The Pro puts the athlete opposite an interviewer who is willing to look ridiculous. The humor gives guests something to react to beyond another question about their next opponent.
Schmulenson has said he deliberately keeps conversations before interviews brief so guests can react to the character on camera. The glasses also serve a practical purpose. When they go on, he becomes The Schmo.
How The Schmo Built a Place in Combat Sports
Before establishing himself around UFC events, Schmulenson sought interviews at local gyms and red carpets. At the UFC 227 press conference in 2018, he drew attention by asking Dana White about introducing a 165-pound division.
Years of independent coverage eventually brought an interview he had long wanted. In 2024, he interviewed Conor McGregor, who later invited him to cover BKFC in Marbella, Spain.
His work has also extended beyond MMA and boxing. Schmulenson has interviewed WWE stars including Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, and Dominik Mysterio, expanding a format built around athletes’ personalities.
“If you’re not first, you gotta be different,” he told MMA Knockout.
That philosophy explains more about The Schmo than the sunglasses alone. Dave Schmulenson wanted a career interviewing athletes. Creating someone they would remember became his way in.
