Molly Qerim is back after leaving ESPN’s First Take, joining Zuffa Boxing’s broadcast on Paramount+

Molly Qerim is officially back on television and this time she’s stepping into the boxing world. After leaving ESPN’s First Take, the longtime sports host has landed her first on-air role, joining Zuffa Boxing’s new broadcast on Paramount+. The move doesn’t just mark a fresh chapter in her career, it also brings a familiar face back into the picture. Qerim will be reunited with Max Kellerman, her former First Take co-host, setting up a comeback moment that longtime sports fans did not see coming.

Molly Qerim makes her television return by signing on as host for Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+

According to Front Office Sports, Molly Qerim has been hired as the studio host for Zuffa Boxing, a new promotion that is making its debut with a multi-event deal on Paramount+. This role marks Qerim’s first television appearance since her departure from ESPN where she spent more than a decade as the face of First Take.



In her new position, Qerim will anchor Zuffa Boxing’s studio coverage, guiding pre-fight and post-fight discussions while working alongside a panel of boxing analysts. It’s a natural fit for someone who built her reputation managing high-energy debates and keeping big personalities in check only now, the focus shifts from sports arguments to fight breakdowns.



Qerim’s exit from ESPN came as a surprise to many viewers, given how closely she had been associated with First Take since taking over as full-time host in 2015. After leaving the network, she stayed out of the television spotlight, fueling speculation about where she might land next.

One of the biggest talking points around this move is the reunion between Qerim and Max Kellerman. The two worked together for years on First Take, where Kellerman served as a co-host and boxing analyst before eventually leaving ESPN himself.

Kellerman is part of Zuffa Boxing’s commentary and analysis team while Qerim will handle hosting duties. Their established on-air chemistry is already familiar to viewers and that familiarity could help Zuffa Boxing immediately connect with an audience that followed both personalities during their ESPN days.

Zuffa Boxing is clearly making a statement with its media lineup. Along with Qerim and Kellerman, the promotion has assembled a broadcast team that includes experienced voices from both boxing and mainstream sports media.





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