(Video courtesy of YouTube/IronForgesIron)
Well, we can add Tito Ortiz’s name to the growing list of UFC fighters who have accused MMA Fighting reporter Ariel Helwani of starting shit in recent months.
During today’s UFC 132 press conference, Helwani asked Tito’s upcoming opponent Ryan Bader what he thought about Ortiz saying he had weak wrestling and before he had a chance to answer, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” interrupted to inform Ariel that he said no such thing.
In the interview we posted earlier today on the site, Ariel asked Tito if he saw any holes in Bader’s game that he was looking to exploit Saturday night, to which he replied, “His takedowns and his takedown defense,” before describing how he saw some holes in both areas that could leave openings for him to capitalize. He didn’t actually use the term “weak wrestling,” but he did point out that certain aspects of Bader’s wrestling game were lacking in his opinion.
“I never said he had weak wrestling. What are you starting shit for, dude? I never said that. I never said he had weak wrestling. I said I seen holes in his game, but I never said he had weak wrestling. Don’t be putting words in my mouth, dog.”
Besides maybe over-generalizing Tito’s statements, Helwani didn’t do anything wrong and I’m sure it wasn’t a malicious or sinister oversight on his part, but it’s interesting to note the latest trend of fighters calling Ariel (who many consider the best interviewer in the business) a shit disturber, including Nick Diaz and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Maybe Dana is punking him like Cro Cop did to Mauro Ranallo back in the day.