A few weeks have passed since the now infamous UFC 199 scenario regarding well-known mixed martial arts journalist Ariel Helwani. To sum up the situation, Helwani and two of his colleagues were essentially kicked out of the arena after Helwani broke the news of Brock Lesnar’s UFC 200 return before the promotion could do so
A few weeks have passed since the now infamous UFC 199 scenario regarding well-known mixed martial arts journalist Ariel Helwani. To sum up the situation, Helwani and two of his colleagues were essentially kicked out of the arena after Helwani broke the news of Brock Lesnar’s UFC 200 return before the promotion could do so themselves.
Helwani and company had their credentials removed and the UFC had issued a lifetime ban against the reporter. UFC President Dana White had even went as far to say that Helwani would have to buy a ticket if he planned on attending the blockbuster July 9th card from Las Vegas.
Needless to say, Helwani went on his show, The MMA Hour, and detailed not only this specific situation, but his rocky history with the UFC as well in a dark and emotional segment. Not so long after, his lifetime ban was lifted and his credentials were reinstated.
Since then, the situation has appeared to have been put to rest, although White clearly hasn’t forgotten about it. Recently appearing on the inaugural edition of the UFC Unfiltered Podcast with Jim Norton and Matt Serra, White blasted Helwani, saying that the journalist threw a ‘pity party’:
“I know that he threw a big pity party for himself and all that sh*t, but there was a lot more to it. A lot more people were involved in that thing, and it almost blew up a huge relationship that I wouldn’t even get into publicly. That’s why we just came out with a statement, and I don’t know, it was dirty. He knows it was dirty, and he threw a big pity party for himself, crying on camera and sh*t. Just ridiculous.” White said.
Despite the harsh comments, White admitted that he’s done a tremendous amount to boost Helwani’s career over the years, a statement that Helwani has also confirmed on multiple occasions:
“Ariel Helwani knows I’ve done a lot of s–t for Ariel Helwani,” added White when speaking on the podcast.
In the end, although his credentials were reinstated, Helwani doesn’t appear to be the UFC President’s favorite person:
“Well, he got his credential back I wouldn’t say he’s in decent graces. We built that promo, and a lot of people were quiet about it. It was for the fans, and for that wow factor to be there, and go oh wow Brock’s back, and the way that he the way that he did it had a lot of people pointing fingers at each other.”
The brash and outspoken UFC boss also called Helwani’s actions a ‘weasel move’, and claimed that he had made it ‘all about Ariel’.
It’s been a long-traveled, winding road on the journey to all-time great former Pride champion Fedor Emelanenko fighting in the UFC, and it’s been one that’s ultimately ended without any fruit to bear. However, almost seven years after talks to have Fedor fight then-UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar fell apart, there’s apparently more hope now
It’s been a long-traveled, winding road on the journey to all-time great former Pride champion Fedor Emelanenko fighting in the UFC, and it’s been one that’s ultimately ended without any fruit to bear.
However, almost seven years after talks to have Fedor fight then-UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar fell apart, there’s apparently more hope now to seeing ‘The Last Emperor’ in the Octagon than there ever has been. Speaking through a translator to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour today (Mon., June 13, 2016), Emelianenko revealed that it’s a distinct possibility he’ll fight in the UFC, but a mutually beneficial deal would have to be reached between both sides:
“Yes. In a word, yes. That possibility does exist. I always wanted to fight for UFC and I would fight for UFC, but at this moment we’re looking at the deal and the deal has to satisfy both parties — them and my organization. Until there’s no friction, until we are 100 percent in terms of seeing eye-to-eye, we are all basically in limbo.”
There were some rumors that Fedor would somehow be the returning Lesnar’s opponent at the midsummer blockbuster UFC 200. Emelianenko confirmed that opportunity was never presented to him, but he would consider it if it was:
“All I wanted to say is for now we never received a proposal like that,” Emelianenko said. “But if somebody were to make that proposal, we’ll definitely look at it closely.”
The probability of him stepping into the Octagon was thought to be gone forever when Emelianenko retired in 2012, but after his return last New Year’s Eve, ‘The Last Emperor’ feels as if he’s back to reaching his prime fighting shape:
“I did get that feeling,” Emelianenko said. “I feel like I am back. A fighter is measured by the last fight. I’m looking forward to illustrate I am back in my usual form.”
Finally, Fedor stated that he was indeed closer than ever to making his UFC debut, and that an offer had been put on the tabe by Dana White & co. But he once again stressed the small details that he still had to hammer out with the promotion:
“Right now, I’m much closer compared to when I just came back to MMA. Yes, we did receive an offer. But there are some finer points that we wanted to discuss.”
With some small issues apparently left to discuss, at least there’s a small chance we see the man who many consider the best heavyweight of all-time set foot in the Octagon. But will it ever be more than the rumors we’ve been reading for years?
The temporary beef between MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani and the UFC has seemed to come to an end, after the journalist’s lifetime ban was lifted following a flurry of support from fans, fighters, and media alike. That hasn’t stopped the likes of Nick and Nate Diaz, however, from having a little fun with the two
The temporary beef between MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani and the UFC has seemed to come to an end, after the journalist’s lifetime ban was lifted following a flurry of support from fans, fighters, and media alike.
That hasn’t stopped the likes of Nick and Nate Diaz, however, from having a little fun with the two side’s issues, as the brothers posted a hilarious UFC 200 poster featuring White vs Helwani along with a ‘Rise For Helwani’ hashtag:
A photo posted by Diazbrothers209 (@diazbrothers209) on
Helwani was escorted out of The Forum prior to the UFC 199 main event, after he broke news that former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was in negotiations to make his long-awaited Octagon return. The journalist also broke news that a deal was being finalized for a rematch between UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.
Both reports were later confirmed that same night after two separate promo commercials aired during the event. Helwani would then go on to host an emotional ‘tell all’ on his show, The MMA Hour, as well as detailing his encounter with White backstage at UFC 199.
Helwani’s bann was short lived despite White saying it would remain ‘as long as I’m here’, as the UFC released a statement days later stating that the ban has been lifted.
While the Diaz brothers seem like they would be pretty entertained to see the two throw down this July, would you pay to see it?
The UFC has lifted its lifetime ban on highly-touted journalist Ariel Helwani, but the mixed martial arts (MMA) community hasn’t dropped the situation just yet. Ultimately, Helwani was escorted out of The Forum last Saturday (June 4, 2016) prior to the main event after breaking the news of Brock Lesnar’s return before the UFC could
The UFC has lifted its lifetime ban on highly-touted journalist Ariel Helwani, but the mixed martial arts (MMA) community hasn’t dropped the situation just yet.
Ultimately, Helwani was escorted out of The Forum last Saturday (June 4, 2016) prior to the main event after breaking the news of Brock Lesnar’s return before the UFC could announce it themselves. Helwani’s credentials were also taken away.
The MMA world was thrown into an uproar, lobbying behind the Canadian journalist, and the UFC eventually reversed its actions.
However, as he detailed on an intense edition of The MMA Hour last Monday (June 6, 2016), his relationship with the UFC has always been a rocky one.
From Helwani’s side, he explained that he was simply doing his job.
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan recently touched on the situation, however, detailing what he thought to be the UFC’s view on the situation. Rogan claimed that the UFC felt as if there was a ‘mole’ feeding Helwani information, and that the promotion actually warned the journalist prior to his breaking of the news:
“That’s cool, because that means that public support made them lift that. But it also must mean that they worked out whatever the f*ck it was. See, this is what they were saying, this is what I’m hearing, okay. I haven’t talked to Ariel, but let me just give me the UFC perspective. The UFC perspective was that there was a mole. They believed that someone was giving Ariel information, and that information he was using to scoop the UFC’s official promotions. So the UFC, which is a private company, they don’t have to have… you don’t have to let people into your business, if you’re a private company, to come and report. So they were feeling that somehow or another he was getting a hold of this inside information, and releasing it, and making them look bad.”
“Now, I get the UFC’s perspective. They would wanna know who the f’ck is leaking this secret information, and that they don’t want this guy taking this information and putting it live. Now from what I understand, the conversation with him was, ‘Don’t do this, because if you do this, there’s only a hand full of people who know this information. So we’re gonna fire everybody. We’re gonna fire a bunch of people and you’re gonna ruin people’s lives’. This is what I was told, was a conversation they had with him. After the conversation he leaked the Brock Lesnar stuff.” Rogan said on a recent edition of his podcast.
Helwani then quickly took to his official Twitter account to reject Rogan’s theory:
All due respect to Joe, his account is 100% inaccurate. Never happened. Also, enough with the mole nonsense. https://t.co/m15W2UPNCs
MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani was recently embroiled in a highly-publicized beef with the UFC after being banned for life from all upcoming events due to the journalist breaking news that former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar would make his Octagon return at UFC 200 before the revealing video promo was released at UFC 199. Helwani and his staff
MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani was recently embroiled in a highly-publicized beef with the UFC after being banned for life from all upcoming events due to the journalist breaking news that former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar would make his Octagon return at UFC 200 before the revealing video promo was released at UFC 199.
Helwani and his staff were escorted out of the arena following the conclusion of the co-main event of UFC 199, having their credentials removed as well.
Helwani’s ban has since been lifted after an outpouring of support from his fellow MMA media members, but he still took the opportunity to dish out some of the seedier aspects of his packed career as a MMA reporter.
Two days following the event Helwani held a ‘tell-all’ Monday afternoon following buzz of the incident circulating throughout MMA media, as he dished on his work for the UFC and FOX throughout the years on his show ‘The MMA Hour.’
Helwani first started off by crediting UFC President Dana White for always treating him with respect since the beginning of his journalism career:
“In 1997 the first time I interviewed him, my microphone died and he said ‘Go out and get another one, I’ll be waiting here.’ And I went outside, I went in my car and got another microphone, and he was still there when I came back.
“He’s always given me the time of day and it hurts me that this has happened. But maybe I’m crazy, maybe I’m dreaming, but I felt like deep down inside he didn’t want to do that. I think he was respecting the wishes of his partner (Lorenzo Fertitta), who I’ve never really had a close relationship with, and he was doing what he was essentially told.”
Then an incident involving the main event of UFC 196 was mentioned, when Helwani got wind that UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos was injured and out of his scheduled title defense against Conor McGregor:
“When I asked the UFC if Rafael dos Anjos was injured prior to UFC 196, you know what I was told? ‘Not true.’ Guess what? He was injured, and I knew he was injured, I knew for a fact that he was injured. They were already talking about Nate Diaz at that point. So then you’re faced with a moral dilemma, someone who you respect is telling you on the record that it’s not true and you’re going to go out and report it? That’s going to make things worse in my opinion.”
Helwani then began to tell the story of his employment with FOX and the UFC, beginning at the relationship’s inception in 2010:
“It kind of all started around December of 2010. A production company that I knew say ‘We want to make a show about you, like an MMA show.’ And I remember where I was, I was in Montreal for UFC 124. And one of the places they wanted to pitch this show to was Fuel TV, remember Fuel TV?
“I thought that was great, this is my big TV debut; this is awesome. I’m gonna have a show, an MMA show, this fantastic lets do it. Now again, I believe that I owe a lot to Dana White, and we’ve had a great relationship. I’ve sent him pictures of my kids, and he’s said nice things. And when the Patriots beat the Bills, he says not so nice things, but it’s been a fun ride and I hope this isn’t the end.”
With the lucrative TV deal on the table, Helwani called up White to get some advice on whether or not he should accept the offer:
“Well I called Dana and asked him , ‘Hey I have this opportunity maybe on Fuel TV, what do you think? Should I do it?’ I was actually looking for his advice. He told me that that wasn’t a good idea. He told me that the TV deal’s coming up, end of 2011, bigger opportunities are coming, just hold off on that.
“Do you know how hard that was for me? Do you know how hard it was to say ‘no’ to a potential TV opportunity, the first one of my career? I struggled with that so much, it was the hardest thing. It was the hardest decision, to go back to this group and say ‘You know what, I have to bow out.’ I didn’t tell them why, but ‘I have to bow out, I’ll explain why later.’ And why did I do that? Because I really respected Dana and what he was telling me, I really respected his advice.”
After Helwani respectfully declined the offer, but the UFC then went into business with FOX, which immediately upset the journalist as he had taken White’s advice:
“But the funny thing was, ten our so months later, UFC signed a deal with FOX. Guess what was they’re ‘unofficial’ home so to speak? Fuel! And so I was thinking to myself ‘I could have been there before the launch.
Why did I turn this down?’ Well as you know, as was reported by the Wall Street Journal, the UFC was in talks with NBC at the time. Viacom at the time. G4 was going to be the UFC Network. FOX came in at the eleventh hour, so I was like man… But It all worked out because I ended up on Fuel anyway.”
UFC President Dana White actually gave Helwani the scoop that the announcement of partnership between the UFC and FOX would be made official in L.A., so Helwani immediately flew out to cover the event:
“And I’ve told you about this first meeting with the FOX brass, this was in August of 2011 right after the big announcement. I sat down with a couple of people from FOX, and I remember them telling me that ‘Look we’re going to be in business with the UFC, but we want to do journalism.’ And you know my eyes lit up when I heard that.
But they didn’t offer me a contract that day, and I give a lot of credit to Dana, Dana actually told me that they were going to make the news official — they were going to break the news on that day, and that’s how I knew to fly out to L.A. for the big announcement.”
Highly-touted mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Ariel Helwani has experienced a roller coaster of wild events over the course of the last few days. To break it down, Helwani and two of his colleagues were essentially escorted from The Forum in Inglewood, California last Saturday (June 4, 2016) prior to the main event of UFC
Highly-touted mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Ariel Helwani has experienced a roller coaster of wild events over the course of the last few days.
To break it down, Helwani and two of his colleagues were essentially escorted from The Forum in Inglewood, California last Saturday (June 4, 2016) prior to the main event of UFC 199.
Helwani’s credentials were taken away, and he was handed a ludicrous lifetime ban from the UFC.
The reasoning for the move appeared to be that the UFC wasn’t too happy with Helwani breaking the news of Brock Lesnar’s return before they could air the epic UFC 200 promo video. The journalist also beat the promotion to the punch on confirming the UFC 202 rematch between featherweight champion Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.
Since Saturday, UFC president Dana White has commented on the situation, saying that the ban was indeed a reality, and that Helwani would have to purchase a ticket to attend UFC events in the future.
Helwani then explained the situation in full detail as well as revealing a somewhat dark past with the promotion on his show The MMA Hour today (June 6, 2016).
An emotional Helwani was clearly broken down by the news, and the mixed martial arts community was thrown into a frenzy.
The news appeared to be permanent, but apparently something has changed.
Lance Pugmire of the LA Times took to his official twitter account earlier tonight to announce that the UFC has lifted its ban on Helwani:
The UFC then released a statement confirming the report:
“Following a conversation with the editorial team at SB Nation, UFC will not prevent MMAFighting.com from receiving media credentials to cover live UFC events. We respect the role the media plays in our sport and beyond, including MMAFighting’s ability to report news. However, in our opinion, we believe the recurring tactics used by its lead reporter extended beyond the purpose of journalism. We feel confident our position has now been adequately communicated to the SB Nation editorial team.
UFC’s goal as the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion is to cultivate interest in its world-class athletes and events, and deliver for the fans. We will continue to introduce this sport and its athletes to new fans across the world, and we will do so by working alongside media across all platforms.”
With the lucrative TV deal on the table, Helwani called up White to get some advice on whether or not he should accept the offer: