The UFC revoked the credentials of reporter Ariel Helwani Saturday night after he reported the return of Brock Lesnar for UFC 200 and the making of the Conor McGregor-Nate Diaz rematch "before the UFC was able to announce the news during its pay-per view broadcast," according to Kevin Iole of YAHOO SPORTS. Helwani, covering the event for MMAFighting.com, said, "I was brought to the back by UFC (public relations) and told by (UFC President) Dana White that I had to leave the arena. Dana mentioned that from what I recalled that Brock Lesnar was upset the news was released early and that this could have ruined their deal. ... I said, ‘What did I do wrong?’ He said, ‘You’re too negative.’" Helwani said that he "confirmed both reports with two sources." He added that he "held no ill will toward White or UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, but said he did not regret reporting the news." Iole noted Helwani "was fired" from a job covering the UFC for Fox earlier this year, reportedly "because of an interview with a UFC fighter where the fighter praised the concept of free agency." It appears that UFC execs "are upset Helwani upstaged their announcements and decided to take the most egregious action they could" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/5). Helwani said, "They said I should have had the 'professional courtesy' to clear the news with them before reporting the news. I had confirmed it with multiple sources and it ended up being right. They confirmed it on the broadcast around 3 hours after I reported it" (SI.com, 6/5). Helwani noted he "did nothing unethical." Helwani: "I reported fight news. That’s it (and) then told we’re banned for life." USA TODAY's Martin Rogers notes MMA Fighting photographer Esther Lin and video director E. Casey Leydon also "were removed" (USA TODAY, 6/6).
MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE: UFC VP/PR & Athlete Marketing Dave Sholler said that the removal of the three journalists "was not entirely tied to breaking the Lesnar news." Sholler: "That's not wholly accurate." He added, "I'm not saying you don't have a job to report, but in this case (with Helwani), the professional standards are to reach out (to the UFC) for comment on a story you're about to report, even if you get a no-comment." In L.A. Lance Pugmire noted the UFC's "interest in distributing information to the given news outlet it sees as the best fit -- such as McGregor's exclusive interview with ESPN two weeks ago -- has never been more calculated, irking some who cover the sport and rely on the quality of their sources to break news" (LATIMES.com, 6/5). FORBES' Matt Connolly notes this is not the first time UFC has "blackballed a media member, but historical precedence should not dictate the actions of a company just starting to be treated like a legitimate professional sports entity." Connolly: "Particularly when the individual is someone as highly-regarded as Helwani" (FORBES.com, 6/6).
FREEDOM OF PRESS? YAHOO SPORTS' Iole wrote it is a "short-sighted decision that does nothing to help the UFC in its efforts to sell tickets and pay-per-views to its shows." This is a case of White and Fertitta "being men who are extraordinarily passionate about controlling every last detail of the way their product is presented." The decision to ban Helwani "is egregiously wrong." The UFC seriously "needs to consider its relationship with the media," and that should "start by reinstating Helwni as soon as possible" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/5). In Calgary, Daniel Austin writes being angry "is one thing but, by banning a man who can rightly call himself the best reporter on the MMA beat, for essentially doing his job, the UFC ensured that a dark shadow would be cast over an otherwise great night." Saturday’s actions by the UFC "reflect terribly on the company." Austin: "Helwani, Lin and Leydon should have their credentials returned. Immediately" (CALGARY SUN, 6/6).
