The UFC yesterday "lifted its indefinite ban" on MMAFighting.com reporter Ariel Helwani, who "was escorted out of the Forum on Saturday before the UFC 199 main event for breaking two news stories about the organization," according to Lance Pugmire of the L.A. TIMES. A statement written by the UFC said, "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." After posting a story earlier that day about former-fighter Brock Lesnar’s "impending return to fight on the July 9 UFC 200 card in Las Vegas, Helwani was told to exit toward the Forum parking lot along with a videographer and photographer before the UFC’s middleweight title fight." Helwani also "broke the news Saturday" that Conor McGregor would "return from being removed from the UFC 200 card to fight" Nate Diaz at UFC 202 on Aug. 20. Helwani yesterday on his weekly show “The MMA Hour,” said that "on the website that he had at least two sources on those stories, that he 'takes pride in batting 1,000.'" Helwani: "When you know a story that massive is about to break and is all but a done deal, I don’t think I need that confirmation." Detailing the scene on the seven-year-old show, Helwani "was moved to tears at the end of a near-two-hour show in which he discussed much of the history behind the ban" (L.A. TIMES, 6/7). In N.Y., Justin Tasch noted earlier in the day, UFC President Dana White "confirmed" Helwani had been banned. He told TMZ that Helwani "won't be credentialed 'as long as I'm here' but can buy a ticket to UFC 200" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/6).
ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO PRINT: Helwani on his podcast detailed the situation, saying, "I don't sit on news. The last thing anyone should ever do is sit on news. If you have it confirmed, you've got to go with it. If you're sitting on it, you're not doing it right. ... If I have news and sit on it, I'm not doing my job." Helwani said when he asked why he was being kicked out, White told him he was being "too negative." Helwani: "I was talking about a guy about to sign a contract fight. I wasn't talking about super-secretive stuff." He added, "People are trying to say I'm standing up for journalism and I'm this martyr. That's cool, and if you want to say that, fine. But it's all a little bit embarrassing because none of this is some great investigative journalism that I'm doing. ... This is fight stuff" ("The MMA Hour," MMAFIGHTING.com, 6/6).
HOW WE GOT HERE: In DC, Des Bieler notes in an "extensive effort to tell 'the whole story'," Helwani made some "interesting disclosures." Foremost among them was that, while working for Fox, he "was actually paid directly by Zuffa, the company that owns UFC, rather than by the media outlet itself." Helwani appeared on Fox’ “UFC Tonight,” as well as on pre- and post-fight shows from '11 until "an abrupt departure in March." Helwani: "‘UFC Tonight‘ is one contract, and that’s a Fox production, Zuffa has nothing to do with that. But even though Fox is paying the UFC for those broadcasts -- weigh-in shows, post-fight shows, all that stuff -- the money is going from Fox to Zuffa, to the talent.” Despite the fact that he "hated" the arrangement, Helwani "went along with it, because he had a longstanding ambition to become 'the Howard Cosell of MMA.'" He explained that he was "able to rationalize the Fox arrangement as his salary simply 'taking a detour' through Zuffa on its way to him" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/7).
FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT: In Las Vegas, Ed Graney notes for all the "innovative ways" White and UFC co-Owner Lorenzo Fertitta "turned their original investment into the world’s most powerful MMA brand, their strong-arm tactics and attempts to intimidate media members when they don’t like what is being reported screams not only of a massive sense of insecurity but also of how rich and powerful people often choose to handle such issues." The entire fiasco "should generate a discussion about how the UFC has for so long dealt with the media." White and Fertitta "want to dictate when and how and where you learn of major announcements, and that’s understandable." It is the right of UFC bosses to "pursue such exclusivity, just as it is the right of Helwani and other journalists to follow leads for potential stories without being afraid of banishment" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/7). ESPN's J.A. Adande asked, "How can you criticize him for not having the UFC validate it when subsequently the UFC came out and validated it by announcing that yes, Lesnar was going to be appearing in UFC 200. You should not punish him for doing his job and doing it well.” espnW's Kate Fagan said, "For me this validates the UFC if you’ve got people who are scrambling enough that they want to break this kind of news. It shows that it’s a big-time league. I don’t know why they’re reacting this way” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 6/6).
