MMAFighting reporter Ariel Helwani banned from UFC events for life

[Eastcoast]

I remember he got into trouble a while back, rumors were that it had something to do with him covering some Bellator events whilst working for FOX at the same time.

He also got fired from FOX for breaking some UFC news before them.

He now gets banned from UFC events after breaking the Lesnar news before the trailer.

The MMAFighting cameraman and the woman who takes all the cool MMA pics for them also got banned.

Ariel doesn't have to be at the events to do his job, the other two do. It'll be interesting to see how far the UFC go with the ban. If they get Josh Gross'd then it will be a big problem as Ariel can't cover the UFC at all. If he can't attend events, it's not a HUGE issue. He doesn't cover every event from an on the ground perspective.

He has the MMA hour, the MMA beat, his sources for breaking news will still be there. Still a host for the biggest MMA-related shows. Most MMA media won't do anything because they are scared the same will happen to them.

Esther Lin. That's really ****ed up. She's the top fight photographer in the world right now.

Atleast with Ariel he was already on thin ice, and it really stems from him saying how great it was that UFC and Bellator were now competing in free agency. He's been interviewing numerous fighters who turn free-agent from the UFC and congratulating them for being in a position where they can leverage better opportunities for themselves. That's what pissed the UFC off and they've been looking for every opportunity to get at him for it.

[Anthony342]

LOL, but **** man maybe that could have something to do with it to some degree. I think mainly doe this is simply about Ariel getting preferred status in a lot of ways with the UFC & then breaking huge news with this Lesnar thing that they'd have liked to break themselves.

Well then they need to work faster and beat him to it. Instead of being babies and banning him just because he hears the news and reports it first. It shouldn't matter who breaks news first, as long as it's true, sounds like an ego thing here.

[Anthony342]

Esther Lin. That's really ****ed up. She's the top fight photographer in the world right now.

Atleast with Ariel he was already on thin ice, and it really stems from him saying how great it was that UFC and Bellator were now competing in free agency. He's been interviewing numerous fighters who turn free-agent from the UFC and congratulating them for being in a position where they can leverage better opportunities for themselves. That's what pissed the UFC off and they've been looking for every opportunity to get at him for it.

So the UFC owners got mad at him for stating facts? Any athlete's career is pretty short lived on average, so there's nothing wrong with them trying to get the best deals possible. So basically, they didn't like him not always saying positive things about the UFC and kissing their asses. Geez, and I thought Vince McMahon was insecure.

[Eff Pandas]

Well then they need to work faster and beat him to it. Instead of being babies and banning him just because he hears the news and reports it first. It shouldn't matter who breaks news first, as long as it's true, sounds like an ego thing here.

You know who we are dealing with here right? This is the UFC who tried to make Jon Jones look like a fa??ot for not taking a fight on 10 or however many days notice. Who has force fed fighters a ****ty gear deal that cost some fighters $100k per fight & said it was a better deal for fighters. The UFC is ran by some cats with some egos who run things big willie style. This is no different.

Honestly I'm surprised Ariel hasn't been banned before & I'm sure there is more at work here than just the Brock thing. If you listen to the MMA hour he's always ****talking the Reebok deal & hyping guys testing their free agency & just taking an overall less than UFC marching orders stance in an industry thats ran by the UFC. You gotta suck it up or you can expect **** like this to go down.

[Willy Wanker]

Ariel is an annoying ****.

Banning him is harsh though. But on the bright side, we probably won't have to see him or hear his annoying voice nearly as much.

[Anthony342]

You know who we are dealing with here right? This is the UFC who tried to make Jon Jones look like a fa??ot for not taking a fight on 10 or however many days notice. Who has force fed fighters a ****ty gear deal that cost some fighters $100k per fight & said it was a better deal for fighters. The UFC is ran by some cats with some egos who run things big willie style. This is no different.

Honestly I'm surprised Ariel hasn't been banned before & I'm sure there is more at work here than just the Brock thing. If you listen to the MMA hour he's always ****talking the Reebok deal & hyping guys testing their free agency & just taking an overall less than UFC marching orders stance in an industry thats ran by the UFC. You gotta suck it up or you can expect **** like this to go down.

Yeah, you can expect this to go down, but more people should still do it and be more honest and call out the UFC on their crap. What are they gonna do? Ban every reporter? Fighters need to take more of a stand too. Going to Bellator when their contracts are up because of the Reebok deal is a step in the right direction. Only way to make changes is to hit them in the old wallets.

[Eff Pandas]

Yeah, you can expect this to go down, but more people should still do it and be more honest and call out the UFC on their crap. What are they gonna do? Ban every reporter? Fighters need to take more of a stand too. Going to Bellator when their contracts are up because of the Reebok deal is a step in the right direction. Only way to make changes is to hit them in the old wallets.

Idk. In an ideal world sure that all makes sense. A fighters union for all MMA guys. A boxers union for all boxers. Reporters sticking together for a cause. But the reality is this is a cutthroat business & I bet they were 5 reporters trying to steal Ariel's presser seat & there will be 25 reporters trying to steal those 5 guys' seats if they f#ck up.

[Anthony342]

Well, that's the only way things like this have ever and will ever change, is for more people to get involved and band together.

[Anthony342]

Now he's unbanned: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...m_campaign=mma

[jaded]

Now he's unbanned: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...m_campaign=mma

He spent less time banned than a banned BoxingScene poster.