Well-known MMA commentator, Ariel Helwani, recently sparked amusement amongst internet users when he whimsically fantasized about walking in the shoes of Dana White, during a segment on his podcast. In an act of light-hearted banter, he ridiculed the role of the UFC’s head honcho, implying that he could fulfill White’s role effortlessly. Diving into his exaggerated persona, Helwani parodied a typical UFC press conference with amusing precision and simplicity, asking, ‘What’s going on everyone. Who’s got the first question? I reckon I could handle this position, provided I have Hunter [Campbell] by my side. They are the real wheel movers and shakers. With them, I wouldn’t face any tribulations.’
In this jestful tirade, Ariel gave a nod towards Hunter Campbell, currently serving as the UFC’s Chief Business Officer. He’s frequently acclaimed as the invisible powerhouse that efficiently drives the UFC’s complex operations. This light-hearted poke from Helwani comes to light amidst years of strained relationship dynamics between the MMA journalist and White, which were highlighted noticeably when Helwani and two of his fellow journalists faced a ban from participating in UFC events.
In a twist of humor, Ariel communicated musings regarding the people he would invite the curtain down on if he had the binding authority, clearly referencing to his own personal history with UFC: ‘Who would I show the exit door to?… Puzzling. Marc Raimondi was on my mind for a moment, but he doesn’t show up around the ring anymore… Interestingly enough, there are plenty of candidates who would receive their marching orders. Good riddance to them.’
Back in the early summer of 2016, specifically June 4, Ariel Helwani faced an outright ban from attending UFC events after he jumped the gun on Brock Lesnar’s return, reporting it way before an official announcement was made at UFC 199. Joining him in the unexpectedly prompt exit were two colleagues from MMA Fighting, their journalistic badges were swiftly retracted, and a firm statement on the ban being everlasting was unmissably delivered.
The UFC justified their stance by arguing that Helwani’s impulsive scoop breached the code of conduct expected from sports journalists. But in spite of these allegations, Helwani was firm in his stand, maintaining that he was simply fulfilling his professional duties. Following this tense exchange, he opened up about the confrontation in a particularly emotional episode of The MMA Hour. To his shock, he was slapped with criticisms of being overly pessimistic, and was shocked to learn that this ban was an executive decision taken by Lorenzo Fertitta, the then-CEO of UFC.
The response from the media fraternity, as well as the fighters, was quick and quite staunch in their support of Helwani. Fighter stalwarts like Jon Jones and Chris Weidman were among the first to publicly side with Ariel. A mere two days post this incident, the UFC reconsidered and retracted the ban following discussions with SB Nation.
This controversial chapter in the history of MMA ultimately paved way for the establishment of the Mixed Martial Arts Journalists Association in 2017. This organization was born to secure the interests and rights of sports journalists in the ever-expanding UFC and broader MMA landscape, marking a significant evolution in the sport’s media relations.