Prominent MMA journalist Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com was escorted out of UFC 199 along with photographer Esther Lin and video director E. Casey Leydon prior to the main event between Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold.
According to Helwani, who took to Twitter to explain the situation, his media credentials were also taken, along with Lin and Leydon’s. The rumoured reason for the removal was apparently because Helwani broke the Brock Lesnar UFC 200, and the Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz 2 UFC 202 stories, much to the UFC’s chagrin.
The move is another development since Helwani was fired in March from the FOX Sports show UFC Tonight, for undisclosed reasons by FOX and the UFC.
Update: The UFC has restored Helwani’s media credentials and lifted the lifetime ban for him and his colleagues.
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Helwani, Lin and Leydon posted the following on Twitter:
I was escorted out of the building by Zuffa staff before the main event. Credential taken away, too. Didn't see Bisping realize his dream.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
My long-time colleagues @ekc and @allelbows were also escorted out of the building w/ me. Sorry to report no post-fight coverage tonight.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
I love this sport & this job with all my heart. Did nothing unethical. I reported fight news. That's it. & then told we're banned for life.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
My teammates and friends @Ekc and @allelbows are the very best at what they do. I wish they didn't have to leave with me. They did nothing.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
Here's hoping cooler heads prevail. I sincerely love every fighter & fan of this sport. You have helped me realize a dream. Thank you.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
My long-time colleagues @ekc and @allelbows were also escorted out of the building w/ me. Sorry to report no post-fight coverage tonight.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/allelbows/status/739329711495516161
https://twitter.com/allelbows/status/739334974114017280
I love my team.
— E. Casey Leydon (@ekc) June 5, 2016
this is the worst way to get new followers 🙂
— E. Casey Leydon (@ekc) June 5, 2016
Dave Sholler, UFC vice-president of public relations, athlete marketing and development was questioned about the incident and declined to “delve into the details out of respect for the parties involved.”
But he did provide a few details to the Los Angeles Times and USA Today Sports after the press conference, saying the Brock story being the reason for Helwani’s credential reveal and removal was “wholly inaccurate.”
“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,” Sholler said to the Times.
The incident did not go unnoticed by fans and colleagues.
Whoa! Ariel Helwani was just removed from UFC 199 and received a lifetime ban. https://t.co/s5jTBlw86s
— @CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) June 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/jeremybotter/status/739367977682796544
https://twitter.com/JESnowden/status/739357837357424640
https://twitter.com/FrontRowBrian/status/739331902541205505
Can't believe the news about Ariel Helwani and the MMA Fighting team. Great ambassadors of the sport, it makes no sense to me.
— Peter Carroll (@PetesyCarroll) June 5, 2016
Go read @arielhelwani's timeline. Upsetting and not right what happened to him and the @MMAFighting team tonight.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) June 5, 2016
@arielhelwani if @joerogan quits calling the fights I guess the only person that should be allowed to call them is you right?
— Gabriel Guerrero (@gabeguerrero37) May 26, 2016
He should consider following @arielhelwani on Twitter. That guy seems pretty plugged in. https://t.co/2820TB8x5j
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) June 5, 2016
UFC president Dana White was not at the post-fight media conference to answer questions.
A petition has been created to restore Helwani’s credentials and lift his lifetime ban from covering UFC events.
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