Dana White spearheads the largest professional mixed martial arts organization in the world. The Ultimate Fighting Championship President and CEO is clearly one of those promoters who not only helped his own brand grow but also brought mixed martial arts into the spotlight. The projection of mixed martial arts into a globally watched and celebrated sport has also benefited UFC’s rival promotions like One Championship and the Professional Fighter’s League (PFL). In the initial phase, the Ultimate Fighting Championship gathered most of the recognition, which helped it to flex its dominance and establish itself as the multi-billion dollar company that it is now. Gradually, for a host of reasons, other promotions also started coming into the conversation, and sports media also started reporting on those developments.
Ariel Helwani, the host of the famed The MMA Hour podcast, is one of the most prominent faces in sports journalism. Amidst all the transformation, he ended up ruffling some wrong feathers. Ariel Helwani is among the leading journalists who reported on mixed martial arts and conducted fighter interviews when it wasn’t as popular as it is now.
Dana White and Ariel Helwani
Dana White and Ariel Helwani once shared a courteous relationship with each other. The duo was seen together in interviews on a range of topics, which used to be mostly centered around the Ultimate Fighting Championship and mixed martial arts. Things, however, took a turn when UFC 200 was around the corner.
At UFC 199, the promotion had a surprise announcement prepared to be made during the event about the return of Brock Lesnar to the octagon at UFC 200. Ariel Helwani broke this news a bit earlier, leading the promotion to announce a lifetime ban on Helwani from the promotion’s media coverage.
Ariel Helwani’s UFC 200 leak and its impact
The UFC had planned the UFC 200 to be a power-packed event with multiple stars competing on the main card. Brock Lesnar was signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) at the time. The UFC needed the WWE’s approval prior to getting Brock Lesnar booked for the mega event. Multiple stakeholders were involved in the process, and Helwani’s news leak could have led to the cancellation of the modulations needed for Brock Lesnar’s return.
Ariel Helwani’s credentials to cover UFC events were briefly revoked, and Dana White informed him about his suspension. His credentials were reinstated after some time, and ever since, Helwani has been at the center of multiple things, which has contributed to the distance between the two. Fighter’s pay issues at the UFC and UFC fighters leaving for other promotions are some of the topics Ariel Helwani has addressed in his podcasts, which has obviously not helped the chances of his relationship-improving with Dana White. Ariel Helwani and Dana White talk to a minimum now, and Dana White maintains a distance from Ariel Helwani.
*Last updated on November 26, 2024.
FAQs
A news leak regarding UFC 200 led to the straining of the relationship between the two.
A. Yes, his credentials were suspended from UFC coverage.
A. Yes, it was kept in force for a brief period.
A. Yes, they talk at minimum levels.
A. Yes, they had a good relationship in the past.
A. Dana White is 55 years old.
