MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani spoke out Sunday after he tweeted during UFC 199 on Saturday night that the UFC had pulled his credential and banned him for life.
In an email to Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch, Helwani offered his side of the story:
We were escorted out of the arena before yesterday's main event. In short, I was told I was banned for life from covering UFC events in person because I reported the news that Brock Lesnar was close to signing a deal to fight at UFC 200. Our credentials were physically taken away. That's the general story. They said I should have had the "professional courtesy" to clear the news with them before reporting the news. I had confirmed it with multiple sources and it ended up being right. They confirmed it on the broadcast around 3 hours after I reported it. This has never happened to any of us. Never even hinted at. I went back to my room. Esther and Casey are the very best at what they do. I would argue the best in all of sports. I've been working with them since 2009 and I wish this didn't happen to them as well.
Helwani added on Twitter that he'll provide a further explanation Monday.
A number of his colleagues were critical of the UFC on social media in the aftermath of Helwani's reported ban. The Vertical's Chris Mannix called for a journalistic boycott:
Every credible @UFC reporter should boycott UFC 200 unless credentials of @ArielHelwani, others are restored. Don't let UFC choose coverage.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) June 5, 2016
ESPN's Rachel Nichols believes the story should concern UFC fans as a whole:
Just catching up on this @arielhelwani story. Those of you spending your dollars on UFC should be concerned. https://t.co/oZhQWJX9OS
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 5, 2016
According to Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden, the tactic reportedly used against Helwani is well-known to those who cover the sport:
Did fans really not know that UFC has long used the threat of a lifetime ban to keep entrenched media in line? It's a decade old policy.
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) June 5, 2016
Snowden also worries about the message the UFC has sent regardless of whether it ever lifts Helwani's reported ban:
Even if UFC mends fences with Helwani, the message to other media has been sent. Especially to those new to the beat. No one is safe.
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) June 5, 2016
Jon Jones and Chris Weidman were among the fighters who tweeted their support for Helwani:
That's unfortunate. I'll always answer his phone call, he's always been fair to me. https://t.co/sxer1PvuQa
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 5, 2016
.@postfightpress @arielhelwani don't know what happened but no way that can really go down.This sport needs the GOAT of MMA reporting
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) June 5, 2016
The organization has yet to provide a detailed explanation for why it had the writer escorted out of the building at UFC 199.
In a statement to the media, UFC spokesman Dave Sholler said Helwani's version isn't "wholly accurate" and that his story reporting Lesnar's return to the UFC wasn't the sole reason for his removal, per the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire.
