Do you think that MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani is handling his problem with Zuffa the right way?

[Frank23]

Do you think that MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani is handling his problem with Zuffa the right way? I'm not sure that Helwani going out on a media tour was the best idea and this might come back to haunt him.

 

[MMA]

Not sure what more the UFC can do to him. At this point, he may as well take advantage of the publicity to build his brand, since the major selling point of his brand before (the inside scoop) doesn't seem like it'll ever be available to him again.

 

[MayhemMonkey]

yes, it sounded like they were intimidating him.... and also threatening to ruin his career. I think he should release more of their dirty laundry.

 

[dim_]

No

I think saying "look guys, I fucked up, Im sorry I ruined the surprise, call me"

would be a far better option

this is just digging himself further and further into the shit



I can imagine Lorenzo today "I was going to call the guy tomorrow, set a meeting, have a chat, give him another shot, but after this, fuck him"

 

[iwhoopedbatman]

If the rest of the MMA and sports media would put their collective foot down and start kicking Zuffa's ass for every little thing they can find, it might teach Zuffa to stop thinking they can bully reporters into acting as their PR contractors. The problem has always been that the rest of the reporters on the beat cared more about their access because they knew not enough people noticed to save them. They were all virtually silent when it happened to Sherwood, Gross and Hunt. But now, the UFC is big enough that the rest of the media seems to be taking notice. "Never start fights with people who buy ink by the barrel," was a famous saying for a reason in the time of newspapers.

 

[Lockard The GOAT]

No. He's letting his emotions get the better of him and rapidly burning all his bridges at a quick pace.

 

[Trollgrappler]

No. He should have been more caviler about it and somewhat dismissive. Then he should have said he was still going to be there and that they aren't going to stop him from speaking to fighters and covering the sport. Then go on to talk about having to buy tickets and maybe make some jokes about it. He would have looked strong and resolute.

 

[mudrubble]

Yup. Speak truth to power. Yup.

The only other way is the tuck tail and wait way. The "I'm sorry master, may I have some bread?" way. Pathetic.

He's doing it right. Both barrels. Journalism. We should back him and any other bullied journalist up.

Guys acting like we don't like scoops and insights. Back the man up....

 

[Lanx]

MOTHERFUCKING YES!

Ariels Scorched Earth policy is the only one that makes sense. Burn it all, burn it all to HELL!

why? b/c the UFC can't do shit when Ariel is trending like mad.

At this point, Ariel is the ONLY MMA reporter we can trust, much less know, there is no other MMA reporter that comes close to even having the brand name recognition of Ariel.

 

[mudrubble]

If the rest of the MMA and sports media would put their collective foot down and start kicking Zuffa's ass for every little thing they can find, it might teach Zuffa to stop thinking they can bully reporters into acting as their PR contractors. The problem has always been that the rest of the reporters on the beat cared more about their access because they knew not enough people noticed to save them. They were all virtually silent when it happened to Sherwood, Gross and Hunt. But now, the UFC is big enough that the rest of the media seems to be taking notice. "Never start fights with people who buy ink by the barrel," was a famous saying for a reason in the time of newspapers.

My fucking like button only lets me press it one time. Bullshit!

 

[Noleggeisha]

No

I think saying "look guys, I fucked up, Im sorry I ruined the surprise, call me"

would be a far better option

this is just digging himself further and further into the shit



I can imagine Lorenzo today "I was going to call the guy tomorrow, set a meeting, have a chat, give him another shot, but after this, fuck him"

Fuck "Lorenzo".

You don't come back from what they did to Helwani. Ariel has been physically humiliated, threatened, pushed around for years and with what happened at 199, there is no "further into the shit". I hope this shit gets dirty, the UFC brass called in on them this time.

 

[mudrubble]

No

I think saying "look guys, I fucked up, Im sorry I ruined the surprise, call me"

would be a far better option

this is just digging himself further and further into the shit



I can imagine Lorenzo today "I was going to call the guy tomorrow, set a meeting, have a chat, give him another shot, but after this, fuck him"

Bull fucking shit. What kind of pathetic scraping shit would that be?

"Sorry for breaking news guys, from now on I'll just act as your PR. Please give me credentials"

Would you tell your son to act like a bitch like this too? C'mon man.....

 

[mudrubble]

You know I don't consider myself an alpha, really. I know a lot of guys here claim they are. I don't consider most of them alphas either but that's a whole other thing.

But I'm shocked at how many MMA fans say he should accept his scrapings, tuck in his tail, and cower to power. I'm honestly shocked. I though MMA fans to be more rebellious.

Y'all are really pathetic out there in MMA land. Telling a man to bend his knee to get credentials from a crooked, emotional organization??

Sad....

 

[FlyingKimurabar]

Yes. If a requirement for him getting press credentials is him being required to get the UFCs permission to break any news then he doesn't need the credentials. He can still break all the stories without being credentialed.

Not to mention even if he tried to ask the UFC about the story they'd lie to him anyways, which he's said they've done numerous times. So what's he supposed to do, sit on any big stories in case it upsets the UFC?

UFC is trying to run a scared corporate controlled media and it's nonsense. Fuck them, go Ariel.

 

[Irishwhiskey119]

If the rest of the MMA and sports media would put their collective foot down and start kicking Zuffa's ass for every little thing they can find, it might teach Zuffa to stop thinking they can bully reporters into acting as their PR contractors. The problem has always been that the rest of the reporters on the beat cared more about their access because they knew not enough people noticed to save them. They were all virtually silent when it happened to Sherwood, Gross and Hunt. But now, the UFC is big enough that the rest of the media seems to be taking notice. "Never start fights with people who buy ink by the barrel," was a famous saying for a reason in the time of newspapers.

You also don't let media dictate things either because then your sport will get ruined. That's a fact.

 

[Rubberchin]

He's the news and he's reporting on it. What else is he going to do? Fewer tears would have been preferable though.

 

[sapporo ichiban]

No

I think saying "look guys, I fucked up, Im sorry I ruined the surprise, call me"

would be a far better option

this is just digging himself further and further into the shit



I can imagine Lorenzo today "I was going to call the guy tomorrow, set a meeting, have a chat, give him another shot, but after this, fuck him"

Ya I am sure that these guys are all about being understanding. They have shown in the past pretty clearly that they give zero shits about anyone. How did Ariel lose his job again?

How many employees have they kicked to the curb for being vocal about getting screwed. Uncle Dana says hold still and take it and if you complain we will destroy you.

 

[ZuffaExecutive]

Yes they were threatening him,telling him they will end his career.Hopefully the writers will unionise and not be afraid to lose there credentials.I mean how can you be fired for talking about free agency from fox and then get your credentials taken away from you because you broke a story.

 

[yookfarb]

You know I don't consider myself an alpha, really. I know a lot of guys here claim they are. I don't consider most of them alphas either but that's a whole other thing.

But I'm shocked at how many MMA fans say he should accept his scrapings, tuck in his tail, and cower to power. I'm honestly shocked. I though MMA fans to be more rebellious.

Y'all are really pathetic out there in MMA land. Telling a man to bend his knee to get credentials from a crooked, emotional organization??

Sad....

for some people their favorite fighters are Lorenzo and Dana... they don't wanna see that undefeated streak snapped by some big nosed dweeb

 

[moonwolf]

imo ariel shouldnt have gone on a bitchfest, but instead took the L for now, bought his tix to 200 and continued to interview fighters and shooting the shit; thanking everyone for the support along the way and encouraging ppl not to be upset with the UFC. He shouldn't be showing that he's weak, he should stay strong.... all while he is secretly writing down all the shit that went down, and all the stuff that has happened to him in the past. And 2 days before UFC 200, he drops that open letter on social media for the world to read, essentially putting the UFC on blast and revealing its dirty laundry. Poor treatment of himself and the media, details of deals being made, the sale, anything and everything he knows. Similar to the behind the scenes stuff revealed in the book No holds Barred: Ultimate Fighting and the Martial Arts Revolution. basically all the shit you were never supposed to know. that shit would catch on like fire. THEN he starts scheduling media dates, reveals the letter is part of an autobiography he is writing and basically goes balls in on fucking the UFC over.

i would respect him if he did that. but now? nope. dude gets no love.