Does Helwani still get lots of scoops?

[Mob69]

Once upon a time it seemed like Ariel Helwani got lots of scoops and broke news all the time. Is it just me, or is that no longer the case to anything like the same extent?

This may well be because the UFC is doing a better job of compartmentalising information, or maybe giving it to others to ensure Helwani can’t be the one to leak it. He also has less access since his unethical double life as UFC employee/‘independent’ journalist was exposed and Helwani had to resort to turning his show into a narcissistic two-hour pity party in order to drum up public support and shift the blame from the fact that his own double-dealing was a big part of the problem.

MMA Fighting.com has definitely declined. The journalists there seem increasingly to be SJW activists and wannabe cultural commentators. I rarely visit and avoid the likes of Raimondi, al-Shatti etc on Twitter.

 

[Chris Gaines]

 

[JayJayFrench]

Only from an ice cream vendor or his 6 litter boxes.

 

[Frank McEdgar]

Treat him like a mushroom.

Keep him in the dark and feed him shit.

 

[Kenjamito]

Scoops of shit <45>

 

[Franc Mittelo]

He is the best 1-on-1 with the fighter interviewer. I think he needs to focus on that. Nobody really cares about scoops except "gossip girls." LOL

I am more likely to notice a fighter after an interview with Ariel Helwani, than most of the "promotion" the UFC does.

 

[Goodfella86]

I've wondered the same thing myself. I get most of my news from this forum (secondhand) so I don't really have a sense for his scoop-prowess.

 

[MartinPocrezze]

He cryed like a bitch for scoops

 

[Hoop]

his own double-dealing was a big part of the problem.

I know he blabbers on about 'ethical journalism' but that did seem like the UFC were trying to make a statement by saying he worked for them - not that he couldn't have walked away when he pleased, but he's losing money from that gig. Or do you mean something else?

I rarely visit and avoid the likes of Raimondi, al-Shatti etc on Twitter.

Al Shatti actually writes decent pieces on fighters and opponents they've fought in the past, on the odd occasion. Raimondi, Mindenhall and Thomas are awful, imo. Especially when they ask their stupid questions at press conferences.

 

[DaveHilly]

MMA Fighting remains the best MMA News site and Ariel the premier journalist. I got the vibe that they pivoted away from scoops a year or two ago and have focused more on some longer form pieces here and there which are very often well written.

I think the scoop game is kind of a race to the bottom so thats why they don't do it as much. Most of people who call themselves insiders don't have the type of integrity that Ariel does so they will post things long before they are confirmed, often leading to incorrect information, but occasionally that results in getting the story before someone who makes sure to confirm with multiple sources. Ariel has stated that he won't compromise the way that he corroborates his stories which may just result in getting beaten to the punch, but it also results in very rarely being wrong.

 

[FrankieNYC]

Helwani's scoops have dropped drastically since WME got rid of many people.
He still is a fav of fighters though, so I bet they feed him stuff, but they are limited to their own career & will spin it of course.
Most of his scoops were/are fight announcements & injuries
Stuff that will be known soon any way
He never really broke any news from an investigation or journalist POV.
X-fighter is injured. a guy in X-fighters camp wants Ariel to put him over on MMA Hours, so that fighter tips him off

 

[Mob69]

MMA Fighting remains the best MMA News site and Ariel the premier journalist. I got the vibe that they pivoted away from scoops a year or two ago and have focused more on some longer form pieces here and there which are very often well written.

I think the scoop game is kind of a race to the bottom so thats why they don't do it as much. Most of people who call themselves insiders don't have the type of integrity that Ariel does so they will post things long before they are confirmed, often leading to incorrect information, but occasionally that results in getting the story before someone who makes sure to confirm with multiple sources. Ariel has stated that he won't compromise the way that he corroborates his stories which may just result in getting beaten to the punch, but it also results in very rarely being wrong.

Scoops = clicks = cash. The scoops have dried up because Helwani doesn’t have the access any more. I doubt there was a deliberate strategy to get less clicks. They are trying to make a virtue out of their own professional failings.

 

[Mob69]

Helwani's scoops have dropped drastically since WME got rid of many people.
He still is a fav of fighters though, so I bet they feed him stuff, but they are limited to their own career & will spin it of course.
Most of his scoops were/are fight announcements & injuries
Stuff that will be known soon any way
He never really broke any news from an investigation or journalist POV.
X-fighter is injured. a guy in X-fighters camp wants Ariel to put him over on MMA Hours, so that fighter tips him off

Agreed. There is a monumental deficiency in investigative prowess within MMA media. The professional incompetence is eye watering.

 

[Mob69]

I know he blabbers on about 'ethical journalism' but that did seem like the UFC were trying to make a statement by saying he worked for them - not that he couldn't have walked away when he pleased, but he's losing money from that gig. Or do you mean something else?



Al Shatti actually writes decent pieces on fighters and opponents they've fought in the past, on the odd occasion. Raimondi, Mindenhall and Thomas are awful, imo. Especially when they ask their stupid questions at press conferences.

I just meant that, while Dana and co are also goofs, I don’t blame them for being pissed off when someone whom they employed then covered Bellator and supported challenges to their business model. Anyone would be pissed off. Helwani tried to have his cake and eat it. And then he cried.

 

[OnMcGregorNutz]

Treat him like a mushroom.

Keep him in the dark and feed him shit.

marky mark

edit: fuk now i'm unsure who said that and which movie cant remember I just kno mark w. was in the movie

 

[cheezum]

he only got "scoops" because

(a) he saw an untapped market and jumped in to make a name for himself
(b) no one else gave a shit about the TMZ drama type stuff (and most still don't)

i've said it may times on here, the guy doesn't seem like he's a fan of MMA at all. just found a niche and went with it.

 

[Frank McEdgar]

marky mark

Lol

 

[OnMcGregorNutz]

View attachment 319109

how could I forget one of the GOAT movies of all time. I shall depart from this thread now

 

[FrankieNYC]

My issue with Helwani & the Brock/200 thing was, he was backstage in their catering at UFC 199 when he tweeted that out

Also he could have tweeted "I'm backstage at UFC 199 & wait until you see the added fight for 200 that will be announced tonight".
If he did that = NO ISSUES
He could have still scooped without turning the knife in his relationship with UFC

 

[Hoop]

I just meant that, while Dana and co are also goofs, I don’t blame them for being pissed off when someone whom they employed then covered Bellator and supported challenges to their business model. Anyone would be pissed off. Helwani tried to have his cake and eat it. And then he cried.

I see.

Well, he'd have to give up his gig on the MMA Hour or just cover UFC related things. 90% of the show seems to be UFC related and some fighters you first hear of is from watching/listening to it.

I can't watch it anymore as it seems like he asks the same old questions, he's started to ask fighter's how much they're making and him and the chap who hates gimmicks in MMA with the gimmicky name seem to spend a lot of time talking about Basketball.