Is it unprofessional for a journalist like Helwani to help his friend get a title shot?

[Sjb1888]

Nows the time to give Mike a shot.

18 wins in the Octagon, I'd say he's earned the late replacement shot.

He's also on a nice win streak of Dolloway, Leites and Anderson.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Who says Helwani can actually make an impact on the decision?

Exactly, its just a tweet. its not like UFC match makers are gonna listen to him and base their match making on his tweet. they dont even care.

 

[LongTermLurker]

He is free to say anything he wants. If he lies or misleads in his reporting it would reflect poorly on him but this is just his opinion.

 

[politozx7r]

I don't know journalist 101 etiquette, does anyone?

Aren't journalists supposed to be unbiased?


I don't have a problem with Helwani having an opinion on things, I have an issue with Helwani being close friends with Bisping, thus not being impartial, and using his influence to do his friend a favor.

Helwani is the man and no rules apply to him .... He is the absolute goat at what he does and in my books he can do or say as he please

Ariel bless

 

[phatron]

I believe Bisping is the fighter Helwani is the closest to.

Why do you think that?

But who cares who he thinks should get a title shot....he hosts an mma podcast talking about all things mma....he speculates all the time about all things mma. Not sure why this is surprising.

 

[Cage917r]

Nothing wrong with it. It isn't like he's pining for a guy outside the top 10. Bisbing is one of two sensible options as he is coming off a win against Silva. Jacare really shouldn't blow the shot he's worked for on such short notice. Bisbing is the right call.

 

[Ah Man]

Anyone who thinks campaigning to get Bisping a title shot is doing him a favor hasn't seen Rockhold/Bisping I. That fight looked like a big brother toying with his angry little brother.

 

[Spookv]

I believe Bisping is the fighter Helwani is the closest to.

Your wrong, I believe it's Rampage & Overeem. At this point I don't care who gets the title shot, as long as they don't cancel it for a rematch.

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

I believe Bisping is the fighter Helwani is the closest to.

Do you have any evidence for this belief?

Anything tangible to illustrate this to us?

 

[georgekillian]

I don't know journalist 101 etiquette, does anyone?

Aren't journalists supposed to be unbiased?


I don't have a problem with Helwani having an opinion on things, I have an issue with Helwani being close friends with Bisping, thus not being impartial, and using his influence to do his friend a favor.

Yeah Ariel really holds weight over who's gonna fight in the ufc. Dumb thread.

 

[BJ@LW&WW]

lol i heard helwani saying bisping should get the title shot on the mma hour. i like helwani, but that's a fucking joke.

 

[milliniar]

If the UFC wants to give Bisping a title shot now is the time, no chance of him losing the title contender fight. He is on a 3 fight streak including Anderson Silva (regardless of who you think won)

 

[TH1RTE3N]

If Jacare is ready, but doesn't get a shot...

 

[LoofyMMA]

What if Helwani is using reverse psychology since he's in the UFC's bad books and he doesn't actually want to see Bisping get a shot

 

[Big_Chief_Stove]

I don't know journalist 101 etiquette, does anyone?

Aren't journalists supposed to be unbiased?


I don't have a problem with Helwani having an opinion on things, I have an issue with Helwani being close friends with Bisping, thus not being impartial, and using his influence to do his friend a favor.

Who cares?

 

[Podcast]

Journalists helping out people as oppose to just shitting on them? Yea I like this concept. Just because one thin is the norm, doesn't mean it's correct.

 

[SocraticMethod]

Helwani insists that he's a journalist. He got into a heated argument with Chael about that. If you want to trigger Helwani, say he's not a journalist, he's sensitive about that.

Depending on how broad your definition is (and as a former AP reporter, mine is pretty narrow), there are journalists who solely provide commentary and opinions. Major newspapers run columns and op-ed pieces that are strictly the opinions of the various writers, and even provide endorsements for president on behalf of the paper. As far as I know Ariel actually studied journalism in school (as opposed to just being a guy with a blog that happened to catch on), and he does do some actual journalism, has real sources, breaks news, and reports facts. But he's also a personality with his own show, and that's clearly never been simply just providing the unbiased facts, it very much involves his commentary. For him to campaign for Bisping is, in my opinion, in line with the type of journalist/analyst he's been for years.

 

[rickjamez]

Imo he should get demian maia a title shot too

 

[Workaholic]

It's not unprofessional

In this case it is stupid though. How does squeaking past a 90 year old, no boner pill Andy get you a title shot? Even on short notice there are more deserving options

 

[LouisBolanos]

Is it unprofessional? Maybe.

Is it more fun that journalists have preferences and are in on the drama? Oh hell yeah.

Always remember, this is MMA. If these people are real journalists, they wouldn't have ended covering this sport in the first place. Look at the people working at Ariel's site, besides Ariel, who actually holds a journalism degree, you've got a 6'6" weightlifter marine dude, a midget and some tatted up Asian emo chick doing their photography. Over at MMAJunkie you've got 2 overweight brothers who never finished college let alone have journalism degrees etc. The industry is a joke anyway.