Dana White: a prominent figure in the world of MMA, particularly within the UFC. Ariel Helwani: a highly recognizable name in MMA media. These two individuals, despite their mutual benefits, are well-known adversaries. #ufc303 #DanaWhite #ArielHelwani
White's role involves promoting fighters, while Helwani's success with his ‘MMA Hour’ podcast on MMAFighting hinges on gaining access to these fighters for interviews. A cooperative relationship would be advantageous for both: Helwani could promote upcoming fights and fighters needing more visibility, leading to higher PPV sales, while White could provide Helwani with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes content.
So, Why the Rivalry?
Origins
Helwani quickly rose to prominence by featuring big names on his show, catching the attention of White, who initially established a working relationship with the Canadian journalist. By 2010, Helwani had unprecedented access, receiving backstage privileges and conducting interviews with top fighters, courtesy of White.
However, in 2011, when Helwani joined FOX, their relationship began to deteriorate. FOX and the UFC had a partnership, and in March 2016, FOX Sports dismissed Helwani. This was due to his occasional criticisms of the UFC, controversial views on fighter pay, and interviews with fighters contemplating leaving the promotion, particularly one with Rory MacDonald.
UFC 199 Incident
June 4, 2016, marked the escalation of their conflict at UFC 199 in Inglewood, California. With UFC 200 approaching, Helwani, present as media, tweeted about Brock Lesnar's return at UFC 200, a secret intended to be revealed through a promo package. Additionally, he leaked news of a rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz for UFC 202.
Helwani's leaks, unauthorized by the UFC, disrupted their promotional plans. Consequently, security removed him from the event, stripped him of his press credentials, and banned him from future UFC events as long as White was president. Helwani recounted the incident on his show:
"Right before the main event, a member of the UFC PR staff told me Dana White wanted to speak to me. We went to the back, and White, along with some team members, said, 'You're out. Get out of here. You're done. We don't want you here anymore. Go to Bellator.'"
Helwani joined ESPN in 2018, regaining access to UFC events, but only until White arrived. White made it clear that he didn’t want Helwani in his vicinity, resulting in Helwani's removal whenever
