UFC izbacio novinara Ariela Helwanija s UFC-a 199 i dao mu doživotnu zabranu: "Idi u Bellator"
Helwani je bio ne samo izbačen s priredbe, već mu je Dana White i uručio doživotnu zabranu, te mu je pritom poručio da je "pre negativan" i da "ode Bellatoru".
Koji je razlog zabrane? UFC-u, a pogotovo Brocku Lesnaru, se nije svidjelo što je Ariel otkrio javnosti da Brock nastupa na UFC-u 200 a McGregor i Diaz na UFC-u 202 prije nego što je to otkriveno na videu tijekom same priredbe. Helwani je platio zbog toga što je radio svoj posao - provjerio je vijesti s nekoliko izvora, potvrdio ih je, i tek ih je onda iznio u javnost.
S njime su izbačeni Esther Lin, prema mnogima najbolja fotografkinja u MMA-u i boksu, kao i snimatelj Casey Lyden, koji pak nisu novinari i nemaju direktne veze s tim objavama. Ariel, kojeg je i Joe Rogan nazvao najboljim u tom poslu, je primio val podrške od novinara, a ponajviše od fanova.
Helwani vodi najpopularniju emisiju u MMA-u - The MMA Hour, show The MMA Beat - u kojem s novinarima komentira najnovija zbivanja u tom sportu, prisutan je na gotovo svim jakim MMA priredbama, gdje obavlja intervjue s borcima, i drži palac na pulsu tog sporta kao rijetko tko drugi.
Mnogi smatraju kako si UFC ovim nije napravio uslugu već si je samo naštetio, a hoće li se čelnici organizacije predomisliti... pokazat će vrijeme.
Helwani će se osvrnuti na sve ovo u današnjoj epizodi emisije The MMA Hour, koja starta u 19 sati po našem vremenu. Uživo je možete gledati na MMAFighting.com, a video stream će se pojaviti nekoliko sati prije početka.
I was escorted out of the building by Zuffa staff before the main event. Credential taken away, too. Didn't see Bisping realize his dream.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
My long-time colleagues @ekc and @allelbows were also escorted out of the building w/ me. Sorry to report no post-fight coverage tonight.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
I love this sport & this job with all my heart. Did nothing unethical. I reported fight news. That's it. & then told we're banned for life.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
My teammates and friends @Ekc and @allelbows are the very best at what they do. I wish they didn't have to leave with me. They did nothing.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
Here's hoping cooler heads prevail. I sincerely love every fighter & fan of this sport. You have helped me realize a dream. Thank you.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
Thank you. I sincerely can't thank you all enough. I'm still here. All will be addressed tomorrow on #themmahour, as well as other outlets.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
It's hard to wrap my head around all of this, but to everyone fan, fighter, manager, friend who reached out: thank you.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
And to every journalist/media member who tweeted or reached out: I'm eternally grateful to you. Thank you all very much. Until tomorrow...
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016
FTR, I will forever be proud to be an MMA journalist. I am proud of that title and take the responsibility that comes w/ it seriously.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 5, 2016




