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Ariel Helwani

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Ariel Helwani
Born (1982-07-08) July 8, 1982 (age 42)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
OccupationMMA journalist

Ariel Helwani is a Canadian mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist.[1][2][3][4]

Early life and education

Helwani was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in a Jewish family in Mount Royal, Quebec and Westmount and attended the Akiva School and Herzliah High School.[5][6] Helwani's mother is from Lebanon and his father is from Egypt.[6][7]

In 2004, Helwani graduated from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in Syracuse, New York.[4][8]

Career

Helwani has covered mixed martial arts professionally since 2006. He works for MMAFighting.com (SB Nation).[9] He formerly served as an "MMA Insider" for Fox Sports 1's weekly UFC Tonight show and other pre- and post-event programming.[10] He is the former co-host of the Sirius XM radio show "Fight Club",[5] is currently the host of The MMA Hour podcast [8][11] and the MMA Beat show on YouTube. He's interim vice president of the Mixed Martial Arts Journalists Association.[12]

UFC 199 controversy / UFC lifetime ban

On June 4, 2016, Helwani and two colleagues were escorted out of UFC 199 before the main event. He said their press credentials were taken and they were banned for life from all UFC events. He earlier reported the return of Brock Lesnar at UFC 200, hours before UFC announced it on the broadcast, without notifying UFC first. UFC spokesman Dave Sholler said such reporting was against standard practice.[13] According to UFC commentator Joe Rogan, Helwani was asked to not report this news, as management suspected a mole had leaked it to him and, without knowing who it was, would then have to fire all possible moles. Through Twitter, Helwani called Rogan's story "100% inaccurate."[14]

On the June 6 episode of The MMA Hour, Helwani detailed the incident in an emotional broadcast. He said he was brought to see Dana White, who told him he was banned for being "too negative". He later learned this call was made by Lorenzo Fertitta. He stood by his decision to report the news in a timely manner, and said he would continue to work as an MMA journalist.[15]

Many high profile UFC fighters sympathised with Helwani. Light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones wrote on Twitter "That's unfortunate." Former Middleweight champion Chris Weidman said on Twitter "This sport needs the GOAT (slang for Greatest Of All Time) of MMA reporting".[16]

Later on June 6, UFC rescinded the ban, stating: ""Following a conversation with the editorial team at SB Nation, UFC will not prevent MMAFighting.com from receiving media credentials to cover live UFC events. We respect the role the media plays in our sport and beyond, including MMAFighting's ability to report news. However, in our opinion, we believe the recurring tactics used by its lead reporter extended beyond the purpose of journalism. We feel confident our position has now been adequately communicated to the SB Nation editorial team.[17][18]

Mayweather vs. McGregor ban

Helwani claimed that he was banned from the Mayweather vs. McGregor press tour. "Not working for @SHOsports anymore on the May/Mac tour," wrote Helwani on Twitter, "UFC specifically asked to have me removed. Incredibly disappointed"[19]

Personal life

Helwani lives with his wife and three children in Brooklyn, New York.[20][21] He is the maternal nephew of Gad Saad, an evolutionary behavioural scientist.[22][23]

Honors and awards

Helwani was named "MMA Journalist of the Year" at the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 World MMA Awards.[9][24]

In 2011, FIGHT! Magazine named him as one of their "Power 20", a list of the "most significant power players, movers, shakers, ambassadors, and game-changers in MMA," describing him as "the Howard Cosell of MMA".[8]

At the beginning of 2015, Helwani won "2014 Journalist of the Year" in the Awakening WMMA Awards.[25]

References

  1. ^ Lees, James (July 18, 2010). "Full Mount Focus: Ariel Helwani". FullMount.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Hackett, Miles (October 5, 2009). "FLD Exclusive - Ariel Helwani: The Man Behind the Microphone". FightLockdown.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "VigilanteMMA Exclusive Interview: Ariel Helwani". VigilanteMMA.com. September 30, 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b MMAFighting.com
  5. ^ a b Lazarus, David. "Montreal native is a mixed martial arts broadcaster", The Canadian Jewish News, January 13, 2011.
  6. ^ a b https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/288077835623624704
  7. ^ https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/17821861614
  8. ^ a b c FIGHT! Staff, "The 4th Annual Power 20", FIGHT! Magazine, July 2011 issue.
  9. ^ a b "Ariel Helwani on finding his calling down the road less traveled", Martyr magazine, January 12, 2012.
  10. ^ "UFC's New Announcing Crew Mostly Impresses".
  11. ^ "The MMA Hour".
  12. ^ "Media members form first official MMA Journalists Association", by Richard Deitsch, SI.com
  13. ^ "6-Time ‘MMA Journalist Of The Year’ Removed From UFC 199 At Forum, ‘Banned For Life’", CBS Los Angeles/Associated Press
  14. ^ "Rogan: UFC warned Helwani not to break Lesnar news", by Mark Bergmann, BloodyElbow.com
  15. ^ "MMA reporter Ariel Helwani opens up about lifetime UFC ban", by Andreas Hale, Yahoo! Sports
  16. ^ "The Real Reason Dana White Had Ariel Helwani Life Banned From UFC Events". June 6, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  17. ^ Mookie Alexander (June 6, 2016). ""Official statement: UFC lifts ban on Ariel Helwani, MMAFighting.com", by Mookie Alexander, BloodyElbow.com". Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  18. ^ Russel Ess (June 6, 2016). "UFC releases statement on Ariel Helwani and team". Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  19. ^ Russel Ess (July 11, 2017). "Ariel Helwani removed from working with Showtime for leg of Mayweather vs McGregor tour". bjpenn.com. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  20. ^ Ariel Helwani on Instagram
  21. ^ Profile at MMAFighting.com "Ariel Helwani Profile at MMAFighting.com". {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  22. ^ Joe Rogan Experience; YouTube Interview; August 2015
  23. ^ Rogan provides different perspective on Helwani situation; Mixed Martial Arts News
  24. ^ "World MMA Awards 2010 Winners". MMAFighting.com. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
  25. ^ "Awakening Fighters WMMA Awards". Awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
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