It’s been a rough few days for Ariel Helwani.
The MMA journalist and his colleagues, Esther Lin and E. Casey Leydon, were escorted from UFC 199 and he was told he is ‘banned for life’ from the organisation’s events.
On the night Michael Bisping recorded a historic middleweight title victory over champion Luke Rockhold, the three were reportedly led out of the arena by Zuffa staff just before the co-main event.
Helwani did not get to see Bisping fulfil his destiny against Rockhold at the Inglewood Forum in California.
Now arguably the world’s most notable and respected MMA reporter is staring at a lifetime ban from all UFC events.
Helwani took to his MMA Hour show on Monday evening to give his side of the story, speaking eloquently, and emotionally, on receiving the ban.
He appeared to fight back tears as he explained his side of the story…
Helwani has received huge backing from across the MMA world and broadcasters and media personalities have leapt to his defence.
The #FreeHelwani hashtag soon sprang up on Twitter and many MMA fans vented their anger directly at the organisation’s president Dana White.
.@postfightpress @arielhelwani don't know what happened but no way that can really go down.This sport needs the GOAT of MMA reporting
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) June 5, 2016
Hope @arielhelwani situation gets resolved. One of the few mma journalists I enjoy speaking to #FreeHelwani
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) June 5, 2016
Whoa! Ariel Helwani was just removed from UFC 199 and received a lifetime ban. https://t.co/s5jTBlw86s
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) June 5, 2016
That's unfortunate. I'll always answer his phone call, he's always been fair to me. https://t.co/sxer1PvuQa
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/jeremybotter/status/739367977682796544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
