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Ariel Helwani recently voiced strong disapproval towards Dana White for persisting with live events at the UFC Apex facility even as the pandemic wanes.
The MMA promotion has predominantly hosted its events at the Apex since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Despite the apparent conclusion of the pandemic, the UFC continues to host numerous Fight Night events, branded as UFC Vegas, at the production center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During a recent episode of The MMA Hour, Helwani expressed his struggle to immerse himself in watching Fight Night events held at the Apex. The MMA reporter underscored that, with the pandemic seemingly over, he questioned why the UFC continues to host events in a smaller venue with minimal attendance, as shared in a video posted on X with the caption:
"Enough. Please. I’m begging you."
Helwani also pondered why there hasn't been any scrutiny directed towards the UFC CEO regarding this issue:
"It's just the f**king Apex, man. I don't know what else to say. I don't even know how to put it into words. Please... One of the great people at one of these events, I've never asked you to do anything, but it's now your time. How is it that we have been doing this for four years? Not a single person asked Dana White the question: Why?"
Check out Ariel Helwani's post below:
The 41-year-old Canadian reporter has previously rebuked White for a similar scenario back in October 2022. He remarked that witnessing fanless Fight Night events evoked memories of the pandemic's peak, an unpleasant experience.
Ariel Helwani disputes MMA media's free speech query aimed at Dana White
Ariel Helwani's strained relationship with Dana White is well-known. The rift emerged when Helwani leaked the news of Brock Lesnar's return to UFC 200 in June 2016, a revelation that the organization had intended to keep under wraps.
In recent years, the UFC CEO has adopted a notably hands-off approach, allowing fighters considerable freedom to express themselves without facing significant consequences.
However, tensions arose during the UFC 297 press conference in January when Sean Strickland engaged in a heated exchange with a media member over controversial remarks made by the former middleweight champion regarding the LGBTQ community.
During an episode of Pablo Torre's podcast, Helwani challenged White's departure from his stance in 2013 when he suspended former TUF contestant Matt Mitrione for comments directed towards transgender fighter Fallon Fox:
"What I said to the audience, and indirectly to the media [on The MMA Hour], is you’re asking the wrong question. They continued to ask Sean Strickland, Dana White, and others, 'Where is the line? How do you police this? What do you need to do? What do you say to your fighters if it goes too far, etc., etc.' That’s not the question to ask anymore. The question has always been, 'What has changed? What’s the difference?'”
Check out Ariel Helwani's comments below (14: 47):
