As the biggest event in MMA history rapidly approaches, it’s easy to marvel at how the sport has grown. Television deals, stringent drug testing and bigger stars than ever before. It seems all nature of the UFC has evolved in all aspects. All aspects except with its relationship to MMA journalism.
While the UFC and MMA media have had a long and tumultuous relationship (and one that seems to be getting worse, not better), we’ve recently been exposed to more examples of anti-journalistic practices than in some time. Most notable of these, of course, is the brief but harsh removal of Ariel Helwani’s press credentials.
Today, UFC President Dana White appeared on the UFC’s new podcast ‘UFC Unfiltered’ and spoke about Helwani, as well as offered his thoughts on journalism in MMA.
“I think [the media is] getting worse and worse,” White told hosts Matt Serra and Jim Norton. “I think it’s worse. It’s like with this Ariel Helwani thing, it’s more about what can I sneak and get out and steal from the fans. You know the excitement and enjoyment of the fans seeing it when it comes out instead of actually doing some real journalism.”
Unfortunately, while White failed to clarify what he considered real journalism (except past stating “journalism is supposed to be when you’re a guy who covers the sport”) he did give an insight into his views on the practise.
“When you’re a real journalist, you reach out and you say ‘hey, this is the rumour, this is what’s going on and everything else and I’m gonna run with it,” White said. “That’s what the real journalists do. [Ariel is] a website guy. It’s just a different world out there. There’s still real journalists out there that before they do something they reach out and they show that bit of respect, and have that relationship. Whereas he’s not that guy.
Perhaps ‘a real journalist’ (Helwani’s six year run as MMA Journalist of the year doesn’t qualify) would have reached out to the UFC for comment before breaking the story.
And yet…Brett Okamoto from ESPN asked White if Lesnar was returning just 24 hours before Helwani’s story broke and was told no. So did the UFC really just want the opportunity to say no (as they would have likely said), or an opportunity to pressure Helwani into burying the story?
While it appears that while White considers ESPN’s SportsCenter and Fox Sports 1 to be ‘real’ journalistic endeavours (on which he can pick and choose when to break news), he could live without the investigative nature of Helwani and other MMA websites.
It’s clear this isn’t the only problem White has at present. One of the major stories in the sport of late is the potential sale of the UFC, something which several journalists have reported, and White has several times denied.
“This has been one of the most disruptive things,” White said. “Imagine the fighters? I have 400 employees here. It’s been one of the most disruptive things ever in the history of the company.[…]Last thing I’m going to do is fight so hard to get this (podcast) happening, and a lot of other things I’m working on right now, to bring in another regime or whatever would happen.
“Listen, everybody who works for me: Let this be the last thing you worry about.”
FloCombat’s Jeremy Botter has been one of the more vocal journalists regarding the UFC sale, as well as the company’s shady practises regarding MMA journalism. After yesterday reporting that the UFC sale was nearing completion, today Botter spoke about his receiving a letter from the UFC’s legal firm Campbell & Williams, in which they informed him that his sources were false and he was incorrect with his reporting.
“The letter closed by saying essentially ‘watch your ass’,” Botter said to RJ Clifford and Steve Cofield. “It was govern your actions more closely. It was a warning shot trying to scare me from reporting on it further, I believe. I stand by my report, I’ve got good sources.
“For me, when I get that kind of denial from the UFC, it’s a sign that I’m on the right track.”
The rapid removal of press credentials and threatening legal language is the perfect example of the UFC’s poor attitude to journalists. It’s also an example of how the company continues failing to appreciate the role of media in the sport.
Essentially, it reveals a bizarre loathing for coverage of their own product that seems to stem from an intense desire for secrecy. The UFC don’t like revealing inner dealings.
The bigger the sport gets, the more media coverage the UFC receives. The more media content there is for fans to absorb, the more fans can be involved with the sport. One of the main reasons MMA is so fun to follow is there is simply never a dull moment, inside the cage or out.
When that content is distributed regularly by the MMA-devoted outlets, it offers fans topics of discussions, and it offers the UFC free promotion.
It’s not unfair for Zuffa to want privacy. They’re a private company. It’s just that it would serve them better to realise the benefit of having a media as passionate as they do.
If you need people to show up and ask Conor McGregor questions so his answers earn you millions of dollars, then you need people to care enough about the sport to find questions worth asking.
