Renowned reporter Ariel Helwani challenges Dana White’s claims about the UFC’s delayed debut in Saudi Arabia. Helwani questions White’s assertion that the decision was solely his and suggests it was an attempt to protect his ego.
| Key Points |
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| Ariel Helwani challenges Dana White’s claims about UFC’s delayed debut in Saudi Arabia. |
| Helwani questions White’s assertion that the decision was solely his and suggests it was an attempt to protect his ego. |
| The event was postponed due to dissatisfaction from the Saudi Arabian hosts regarding the lineup. |
| Helwani accurately reported the change in date and the likelihood of the event taking place in June. |
| The UFC has never previously canceled an event due to the lineup not being good enough. |
| PFL founder Donn Davis criticizes the UFC’s lineup for the delayed Saudi Arabia event. |
| PFL is set to bring a blockbuster card to Riyadh next month. |
| The UFC aims to put together an improved card for its upcoming debut in Saudi Arabia this summer. |
Ariel Helwani Challenges Dana White’s Claims
Renowned combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani has raised questions about UFC’s delayed debut in Saudi Arabia. The mixed martial arts promotion was initially scheduled to arrive in the Middle East on March 2, featuring fighters like Muhammad Mokaev and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. However, Helwani reported that the event had been postponed due to dissatisfaction from the Saudi Arabian hosts regarding the lineup.
During a recent edition of The MMA Hour, Helwani responded to White’s remarks about the event’s delay. He dismissed White’s claim that the decision was solely his, suggesting it was an attempt to protect his ego. Helwani pointed out that he had accurately reported the change in date and the likelihood of the event taking place in June, questioning how he could be wrong about the reason behind the delay.
Helwani emphasized that the UFC has never previously canceled an event due to the lineup not being good enough. He argued that the decision to move the event was ultimately made by the powers that be in Saudi Arabia, who deemed the card inadequate. He criticized White’s attempts to spin the narrative and suggested that the UFC should have made the best of the situation, as other promotions have done in similar circumstances.
The UFC has faced criticism for the delayed Saudi Arabia event, with PFL founder Donn Davis expressing disapproval of the promotion’s lineup. PFL is set to bring a blockbuster card to Riyadh next month, featuring matchups between their top fighters and counterparts from Bellator. While the SmartCage takes the spotlight for now, the UFC aims to put together an improved card for its upcoming debut in Saudi Arabia this summer.
