Ariel Helwani has issued a response to Dana White’s recent comments regarding the UFC event in Saudi Arabia.
The MMA journalist clarified his reporting on the situation, emphasizing that he accurately conveyed the change in the event date from March 2 to a likely occurrence in June.
Helwani expressed confusion over White’s assertion that the reasons for these adjustments were incorrect.
Ariel Helwani responds to Dana White's comments regarding UFC Saudi Arabia. #TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/OMllIAFFZN
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) January 22, 2024
Highlighting his track record, Helwani pointed out that he got two crucial aspects right and questioned how it could be possible to be accurate on two-thirds of the information while allegedly getting the reason for the changes wrong.
He acknowledged that the UFC finds itself in an unprecedented situation and speculated on the potential challenges in salvaging the card.
Helwani noted the unique financial aspect of the Saudi Arabia event, highlighting the reported $20 million investment for hosting these cards in the country.
He emphasized that Saudi Arabia is in a unique position due to its significant financial contribution, expecting a certain level of card quality in return.
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia stands out as one of the limited international destinations on the UFC’s 2024 calendar. The organization’s Q1 schedule currently keeps the fights within the United States, making the Saudi event a noteworthy international venture.
