Less than a week after Disney fired actress and former mixed martial arts star Gina Carano over social media posts widely viewed as anti-Semitic, a Disney corporate partner has enmeshed the company in a spinoff controversy.

At a UFC 258 media availability Friday, UFC president Dana White, whose promotion airs on Disney-owned ESPN properties, was asked about Carano’s situation.

White used the occasion to take an unprompted shot at an ESPN employee of Jewish heritage with whom he has feuded, Ariel Helwani.

“Leave Gina alone,” White said. “Listen, we make mistakes. We all make mistakes. For everybody to go in on her – I love how Ariel Helwani made it all about him. It was all about him. Such a douche.”

After a weekend in which several of Helwani’s higher-profile colleagues at ESPN tweeted in support of their colleague while the company was silent, ESPN issued its first public comment on the situation Monday.

“Ariel is a valued colleague and an exceptional MMA reporter. His record speaks for itself,” ESPN told the New York Post.

Helwani posted on the issue on social media over the weekend.

“As a Jewish person, and as a human being, it just doesn’t sit well,” Helwani’s post said in part. “And I wish she would have never posted that. And quite frankly I wish someone would have talked to her about her social media posts over the past year. Some of them not even political. Just in general, they felt off to me. I am sorry she has gone down this path.”

White, who has gone silent on his previous vocal support of former President Donald Trump since the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, has considered Helwani an enemy for years.

Their most high-profile dustup came at UFC 199 in Inglewood, Calif., in June 2016. White was upset with Helwani, then employed by Vox Media, for reporting on Brock Lesnar’s planned return to the company before it could reveal the news on its own during the broadcast. The UFC responded by revoking Helwani’s credentials, as well as those of his camera crew members E. Casey Leydon and Esther Lin, mid-event. The trio’s credentials were restored several days later after a public backlash.

The list of current and former ESPN employees who spoke out before the company issued its statement include Sarah Spain, Pablo Torres, Kenny Mayne and Dan LeBatard.

A number of @arielhelwani’s ESPN colleagues are defending him publicly. pic.twitter.com/batoeidLfk

— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) February 14, 2021

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/espn-issues-statement-dana-white-gina-carano-ariel-helwani-disney-controversy

LAS VEGAS – Bruce Buffer is embedded in the UFC’s DNA through his memorable announcing over 25 years with the company.

Referred to by many as “The Voice of the Octagon,” Buffer has been introducing fighters  the UFC since February 1996. For his 25-year anniversary with the company, Buffer was paid a tribute Saturday during the UFC 258 broadcast in Las Vegas.

Buffer didn’t expect the tribute and said he is thankful to be recognized for his work inside the cage.

“You know how passionate I am to be the voice of the octagon, working for Dana (White) and all the powers that be in the UFC – I love it,” Buffer told reporters after UFC 258. “I wish I had another 25 years, who knows, because I’m ready to rock and roll for 25 more.

“I can’t even imagine 25. It’s just gone by so fast. I want to thank the UFC for the beautiful tribute tonight. I did not expect that. It caught me like a side shot to the head. It was so beautiful.”

The UFC started in 1993 and Buffer joined three years after its launch. In the 1990s, the UFC was far from what it is today. MMA was far from being a mainstream commodity, and it didn’t have the magnitude of a fan base it has now.

Although Buffer joined in the early stages of the sport, he said he knew the UFC and MMA were headed for big things.

“Back in 1996 when I got involved with the UFC, I realized this was going to be the biggest thing in fighting sports,” Buffer said. “I realized it was probably going to be the biggest thing in sports. And when you stick with something, when I set a goal, I stick with it to the end. I’m a loyal soldier.

“I’ve wanted to do everything I could, way beyond being the face of the octagon announcer to the UFC, because I love the organization. I love the sport. I love announcing these female and male warriors, the greatest fighters in the world. (They’re) some of the best people I’ve ever met. The friends I’ve made, the relationships with media, fighters, the people I work with – I love this. This is awesome.”

Throughout the course of his 25-year run with the UFC, Buffer has been able to see the company and sport blossom. He’s also traveled the world and witnessed MMA history from the front row. Buffer does have several announcing goals left, even after 25 years, and some outside the sport.

“I’ve had a lot of bucket lists that I’ve crossed out, and there’s more to come,” Buffer said. “As far as the UFC, I want to continue to announce these great warriors.

“I’ve had the Super Bowl commercial, but I want to be on the field for the Super Bowl announcing everybody coming out of the tunnel and start up the game. I’ve done it for the NFL, NBA, hockey, baseball – I’ve done it for all the sports. There’s always mountains to climb and I’m always open for another challenge. Let me parachute out of a plane, land on a stadium, and announce it. I’ll do it. I’m always game for something.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/bruce-buffer-thankful-ufc-tribute-25-years-octagon-announcer-video

Result: Gabe Green def. Phil Rowe via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Green (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Rowe (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stat: Green won a decision for the first time in his career – and went the distance for the second straight time after starting with 11 straight stoppages, win or loss, to open his career.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/gabe-green-leg-kicks-wanted-finish-ufc-258-video

Dana White is passionate about going after the pirates, the illegal streamers that profit from UFC events. With the new regulations put in place by the government, there are hefty penalties for those caught pirating streams illegally.

White said that his campaign against the illegal streamers was very successful for the UFC 258 pay-per-view and that he was going after one of the big dogs for this event.

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TRENDING Gina Carano fires back on being canceled; Dana White expresses support for her

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dana-white-cracking-down-on-the-big-illegal-ufc-streamers-is-paying-off

After Kamaru Usman defeated former teammate Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 on Saturday, he was once again hit with the question of whether or not he would entertain fighting Georges St-Pierre if the welterweight great ever mounted a comeback.

“Of course, I would like to fight Georges,” Usman said at the UFC 258 post-fight news conference. “But I don’t want Georges because of money or anything like that.

“I’m a competitor. I want Georges because Georges left on top. Georges can still do it. I see him training. Georges, I’m watching you. I see you training. Georges can still do it.

“So if there’s potential for that big fight and Georges wants to come back, then of course Georges can cut the line; absolutely.”

One reason that St-Pierre was brought up is because he’s still only 39 years of age and a little over three years removed from a return that saw him win the UFC middleweight title. Another reason is that he’s recently posted some intense workout photos on social media, showing him Rocky-style, training outside in the cold Canadian winter.

Despite all that, and despite the fact that Usman would be a hefty challenge, St-Pierre doesn’t sound too excited about making a return to the Octagon.

“I will always train, but if you ask me if I want to come back? Just try to put yourself into my shoes and try to come back,” St-Pierre said during an interview with The Good Show on SN590.

“If I tried to come back for a fight with Kamaru Usman, I would have to literally leave the country. You cannot train right now in Canada with the COVID. I would have to bring my coaches somewhere, find a base camp, fly in some training partners, because it’s Kamaru Usman. You need to get ready, you need a real training camp.”

That’s not something that appeals to St-Pierre at this point in his life. He doesn’t need to fight for money. It would simply be for the challenge of the situation, adding to his legacy.

“Just that, leave my home, leave my family, leave my place, I’m very reluctant to do it and I don’t need to do it. I’m healthy. I’m wealthy. It’s not appealing to lose three months of my life, stress and everything for trying to get a win over Kamaru Usman. As time passes by, it’s getting less and less and less appealing. I don’t think there’s anybody now that will make me come back. I’m good.”

Even a fight with current UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t sound as appealing as it once did to St-Pierre. Right now, he sounds as likely as ever to remain content in retirement.

St-Pierre has always wanted to go out on his own terms. It appears that he has done so, and he’s good with that.

“I don’t know if there is anything that will get me motivated to go back to competition.”

TRENDING Kamaru Usman ready to run it back and finish Jorge Masvidal

Dana White: Kamaru Usman could be the G.O.A.T. He is in GSP’s league.

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/georges-st-pierre-addresses-potential-ufc-return-to-fight-kamaru-usman