Ariel Helwani hits back at Joe Rogan over journalistic integrity comment
By Isabella Wilson
Ariel Helwani and Joe Rogan are among the most influential voices in MMA today. The two appear to be at odds with one another, however, after Rogan made comments about Helwani on his podcast.
On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, top-ranked welterweight contender Belal Muhammad discussed his recent fight with Sean Brady, among other things. Before the conversation took place, Brady had claimed on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani that he had received a death threat in the lead-up to UFC 280, Sportskeeda reports.
This came up in the conversation between Rogan and Muhammad, leading to comments that Helwani took issue with. Let’s take a look at what was said.
Joe Rogan alleges Ariel Helwani ‘gets people to say things’
On The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, the MMA reporter read out a listener comment stating Joe Rogan had said: “Ariel Helwani likes to get people to say certain things” on his podcast. The listener asked: “What are your thoughts on that? I think it’s a shame he seems to have such an opinion of you.”
Joe Rogan reportedly made his comments in response to Sean Brady’s disclosure of having received a death threat, with a suggestion the veteran MMA reporter looked for the sensational side of stories.
Ariel Helwani calls Rogan ‘Dana White’s boy’
Ariel Helwani did not take the allegations lightly. He quipped back: “What does that even mean in general [that] Ariel Helwani likes people to say things or to get people to say things?”
Flipping the narrative, he added: “And especially rich coming from the guy who was pushing false narratives and all kinds of nonsense over the past…. to the point where people were demanding he get dropped from Spotify, which I never agreed with.”
He called Rogan “Dana White’s boy,” referring to the president of UFC, and alleged the 55-year-old “spread lies about [him]” when he was at his “lowest.”
“It’s a bullsh*t comment from someone who’s an interviewer… and joking or not, it’s stupid,” Helwani said.
Who is Ariel Helwani?
Ariel Helwani is an American-Candian journalist best known for his coverage of MMA. He hosts The MMA Hour With Ariel Helwani podcast on which he interviews guests from the MMA world.
The 40-year-old has won MMA journalist of the year at the World MMA Awards every year since 2010.
Joe Rogan and Helwani have had a public clash before. In 2021, the reporter revealed Brock Lesnar would be making his return to UFC after being away for almost five years. However, he released the news before the UFC officials had been able to announce it. Rogan’s take on the events arguably led to Helwani’s brief UFC ban.
