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“Ariel Is 100% Right Here” – UFC World Turns On Dana White After Ariel Helwani’s Brutally Honest Statement

Published 05/28/2023, 7:18 AM EDT

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The UFC president Dana White‘s Power Slap never ceases to garner negative comments from fans and critics alike. Despite the criticisms and backlashes, it continues to carry on in Rumble. Recently, popular combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani shared some comments bashing Power Slap as fans reacted to it on social media.

Several people have termed slap-fighting as an unsafe sport. The reason behind that is because of the lack of proper defensive tactics in the sport. Although Dana White claims that it is safer than some of the other combat sports disciplines, it continues to garner a negative reputation in the fight community.

Ariel Helwani rips Power Slap

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During a recent episode of the ‘MMA Hour’, Ariel Helwani left no stone unturned to unleash a verbal SmackDown on Dana White’s novel project, Power Slap. He believes that the UFC president must be lying when he talks about Power Slap with excitement. Helwani said, “There can’t be any possible explanation as to where Dana actually enjoys talking about any of this. Like, come on! I don’t believe that for a second.”

via Imago

Helwani expressed his disappointment with Dana White for using various means to claim that slap-fighting is a great sport. He even ridiculed one of the fighters, named Slap for Cash. Helwani added, “You’re, in one breath, promoting some of the best fights on the planet. [The] UFC’s on fire and he says like, ‘We have Slap for Cash who just weighed in at 460 lbs. Let me tell you about Slap for Cash, his technique’, and I’m like, ‘What the f***, man? Are you that bored?”

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Like numerous detractors, he claimed that slapping is not fighting. It hurts the fans even more when it comes from a successful promoter like Dana White. “It’s crazy to watch, like, one of the greatest promoters of all time talk about this as actually real. He calls it a fight. That’s not a fight. What are we talking about?”

Fans quickly took to Reddit to dish out their reactions to Helwani’s words.

Fans react to Helwani blasting Dana White’s slap-fighting promotion

Let us take a look at the reactions from fans on the popular social media platform, Reddit.

Man Ariel is relentless lmao
by u/ohcrymeafuckinriver in mmamemes

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  • Lmao “slap for cash”
  • Ariel saying what everybody thinking and I love it
  • Ariel is 100% right here. Slap League is a joke
  • I can’t imagine a more humiliating sport, if you looked at the crowds reaction most of them are laughing at these guys including Dana
  • I can’t believe bisbing is part of it. It’s just embarrassing all around
  • “I don’t do gimmick fights” -Dana
  • Ariel is so bu**hurt from Dana lol

The fans expressed their amusement when they noticed the name of one of the competitors was Slap for Cash. They sided with Helwani for his comments about Power Slap. One fan claimed that during Power Slap events, the crowd and Dana White couldn’t stop laughing while watching the fighters trade blows. It also disappointed the fans that Michael Bisping took up commentating duties during these fights. However, some fans believe that Ariel Helwani still has some bad blood for Dana White.

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Dana White has claimed that the Power Slap League is in its infancy, similar to the UFC in the 1990s, but fans maintain that it is dangerous due to the possibility of head injuries, brain trauma, and long-term health effects. We will have to see how things pan out for White in the future. What do you make of Helwani’s comments? Let us know your thoughts below.

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Written by:

Himanga Mahanta

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Himanga Mahanta is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. He has a passion for combat sports and a deep understanding of the intricacies of MMA. With his expertise and extensive knowledge, Himanga provides in-depth coverage of UFC events and fighters, bringing his readers closer to the action and the athletes they admire.
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Edited by:

Amal Joyce