In the realm of the widely popular UFC, fighter pay has perpetually been a contentious topic. The recent pay dispute between UFC President Dana White and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson has reopened the debate, thrusting the uneven landscape of fighter compensation into the limelight. Notable MMA analyst Ariel Helwani fired back at Dana White, accusing him of being dismissive and unfair regarding Thompson’s situation at UFC 291, where his fight was called off due to his opponent Michel Pereira missing weight.

Taking on White’s stance on missed weight fights, Helwani’s impassioned critique has stirred up conversations in the MMA world. His sharp retort underscores the glaring discrepancies in the management of pay when opponents do not meet the specified weight; a hurdle Thompson faced and chose to bypass due to previous experiences. This chain of events sparked off a controversy over the pay Thompson should or should not receive, and Helwani staunchly voiced his views on the matter.

Helwani questions Dana White on missed weight fights

Ariel Helwani, holding nothing back, started off his discourse by reestablishing Thompson’s innocence. He noted, “Let’s be very clear here. Wonderboy did nothing wrong. Wonderboy showed up and made weight and was ready to fight. Michel Pereira missed weight”. His comment stems from Thompson’s dismissal. Helwani believed that as a professional and consistent fighter, Wonderboy followed the due procedure and prepared appropriately for the fight.

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Helwani explained the logic behind Thompson’s decision. He stated, “He’s been in this situation before, Wonderboy. His opponent missed weight, and he ended up losing a very close fight. And so, he is in his right to say. No, thanks“. These arguments validate Thompson’s stance. They also raise questions about the UFC’s fairness in their approach towards fights where weight guidelines are not met; another gray area regarding payments and laws that affect fighters.

Helwani attacks Dana’s dismissal of weight discrepancies

Ariel Helwani drew attention to a clipped response from Dana White where he said, “The guy was three pounds overweight, whatever it was”. He retorted with vehement criticism. He stated, “This blows me away. To just dismiss the three pounds like its nothing is so insensitive to fighters”. His disapproval stemmed from the trivialization of the rigorous weight-cutting process fighters undergo and its critical role in fair bouts.

“That Is Fuc***g Illegal”: Fans Call “Bullsh*t” on Dana White and Co. Following UFC’s Refusal to Pay Stephen Thompson His Purse for UFC 291

Continuing his onslaught, Helwani questioned the UFC’s consistency in rules enforcement, saying, “If the three pounds meant nothing, then why did we strip Charles Oliveira? If three pounds meant nothing, why do we even have weight classes?“. The comment drew a reference to an event at UFC 274 where Charles Oliveira was stripped of his lightweight title after he failed to make weight. The remark underscores inconsistent rule enforcement and furthers Helwani’s argument about weight’s importance in ensuring fair fights.

Helwani’s vocal critique of Dana White’s handling of the Thompson-Pereira situation puts a spotlight on the need for transparency and consistency in the UFC’s handling of weight-related disputes. His impassioned attack on the dismissal of serious weight discrepancies in the fight could present serious contemplations for the organization. Future fairness might well lie in the call to guarantee particular pay compensation for fighters who do their duties professionally; honoring their weight-cutting process, but end up missing the action due to opponents’ non-compliance.

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