LOS ANGELES — The UFC has rescinded its indefinite ban on a reporter who was thrown out of its UFC 199 show last weekend.
Less than two days after mmafighting.com’s Ariel Helwani was told he would never be allowed to cover future UFC events, the promotion announced Monday night that it won’t deny media credentials to his company.
The UFC was hit with heavy online criticism from other journalists and MMA fans for its actions against Helwani, one of the most prominent reporters covering mixed martial arts. Photographer Esther Lin and video director Casey Leydon also were ejected from the Forum with Helwani.
The UFC remains upset about Helwani’s report that heavyweight Brock Lesnar was nearing a deal to return at UFC 200, which revealed the plan before the UFC could announce it.
