Dana White, UFC president, appears ready to reconnect with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani nearly a decade after tensions began. The feud dates back to 2016, when Helwani broke major stories including Brock Lesnar’s UFC 200 return and Conor McGregor’s rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC 202. White initially banned Helwani from UFC 199 and refused future accreditation, although the ban was lifted two days later. The incident left a lasting strain on their professional relationship.
Dana White Considers Healing Old Wounds
White addressed the situation on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast.
“How’s he doing?” White asked.
“He’s upset that the relationship is what it is with the UFC,” Paul explained.
“Yeah?” White added. “I’m upset about it too.”
“Maybe we should figure this thing out; we should probably all get back together,” White concluded, smiling.
Dana White is finally ready to squash the beef with Ariel Helwani and Jake Paul 😂
(via @impaulsive) pic.twitter.com/qeRWQN3KRB
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 17, 2025
White previously expressed extreme frustration toward Helwani, calling him one of the most difficult figures he had dealt with, but now he appears willing to move past old conflicts.
Extending Cordiality to Jake Paul
White also clarified his stance on Jake Paul, emphasizing professionalism despite past criticisms.
“I don’t hate your brother. He’s always talking shit about the UFC and all this other stuff. It’s like an obsession for him… I don’t hate your brother. Your brother’s out there doing his thing… We can be cordial… We are in the f**king fight business, man. Lots of mean things are said.”
White’s clash with Paul began when Paul criticized UFC fighter pay, notably in 2021, calling out White for underpaying fighters compared to boxing. White responded by dismissing Paul’s boxing career, once calling him a “YouTube kid” unfit for serious fights.
