UFC 199

I'm not trying to hear Rockhold talk about Bisping's disrespect.  Rockhold never showed Bisping any respect during the lead-up to the fight, and his bruised ego sent him looking for a reason to be mad.  Bisping clocked his game early and set up a left cross that sent Rockhold to the mat, following up with another big left when the champ tried to get back to his feet.  Game over. 

Rockhold is one of the all-time greats of the division, and I fully expect to see him back in the champion's circle one day, but on that night Bisping was just the smarter, better fighter. 

The action wasn't confined to the Ocatgon at UFC 199, as veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani was ejected from the venue along with his crew, noted MMA photographer and videographer Esther Lin and E. Casey Laydon.  The move appeared to be in retaliation for Helwani's report on the return of Brock Lesnar hours before the UFC's official announcement.   

The MMA community was shocked that such a veteran journalist, who is seen by many as a "company man," had received this kind of harsh treatment.  After all, it was Helwani who was given the Strikeforce scoop in order to head off previously banished Joss Gross in 2011.  However, tensions had been simmering between Helwani and the promotion for some time, including his firing from his Fox Sports 1 broadcasting position after airing an interview that touched on the subjects of fighter pay and free agency.  Zuffa owner Lorenzo Fertitta is widely believed to have been behind that move. 

Fans, fighters, and fellow media members took to the internet to express support for Helwani and his crew.  The story even penetrated to the mainstream media,  causing the UFC to rethink it's decision.  A few hours after Dana White announced to reporters that the ban would remain in place, the promotion reversed it's decision. 

The sport has grown from the days when Josh Gross and Loretta Hunt were thrown out of the UFC press corps.  It bodes well that such a decision could not escape the notice of the mainstream media.  The fact that it was worth calling them out on it shows how much the MMA space has grown, even if this particular episode casts the promotion in a less than favorable light.