Ariel Helwani Praises Content Creator Nina Drama For Her Rise In Popularity, But Offers One Big Critique: 'Coming In & Doing Things Differently...'

During a recent episode of The MMA Hour, Helwani weighed in on Nina Drama and offered one piece of advice.

"I think she does a great job, and I think it's very important to be unique and to look at what everyone is doing, and do things differently," Helwani said. "I tried to do that as well when I came up...she has a great relationship and rapport with the fighters, it seems, and the UFC brass. These are very important things...

"The one critique I could offer: coming in and doing things differently, and maybe having a bit of a spin, comedy, skits, whatever, is great! Breathe of fresh air, it's different. Why though do you have to s*** on the rest of the media? Do your thing! Be different, be proud, put out the good content. This whole 'Make MMA Media Great Again' waxing poetic...you're relatively new here. Imagine if i came in and said 'Josh Gross sucks! Loretta Hunt sucks!'... I'm not saying you have to kiss our feet, do you. I just believe in trying to be positive, do your thing, work on your craft, but this whole thing of 'You all suck, and I'm gonna make MMA media great again', which I don't consider her MMA media, per se...I just don't know why you have to bring people down who are trying to put in good work and get by."

As of this writing, Daniele has accumulated 1.8 million followers on Instagram. Her YouTube channel is on pace to hit 1 million subscribers by the end of 2024.

While Daniele has made an impact in her short stint in MMA content creation, she's also ruffled the feathers of some journalists. She and MMA journalist Helen Yee got into a social media spat last year, and their exchanges trended online for weeks.

Helwani has earned a reputation as a top-tier sports journalist; and while he appreciates Daniele's contribution to content creation, he feels some of her negativity is unnecessary and unjust.