Bloody Elbow · Oct 20, 2021
Editorial: Power dynamic between Ali Abdelaziz and fighters he manages is all wrong
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images Ali Abdelaziz stopped Corey Anderson from appearing on The MMA HourOn Monday, Ariel Helwani expected to speak to Corey Anderson after his Bellator 268 knockout win over Ryan Bader. Instead, Helwani was left to explain to viewers of The MMA Hour that Anderson would not appear on the show and why.
Helwani said Bellator and Anderson were on board with the appearance, but things changed on Sunday night, the day before The MMA Hour runs live on MMA Fighting.
“Late, late on Sunday, late last night, I get a text from Corey, saying that his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, is refusing to let him come on the program,” said Helwani.