Ariel Helwani says his last day in Bristol will be June 15. The MMA reporter had been locked in contentious negotiations with ESPN according to an April report from Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. He announced in a video post on Instagram that he is indeed moving on.

Helwani had nothing but good things to say about the network. He called his time at ESPN "amazing" and the chance to work there "a dream come true."

While he is best known for the work he has done around the UFC and other MMA promotions, Helwani mentioned that covering the NBA Summer League was one of the stand out moments of his time at ESPN. He thanked Tim Corrigan for giving him the chance to work three games alongside Jorge Sedano and Vince Carter.

"I have a lot of respect for what ESPN stands for and I have a lot of respect for the people there and I'm truly grateful for what they gave me and for the opportunities that they gave me," Helwani said, stressing that the decision to leave ESPN is his and there is no bad blood between him and the network.

He stressed that he never expected to leave ESPN after just three years. During negotiations for a new deal, Helwani had the opportunity to see what other offers may exist for his services. He says he was excited by what he heard from other potential employers.

Outkick's Bobby Burack reports that many in the industry believe that Ariel Helwani can ride the wave of growth in MMA and the UFC and maximize his value outside of a traditional media deal. He may seek non-exclusive deals with multiple partners. Burack writes that sources have said that Helwani has already met with Showtime and Meadowlark Media.

One interesting thing to note is that Helwani did not mention ESPN's contract with the UFC. Helwani and UFC leader Dana White have a very contentious relationship. Helwani has been outspoken in the past about White meddling in his career and making it difficult to do his job. The only allusion Helwani made was thanking various ESPN executives for "always having my back".

It sounds like Ariel Helwani already has at least one new deal lined up. He said in his Instagram post that he hoped followers would forgive him for not announcing his future plans just yet.