Media Buckley to Ariel: When fighters come on your show, you try to use us as weapons against the UFC with your platform, setting us up with questions

[HHJ]

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

I remember when they were doin that Strikeforce tourney there was a big media event in NY and he was there making a scene hahaha

but maybe a year later,he was done.

I'll give it to him. He was a real diehard fan, but goddamn he went so hard in the obnoxiousness and thats all he really had.

 

[Substance Abuse]

I remember when they were doin that Strikeforce tourney there was a big media event and he was there making a scene hahaha

but maybe a year later,he was done.

I'll give it to him. He was a real diehard fan, but goddamn he went so hard in the obnoxiousness and thats all he really had.

I can't recall in detail, as it's been so long and I'm more forgetful nowadays, but him riding his bike around the beach doing stupid shit will always be burned into my brain, lol.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Haven't seen the interview yet, but while Ariel can be weasely, it's also gonna be hard to take seriously the comments of a double digit IQ guy like Buckley

 

[Dr Fong]

It's funny how fighters think going after Ariel is the same as personally polishing Dana's balls. How many of them have pulled this same shit now?

Yes, Dana hates Ariel. But this is far too abstract a way of licking boot - it's not like the wife beater is going to watch your shitty interview and make a mental note to pay you more.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Agreed on all points except that last part.

There's no point in Buckley trying to come up with examples. You know Ariel is the smarter guy and will find his way out of any example Buckley could've presented to him

What Buckley is saying is true. Everyone knows how Helwani is by now. But it doesn't take away the fact he's a great journalist.

If Buckley has an argument, he should make it. If he can't make the argument because he's ill-equipped to, then he shouldn't be making it.

 

[Eternalwarriorking]

Everyone loves to hate on Ariel and sometimes with good reason, but Buckley made an accusation, wouldn't delve into it and shut down. He's just being a company man. Ariel should be asking tough questions. I don't see an issue with it.

Exactly, that's Ariel's prerogative and he's a valuable voice when it comes to keeping on an eye on a marketing leviathan like the UFC.

By the same token, there's nothing wrong with Buckley being happy about his relationship with the UFC and the positive things that are happening for him. But he needs to realize he doesn't need to indulge Ariel at all if he asks these questions; becoming awkwardly standoffish is just a waste of his valuable promotional time on the program.

 

[Native7]

You know Ariel has sat & stewed over his weaselyness. Developed a narrative with talking points to confront these accusations.

Similar to confronting bald goof over fighter pay

It's a losing battle yet everyone knows accusations are true.

 

[BEATDOWNS]

Ariel Heelwani is a little B imho

 

[legedema]

Ariel got the right to defend himself

 

[Can’t Handle My Riddum]

A lot of people in the MMA sphere who do interviews got into it from a very different way than Helwani.

Helwani went to Syracuse and studied sports journalism.

His approach is totally different and he doesn’t throw soft balls at guys a whole lot.

I do feel that Buckley was on to something but when he shut down when pressed, ended up looking a little lame.

I’m a fan of Helwani in the sense that he’s pretty much the only guy covering the sport the way other legitimate journalists cover other sports (NBA, NFL, NHL…) MMA is full of people like Nina Drama or the Schmo. It says a lot about our sport when the one guy covering the sport in a legitimate way is the odd man out.

 

[Thy]

there isn't a single interview i've enjoyed from ariel. everything he does is annoying and he clearly annoys the people he interviews to try and get what he wants.

 

[wlu.29]

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How many times have fighters said this to Ariel and his weasel ass is still in disbelief playing victim like usual.

Buckley sounds incoherent and can't back up anything he says

 

[Your Two Braincells]

Ariel digging a tunnel right now as we speak

 

[B ville Famous]

“Give me an example”

“Well, you know”

… so no proof. Got it.

 

[Oscar Madison]

Ariel is not so much a valued journalist -- as he is a platform.

Fighters, coaches, other characters in combat sports entertainment are fortunate that Brand Weasel gives then an opportunity to be heard more broadly -- to promote, counter narratives, give behind the scenes insight, etc

 

[Thepaintbucket]

In this line of business there's no free lunch. Fighters obviously come on his show because it gives them the biggest exposure. But do they ever wonder why people watch his show in the first place? It's because he's the only MMA journalist who's willing to ask questions fans want to know about

So why don't other journalists ask the same questions? Why are fighters afraid to answer them? The obvious common denominator here is Dana White . Dana as we know it is irrational, petty and will punish people if you get on his bad side.

 

[chinarice]

No he doesn't. You just answer in those manners because the truth is the ufc Fucks with you.

Imagine crying about Ariel asking about how shifty you're treated

 

[Sms_productions713]

Who remembers this chick? She is literally the female Helwani.

She tells cyborg “ you don’t seem to have the energy in your face because of Jon” lmao this bitch is dumb as shit

 

[StonedLemur]

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How many times have fighters said this to Ariel and his weasel ass is still in disbelief playing victim like usual.

Buckley should be happy that anyone wants to speak with his goofy ass at all.
He didn't have to go on the show.

 

[StonedLemur]

Who remembers this chick? She is literally the female Helwani.

She tells cyborg “ you don’t seem to have the energy in your face because of Jon” lmao this bitch is dumb as shit

Why is she dumb?
Because she's asking real questions?

They had to move an entire event on a weeks notice because he's a cheating pos.

It was a legit question that they sidestepped like true douchebags.
Cyborg was pissed because she had family up from Brazil that she couldn't take with her when they moved the event.

Every question was legit sir.