Tag: Ariel Helwani

UFC Japan will Air Live before PPV in Las Vegas

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Dana White breaks the news around the six minute mark. Props to NBCsports.com for the video.

When the news first broke that the UFC was going to hold an event in Japan on the same day as an event in Las Vegas in 2012, many of us were confused as to how this was going to work. Some of us pictured a Flintstones-esque scenario where Dana White and Burt Watson frantically try to be in two places at once, leading to various shenanigans. Even though specifics are still up in the air at this point, last night Dana White cleared the air a bit with how the UFC intends on handling the situation.

According to Dana White, the UFC event in Japan will take place on February 26, while the PPV card in Las Vegas will take place on February 25. Due to time zone differences, the plan is that the UFC Japan card will air live for free (presumably on Fox) immediately before the PPV broadcast in Las Vegas. So for those of you who guessed that that was going to happen, feel free to gloat in the comments section.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Dana White breaks the news around the six minute mark. Props to NBCsports.com for the video.

When the news first broke that the UFC was going to hold an event in Japan on the same day as an event in Las Vegas in 2012, many of us were confused as to how this was going to work. Some of us pictured a Flintstones-esque scenario where Dana White and Burt Watson frantically try to be in two places at once, leading to various shenanigans. Even though specifics are still up in the air at this point, last night Dana White cleared the air a bit with how the UFC intends on handling the situation.

According to Dana White, the UFC event in Japan will take place on February 26, while the PPV card in Las Vegas will take place on February 25. Due to time zone differences, the plan is that the UFC Japan card will air live for free (presumably on Fox) immediately before the PPV broadcast in Las Vegas. So for those of you who guessed that that was going to happen, feel free to gloat in the comments section.

Dana White also commented on the fears some of you may have about the strength of the Japan card compared to the strength of the PPV. As transcribed by MMAWeekly: “The thing we don’t do, and it’s what boxing did a long time ago, when the pay model started they started putting (expletive) fights on free TV. We don’t ever put (expletive) fights on free TV.”

Fight cards have yet to be announced for either event.

 

Twit Pic of the Week: Ariel Helwani Loosens Up

Ariel Helwani is usually tidy in his button up nifty suits that might feature a splash of lavender or colorful tennis shoes but Arianny Celeste managed to snap a rare photo of the MMA journalist.

Ariel Helwani is usually tidy in his button up nifty suits that might feature a splash of lavender or colorful tennis shoes but Arianny Celeste managed to snap a rare photo of the MMA journalist looking like a cholo.

Follow Ariel Helwani: here.

What We Learned From Steven Seagal at UFC 135

Well, Steven Seagal made it out to the festivities Saturday night in Denver and it’s beginning to seem like either he’s some kind of mixed martial arts guru or he’s a senile old man who is way out of touch with reality. My bet’s on the latter.

Our friends Karyn Bryant from MMA H.E.A.T. and Ariel Helwani from MMAFighting caught up with Sensei Seagal before and after the event, respectively, and let’s just say old cockpuncher had a few yarns to spin.

Check out the videos and the bullet points of the world according to The Glimmer Man after the jump.


(Don’t look into his eyes. He’ll hypnotize you like he did the Black House guys.)

Well, Steven Seagal made it out to the festivities Saturday night in Denver and it’s beginning to seem like either he’s some kind of mixed martial arts guru or he’s a senile old man who is way out of touch with reality. My bet’s on the latter.

Our friends Karyn Bryant from MMA H.E.A.T. and Ariel Helwani from MMAFighting caught up with Sensei Seagal before and after the event, respectively, and let’s just say old cockpuncher had a few yarns to spin.

Check out the videos and the bullet points of the world according to The Glimmer Man:


(Video courtesy of YouTube/MMAHeat)

• Seagal counts Jones as a friend and refers to him as “Mr. Jon”

• He claimed that he was going to have some words of advice for Jones in his dressing room prior to the bout, but according to Jones at the post-fight presser, he turned down the offer

• He refers to Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva as his “people” and his “sons” and “children”

• He said that Jones might use the front kick he taught Anderson and Lyoto, but later said he didn’t do it right because he hasn’t learned the deadly move yet

• He predicted that the fight would be decided on the ground by Jones by elbows

• He says Anderson wants to be a cop when he retires and that he may do so with him in Arizona

(Video courtesy of YouTube/ArielHelwani)

• According to a Tweet by Ariel Saturday night, Seagal told his cameraman what angle to shoot him at

• In spite of the fact that he said earlier that Jones’ elbo

Vanessa Hudgens Does Self Service (No That’s Not a Sex Euphemism) Brings You the Fix Friday Link Dump

Yay! Josh Barnett passes his Strikeforce Drug Test: here. Just like a long legion of former UFC fighters, except for maybe this one, Paul Daley is really sorry and wants very badly to be back.

Yay! Josh Barnett passes his Strikeforce Drug Test: here.

Just like a long legion of former UFC fighters, except for maybe this one, Paul Daley is really sorry and wants very badly to be back with the promotion: here.

Strikeforce‘s last ditch impressive effort to make a really good fight card for Showtime with Gilbert Melendez, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Gina Carano and Keith Jardine: here.

The UFC to get more out of the Brazilian Real than the US Dollar in 2012 with 4 or 5 events planned and a TUF season: here.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson insinuates Ariel Helwani is a married man who might be gay, maybe because Cheick Kongo is giving Helwani kisses (VIDEO): here.

Strikeforce Challengers 19 airs on Showtime network tonight. Get live play-by-play: here.

Check out the UFC 135 at 4:00pm (MT) weigh-ins: here.

Enjoy more pics of Vanessa Hudgens at pumping her own gas below and: here.

This Just In: Brazilian Fans Love UFC, Hate Chael Sonnen

 

As we all know, Chael Sonnen occasionally says things about Brazilian fighters, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and the country of Brazil that are less than complimentary. You ever wonder what the fans of Brazil think about Chael Sonnen?

Us neither. But Ariel Helwani was at the open workouts for UFC Rio, and there were a few fans there, so why not? Turns out, while there are a few that recognize Sonnen’s promotional efforts for what they are, mostly the Brazilian fans just plain don’t like the gangster from America. Go figure.

Check out five minutes of Brazilians talking about Sonnen. It’s worth it.

[RX]

 

 

As we all know, Chael Sonnen occasionally says things about Brazilian fighters, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and the country of Brazil that are less than complimentary.  You ever wonder what the fans of Brazil think about Chael Sonnen?

Us neither.  But Ariel Helwani was at the open workouts for UFC Rio, and there were a few fans there, so why not?  Turns out, while there are a few that recognize Sonnen’s promotional efforts for what they are, mostly the Brazilian fans just plain don’t like the gangster from America.  Go figure.

Check out five minutes of Brazilians talking about Sonnen.  It’s worth it.

[RX]

 

Video: Tito Ortiz Accuses Ariel Helwani of Starting Sh*t Between Him and Ryan Bader

(Video courtesy of YouTube/IronForgesIron)

Well, we can add Tito Ortiz’s name to the growing list of UFC fighters who have accused MMA Fighting reporter Ariel Helwani of starting shit in recent months.

During today’s UFC 132 press conference, Helwani asked Tito’s upcoming opponent Ryan Bader what he thought about Ortiz saying he had weak wrestling and before he had a chance to answer, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” interrupted to inform Ariel that he said no such thing.

In the interview we posted earlier today on the site, Ariel asked Tito if he saw any holes in Bader’s game that he was looking to exploit Saturday night, to which he replied, “His takedowns and his takedown defense,” before describing how he saw some holes in both areas that could leave openings for him to capitalize. He didn’t actually use the term “weak wrestling,” but he did point out that certain aspects of Bader’s wrestling game were lacking in his opinion.

“I never said he had weak wrestling. What are you starting shit for, dude? I never said that. I never said he had weak wrestling. I said I seen holes in his game, but I never said he had weak wrestling. Don’t be putting words in my mouth, dog.”


(Video courtesy of YouTube/IronForgesIron)

Well, we can add Tito Ortiz’s name to the growing list of UFC fighters who have accused MMA Fighting reporter Ariel Helwani of starting shit in recent months.

During today’s UFC 132 press conference, Helwani asked Tito’s upcoming opponent Ryan Bader what he thought about Ortiz saying he had weak wrestling and before he had a chance to answer, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” interrupted to inform Ariel that he said no such thing.

In the interview we posted earlier today on the site, Ariel asked Tito if he saw any holes in Bader’s game that he was looking to exploit Saturday night, to which he replied, “His takedowns and his takedown defense,” before describing how he saw some holes in both areas that could leave openings for him to capitalize. He didn’t actually use the term “weak wrestling,” but he did point out that certain aspects of Bader’s wrestling game were lacking in his opinion.

“I never said he had weak wrestling. What are you starting shit for, dude? I never said that. I never said he had weak wrestling. I said I seen holes in his game, but I never said he had weak wrestling. Don’t be putting words in my mouth, dog.”

Besides maybe over-generalizing Tito’s statements, Helwani didn’t do anything wrong and I’m sure it wasn’t a malicious or sinister oversight on his part, but it’s interesting to note the latest trend of fighters calling Ariel (who many consider the best interviewer in the business) a shit disturber, including Nick Diaz and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

Maybe Dana is punking him like Cro Cop did to Mauro Ranallo back in the day.