Ariel Helwani: PFL Has Long Way To Go Before Catching UFC | The MMA Hour

On the latest edition of On the Nose, Ariel Helwani answers your questions about the PFL-Bellator deal, the year of the backup fighter, PFL’s five different brands, how Bellator’s preexisting contracts work, math rock, favorite fighter nicknames, PFL’s broadcast future, European MMA, UFC press conferences compared to boxing press conferences, sneakers, hating the NBA’s in-season tournament, college football, weird hobbies, and more.
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:30 Will PFL become a bigger brand abroad than UFC?
00:08:04 How would you assess the significance of the backup fighter?
00:12:20 Can NY Rid and GC name all five PFL Inc brands?
00:20:07 With PFL acquiring Bellator, how do the contracts with Bellator fighters work?
00:24:34 What are your favorite fighter nicknames of all time?
00:27:30 What’s the likelihood that PFL doesn’t stay on ESPN?
00:29:03 How likely do you see the UFC coming to Germany any time soon?
00:32:09 Regarding pre fight press conferences, does boxing do it better than MMA?
00:34:55 What is the crew’s favorite sneaker of all time?
00:44:50 For GC, what was it like quitting alcohol for a year?
00:47:15 What are you and the crew into outside of the MMA universe?
Join this channel to get access to perks:
kzbin.info/door/4f1JueVgo5t9HSmobCRPugjoin
Subscribe to MMA Fighting on KZbin: goo.gl/dYpsgH
Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: Apple.co/themmahour
Subscribe to The MMA Hour on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0NUQhyUeYQcbtHOV10qmbb
Subscribe to MMA Fighting feed on iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mma-fighting/id320642139
Check out our full video catalog: goo.gl/u8VvLi
Visit our playlists: goo.gl/eFhsvM
Like MMAF on Facebook: goo.gl/uhdg7Z
Follow on Twitter: goo.gl/nOATUI
Read More: www.mmafighting.com
MMA Fighting is your home for exclusive interviews, live shows, and more for one of the world's fastest-growing sports. Get latest news and more here: www.mmafighting.com

[@Da_Publick]

They shouldn't try to gain ground on UFC. PFL should work hard to be the best most innovative promotion they can be, and put on the best match-ups they've got.

[@haitianxu]

That would be the smart thing to do, too bad they're not doing it. Look at the language they're using: "co-leader". Look at what they're doing: outbidding the UFC. PFL is making the exact same mistake many other promotions have made - trying to outspend and outcompete the UFC, giving fans and investors sick of UFC's dominance false hope, and sealing their own fate in the process. I've seen this play out enough times to know how it's going to end.

[@johnbrylledomingo6377]

@@haitianxu They should stop mentioning "Ufc" completely

[@HonkletonDonkleton]

​@@haitianxuwho is sick of ufc's dominance and why? Serious question

[@HonkletonDonkleton]

It's amusing listening to bums discuss business 😂

[@Damnmac1]

​​@@HonkletonDonkleton I am. With such a dominant position they have no incentive to put on the best product.

[@R4RB]

PFL’s best route is definitely cross-promotion. ONE and PFL should talk. If they get the Wilder fight, that would be a huge way to get the momentum going but they would have to keep it up.

[@Richmondthefish]

lol

[@miladoinakalooo3722]

​@@Richmondthefishlol

[@lawrencehackett6479]

The wheels in ariels head turninga mile a minute.. and saying to himself "can use these guy's to hurt dana?; im in

[@jared9179]

Lights are on but nobody's home

[@HanoiHustler]

Ariel gets paid by Dana in a parking lot..🎉🎉😂 Wwe🎉😂party so fake..

[@libertarianpunk8558]

Ariel the PFL pays some fighters 3k and nobody gets health insurance why would you work for a company like that?

[@Richmondthefish]

That’s wild

[@miladoinakalooo3722]

​@Richmondthefish That's wild

[@DonTrump2024]

That’s wild

[@haydenwheeler5575]

When talking about best nicknames you can NOT leave out The Natural Born Killer! Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit is one of the best nicknames Ames in MMA history

[@Sgrechycoed]

It wasn’t left out, included in the question

[@AssortedFacts]

The dirty bird

[@fightographyae1]

Thanks for the plug, buddy!

[@chuckgrenier8898]

Thank you for putting the time marks! Love you guys!

[@kennethmckinney6274]

Thanks! We love and appreciate you guys' support!

[@natertotgaming1246]

Very nice to see you talking good about the pfl AND ufc

[@KONAMAN100]

PFL Bellator = not interested. UFC let's go! Not to mention UFC takes enuf of my free viewing time!

[@marsspacex6065]

People around the world see mma as ufc

[@Mrlucidgamer]

Pfl trying to take over and be better than ufc is like the XFL trying to be better than the NFL. UFC has been around for 30 years and on top for the last 10-13 years and are only getting better.

[@markdyer2574]

If PFL makes a deal with a games developer and a really good PFL console game comes out, it would increase PFL popularity .

[@Klobberkrew]

Felt a little nostalgic today. First time in a while where i agreed with everything Ariel said for the entire rant. Agree with your entire Shoe, Jersey and hat rant 100%

[@ChanMorgan]

54:50 Mysterious Frank asking the right questions. Part of the reason why I saw THE KILLER was for the Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross soundtrack. 🔥

[@Maartun]

PFL and ONE FC should work together! They need each other if they wanna beat the UFC!

[@benstathatos8670]

Dean of Mean deserves an honorable mention for best nickname

[@rahulchhabra3674]

Spilling some beans, WMMA only PFL series coming up soon

[@nickenser75]

It won't make a dent in the ufc . People dint have enough time to invest in another organisation . I can't tell you any fighters names in other organisations . But I know all the fighters in the ufc .

[@RogueTides]

I love the mma hour. Feel strangely productive when I tune in!

[@guernica8487]

Sexyama has to take it. Very simple but "Kid" Yamamoto always worked so well for me. "Ace" Franklin.

[@DJ95529]

25:05 You gotta mention El Cucuy as a sick nickname.

[@johnbrylledomingo6377]

45:27 "It's so much easier than you think it's going to be"

[@rvflex1934]

Knocking down the CFL?! It's a great league and yes players do what to strive to make it in the CFL.

[@benjyperez5606]

Biggest benefit is the headline PFL buys Bellator

[@jonoharper4729]

But Ariel, will you hold the PFL accountable for fighter pay, medical and pension benefits, like you do endlessly with the UFC? Francis and Jake also called out the UFC for this, are they going to insure the PFL implements these benefits? Their actions on this will be very interesting to observe, starting now. PFL paid some fighters 3k to 5k on their last card, but Ariel hasn't mentioned it.

[@Da_Publick]

Nobody mentioned that Bellator did the same thing. They were let off the hook just because they didn't interfere with fighters' endorsement deals, or non-MMA fighting opportunities. Not all fighters are offered endorsements.

[@hooligansway]

Scott Coker seems like a death nail for any franchise

[@phoenixmodellingphotography]

I hate this term since it's been co-opted and overused, but this is truly a casual take

[@PlusMoney_MMA]

Finally lunch time, let’s smoke and listen to non mma talk

[@TheGreenSniper94]

💯% agree.

[@nutmegriot209]

10:18 "your probly gonna have to overpay" .. doesn't seem hard to do since ufc is underpaying their fighters relative to revenue. if your a big enough entity, it should be possible. just pay them fairly. also, what they're doing with Francis (more freedom in his contract) is probably enticing for fighters

[@jasenthayer7646]

Hey Ariel I like your thanksgiving decorations! For the next holiday it would be awesome if you got little decorations for the bobble head fighters 😊

[@lahoshua7498]

No mention of Dirty Sanchez for nicknames is criminal.

[@HanoiHustler]

Ariel has taken a two finger dirty Sanchez.😂😂🎉

[@SnowboardProCamp]

The barn cat

[@orlandocarrasquillo4481]

PFL needs something to stand out like a format like One where they showcase kickboxing, boxing, submission grappling matches and mma. PFL can do kickboxing; but I would suggest a kickboxing that mixes sanda, and shootboxing rules. The kickboxing fights should also be with boxing gloves, no mma gloves, and 3 round tournament formats. Plus, they can do boxing based on a Japanese model that allowed 3 round boxing tournaments with spinning backfists definitely a lot more novel concept. I don't know if even exists anymore in Japan, but it's definitely a standout thing. Guys in mma, tend to tout their striking without the boxing and kickboxing experience to back it up. They might want to have fights in a ring too, just to get out the cage mentality of mma and have netting at the bottomrope to prevent scooting out of the ring.

[@MrJulianGotcha]

Lmfao

[@brandonluther80]

The only way for the PFL to gain ground quick is to show their hand. Explain to fighters how if they come together at the end of the their current contract they can quickly change the dynamic. Because one fighter coming here and there does nothing but if 30 of the top 70 came...

[@AssortedFacts]

The dirty bird is the best nickname in mma

[@peterpark7082]

PFL should become the American ONE championship, different types of events not just MMA, they should also merge with ADCC.

[@frankiecal3186]

The ufc is already gonna get all the Bo nikal's they have sponsorship programs for wrestlers like Frank Mir's doughter and development programs with usa wrestling.

[@brandonluther80]

I wish they would do muay thai and grappling like One does.

[@Bulldog2108]

no mention for the Korean Zombie!

[@danielradd111]

PFL CAN START THE PRETENDER SERIES

[@ishmealmiller3210]

Thanks man to Conor's advice on drinking.

[@danielberry4765]

Company that loses money acquires company that loses money.

[@travisfitzpatrick1866]

Do you like Sci fi fantasy genre ???? If so the light bringer series by Brent week's is an amazing series

[@nechadi]

Ariel Helwani has never heard of Sambas....right...

[@cccf2010]

Do you always google questions?

[@dennis3224]

Nah the head coach is a very important part of football it’s definitely warranted the first interview depending on who it is

[@ADHD55]

PFL will have more international appeal

[@NoahCanFB]

Every card has been in the US lmao how?

[@ADHD55]

@NoahCanFB stop simping for bud light 🌈 UFC, Dana's ego is out of control he needs to be stopped, mma fans should welcome all competition

[@AshahTafari]

@@ADHD55PFL is sponsored by Bud Light too lol

[@ADHD55]

@AshahTafari that's different since PFL is not a major dominant organisation , let them take money. Unlike ufc who's greedy and doesn't even pay fighters properly

[@phoenixmodellingphotography]

​@@NoahCanFB What the hell you on about? 🤨 The man clearly said "will have"

[@anthonyhernandez-ii6op]

Bro Ariel can not stand being wrong no matter how big or small the situation. Got pressed because he said bass wrong lmao

[@HanoiHustler]

Ufc is Wwe 🎉😂 im done Scott cokers the man. Tournaments are great.

[@As_ad_A]

Not really. Let's say Ngannou shows up at Fridays championship PFL night and walks in the cage after face off with the PFL Heavyweight champ. That would be a start.

[@The_Most_Hye]

Lol at the idea of networks bidding for PFL’s shitty subsidiaries when no one even wants the main one

[@TLFaun]

if PFL pours enough money into fighters and get UFC fighters move to PFL ... just the pay topic will shift eyes to PFL

[@rumbletown1563]

Why are we still pretending like PFL is a real company?

[@V.I.L.98]

eff pfl. eff uniforms!

[@tuffneggah]

wonder if he'd let a guest on with a palest tee?

[@ogLogLogLogL]

Tool is not "math rock"

[@dontaylucero]

Diego nightmare sanchez

[@Supermoney97]

32:40 is an asinine question. Boxing press conferences are UNWATCHABLE. Every time Ariel gets one these dumb boxing vs ufc questions, he's forced to admit that UFC is better jeez

[@Senseijohn84]

The PFL and Bellator haven't made one breakout star. Chandler was the king of Bellator but didn't become a household name until he came to the UFC. And Chandler has a losing record in the UFC. That's the difference. The UFC isn't in trouble. The PFL format is absolutely terrible. They're going to have to rebrand and put all the fighters under one umbrella. Their format is confusing enough. Good luck to them but if I'm a top Bellator fighter I'm trying to get out of my contract and sign with the UFC. This acquisition could end up being disastrous for the PFL.

[@LeeTaylor-uh8gg]

Hi Ariel why you not getting a lot more likes on this video is it because your stand up for yourself when you know your right and you are not afraid to say what's on your mind thums up to you

[@zxcvbnmmasdfghjkl]

Fyi y’all should change Kraken sponsor they are bouta get sued by SEC

[@davesullivan4289]

Of course. Took yrs for ufc to get to where it is

[@jefftaylor8644]

It's never going to be watchable if they don't allow elbows and the rest of the unified rules of mma. Get rid of the "smart cage" too I could go on all day about how terrible the pacing and production of it is.

[@lionels839]

Ariel what is your story? You speak several languages etc …would love to know more about you

[@909News]

And this podcast will take forever to reach joe rogan deals. Youll never have that rogan money!

[@closinginonclosure]

35:10 "I don't know when's the last time" Hey Ariel, you're like 45 and don't you have a journalism degree? How do you not compression elementary level English? You say the kind of thing you did here extremely frequently. It's "I don't know when the last time is that I...". You're way too old to not have figured that out.

[@KennySherwood10]

Lol pretends not to know table top gaming then flexes soccer and boxing a dead pass time and a sport that doesnt matter in America, the Mecca of pro sports and entertainment 😂😂😂😂

[@paid_didnt_win6527]

Ariel the rat snake weasel doing what he does best

[@2k7podge2k7]

Ariel " the weasle " helwani , my theory for why dana and ariel hate eachother some much is because they both have lady names

[@joystickjourneyman]

No one is ever gonna watch pfl

[@RayWilliamJohansen]

The problem im seeing is that the pfl will be seen as a way to make extra money by ex or current ufc fighters so there will be no need to join right away.

[@tylersize808]

UFC is the founding father of MMA and will always be number 1.. so long as ufc keeps signing the best fighters I don’t see how pfl can gain ground …. The women’s divisions are a messs. The heavyweight division is a mess.. nobody for Francis too fight so he’s fighting wilder ??? Lmaooooo there is no interest in those fighters at all… people want the real thing . They don’t wanna by off the clearance rack like the pfl roster is and will be for a long time

[@brownchicken5522]

pancrase is the founding father of mma casual