Jamahal Hill is the former UFC light heavyweight champion, who relinquished his title owing to injury last year. Having beaten Glover Teixeira for the belt in early 2023, Hill vacated the title due to injury. However, despite the layoff, he had new enemies, particularly, renowned MMA Journalist, Ariel Helwani.
For those unaware, ‘Sweet Dreams’ suffered an Achilles injury in July of last year, prompting him to vacate the title. Eventually, the title would fall in the hands of Alex Pereira, who bested Jiri Prochazka for it at UFC 295. Now, Jamahal is set to face Pereira for his title in the main event of UFC 300.
We 👏 Can’t 👏 Wait 👏#UFC300 is almost here 👀
Buy the PPV early: https://t.co/kOInf4xnPV pic.twitter.com/28gPiZopRA
— UFC (@ufc) March 24, 2024
With that said, Jamahal’s time sitting on the sidelines has been a busy one, with constant back and forths between him and Ariel Helwani, one of the most highly reputed journalists on the scene. Whilst Jamahal is by no means the first fighter to have problems with Helwani, their squabbles have most certainly been long drawn out to say the least.
How did the Jamahal Hill- Ariel Helwani beef begin?
As such, let’s take a look at how really turned sour between the two. Initially, Hill appeared on The MMA Hour following his win over Glover Teixeira at UFC 283. During the episode, things went from playful banter to slightly confrontational after Ariel Helwani seemingly discredited Hill’s emotional response to winning the title. After losing the verbal exchange, Ariel then brought up Hill’s comments on Dana White slapping his wife.
A very awkward change of topic to say the least, it has been referred to by Hill and others as Ariel trying to one-up the fighter, as he often tries to on his show. Further, in his interview with Jiri Prochazka, Helwani inadvertently tried to get the Czech fighter to throw shade at Hill. As such, Jamahal Hill called out Ariel, for intentionally trying to create drama between him and Prochazka.
Thereafter, things turned into a back and forth on Twitter or X, with response, and then responses to the response and further responses to the response of the response. Amid the back and forth, Jamahal Hill exposed Helwani for twisting people’s words and bringing up receipts that were inapplicable or out of context. Then, in the build-up to the Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz fight, Helwani extended an invitation to have Hill on his show once again.
What has been the last interaction between Jamahal Hill and Ariel Helwani?
Naturally, Jamahal Hill rejected the opportunity to do so. However, with the fighter keen to finish their squabble, invited the journalist on his Champ Chat podcast instead. In his response, Ariel simply suggested that the fighter was building up drama to help his budding channel grow. Not only that, but Helwani also stated that a lot of what Jamahal had to say was ‘made up’ and ‘lies’.
Zzzzzz
Jamahal with another response to the response to the response? Sheesh. So much drama. Good content for the budding channel tho! Well played.
Saw his latest one. More lies. More made up stuff. His manager knows. But all good. I’m bored. Offer on the table if you change… https://t.co/EEufh9BZR3
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 4, 2023
Notably, Helwani shared screenshots, claiming that he had referred a person to Hill’s manager to help with the former champ’s YouTube and socials. However, Hill rebutted, by stating that Ariel conveniently left out the phone call wherein it was Hill’s manager who asked for the social media person’s contact in the first place. Lastly, Hill let it be known that due to what Ariel pulled with Jiri after their interview, he would not be coming on his show ever.
Like I said u reached out for your boy!!! And why didn’t u add the phone call in between these text messages? Where HE brought up not just me but Buckley as well!!! U so desperate u exposing yourself!!! I’m always real just man up and own your shit!! https://t.co/jQvMVBZl0j
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) August 4, 2023
Recently, Jamahal Hill also criticized how Ariel Helwani spoke to Chael Sonnen in a recent interview. According to the fighter, Helwani’s tone would have been much different had Chael been in the studio. In his response, Helwani simply claimed that since he and Chael were ‘friends’, they could speak to each other ‘differently’. All things considered, it is clear that we haven’t heard the last of the Hill-Helwani rivalry.