Hiya Ariel - My question is about the PFL’s decision to nullify a fight between Natan Schulte and Raush Manfio for not “putting forward their best efforts to win the fight” and subsequently, give Shane Burgos the final playoff spot. While I want to hear your general thoughts on this (Edit - you gave them on Monday), I want to know if you feel like these types of fights are inevitable in the PFL model. In the UFC, the Merab v Aljo fight can be avoided forever in theory, but in a PFL playoff format - they’d probably have to fight at some point, right? Is this good or bad for the sport?
Hey Ariel, I’ve been a long time fan of yours. My first ever question, after seeing the recent result of Ilia Topuria victorious over Josh Emmett, would you like the ufc to go to Georgia in the near future. There’s a lot of great talent coming from there, and should be talked about more like we do with the Dagestani talents. Cheers
Hello Ariel, thoughts on the UFC london card next month... it's usually sold out and tickets are like gold dust... however underwhelming fight card and high ticket prices are seemingly putting off the UK fans.
Ariel, you have mentioned that Conor has 2 fights left on his UFC contract. Do you think this has anything to do with why he hasn't signed a contract? Perhaps the UFC want him to agree to at least 1 additional fight so that he ultimately can not back them into a corner being on his last fight? Great job everyone, love the show.
Just a quick one, do you think you give the “online haters” a disproportionately sized platform? I feel a small minority of random people hiding online get too much airtime and influence.
Also what is your guys favourite flavours of ice cream.
I just wanna say, i love the intro music on No Bets Barred. I NEVER skip it and it’s jist a complete banger. First time question asker, long time viewer. I apologize for the length, but i want to know your thoughts on this.
I believe the issue of learning what the judges think, goes back to the legendary question of “what is scored heavier? A high crotch slam, but the slammed fighter immediately getting up, or a lazy single leg , but the one taken down is held there for long” We would learn that maybe Sal puts all the weight if the round in a last 10 second take down and hold down. Where has Cleary prefers a lot of sub attempts, even though fighter A was winning on the feet the whole time. It opens up to fighters/coaches to “gameplan” for whoever the judge is because now we know what each one of them “likes”. Thoughts on this?
Love the cast. Keep breaking down those 4th walls. 2 quick questions: Ariel, what’s your favorite Montréal coffee shop? Any insight into why UFC stopped selling/using the device that allowed live event attendees the ability to listen to the commentary team, while watching live in-person? It use to be available to purchase at their merch stand in the arenas. Attending UFC events is tremendous, but not having the audio commentary takes away from the overall experience. Your thoughts and/or insight…
A random thought train I went on after listening to Dricus Du Plessis; can you imagine the story arc that it would be if Dricus were to beat Rob and Israel back to back, arguably two of the top three middleweights of all time? Everyone is writing him off, but it would have to be one of the biggest upsets. Crazier things have happened?
MMA fighting released an article with fighter purses for the PFL event last weekend. Is the Shane Burgos purse of 100k accurate or is that just what the commission wants to release? I felt like he would have left the UFC for more $$$
I recently listened to GSP on the Lex Fridman podcast and GSP had some very interesting perspectives that I'd like to get your thoughts on. Firstly, GSP does not believe in free will, he thinks everything has a cause and has a very deterministic way of viewing the world. He even goes on to say when most fighters at his gym ask him for advice he tells them straight up that they're not going to make it, instead of encouraging them and telling them to chase their dreams like most would expect.
As someone who is an A-List celebrity like yourself, you must be conscious of not just the hard work you put in to your astounding journalism career, but also the extreme luck and circumstance of how life played out for you to be sitting in that chair at Vox studios right now.
My question is how much free will do you believe you had in getting to where you are today, and how much was luck and circumstance? Give us pie graph %.
God bless you and the crew for what you do to get us through.
First time question for you and the parlay boys. It’s my first UFC event/birthday on July 29th and I was wondering what should I expect and what to look out for to have the best experience.
Love the show, shoutout to GC, New York Rick, and Mysterious Frank.
Hey Ariel! Long time listener first time question asker - I’m gearing up to go to my 2nd UFC event in Nashville after my first was last year in Columbus, Ohio! As a memento I ordered the autographed poster from Columbus and plan to do so for Nashville as well! My question to you is do you have an all time favorite poster design and what do you make of the more artistic newer designs?
Additionally I was looking up my last event in UFC Columbus, and was wondering if you have any word on undefeated Russian Aliaskhab Khizriev “The Black Wolf”. He was dominant in his performance against Denis Tiuliulin after his win on DWCS. I thought he could be a future contender but crickets from his Instagram and Tapology page since that fight.
After listening to Chael bring up fighter pay it sparked up something I have always wanted to ask. You claim the UFC only pays 20% of revenue to the fighters. But you also say how everyone knows the numbers they share are not real, that the fighters actually get a lot more. So doesn't that make the "20%" thing irrelevant? If they aren't releasing the full pay of fighters there is no way that pay is included in the revenue share numbers. I'm all for the fighters making more money, I would just like to get a true representation of the pay.
Guten Tag Ariel,
Simple one this week, where is Gregor Gillespie ?
P.s why do you have a Dame Lillard Figure on your desk ? Any connection to him as a Knicks fan ?
Greetings from Germany my man
Hiya Ariel - My question is about the PFL’s decision to nullify a fight between Natan Schulte and Raush Manfio for not “putting forward their best efforts to win the fight” and subsequently, give Shane Burgos the final playoff spot. While I want to hear your general thoughts on this (Edit - you gave them on Monday), I want to know if you feel like these types of fights are inevitable in the PFL model. In the UFC, the Merab v Aljo fight can be avoided forever in theory, but in a PFL playoff format - they’d probably have to fight at some point, right? Is this good or bad for the sport?
Hey Ariel, fan from Australia. Truly love mma and your show, first time question !
I've got some Ideas I want to space out over the coming weeks
First off a way to fix judging and keep the 10 point must system.
10-9 = close round can go either way
10-8 = the overall winner of the round, most common score
10-7 = A dominant round e.g Volkanovski vs Islam round 5
10-6 = where you nearly finish the fight e.g cannionier vs Vettori round 2
Rewarding fighters with more dominant rounds and close rounds being less impact full on the final score
The right winner comes out everytime I use this system there will be more draws but sometimes a draw is the right decision
Hope you guys love it
Shalom Ariel,
If PFL ends up buying Bellator, will it complicate the contract renewal process between the UFC and ESPN?
Hey Ariel, I’ve been a long time fan of yours. My first ever question, after seeing the recent result of Ilia Topuria victorious over Josh Emmett, would you like the ufc to go to Georgia in the near future. There’s a lot of great talent coming from there, and should be talked about more like we do with the Dagestani talents. Cheers
Hello Ariel, thoughts on the UFC london card next month... it's usually sold out and tickets are like gold dust... however underwhelming fight card and high ticket prices are seemingly putting off the UK fans.
cheers
Ali
Ariel, you have mentioned that Conor has 2 fights left on his UFC contract. Do you think this has anything to do with why he hasn't signed a contract? Perhaps the UFC want him to agree to at least 1 additional fight so that he ultimately can not back them into a corner being on his last fight? Great job everyone, love the show.
Hello!
Just a quick one, do you think you give the “online haters” a disproportionately sized platform? I feel a small minority of random people hiding online get too much airtime and influence.
Also what is your guys favourite flavours of ice cream.
Love and peace
I just wanna say, i love the intro music on No Bets Barred. I NEVER skip it and it’s jist a complete banger. First time question asker, long time viewer. I apologize for the length, but i want to know your thoughts on this.
I believe the issue of learning what the judges think, goes back to the legendary question of “what is scored heavier? A high crotch slam, but the slammed fighter immediately getting up, or a lazy single leg , but the one taken down is held there for long” We would learn that maybe Sal puts all the weight if the round in a last 10 second take down and hold down. Where has Cleary prefers a lot of sub attempts, even though fighter A was winning on the feet the whole time. It opens up to fighters/coaches to “gameplan” for whoever the judge is because now we know what each one of them “likes”. Thoughts on this?
Love the cast. Keep breaking down those 4th walls. 2 quick questions: Ariel, what’s your favorite Montréal coffee shop? Any insight into why UFC stopped selling/using the device that allowed live event attendees the ability to listen to the commentary team, while watching live in-person? It use to be available to purchase at their merch stand in the arenas. Attending UFC events is tremendous, but not having the audio commentary takes away from the overall experience. Your thoughts and/or insight…
Hi Ariel,
A random thought train I went on after listening to Dricus Du Plessis; can you imagine the story arc that it would be if Dricus were to beat Rob and Israel back to back, arguably two of the top three middleweights of all time? Everyone is writing him off, but it would have to be one of the biggest upsets. Crazier things have happened?
Shalom, Ariel
MMA fighting released an article with fighter purses for the PFL event last weekend. Is the Shane Burgos purse of 100k accurate or is that just what the commission wants to release? I felt like he would have left the UFC for more $$$
Thanks- Gary G
Bonjour Lord Ariel,
I recently listened to GSP on the Lex Fridman podcast and GSP had some very interesting perspectives that I'd like to get your thoughts on. Firstly, GSP does not believe in free will, he thinks everything has a cause and has a very deterministic way of viewing the world. He even goes on to say when most fighters at his gym ask him for advice he tells them straight up that they're not going to make it, instead of encouraging them and telling them to chase their dreams like most would expect.
As someone who is an A-List celebrity like yourself, you must be conscious of not just the hard work you put in to your astounding journalism career, but also the extreme luck and circumstance of how life played out for you to be sitting in that chair at Vox studios right now.
My question is how much free will do you believe you had in getting to where you are today, and how much was luck and circumstance? Give us pie graph %.
God bless you and the crew for what you do to get us through.
Hi Ariel,
First time question for you and the parlay boys. It’s my first UFC event/birthday on July 29th and I was wondering what should I expect and what to look out for to have the best experience.
Love the show, shoutout to GC, New York Rick, and Mysterious Frank.
Hey Ariel! Long time listener first time question asker - I’m gearing up to go to my 2nd UFC event in Nashville after my first was last year in Columbus, Ohio! As a memento I ordered the autographed poster from Columbus and plan to do so for Nashville as well! My question to you is do you have an all time favorite poster design and what do you make of the more artistic newer designs?
Additionally I was looking up my last event in UFC Columbus, and was wondering if you have any word on undefeated Russian Aliaskhab Khizriev “The Black Wolf”. He was dominant in his performance against Denis Tiuliulin after his win on DWCS. I thought he could be a future contender but crickets from his Instagram and Tapology page since that fight.
Forever a fan,
ColtsFanCole
p.s. Brock Lesnar is the goat
What's up Ariel!
After listening to Chael bring up fighter pay it sparked up something I have always wanted to ask. You claim the UFC only pays 20% of revenue to the fighters. But you also say how everyone knows the numbers they share are not real, that the fighters actually get a lot more. So doesn't that make the "20%" thing irrelevant? If they aren't releasing the full pay of fighters there is no way that pay is included in the revenue share numbers. I'm all for the fighters making more money, I would just like to get a true representation of the pay.
Much love to you and the crew