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Jamahal Hill Criticizes Jiří Procházka For Getting 'Reeled In' By 'Punk' Ariel Helwani's Attempt To Manufacture Beef: 'You're Better Than That!'

Originally posted on MMA News | Last updated 8/2/23

Jamahal Hill wasn’t thrilled by the conversation Ariel Helwani recently had with Jiří Procházka, and now the UFC’s former light heavyweight champion has accused the journalist of deliberately trying to manufacture drama between the two fighters.

“Sweet Dreams” claimed the vacant light heavyweight title when he defeated Glover Teixiera at UFC 283, and fans immediately began clamoring for a matchup with Procházka almost as soon as the belt was wrapped around Hill’s waist. Any hopes for that fight to occur soon were unfortunately dashed when Hill announced that he’d torn his Achilles tendon, which encouraged the 32-year-old to vacate the title and allow the division to move on during his recovery period.

Procházka also elected to relinquish the light heavyweight title when he suffered a serious shoulder injury ahead of UFC 282, and following Hill’s announcement the Czech fighter immediately sent out an empathetic message of support.

Earlier this week Procházka appeared on The MMA Hour with Helwani and discussed Hill’s injury at length, and the content of that conversation encouraged Hill to post a scathing video on his YouTube channel that mainly focused on perhaps the most recognized journalist in MMA.

“This message is for Ariel ‘Ho-Whiny’,” Hill said "Now, Ariel and Jiří got together last night and had an interview. And as a lot of you already know and have seen, Ariel’s dirty, sneaky tactics that he likes to use to get over on fighters. And he does this all the while being completely – man, just a punk…You have an agenda, have a problem with me, for whatever reason. Maybe it’s due to the fact of last time when I came on your show after my championship fight you tried your tactics on me, and they didn’t work. You thought that I was just another dumb fighter, somebody that you could just run circles on verbally, and it didn’t work out for you…You’re now upset, and every chance you get you’re just taking shots at me.”

Jamahal Hill: Ariel Helwani Had Jiří Procházka "Looking Like A Fool"

Procházka’s interview on The MMA Hour initially made headlines for his suggestion that Hill’s injury may have been caused by him being overweight, which is a subject that “Sweet Dreams” tackled briefly before moving on to what he perceived as an attempt from Helwani to try and stir up a bit of drama.

The multiple time MMA Journalist of the Year made a point to applaud Procházka’s initial response to the news that Hill was injured before asking if he felt like “Sweet Dreams” had been getting impatient about Procházka’s own recovery time, and the 30-year-old’s admittedly less than complimentary response to that seems to be what inspired Hill to call out his fellow light heavyweight.

“So honestly, how am I supposed to take that? How are y’all gonna take that? Because you talk about trying to be gangster…What was the video that you made after I won the title? You’re supposed to be resting and recovering. Everything that I’ve said, the ‘Where you at though?’ And all that was in response to him calling me out. So you trash for calling me out, right? Why are you talking? You’re only supposed to just show it, right?”

While Hill clearly wasn’t about to let Procházka get away with his negative comments and implication about why Hill had gotten injured, the 32-year-old ultimately brought his focus back around to Helwani and asserted that he was the one who had instigated things.

“You’re gonna let Ariel talk you in, bring you in, and now he’s got you looking like a fool like he is. ‘Cause he’s salty, he gets soggy, and he doesn’t care. He just tries to make points even where there is none. Champ, you’re better than that. Don’t let him suck you in like that. It’s pathetic, bro.”

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