Ariel Helwani didn't ask Conor McGregor the tough questions for the sake of money, says YouTuber

Reacting to Ariel Helwani's recent feud with UFC star Paddy Pimblett, YouTuber True Geordie said that the otherwise enthusiastic journalist doesn't go after every fighter with the same energy.

In a recent episode of his podcast, the prominent British online figure told fellow YouTuber Wade Plem that the MMA journalist shies away from asking UFC megastar Conor McGregor tough questions. He believes that's so the Canadian can protect his financial interests:

"He hasn't quite challenged, let's say Conor McGregor, in the same way. When he sat in front of Conor McGregor, who has a whole host of things you could rip him to shreds on, Ariel has been very careful in those interviews. And sometimes it's not been great interviews because he's been so careful and the reason he's been so careful is because he doesn't want to f**k up the money."

Watch True Geordie talk about Ariel Helwani below:

The YouTuber elaborated by claiming that Helwani is not always the no-nonsense journalist he poses himself to be:

"Now he plays a very clever game in the way he has gone at Dana [White], In rather, [a] sort of Robin Hood [like manner], but it ain't always that way... I think there has been opportunities missed by Ariel where he has been sat in front of fighters who he could've taken apart."

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What is Paddy Pimblett's beef with Ariel Helwani?

Paddy Pimblett's feud with Ariel Helwani began after the veteran journalist seemingly refused a request for the Liverpool native to be paid for an appearance on his show.

When Dana White appeared on Pimblett's podcast, the UFC lightweight trashed the journalist for not paying fighters for interviews, claiming that he exploits athletes for his own financial gain:

"Ariel Helwani in particular. Like, he loves earning money off fighters... And now he's just a biased content creator. He hates on you, he hates on the UFC, he even hates on me now. And, it proper annoys me, because he uses fighters for clicks. [He] uses fighters to make money, and then has the audacity to talk about the UFC and yourself, saying that you don't pay the fighters enough... [Ariel], start paying people for these interviews."

Watch the podcast episode featuring Paddy Pimblett and Dana White below:

In an episode of The MMA Hour, Helwani clapped back at the Englishman, pointing out that his remuneration comes from a contract with the publication his show is hosted on, rather than the number of views the videos generate.

During the episode, the veteran journalist also played a voice clip of Pimblett, where the fighter can seemingly be heard offering to do an interview with Helwani prior to his manager hinting at the need for payment.

Watch Helwani's response below: