The Ultimate Fighting Championship appears to be
taking necessary procedural steps to prevent future betting
scandals from unfolding.
In October 2022, the promotion
released its first policy about wagering on UFC fights, as it
did not have one on the books prior to then. It adapted its UFC
Athlete Conduct Policy, to prohibit its fighters from betting on
any UFC fight including their own. It also noted – but did not
strictly ban – that some U.S. states would apply that policy to
immediate local family members, their coaches, managers and
trainers, or even individuals that had close ties to a fighter.
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On Thursday, the organization sent out a
press release announcing a new set of procedures that will be
in place. Teaming up with betting firm U.S. Integrity – the
organization initially consulted to review the controversy
involving Darrick
Minner vs. Nuerdanbieke
Shayilan – it tightened up the policy’s language effective
immediately. Among the changes were that individuals considered
“UFC Insiders,” meaning coaches, manages and the like, are also
barred from betting on UFC fights.
The UFC’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Riche T.
McKnight, wrote a statement about the decision levied by the
company, saying, “Throughout this process, we have had productive
discussions with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
(AGCO) to address the concerned the AGCO expressed to their
operators. We have made enhancements to our UFC Athlete Conduct
Policy to more clearly express the prohibition against any UFC
athlete from placing wagers directly or through a third party on
any UFC match, including placing wagers on themselves.”
During the investigation, various government and regulatory
entities have weighed in on the matter. Due to the suspicious
nature of the Minner-Shayilan match, New Jersey disallowed betting
on all matches involving any of coach James
Krause’s fighters from the Glory MMA & Fitness team.
Potentially in response to this, the UFC declared that it would not
allow any Glory MMA & Fitness competitors to fight in the Octagon
for the time being. The province of Ontario, Canada, has shut down
betting on all UFC events, in a ruling that is still currently in
effect. While the province of Alberta also did the same, as its
aforementioned AGCO worked with the UFC on these matters, it has
lifted the ban.
McKnight continued, “We have also expanded our discussion of
so-called ‘UFC Insiders’ to make clear that these same prohibitions
against wagering apply to an athlete’s coaches, managers, handlers,
athletic trainers, and other individuals affiliated with the
athletes or UFC, and that violates by these Insiders may result in
disciplinary action against related contract athletes. Finally, we
have reiterated our expectation that our contract athletes will
come to us to report any matters that might raise integrity
concerns.”