After preliminary bombshell reviews from Harry Mac, an MMA journalist and New York-based promoter, Ariel Helwani of Uncrowned acknowledged Mac’s reporting and added his personal perception, information, and particulars on the UFC’s betting controversy.
Within the hours following the a lot controversial Isaac Dulgarian vs. Yadier Del Valle struggle at UFC Vegas 110 on November 1, Mac posted to social media with claims that the UFC was made conscious by the FBI of the numerous line motion that prompted a number of sportsbooks to shut bets on the struggle within the hours main as much as it. He claimed, nonetheless, that the UFC was keen to permit the struggle to go on.
On the November 3 version of The Ariel Helwani Present, Helwani appeared to verify his understanding is similar, alleging the UFC felt that, regardless of the road motion, the struggle offered no hazard of being fastened. In reality, in conversations with these near Dulgarian, Helwani says they had been simply as shocked by the poor efficiency of Dulgarian within the struggle.
“UFC was made conscious of this, and my understanding is there have been conversations with Dulgarian and his staff about this exercise, and questioning him, ‘What’s going on?’” Helwani mentioned. “And, a number of occasions, he mentioned that, in accordance with my sources, that he was good to go. That there was nothing of this kind taking place, and there was nothing to fret about, primarily.”
Ariel Helwani Discusses Large Problem UFC Is Going through Following UFC Vegas 110 Playing Controversy
Helwani added that he doesn’t consider the UFC had any involvement within the foul play of the percentages; nonetheless, he feels their choice to not pull the struggle after being notified of the road motion has led them to extra controversy than they may have confronted initially.
Mac adopted up his first declare by including a much bigger allegation — stating that over 100 fights within the UFC have been flagged for suspicious line motion.
Whereas Helwani didn’t affirm numerous fights, he did declare that this struggle is “not an remoted incident” and alleges that extra fighters have been provided to throw fights beforehand.
“My understanding is that is on the FBI’s radar,” Helwani mentioned. “How deep of an investigation is unclear presently; that is all very new. However, sure, that is correct.
“My understanding is that this isn’t an remoted incident. And what I imply by that’s I’ve talked to a number of individuals who have both skilled, or know of others who’ve skilled, conditions the place they’ve been approached about their willingness to do one thing like this…’Are you curious about throwing a struggle for X quantity of {dollars}?’
Helwani adopted up by evaluating this incident to the Darrick Minner vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke struggle from nearly precisely three years in the past — a struggle that resulted in James Krause being exiled from the MMA neighborhood. Coincidentally, Dulgarian is a former trainee of Krause’s.
Helwani claimed that this example may get large and sport a black eye not simply within the UFC, however in the entire sport of MMA — exasperated by not solely the simultaneous playing scandal occurring within the NBA, but in addition by a seemingly elevated variety of controversial referee and judging actions and choices over this previous 12 months.
“This can be a large subject for the UFC, and when you think about — now I haven’t been informed this half I’m about to say — however when you think about the questionable refereeing as of late, you’ll be able to’t assist however let your thoughts go there as properly,” Helwani mentioned. “As a result of there is no such thing as a different attainable rationalization for a few of the wacky stuff we’ve seen as of late. And it’s straightforward to do.”
On a associated be aware, one other one in every of Mac’s allegations is that an audit is being positioned on fights refereed by Jason Herzog, sparking a little bit of a back-and-forth beef on X (previously Twitter) between the 2.
Within the final couple of hours previous to press time, Mac is alleging new info that may worsen this story — doubtlessly involving a notable MMA supervisor.
Whereas Helwani couldn’t confirm any extra of Mac’s info, he gave his personal opinion on the explanation behind all this. Helwani theorizes fighters decrease on the cardboard and never making some huge cash are being provided “fast fixes” to get them wanted money.
“I consider what is going on right here is individuals are preying on lower-level fighters, who don’t make some huge cash, who’re in robust spots, who’re preventing within the main leagues, and so they’re providing them a fast repair…” Helwani mentioned. “How prevalent is that this? I can’t inform you. However I’ve now heard it in a number of events in my conversations over the previous 24+ hours.”
Dulgarian was simply submitted by Del Valle — a struggle that noticed Dulgarian transfer from a -250 favourite to a -166 in only some hours’ time, in addition to massive bets coming in on a prop wager of Del Valle by way of first-round end. Some sportsbooks have since provided refunds to bettors as a result of controversial nature of the struggle.
Dulgarian’s UFC tenure ended on November 2, launched by the promotion simply at some point after the controversial struggle. He went 3-2 within the Octagon.
The UFC lately launched an announcement, claiming it’s taking the allegations surrounding this struggle very severely.
