The UFC is clamping down on fighters that are associated with coach James Krause following the latest developments in a betting scandal.
The Canadian provinces of Ontario and Alberta have informed sports books that they are not to take bets related to UFC fights due to integrity concerns.
Earlier this month, a fight between Krause’s fighter Darrick Minner and Shayilan Neurdanbieke received attention after there was a high volume of action coming in for Neurdanbieke to win in the first round, which is when the fight ended. Neurdanbieke moved from a -220 favorite to -420.
It is believed Minner went into the fight with an undisclosed leg injury and did not disclose it to the commission in Nevada.
Krause had previously hosted a popular podcast and Discord channel offering betting advice and stated how he bets on every card and that he made more betting on fights than anything else.
On Friday, the UFC issued the following statement regarding fighters associated with Krause, and that the promotion has released Minner:
Following the fight involving Darrick Minner on November 5, 2022, UFC was informed by sources that suspicious betting patterns had been observed on the fight. In the weeks following the fight, UFC has been cooperating with multiple ongoing government investigations into the facts and circumstances surrounding that contest. On November 18, the Nevada State Athletic Commission informed UFC and Minner’s coach, James Krause, that Krause’s license was suspended and would remain so while NSAC conducted an investigation into the matter. UFC has since advised Krause and the respective managers working with impacted fighters, that effective immediately, fighters who choose to continue to be coached by Krause or who continue to train in his gym, will not be permitted to participate in UFC events pending the outcome of the aforementioned government investigations. Further, UFC has released Darrick Minner from the organization.
Along with the safety and health of its fighters, UFC believes there is no more important component of professional mixed martial arts than the integrity of the sport. Weeks prior to the Minner fight, the organization sent formal notification to all fighters and members of their teams that they and certain other defined “insiders” were prohibited from wagering on UFC events. This was an extension of UFC’s pre-existing (and since updated) fighter Code of Conduct as well as a recognition of various state, federal, and international laws and regulations expressly prohibiting conduct that threatens the integrity of the sport including, but not limited to, insider betting based on non-public information, fight-fixing, and other such misconduct. UFC will continue to take all necessary and appropriate steps to ensure compliance with and enforcement of its policies and those of the jurisdictions in which it operates.
