JAKE PAUL has taken aim at Dana White amid the UFC’s ongoing betting scandal.
Mixed martial arts’ premier promotion has been rocked by a wagering controversy following UFC Vegas 64, which saw a fight flagged for suspicious betting activity.
Hours before Darrick Minner’s clash with Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, the odds drastically shifted in favour of the latter and several bets were placed on him winning via first-round TKO.
Alarm bells were raised when Nuerdanbieke did just that, with it later emerging that Minner didn’t disclose he had a leg injury.
Minner and coach James Krause – who previously ran a popular betting Discord – are now the subjects of investigations from the Nevada Athletic Commission, who have suspended his coaching license, U.S. Integrity and the UFC.
The ramifications of the scandal have been seismic, with the Ontario and Alberta Gaming commissions in Canada suspending betting on UFC fights.
Additionally, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is refusing to take bets on any fight Krause is involved in “including as a coach, trainer, promotor or fighter.”
And Paul has used the fallout of the scandal to mock those in the MMA world who accused him of fixing his fights with Ben Askren and Anderson Silva.
He tweeted: “Remember when Dana White and UFC fighters like Colby Cunnington tried to claim my [Ben] Askren KO was rigged.
“Ironic isn’t it that the Ontario Gaming Commission believe UFC insiders are rigging fights.”
The UFC hasn’t taken the issue lightly, releasing Minner from his contract and banned fighters who continue to be trained by Krause that they’ll be ineligible to compete.
An excerpt fo a statement read: “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.”
It added: “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.”
Neither Minner nor Krause have commented on the matter, although Krause has been open about his gambling before.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, he said: “I make more gambling on MMA than I do anything else.
Krause also revealed that he bets on “every single card” and “just about every fight.”
