UFC combat below investigation after suspicious betting detected

The UFC combat on Saturday between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, which ended abruptly within the first spherical, is being investigated by a U.S.-based betting integrity agency after a number of sportsbooks in a number of states reported suspicious wagering on the featherweight bout.

The chances on Neurdanbieke defeating underdog Minner moved dramatically within the hours main as much as their UFC Combat Night time matchup in Las Vegas. Bettors had been satisfied that not solely would Neurdanbieke win, however he would achieve this within the first spherical. Cash poured in on the favourite to win by knockout within the first spherical and for the combat to final fewer than 2.5 rounds, prompting some sportsbooks to take the combat off the board, in accordance with an evaluation carried out by U.S. Integrity, a Las Vegas-based agency that works with sportsbooks and state gaming regulators to watch the betting market, a replica of which was obtained by ESPN.

On Saturday, with rumors circulating amongst bettors that Minner was injured, Neurdanbieke’s odds to win moved from -220 to -420 within the 4 hours earlier than the combat. Simply 30 seconds into the combat, Minner threw a left kick to Neurdanbieke’s physique and instantly grimaced and reached for his left leg. Neurdanbieke closed in and Minner went for an additional left physique kick earlier than Neurdanbieke dropped Minner with a knee to the pinnacle and completed on the bottom with elbows. The TKO stoppage got here at 1:07 of the primary spherical.

It was Neurdanbieke’s first end within the UFC in 4 fights with the promotion. Minner, a 10-year MMA veteran, has now misplaced three straight and 4 of six UFC fights.

As sportsbooks grew suspicious of the bizarre betting main as much as the combat, they contacted U.S. Integrity, which in flip carried out an intensive evaluation and alerted state gaming regulators and different sportsbook purchasers to the state of affairs roughly three hours earlier than the combat started at 8 p.m. ET. The betting did not cease, in accordance with the evaluation, even after the chances moved to considerably less-attractive costs. The relentless betting on the more serious odds solely elevated suspicions amongst some bookmakers and U.S. Integrity.

Matthew Holt, president of U.S. Integrity, stated the corporate can not reveal any particulars of an ongoing investigation.

“Our purpose as all the time is to inform the business of any potential nefarious, irregular or suspicious exercise as quickly as potential, to allow them to take motion as shortly as potential,” Holt instructed ESPN. “On this case, we hope that by sending a pair hours earlier than the combat began, we could have helped forestall some extra suspicious bets from getting by way of.”

U.S. Integrity doesn’t have any enforcement energy, which suggests any response to the agency’s investigation must come from regulators or different authorities.

An ESPN request for remark from the UFC was not instantly returned Sunday.

When reached Sunday by textual content message, Minner’s supervisor, Andrew Lee of Disorderly Conduct Administration, wrote that he was “unaware of something like this,” however didn’t present any additional readability on the state of affairs.

Minner is coached by James Krause, a retired fighter and identified sports activities bettor, who hosts the 1% Membership podcast and a well-liked Discord channel that options his betting ideas. Krause didn’t reply to a request for remark Sunday from ESPN.

On Oct. 17, UFC introduced that fighters and their groups had been prohibited from wagering on UFC fights. In a memo, UFC chief enterprise officer Hunter Campbell wrote that the edict got here “in mild of clear route that we now have acquired from regulators accountable for the regulated sports activities betting business in the US.” He famous within the memo that in some states it’s unlawful for fighters and groups to guess on occasions with which they’re affiliated.

“As the game has grown over time, the overwhelming majority of states that regulate sports activities playing have some prohibitions on inside betting exercise,” Campbell instructed ESPN on the time. “And this wasn’t one thing the UFC superior independently. This was one thing the UFC set forth in response from governmental companies, conscious we’re additionally topic to governmental regulation as we’re licensed promoters in nearly each state. It is the pure evolution of the game.”

Bookmakers and bettors who communicated with ESPN had differing opinions on what came about Saturday. Some had been satisfied that Minner threw the combat, whereas others believed the bets had been based mostly on leaked info that Minner was damage severely and should not have been combating.

A supply conversant in Minner’s camp stated his left knee was “completely injured going into the combat.”

Joey Odessa, a longtime, revered MMA oddsmaker, observed the flurry of curiosity on the combat and was conscious of the alerts being despatched out to sportsbooks.

“Doesn’t suggest a repair was in,” Odessa instructed ESPN in a social media message, “however moderately somebody positively knew one thing.”