The UFC continues to perform damage control following a possible betting scandal that has the company reeling from the controversy.
Trainer James Krause, who is at the heart of an ongoing investigation, has been released from the promotion following a November 5 fight between Shayilan Nuerdanbieke and Krause-trained Darrick Minner. Betting lines heavily shifted toward Nuerdanbieke to win in the first round or for the bout to end in under 2.5 rounds.
When the fight played out, Minner appeared compromised with a leg injury allowing Nuerdanbieke to win via TKO in just 67 seconds. With the UFC already reviewing the betting activity ahead of the controversial fight, they would soon zero in on Krause.
The former welterweight contender has been outspoken in the past about betting fights–something the UFC explicitly prohibits despite an ongoing partnership with DraftKings. Krause hosted a YouTube channel and Discord server dedicated to his betting analysis. Both are shut down as a result of the investigation.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission revoked Krause’s license following the abnormal betting patterns pending review. Provinces in Canada and New Jersey have removed UFC fights from their sportsbooks altogether as doubts surrounding the integrity of the sport have yet to be calmed. As of this writing, no other city has followed suit as New Jersey and parts of Canada.
Any fighter training with Krause or trains at the Krause-owned Glory MMA gym in Missouri will face an immediate ban by the UFC. Glory MMA is a celebrated gym in MMA circles; housing several champions and contenders such as Brandon Moreno. Moreno will compete for the flyweight title at UFC 283 this coming January.
UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell reaffirmed the company’s position of prohibiting bets on any UFC matches in a memo related to the scandal. Krause and Minner have also been released from the promotion.
The UFC has announced that fighters coached by James Krause could be banned from the company amid an investigation into a possible improper fight last month.
Per MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell has informed fighters that those who continue to train with Krause will not be permitted to participate in UFC events going forward. This stems from a “suspicious” fight involving Darrick Minner on Nov. 5, which has led to Krause’s coach license being suspended in the state of Nevada and Minner being released by the UFC.
As part of the company’s statement addressing the matter, Campbell stated “the UFC Athlete Conduct Policy expressly prohibits UFC athletes from placing any wagers (directly or through a third party) on any UFC match, including placing wagers on themselves.” The same rules apply to coaches, managers, trainers and anyone else directly affiliated with the athletes or the UFC.
According to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Krause became the subject of the investigation after Minner lost to Shayilan Nuerdanbieke via first-round TKO in questionable fashion. The betting line on the fight shifted hours before they met in the Octagon, with money coming in on Nuerdanbieke to win by first-round knockout or for the fight to last under 2.5 rounds.
Minner appeared to have entered the fight with a leg injury, and the news of him being hobbled reportedly spread to bettors. As the fight played out, Minner threw a kick that appeared to aggravate his injury, opening the door for Nuerdanbieke to earn a quick finish. The UFC later announced that the “wagering activity” leading up to the fight would be “under review.”
Krause is a former UFC fighter who successfully transitioned to a highly-regarded head coach at Glory MMA in Missouri. He’s also openly involved in sports betting, hosting the 1% Club wagering podcast and a popular Discord channel where he posts betting tips, per Raimondi.
