MMA News

Tag: fixed fights

  • ‘We Have Absolutely Nothing To Hide’ – Factory X Refutes Report Of FBI Raid In Wake Of UFC Gambling Scandal

    ‘We Have Absolutely Nothing To Hide’ – Factory X Refutes Report Of FBI Raid In Wake Of UFC Gambling Scandal

    The Factory X gym is fighting back against reports from MMA journalist and New York-based promoter Harry Mac that an FBI raid took place on its premises.

    Mac took to social media during the afternoon of November 6 that FBI agents made their way to Factory X, the Marc Montoya-led gym based in Englewood, Colorado.

    Mac claimed that interviews with members of Factory X were conducted and phones were confiscated; however, no arrests were made.

    Factory X quickly dismissed claims on social media, quoting Mac’s report and claiming innocence, stating Mac’s report was inaccurate.

    “This is 100 percent false,” the post stated. “However, the FBI is welcome to stop in anytime. We have absolutely nothing to hide.”

    Report Of FBI Agents At Factory X, Gym Disputes Claim

    Factory X posted a longer statement on their official Instagram account in response to the allegation from Mac.

    “There is a false report circulating that Factory X has been raided by the FBI following the events of last weekend’s UFC event. This is not true,” the statement read. “The allegations that our gym had or has any sort of involvement in fight-fixing last weekend – or ever – is both devastating and heartbreaking. This is a family-owned gym that has been in good standing in our community for over 15 years.

    “We unequivocally stand by our innocence and at this point would welcome a visit from the FBI as we have absolutely nothing to hide. We understand and accept it is human nature to form opinions from the outside looking in given the available information. We have no doubt the truth will prevail, justice will be served and our good name will be restored. Until then, we welcome your prayers for our strength and peace.”

    The MMA world has been engulfed in a betting scandal since a controversial fight last weekend at UFC Vegas 110. Isaac Dulgarian entered his fight with Yadier Del Valle as a massive favorite; however, his line shrunk by nearly 100 as bets on a first-round finish by Del Valle began to increase in a quick span hours before the fight. Del Valle ended up submitting Dulgarian in the first.

    Dulgarian was released by the UFC about 24 hours after the fight. Montoya would later tell Ariel Helwani that Dulgarian is no longer a part of the team.

    Mac alleges that the FBI is investigating over 100 UFC fights that have been flagged for unusual betting activity. He would later follow up that the UFC Vegas 110 main event between Steve Garcia and David Onama, as well as the Charles Radtke vs. Daniel Frunza fight that took place at the event, are also being investigated.

    Ariel Helwani was unable to confirm Mac’s report completely; however, he did note that this “was not an isolated incident.” And since then, a few fighters have come forward about being approached about potentially taking dives.

    UFC President and CEO Dana White refuted Mac’s claims and said the promotion worked with the FBI quickly after previously questioning Dulgarian and his lawyer — and then seeing the fight played out as it did.

    Mac has also alleged that fights refereed by Jason Herzog are being audited; however, Herzog is disputing this as well.

  • Two Other UFC Vegas 110 Names Alleged To Be Flagged By FBI

    Two Other UFC Vegas 110 Names Alleged To Be Flagged By FBI

    Harry Mac, who has worked as both an MMA journalist and a New York-based promoter, has been the center reporting figure for the betting scandal that has engulfed the UFC and the MMA community over the past several days.

    Mac has claimed that over 100 UFC fights have been flagged by the FBI for suspicious betting activity. At the center of it all has been the Isaac Dulgarian first-round submission loss to Yadier Del Valle — which later resulted in Dulgarian’s release from the UFC and a number of fighters coming forward about being offered to throw fights.

    Mac’s original post on X (fka Twitter) on the situation mentioned that there were two other fighters from UFC Vegas 110 whose fights were flagged, though he did not name those athletes.

    However, on a recent episode of the Empty the Bench Network’s The MMA Outsiders podcast with Jack Gold and Zain Bando (and featured MMA News’ own Thomas Albano as a guest co-host), Mac alleged that UFC Vegas 110 headliner David Onama and Daniel Frunza as the other fighters he was making mention to.

    “In my original post, I had mentioned that there were two additional fighters on [UFC Vegas 110] flagged for abnormal betting activity,” Mac said. “Onama was one of them.”

    Mac then added “Frunza” when asked who the third fighter was.

    Harry Mac Names David Onama, Daniel Frunza As UFC Vegas 110 Names Flagged Alongside Isaac Dulgarian

    Onama was involved in the main event of the evening, facing Steve Garcia in a battle of top-15 ranked featherweights. The fight saw little offense from Onama as Garcia overwhelmed and flurried him into a first-round finish.

    Fight fans across the MMA community on X called for an investigation into that finish following the reveal of the Dulgarian controversy and Mac’s original post.

    Frunza was also involved in the UFC Vegas 110 main card, losing via last-minute submission to Charles Radtke.

    During the interview, Mac noted that while the fights and fighters have been flagged, it does not necessarily mean that any wrongdoing was committed by them and/or their teams.

    “That could just be some guy has a hunch and plays a little bit more than he normally would,” Mac said.

    The MMA Outsiders’ Jack Gold also made mention of receiving a potential list from an unnamed source of 50 fights that could have potentially been part of the 100 flagged mentioned by Mac — with Garcia vs. Onama being one of those fights.

    Gold noted that a number of the fights on the list he received were refereed by Jason Herzog. One of Mac’s allegations is that enough fights Herzog has officiated have been deemed questionable enough that an audit may be issued on them.

    In a recent interview, UFC CEO and President Dana White dismissed Mac’s claim of over 100 fights being flagged; however, he issued stern warnings to fighters thinking about partaking in fixed fights and to those who only came forward about their offers recently.

  • Pair Of UFC Fighters Admit To Being Approached About Possibility Of Taking Dives

    Pair Of UFC Fighters Admit To Being Approached About Possibility Of Taking Dives

    UPDATE (Nov. 4): Vannata has backtracked his remarks, claiming he was joking. However, Edgar Chairez has now come forward about being approached to throw a fight as well.

    UPDATE: UFC veteran Lando Vannata has admitted to being approached seven times about the possibility of taking a dive.

    https://twitter.com/OnPointMMA/status/1985665473040826579

    Things continue to develop in rapidly quick fashion in the new UFC betting scandal, as two Octagon veterans have revealed that they have previously been approached about the possibility of throwing their fights.

    This coincides with Ariel Helwani’s report from earlier in the day on November 3, claiming on the recent edition of his show that a number of UFC fighters have been offered money to throw fights.

    In response to this report, Vince Morales, a UFC featherweight, confirmed on social media in a since-deleted post that he had been previously approached about taking a dive in at least one of his fights.

    Morales added that the offer had been $70,000 to throw the fight.

    “All this throwing the fight stuff is crazy!” Morales had posted. “I’ve been approached about doing it and it’s not something I could live with…even though I ended up losing the damn fight anyways.”

    UFC Fighters Vince Morales, Vanessa Demopoulos Admit To Being Approached Previously To Throw Fights

    This was followed up by another social media post from a fighter — this time UFC strawweight Vanessa Demopoulos.

    In an Instagram comment, Demopoulos mentioned that she also had been approached previously about purposing losing a previous fight.

    “My integrity could never,” Demopoulos said. “We’ve spent our lives learning skills and honoring this sport. Can’t believe people compromise their morels [sic] like this.”

    The UFC has found itself in the center of betting controversy following a suspicious fight that took place between Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier Del Valle during the main card of UFC Vegas 110 on November 1. The fight saw Del Valle easily take down Dulgarian and lock up a quick first-round submission victory.

    Dulgarian had entered the fight a massive favorite; however, the line of the fight shrunk dramatically in the hours leading up to the fight. Bets on Del Valle, especially those of the first-round finish variety, led to some sportsbooks closing bets on the fight — with some even offering refunds to bettors.

    MMA journalist and New York-based promoter Harry Mac alleged that the FBI made the UFC aware of the circumstances surrounding the fight, with Helwani claiming Dulgarian and his team convinced the UFC there was nothing the matter.

    Mac has also alleged that over 100 fights have been flagged by the FBI for suspicious line movements, and that a potential audit might be sought after fights refereed by Jason Herzog.

    Dulgarian was cut from the UFC about 24 hours following the controversial fight. His fight purse is also being withheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.