Ariel Helwani is a top reporter for ESPN (YouTube)
Ariel Helwani has sarcastically reacted to UFC’s decision to book Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill for the 205-pound strap
UFC President Dana White announced that Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill will compete for the vacant light heavyweight championship at UFC 284.
White called the fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz for the vacant light heavyweight title “terrible” and suggested the title challengers had only themselves to blame for the split draw in the main event of UFC 282.
Jamahal called his shot in the aftermath of the event and called White to schedule him against UFC commentator and top light heavyweight Anthony Smith for the vacant belt.
On January 21, UFC 283 will be held at Rio de Janeiro’s Jeunesse Arena. The main event for Saturday night was advertised as a quadrilogy between champion Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno. Apparently, the plans have shifted after UFC 282.
Reacting to the prompt decision and aiming a jab at White’s customary habit of not booking fights when an event concludes, Ariel Helwani wrote:
“Anthony Smith, who was scheduled to fight Hill in March, found out that his opponent was now fighting for the belt in January against someone else while he was live on the post-show working as an analyst. No heads up. I guess they do make fights on Saturday night after all.”
The investigation into betting that involves the UFC and fighter-turned-coach James Krause is one of the most significant stories to break in the world of MMA this year.
After competing for the promotion in a total of 13 bouts, Krause transitioned his attention to coaching and quickly established himself as one of the best in the industry. However, when abnormal betting activity was discovered for one of his fighter’s bouts in November, his name became the centre of attention of a massive scandal. This activity was discovered in one of his fighter’s bouts.
The ongoing investigation has already had significant repercussions, which are just the beginning. Gaming regulators in Canada have stopped taking action on bets placed on UFC fights, Krause and his fighters have been banned from the UFC, and other promotions are staying away from the coach and his stable.
An investigation is currently being conducted into a fight that took place on November 5 between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke at UFC Fight Night 214. A number of sportsbooks reported receiving “unusual betting interest” on Nuerdanbieke winning via first-round knockout, in addition to the fight lasting fewer than 2.5 rounds, just hours before the fight took place.
The betting favourite, Nuerdanbieke, knocked out Minner in the first round via technical knockout in 1 minute and 7 seconds.
Since then, both Minner and his coach, James Krause, have been placed on indefinite suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission pending the results of multiple investigations. In addition, the UFC decided to release Minner and made an announcement that any fighter who remains under Krause’s tutelage will be barred from competing in UFC events as long as the investigations are still ongoing.
Dana White weighed in on the matter in a recent interview with ESPN:
“In every sport, somebody thinks they’re smarter than everybody else when really they’re the dumbest guy in the room. And you will get caught — you will get caught and you will go to prison. It is what it is. If you’re that dumb and you’re willing to take that risk for money. Ruin your life for money. We can tell people until we’re blue in the face. Same thing as steroids, performance-enhancing drugs. ‘Don’t do it, USADA is testing, you’re gonna get caught.’ But this is a whole other level. If you’re that stupid, have fun in prison.”
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