The UFC Implements A New Sports Betting Policy

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Hey Friends,

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has become the latest professional sports league to introduce new policies around sports betting, sending a memo to all fighters yesterday that explicitly prohibits them from betting on UFC fights.

The memo was obtained by multiple outlets, including ESPN, and says that all UFC fighters (and training teams, family members, etc.) will be banned from placing bets on UFC fights "in light of clear direction that we have received from regulators responsible for the regulated sports betting industry in the United States."

UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell also noted that some US states already have existing laws that support this ban and that the rules were “implemented for the purpose of maintaining the integrity of the sport.”

You can read the entire memo below:

Now, many will look at the UFC’s reported 5-year, $350 million deal with DraftKings and say that this is just another example of them being greedy — similar to the fact that they pay less than 20% of their annual revenue to fighters, compared to a true 50/50 split like unions across the NFL, NBA, and MLB have negotiated.

But I would argue this is an obvious step if the UFC wants to continue its current trajectory and become one of the world’s largest (and most profitable) sports leagues.

For example, UFC fighter Justin Jaynes has openly said he wagered on his own fights, and MMA coach James Krause (he trains Brandon Moreno) went on The MMA Hour in August and said, “I bet about every single card…just about every fight.”

“I have a discord with 2,000 people in it…I make more money gambling on MMA than anything else…way more than coaching,” Krause continued.

So not only do most states (where sports betting is legal) already prohibit this type of activity from happening, but the UFC is very likely just trying to protect the integrity of its sport, shield fighters from future punishment, and mitigate risk.

For example, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley was recently suspended by the NFL for the 2022 season after gambling on his own team, and we all know about the other major sports gambling scandals like Pete Rose in the MLB, NBA referee Tim Donaghy, or the 1978-79 Boston College basketball point-shaving scandal.

And as sports betting continues to grow in the United States—big states like California, Texas, and Florida still aren’t legal—policies like this are only going to become more critical.

I hope everyone has a great day. We’ll talk tomorrow.

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