The UFC officially announced via a press release on Thursday, that they've partnered with U.S. Integrity, a "leading technology-driven sports wagering monitoring company" to help monitor unusual wagering activity on fights in the promotion.
The company initially launched the investigation into the UFC Vegas 64 bout between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke this past November, which has led to the betting scandal surrounding Minner's coach, James Krause. They will now become the official integrity service for the UFC, "capable of identifying and analyzing unusual wagering activity as indicative of possible integrity concerns."
The agreement between the two parties takes place immediately, with U.S. Integrity providing their services for all of the promotion's events in 2023, including Dana White's Contender Series cards as well. The UFC additionally revealed they've updated their fighter code of conduct, with new policies that will now prevent coaches, managers, and trainers from placing bets on fights, adding that potential penalties could then come back on the fighters they represent.
“Throughout this process, we have had productive discussions with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to address the concerns AGCO expressed to their operators,” said Riché T. McKnight, Executive Vice President & General Counsel of UFC via the press release. “We have made enhancements to our UFC Athlete Conduct Policy to more clearly express the prohibition against any UFC athlete from placing any wagers directly or through a third party on any UFC match, including placing wagers on themselves. We have also expanded our discussion of so-called ‘UFC Insiders’ to make clear that these same prohibitions against wagering apply to an athlete’s coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, and other individuals affiliated with the athletes or UFC, and that violations by these Insiders may result in disciplinary action against related contract athletes. Finally, we have reiterated our expectation that our contract athletes will come to us to report any matters that might raise integrity concerns. We thank the AGCO for their cooperation, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure the integrity of our sport for the benefit of our athletes and our fans.”
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