Memo: UFC bars fighters from wagering on bouts

The UFC volition present prohibit its fighters from betting connected UFC fights, according to a memo sent to athletes and their teams Monday by UFC main concern serviceman Hunter Campbell.

In the letter, obtained by ESPN, Campbell wrote that the UFC jock codification of behaviour volition present see a prohibition of wagering connected UFC fights "in airy of wide absorption that we person received from regulators liable for the regulated sports betting manufacture successful the United States." The prohibition volition besides see members of fighters' teams and "certain others," Campbell wrote. Yahoo Sports was the archetypal to study the news.

"As the athletics has grown implicit time, the overwhelming bulk of states that modulate sports gambling person immoderate prohibitions connected wrong betting activity," Campbell told ESPN. "And this wasn't thing the UFC precocious independently. This was thing the UFC acceptable distant successful effect from governmental agencies, alert we are besides taxable to governmental regularisation arsenic we're licensed promoters successful virtually each state. It's the earthy improvement of the sport."

The memo further noted that immoderate states barroom athletes from wagering connected fights successful promotions oregon events of which they are affiliated, a prohibition that tin besides beryllium extended to fighters' "training teams, household members and others that person entree to 'inside information' relating to the athletes and their events.'"

"The UFC's contracted athletes are not exempt from these prohibitions, which authorities legislators and regulators person implemented for the intent of maintaining the integrity of our sport," Campbell wrote.

Betting sites person go a large sponsor of UFC fighters and MMA athletes successful wide implicit the past fewer years, arsenic sports betting has go ineligible successful galore states crossed the country. Fighters volition inactive beryllium capable to clasp those betting sponsors and question caller ones, Campbell wrote successful the memo, and the UFC volition not prohibit them from being marque ambassadors for specified companies. Some fighters get paid by betting sponsors for giving their picks connected fights, which volition besides proceed to beryllium allowed nether the UFC's codification of conduct.

Fighters similar Justin Jaynes, who competed successful the UFC successful 2020 and 2021, person openly talked astir betting connected themselves implicit the past 18 months and fighters, connected their societal media channels, person routinely shared accounts of them gambling connected fights.