UFC has never been short of drama and chaos. But when things move from the cage to the betting rooms, things go from bad to worse. What began as whispers about unusual betting patterns has now escalated into a full-fledged scandal involving millions of dollars, $16 million to be exact, and numerous careers are now under scrutiny.

The fight that is now under a microscope is the one between Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle. The fight raised some eyebrows when, hours before the fight commenced, $16 million was poured in on one side. Things got a little more suspicious when the strong favorite, Dulgarian, was knocked out in the first round. Following this, the FBI has decided to investigate. Adding to that, fans are bringing up some of the top names who were involved in previous scandals. This has certainly got the MMA community panicking. One of the top MMA coaches has shared his thoughts on the controversy.

MMA coach opens up on the UFC’s gambling controversy

Syndicate MMA coach John Wood shared that certain moves by the betters indeed raise questions. “When things like that come up and $16 million comes in on a prelim fight… it definitely raises some flags,” he said. His tone was frustrated, not only because of the scandal, but also by the fact that the same figures appear to be circling back.

“A lot of the same players that were involved are involved again,” Wood told the MiddleEasy YouTube channel, suggesting that the corruption may not be isolated at all. He did not directly blame anyone, but did share that the pattern is very familiar.

If the allegations are proven to be true, then it could tarnish the reputation of the entire sport.

For fans, it’s a heavy punch to the gut. MMA has always been unpredictable, and who can thrive inside the octagon. It has never been about who cashes in on a ‘fix’.

“I wouldn’t want my name attached to anything to do with this,” Wood said flatly. “It doesn’t look good.” And maybe that’s the most chilling part: it doesn’t look good, but it’s not over yet. The investigations continue, and the truth is slowly crawling its way to daylight. And if someone is found guilty of being a part of it, Dana White is ready to take some serious actions!

UFC CEO Dana White promises to send people to jail

Dana White didn’t mince his words when addressing this scandal. He made it clear that the UFC is this as a criminal matter, not a mere public relations issue. He confirmed that if somebody is fixing fights, then they are done. “We will be your worst enemy,” he told TMZ Sports in a recent interview. “We’ll go after you guns blazing with the FBI and make sure you go to prison.”

The head honcho confirmed that the UFC had already contacted its betting integrity partner, the fighter’s camp, and the FBI. “I’ve met with the FBI twice today,” he said. “It doesn’t look good.” The message was clear. This will not be the quiet betting scandal of 2022; this one will have consequences.

Fighters have come forward about being offered money up front, and Dana White only had one question for them, “Why didn’t you tell us or law enforcement sooner?” The warning now serves as the UFC’s line in the sand. No cover-ups, no forgiveness. If this probe finds evidence, people will lose more than just contracts; they’ll surely lose freedom. What are your thoughts on this on going scandal?