Ariel Helwani Sent Explosive UFC Fight-Fixing Message Message Live on Air
Ariel Helwani received an explosive text message while live on air amid the UFC fight-fixing scandal.
Last weekend's UFC event headlined by Steve Garcia and David Onama was marred by the controversy surrounding the main-card clash between Yadier del Valle and Isaac Dulgarian, who succumbed to a rear-naked choke in the first round.
The result itself is a surprise, but what shocked the MMA world was the dramatic shift in betting lines in the moments leading up to the featherweight bout.
Dulgarian opened as the heavy favourite however the odds shortened before the fight, but suspicions were aroused when odds on a prop bet for the fight to end in the first round plummeted, suggesting that tens of thousands of dollars had been placed on that wager.
Advert
Dulgarian was subsequently released from the UFC as the promotion issued a statement in the wake of the fight fix claim.
It read: "Like many professional sports organisations, UFC works with an independent betting integrity service to monitor wagering activity on our events.
"Our betting integrity partner, IC360, monitors wagering on every UFC event and is conducting a thorough review of the facts surrounding the Dulgarian vs. del Valle bout on Saturday, November 1.
"We take these allegations very seriously, and along with the health and safety of our fighters, nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport."
On Monday, Helwani confirmed the FBI have intervened before revealing a text message he was sent on Tuesday.
While live on air, he received a text message from someone within the MMA community, claiming they '100 per cent' know a fight that was fixed.
The text read: "I can tell you a fight that I’m 100 per cent certain was thrown, and two others that were attempted. Call me later."
Dana White issues stern warning to UFC fighters after allegations of fight fixing
White delivered a blistering warning to UFC fighters amid allegations of fight-fixing inside the famed Octagon.
He also revealed his conversation with Dulgarian prior to his fight against Del Valle, as well as a phone call with FBI director Kash Patel.
White told TMZ Sports: "We called the fighter (Dulgarian) and his lawyer and said: 'What's going on? There's some weird betting action going on in your fight. Are you injured? Do you owe anybody money? Has anybody approached you?' And the kid said: 'No absolutely not. I'm going to kill this guy'."
White said he had met with the FBI on Monday in the wake of the betting scandal.
"I talked to him (Patel) this morning. But then we just had an office full of FBI agents in here," he added.
"If you try to do this (fix fights) - I've been vocal and open about this - we will be your worst enemy. We will immediately go after you, guns-a-blazing, with the FBI and whoever else we need to get and we will do everything we can to make sure you go to prison."
SPORTbible has contacted the UFC for comment.
Topics: Ariel Helwani, UFC
Nasir Jabbar