Copyright Athlon Sports
The UFC is confronting a significant threat to its competitive integrity following a featherweight bout at UFC Vegas 110 between Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier Del Valle. The promotion took the drastic step of releasing Dulgarian after a suspicious fight that contained unusual wagering patterns on the match. In response, UFC CEO and President Dana White revealed he had met with the FBI and issued a stern warning to the entire roster. He expressed frustration that several fighters have since come forward on social media claiming they were previously approached to fix fights, questioning why they did not report it to the promotion or law enforcement sooner. This scandal has forced the UFC to re-evaluate its procedures, with White claiming he will enforce new policies regarding fight-fixing moving forward. During this internal crisis, Netflix is reportedly moving forward with an unscripted project documenting Dana White’s gambling exploits, according to Gary Baum from The Hollywood Reporter. According to Baum’s report, a camera crew has been following the UFC CEO around Las Vegas casinos, capturing his high-stakes sessions at games like blackjack and baccarat. White is known for bets that reach millions of dollars, and even admitted so during an interview with Club Shay Shay host Shannon Sharpe. The Netflix documentary is expected to feature stories of his massive wins and losses, including one instance where he was filmed turning a $1.2 million loss into a $700,000 profit at the Bellagio. The project also reportedly touches on a contentious claim that he owes a massive gambling debt to the Red Rock Casino, owned by his longtime friends and former UFC partners, the Fertitta brothers. White has vehemently denied the claim, reported by Casino.org, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “This story is pure clickbait bullshit. But of course media doesn’t care about facts; they care about clicks. This is exactly why I always say you can’t believe anything you read.” Poor Timing On one hand, the UFC is working with federal investigators to root out corruption and maintain the legitimacy of its sporting contests. On the other hand, its leader is glamorizing the very culture of high-stakes gambling that arguably creates the environment for such corruption to flourish. This irony has not been lost on the public, with the documentary news being met with immediate skepticism and criticism, given the current climate. Social Media Reacts According to fan reactions, many were poking fun at the irony of the timing of this documentary (sourced from replies to Championship Rounds on X): “Great timing when the UFC is under investigation for rigged fights being gambled on. What a bald moron.” “The man is worth $500 million. His company is worth $12 billion. He can definitely afford to pay each fighter a minimum of $50k-$75k PER WIN.” “Who asked for a documentary about a rich guy and his gambling addiction?” “Timing might be a bit poor, but what do I know?” “We will finally get to see what he does with the money that should go to the underpaid UFC fighters.” “The timing is crazy, FBI about to get the easiest lay-up ever.” “UFC fight allegations to gambling documentary.” “FBI is gonna love this.” Navigating a Tarnished Image The collision of the UFC’s current scandal and White’s gambling documentary will, without a doubt, present a significant public relations challenge for the UFC. As the FBI investigation continues, the UFC might have to work hard to convince the public that its commitment to a clean sport is not undermined by White’s extracurricular hobbies.
