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BREAKING: Fighters involved with now-suspended James Krause are no longer allowed to participate in UFC events

James Krause (Left) and Darrick Minner (Right) [Image courtesy: The New York Post via Zuffa LLC]
James Krause (Left) and Darrick Minner (Right) [Image courtesy: The New York Post via Zuffa LLC]

As per an announcement by the UFC, fighters who are coached by James Krause and/or train at Krause's Glory MMA gym are no longer allowed to participate in UFC events.

Veteran combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani has posted a series of tweets in relation to the aforesaid announcement. He's also addressed the ongoing discussions regarding UFC betting, which have gained significant traction since the controversial Darrick Minner-Shayilan Nuerdanbieke fight.

Minner faced Nuerdanbieke at UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 5, 2022. Minner seemingly injured his knee early in the matchup and lost via first-round TKO.

Darrick Minner suffered some kind of knee injury after he planted his leg following a body kick.Those non-contact injuries can sometimes be the worst.#UFCVegas64

Several sportsbooks subsequently reported suspicious betting activity around the fight. An investigation was launched by the NSAC (Nevada State Athletic Commission), and Minner was released from the UFC on December 2.

Another layer to this case, which has been a hot-button topic in the MMA community, is that Darrick Minner's coach James Krause has been actively involved in sports betting. This includes betting-related activity on his podcast and discord server, wherein he provides betting predictions.

UFC just issued this memo to fighters and managers regarding a change in their athlete conduct policy:UFC fighters are now prohibited from gambling on any UFC fight, regardless of if they are involved or not. They can still be sponsored just not allowed to bet at all. https://t.co/6zhuIITxmx

Back in October, the UFC announced that the UFC Athlete Conduct Policy prohibits the organization's fighters from betting on any UFC fights. Additionally, the prohibition would also be applicable to trainers, managers, and other individuals affiliated with the fighter.

On that note, as reported by Ariel Helwani, UFC CBO (Chief Business Officer) Hunter Campbell has sent out another announcement addressing the UFC's betting ban.

Campbell reiterated that the UFC's Code of Conduct and its compliance with domestic and international laws have resulted in the promotion disallowing its athletes and their teams from betting on UFC events.

Full statement from Campbell, which was just released to all UFC fighters and their camps: https://t.co/Xk05Yoc66x

A major reason behind the ban is to prevent 'insider betting' in the UFC and safeguard the integrity of the sport of MMA. The announcement also emphasized that fighters coached by James Krause or fighters who train at Krause's gym won't be permitted to partake in UFC events.

This could change, however, if the ongoing investigation by the government acquits Krause and his pupil, Minner, of all charges. Moreover, one of Helwani's tweets concerning the issue reads as follows:

"UFC’s chief business officer Hunter Campbell has just informed all fighters that, effective immediately, fighters who choose to continue to be coached by James Krause or who continue to train in his gym, will not be permitted to participate in UFC events. (cont’d)"
UFC’s chief business officer Hunter Campbell has just informed all fighters that, effective immediately, fighters who choose to continue to be coached by James Krause or who continue to train in his gym, will not be permitted to participate in UFC events. (cont’d)

Presently, James Krause -- a retired MMA fighter and UFC veteran -- is still under investigation. Krause and Darrick Minner could face severe legal repercussions if found guilty of insider betting.

As reported by New York Post, Ontario has also now banned MMA betting.

This will remain pending Nevada’s investigation into the suspicious Darrick Minner fight of 11/5. As of now, Krause’s license has been suspended in Nevada. The UFC has also released Minner.

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Edited by Virat Deswal
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