Matt Brown gives his take on the James Krause situation, Ontario’s AGCO gives an update after Alberta reverses UFC ban in the province, and Chandler may have won the McGregor sweepstakes. Dustin Poirier, meanwhile, goes under the knife. It’s your Sunday MMA Quick Hits!
Matt Brown on James Krause: “Good Dude,” but Krause “is F*cked”
Like pretty much everyone, Matt Brown has been following along with the betting scandal that has erupted around the UFC. At its center is Glory MMA and Fitness coach James Krause, whose fighter, Darrick Minner, showed up for a Nov. 5 match-up with Shayilan Nuerdanbieke injured, falling in the first round via TKO.
Hours before the fight, a large amount of money was placed on Nuerdanbieke to win inside of a round. That triggered a review by betting watchdog U.S. Integrity, with the UFC later announcing its own investigation alongside betting integrity partner Don Best Sports. Other bodies are also digging into what exactly happened, with Krause since suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission, and banned by the UFC.
Brown, who has worked with Krause in the past, was taken aback by the news.
“I always thought he was a good dude,” Brown told MMA Fighting‘s Damon Martin. “Very, very smart with coaching, very smart with business stuff. I actually picked up some tips from him for business stuff. He’s a very intelligent guy.”
“Sounds like he went to the well one too many times on this one though, right? He reached a little too far, over stepped his boundaries and now he’s looking like Pete Rose out here. Long story short, James Krause is f*cked. Everything he’s worked for is going down the drain from this. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
AGCO Comments Following Alberta Decision to Reinstate UFC Betting
Following Alberta’s decision to reinstate UFC betting in the province, primarily on PlayAlberta.ca, their counterparts in Ontario released the following statement to Cageside Press.
In an e-mail response Friday to a request for comment, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario wrote that “The AGCO is aware of UFC’s statement last week, and is encouraged by their commitment to integrity. Protecting the betting public by providing the necessary safeguards against risk of insider betting on event and wagering integrity is a high priority to the AGCO. We recognize the steps taken and are committed to engaging with Ontario’s gaming industry, UFC, the OLG, and iGaming Ontario to ensure that the UFC has the necessary betting integrity framework in place, in particular related to wagering ny UFC insiders.”
In short: no reinstatement in Ontario yet, but a step in the right direction. As for the “steps” taken by the UFC, that includes the banning of James Krause and any fighter under him from UFC events — forcing several, including Brandon Moreno, to scramble to find new homes.
Dustin Poirier Undergoes Surgery on Infected Foot
Dustin Poirier has been battling a nasty staph infection, and was recently admitted to hospital, where he was forced to go under the knife after being diagnosed with cellulitis.
Wife Jolie Poirer kept fans posted on the situation, via a post on social media detailing the ordeal and noting that oral antibiotics simply weren’t working.
“For those asking about Dustins foot … he has a bad staph infection that started Saturday, didn’t respond to oral antibiotics & he was unable to walk,” Poirier wrote on Instagram. “Sunday we went into the ER and they admitted him for cellulitis. They released him early Wednesday morning but after a 2nd MRI it showed there was an abscess that needs to be drained. So now he’s back in the hospital for surgery. I’ll post an update once he’s out. Thank you everyone for the kind words and support.”
Poirier, now out of surgery, has been keeping his spirits up, posting several memes of his swollen foot to his Instagram story.
Dana White Says Chandler “Likely” Next for McGregor
The soon-to-return Conor McGregor is “likely” to fight Michael Chandler next, according to UFC President Dana White.
White made the comment in an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.
It’s a fan-friendly fight that pits the former UFC champ against a former Bellator champ, both of whom are coming off losses. While there had been calls for a fourth fight with Dustin Poirier, the foot issue reported on above puts that on ice for now. There’s always a Tony Ferguson match-up, but that feels a bit iffy with the streak “El Cucuy” is on. So “Iron” Mike it is.
