De La Hoya Unleashes Fiery Rebuke Against Dana White, TKO Amidst Escalating UFC Fight-Fixing Probe

Boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya has launched a scathing verbal attack on UFC CEO Dana White and TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, capitalizing on recent allegations of fight-fixing within the prominent mixed martial arts promotion. De la Hoya’s remarks, delivered via social media, come as the UFC navigates a burgeoning scandal involving suspicious betting patterns and subsequent federal investigation.

The controversy originated from the Isaac Dulgarian-Yadier Del Valle featherweight bout at UFC Vegas 110, held over the past weekend. Prior to the fight, Dulgarian was listed as a significant betting favorite, with odds reflecting strong confidence in his victory. However, in the hours leading up to the contest, an unusual and pronounced shift in betting lines occurred, drawing immediate scrutiny from betting integrity watchdogs and the wider combat sports community. Following what many observers deemed a questionable performance from Dulgarian, allegations of fight-fixing quickly surfaced across various platforms. The suspicious nature of the event prompted the UFC to proactively engage with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is reportedly now scrutinizing a potentially widespread issue of integrity breaches within combat sports betting.

Oscar de la Hoya, a long-standing and vocal rival of Dana White, seized the opportunity to voice his strong disapproval and criticisms. Speaking on his Instagram account, De la Hoya did not mince words, expressing what he described as schadenfreude over White’s predicament. "News came out this week that I cannot ignore, and one of my enemies is in boiling hot shit," De la Hoya stated emphatically. He elaborated, "I mean that stinky, smelly, hot lava, cow dung fire, out-of-my-ass type of shit. You know what I’m talking about."

De la Hoya continued, explicitly linking White and the UFC to the ongoing federal inquiry. "My friend Dana White and the UFC are being investigated by the FBI for allegedly fixing over 100 fights, with the latest one over the weekend that was incredibly suspicious. I mean, wow! Was anybody really surprised? No!" While De la Hoya’s assertion about the scope of the investigation and the UFC’s direct status as a target may be an overstatement based on current information, his comments reflect the intense animosity that has characterized his relationship with White for years.

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It is crucial to clarify the current understanding of the FBI’s involvement. Reports indicate that the UFC is not currently the primary subject of a direct FBI investigation, but rather is actively assisting federal authorities in their probe into potential betting irregularities and fight-fixing. UFC CEO Dana White has openly confirmed the promotion’s cooperation with the FBI. White also possesses a personal connection to FBI Director Kash Patel, a relationship that may facilitate direct communication and collaboration in such sensitive matters. In response to the allegations, White has taken a firm public stance, vowing severe repercussions for anyone found to be involved in fight-fixing. He stated that the UFC "will do everything we can to make sure you go to prison" if implicated in such illicit activities. Furthermore, White has vehemently denied De la Hoya’s claim of over 100 fixed fights, dismissing it as "total usual clickbait bullshit."

Despite these clarifications from the UFC and White, De la Hoya leveraged the scandal to broaden his critique, extending his condemnation to TKO Group Holdings and their perceived influence on combat sports. His criticism specifically targeted the promotion’s support for the proposed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, a legislative initiative that seeks to amend existing laws to align boxing promotion more closely with the UFC’s operational business model.

The original Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, enacted in 2000, was designed to protect boxers from exploitative practices by promoters and managers, prevent conflicts of interest, and promote fair competition within the sport. It mandated clear contractual agreements, prohibited coercive tactics, and sought to ensure transparency in financial dealings. De la Hoya, a prominent boxing promoter himself through Golden Boy Promotions, views the proposed "American Boxing Revival Act" as a direct threat to the welfare of boxers and the integrity of the sport.

"I’ve been trying to tell you guys, these TKO guys are scumbags!" De la Hoya declared, referencing the corporate entity behind the UFC. "And now they’re trying to change the Muhammad Ali Act to fck boxers over. Get the fck out of our sport. Everything you touch turns to absolute shit. And now you have the FBI crawling up your ass? Good f*cking luck."

De la Hoya’s comments reflect a deep-seated concern within certain segments of the boxing community that the UFC’s integrated promotional model, where the promotion itself holds significant control over fighter contracts, ancillary rights, and event production, could undermine the protections afforded by the current Ali Act if applied to boxing. The UFC’s model, while highly successful commercially, has been a frequent subject of debate regarding fighter compensation and autonomy.

He further elaborated on his fears regarding TKO’s influence, questioning the appeal of their model to prospective boxing talent. "I mean, look, is there any young boxer that’s crazy enough to f*ck their career by signing with your shit league? They want their own rules, their own belt, their own ring, their own sanction to do exactly what they’ve done with the UFC, which landed them a $400 million suit from former fighters, and now a federal investigation into illegal activity. We’ll see how that pans out."

The "400 million suit from former fighters" De la Hoya referred to is likely the long-running antitrust class-action lawsuit filed against the UFC by a group of former fighters. This lawsuit, initiated in 2014, alleges that the UFC engaged in monopolistic practices to suppress fighter pay and eliminate competition in the MMA market. While the figure cited by De la Hoya may represent an estimate of potential damages, the case remains ongoing and has not yet resulted in a judgment or settlement of that magnitude.

The context of fight-fixing allegations in combat sports is not new. Throughout history, various boxing and wrestling matches have faced scrutiny for suspicious outcomes, leading to increased regulatory oversight. The introduction of widespread legal sports betting has further intensified the focus on integrity, with sophisticated monitoring systems now in place to detect anomalous betting patterns. State athletic commissions, federal law enforcement, and betting integrity units work in conjunction to safeguard the fairness of competitions and protect the public from fraudulent schemes. The financial stakes in combat sports betting are substantial, creating powerful incentives for illicit activities, which underscores the seriousness with which such allegations are typically treated by authorities.

De la Hoya concluded his social media tirade with a final jab at White, contrasting their current fortunes. "Dana’s shirt is definitely stressed at this point, and he’s having a terrible week. But guess what? I’m having a great week." The ongoing saga between these two prominent figures in combat sports highlights not only a deep personal rivalry but also a fundamental disagreement over the future direction and regulatory framework of professional fighting. As the FBI investigation progresses, and legislative debates surrounding the Muhammad Ali Act continue, the intersection of business, sport, and integrity in combat sports remains a highly contested arena.