In an new podcast interview, former UFC star Darrick Minner has opened up about the ongoing investigation into suspected betting irregularities surrounding his bout against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke at UFC Vegas 64 in November 2022.
Minner admits he entered the fight with a pre-existing knee injury that he did not disclose to the UFC or athletic commission. However, he insists the injury was evaluated by doctors who cleared him to compete. “I had a bum knee going into there,” Minner stated. “But I obviously passed everything that needed [evaluation], and I covered it with my doctors.”
Despite unusual betting line movements before the bout that raised suspicions of fight-fixing, Minner maintains he went into the fight with every intention of winning. He suffered a torn ACL and PCL during the fight, which he lost by TKO in the second round.
In the aftermath, the UFC launched an investigation in partnership with betting integrity firms like U.S. Integrity and Don Best Sports. Several state athletic commissions also indefinitely suspended both Minner and his former coach James Krause pending the outcome of the probe.
However, in a surprising revelation, Minner says he has not been contacted by any investigators from the UFC, athletic commissions, or government agencies like the FBI over the last year and a half since the fight took place.
“Nobody’s ever contacted me,” Minner said. “I haven’t talked to the UFC since [being released]. The only thing I have to go on and talk to by the UFC since I left there was an email getting cut.”
With his knee now healed after surgery, the 34-year-old Minner is eager to resume his MMA career but remains in limbo due to the ongoing suspensions and seeming lack of progress in the betting investigation.
“I’m just ready to go. Whatever that takes, that’s what I’m ready to do,” Minner stated. “All the other s*it can just stay in the past, do whatever it’s gotta do, and that’s it.”
As the lingering case drags on with no resolution in sight, Minner believes he has been wronged but remains unable to properly defend himself while under suspension. His fighting future is currently in limbo as he awaits updates that could finally bring closure to the UFC’s betting scandal.
