In an exclusive interview with the MMA History Podcast, UFC veteran Andy Anderson made allegations about a fixed match at UFC 6.
He provided firsthand testimony about what transpired behind closed doors before Anthony Macias faced Oleg Taktarov on July 14, 1995, in Casper, Wyoming.
Anderson is currently serving a 30-year federal sentence for tax-related offenses. He stated that he was present in the dressing room at UFC 6 when the alleged incident occurred.
As someone who attended or worked at 24 of the first 26 UFC events, Anderson occupied a unique position within the early mixed martial arts community, serving as both contender and insider.
When asked directly about the persistent rumors surrounding the Macias versus Taktarov bout, Anderson provided detailed testimony. “I was actually in the dressing room which Buddy [Alvin] took Anthony out of the dressing room and Buddy told Anthony in no uncertain terms, ‘Look, if you don’t throw this match, you never compete again in the UFC. If you don’t throw this match, you will never compete again anywhere,'” Anderson stated.
Anderson identified Buddy Alvin, who served as the UFC’s early site coordinator and manager to several contenders, as the person who allegedly delivered the ultimatum.
“At that point, I’m sure Anthony believed him because at that point, Buddy had that much pull. He had that much sway on who did and who didn’t compete in the UFC,” Anderson explained.
The veteran elaborated on what Alvin allegedly told Macias: “You can’t beat Oleg, but you can hurt him, and I don’t want you to hurt him. That is the unturned truth.”
Anderson described the match itself as suspiciously one-sided. “Anthony just slid right into a guillotine and it just it was just too easy. It was just too easy,” he recalled. When asked if he believed Taktarov knew about the alleged fix, Anderson responded, “Not until Oleg grabbed him.”
Anderson maintained that Taktarov, whom he described as “a beast” and “a true warrior,” would never knowingly participate in a fixed match. “Oleg is still probably oblivious to it. But I was there and yes, that did happen,” Anderson insisted.
Throughout the interview, Anderson painted a picture of Buddy Alvin as someone who wielded considerable power in the early UFC. “You’re not going to get in in the early UFC’s. You’re not going to get in the UFC unless Buddy gives you a green light,” Anderson claimed.
Anderson also alleged that Alvin had a pattern of financial misconduct, claiming the site coordinator disappeared with competitor purses and gate receipts on multiple occasions, including at the controversial event in Ukraine in 1996.
Anderson’s allegations carry weight due to his proximity to the organization during its formative years. He competed against John Hess at UFC 5 and maintained relationships with UFC owners Bob Meyrowitz and Art Davie.
Taktarov has consistently denied any knowledge of match fixing, and the UFC has never acknowledged such allegations.
