If UFC fighters aren’t employees why can’t they bet on themselves now?

I thought UFC fighters were independent contractors. Dana said he agrees with the decision mostly because he doesn’t like the optics of it. I’m pretty sure it isn’t illegal to bet on yourself right?

Betting on yourself in any sport should never be illegal.

Betting against yourself is a whole other issue.

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Pete Rose was banned from baseball for doing it. But the MLB has more control over their employees and franchises.

When gaming commissions get involved it gets complicated. Fighters have inside information no one else has.

You could still very easily have a friend or family member place a bet for you.

Cause employee vs contractor designation has nothing to do with the issue and how suspect it’s is?

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Well aware of that one.

If he is truthful that he never bet against the Reds and only for them it’s a disgrace he’s still banished.

My understanding is it’s a personal vendetta from the old commish that won’t go away.

any cunty betting, like will it go the distance, how many shots will be thrown in the first round etc - that’s shitty.

to bet on yourself to win specifically by decision or sub etc is also definitely cunty…

… but what is wrong with a straight bet. me to win. you can influence the outcome but you don’t have control over that bet! the assumption is that you’ll try your best anyway. nothing wrong with that imo

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Good point in the cunty stuff.

Moneyline wins should be allowed and only that. But I guess how do you keep track?

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If what is suspect is the preparation for the fight then they have no jurisdiction over their gym life. The only thing the UFC controls is their work under the brand.

Kermit GIF

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Word I Agree GIF by INTO ACTION

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Any insider knowledge the fighter has shouldn’t matter to the UFC since they do not own the gyms they train at

I feel like you’re having an argument in your head but only posting about a portion of that conversation you’re having.

Maybe lol. But you brought up how the classification of contractor differed from being an employee

If you’re saying gym mates shouldn’t be barred from betting, I agree. But I’m not sure the ufc has made that statement.

I would say fighters themselves should be barred. And their corner men to keep it totally above board.

Still lots of ways to get around the rules though. if a fighter really wanted to they could just bet through a proxy using a friend or relative.

Ummmm

Someone shouldn’t have any financial oversight over an independent contractor since they do not provide any sort of benefits or withhold taxes for them. And you cannot instruct an independent contractor how to do their job (like how they should fight), since you only contracted them for their finished product. Let’s say the finished product is their presence in the cage. Anything the fighter does before they produce this finished product cannot be controlled by the UFC. Their performance in the cage is the UFC’s property but I don’t see how betting on yourself to win would affect this, it’s simply a self assessment on whether you think you can win or not. Idk but this may open up a precedent they don’t want to go down, and will probably eventually end this independent contractor status to fighters being full on employees where they have to provide health insurance, etc. I’m not really a legalist but something about this seems wrong.

In actuality, the betting bans are nearly as dumb as USADA is essentially an IQ test.

Just have someone who doesn’t have the same surname place the bet.

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Thongs got suss when dillashaw, Stipe, Costa and Colby all said “always bet on black”

You can absolutely tell a contractor how to do their job… It’s just one of the indicators that it might be a employer/employee relationship it’s not the only indicator and plenty of legit B2B contracts the procurer of services dictates how those services are carried out.

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