In March, Alex Kirshner wrote in Slate, referring to the NFL, that “competitive integrity and cash go hand in hand.” With the rise in legalized sports betting and its partnerships with betting sites like Draft Kings, the UFC has also realized that fact. The difference between the two entities is that the NFL understood that fact years ago. Unfortunately, for the UFC, that lightbulb didn’t become bright enough for the promotion to notice until mid-October 2023 when the promotion, via the desk of Hunter Campbell, the UFC’s Chief Business Officer, released the following memo:
From: Hunter Campbell, UFC Chief Business Officer
To: All Athletes and Managers
We are writing to advise you of a change to the UFC Athlete Conduct Policy to which each UFC athlete subscribes under our Promotion Agreement and/or Ancillary Rights Agreement.