This situation could spell trouble for “Puro Chicali.” An interview from four months ago featuring UFC Flyweight Edgar Chairez has come back into the spotlight, where he candidly revealed that he placed a bet on himself prior to his fight against Felipe Bunes.
Chairez competed against Bunes at UFC Mexico City on February 28, 2026, held at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico. Although “Puro Chicali” emerged victorious via a split decision, the gamble reportedly cost him close to 145,000 Mexican pesos (about $7,000) because he wagered on himself to win by finish.
“I don’t have an issue personally because I never deposited money into an account myself,” Chairez explained. “I usually ask a friend, ‘Hey, can you put this bet in your account for me?’ This time, I lost around 145,000 pesos — roughly $7,000. I placed a parlay betting that I would finish the fight. That’s where the problem occurred.”
His bet ultimately didn’t pay off. Chairez won on two judges’ scorecards with scores of 29-28 and 29-28, but since the fight went to the final round, his “finish” bet in the parlay didn’t hit.
However, losing $7,000 might not be the biggest issue for Chairez. UFC fighters are strictly forbidden from betting on any UFC bouts, including their own, as per an updated Athlete Conduct Policy introduced in October 2022. This rule prohibits athletes from placing bets either personally or through third parties.
Therefore, having a friend place the bet on his behalf does not provide a loophole; this behavior is explicitly banned. Furthermore, depending on the local laws, such actions could violate athletic commission or gambling regulations.
The UFC has been rigorously enforcing its gambling rules in recent years. The most infamous case involved former fighter and coach James Krause. His fighter, Darrick Minner, came into a November 2022 fight with an undisclosed knee injury, amid unusual betting patterns against him. Minner lost by first-round TKO, leading to lengthy suspensions for both fighters and Krause’s effective expulsion from the UFC. Fighters were also notified they wouldn’t be booked if they continued training with Krause.
Subsequently, UFC partnered with ProhiBet to better detect prohibited betting activities involving fighters, coaches, or other affiliates.
In late 2025, suspicious betting around Isaac Dulgarian’s first-round submission loss to Yadier del Valle triggered another investigation. Dulgarian was released by UFC, the FBI was contacted, and Nevada regulators suspended him during the inquiry.
It’s important to clarify that Chairez’s bet on himself to win by finish isn’t evidence of fight manipulation. Still, it clearly violates UFC’s betting policy and could draw scrutiny from the organization and regulatory bodies.
As of now, UFC has not publicly responded to Chairez’s admission made four months ago.
No doubt, Chairez likely wishes he could recover that $7,000—and perhaps retract this statement as well.
Fan Take: This revelation matters because it highlights ongoing challenges UFC faces in policing betting inside the sport, especially when fighters themselves become involved. How the UFC handles this case could set important precedents around integrity, transparency, and athlete conduct going forward.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
