Eric Trump Denies Allegations of Seeking Betting Information Ahead of UFC Freedom 250

WASHINGTON — Controversy erupted surrounding UFC Freedom 250 even before the fighters entered the octagon, following a social media post from mixed martial arts commentator Daniel Cormier. The post, which was later deleted, included screenshots of conversations where Eric Trump, son of former President Donald Trump, reportedly inquired about insider betting details related to the event.

In a direct message to Cormier, Trump asked, “Are any of the fighters injured that you know of?” Cormier replied, expressing confusion over the inquiry but assured Trump that all fighters appeared to be in good shape. Trump then pressed further, stating, “I’ll just cut to the chase. Are any of the fights tomorrow rigged? I’ve been eyeing the [Diego] Lopes fight and I think an upset wouldn’t be too unrealistic. $$.” Cormier, a vocal advocate for the sport, criticized this outreach, stating, “I will not tolerate this type of insider behavior. Shame on anyone trying to ruin this beautiful event.”

Shortly after sharing the messages, Cormier removed the post. When queried about the situation before the UFC event commenced, a UFC spokesperson claimed ignorance regarding the matter. As an official commentator and ambassador for the UFC, Cormier is prohibited from betting on any UFC events. Later, he tweeted, “Are people really that dumb?”

In response, Eric Trump dismissed the allegations, labeling them as “completely fake” and asserting, “I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary.” However, several seasoned MMA followers reported witnessing Cormier's original post in real-time.

This incident adds to a series of controversies surrounding the high-profile UFC event held on the White House South Lawn and the adjacent Ellipse. The close ties between Donald Trump and UFC president Dana White have further fueled political speculation surrounding Freedom 250. Additionally, heavyweight fighter Josh Hokit has attracted attention with a number of peculiar statements throughout the weekend. Recent reports also revealed that Donald Trump purchased between $15,000 and $50,000 in shares of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC, raising questions about potential financial interests linked to the event.