Report: Former UFC Fighter Tae Hyun Bang Gets 10 Month Prison Sentence in Fight Fixing Scandal

Former UFC fighter Tae Hyun Bang was sentenced to 10 months in jail on Friday following an attempted fight fixing scandal in South Korea.

According to reports, Bang was found guilty of taking bribes equalling over $92,000 in exchange for throwing his 2015 fight in the UFC against Leo Kuntz. Bang’s co-conspirators who paid him the money were also sentenced in the crime.

Bang was investigated after the betting lines on his fight with Kuntz shifted dramatically just before the event began as the South Korean fighter went from a slight favorite to a heavy underdog in a matter of hours. UFC officials caught wind of the shift in the odds and warned the fighters about any potential fight fixing and that ultimately led to Bang deciding to forgo his agreement to throw the bout.

Bang ended up winning the fight by split decision.

“The crime of match fixing damages the credibility of sport, and in international matches, it has a bad effect on the country’s credibility as well,” a statement from the court decision read. “Bang had an obligation to play the game fairly, but he ignored it and took an important role in the scheme. But we did take into consideration that Bang won the bout and returned the money afterwards.”

Bang was released from the UFC in 2016 following a loss to Nick Hein and now it appears he’ll spend the next 10 months in prison for his part in the fight fixing scandal.