UFC Rigging Controversy
Daniel Cormier Alleges Eric Trump Asked About Rigged UFC Bouts; Trump Denies Claims
Key Points
Daniel Cormier defended posting the screenshots by saying, “I’m probably going to get a lot of flak for bringing this to light… [but] I refuse to stay silent” and also warned: “Shame on anyone trying to ruin this beautiful event.”
In the alleged DM screenshots described by Cormier, Eric Trump pressed for betting/rigging details—while Cormier responded that he maintained “corporate boundaries” and reminded him that “commentators are strictly barred from betting on the product.”
Eric Trump’s rebuttal included the line, “This is completely fake! I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary,” followed by a claim that the circulating images were “fake, AI generated screenshots.”
Diego Lopes—the fighter Eric Trump was reportedly “eying” for an upset—was identified as the Brazilian featherweight who knocked out American Steve Garcia in Sunday night’s opening bout.
UFC Hall of Famer and color commentator Daniel Cormier posted — then deleted — screenshots Sunday night appearing to show Eric Trump asking whether fights at the White House's UFC Freedom 250 event were "rigged." The post was live for roughly 15 minutes before Cormier removed it, according to Yahoo Sports and The Independent.
Eric Trump fired back fast. "This is completely fake! I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary," he wrote on X, according to Yahoo Sports. Trump also claimed the images were "fake, AI generated screenshots" being circulated online.
What the Alleged DM Screenshots Actually Said
The screenshots, as described by MEAWW, showed Eric Trump asking Cormier whether any bouts were rigged. Trump allegedly wrote: "Are any of the fights tomorrow rigged? I've been eyeing the Lopes fight, and I think an upset wouldn't be too unrealistic. $$" The messages also touched on betting and whether an upset in the Diego Lopes fight was realistic.
Cormier's alleged reply pushed back hard. He said he maintained "corporate boundaries" and reminded Trump that "commentators are strictly barred from betting on the product," according to ON3. When he posted the screenshots publicly, Cormier wrote: "I'm probably going to get a lot of flak for bringing this to light… [but] I refuse to stay silent."
Eric Trump Calls It a Deepfake, Cormier Goes Cryptic
Eric Trump issued two statements in quick succession. His first called the screenshots "completely fake." His second went further, warning the public about "fake, AI generated screenshots" being spread online. He also argued that Cormier deleting the post "confirms it was clearly fabricated," according to The Independent.
Cormier's own follow-up did not help clarify things. After deleting the original post, he wrote on X: "Are people really this dumb?" — a line that many online read as cryptic rather than a flat denial, according to ON3. He also added: "Shame on anyone trying to ruin this beautiful event."
Diego Lopes Won — Just as the DMs Predicted
The fighter at the center of the alleged exchange, Brazilian featherweight Diego Lopes, knocked out American Steve Garcia in Round 2 at 2:42, according to Yahoo Sports. That result matched what the alleged screenshots described as Eric Trump's predicted "upset" — a detail that fueled online debate about the exchange's authenticity.
The fight was the opening bout of UFC Freedom 250, held on the South Lawn of the White House before roughly 4,300 invited guests and an estimated 85,000 fans at a public viewing area on the Ellipse nearby. The event had been briefly delayed by severe thunderstorms earlier in the evening, according to CA Yahoo News.
What Happens Next: Integrity Questions Linger
The UFC and the White House both declined to comment on the specific allegations, according to MEAWW. UFC CEO Dana White was present at the event but issued no formal statement on the matter. Gaming commissions in jurisdictions where the fights were sanctioned could potentially open inquiries into betting lines for the Lopes-Garcia bout.
Cormier's future with the UFC broadcast team is also uncertain. If the UFC determines he either fabricated the DMs or leaked genuine private messages, his role as a commentator could be at risk, according to ON3. The bigger question — whether the screenshots were real, AI-generated fakes, or something else entirely — remains unanswered.
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