Wrestling Away Greatness

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Welcome back to the Bandit Betting Newsletter, where we deliver the top stories in sports and gambling directly to your inbox, every Sunday.

In today's email:

• Banned for life: 43 total accused of gambling and match-fixing, including three former China internationals.

• Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa: has “no plans” to retire after suffering latest concussion.

• Merab Dvalishvili: wrestles away Sean O'Malley in title bout.

Let's gamble...

LIFETIME BAN

Former internationals among those banned for match-fixing.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has banned 38 players and five club officials for life after a two-year investigation into match-fixing and gambling.

The probe uncovered 120 fixed matches involving 41 clubs, though it didn’t clarify if all were in China.

Among those banned are former China internationals Jin Jingdao, Gu Chao, and South Korean player Son Jun-ho, who denies the charges and plans to hold a press conference.

Zhang Xiaopeng from the Ministry of Public Security said 44 people face criminal penalties for bribery and illegal gambling, with 43 banned for life and 17 given five-year suspensions.

Corruption in Chinese football is longstanding, with several CFA officials recently sentenced to prison for bribery, including a former vice-president and chairman.

Hold on your late night bets on Chinese soccer for the time being.

NO PLAN TO RETIRE

While there is no current timeline for a return, Tagovailoa has already begun the process of seeing concussion specialists.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has no plans to retire after his latest concussion, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.

Although there’s no timeline for his return, Tagovailoa has begun consulting concussion specialists.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel emphasized the focus is on Tagovailoa’s health rather than his playing status.

Tagovailoa was concussed during Thursday's loss to the Buffalo Bills after a collision with safety Damar Hamlin.

Backup QB Skylar Thompson finished the game, and veteran Tim Boyle is expected to be elevated in Tagovailoa’s absence.

The Dolphins QB has a history of concussions, missing five games in 2022 due to head injuries.

Despite this, Tagovailoa agreed to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in the offseason. Over five seasons, he’s thrown for 13,122 yards, 83 touchdowns, and 40 interceptions with a 33-20 record.

MERAB ML CASHES

Merab Dvalishvili used exquisite grappling and savvy striking to dethrone Sean O'Malley

Merab Dvalishvili dominated Sean O'Malley in a unanimous decision victory to claim the UFC bantamweight title at Noche UFC in Las Vegas.

Dvalishvili's relentless pace, six takedowns, and 10 minutes of control time stifled O'Malley, who struggled to find his rhythm. Despite scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47, Dvalishvili was in control throughout most of the fight.

O'Malley, making his second title defense, had brief moments of success but couldn’t handle Dvalishvili’s pressure. Known for his knockout power, O'Malley found himself unable to land any significant strikes as Dvalishvili continuously took him down and worked him on the ground.

The loss snapped O'Malley's seven-fight unbeaten streak and halted his rise to superstardom.

Dvalishvili’s win marks his 11th consecutive victory, setting up his first title defense against undefeated bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov.

The event, held at the cutting-edge Sphere in Las Vegas, was praised for its record-breaking $20 million production, though UFC president Dana White acknowledged the fights didn’t match the event’s grandeur.

Despite that, White expressed satisfaction with the spectacle, predicting it would win Emmy Awards for its innovation.

MEME

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