Ely, UK - 1st October 2025 - A "questionable" referee call at UFC Fight Night 260 in Perth, Australia has sparked a major betting controversy after it
Ely, UK - 1st October 2025 - A “questionable” referee call at UFC Fight Night 260 in Perth, Australia has sparked a major betting controversy after it directly led to high-profile streamer Adin Ross losing a $100,000 wager in real-time.
The incident occurred in the closing second of the first round of the fight between Jake Matthews and veteran Neil Magny. Matthews had Magny locked in a tight guillotine choke when referee Jim Perdios stepped in to stop the contest, seemingly believing Magny had lost consciousness. This initial decision would have made Matthews the winner, and secured the win for Adin Ross’s substantial bet.
However, Magny immediately protested that he was still conscious. After a brief and confusing exchange, the referee reversed his own decision and ordered the fight to continue into the second round.
The controversial restart completely changed the complexion of the fight. Neil Magny recovered and went on to win the bout in the third round via a D’Arce choke submission. The final result meant that Adin Ross’s bet, which he had placed on a crypto sportsbook and was reportedly part of a larger parlay, was lost. Viewers of his live stream saw his reaction change from elation to disbelief and frustration in a matter of moments.
In the aftermath, Jake Matthews’s team announced their intention to appeal the official result to the Western Australia Combat Commission, arguing that the referee’s unprecedented reversal unfairly disadvantaged their fighter.
The controversy was significant enough that it was addressed by the promotion at the official post-fight press conference. UFC official Dave Shaw acknowledged that an “error had occurred” and described the referee’s initial stoppage as “questionable,” indicating that the matter would be subject to an internal review.
This incident, broadcast live to millions via Adin Ross’s stream, has thrown a harsh spotlight on the intersection of sports betting, live officiating, and integrity in the UFC. It raises critical questions for the sports betting industry, including how sportsbooks should grade markets in the event of such a clear and immediate officiating reversal and what protocols should be in place to handle these “no-win” situations.
The involvement of a major gambling streamer and a six-figure bet has amplified what might have been a simple officiating mistake into a major sports betting integrity story. For sportsbooks and regulators, it’s a powerful case study in the unpredictable and high-stakes challenges of live, in-play wagering on combat sports.
