In a fascinating revelation, South African grappling legend Mark Robinson has alleged that he was offered a substantial bribe to throw a match at the prestigious Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) tournament in 1999. Robinson, a former judo champion and sumo wrestling standout, made this startling claim during an interview on the “Lytes Out Podcast.”
According to Robinson, before his scheduled match against Sean Alvarez, a representative from the ADCC organization approached him and tried to bribe him with $65,000 to intentionally lose the bout. Robinson claims he was appalled by the offer and initially refused, threatening to withdraw from the tournament altogether.
However, the situation escalated when the following morning, the same representative visited Robinson in his hotel room with a briefcase containing $1,000,000, which was allegedly the tournament’s total prize money. Robinson was reportedly told that the $10,000 meant for the winner would be his if he complied with the request to throw the match.
Understandably, Robinson expressed his disgust with the alleged bribery attempt, stating that he hated the ADCC and never wanted to see them again after the incident. He ultimately decided not to compete against Alvarez, arranging for another fighter to take his place in the bracket.
This startling allegation casts a shadow over the integrity of the ADCC tournament and raises questions about the potential presence of corruption within the organization during that time period. It is a serious accusation that demands a thorough investigation and a response from the ADCC officials involved.
While bribery and match-fixing allegations are not uncommon in the world of professional sports, they are particularly egregious in a respected grappling competition like the ADCC, which prides itself on upholding the highest standards of sportsmanship and fair play.
Robinson’s decision to come forward with this claim, despite the potential backlash, speaks volumes about his commitment to transparency and his belief in protecting the integrity of the sport he has dedicated his life to. As a respected figure in the grappling community, his allegations carry significant weight and should not be taken lightly.
Robinson competed at the 2001 ADCC World Championship in the +99 kg category against several strong candidates. He defeated Valeriy Yureskul, Vitor Belfort and Ricco Rodriguez to reach the final, where he defeated Jeff Monson to become champion.
It remains to be seen how the ADCC and the broader grappling community will respond to these allegations, but one thing is certain: Mark Robinson’s account has shaken the foundations of a prestigious tournament and raised concerns about the potential for corruption in the sport.
