Pietro Menga, a former fighter briefly associated with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has been handed a lengthy prison sentence.
According to a statement from the Greater Manchester Police on Tuesday, Menga received a sentence of 15 years and 5 months. This follows his guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons and conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Once regarded as a promising contender in the flyweight division, Menga began his mixed martial arts career with an undefeated record of 13 wins. This impressive start caught the attention of the UFC. Based in Manchester, the fighter, known as “The Italian Stallion,” was initially planning to attend tryouts for the 27th season of *The Ultimate Fighter* as a featherweight. However, he was offered an opportunity to step in on short notice to face Tim Elliott at UFC on FOX 26 in 2017. His UFC debut attempt faced issues when he failed to make the flyweight weight limit, coming in at 131 pounds. Elliott declined to proceed with a catchweight bout, resulting in Menga`s release from the promotion. Following this, Menga experienced a challenging period, losing his next four fights.
Menga finally broke his losing streak with a win in April 2023. He was subsequently scheduled to compete against Kiru Sahota under the OKTAGON banner in January 2024. However, his plans were interrupted when he was arrested on January 15th. Police executed a warrant at his residence in Swinton, England, leading to his apprehension.
Menga came under investigation by the Serious Organized Crime Group of Manchester authorities after messages were discovered on an encrypted messaging platform. These communications reportedly showed Menga openly discussing the sale and purchase of illicit drugs and firearms, with a value exceeding $500,000. Investigators believe Menga served as an intermediary for an organized crime network alleged to be behind one of the largest firearm trafficking operations in the United Kingdom.
