Former UFC fighter Pietro Menga sentenced to over 15 years in prison
On Tuesday, Pietro Menga, a former UFC signee, was handed a 15 year and 5 month prison sentence by the Greater Manchester Police. This follows his guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to sell prohibited weapons and conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Menga, once seen as a top flyweight prospect, began his MMA career with 13 straight victories, attracting the attention of the UFC. Despite being based in Manchester and preparing to audition for The Ultimate Fighter, Menga’s career took a downturn after failing to make weight for a fight against Tim Elliott in 2017. This led to his release from the UFC and a subsequent string of losses.
After finally securing a win in April 2023, Menga’s comeback was cut short when he was arrested in January 2024 following a police raid on his home in Swinton, England.
Authorities in Manchester uncovered Menga’s involvement in a large-scale firearm and drug trafficking operation, where he acted as a middleman for an organized crime group responsible for one of the biggest firearm conspiracies in the UK.