Former UFC prospect Pietro Menga has been sentenced to prison.
According to details released by the Greater Manchester Police on Tuesday, Menga received a sentence of 15 years and five months. This follows his guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to sell or transfer banned weapons and conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Once viewed as a promising flyweight, Menga started his mixed martial arts career with an impressive 13-fight winning streak, which garnered the attention of the UFC. Living in Manchester and known as “The Italian Stallion,” he was initially slated to try out for The Ultimate Fighter season 27 as a featherweight. However, he received a last-minute call to fight Tim Elliott at UFC on FOX 26 in 2017. The opportunity was marred by Menga missing the flyweight weight limit, weighing in at 131 pounds. Following Elliott`s refusal of a catchweight fight, the UFC released Menga. His career then hit a rough patch, suffering four consecutive losses.
Menga managed to return to winning ways in April 2023. He was subsequently scheduled for a bout against Kiru Sahota under the OKTAGON banner in January 2024. However, his plans were cut short when police arrested him on January 15th, executing a warrant at his residence in Swinton, England.
Menga`s activities came under scrutiny by the Serious Organized Crime Group of Manchester authorities. Investigators discovered messages on an encrypted platform where Menga openly discussed the trade of drugs and firearms, transactions valued at over $500,000. Authorities suspect Menga served as an intermediary for an organized crime syndicate allegedly involved in one of the most significant firearm trafficking plots uncovered in the United Kingdom.
