...any fighter was urged to take a dive before the fight began. (Para. 10)
take a dive: agree to lose a fight or game dishonestly, especially a boxing match.
This is a slang expression, often used as a metaphor, meaning "to pretend defeat", as it is used in this sentence.
The phrase comes from professional boxing when one boxer is paid in secret by gamblers to lose, so the gambler can win their bets(赌注).