UFC Initiates FBI Probe into Alleged Fight-Fixing After Suspicious Betting Patterns Emerge for Isaac Dulgarian Bout

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has confirmed its cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding serious allegations of fight-fixing, stemming from highly unusual betting activity surrounding a recent bout involving featherweight Isaac Dulgarian at UFC Vegas 110. The controversy, which saw dramatic shifts in betting odds and the subsequent first-round submission loss for Dulgarian, has prompted a full-scale federal investigation, with UFC CEO Dana White personally engaging with the FBI.

The incident unfolded prior to UFC Vegas 110, where Isaac Dulgarian was initially positioned as a substantial favorite against his opponent, Yadier Del Valle. Betting markets typically reflect the perceived skill and form of fighters, with a "sizable favorite" indicating a strong expectation of victory and offering lower returns on wagers. However, in the hours leading up to the event, an unprecedented shift in these odds began to occur. Dulgarian’s favored status eroded rapidly, with the betting lines moving significantly towards Del Valle. This unusual movement was so pronounced that several prominent sportsbooks, including William Hill and Caesars Sportsbooks, took the extraordinary step of pulling specific prop bets associated with the fight. These prop bets, which allow gamblers to wager on outcomes beyond the simple win/loss (such as a first-round finish), are often more susceptible to manipulation if inside information is exploited.

The fight itself concluded with Dulgarian being submitted by Del Valle via a rear-naked choke in the first round, a result that aligned with the late betting market shifts. Following the fight’s conclusion, the unprecedented nature of the betting activity led multiple sportsbooks, including William Hill and Caesars, to offer refunds to bettors who had placed wagers on the fight, a rare move indicative of significant integrity concerns.

UFC CEO Dana White addressed the escalating situation publicly, confirming that the promotion was first alerted to the "unusual action" by IC360. IC360 is a specialized sports betting monitoring service that partners with the UFC to safeguard the integrity of its events by tracking betting patterns across global markets for any anomalies that might suggest illicit activity.

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According to White, upon receiving the alert from IC360 regarding the Dulgarian vs. Del Valle fight, the UFC immediately initiated internal inquiries. "We called the fighter and his lawyer and said, ‘What’s going on? There’s some weird betting action going on in your fight. Are you injured? Do you owe anybody money? Has anybody approached you?’" White recounted during an interview with TMZ Sports on Tuesday. Dulgarian, through his lawyer, reportedly denied any wrongdoing or external influence, asserting his readiness to compete, stating, "No, absolutely not. I’m going to kill this guy."

Despite Dulgarian’s assurances, the outcome of the fight, a quick first-round submission, intensified suspicions. White revealed the UFC’s immediate post-fight action: "So we said OK. The fight plays out, first round finish by rear-naked choke. Literally the first thing we did was call the FBI. So we called the FBI, I’ve met with the FBI twice today." White further elaborated that he spoke directly with FBI Director Kash Patel, and the UFC’s offices have hosted multiple FBI agents since the fight concluded, underscoring the severity of the ongoing investigation.

The repercussions for Dulgarian have been swift and severe. He has been released from his contract with the UFC. Additionally, reports indicate that the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), the governing body responsible for regulating combat sports in the state, has withheld Dulgarian’s fight purse. While the NSAC has yet to officially confirm this action, such a measure is standard procedure when an investigation into potential wrongdoing, particularly fight-fixing, is underway, allowing commissions to retain funds until a clear resolution is reached.

White reiterated the UFC’s zero-tolerance policy towards any attempts to compromise the integrity of its sport. "If you try to do this, I’ve been very vocal and very open about this, we will be your worst enemy," White stated emphatically. "We will immediately go after you, guns blazing, with the FBI and whoever else we need to get. We will do everything we can to make sure you go to prison." This stern warning highlights the potential legal ramifications, as sports bribery and fixing are federal offenses in the United States, carrying significant penalties.

This latest incident comes just two years after a similar fight-fixing scandal rocked the UFC in 2022. That prior controversy involved fighter Darrick Minner and his then-coach, James Krause. In that instance, betting lines for Minner’s fight against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke also shifted dramatically just hours before the event. Minner was ultimately finished by Nuerdanbieke in a mere 67 seconds, raising immediate red flags. Minner was subsequently released from the UFC, and James Krause, a respected figure in the MMA community and a prominent coach, was effectively banned from having any association with fighters competing in the promotion after an investigation was launched. White confirmed that the 2022 investigation into the Minner/Krause affair is "still ongoing and now will be a part of this investigation, too," indicating a broader inquiry into potential patterns of illicit activity.

Despite the compelling circumstances, White emphasized that it remains premature to definitively assign blame to Dulgarian. "I hate to see anybody in our sport do anything illegal. But fight fixing is absolutely insane," White commented. "To get to this level and go out and be a part of [fight fixing] and I’m not saying this kid’s guilty. There’s no proof that he’s done this yet, but I can tell you this, it doesn’t look good. It definitely doesn’t look good." White reiterated the direct questions posed to Dulgarian and his legal counsel before the fight: "Are you hurt? Are you injured in any way? Do you owe people money? Have you been asked to do anything illegal?" Dulgarian’s consistent response, according to White, was "absolutely not, hell no."

White also took the opportunity to address and dismiss swirling rumors within the MMA community suggesting that the FBI is investigating "hundreds of fights" for similar allegations. "People out there talking ‘there’s hundreds of fights [under investigation].’ It’s total bullshit," White declared. "Total usual clickbait bullshit. IC360, our company, they monitor all of the betting. Like I said, they’re the best in the business. There aren’t hundreds of fights being investigated. All clickbait B.S." This statement aims to quell widespread speculation and maintain focus on the specific, verified incidents under investigation.

The ongoing controversy has also prompted some veteran athletes within the UFC to make public statements regarding potential approaches for fight-fixing. Fighters such as Vince Morales, Vanessa Demopoulos, and Lando Vannata posted claims on social media about having been approached with such propositions. However, both Morales and Vannata later retracted their statements, clarifying that they were merely joking.

For the UFC, however, the matter is far from a laughing one. White issued a stern warning to any fighter who claims to have been approached about fixing a fight but failed to report it to the authorities. "You’re seeing things on the internet fighters are coming out and going ‘I was approached.’ Really?" White challenged. "Why didn’t you tell us that or more importantly why didn’t you tell law enforcement that you were approached? Now you’re saying that you were approached." He drew a stark parallel: "It’s like if somebody comes up and says ‘Hey, I want you to rob a bank, I’m going to rob banks, want to go rob banks with me?’ You’re not going to tell law enforcement? It’s really weird fighters are coming out now saying they were approached. They’re going to be approached now by the FBI." This indicates a broadening scope of the investigation, potentially encompassing individuals who withheld information that could have prevented such incidents. The integrity of combat sports betting, a rapidly expanding market, remains a paramount concern for both the UFC and federal authorities.