The UFC appears to be joining the sports embroiled in massive betting controversy.
The MMA promotion cut fights Isaac Dulgarian on Monday, per multiple reports, two days after his first-round submission loss to Yadier del Valle at Fight Night from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Unusual betting activity on the fight was flagged after Dulgarian (7-2), a -250 favorite, moved to -154 in the hour leading up to the featherweight bout. Several sportsbooks ceased taking bets on it, citing irregular wagering behavior.
Dulgarian, 29, lost by first-round submission in what was called “white belt stuff” by the commentator Daniel Cormier and Michael Chiesa for the amateurish nature of the action.
The UFC is now conducting a full investigation, the promotion told The Post.
“Like many professional sports organizations, UFC works with an independent betting integrity service to monitor wagering activity on our events,” it said in a statement. “Our betting integrity partner, IC360, monitors wagering on every UFC event and is conducting a thorough review of the facts surrounding the Dulgarian vs. del Valle bout on Saturday, November 1. We take these allegations very seriously, and along with the health and safety of our fighters, nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport.”
Dulgarian previously told MMA Junkie that fighters should get a percentage cut of the betting handle in every fight.
“I said, ‘Don’t bet on me unless you’re paying me some percentage,’ I’m doing all the work — that’s how I feel about it,” he said. “…If you’re betting on me, I want some of it.”
The controversy around the fight has Caesars Sportsbook offering cash refunds to anyone who wagered on Dulgarian.
“Mobile customers with losing bets on the Dulgarian UFC fight will receive a cash credit within 24 hours (singles), or within 24 hours of the last leg being determined (Parlay/SGP/Super Parlay) should that bet have won without that leg included,” the sportsbook posted on X.
DraftKings also said it is investigating the matter.
“DraftKings is aware of potential concerns related to the Isaac Dulgarian vs. Yadier Del Valle event from this past weekend and is actively investigating the matter,” a DraftKings Spokesperson told The Post. “We are working with integrity monitors and will provide updates to customers as they become available.”
The UFC controversy comes more than a week after the NBA was rocked by two separate FBI investigations into sports betting that show Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA guard Damon Jones were arrested for their alleged roles.
Even more concerning for the UFC is that this isn’t the first time it’s been plagued by betting scandal.
It was rocked by a fight-fixing scandal involving coach James Krause and fighter Darrick Minner in 2022. The two have been under FBI investigation for fixing fights, with Minner clearly being injured coming into the bout or outright taking a dive in the first two minutes.
Both were released from the UFC, and Krause is disallowed from continuing to work with any fighter currently signed to the promotion.
Dulgarian was among those fighters who trained under Krause in 2022 and was forced to move in another direction after the fight-fixing scandal came to light.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
