Dana White contacts FBI over suspicious UFC betting patterns

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LAS VEGAS – UFC President and CEO Dana White said he has contacted the FBI regarding a match at UFC Fight Night 263 that involved unusual betting schemes and that the fight is under federal investigation.

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White told TMZ on Tuesday that IC360, which tracks UFC betting, alerted him to strange patterns in Saturday's fight between Isaac Dulgaryan and Yadier del Valle at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Dulgarian lost the fight in the first round.

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Dulgarian's favorite went from -250 on fight day to -150, prompting several bookmakers to remove the fight from their betting menus. White said that after hearing from IC360, he contacted the fighter and his lawyer and asked Dulgarian if he was injured, if he was in debt or if anyone had approached him asking him to stop the match.

“The child said, 'No, absolutely not. I'm going to kill this guy,” White told TMZ. “So we said, 'OK.' The fight ends and the first round ends with a rear naked choke. Literally the first thing we did was call the FBI.”

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White said he spoke twice with the FBI on Tuesday, including with Director Kash Patel.

White was not available for comment to The Associated Press on Wednesday. Instead, the UFC referred AP to TMZ for his interview. The FBI did not comment on the developments.

Dulgarian's agent, Jason House, did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.

It was the first time Dulgarian (7-2) went the distance in a loss.

The UFC also released Dulgarian, who is out of contract, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because there had been no official announcement.

“I’m not saying this kid is guilty,” White said. “There's no evidence yet that he did it. But I can tell you one thing: It doesn't look good. It definitely doesn't look good.”

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The UFC is the world's most popular mixed martial arts organization, regularly attracting sports stars and other celebrities to its major events. The most famous fan is President Donald Trump, a longtime UFC supporter and friend of White.

The investigation uncovered by White is the second betting scandal to hit the UFC in three years. Featherweight Darrick Minner was also released by the organization following his 2022 first-round loss to Shailan Nuerdanbike due to unusual betting schemes. The Nevada Athletic Commission suspended Minner and his coach, James Krause.

White said he gets a report from IC360 after every fight.

“We follow every fight that happens in the UFC,” White said.

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The UFC investigation follows another high-profile gambling investigation in the sports world.

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were among more than 30 people arrested last month in connection with the case.

Rozier was accused of providing inside information to players and deliberately pulling out of the 2023 game early while he was playing for Charlotte so that the offer bets would pay off for those betting on the short side.

Billups was charged with helping to organize high-stakes card games involving organized crime.

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