WITH UFC CEO Dana White, potentially facing a second betting scandal in three years, told TMZ on Tuesday that the promotion is in close contact with the FBI following Saturday's loss to favored featherweight Isaac Dulgarian at UFC Vegas 110.
Confirming reports from Uncrowned and Yahoo Sports, White reported that IC360, the UFC's betting integrity partner, warned the UFC hours before the Dulgarian vs. Yadier del Valle fight that the underdog was making a lot of bets to win, as well as betting in the first round.
“We called the fighter and his lawyer and said, 'What's going on? There are some strange bets going on for your fight. Are you injured? Do you owe anyone money? Has anyone reached out to you?'” White said. “And the kid said, ‘No, absolutely not. I'll kill this guy.” 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.”
Dulgarian, who was released from the promotion on Sunday night, was heavily favored but appeared unfazed during the match before losing by submission. Caesars Sportsbook was among several online bookmakers to announce Saturday night that it would refund bets placed on Dulgarian to win.
There is no evidence at this point that Dulgarian botched the match, but White, who met twice with the FBI on Tuesday, said, “It doesn't look good, it definitely doesn't look good.”
In an official response Monday, the UFC said IC360 is “conducting a thorough review of the facts surrounding the Dulgarian vs. del Valle fight” and is taking the allegations seriously. According to Uncrowned, the Nevada Athletic Commission plans to strip Dulgarian of his fight pay following the alleged incident.
In 2022, Darrick Minner's controversial first-round featherweight loss to Shailan Nuerdanbike led to Minner's dismissal and the suspension of Minner and his trainer James Krause. Seven years before this incident, Tae Hyun Ban, a South Korean lightweight, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for his role in a plan to fight Leo Koontz at a UFC event in South Korea.
