FBI Involved After Suspicious Betting Activity on UFC Vegas 110 Bout
Immediately following a new betting scandal in the NBA, another sports league is in trouble. The UFC has confirmed that federal authorities are investigating possible betting irregularities linked to the featherweight fight between Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle at UFC Vegas 110.
Dana White, CEO of the UFC, said Tuesday that the promotion contacted the FBI after its betting integrity partner, IC360, warned of unusual wagering patterns in the hours leading up to the bout. According to White, IC360 detected an influx of bets favoring underdog del Valle, including high-volume wagers on a first-round finish.
White said the organization immediately reached out to Dulgarian and his legal team to determine whether any personal or financial issues could explain the betting behavior. Dulgarian reportedly denied any wrongdoing or injury before the contest.
Despite entering as a heavy favorite, the fighter lost by first-round submission. White said the UFC's first action after the fight concluded was to alert federal investigators.
The UFC has since vowed a full investigation, emphasizing its commitment to betting transparency and regulatory compliance.
Dulgarian was released from the promotion the following evening, and several of the best sports betting sites, including Caesars, refunded losing wagers on him. While no conclusive evidence has surfaced suggesting the fight was intentionally lost, White acknowledged that "it doesn't look good."
The UFC confirmed that IC360 is conducting a full review and that the Nevada Athletic Commission has temporarily withheld Dulgarian's purse pending the outcome. The situation mirrors past UFC betting controversies involving Darrick Minner in 2022 and Tae Hyun Bang in 2015.
Dulgarian's performance is not alone in raising concerns
The Dulgarian vs. del Valle fight on Nov. 1 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas is now under scrutiny as regulators and the best sports betting apps investigate the event's fairness. However, the bout isn't the only one garnering attention.
Dulgarian, who is known for his fast starts and strong grappling, started the fight aggressively but was quickly countered and submitted in the first round when he couldn't defend against del Valle's rear-naked choke.
At first, it looked like a bad performance, but the sudden rise in betting on del Valle, along with a sharp drop in the line, made several sportsbooks give back money to people who bet on Dulgarian.
This scandal has brought back memories of the Darrick Minner–Shayilan Nuerdanbieke case from 2022, which resulted in lifetime bans for individuals involved in insider betting.
Bantamweight fighter Vince Morales said in now-deleted posts on social media that he had been offered money to lose a fight in the past.
Strawweight fighter Vanessa Demopoulos expressed a similar view on Instagram, noting that she has also been approached to throw fights. She emphasized that her integrity would never allow such actions, stressing that fighters dedicate their lives to mastering their skills and respecting the sport.
