UFC Releases Isaac Dulgarian Following Suspicious Betting Controversy
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has released featherweight fighter Isaac Dulgarian just days after his bout, following a controversy involving suspicious betting patterns. The action was taken after significant, late-day wagering shifts suggested potential irregularities surrounding Dulgarian’s fight against Yadier Del Valle at UFC Fight Night: Dulgarian v del Valle (UFC Vegas 110) on Saturday, November 1. The organization has initiated an investigation, signaling its severe stance on safeguarding the integrity of the sport.
Dramatic Shift in Betting Odds
The focus of the controversy centers on the drastic change in the betting lines immediately preceding the match. Dulgarian was initially positioned as the heavy favorite to win the contest.
- Opening Odds: Dulgarian was listed at approximately -250 or -240 (strong favorite), with Del Valle opening as a +200 underdog.
- Late Movement: In the hours before the fight began, large bets started pouring in on Del Valle. Wagers were heavily concentrated on Del Valle achieving a victory in the first round.
- Final Odds: As a direct result of this concentrated money flow, Dulgarian’s odds dropped significantly to about -130, while Del Valle’s odds rose to +110. This change transformed the bout from a clear mismatch into a virtual toss-up.
The betting monitor Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) flagged the unusual activity, warning its clients about the high volume of bets against Dulgarian. Several sportsbooks, reacting to the market alerts, suspended accepting wagers on the fight during Saturday afternoon.
The Fight Outcome and Consequences
The fight itself concluded with the outcome that bettors had focused on: a first-round finish for the underdog.
Dulgarian was defeated by Del Valle via rear-naked choke submission in the opening round. The outcome was particularly notable because Dulgarian had never previously been forced to submit during his professional career.
In the immediate aftermath, Dulgarian was removed from the UFC roster, reportedly one or two days after the loss. The UFC publicly confirmed it has launched a formal investigation into the matter. The organization is working with its independent betting integrity partner, IC360, to conduct a detailed review of the facts surrounding the Dulgarian-Del Valle match.
Bookmakers Offer Refunds
Due to the suspicious nature of the result and the prior market alerts, major licensed bookmakers took the unusual step of offering refunds. Both William Hill and Caesar’s Sportsbooks announced they would refund money to customers who placed losing bets on Isaac Dulgarian.
This is not the first time the UFC has confronted betting irregularities. A similar scandal in 2022 involved fighter Darrick Minner and his coach, James Krause. That case resulted in the dismissal of Minner and a virtual lifetime ban from working with Krause, demonstrating the UFC’s established commitment to eliminating participants involved in compromising the sport.
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