The UFC is digging into suspicious betting activity surrounding Isaac Dulgarian’s recent fight against Yadier Del Valle at UFC Vegas 110.
The featherweight bout ended in the first round after Del Valle submitted Dulgarian with a rear-naked choke, but what followed quickly became the bigger story of the night.
In the hours leading up to the fight, betting odds began to shift dramatically. Dulgarian opened as a heavy favourite across major sportsbooks, yet as the event unfolded, the odds narrowed and in some markets, prop bets like “first-round finish” were suddenly removed. By the time Dulgarian walked to the octagon, his betting line had dropped significantly.
Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360), the UFC’s official betting integrity partner, flagged the fight for review. The organisation later confirmed that an investigation is now underway.
“Like many professional sports organizations, UFC works with an independent betting integrity service to monitor wagering activity on our events,” the UFC said in a statement. “Our betting integrity partner, IC360, 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.”
The situation escalated even further when multiple sportsbooks, including Caesars and William Hill, decided to refund bets placed on Dulgarian. In identical statements, both companies confirmed that “mobile customers with losing bets on the Dulgarian UFC fight will receive a cash credit within 24 hours.”
According to ESPN, betting activity on Del Valle surged in the hours leading up to the fight, even as his odds grew less favourable, a clear indication that something unusual was happening in the market.
The fallout didn’t end there. Just one day after UFC Vegas 110, Yahoo Sports reported that Dulgarian had been released from the promotion. Neither Dulgarian nor his team have commented publicly on the ongoing investigation.
This isn’t the first time the UFC has faced scrutiny over suspicious betting trends. Back in 2022, Darrick Minner’s first-round loss to Shayilan Nuerdanbieke triggered a similar controversy when betting lines shifted heavily before the fight. That incident led to Minner’s release and a lifetime ban for his coach, James Krause. Former UFC fighter Jeff Molina also received a three-year suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission after placing bets on Minner’s fight without disclosing his teammate’s injury.
The Dulgarian situation now joins that list of integrity challenges for the UFC, though for now, no direct wrongdoing has been confirmed. The investigation by IC360 is ongoing, and all eyes remain on what findings may come next.
For Dulgarian, the sudden release and surrounding controversy mark an uncertain turn in his career. Whether this investigation clears his name or raises new questions, one thing is certain, the UFC isn’t taking this lightly, and the sport’s integrity remains front and center.
