Isaac Dulgarian is facing the biggest setback of his career after the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended him over alleged fight-fixing tied to his controversial loss at UFC Vegas 110.
Dulgarian entered the card as a solid favorite against Yadier del Valle, but hours before the fight, the betting lines swung dramatically. Bettors suddenly poured money on Dulgarian to lose in the first round, and that’s exactly what happened. Del Valle submitted him via rear-naked choke midway through Round 1, immediately triggering suspicion across the MMA world.
Dana White later revealed that the UFC approached Dulgarian and his legal team before the bout to address the unusual betting activity. According to White, Dulgarian denied any wrongdoing and insisted he was ready to “kill this guy.” The fight proceeded anyway, but once it ended in a lopsided submission, the UFC contacted the FBI to investigate.
Within hours, the promotion released Dulgarian, ending his four-fight run in the UFC featherweight division. Now, the NSAC has issued a temporary suspension ahead of its monthly meeting, where the commission will vote on extending the ban and potentially withholding Dulgarian’s entire fight purse. Additional punishment could also follow.
Prominent sportsbooks have already refunded wagers placed on Dulgarian, further highlighting the seriousness of the situation. For now, the FBI’s investigation, conducted alongside the UFC, is still active, and no final determination has been made. Dulgarian, his team, and his management continue to deny any involvement in betting manipulation.
Dulgarian debuted in the UFC in 2023 with a first-round TKO over Francis Marshall and went 2-2 overall, with losses to Christian Rodriguez and Del Valle. His future in MMA now hangs in the outcome of the investigation.
The NSAC will reconvene next Wednesday to decide whether Dulgarian’s suspension will extend indefinitely and whether his UFC Vegas 110 purse will be officially withheld. Until then, the cloud over his name only grows heavier as regulators dig deeper into one of the sport’s most suspicious betting scandals in years.
