Match-fixing claims surrounding UFC fighter Isaac Dulgarian emerge just a week after the NBA’s high-profile betting arrests.
Isaac Dulgarian has been released by the UFC amid allegations of match-fixing linked to his first-round loss to Yadier del Valle at UFC Vegas 110 in Las Vegas on November 1.
Concerns were raised about the fight roughly an hour before it began, when betting lines moved. Dulgarian opened as a -240 favourite, but his odds tightened to -160 just before the bout.
The prop bet, which is a wager on a specific outcome such as a first-round finish, also dropped from +850 to +475. The sudden change prompted sportsbooks, including DraftKings, to suspend betting.
The movement led bookmakers and fans to flag the possibility of irregular betting activity.
The UFC has not commented on the allegations but confirmed Dulgarian’s release was based on his loss rather than the claims of match-fixing, as reported by journalist Ariel Helwani.
While the UFC has not opened a formal investigation, more updates could follow as the situation develops.
Adding to fuel to the fire
His previous connection to former coach James Krause, who remains banned by the UFC following a separate betting scandal in 2022, has added to the scrutiny. However, Dulgarian now trains at Factory X in Colorado.
A clip from a recent interview with MMA Junkie, recorded days before the fight, is also circulating on social media. In the video, Dulgarian discussed gambling in combat sports and joked about fighters’ share of the profits.
“People always tell me how much money they made and I’m like I need 10% brother,” he said.
“I say don’t bet on me unless you’re paying me some percentage. I am doing all the work, that’s how I feel about it… I work my ass off every day, I am trying to support a family with this. I think they should put some kind of clause like 3 or 5% of what you make goes to the fighter.”
Sportsbooks quick to act
Following the fight, Caesars and William Hill confirmed they had refunded wagers on the Dulgarian–Del Valle bout, citing integrity concerns. Both operators said they acted after identifying “unusual” betting patterns before the opening bell.
The controversy comes just a week after a betting scandal in the NBA, which saw Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups arrested by the FBI.
According to the Department of Justice, Billups’ case is linked to an illegal poker operation with ties to organised crime, while Rozier’s case is connected to the gambling scandal involving former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter. Porter was banned from the NBA in July 2024 for his role in a betting scheme involving player prop wagers.
A recent Pew Research Center survey shows public concern over legal sports betting is rising, with 43% of US adults now saying it is bad for society, up from 34% in 2022. Meanwhile, 40% say it is bad for sports, compared with 33% three years ago.
