Isaac Dulgarian has been released from the UFC following a disappointing first-round submission defeat to Yadier del Valle at the recent UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. The news surfaced from sources including Ariel Helwani of Uncrowned, revealing that Dulgarian’s career in the organization came to an abrupt halt after just one bout.
Dulgarian entered the contest as a favorite, with betting odds heavily leaning in his favor at -250. However, the odds shifted dramatically to -154 right before the fight, raising eyebrows among many observers. This sudden change prompted speculation about potentially suspicious betting activities, a feeling compounded by the nature of Dulgarian’s submission loss to a rear-naked choke. Notably, several online sportsbooks, including Caesars Sportsbook, offered refunds for bets placed on Dulgarian to win, indicating widespread concerns about the integrity of the fight.
During the match, Dulgarian struggled to defend himself adequately against the rear-naked choke, leading to severe criticism from UFC commentator and former fighter Michael Chiesa. Chiesa described Dulgarian’s performance in stark terms, labeling it as an “F-” and expressing disappointment during the ESPN+ broadcast.
This incident is not an isolated case within the UFC, as there have been previous instances of questionable betting patterns linked to fight results. Notably, featherweight Darrick Minner was released from the organization in 2022 following a defeat marred by similar suspicious betting activity, leading to an investigation by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. In another case, South Korean fighter Tae Hyun Bang received a prison sentence after accepting a bribe to lose a bout, which was also associated with unusual betting lines.
The UFC has faced scrutiny regarding the integrity of its fights, and incidents like these raise significant concerns about the sport’s reputation and fairness. With Dulgarian’s exit from the UFC roster, it remains to be seen how this situation will affect future events and how the organization will address issues of betting integrity moving forward. There is hope that the UFC will implement stricter measures to ensure transparency and maintain the sport’s integrity for both fighters and fans alike.