The UFC launched featherweight Isaac Dulgarian on November 3, 2025, lower than 24 hours after his controversial first-round submission loss to undefeated prospect Yadier del Valle at UFC Vegas 110. Whereas the promotion cited Dulgarian’s loss because the official purpose for the lower, the choice got here amid important scrutiny of surprising betting exercise that preceded the battle and raised considerations amongst business observers in regards to the integrity of the bout.
Isaac Dulgarian has been released by the UFC After Potential Fight Fixing Allegations
The featherweight matchup on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas unfolded underneath an uncommon cloud on November 1. Dulgarian entered the cage as a considerable -250 favourite, however within the hours earlier than the bout commenced, dramatic line motion pressured quite a few sportsbooks to regulate their odds. His odds dropped from -250 to roughly -154, indicating substantial cash had been wagered on del Valle, who was making his UFC debut as an undefeated 10-0 skilled prospect.
The betting irregularities alarmed sportsbooks sufficiently that multiple major operators took defensive measures. DraftKings removed proposition bets from their platform, while Caesars Sportsbook and William Hill US announced they would issue cash credits to customers who had backed Dulgarian to win, according to statements made within 24 hours of the event. This type of sportsbook intervention is uncommon and usually happens solely when betting patterns increase considerations about potential irregularities.
Del Valle finished the bout via rear-naked choke at 3:41 of the primary spherical. Dulgarian’s performance drew intense criticism from UFC analyst and fighter Michael Chiesa through the ESPN+ broadcast. Chiesa famous a number of technical deficiencies, stating: “If you’re featured on the primary card of a UFC occasion, it’s one factor to get caught and submitted, however there have been many basic errors. I used to be right here on the pre-show selling you as somebody who may break into the highest 5, but it seemed such as you couldn’t compete with somebody ranked within the backside of the highest 500. To be sincere, that was an F- efficiency. It was full rubbish.”
Dulgarian, known as ‘The Midwest Choppa,’ had compiled a 7-1 record before entering the UFC in 2023. His UFC tenure had been mixed, with the Kansas City-based fighter posting a 2-2 record. He had won his previous bout against Brendon Marotte via arm triangle submission in September 2024. However, observers noted that his Saturday performance differed significantly from his established wrestling approach, with commentators questioning his takedown execution and his defensive positioning against del Valle’s submission attempt.
The incident echoes a 2022 betting scandal involving UFC fighter Darrick Minner, who faced TKO defeat to Shayilan Nuerdanbieke amid suspicious betting line fluctuations. That case led to the Nevada Athletic Commission suspending both Minner and his coach James Krause, while the FBI investigated allegations of illegal gambling coordination. Krause was subsequently banned from MMA after evidence surfaced that he had been promoting betting suggestions by way of his Discord channel and collaborating with UFC flyweight Jeff Molina.
Notably, Dulgarian had trained alongside Krause during his career, a detail that intensified scrutiny surrounding the bout. However, no evidence has surfaced directly linking Dulgarian to the betting anomalies or suggesting intentional misconduct. UFC reporter Ariel Helwani reported the release on social media on November 3, stating that “the official reason was attributed to last night’s loss” though acknowledging the betting controversy that surrounded the event.
Dulgarian’s record declined to 7-2 overall and 2-2 within the UFC. The promotion has not released an official statement regarding the release or any investigation into the betting exercise surrounding the bout, although the timing and context of Dulgarian’s launch counsel the betting irregularities performed a task within the choice.
