The integrity of professional combat sports has been called into question again as the UFC parted ways with MMA fighter Isaac Dulgarian, known as ‘The Midwest Choppa,’ less than a day after his recent bout in Las Vegas.
The immediate release followed a flagged investigation into suspicious betting activity surrounding Dulgarian’s fight against Yadier del Valle by the competition’s independent betting integrity service.
Dulgarian entered the contest heavily favored to win.
However, unusual activity was noted just as the fight commenced: his odds plummeted dramatically, and several sportsbooks opted to remove betting options on various prop bets, including whether the match would end via a first-round finish. Dulgarian subsequently suffered a first-round submission defeat to his opponent.
The UFC relies on IC360, its independent betting integrity service, to monitor wagering across all events. The service is now undertaking a detailed review of the circumstances and betting patterns on the day of the fight.
The seriousness of the incident has escalated, with UFC reporter Ariel Helwani indicating that the potential integrity failing is currently under the scrutiny of the FBI.
In the aftermath, several major sportsbooks have taken action to address customer losses. Caesars and William Hill USboth notified mobile customers who placed losing bets on the fight that they would receive a cash credit refund within 24 hours.
Conversely, DraftKings informed its users that while it acknowledged the integrity concerns surrounding the bout, it currently has “no plans for refunds at this stage.”
It appears likely that Dulgarian will face a prolonged bar from fighting in the UFC, placing him alongside others implicated in similar scandals.
This includes Jeff Molina, who was removed from the roster in 2023 following suspicious activity surrounding a fight he had bet on in November 2022. The swift action by the UFC underscores the organization’s zero-tolerance policy regarding betting integrity violations within the sport.
