UFC Vegas 110 was supposed to be just another Saturday night fight card. Instead, it became the center of a major controversy that rocked the promotion. Isaac Dulgarian entered his featherweight bout against Yadier del Valle as a significant favorite at -250 odds. The ‘Midwest Choppa’ had built a solid 3-1 record in the UFC and seemed poised for continued success. But when the cage door closed, everything fell apart in the worst possible way.
Del Valle easily submitted Dulgarian with a rear-naked choke in the first round at UFC Vegas 110, and the manner of the loss immediately raised red flags. Dulgarian’s defense against the submission looked so lackluster that commentators and fans started questioning what they had just witnessed.
The situation escalated quickly when reports emerged about suspicious betting activity surrounding the fight. According to Uncrowned, Dulgarian’s odds dropped from -250 to -154 just before the fight began. A ton of money suddenly came in betting on Dulgarian to lose in the first round, which is exactly what happened.
Multiple sportsbooks reportedly refunded bets placed on Dulgarian’s win, adding fuel to the speculation fire. According to Harry Mac, the FBI had tipped off the UFC before the fight happened, but they didn’t pull the fight and let it continue. Now, the promotion has cut ties with the rising prospect after the betting controversy exploded into a full-blown scandal. Ariel Helwani broke the news that Dulgarian was released, citing sources who confirmed the promotion made the decision today.
According to Helwani’s sources, the official reason the UFC gave for releasing Isaac Dulgarian was simply attributed to Saturday night’s loss. On the surface, that seems harsh for a fighter who was 3-1 in the promotion with only one previous defeat. That loss came via split decision against Christian Rodriguez in March of last year, so it’s not like Dulgarian was on some terrible losing streak. Getting cut after one bad performance doesn’t happen often unless there are other circumstances involved.
“Isaac Dulgarian, who was submitted last night by Yadier del Valle, has been released by the UFC, sources say. He was released today. The official reason was attributed to last night’s loss, however, the bout has been the center of controversy after a ton of money started to come in on Dulgarian, a sizable favorite, to lose in the first, which is what happened.”
Helwani didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room either. The timing of those bets combined with Dulgarian’s suspiciously poor performance created a perfect storm of speculation. UFC commentator Michael Chiesa absolutely torched Dulgarian’s effort during the broadcast. When someone with Chiesa’s background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu calls out your submission defense as terrible, that’s damning criticism.
It’s important to note that nothing has been officially confirmed regarding Dulgarian’s involvement in any illegal betting activity. The UFC hasn’t issued a formal statement beyond the release itself. For now, Dulgarian’s career with the promotion has ended under a cloud of suspicion that will follow him wherever he goes next. Whether he can clear his name or if investigations reveal deeper problems remains to be seen.
(Image Credit: Jasper Colt – Imagn Images)
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