Featherweight fighter Isaac Dulgarian has purportedly been taken off the UFC list just a day after a first-round submission loss at UFC Vegas. 110, with the fight currently under extreme investigation for odd wagering behavior.
Dulgarian was a distinct betting favourite coming into his fight against the undefeated Yadier del Valle. But significant funding flooded Del Valle in the hours before the competition; therefore, sportsbooks quickly changed or suspended betting lines. Del Valle gave Dulgarian the first finishing loss of his UFC career by means of a lightning-quick rear-naked choke.
Though the UFC hasn’t formally said anything on the decision to separate ways with Dulgarian, journalist Ariel Helwani reported via social media that the release was effective right away, quoting internal organization references.
Although the official cause is a performance-based provision, insiders point out the timing and surroundings are unusual considering Dulgarian’s past track.
MMA analysts responded aggressively to the performance itself. Former fighter Michael Chiesa berated Dulgarian’s defensive grappling, saying his performance was ‘amateurish’ and fell short of the standard demanded of a main-card athlete. The scope of the betting abnormalities raised doubts outside a simple poor evening in the cage.
The argument highlights where combat sports and authorized gambling cross paths. One sportsbook allegedly returned lost bets connected to Isaac Dulgarian’s loss once the odds shifted drastically in Del Valle’s favor. The UFC’s response to the incident, while no official inquiry has been published yet, has already raised a question about deceit in the MMA community and created controversy about the same issue.
Dulgarian’s arrival in the UFC was accompanied by impressive qualifications and a lot of potential; however, he was soon released after an already disputed fight, which dampened his major-league MMA prospects. The event underscores the fact that in contemporary professional combat, the areas of performance, public perception, and betting integrity are very closely linked, especially in high-stakes situations.