TLDR
- The FBI is investigating Isaac Dulgarian’s first-round submission loss to Yadier del Valle at UFC Fight Night 263 after unusual betting patterns were detected
- IC 360, the UFC’s betting monitoring company, alerted the promotion around 1 PM on fight day about suspicious betting activity before the bout
- Dulgarian was released from his UFC contract and the Nevada State Athletic Commission reportedly withheld his fight purse
- White met with FBI agents twice on Tuesday and spoke directly with FBI director Kash Patel about the investigation
- The investigation will be combined with the ongoing 2022 case involving fighter Darrick Minner and coach James Krause
The UFC is working with the FBI to investigate possible fight-fixing after betting lines shifted dramatically before Isaac Dulgarian’s fight at UFC Fight Night 263 in Las Vegas. Dulgarian, who was listed as a heavy favorite, lost by first-round submission to Yadier del Valle on Saturday night.
UFC CEO Dana White revealed that IC 360, the company that monitors betting for the promotion, contacted them around 1 PM on fight day. The company reported unusual betting activity surrounding the Dulgarian vs. del Valle matchup.
Dana White broke his silence on the Isaac Dulgarian UFC betting scandal:
"Literally the first thing we did was call the FBI. I've met with the FBI twice today.
If you try to do this, we will be your worst enemy. We will immediately go after you with the FBI." 😳
(via… pic.twitter.com/zGq7e2Said
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 5, 2025
White said the UFC immediately called Dulgarian and his lawyer to ask about the situation. They asked if he was injured, owed anyone money, or had been approached about fixing the fight. Dulgarian denied everything and told them he was going to win the fight.
The betting line movement was severe enough that some sportsbooks pulled prop bets for the fight. First-round finish wagers were removed from several betting platforms hours before the event started. This type of action typically signals serious concerns about the integrity of a contest.
Dulgarian lost by rear-naked choke in the first round. It was the first stoppage loss of his professional career. The result matched exactly what the betting line movement had suggested would happen.
White said he called the FBI immediately after the fight ended. He met with FBI agents twice on Tuesday. White also spoke directly with FBI director Kash Patel about the case.
Several major sportsbooks offered refunds to bettors who wagered on the fight. William Hill and Caesars Sportsbooks both returned money to customers. This is an extremely rare move that reflects serious doubts about the legitimacy of the result.
Connection to Previous Scandal
The UFC has dealt with fight-fixing allegations before. In 2022, a similar situation happened involving fighter Darrick Minner and his coach James Krause. Betting lines shifted dramatically before Minner’s fight, and he was finished in 67 seconds.
The UFC banned fighters from associating with Krause after that incident. White confirmed that investigation is still ongoing. The new Dulgarian case will be added to that existing investigation.
Dulgarian previously trained at Glory MMA & Fitness with Krause before moving to Factory X in Colorado. Marc Montoya, the head coach at Factory X, confirmed he cut ties with Dulgarian over the allegations. Montoya said he was unaware of any wrongdoing.
White’s Response to Fighters’ Claims
White dismissed reports claiming hundreds of UFC fights are under investigation. He called those reports clickbait and said IC 360 monitors all betting activity. There are no widespread investigations beyond this specific case.
Several UFC fighters posted on social media claiming they had been approached about fixing fights. Vince Morales, Vanessa Demopoulos, and Lando Vannata all made such claims. Morales and Vannata later said they were joking.
White said any fighter who was actually approached about fight-fixing needs to talk to law enforcement. He compared it to being asked to rob a bank and not reporting it. Those fighters will now be contacted by the FBI.
White warned anyone thinking about fixing fights that the UFC would be their worst enemy. He said the promotion would work with the FBI to ensure anyone involved goes to prison. He stressed that the UFC takes these allegations extremely seriously.
Dulgarian has been released from his UFC contract. He went 2-2 in the promotion and was considered a promising prospect. The Nevada State Athletic Commission reportedly withheld his fight purse, though the commission has not confirmed this action.
White said there is no proof yet that Dulgarian fixed the fight. However, he stated it doesn’t look good for the fighter. The FBI investigation is ongoing.