Dana White says UFC consulted with FBI over suspicious betting activity | UFC

With the UFC potentially facing its second betting scandal in the last three years, CEO Dana White told TMZ on Tuesday that the promotion was in close contact with the FBI following the defeat of highly favored featherweight Isaac Dulgarian on Saturday at UFC Vegas 110.

Confirming reports from Uncrown and Yahoo Sports, White said IC360, the UFC’s betting integrity partner, alerted the UFC hours before Dulgarian’s featherweight fight against Yadier del Valle that the underdog was making a lot of bets to win as well as prop bets in the first round.

“We called the fighter and his lawyer and said, ‘What’s going on? There are some strange bets going on in your fight. Are you injured? Do you owe anyone money? Did anyone approach you?” White said. “And the kid said, ‘No, absolutely not. I’m going to kill this guy.’ So we said OK. The fight unfolds – and the first round ends in a rear naked choke. Literally the first thing we did was call the FBI.

Dulgarian, who was dropped from the promotion on Sunday night, was heavily favored but appeared indifferent during the match before losing by submission. Caesars Sportsbook was among several online sportsbooks to announce Saturday night that it would refund bets placed on Dulgarian to win.

So far, there is no evidence that Dulgarian missed the game, but White – who met with the FBI twice on Tuesday – said: “It doesn’t look good, it certainly doesn’t look good.” »

In an official response Monday, the UFC said IC360 was “conducting a thorough review of the facts surrounding the Dulgarian vs. Del Valle fight” and was taking the allegations seriously. According to Uncrowned, the Nevada Athletic Commission is considering withholding Dulgarian’s scholarship for the fight following the alleged incident.

In 2022, a controversial first-round loss for featherweight Darrick Minner to Shayilan Nuerdanbieke led to Minner’s dismissal and suspensions for Minner and his trainer James Krause. Seven years before this incident, Tae Hyun Bang, a South Korean lightweight, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for his role in a plan to set up a fight against Leo Kuntz on a UFC card in South Korea.