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Dana White Responds To UFC Fixing Allegations

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Nov 5, 2025 12:15 AM ET

Dana White has been forced to respond after the UFC’s recent scrutiny over fixing allegations.

The controversy started after the Isaac Dulgarian vs. Yadier Del Valle fight at UFC Vegas 110 was flagged for suspicious betting activity. Before Dulgarian lost via a first-round submission, a large number of bets were placed on him to suffer a defeat in that manner. According to journalist Harry Mac, the FBI had communicated their concerns to the UFC, allegedly informing them that bets were off for the fight due to the irregular betting patterns.

It is alleged the UFC still allowed the fight to go ahead, while the FBI reportedly brought up more than 100 other UFC fights this year because of irregular betting patterns. There were reports that referee Jason Herzog could see his fights being audited, while UFC fighters Vince Morales and Vanessa Demopoulos also claimed they were approached to throw fights. Dulgarian has now been let go by the UFC and the Nevada State Athletic Commission has withheld Dulgarian’s whole purse. However, White was unhappy with how the scandal has played out.

“Really? Why didn’t you tell us that? Or more importantly, why didn’t you tell law enforcement? Now you’re saying you were approached? It’s like if somebody tells you to rob a bank with them. What, you’re not gonna tell law enforcement? It’s really weird that fighters are coming out and saying they were approached, they’re gonna be approached now by the FBI,” White said

Implications

The damaging implication is the erosion of trust. This has already led to real financial consequences: the quick action of major sportsbooks like Caesars, William Hill, and DraftKings to refund bets is a confirmation that they believe the integrity of the contest was compromised. If fans and bookmakers cannot trust the outcomes, the UFC’s partnerships with the betting industry, which heavily promotes UFC events, is threatened. The allegations that over 100 fights were flagged by the FBI this year alone suggests the problem is systemic.

Furthermore, the reports that federal officials may seek an audit of fights refereed by referee Jason Herzog suggests that the investigation is expanding beyond fighters. This could force the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to overhaul their oversight protocols for referees and judges, who are central to upholding fair contests.

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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