Isaac Dulgarian Suspended Amid FBI Fight-Fixing Investigation

Former UFC featherweight Isaac Dulgarian has been suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC)—following his loss at UFC Vegas 110, which prompted an ongoing FBI investigation into fight fixing.

The scrutiny stems from Dulgarian’s first-round submission loss to Yadier del Valle. Just hours before the fight, a large number of bets were placed on him to lose in the first round, which he did. White also said that he and the UFC had spoken with Dulgarian just before the fight, who reassured them that nothing was wrong.

“We called the fighter and his lawyer and said, ‘What’s going on? There’s some weird betting action going on in your fight. Are you injured? Do you owe anybody money? Has anybody approached you?’ And the kid said, ‘No, absolutely not. I’m going to kill this guy.’ So we said OK. The fight plays out, first-round finish by rear-naked choke. Literally the first thing we did was call the FBI. So we called the FBI, I’ve met with the FBI twice today,” White said

The Implications

White also confirmed that the promotion is working with the FBI to investigate the suspicious betting activity. Dulgarian’s camp has denied any wrongdoing, but he was released from the UFC, as his suspension remains indefinite. This response aligns with the actions of the UFC itself, which immediately released Dulgarian from his contract hours after the fight.

The disciplinary action is a strong, necessary signal to all athletes, promoters, and bettors that any threat to the integrity of the sport. Allowing the fighter to continue competing or receiving his purse while his involvement is under federal scrutiny would severely undermine public trust in the competitive fairness of the UFC. Naturally, the pressure is on Dulgarian and his camp to prove that they have done nothing wrong to salvage his MMA career.