Troubles are mounting for Isaac Dulgarian. If reports are accurate, the Kansas native may not receive the fight purse from his bout at UFC Vegas 110. On the Fight Night card headlined by Steve Garcia vs. David Onama, Dulgarian faced the Cuban fighter Yadier Del Valle. He suffered a loss via rear-naked choke, his second defeat since making his UFC debut two years ago. But his woes were far from over. Soon after the fight, he found himself at the center of a major controversy. One that has been echoing across the MMA world.

A betting scandal erupted after reports surfaced that Isaac Dulgarian‘s betting line, despite his status as a heavy favorite, shifted in a puzzling manner toward his opponent in the lead-up to the fight. One immediate consequence was the UFC’s decision to release Dulgarian from his contract. Now, according to an update shared by Ariel Helwani, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has reportedly decided to withhold the fight purse due to him for the Saturday night event.

Isaac Dulgarian out of UFC and out of paycheck

Citing information from a reliable source, Ariel Helwani tweeted, “The Nevada State Athletic Commission withheld Isaac Dulgarian’s ENTIRE purse on Saturday due to the irregular betting activity surrounding his fight.” He added, “No timeline as to when or even if they will release it. Investigation pending.”

After the incident came to light, the UFC released an official statement, noting that, alongside its betting integrity partner, it was conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. “Our betting integrity partner, IC360, monitors wagering on every UFC event and is conducting a thorough review of the facts surrounding the Dulgarian vs. del Valle bout on Saturday, November 1,” part of the statement read.

The asymmetrical betting activity caught everyone by surprise. It was a one-sided affair between Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier Del Valle, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. The fight ended almost as soon as it began. About a minute and a half into the first round, the Cuban-born fighter caught Dulgarian in a clean choke.

Dulgarian’s performance immediately came under scrutiny. Many described it as a subpar effort in which he appeared to offer minimal defense.

The Dulgarian mystery unfolds

Now, fighters win or lose. That’s normal. But it becomes a concern when someone appears to take a dive or deliberately lose a bout. Ariel Helwani summed it up clearly: “The bout has been the center of controversy after a ton of money started to come in on Dulgarian, a sizable favorite, to lose in the first, which is what happened.”

Right before the fight, a surge of bets was placed on Dulgarian’s opponent. As a result, del Valle’s odds shortened and Dulgarian’s odds dropped. To many, this appeared to be a suspicious sign, since it could mean that some bettors might have had inside knowledge.

Adding more nuance to the situation, MMA analysts pointed out another red flag. Several sportsbooks reportedly began ‘offering credits’ to people who had bet on Dulgarian. For those familiar with the betting world, that’s extremely rare. Sportsbooks almost never refund losing bets unless they suspect something unfair or suspicious.

Given the recent eye-poke controversy, a betting scandal was the last thing the UFC wanted to face. Nonetheless, this latest incident comes close on the heels of another betting-related controversy, when the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned fighters Jeff Molina and Darrick Minner for their involvement in a similar violation.

Fans should stay tuned as more developments emerge on this front.

What’s your take on NSAC’s decision on the Dulgarian controversy?