The MMA community is reeling following the controversial finish at UFC Vegas 110 on Saturday night, as Isaac Dulgarian’s shocking loss to undefeated underdog Yadier del Valle has spawned allegations of potential fight-fixing and raised serious concerns concerning the sport’s betting integrity. What was speculated to be a routine featherweight matchup was a nightmare scenario that eerily mirrors a 2022 scandal that almost devastated the UFC’s credibility and compelled the promotion to take unprecedented motion against those involved.
Dulgarian, often called “The Midwest Choppa,” entered the cage as a considerable -250 favorite against the talented but less experienced Cuban fighter del Valle. The Kansas City native held a powerful 3-1 record contained in the UFC, while del Valle was making waves as an undefeated prospect. Nonetheless, within the hours leading as much as the fight, something strange happened at sportsbooks across the country. Large sums of cash suddenly flooded in on del Valle, forcing betting lines to shift dramatically from Dulgarian favored at -250 all the way in which right down to roughly -130, making the bout virtually a pick’em at several major sportsbooks.
This rapid line movement didn’t go unnoticed. Multiple sportsbooks, including the behemoth DraftKings, actually pulled prop bets from their platforms to reduce their exposure, a drastic measure that raised immediate red flags inside the betting community. What transpired over the subsequent jiffy would only intensify those concerns. Del Valle secured a rear-naked choke submission at 3:41 of the primary round, ending Dulgarian in stunning fashion. Yet, it wasn’t the victory itself that sparked outrage—it was how the fight unfolded before the finish.
Isaac Dulgarian has gone from -270 to -162 today on DK……wtf? pic.twitter.com/z0Yc8XzXTU
— Jack Mac (@JackMacCFB) November 2, 2025
The Suspicious Performance That Modified The whole lot
Commentators and fans watching UFC Vegas 110 were visibly confused by Dulgarian’s defensive effort, or lack thereof, during his final moments within the cage. The grappling sequence resulting in his submission appeared uncharacteristically poor for a fighter of his caliber, with Dulgarian seemingly unable to mount any meaningful resistance against an opponent he was speculated to dominate. Combat sports bettor Hayden Iverson identified in a post regarding the suspicious ending that showed Dulgarian’s non-existent defense when attempting to defend a routine choke.
Do your job @FBI this good enough information to launch an investigation pic.twitter.com/sOEgDl64Pr
— hayjive (@hayjivepicks) November 2, 2025
UFC welterweight Michael Chiesa didn’t mince words when discussing Dulgarian’s performance throughout the UFC post-fight show. “Should you’re on the important card of a UFC event, it’s one thing if you happen to get punched into submission, but there have been a number of Day 1 mistakes,” Chiesa said. He elaborated by stating that Dulgarian committed basic technical errors that seasoned professionals simply don’t make, including faulty hand positioning and throwing useless strikes. Chiesa concluded his assessment by calling the performance “absolutely trash,” a stark criticism coming from a fellow fighter who had just witnessed what many believed was professional-level MMA, not an amateur-hour display.
Michael Chiesa goes off on Isaac Dulgarian after his questionable submission loss 🤔 #UFCVegas110 pic.twitter.com/oDnpjuPOHv
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) November 2, 2025
Echoes of the James Krause Scandal: A Connection That Cannot Be Ignored
Perhaps probably the most damning piece of this puzzle is Dulgarian’s past association with James Krause, the disgraced coach and former UFC fighter who stays banned from the game following an almost an identical betting scandal in 2022. Krause had been coaching fighters at his Missouri-based Glory MMA & Fitness facility, and his involvement in suspicious betting patterns caught the eye of federal authorities just three years ago.
Yadier Del Valle thinks he won the fight fair and square and that I’m a salty sports bettor that lost money… boy is he fallacious pic.twitter.com/eFCaAgySod
— hayjive (@hayjivepicks) November 2, 2025
The Krause scandal centered around a UFC Vegas 64 fight between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, where money flooded in on Nuerdanbieke to win in the primary round, leading to an odds shift from -220 to -420. Minner, who was cornered by Krause, entered the cage with an undisclosed leg injury and was stopped in only 1:07 of the opening round. The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended each Krause and Minner indefinitely for the suspicious activity and undisclosed medical information. Jeff Molina, one other fighter training at Krause’s gym, was also suspended for his connection to the betting irregularities.
Following that scandal, the UFC issued a strict ban prohibiting any fighters who selected to proceed training with Krause or at his gym from competing within the promotion. It was a nuclear option that sent shockwaves through MMA and effectively ended Krause’s profession as a coach in the game. Now, with Dulgarian’s past connection to Krause and together with his performance containing all of the hallmarks of the Minner situation, the MMA community has understandably begun connecting dots that suggest a pattern of potential manipulation.
The Aftermath: Refunds, Releases, and Questions Remaining
Within the wake of the controversy, major sportsbooks took immediate motion to guard their customers and their repute. Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and William Hill all announced they’d issue refunds to customers with losing bets on the Dulgarian fight inside 24 hours, a transparent sign that even the betting industry believed something was amiss.
Mobile customers with losing bets on the Dulgarian UFC fight will receive a money credit inside 24 hours (singles), or inside 24 hours of the last leg being determined (Parlay/SGP/Super Parlay) should that bet have won without that leg included.
— Caesars Sportsbook Support (@CaesarsHelp) November 2, 2025
Just sooner or later after the event, the UFC made its own statement by releasing Isaac Dulgarian from the organization. While the promotion officially attributed the discharge to Dulgarian’s loss, the context surrounding his departure makes it clear that the suspicious betting activity played a big role in the choice. The move echoes the UFC’s quick motion against Darrick Minner three years earlier, suggesting the promotion learned from its previous mistakes.
🚨 Isaac Dulgarian, who was submitted last night by Yadier del Valle, has been released by the UFC, per Ariel Helwani.
The official reason given was last Saturday loss, however the fight has sparked controversy after a big amount of cash was bet on Dulgarian — the heavy favorite… pic.twitter.com/ujQzgpGaRi
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) November 3, 2025
Despite all of this evidence and the reasonable concerns raised by analysts, commentators, and sportsbooks, some figures within the MMA community remain skeptical of the fight-fixing narrative. Former UFC fighter and analyst Chael Sonnen criticized those making accusations, stating that no concrete evidence has been presented and demanding that the game’s professionals handle the investigation properly. Sonnen’s cautious approach represents a sound counterpoint to the rapid speculation that followed the fight, though it does little to ease the minds of those troubled by the pattern this incident creates.
Hairy Whack
You list no evidence and don’t know who knew what, or when.
The UFC has obligations & contracts w/fighters to placed on fights.Your time-frame for presenting evidebce to UFC disproves your “theory”
Let the Pros handle it, Hairy https://t.co/sL4MOpSRFE— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) November 2, 2025
The UFC has partnered with U.S. Integrity to observe irregular betting activity alongside oversight from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, measures taken following the Krause scandal to stop future incidents.
The Dulgarian-del Valle incident at UFC Vegas 110 will undoubtedly be remembered as probably the most controversial moments in recent UFC history, a watershed moment that has once more exposed potential vulnerabilities in the game’s integrity systems. As investigations proceed and the MMA community awaits answers, one thing is evident: the game’s credibility hangs within the balance, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.