UFC Fighter Isaac dulgarian Under FBI Examination Following Shocking Loss and Suspicious Betting Activity
Las vegas, NV - november 6, 2025 – A stunning upset at a UFC event this past weekend has triggered an FBI investigation and raised serious concerns about fight fixing within the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Isaac Dulgarian, a heavy favorite, suffered a first-round submission loss to opponent Bo Nickal at UFC fight Night, a result that coincided with unusual betting patterns prompting scrutiny from the UFC and law enforcement.
The controversy began with reports of “shady bets” placed on Dulgarian’s fight, according to UFC President Dana White, who detailed the unfolding situation in a video statement. “We asked them: what is happening? Ther are shady bets on your fight. Are you injured? Do you have debts? Has anyone contacted you?,” White said, recounting a conversation with Dulgarian and his lawyer. ”And the kid said: no, absolutely not. I’m going to kill him. So we said OK.”
Despite Dulgarian’s confident assertions,the fight ended quickly with a rear-naked choke submission by Nickal. Instantly following the bout, White stated the UFC contacted the FBI. “Literally the first thing we did was call the FBI,” he said.
The UFC has stated it is conducting a “thorough investigation into the facts surrounding the fight between dulgarian and del Valle” through its IC360 department, taking the allegations seriously. White himself has met with the FBI twice on Tuesday regarding the matter,describing the situation as “It doesn’t smell good,it really doesn’t smell good.”
Adding to the concerns, Caesars Sportsbook announced Saturday evening it would reimburse bets placed on Dulgarian to win. The Nevada Athletic Commission is also considering withholding Dulgarian’s fight purse.
Dulgarian was released from his UFC contract on Sunday.This is not the first instance of potential fight fixing to surface in MMA, but the swiftness of the investigation and the involvement of the FBI underscore the seriousness of the allegations.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities seeking to determine whether Dulgarian intentionally lost the fight. The outcome could have notable ramifications for the integrity of the sport.
