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ufc President Dana White confirmed reports that FBI is investigating a possible betting scam in the mixed martial arts promotion.
This week, Fighter Isaac Dulgarian released by UFC This followed his defeat to Yadier del Valle on Saturday – a result which was considered doubtful, as he was submitted in the first round following a late change in the odds.
The 29-year-old American went from a -250 favorite to -154 just before the fight, which took place on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at the promotion’s Apex venue in Las Vegas. Dulgarian defeated 29-year-old Del Valle of Cuba via rear naked choke at the 3:41 mark of the first round.
Independent After contacting the UFC for comment, they did not receive a response, but the promotion’s president has now spoken out openly about the incident and confirmed the FBI’s involvement.
“Probably about 1 o’clock that afternoon… we’re with a company called IC360, and they’re the best surveillance company in the business,” White said. tmz“They reached out to us and told us there was some unusual action going on in that fight. Did we know anything? We didn’t know.
“So what we did, 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 anyone money? Has anyone contacted you… you know?’ And the child said: ‘No, of course not, I will kill this man.’
“So, we said: ‘Okay.’ The fight continues, and [it’s a] Ending the first round by rear naked choke. Literally the first thing we did was call the FBI. I have met with the FBI twice today.
“People [are] There’s talk: ‘There are hundreds of fights under investment-…’ This is complete bull****. Total generic clickbait bull****.
“IC360, we have been with them for years and after every fight we do we get a report […] We take this very seriously, and we’re tracking every single fight that happens in the UFC from first prelims to the main event.
“So, when that happened a few years ago, whenever that happened, that investigation is still ongoing – and that will also be a part of this investigation.”
White was referring to a 2022 episode in which the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended the license of fighter-turned-coach James Cross after one of his trainees lost a match in a suspicious manner. The commission said Cross’s license will remain suspended during the investigation.
The UFC prohibited any of Krause’s fighters from competing in the UFC until they stopped training under him, and the promotion stopped allowing athletes and people close to them to bet on UFC events.
White continued on Tuesday: “I talked [FBI director Kash Patel] This morning, but then we had an office full of FBI agents here. If you try to do that… I have been very vocal and open about this: we will be your worst enemy, we will immediately go after the FBI and anyone who needs to catch us. We will do everything possible to ensure that you go to jail.
“You’re seeing things on the Internet where fighters are going: ‘I was contacted.’ really? Why didn’t you tell us this? More importantly, why didn’t you tell law enforcement that you were contacted? Now you are saying that you were contacted?? This is really strange. Now they will be contacted – by the FBI!
“Fight fixing is absolutely crazy. To get to this level and go out and be a part of it… and I’m not saying this kid [Dulgarian] Guilty, there is still no evidence that he did it. But I can tell you this: It definitely doesn’t feel good.”