In firefight mode, the UFC may have released Isaac Dulgarian, the fighter now at the center of a major betting controversy. However, the move faces new challenges, as smoke continues to rise from several other fissures. Accused of allegedly throwing a fight despite entering his UFC Vegas 110 bout as the heavy favorite, Dulgarian has once again brought to light the troubling influence of betting and wagering on competitive fighting.

Adding to the UFC’s woes, several fighters have reportedly come forward, claiming that individuals approached them with offers to throw fights. To set the record straight, the Isaac Dulgarian incident is not an isolated one. Fans may recall the 2022 case involving Jeff Molina and Darrick Minner. Yet the emergence of new claims poses a significant challenge for Dana White and his team. The Dulgarian episode has clearly opened a can of worms.

Fighters speak out as Dana White and UFC face new fixing allegations

Respected MMA reporter Mike Bohn shared a couple of screenshots on X. They belonged to fighters who confessed that people reached out to them with offers to take a dive. Ohio-born fighter Vanessa Demopoulos posted one. She wrote, “Yeah, people have approached me to throw fights.” Thankfully, her integrity prevailed, preventing her from succumbing to the pressure. “My integrity could never,” she said, adding, “We’ve spent our lives learning skills and honoring this sport. Can’t believe people compromise their morals like this.”

Another one came from Vince Morales, who suffered a loss to Raul Rosas Jr. in his last outing. The Nevada-based fighter said, “I’ve been approached about doing it.” However, like Demopoulos, he stood his ground and didn’t give in. “It’s not something I could live with…even though I ended up losing the damn fight anyways.”

According to Morales, the offer he received touched the $70,000 figure. He told Cageside Press that the incident occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. “That was way back in the covid times. Fight week during the first week of Apex. Happened in passing, so I didn’t even take it serious,” he told them.

Now, both Demopoulos and Morales made it clear that they refused to give in to such enticements. But there is an instance where a fighter agreed to a fix, and things didn’t turn out too well for them.

UFC fighters and the shadow of fight-fixing

Demopoulos and Morales’ stances stand in stark contrast to what Tae Hyun Bang did back in 2017. Authorities found him guilty of accepting money, reportedly around $90,000, to lose a fight at UFC Fight Night 79. Ironically, Hyun Bang went on to win his bout against Leo Kuntz. Nevertheless, his actions led to a prison sentence.

Still, the mere fact that fighters are being approached for such unethical practices raises serious concerns. Speaking on his show, Ariel Helwani shared similar revelations, describing the issue as a growing conundrum. “I have talked to multiple people who have either experienced or know of others who experienced situations where they have been approached. They have been talked to and said, ‘Are you interested in this? Are you interested in throwing a fight for x amount of dollars?'” Helwani stated.

In the meantime, the UFC continues to investigate Isaac Dulgarian’s involvement in the alleged betting irregularities. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has reportedly taken immediate action by withholding Dulgarian’s fight purse from UFC Vegas 110.

Fans can expect more updates on this matter in the coming days. What do you think of these revelations? Do you think the UFC should pay closer attention to the issue of fixing fights? Let us know your thoughts below.