Dana White reacts to controversial Fight Night 263

The UFC is presently astatine the halfway of a ungraded related to imaginable match-fixing, and their person Dana White has spoken retired astir everything. At UFC Fight Night 263 successful Las Vegas, the combat betwixt Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle ended precise quickly; Del Valle (10-0) caught Dulgarian (7-2) successful a "rear-naked choke" successful the archetypal circular and forced him to submit, remaining undefeated. However, aft the fight, the MMA assemblage reacted with questions – not due to the fact that of the nonaccomplishment itself, but due to the fact that of the suspicious behaviour and question of the likelihood earlier the match.

Several starring bookmakers soon returned stakes to punters who had stake connected Dulgarian, a uncommon determination successful MMA. Such a determination raised further suspicions of imaginable irregularities and links to betting, giving the combat a magnitude that goes beyond sports.

Ex-fighter and analysis

Former UFC combatant and present expert Michael Chiesa brutally dissected Dulgarian's show connected the post-fight show; 

“If you're portion of a main lawsuit UFC event, it's 1 happening if idiosyncratic beats you retired of your bushed oregon out-does you technically. But this... This was disastrous. So galore basal mistakes. You could adjacent perceive the commentators connected the broadcast asking 'what is this feline doing?' Instead of defending the lever, you're hitting down you similar an amateur. It's the astir useless punch determination is. Honestly, it was truthful transparent and disastrous. Absolutely unacceptable,” said Chiesa, who had praised Dulgarian arsenic a imaginable Top 5 combatant earlier the fight.

Chiesa added: “I'm not saying Del Valle is bad, connected the contrary - he's undefeated for a reason, he's a bully fighter. But Dulgarian... helium wasn't the aforesaid guy. He wasn't doing the moves, helium wasn't connecting the shots, helium wasn't re-attacking, helium wasn't utilizing his arsenal. He virtually looked similar idiosyncratic who didn't beryllium successful the UFC.”

Connection with the erstwhile coach

Social media was soon abuzz with accusation that Dulgarian was allegedly linked to erstwhile manager James Krause, who was kicked retired of the athletics for a betting ungraded successful 2022. Such a link, though unconfirmed, added to the suspicions. Dana White had antecedently intelligibly warned fighters, "Don't stake connected your fights. You cognize what happens if you bash that? Not lone bash you suffer your contract, you spell to national prison. Federal. F***ing. Prison. There's nary wealth worthy ruining your life."

The UFC has yet to officially remark connected the situation, but the enactment and the Nevada Athletic Commission are investigating the fight. If each comes clean, Dulgarian volition person to regain assurance done performance; if not, penalties are imaginable arsenic successful Krause's lawsuit - termination of contract, disciplinary measures and imaginable transgression proceedings.