Vanessa Demopoulos
Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Vince Morales (red gloves) reacts to fight against Drako Rodriguez (blue gloves) during UFC 265 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Vince Morales, a veteran of nearly a dozen UFC fights, admits he's been offered $70,000 to take a dive inside the octagon.

In the wake of the controversy surrounding Isaac Dulgarian's first-round submission loss to Yadier del Valle at UFC Fight Night 263 this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, cracks about a potentially deeper betting scandal have started to appear.

Suspicious betting activity shifted the lines in the hours leading into the featherweight bout, specifically with prop bets for del Valle to win inside the first round. He did just that, and the aftermath has seen the UFC announce an investigation into the situation is underway through its betting integrity partner, IC360.

If it is proven that Dulgarian (7-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) was involved in any manipulation of the betting lines or result of the fight with del Valle (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), it is likely to come with serious consequences to him and any known associates.

Morales (11-10 MMA, 3-8 UFC), who has had two stints in the UFC from Nov. 2018 to Nov. 2022 and again from Sept. 2024 to present, voluntarily went to social media Monday and revealed that he's been approached about intentionally taking a dive in a pair of since-deleted posts on X.

Morales, 34, is currently on a three-fight losing skid against Raul Rosas Jr., Elijah Smith and Taylor Lapilus. He subsequently told Cageside Press that the offer was made "back in the COVID times" at a UFC Apex event, which would coincide with a May 2020 loss to Chris Gutierrez by leg kick TKO.

Ariel Helwani of Uncrowned reported on Monday that sources told him the situation with Dulgarian is not isolated, and also that the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), which sanctioned the fight, is currently withholding Dulgarian's entire purse.

Additionally, X user Harry Mac reported on Monday that he spoke with Iridium founder Jason House, who manages Dulgarian, and he claimed to have no knowledge of the situation and would immediate cut ties with the athlete should any wrongdoing be proven.

Morales' confession opened the door for others to share a similar message. 10-fight UFC veteran Vanessa Demopoulos commented on MMA Junkie's Instagram post and revealed she has also been approached about fight fixing.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: 11-fight UFC veteran Vince Morales admits being approached about 'throwing' fight

Reporting by Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie / MMA Junkie

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