UFC vets Jeff Molina, Darrick Minner get multi-year suspensions for roles in James Krause betting scandal
The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) held a disciplinary hearing Tuesday to determine the fates of temporarily suspended UFC veterans Jeff Molina and Darrick Minner in the James Krause betting scandal.
At the hearing, Minner, 34, received a 29-month suspension retroactive to Nov. 5, 2022, the date of his last fight. The suspension terminates on March 26, 2025, and Minner must pay a $235 fine.
Molina, 27, received a 36-month suspension retroactive to June 4, 2022, the date of his last fight. His suspension also ends on Nov. 5, 2025, and he will pay a $235 fine.
Molina and Minner had been temporarily suspended for three years until Tuesday's hearing. The fighters were suspected of being involved in the betting scandal surrounding their former Glory MMA & Fitness head coach and fellow UFC veteran, Krause. All three were suspended in December 2022 after Krause came under investigation for alleged betting irregularities; specifically, when it came to Krause's fighters, Molina and Minner, betting odds shifted drastically prior to Minner's last UFC fights in 2022.
Minner's loss to Shayilan Nuerdanbieke was a massive red flag at UFC Vegas 64 in November of that year. Before the event began, Minner became an enormous underdog and was subsequently finished with strikes in 67 seconds. Minner and Krause were initially suspended for their failure to report a "serious knee injury" before the fight, stated the NAC. Minner specifically responded to his pre-fight examination by checking off "no" to a question regarding whether or not he'd had any injuries to his knees, elbows, ankles, hands or feet that needed examination. Minner was released from the UFC after his loss.
On the other hand, Molina won his bout against Zhalgas Zhumagulov via split decision in June. After the Minner incident, however, he was identified as a person of interest for non-disclosure of an injury and having "direct knowledge of serious injury" regarding Minner. Instead of informing the commission, Molina placed bets with a gaming entity on the outcome of Minner's fight.
Krause, 38, has since resurfaced to proclaim he's more than $5 million in debt. The longtime UFC veteran has turned his focus toward the real estate world since being exiled from fighting.
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