The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) recently conducted a disciplinary hearing to address the involvement of UFC fighters Jeff Molina and Darrick Minner in the James Krause betting scandal.
During the hearing, Minner, aged 34, was handed a 29-month suspension starting from Nov. 5, 2022, which coincided with his last fight. The suspension will be lifted on March 26, 2025, and Minner has been fined $235.
On the other hand, Molina, aged 27, received a 36-month suspension retroactive to June 4, 2022, the date of his last fight. His suspension will conclude on Nov. 5, 2025, and he is required to pay a $235 fine.
Both Molina and Minner were under temporary suspension for a three-year period until the recent hearing. The fighters were suspected of involvement in the betting scandal connected to their former coach, James Krause, from Glory MMA & Fitness. The suspensions were imposed in December 2022 following an investigation into Krause’s alleged betting irregularities, particularly concerning significant changes in betting odds before Minner’s last UFC fights in 2022.
Minner’s defeat against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke at UFC Vegas 64 in November was a notable incident. Prior to the fight, Minner’s odds drastically shifted, and he was swiftly defeated in just 67 seconds. The NAC revealed that Minner failed to disclose a serious knee injury before the fight, leading to his suspension. Subsequently, Minner was released from the UFC.
In contrast, Molina emerged victorious in his fight against Zhalgas Zhumagulov via split decision in June. However, he later became a person of interest for not disclosing an injury and having prior knowledge of Minner’s serious injury. Instead of reporting this information to the commission, Molina placed bets on the fight outcome with a gaming entity.
Since the scandal, Krause, now 38, has transitioned to the real estate industry after being banned from fighting. He recently revealed that he is over $5 million in debt.