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Read Full BioTwo UFC fighters have received penalties for their involvement in an illegal betting scheme.
UFC flyweight Jeff Molina and former UFC featherweight Darrick Minner had disciplinary hearings on Tuesday in Las Vegas before the Nevada Athletic Commission, where they both were hit with multi-year suspensions.
Molina, 27, was suspended for three years and fined $235.56 in prosecution fees for failing to disclose an injury Minner, 34, had sustained before a fight against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke and placing a bet on the Nov. 5, 2022, fight. His suspension runs through Nov. 5, 2025.
“Having direct knowledge of a serious injury sustained by a fellow fighter, Darrick Minner, Molina failed to inform the commission of the serious injury, [in] violation of NAC 467.885, and instead of informing the commission, additionally placed a significant bet with a gaming entity on Minner’s fight,” attorney general representative Matthew Feely said.
Minner, meanwhile, was suspended for 29 months and fined $235.56 in prosecution fees for knowingly competing in the bout with a knee injury. His suspension will be retroactive, meaning he can return on March 26, 2025.
Molina had been suspended since January 2023 for what the commission called “substantial” participation in a scheme involving coach James Krause. Minner was originally suspended in December 2022.
Minner hasn’t competed since the November 2022 bout. Minner failed to reveal a knee injury prior to that bout and was beaten by Nuerdanbieke in the first round. Shortly after, the bout was flagged by US Integrity.
Amid suspicions of illegal betting activity, UFC CEO Dana White suggested there’d be severe consequences for anyone in violation of the rules.
“Do you know what the outcome of this is?” White said. “If I penalize them, they’re going to get cut. They’re going to (expletive) federal prison. Federal (expletive) prison. If you’re that stupid and somebody else wants to do it, knock yourself out.
“There’s not enough money in it to ruin your life and not go to jail, go to federal prison.”
The UFC also cut ties with Krause, saying fighters who continued to train with him would not be allowed to participate in any sanctioned events pending the outcome of government investigations. Krause remains suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
