Flyweight Jeff Molina’s UFC profession is on pause after the Nevada Athletic Fee on Tuesday suspended him for involvement “in some substantial method” within the James Krause betting scandal.
The UFC on Tuesday issued an announcement to MMA Preventing confirming it won’t e-book Molina in any bouts till the decision of the a number of investigations into the scandal, which facilities round suspicious betting exercise within the Darrick Minner vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke struggle at UFC Vegas 64. Krause coached Minner, who was an enormous betting underdog simply earlier than the struggle occurred. Minner, who misplaced within the first spherical after struggling a leg harm, later revealed he had suffered the harm previous to the struggle.
“Jeff Molina has been suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Fee and UFC won’t schedule him for any bouts, whether or not in Nevada or elsewhere, pending the end result of the fee’s investigation,” the UFC’s assertion learn. “UFC’s Athlete Code of Conduct strictly prohibits fighters and members of their groups from wagering on UFC occasions, and UFC will take all needed motion to implement that coverage. UFC stays dedicated to cooperating with the suitable authorities whereas this matter is being investigated.”
The promotion amended its Code of Conduct a number of weeks previous to UFC Vegas 64 to ban fighters, coaches and their groups from betting on UFC fights. Fighters had been nonetheless allowed to signify betting firms as a spokesperson.
Molina was a part of the Glory MMA and Health group coached by Krause that was barred from competing in UFC occasions. Molina had been scheduled to face Jimmy Flick this previous Saturday at UFC Vegas 67, however he quickly after withdrew from the occasion.
Krause and Minner had been subsequently suspended by the NAC for failing to reveal Minner’s leg harm. Molina, in the meantime, was issued a brief suspension pending the Tuesday listening to that resulted in a suspension on Dec. 15, 2022 that can stay till the decision of a number of investigations into the suspicious betting exercise, which based on ESPN.com, entails the FBI and different playing watchdogs.
After the suspicious line motion and affirmation of a number of investigations, New Jersey regulators barred Krause from betting exercise, whereas a number of Canadian provinces paused UFC betting; one reversed its place after a evaluation of the state of affairs.
Damon Martin contributed to this report.
