UFC betting scandal: Jeff Molina, Darrick Minner banned for multiple years

The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) has officially ruled on the fates of UFC veterans Jeff Molina and Darrick Minner, handing both fighters lengthy suspensions for their involvement in the James Krause betting scandal. At a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, the commission determined that Minner and Molina knowingly concealed injuries while participating in suspicious betting activity tied to their former coach, Krause. Their suspensions are retroactive, sidelining them for years, with Molina’s ban extending until late 2025. The scandal, which erupted in late 2022, rocked the UFC and led to Krause’s exile from the sport.

Darrick Minner, 34, received a 29-month suspension retroactive to Nov. 5, 2022, the date of his last fight. His suspension will end on March 26, 2025, and he must pay a $235 fine. Meanwhile, 27-year-old Jeff Molina was given a 36-month suspension retroactive to June 4, 2022. His ban will lift on Nov. 5, 2025, and he will also pay a $235 fine.

Both fighters were initially suspended indefinitely in December 2022 as part of an investigation into irregular betting patterns surrounding James Krause and his fighters. The controversy reached its peak when Minner fought Shayilan Nuerdanbieke at UFC Vegas 64 in November 2022. Before the bout, Minner’s betting odds swung drastically, making him a significant underdog. He was then finished in just 67 seconds after appearing to favor an already-injured knee. The NAC later revealed that Minner had failed to disclose this serious injury on pre-fight medical forms, checking “no” on questions regarding pre-existing knee, elbow, ankle, or hand injuries.
Molina, on the other hand, was found to have had "direct knowledge of serious injury" regarding Minner before the fight and failed to report it. Instead, he placed bets on the fight’s outcome through a gaming entity, further implicating himself in the scandal. Molina won his last UFC fight against Zhalgas Zhumagulov via split decision in June 2022 but has not competed since.
Krause, a former UFC fighter turned coach, was permanently banned from the sport as a result of the investigation. Now 38, he has claimed to be more than $5 million in debt and has shifted his focus to real estate.
Also Read: UFC 314: Alexander Volkanovski aims to clean out Featherweight division in 2025

With these suspensions, Molina and Minner are staring at a long road back—if there’s even a road left for them. Minner can technically fight again in March 2025, but after getting cut by the UFC and having his name tied to this scandal, a comeback seems like a long shot. Molina, once seen as a future contender, won’t be eligible until late 2025. By then, who knows if the UFC or any major promotion will even want him? As for Krause, his MMA career is dead in the water. The UFC made it clear: anyone linked to him won’t be welcome. He’s already moved on, but with $5 million in debt hanging over his head, the fallout is far from over.