ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reports that the Nevada attorney general has discovered information that former UFC flyweight Jeff Molina was involved in a “substantial way” with the suspicious gambling activity behind the November 5th fight between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbiee. Molina was suspended this past December without further word on the reasons why until Tuesday.
Nevada deputy attorney general Joel Bekker says information has come to light that UFC flyweight Jeff Molina was involved in a "substantial way" with the "gaming scheme currently under ongoing investigation related to James Krause."
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) January 17, 2023
James Krause has been suspended by the Nevada commission since the November fight involving his fighter Minner wherein he lost. Gambling lines at sportsbooks shut down the betting on the fight due to integrity issue concerns. Subsequently, Krause and Minner were suspended due to not detailing a leg injury on Miner’s pre-fight medical forms. Minner was cut by the UFC and it appears Molina has met the same fate. The UFC issued an edict stating all UFC fighters working with the coach disassociate from him. The investigation into Krause and an alleged ‘gaming scheme’ are ongoing.
The news Tuesday is the first giving a hint into Molina’s alleged involvement. Last week Krause was cited as being an agent for an offshore sportsbook.
Payout Perspective:
The news on the Krause saga continues to unravel and its an unfortunate blemish that could cause ripple affects in the sport. Gambling is a huge part of the MMA space and this investigation caused Alberta and Ontario to temporarily halt taking bets on UFC. Regulators want to ensure fight integrity so that gambling remains vibrant in the sport. If there is a scandal that fights are fixed, it would place a huge mark on the sport and also the sponsors and potential sponsors for MMA companies.
Leave a Reply