Marc Raimondi, ESPN
UFC flyweight Jeff Molina is suspected of having “substantial involvement” in a betting scheme currently being probed by multiple government entities, Nevada deputy attorney general Joel Bekker said Tuesday at the Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting.
The NSAC temporarily suspended Molina last month, as first reported by ESPN, though the commission did not give a reason at the time. That suspension was extended Tuesday, pending the completion of investigations.
Bekker said evidence has come to light that Molina is suspected of being “involved in a substantial way” with the “gaming scheme currently under ongoing investigation related to [MMA coach] James Krause.”
Krause, who is Molina’s coach, and fighter Darrick Minner have also both been temporarily suspended by the NSAC.
The UFC said in a statement that it will not schedule Molina for any fights “whether in Nevada or elsewhere, pending the outcome of the commission’s investigation.”
“UFC’s Athlete Code of Conduct strictly prohibits fighters and members of their teams from wagering on UFC events, and UFC will take all necessary action to enforce that policy. UFC remains committed to cooperating with the appropriate authorities while this matter is being investigated,” the statement said.
Minner’s Nov. 5 UFC fight against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke in Las Vegas has been flagged for suspicious betting activity. New Jersey and New York sportsbooks, as well as offshore bookmakers, reported unusual betting interest on Minner to lose in the first round and for the fight to last fewer than 2½ rounds. He lost by TKO just over a minute into the first round.
In the month after the fight, gambling enforcement authorities in New Jersey halted wagering on any events associated with Krause, and two Canadian jurisdictions temporarily suspended betting on the UFC. Alberta has since overturned the ban. Multiple sources have told ESPN that the FBI has been collecting information and interviewing people about the fight.
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