Darrick Minner, Jeff Molina Handed Suspensions In Nevada For 2022 Gambling Scandal

Two MMA fighters who fought under disgraced trainer James Krause have been handed penalties for their ties to an alleged gambling scheme.

Darrick Minner and Jeff Molina—a pair of fighters who fought in the UFC before a massive betting controversy caused them to both disappear from in-cage appearances—were given suspensions by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Tuesday, per MMA Junkie.

The sanctions come due to a late-2022 loss UFC Minner took to Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, a 70-second stoppage that saw the American struggle significantly due to an apparent leg injury. Sportsbooks saw “suspicious” movement from some betters prior to the bout, causing alarm bells to go off as to some within Minner’s circle caught wind of a pre-existing injury and had placed bets accordingly.

Minner was given a 29-month suspension and a $235 fine due to a failure to disclose a knee injury prior to his 2022 appearance. Due to the penalty being retroactive to when Minner was initially suspended by the commission, the fighter is expected to have his sanction conclude on Wednesday of this week.

Minner hasn’t fought since his late 2022 loss to Nuerdanbieke. He was released by the UFC shortly after the defeat.

Molina, who the commission deemed had placed a sizeable bet on Minner’s fight, was given a three-year suspension and also fined $235. While lengthier, his penalty is expected to only keep him benched from competing within the state until November, as it was also retroactive. Molina has also not competed in over two years.

The 2022 scandal caused significant changes to UFC’s policies, running a prominent trainer out of the scene and changing its view on gambling.

Shortly after the incident, UFC prohibited its fighters from working with coach Krause, who ESPN later reported had been working as an “agent” for an offshore gambling site. 

In early 2023, they also made the call that fighters, coaches, managers, trainers, handlers, and “other individuals affiliated with the athletes or the UFC” were strictly prohibited from betting on UFC fights.