So far as Jeff Molina is anxious, he’s served his time.
On Tuesday, the Nevada State Athletic Fee slapped Molina with a three-year suspension stemming from his involvement in a 2022 betting scandal by which he wagered on a combat between teammate Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke at UFC Vegas 64.
It was later found that Minner was coping with an harm that resulted in a dramatic shift in betting traces favoring Nuerdanbieke, who shortly defeated Minner through TKO within the opening spherical.
The fee later decided that Molina was conscious of Minner’s harm, didn’t disclose it, and nonetheless positioned a wager on the competition in query which went down in November 2022.
Molina might be eligible to compete in opposition to on November 5, 2025.
Jeff Molina defends himself from requires a lifetime ban
“My words were twisted here. I wagered on the entire card,” Molina wrote on X. “It’s how I made extra money on the side when I wasn’t fighting and all I do is watch fights. I had wagers on both sides of the fight and my “significant” guess was lower than $500.
“It’s not about making it look better,” Molina wrote in a pair of follow-up posts minutes later. “I’m saying what I did. What I completely disagree with is saying I deserve a “lifetime ban” for my $350 wagers I had on the complete card.
“I made a mistake by continuing to wager no doubt and a 3 yr suspension is beyond suffice but acting like 23 year old me was this fight fixing mastermind making millions of dollars is comical. The fact is a fighter fought injured which happens literally all the time and obviously word got out.”
Molina was on a 10-fight win streak earlier than being suspended, together with a trio of wins in his first three appearances with the UFC. ‘El Jefe’ defeated Aoriqileng, Daniel Lacerda, and Zhalgas Zhumagulov between April 2021 and June 2022 earlier than his MMA profession was placed on maintain.
Minner obtained a 29-month suspension for his position within the scandal and is already eligible to compete. As for his or her head coach, James Krause, the investigation into his involvement is ongoing.
