So far as Jeff Molina is worried, 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 during 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 rapidly defeated Minner by way of TKO within the opening spherical.
The fee later decided that Molina was conscious of Minner’s harm, did not disclose it, and nonetheless positioned a wager on the competition in query which went down in November 2022.
Molina will probably be eligible to compete in opposition to on November 5, 2025.
Jeff Molina defends himself from requires a lifetime ban
Following the information, Molina rapidly defended himself in opposition to these suggesting that he ought to have been hit with a lifetime ban.
“My phrases had been twisted right here. I wagered on your entire card,” Molina wrote on X. “It’s how I made more money on the aspect once I wasn’t combating and all I do is watch fights. I had wagers on each side of the combat and my “vital” wager was lower than $500.
“The one factor I’m responsible of was persevering with to wager on fights after the UFC emailed us telling us to cease. Getting a 3 12 months suspension for persevering with to wager two weeks after getting an e mail that stated to cease is insane. McGregor can submit his million greenback wager slip each month on a foremost occasion as a fighter on the roster.”
“It’s not about making it look higher,” Molina wrote in a pair of follow-up posts minutes later. “I’m saying what I did. What I fully disagree with is saying I deserve a “lifetime ban” for my $350 wagers I had on your entire card.
“I made a mistake by persevering with to wager little question and a 3 yr suspension is past suffice however appearing like 23 12 months previous me was this combat fixing mastermind making tens of millions of {dollars} is comical. The very fact is a fighter fought injured which occurs actually on a regular basis and clearly phrase acquired 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.
