By Shawn Stewart
TKO Group HoldingsTwo UFC veterans are at the center of a gambling scandal involving Glory MMA & Fitness coach James Krause have been officially suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
During an NSAC meeting on Tuesday, Darrick Minner was suspended for 29 months and fined $235.56 in prosecution fees for failing to disclose a knee injury he suffered prior to a bout against Nuerdanbieke Shayilan at UFC Fight Night 214 on Nov. 5, 2022. The suspension is retroactive to that date, so Minner will be eligible to return on March 26.
Jeff Molina, meanwhile was suspended for 36 months and must pay $232.56 in prosecution fees for failing to inform the commission of his Minner’s injury and then placing a significant bet on his teammate’s fight. Molina’s suspension, which is also retroactive to the date of the Minner fight, will end on Nov. 5.
Minner was released from the UFC shortly after the loss to Shayilan and has not fought since then. Molina had been suspended since late 2022 for what was deemed “substantial” involvement in the promotion’s betting scandal. He has not competed since a split-decision win over Zhalgas Zhumagulov in June 2022 – his third straight in UFC competition.
Krause, a UFC veteran who had assembled a solid team at Glory MMA & Fitness, was the key figure in a federal investigation after betting lines shifted significantly ahead of Minner’s fight vs. Shayilan. Krause was eventually revealed to be an agent for an offshore sportsbook who allegedly engaged in “insider trading.” As a result of his actions – which included failing to disclose Minner’s injury — Krause was banned from cornering at UFC events and fighters under contact with the Las Vegas-based promotion were prohibited from training at his gym. He remains under NSAC suspension and is not involved with the UFC. However, he has been seen offering real estate advice on his Facebook page.