Jeff Molina is ready to move on.
Two years ago, the Missouri native was stopped by the UFC and slapped in an official three-year suspension from the Nevada State Athletics Board for his role in an illegal betting scheme with former coach James Kraus.
Molina was dressed in warm water after Sportsbook detected a suspicious betting line move ahead of the November 2022 match between glorious MMA and fitness teammates Darrick Minner and Sheylan Nuerdanbieke. Minna entered the contest with an injured knee and ultimately lost the match on TKO in the first round.
Minner never revealed an NSAC injury, resulting in a 29-month suspension.
On Monday, Morina revealed that he had officially split with the UFC after promotional chief business officer Hunter Campbell showed he would not allow him to compete within the Octagon again due to a series of events surrounding his suspension.
“There’s no bad blood in the UFC,” Molina told Ariel Herwani. “They changed my life. In fact, I am forever grateful to have been able to fight among the best. I was ranked at the time. But in the conversation they said, “After hearing, I cannot move forward with you under circumstances. And I asked you for your release.”
Molina was a bit surprised that the organization chose to let him go, considering the long history of the UFC giving fighters a second chance.
“I think the UFC was established on the principle that, hey, if you get punished, you get punished,” Molina said. “People have come back from running to pregnant women when they are at coke height. They do terrible things. They punish and they come back.
“So I thought my 2.5 years would be enough and I could go back to the UFC. But I got it. I think they’re talking with a new broadcast deal. I don’t know if they don’t want attention.”
Luckily, it didn’t take long for “El Jefe” to find a new gig.
While talking to Helwani, Molina reveals that he has signed a contract with the naked knuckle fighting championship.
Opened about his role in the UFC’s first major gambling scandal, Molina admitted that weeks before the Minna/Nuel Danbieke battle, the promotion advised the fighters to suspend bets on the match. Morina ignored the warning and continued her bet as usual.
“It was totally fine to do that two weeks before that event,” Molina said. “Then I got an email two weeks before the Minnah fight. “UFC athletes are no longer allowed to bet on the fight.” “This is an email. It was the way I make money side by side.” They were very serious and, following that, even the insane ones, it looked like what brought me my suspension. ”
Jeff Molina thinks Klaus has won the raw end of the deal
Minner and Molina have served as a majority or all NSAC suspensions, but Krause remains somewhat of a pariah in the MMA world. The UFC sent company-wide communication that fighters who continue to train under Krause will be handed over their full release. As a result, Krause’s coaching career was essentially over.
Klaus has since reappeared on social media, but his role in the investigation is still uncertain.
Given that Krause was no longer a fighter when everything fell, Molina believes the criticism being robbed by his former coach is a bit unfair.
“I really think the entire MMA community is owing him an apology,” Molina said. “This guy is a stand-up guy. I’m forever grateful for all the lessons he’s taught me. I’m in this position, and it’s not anyone else’s fault. I bet on the fight after the UFC stopped.
“I think he was the first Hall of Fame in charge of being a coach. It’s legal. The fighter underneath him will tell you the same thing. He’s a wizard.