Bare-knuckle fighting awaits Jeff Molina as he prepares to resume his combat sports career.
The former UFC flyweight has officially signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), marking his foray into the sport without gloves. This move follows his release from the UFC in the wake of a betting controversy tied to his former coach, James Krause.
The signing was confirmed by BKFC officials after Molina initially shared the news on The Ariel Helwani Show.
However, Molina cannot compete until after November 5th, as he must first complete the three-year suspension issued by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
The suspension stems from an incident involving his teammate Darrick Minner at UFC Vegas 64 in November 2022. Minner lost via first-round TKO to Shayilan Nuerdanbieke. Suspicion arose due to significant, late shifts in betting odds for the fight, where Minner became a heavy underdog shortly before his swift defeat (67 seconds).
Both Krause and Minner were initially suspended for not disclosing an injury before the bout. The broader investigation focused on a potential betting scandal that even led several sportsbooks to stop accepting bets on UFC events.
Molina`s suspension was a result of his acknowledged involvement in wagering on his teammate`s fight.
The Nevada Deputy Attorney General, Matthew Feeley, stated in March that Molina possessed direct knowledge of Minner`s serious injury but failed to report it to the commission. Instead, according to Feeley, Molina placed “significant bets” on the fight`s outcome, violating regulations.
Consequently, Molina received a three-year suspension and a fine. He will be eligible to fight again starting in November.
Before his suspension, Molina had an undefeated 3-0 record in the UFC`s flyweight division.
Molina joins BKFC`s expanding roster. The promotion continues to grow, recently holding its first event in Italy and announcing a planned debut card in Texas for June.
