The Nevada Athletic Commission on Wednesday agreed to extend the suspensions of former UFC fighters James Krause and Darrick Minner while an investigation continues.
The official reason for their suspensions in November, which did not have time limits assigned to them, is for failure to disclose an injury to the commission. But there’s also the matter of Minner’s November fight against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke under federal investigation for suspicious betting activity. Krause is Minner’s coach and one of his cornermen.
Nevada deputy attorney general Joel Bekker on Wednesday alluded to the federal probe into the fight and said further sanctions against Krause and Minner could come as an eventual result of that investigation.
After the UFC learned of abnormal betting activity in first-round TKO Minner’s loss to Nuerdanbieke at UFC Fight Night 214 in Las Vegas, the promotion ultimately released Minner. Krause already was retired, but with his cornering license suspended by the commission, it effectively was a UFC ban unless he was licensed again.
But earlier this month, the UFC went one step further and announced any fighter who trains at Krause’s Glory MMA gym near Kansas City and any fighter who continues to be coached by him will not be part of the UFC.
At UFC 282 this past Saturday, UFC president Dana White said the fight is being investigated by the FBI.
Abnormal line activity was picked up hours before the fight. Minner quickly went down with an injury in the first round of the contest, which led many to think he was injured entering the fight.
The UFC in October sent communication to fighters and managers reminding them of the UFC’s Athlete Conduct Policy, which prohibits fighters from betting on any UFC fight, and that it applied to any people peripheral to the fighters and organization.
In the internal memo announcing Minner’s release, UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell said “along with the safety and health of its fighters, UFC believes there is no more important component of professional mixed martial arts than the integrity of the sport.”
The Nevada commission extended Krause and Minner’s suspensions unanimously while the investigation is ongoing, and ahead of any potential hearing.
