Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) have retracted their announcement confirming the signing of former UFC fighter Jeff Molina because he is currently banned from competing.
American Molina was suspended for three years in March after admitting his part in an illegal betting scandal.
BKFC posted on social media they had signed the 27-year-old on Tuesday before later making a U-turn on the announcement.
“Yesterday’s announcement regarding Jeff Molina’s signing was premature,” the bareknuckle promotion wrote on X.
“We respect the ABC’s [Athletic Boxing Commission’s] current suspension and will honour their rules and suspensions.”
Molina, who won all three of his UFC fights since his debut in 2021, was banned by ABC and the Nevada State Athletic Commission after betting on fellow fighter Darrick Minner before his defeat against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke in November 2022.
Minner failed to disclose a serious injury before the bout – an injury which Molina knew about prior to the fight.
American Minner, 35, received a 29-month suspension for his part in the scandal.
A number of former UFC fighters have signed contracts with BKFC in recent years, including former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, ex-middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and American Mike Perry.
