“Sit down Dana, I’m the real boss.” Back in 2018, Conor McGregor jokingly tweeted at Dana White with a video of the UFC boss in EA Sports UFC 3 Beat The Boss edition. But this time, the rivalry has grown out of the video game universe. It seems like McGregor has taken up the ‘Boss’ mantle and is up to hire every capable fighter leaving the Octagon for good. After Eddie Alvarez, Jeremy Stephens, Ben Rothwell, and others, Jeff Molina has now reportedly joined the ranks of the bare-knuckle fighters following his release from White’s fight promotion. 

Of course, the Ultimate Fighting Championship still remains the #1 choice for MMA fighters. However, the craze for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has also been on the rise. And the credit definitely goes to ‘The Notorious’ and his involvement in promoting the $411M promotion’s events. But the thing that played well for the Irishman this time around was Molina’s harsh punishment. 

During his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, ‘El Jefe’ revealed his next move. He told the famed MMA reporter, “Talked with [David] Feldman this morning and I’m stoked. I’ve been to dozens of UFC’s [events], some of the biggest cards. I went to the Sphere Show. I’ve been to probably four or five BKFC’s. Nothing compares to BKFC. I’m not just saying that because I’ve recently signed. The entertainment factor is through the roof. There’s nothing more exciting. The experience is super cool. The fights are as raw as I can get.”

Needless to say, Molina has set his aim at becoming a champion in McGregor’s promotion. He claimed that he could become the face of BKFC in the 125 and 135-pound weight classes. And even though he admitted that the fights were pretty gruesome at BKFC, his ambition splashed out even more clearly. Molina continued, “I really think I can be a two-division champ. I’m 27 years old. I’m in the prime of my career. I’ve been training throughout this time and I’m ready to go.”

There might also be a little more to the timing of his release from the UFC. The promotion’s broadcast deal with ESPN is up at the end of the year, and the reclusive negotiation window with ESPN ended as of April 15. So, maybe White and his team did not want to touch legal troubles with a 10-foot pole while trying to land a rumored billion-dollar deal.

Molina was hoping to return to the Octagon after the 2.5-year sentence ended on November 5. He said, “So I thought my 2.5 years was enough and I’d be able to come back to the UFC. But I get it. I think they are in talks with a new broadcasting deal. I don’t know if they don’t want the attention and whatnot.”

But do you know that there was a time when Molina decided to drag ‘Mystic Mac’ into the dirt? Well, he was quite upset with being axed from the UFC due to his mistake. And what seemingly hurt him the most was the fact that he had already served 2.5 years of suspension. So, what made ‘El Jefe’ so mad? 

Jeff Molina drags Conor McGregor to expose Dana White’s double standards

Back in 2022, the NSAC put a 36-month ban on Molina and fined him $235.56 in prosecution fees. This was the punishment that the officials deemed fit for him. It happened because he placed a huge bet on Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, who fought Molina’s teammate, Darrick Minner. But the catch was that Minner was injured before the fight, and Molina knew it. Nevertheless, he claimed that he had no bad blood with the UFC. After all, the organization changed his life significantly. However, he wasn’t too happy with the kind of punishment he received. 

Earlier in March, Molina confessed that he bet on both sides of UFC Vegas 64. He said, “I had wagers on both sides of the fight and my “significant” bet was less than $500. The only thing I’m guilty of was continuing to wager on fights after the UFC emailed us telling us to stop.” He pointed out that people who did terrible stuff often served their sentence and came back to compete, which is why ‘El Jefe’ believed that he could come back after serving 2.5 years. Well, his sentence will end on November 5, 2025. But as we already know, Dana White didn’t really want him back. 

Upset with it all, he continued, “Getting a 3-year suspension for continuing to bet two weeks after getting an email that said to stop is insane. McGregor can post his million-dollar bet slip every month on a main event as a fighter on the roster, and no one blinks an eye. Def a double standard there.” But now, he’s seemingly taken a 180-degree turn and joined the BKFC as a new fighter. And to be fair, McGregor’s bets are promotional stunts for Duelbits, and not his own wagers.. Nevertheless, we still need to wait and let the story unfold to witness Molina’s BKFC debut finally. 

What are your thoughts on McGregor signing Molina for BKFC? Do you think Molina’s striking skills are enough to get him to the championship title at the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.