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James Leo Krause (born June 4, 1986, in Newport News, Virginia) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC and is also known as a coach and entrepreneur. He trained at and owned the Glory MMA & Fitness gym in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Before retiring from the sport in 2020, he participated in 36 fights and earned UFC bonuses for “Fight of the Night,” “Knockout of the Night,” and “Submission of the Night.” After retiring from active competition, he expanded his business: he owned a chain of Metro PCS stores in the Kansas City area and ran the local promotion company, Kansas City Fighting Alliance.
Krause’s MMA career began in the amateur ranks, where he compiled an 18–1 record, won two championship belts, and was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. He turned professional in 2007 with Titan FC and quickly racked up a series of wins by knockout or submission. In 2009, he signed with WEC but lost both of his fights and was released. He later competed in Bellator and other promotions before making his UFC debut in 2013, defeating Sam Stout and earning two bonuses after winning by submission in the third round.
In the UFC, he demonstrated resilience with a series of fights against well-known opponents — Masvidal, Warner, and Alves. His victory over Sergio Moraes in 2019 earned him “Performance of the Night.” His final fight took place in October 2020 against Claudio Silva, after which he announced his retirement from the sport in the summer of 2022 (“I’m at peace with it”).
After retiring from active competition, he focused on coaching and entrepreneurship. His gym, Glory MMA & Fitness, became one of the leading training centers in the region, helping develop promising fighters, including UFC title contenders. Among his protégés were Brandon Moreno and Derrick Minner.
However, everything changed after a scandalous fight: on November 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night, Minner — trained by Krause — was defeated by technical knockout in the first round by Shailan Nuerdanbik. This fight raised red flags due to a sharp shift in betting odds — Minner suddenly became a clear underdog just hours before the bout. Serious suspicions arose: bookmakers and U.S. Integrity reported abnormal betting activity on a first-round loss, and Minner fought with a pre-existing leg injury that had not been disclosed in his medical records.
Following the fight, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) suspended Krause’s coaching license on November 18, 2022. The UFC subsequently announced that any fighters continuing to work with him or train at his gym would not be allowed to compete until the investigation concluded. Sports regulators in New Jersey and Ontario temporarily banned betting on UFC events involving Krause.
The investigation revealed that Krause had been working as an agent for the offshore bookmaker ABCBetting.ag since 2019, providing credit and login credentials to customers, accepting payments via Venmo/PayPal, and offering commissions for referring new bettors. He was also actively involved in a paid Discord group called “The 1% Club,” where he shared betting predictions and strategies.
Others at the gym were also implicated. Jeff Molina, a friend and fighter from Krause’s gym, later received a 36-month suspension from the NSAC for betting on the fight while being aware of Minner’s injury and failing to report it. Minner himself received a 29-month suspension, retroactive to the date of the fight — making him eligible to return in March 2025.
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In addition to the disqualification and investigations, Krause reportedly ended up in severe debt: after the scandal, he accrued around $5 million in liabilities and was forced to sell Glory MMA & Fitness to a new owner to settle them. In response, the UFC and regulators tightened their policies: beginning in October 2022, all members of UFC fighter teams — including coaches, agents, family, and close associates — are banned from placing bets.
Meanwhile, Molina claimed that his punishment was too harsh. He argued that his words had been misinterpreted and cited a double standard when compared to Conor McGregor’s betting controversy (Molina had wagered less than $500 and said his bet was not significant).
James Krause’s actions — brokering offshore bets, failing to disclose a fighter’s injury, and violating sports integrity rules — led to his suspension, financial ruin, and substantial damage to his reputation. While investigations are still ongoing, the consequences have already served as a serious warning to the entire industry about the risks involved and the need for transparency in sports regulation.
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