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It’s not the way Jeff Molina wanted to come out.
The 25-year-old UFC flyweight came out as bisexual on Friday after a video of him engaged in a sex act with another man was leaked on social media.
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Molina said because of leak, the opportunity to reveal his sexuality on his own terms was stripped from him.
“Not the way I wanted to do this but the chance to do it when I was ready was taken from me,” Molina said in a statement posted to Twitter.
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“I’ve tried to keep my dating life private from social media.”
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Molina said he has dated women his entire life, suppressing the feelings he had while competing on the wrestling team in high school and pursuing mixed martial arts through college in an effort to get to the UFC.
“The thought of my buddies, teammates and (people) I look up to looking at me different let alone treating me different for something I can’t control was something I couldn’t fathom,” wrote Molina.
The MMA fighter said he didn’t plan on coming out during his fighting career because he’d rather be known for his skills than being a “gay UFC fighter.”
He admonished the unknown video leaker and said to them: “I hope it was worth it.”
“At the end of the day I know my character, morals, and who I am as a person,” Molina concluded. “As much as I’m getting hated/s***ted on I’m getting an equal amount of support & it means a f*** ton.”
Molina is 11-2-0 in his MMA career. He is currently suspended by the UFC for an alleged role in a betting scheme.
