A rematch between UFC vets Houston Alexander (11-6, 1NC) and James Irvin (15-6, 2NC) has been canceled by the Shark Fights promotion after an alleged positive steroid test by Irvin following a December Tachi Palace Fights 7 event.
MMAWeekly.com caught the announcement on Wednesday, following a report from Sherdog.com who confirmed the news of the alleged positive test for Epitrenbolone, an anabolic steroid, with California State Athletic Commission officials.
Promotion president Brent Medley gave this statement.
“Due to Irvin’s “alleged” steroid allegations and an undisclosed injury that Houston Alexander suffered during training, we were forced to pull the bout from the Shark Fights 14 line-up. We plan to reschedule the long awaited Alexander vs. Irvin re-match in the near future and are currently wrapping up negotiations for another very compelling Shark Fights 14 co-main event. Details will be announced soon, so stay tuned!”
Irvin’s last fight was not in December, he actually fought on Jan. 29 at a GC Young Guns event in Nevada. The bout was declared a ‘No Contest’ after Irvin landed an illegal knee in the first round. The Tachi Palace Fights bout took place on December 2, a first round submission loss to Jorge Oliveira in a heavyweight matchup. His record over the past six fights is 1-4 (1), last appearing in the UFC in that span with three straight defeats against Anderson Silva at UFC Fight Night 14, Alessio Sakara at UFC on Versus 1, and Igor Pokrajac at UFC on Versus 2.