Author: Dan Hiergesell

Flyweight fighter Juancamilo Ronderos has accepted a one-month suspension by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after failing an in-competition drug test for cocaine dating back to UFC Vegas 27.

This is according to an official USADA statement, which was released on Thursday after Ronderos accepted his one-month sanction. The official USADA statement can be read below:

“USADA announced today that Juancamilo Ronderos Alvis, of Las Vegas, Nev., has accepted a one-month sanction for a violation of the UFC® Anti-Doping Policy. Alvis, 26, tested positive for cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine as the result of a sample collected in competition at the UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on May 22, 2021. Cocaine, a non-Specified stimulant, is prohibited in-competition and considered a Substance of Abuse under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and the UFC Prohibited List. An athlete who discloses the use of a prohibited substance to USADA upon entering the UFC Anti-Doping Program will not be deemed to have committed a violation if USADA determines that a positive test for that substance resulted from the athlete’s use prior to entering the program. Alvis did not declare the use of cocaine on his onboarding declaration forms. Alvis received a reduction to the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility because under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, athletes may receive a reduced sanction for Substances of Abuse if they can establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the violation did not enhance, and was not intended to enhance, the athlete’s performance in a Bout and they subsequently complete a drug rehabilitation program.”

The one-month suspension is retroactive to May 22 so Ronderos is already eligible to return.

Ronderos, 26, made his Octagon debut on short notice at UFC Vegas 27 against rising flyweight contender David Dvorak. After a brief feeling out period to begin the first round Dvorak was able to put the pressure on Ronderos and ended up finishing him with a one-armed submission (check it out HERE). It was the first loss of Ronderos’ career.

In addition to his USADA suspension, Ronderos may receive further sanction by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which is currently reviewing the case in accordance with its own rules.

Nicco Montano will once again miss an opportunity to return to action tomorrow night (Sat., July 31, 2021) at UFC Vegas 33 live on ESPN/ESPN+ from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nev., as the former UFC women’s flyweight champion missed weight by a massive seven pounds for her matchup with Wu Yanan. The bout has since been removed from this weekend’s card.

This is not the first time Montano has failed to make it to fight night. Since her last trip to the Octagon, which came in the form of a decision loss to Julianna Pena back in July 2019, Montano has pulled out of fights six different times. Whether due to injury, COVID-19 protocol, travel restrictions, or failed weight cuts, Montano has struggled to keep the train on the track over the past two years.

The former UFC women’s flyweight champion took to social media after this most recent withdrawal to explain what went wrong.

“I was dedicated through camp to this fight, training four hours a day, including my fasted 4-5 mile runs and unfortunately after years of cutting hard my metabolic system is not catching up with what efforts I’ve been putting in,” wrote Montano via Instagram. “So I’ve been eating less for my workout sessions, training up until I had to come to the quarantine bubble and had to start my cut pretty high.

“I have done this cut before but unfortunately it just didn’t work out this time around. I think the most important thing for me to do is focus on getting my weight down healthily. Believe me I didn’t want this to happen and did everything in my power to make sure it didn’t but sometimes life kicks you in the balls over and over and over. But I’m learning that it’s only making me stronger and more resilient for what’s to come.

“And I only hope that anyone going through a rough patch in their loves does what I do, pick yourself up and believe in yourself to get through the tough times because there’s gonna be plenty more but patience is key in becoming the best version you can be.”

Montano also issued the following message to her support team:

“I also want to say thank you to everyone at the UFC P.I. and Syndicate for believing in me and helping me get to this fight with more love and support than anyone could ask for. I truly felt the best I’ve ever felt going into this fight.”

It’s hard to imagine Montano ever competed as a flyweight considering she just came in seven pounds overweight for a bantamweight fight. Fans were hoping she could return to action at 135 pounds and put her skills to use in a division eager for new contenders. Unfortunately, Montano couldn’t keep her weight down and once again cost herself a UFC appearance.

For complete UFC Vegas 33 fight card lineup and start times click HERE.

Top lightweight contenders Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler are expected to meet at the upcoming UFC 268 PPV event currently targeted for Nov. 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

This is according to a recent report by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, who also revealed that the two lightweights have only verbally agreed to the matchup.

Gaethje, 32, hasn’t fought since his submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 back in Oct. 2020. “Highlight” is hoping that one win puts him back in title contention at 155 pounds. With a 4-1 record in his last five trips to the Octagon and a potential win over Chandler at his fingertips it’s possible Gaethje can lock down another shot at the lightweight crown with a decisive showing his next out.

Chandler, 35, burst onto the UFC scene with a blistering first-round knockout finish over Dan Hooker in his Octagon debut on “Fight Island” back in January. That victory earned Chandler a matchup with Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight strap at UFC 262 this past May. Chandler nearly stopped “Do Bronx” in the first round before getting finished by TKO in the second. A win over Gaethje could land Chandler right back in the title mix as well.

As of now, UFC 268 is expected to be headlined by a welterweight rematch between current UFC champion Kamaru Usman and rival Colby Covington. It’s safe to say that the UFC 268 card will turn out to be one of the most stacked UFC events of the year as the promotion tries to bring live fighting back to NYC.

Stick with Mania for more UFC 268 fight card news.

Jorge Masvidal is looking to return to action over the next couple months and put a recent knockout loss to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the rearview.

Masvidal, who remains one of the biggest stars on the UFC roster today, is coming off a disappointing loss to Usman back at UFC 261 this past April. After coming up short against the champion at UFC 251 on Fight Island back in July 2020 “Gambred” was hoping to win the rematch with a full camp. Unfortunately for Masvidal, Usman landed a brutal punch that knocked him out cold in the middle of the cage (highlights HERE).

We are now three months removed that welterweight title fight and Masvidal is hoping to get back in the Octagon by year’s end. During a recent Twitter Q&A the welterweight contender stated that he’d like to compete in December or possibly earlier.

“December or earlier”

It’s nice to see Masvidal calling for his next UFC appearance but it has to make sense for the promotion. Again, “Gambred” is one of the biggest names on the roster today. UFC will have to find a suitable opponent that’s going to offer the best marketability. While Masvidal already has ongoing dialogues with the likes of Leon Edwards, Nate Diaz, and Conor McGregor, the veteran fighter is open to fighting anyone who brings him closer to another UFC title shot.

“Anyone that gets me to the title again. I don’t discriminate.”

Masvidal, 36, is 3-2 in his last five trips to the Octagon. He has become one of the more recognizable names in combat sports over the past few years and still has a lot to offer a jam-packed welterweight division. A matchup with Leon Edwards make the most sense, but it’s unknown at this time what the promotion has planned for “Gamebred.”

What say you, Maniacs? Who should Masvidal fight in his return to the Octagon?

Sound off!

Amanda Nunes will no longer be defending her UFC women’s bantamweight title against Julianna Pena next month at UFC 265 after “Lioness” tested positive for COVID-19. It is unknown at this time the severity of Nunes’ symptoms, but her upcoming title fight must now be rescheduled.

As a result of Nunes’ withdrawal, a bantamweight scrap between Jose Aldo and Pedro Munhoz has been moved to UFC 265’s co-main event slot behind the main event featuring Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight strap.

After news leaked of Nunes’ unfortunate removal the UFC double champ took to social media to ensure fans she’s doing alright and that she plans to re-book her bout with Pena as soon as possible.

“We were more than ready for this fight, unfortunately shit happens. Stay tuned for a new date,” wrote Nunes via Instagram.

Nunes, 33, is coming off a lopsided featherweight title defense over Megan Anderson back at UFC 259 this past March. “Lioness” has won her last 12 trips to the Octagon and has created an aura of invincibility whenever she competes. Pena is one of the last legitimate contenders that Nunes has yet to face so hopefully the matchup gets a new date soon.

For the complete UFC 265 fight card and PPV lineup click here.

Bellator MMA president Scott Coker is ready to order more security for Bellator 263 tomorrow night (Sat., July 31, 2021) live on Showtime from Los Angeles, Calif., after seeing Patricio Freire and A.J. McKee nearly come to blows during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference (see it HERE).

Freire, who is set to defend his featherweight title against McKee in the main event, mixed it up with McKee at the press conference by promising to beat him up in front of his father. McKee, who is putting his undefeated 17-0 record on the line this weekend at Bellator 263, responded by saying he’d beat “Pitbull” up in front of his wife and kids. Freire didn’t take those comments lightly and exploded on McKee before leaving the presser.

After the incident, Coker discussed the near-brawl and what he might do leading into Saturday night to ensure a safe event for all fighters.

“My thing is, I just don’t want the fighters to get hurt,” Coker told MMA Junkie. “No one’s getting paid today, right? The fight happens on Saturday; everyone gets paid Saturday. Let’s save it, boys.

“When they started going at it, I was like, ‘OK, this could get bad really quick.’ I felt like I had to just keep them separated. We had security come in. And I think honestly we’re gonna have to get additional security on Saturday night. Just to be honest, I think we’re gonna have to order some more security.”

Given the fact that “Pitbull” is Bellator’s greatest fighter of all time and a guy who currently holds two titles this fight with McKee is going to be massive. Not to mention the fact that they’ll both be competing for a $1 million grand prize for the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix finale. With the stakes high and everything to lose, Coker understands why tensions were high during Thursday’s presser.

“It just goes back to this is a big fight, and the pressure is on, and I think the intensity is there,” Coker said. “You saw the passion. And I think you saw a lot of how they really feel about each other. … It’s gonna be a war on Saturday night. This is gonna lead to, I think, a more intense fight.”

Freire vs. McKee is undoubtedly one of the biggest fights of 2021 for Bellator. The fact that both featherweights don’t like one another only adds to the intensity that Saturday night will produce. We’ll have to wait and see how “Pitbull” and McKee handle themselves before, during, and after the fight, and whether or not extra security is needed.

MMAmania.com will deliver coverage of Bellator 263 on Showtime right here. To check out the latest Bellator MMA-related news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive news archive right here.