Author: MMA Fighting Newswire

Rising UFC middleweight contender Costa Philippou spoke to Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour to discuss the last-minute cancellation of his UFC 154 bout with Nick Ring as well as his now impending bout with Tim Boestch at UFC 155. Philippou tells Helwani he believes he’s being underrated, but that when he beats Boetsch, the MMA community will be forced to begin talking about him as a real contender in the 185-pound division.

Watch the full interview here:

World jiu jitsu champion Caio Terra discusses Carlos Condit’s performance at UFC 154, how he ended up training Condit, Cesar Gracie’s reaction on social media, why he didn’t reach out to the Diaz brothers and more on The MMA Hour this past Monday.

Jeremy Stephens will get to fight Yves Edwards after all.

Stephens will take the place of John Cholish and fight Edwards at UFC on FOX 5, according to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani who confirmed the news with Stephens’ manager Ryan Hass. MMA Weekly first reported the story. MMA Junkie reported Cholish had to withdraw because of a groin injury.

Stephens and Edwards were supposed to fight at UFC on FX 5, but the fight was called off after Stephens’ arrest on a warrant for assault the day before the fight. UFC president Dana White was unable to bail out Stephens.

Edwards tweeted, “You can’t f*** with destiny. Looks like its me and @LiLHeathenMMA on dec 8th. #FOTN.”

UFC on FOX 5 is on Dec. 8 at the KeyArena in Seattle.

Thiago Silva has been suspended six months, and will participate in a drug-rehabilitation program, after testing positive for marijuana metabolites after his UFC on FUEL TV 6 fight, according to a Zuffa statement Wednesday.

Here is the statement below:

“Thiago Silva tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout at UFC on FUEL TV in Macau. The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. Silva has admitted to taking the banned substance and has agreed to participate in an approved drug-rehabilitation program and serve a six-month suspension retroactive to the November 10 event. He must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving clearance to fight again.”

– Zuffa statement

Silva earned submission of the night honors at UFC on FUEL TV 6 with his arm-triangle choke of Stanislav Nedkov at 1:45 in the third round. Marc Ratner, the UFC VP of regulatory affairs, told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that the win would become a no-decision, confirming an earlier MMA Junkie report.

It’s not the first time Silva has had issues with post-fight drug tests. He was suspended for a year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after he was found to have submitted fake urine after his UFC 125 unanimous decision win over Brandon Vera. That win was later overturned.