The news keeps rolling in regarding Saturday’s (April 15, 2016) UFC on FOX 19 card.
First, Lightweight contender Tony Ferguson was pulled due to injury, then former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida was forced to withdraw after violating U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) policy, and now it seems as if Lightweight Islam Makhachev will no longer be competing opposite Drew Dober due to failing his own drug test.
The disappointing news was broke by Ariel Helwani earlier tonight via Twitter:
Tomorrow’s Makhachev vs. Dober fight is off, per sources. I’m told Makhachev was flagged for a banned substance. …
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 15, 2016
Ironically, Makhachev initially missed weight at Friday’s UFC on FOX 19 weigh ins. He did eventually make the 156-pound benchmark within the one-hour allowance.
There has been no official statement made by UFC regarding the Russian’s failed drug test and what substances may have may been used, but it’s bad news either way for a FOX card that continues to lose steam just 24 hours before fight night.