Tag: David Branch

Months after being released from the UFC, former World Series Of Fighting (WSOF) two-division champion David Branch is looking absolutely jacked. Branch took to Instagram to show off his new physique, thanking his strength coach for the work they’ve been putting in together.

“@neoufitness working on these #gains with strength coach @sembinov.rufat pressure makes the pipes go boom and every day rent is due! I was born in pressure.”

Branch was released from the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion back in September after a failed United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug test. The former light heavyweight and middleweight champ tested positive for ipamorelin, which is described as “a potent Growth Hormone Secretagogue that stimulates the brain to release human growth hormone and is used by athletes as a performance-enhancing drug.”

The 38-year-old ended his UFC run on a two-fight losing streak in which he was finished in both of those fights by Jared Cannonier and Jack Hermansson, respectively. Since, Branch has been competing for the Russian Cagefighting Championship in Russia. In his first bout with the promotion, Branch suffered a first-round submission defeat to Alexander Shlemenko, with two seconds left in the round.

Branch hasn’t picked up a victory in MMA competition since his April 2018 TKO victory over Thiago Santos. At one point in his career, Branch was on an amazing 11-fight win streak, largely during his run with WSOF (now the Professional Fighters League), before running into Luke Rockhold in his first and only UFC headlining spot in September of 2017. Should he decide to continue fighting, given his new physique, it’s hard to image Branch competing anywhere other than light heavyweight or heavyweight at this point.

It will certainly be interesting to see what’s next for Branch coming off three-straight losses and seemingly reinventing himself physically.

What do you think of Branch’s new physique? Do you think he’ll find his way back to the UFC?

The post David Branch Looking Ridiculously Jacked After UFC Release (Photo) appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Yesterday, it was announced that former World Series Of Fighting (WSOF) double champion David Branch received a two-year suspension after a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation.

Branch tested positive for ipamorelin, which is described as “a potent Growth Hormone Secretagogue that stimulates the brain to release human growth hormone and is used by athletes as a performance-enhancing drug.” Now, MMA Fighting confirms an initial report from reporter Mike Russell that Branch has been released from the UFC.

The 37-year-old hasn’t competed since he was submitted by Jack Hermansson in the first round of their meeting at UFC Philadelphia back in March. He was briefly scheduled to fight Andrew Sanchez at UFC Vancouver, but the fight was called off a month out. With the two-year suspension, Branch can not compete until July 26, 2021. His suspension is also noted in the Association of Boxing Commission’s administrative database. 

Branch went 2-3 in the UFC after an initial 2-2 run with the promotion from 2010-2011. He has yet to release a statement or comment on his recent USADA issues. We’ll keep you updated as more information on the matter becomes available.

What do you think about Branch being released from the UFC?

The post David Branch Released From UFC After USADA Violation appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has announced UFC middleweight David Branch has received a two-year suspension.

According to USADA, the 37-year-old tested positive for the banned substance “ipamorelin,” which is “in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, related Substances, and Mimetics and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.” USADA describes ipamorelin as “a potent Growth Hormone Secretagogue that stimulates the brain to release human growth hormone and is used by athletes as a performance-enhancing drug.”

In his last outing, Branch was submitted by Jack Hermansson in the first round of their meeting at UFC Philadelphia back in March. He is currently on a two-fight losing streak. Branch’s suspension is retroactive to the date of the failed test, which was July 26, 2019. He is eligible to return on July 26, 2021.

“Branch, 37, tested positive for ipamorelin as the result of a urine sample he provided out-of-competition on May 24, 2019. Ipamorelin is in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

“Ipamorelin is a potent Growth Hormone Secretagogue that stimulates the brain to release human growth hormone and is used by athletes as a performance-enhancing drug. The use of prohibited peptides by athletes and consumers for performance or physique enhancement purposes (including recovery from injury) poses serious health risks, and these peptides are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human use or consumption.

“Branch’s two-year period of ineligibility, the standard sanction for a non-Specified Substance under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, began on July 26, 2019, the date his provisional suspension was imposed.“

What do you make of Branch’s two-year USADA violation?

The post David Branch Receives Two-Year Suspension For USADA Violation appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.