It looks like another UFC star has some USADA issues to deal with.
UFC Featherweight contender and Team Alpha Male standout Chad Mendes has been flagged by USADA for a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation.
UFC issued the following statement on Friday evening:
“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Chad Mendes of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection. USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.”
We hope to have more on this story this weekend. Stay tuned to MMANews.com for updates.
It looks like another UFC star has some USADA issues to deal with.
UFC Featherweight contender and Team Alpha Male standout Chad Mendes has been flagged by USADA for a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation.
UFC issued the following statement on Friday evening:
“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Chad Mendes of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection. USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.”
We hope to have more on this story this weekend. Stay tuned to MMANews.com for updates.
Although former champion Luke Rockhold did everything in his power as soon as UFC 199 ended last weekend to attempt to secure an immediate rematch with new champion Michael Bisping, it looks like “The Count” has other plans in mind for the first defens…
Although former champion Luke Rockhold did everything in his power as soon as UFC 199 ended last weekend to attempt to secure an immediate rematch with new champion Michael Bisping, it looks like “The Count” has other plans in mind for the first defense of his UFC 185 pound title.
In speaking with Bret Okamoto of ESPN.com this week, the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion addressed where things stand in terms of plans for his next fight inside the Octagon.
“As of right now, Luke Rockhold will not be my first defense. That’s a fact. I had to go away and beat three more guys before I got a second shot at Luke. Certainly, after his behavior on Saturday, he should have to go away and do the same. He wasn’t even close. And it’s not like Luke beat me, then I beat Luke, so therefore we have to go again right away. The first fight was two years ago. Neither of us were champion then. He became champion, good for him. And I just knocked him out in the first round. Luke’s an incredible fighter. He probably has better technical skill than I do. He’s going to go away and do it the old-fashioned way like I had to.”
Bisping elaborated, explaining that he does have someone in mind for his first title defense, but he isn’t going to name-drop just yet.
“Unfortunately, I’m not going to give you a name. There is someone I’ve got my eye on, but ultimately it’s down to the UFC. I do get a say since I’m the champion, so that’s nice. But I’ve never turned down an opponent and I certainly don’t intend to start as a champion. We’ll see what happens. There’s plenty of viable contenders. Defending the title in the U.K. is certainly something I’d love to do, and I’ve already made it clear to Dana White that I would like to do that.”
Michael Bisping won the UFC Middleweight Championship after waiting years to secure a title shot in the UFC 185-pound division by defeating Luke Rockhold via first-round knockout in the main event of UFC 199 on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Apparently Mark Hunt isn’t overly thrilled with the fact that the UFC and USADA will be giving Brock Lesnar an exemption for his testing according to the policy.
As noted, USADA’s policy calls for retired fighters to be tested when they come back, however Lesnar will not have to do so.
“I don’t think that’s fair. I think it’s a load of bullsh*t, I think it’s rubbish,” Hunt told UFC FIGHT WEEK on Fox Sports in an exclusive interview. “I don’t think anyone should be exempt from testing. If they’re trying to clean the sport up — mixed martial arts — this is a bad way to do it. I don’t care who you are. It’s ridiculous.”
Hunt continued, “I don’t think it’s a great move. I think he’s juiced to the gills — and I still think I’m going to knock him out. So I don’t think that’s correct. I don’t think he should be allowed to get a four-month exemption otherwise everyone else should. Otherwise I should start juicing.”
A very honest Hunt elaborated.
“How are you going to clean the sport up doing that sh*t? It won’t happen. I don’t think it’s fair. I’ve already voiced my opinion to (UFC boss) Dana (White) about it but apparently he (Lesnar) has been getting tested but he’s probably been off a couple of cycles anyway.”
Hunt concluded, “Shucks. I don’t give a rats what you take. I’ll knock your face off, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll teach you for taking that sh*t anyway.”
Hunt vs. Lesnar is scheduled as the co-main event for UFC 200 on July 9, 2016 from the brand new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Make sure to join us here at MMANews.com on 7/9 for the best UFC 200 live results coverage on the web!
Apparently Mark Hunt isn’t overly thrilled with the fact that the UFC and USADA will be giving Brock Lesnar an exemption for his testing according to the policy.
As noted, USADA’s policy calls for retired fighters to be tested when they come back, however Lesnar will not have to do so.
“I don’t think that’s fair. I think it’s a load of bullsh*t, I think it’s rubbish,” Hunt told UFC FIGHT WEEK on Fox Sports in an exclusive interview. “I don’t think anyone should be exempt from testing. If they’re trying to clean the sport up — mixed martial arts — this is a bad way to do it. I don’t care who you are. It’s ridiculous.”
Hunt continued, “I don’t think it’s a great move. I think he’s juiced to the gills — and I still think I’m going to knock him out. So I don’t think that’s correct. I don’t think he should be allowed to get a four-month exemption otherwise everyone else should. Otherwise I should start juicing.”
A very honest Hunt elaborated.
“How are you going to clean the sport up doing that sh*t? It won’t happen. I don’t think it’s fair. I’ve already voiced my opinion to (UFC boss) Dana (White) about it but apparently he (Lesnar) has been getting tested but he’s probably been off a couple of cycles anyway.”
Hunt concluded, “Shucks. I don’t give a rats what you take. I’ll knock your face off, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll teach you for taking that sh*t anyway.”
Hunt vs. Lesnar is scheduled as the co-main event for UFC 200 on July 9, 2016 from the brand new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Make sure to join us here at MMANews.com on 7/9 for the best UFC 200 live results coverage on the web!
There is a unique story unfolding regarding the USADA side of Brock Lesnar’s upcoming UFC return.
One of the big questions regarding the fight between Lesnar and Mark Hunt, which was announced for UFC 200 on July 9, is how Lesnar would be handled in terms of USADA testing.
When the USADA policy was first implemented, there was a policy added to avoid a fighter announcing his retirement, going on PEDs and then coming back out of retirement to fight at an advantage. The passage in the official USADA policy that deals with this issue reads as follows:
“An athlete who gives notice of retirement to UFC, or has otherwise ceased to have a contractual relationship with UFC, may not resume competing in UFC bouts until he/she has given UFC written notice of his/her intent to resume competing and has made him/herself available for testing for a period of four moths before returning to competition. UFC may grant an exemption to the four-month written notice rule in exceptional circumstances or where the strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to an athlete.”
Apparently because Lesnar last competed back in 2011, long before the new USADA policy was in place, he is being treated as a brand new athlete who just signed with the promotion for the purpose of the USADA policy, and not as a fighter who retired, was no longer being tested, and then decided to return.
On Wednesday, UFC issued the following statement regarding Lesnar and the USADA policy:
“On June 6, 2016, UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar was registered by USADA into the UFC Anti-Doping Policy testing pool. As part of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, UFC may grant a former athlete an exemption to the four-month written notice rules in exceptional circumstances or where the strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to an athlete. Given Lesnar last competed in UFC on December 30, 2011, long before the UFC Anti-Doping Policy went into effect, for purposes of the Anti-Doping Policy, he is being treated similarly to a new athlete coming into the organization.
“While conversations with the heavyweight have been ongoing for some time, Lesnar required permission from WWE to compete in UFC 200 and only agreed to terms and signed a bout agreement last Friday. He was therefore unable to officially start the Anti-Doping Policy process any earlier. UFC, however, did notify Lesnar in the early stages of discussions that if he were to sign with the UFC, he would be subject to all of the anti-doping rules. Lesnar and his management have now been formally educated by USADA on the policy, procedures, and expectations.
“UFC Anti-Doping Policy testing statistics are publicly available at ufc.usada.org and are updated on a weekly basis.”
UFC 200, featuring the Lesnar vs. Hunt bout, takes place on Saturday, July 9, 2016 from the brand new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Make sure to join us here at MMANews.com on 7/9 for the best UFC 200 live results coverage on the web!
There is a unique story unfolding regarding the USADA side of Brock Lesnar’s upcoming UFC return.
One of the big questions regarding the fight between Lesnar and Mark Hunt, which was announced for UFC 200 on July 9, is how Lesnar would be handled in terms of USADA testing.
When the USADA policy was first implemented, there was a policy added to avoid a fighter announcing his retirement, going on PEDs and then coming back out of retirement to fight at an advantage. The passage in the official USADA policy that deals with this issue reads as follows:
“An athlete who gives notice of retirement to UFC, or has otherwise ceased to have a contractual relationship with UFC, may not resume competing in UFC bouts until he/she has given UFC written notice of his/her intent to resume competing and has made him/herself available for testing for a period of four moths before returning to competition. UFC may grant an exemption to the four-month written notice rule in exceptional circumstances or where the strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to an athlete.”
Apparently because Lesnar last competed back in 2011, long before the new USADA policy was in place, he is being treated as a brand new athlete who just signed with the promotion for the purpose of the USADA policy, and not as a fighter who retired, was no longer being tested, and then decided to return.
On Wednesday, UFC issued the following statement regarding Lesnar and the USADA policy:
“On June 6, 2016, UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar was registered by USADA into the UFC Anti-Doping Policy testing pool. As part of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, UFC may grant a former athlete an exemption to the four-month written notice rules in exceptional circumstances or where the strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to an athlete. Given Lesnar last competed in UFC on December 30, 2011, long before the UFC Anti-Doping Policy went into effect, for purposes of the Anti-Doping Policy, he is being treated similarly to a new athlete coming into the organization.
“While conversations with the heavyweight have been ongoing for some time, Lesnar required permission from WWE to compete in UFC 200 and only agreed to terms and signed a bout agreement last Friday. He was therefore unable to officially start the Anti-Doping Policy process any earlier. UFC, however, did notify Lesnar in the early stages of discussions that if he were to sign with the UFC, he would be subject to all of the anti-doping rules. Lesnar and his management have now been formally educated by USADA on the policy, procedures, and expectations.
“UFC Anti-Doping Policy testing statistics are publicly available at ufc.usada.org and are updated on a weekly basis.”
UFC 200, featuring the Lesnar vs. Hunt bout, takes place on Saturday, July 9, 2016 from the brand new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Make sure to join us here at MMANews.com on 7/9 for the best UFC 200 live results coverage on the web!
It looks like Paige VanZant isn’t the only well-known UFC female fighter that WWE has their eye on.
Anthony DiMoro posted an article at Yahoo! Sports that claims former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and one-time WrestleMania guest Ronda Rousey is “at the top of WWE’s list” of talent they want to use from the UFC in exchange for allowing Brock Lesnar to fight Mark Hunt at the UFC’s upcoming landmark UFC 200 event in July.
DiMoro’s article stated the following about WWE hoping to secure a Rousey appearance at next year’s WrestleMania 33 pay-per-view:
According to sources, WWE is hoping that by allowing Lesnar to compete at UFC 200 (and perhaps beyond) it will open the doors for some things in return from UFC. Mainly WWE is hopeful for two things in return.
For one, they are hoping not only to get additional promotion for ‘SummerSlam’, likely at UFC 200, but are also looking to get UFC stars to appear at the event.
WWE is also hopeful that they will be allowed to use Ronda Rousey at ‘WrestleMania 33′ in Orlando, Florida. While her in-ring segment at ‘WrestleMania 31′ with ‘The Rock’, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H was a memorable moment, WWE is hoping they can secure Rousey for an actual match at their biggest event of the year.
It looks like Paige VanZant isn’t the only well-known UFC female fighter that WWE has their eye on.
Anthony DiMoro posted an article at Yahoo! Sports that claims former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and one-time WrestleMania guest Ronda Rousey is “at the top of WWE’s list” of talent they want to use from the UFC in exchange for allowing Brock Lesnar to fight Mark Hunt at the UFC’s upcoming landmark UFC 200 event in July.
DiMoro’s article stated the following about WWE hoping to secure a Rousey appearance at next year’s WrestleMania 33 pay-per-view:
According to sources, WWE is hoping that by allowing Lesnar to compete at UFC 200 (and perhaps beyond) it will open the doors for some things in return from UFC. Mainly WWE is hopeful for two things in return.
For one, they are hoping not only to get additional promotion for ‘SummerSlam’, likely at UFC 200, but are also looking to get UFC stars to appear at the event.
WWE is also hopeful that they will be allowed to use Ronda Rousey at ‘WrestleMania 33? in Orlando, Florida. While her in-ring segment at ‘WrestleMania 31? with ‘The Rock’, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H was a memorable moment, WWE is hoping they can secure Rousey for an actual match at their biggest event of the year.
The MMA world has reportedly lost one of its’ most colorful characters, as brawler and former internet viral sensation Kevin Ferguson, a.k.a. Kimbo Slice, has died at age 42.
After the news broke late Monday evening via TMZ.com that Kimbo Slice was …
The MMA world has reportedly lost one of its’ most colorful characters, as brawler and former internet viral sensation Kevin Ferguson, a.k.a. Kimbo Slice, has died at age 42.
After the news broke late Monday evening via TMZ.com that Kimbo Slice was hospitalized due to unknown reasons, but that the “situation does not look good,” the official Twitter page of the American Top Team, which Kimbo was a member of, issued the following:
— American Top Team (@AmericanTopTeam) June 7, 2016
Rest In Peace to Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson.
UPDATE: The official Twitter accounts of World Series of Fighting and Jorge Masvidal, who used to fight in backyard street fights like Kimbo did in the past, have also reported on Kimbo’s reported passing.
UPDATE #4: Bellator MMA President Scott Coker has issued a statement on the passing of Kimbo Slice. You can read it by clicking here.
UPDATE #5: Tons of fighters and MMA personalities react to the passing of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson. Click here to view a collection of tweets from fighters and others reacting to the news.
