Tag: Francis Ngannou

Junior Dos Santos Flagged For Potential USADA Violation

It appears that former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos’ attempt to rise back up the ranks has been temporarily halted by a potential USADA violation. The UFC announced on their website this afternoon that dos Santos had been flagged from an out-of-competition test on August 10, resulting in his withdrawal from his anticipated showdown […]

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It appears that former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos’ attempt to rise back up the ranks has been temporarily halted by a potential USADA violation.

The UFC announced on their website this afternoon that dos Santos had been flagged from an out-of-competition test on August 10, resulting in his withdrawal from his anticipated showdown with rising contender Francis Ngannou at September 9’s UFC 215 from Edmonton:

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Junior Dos Santos of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on August 10, 2017. Because of the proximity to Dos Santos upcoming scheduled bout at UFC 215 in Edmonton, Canada against Francis Ngannou, Dos Santos has been removed from the card and the UFC is currently seeking a replacement.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Dos Santos. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair legal 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.

The 33-year-old former champ was attempting to rebound from his first-round loss to champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of May’s UFC 211 by beat Ngannou, the rapidly-rising No. 5 prospect who has won all five of his UFC matches by stoppage.

Dos Santos was once revered as one of the most fearsome knockout artists in the UFC, but has fallen on inconsistent results since losing the belt to Cain Velasquez in late 2012. He’s won three and lost three since then, with all three losses coming by TKO. Dos Santos will have a chance to plead his case like any other UFC fighter facing a potential USADA violation, but nonetheless, it will rate as a significant setback for the former champion.

In the meantime, the UFC will look for a replacement heavyweight to fight the steamrolling Ngannou on just three weeks’ notice, a proposition unlikely to be a popular one versus arguably the most dominant and fearsome rising force in MMA today.

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The Official UFC 215 Poster Has Been Released

The official UFC 215 artwork has now been revealed ahead of the event which is set for Sep. 9 in Edmonton, Alberta The card is set to be headlined by one of Dana White’s more recent entries into his bad books, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, who will square off against Ray Borg. The co-headliner also […]

The official UFC 215 artwork has now been revealed ahead of the event which is set for Sep. 9 in Edmonton, Alberta The card is set to be headlined by one of Dana White’s more recent entries into his bad books, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, who will square off against Ray Borg. The co-headliner also […]

Junior Dos Santos vs. Francis Ngannou Set For Upcoming UFC

A massively heavy-hitting heavyweight bout has been added to September’s UFC 215 from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. UFC Canada just announced on social media that former champion Junior dos Santos will meet surging young contender Francis Ngannou on the card: BREAKING: @junior_cigano vs. @francis_ngannou added to #UFC215 at @RogersPlace in Edmonton!@EdmontonSun article: https://t.co/boDxUc4Rv0 pic.twitter.com/1HUtz8n40G — UFC […]

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A massively heavy-hitting heavyweight bout has been added to September’s UFC 215 from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

UFC Canada just announced on social media that former champion Junior dos Santos will meet surging young contender Francis Ngannou on the card:

It looks to be the toughest test yet for “The Predator,” a steamrolling force of nature who has finished all five of his UFC bouts since making his way to the octagon in December 2015. He most recently demolished fading former champion Andrei Arlovski by TKO in the first round at January’s UFC on FOX 23 from Denver, Colorado.

At a career crossroads of sorts, former champion dos Santos is in a must-win situation after seeing mixed results in recent years. The former champ and respected knockout artist has only gone 3-4 in his last seven fights, with his most recent effort a first-round TKO loss to current champion Stipe Miocic in their rematch at May’s UFC 212 from Dallas, Texas.

“Cigano” also hasn’t finished a bout since his legendary 2013 spin kick KO of Mark Hunt, and with injuries mounting to keep him out of any semblance of consistent competition, it’s easy to wonder if he’s a stepping stone for a fighter more than a few MMA pundits consider to be the future champion at heavyweight.

With Ngannou winning five fights by finish – even if he hasn’t faced near the competition that dos Santos has – in just over a year-and-a-half, ‘JDS’ has his work cut out for him in a big way.

UFC 215 will go down on September 9, 2017 from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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UFC 215: Junior Dos Santos-Francis Ngannou Booked for Edmonton

UFC 215 has likely one of the key fights on the docket, as former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos takes on rising contender Francis Ngannou. The 33-year-old dos Santos (18-5) is coming off a first round finish at the hands of titleholder Stipe Miocic. “Cigano” has split his last six fights, going 3-3 with wins […]

UFC 215 has likely one of the key fights on the docket, as former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos takes on rising contender Francis Ngannou. The 33-year-old dos Santos (18-5) is coming off a first round finish at the hands of titleholder Stipe Miocic. “Cigano” has split his last six fights, going 3-3 with wins […]

Derrick Lewis Not Retiring, Targeting Bout With Francis Ngannou

After being stopped in the fourth round of his main event bout with Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night 110 earlier this month, No. 7-ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis admitted that he was considering retirement. After taking some time to think about it, however, “The Black Beast” told Ariel Helwani on today’s (June 26, 2017) […]

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After being stopped in the fourth round of his main event bout with Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night 110 earlier this month, No. 7-ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis admitted that he was considering retirement.

After taking some time to think about it, however, “The Black Beast” told Ariel Helwani on today’s (June 26, 2017) edition of The MMA Hour that he was looking to get back into the Octagon in the near future, although he first needs to have a back injury evaluated:

“We’re just hoping that we don’t have to get surgery, because I thought about it a little bit, and it’s not going to be my last fight,” Lewis said. “I’m going to try to get back in there as soon as I can, and we’ll find out Wednesday, see what’s going on and if it’s not too serious. Hopefully I can get back in there before the end of the year.”

As far as the injury goes, it seemed to have seriously hindered Lewis’ performance against Hunt, as “The Black Beast” said that he ‘couldn’t move at all’ as the fight went on:

“That was the second time it ever happened in a fight. The first time, I still won in the third round. I knocked the guy out in the third round whenever that happened the first time. And it happened again in the Mark Hunt fight, and it was like, damn, I couldn’t move at all. The best thing I could do was just stand there and just take it, because it couldn’t move anymore.”

After the loss to Hunt, Lewis received some backlash from former opponent Travis Browne as well as rising heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou, which he says helped him make the decision to return to the Octagon:

“Whenever the booty-scratcher (Ngannou) started talking sh*t, and Travis Browne waking up from the dead, talking sh*t,” Lewis said.

“That guy (Ngannou) is not impressed with nobody, so it’s normal for him to say anything stupid. … Travis Browne don’t know what’s he thinking. Travis, he’s out there, man. That guy has been knocked out so many times, he’s been rocked so many times, he don’t know what to say. He’s just trying to stay relevant.”

“He better be worrying about [his fight at UFC 213] and not worried about me. It’s already done and over with between me and him.”

With that being said, a bout against Ngannou would be ideal for “The Black Beast”:

“If I can, I’d get him next,” Lewis said. “If not, that’s fine. I’ll give anyone hell, but right now that’d be a good one.”

Who would you like to see Lewis take on in his next bout?

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Derrick Lewis Scraps Retirement Plans, Wants Francis Ngannou Next

Derrick Lewis isn’t going anywhere. Following his TKO loss at the hands of Mark Hunt back at UFC Fight Night 110, Lewis said he was retiring because he didn’t want to put his family under stress. During a recent appearance on MMAFighting.com‘s “The MMA Hour,” Lewis admitted that it was the heat of the moment […]

Derrick Lewis isn’t going anywhere. Following his TKO loss at the hands of Mark Hunt back at UFC Fight Night 110, Lewis said he was retiring because he didn’t want to put his family under stress. During a recent appearance on MMAFighting.com‘s “The MMA Hour,” Lewis admitted that it was the heat of the moment […]