(The 2014 resurgence in old-school anabolic steroids marches on. / Photo via Getty)
The Brazilian Athletic Commission (CABMMA) announced today that Polish lightweight Piotr Hallmann tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone following his split-decision loss to Gleison Tibau at UFC Fight Night 51 last month, and has been suspended from competition for nine months. Hallmann vs. Tibau won the “Fight of the Night” award at UFC Fight Night 51; Hallmann’s $50,000 bonus is expected to be revoked, and the loss will remain on his record. Here’s the full statement from CABMMA, via MMAJunkie:
All athletes from the card were tested for anti-doping control upon arrival at Nilson Nelson Arena to detect anabolic agents, diuretic/other masking agents, stimulants and cannabinoids. Four athletes were randomly selected to also be tested for erythropoietin (EPO) and levels of human growth hormone (Hgh).
The athlete Piotr Hallman failed the test due to presence of anabolic steroid drostanolone. He will be suspended for nine months, reatroactibve to the date of his fight. To be licensed again by CABMMA, he will need to go through new anti-doping control tests.
The Brazilian Athletic Commission (CABMMA) uses WADA accredited lab for its anti-doping control tests.
(The 2014 resurgence in old-school anabolic steroids marches on. / Photo via Getty)
The Brazilian Athletic Commission (CABMMA) announced today that Polish lightweight Piotr Hallmann tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone following his split-decision loss to Gleison Tibau at UFC Fight Night 51 last month, and has been suspended from competition for nine months. Hallmann vs. Tibau won the “Fight of the Night” award at UFC Fight Night 51; Hallmann’s $50,000 bonus is expected to be revoked, and the loss will remain on his record. Here’s the full statement from CABMMA, via MMAJunkie:
All athletes from the card were tested for anti-doping control upon arrival at Nilson Nelson Arena to detect anabolic agents, diuretic/other masking agents, stimulants and cannabinoids. Four athletes were randomly selected to also be tested for erythropoietin (EPO) and levels of human growth hormone (Hgh).
The athlete Piotr Hallman failed the test due to presence of anabolic steroid drostanolone. He will be suspended for nine months, reatroactibve to the date of his fight. To be licensed again by CABMMA, he will need to go through new anti-doping control tests.
The Brazilian Athletic Commission (CABMMA) uses WADA accredited lab for its anti-doping control tests.
– The win percentage of MMA fighters who tested positive for steroids after fights now stands at 41.9% (18-24-1). Generally speaking, if you’re a user, you’re a loser.
– This is the first time since 2008 that MMA has given us five confirmed steroid busts in a single year. And when you add in all the fighters who failed drug tests for elevated testosterone (Vitor Belfort, Robert Drysdale), HGH (Chael Sonnen, Cung Le), and EPO (Sonnen, Ali Bagautinov), 2014 is at least the second-druggiest year in MMA history.
– In 2007, 14 MMA fighters failed drug tests for steroids, 12 of whom were caught in California. That’s an insane, inexplicable outlier in the data — and it’s still the number to beat.
(Fight Pass shows only get the stock image treatment. / Photo via Getty)
You might not have noticed since all the other MMA sites were reporting about Floyd Mayweather Jr. tonight, but the UFC had an event on Fight Pass, UFC Fight Night 51.
Efrain Escudero made his (unsuccessful) return to the UFC against Leonardo Santos. Santos controlled the first round of the encounter. However, Escudero managed to drop Santos in the second with a right hand. It appeared to change the complexion of the fight as Santos became deflated and tired. In the third, Escudero was light on his feet and it looked like he’d pull away with the decision. This wasn’t meant to be. Santos found some source of inner strength (or Escudero stopped paying attention; who knows) and landed a huge takedown. From the takedown, he managed to take Escudero’s back and held the position until the round ended. This was enough to give Santos the unanimous decision victory.
Get the recaps for the other fights after the jump.
(Fight Pass shows only get the stock image treatment. / Photo via Getty)
UFC Fight Night 51 happened on Fight Pass tonight. You might not have noticed since all the other so-called “MMA” sites are too busy writing about Floyd Mayweather Jr. Ugh.
So was this event worth checking out? Kind of. When it becomes available for replay on Fight Pass, watch the main event. Despite that fight being the only one really worth watching on the main card, we recapped some other higher profile fights from the event.
Efrain Escudero made his (unsuccessful) return to the UFC against Leonardo Santos. Santos controlled the first round of the encounter. However, Escudero managed to drop Santos in the second with a right hand. It appeared to change the complexion of the fight as Santos became deflated and tired. In the third, Escudero was light on his feet and it looked like he’d pull away with the decision. This wasn’t meant to be. Santos found some source of inner strength (or Escudero stopped paying attention; who knows) and landed a huge takedown. From the takedown, he managed to take Escudero’s back and held the position until the round ended. This was enough to give Santos the unanimous decision victory.
In the co-main event, Gleison Tibau fought Piotr Hallman. Here’s a protip on this fight: Skip it. Tibau displayed his characteristic lack of conditioning. He torched his gas tank with a large flurry in the beginning. The rest of the fight was basically just non-stop clinching against the cage with zero activity. Hallman managed to cut Tibau with a knee to the head late in the third round. It didn’t matter though; Tibau got the decision because he spent more time pushing Hallman against the fence than Hallman spent pushing him against the fence. Even Jon Anik described this fight as “exhausting” to watch.
The main event: Andrei Arlovski took on Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in a rematch of their Strikeforce bout from 2010. This time, Arlovski was the one who got his hand raised. The fight didn’t last long. Bigfoot was slow and plodding, Arlovski was agile and had much faster hands. Eventually, Arlovski tagged Bigfoot with an uppercut that dropped him flat on his ass. Arlovski pounced on Bigfoot and landed a series of hammer fists that put Bigfoot out cold. We’re hesitant to say Arlovski is “back” but he could be back.
Here are the complete results:
Main Card
Andrei Arlovski def. Antonio Silva via KO (punches), 2:59 of round 1.
Gleison Tibau def. Piotr Hallman via unanimous decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Leonardo Santos def. Efrain Escudero unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Wendell Oliveira via TKO (punches), 1:20 of round 1.
Iuri Alcântara def. Russell Doane via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Jéssica Andrade def. Larissa Pacheco via submission (guillotine choke), 4:33 of round 1.
Preliminary Card
Godofredo Castro def. Dashon Johnson via submission (triangle armbar), 4:29 of round 1.
George Sullivan def. Igor Araújo via KO (punches), 2:31 of round 2.
Francisco Trinaldo def. Leandro Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Sean Spencer def. Paulo Thiago via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Rani Yahya def. Johnny Bedford via submission (kimura), 2:04 of round 2.
Fighting under the UFC banner is a goal the majority of fighters strive to achieve. The organization is undoubtedly the largest in mixed martial arts, and the roster is home to nearly all of the top-ranked talent in every weight class. Fighting under t…
Fighting under the UFC banner is a goal the majority of fighters strive to achieve. The organization is undoubtedly the largest in mixed martial arts, and the roster is home to nearly all of the top-ranked talent in every weight class. Fighting under the bright lights of the Octagon is a dream to most, and the competitive nature of the MMA landscape makes it a difficult one to obtain.
As the UFC’s “back of the house” guru and every fighter’s favorite enthusiast, Burt Watson said on a recent installment of the Embedded series, “It’s harder to stay here than it is to get here.”
While there are plenty who will have failed to hold onto their roster spots over the years, GleisonTibau isn’t one of them. In fact, the Brazilian powerhouse knows a thing or two about longevity in the chaotic and ever-changing environment that comes with competing in the UFC.
The 31-year-old American Top Team product has been trading leather with the best fighters in the world under the Zuffa banner for the better part of a decade and shows zero signs of slowing down.
He made his promotional debut against Nick Diaz at UFC 65 back in 2006, and eight years and 23 fights later he’s still going strong, as he proved by defeating gritty veteran Pat Healy in his most recent showing back in July.
The win over “Bam Bam” was his 15th victory inside the Octagon, and the Rio Grande do Norte native is still standing tall…ready for whatever opportunities come his way.
“I’m really proud of myself because I love fighting in the UFC,” Tibau told Bleacher Report with the assistance of a translator. “I’ve dedicated myself so much to be focused and ready for any opportunity that comes my way. I’m really happy to be in this organization for as long as I have and I’m proud to fight for the UFC.
“I trained a lot for my last fight because Pat Healy is a very tough guy. It was a good fight and I was happy to get the win. I was happy to take another fight right away. I took a week off then was right back in the gym. That’s what I love to do because you have to be ready in the UFC. You have to always be ready to fight because sometimes people get hurt and you never know what opportunities are going to open up for you.”
In a sport where athletes rise and fall at a remarkable rate, Tibau‘s resilience is unique. That said, he’s still battling his way up the lightweight ranks and will be looking to take another step toward the top when he faces Piotr Hallmann at Fight Night 51 this Saturday night in Brasilia, Brazil.
The MMA Lab product has proved to be a tough customer since joining the UFC last year, winning two of his three showings inside the Octagon.
That said, his most recent victory came at the expense of Tibau‘s teammate and friend, Yves Edwards, back in June, and the Coconut Creek-based fighter will be looking for some payback on Saturday night.
“I definitely am looking for some revenge in this fight,” Tibau said. “Yves [Edwards] is not only a teammate, but a training partner and a good friend of mine as well. This gives me a little bit more motivation and incentive and I’m hungrier than ever to bring this win back to ATT.
“[Hallmann] comes from a grappling and wrestling background and I think this is a good matchup. I come from the same background. I think we match up very well together because I believe I’m better than Hallmann in all aspects of the game.”
While Tibau is thankful for the incredible journey he’s had thus far, his days of mixing it up inside the cage are far from over. Throughout the 15 years he’s been competing as a professional, Tibau has consistently worked to improve his game and has pushed to keep pace with the rapidly changing tides of the sport he loves.
He believes having to constantly refine his process has brought out the very best in him, and he’s confident there are many great fights yet to come.
“I’m in a great chapter of my life,” Tibau said. “My fighting and training are at the levels I want them to be. Even the weight cut, which was really intense for me earlier in my career, has become a much easier process. I feel better than ever and if the fans liked my last fight, they are in for a great fight this time. It will be even better than my last fight.
“After this fight with Hallmann, if everything goes right and I come out with the victory, I would like to fight at least one more time before the end of this year. My goal is to win on Saturday night, then we are really going to start working toward a title shot next year.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Fighting under the UFC banner is a goal the majority of fighters strive to achieve. The organization is undoubtedly the largest in mixed martial arts, and the roster is home to nearly all of the top-ranked talent in every weight class. Fighting under t…
Fighting under the UFC banner is a goal the majority of fighters strive to achieve. The organization is undoubtedly the largest in mixed martial arts, and the roster is home to nearly all of the top-ranked talent in every weight class. Fighting under the bright lights of the Octagon is a dream to most, and the competitive nature of the MMA landscape makes it a difficult one to obtain.
As the UFC’s “back of the house” guru and every fighter’s favorite enthusiast, Burt Watson said on a recent installment of the Embedded series, “It’s harder to stay here than it is to get here.”
While there are plenty who will have failed to hold onto their roster spots over the years, GleisonTibau isn’t one of them. In fact, the Brazilian powerhouse knows a thing or two about longevity in the chaotic and ever-changing environment that comes with competing in the UFC.
The 31-year-old American Top Team product has been trading leather with the best fighters in the world under the Zuffa banner for the better part of a decade and shows zero signs of slowing down.
He made his promotional debut against Nick Diaz at UFC 65 back in 2006, and eight years and 23 fights later he’s still going strong, as he proved by defeating gritty veteran Pat Healy in his most recent showing back in July.
The win over “Bam Bam” was his 15th victory inside the Octagon, and the Rio Grande do Norte native is still standing tall…ready for whatever opportunities come his way.
“I’m really proud of myself because I love fighting in the UFC,” Tibau told Bleacher Report with the assistance of a translator. “I’ve dedicated myself so much to be focused and ready for any opportunity that comes my way. I’m really happy to be in this organization for as long as I have and I’m proud to fight for the UFC.
“I trained a lot for my last fight because Pat Healy is a very tough guy. It was a good fight and I was happy to get the win. I was happy to take another fight right away. I took a week off then was right back in the gym. That’s what I love to do because you have to be ready in the UFC. You have to always be ready to fight because sometimes people get hurt and you never know what opportunities are going to open up for you.”
In a sport where athletes rise and fall at a remarkable rate, Tibau‘s resilience is unique. That said, he’s still battling his way up the lightweight ranks and will be looking to take another step toward the top when he faces Piotr Hallmann at Fight Night 51 this Saturday night in Brasilia, Brazil.
The MMA Lab product has proved to be a tough customer since joining the UFC last year, winning two of his three showings inside the Octagon.
That said, his most recent victory came at the expense of Tibau‘s teammate and friend, Yves Edwards, back in June, and the Coconut Creek-based fighter will be looking for some payback on Saturday night.
“I definitely am looking for some revenge in this fight,” Tibau said. “Yves [Edwards] is not only a teammate, but a training partner and a good friend of mine as well. This gives me a little bit more motivation and incentive and I’m hungrier than ever to bring this win back to ATT.
“[Hallmann] comes from a grappling and wrestling background and I think this is a good matchup. I come from the same background. I think we match up very well together because I believe I’m better than Hallmann in all aspects of the game.”
While Tibau is thankful for the incredible journey he’s had thus far, his days of mixing it up inside the cage are far from over. Throughout the 15 years he’s been competing as a professional, Tibau has consistently worked to improve his game and has pushed to keep pace with the rapidly changing tides of the sport he loves.
He believes having to constantly refine his process has brought out the very best in him, and he’s confident there are many great fights yet to come.
“I’m in a great chapter of my life,” Tibau said. “My fighting and training are at the levels I want them to be. Even the weight cut, which was really intense for me earlier in my career, has become a much easier process. I feel better than ever and if the fans liked my last fight, they are in for a great fight this time. It will be even better than my last fight.
“After this fight with Hallmann, if everything goes right and I come out with the victory, I would like to fight at least one more time before the end of this year. My goal is to win on Saturday night, then we are really going to start working toward a title shot next year.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Note:Reed’s book ‘Fightnomics’ is available now on Amazon (in Kindle and paperback versions), featuring 336 pages of statistical analysis on UFC fighters and the “hidden science” behind their fights. If you’ve been a fan of his Databomb columns, pick up a copy today. A full description of the book is at the end of this post.
While cranking through some statistical analysis of fighters competing at next weekend’s UFC 168 event, I came across a few tidbits that fit the character limit for tweetability. Tweet ‘em all you want, I’ll make more.
The Good:
• Anderson Silva has the highest Knockdown Rate of any fighter at #UFC168. 16% of his landed power head strikes cause a knockdown.
• In terms of Knockdown Rate, #UFC168 fighters Robert Peralta (14%) and Travis Browne (12%) are also way above average.
• Tibau vs Johnson at #UFC168 will be a rare Southpaw vs Southpaw matchup, or what I call a “Cyclone fight” due to the clockwise spin.
• Mostly likely to attempt takedowns at #UFC168 is Ronda Rousey who attempts 4 TDs per 5 min. round. Not that her rounds ever last that long.
• The most active standup striker at #UFC168 is Dennis Siver, who outworks his opponents by 59% in volume while standing.
• Hardest fighter to hit at #UFC168 is Anderson Silva, who avoids 82% of all head strikes thrown at him. Still, Weidman may only need one.
• Highest takedown defense at #UFC168 are Weidman & Browne, both 100%. Neither have been taken down despite each facing 7 attempts.
Note:Reed’s book ‘Fightnomics’ is available now on Amazon (in Kindle and paperback versions), featuring 336 pages of statistical analysis on UFC fighters and the “hidden science” behind their fights. If you’ve been a fan of his Databomb columns, pick up a copy today. A full description of the book is at the end of this post.
While cranking through some statistical analysis of fighters competing at next weekend’s UFC 168 event, I came across a few tidbits that fit the character limit for tweetability. Tweet ‘em all you want, I’ll make more.
The Good:
• Anderson Silva has the highest Knockdown Rate of any fighter at #UFC168. 16% of his landed power head strikes cause a knockdown.
• In terms of Knockdown Rate, #UFC168 fighters Robert Peralta (14%) and Travis Browne (12%) are also way above average.
• Tibau vs Johnson at #UFC168 will be a rare Southpaw vs. Southpaw matchup, or what I call a “Cyclone fight” due to the clockwise spin.
• Mostly likely to attempt takedowns at #UFC168 is Ronda Rousey who attempts 4 TDs per 5 min. round. Not that her rounds ever last that long.
• The most active standup striker at #UFC168 is Dennis Siver, who outworks his opponents by 59% in volume while standing.
• Hardest fighter to hit at #UFC168 is Anderson Silva, who avoids 82% of all head strikes thrown at him. Still, Weidman may only need one.
• Highest takedown defense at #UFC168 are Weidman & Browne, both 100%. Neither have been taken down despite each facing 7 attempts.
• The best takedown defense at #UFC168 is really Gleison Tibau at 92% against 62 total opponent attempts; he ranks #2 all-time behind GSP.
• Ronda Rousey has 0.72 submission attempts for every minute she has spent on the ground; closest 2nd at #UFC168 is Jim Miller at 0.37.
• Jim Miller has more total submission attempts in the UFC than any other fighter at #UFC168 with 29. One more & he wins an Octagon toaster.
• Denis Siver has the biggest pace advantage at #UFC168. He averages 12.8 Significant Strikes attempts/min, while Gamburyan averages 5.4.
• At 80.5” Uriah Hall will have the longest reach of any fighter at #UFC168, and >7” reach advantage over his opponent Chris Leben.
The Bad:
• Women’s champion Ronda Rousey will have the shortest reach of any fighter on the #UFC168 card at 66 inches. #irrelevant
• Weidman, Camoes, Brandao & Hall will all be facing southpaws. Generally, orthodox fighters fare a little worse when facing southpaws.
• The lowest paced standup striker at #UFC168 is Diego Brandao, who throws >40% fewer standup strike attempts than his opponents
• Lowest takedown defense at #UFC168 is Miesha Tate who only defended 1/5 attempts for 20%. Camoes not far behind (25%). But small samples.
• When fighting on the ground, Michael Johnson, Robert Peralta and Anderson Silva all mostly end up on their backs #UFC168
• Jim Miller and John Howard have both been swept for a ground position reversal 6 times by opponents, more than other fighters at #UFC168.
• 170’er William Macario is the only #UFC fighter ever who actually goes by the name “William.” There were 3 “Will”s though, and a “Willamy.”
The Ugly:
• Worst head striking defense at #UFC168 is Bobby Voelker, who only defends 57% of head strikes by opponents. Anderson Silva’s is best (82%).
• Both Rousey & Tate have very low head strike defense, meaning if they stand and trade they’re both going to look less pretty. #UFC168
• Denis Siver has suffered 6 knockdowns in his UFC career, more than anyone at #UFC168, despite having above average head strike defense.
• At 38.7 years old, Anderson Silva is the oldest fighter at #UFC168, meaning he is less likely to be submitted, but more likely to be KO’d.
• The worst Knockdown Resiliency rating at #UFC168 is Miesha Tate at 91%. She has suffered 3 knockdowns in Strikeforce/UFC.
• Despite having been KO’d by Weidman, Silva is still a -150 favorite at #UFC168, on par with when he fought Henderson -145 & Marquardt -150.
• Fabricio Camoes has the worst relative striking overall at #UFC168. His stats are below average in accuracy, power, pace & cage control.
• The final prelim bout pits some of the best head strike defense (Hall) vs some of the worst (Leben). Lots at stake in that fight. #UFC168
Fightnomics quantifies the underlying drivers of the world’s most exciting and fastest growing sport through deep analysis of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competition. Part Freakonomics and part Moneyball, Fightnomics is a statistical spotlight on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the fighters who compete in the Octagon.
Does size matter?
Is the Southpaw Advantage real for MMA?
Is it better to be young or experienced in a fight?
How is the UFC Tale of the Tape lying to us?
What makes a strike significant?
What about Ring Rust, Octagon Jitters, or the Home Cage Advantage?
Just how accurate are betting odds?
Theories about how MMA works get put to the test with a little bit of science, and a whole lot of numbers. Fightnomics is the deepest and most complete analysis to date of historical UFC data that answers common, yet hotly debated questions about the sport. The fight game will never quite look the same once you’ve learned what really matters in a cage fight, and even a few surprising things that don’t.
The month of December continues to be stacked with great fights. As first reported on Thursday by MMAweekly.com, Gleison Tibau will be taking on Blackzilian member Michael Johnson at UFC 168.
Runner-up of The Ultimate Fighter 12, Johnson…
The month of December continues to be stacked with great fights. As first reported on Thursday by MMAweekly.com, GleisonTibau will be taking on Blackzilian member Michael Johnson at UFC 168.
Runner-up of The Ultimate Fighter 12, Johnson earned the biggest win of his career in August when he thoroughly dominated popular lightweight Joe Lauzon. It was such a statement that UFC president Dana Whitereferred to it as “one of the most lopsided, one-sided beatings you’ll ever see in the UFC.”
Prior to the victory, Johnson was struggling to find his place inside the Octagon. In consecutive fights, the Mo. native gave up losses to considerable underdogs Myles Jury and RezaMadadi, which dropped his UFC record to 4-4.
Tibau is one of the largest lightweights in MMA, cutting upward of 35 pounds to make weight. Having gotten weight cutting down to a science, Tibau enters the cage well above 180 pounds. In 20 UFC appearances, the Brazilian has never missed weight.
Over the course of his 20 trips to the Octagon, Tibau has defeated like likes of Rafael dos Anjos, Jamie Varner and Jeremy Stephens.
Although he is a respected member of the Zuffa roster, losses to Evan Dunham, Jim Miller and KhabibNurmagomedov have Tibau stuck in somewhat of a gatekeeper role. A loss to an up-and-comer like Johnson would cause irreparable damage to his hopes of one day fighting for UFC gold.
On the other hand, should Johnson be able to upset the human takedown machine, his career would be at a high point and “The Menace” would be knocking on the front door of the lightweight rankings.
UFC 168 takes place on Saturday, Dec. 28, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It is currently headlined by a pair of championship rematches. In the main event, Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva do battle for the middleweight title one more time, while UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey takes on challenger Miesha Tate in the co-main event.
For news on all things UFC, stay tuned to Bleacher Report MMA.
Fighting under the UFC banner is a goal the majority of fighters strive to achieve. The organization is undoubtedly the largest in mixed martial arts, and the roster is home to nearly all of the top-ranked talent in every weight class. Fighting under the bright lights of the Octagon is a dream to most, and the competitive nature of the 
