Three PFL playoff competitors are facing sanctions following failed drug tests. MMA Fighting confirmed with Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) chief assistant Jeff Mullen that the trio in question is Glaico Franca, Luis Rafael Laurentino and Ramsey Nijem. Franca and Laurentino tested positive for stanozolol while Nijem tested positive for marijuana. The former two are […]
Three PFL playoff competitors are facing sanctions following failed drug tests.
MMA Fighting confirmed with Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) chief assistant Jeff Mullen that the trio in question is Glaico Franca, Luis Rafael Laurentino and Ramsey Nijem.
Franca and Laurentino tested positive for stanozolol while Nijem tested positive for marijuana. The former two are claiming it was due to tainted supplements:
“I was caught by surprise because I’m a 100 percent clean athlete so you don’t expect to fail a drug test,” Franca told MMA Fighting in a statement. “That happened on Oct. 11, but I’m cool about it. I will prove that this stanozolol metabolite that showed up in my urine test came from a contaminated supplement.
“I know it’s my responsibility to check the supplements I’m using, but it’s also the responsibility of the supplement companies to include every substance on the label of the product. We already have an idea of which supplements we think may have caused this and we will prove they are contaminated.”
All three competitors competed in the 2019 PFL postseason. Laurentino and Nijem exited in the quarterfinals while Franca bowed out in the semifinals last month. France notably retired following his loss to David Michaud.
Following the extension of their temporary suspensions at a meeting with the NSAC, they will will all have a full disciplinary hearing on December 18.
Tomorrow night’s (Thurs., July 25, 2019) Professional Fighters League (PFL) 5 is down three fighters. Lightweights Ramsey Nijem and Carlao Silva and featherweight Gadzhi Rabadanov have been removed from the event for failing to make weight earlie…
Tomorrow night’s (Thurs., July 25, 2019) Professional Fighters League (PFL) 5 is down three fighters. Lightweights Ramsey Nijem and Carlao Silva and featherweight Gadzhi Rabadanov have been removed from the event for failing to make weight earlier today. New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) counsel Nick Lembo told ESPN.com that Silva weighed in a […]
Ramsey Nijem fought his way out of two deep submission attempts by Julian Lane to advance Wednesday night on The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption. Nijem scored a first round TKO victory over Lane thanks to some nasty ground-and-pound. Nijem was looking for a submission of his own when the referee stepped in. Through six fights, […]
Ramsey Nijem fought his way out of two deep submission attempts by Julian Lane to advance Wednesday night on The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption. Nijem scored a first round TKO victory over Lane thanks to some nasty ground-and-pound. Nijem was looking for a submission of his own when the referee stepped in. Through six fights, […]
Welcome to the non-liveblog of UFC 177: Dillashaw vs. Soto, a pay-per-view card so shockingly irrelevant that we’ll barely be covering it tonight. Basically, we’ll update the results through the night — which you can find after the jump — and that’s about it. If something particularly interesting happens, we’ll let you know, and if we find any good GIFs, we will link you to them. Thanks for checking in with us, and follow us on twitter for bonus commentary.
Welcome to the non-liveblog of UFC 177: Dillashaw vs. Soto, a pay-per-view card so shockingly irrelevant that we’ll barely be covering it tonight. Basically, we’ll update the results through the night — which you can find after the jump — and that’s about it. If something particularly interesting happens, we’ll let you know, and if we find any good GIFs, we will link you to them. Thanks for checking in with us, and follow us on twitter for bonus commentary.
Preliminary Card (FOX Sports, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT)
– Derek Brunson vs. Lorenz Larkin
– Anthony Hamilton vs. Ruan Potts
– Chris Wade def. Cain Carrizosa via submission (guillotine choke), 1:12 of round 1
At UFC Fight Night 39, Beneil Dariush (7-0) will take on Ultimate Fighter 13 runner-up Ramsey Nijem (9-4) at the du Arena in Abu Dhabi. Both fighters are attempting to establish themselves among the lightweight division, and a victory for eit…
At UFC Fight Night 39, BeneilDariush (7-0) will take on Ultimate Fighter 13 runner-up Ramsey Nijem (9-4) at the du Arena in AbuDhabi. Both fighters are attempting to establish themselves among the lightweight division, and a victory for either combatant will move him closer to that goal.
Although Nijem possesses twice as many fights as his opponent, Dariush brings a more complete, well-rounded game to the Octagon that may lead him to victory on April 11. Unlike his first fight in the UFC, when he was presented with less than two weeks to prepare, Dariush benefited from a full training camp this time around and is more than confident in his matchup at UFC Fight Night 39.
In an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report, Dariush stated, “I’m always confident, but it’s been great to have a full (training) camp.” Regarding his matchup against Nijem, the Iranian-born fighter exclaimed, “I’m going to win, because I’m more prepared (than Nijem) and trained harder. My strength lies in my mindset.”
The executive vice-president of World Series of Fighting, Ali Abdel-Aziz, appears to agree with Dariush‘s mindset, and praised the fighter via Twitter on April 9. He stated:
Dariush is an undefeated MMA fighter and world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. In that, the 24-year-old’s elite grappling and methodical stand-up game has left him the favorite heading into UFC Fight Night 39.
Grappling
Dariush is one of the most decorated grapplers in the UFC today. The upcoming talent has placed in over 50 Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions. He won the silver medal at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships as a blue, purple and brown belt. From there, he went on to become the no-gi world champion at the previously mentioned belt levels as well. As a result, his grappling was on significant display when he faced MMA veteran Charlie Brenneman at UFC Fight Night 35.
Dariush secured his opponent’s back, and locked in a rear naked choked for the win. The 24-year-old’s stardom began just as quickly as the matchup between him and Brenneman ended (one minute, 45 seconds of the first round)—in a flash.
Dariush’s grappling skills far exceed those of his opponent at UFC Fight Night 39. The most intriguing fact surrounding Nijem is that he has been submitted just twice. In that, both of those submissions came within the very first minute of the first round–58 seconds and 21 seconds, respectively.
Based on grappling alone, Nijem will more than likely face one of his greatest challenges in Dariush at UFC Fight Night 39.
The Stand-Up
Dariush’s stand-up game is technically sound. His strikes are calculated and mostly delivered on point. Right before his submission of Brenneman at UFC Fight Night 39, Dariush floored his opponent with a devastating left hook to the face. Over half of the Iranian-born fighter’s victories have come by submission. However, Dariush has set those wins up with methodical striking, putting down his opponents before submitting them.
Nijem’s two other losses have come by knockout, the last of which occurred at UFC on Fox 7 against another undefeated fighter in Myles Jury. In his breakdown of UFC Fight Night 39, Bleacher Report’s own Riley Kontek stated, “Don’t blink: Dariush could end Nijem‘s night early and violently.”
Dariush’s status as an undefeated fighter, accompanied by his spectacular UFC debut, has generated a tremendous amount of momentum as he enters UFC Fight Night 39. If the Ralph Gracie protege is able to capitalize on his sophomore effort in AbuDhabi, he’ll be one step closer to his ultimate goal of becoming the “greatest fighter” ever, at least within his division.
*All quotes were given directly to Bleacher Report, unless otherwise noted.
MMA’s Great Debate Radio returns for Tuesday’s show with UFC Fight Night 26 fighters Chael Sonnen, Joe Lauzon and Ramsey Nijem as well as all new debate about Eddie Alvarez’s new deal with Bellator and much more.
Sonnen stops by today and talks about h…
MMA‘s Great Debate Radio returns for Tuesday’s show with UFC Fight Night 26 fighters ChaelSonnen, Joe Lauzon and Ramsey Nijem as well as all new debate about Eddie Alvarez’s new deal with Bellator and much more.
Sonnen stops by today and talks about his new training camp, where he’s now working under fellow UFC fighter Mark Munoz. He’ll also discuss his long standing grudge against Wanderlei Silva.
Lauzon joins the show to discuss the fight he has in his hometown of Boston this weekend against Michael Johnson, as well as recent fighter pay issues and his desire to avoid any more Fight of the Night bonuses.
Coming off a loss in his last fight, Nijem also drops in to talk about the importance of his fight this weekend at UFC Fight Night 26, and how over game-planning his fights cost him the last time he stepped into the Octagon.
The debate topics on today’s show cover many of the hot-button issues in the sport including Alvarez’s new deal, Jose Aldo’s recent comments about TRT and more.
Today’s topics include:
Eddie Alvarez signs a new deal with Bellator and will return at the pay-per-view in November. What kind of reaction to the deal is there?
Jose Aldo supports TRT usage and then makes claims that no one is clean, not even Randy Couture. What do you make of his statement?
How much should fans worry that Fox Sports 1 still hasn’t closed a deal with three major distributors, including Time Warner Cable and DirecTV?
Ray Sefo makes the second highest fight salary on his own show—bigger issue or much ado about nothing?
This is MMA’s Great Debate Radio for Tuesday, August 13, 2013
(If the embeddable player doesn’t work please click HERE to listen. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show via iTunesor listen on Stitcher Radio)
At UFC Fight Night 39,