Tag: UFC 136

UPDATED: Dave Herman Tests Positive for Marijuana, Pulled From UFC 136 Bout Against Mike Russow

Dave Herman UFC steroids
(Come on. You’re telling me that’s not a pothead? / Photo via Sherdog)

Update: Herman only tested positive for marijuana. The report that originally stated he also tested positive for steroids came from a misinterpretation of his interview.

UFC heavyweight Dave Herman has confirmed that his scheduled UFC 136 main card bout against Mike Russow has been canceled, after his pre-fight drug tests came back positive for marijuana. Herman denies using the illegal substance. As he explained to Clinch Gear Radio:

“I went in to get in my drug test (on Sept. 15), and a week later, they called me and told me they lost my urine specimen. I had to come in and redo it. That was last week. I went back in that day. And [on Wednesday], they told me I failed. I said, ‘That’s impossible.’…[now,] Texas said they never lost it and the first one [tested positive] for drugs and the second was for steroids. I don’t even smoke…I haven’t even had a beer in two months.”

Dave Herman UFC steroids
(Come on. You’re telling me that’s not a pothead? / Photo via Sherdog)

Update: Herman only tested positive for marijuana. The report that originally stated he also tested positive for steroids came from a misinterpretation of his interview.

UFC heavyweight Dave Herman has confirmed that his scheduled UFC 136 main card bout against Mike Russow has been canceled, after his pre-fight drug tests came back positive for marijuana. Herman denies using the illegal substance. As he explained to Clinch Gear Radio:

“I went in to get in my drug test (on Sept. 15), and a week later, they called me and told me they lost my urine specimen. I had to come in and redo it. That was last week. I went back in that day. And [on Wednesday], they told me I failed. I said, ‘That’s impossible.’…[now,] Texas said they never lost it and the first one [tested positive] for drugs and the second was for steroids. I don’t even smoke…I haven’t even had a beer in two months.”

To our knowledge, this is the first time that an MMA fighter has been flagged for performance enhancing drugs by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. We’ll update you when we learn more about Herman’s potential punishment for the botched test, and his inevitable appeal.

At this point, it doesn’t appear likely that the UFC will find a replacement opponent for Mike Russow, who’s a perfect 3-0 in the Octagon. UFC 136′s preliminary-card rematch between Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan has been promoted to the main card to fill the space. The current lineup for “Edgar vs. Maynard 3″ is below…

Main PPV Card
Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (for UFC lightweight championship)
Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian (for UFC featherweight championship)
Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann (MW)
Joe Lauzon vs. Melvin Guillard (LW)
Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan (FW)

Spike TV Prelims
Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago (MW)
Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens (LW)

Preliminary Card (Facebook)
Joey Beltran vs. Stipe Miocic (HW)
Zhang Tie Quan vs. Darren Elkins (FW)
Aaron Simpson vs. Eric Schafer (MW)
Steve Cantwell vs. Mike Massenzio (MW)

Dave Herman Tests Positive for Marijuana, Steroids in Pre-Fight Drug Test

After a scheduled UFC 136 bout between Dave Herman and Mike Russow was cancelled on Wednesday, many were unsure why. It turns out the heavyweight prospect failed his pre-fight drug test for the Oct. 8 bout.In a recent interview with Clinch Gear Radio, …

After a scheduled UFC 136 bout between Dave Herman and Mike Russow was cancelled on Wednesday, many were unsure why. It turns out the heavyweight prospect failed his pre-fight drug test for the Oct. 8 bout.

In a recent interview with Clinch Gear Radio, Herman explained the situation as told to him by the Texas commission:

I’m still trying to (figure it out). I’ve been making phone calls but they said I failed my drug test. I don’t think (it affects my relationship with the UFC). I’ve been trying to talk to the Texas commission and everything because I went in to get my drug test and a week later they called me and said they lost my urine specimen and I had to come in and redo it. That was last week. So I went back in that day and today they said I failed. I was like, ‘That’s impossible.’ So…yeah.

It doesn’t end there. After they found and tested his first sample, the second one also came back positive, but for a different substance.

He explained the second drug test result as well:

I went in on Sept. 15 and took the first test and then a week later they e-mailed me and called me and said they lost the sample and I had to come in and do it again. So I went in to do it again that day and then today they just got the results, I guess. But then I called, ’cause I’ve been trying to straighten this out, like how did they lose it but then they found it, like, what happened, I don’t know. But then Texas said that they never lost it and the first one was for drugs and the second one was for steroids. They didn’t say I had it for performance-enhancing drugs, they said I had marijuana. And I don’t even smoke.

It turns out neither test matches the other for what he tested positive for. The first one came back with him testing positive for marijuana. The second one came back with him testing positive for steroids.

It’s a tough situation for the 26-year-old, who picked up his first UFC victory back in June for which he won a fight of the night bonus.

Russow is still scheduled to fight on the card, but an opponent has not been named. The main card bout has been replaced with a rematch between Nam Phan vs. Leonard Garcia. The card is headlined by a rematch between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard.

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Dave Herman Out of UFC 136; Says Positive Marijuana Test to Blame, but Denies Use

Filed under: UFC, NewsA heavyweight tussle at UFC 136 next week has been scrapped from the main card, and a featherweight rematch has been bumped up to take its place.

The UFC announced Wednesday that a bout between Dave “Pee Wee” Herman and Mike Russ…

Filed under: ,

A heavyweight tussle at UFC 136 next week has been scrapped from the main card, and a featherweight rematch has been bumped up to take its place.

The UFC announced Wednesday that a bout between Dave “Pee Wee” Herman and Mike Russow is off because Herman had to withdraw, and Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan has moved up from the preliminary card to the pay-per-view slot.

But later Wednesday, Herman told Clinch Gear Radio that it was a failed preliminary drug test that knocked him out of the bout, saying he tested positive for marijuana – but denying any use of the banned substance. Additionally, a source close to Russow’s camp told MMA Fighting that marijuana was indeed the culprit.

“I’m still trying to figure it out myself,” Herman told hosts Jeff Dotseth and Stephen Quadros. “Basically, they said I failed my drug test. I went in to get my drug test. A week later, they called and said they lost my urine specimen and I had to come back in and redo it. And I came back in and they said I failed it. It’s impossible.”

Herman (21-2, 1-0 UFC) denied any use of marijuana: “I don’t even smoke. I haven’t even had a beer in two months.”

Herman told the show the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which regulates MMA in the state, initially said he failed a first test, then failed a second for steroids. He also said the commission asked him to take a second test because it lost his first sample.

Herman won his UFC debut in June with a comeback win over Jon Olav Einemo that won Fight of the Night honors. The Indiana native has been training with Team Quest. Herman started his MMA career 15-0 with 15 stoppages – 14 in the first round, including a 3-0 stint in EliteXC.

Russow (14-1, 1 NC, 3-0 UFC) beat Jon Madsen in March after a long injury layoff. A source close to Russow’s camp told MMA Fighting the heavyweight does not yet have another fight booked.

Garcia and Phan’s rematch moves from the prelims up to the pay-per-view. The two fought at the TUF 12 Finale last December with Garcia winning a controversial split decision and Fight of the Night honors. Garcia was unsuccessful in March in another rematch from a controversial split decision win when he was submitted by Chan Sung Jung. Phan is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Mike Brown at UFC 133 in August.

UFC 136 takes place Oct. 8 at the Toyota Center in Houston. It will be the promotion’s first trip to Houston since UFC 69. The show, which will be preceded by a UFC Fan Expo on Oct. 7-8, features a pair of title fights – the rematch between lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, plus a featherweight title bout between champ Jose Aldo and Kenny Florian.

 

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UFC 136 Preview: 8 Things to Watch for

With UFC 135 in the books, much of the focus in MMA has turned to UFC 136. Taking place October 8th from Houston, Texas, UFC 136 will be headlined by two championship fights. Kenny Florian will challenge Jose Aldo for the featherweight title,…

With UFC 135 in the books, much of the focus in MMA has turned to UFC 136. 

Taking place October 8th from Houston, Texas, UFC 136 will be headlined by two championship fights. 

Kenny Florian will challenge Jose Aldo for the featherweight title, while Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard will have their highly anticipated third bout for the UFC lightweight title. 

Here are some things to look out for on what should be an exciting night of fights.

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UFC 136: Dana White Says Melvin Guillard Is Close to a Title Shot

Melvin Guillard may be finally reaching his potential. Currently owning a five-fight win streak, should Guillard get past Joe Lauzon at UFC 136, he may very well find in himself next in line for a title shot at 155 pounds. “If he can co…

Melvin Guillard may be finally reaching his potential. 

Currently owning a five-fight win streak, should Guillard get past Joe Lauzon at UFC 136, he may very well find in himself next in line for a title shot at 155 pounds. 

“If he can control himself and focus and keep training and stay serious, I think Melvin Guillard is a force to be reckoned with,” UFC President Dana White told MMAWeekly.com.

Seen as a lost cause during his time on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter, Guillard has had a difficult time remaining mentally focused. But ever since pairing up with Greg Jackson in New Mexico, the once-troubled lightweight seems to be coming into his own and making the most of his opportunities. 

And it’s shown in his recent performances, as he has scored three knockouts in his past five bouts.

““Since he’s been with this (Greg) Jackson camp, it seems like he’s in a much better place. I don’t know, we’ll see,” White continued.

“The Young Assassin” has always proclaimed himself to be one of the top contenders in the lightweight division, and if he is able to get past Lauzon at UFC 136, fans may start to finally envision him as one as well. 

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UFC 136’s Frankie Edgar Prepares for Title Defense Against Gray Maynard

UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (13-1-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) is in the final weeks of preparation for his title defense against Gray Maynard (10-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) at UFC 136 on October 8. The fight is Edgar’s third title defense and he’s now return…

UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (13-1-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) is in the final weeks of preparation for his title defense against Gray Maynard (10-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) at UFC 136 on October 8.

The fight is Edgar’s third title defense and he’s now returning to the Octagon for the second time in 2011.

Earlier this year, the champion was put to the test in a five-round draw and his elite conditioning helped him survive a dominant opening round from Maynard.

Edgar was able to escape a 10-8 opening round to even the scorecards. While a draw isn’t ideal, his supreme work ethic, which had him in phenomenal shape, played a huge factor in the fight.

TRX and Prime One Video recently caught up with the champion to get his thoughts on training.

“I consider myself (to be) one of the hardest training guys in this sport,” Edgar said. “I know a lot of guys train hard, but for me, for myself I don’t compare myself to anybody else because you can’t do that. Everyone is an individual, so I know I push myself to the limits every day.”

He’ll once again put his skills to the test in hopes of retaining the lightweight championship and in order to do so, he will have to be in top form.

The Toyota Center in Houston, Texas plays host to the event with Edgar and Maynard as the night’s headliner.

For additional information, follow Joshua Carey on Twitter

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