Tag: UFC on FX 7

Michael Bisping Issues Statement on Vitor Belfort’s TRT Usage, Actually Doesn’t Sound Like an Asshole


(Remember the good old days? Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting.com)

No, there is absolutely nothing sarcastic about the title of this article. Michael Bisping, who has the ability to sound like a total asshole even while saying things that many fans agree with, has respectfully released a statement on a hot-button issue. He has managed to disagree with other side without playing the role of a cocky British stereotype. I’m being dead serious.

On Friday, Bisping took to his website to release an official statement about Vitor Belfort’s testosterone replacement therapy usage for their fight at UFC on FX 7. As you may remember, following the event there was much speculation that Belfort may have failed his drug test due to information being leaked that one of the fighters from the card pissed hot. Even though the news regarding the actual fighter who failed his drug test turned out to be rather anti-climactic (read: not Belfort), many people feel that TRT has no place in MMA, including Michael Bisping.

Here’s his official statement, in all of it’s non-dickish glory:


(Remember the good old days? Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting.com)

No, there is absolutely nothing sarcastic about the title of this article. Michael Bisping, who has the ability to sound like a total asshole even while saying things that many fans agree with, has respectfully released a statement on a hot-button issue. He has managed to disagree with other side without playing the role of a cocky British stereotype. I’m being dead serious.

On Friday, Bisping took to his website to release an official statement about Vitor Belfort’s testosterone replacement therapy usage for their fight at UFC on FX 7. As you may remember, following the event there was much speculation that Belfort may have failed his drug test due to information being leaked that one of the fighters from the card pissed hot. Even though the news regarding the actual fighter who failed his drug test turned out to be rather anti-climactic (read: not Belfort), many people feel that TRT has no place in MMA, including Michael Bisping.

Here’s his official statement, in all of it’s non-dickish glory:

As some of you may know, I’ve just got back to Orange County from filming a movie in England. There have been dozens and dozens of interview requests and tweets about the recent news.

I’m back in England next week for the UFC on FUEL show, and right now all I really want to do is see my family, especially my daughter, who turned just turned 10 (happy birthday, Elle!). So, I wanted to do a short statement here and then move on to my fight with Alan Belcher, April 27th at UFC 159.

Here’s what I’ve got to say:

As I said right after the fight, I lost because I made a mistake and Vitor took advantage of it. It sucks. I don’t like it, but that was the result. I lost. Bottom line.

Over the past couple years, and even right before the fight, I have made my views on TRT very, very clear. I don’t feel that I need to go into depth about it again right now. All I have to add, about this specific instance, is that it is very disappointing that someone who was caught cheating with testosterone in the past, now gets to use testosterone legally.  A well known side effect of steroids is that it reduces testosterone, so I don’t understand how it would make sense to then grant someone an exemption to then increase testosterone. 

All that being said, I am not here to make excuses or cry over spilled milk. I fight in the best organization in the world, The UFC, and am very excited to work and earn a title fight, the right way. That process starts by whooping Alan Belcher’s ass at UFC 159 on Saturday, April 27th, live on PPV. 

Thanks everyone for their support – can’t wait to spend some time with British UFC fans in London next week and I will be back, better than ever.

Regardless of your stance on testosterone replacement therapy in MMA, it’s hard to be offended by anything he wrote. It’s also hard to justify allowing a person who has failed a drug test – especially when said person fails a drug test for an anabolic steroid – to use TRT.

But let’s not continue to beat the TRT debate into the ground. Rather, let’s focus on the fact that we just read six paragraphs of non-asshole Michael Bisping quotes. Clearly this is a trend that won’t last too long, right?

@SethFalvo

Michael Bisping Reacts to Vitor Belfort Being Allowed TRT Exemption

It was announced earlier this week that former UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort received “a therapy use exemption (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)” before his UFC on FX 7 bout against Michael Bisping. Before the fight, Belfort d…

It was announced earlier this week that former UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort received “a therapy use exemption (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)” before his UFC on FX 7 bout against Michael Bisping.

Before the fight, Belfort didn’t want to address his possible use of the controversial medical procedure, but following the event, it was revealed that he was approved for the usage.

Any fighter on TRT must have his testosterone levels tested. Those levels must stay within an acceptable range for the fighter to be able to compete while using that treatment.

Belfort‘s opponent, Michael Bisping, who lost the fight in the second round after a nasty head kick was delivered, now finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Bisping has been a strong opponent speaking out against the use of TRT and has now faced and been defeated by three opponents who all took the controversial treatment: Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort.

On Friday, Bisping released a statement via his personal website, Bisping.TV, that explained his reaction to the news that Belfort was using TRT for their fight in Brazil.

While he offered no excuses in terms of his losing the fight, Bisping was disappointed that Belfort was allowed to use the treatment after previously testing positive for banned substances.

As some of you may know, I’ve just got back to Orange County from filming a movie in England. There have been dozens and dozens of interview requests and tweets about the recent news. I’m back in England next week for the UFC on FUEL show, and right now all I really want to do is see my family, especially my daughter, who turned just turned 10 (happy birthday, Elle!). So, I wanted to do a short statement here and then move on to my fight with Alan Belcher, April 27th at UFC 159.

Here’s what I’ve got to say. As I said right after the fight, I lost because I made a mistake and Vitor took advantage of it. It sucks. I don’t like it, but that was the result. I lost. Bottom line.

Bisping did, however, speak to the point that Belfort was allowed to use TRT even after testing positive for 4-Hydroxytestosterone following his fight with Dan Henderson in Pride in 2006. At the time, Belfort had been suspended nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the infraction.

Over the past couple years, and even right before the fight, I have made my views on TRT very, very clear. I don’t feel that I need to go into depth about it again right now. All I have to add, about this specific instance, is that it is very disappointing that someone who was caught cheating with testosterone in the past, now gets to use testosterone legally. A well known side effect of steroids is that it reduces testosterone, so I don’t understand how it would make sense to then grant someone an exemption to then increase testosterone.

Regardless of his feelings on the use of TRT or Belfort‘s approval for the treatment, Bisping is moving on now and leaving this situation behind him. He’s next scheduled to face Alan Belcher in the co-main event at UFC 159 in New Jersey and isn’t focused on Vitor Belfort any longer.

All that being said, I am not here to make excuses or cry over spilled milk. I fight in the best organization in the world, the UFC, and am very excited to work and earn a title fight, the right way. That process starts by whooping Alan Belcher‘s ass at UFC 159 on Saturday, April 27th, live on PPV.

Bisping will take part in a question-and-answer session with fans Friday as part of the UFC on Fuel TV 9 weigh-ins from England. Outside of that, he’s leaving the Vitor Belfort subject dead and buried as he turns his focus toward Alan Belcher and a climb back into middleweight contention.

Damon Martin is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Put the Rumors to Rest: Vitor Belfort is Officially a Testosterone-Deprived Old Man

(Hey, you can’t blame Vitor for following in the footsteps of his lord and savior.) 

File this one under “News that absolutely no one should be surprised about.”

We knew something had to be up from the moment Vitor Belfort gave his incoherent, rambling, Animal Farm-esque response when questioned about whether or not he had hopped on the TRT bandwagon currently sweeping through MMA. Either Belfort just really, really feared being ostracized from his future bridge group at the UFC retirement home — the Ultimate Fusspot CareCenter — or he was simply feeding the interviewer whatever thoughts he could string together whilst trying to find the nearest exit. And now that the drug test results for UFC on FX 7 have come back, the UFC would like you to know that Belfort was definitely doing the latter.

Earlier today, UFC officials confirmed that Belfort did in fact receive a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy in the weeks leading up to his main event bout against Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7. But fret not, for his post-fight test “did not indicate the presence of any prohibited substance for increasing performance improvement.” Thank de Jesus for that.


(Hey, you can’t blame Vitor for following in the footsteps of his lord and savior.) 

File this one under “News that absolutely no one should be surprised about.”

We knew something had to be up from the moment Vitor Belfort gave his incoherent, rambling, Animal Farm-esque response when questioned about whether or not he had hopped on the TRT bandwagon currently sweeping through MMA. Either Belfort just really, really feared being ostracized from his future bridge group at the UFC retirement home — the Ultimate Fusspot CareCenter — or he was simply feeding the interviewer whatever thoughts he could string together whilst trying to find the nearest exit. And now that the drug test results for UFC on FX 7 have come back, the UFC would like you to know that Belfort was definitely doing the latter.

Earlier today, UFC officials confirmed that Belfort did in fact receive a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy in the weeks leading up to his main event bout against Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7. But fret not, for his post-fight test “did not indicate the presence of any prohibited substance for increasing performance improvement.” Thank de Jesus for that.

Belfort, who tested positive for 4-Hydroxytestosterone in the aftermath of his unanimous decision loss to Dan Henderson at PRIDE 32, was fingered as suspect #1 when it was first announced that someone had pissed dirty at UFC on FX 7. And while that dishonor that later went to Thiago Tavares, you can expect a snide response from “The Count” to hit the web at any moment in light of this news. Honestly, we wouldn’t blame the guy. Bisping’s last three losses have now come to fighters who all but publicly endorse the stuff, and for once we could see where he’s coming from should he decide to respond. I know, I threw up when I typed that too.

Look, we’ve covered pretty much every angle of the TRT debate around here and we don’t mean to retread old ground, but Keith Kizer truly hit the nail on the head when he said TRT was being likened to “the new Viagra” by MMA fighters and athletes everywhere. And while fighters like Forrest Grffin, Frank Mir, and countless others have been quick to declare their sudden need for the treatment, we haven’t exactly jumped on board yet, if only because the information regarding the rules and regulations of TRT usage in MMA is scant at best.

We hate to sound old fashioned, but it’s these kind of exploited loopholes that make us yearn for the days when a beer-bellied Chuck Liddell would knock out any fool on the block without once complaining that his old man balls needed a boost to get him in fighting mode. Anyone else share this nostalgia?

–J. Jones

Vitor Belfort Approved for TRT at UFC on FX 7, Tavares Suspended for Steroids

Following a loss at UFC on FX 7, Thiago Tavares has tested positive for use of a banned substance that will result in a nine-month suspension from the sport. Tavares returned a positive test for Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid, after his fight with K…

Following a loss at UFC on FX 7, Thiago Tavares has tested positive for use of a banned substance that will result in a nine-month suspension from the sport.

Tavares returned a positive test for Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid, after his fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov in Brazil in January.

UFC officials confirmed the test results in a press release on Wednesday.

The positive drug test will result in Tavares being suspended for nine-months retroactive to the date of the fight, which was Jan 19.

Tavares lost the fight to Nurmagomedov at UFC on FX 7, so the result of the bout will remain as it stands with no change due to the positive drug test. Tavares must also complete a drug test screen before returning to active competition before his next fight is scheduled.

All 22 fighters that competed on UFC on FX 7 were tested and Tavares was the only fight that returned a positive test.

On another note however, UFC on FX 7 main event fighter Vitor Belfort did receive a therapy use exemption (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in his fight against Michael Bisping.

“To dispel rumors that have been circulated, Zuffa wishes to clarify that Vitor Belfort’s drug test results were negative and did not indicate the presence of any performance enhancing drugs,” UFC officials said in a press release on Wednesday.

Belfort has been on a medically approved testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) regimen under the supervision of a medical doctor from the State of Nevada, after being diagnosed with hypogonadism, or low testosterone. The purpose of a medically administered TRT regimen is to allow patients with hypogonadism to maintain testosterone levels within a range that is normal for an adult male.

Belfort‘s testosterone levels were tested and remained in legal levels for the fight, and his usage was approved prior to the event taking place.

Damon Martin is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

And the Fighter Who Failed His Drug Test at ‘UFC on FX 7? Is…[UPDATED]


(Don’t worry, it’s the guy on the bottom. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)

Relax, Potato Nation, we can all rest assured knowing that Vitor Belfort did in fact beat the colon cannonballs out of Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7 without needing a banned substance to do so (Author’s note: Not that we would judge him if he did. Because when you judge someone, it sounds like you are a God. And we live in a freedom country, where you are either a Republican or a Democrat. Who is right?). And while that’s all well and good, one of the tests from the event did come back positive, as Dana White had mentioned earlier this week.

According to Brazilian news outlet Tatame, the fighter who pissed dirty at UFC on FX 7 was…Thiago Tavares:

After many rumors, the results of doping tests UFC Sao Paulo left [Note: Fucking Google translate, I tell you]. According to TATAME, the name of the athlete caught is Thiago Tavares. Our sources, however, need not know the substance used for light weight. His suspension will be nine months.

Yep, the guy we last saw eating Khabib Nurmagomedov’s elbows like they were acarajes is the one who got popped for what we can only assume is some kind of steroid. It kind of makes sense when you realize that Tavares regularly drops 20 pounds in between fights to fulfill his double life as salsa artist Marc Anthony.


(Don’t worry, it’s the guy on the bottom. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)

Relax, Potato Nation, we can all rest assured knowing that Vitor Belfort did in fact beat the colon cannonballs out of Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7 without needing a banned substance to do so (Author’s note: Not that we would judge him if he did. Because when you judge someone, it sounds like you are a God. And we live in a freedom country, where you are either a Republican or a Democrat. Who is right?). And while that’s all well and good, one of the tests from the event did come back positive, as Dana White had mentioned earlier this week.

According to Brazilian news outlet Tatame, the fighter who pissed dirty at UFC on FX 7 was…Thiago Tavares:

After many rumors, the results of doping tests UFC Sao Paulo left [Note: Fucking Google translate, I tell you]. According to TATAME, the name of the athlete caught is Thiago Tavares. Our sources, however, need not know the substance used for light weight. His suspension will be nine months.

Yep, the guy we last saw eating Khabib Nurmagomedov’s elbows like they were acarajes is the one who got popped for what we can only assume is some kind of steroid. It kind of makes sense when you realize that Tavares regularly drops 20 pounds in between fights to fulfill his double life as salsa artist Marc Anthony. Thankfully, his karmatic punishment was delivered in the swiftest fashion possible via 27 unanswered shots to the dome. Big Dan DOES NOT allow that kind of insolence in his octagon.

The five year UFC veteran has yet to comment on his positive test, but feel free to start speculating what his excuse will be in the comments section. Personally, I’m going to go with the old “tainted supplements” defense, which seems to be the popular rebuttal amongst Brazilians. It’s all the acai berries if you ask me. Those damn stanozolol drostanalone-filled acai berries.

[UPDATE]

According to MMAJunkie, the mystery substance Tavares tested positive for was drostanalone, the weight-cutting steroid of choice for such MMA fighters as King Mo Lawal and Hermes Franca. Chalk up another entry in the CagePotato Steroid Bust Timeline. 

–J. Jones

Vitor Belfort Didn’t Fail His Drug Test at UFC on FX 7…But Somebody Else Might Have


(Belfort is not a “TRT abuser,” okay? He has always treated TRT with the utmost respect and tenderness. / Photo via RyanLoco.com)

On Friday morning, rumors began to spread that Vitor Belfort had failed a drug test for his UFC on FX 7 headlining fight against Michael Bisping last month. Between Belfort’s stammering recent response about TRT and his previous PED-bust in 2006, it was one of those rumors that immediately gained traction because it seemed perfectly believable. But was there any actual truth to it? Well, we have some good news and some bad news. Here’s what UFC president Dana White had to say when asked about the Belfort rumor following the UFC 156 press-conference on Saturday night (transcribed by MMAWeekly and BloodyElbow):

“There was an irregular test. Something was wrong. Whenever something wrong happens, or weird, (the samples) get retested and, usually, it’s not a good thing. It (expletive) was not Vitor Belfort. Yet, right now I bet if you talked to 100 people, 100 people will tell you that Vitor Belfort failed his drug test in Brazil. That’s (expletive)…I do know the results. They’ll be out Monday… [Ed. note: *checks calendar* Sweet!]


(Belfort is not a “TRT abuser,” okay? He has always treated TRT with the utmost respect and tenderness. / Photo via RyanLoco.com)

On Friday morning, rumors began to spread that Vitor Belfort had failed a drug test for his UFC on FX 7 headlining fight against Michael Bisping last month. Between Belfort’s stammering recent response about TRT and his previous PED-bust in 2006, it was one of those rumors that immediately gained traction because it seemed perfectly believable. But was there any actual truth to it? Well, we have some good news and some bad news. Here’s what UFC president Dana White had to say when asked about the Belfort rumor following the UFC 156 press-conference on Saturday night (transcribed by MMAWeekly and BloodyElbow):

“There was an irregular test. Something was wrong. Whenever something wrong happens, or weird, (the samples) get retested and, usually, it’s not a good thing. It (expletive) was not Vitor Belfort. Yet, right now I bet if you talked to 100 people, 100 people will tell you that Vitor Belfort failed his drug test in Brazil. That’s (expletive)…I do know the results. They’ll be out Monday… [Ed. note: *checks calendar* Sweet!]

“That’s crazy, that some rumor from a (expletive) clown with a fake name on Twitter can do that. It’s crazy. Some (expletive) goof on Twitter puts out a tweet, and everybody starts (expletive) throwing these accusations around. I’ve got Michael Bisping (expletive) blow me up at 1 in the morning from England going, ‘Did that (expletive) fail the drug test?’ It’s (expletive) crazy, man.”

Alright, so it looks like the Phenom is out of the woods. But could this “irregular test” mean that somebody else on the card is going to get nailed today? If so, it would already be the third failed drug test this year. Feel free to speculate about the latest drug-cheat’s identity in the comments section, and we’ll update this post as soon as we hear more.