Tag: USADA

Frank Mir Wants To Do Five Boxing Matches & Five K-1 Matches

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir was flagged by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) for a potential anti-doping violation last March, and he requested his release from the promotion quickly thereafter, although that has yet to happen. Mir, however, has made it clear that his time inside the Octagon has come to an end. After

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir was flagged by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) for a potential anti-doping violation last March, and he requested his release from the promotion quickly thereafter, although that has yet to happen. Mir, however, has made it clear that his time inside the Octagon has come to an end.

After his Absolute Championship Berkut Fights commentary debut this past weekend, Mir said that he’s still trying to get out of his UFC contract:

“I am [still under contract],” he said (MMAMania.com). “But, I am trying to get out of it. They are not going to utilize me as a fighter and I am not getting any younger. And even if they do not let me go after my suspension, I’m up and I am able to fight again. I really would like to step outside.”

While his mixed martial arts career may be done, Mir’s fighting career may not. The ex-champion said that he’s interested in doing five boxing matches and five K-1 kickboxing matches before he retires for good, but he claims that the UFC is holding him back:

“I have never got to do kickboxing matches,” said Mir. “I have only fought an amateur boxing match. I want to do a professional boxing match. You know, I always wanted to test myself and find out different things. And UFC wants to protect me like any other fighter under the contract.… They have already made a lot of money, they are very famous, very important and I am very grateful for what they helped me accomplish.”

“I am being limited in what I am going to be able to do before I enter into full coaching. I want more experience in different aspects of the sport. My goal is to do at least five K-1-rule kickboxing matches, five professional boxing matches before I retire.”

In addition to that, Mir, one of the very best submission artists in the history of the heavyweight division, expressed his interest in competing in combat sambo:

“Even the combat sambo, I like watching it and I would be interested in entering the tournament. However, the UFC limits it because they do not want me to go out and take adventures.”

Stay tuned to LowKickMMA as more news unfolds on Mir’s future.

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Jon Jones: Steroids Didn’t Make Me, I Earned Every Inch Of My Success

Once the undisputed UFC light-heavyweight champion, Jon Jones has suffered more than one fall from grace. In recent times especially, ‘Bones’ has faced plenty of adversity. Stripped of the belt for his part in the New Mexico hit-and-run last year, Jones’ future was uncertain, to say the least. Potentially facing jail time, ‘Bones’ was forced

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Once the undisputed UFC light-heavyweight champion, Jon Jones has suffered more than one fall from grace. In recent times especially, ‘Bones’ has faced plenty of adversity. Stripped of the belt for his part in the New Mexico hit-and-run last year, Jones’ future was uncertain, to say the least. Potentially facing jail time, ‘Bones’ was forced to confront his inner demons as the world watched keenly. Finally receiving community service and a fine, the charges against ‘Bones’ blew over. The prodigal son returned at UFC 197, but his comeback was short-lived.

Defeating Daniel Cormier’s replacement, Ovince St-Preux, Jones claimed the interim title on April 23. Leading in to the unification bout at UFC 200, fans held their breath in to fight week, hoping Jon Jones could hold it together. Run ins with the police over some alleged drag racing antics proved to be a minor hiccup, then the unthinkable happened. Struck from the UFC 200 main event on just three days notice, ‘Bones’ became the latest in a long line of high-profile scalps claimed by USADA. The doping agency had found anti-estrogens in Jones’ system in a pre-fight screen. Here began the fallen champion’s latest struggle.

Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Tainted Supplements

During an emotional press conference in the middle of UFC 200 fight week, the troubled New Yorker claimed he was unaware of the banned substance he was flagged for. After months of waiting, Jones’ attorney finally confirmed this week that his client had indeed taken tainted supplements. The batch of workout products ‘Bones’ had referenced was tested by USADA and found to be contaminated. Similar to Yoel Romero, Jones is likely to receive a much shorter suspension. Should he get a six month retroactive suspension, Jones will be eligible to fight ASAP.

As well as trashing the division this past week, ‘Bones’ took to Twitter to clarify how he made it to the top. In response to criticisms over his failed drug test(s), the Greg Jackson product says steroids never made him, but rather hard work and dedication:

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Yoel Romero Says Chris Weidman Looks Different Since USADA

UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero returns at UFC 205 this coming November 30. After learning he’d failed a drug test in January of this year, ‘Soldier of God’ appealed and got his suspension reduced to six months. Facing Chris Weidman in New York City, Romero has been the subject of some criticism from ‘The All-American.’

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UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero returns at UFC 205 this coming November 30. After learning he’d failed a drug test in January of this year, ‘Soldier of God’ appealed and got his suspension reduced to six months. Facing Chris Weidman in New York City, Romero has been the subject of some criticism from ‘The All-American.’ Weidman has always stood against steroid users in MMA, of whom he’s faced quite a few. His last five fights have featured three fighters (Anderson Silva twice) who have failed drug tests in the last three years.

Now that USADA is running the show, things are a little different. There are fewer places to hide and less substances that can go undetected. Although it was a long time coming, the new dope testing regime is here. The MMA world figured things were going to get worse before they got better, but few expected the high-profile busts of the last 12 months. In the case of Romero, the tainted supplement defense was accepted by the doping agency, but he’s still been taking plenty of heat from fellow fighters.

Yoel Romero-Chris Weidman-Michael Bisping

Romero Accuses Weidman

In an interesting twist on the plot at 185 pounds, Yoel Romero has accused UFC 205 opponent Chris Weidman of some fishy business. ‘Soldier of God’ says ‘The All-American’ looks different since USADA came to town. Here’s what Romero said over Twitter:

Let’s Take a Look

After Romero’s insinuation regarding Weidman’s physique, let’s take a look at a comparison picture.

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The Verdict

In a way, Yoel Romero is right. Chris Weidman does look different since USADA, if anything he looks better. That said, his form was not on par with what we’ve become accustomed to in his last bout. Luke Rockhold battered Weidman to a bloody pulp at UFC 194, and Romero is one hell of a rebound fight for the former champion.

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Michael Bisping & Chris Weidman Trash Yoel Romero’s PED Violation

It appears as though the UFC’s middleweight division is in an uproar following Yoel Romero’s recent United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation. Romero was flagged by USADA following his UFC 194 split decision win over Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, and handed a six month suspension after the Cuban’s tainted supplement defense. Current 185-pound champ Michael Bisping, however,

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It appears as though the UFC’s middleweight division is in an uproar following Yoel Romero’s recent United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation.

Romero was flagged by USADA following his UFC 194 split decision win over Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, and handed a six month suspension after the Cuban’s tainted supplement defense.

Current 185-pound champ Michael Bisping, however, isn’t buying Romero’s tainted supplement defense (courtesy of MMA Fighting), who says those who are caught with PEDs in their system should be suspended ‘forever’:

“Once you have PEDs in your system, any time you put the PEDs in your system, I think you should be suspended forever,” Bisping said. “And now you have this whole thing where, tainted supplements, I’m not sold on it.

“I feel like every time someone failed a drug test the first thing they go to was ‘oh, I was taking this and it was tainted,’ I mean, it doesn’t take too much time to be like, I failed for testosterone or whatever it is, let me find a supplement inside GNC that people might feel is not a big deal to take and they might be a little more lenient on me.”

tim kennedyRomero’s next opponent will be former UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman, as the two talented 185-pounders will meet on the main card of UFC 205 from Madison Square Garden. Weidman stated that he finds this contest a bit personal as he gets ‘pissed off’ when people take steroids in the sport to get an upper hand on the competition:

“It’s personal because the guy, he’s a gifted athlete, he just failed for steroids, and this is the biggest fight of my life,” Weidman said. “I don’t like when people take steroids and cheat, especially when they walk into a cage, it pisses me off. And then when you have all these excuses and people start feeling bad for you, it pisses me off.

“Either way I still go crazy, these guys are taking steroids, I was in this sport pre-USADA and I was used to the idea all these guys were taking steroids and now they’re getting caught for it. At the end of the day I was fighting guys on steroids even before this and now they’re getting caught for it.”

Weidman and Romero will meet on the main card of UFC 205 live on pay-per-view (PPV), from the Madison Square Garden arena in New York City on November 12, 2016.

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Michael Bisping: I Will Knock Brock Lesnar Out With One Punch

UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping faced his biggest demon at UFC 204. Although he’s far from the most dangerous contender at 185 pounds right now, Dan Henderson once fired Bisping’s chin to the moon. During the historic UFC 100 pay-per-view, ‘Hendo’ connected with his patented ‘H Bomb,’ causing ‘The Count’ to lose a considerable chunk

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UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping faced his biggest demon at UFC 204. Although he’s far from the most dangerous contender at 185 pounds right now, Dan Henderson once fired Bisping’s chin to the moon. During the historic UFC 100 pay-per-view, ‘Hendo’ connected with his patented ‘H Bomb,’ causing ‘The Count’ to lose a considerable chunk of his memory. The KO was so harrowing that it haunted Bisping for years. Once the brash Brit had won the middleweight belt, Henderson was first on his hit list. After calling out and receiving his rematch against Henderson, Bisping fired off some shots, insinuating ‘Hendo’ had cheated before their first fight.

Now that Bisping got his revenge in the form of a unanimous decision in Manchester, he’s still got gripes about steroids in the UFC. Since the USADA era came in last year, drug busts have come on a regular basis. Including some of the biggest stars in UFC history, the stricter dope screens have certainly scored some shocking scalps. Take UFC 200, for instance. The July 9 PPV was meant to be the landmark event for the promotion. Instead turning out to be riddled with high-profile drug busts, UFC 200 was more mockery than legendary.

Jones and Lesnar

Jones/Lesnar

Both Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar failed UFC 200 drug tests. Dropping out of the main event just three days prior, ‘Bones’ had to face the music head on after popping for Estrogen blockers. Lesnar’s failed screen wouldn’t come out until after he’d wailed on Mark Hunt for three rounds. Hunt would go on to fall out with the UFC over Lesnar’s USADA controversy, and it looks as though Bisping isn’t too impressed either. Speaking with WWE legend Ric Flair, as transcribed by Fansided, ‘The Count’ blasts Lesnar with both barrels:

“How tough do you think Brock Lesnar is? Listen I respect any man who steps into the octagon because it takes balls,” said Bipsing. “But if you have to go in there and take steroids to do it? F-ck you, you cocky son of a b-tch. Kiss my ass. I will knock Brock Lesnar out with one f-cking punch. I will take him and throw him out of the octagon like the p–sy that he is. Am I making myself clear? F-ck Brock Lesnar! F-ck steroids! F-ck all you f-cking f–gots that want to come in here and take steroids. Am I making myself clear? I apologize for using that word, I shouldn’t have said that. But, steroids have destroyed the sport and anyone that takes them, kiss my a–”

“He’s a big son of a b-tch but as I said. Real men don’t cheat in a real fight. In your world you have to look good, you have to be big and it’s expected for the audience. You guys good for you, good for you. In a real fight we shouldn’t be cheating and taking steroids.”

Anderson-Silva-of-Brazil-and-Michael-Bisping-UFC-weigh-in[1]

Wow…

Interestingly enough, most losses on Michael Bisping’s record, apart from Luke Rockhold, Rashad Evans and Tim Kennedy, have come against athletes who have or would go on to face some sort of drug testing controversy. In the case of Dan Henderson, it was legally administered testosterone. With Wanderlei Silva it was a fled drug test, Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen need no explanation. In the words of Nate Diaz, I’m not surprised at Bisping’s rant.

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Jon Jones’ Arbitration Hearing Scheduled For October 31

Former longtime UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound king Jon “Bones” Jones will become the first UFC fighter to appeal a USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) sanction via arbitration, as his his hearing is set for October 31, 2016 in Los Angeles, per MMAFighting.com. After dealing with a plethora of legal issues that forced

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Former longtime UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound king Jon “Bones” Jones will become the first UFC fighter to appeal a USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) sanction via arbitration, as his his hearing is set for October 31, 2016 in Los Angeles, per MMAFighting.com.

After dealing with a plethora of legal issues that forced him to be stripped of his title during 2015, Jones finally returned to action at April 2016’s UFC 197, scoring a decision victory over Ovince Saint Preux to become the interim 205-pound champion. He was then scheduled to rematch bitter rival Daniel Cormier in a unification bout at July 9’s UFC 200, but he was forced to withdraw just days prior after it was reported that he been flagged for a positive drug test.

Unsurprisingly, Jones denied taking any illegal substances in the aftermath of the news, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) made it clear that he had tested positive for two anti-estrogen agents. These substances are known as “specified substances”, which means Jones is facing a maximum one-year suspension from the third party testing organization, although his team has made it clear that they will be fighting the issue in hopes of coming to a settlement agreement.

In addition to his hearing with USADA, “Bones” must also appear before the commission. He was scheduled to meet with the commission earlier this month, but his hearing was rescheduled to November 10, 2016.

What outcome are you expecting from this situation?

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