Has Antonio Silva Put His "BigFoot" In It This Time?

Does Silva's failed drug test take anything away from his battle with Mark Hunt?

by Tommy Strong @strong_tea

Just over a week ago in the early hours of Sunday morning, I found myself climbing off my comfy sofa and standing to applaud both fighters in awe of one of the finest fights I've had the privilege of watching! Antonio Silva and Mark Hunt gave everything they had in their main event battle in what surely will go down as one of the best fights of the year!

Though, a week later it feels as something has been taken away from that fight. Having heard Antonio Silva failed his post fight drugs test for elevated levels of TRT. Just those three letters are driving fans away from a sport we all love and admire.

This isn't the first time Silva has failed a drugs test. The first was back in 2008 having won the EliteXC heavyweight championship by beating Justin Eilers. He later tested positive for using a banned substance Boldenone where he received a $2,500 fine and a year ban from the sport.

The UFC have notable fighters who have a TRT exemption the likes of Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin and Frank Mir to name a few. Before this weeks news of Silva failing his post fight drugs test for elevated levels of TRT, I wasn't even aware Silva had an exemption. Prompting me to think who else is on this without us knowing?

Whether you believe its a performance enhancer or not, something has to be done to make it an even playing field! Fighters are always looking to get that edge, but it shouldn't come at the safety of the fighters?
But thats for another debate.

Will this take anything away from the fight? If Im honest with himself I don't think it will. Silly as it probably sounds. If the fight had title implications then maybe it would've bothered me more. I'm not condoning the use of PEDS or TRT as I'm the first to speak out about any form of use. I just feel though for some reason, when I think of this fight the TRT isn't stuck in my head.

My honest feeling about this is too many fighters are trying to gain an advantage using TRT when 'maybe' they don't need it!

Antonio Silva has pleaded his innocence today, claiming on Facebook:

"I'm cool because I know that the mistake was not made by me, he wrote. I never tried doing anything wrong for my fight."

Not only has Silva forgone his $50k fight of the night bonus he earn't for the fight, he will see himself sitting on the sidelines for 9 months before he's granted his license back.

Maybe the only winner from all this is Mark Hunt who not only collects $50,000 for fight of the night bonus, but also picks up Antonio Silva's $50,000 in the process!

Well done Mark!!

Pat Healy fails UFC 159 Post Fight Drug Test

Pat Healy Misses Out On $130,000 in Bonus Money Following Positive UFC 159 Drug Test

by John Haigh @JohnBJayHaigh

Following UFC 159 on April 27 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. random drug test were carried out and Pat Healy’s came back positive for marijuana.

Healy quickly owned up to using the drug knowing it was a banned substance. The New Jersey Athletic Control Board handed Healy a 90-day suspension and changed the result of his third-round submission victory to a no contest, but that was not all that got changed.

Healy now misses out on both the submission of the night and fight of the night bonuses he had originally been awarded. The submission of the night has now been awarded to Bryan Caraway, who submitted Johnny Bedford.

“It’s known up front that checks are held until everyone passes the drug test,” “Brian Caraway get the SON now. Healy did himself dirty.” Confirmed UFC President Dana White via his twitter account.

The fight of the night bonus is not expected to be awarded to a different bout. Healy loses his cheque but Jim Miller will not. The standard penalty for a first-time offense when a fighter tests positive for marijuana in New Jersey is a 90-day suspension, and if the fighter was victorious, his bout is ruled a no contest, according to NJSACB officials. That was the penalty handed down to Healy, as this was his first offense.

Healy is not expected to be fined further.

Update on UFC on Fuel TV 8 Failed Drug Tests

Fighters respond to the news of failed drug tests at UFC on Fuel TV 8

by Ben Heather @benheather

Following the news released yesterday that both Alex Caceres and Riki Fukuda both failed drug tests at UFC on Fuel TV 8 both fighters have released statements.

Riki Fukuda who has been cut for his failed drug test by the UFC has responded by apologising on twitter and saying that an over the counter cold medication prompted his failed test for banned stimulants. The japanese fighter said that he took the medicine a few weeks before the fight and forgot to disclose this in his pre fight medical.

Alex Caceres also released a statement in which he said he takes full responsibilty for his failed drug test which has led to him receiving a six month suspension from fighting. Caceres also must undergo a drug rehabilitation and pass a drug test before he will be cleared to fight again.

Alex Caceres released the following statement to MMA Junkie.

"I accept full responsibility for my actions and the consequences from those actions. I apologise to all that I have disappointed, including the UFC, my family, coaches, training partners and fans. I accept the sanctions from the UFC and I look forward to completing the necessary steps to getting back in the octagon following the suspension and assuring that this never happens again"

Keep checking KingdomMMA for all of the latest news from the world of MMA.

Lavar Johnson cut from the UFC

Lavar Johnson Suspended and cut from the UFC after failed drug test at UFC 157

 by Ben Heather @benheather

Lavar Johnson's week just got a lot worse, after news broke that he failed his drug test at UFC 157 earlier this week today it has been announced that he has been suspended from fighting for nine months. Also, in part of his recent two fight losing streak and the failed drug test he has been cut by the UFC.

Lavar Johnson started his octagon career with back to back wins and a lot of hype building but then in his last two fights he lost both giving him a 2-2 record in the UFC.

 An elevated testosterone to epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 6.6-1 triggered a carbon isotope ratio (CIR) test that confirmed Johnson had testosterone in his system and that it was "consistent with the administration of a steroid"

Johnson though has now admitted that he was undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) however he did not disclose this on a pre fight medical questionnaire and has now been suspended. A representative for the fighter has said that in future Johnson may seek an exemption for the treatment.

Keep checking KingdomMMA for news on the future of Lavar Johnson.

Another failed drugs test on UFC on Fuel TV 8

UFC has suspended Alex Caceres after failed drugs test at UFC on Fuel TV 8

by Ben Heather @benheather

Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres (8-5 MMA 2-3 UFC) has been suspended by the UFC for failing his drug test at UFC on Fuel TV 8.

UFC officials today announced that Caceres failed the drugs test due to traces of marijuana metabolites in his sample. With the lack of a governing body in place UFC officials oversaw the drug testing for the event in Japan.

Caceres has been suspended for six months and also ordered to attend drug rehabilitation classes and will need to pass a drug test before he's allowed to continue his career.

At the event in Japan Caceres earned a split decision win over Kyung Ho Kang, which marked the third straight win for Caceres. This result however has now been changed to a no contest.

Lavar Johnson gives positive drugs test at UFC 157

Lavar Johnson's UFC 157 drug test has returned showing elevated testosterone levels

by Ben Heather @benheather

A post fight drug test for UFC heavyweight Lavar Johnson (17-7 MMA 2-2 UFC) who lost a unanimous decision at UFC 157 to Brendan Schaub has been flagged for elevated levels of testosterone. According to CSAC Executive Officer Andy Foster an additional carbon isotope ratio test "confirmed the testosterone was consistent with the administration of a steroid"

Foster clarified to MMAJunkie.com that the initial failure was not due to an elevated testosterone to epitestosterone (T/E) level, but could not provide further details on Johnson's failure at the time they posted the article. All of the other drug tests for the UFC 157 fight card came back clean.

The loss to Schaub was Johnson's second straight after his loss first round submission loss to Stefan Struve at UFC 146.

This positive drugs test could see Johnson get his release papers from the UFC but as yet no comment has been made.

Please keep checking KingdomMMA.co.uk for further updates on this story.