[spacer height=”20px”]
[spacer height=”20px”]
– Nick Diaz has been all around the MMA world since announcing his return to the UFC with a new three-fight deal. Diaz will face Anderson Silva in January at UFC 183, and you can hear the former Strikeforce champion discuss the fight in the video above.
– Welterweights Rory MacDonald and Tarec Saffiedine have made it official, signing to face off in the main event of UFC Fight Night 54. The card is set for October 4 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
MacDonald (17-2) is 7-1 in his last eight with the lone loss coming to Robbie Lawler last November via split decision. He has topped Tyron Woodley and Demian Maia already this year. Saffiedine (15-3) won his first fight with the UFC in January, downing Hyun Gyu Lim. He is a former Strikeforce champion, having defeated Nate Marquardt for the belt.
– Two fighters who competed on July UFC cards have failed their post-fight drug tests. Kevin Casey, who defeated Bubba Bush at UFC 175, was found to have drostanolone in his system, while The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale winner Robert Drysdale tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone.
Both wins will likely be reversed to no-contests, and the fighters are also likely to be fined and suspended. The UFC released an official statement on the matter:
“The UFC has been notified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that UFC middleweight Kevin Casey and light heavyweight Robert Drysdale failed drug tests following their fights at UFC 175 and The Ultimate Fighter Finale, respectively. Casey tested positive for drostanolone and Drysdale was flagged for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio. Both fighters have been temporarily suspended from competition and informed their positive tests violated the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy and Promotional Agreement with Zuffa, LLC. The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by our athletes and will support the NSAC’s determination pending a formal hearing at a later date.”
[spacer height=”20px”]
