Benjamin Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 I know about that. I thought he actually did have a cross hairdo. Basically you got my hopes up. Also, I don't know why, but the idea of Tatsuya Kawajiri versus Clay Guida is just awesome. I've always thought Guida was one of those guys who would have been awesome in Pride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2K Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 The next UFC Fight Night from London (8th March) will be airing on Channel 5 as well as BT. It starts at 9:00pm (the BT show starts at 7:30) so it seems they're only going to broadcast the top two fights and show highlights of anything else that's noteworthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Potentially the biggest news story of the year in MMA: In a stunning reversal of policy, the Nevada State Athletic Commission today voted unanimously to ban therapeutic-use exemptions for testosterone-replacement therapy. Moving forward, all fighters who wish to receive permission to undergo hormone replacement will not be allowed to apply for the exemption, and previous applicants will not be allowed another one. NSAC commissioner Raymond “Skip” Avansino proposed the ban and said the commission does not have the resources to effectively monitor exemptions. NSAC chairman Francisco Aguilar added the commission’s previous exemption process took up too many resources for too little payoff. Commissioners Avansino and Pat Lundvall also ventured that the NSAC is under no obligation to honor exemptions issued by other states. The UFC on Thursday released an official statement supporting the ban not long after the NSAC made its ruling. “The Ultimate Fighting Championship fully supports the decision made today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission regarding the immediate termination of therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT),” the statement read. “We believe our athletes should compete based on their natural abilities and on an even playing field. We also intend to honor this ruling in international markets where, due to a lack of governing bodies, the UFC oversees regulatory efforts for our live events. We encourage all athletic commissions to adopt this ruling.” The ban comes two months before UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort was set to apply for an exemption for the TRT he has undergone since 2011. Belfort’s wife and manager, Joana Belfort, did not respond to a request for comment. Belfort is scheduled to face middleweight champion Chris Weidman at UFC 173 this May in Las Vegas, and has come under fire for his use of TRT. His application for an exemption was expected to be a contentious one, given he tested positive for elevated testosterone in Nevada in 2006 and was fined and suspended by the NSAC. UFC light heavyweight Chael Sonnen was the most recent fighter to receive an exemption for TRT for his fight with Rashad Evans at UFC 167 this past November. A total of six fighters have received an exemption in Nevada: Dan Henderson, Shane Roller, Todd Duffee, Frank Mir, Forrest Griffin and Sonnen. Stay tuned to MMAjunkie for more details on this story as it develops, including an official response from the UFC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munky Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 So, how long before Vitor winds up in Bellator then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Being in Bellator makes absolutely no difference, if they have a fight in Nevada, or any state, where a TRT exemption is not allowed, then they will fail. If Vitor now fails a test he will be banned for 12 months and not able to fight anywhere. So I will ask you a question. Why do you think it will lead Vitor to Bellator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cymbols Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Yeah, I really doubt it will lead to Vitor going to Bellator. However, can't help but feel like it'll give the Weidman naysayers another excuse if he retains the belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2K Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Great news. Hopefully the other SACs will follow suit and Dana will stand by what he has said about upholding the decision in areas they self-regulate (especially Brazil). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HC Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 It won't matter much to Belfort outside of this title fight. Dude fights pretty much exclusively in Brazil now anyway. The only way I'd see it being an issue is if he actually beats Weidman and Dana makes him defend in the States. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2K Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 It's interesting that Belfort is the only guy we've all spoken about, admittedly I expect it's because he's due to fight in Nevada, but he's also seemingly become the "face" of TRT. I kinda see it that way because of his former steroid test failures and sudden career renaissance since he started TRT makes him the best example of its benefits, is that what the rest of you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cymbols Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Pretty sure Dana said that the UFC are banning it overseas too. But I'm not sure how that works with other (or no) commissions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quom Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 I feel sorry for Bigfoot since presumably he'll have to retire. Vitor most likely won't be fighting in May in a main event. A quick google of medical sources says that it takes at least one month and up to three years when you come off TRT to return to normal (including an impact on your cardiovascular system). This isn't just an 'lol back to normal' slump, it seems it puts you in a place worse than when you began for 1 month+. I'm personally not in favour of this decision. I don't think you can allow people to do something then decide to instantly ban it from that date forward. Especially when it's a drug you can't stop using cold turkey and remain healthy. The box never should have been opened and Nevada to me looks even more shady now as it looks like their fingers were caught in the cookie jar by that investigative reporter. The issue wasn't necessarily with TRT, it was that it seems it was way too easy to get a TUE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 All events outside of an athletic commission have the UFC administer testing, there have been a number of incidences where fighters have been banned this way (Leben was after a fight in the UK for instance). I would imagine some of the smaller commissions will follow suite, the more interesting one will be the likes of New Jersey and California, seeing whether these will start some sort of similar ban. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munky Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Being in Bellator makes absolutely no difference, if they have a fight in Nevada, or any state, where a TRT exemption is not allowed, then they will fail. If Vitor now fails a test he will be banned for 12 months and not able to fight anywhere. So I will ask you a question. Why do you think it will lead Vitor to Bellator? I suggested he might wind up in Bellator not just because Nevada is banning TRT, UFC as a whole is. Regardless of where they run their shows, TRT isn't allowed. So it won't matter if the UFC runs a show in Alabama or Brazil where TRT is legal, they still ban its use. Bellator, to my knowledge, don't have such a rule. So when they run in other states their fighters can, theoretically, use TRT. So, if Belfort or another fighter who has come to rely on TRT can't compete at high level without it and winds up out of the UFC because of it, it stands to reason that they would be looking for another promotion to fight for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quom Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 NSAC generally sets the standard for other commissions. If you need TRT and are a fighter chances are you'll need to be looking at a promotion not based in America. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazz Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Vitor to BAMMA~! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Apparently Dan Henderson has been granted a TRT exemption for his fight in Brazil. So, Um, yeah... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazz Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Well, he's four weeks out from a fight and is almost certainly already using TRT for the duration, so you either grant the exemption, cancel the fight or turn a blind eye when he pisses rocket fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomroe Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 UFC are suppose to announce a change to UFC 173 in about 7 minutes. I'm assuming Belfort is out Weidman vs Machida at UFC 173 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHurk Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 So wait...Nevada bans TRT, and within the day, Belfort drops out of the title fight? Sounds about right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 See what quom put, Vitor cycling off it would not be ready in time. It looks bad, but if Vitor isn't ready, what's the point in putting a non competitive performance in? Why not put machida in for a great fight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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