The bout will be a non-title, three-round light-heavyweight (205lbs) fight, which should not be a problem for Silva. “Being labeled as someone who would ever cheat, it hurts me more than anything I’ve ever been through in my career”.
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UFC initially denied a report out of Silva’s native Brazil that Silva had been tapped to replaced Jones.
Luckily for UFC, they had another big name they could call in.
A United States Anti-Doping Agency spokesperson says MMA fighter Jon Jones had a second sample test positive for a banned substance.
The 28-year-old is being investigated by the US Anti-Doping Authority (USADA), temporarily leaving Cormier without an opponent and a gaping hole on the card for one of UFC’s biggest nights of the year. “He didn’t cheat at all”.
USADA spokesman Ryan Madden confirmed an independent lab’s findings on Jones’ B sample Friday. However, once Jon Jones was removed it was announced that Mark Hunt and WWE superstar Brock Lesnar will originally main event the historic card. The UFC also issued a statement regarding the matter.
“I trained for eight weeks for a specific guy”, Cormier said.
Less than 40 seconds into the third and final round, Cormier again shot for and got a takedown of Silva. Eddie Alvarez is an fantastic fighter who a lot of heart and always comes to fight, I’m very happy for him to win the UFCtitle in such a great fashion.
“I’m going to have to run a lot”, Silva deadpanned, before quickly saying to White: “I’m joking, boss!” “Every time he’s moved up to 205, he’s looked better than he did at 185”. But he has endured numerous troubles of his own making in recent years.
Cormier won the 205-pound title during Jones’ UFC suspension, which was lifted in October 2015.
Jones, who turns 29 later this month, realizes he could have another extended absence from his sport. Since this is a three-round non-title fight, that works in his favour too. “He’s so good. I did what I had to do”.
“I just try to stay optimistic”, he said.
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Last-minute changes to high-profile fight cards are nothing new in the UFC and even if they can have a negative affect on pay-per-view sales, they have done little to slow its growth around the globe. “I’m just really upset”.
