LAS VEGAS A doping test on Jon Jones’ backup sample showed the same violation that forced the UFC to drop the interim light heavyweight champion from his main-event bout at UFC 200.
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“Spider Silva” has fought three times at the weight of 205 pounds, defeating James Irvin, Forrest Griffinin and Stephan Bonnar, all by first-round knockout. White and the UFC scrambled and reportedly considered two fighters, ultimately settling on Anderson Silva. It was a pretty, pretty, surprising development, since Silva hasn’t been fighting at 205 recently, and isn’t long removed from gall bladder surgery. Former longtime middleweight champion and MMA great Silva (33-7 MMA, 16-3 UFC) stepped in on two days’ notice to meet “DC” in a non-title affair.
The fight will be three rounds and is not a title bout. However, Silva will require final medical clearance by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but the UFC expects Silva to be cleared. He was set to be back in action last May against Uriah Hall at UFC 198 but an abdominal woe sidelined him.
The reasoning is unfortunate and tragic, Jones failed a drug test on June 16th.
“I think it’s an interesting, fun fight”. The UFC won’t hold it against him.
“There is nothing for us (me and Jones) to talk about”, White said.
So now, following reports from both Globo and TMZ, it looks like Silva vs. Cormier will in fact be going down this weekend after all.
While it may not be the main event title fight everyone has wanted for almost a year, it should still be a very entertaining fight for all to see this week.
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“Miesha is the woman who beat the woman who beat the woman”, White said of Tate, who defeated Holly Holm, who had won the title from Ronda Rousey. Silva provides another narrative, and the UFC still has a replacement headliner – the fight between Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt.
