Vitor Belfort’s well documented use of Testosterone Replacement Therapy has seen another twist with the Brazilian now pulling out of a scheduled bout with Chris Weidman (11-0) for the American’s UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 173 in Las Vegas. The interesting, if not predictable move, comes less than 24-hours after the Nevada State Athletic Commission chose to outlaw the use of TRT and will no longer provide exemptions based on medical use.
Belfort (24-10) released the following statement:
“The Nevada State Athletic Commission recently altered its policy and no longer will permit testosterone use exemptions, and will not permit a TRT program. As other jurisdictions may follow suit, I am going to drop my TRT program and compete in MMA without it. Given the time constraints involved between now and my proposed next bout in May, I have determined not to apply for a license to fight in Nevada at this time.”
It’s widely speculated that ‘The Phenom’s’ use of TRT played a key role in 2013 when Belfort charged through Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson, all via incredible knockout finishes at UFC events in Brazil. Furthermore, unlike a number of other fighters linked with TRT, it was reported that Belfort would not be granted a TRT exemption in the US due to a previous failed drug test, and so the question of whether Weidman vs Belfort would go ahead, or if Belfort would pass a drug test, was widely discussed from the start by fans.
However, the middleweight division does not lack exciting title challengers and the UFC have since announced that former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida (21-4) will now challenge for the 185lb crown. ‘The Dragon’ completed his move to the UFC middleweight divison on Oct 26, 2013 in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Manchester, England. Machida knocked out Mark Munoz with a first round head-kick, and most recently bested former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi with a unanimous decision in February.
UFC 173 hits the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 24.
