Ultimate Fighting and MMA News

In July, following a dominating Elite XC heavyweight championship victory over Justin Eilers, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (12-1) tested positive for the steroid Boldenone and was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) for a full year and fined $2,500.

Claiming his innocence, Silva took matters into his own hands and appealed the ruling in October. However, these things have more of a guilty until proven innocent theme to them instead of the other way around.

And the commission’s final decision was to uphold the suspension when Silva’s defense did not appear to sway the initial finding.

With his fight career being his family’s main source of income, sitting out for a full year was not an option for the Brazilian. He decided to disregard the punishment and take a fight in Japan where the CSAC’s suspension would not be recognized.

The big man’s manager Alex Davis released this statement in early December regarding his client’s decision to fight in Japan in spite of the CSAC’s suspension:

“Antonio has decided to fight, he really has no option. He’s innocent, he’s tried to prove it and it fell on unwilling ears, and he has financial commitments that to not meet would have serious consequences for him. In light of these, he has decided to continue his career in Japan until when and if his situation with the CSAC is resolved.”

While “Bigfoot” was victorious in the fight on January 4 against Yoshihiro Nakao, he still may have come away a loser. Apparently, the CSAC didn’t take to kindly to him ignoring its suspension and its decided to take action.

On February 10, the commission will meet to discuss the possibility of revoking Silva’s license to fight in the United States. In addition, team members and trainers who worked his corner in Japan will be dealt with as accomplices and could be punished as well.

Silva knew there would be consequences for his actions if he ignored the suspension. We’ll have to wait until February 10 to find out just how severe those consequences are, but this doesn’t look good for the Brazilian giant right now.

He may just have to get used to fighting in Japan.

Thanks to CombatLifestyle.com for the photo of Antonio Silva.

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Former UFC middleweight contender David Loiseau will return to the Octagon on April 18 when he faces The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 finalist Ed Herman at UFC 97 from The Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada according to Cageplay.com.

“Short Fuse” is hoping to not only spoil Loiseau’s homecoming, but to also snap a two-fight losing streak inside the cage. Herman came up on the losing end of a split-decision loss to Alan Belcher back in September and was choked out by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom Demian Maia at last year’s UFC 83.

Loiseau recently defeated Solomon Hutcherson via fifth round technical knockout to earn the Xtreme MMA (XMMA) middleweight title at the Claude Robillard Sports Complex in Montreal, Canada.

It was a big (and gutsy) win for “The Crow” — his third straight since a controversial split-decision loss Jason Day earlier this year — because it got him once step closer to a UFC return.

The Canadian was at one time a top 185-pound title contender. In fact, he challenged then-champion Rich Franklin for his belt at UFC 58: “USA vs. Canada” in 2006, losing to “Ace” in a lopsided unanimous decision.

Loiseau had won four of five bouts inside the Octagon, including stoppages of Evan Tanner, Charles McCarthy and Mark Weir, to earn the opportunity.

After the loss to Franklin, however, Loiseau dropped three of his next four and fell of the radar. He was cut from the promotion rather abruptly after a unanimous decision loss to Mike Swick at UFC 63: “Hughes vs. Penn” in September 2006.

Loiseau — who trains with welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and Patrick Cote, among others — has been working hard ever since in smaller shows to be invited back.

It looks like his efforts have finally paid off, which is good news for him, the fans and the middleweight division.

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As MMAmania.com first reported over the weekend, top welterweight contender Josh Koscheck is expected to return to action at UFC 95 card, which is slated for The O2 Arena in London, England, on February 21.

We can now confirm that he is expected to welcome undefeated Brazilian up-and-comer, Paulo Thiago (7-0), to the Octagon for the first time ever. It’s important to note that bout agreements have been distributed but are still unsigned.

Koscheck most recently annihilated the very dangerous Japanese fighter, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, at UFC Fight Night 16: “Fight for the Troops” with a scary-looking two-punch knockout on December 10. He defeated “Zenko” just six weeks after losing to number one division contender Thiago Alves at UFC 90 via unanimous decision back on October 25.

He took the fight against the bruising Brazilian on less than 14 days notice to replace an injured Diego Sanchez. It didn’t go his way, but it’s hard to hold it against him.

The former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) has won three of his last four fights — he knocked off Dustin Hazelett and Chris Lytle before the Alves loss — and appears that he is willing to do whatever it takes — and fight as often as possible — to get back in the 170-pound title chase.

But he’ll have to do it against an opponent who is not well-known in the United States.

Thiago has competed primarily in his native Brazil, posting a four-fight win streak for the Jungle Fight promotion last year. He most recently stopped Luis Dutra Jr. via technical knockout (strikes) in round one of their bout in September 2008.

He’ll be thrown right into the deepend against Koscheck. It also appears to be a fight for Koscheck without much upside … unless of course he scores another sensational knockout on cable television in front of millions watching across the nation at home.

We shall see soon enough.

UFC 95 features the highly anticipated lightweight debut of Diego Sanchez against Joe Stevenson in the main event of the evening. Middleweights Nate Marquardt and Wilson Gouveia, as well as Demian Maia and Chael Sonnen, are also expected to mix it up in two very important division clashes.

To check out the latest UFC 95 fight card and rumors click here.

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“[Light heavyweight is] my normal weight. I never cut down too much weight for a fight. Maybe I go to fight one more time at light heavyweight, and after I go down…. I am thinking I want to fight Chuck [Liddell] again. I want to fight with him again because I had a good match with him, and his style is a good style for me, and my style is good for him. It’s good for the show. Maybe it’s good for Dana.”

– Former Pride FC middleweight (205 pounds) monster Wanderlei Silva tells MMAWeekly.com that he would consider a drop to 185 pounds if UFC President Dana White wanted him to make the cut. “The Axe Murderer” has lost four of his last five fights, three of which have been via brutal knockouts. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was the latest opponent to put him to sleep, scoring a vicious one-punch knockout at UFC 92: “The Ultimate 2006.” Before he sheds the 20 plus pounds; however, he’d like to challenge Chuck Liddell one more time. The pair — who were at one time the sports two biggest stars — duked it out in a thrilling three-round bout back at UFC 79: “Nemesis” in December 2007. Liddell is penciled in to return at UFC 96 in early March against a yet to be named opponent. Silva will more than likely not be ready in time — he has to serve a mandatory medical suspension until February because of the most recent knockout. Perhaps a change and some new scenery at 185 pounds would revitalize his struggling career.

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