UFC middleweight title challenger Vitor Belfort passed a random drug test administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in advance of his February title fight against champ Chris Weidman.
Although the NSAC originally passed off drug testing duties onto the California State Athletic Commission upon the title bout’s switch to UFC 184 in Los Angeles, the Nevada commission reversed course and elected to conduct its own random testing.
NSAC Executive Director Bob Bennett today confirmed to MMAjunkie that Belfort passed a urine and blood test for banned substances, though he did not say what the commission tested for. The news first was reported by ESPN.com.
It was the second such test Belfort passed after agreeing to random testing as a condition of a license he received to fight in Nevada. Belfort is also expected to undergo random testing by the CSAC, which has vowed to verify the ex-champ will fight clean.
UFC middleweight champion Weidman (12-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) defends his title against Belfort (24-10 MMA, 13-6 UFC) at UFC 184, which takes place Feb. 28 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center and airs live on pay-per-view. The matchup was previously expected to take place at December’s UFC 181 event, but a Weidman broken hand forced the delay of the bout in Las Vegas.
Weidman and Belfort originally were set to meet in May at UFC 173 before Belfort was pulled from the card in the wake of the NSAC’s ban on testosterone-replacement therapy, of which Belfort was a multi-year participant. Weidman went on to fight Lyoto Machida and earned a unanimous decision.
Belfort will enter the UFC 184 contest on a 15-month layoff after being out since his November 2013 win over Dan Henderson.
