MMA News
MMATorch Exclusive: Vitor Belfort OKed by Nevada to Fight Martin in California
By By: Alex Williams, MMATorch Contributor
Jul 14, 2008 - 4:55:09 PM

This reporter spoke to Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who confirmed that last week, Vitor Belfort paid the Nevada commission the $10,000 fine he owed it, apparently clearing the way for Belfort to compete on the Affliction: Banned card this Saturday vs Terry Martin.

In June, Affliction announced the addition of Vitor Belfort vs Terry Martin to its July 19 event. But there remained a significant hurdle to Vitor competing: namely, the $10,000 fine dealt to him by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a positive test for steroids from an October 2006 bout with Dan Henderson. What is more, the punishment had included a nine month suspension. Suspended fighters are not supposed to compete anywhere in the world, but Vitor fought in England during this time.

Mr. Kizer had previously stated that failure to pay the $10,000 would prohibit Belfort from fighting in California, but that the ignored suspension would not be an
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