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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
After Shane Carwin dropped out of The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale, Roy Nelson was given a new opponent in Matt Mitrione. He had attempted to get Carwin to undergo extra drug testing with the Volunteer Anti-Doping Agency (VADA), and extended the offer to Mitrione as well. However, Mitrione as well declined to take part in the program.
On Monday, Mitrione explained his reasoning behind not wanting to take part in the program after taking the fight on short notice.
"Since I was coming on somewhat short notice, cutting a couple weeks out of my camp, and training for a five-round fight, this is something I wanted to make sure I didn't have any thing that could distract me," Mitrione said during a media conference call for Saturday's card (via MMAJunkie.com.
Mitrione added that he's not opposed to further testing, but thought it would be more of a hassle when he was already on a shortened timetable for this fight.
Penick's Analysis: Mitrione's going to get some flak for this stance, because it's a fairly flimsy explanation. There may be nothing more to it than he truly does think it would distract him unnecessarily, but it makes it seem as if there's something to hide. Even if that's not the case, that's how this comment will make many take it.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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