UFC
Nevada grants license to Vitor Belfort, UFC announces Weidman-Belfort title bout to headline UFC 181
Jul 23, 2014 - 1:35:01 PM Nevada grants license to Vitor Belfort, UFC announces Weidman-Belfort title bout to headline UFC 181

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

It probably shouldn't be surprising at this point, but the Nevada Athletic Commission granted Vitor Belfort a license on Wednesday despite his failed drug test in February, and the UFC quickly announced that he'll challenge Chris Weidman for the UFC Middleweight Championship on Dec. 6 at UFC 181.

Belfort plead his case with a written statement he read to the commission, bringing in the emotional cues towards the end, but ultimately they seemed to have made up their mind early on.

He admitted to being above the levels allowed in his February test, and taking a full weekly dosage at once the day before the test, whereas he had been taking two smaller doses a week prior to that. With that, he promised the commission he would comply with any drug testing they asked of him, and that he wouldn't fight until December, and that he would only fight in Las Vegas for his next bout.

In response, the commission granted him a license on the condition that he not fight before December, that he not fight anywhere else, and that he cover the costs of any random drug testing done "within reason."

With the license granted, the UFC then announced the fight, which will headline the event on Dec. 6. That card is also expected to feature Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez for the UFC Lightweight Championship.

Penick's Analysis: It's a little incredible that he is facing absolutely no discipline whatsoever despite a second failed drug test in their jurisdiction. They didn't even ask how he transitioned off TRT, despite having Chael Sonnen on this same agenda for that very issue. Now, had they given him a nine month denial, it would have been up in November anyway, so this is a fight that was going to happen by January anyway. The next question becomes whether a stringently drug tested Belfort off TRT represents a challenge to Weidman.