After a news conference that was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the United State Anti-Doping Agency did some unannounced tests in Las Vegas, according to an official for the UFC. The MMA middleweights of the UFC, Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort have both submitted out-of-competition drug tests ahead of their trilogy.
Henderson discussed with ESPN.com that he was actually waiting for USADA to conduct the random testing. After experiencing a 28-second knockout against Tim Boetsch, he made requests for his next battle:
1. He wanted to fight Vitor Belfort
2. He wanted to do it anywhere but Brazil.
“I wanted to fight here in the States, but if I wanted to fight him, it had to be in Brazil. So I said OK.”
Henderson, 45, did not seem to have a good ending when he was last up against Belfort in Brazil. He experienced his first MMA knockout lost in his entire career after Belfort handed him a head kick at a UFC Fight Night in November of 2013 held in Goiania.
During this match, both Henderson and Belfort were allowed by the Brazilian athletic commission to use testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT). As Henderson was able to cite some significant changes with his opponent’s physique, he then publicly questioned if Belfort’s use of TRT differed from his.
Henderson was given the assurance, that and Belfort will both undergo the random drug testing that is spearheaded by the USADA as part of UFC’s new anti-doping policy
“I’ve been waiting to get tested. I’ve been wanting to get tested. I was told it would happen quite a few times during training camp, but I’m still waiting. I’m hoping that it will happen and I’m thinking that it will, but if not, it is what it is. I’ve still got to go out there and beat Vitor up regardless.”
Belfort, 38, had positive results for the use of anabolic steroids last October of 2006 after he lost in the first battle with Henderson. Belfort has also lost the UFC middleweight title to Chris Weidman in May via TKO during the first round. Before the event, he was able to pass all the random tests that were conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission prior to that event.
Belfort is now a member of the Blackzilians in Boca Raton recently and he told ESPN.com that in his training, it’s actually held in a private facility and this was set up for him by sponsors from South Florida.
Henderson has two MMA fights remaining on his UFC contract and about having it extended, he has this to say:
“I don’t know when we’ll have that conversation, if ever. It’s one of those things, at this point in my career, they kind of know it’s one fight at a time. We’ll see what happens. I know this: Last year, [UFC president Dana White] was a little bit asking about my retirement. I told him I wasn’t ready yet. I’m still capable of beating some people up. My body still feels good. I don’t feel my age.”