NAC changes Trevin Jones’ UFC on ESPN 15 win to no contest after positive marijuana test

The NAC has changed Trevin Jones’ comeback win vs. Timur Valiev to a no contest after a positive marijuana test.

The decision of [autotag]Trevin Jones[/autotag]’ UFC debut has been changed.

On Wednesday, the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) officially changed the decision of Jones’ UFC on ESPN 15 win over Timur Valiev to a “no contest. The change was made due to Jones (12-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) testing positive for marijuana in connection with his Aug. 22 fight at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

In addition to overturning Jones’ win, the NAC suspended Jones four-and-a-half months and fined him $1,800. Before he is relicensed in Las Vegas, Jones will also have to pay a prosecution fee of $145.36.

The Aug. 22 matchup was one Jones took on days’ notice. Stepping in as the biggest underdog on the card across all major online sportsbooks, against a former World Series of Fighting standout in Valiev (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Jones absorbed a large amount of punishment in Round 1.

In Round 2, Jones turned the tables on Valiev, flooring the Russian fighter with a right hand before finishing the fight with follow-up punches. The win earned him a $50,000 bonus for “Performance of the Night.”

Jones was not the only Zuffa fighter on the NAC’s agenda on Wednesday. UFC light heavyweight [autotag]Jorge Gonzalez[/autotag] was suspended 24 months, in conjunction with a previously accepted U.S. Anti-Doping Agency sanction.

Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 competitors [autotag]Chad Johnson[/autotag] (amphetamine), [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag] (modulator metabolites), [autotag]Jose Flores[/autotag] (marijuana), and [autotag]Ty Flores[/autotag] (methylclostebol) also were addressed by the commission. No decision was reached on the four DWCS fighters, with hearings being tabled until a later date. All four fighters lost their respective DWCS bouts.

[vertical-gallery id=391998]

Pedro Munhoz takes issue with split-call loss to Edgar, demands rematch from Dana White

Pedro Munhoz has had some time for his loss to Frankie Edgar to marinate, and he’s not happy with the taste.

[autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag] has had some time for his loss to [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag] to marinate, and he’s not happy with the taste.

Munhoz (18-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) lost a split decision to Edgar (24-8-1 MMA, 18-8-1 UFC) this past Saturday in the UFC on ESPN 15 main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Edgar’s two winning scorecards gave him 48-47 totals. The dissenting third judge in Munhoz’s favor had the fight 49-46.

The fight was Edgar’s debut in the bantamweight division after several years at featherweight, a division in which he fought for a title, and years before that at lightweight, where he was a UFC champion. Edgar almost certainly is a future UFC Hall of Famer, but Munhoz on Monday said on Instagram his legendary status shouldn’t matter – and said he wants a rematch from UFC president Dana White.

[lawrence-related id=547570,547486,547503]

“I’ve always done my talking in the octagon but this needs to be said,” Munhoz posted. “I work too hard to get screwed by poor judges who have no training and even less accountability. Look at the stats and the damage. Look at the 17 of 20 media sites who agreed I won, 7 of which had it 49-46. Tell me how the deciding judge gave round 3 to Frankie. He’s a legend, but I won that fight and want a rematch now @danawhite”

View this post on Instagram

I’ve always done my talking in the octagon but this needs to be said. I work too hard to get screwed by poor judges who have no training and even less accountability. Look at the stats and the damage. Look at the 17 of 20 media sites who agreed I won, 7 of which had it 49-46. Tell me how the deciding judge gave round 3 to Frankie. He’s a legend, but I won that fight and want a rematch now @danawhite 🇧🇷 Sempre falei dentro octagon, nas minhas atitudes, mas isso precisa ser dito. Eu trabalho muito para ser prejudicado por juízes ruins que não têm treinamento e ainda menos responsabilidade. Veja as estatísticas e os danos. Veja os 17 dos 20 sites de mídia que concordaram que eu ganhei, 7 dos quais tinham 49-46. Diga-me como o juiz decidiu ter dado o terceiro round para o Frankie. Ele é uma lenda, mas ganhei essa luta e quero uma revanche agora @ufc

A post shared by Pedro Munhoz (@pedromunhozmma) on

Of the sites tracked by MMADecisions.com, seven had Munhoz winning 49-46 and 12 had him winning 48-47. Three sites gave the bout to Edgar at 48-47 and one gave it to him at 49-46.

The five-round bout won “Fight of the Night” honors, and Edgar was transported to the hospital after his win. Munhoz attended the post-event news conference, but he was bloodied up by Edgar in the fight.

The UFC’s official stats for the fight have Munhoz winning the overall striking battle 166-135. Edgar landed the fight’s only pair of takedowns. Leg strikes were the name of the game for Munhoz, who landed 44 of them – most to Edgar’s lead leg.

After wins in seven of eight fights, Munhoz now is on the first skid of his career with consecutive losses to Edgar and Aljamain Sterling. During his solid run of almost three years, his lone loss was a split call to former flyweight title challenger John Dodson, and his wins including a first-round knockout of former champion Cody Garbrandt in March 2019. Three of his five career losses have been split decisions, and he never has been finished.

Edgar needed a turnaround after losses in three of his past four featherweight fights. The setbacks came to Max Holloway in a title fight and former title challengers Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung. But in a new weight class, and with a win under his belt out of the gate, Edgar talked after the fight about wanting to get into title contention in his new division.

[vertical-gallery id=547335]

[vertical-gallery id=547338]

MMA Junkie Radio #3081: Bellator 244 and UFC on ESPN 15 recaps, much more

Check out the latest edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”

[protected-iframe id=”185f77448cb174ebcad04fcf329d50a4-58289362-57329066″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/mma-junkie-radio/ep-3-081-bellator-ufc-recap-werdum-comes-at-fedor/embed” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

Monday’s episode of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!

On Episode No. 3,081 of the podcast, the fellas look back at Bellator 244 from this past Friday and discuss Ryan Bader’s title loss. They also recap UFC on ESPN 15. Plus, what would a UFC-Bellator crossover event look like, and should Fedor fight Fabricio Werdum?

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio, or check it out above. You can also catch it on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Dana White on Corey Anderson’s Bellator switch: ‘He can be more competitive there’

UFC president Dana White revealed why he allowed light heavyweight contender Corey Anderson to leave the promotion and sign for Bellator.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag]’s recent switch from the UFC to Bellator may have raised a few eyebrows among the MMA fanbase, but the 30-year-old light heavyweight winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 19 has made clear that he thinks the move was the right one for his career – and UFC president Dana White agrees.

The UFC granted Anderson (13-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) his release to allow him to negotiate a deal with Bellator, and now “Overtime” will slot into the promotion’s competitive light heavyweight division as an instant contender at 205 pounds.

Anderson had previously told “The MMA Road Show” that the switch was a “no-brainer” and, speaking to reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage after UFC on ESPN 15, White offered a similar sentiment.

[lawrence-related id=545855,542329]

When asked why the UFC was willing to let Anderson go, White explained, “First of all, it’s the right move for him. This isn’t something that we’ve never done before.”

Anderson cited the benefits of being able to earn more money, gain more sponsorship, and still fight for a prestigious title while facing the same potential risks that he would in the UFC as the key factors behind his move. But White’s assessment focused more on his former fighter’s ability to succeed in the rival promotion.

“I think that he feels, and we feel, that he can be more competitive there,” White said.

[vertical-gallery id=459186]

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Frankie Edgar after UFC on ESPN 15 win?

See who Frankie Edgar should fight next after his bantamweight debut victory over Pedro Munhoz in the UFC on ESPN 15 headliner.

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Pedro Munhoz after UFC on ESPN 15 loss?)

[autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag] showed he’s still got plenty of tread left on his tires on Saturday when he beat Pedro Munhoz in the UFC on ESPN 15 main event.

Edgar (24-8-1 MMA, 18-8-1 UFC) made his long-awaited debut in the bantamweight division against an established contender in Munhoz (18-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and took home a split-decision win at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The former UFC lightweight champion was not able to claim a second belt during a 13-fight stint at featherweight, but now he’s down at 135 pounds where many believe he should’ve been all along. The question remains, though, at 38, is it too late?

[lawrence-related id=547503,547331]

“The Answer” gave a strong account of himself in beating Munhoz, and now he’s on the right track for another high-profile fight in his new division. Perhaps fellow former champ [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) would be a good fit.

For a complete breakdown of Edgar’s future after UFC on ESPN 15, watch the video above.

[vertical-gallery id=547335]

[vertical-gallery id=547338]

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Pedro Munhoz after UFC on ESPN 15 loss?

See who Pedro Munhoz should fight next after his split decision loss to Frankie Edgar in the UFC on ESPN 15 headliner.

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Frankie Edgar after UFC on ESPN 15 win?)

[autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]’s career hit uncharted territory on Saturday when he lost to Frankie Edgar in the UFC on ESPN 15 main event.

Munhoz (18-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) finds himself on a two-fight losing skid for the first time in his career following a split-decision defeat to former UFC champ Edgar (24-8-1 MMA, 18-8-1 UFC) in their bantamweight matchup, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas and aired on ESPN.

The outcome has an extra bit of sting attached, because Munhoz had a solid case for getting the nod. The majority of the judges didn’t see it that way, though, and now Munhoz must go back to the drawing board.

[lawrence-related id=547503,547331]

Fortunately for the Brazilian, he’s still just 33. He appears to be improving fight over fight and has passion for the game, and that’s going to give him some good options at 135 pounds. A rematch with [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] (27-8 MMA, 11-5 UFC), who beat Munhoz in his octagon debut at UFC 170 in February 2014, is on the list of options.

Is that the best plan for “The Young Punisher,” though? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC on ESPN 15.

[jwplayer k7r8b2Zz-RbnemIYZ]

Dana White on Oscar De La Hoya’s comeback: ‘Cocaine isn’t cheap’

UFC president Dana White had a classic response to Oscar De La Hoya’s apparent plans to return to the boxing ring.

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on MMA Junkie.

***

UFC president Dana White had a classic response to Oscar De La Hoya’s apparent plans to return to the boxing ring.

The 47-year-old De La Hoya, who hasn’t fought since a December 2008 loss to Manny Pacquiao, recently announced he’s plotting a comeback to compete.

White, a longtime enemy of De La Hoya who’s never been hesitant to take verbal shots, didn’t miss out on the opportunity when asked for his thoughts during Saturday night’s UFC on ESPN 15 post-fight news conference.

“Cocaine isn’t cheap,” White said. “It’s expensive. You’ve got to make money.”

There have yet to be details about when or against whom De La Hoya could have his comeback fight. Clearly, though, it’s of little interest to the UFC boss.

[jwplayer wh8SUwKf]

[lawrence-related id=13120,13076,13019]

Dana White on Oscar De La Hoya’s comeback: ‘Cocaine isn’t cheap’

UFC president Dana White had a classic response to Oscar De La Hoya’s apparent plans to return to the boxing ring.

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on MMA Junkie.

***

UFC president Dana White had a classic response to Oscar De La Hoya’s apparent plans to return to the boxing ring.

The 47-year-old De La Hoya, who hasn’t fought since a December 2008 loss to Manny Pacquiao, recently announced he’s plotting a comeback to compete.

White, a longtime enemy of De La Hoya who’s never been hesitant to take verbal shots, didn’t miss out on the opportunity when asked for his thoughts during Saturday night’s UFC on ESPN 15 post-fight news conference.

“Cocaine isn’t cheap,” White said. “It’s expensive. You’ve got to make money.”

There have yet to be details about when or against whom De La Hoya could have his comeback fight. Clearly, though, it’s of little interest to the UFC boss.

[jwplayer wh8SUwKf]

[lawrence-related id=13120,13076,13019]

Who’s next for Pedro Munhoz after Frankie Edgar loss? | UFC on ESPN 15 matchmaker

MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Pedro Munhoz in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Pedro Munhoz in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

Who’s next for Frankie Edgar after beating Pedro Munhoz? | UFC on ESPN 15 matchmaker

MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Frankie Edgar in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Frankie Edgar in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”