Jamahal Hill spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of UFC on ESPN 19.

Hill (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) discussed his light heavyweight co-main event against Ovince Saint Preux (25-14 MMA, 13-9 UFC), his frustration with the Nevada Athletic Commission overturning his most recent result because of a marijuana test, where he fits into the top of the 205-pound division, and more.

In regards to the positive marijuana test that saw his first-round knockout win over Klidson Abreu at UFC on ESPN 9 in May overturned to a no contest, Hill thinks the commission is wasting resources by testing for the drug and insisted he never used in-competition.

“I think it’s (expletive) stupid,” Hill said. “I think it’s dumb as hell. I think everything I’ve had to deal with as a result of that is dumb as (expletive). I really think they need to focus energy on things that actually matter and not goofy (expletive) like that.”

Watch Hill’s complete virtual media day interview below.

UFC on ESPN 19 takes place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-jamahal-hill-rips-marijuana-testing-no-contest

USADA announced on Thursday that Yair Rodriguez, of Chihuahua, Mexico, has accepted a six-month sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy resulting from three Whereabouts Failures during a 12-month period.

Like all UFC athletes, Rodriguez, 28, is a member of the UFC Registered Testing Pool and is therefore subject to certain Whereabouts responsibilities, which allow him to be located for testing. Accurate Whereabouts information is a crucial component of an effective out-of-competition testing program because it enables anti-doping organizations to conduct no-notice sample collections, which helps maintain effective doping deterrence and detection.

Rodriguez failed to update his Whereabouts information and was unavailable for testing at locations provided in his Whereabouts Filings on three occasions. He accrued a Whereabouts Failure in each of the first three quarters of 2020. The accumulation of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period constitutes a policy violation under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.

Rodriguez was eligible for a reduction in the period of ineligibility because his conduct did not raise suspicion that he was trying to avoid being available for testing. He received reductions based on his degree of fault and for his Full and Complete Cooperation.

Rodriguez’s six-month period of ineligibility began on September 8, 2020, the date on which his third Whereabouts Failure was declared against him.

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-featherweight-yair-rodriguez-suspended-by-usada

While 2020 has been a difficult year for most people, within all the problems the year has also presented some opportunities. For lightweight Anthony Romero, he’s been one of the lucky ones who have been able to make progress in his career this year.

Following a win in March to kick off his 2020, Romero returned in August to pick up his second victory of the year with a unanimous decision over Mike Breeden at Dana White’s Contender Series 2020.

“I know a lot of people are going through a hard time. I’ve had a few losses as well with Covid, but I’m keeping my head up, and I know things will get better one day. I’m very blessed to have had the opportunities that I’ve had,” Romero told MMAWeekly.com.

“Everything has been working out very well, and I’m hoping things will finish well. I hope both my opponent and I get to the cage in one piece and healthy and finish the 2020 year well.”

In addition to getting fights in, Romero feels like he’s been able to further develop his game this year and become a more balanced fighter all around.

“I’ve turned from a grappler into a striker,” said Romero. “It’s been a pretty cool transition. Now I’m putting everything together and am becoming a complete MMA fighter, which is pretty cool.

“Now I’m a little bit more exciting and am able to transition a fight to wherever I choose. I’m putting everything together and I’m content with the way things are going.”

This Friday in Park City, Kan., Romero (8-0) puts his undefeated record on the line when he faces Zach Juusola (11-6) in the 155-pound co-main event of LFA 96.

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“It’s another tough, gritty, opponent,” Romero said of Juusola. “I’m excited to apply my skills. He’s another opponent. I’m not looking down on him or anything like that. I’m expecting him to come with everything, so I’m not taking him lightly.

“I’m looking to take him out. Whether it’s knockout, submission, or another dominant decision, I’m looking forward to performing again.”

While taking the next step on his career could come sooner than later, Romero’s focus is on his bout against Juusola before anything else.

“It’s one fight at a time,” said Romero. “People are asking if this is the fight that takes me to the UFC, but to be honest, I don’t think about that.

“Whatever happens on Friday will dictate my future. My goal is to finish the fight, get a dominant decision, or just get a W and look great doing it. There’s nothing too much I’m thinking about after.”

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/anthony-romero-looking-to-take-out-zach-juusola-in-lfa-96-co-main-event

Bellator’s final card of 2020 is eight days away – and the lineup continues to evolve.

Wednesday, a promotion official informed MMA Junkie of a change to the preliminary card. Tyree Fortune is out of his preliminary card matchup against fellow up-and-comer Grant Nealfor undisclosed reasons.

Neal (4-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) will remain on the card againstMaurice Jackson of Jackson Wink MMA. The fight will take place at 205 pounds.

Bellator 254 takes place Thursday, Dec. 10 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.

At Bellator 243 in August, Neal returned to action for the first time since the promotion’s pandemic-induced hiatus. Neal dominated American Top Team Portland’s Hamza Salim for the majority of three rounds and earned a unanimous decision victory as a result.

A Bellator newcomer, Jackson (7-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has six wins in seven victories. His most recent win came in December 2018 when he finished former UFC and Bellator fighter Melvin Guillard with punches.

With the change, the Bellator 254 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (CBS Sports Network/DAZN, 10 p.m. ET)

• Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Juliana Velasquez – for Bellator women’s flyweight title
• Magomed Magomedov vs. Matheus Mattos
• Nate Andrews vs. Goiti Yamauchi
• Ronny Markes vs. Linton Vassell

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 7:15 p.m. ET)

• Romero Cotton vs. Justin Sumter
• Maurice Jackson vs. Grant Neal
• Kemran Lachinov vs. Shamil Nikaev
• Davion Franklin vs. Anthony Garrett
• Kenny Champion vs. Cody Law

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/mma-news-bellator-254-tyree-fortune-out-grant-neal-vs-maurice-jackson

No matter how frequently or infrequently fights, one question at UFC press conferences has stood the test of time: “When will Nick Diaz fight again?”

As of late, UFC president Dana White has addressed this question with doubt it will happen at all. White said in August he doesn’t think Diaz is serious about a return – despite videos surfacing in September of Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) hitting the gym for a mock training camp.

Diaz hasn’t fought in more than five years – but if his manager’s prediction is correct, that will change in 2021. In a recent interview with Fanatics View, Diaz’s manager Kevin Mubenga provided insight into Diaz’s return.

“That’s the millions and millions of dollars question,” Mubenga said. “Yeah, the guy has been training. He’s been training for at least four months now straight. … Now, we’re in December – we’re what? Four months (or) five months in now?”

According to Mubenga, Diaz began intense training around August or September. In November, he took a break to avoid overtraining but is getting back to the grind this month.

“He took a little break last month and now we’re going to pick it back up in December and go into the new year hopefully with a new deal done,” Mubenga said. “(We’ll) make sure the money is right and the opponent is right and we’ll be able to move forward with all of this.”

When pressed to put a specific number on the likelihood fans see Diaz back in the cage in 2021, Mubenga was extraordinarily precise.

“99.99999 (percent),” Mubenga said. “We just got to get everything else right with the organization and everything. We’ll be able to move forward. He’s been training. People want to see (that). Well, he’s been training as you can see for the last few several months. He took a little break now. Now, it’s time to get back on there and just go through it. You don’t want to overtrain and over-exhaust yourself, especially when you don’t have a date yet. But it was good to be able to go through the regimen and go through that small camp there to kind of feel everything out (and) get back with everyone (like trainer) Cesar Gracie.”

Diaz’s most recent fight occurred at UFC 183 in January 2015 when he lost to Anderson Silva – in a fight that was later overturned to a no contest when Silva tested positive for drostanolone and androsterone. Diaz, for his part positive test for marijuana after the bout.

Prior to the Silva fight, Diaz lost back-to-back fights to Carlos Condit and then-UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. The former defeat snapped an 11-fight winning streak for the former Strikeforce welterweight champion.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-news-nick-diaz-return-manager-99-percent-likely-2021