Ultimate Fighting Championship announced on Fox Sports 1 on Thursday that mixed martial artist Victor Belfort has pulled out of his middleweight championship fight only a few hours after the Nevada Athletic Commission banned testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Belfort's fight was scheduled for UFC 173 in Las Vegas on May 24 against Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman, according to AOL. Weidman will now be defending his title against Lyoto Machida.
The Nevada commission voted unanimously to stop allowing fighters to use TRT for therapeutic purposes, AOL reported. The decision resulted in the closing of a highly criticized loophole which lets fighters use steroids.
Belfort had used TRT in recent fights, Los Angeles Times reported. Belfort has fought in the UFC since 1997, and had a shot at the Middleweight Championship against then-champion Anderson Silva in 2011.
Belfort said in a statement on Fox Sports 1 that it was his decision to drop out of the fight, according to Fox Sports.
"I have determined not to apply for a license to fight in Nevada at this time," Belfort said.
Belfort added that he wouldn't be able to fight "given the time constraints involved between now and my proposed next bout in May."
However, Belfort said in a post on his Facebook page on Friday that he didn't give up fighting, and that the UFC replaced him with another opponent, Fox Sports reported.
"I never gave up fighting in UFC 173 and never mentioned it," Belfort said. "Therefore, all information posted in any mass media advertising is not true. What I announced was that I will be resigning 'TRT' and not 'giving up the fight' to continue my dream of fighting. The UFC decided to put another opponent in my place because I didn't have time to fit the new rules of the NSAC. According to the UFC, I will face the winner of Weidman vs. Lyoto within the new regulations of the Athletic Commissions. I'm sorry that this happened, and I appreciate the strength and understanding of all fans, sponsors, UFC and athletic commissions."
UFC President Dana White made a statement supporting the NSAC's decision, according to Los Angeles Times.
"We believe our athletes should compete based on their natural abilities and on an even playing field," White said. "We also intend to honor this ruling in international markets where, due to a lack of governing bodies, the UFC oversees regulatory efforts for our live events. We encourage all athletic commissions to adopt this ruling."
