UFC Dismisses Long-Time Heavyweight Athlete due to Drug-Related Ban
Marco Rogerio de Lima, a heavyweight fighter in the UFC, has found himself on the outs following a year-long suspension, as reported by UFC Roster Watch. The 39-year-old was nabbed for a similar transgression involving anastrozole, marking his second run-in with the substance.
In a twist, the Combat Sports Anti-Doping agency determined that de Lima was ingesting the drug as a prescription for a pre-existing medical issue. However, his failure to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) resulted in the suspension. Despite the violation stemming from his inadvertence, a second offense triggered an automatic one-year ban instead of the usual six-month sentence.
The UFC's decision to part ways with De Lima may have been driven by the age factor and the suspension. It's been almost a decade since he first emerged on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil in March 2014. De Lima made it to the semifinals before succumbing to Antonio Carlos Jr. via a first-round submission.
Although de Lima scored consecutive first-round knockout victories over Richardson Moreira and Igor Pakrajac in the early stages of his career, he struggled with issues related to submission defense and weight-cutting. This continued throughout his career, culminating in loss by submission to Nikita Krylov in 2015 and Gadzhimurad Antigulov in 2016. De Lima then missed weight in his next two fights, resulting in a split record with a knockout victory over Jeremy Kimball and a submission loss to Ovince Saint Preux.
Between 2018 and 2023, de Lima compiled a 6-4 record, with three of the losses coming via submission. His last win came at UFC 298 in February 2024, where he defeated Junior Tafa using leg kicks and ground-and-pound. De Lima was set to face Kennedy Nzechukwu in October 2024, but withdrew following the suspension.
With de Lima approaching 40 years of age and facing a long break, his chances of returning to the UFC appear slim. As the UFC moves away from aging heavyweights who seem to have reached their peak, only Marcin Tybura and Derrick Lewis remain in the rankings above 39.
The controversy surrounding de Lima's banned substance history may expedite his departure. Post-suspension, de Lima could find a new home in the Professional Fighters League or Global Fight League.
Next up, the UFC heads to London on March 22, with Leon Edwards taking on Sean Brady in the main event. Here's a glance at the entire fight card for the event:
Main Card (3:00 PM ET):- Welterweight Bout: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady- Light Heavyweight Bout: Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg- Welterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin Holland- Women's Strawweight Bout: Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara- Lightweight Bout: Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan- Featherweight Bout: Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charrière
Preliminary Card (12:00 PM ET):- Lightweight Bout: Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla- Flyweight Bout: Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos- Heavyweight Bout: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin- Middleweight Bout: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andre Pulyaev- Women's Strawweight Bout: Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar- Bantamweight Bout: Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran- Lightweight Bout: Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes
Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) have become crucial in the UFC, with the process aligning with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations as part of the UFC's Anti-Doping Policy. An athlete is required to apply for a TUE if they need a medication or substance banned under the WADA list. The application must include detailed medical documentation and undergo evaluation by the UFC Anti-Doping Program. Failing to comply with the TUE process can result in disciplinary action, suspension, loss of titles, medals, or prizes, as demonstrated in recent cases involving T.J. Dillashaw, Marcos Rogerio de Lima, and Felipe Costa.
- Despite his struggle with drug-related issues and a long suspension, Marco Rogerio de Lima might attempt to find a new fight promotion following his UFC departure, as he gets ready to turn 40 and faces an uncertain future in the sport.
- Gadzhimurad Antigulov, another UFC heavyweight, could potentially benefit from a lack of competitors in the aging division, given de Lima's perceived exit and the UFC's focus on younger, more promising fighters.
- In light of the recent controversies surrounding therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) within the UFC, it's essential for fighters like Dana White to emphasize the importance of the TUE process and its compliance for the health and well-being of the athletes, as well as the integrity of the sport.
