Undefeated MMA Fighter Fired Following Positive Drug Test Results
Dang, nothing's gonna put a damper on an up-and-coming MMA career faster than a doping scandal. And that's exactly what happened to Danylo Voievodkin, who got slapped with a two-year ban for using meldonium. Sounds like a plot from a cheesy action movie, right? But this ain't no movie - it's reality.
The UFC Busts a Move and Flushes Voievodkin
Turns out, Voievodkin had himself a little celebration with some big trouble. He got caught using meldonium, a banned substance that's been outlawed in combat sports since 2016. The UFC's Combat Sports Anti-Doping commission (CSAD) didn't mess around and handed him a 24-month suspension.
The news dropped on a Thursday, and the UFC made it official - Voievodkin was outta here. The Ukrainian heavyweight would have to spend at least the next two years sidelined and away from the Octagon.
But Wait, There's More: Voievodkin's Perfect Record Slipped Away
Before this mess, Voievodkin looked like a solid bet for sticking around in the UFC. He'd racked up a 7-0 record with all wins coming in the first round. He'd made a name for himself after defeating Bailey Schoenfelder in just 73 seconds, securing a UFC contract in the process.
But now, his future looks shaky at best. Say goodbye to the bright lights and the adoring fans – at least for a while.
Can Voievodkin Make a Comeback?
With his UFC contract ripped up and a two-year ban in effect, Voievodkin's career in the UFC is hanging on by a thread. Starting from November 10, 2026, he'll have to avoid banned substances to even think about competing again.
On top of that, he's gonna have to rebuild his reputation within the MMA community. Coming back from a doping suspension, especially for meldonium, ain't gonna be easy. Athletes who've been in his shoes always get a side-eye from their fellow competitors.
It seems like this ain't the last we've heard of Voievodkin, but it's gonna be a real uphill battle for him to make it back to the big leagues.
In the meantime, the UFC has moved on. They've got bigger fish to fry – like a high-profile event going down in London.
UFC London is Ready to Rock
MMA fans in the UK are pumped for the UFC's return to London. Ex-UFC champ Leon Edwards is back and ready to face off against Sean Brady. Here's the full lineup for the event:
Main Card (Starting at 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 (Starting at 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
Like any good fight promoter, Dana White will be thinking about the future and what it holds for the UFC. It's gonna be a long two years before we see Danylo Voievodkin in the Octagon again. But for now, the focus is on UFC London and the fireworks that are gonna go off when Leon Edwards steps into the cage. Game on!
Dana White has moved on from the Voievodkin suspension due to UFC's doping violation, focusing instead on the upcoming UFC London event. Voievodkin, a former bantamweight fighter, will go through testing anytime for his return, while Dana White continues to look for contenders for the UFC's lineup. With the UFC London lineup including a welterweight bout between Leon Edwards and Sean Brady, the MMA community's focus is now on that event.
