Pride "Real Deal" This Saturday in Vegas

**desflood** · 10-27-2006

VITOR BELFORT & PAWEL NASTULA TEST POSITIVE (UPDATED)
Thursday, October 26, 2006 - by Ivan Trembow - MMAWeekly.com

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BREAKING NEWS: MMAWeekly has learned that Vitor Belfort and Pawel Nastula tested positive for banned substances after their respective fights on Pride's "Real Deal" card this past Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has confirmed that Nastula tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone, while Belfort tested positive for 4-hydroxytestosterone, which is also legally defined as an anabolic steroid and banned in Major League Baseball and other sports.

Belfort, a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, lost to Dan Henderson by unanimous decision on the Pride card. Nastula, who won a gold medal in Judo at the 1996 Olympic Games, lost by submission to Josh Barnett on the card.

All of the other fighters who were drug-tested on the Pride card passed their drug tests.

As with all cases of a fighter testing positive for banned substances, Belfort and Nastula are en led to have a disciplinary hearing in front of the athletic commission at some point in the coming months, where they can be represented by counsel and argue their cases if they so choose.

Both fighters face possible suspensions and/or fines, but the athletic commissions do not have any mandatory minimum suspensions for steroid violations, so it's also possible for a fighter to fail a drug test and not be suspended at all.

For as long as a particular fighter is suspended in the state of Nevada, companies that are licensed to promote events in the state of Nevada are strongly discouraged from using that fighter anywhere in the world, which includes Pride's events in Japan. On this subject, Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told MMAWeekly, "I would expect a licensed promoter to respect any and all NSAC suspensions."

These positive drug tests come in the wake of the Nevada State Athletic Commission increasing the amount of fighters that it drug tests after any given MMA event, while still falling short of drug testing all fighters. The drug testing is the responsibility of the athletic commission, not the responsibility of Pride, the UFC, or any other specific MMA promotion.

The normal pattern in recent years has been for two-to-six fighters to be drug tested after an MMA event in Nevada. However, ten fighters were drug tested on a random basis after their fights at Pride: The Real Deal, which is largest amount at any Nevada-based MMA event in the past several years. One week earlier at UFC 64, seven fighters were drug tested (four fighters in le fights, and three fighters on a random basis).

The eight Pride fighters who were drug tested and passed their tests are Fedor Emelianenko, Mark Coleman, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Kevin Randleman, Josh Barnett, Dan Henderson, Phil Baroni, and Yosuke Nishijima. The other six fighters on the Pride card were not drug tested.

**LEONARD** · 10-27-2006

Not all that surprising that a couple failed since there isn't testing in Pride...

**desflood** · 10-29-2006

But at least Vitor knew, having fought in the states before, that there is random testing over here. I don't know about Nastula. If Belfort knew, and still got caught, then he's an idiot (to be perfectly candid about it).

**LEONARD** · 10-30-2006

Of course they both knew...I guess they just waited too long to end their last cycle...

**IX_Equilibrium** · 10-30-2006

Great pics Leonard. It looks like it was an awesome experience for you. Lucky dude!

As far as the event, I just got to watch it after being out of state on business. It was ok. I really liked Rua's performance, and was glad he beat Roidleman. Of course I was for Fedor against Coleman. I have never been a fan of those two Hammerhouse guys because I have never been a fan of roiders. I really wish Pride would take measures to be more strict where steroids are concerned.

I have to say, the Mark Coleman with his daughters scene was one of the cheesiest things I have seen in MMA. That melodrama belongs in pro wrestling, not MMA. Speaking of pro wrestling, Pride didn't distance itself from it by putting the horrific and comical O'Haire - Butterbean match on the card.

Still in all, it's good to see Pride on American soil. It's great whenever talents like Fedor can become known by a wider audience.

**cornbread** · 10-31-2006

[QUOTE=IX_Equilibrium]
I have never been a fan of those two Hammerhouse guys because I have never been a fan of roiders.[QUOTE=IX_Equilibrium]

Originally Posted by IX_Equilibrium

putting the horrific and comical O'Haire - Butterbean match on the card.

It is kinda funny that 2 fighters tested positive but neither were HH. Has Coleman or Randleman ever tested positive? They've been in Pride for so long and Pride obviously doesn't test.

I've never really liked Randleman but I'll always cheer for Coleman. I remember when he hit the scene and dominated everybody with crazy headbutts from the top position! He's not so dominant anymore and he's pretty damn old. His behavior has become pretty strange at times too(daughters in the ring).

There's never an excuse to throw a washed up WWE guy in a MMA ring but you should cut Pride some slack on this. Hunt-Butterbean would have been a freakin war! They had an amazing fight lined up for us but the visa problems kept Hunt out of the country. O'Haire was pretty horrible though.

**desflood** · 10-31-2006

Technically, although they don't like to admit it, the visa problems were actually "security" issues. Hunt was involved in a fight in some bar a while back (rumor has it somebody was stabbed, but rumors are often false) and the legal matters are not all cleared up yet, so they don't want to let him in.

**IX_Equilibrium** · 10-31-2006

Originally Posted by cornbread

Hunt-Butterbean would have been a freakin war!

If you call Butterbean's fat ass hitting the canvas after 30 seconds a war, then yes.

**cornbread** · 10-31-2006

Originally Posted by IX_Equilibrium

If you call Butterbean's fat ass hitting the canvas after 30 seconds a war, then yes.

I don't really see it happening like that. Sure Hunt would undoubtedly win but he would not demolish BB in the first 30 seconds. BB's head is damn near as hard as Hunt's with Hunt having the advantage of course. Neither guy has ANY ground game so they'd be standing the whole time.

Hunt is a great striker but he gets really sloppy sometimes. His chin is so strong that he'd rather take a hit to the head than keep his hands up. Hunt is not really known for "knock you out in the first 30 seconds" power either. I see these guys landing big shots with BB eventually falling. It would be an awesome match that I hope we eventually get to see.

**IX_Equilibrium** · 10-31-2006

You act like Hunt is a former toughman contest winner rather than a former K-1 champ.

We are not talking about Hunt knocking out LeBanner or Sefo in 30 seconds, we are talking about a gimmick fighter named Butterbean.

But I digress, the fight didn't happen. But I hope to never see Butterbean on a Pride card again.

**cornbread** · 11-01-2006

Originally Posted by IX_Equilibrium

You act like Hunt is a former toughman contest winner rather than a former K-1 champ.

We are not talking about Hunt knocking out LeBanner or Sefo in 30 seconds, we are talking about a gimmick fighter named Butterbean.

No, that's not what I'm saying at all. I realize Hunt is a K1 GP champ and that puts him on a whole other level than BB. I see Hunt winning but all I'm saying is there's no way it ends in 30 seconds. We'd get a little more entertainment than that.

**IX_Equilibrium** · 11-08-2006

Originally Posted by cornbread

It is kinda funny that 2 fighters tested positive but neither were HH. Has Coleman or Randleman ever tested positive? They've been in Pride for so long and Pride obviously doesn't test.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=6064

Now, this news. Looks like the HH tradition is alive and well! I wonder how many other Pride fighters have tricks up their sleeve.

**LEONARD** · 11-08-2006

Originally Posted by inagra

was this taken by you as well? this picture, if entered in a contest would win. Look at the emotion in the eyes and expressions of the girls. Amazing!

No, I did NOT take this one. This and the pics of Fedor's entrance are not mine...

Originally Posted by IX_Equilibrium

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=6064

Now, this news. Looks like the HH tradition is alive and well! I wonder how many other Pride fighters have tricks up their sleeve.

Saw that yesterday...DOH!!

**LEONARD** · 11-09-2006

**IX_Equilibrium** · 11-17-2006

What the is Pride doing? They have a definate cheesiness factor that I have always disliked. This doesn't help.

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/34401241

**cornbread** · 11-17-2006

Originally Posted by IX_Equilibrium

What the is Pride doing? They have a definate cheesiness factor that I have always disliked. This doesn't help.

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/34401241

BAD NEWS!!! Let's pray that the meeting was total waste of time for both parties and that nothing will come of it.

**LEONARD** · 11-17-2006

Yea, let's just hope that goes away...

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