Dana White is poised to make an announcement shortly at midnight CST. I’m up and I’ll be covering the announcement live … Dana White has been tweeting about how this is can’t miss. Well … I’m awake, as is half the media right now, and we’ll be giving you updates on what is happening.
Fox Sports 1 is hinting at a big change up for UFC 173.
@FrontRowBrian pic.twitter.com/BttdAEPvS3
— SOKO™ (@dannysoko1) February 28, 2014
My guess is Vitor Belfort failed his drug test at the World MMA Awards and is out, potentially opening the door for Lyoto Machida to step in. That’s if I’m reading the tea leaves correctly … and several friends of mine in the MMA media are telling me they’ve got confirmed sources stating similar things to this.
AND HERE WE GO:
Fox Sports 1 is teasing a potential UFC middleweight title fight change. Which means it’s going to be changing; you don’t declare breaking news and then go “Nope, all good yo.”
So far we’ve got basketball highlights … fairly standard as this was the schedule going in, most likely.
They’re teasing Chael Sonnen discussing the events of what’s about to happen on the crawler.
VITOR IS OUT.
NSAC banning TRT caused this and his exemption caused it. He will fight without it but won’t apply for a license.
Lyoto Machida is in for Vitor.
Chael’s up. In fight promoter mode.
“This is an incredible fight.” Hypes Machida fairly strongly. Asked about TRT. Doesn’t give a real answer, just “it’s out.”
Tim Kennedy, multi-time Strikeforce middleweight champion and UFC middleweight contender, sums it up for many people.
This is sad, pathetic and unsurprising mma news. #TRT
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 28, 2014
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Vitor will still apparently get a title shot, he’ll just get it later a he’s going to get off TRT and let his body adjust to it. Without enough time to make sure his body adjusts properly I can see why he wouldn’t want to fight. He does have enough time to get his levels in check, potentially, but he is justified on a medical basis most likely.
Opening The Mic Up: What do you think Fight Fans? Sound off below on what you think of what’s happening.
