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Antonio Silva will also be suspended by the UFC for nine months after the Brazilian heavyweight tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone.


The fight many already call the greatest heavyweight bout in UFC history will now have an asterisk next to the result as Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva has tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone in a post-fight drug test in Australia after his Dec. 6 battle against Mark Hunt in Brisbane.

UFC officials released the following statement Tuesday evening.


All fighters on the UFC FIGHT NIGHT card were drug tested by an independent third-party laboratory at the event and all fighters passed their drug tests with the exception of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. Although Silva is on a medically approved regimen of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), and had been in compliance with therapeutic guidelines on all pre-fight tests performed prior to the event, the results of his test on the day of the event indicated a level of testosterone outside of allowable limit. Silva has been informed that the elevated testosterone level is a violation of the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy and his Promotional Agreement with Zuffa. He will receive a nine month suspension retroactive to the date of the event and he must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving clearance to compete again. Additionally, he will forfeit $50,000 in bonus money. The forfeited bonus will go to his opponent Mark Hunt.


Silva had been medically approved for testosterone-replacement therapy, but like all athletes that use the regimen he is required to stay within legal limits at all times to continue using the treatment.

Despite testing that showed Silva was in line with all parameters of the legal limits leading up to the bout, his post-fight test resulted in elevated levels of testosterone. According to UFC officials when speaking to MMAJunkie.com, Silva will be suspended for nine months for the infraction as well has have his $50,000 'Fight Of The Night' bonus stripped and given to his opponent Mark Hunt.