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Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov has tested positive for a banned substance and has been suspended six months by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
No decision has been made yet as to whether or not Nurmagomedov will be stripped of the title, but Patricky Pitbull is in favor of that outcome.
“For me, this is fight is going to be for the title,” said Pitbull during the Bellator 301 media day (transcript via Steven Marrocco of MMA Fighting). “I believe he doesn’t still have the belt. The rules is the rules. If he tests positive for drugs, he needs to vacate the belt. That’s the rules – and go out of the tournament.
“It’s an opportunity for another fighter. For me, it’s a bad thing for all fighters in this organization, because he’s still staying in the tournament, and he’s still [keeping] the belt.”
Pitbull faces Alexander Shabliy at Bellator 301, which is a semi-final round fight in the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix.
The fighter also believes that a failed drug test is a failed drug test, no matter what.
“He tested positive, and the fight was cancelled, that means that he failed the drug test,” Pitbull said via translator. “If the fight’s going to happen, it doesn’t make sense. It’s like he never tested positive, because the fight was cancelled because he tested positive, so why would they rebook the fight? It wasn’t cancelled for an injury, it was cancelled for a failed drug test.”
