Dana White optimistic regarding Cris Cyborg failed drug test

A 2016 Cris Cyborg failed drug test could have landed Cyborg on the sidelines for quite some time, however UFC President Dana White is optimistic regarding the situation. Last year, Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg made her highly anticipated UFC debut at UFC 198, where she picked up a 1st round TKO win over Leslie Smith in a catchweight bout. Cyborg built on the momentum later in the year as she picked up another dominant win over Lina Lansberg in Brazil. Unfortunately, when the UFC attempted to offer Cyborg a women’s featherweight UFC fight, she was forced to turn the bout down due to the strain cutting down to 140 pounds put on her body.

Unfortunately, near the end of the year, news surfaced that Cyborg had failed a drug test, however now UFC President Dana White has revealed that things are looking optimistic. MMAJunkie has the quotes:

“Usually when you submit a TUE, it’s either granted, or it’s denied, or it’s denied and incomplete,” Jacobs told MMAjunkie. “In this case, the specifics of the questions they asked was a little out of the ordinary, and we’re cautiously optimistic by the types of questions they asked.”

“The drug that she had taken, she should have immediately let USADA know about it,” he said. “But it’s legit. She legitimately has these three separate issues, and that’s what that drug is used for. The doctors are saying it, and it’s looking good for her. I like it a lot.”

With the inaugural women’s featherweight title fight taking place Saturday night in Brooklyn, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has expressed her desire to potentially move up and fight at 145. In addition to Cyborg, White believes we could have another challenger at 145 pounds.

“And you have (women’s bantamweight champ) Amanda Nunes – obviously, she’s got to defend her title a few times, at least – and she’s saying she’d like to move up and fight for that title, too,” he said. “It’s getting interesting, and it’s all a work in progress.”

on 2/11/2017.