The long-awaited middleweight title fight between champion Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort is heading to Los Angeles.
On Thursday it was revealed that the pre-fight drug testing that Belfort is being subjected to by the Nevada State Athletic Commission has been transferred to the California State Athletic Commission.
This fight has been on and off again multiple times over the past year. It was originally scheduled for May 24 in Las Vegas, but due to the NSAC’s ban on testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT), Belfort was forced out of the bout. Weidman would go on to defeat former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in July at UFC 175. Belfort was again tabbed to meet the champion at UFC 181 on Dec. 6. However, an injury to Weidman pushed the bout into 2015.
Belfort has been out of action since November of 2013. The Brazilian currently rides a three-fight winning streak that includes three straight wins by head kick knockout. His use of TRT created controversy in the MMA community because Belfort had previously failed a drug test for steroid use.
According to one report, the match-up between Weidman and Belfort is expected to headline UFC 184 on Saturday, Feb. 28 from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. The night’s main card will air live on pay-per-view, with the preliminary card being split between a broadcast on Fox Sports 1 and a stream on UFC Fight Pass. The same venue was expected to host UFC 176 in August, but the event was canceled after UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo was injured in training.