Marc Ratner, UFC Withholding Bonuses Until Drug Tests Return

Marc Ratner, UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs

Two New Drug Testing Policies Introduced For UFC on FX 7

Fighters at this weekend’s UFC on FX 7 event will be the first to abide by two new drug testing policies introduced by the UFC.

UFC on FX 7 takes place at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The main event features a matchup between middleweight contenders Michael Bisping and Vitor Belfort. The main-card airs on FX and the preliminary-card airs on FUEL TV and Facebook.

Marc Ratner, UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, today informed MMAjunkie.com that every fighter competing at an international event will be tested for performance-enhancing drugs.

Furthermore, the UFC will not pay out fight-night bonuses until the results from drug tests have been returned.

Fight-night bonuses are monetary rewards given to certain fighters after UFC events and are typically revealed in UFC President Dana White’s opening remarks at post-fight press conferences. Bonus categories include “Knockout of the Night,” “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night.”

Under the guidance of Ratner, the UFC assumes the role of overseeing athletic standards and regulations when the region of an event is not under the authority of an athletic commission. Ratner stated the newly formed Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission will carry out those duties for UFC on FX 7.

Similar to previous international events, an independent facility employed by the UFC will administer the drug testing for this event.

2012 saw several notable fighters fail post-fight drug tests, such as Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Stephan Bonnar, with two fighters being flagged just last month at UFC on FX 6 in Australia, Rousimar Palhares and Joey Beltran.

Fighters are required to pass a drug test before signing with the UFC and are contractual prohibited from using banned substances

Check out all of our UFC on FX 7 news.