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Former Bellator Lightweight Champion Brent Primus Added to Grand Prix after Sidney Outlaw Tests Positive for Three Banned Substances
Bellator MMA has been rocked by yet another doping scandal, as Sidney Outlaw, a fighter in the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix, has tested positive for not one, not two, but three banned substances. The announcement was made just days before Outlaw's scheduled bout against Mansour Barnaoui at Bellator 296 on May 12th, 2023, in Paris.
Eight of the promotion's lightweights will compete inside the cage, Scott Coker recently revealed this year. The promotion has disclosed some of the early bouts. Usman Nurmagomedov's first title defense against Benson Henderson and A.J. McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull are two of the opening bouts.
The Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix is a highly anticipated tournament featuring some of the best fighters in the world. With 8 fighters competing, the winner will be crowned the Bellator Lightweight Champion and earn a hefty prize of one million dollars.
Mike Mazzulli, president of the Associate of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, who oversees Bellator's out-of-competition drug testing, reported on Tuesday that Outlaw provided a urine specimen during the Bellator 290 fight week in California that tested positive for ostarine, cardarine, and anastrozole. The World Anti-Doping Agency, which establishes the criteria used by the ABC, forbids the use of all three drugs.
Outlaw's failed drug test has resulted in his removal from the Grand Prix and a significant blow to his career. However, the news is not all bad for fans of the tournament. Brent Primus, a former Bellator Lightweight Champion, has been added to the line-up to take Outlaw's place.
Given that he has no previous record of testing positive for a drug test, Outlaw has not released any public comments regarding his examination nor expulsion from the tournament.
Primus, who hails from Eugene, Oregon, has a professional record of 11 wins and 3 losses. He won the Bellator Lightweight Championship in 2017 but lost it to Michael Chandler in his first defense. Since then, Primus has had mixed results, but he has shown flashes of brilliance in his fights.
Fans of Primus will undoubtedly be excited to see him compete in the Grand Prix. He has proven himself to be a skilled fighter with knockout power and an unrelenting grappling game. With his addition to the line-up, the tournament has become even more competitive and intriguing.
The news of Outlaw's failed drug test is disappointing, but it also highlights the importance of clean sport in MMA. Fighters who use performance-enhancing drugs not only put their opponents at risk but also tarnish the integrity of the sport.
Fortunately, Bellator has a strict drug-testing policy and is committed to keeping the sport clean. They regularly test their fighters and have a zero-tolerance policy for performance-enhancing drugs.
As fans eagerly await the next round of the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix, the addition of Brent Primus is sure to add to the excitement. With his skills and experience, he is a formidable opponent and a worthy replacement for Sidney Outlaw.