Three big name stars have vanished from the official UFC rankings due to their recent failed drug tests, which leave them facing lengthy suspensions from the sport.
First up is Jon Jones, who tested positive for two estrogen blockers prior to his headlining fight with Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 last month, which led to him being removed from the card just a few days before the blockbuster show in Las Vegas.
Jones had been listed as the interim light heavyweight title holder on the UFC’s official rankings, and also had the honor of being chosen the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport prior to UFC 200, but running into trouble with USADA initially saw him fall behind Demetrious Johnson.
However, the latest update to the rankings sees his name being removed completely, and it could be quite some time until he has a chance to get back on-board as he’s now facing a potential two year ban from the sport.
Brock Lesnar has also been removed from the rankings after it emerged that he too had tested positive for an estrogen blocker prior to his UFC 200 co-main event bout with Mark Hunt.
The result of Lesnar’s failed test didn’t emerged until after the event however, so unlike Jones he still featured on the historic card, recording a unanimous decision victory over Hunt.
Lesnar had been ranked No.8 in the heavyweight division, but he’s now been removed, and like Jones he’s now staring down the barrel of a two year suspension, with his win also expected to be amended to a no-contest.
Finally, former light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida has been scratched from the No.8 position in the middleweight rankings after he admitted to unwittingly having used a banned substance prior to his UFC On FOX 19 fight with Dan Henderson back in April, which led to the bout being scrapped.
As with Jones and Lesnar, Machida is also expected to be suspended for two years when he eventually attends a hearing to officially establish his punishment.
