Hot off the presses, Tim Sylvia is off the UFC 47 card this Friday, replaced by Cabbage Correira in a non-title fight. Sylvia failed a last minute urinalysis to check if traces of steroids were still in his system. Wes Sims will also now face Mike Kyle. For full details click on READ MORE.
CABBAGE CORREIRA TO FIGHT ANDREI ARLOVSKI; WES SIMS TO MEET MIKE KYLE IN CARD CHANGES FOR UFC 47: its ON!
Test Results Reveal Former Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia Has Trace Amounts Of Performance Enhancing Substance In System
LAS VEGAS, NEV., April 1, 2004..”Cabbage” Correira will fight Andrei Arlovski in a three-round, non-title fight and Wes Sims will take Correiras place against Mike Kyle in heavyweight card changes announced today by Zuffa, LLC for Ultimate Fighting Championship 47: its On!, which will air LIVE on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST, Friday, April 2.
The card changes became necessary when a urinalysis test for former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia today revealed he still has miniscule traces of a performance enhancing substance in his system. Under the terms of his prior suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Sylvia cannot obtain a license in Nevada until all traces of the substance are gone from his system. The trace amounts found in his system go back to his first and only use of the agents taken over nine months ago.
Because the NSAC had ordered Sylvia to provide satisfactory results before fighting again, he had requested that he be given until the last possible opportunity to obtain accurate test results.
“Tim was honest and forthcoming in admitting his initial use of the agent and we have complete confidence that he did not violate his suspension. Since he was returning to attempt to re-gain his heavyweight title, Zuffa and the Commission wanted to give him every opportunity to do so. Determining a champion in our heavyweight division remains a top priority,” said Dana White, UFC president.
“Cabbage” (20-4-0 in mixed martial arts) from Hilo, Hawaii, will now pit his rock-hard chin, powerful strikes and quick knees against Arlovskis (7-3-0) from Minsk, Belarus, striking power and grappling ability. Both are coming off knockouts in their last UFC fights. Arlovski defeated fellow countryman Vladimir Matyushenko with a wicked uppercut at the 2:14 mark of the first round at UFC 44: Undisputed. “Cabbage” defeated legendary heavyweight Tank Abbott with strikes and knees also at the 2:14 mark of round one at UFC 45: Revolution.
Kyle (10-2-0) from San Jose, Calif., also is a powerful striker who is improving his jiu jitsu skills. He will need all his technique against Sims (6-3-0) from Columbus, Ohio, who at 6-10,” 250 pounds is one of the UFCs biggest heavyweights.