“My trainers, Vladimir Voronov and Alexander Michkov, met with me in Russia after the World Sambo Championships and we decided that the Arlovski confrontation is too important to delay a comprehensive training camp in exchange for press tour obligations on the other side of the world,” said Emelianenko in a press release announcing the cancellation. “Andrei Arlovski is a dangerous fighter and has looked in prime condition and at the top of his game in his last few fights. He is one of the top three heavyweights in the world. This is not a fighter I will defeat if I am taking shortcuts in training.”

“So they stripped me Friday, and they told me I had a deadline Monday, so I went up there and talked to them for a few days and we negotiated. We worked out a lot of things, about them stripping me, and what was kind of going on and tried to work it out, make the fight happen. So pretty much it was at a standstill, nothing really came out of it, but they know where I’m at and I know where they’re at,” said Noons. “Stripping me of my title makes me a free agent. They can say however much that I owe them the fights. I owe them championship fights as the champion. They stripped me, which doesn’t make me the champion, so I don’t owe them anything.”

A new EliteXC lightweight champion will be crowned on November 8th when top contenders Nick Diaz and Eddie Alvarez clash for the title in the co-main event of EliteXC “A Night of Champions” in Reno, Nevada.

“At the present time I cannot explain the positive drug test in Sacramento California. I know I have never used any steroids or any other banned substances, I am investigating possible causes of my positive test with my attorney. I have never cheated, all of my success has come from hard work and dedication to my sport.�

According to reports Sherk will be represented by lawyer Howard Jacobs. Jacobs, a self-described “athlete’s lawyer”, focuses exclusively on cases involving athletes, specifically those accused of doping. Current and past clients include sprinter Tim Montgomery, cyclist Tyler Hamilton, and Tour de France Champion Floyd Landis.

He is one of only a handful of lawyers who specialize in athletic disputes making him a well-qualified individual to represent Sherk who faces the task of proving the California State Athletic Comission that his positive steroid test for Nandrolone was false. The road ahead for Sherk and Jacobs is going to be tough as the CSAC has never overturned a positive steroid test.

Nandrolone levels in the typical person are approximately 2 ng/ml in an average person and up to 6 ng/ml in a professional athlete. Sherk’s A and B samples showed 12 ng/ml of Nandrolone Metabolite, the detectable version of the steroid.

The challenger for his title, Hermes Franca, has also tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone. According to reports Franca injured his ankle several months before the fight and turned to steroids to speed up the healing process. Franca was fined $2,500 and suspended from competition in California until July 5, 2008.

The California State Athletic Comission, the body who sanctioned the event, requires all fighters be tested for banned substances. With more reports forthcoming Mark Bocek, Frank Edgar, Chris Lytle, Jason Gilliam, Diego Saraiva, Jorge Gurgel, Stephan Bonnar, and Mike Nickels have all passed the required drug tests.

Both fighters can appeal the results of the tests within 30 days. Sean Sherk’s camp has stated they are likely to appeal while Franca’s admission of guilt essentially rules out an appeal for the fighter meaning his fine and suspension are likely to stand.

Two previous UFC champions have also tested positive for banned substances. Josh Barnett defeated Randy Couture at UFC 36 to claim the UFC Heavyweight Championship but was stripped of the title after he tested positive for steroids. Tim Sylvia won the heavyweight title from Gan McGee at UFC 44 but post-fight drug testing revealed anabolic steroids. After admitting guilt Sylvia too lost the title.

If Sean Sherk’s positive test stands it is expected that the UFC will strip him of the lightweight title.

• Jorge Gurgel – Suspended indefinitely due to broken jaw. Can return upon medical clearance.
• Nate Marquardt – Suspended 60 days due to TKO and eye lacerations. Can return upon medical clearance.
• Tito Ortiz – Suspended 60 days due to eye laceration and back injury. Can return upon medical clearance.
• Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Suspended 45 days as a precaution due to head kick.
• Mark Bocek – Suspended 60 days due to TKO and laceration. Can return upon medical clearance.
• Heath Herring – Suspended 60 days due to facial lacerations. Can return upon medical clearance.
• Frank Edgar – Suspended 180 days due to a fractured nose.
• Alvin Robinson – Suspended 45 days due to TKO.
• Jason Gilliam – Suspended 180 days due to ligament damage.

UFC 73 had an official attendance of 13,183 (which was slightly lower than previously reported). Before the UFC commits to returning to Sacramento next year they may want to consider that just over 8,500 of the attendance was paying fans while nearly 5,000 were given away. Even after taking all fans in attendance into account the ARCO Arena was nearly 4,000 people short of capacity. Meanwhile UFC 68 in Columbus, Ohio had a full crowd that was respectful of the fighters and most of whom were there before the first premliminary bout even began. It’s just something to think about when the UFC keeps holding shows in the western United States while the eastern portion of the country is lucky to get a couple events each year.

The live gate previously reported was much closer with the actual figure standing at $1,551,920.

The following is a listing of the figures reported to the California State Athletic Commission and do not include event bonuses, PPV earnings, or sponsor payments that fighters may receive:

• Anderson Silva ($90,000) def. Nate Marquardt ($24,000)
• Tito Ortiz ($210,000) vs. Rashad Evans ($16,0000
• Sean Sherk ($28,000) def. Hermes Franca ($14,000)
• Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira ($200,000) def. Heath Herring ($70,000)
• Kenny Florian ($16,000) def. Alvin Robinson ($3,000)
• Stephan Bonnar ($32,000) def. Mike Nickels ($5,000)
• Jorge Gurgel ($14,000) def. Diego Saraiva ($3,000)
• Chris Lytle ($20,000) def. Jason Gilliam ($3,000)
• Frank Edgar ($10,000) def. Mark Bocek ($3,000)
• Disclosed Fighter Payroll: $761,000

• It has been confirmed that UFC 77 will take place October 20th in Cincinnati at the U.S. Bank Arena. The event will be headlined by a rematch between Anderson Silva and Rich Franklin. You can find more on the event here
• UFC 73 attendance was 14,370
• Live gate was $1.5 million
• B.J. Penn will face Sean Sherk for the lightweight title sometime in November
• The deal with HBO is not dead and is still expected to happen sometime this year
• Jorge Gurgel vs. Diego Saraiva was fight of the night
• Hayato “Mach” Sakurai has in fact signed with the UFC and will make his debut later this year
• Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic will face Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira if he defeats Cheick Kongo at UFC 75 in September
• Fedor Emelianenko is expected to sign a UFC contract this year and fight in the organization in early 2008
• The UFC will return to Sacramento next year for an event

Via

*Chris Lytle was awarded submission of the night for his victory over Jason Gilliam