Reprinted assuming full permission from
www.fullcontactfighter.com who authored the article to begin with.
Heavyweight Shuffle Commences:
Sylvia Out, Corrieira Moves Up To Non-Title Fight, Sims Steps in
By Loretta Hunt
Amidst a swell of rumors that have clouded one of the most inopportune periods in UFC history, promoter Zuffa Sports Entertainment was required to alter its fight card on the eve of UFC 47, when heavyweight title contender Tim Sylvia failed medical requirements for licensing under the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Specifically, a test taken two days ago by Sylvia for anabolic steroids came back positive just this afternoon, making him ineligible for tomorrow night's main event showdown between fellow fighter Andrei Arlovski for the now vacant UFC title.
Stemming from an initial test Sylvia was required to submit to on or around March 4th as part as his pre-fight medical history, the Miletich Martial Arts fighter was found to have a minute amount of 66 nanograms of a forbidden agent in his body. NSAC guidelines require a competitor's reading to be under the 30 nanogram mark. At this time, it is believed the trace amounts found were lingering from Sylvia's initial outing with the illegal substance stanozolol metabolite some nine months ago. Following his first round KO win of Gan McGee at September 26th's UFC 44, tests conducted by the NSAC first alerted the UFC to the Sylvia's infraction with the illegal substance. Sylvia publicly admitted to the wrongdoing in a public statement released on October 7th. On October 15th, Sylvia stood before the NSAC for rendering on his case. Sylvia then renounced his heavyweight title before the Commission could hand down their verdict, which suspended him from competition for four months and fined the fighter $7,500 from his $60,000 purse.
In response to Sylvia's voluntary abdication of the title, the UFC assured the fighter that he would get first crack at the title once his suspension was completed. When his March 4th testing came back positive once again, the UFC chose to give Sylvia another chance to provide a clean bill of health before this April 2nd event, waiting till the last possible moment for this final testing in the hopes that the remaining traces would diminish. Unfortunately, they did not.
Faced with the dilemma that Sylvia might not be eligible some three weeks ago, the UFC drafted a contingency plan that they managed to keep hush-hush for almost two weeks, until information started to leak onto the Internet that something might be a amiss. As part of the new roster, Wesley "Cabbage" Correira will move up the card to replace Sylvia. He will face Belarussian Arlovski in a non-title bout. According to various accounts, both Corriera and Arlovski's camp were notified ahead of time by Zuffa regarding the potential changes. Wes Sims has also been enlisted to fill Corriera's slot, and will face AKA's Mike Kyle. According to Sims' camp, the fighter was put on stand-by for the fight some twelve days ago, but did not know he would be physically summoned to Las Vegas until two days ago. It is unclear when Kyle was notified of his change in opponents.
Please stay tuned for developing facts in this last-minute card shuffle. UFC 47's official weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 4pm PST today.
