Vitor Belfort Granted License, Fights Weidman In December

After months of speculation, former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort has been granted a license by the Nevada Athletic Commission. The rollercoaster situation began in February when Belfort, a well documented user of testosterone replacement therapy, failed a test for having elevated levels of testosterone. Though those results weren't released until months later, the Nevada Athletic Commission banned the use of TRT within the state. Shortly after, the UFC followed Nevada's lead. Belfort had previously qualified for a therapeutic use exemption for TRT. This ruling set off a horrible chain of events for the UFC, as Belfort withdrew from his planned May fight with Chris Weidman, while Wanderlei Silva ran from a drug test altogether ahead of his fight with bitter rival Chael Sonnen. Belfort would then offer to face Sonnen, who would also fail two drug tests. Belfort took responsibility for the February failure, stating that he took a shot the day prior to the test, but said that his levels should have been lower. Belfort took it upon himself to participate in several subsequent drug tests, in which he passed. "To be clear, my level of testosterone was higher than what is allowed," Belfort stated at the commission hearing. While the Nevada commission did grant Belfort a license, he isn't off the hook yet. Belfort will be subjected to tests by the commission whether he's in Nevada, Brazil, or Florida-- and the cost is out of his own pocket. Belfort will now face UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman on December 6 in Las Vegas, a bout that was originally scheduled for UFC 173 in May.