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Michael Bisping isn't too bent out of shape over Cung Le's drug test drama. Had he lost to Le in the main event of the UFC's Aug. 23 event in Macau, China, it might be a different story for Bisping.
"I won it in style, via stoppage, and I got a bonus for it. If anything, it makes me look better that he was on all kinds of stuff and I was able to beat him," Bisping told ESPN's Brett Okamoto.
Le was suspended one year by the UFC for testing positive for elevated levels of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) following the bout.
Le planned to appeal the decision, citing flaws in the UFC's testing process, but the promotion rescinded the suspension Oct. 21. UFC officials announced they had been 'provided with medical advice regarding the elevated total HGH present in Le's system,' and determined that Le's elevated HGH levels did not conclusively prove he took performance-enhancing drugs prior to the bout in August.
"Regarding the suspension being lifted, listen, I'm not a scientist," said Bisping. "I don't know all the details. I know the blood samples were destroyed, so it looks like, to me, he got off on a loophole or a technicality."
Thursday, Le released a statement to MMAFighting.com saying he was 'extremely happy with the UFC's decision' but also disappointed that the official release didn't do more to help mend his reputation.
"While I feel vindicated in this matter, the UFC's press release does little in the way of an apology of which I believe I am rightly owed after unfairly enduring the public's scrutiny. Their decision to announce me as a user of performance enhancing drugs with little thought to the accuracy of the testing or proper procedures has caused my family and I great pain; that we have now come to know was completely unnecessary had the proper care been taken to ensure my test results were in fact valid proof of impropriety."
Bisping wasn't quite willing to give Le the benefit of the doubt.
"They're saying his HGH levels were high after a fight for a number of natural reasons," Bisping said. "Well, his were the only levels that were high. Mine weren't high. Nobody else's were high. He was the one everybody was suspecting going into the fight.
"There's no smoke without fire, but I'm not a scientist and I haven't even read the stories about it because I couldn't care less. Cung Le is old news for me. Done and dusted. I'm focused on the future."
Bisping faces Luke Rockhold Nov. 8 in the main event of the UFC's return to Sydney, Australia.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
MMA Beat. The panel discusses Cain Velasquez's injury, the UFC's decision to rescind Cung Le's suspension, UFC 179, and much more.
Dropping the ball. With Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort being targeted for Los Angeles in February, Nevada hands the Brazilian's drug testing duties to California.
'I carry the whole world on my shoulders.' Jose Aldo says he's 'going through Chad Mendes ‘like a runaway truck.''
'It's my time to be king.' Chad Mendes discusses his upcoming fight against Jose Aldo, possibly facing Conor McGregor next, what's different this time around, and much more during a pre-fight scrum at UFC 179 media day.
The Brazilian Colosseum. Guilherme Cruz profiles the Maracanazinho, one of the most important places in the history of the fighting we see today.
MEDIA STEW
Embedded episode 3.
UFC 179 workouts: Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.
Friday Finishes from Inside MMA.
EA SPORTS UFC Simulation - Aldo vs. Mendes.
All Angles: Mizuki Inoue.
Felice Herrig vs. Heather Jo Clark on TUF 20.
Can't have too many head kick KO's.
Long watches.
UFC 179 Care/Don't Care Preview + Cain injured, Cung Le vindicated
...
The MMA Hangout with Andrew McGahon and Sherdog's Jordan Breen
TWEETS
Making friends.
Giving @TheNotoriousMMA another easy tune up match against another non wrestler is a really smart move by the UFC!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 23, 2014
@Benaskren Hey pube head. I'm the No.1 contender. I could sit and wait. But multi 6 figure cheques feel so nice in my bank. You wouldnt know
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 23, 2014
@TheNotoriousMMA try any of the bullshit ninja moves on me I'll throw ya on the ground slap you and tell you to stop with the childs play!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 23, 2014
Not happy.
http://t.co/Rugr7fztGI wow!Thought he's been getting tested countless times. Hasn't been tested once since fight announcement 3 months ago!?
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 23, 2014
Done deal?
Let's face it @bethecorreia you need 2 fight a top 5 ranked fighter b4 title shot, you havent even beaten a top 10 opponent yet #ImYourGirl
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) October 23, 2014
BJ beef.
@TheDolceDiet Keep talking, I'm gonna have a heart to heart talk with your glass jaw when I see you.
— BJ PENN (@bjpenndotcom) October 22, 2014
@bjpenndotcom Wow, very classy! Where was all this aggression on the night of July 6th?? #BullyJ
— Mike DOLCE (@TheDolceDiet) October 22, 2014
@bjpenndotcom, a person you know very well wants to help you understand this situation better... http://t.co/BSmyXSa6IU ... #BullyJ
— Mike DOLCE (@TheDolceDiet) October 24, 2014
Get well soon.
get to work, it's time to get the day started ! ;) #gameready #ice #roadtorecovery #physic... http://t.co/nzSY2qEnFS pic.twitter.com/PbyLYOROX0
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) October 23, 2014
Damn.
Saying it does not make it true. @ArtDavie was!! YOU got it on PPV "@campbellcombate: I was the mastermind behind #originalUFC"
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) October 23, 2014
Sorry to see.
With sadness I'm announcing my retirement from fighting. But with joy I let u know that I'll stick around in the game http://t.co/l6TFdpdFxp
— Tor Troeng (@ThorTheHammer) October 23, 2014
The struggle.
A bird just shit on me..2nd time ever to happen. First time was while driving at 60mph, I wasn't even mad I was impressed lol
— Cody Bollinger (@CodyBollinger) October 23, 2014
Not easy getting to the top and even harder to stay there. No ones taking this from me. http://t.co/vixSSLdAi8
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 23, 2014
Anyone who thinks signing autographs is easy. Has never signed autographs http://t.co/6RwGixRQSp
— Royce Gracie (@realroyce) October 20, 2014
Feel like I'm in middle school In School Suspension.Literally last time I've been suspended. Blew up a sewing machine in home ec, don't ask
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) October 23, 2014
Car service 25 min late to my house is not cool. Waiting in my garage with an angry face. Gonna be a... http://t.co/cB6hiBh4uE
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 22, 2014
I MAINTAIN MY PERFECT RECORD OF FIRED
— JASON MAYHEM MILLER (@mayhemmiller) October 24, 2014
You might be cutting weight when you smell the discarded cupcake before you can see it pic.twitter.com/FCHwqxQxoO
— Kaitlin Young (@kaitlin_young) October 15, 2014
THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST NIGHT SLEEPING ON AN AIR MATTRESS @rosenamajunas http://t.co/L9bSj5lJS0 pic.twitter.com/DXd2mi1aZy
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) October 20, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Oct. 23 2014)
Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 184
Conor McGregor vs. Denis Siver at UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver
Nate Marquardt vs. Brad Tavares at UFC 182
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Joe Zuess.
Attention! Urgent message from the future, MMA needs our help.
Telekinesis might be banned, takes "no skill".
- Hello readers. I have received a transmission from an unknown source using my radio. This source claims to be from the future, as well as one of the number one fans of MMA which, they claim, is still going strong many years ahead. But there is a dark turn coming, and I had no choice but to take this dreadful warning and repeat it for you. While the validity of these words I cannot verify, the utmost honest and sincerity in which they were presented to me I can. Names and spoilers are mostly omitted.
Received 23rd October, 2014.
"Attention past and now old members of society, Dana White has correctly predicted that MMA would become the biggest sport in the world. In the year 2020, the two biggest promotions, Bellator and Ufc, had merged together to form one major company. This company is in my time known as Bellator Ultimate Fighting Unified Championship, or BUFUC.
...
Check out the rest of the post here.
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