MMA Odds and Ends for Tuesday: USADA hands down a one-year suspension for Jon Jones, UFC Fight Night 103 adds three fights

480 USADA hands down a one-year suspension for Jon Jones  An independent arbitration panel handed down a one-year suspension on UFC interim light heavyweight champion Jon Jones on Monday. Jones (21-1) will be able to return to competition in July of 2017. USADA revealed that he tested positive for two banned substances, (clomiphene and Letrozol) in an out-of-competition drug test before his cancelled UFC 200 matchup this past July against Daniel Cormier. The 29-year old claimed he took a sexual-performance pill that was tainted. A one-year suspension was the max Jones could have faced from USADA. UFC Fight Night 103 adds three fights UFC officials announced on Monday three additional bouts to the UFC’s return to Arizona, including welterweights Court McGee vs. Ben Saunders, lightweights Devin Powell vs. Jordan Rinaldi and lightweights Erik Koch vs. Tony Martin. McGee (18-5) heads into this matchup off a decision win over Dominique Steele at UFC Fight Night 92 event back in August. Saunders (20-7) is coming off a 17-second submission win over fellow UFC vet Jacob Volkmann. Powell (8-1) was signed to the UFC off Dana White’s “Lookin for a Fight” and is riding six-fight winning streak into his UFC debut. Rinaldi (12-5) came up short in his Octagon debut back in May, losing via decision to Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight Night 88. Koch (15-4) is coming off a submission win in May over Shane Campbell. Martin (10-3) has won two of his last three fights. UFC Fight Night 103 takes place January 15th at Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Arena. Here’s an updated look at the card… Court McGee vs. Ben Saunders Devin Powell vs. Jordan Rinaldi Erik Koch vs. Tony Martin Cyril Asker vs. Dmitrii Smoliakov Damian Grabowski vs. Viktor Pesta Joachim Christensen vs. Bojan Mihajlovic UFC signs Irene Aldana, who meets Leslie Smith at UFC on FOX 22 MMAJunkie reported on Monday that the UFC has signed Invicta FC women’s bantamweight Irene Aldana, who will meet Leslie Smith at UFC on FOX 22. Aldana (7-2) is coming off a stoppage victory over Faith Van Duin and went 4-1 under the Invicta FC banner. Smith (8-7-1) heads into this matchup off a loss to Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino in May at a 140-pound catchweight fight. UFC on FOX 22 takes place December 17th at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. Here’s an updated look at the card… Paige VanZant vs. Michelle Waterson Urijah Faber vs. Brad Pickett Mickey Gall vs. Sage Northcutt Bryan Barberena vs. Colby Covington Alan Jouban vs. Mike Perry Josh Emmett vs. Scott Holtzman Sultan Aliev vs. Bojan Velickovic Paul Craig vs. Claudio Henrique da Silva James Moontasri vs. Alex Morono Hector Sandoval vs. Fredy Serrano Takeya Mizugaki vs. Eddie Wineland Irene Aldana vs. Leslie Smith UFC 205 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 1

Written by James Lynch

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