After a quartet of fighters came up positive for banned substances at Bellator 127, the California State Athletic Commission has handed out suspensions. Robert Emerson , Nick Moghaddam , Keith Berry and Fernando Gonzalez all received formal punishments after they failed post-fight drug tests at the Spike TV-televised event, which took place Oct. 3 at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif. CSAC Executive Director Andy Foster told MMAjunkie that UFC vet Emerson (17-11 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), who lost a unanimous decision to Rafael Silva (22-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) in a 138-pound catchweight fight, is suspended 270 days and is fined $2,500. Moghaddam (6-8 MMA, 1-2 BMMA), who fell short on points to light heavyweight Ray Sloan (8-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), is suspended 300 days for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 17:1 – well above the 4:1 ratio allowed by the CSAC – and fined $1,000. Berry (15-13 MMA, 2-3 BMMA), who outpointed middleweight Joe Pacheco (7-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) via split decision, is suspended 300 days for an elevated T/E ratio of 16:1 and fined $2,500, in addition to having his win overturned to a no-contest.
Fighting fear
September 26, 2014