Top 5 Worst UFC Suspensions.

By Patrick O'malley.

Intro.

In the real world, getting suspended from your job is one of the worst things that can happen to someone. In this list were going to be taking a look at the worst times the UFC, or the NASC has had to step when fighters do the worst things to there reputation. Sometimes it's how the fighters make amends through there comebacks, that pack a harder punch.

5. Anderson Silva.

Anderson was suspended by the Nevada Athletic State Commission after his fight against Nick Diaz at UFC 183. This came as a suprise at the time, but when you dig beneath the surface, it isn't. Anderson had spent over a year on the sidelines with a broken leg, after his second fight against Chris Weidman. The drug that he tested positive for was an anabolic steroid that has been banned in every sport. Anderson was fined, and his reputation never recovered as a result. Andersons suspension lasted for over a year, and he would lose to Michael Bisping in London upon his return.

4. Chris Leben. 

When The Crippler was a full time member of the UFC Middleweight Division, his hands were seen as lethal, especially after when he beat Wanderlai Silva at UFC 132 in July of 2011. His next fight would be at UFC 138, in Birmingham UK. when he faced Mark Munoz, this would also be one of his last appearances for the Las Vegas Promotion. Chris would be suspended after this, when he tested positive for an anabolic steroid. Chris would leave the promotion in 2013. This would act as a cautionary tale, that needs to be told. Chris was a standout in the Middleweight Division, so this acted as a sad reminder to never throw away what you have earnt over time.

3. Sean Sherk.

This one is a bit baffling to me. Sean was stripped of his UFC Lightweight Championship after he beat Hermes Franca at UFC 73. He got suspended by the CASC after an investigation, this would lead to a lengthy battle to clear his name. He won the case, and was able to fight again. It was also alledged that he had to undergo a lie detector test. He would lose to BJ Penn at UFC 84, in the main event in a failed attempt to get his belt back. Penn called him out after he beat Joe Stevenson at UFC 80, in Newcastle UK. The thing that I find funny about this suspension is the fact the UFC, and other state commissions have suspended fighters for far less. I know what Sean did was wrong. I just feel that the same energy needs to shown. This is also a learning curb when it comes to proving someones innocence. Seans penalty was reduced from One year six months, and his financial penalty was reduced. Like I said before it's heavily rumoured that Sean underwent a lie detector test, and it came back that he was telling the truth, although it must be said that the accuracy of lie detector tests has been brought into question over the years.

2. Alistair Overeem.

This happened after he sent Brock Lesnar back to the WWE, when he beat the team Death Clutch member at UFC 141. He tested positive for an anabolic steroid. This was a blackeye in what was a solid career for the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion. His UFC career was a bit mixed in my opinion, and it never recovered after this. This suspension was handed down by the NASC after they found irregularity's with his test that happened before the fight, however this wouldn't be made public knowledge until April of 2012. His suspension would last until the January of 2013, and pulled him out of a planned title fight against the then Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos. I'm not a big fan of Alistairs. i've thought that his fight style was a tad overrated.

1. Nick Diaz.

Nate has been suspended by the NASC has suspended Nick twice. The first time that i'm going to focus on is the aftermath of UFC 143 when he lost to Carlos Condit for the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship. He tested positive for Marijuna metabolites. The Stockton native was out of action for over a year as a result of this, and had to hand over 30 percent of his fight purse. This was the second time that Diaz faced a suspension from the NASC, he was given a six month suspension 2007, after he Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 in Las Vegas, when the promotion went to Las Vegas on the Febuary 24th of that year. Nick was also suspended in Febuary of 2015 after he lost to Anderson Silva at UFC 183, however this Match got thrown out after both men turned in failed tests.

Overview Of This Piece.

Over the years the UFC has had to abide by what the various global athletic commissions go by, and there word is final. When suspensions get handed out, there normally is a seed of doubt when it comes to public perception, so this piece was written with the aim of educating fans in what has happened to some fighters over the years. This piece wasn't written about how to cheat, neither does it condone cheating. I wrote this as a way of looking how punishments can lead to confusion in the public eye.