Brazilian MMA Commission Follows Nevada’s Lead, Will Ban TRT After Henderson-‘Shogun’

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The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) will ban the use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) moving forward, though UFC Fight Night 39 headliner Dan Henderson will still receive his therapeutic use exemption for his March 23 meeting with Mauricio Rua.

Sherdog.com confirmed the news with CABMMA officials on Friday, one day after the Nevada Athletic Commission unanimously voted to immediately ban the controversial therapy in the state. The UFC issued a statement shortly thereafter supporting the NAC’s ruling, though the decision ultimately resulted in Lyoto Machida replacing Vitor Belfort in the UFC 173 main event.

One of the sport’s best known users of TRT, Belfort had been granted exemptions for the treatment before his three bouts in Brazil last year, all of which resulted in knockout victories. “The Phenom” was slated to meet Chris Weidman for the UFC middleweight title on May 24 in Las Vegas, but Weidman will now instead defend his title against “The Dragon” live on pay-per-view.

UFC Fight Night 39 takes place March 23 at Nelio Dias Gymnasium in Natal, Brazil, and will see Henderson collide with “Shogun” in the Fox Sports 1-broadcast main event. The show will also feature a middleweight clash pitting C.B. Dollaway against Cezar Ferreira, as well as a flyweight tilt between Scott Jorgensen and Jussier da Silva.