The Wrestling Observer (subscription required) reports that UFC fighter Pat Healy has tested positive for marijuana use from testing at UFC 159. As a result, Healy has forfeited his fight night bonuses and win bonus as his contest with Jim Miller has been changed to a no contest.
Healy received Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night bonuses for his performance against Miller. Healy’s management sent out a statement about Healy’s positive test.
Healy’s statement through his management:
“I would like to start off by apologizing to the UFC, Jim Miller, the MMA community, it’s fans, my family, teammates and coaches for my positive testing for marijuana after my UFC 159 fight with Jim Miller. I was fully aware of the UFC and State Commissions drug policies and made poor life choices. I stand behind the UFC and the State Commission’s disciplinary actions. I support efforts to make MMA and sports a clean, safe and fair place to compete. First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge and take responsibility for my mistake. I made a very poor choice to socially use marijuana and now I must face the consequences of that choice. I can assure you that I will do everything the UFC and State Commission asks of me and beyond. I will also make a conscious effort to be a better role model within the MMA community.”
Healy will be suspended 90 days by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission in addition to overturning his win.
Payout Perspective:
The good news is that Healy is willing to own up to his mistake. The bad news is that he had poor judgment by socially using marijuana when he knew of the consequences. Its hard not to feel sorry for Healy but when the rules are clear about marijuana use, how can you argue against the punishment. Certainly, the $135K ($130K in fight bonuses and $5 for the win bonus) taken from Healy is a huge penalty. Healy only keeps his $17,500 show purse.
Thats to bad that was a great fight at least he owned up. I trained with Healy in 2010 when he was in Strikeforce a great guy and tuff as nails.
Taking 135 THOUSAND dollars away from a man because he smoked a little marijuana is bull stuff
They really need to stop testing for pot, its such a waste. With that said he still knows he could be tested on this card so there is no excuse for this.
This is unfortunate. Hopefully Ratner and co. can work with the SACs quickly to expunge it from the banned substance list. It’s getting out of control.
Not only do pot heads seem to be addicted to the stuff and in denial. But they seem to be the biggest bunch of cry babies too! I used to support the legalization of the stuff. But the more and more I see people lose total control of them selves over the stuff, flush everything they work for down the drain for the stuff, and then cry because the consequences for their lack of self control. The more I am starting to be against the stuff. The guys literally have to stop smoking for like 2 weeks before a fight and they cant do it with all they have worked for riding on the line. Lets remember that Healy is smoking up a couple weeks from the biggest fight of his career after Diaz was suspended, Dave Herman was suspended and another fighter was released. I have no sympathy for this guy. He choose pot over everything else in his life. Let him wag with it.
a lot of website report on this… is there any actual confirmed information that the sum is 135.000$ ???
or is that rather an (logical) assumption based on that the ufc said it was going to take away bonusses if a fighter gets a positive test?
So far I’ve only read that Dana tweeted that the submission-bonus 65k will be taken away.
Why would he get to keep the bonus? Dana already give his sub bonus to someone else. He cant give the fight of the night award to someone else because Heely’s opponent still gets his. But im sure Heely lost his share of it.