‘TUF 25’ Winner Jesse Taylor Facing Anti-Doping Violation, Removed from UFC Fight Night 121

Jesse Taylor has been pulled from UFC Fight Night 121 after being flagged for a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on Aug. 22.

Taylor was scheduled to meet Belal Muhammad in a welterweight bout on Nov. 18 in Sydney but was pulled from the card due to the proximity of the event, according to a UFC statement. A replacement opponent for Muhammad is currently being sought.

The UFC’s full statement on Taylor is as follows:

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Jesse Taylor of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on August 22, 2017. Because of the proximity to Taylor’s upcoming scheduled bout in Sydney, Australia on November 18, 2017, against Belal Muhammad, Taylor has been removed from the card and the UFC is currently seeking a replacement.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Taylor. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair legal process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.

Taylor won Season 25 of “The Ultimate Fighter” with a second-round submission of Dhiego Lima at the show’s finale on July 7. The 34-year-old “JT Money” has compiled a 31-15 professional record since beginning his career in 2006.

UFC Fight Night 121 takes place at Qudos Bank Arena and is headlined by a heavyweight duel between Mark Hunt and Marcin Tybura.