Vitor Belfort Hasn't Been Tested by NAC, Fight with Weidman Targeted for L.A.

Chris Weidman will likely defend his UFC middleweight title against Vitor Belfort at UFC 184 in Los Angeles, California, according to MMAJunkie.com's Steven Marrocco. 

The champ was previously pulled from his UFC 181 bout with Belfort in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to MMAFighting.com's Guilherme Cruz, after needing time to heal a hairline fracture in his hand. Now, it looks like the bout is headed to the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 28.  

And that detail—moving the fight from Nevada to California—matters. 

Belfort famously came under close review by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) after failing a February of 2014 drug test for elevated testosterone, and the commission's ruling on July 23 looked to keep Belfort in check and operating within the sport's guidelines ahead of his title fight with Weidman. 

MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani broke the situation down, summarizing the key points of the NAC's ruling: 

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Exactly three months ago, the Nevada Athletic Commission granted Vitor Belfort a license to fight in the state based on three conditions: he could not compete prior to December, his next fight had to be in Nevada, and he would cooperate when approached for random blood and urine testing no matter where he is. 

"

Yet, Helwani reports Belfort has been tested precisely zero times since the ruling was given, and now with the fight taking place in California, the situation is out of the NAC's hands. 

Thankfully, NAC executive director Bob Bennett told Helwani he feels confident that California State Athletic Commission executive officer Andy Foster will take command of the situation and execute proper drug testing ahead of the bout. 

Foster, to his credit, seems on board with random, frequent testing for the challenger. 

"He's not going to get a free pass," Foster told Helwani. "He will have blood and urine randomly tested. I would be shocked and amazed if he cheated."

Despite these assurances, Weidman is not happy with the situation. Upon hearing that Belfort has not been tested since the ruling three months ago, he tweeted: 

While the bout is still months away, it's clear that it has already picked up considerable steam. Add in this latest drug-testing controversy, and Weidman vs. Belfort will come under the microscope of MMA fans and media leading up to the bout. 

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report as the situation continues to develop.