5 of the most controversial suspensions in UFC history

The UFC's recent history has been plagued by a number of high-profile suspensions involving prominent fighters. While some of them were a result of delinquent behaviours outside of the Octagon, all of them are rooted to one cause: drug-test failures.

With the stringent procedures imposed by the United States Anti-Doping Agency upon the 500 fighters in the UFC roster, the percentage of failures have skyrocketed dramatically. In this list, we look at five of the most controversial suspensions in the UFC that have been a major game-changer for the fighters involved.

#5 Lyoto Machida

Lyoto Machida was flagged by USADA for a potential violation in 2016.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida has built himself a reputation for being a clean fighter all throughout his career. "The Dragon" lives by the Shotokan Karate teachings of his father to this day and has avoided the rockstar lifestyle that many of his famous contemporaries have embodied.

With that said, it was a strange surprise to see Machida flagged by USADA for a potential violation in 2016, when he was found to have 7‐keto-dehydroepiandrosterone (7‐keto‐DHEA) in his system, an anabolic agent that is on USADA's banned list. Machida was subsequently suspended for 18 months.

What makes this suspension a lot controversial was that (1) Machida himself declared that he was using the substance to immediately dispel talks about him cheating and (2) 7-keto does not have the capability to increase testosterone or enhance a fighter's performance in any way, which is why it can be purchased over the counter.

Unfortunately, Machida, who was 37 years of age at the time, had to go through the suspension and miss a year and a half of what's left of his fighting years. Upon his return, he was knocked out by Derek Brunson and eked out a split decision win over Eryk Anders, and it would not be surprising if these lacklustre performances were a result of his unnecessary suspension.

#4 Chad Mendes

Chad Mendes was slapped with a two-year suspension for a USADA violation.

In 2016, former UFC featherweight title contender Chad Mendes was slapped with a two-year suspension for a USADA violation. It was later found out that it was because he tested positive for GHRP-6, a known growth hormone, which led to him being slapped with a two-year suspension.

Similar to Machida's case, what makes Mendes' suspension controversial was that it was also supposedly taken without the intention of enhancing performance. According to the Team Alpha Male representative, the substance may have been found in the skin cream he was using to treat the plaque psoriasis he has been dealing with for years.

Mendes was 30 years old at the time he was suspended, which shaves off a couple of years of his prime. He last fought in December 2015 against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar where he lost via first-round knockout, and it remains unclear when he would be able to get his career back on track. All because of some contaminated skin cream.

#3 Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar made his MMA return at UFC 200 in July 2016.

2016 featured one of the biggest years of the UFC and mixed martial arts as a whole. The sport was finally legalized in the state of New York, superstar Conor McGregor had his epic fights with Nate Diaz, and later became the first ever simultaneous two-weight UFC champion and Brock Lesnar made his MMA return at UFC 200 in July of that year.

It was Lesnar's first MMA fight in five years, and he was going up against future Hall-of-Famer Mark Hunt in the night's co-main event feature. Lesnar won via a dominant unanimous decision verdict, showing fans that he could still fight at the highest level at 38 years of age.

However, his comeback celebrations were short-lived, as it was revealed during both in-competition and out-of-competition tests that he had estrogen blocker clomiphene in his system. It resulted in the fight being overturned to a no-contest, and Hunt being livid about the idea that he risked his life, fighting someone with illegal substances in his system.

Recently, UFC president Dana White brought up the possibility of Lesnar's UFC return, which rightfully drew negative reactions from Hunt and many MMA fans.

#2 Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva was first suspended in 2015 after he tested positive for androstane.

From 2006 to 2013, Anderson Silva's name was synonymous with several things: "Phenom", "Human Highlight Reel", and even the "Greatest of All-Time." Four years later, he was suddenly a product of two failed drug tests in the UFC.

"The Spider" was first suspended in 2015 after he tested positive for androstane, an anabolic steroid, and warranted him a yearlong suspension. The same thing happened during his pre-fight drug test for UFC Shanghai last November when he tested positive for a still undetermined substance, causing him to be pulled out of his scheduled headliner against Kelvin Gastelum.

Nowadays, Silva is no longer in the "Greatest of All-Time" conversation among many fans, mainly because of his failed drug tests. While he did cry foul on both instances, saying he was a victim of tainted supplements, it is indeed disappointing to see one of the most notable fighters in history fall from grace this hard.

#1 Jon Jones

Jon Jones became one of the sport's greatest disappointments.

Just like Anderson Silva, former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was widely considered as the Greatest at one point in his career. But in one fell swoop through several misdemeanours, "Bones" has suddenly become one of the sport's greatest disappointments.

Jones is no stranger to UFC suspensions. In 2015, he was first slapped with an indefinite suspension and stripped of his title after being involved in a hit-and-run incident in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The same thing happened a year later at UFC 200 in July 2016, when he also tested positive for clomiphene like Lesnar. For that, he was given a yearlong suspension.

But these instances seem to be a norm for Jones, as he once again failed a drug test for an unspecified "banned substance" for his UFC 214 title rematch against Daniel Cormier. No suspension has been imposed, but it was reported that Jones may be facing a four-year ban for his repeated PED-related offences.

Many feel that the 30-year-old Jones may have already ruined his own career, and things can only look worse for him if he indeed gets slapped with the four-year suspension.