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A pair of suspended fighters will square off in July, as MMAFighting.com is reporting that Thiago Silva will meet Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante.

UFC 162, which is expected to be headlined by UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman, takes place July 6 from Las Vegas.

Silva (14-3) received his suspension for testing positive for marijuana metabolites in his system following a win over Stanislav Nedkov.

Cavalcante (11-3) was given his year-long suspension while in Strikeforce, as he had an anabolic steroid in his body after a victory over Mike Kyle.

Both triumphs were changed to a no-contest for each fighter.

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijao” Calvalcante appeared close to a fight for the vacant Strikeforce title.

After defeating Mike Kyle, Cavalcante found out he had tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol and was suspended for one year by the California Athletic Commission.

On Monday, Cavalcante sought a reversal of that suspension – and the $2,500 fine – but was denied by the commission.

Cavalcante (11-3) will be able to re-seek his fight license in May of 2013.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante has begun the process of appealing his year-long suspension for a failed drug test.

According to MMAjunkie.com, Cavalcante’s camp will bring in a drug expert to testify on August 8. He will appear in front of the California Athletic Commission.

Cavalcante was suspended when the steroid stanozolol appeared in his system. He is eligible to fight again in May of next year.

Strikeforce appeared to be moving closer to matching “Feijao” up with Gegard Mousasi in a bout to crown a new light heavyweight champion. The belt has been vacant since Dan Henderson returned to the UFC.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE

Days after it was revealed that former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante had tested positive for a banned substance and was suspended for one year, the fighter’s camp has filed an appeal.

“Feijao” was fined $2,500, and received the aforementioned suspension, following a positive drug test after his quick win over Mike Kyle at ‘Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier’. It was revealed today that the positive test was for Stanozolol metabolites, an anabolic steroid. Other fighters to test positive for the steroid include “Cyborg” Santos, Chris Leben, and Tim Sylvia.

As first reported by MMAjunkie.com, Feijao’s camp has filed an official appeal with the CSAC, and it is expected that a hearing date will be announced in the not so distant future.

So much for that title fight with Mousasi.

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante has tested positive for a banned substance following his quick victory over Mike Kyle at last month’s ‘Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier’ event.

As CSAC executive officer George Dodd confirmed with MMAFighting.com, Cavalcante was informed of his failed test earlier in the week, but has yet to respond. At this time, the fighter has been suspended for one year, and fined $2,500 by the athletic commission.

Ed Soares, who manages ‘Feijao’, claims his camp has sent out an official response to the CSAC, and will be appealing the decision.

Highlights from the Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier post-fight press conference. Featured fighters include Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, his opponent, Josh Thomson, and Rafael Feijao, who put on a career-defining performance.

Thanks to MMA Weekly for the clips.

More clips after the jump.

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Interviews with Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix winner Daniel Cormier, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and the man who almost took his title away, Josh Thomson, as well as Feijao and Chris Spang.

Thanks to SHOSports for the clips.

More clips after the jump.

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Strikeforce: ‘Barnett vs. Cormier takes place tonight from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The event airs live on Showtime at 10pm ET/. The prelims will precede the Showtime broadcast at 8pm ET on Showtime Extreme.

In the main event, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finally comes to a close as Josh Barnett takes on Daniel Cormier.

The Strikeforce lightweight title is on the line as Gilbert Melendez defends his belt in a rubber match against rival Josh Thomson.

Light heavyweights Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante takes on Mike Kyle.

And rounding out the main card, Nah-Shon Burrell takes on Chris Spang.

Results and recap after the jump.

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It’s here! It’s finally here! This dreaded Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is finally almost over. 666,720 minutes after it’s beginning, a winner will be crowned tonight. Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier are the big stars for tonight’s fights, but don’t overlook the undercard, which not only features a Strikeforce lightweight title bout, but also some very solid Strikeforce veterans looking to make a big statement in San Jose. Let’s get to it.

Bobby Green vs. James Terry

Bobby Green is a colorful guy, and if he could put his skills to work properly, he could make a serious impact in the fight game. He won’t have much for Terry tonight though. It should be an awesome fight, without a doubt, but I just think Terry outworks him.

Yuri Villefort vs. Quinn Mulhern

Villefort had all the potential in the world before an unfortunate series of events kept him out of action for two years. He makes his return tonight, but the future is bleak for him. Yuri will gas and Mulhern will take full advantage and perhaps even tap him out.

Gian Villante vs. Derrick Mehmen

My feelings on Mehmen are right there in his last name. Meh. He lacks consistency, and for that reason, Villante gets a big win over him tonight.

Guto Inocente vs. Virgil Zwicker

The undefeated Guto takes on the heavy-handed Zwicker in what is sure to be one of the highlights of the preliminary card. There is a lot of hype following the Brazilian around, and he has a big test to pass to prove it’s warranted. I think Zwicker is a bad match-up for Guto, and I expect Virgil gets the stoppage.

Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg

Previously regarded as the next big thing at 155, Cavalcante kind of got off track for awhile there. While he always has room for improvement, he doesn’t seem to be doing so at the pace of his competition, and that is disappointing. Luckily for him, he’s facing Vallie-Flagg, who, despite a good winning streak, hasn’t beaten anyone worth mentioning, and just isn’t on the same level. “JZ” gets the TKO win here.

Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang

I’m kind of shaking my head at the idea of this bout making the main card, while the previous bout does not, but okay. One of these guys will be looking at some exciting match-ups at 170 with a win here, and I think it’s going to be Burrell. Nah-Shon is going to put the mash on Spang.

Rafael Feijao vs. Mike Kyle

A fully prepared Feijao can cause problems for anybody at 205. The former champ looks to build his way back up to a shot at the title that Dan Henderson took from him when he took his soul. Mike Kyle has already beaten Feijao, but I can’t see it happening again. Feijao will have no issue going blow for blow with Kyle in this bout, and I suspect the considerably improved Feijao makes short work of his foe with strikes.

Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson

There’s no questioning Josh Thomson’s heart and abilities. Fighting through adversity throughout most of his career, “The Punk” has made the best of his skills in the cage, and can easily find a spot in the UFC in the near future. For Gilbert Melendez, the future is now. Arguably in his prime, it’s hard to imagine any lightweights beating “El Nino”, and in this bout, I think we see just how far ahead of the pack he is. He’s retaining the belt tonight.

Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier

This is a really interesting bout, and perhaps the most important heavyweight bout of the year. Will the experience of Josh Barnett be as big a factor as many believe? Or will Cormier persevere again and remain undefeated? I expect Cormier to put the pressure on early, but Barnett will not be shaken. At some point, Josh will end up on top, and when he’s there, the fight is over… or Cormier knocks him out, whatever.

The bouts go down tonight with the preliminary card starting at 8PM ET on Showtime Extreme, and the main card following on Showtime at 10pm ET.

What are your picks for tonight’s fights? How wrong will I be this week? Feel free to leave some feedback in the comments below.

Make sure you don’t get in the way of Mike Kyle in the near future.

Following a press conference to promote this Saturday’s Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier event, Kyle went off on the words spoken by Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker during the event.

Coker, when asked if the Kyle-Rafael Cavalcante match would determine a contender to the vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title, gave an answer that did not make Kyle all-too-happy.

Coker’s comments that the winner would progress towards the status of being a contender left Kyle visible upset. He spoke with USA Today’s Sergio Non outside the press conference.

“I think it’s bullcrap. You heard what he said – maybe I’ll be the No. 1 contender. I haven’t lost any 205-pound fights. I definitely believe that I’m the No. 1 contender. I was told before I’d be the No. 1 contender. It is what it is. I’m really upset by it. It makes me not really even want to fight.”

Coker did confirm that the winner is likely to be regarded as either the No. 1 or No. 2 contender, placing them in a bout for the strap in the near future.

“This fight has title implications, for sure. I think whoever wins this fight will get the title shot. To say he’s the No. 1 contender? I think that’s yet to be determined.”

Kyle’s only two losses since 2008 have come at heavyweight against Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum. He holds a career record of 19-8-1, including one no-contest. Cavalcante is a former Strikeforce champion with an 11-3 record, but was defeated by Kyle back in 2009.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE