More On Bas/Kimo, Pele Off WFA Card Also!
 

From www.Sherdog.com

Two days from his first professional fight since 1999, Bas Rutten (Pictures) was relaxing at home when he got the call that his opponent, Kimo Leopoldo (Pictures), had been forced off Saturday’s World Fighting Alliance pay-per-view card after allegedly testing positive for Stanozolol, a banned synthetic anabolic steroid derived from testosterone.

As of Thursday evening, California State Athletic Commission Chief Armando Garcia could not comment on the allegations. However, the WFA has already moved forward, signing Ohioan Wes Sims (Pictures), who was scheduled to compete July 28 on the WEC card honoring Ryan Bennett, to fill the vacated slot.

The 26-year-old Sims, who will pocket $30,000 for fighting Rutten on short notice, plans to catch a flight tonight from Houston, Texas, where he was training, to Los Angeles so he can undergo the battery of medical tests required for CSAC licensees.

This is not the first time Leopoldo, famous for his clash with Royce Gracie (Pictures) at UFC III, has failed a urinalysis.

Following a June 2004 UFC contest in which Leopoldo was knocked out by Ken Shamrock (Pictures), the Hawaiian was suspended six months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and fined $5,000 for having Stanozolol, more commonly known as Winstrol — a popular steroid among bodybuilders for its weight-cutting benefits — in his system.

“Every guy who uses steroids to fight is a fucking pussy,” said an exasperated Rutten. “For him to do this shit after all the promotion he did, all the shit he talked about me — taking me out in minutes and all that bullshit — apparently that was the steroids talking, right?”

Regarding the six-foot-nine Sims, Rutten said he respects the heavyweight for stepping up on short notice. However, the former UFC heavyweight champion indicated Sims requires a completely different game plan than the one he devised for Kimo.

“It’s a total different game,” Rutten said. “Everybody always says ‘oh it’s Wes Sims (Pictures), he lost this and lost that.’ But yea, if you’ve seen his last fight he’s trying really hard, training really hard. He’s got a fight next week. He’s going to be in shape. It’s a total different opponent for me. I got to put suddenly in my head a totally different opponent. For him it’s just a fight, you know.”

“It’s another thing for me,” he laughed. “Another challenge.”

Pele Out, Kampmann In

In a totally unrelated set of circumstances, the WFA on Wednesday learned that Jose Landi-Jons (Pictures) would not be able to compete against Edwin Aguilar (Pictures). Though the reason for Pele’s absence remains unclear, Dutch striker Martin Kampmann has been signed to fill the hole left by the veteran Brazilian.

Sux big time.
At least Bas is still fighting though.
He sounds pissed at Kimo.

Kimo is crap! WAR BAS!!!

No shit lol. Yeah, it's good to know Bas's return isn't GREATLY effected by Kimo's unsportsmanlike bullshit. I mean it's effected, like he said - completely different opponent, different style, so different game plan. But at least he agreed and is still going to return to MMA fighting. Hopefully there's another fight or two in him, because while Kimo wasn't much better - it was enough of a final hurrah for Bas for me. Beating Wes Sims on short notice isn't quite the same to me. I would still want to see, and almost expect to see, Bas fight again after this one.

Ki,o's act is as old and tired as Ken Shamrock's. I am not sad to see him off the card, other than he does have SOME name value that helps get people watching the PPV. For casual fans, the "monster" Sims will be a good win for Bas.

word is now that Wes Sims is out too...
 

I just read on mmaweekly that Wes Sims has pulled out of the fight as well.... The NSAC (or some other governing body) won't let him fight twice in a seven day span. He is fighting on a WEC card instead.....


can anyone confirm this?

I'm not sure if anyone has confirmed but MMAweekly is a fairly reputable, so I would believe them. It makes sense, Simms can't fight twice in 7 days (according to the CSAC) and he was already scheduled at the WEC card so it's only right that eh doesn't pull out of it.

wonder who they'll get now....
 

Im not a big Wes Sims fan, but you have to respect him for stepping up like that. Not many guys would fight Bas Rutten (layoff or not) on a short notice like that...

I just hope they can find Bas someone to smash on one days notice...

Then, line up someone who DESERVES it for next fight. Kimo is a piece of trash....

I hope the bas fight isn't off cuz it would be a major disappointment ....

After all that time off i thought Kimo would be a good fight for Bas. I hope Bas doesn't get screwed by having to fight someone that he has no chance against. I know Bas won't turn down any opponents and rumors are flying that Randleman and Vitor are possibilities.