NAC set to hear Thiago Silva’s case

Thiago Silva’s case will be heard by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Thursday, a little more than a week after his “B” sample confirmed that his drug test before an Ultimate Fighting Championship victory over Brandon Vera on Jan. 1 was inconsistent with human urine.

Silva’s manager requested the speedy hearing, according to NAC executive director Keith Kizer.

The light heavyweight issued a lengthy statement on the Internet almost immediately after the results of the tests became public, admitting to using an “adulterant” and apologizing to the commission, the organization and Vera.

“I did so in an attempt to alter the results of the test and knowingly broke the rules of the Nevada Athletic Commission,” Silva said in the statement. “This was a terrible decision on my part for which I will be punished. I am prepared to accept this punishment, learn from it and move on.”

Silva indicated he was injured 1½ months before the fight and had to take injections containing banned substances in order to compete.

The last mixed martial arts fighter found to have provided a fraudulent urine sample was Kevin Randleman in 2006. His license was revoked, and Randleman has yet to reapply in Nevada. After revocation, a fighter cannot apply for a license in the state for at least a year and then must go in front of the commission to do so.

One result of the Randleman incident was a change in testing procedures to prevent use of Whizzinator-type devices. Kizer said further changes could be implemented depending on what Silva did to produce the fraudulent sample.

■ STRIKEFORCE — Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz has offered several critiques of the all-around MMA skills of challenger Paul Daley in advance of Saturday night’s main event bout in San Diego.

When it comes to Daley’s striking skills, however, Diaz thinks he will be taking on one of the sport’s elite.

“He’s probably better than anyone else we’ve got in MMA,” Diaz conceded on a conference call.

Diaz will put his belt and his nine-fight winning streak on the line in the organization’s first major event since being purchased by Las Vegas-based Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC.

Gilbert Melendez will defend the lightweight title against Tatsuya Kawagiri. Another Japanese star, Shinya Aoki, will make his U.S. return against Lyle Beerbohm.

Keith Jardine, who was released by the UFC last year after losing four fights in a row and six of eight, agreed to fight Gegard Mousasi on less than 10 days’ notice after Mike Kyle broke his hand during training.

The card will air tape delayed on Showtime (Cable 240) at 10 p.m.

■ ALMEIDA RETIRES — UFC veteran Ricardo Almeida announced his retirement last week.

The welterweight first retired in 2004 to focus on coaching and running his jiu-jitsu academy in New Jersey but returned to active competition in 2008. Almeida went 5-3 in eight fights after coming out of retirement but lost two of his final three bouts, including a unanimous decision to Mike Pyle at UFC 128 on March 19.

Almeida, 34, noted the difficulty in managing his gym and spending time with his family, which includes an autistic son, while trying to train for fights.

■ FITCH OUT — Almost as quickly as the fight was booked, a rematch between BJ Penn and Jon Fitch has been scrapped.

Fitch suffered an undisclosed injury and will not be able to compete in time for UFC 132 on July 2 in Las Vegas.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.