Jacksonville, FL — Serbian welterweight Stefan Sekulic returns to action at UFC 261 for the first time since 2018 — the result of an unplanned layoff due to surgery, and a USADA suspension.
At this week’s UFC 261 media day, the former SBC champion addressed the time off, and what exactly happened that resulted in in two-year sanction for the use of banned substances.
“It was a little bit tough. I tried to evolve as much as I could,” Sekulic (12-3) said in regards to his time off. With some solid training and quality training partners, “I think I got 20 to 30 percent better than last time.”
Asked about what led to his suspension, Sekulic revealed that “I had a tough injury in March of that year. I had a very complicated operation.” The welterweight, who lost a unanimous decision in his debut earlier in the year, wasn’t even sure if his career would continue. “I didn’t know if I was gonna come back, ever, to take a punch or something,” he admitted.
Then, after surgery — the operation in question was on Sekulic’s jaw — he received some additional medical treatment. “I had some therapy, it was my mistake because I didn’t know what it was,” he admitted. “Something stayed in my body that shouldn’t be [there]. It was my mistake, because I didn’t ask what it was. So when USADA came back, it was positive for some stuff.”
According to USADA, Sekulic tested positive for drostanolone and its metabolites, and additionally, a metabolite of metandienone. Both are anabolic agents banned from competition at all times under the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy.
“We tried to do our best to explain what happened, but at the end of day, it was my mistake. It is what it is,” said Sekulic. In fact, he added, he hadn’t even been planning on fighting at all that year, as a result of the surgery. Which would have avoided the situation entirely, as he would not have been under USADA’s purview. When the opportunity to join the promotion in September 2018 arose, however, Sekulic couldn’t pass it up. “When the UFC calls you, you don’t back out,” he stated.
In his return, Sekulic has been matched up with Dwight Grant. “He’s a little bit unorthodox,” noted the Serbian, citing Grant’s use of angles. “But as long as I’m disciplined with my guard and everything, with my movement, I think I can beat him easily.”
Watch the full UFC 261 media day scrum with Stefan Sekulic above. The event takes place this Saturday, April 24 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The main card airs live on PPV.
