Fighter who was originally scheduled to fight Shara Magomedov admits to taking steroids: "Had no idea that I would sign with the UFC"

Joilton Lutterbach was scheduled to make his UFC debut on June 22 against undefeated prospect Shara Magomedov but was pulled from the fight during fight week. As the fighter would later himself announce, Lutterbach admitted the reason he had withdrawn from the fight was not due to an injury.

Instead, Lutterbach revealed that he had tested positive for illegal substances. Instead of refuting the test results, the 31-year-old claimed that he "used juice three months ago" back when he had "no idea" that he would receive a UFC contract.

In his statement on Instagram, Lutterbach wrote:

"I actually used juice 3 months ago and had no idea that I would sign with the @ufc. I could have hidden... but I preferred to take the risk and believe I was clean and fit to fight... I would like to say sorry to the [UFC] and to my opponent Shara. I will be frozen and not dead. I will be back soon!"

Lutterbach was signed on relatively short notice to replace Ihor Potieria at UFC Saudi Arabia, who accepted a short-notice fight against Michel Pereira at UFC 301. At the time of his signing with the promotion, 'Peregrino' was preparing for a boxing match with Adrian Bleszynski on May 25.

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Antonio Trocoli replaces Joilton Lutterbach to face Shara Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia

The UFC seemingly could not take a break in June and was forced to scramble, saving another fight that fell through at the last minute.

With Joilton Lutterbach no longer competing on June 22, Sharaputdin 'Shara Bullet' Magomedov will instead face Antonio Trocoli, who was booked to make his UFC debut at UFC Vegas 93 against Ikram Aliskerov.

Aliskerov was pulled from the fight to replace Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC Saudi Arabia main event.

Should the fight go through, Magomedov will be Trocoli's fourth different opponent he has been booked against in an attempt to make his UFC debut.

Like his last opponent, Aliskerov, Trocoli was in Las Vegas preparing to compete on June 22 but will instead fly across the world to take on Magomedov with a few days of preparation.