“Mondragon,” who was slated to fight fellow heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 153 in October, ultimately was pulled from the card after a blood test came back positive for hepatitis B.
UFC officials declined comment when contacted by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) but confirmed dos Santos (32-14 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was never released from his contract.
Dos Santos, who underwent an aggressive yearlong chemotherapy treatment, now has a viral count of zero, which means he’s essentially been cured of the disease. An initial test came back successful in March, and a second test confirmed the results earlier this month.
While medically cleared, dos Santos has some final clerical steps before he can return to competition. But the eight-year pro’s UFC debut is likely to come before year’s end, though an exact date and opponent haven’t been determined.
Dos Santos, who once was a sparring partner for Lyoto Machida, owns an 11-fight winning streak. In 32 career wins, he’s posted 21 knockouts and nine submissions. The 32-year-old has gone to a decision just once during his winning efforts.
Notably, dos Santos has defeated former UFC fighters Antonio Mendes and Assuerio Silva. He also once fought current UFC champ Junior dos Santos, though he suffered a first-round TKO loss due to a cut.
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
