Nevada commission clears Cantwell to fight

http://mmajunkie.com/news/19238/nevada-commission-clears-ufc-light-heavyweight-steve-cantwell-to-fight-again.mma
Steve Cantwell is back in business.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Thursday issued Cantwell a new fight license almost six months after commission officials denied him a spot on the injury-plagued UFC 108 fight card.

Cantwell was four days away from a fight with Vladimir Matyushenko on the Jan. 2 fight card when the NSAC took issue with his medical paperwork and declined to issue him a license. The UFC could not find a replacement opponent for Matyushenko and pulled the non-televised bout from the card.

UFC president Dana White then said Cantwell might never fight again.

Keith Kizer, NSAC executive director, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Cantwell's issue stemmed from the medical paperwork all fighters are required to submit to the commission prior to licensing.

"What [fighters] have to do is they have to go get a physical, blood work, eye exams and all this other stuff, and have their doctor sign off on it then send it all in," he said after Cantwell's removal.

"I guess on one of the medicals, and I'm not going to get into what it was, he was having an issue getting a clearance on something."

Cantwell, 23, previously was licensed and fought four times in Nevada, which included a victory over Brian Stann in August 2008 that netted him the WEC's 205-pound belt.

Nick Blomgren, Cantwell's manager, today told MMAjunkie.com that the fighter resolved the issue when he met with a Nevada medical advisory board in April and presented his findings to the commission.

Although speculation ran rampant about the supposed medical issue, Cantwell and the NSAC never publicly confirmed the details.

"Steve proved (to the NSAC) that the problem was not true," Blomgren said.

The UFC has been notified of Cantwell's status, he added, though a fight is not currently on the books.

"That's up to Joe Silva, but I'm sure it will be soon," Blomgren said. "I think he is just glad he got his license. [He's] glad it's resolved and just wants to move on in his career and fight."

Cantwell (7-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has not fought since this past September, when he met Stann a third time and lost a unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 19.

good news, the guy is still young.

Good for him, the guy has a lot of potential

Add to him to the list of guys I hate. Ever since he snapped buddies arm and was proud of it screaming out thats what I wanted to do. He can go fuck himself but thats just my opinion.

You like Mir and Aoki?

I used to think he was a future champ. Wonder how he will look after such a long lay off.

I would think he will have alot of rust Wolf and hopefully the UFC gives him a winnable fight to get back into it.

Elliot Marshall sound about right?

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Elliot Marshall sound about right?

Sounds good to me LOL.