All 5 Fighters Tested Pass Post-Fight Drug Tests at Strikeforce 'Marquardt vs. Saffiedine'

Mike WhitmanJan 17, 2013



All drug test results came back clean following last Saturday’s Strikeforce card in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma State Athletic Commission officials confirmed the results Thursday with Sherdog.com, verifying that Tarec Saffiedine, Nate Marquardt, Josh Barnett, Tim Kennedy and Tim Holobaugh all produced negative tests following their respective bouts at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Saffiedine and Marquardt headlined the event, going five rounds in battle to decide Strikeforce’s final welterweight champion before the promotion folded. In the end, Saffiedine emerged victorious, battering Marquardt’s lead leg with a steady assault of low kicks to win the title via unanimous decision.

Barnett and Kennedy also took home wins at “Marquardt vs. Saffiedine,” stopping Nandor Guelmino and Trevor Smith, respectively. Holobaugh was the lone loser to be tested, as the previously unbeaten prospect saw his perfect record erased by veteran Pat Healy during the evening’s undercard broadcast on Showtime Extreme.

Now that Strikeforce has held its final show, much of its talent pool will transition to the UFC, including Saffiedine, Marquardt, Kennedy and Holobaugh. Barnett’s future is yet undecided, however, as the heavyweight is soon expected to enter into negotiations with the Las Vegas-based organization.