Jose Souza breaks silence on doping ban that delayed his UFC debut by three years

Jose Souza steps into the UFC octagon at Fight Night Macau on Saturday against fellow debutant Ding Meng, nearly three years after first signing with the promotion — a delay caused by a doping suspension that he says upended his life and career.

Souza, also known as Jose Henrique, tested positive for two metabolites of the anabolic agent nandrolone in 2023 and has now spoken candidly about the toll that period took on him. “It was really difficult,” Souza told MMA Fighting. “I went through a lot of difficulties, a lot of bad thoughts, even thinking that I might never be able to fight in the UFC, but that only gave me more strength. It gave me the motivation to think, ‘I want to be there again, and I’m going to make it happen.’ And I did.”

The Brazilian fighter maintains he has never used performance-enhancing drugs deliberately. His account traces back to August 2022, when he competed on Dana White’s Contender Series, losing a decision but impressing UFC matchmakers Sean Shelby and White enough that they visited his locker room afterwards. “We like you,” Souza recalled them saying. “Go get a few fights outside and we’ll bring you into the promotion.”

He returned to the Shooto Brasil cage in early 2023, but during camp — two to three weeks before the fight — he injured his knee in a wrestling session. A doctor, Souza says, recommended Deca-Durabolin, an injectable form of nandrolone commonly used in post-surgical recovery, on the basis that Shooto Brasil did not conduct drug testing. “That was it,” Souza said of the single injection.

Shooto Brasil is sanctioned by the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA), which does subject fighters to testing, though not every competitor on a given card is tested. Souza knocked out his opponent that night, and promoter Andre Pederneiras — known as ‘Dede’ — immediately called Shelby to flag the performance. “Right there, when I got out of the cage, ‘Dede’ said, ‘You just signed with the UFC,’” Souza recalled.

The positive test emerged weeks later. Souza had travelled to Russia with a friend competing in ACA, and on March 8 testers arrived to collect a sample. He acknowledged he did not disclose the substance use when he formally signed with the UFC and was first tested by USADA, saying the doctor had advised him it would clear his system in time.

Now, with the suspension served, Souza is focused solely on making the most of the opportunity he feared had slipped away permanently. “I spent that time away working, waiting, training, giving my best every single day,” he said. “That’s what gave me the strength to keep going, because I needed a goal, and my goal was to make it to the UFC.”