Things seem to have gone from bad to worse for Quemuel Ottoni.
Ottoni (12-3), who was scheduled to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series 71 last September, refused to fight Kody Steele minutes before the scheduled walkout. While the fight didn’t take place, it attracted much attention for the abrupt cancellation.
As it turns out, Ottoni also failed the Nevada Athletic Commission drug test surrounding the bout. Ottoni submitted a urine sample that showed the presence of clomiphene, a banned substance.
At Wednesday’s monthly commission meeting, members voted to approve an 18-month suspension for Ottoni, who was also fined $471.12 for attorney fees. The punishment was what the commission called a “default,” as it struggled to get in contact with Ottoni, deputy attorney general Matthew Feely said.
Ottoni has not been booked since his withdrawal. He can return to competition March 10, 2026.
While his last-minute decision to withdraw from the bout had UFC CEO Dana White and scheduled opponent Steele scratching their heads, Ottoni later explained he was dealing with severe anxiety.
