One of the highest-ranked UFC strawweights who Zhang Weili is yet to fight fails drug test

If Zhang Weili does return to 115 pounds after UFC 322, her pool of potential opponents may have just gotten thinner.

The strawweight division has experienced somewhat of a collapse in recent years after Weili largely cleared out the field and showed unrivaled dominance over the weight class.

Mackenzie Dern beat Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 to be crowned the Chinese legend’s successor and will be awaiting news of Weili’s possible return to the division in 2026.

In the meantime, both ‘Magnum’ and the newly crowned queen at 115 pounds has had one potential future rival eliminated from the equation for the time being.

Who will win the UFC Qatar main event?

Top-10 UFC strawweight Iasmin Lucindo suspended after failed drug test

Iasmin Lucindo has established herself as a leading up-and-comer on the women’s roster in the UFC, having won five of her seven fights to rise to No. 7 in the strawweight division.

After bouncing back from a loss to ex-title challenger Amanda Lemos by beating veteran Angela Hill last time out, the Brazilian was planning to stake her claim for a potential title eliminator against fellow top-10 contender Gillian Robertson this December.

That fight, however, fell through after Lucindo failed a drug test.

MMA Junkie’s Nolan King recently reported that Lucindo has been suspended by both the UFC and Nevada State Athletic Commission (NAC) after testing positive for the prohibited substance mesterolone.

Her team is putting the failed test down to a contaminated substance.

“In late September, Iasmin was flagged for metabolites of a prohibited substance,” Lucindo’s manager, Tiago Okamura, said in a statement to MMA Junkie. “However, she was tested in August after her fight, with the result returning negative, and again in October, which also came back negative.

“Iasmin has not knowingly used any prohibited substances and based on the amount and type of the detected metabolites, we firmly believe that this is a case of contamination rather than intentional use. We are working diligently, in collaboration with Drug Free Sports and the UFC, to identify the source of this contamination.

“We are actively working to find answers. Since the test was conducted while Iasmin was booked to fight in Las Vegas, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has jurisdiction over this matter and we are working with them as well to clear the situation.

“As we stand, we have identified two supplements that align with the timeline of the tests. These samples have been sent to the SMRTL labs in Utah for comprehensive testing, with the hope of uncovering the cause and ensuring transparency for all involved.”