MMA featherweight Robbie Peralta says he "made the dumb choice of smoking" marijuana after his grandmother died in March. Peralta failed a drug test in April and has been suspended by the UFC for six months.
"I've been going through some emotional things these past six months," the fighter said in an apologetic statement. "We had the funeral and had a few drinks and started making bad choices. I regretted it the next day, but I'm not here to make excuses for myself. I did what I did."
After losing a fight to Akira Coranssani on Apr. 6 in Stockholm, the 145-pounder tested positive for marijuana metabolites (i.e., THC). He's banned from competing until October.
Peralta, whose record is 16-4-1, lives in Escondido, California. Unlike fellow fighter Matt Riddle, who was released by the UFC in February after he failed a second drug test, Peralta does not have a medical-marijuana card.
