Report: Mousasi, Shlemenko pass drug screening ahead of Bellator 185

Gegard Mousasi and Alexander Shlemenko have both passed their out-of-competition drug tests ahead of Bellator 185's middleweight main event in Connecticut, MMA Fighting's Marc Raimondi reported on Friday.

Mousasi was tested several weeks ago, while Shlemenko was screened both in June and this past week. The results were confirmed Friday morning.

The 32-year-old Mousasi had requested additional testing ahead of what will mark his Bellator debut, as Shlemenko tested positive for steroids surrounding his bout with Melvin Manhoef in February of 2015 - a tilt in which resulted in a no-contest. Shlemenko's three-year ban was eventually shortened until early 2016 - when his license expired - due to procedural blunders committed by the California State Athletic Commission.

Shlemenko has competed primarily under Russia's M-1 banner since, although he stopped Kendall Grove in his return to the Bellator cage last October. He and Mousasi meet Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena on six and five-fight winning streaks, respectively.