Dana White (Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe UFC and Brazilian heavyweight Marco Rogerio de Lima have parted ways, per UFC Roster Watch. The 39-year-old was recently suspended for a year after testing positive for anastrozole in Januaryhis second violation for the substance.Combat Sports Anti-Doping determined the positive test stemmed from a medication de Lima was taking for a known medical condition. However, because he failed to apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE), he was suspended. Though the violation was deemed involuntary, the second offense led to an automatic one-year ban instead of six months.IRVINE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: Marcos Rogerio de Lima poses for a portrait during a UFC photo ... [+] session on February 14, 2024 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesThe UFC's decision to part ways with de Lima may have been influenced by both his age and the suspension. His release comes nearly 11 years after he first appeared on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil in March 2014. De Lima reached the semifinals before losing to Antonio Carlos Jr. via first-round submission.Despite the loss, de Lima earned a UFC contract and made an immediate impact, scoring back-to-back first-round KO wins over Richardson Moreira and Igor Pakrajac. The victories took less than two minutes combined, with one coming at heavyweight and the other at light heavyweight.However, submission defense and weight-cutting struggles plagued de Lima throughout his career. He suffered first-round submission losses to Nikita Krylov in 2015 and Gadzhimurad Antigulov in 2016. He then missed weight in his next two fights, splitting results with a KO win over Jeremy Kimball and a submission loss to Ovince Saint Preux via Von Flue choke in 2017.ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 17: Marcos Rogerio de Lima of Brazil reacts after his TKO victory ... [+] against Junior Tafa of New Zealand in a heavyweight fight during the UFC 298 event at Honda Center on February 17, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesBetween 2018 and 2023, de Lima went 6-4, with three losses by submission. His most recent victory came at UFC 298 in February 2024, where he stopped Junior Tafa with leg kicks and ground-and-pound. He was scheduled to fight Kennedy Nzechukwu in October 2024 but later withdrew.At 39 and facing a one-year ban, de Lima's return to the UFC appears unlikely. The promotion has been moving away from aging heavyweights who have seemingly hit their ceiling. As of March 19, 2025, only Marcin Tybura and Derrick Lewis remain in the UFC heavyweight rankings at 39 or older.De Limas history with banned substances may have expedited his exit. Once his suspension ends, he could find a new home in the Professional Fighters League or Global Fight League.Up Next UFC LondonThe UFC heads to London on Saturday, March 22, as Leon Edwards returns to the Octagon to take on Sean Brady. Heres a look at the full fight card.Main Card (Starting at 3:00 PM ET):Welterweight Bout: Leon Edwards vs. Sean BradyLight Heavyweight Bout: Jan Bachowicz vs. Carlos UlbergWelterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin HollandWomen's Strawweight Bout: Molly McCann vs. Alexia ThainaraLightweight Bout: Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris DuncanFeatherweight Bout: Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan CharrirePreliminary Card (Starting at 12:00 PM ET):Lightweight Bout: Jai Herbert vs. Chris PadillaFlyweight Bout: Loneer Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos SantosHeavyweight Bout: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick ParkinMiddleweight Bout: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andre PulyaevWomen's Strawweight Bout: Shauna Bannon vs. Puja TomarBantamweight Bout: Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan LoughranLightweight Bout: Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes