Renato Canuto has been temporarily suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission after testing positive for modafinil in relation to his March 13 bout at Tuff-N-Uff 152.
The commission confirmed the suspension at its monthly meeting Wednesday. Canuto’s sub-two-minute TKO win over Dylan Aparis from that event is under review and the result will almost certainly be changed to a no contest.
Aparis also tested positive, with his urinalysis detecting exogenously-administered testosterone metabolites, and he likewise received a temporary suspension. Neither Canuto nor Aparis has reached a settlement agreement with the commission regarding potential suspensions and fines.
Addressing the situation, Canuto said, "I want to address the recent notice of my temporary suspension issued by the Nevada Athletic Commission following a drug test related to my March 13, 2026 bout," and added, "The test identified the presence of modafinil and its metabolite. I want to be clear: I do not dispute these findings, and I fully accept the Commission's process and any outcome that follows. I have notified the Nevada Commission in writing today that However, it is very important to me to state that I never knowingly or intentionally used any banned substance, nor did I seek to gain any unfair advantage."
Canuto, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu star who crossed into MMA in May 2025 and holds a 4-0 professional record, is a highly-decorated grappler with tournament wins in IBJJF, KASAI, UAEJJF, and Marianas Open. He most recently competed for UFC BJJ, where he went 1-1.
