After a number of its bigger named athletes tested positive for various performance enhancing drugs, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta announced an ambitious plan that entails more random unannounced tests on its fighters.

"We are committed more than ever to leading the commissions worldwide and taking out the use of PEDs from our sport, to protect the safety of the athletes and the integrity of our sport," Fertitta said at a news conference at the Red Rock Resort.

The UFC CEO also expressed his support for a much stiffer penalty structure, which includes periods of ineligibility for two, or four years.

Anderson Silva, who will be turning 40 in April, could see his career come to an end, should the Nevada State Commission find that he purposely used PEDs after testing positive twice.

UFC Welterweight contender Hector Lombard tested positive for the anabolic steroid desoxymethyltestosterone following UFC 182, and was subsequently pulled from a fight with Rory MacDonald.

Ashlee Evans-Smith also tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic, after her loss to Raquel Pennington in UFC 181. On Tuesday, she was suspended for nine months, and fined 30 percent of her purse, Yahoo Sports reports.

"A fighter is going to look at risk vs. reward," said UFC president Dan White. "[He'll say], "If I can make a few million dollars, I'll take the risk of getting caught and getting a nine-month suspension and whatever it is.' Two or four years is career-threatening. If you're 28 years old and you get busted for PED and you're out for four years, that might be the end of it. So now, when you look at the risk vs. the reward, it's a lot more dangerous."

Added Fertitta who showed statistics that suggested 26.3 percent of sighters from a small sample size tested positive, "We're hitting this head on, but honestly, it's probably going to get worse before it gets better. But we have to put these procedures in place to eventually make it better."