Dennis Siver has been busted for taking performance-enhancing drugs once. Conor McGregor believes there is no guarantee he won’t be using them when the two fight Sunday.
“I feel he has been on that stuff his whole career and who knows his evolution?” McGregor said Tuesday on ESPN2’s Highly Questionable. “He has probably evolved his skills of hiding the substance. So as far as I’m aware, he could be entering this contest on performance-enhancing drugs as it is. I do not respect an individual like that.”
In December 2013, Siver tested positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a fertility drug for women. It can also be used in combination with anabolic steroid cycles, so it is part of the WADA banned list. Siver was suspended and his win over Manny Gamburyan was overturned into a no contest.
Since then, Siver (22-9, 1 NC) has fought only once, defeating Charles Rosa in October. The German’s only losses since 2010 have come against Cub Swanson and Donald Cerrone. Yet, McGregor (16-2) is a 12-to-1 favorite in some sportsbooks for the main event at UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston.
“The Notorious” doesn’t seem to think that figure is too high. McGregor not only predicts he will knock Siver out within two minutes of the fight, he also now says Siver will be ousted from the UFC following the loss.
“He has two options,” McGregor said. “He can either retire or he will be cut from the promotion. On the night, on the air, I will cut him myself as I believe I am shaping up to become vice president of the UFC pretty soon. So I will be making cuts myself.”
McGregor, 26, also commented for the first time about calling Siver a Nazi on social media back in November. The Irishman quickly deleted the post, but he still has no apologies for Siver — only others who might have been insulted by the off-color remark.
“I realized people outside of the contest took offense,” McGregor said. “I did not want to offend nobody that is not involved in the contest. But as far as offending Dennis, I do not care about Dennis. I will call him whatever I want and I will do what I please to him on Sunday night.”
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5 MUST-READ STORIES
One-night only. Jon Jones reportedly spent just a single day in rehab following his positive test for cocaine in December. Seriously.
Jones be stuntin?’ So was this whole drug-treatment facility deal a giant publicity stunt? Our own Chuck Mindenall breaks it down.
Doesn’t move the needle? Looks like the only thing that long holdout did for Nate Diaz was cost him precious time and money. Diaz made only $16,000 for his loss to Rafael dos Anjos in the co-main event of UFC on FOX 13: Dos Santos vs. Miocic. Ouch.
Don’t kill the messenger.No one from the UFC asked or even told Benson Henderson about his opponent change for UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver last week. The man who broke the news to him? Donald Cerrone, the dude who he’s going to be fighting.
Suspect ‘Spider.’ Anderson Silva knocked out a sparring partner with a highlight-reel flying knee. Or did he? Watch the video and decide for yourself. We still have no clue what to make of it.
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MEDIA STEW
Embedded for a FOX Sports 1 card? You betcha
How fast is Conor McGregor? Yay, science!
Get to know Bubba Jenkins before his fight against Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 132
Remember when Tyron Woodley had none of that Dong Hyun Kim spinning backfist?
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TWEETS
Cursed TSA!
I don’t know why I allow the airport security fucks to get to me the way they do… Vented now I’m good.
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) January 13, 2015
“New York Pizza” in Boston? C’mon guys.
.@chrisfieldsmma is officially the worst person to have around when you’re cutting weight. pic.twitter.com/f33ZAHPWqF
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) January 13, 2015
Not even touching this one.
Mcgregor has one very significant advantage over Ali. He is available to fight now We need a constant new source of heroes & villains
— Campbell McLaren (@campbellcombate) January 13, 2015
Doesn’t he watch UFC, bro?
Just had the Guy sittn across fr me on the train say “You have a nice quiet voice….LMAO…I’m on da train shoulda give him “We Rollllnnnn”
— Burt Watson (@BurtWatson4real) January 13, 2015
Jade Bryce’s replacement?
Excited to have @SummerDaniels21 join us this Friday at “Bellator: Pitbull vs Straus” as a #BellatorMMA Ring Girl! pic.twitter.com/bClt2YUT8c
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) January 13, 2015
Cub’s roar.
Thanks @Fearthefighter for sending me part of what you owed me and then putting a stop payment on it @ufc
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 13, 2015
I wish I got this much media push when I fought Dennis Siver or for the multiple #1 contender fights I had
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 13, 2015
Of course I’m bitter
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 13, 2015
Jonesin’ for Jones takes.
lol no joke!!! pic.twitter.com/wAV34TFSPg
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) January 13, 2015
I called it. Jon Jones is a fake, if you don’t like what I’m saying don’t follow me. #sorrynotsorry
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) January 13, 2015
There’s people with real addictions and issues in this world looking for help, who really need to be in rehab, and people like Jon’s who
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) January 13, 2015
Jon Jones vs rehab 1st round stoppage. @MMARoasted @realOCsports
— DaMarques Johnson (@DaMarques_UFC) January 13, 2015
Putting the UFC on blast.
They didn’t even tell bendo he was fighting cowboy or ask him? Just let him find out like the average fans? That’s fucked man
— Cody Bollinger (@CodyBollinger) January 13, 2015
‘Rowdy’ Bec vs. ‘Rowdy’ Mama
New age feminists don’t want equal rights they want to demonize men & belittle women who don’t conform!! pic.twitter.com/QawRoD9StY
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) January 13, 2015
@RowdyBec I am proud to call myself a feminist. I remember a time when girls were not ALLOWED to compete in sports #HowQuicklyTheyForget
— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) January 13, 2015
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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
– Johny Hendricks vs. Matt Brown, UFC 185
– Tony Ferguson vs. Yancy Medeiros, UFC 184
– Elias Theodorou vs. Roger Narvaez, UFC 185
– Sergio Pettis vs. Ryan Benoit, UFC 185
– Pat Barry vs. Mourad Bouzidi, Glory 20
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FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Graham Douglas who, well, takes a kind of ridiculous look at potential first opponents for CM Punk:
Okay, one thing is certain. If CM Punk wins his first fight, then his opponent must be at a similar MMA level. And if that’s true, then it’s not going to be a true and tested MMA fighter who is in the UFC on the merits of their MMA skillset. That means this is wide open. I’ll kick things off.
First Choice:
CM Punk vs. Steven Segal