UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey says she ‘was heartbroken’ and ‘wanted to cry’ when she heard former middleweight champion Anderson Silva had tested positive for steroids.
Silva scored a unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz Jan. 31 at UFC 183. Days later, the Nevada Athletic Commission revealed Silva had failed a Jan. 9 blood test after testing positive for two banned substances.
Speaking with Yahoo! Sports, Rousey believes first-time offenders should not only suffer 12-month bans, but also ‘forfeit 100 percent of his or her purse to the opponent.’ Repeat offenses should call for a lifetime ban, according to Rousey.
“People need to realize that is a weapon and they’re bringing a weapon into the cage and they’re making our sport unsafe,” said Rousey. “The day that a person dies in that Octagon and the person who killed them tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs, we’re going to have our first homicide case. It’s going to destroy the whole sport.
“Do you think that one little pay-per-view getting a couple of extra views is worth that? No, it’s not [expletive] worth it. I think there needs to be as strict of drug testing as there is for the Olympics, maybe even harder.”
Unlike sports like professional baseball where the ‘performance enhancing’ aspect of drugs boosts statistics, Rousey says the gains will only translate to carnage.
“This is a combat sport, and we’re not trying to hit a ball harder,” Rousey said. “These drugs can make you hit a person harder. The only reason we’re able to do this sport is that the level of human potential is just [low] enough that we can barely allow it. We’re right at the threshold.
“It’s not like we’re getting to the point where it’s, ‘Oh, we’re going to start to have higher world records for weight lifting.’ No. We’re going to be able to hurt each other more. That’s what I’m worried about. I’m worried that this is going to keep escalating and escalating and escalating until somebody dies.”
Rousey faces No. 1 contender Cat Zingano Feb. 28 in the main event at UFC 184 in Los Angeles, California.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Another one. According to the Nevada Athletic Commission, Hector Lombard has failed his UFC 182 fight night drug test for an anabolic steroid.
Shakeup. With Lombard’s bout with Rory MacDonald scrapped, flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will now face Kyoji Horiguchi in the UFC 186 co-main event.
‘It’s going to get worse before it gets better.’ Tim Kennedy weighs in on MMA’s drug problem.
‘The more I watch the fights the more I feel the itch.’ Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre gives an update on where he is on a possible return to fighting.
‘I beat this guy every time out.’ Eddie Alvarez talks about the possibility of finally getting to fight fellow ‘underground king’ Gilbert Melendez.
MEDIA STEW
Ben Henderson snags some comics.
Inside MMA’s Best of the Week.
Tyron Woodley isn’t feeling great after his foot surgery.
GSP just hanging out, doing some gymnastics.
Why I Fight – Neil Magny.
Surprised it took this long for one to pop up.
Long watches.
Show Money, Episode 1: The UFC, MMA business in 2014
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EFC 37 Countdown: Mynhardt vs Madge III
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TWEETS
See how the pros reacted to Lombard’s failed test.
Pay the man.
I still respect @HectorLombard as a man and as a Martial Artist. I am never surprised when pro athletes get caught w PED’s.
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) February 10, 2015
I agreed with some of you… UFC can I get my win money though; )
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) February 10, 2015
Dana Whit and the Fertitta’s have been very good to me post fight. @FightDiscussion @lorenzofertitta @danawhite
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) February 10, 2015
Trolling.
For those asking, @rory_macdonald and myself would not be a good fight bc it would be an easy night for me. May not even break a sweat.
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) February 11, 2015
@danawhite @ufc Dana dos Anjos going to smash him sorry
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 11, 2015
“@TeamKhabib: Hey @Cowboycerrone don’t lie that you signed? @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta pic.twitter.com/9mUUnsep7k” That works for me
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 10, 2015
Faber?
Big day tomorrow for me @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) February 11, 2015
Could be interesting.
Is anyone really surprised the Lombard failed his post fight drug test? Tune into @ufctoni… http://t.co/SrraxawVb4 pic.twitter.com/km6xsIaShD
— michael (@bisping) February 11, 2015
“@jmatt45: @dc_mma any thoughts on the apparent rampant drug use in MMA? #PEDGATE” watch @UFCTonight tomorrow
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 11, 2015
Congrats.
So awesome to be a @Reebok sponsored athlete with my @MMAINC family member @showtimepettis @mikeMMAinc pic.twitter.com/NNwKVvbRca
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) February 10, 2015
“@SchlinskMMA: @Reebok In&outside the cage.Congrats on the signing.Now how about the champ @CarlaEsparza1?” Maybe they don’t like brunettes
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) February 10, 2015
Paige VanZant got that exclusive Reebok deal, you go girl. Wish I was pretty!
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 11, 2015
Get well soon.
Thanks for all the kind words and prayers. Your boy is in pain. Please if you do not live with me.,.. Don’t call me till next week!
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) February 10, 2015
Nice.
@EliasTheodorou thanks brother
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) February 11, 2015
Very cool.
Come see me and adopt your forever friend! pic.twitter.com/27aSZD6ZoE
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) February 10, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 10 2015)
cancelled Hector Lombard vs. Rory MacDonald at UFC 186
Demetrious Johnson vs. Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC 186
Katsunori Kikuno vs. Kevin Souza at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare
Christos Giagos vs. Jorge Oliveira at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare
Fredy Serrano vs. Bentley Syler at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare
Alexis Davis vs. Sarah Kaufman at UFC 186
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via newyorkmma.
To me, as a casual fan, there’s no difference between a “draw” and “no contest” once the dust has settled. Therefore, in cases where the results are overturned, I see that the original “winner” of the bout gets punished somewhat by getting a “NC” instead of a “W”, but what about the poor guy who lost? For the original loser of the bout, I don’t believe giving him an “NC” is fair compensation. That person deserves a “W” and should get it.
A perfect example was Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva. I was very disappointed that Mark Hunt did not get a “Win” after Antonio Bigfoot Silva failed his test. Bigfoot did not really get punished, because converting his “Draw” to “NC” doesn’t mean anything. Those two results are practically the same. The worst part however was, not giving Mark Hunt anything at all in compensation. Mark Hunt ended up keeping his “Draw” as a “Draw”. WTF?
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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