UFC commentator Joe Rogan certainly didn’t mince words detailing the promotion’s recent high profile drug test failures.
“The UFC and MMA in general is a steroid epidemic,” Rogan said this week on his podcast. “They’ve started this really stringent testing and everybody is getting popped. They’re just getting popped left and right. It’s one of the things fighters have been saying for a long time, that everyone is on steroids, a huge percentage. Give a number 50, 60 [percent]. Whatever the f**k it is that are on steroids.”
News broke Feb. 3 that former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva had failed a pre-fight out of competition drug screening after testing positive for two types of anabolic steroids.
Silva scored a unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz Jan. 31 at UFC 183 in Las Vegas, but is expected be handed a temporary suspension when the Nevada Athletic Commission meets Feb. 17.
“Anderson was coming back from a broken leg and he tested positive for metabolites,” said Rogan. “It was leaving his system, a very trace amount. If that was the case, it could very well be that he got on some steroids to heal up quicker. Because what steroids do, is they allow you to recover quicker.
“So if he’s 39 years old and he broke his f***ing leg, you’re talking about a long-ass period of recovery. Or you take steroids and you recover in nine months instead of 15 months or fill in the blank. That could be what’s going on, but the reality is it’s illegal. You can’t do it. If it takes you 15 months, the excuse can’t be, ‘I’m going to give you some illegal drugs so you heal quicker. This is the only reason you take these drugs. Don’t worry about it, you’ll be fine.’ No, you’re never allowed to take steroids.”
Feb. 10 we learned welterweight contender Hector Lombard had failed a fight night urine test following his unanimous decision victory over Josh Burkman Jan. 3 at UFC 182.
The 37-year-old tested positive for the anabolic steroid desoxymethyltestosterone, often referred to as a ‘designer drug.’
“This thing that Hector Lombard got popped for, I’ve never even heard of this s**t before,” said Rogan. “It’s apparently a designer anabolic steroid, so what I think that means is that it’s one of these steroids that’s been concocted to get around the rules.
“The test are getting way more sophisticated, so who knows? Lombard must have thought that he couldn’t get in trouble for this s**t. I don’t understand it.”
Not to be an apologist, but Rogan can certainly understand why MMA fighters would be an ideal market for PEDs.
“The idea of a normal training camp, which is, fighters will workout sometimes three times a day.” said Rogan. “Maybe they’ll run and do sprints in the morning, then they’ll do some kind of strength and conditioning in the afternoon. Then they’ll do wrestling or Jiu-Jitsu at night. Then they’ll vary. The next day they might do kickboxing in the morning and running in the afternoon, then weight lifting at night. But you’re talking about working out three times in a day because you have all these different skills you have to work on.
“You have to work on your wrestling, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu. There’s not enough time in the day, and there’s not enough time to recover. So that’s when Dr. Feelgood comes in.”
Rogan believes ‘clean’ fighters may eventually become the minority, if they haven’t already.
“The reality is, this whole steroid epidemic, one thing we have to recognize, the use of steroids is less than 100 years old,” said Rogan. “There’s always been substances that people have taken, but the actual use of anabolic steroids in human beings is relatively recent in human history.
“I think as time goes on, they’re going to create more powerful and crazier s**t and it’s going to get to the point where you’re going to test negative because you’re not on it anymore but your body will forever be changed.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Tests. UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and No. 1 contender Cat Zingano were both subjected to random drug testing this week ahead of UFC 184.
Super. A fight between bantamweight and featherweight contenders Urijah Faber and Frankie Edgar will headline the UFC’s inaugural event in the Philippines.
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas discusses Hector Lombard’s positive steroid test, solving PEDs in MMA, UFC Fight Night 60 and more in this week’s live chat.
Ouch. UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans will miss another six to seven months after undergoing another ACL surgery.
If it’s any consolation. Anthony Johnson says he felt bad that Alexander Gustafsson’s ‘dreams got shot to hell’ when he knocked him out at UFC on FOX 14.
MEDIA STEW
Ariel Helwani’s news nuggets from UFC Tonight.
Demetrious Johnson wants $2 million to move back to 135 pounds to fight T.J. Dillashaw.
Inside MMA’s viewer submissions.
Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas talk Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor and CM Punk. (Part 2 here)
What to watch at Bellator 133 – Pat Curran and Daniel Weichel.
Not quick enough.
Long watches.
UFC Fight Night Bendo vs Thatch Care/Don’t Care Preview
…
Chael Sonnen’s You’re Welcome – Ep 18 – Brendan Schaub & Bryan Callen
…
Gross Point Blank – Clarence Thatch, Daniel Weichel and Marcelo Alonso
…
Heavy Hands Episode 38: Rhythm Is Gonna Get You!
TWEETS
Big fights.
Here we go! You’ve all been asking for this for a long time. The Most Shady v The California Kid…. http://t.co/caCIYjDcD5
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) February 12, 2015
Thrilla in Manilla @ufc East Coast, West Coast! http://t.co/VXzR3po5eH
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) February 12, 2015
Hey @Saints I’m coming home. See you all there. @ufc #ufcnola pic.twitter.com/02uQxuk5rG
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 12, 2015
April 18 I’ll be Co-Main Event against @jacaremma #ATT #TeamML #SoldierOfGod @americantopteam @ufc http://t.co/33haLL0hZz
— Yoel Romero (@YoelRomeroMMA) February 12, 2015
Beefin’.
I wasn’t going to bother posting a picture of the break in my orbital bone BUT since Kaufman referred… http://t.co/alM76hp013
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) February 11, 2015
Look who shows up to defend her honor AFTER Im booked to fight Alexis. How convenient @MieshaTate
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 12, 2015
Yo @CarlaEsparza1 you think we can land that @Reebok deal now? #justsaying #sorrynotsorry pic.twitter.com/IB85SmDbMK
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) February 12, 2015
Official.
. @john37221 @RondaRousey was happy to comply with CSAC drug testing today pic.twitter.com/I532bNDEEB
— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) February 12, 2015
Get well soon.
Less social media lately cuz this is my view.Slow process until all the swelling goes.See u all on FOX this sat tho. pic.twitter.com/KNyQ8FwWkh
— Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) February 11, 2015
#MyCurrentSituation @metabolicmeals BBQ Beef Brisket! pic.twitter.com/WChP4Z4GJo
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) February 11, 2015
“@Bigbillcarguy: @MieshaTate my wife’s a CT Tech, showed her the image. She said that is a significant injury. Hope u heal quickly!” I will!
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) February 11, 2015
Still in Vegas.
Had some workouts today @syndicatemma with frankcesena @pariscesena and enzoperezmma http://t.co/7LrJmNd9Ge
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) February 12, 2015
Big Ass Business.
Good morning from beautiful Venice beach. We are talking big ass business. pic.twitter.com/sNx3UsQRBY
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 11, 2015
Nope.
Yup!! pic.twitter.com/FdErPMTeaq
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 11, 2015
Nope again.
just had a new security system put in my home. comes with a camera. What do you guys thing of where I put it lol pic.twitter.com/pFsTqu9wkl
— Daron Cruickshank (@Cruickshank155) February 11, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 11 2015)
Ryan Bader vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC Fight Night: Cormier vs. Bader
Frankie Edgar vs. Urijah Faber at UFC Fight Night: Manila
Yoel Romero vs. Ronaldo Souza at UFC on FOX 15
Aisling Daly vs. Claudia Gadelha at UFC Fight Night: Cro Cop vs. Gonzaga
Jon Delos Reyes vs. Roldan Sangcha-an at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber
Kajan Johnson vs. Lipeng Zhang at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber
Tae Hyun Bang vs. Jon Tuck at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber
Li Jingliang vs. Roger Zapata at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber
Nolan Ticman vs. Zhuikui Yao at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.