Much like his countryman Lyoto Machida, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo doesn’t seem to have much of an issue fighting PED users.
Speaking with Combate, Aldo explains that while he recognizes the downside of performance enhancing drugs in fighting, he can certainly see where exceptions could be made.
“From a sportive standpoint, we try to look it with good eyes,” said Aldo. “I don’t see any problems. If you have problems, you need to take more things because the doctor prescribed, that’s fine. Nobody stays young forever. However, if you try to take advantage with that, then I think it’s unfair with those who fight clean.
“But if you test in every sport, only a few would test clean, 100 percent healthy, that only train and eat rice and beans. That doesn’t exist. If you go see the Olympics, several athletes said they were using something and there was no campaign (to stop it) until they retire.”
Aldo doesn’t believe he’s fought a PED user in his career, but he says he wouldn’t hold it against them, either.
“It’s bad for the sport in one side, and I don’t see problems with that on the other side,” Aldo said of PEDs. “I never doubted anyone who fought me, I only think about me, in my training and doing my best in there. If the fighter is on something or not, I don’t see any problems.
“I won’t crucify the guy because he’s juiced or not. It doesn’t change anything for me. What interferes for me is my training, my team, doing my best and winning the fight. the same punch I threw on the clean fighter, I drew on the juiced fighter.”
Set to face No. 1 contender Conor McGregor July 11 at UFC 189 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Aldo says he’s starting to embrace being more vocal.
“I starting to like this,” Aldo said of stepping up the talk. “We have to talk a little trash to sell fights, talk more, because we know we will profit more from that. It’s important. It’s great for me, for [McGregor] and the UFC that this fight happens because of the money.
“Everybody wins. But if you talk about rankings, I don’t think he deserves because they create the rankings for that. But those rankings never meant s**t anyway, nobody f***ing follows it, so that’s great for me because of the money.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Wrasslin’. Dave Meltzer has the scoop on Brock Lesnar’s contract issues with WWE.
Old school. Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock will headline Bellator’s June 20 event in St. Louis.
Scrum. UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey talks about the recent Josh Neer incident, who she wants to fight next, Cris Cyborg, and why Gina Carano means so much to her.
Fighters’ union. Josh Koscheck talks about his 15-month layoff from the UFC, his plans for the future, his thoughts on Jake Ellenberger, his case for a fighters’ union, and much more.
Picks. Luke Thomas gives his picks for tonight’s Invicta FC 11.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 184 embedded episode 4.
Cat Zingano believes she’s Rousey’s kryptonite.
UFC 184 staredowns.
Rousey calls herself ‘the greatest fighter of all time.’
Kenny Florian and Daniel Cormier talk Josh Neer.
Ronda pulling for Pacquiao.
Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock stop by ESPN.
Long watches.
Bellator MMA: Bellator: The British Invasion Official Weigh-Ins
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Invicta FC 11 weigh-ins: Cyborg vs. Tweet
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The MMA Report – Cat Zingano, Holly Holm, Jake Ellenberger
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TWEETS
Soon.
Let’s do this @CatZingano #rouseyVSzingano #UFC184 #feb28 #andSTILL pic by @hansgutknecht pic.twitter.com/cWIGftsOSh
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) February 27, 2015
Thoughts?
Unfinished business #BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/i1guFeL0YS
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) February 26, 2015
Thank you for all the support. Do NOT miss this fight. It is my warmup before the bare knuckle fight later this summer. God bless.
— KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) February 26, 2015
Where’s Kimbo?
Very cool.
“I don’t have to hate her to want to beat her a$” http://t.co/X3kUnSshDP @ufc
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) February 26, 2015
Know more about my journey Check out this @espn short exclusive on http://t.co/yGIul1MBwV
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) February 26, 2015
Please no.
Why not pic.twitter.com/NzFXAFXtZy
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 26, 2015
The Dress.
Blue and black or white and gold?!
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) February 27, 2015
This whole dress thing is driving me nuts! It’s whatever color combo you want it to be. Either with the shadow or without lol come on man!
— Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) February 27, 2015
What the fuck is the deal with the dress? What is everyone all worked up about? It’s just an ugly dress.
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) February 27, 2015
What colour is this dress? pic.twitter.com/0WnFS9XeFK
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) February 26, 2015
I don’t give a fuck what color that dress is.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) February 27, 2015
The Llamas.
If Sun City,Arizona was smart, they’d have me on a plane right now to come handle this Llama problem. #Llamawrangler pic.twitter.com/abcXrNhmTd
— Ricardo Lamas (@RicardoLamasMMA) February 26, 2015
I just watched a llama chase and it was the best thing I’ve seen in 2015.
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) February 26, 2015
This Week in Struggle.
Nothin will give you a case of the mondays like having to pick your mom up from jail first thing in morning…..
— DaMarques Johnson (@DaMarques_UFC) February 23, 2015
First time signing this pic for a fan. Haha pic.twitter.com/gCWnHB65Tv
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) February 24, 2015
“@gordiemacd: Carla Esparza , you have been “Chinnyed” pic.twitter.com/5mRLm51YAS“
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) February 27, 2015
Nothing like cutting a lil weight at the airport!!! @tacobell guaranteed weight loss pic.twitter.com/4hDuJYGzrG
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 25, 2015
This is the look of a man that just spent 3 minutes at 240 degrees below zero at @cryohealthcare https://t.co/nxE2ruphEH
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) February 26, 2015
Inhaled so many fumes cleaning the mold out of the shower. Prob just killed more brain cells than last three fights put together
— Peggy Morgan (@peggymorganmma) February 23, 2015
I’m not hungry but I have to eat… But when I do eat I immediately becoming a starving Ethiopian child. #TheStruggle @TheMeleeWay
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) February 26, 2015
I find my eyes wondering at the breakfast buffet like Tiger Woods at the AVN Awards. Like which one of you is going to get it on Saturday.
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) February 26, 2015
@TWooodley @ufc lol. I felt he owed me 50k lol
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) February 24, 2015
“@joeschafer84: #UFC188 who’s gonna get injured first, @cainmma or @FabricioWerdum …. ?@danawhite #ufc Come on stop being a negative nancy
— Cain Velasquez (@cainmma) February 23, 2015
Man on the plane ahead of me reached for his bag and straight up elbowed me in the face. Nobody saw. Hahahaha
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) February 23, 2015
I hate u for this!!! RT @LukeBarnatt: BOOM! Finally got myself to hungryhanks in Chula Vista for a … http://t.co/df3LCEbTx5
— Clint Hester (@clinthester) February 27, 2015
How UFC found Joanne Calderwood’s next fight pic.twitter.com/fRhlMQhp43
— Bogan Rowdy Bec (@NoClassRowdyBec) February 21, 2015
This is how #Judo does in my country: “French Judo Federation bans coaches from teaching MMA” http://t.co/Ec5HfINasS #AShame #MMA #France
— Cheick Kongo (@kongo4real) February 23, 2015
I always swell up like an elephant after a fight for a few days. Literally, my entire body is swollen. Weird stuff
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) February 26, 2015
Dont u hate when u take a long , Eat & drink some ?? & then u have 2 Why didnt u come B4! … https://t.co/Vh2rC9r321
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) February 26, 2015
Alone again Sim, só eu malho esse horário pelo visto! https://t.co/XRfzWGXML1
— Jhenny Andrade UFC (@jhennyandrade10) February 26, 2015
They say I’m an animal in the ring! Thanks? What was my former co-worker thinking? LOL http://t.co/Gv5DCG3w5z pic.twitter.com/7eBeD6LuLK
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) February 23, 2015
Fun with Friends pic.twitter.com/VSXn3gdGFk
— SinFul Celeste (@SinFulCeleste) February 26, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 26 2015)
Josh Thomson out, Gilbert Burns vs. Alex Oliveira at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare
Ken Shamrock vs. Kimbo Slice at Bellator: Unfinished Business
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via tigerlee.
The Outsiders: The Female Divisions
While most of the best talent is under the UFC banner and Bellator and WSOF have seemed scooped up the rest, there is still plenty of talent yet to be signed by the top promotions of the MMA food chain. These are not necessarily ‘free agents’ or even prospects, they are top 15-30 ranked fighters who are navigating the nebulous seas of regional and international fight promotion for whatever reason. Yet these are names you are most likely to see signed by top promotions in the near future more so than any of the other ‘Outsider’ posts; most are young, they are all prospects, and the promotions will have ample room and turnover for roster additions.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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