As the legends continue to fall thanks to one failed drug test after another, Michael Bisping says he may soon be the only clean Middleweight on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster.
And some of his colleagues aren’t doing anything to make him eat his words, as Anderson Silva, Yoel Romero and most recently, Lyoto Machida, have all failed tests for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). It’s no coincidence that the increase in failed tests in the 185-pound division and beyond coincide with UFC’s partnership with United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA).
Despite his disdain for PED users, Bisping tells MMA Junkie that he isn’t looking to kick people when they are down. On the contrary, he’s just looking out for himself and his family by bringing the issue to light when the subject is broached.
He explains:
“The more and more things, the more time that passes, the more I think that I’m the only middleweight that’s competing cleanly. And I’ve done that throughout my career. I’ve taken God knows how many drug tests, I’ve passed every single one, there hasn’t been even a hint of suspicion in any one of my tests. And we just see these legends falling left, right and center. Of course Vitor Belfort has a long history. You got these guys on testosterone replacement therapy; Dan Henderson was the first to do that. They said that they couldn’t compete unless they were taking testosterone, but since that has been outlawed, here they are still competing all these years later. Lyoto Machida, he just failed his test. I don’t want to be the guy that goes in about this all the time. I know I sound like a broken record. I know people are probably sick of hearing me talk about it. I don’t want to kick Machida while he is down or anybody while they’re down. That’s not how I get my satisfaction. I’m just trying to do myself and look after my family the best way I know how. I don’t want to diminish Machida’s reputation, but the fact of the matter is, he did fail a test. And this revelation from Machida only came out when USADA came to his house.”
Bisping has already taken out one fighter who pissed hot in his upset win over “The Spider,” saying he wouldn’t be opposed to doing it to another in Romero. However, it would have to be a long time from now, since it will take a while for the effects of the PEDs to completely leave the Cuban’s body.
For now, “The Count” won’t be doing much fighting, as he is currently filming his part in the upcoming XXX franchise. That should give other fighters plenty of time to straighten themselves out and serve their suspensions.