Midnight Mania: USADA’s Fault? Islam Did Nothing Wrong!

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Islam Makhachev might be the strongest man at 155-pounds.

The lifelong wrestler manhandles top-notch opponents with relative ease more often than not, and that dominance has raised some eye brows. Notably, former opponent and longtime UFC veteran Bobby Green was adamant that Makhachev was using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). Another past opponent, Dan Hooker, repeatedly accused Makhachev of using IVs to rehydrate, a strategy which can also mask PED usage.

It doesn’t help Makhachev’s reputation that he had a run-in with the UFC’s previous drug testing company, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Back in 2016, an out-of-competition test was flagged for meldonium, and Makhachev was handed a three month suspension despite being quickly found “without fault or negligence.”

Unfortunately, that controversy remains a stain on his reputation. Things are looking up, however, because eight years later, Makhachev has joined the Ugly Jacket Club! That’s an achievement for fighters who have successfully passed 50 drug tests without issue, and UFC Senior Vice President of Anti-Doping Compliance Jeff Novitzky took the mic to clear Makhachev’s name of the 2016 incident.

According to Novitzky, the whole thing is USADA’s fault! Good thing UFC ousted that organization last year.

“In 2016, USADA, who ran our program, put it on our prohibited list,” Novitzky said about Meldonium (via MMAJunkie). “Before that, you were allowed to use it. He had a medical procedure back in 2014. He submitted documents that he used it under that. Ultimately, he was cleared by USADA. But in my opinion, one of the greatest, colossal mistakes in anti-doping. It affected not only Islam but several other UFC athletes and hundreds of other amateur Olympic athletes.

“That’s something that just cannot happen. That’s something you can carry forward with you and your reputation forever. I’m here today today to say that Islam absolutely did nothing wrong. This mistake was on the anti-doping authority, not him. It’s very important to note that.”

Nowadays, Combat Sports Anti-Doping is in charge of the UFC drug testing program. Can they avoid any more “colossal mistakes” and keep the sport clean? Not everyone is convinced.

Insomnia

Joaquin Buckley is allowed to say silly s—t all the time if he’s actually down to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov …

Nick Diaz wants to fight the stiffest of competition, which is the exact opposite of what I’d like to see as a fan.

The general hatred of Colby Covington is so strong it’s turning enemies to allies.

Another interesting reason to watch the UFC 302 undercard!

Ex-UFC Lightweight Justin Jaynes suffering memory loss after a knockout loss on the regional scene:

Cody Garbrandt celebrates two years sober.

I’m glad to see a softer side of Sean Strickland, but wasn’t he talking s—t on dog owners without kids like … a month ago?

Slips, rips, and KO clips

His method was chaotic, but Schisano effectively got Caldarera to the fence and then unloaded a right hand.

Ultimate Fighter veteran Joe Giannetti put his opponent to sleep in seconds over the weekend.

The left hook closes the door on a swang-and-bang brawl.

Random Land

Is Batman ready for Power Slap?

Midnight Music: The new Billie Eilish album is quite good in my opinion, her usual mix of quiet and sad, loud and catchy.

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.