The UFC may be pumping the brakes on its plans for out of competition drug testing, but one top contender hopes the sport can still maintain its integrity.
Monday, top UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson revealed he was tested by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency or USADA ahead of his Jan. 24 main event opposite Anthony Johnson at UFC on FOX 14 in Sweden.
“A request from Sweden has been sent to US Anti Doping commission to come and test me,” Gustafsson posted to his official Facebook page. “This is the way it’s done in Sweden, no matter where you are, you are under control which I really appreciate, I want my sport to be clean so everyone compete under the same terms.
“Therefor, I would like to request that the same tests applies to my competitor Rumble Johnson. I want us both to show the world that we are clean top athletes competing in the UFC on equal terms.”
On Jan. 2 the UFC revealed it had scrapped its plans to implement its own out-of-competition drug testing. Instead, the company will donate money to state athletic commissions in order to enable them to conduct the year-round, random testing.
In October, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta outlined a rather ambitious plan for the UFC to randomly test its roster of fighters multiple times throughout the year.
In part due to the fallout from Cung Le’s controversial post-fight test result last August in Macau, the promotion now seems to moving in the other direction.
“Now the next step for us, and what we’re working on, is a complete project where we will randomly test all 500 of our athletes multiple times per year,” Fertitta said in October. “We’re working on that. It’s going to be a comprehensive plan. And you know what? At the end of the day, if you’re cheating, we will catch you. You will get suspended, possibly fined, and we take it very serious. Because…our fans want to make sure our sport is clean [and] I think the athletes want the sport to be clean. The clean athletes want the sport to be clean.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Monday Morning Analyst. Luke Thomas discusses techniques from UFC 182.
Fortunes changed for five. Dave Meltzer explains how Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, Donald Cerrone, Kyoji Horiguchi and Hector Lombard move forward following UFC 182.
The man we love to hate. Chuck Mindenhall ponders why people still don’t really like Jon Jones.
‘Heavyweight, catchweight, anything.’ UFC interim heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum says he’d love to welcome Jon Jones to the division. ‘If you want to fight me, we can talk to the UFC and do this superfight.’
Get paid. Jon Jones leads the UFC 182 payroll by a mile.
Watch The MMA Hour featuring Dan Henderson, Urijah Faber, Ben Askren, Tim Sylvia, Israel Martinez, Carla Esparza, Felice Herrig and Shaun Al-Shatti.
MEDIA STEW
New UFC profile on Conor McGregor.
Bellator’s top KO’s from 2014.
Chael Sonnen and Gilbert Melendez talk Jon Jones’ win at UFC 182.
Luke Rockhold talks DC’s loss, upcoming fight with Lyoto Machida.
Josh Barnett, Naoya Ogawa, Kazuyuki Fujita and Minowaman doing some pro wrasslin at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2014.
Jones’ ‘thug life’ and Cerrone’s ‘f**k you kicks.’
Long watches.
Knuckle Up #384: UFC 182, the Jones Soul Crush Principle
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Inside the Guard: Technique Review of UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier
TWEETS
What a guy.
.@Cowboycerrone wasn’t kidding when he said he wasn’t leaving Vegas until he gets another fight lined up. pic.twitter.com/5lP8raJCnS
— UFC (@ufc) January 5, 2015
Alvarez is out and Cowboy is in against Ben Henderson for UFC Fight Night Boston LIVE and FREE on @FOXSports1. http://t.co/W0WC3DhoMx
— Dana White (@danawhite) January 6, 2015
You’ll about to know why they call me cowboy
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) January 6, 2015
#AllComers!!! #TheOnceAndFutureKing
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) January 6, 2015
You’re crazy as hell @Cowboycerrone That’s why I like you.
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) January 6, 2015
Well shit if @Cowboycerrone is fighting in a couple weeks who can u fight???! Lets rip it. #ufc #boston #lets #go
— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) January 6, 2015
@Cowboycerrone don’t leave Vegas till you get me a fight either please
— Joanne Calderwood (@DRkneevil) January 5, 2015
Day 1.
Today is the start of my camp to defend my title once again and I’m realizing how blessed Iam to be in… http://t.co/3sPgStW5bg
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) January 5, 2015
Damn.
Just watched the fight 4 1st time. I look sick, malnourished, depleted, slow… Good thing I’m tough, that’s about all I was working with.
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) January 5, 2015
#TeamFury | #JuryJiuJitsu pic.twitter.com/flklOiFEJE
— Myles Jury (@FuryJury) January 5, 2015
C’est la vie.
Merci @JCVDonline, tu es un inspiration: http://t.co/QNoBfMF7YX. See you soon in Thailand for Kickboxer!
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) January 5, 2015
Good talk.
Last night had a good talk @cmpunk about fighting in @ufc & @shaq fu http://t.co/bTSDt8fxUZ
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) January 5, 2015
@mattmitrione I like lemonade.
— Coach (@CMPunk) January 6, 2015
Fun day at @Roufusport with some visitors to the gym! @TWooodley @CMPunk @Showtimepettis @DinThomas pic.twitter.com/I3tBJfxnfV
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) January 5, 2015
Haven’t had a black eye forever, but when your training with these beasts shit happens…. cmpunk… http://t.co/FiI5uiUMUl
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) January 5, 2015
Get well soon.
“@americana_brand: When are you fighting again @JimMiller_155” shooting for March
— Jim Miller (@JimMiller_155) January 6, 2015
Beefin’.
@Benaskren I didn’t know you were on South Park you superstar you pic.twitter.com/TYrOBgVz2K
— matthew riddle (@riddletuf7) January 5, 2015
@RamseyNijem @FuryJury I been fighting before you and I’ll have a job after UFC cuts your ass you little weak chin bitch! Man up call joe!
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) January 5, 2015
@RamseyNijem @FuryJury Lame. You’ve been KO/TKO how many times lol? My manager already called & asked for u. Let’s do this, mouth. #StepUp
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) January 5, 2015
@ChrisWeinerUFC @Noji125 @MMAThought @RamseyNijem I’ll go to any weight to beat this chump like the punk he is.
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) January 5, 2015
@MikeChandlerMMA who’s this the waterboy? @LiLHeathenMMA @FuryJury
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) January 5, 2015
@RamseyNijem @MikeChandlerMMA @FuryJury This happened in 6 min LOL! You should never be a mouthy bitch. I’ll fix it! pic.twitter.com/3DNvs2hPZd
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) January 5, 2015
@RamseyNijem @MikeChandlerMMA @FuryJury @ufc @danawhite Too many to share. Just hurry up and call Joe so I can shut you up.
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) January 5, 2015
@RamseyNijem @MikeChandlerMMA @FuryJury @ufc @danawhite what have you accomplished? #Squidward
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) January 6, 2015
@RamseyNijem @FuryJury He KO’d your bitch ass with counter striking lol! You got something to say, call Joe Silva and I’ll KO you too punk!
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) January 5, 2015
Tom Cruise just played an 18yo Japanese soldier. Don’t get me started.
Scarlett Johansson is going to star in the US Ghost In The Shell movie..because she totally looks like somebody named MOTOKO KUSANAGI #Fail
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) January 6, 2015
Good investment.
Well it finally happened, the $1,000 “Golden Opulence” Sundae at @serendipity_3 !!! @feliceherrig went… http://t.co/Sn3pugWByk
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) January 5, 2015
YES, it really was a $1,000!! And for those who think it was wasteful, I very rarely buy extravagant… http://t.co/k6fH0yCZPJ
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) January 6, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Jan. 5 2015)
Eddie Alvarez out, Donald Cerrone vs. Ben Henderson at UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver
Brendan Kornberger vs. Krasimir Mladenov at WSOF 17
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via jpwolfe.
MMA Fans, Enjoy the CM Punk Show
For the MMA fan who yearns for the days of Pride FC when the unordinary was par for the course and wild ideas still came to fruition, the UFC’s signing of former pro-wrestler CM Punk should spark a warm feeling of nostalgia. Does Mr. Punk deserve to fight alongside the best martial artists from around the globe? No. Is there a single MMA pundit who believes Mr. Punk will cause any of the UFC’s roster to lose sleep worrying about the idea of being bested by the former WWE star? No.
What CM Punk’s fight will provide is a fascinating look into just how good the athletes in the UFC are. For many UFC viewers the only level of skill they witness is that of the highest level; without attending lower level local promotions it is difficult to grasp just how advanced the techniques of MMA’s best really are.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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