“It just sucks.”
Like most, UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman seems more hurt and disappointed in Anderson Silva than anything else.
The former middleweight champion failed both pre-fight and post-fight drug tests for his Jan. 31 headlining bout with Nick Diaz at UFC 183.
“I was always under the belief that at least the top guys weren’t taking [PEDs],” Weidman told Fighthub. “I really believed that. I was naive. I thought taking steroids and performance enhancers is a mental weakness that the top, cream of the crop guys didn’t have to take. It was the guys that weren’t capable of being the best that needed them to try to hang with the best.”
Weidman won’t speculate on how long he believes Silva could have been using performance enhancing drugs, but admits his legacy could be irrevocably damaged.
“I’m just completely surprised by Anderson Silva,” said Weidman. “I’m not the guy who likes to kick people when they’re down so I’m not going to smear [Silva’s] name any more than it’s been smeared. I’m going to say it’s disappointing. I just always thought the champions, if you look at them, muscular-wise, they’re not these jacked up guys.”
Encouraged by the UFC’s renewed push to combat use of PEDs, Weidman still worries that the incentives to cheat will be too tempting to some.
“The thing that bothers me the most about this Anderson Silva thing and different guys getting caught, is that it’s more about the younger guys coming up,” said Weidman. “Now they’re going to think they have to start taking steroids. Now they’re going to speculate that Anderson Silva took it his whole career. His legacy is in question at this point. There’s no going back on that.
“They’re going to imagine that he was doing it, so [Silva] made, who knows, let’s say $50 million. ‘If he did that and he was able to take care of himself for the rest of his life, he and his family, maybe it’s worth doing it.’ My message to them is that I’m champion and I’ve never taken any PED. I would never do that.”
Having already worked through a laundry list of injuries in his four-year UFC career, Weidman says he’d rather leave the sport than linger with the aid of drugs.
“I’ll retire early if my body can’t hold up,” said Weidman. “It’s just tough. You’re fighting through injuries. You just can’t do it. I just don’t want these younger fighters to think that that’s the way to become champion and make a legacy for yourself. I still firmly believe that taking PEDs is because you’re weak minded and you have insecurities about yourself. You’re trying to fill the void with PEDs. Winners, true winners, don’t have that.”
Weidman defends his middleweight title to No. 1 contender Vitor Belfort May 23 at UFC 187 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
MMA Beat. The panel discusses Ronda Rousey’s 14-second win over Cat Zingano, where she goes from here, Brock Lesnar’s future, Jon Jones moving to heavyweight, the Quinton Jackson lawsuit, and much more.
‘Theoretically.’ Ronda Rousey says she refuses to believe she wouldn’t be able to beat 100 percent of the UFC’s male bantamweights.
Next. Ronda Rousey wants to fight Bethe Correia in Brazil and ‘beat her in her hometown.’
Fair. Vitor Belfort says ‘it’s not fair’ that he’s been drug tested seven times ahead of his title bout with Chris Weidman while the champ has only been tested once.
Getting paid. Cris Cyborg earned $90K for her 46-second win at Invicta FC 11.
MEDIA STEW
Get to know Renzo Gracie a bit better.
Ronda’s mainstream round up.
Poverty in China could mean more MMA.
Joe Rogan on martial arts, BJJ.
Gina Carano talks Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano.
FOX New’s Sean Hannity training with Chuck Liddell. Oh my.
Conor McGregor vs. Jon Jones and Paige Vanzant.
Long watches.
The MMA Report – Sean Wheelock, Jim Ross
TWEETS
#oneday.
#OneDay pic.twitter.com/GYkwZAQs4T
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) March 5, 2015
Another day.
@RondaRousey doubt be able to do this to me.
— Bethe (@bethecorreia) March 5, 2015
I beat your friends in your house, USA, if you have courage come into my house in Brasil cause i’m… https://t.co/Xv6NrZPaBr
— Bethe (@bethecorreia) March 6, 2015
Served?
Haha the paper work is in but it’s still a JOKE! Plus throwing papers on the ground outside my gym in the parking lot is not serving me.
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) March 5, 2015
Haha I think Bellator is trying to scare the other fighters that are not happy with the changes… https://t.co/u7wbI5NK6A
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) March 5, 2015
Something you don’t see everyday.
Look @ladygaga whoopin ass @UFCGym #badass #LittleMonsters #UFC RT @ladygaga: https://t.co/Oy2Sy8dwR6
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 5, 2015
He lived.
@TheNotoriousMMA sorry about the hat,trying to do my part in helping keep your reflexes sharp;) thanks for saying nice things abt me champ!
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) March 5, 2015
One last take.
Ronda Rousey you’re a beast and all. But you will not beat the men in your weight class in the UFC. Girl Bye #UFC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 5, 2015
Women fighting men is called domestic violence. Ain’t nobody wanna hear that !!!!!!
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 5, 2015
The champ Dillashaw shouldn’t have to answer questions if he thinks he could be Rousey… How rude
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 5, 2015
Men who fight the same weight class as Rousey:Dillashaw,Barao,Cruz,Faber,Assuncao,McDonald… If you entertain the thought you’re crazy AF
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 5, 2015
With that being said Ronda Rousey is an absolute beast. Ready to see her vs Cyborg! #UFC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 5, 2015
Just a couple bros.
This Week in Struggle.
@dc_mma people seem to think we are brothers! I think you look better than me pic.twitter.com/RfvYXM5Bfz” no sir u r much better looking 🙂
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 5, 2015
#thestruggleisreal 175 with a six pack pic.twitter.com/eA0bO7LPhj
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2015
Hand fighting and drilling wrestling. I’m feeling a little broken Great work! https://t.co/VwDDNgqUsp
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) March 2, 2015
#tbt to this tragic day I lost my love #MillionaireMatchmakerProblems https://t.co/zH72cdyLiE
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 5, 2015
Peyton Manning agrees to a 4 million dollar pay cut to play again next year. MMA fighters are so jealous right now lol
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 5, 2015
The workout before the workout pic.twitter.com/m9F7AG02k6
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) March 2, 2015
Now it’s time for my girl @ramanda42 do work at The World Cup in Russia. My turn to help cut weight @USAWrestling pic.twitter.com/8t91GSRoP3
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) March 6, 2015
Dear @ufc I really want to be back in you. Since I can’t get fights will a sweet nunchuck video work as evidence of improvement?
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) March 5, 2015
I have struggled, sacrificed and gave my all to this sport for almost 12 years and I will be god damned if my career ends like this
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) March 6, 2015
5 of the top 10 highest paid athletes in the #UFC in 2013 have tested positive for PEDs and/or illegal drugs. #UFC184
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 28, 2015
I wanna drop kick everyone in first class
— Clint Hester (@clinthester) March 1, 2015
I wish I had recorded Burt’s motivational speeches to play back to myself in times if need… http://t.co/EeykrGlcs1 pic.twitter.com/8b18Rp7SaU
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) March 4, 2015
Should I tinder? I kinda hate everyone
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) March 3, 2015
My stomach just won’t quit today! #KaMeHaMeHAAA! pic.twitter.com/p2pYJA2wLM
— Mike Rio (@MikeRioMMA) March 5, 2015
Cat Zingano did not obey my instructions so well!
— Makwan Amirkhani (@MakwanAmirkhani) March 2, 2015
When you’re fighting a tall guy. You have to hang out with giants https://t.co/9ruEkrNuyy
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 4, 2015
Fuck this thing! #jacobsladder #ImDying @p2montreal https://t.co/NW3BqcXh8w
— kajan johnson (@IamRagin) March 4, 2015
Cold medicine is dangerous. I just got notified of purchasing a Rothko print that I don’t remember ordering at all. This is why I’m broke.
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) March 4, 2015
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) March 5, 2015
The Alpha Bunch… pic.twitter.com/jKZ12jh0FO
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) March 6, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (March 5 2015)
Uriah Hall vs. Rafael Natal at UFC 187
Marcin Held vs. Alexander Sarnavskiy at Bellator 136
Jared Papazian vs.Raja Shippen at Bellator 136
Joey Beltran vs. Brian Rogers at Bellator 136
Saad Awad vs. Rob Sinclair at Bellator 136
Jonathan Santa Maria vs. Steve Ramirez at Bellator 136
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via MikeMorganMMA
Since “Irish Joe” Duffy returned to MMA many people have failed to note or are simply overlooking the calibre of opponents he’s fought previously. In fairness on paper the competitors he has faced of late, have been no push over either. As he steps up to meet Jake Lindsey at UFC 185 #WHOATV spent a bit of time discussing his eclectic taste in music. I would consider myself to be a music connoisseur, with a wide and varied taste, but it was quite a revelation and education as Duffy talked me through his selection. The premise was simple, an updated version of desert island discs if you will. Duffy is stranded on a desert island and his MP3 player of choice has been wiped of all but five music tracks. We asked what five tracks he hoped had been saved. Let me know your thoughts on the video, number three in the series.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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.