UFC president Dana White isn’t done with testosterone replacement therapy just yet. The head-kicking thorn in his side that is former No. 1 middleweight contender Vitor Belfort hasn’t done much to help his own case, but White believes the Phenom’s uncertain future should be hammered out shortly.
“I think it’s all going to work out,” White told media Thursday afternoon in Las Vegas. “I’m telling you, the whole Vitor thing, you guys know. Vitor drives me nuts, but Vitor has gotten a bad rap on this whole thing. He’s gotten a bad rap.”
Asked if much of that negative press has been self-imposed by withholding the results from the February drug test in Nevada, White insists Belfort isn’t purposefully being secretive.
“He’s not,” said White. “When he showed up in Nevada the thing that was bad about that is he showed up and [the NSAC was] like, ‘You’re on testosterone?’ ‘Yea, I’m on testosterone. Everybody know that.‘ ‘You shouldn’t have come to Nevada until you were off it.’ I’m so glad TRT is gone. So much better for the sport.”
As for the results of the surprise drug screening Belfort was asked to take by the NSAC while appearing at the 2013 World MMA Awards, White says they’re immaterial.
“It’s absolutely irrelevant because I’m telling you right now we tested the s**t out of [Belfort] before every fight he fought,” said White. “I don’t remember at what point it was but I said, ‘Believe me, we’re going to put him through the wringer with the TRT thing’ and we did. He complied to everything he was asked to do. He was tested. He was always within his limits. Vitor Belfort was never cheating.”
White goes on to credit Belfort for showcasing the effectiveness of TRT and for its demise as a legal means to enhance/maintain performance.
“Then it became a thing where TRT was looked at when you looked at Vitor and how he fought and how he looked and everything else,” said White. “That’s what the stuff was designed to do. Stuff is designed to make a guy my age work like a guy Jon Jones‘ age. That’s what TRT is for and it worked. It definitely worked for Vitor.
“The thing is with Vitor Belfort is he was never over his [testosterone] limits when he fought. Here’s the thing, lets say he came into Nevada and his levels were off the charts. He wasn’t fighting. Came [to Nevada] to talk about getting licensed and the thing was, ‘Welcome to Nevada. You want to be licensed here? You have to stop taking TRT.’ As a guy who’s not fighting, you can go around do whatever the hell you want with TRT, right?”
White even went so far as to say he’d boldly book Belfort outside Las Vegas in his return bout, a move some pundits believed would undermine the NSAC’s authority.
“I’ll consider him fighting anywhere,” said White. “Wherever he lands, he’ll land.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Scrum. Over an hour of Dana White covering everything from UFC 173 to Nick Diaz and Gina Carano.
Starpower. Dana White explains why Renan Barao isn’t more popular, given his status.
Ouch. While Daniel Cormier earns a light heavyweight title shot with a win at UFC 173, Dana White says the same deal doesn’t necessarily apply to Dan Henderson.
Ronda vs. Floyd. Dana White remains emphatic that Ronda Rousey would do very well in a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. ‘She walks around at 160, 165. At 165 pounds, all her weight coming down on him, on the street, on here, on the concrete, I don’t care where it is, she’s going to hurt him badly.’
Not good. Ali Bagautinov has been banned from the International Sambo Federation after failing a drug test for the stimulant Methylhexaneamine.
MEDIA STEW
Make sure to check out interviews with Renan Barao, Dan Henderson, Daniel Cormier, Robbie Lawler and others.
Episode 5 of Embedded. Hendo got jokes.
Word association with DC and Hendo.
Chuck Liddell grits his teeth and says nice things about Jon Jones.
TTTHS.
Nice update from Tyler Ransom. You might remember him from Ariel’s interview and rolling with Ronda.
Nick Diaz doesn’t sound into fighting Matt Brown.
Long watches.
Joe Rogan Experience #504 – Steve Maxwell
…
MMA Mayhem Radio #115 Guest: Bjorn Rebney, Mike King, Darrill Schoonover, & Scott Kent
TWEETS
Feudin’
@DanaWhite on @TitoOrtiz‘s @UFC Hall of Fame request: ‘Who gives a s—?” – http://t.co/kdoHT2JXxt “I guess he doesn’t care about the fans “
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) May 23, 2014
@danawhite @BiggestOrtizFan @jaymanSLC me?I haven’t said a word about you for a year.Then you say u can kick my ass!The power is getting 2 U
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) May 23, 2014
@titoortiz @danawhite – Dana we had a great chat this week. Please call Tito. Life is to short. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
— KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) May 23, 2014
OK.
Kim is better than Matt Brown that’s why I’m fighting him and check the records!! pic.twitter.com/PI8bsaNJpp
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) May 22, 2014
Eddie vs. Brooks?
Eddie Alvarez ‘If I have to fight Chandler again, it’s because Bellator wants it that way’ http://t.co/0vaRaWpkd2 via @BloodyElbow
— Edward Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) May 22, 2014
I never signed “CONTRACT” it was a “SETTLEMENT”, . ME and U (fans friends,ect. ) are the Same I want What U want ,Tell Me n ill give to YA
— Edward Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) May 22, 2014
Dont tell Just me Guys Tell @BellatorMMA @BjornRebney dont Make Fights, I typically End Them hahahaha “the BALL IS in THERE COURT”
— Edward Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) May 22, 2014
Well it looks like Eddie made a decision. Now let’s make it happen @BellatorMMA @BjornRebney http://t.co/AaiGT4dYVV
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) May 22, 2014
Nice.
Got to see my 2 coaches from Wildcard during Cotto’s training camp. http://t.co/A7J9L8E6e0
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) May 22, 2014
Knew this was coming.
@danawhite Experience huh? I see what you were getting at. http://t.co/m4IbhTxuTt
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) May 22, 2014
Get well soon.
Another successful surgery in the books to fix my broken hand ! http://t.co/xuPQ37n793
— Ed Herman (@EdHermanufc) May 22, 2014
Tempting.
Think its time to leave the ufc behind and get involved in the real shit eh @JayFurnessMMA ? pic.twitter.com/yKHm6MEWJO
— Danny Mitchell (@DannyAranha) May 22, 2014
Very cool.
Teaching the fine men & women of Fort Stewart, GA in defensive tactics, health & fitness with @TheDolceDiet . pic.twitter.com/Lyiri61XPJ
— Rich Franklin (@RichFranklin) May 22, 2014
Showing the soldiers what’s up in Quatar! Pics from armyame. On 2 the next!! ##afetour #queensarmy http://t.co/7TRX4LfEpv
— Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) May 23, 2014
Are the shorts cut?
Just got shirts cut by @janellerae27 & I love them! Follow her! Thank you mstracylee for bringing… http://t.co/d7bZPcXh0P
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) May 23, 2014
Get it together.
THE LEFT IS REAL SLIPPERY!!! http://t.co/BxjfwtGFxd @rosenamajunas @ufc
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) May 22, 2014
It’s like that commercial you love.
…Ummm tights? #UFC173 https://t.co/PnQU9UKxZi
— UFC (@ufc) May 23, 2014
I’m loving it.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (May 22 2014)
Daron Cruickshank vs. Jorge Masvidal at UFC on FOX 12
Viscardi Andrade out, Gilbert Burns vs. Andreas Stahl at UFC on FOX 12
Josh Burkman vs. Jon Fitch at WSOF 11
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Da Headbanger.
Everything You NEED to Know About UFC 173 Main Card
I like this card. I know a lot don’t, but context is always needed before you proclaim the UFC is trying to feed us a load of crap disguised in some pretty gift wrap. Chris Weidman was originally supposed to defend his belt on this card (whether it was against Vitor Belfort or Lyoto Machida is irrelevant as far as I’m concerned), but injury forced the UFC to make a change to the main event with relatively short notice. Thus why we have the main event of Renan Barao against T.J. Dillashaw. The co-main event was made on relative short notice as well (remember that Henderson fought only 2 months ago) and the Robbie Lawler-Jake Ellenberger bout was another one patched together quickly after Ellenberger’s opponent at last months PPV, Tarec Saffiedine, pulled up lame and pushing Ellenberger back to this card against Lawler… who fought only two months ago. It seems everything important about this card came together late, but it still reeks of awesomeness to me.
But I know I’m preaching to the wrong crowd. Those who read this already have a strong appreciation of this card and I thank you for your views of my writings and you interest in such a badass sport. Enough of this though! I have a breakdown to do!
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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.