UFC welterweight Matt Brown has joined the crowd calling for harsher penalties for steroid users.
In the wake of former middleweight champion Anderson Silva testing positive for anabolic steroids in an out-of-competition test last month, the UFC has vowed to dramatically increase the scope of random drug testing.
The promotion will also urge state athletic commissions to increase the suspensions for any fighter caught using performance enhancing drugs. While the UFC is pushing for bans ranging from two to four years, Brown wants even longer penalties.
“My thoughts on the steroid controversy, I’m glad to hear that the UFC is doing things about the steroids,” Brown told The Shoot. “The No. 1 thing to do is harsher penalties. First offense, five-year ban. Yea, that’s going to sway a lot of guys.’
In October, Silva himself even said he believed fighters caught using PEDs should have ‘no more fights.’ Brown sounds like he agrees.
“It’s going to turn a lot of guys away from doing it,” said Brown. “You’d have to really, really turn yourself around to be able to come back from that. You’d be forgot about and that’s the way it should be. You should be forgotten about.
“If you’re going to take steroids you should be forgotten about. If it’s against the rules, it’s against the rules. The fact is it’s cheating. Harsher penalties is the way to go.”
Brown faces former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks March 14 at UFC 185 in Dallas, Texas.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Hanging it up. Win or lose, Mark Munoz says he plans to retire following his bout with Luke Barnatt May 16 in Manila.
‘He’s on a different level.’ Duke Roufus says UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis is ‘like the Floyd Mayweather of our sport.’
Strugglin. John Lineker will have to cut 30 pounds to fight at bantamweight. ‘I already wanted to move up.’
‘She wasn’t honest with us.’ Joanna Jedrzejczyk says Carla Esparza showed ‘everyone that she’s afraid of me.’
Game changer. M-1 Global will expand its medieval-style ‘Knight fights,’ possibly even creating a separate promotion. ‘If we find enough fighters to make enough fights, we will have a separate medieval show with its own weight categories, title fights and champions.’
MEDIA STEW
UFC 185 embedded episode 2.
Dana White talks Ronda vs. Cris Cyborg.
Rafael dos Anjos says he won’t repeat Gilbert Melendez‘ mistakes against Anthony Pettis.
Donald Cerrone and Paul Felder commiserate about running up a hill.
TTTHS.
Pretty great UFC Vines compilation if you like behind the scenes stuff.
Long watches.
FEDOR UNCUT: Fedor Emelianenko talks UFC, Rogan, Rousey, PED’s and more
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Heavy Hands 42: Out-fighting with Anthony Pettis
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Chael Sonnen’s ‘You’re Welcome’ – Ep 22 – Carla Esparza & Malki Kawa
TWEETS
Sounds good.
Ahead of schedule on my weight cut! #ufc185 @ufc https://t.co/var9SlCPlz pic.twitter.com/6AH5PQOfie
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) March 10, 2015
Picture from yesterday after training. #abs courtesy of @aram_ttd http://t.co/0pcmj7t236 pic.twitter.com/a0QhccOYXC
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) March 10, 2015
Super.
I LITERALLY HAVE CONTRACTS FROM EVERY FIGHT ORGANIZATION I CAN THINK OF IN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW #bigdecisions pic.twitter.com/UDaAyocbGw
— Phoenix Jones (@ThePhoenixJones) March 10, 2015
Us, too.
#Chevelle #sendthepainbelow #wonderwhatsnext https://t.co/veCB9wpBQ3
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) March 10, 2015
OK.
For the record,I haven’t been going out &complaining about anything.If media asks my opinion,I give it. I worry about winning not “whining”
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) March 10, 2015
Probably Jessica Eye.
ending physical training. @rondarousey you can not imagine what awaits you @seanshelby… https://t.co/PMtbYRbv7l
— Bethe (@bethecorreia) March 10, 2015
Good move?
Might have 1 more fight at 155lbs (70kgs) then try a test cut to 145lbs (65kgs) I sure would need 10-12weeks… http://t.co/pqeLiqr1Fa
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) March 10, 2015
Gotta be.
Looks like I’m a free agent too. Is there any organization looking for a heavy weight fighter?
— Lavar Johnson (@LavarJohnson) March 10, 2015
Never forget.
Hey @Sholler_UFC look what I finally hung up!! @WECNeverForget pic.twitter.com/oeb1ArtVkc
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) March 11, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (March 10 2015)
cancelled Eduardo Dantas vs. Mike Richman at Bellator 135
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via NickRiznerMMA.
Roy Nelson vs. Alistair Overeem – Who Wins?
Roy Nelson is one of the fun ones, and he knows it. Sure, he takes a verbal jab from Dana White every now and then, but it’s nothing he can’t handle. Between the walk-off knockouts and the top-of-the-cage belly rubs, Nelson embraces his particular “brand” like no other. It doesn’t hurt that he has the skill to back it up.
More than a pretty face, as they say.
Nelson is a black belt in BJJ under Renzo Gracie. He’s also the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 10, defeating Brendan Schaub via 1st round TKO and winning Knockout of the Night in the process. This would become someone of a trend for Big Country. In line with the climate of the heavyweight division, Nelson has relied less on his prestigious grappling pedigree and more on his uncanny ability to punch really, really hard.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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