March may ultimately be a dormant month for the UFC and Strikeforce, but this week is as busy as ever. With UFC on FX 2 slated for Friday night and the much-anticipated Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey women’s bantamweight title scrap scheduled for Saturday night, fight fans have plenty to feast on this weekend.
Each morning here on the Caged In blog, I’ll take a look at the biggest stories from the previous day in the MMA world. It’s called the UFC Morning Update, and it starts right now.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Admits to TRT Use Before UFC 144 Fight
This story could ultimately have far-reaching effects, and most of them won’t be good for the UFC. Jackson told Fighter’s Only that prior to UFC 144, a UFC doctor directed him to an anti-aging clinic where he was prescribed Testosterone Replacement Therapy.
…a lot of fights when I am injured I don’t tell anybody but the UFC knew this time because my doctor works for the UFC. Its good that the UFC knew because they look after you, they take care of you even if its just in training. Pride didn’t do that.
I almost pulled out but then I went to see the doctor and he told me to talk to an age-management doctor. So I went and talked to them and they tested me and said my testosterone was low; they prescribed me testosterone, to bring my testosterone levels back up to levels where I can be like…so that I am the same as young people, like when I was 25, and it would help build my knee up.
There are plenty of UFC fighters currently on TRT, with Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen being the most notable. I don’t agree with the practice and believe it’s an easy way for fighters to legally use performance enhancing drugs during training camp. But Jackson opened another can of worms with this quote, also from the Fighter’s Only interview:
So I spoke to the UFC and they were like ‘Yeah, a lot of fighters are probably doing it but not telling anyone.’
Zach Arnold at Fight Opinion has more in-depth analysis on this potentially flammable story, including a response from Dr. Margaret Goodman of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
Frankie Edgar Says No to Featherweight Despite Promise of Automatic Title Shot
The former lightweight champion appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani yesterday and said he may eventually drop to featherweight for a bout with Jose Aldo, but he has zero plans of doing so right now. Edgar also made his case for an immediate rematch and title shot against new champion Benson Henderson.
Later in the day, UFC president Dana White revealed that Edgar would receive an immediate title shot against Aldo if he agreed to the change in weight classes.
Shogun Says He and Rampage Will Fight Before They Retire
Former UFC light heavyweight champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua told Brazilian outlet Tatame that he believes he and former PRIDE opponent Rampage Jackson will face each other one more time before they retire.
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