The UFC has split from USADA regarding running their anti-doping programme. The announcement has shocked many people, questioning whether it was the right decision. USADA and the UFC have been partners for a long time now, and now that they are not working together anymore, it could shake up the landscape of MMA thoroughly. Many people have different opinions on this, including former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis who spoke on the situation with MMA junkie.
The Icon Anthony Pettis
Pettis is an icon of the sport known for his flashy fighting style and impeccable knockouts. He competes in the PFL, but Pettis had an incredibly successful career in the UFC before that. Many people believed that Pettis would be the company’s future after winning the UFC lightweight title. However, he never looked like the same fighter after losing the belt. Pettis is a true veteran of the sport and knowledgeable about it. It was fascinating to hear what the former champion had to say about the USADA situation.
Pettis On USADA And UFC
Anti-doping programs are all about ensuring a contest, no matter what sport, is fair as it stops people from taking supplements that may enhance their performance. It is why it’s interesting that UFC would want to stop working with USADA. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Pettis talked about the situation.
“I think most fighters are going to like it (going away),” Pettis told MMA Junkie moments after USADA’s announcement. “You must do so much to be part of that program. It kept the sport fair. Dudes are getting drug tested the night of the fight, before the contest, the week of the bout. There are ways to do it, I think, to keep it fair. As the fighter, we had to update our whereabouts. We’re fighters – travelling, moving around, training at different gyms. If you didn’t update your whereabouts (you got suspended). Little things like that, I think there’s a better way to do it. USADA they’re a great company. I have no bad things to say against USADA. But I believe there are other ways to do it. They’re not the only people who can do it.
“There’s just so many ways around it. You announce you are retiring, and USADA stops approaching your door. That’s a flaw right there. These guys say, ‘I’m retired, I’m going to fight next year.’ I think where the sport was at when they first came in, they cleaned it up big time. The guys, I think, were juicing and had to figure something out.”
Does It Have Anything To Do With Conor Mcgregor
Many people wonder if this decision has to do with Conor McGregor.
“A lot of fighters are going to be pissed off because it was about Conor McGregor,” Pettis said. “If it wasn’t about Conor McGregor and UFC was like, ‘Yo, as a business, it just doesn’t make sense for us to use this company, we’re going to use a different company.’ I think it would go differently. But with Conor’s face on it and the Dana White privilege, people will get behind that. But when it comes down to it, it’s a business. And people want to see Conor fight.”
Can The Sport Ever Be Completely Clean
Pettis then talked about whether the sport will ever be completely clean.
“I was fighting in the wild, Wild West days where drug tests weren’t random,” Pettis said. “Unless you were fighting for a title shot, you probably wouldn’t even get a drug test. I’ve had both ways. The USADA way makes me feel a little safer than like, ‘The guy I’m fighting isn’t on some sh*t.’ There are ways to get around it if they want to get around it. There are tricks and stuff that these guys have. When money is involved – you know.”
All quotes via MMA Junkie
It is always interesting to see what a legend of the sport like Pettis says on its prominent issues.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
