Cocked, Locked, and Blocked

I have to admit, when I thought of this title I knew I could get some reactions. Let's be honest for a little bit, there is a huge epidemic going on in the UFC and a lot of people do not realize it. More and more fighters are getting in trouble for using PEDs. One who recently popped up was Junior Dos Santos, it was unusual because Dos Santos has been a huge advocate for stricter blood testing in the MMA world. Now as I am writing this he is asking to have his "B sample" tested, but he is pulled from UFC 215 until further notice. 

There has been many fighters who have been in trouble with United States Anti-Doping Associates (USADA). Just recently we saw Jon Jones come back from his one year ban after being flagged by USADA:

In the same year we watched Brock Lesnar also be flagged for using PEDs at the same event last year as Jon Jones:

Cris Cyborg has also been in trouble with USADA using PEDs to keep the advantage (let's be honest, she did not need PEDs she is a bad enough fighter without them):

So what is the big deal with using PEDs?

Well for starters, you can kill another fighter! You are unnaturally strong because you are introducing a drug to make you stronger and faster. You are literally hitting another person and potentially ending their life or leaving them permanently damaging them, now we add a drug to you and make you more lethal. Does anyone remember what happened to Apollo Creed? Rocky?

If a fighter is able to continue introducing PEDs in their body, we will eventually see the first fighter die in the UFC. The list is crazy to see which fighers have been banned for a year because they are using, so far every fighters I have shown here has been in trouble in using PEDs. Former champions, title contenders, and fan favorites have all fallen victim. One person I was surprised about was Anderson Silva, who was using Cialis and he did not think it would be tested before his fight.

A lot of fighters have made the mistake and taken things they could buy over the counter. Nate Marquardt was a prime example, he was buying over the counter protein at Max Muscle and was banned for a second time.

Gilbert has fallen victim as well, still trying to gain an advantage in the sport of MMA. I'm sure there will be harsher punishment for those who continue to use and eventually being banned from the sport needs to be in place for second time offenders. That way people will take the punishments seriously, and yes I think a year ban is light. Stopping a fighter from making a living through fighting is tough, but the first fighter to hold a two year ban will rock the sport.

Also fighters are eventually going to hurt their own bodies by continuing to force it to do something it naturally can not do. Introducing more synthetic chemicals will eventually cause your body to stop producing it.

Someone like Alistair Overeem, who was the K-1 Heavyweight Champion, StrikeForce Heavyweight Champion, and Dream Heavyweight Champion started his career at 185 pounds. If you did not think Overeem was using PEDs to get his advantage in the heavyweight competition you are sadly mistaken. Here is a before and after photo of what he looked like after being suspended for a year:

I am not saying every fighter here has used PEDs but every fighter pictured has been associated and rumored to have been using in the sport. To read more about it here is an article with athletes who have been in trouble during their time in the UFC:

http://www.cagepotato.com/mma-steroid-busts-definitive-timeline/

Tell me what you think about it and leave a comment, I would love to hear what you all think. Next week I will be wrapping up coverage of the Mayweather Vs McGregor coverage. You can all hear today 8/20/17 on the podcast our predictions for the fights coming up this weekend. Also follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat @ cm_miller85. See you soon fight fans!