‘Roid Rage: The Effect of Steroids on MMA

It's extremely necessary to talk about the growing issue of steroids. I collected lots of responses on steroids from interviews that we've had with many fighters, and I used them to take a look at the effect that it has on the sport of MMA.

Steroids have become a major part of almost every sport in America. There is the Barry Bonds controversy in baseball, the Chris Benoit tragedy in wrestling, the Marion Jones admittance in track & field, and the Shawne Merriman mystery in football. The last thing that a sport needs right now is a top star getting caught with steroids.

Enter Sean Sherk.

At UFC 73 in his first title defense, the UFC Lightweight Champion Sean “The Muscle” Sherk defeated Hermes Franca to retain the Lightweight title. However, in a post-fight drug test Franca tested positive for Drostanolone and Sherk tested positive for Nandrolone, which are both illegal substances. There is still some controversy surrounding Sherk testing positive, because he passed a lie detector test saying that he never knowingly took steroids. His suspension was recently reduced from a year to 6th months, which means that he will be able to fight in January. This whole Sherk situation affects MMA to a great extent because it has the fans wondering if their favorite fighter is on roids.

There’s no doubt about the fact that steroids give you the competitive edge in a fight. Steroids increase protein synthesis in cells, which builds cellular tissue in muscles. However, this competitive edge is in full effect in the training for the fight rather then the actual fight.

Big John McCarthy:“The advantage of steroids isn't so much in the actual fight as much as the training. You can train longer, train harder, and recover from those longer harder training sessions. To talk about strength and size, that's really not going to be much of an advantage in the fights. The ability to train longer, harder, and recover faster is a huge advantage.” With an advantage like this it’s easy to see why fighters would want to use steroids, however one still wonders why these fighters take them due to the amount of guys getting caught lately.

Cole Miller:“I think these guys are in it for the short run. None of these guys taking juice will be in the UFC in 10 years…They don’t care if they get caught. If they really cared, they wouldn’t do it. I would love to fight some of these guys on HGH or steroids if they were clean.”

It is incredibly important for all MMA organizations to crack down hard on steroid usage. It’s cheating, it’s not healthy, and it’s not fun for the fans. I can’t count how many times I’ve watched Barry Bonds hit a homerun and thought to myself “That was great! It’s too bad he’s on steroids.” And according to Murilo “Ninja” Rua, this testing isn’t happening everywhere.

Murilo "Ninja" Rua: “In Hawaii, to my surprise, there weren't any tests. I don't know why. It is important to guarantee that both guys that get into the ring have the same opportunities. But the UFC specifically has done a fantastic job of testing their fighters after each fight."

Marcus Davis: “I’ve been tested every time I have ever fought in the UFC except once and I don't know how anyone would risk it. I will say that if they did this in any other sport you would see 10 more times people getting caught then you do in MMA.”

Back to Sherk. After all of this controversy, one wonders if Sherk used steroids against Kenny Florian to win the Lightweight title. That seems a little cheap to Kenny Florian, who is a small 155 pounds. When I was talking to Kenny Florian about the steroid issue, he said: “Steroids should have no part in any sport especially in a sport where hurting another individual is involved. It's cheating. When does it stop? If they use steroids, I will bring in a knife? Is this the mentality? Anything to win? There is no honor in using PED's in MMA and I think there are going to be cowards in all sports who are willing to take those risks." This quote sums everything up perfectly. Steroids do not belong in any sport, but especially a sport where you are often trying to over-power another individual. It’s not entertaining to watch a guy who is obviously on steroids fight a guy who is obviously not. Entertainment comes from healthy competition and great fights, not a muscular display.

I repeat, nobody wants to see a fighter on steroids! The bottom line is that taking steroids is cheating, unhealthy, and it's not fun to have this question in the back of your head constantly: "Is this guy on steroids?"

Read More...

Cheick Kongo Interview

Irish Whip Fighting recently spoke by email with UFC heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo. Kongo commented on everything including Mirko Cro Cop, the steroid controversy, and training with current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson. (Originally conducted for MMAMadness.com)

Irish Whip Fighting: What do you think about Randy Couture leaving the UFC?
Cheick Kongo: I have no idea. He’s a big man in the sport and we must respect his decision. I’m furious though because I can’t get a fight against him. He’s still a real man with a big heart.

IWF: How do you think that you would've matched up against him?
Kongo: It would’ve been a great and tough fight between two men in the Octagon.

IWF: You're 4-1 in the UFC. What do you attribute this success to?
Kongo: The success comes from all of my training partners: French Team, Bonnel Remy in Miami, The Rampage Camp, Juanito [Ibarra], Quinton Jackson, my family, and many more supporters.

IWF: Your one loss was a split decision to Carmelo Marrero. Did you think you won the fight and would you ever accept a rematch?
Kongo: Yes, I did win this fight and I don’t care now. I made this in really bad and unhealthy conditions. I don’t know if we will make the rematch, but he’s got no chance if he agrees.

IWF: People have said that your ground game needs work. How are you working to improve it?
Kongo: I got nothing to prove. All those who know me know I’m a great wrestler. I’m not BJJ but I’m great.

IWF: Do you think that the people who criticize you like this are justified?
Kongo: Nobody knows me like my training partners and my coach, so shut up! Hahaha!

IWF: What did beating Cro Cop do for your confidence as a fighter?
Kongo: I’m a fighter with a tougher mind and more quality of fighting. I’m not just a bag for people to strike.

IWF: Why do you think that PRIDE fighters are having such a tough time transitioning into the UFC? Is it the ring/cage factor, superior talent, or something else altogether?
Kongo: The truth is elsewhere.

IWF: Can you confirm the rumored fight between you and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira?
Kongo: I will confirm this when I got the contract signed…lol…be patient.

IWF: Where do you rank yourself among the heavyweights?
Kongo: Sincerely, I don’t know and I don’t care. I just want to take the UFC belt.

IWF: What's it like training with Rampage and Bisping?
Kongo: AWESOME!!! Nothing more…maybe amusing.

IWF: Did you see the Bisping-Hamill fight? What did you think of the scoring?
Kongo: You got the score. I have nothing more to say.

IWF: More and more fighters are getting caught with steroids lately. Why do fighters take them if they know they'll probably get caught?
Kongo: These kinds of fighters aren’t the real fighters or real men. This kind of product hurts their body and many fighters think that they can be better than their opponents [if they use steroids]. Bullshit…no guts, no glory.

IWF: Can you give us your opinion on the following fights and comment on each? Fedor vs. Couture?
Kongo: This would be an AWESOME fight, Couture is the winner.

IWF: Wanderlei vs. Chuck?
Kongo: STRIKING FORCE. Chuck is the winner.

IWF: Well thanks for taking the time to do this -- we really appreciate it.
Kongo: Thank you too.

Read More...

UFC on CNBC Tonight!

Check out ufc.com for the video preview!

Read More...

Liddell-Silva Still A Blockbuster

On December 29, 2007, live from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV, former UFC and Pride champions Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell (20-5) and "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (31-7-1) will match up against each other at UFC 79: NEMESIS. Fight fans have been speculating about this fight for years now, and despite recent losses, the match up is still highly anticipated.  An article by Don Davenport.

Chuck Liddell lost his Light Heavyweight Championship to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC: 71 by TKO in the first round by a devastating right hand. Liddell then lost his 2nd fight in a row at UFC: 76 to Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine by split decision. Wanderlei Silva was knocked out by Mirko "Cro Cop" with a left high kick in the in the Open-Weight Grand Prix semi-finals at PRIDE: Fnial Conflict Absolute. Silva too lost his 2nd fight in a row and Middleweight Championship to Dan "Hollywood" Henderson by knockout at Pride 33: Second Coming.

Liddell and Silva were on the top of their respective fight games one year ago wioth both possessing the Championship in their weight class. The argument then was: Who is better, Silva or Liddell? The argument now : Who is more disappointing, Silva or Liddell? This fight was initially anticipated at PRIDE: Final Conflict 2003 tournament, but Liddell was eliminated by Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Since then, no negotiations could be made for the two fighters to meet, until UFC President Dana White announced on Spike TV's 2007 Scream Awards that the dream match would finally take place.

My Prediction for the winner of this long awaited battle is none other than Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. Liddell will beat Silva because of two reasons. The first is inactivity: Silva has not competed since PRIDE 33 where he was defeated by knockout by Dan Henderson. This is main component why Silva's training parter Mauricio "Shogun" Rua lost to Forrest Griffin at UFC: 76. The second is that Silva has never done well in "The Octagon". He's 1-2. Silva suffered his biggest loss to Vitor Belfort in just 44 seconds at UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil.

I would have suggested that Silva should take a tune up fight, but if he lost, I know that this match would lose appeal; so I am glad he is going for it If Silva is aggressive, he can catch Liddell early and end the fight. When he is at his best, Silva throws a lot of punches and knees, often knocking out his opponents. Remember, he defeated the current UFC Light Heavywieght Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (twice) by knockout in PRIDE. For Liddell to win the fight, he needs to counter Silva's punches with a jab, keep his hands up, and be the more aggressive fighter.

If Liddell doesn't get motivated for this, the biggest fight of his career, he might want to join Randy Couture on the sidelines.

Read More...