Fighters Only

Issue 120

October 2014

Recently retired UFC middleweight challenger Chael Sonnen lost his TV jobs with the UFC and Fox Sports when he failed a second random drugs test in a row. We ask the FO universe for a verdict. . .

YES

Cub Swanson, 21-5

Exciting UFC featherweight contender

I believe just because it’s him, they will (laughs). People want to love him, and rightfully so. He’s an awesome character, he’s done a lot for the sport and shown people how to self promote. It was unfortunate that (positive drugs test) happened but, you know, it is what it is. He’s paying for it right now but I really think that in time people will forget about it.

EPO is very common, I believe. Especially for the guys that are getting to the bigger fights. I’ve made it my job to really study these things and know what these things are. And I know that one is basically so you can have crazy cardio. So when you’ve got guys that are fighting five fives they’ll take stuff to make them have that extra gas tank. So it didn’t surprise me at all that people are taking that.

I myself think it’s very dangerous. Having friends who are doctors, basically it increases your red blood cells. So the fact we cut so much weight, you can end up having blood clots and that’s super dangerous.

NO

Jimi Manuwa, 14-1

Heavy-handed UFC light heavyweight

Why? I wouldn’t want anybody to. He was one of the fighters that I looked at being in the light heavyweight division, which he was as well as middleweight, he was one of the fighters who I thought, ‘God, he’s going to be a handful. If I can’t knock him out he’s going to be a handful for the duration of the fight because he doesn’t stop.’

And now he’s tested positive (for EPO) so he must have been on that all the time. That’s what made him kind of noticeable, because of his cardio, because he didn’t stop. Now he’s tested positive for EPO, so that’s probably the reason why it was like that. So I don’t think they should, but who knows?