Drug testing has been part of combat sports for many years, but the UFC took a much bigger and broader step to cut down on performance-enhancing drug use by athletes after introducing the company’s anti-doping program in 2015.
While there were still plenty of failed drugs at the start, the potential penalties were so severe the use of illegal substances dramatically changed forever. That may have made MMA a much cleaner sport overall, but veteran UFC color commentator Joe Rogan admits he still misses the good old days when fighters were able to use performance-enhancing drugs.
During a recent episode of his podcast featuring multi-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers as his guest, Rogan addressed how much the sport changed after USADA was introduced and fighters had to start toeing the line.
“USADA—when UFC brought in USADA, all of that changed and people’s physiques melted,” Rogan said. “They changed dramatically. Alistair Overeem’s the greatest example. Alistair when he fought Brock Lesnar got drug tested, and he was saucy as f*ck.
“When he’s flexing on stage, that’s when he’s ‘Ubereem’—260 [pounds], solid as fck, ripped and just one of the more elite strikers on planet Earth and Brock was fcked.”
Overeem scored his knockout over Lesnar back at UFC 141 in 2011—a few years prior to the UFC partnering with USADA on a more extensive drug testing plan.
That said, Overeem actually did test positive for elevated levels of testosterone ahead of a scheduled heavyweight title fight against Junior dos Santos in 2012. The Nevada Athletic Commission—the governing body that administered the drug test—refused to grant him a license for the next nine months, which effectively suspended him from the sport.
When Overeem returned, he struggled to find the same success as he did in the fight against Lesnar and lost his next two bouts. Overeem eventually worked his way back to a title shot, but suffered a first-round knockout loss to Stipe Miocic when they met in 2016.
Rogan wishes he could have seen Overeem continue to move forward in his UFC career without the detrimental drug testing.
“They make him take the drug test, and he becomes a normal person with good fighting skills,” Rogan said. “I mean he wasn’t the Ubereem anymore. This destroyer.
“I would have loved to see what an Alistair Overeem run on the sauce would have been. My god. It would have been epic. It would have been really wild to see.”
Following the end of the partnership with USADA, the UFC moved forward with a new anti-doping program headed up by ex-FBI agent George Piro with testing done independently by Combat Sports Anti-Doping.
Fighters are still routinely and randomly drug tested throughout the year, and CSAD now hands down the punishments for any use of performance-enhancing substances. That said, Rogan actually wishes drug testing didn’t exist, especially where the heavyweight division is concerned.
“Oh yeah, I want fun,” Rogan said with a laugh about allowing fighters to use banned substances. “I don’t want to see fat heavyweights. Get the f*ck out of here. I want Alistair back. Get them back on the sauce.”
Heavyweight sucks right now but I still love watching fat guys throw down too. This is probably the worst heavyweight has ever been though.
Not me. I dislike watching fat heavyweights. They look like shit and it isn’t entertaining even when they throw down. In fact it’s pathetic that these guys walk around with decent athletic ability and a natural talent for fighting, but can’t be bothered to even train a little bit. I don’t like watching guys who clearly aren’t even trying in the gym. I wish there were more good heavyweights to either push those guys to train harder, or push them out of the UFC altogether.
There He Is ^
I agree with Rogan. I miss the jacked heavyweights. At least they trained.
I Smelllel A FTH !!!
I prefer mma to allow PED’s. I’ve fought and grappled against serious PED users so I’m not asking for something I wouldn’t personally do.
All sports are better with PEDs
I’m glad the steroids are banned. It’s not fair for those who don’t want to be juiced to the gills. It just becomes a steroid’s arms race to keep up.
I agree. Legalize it. If they want to risk the long term effects of using, it’s their choice. If they don’t want to, cool, also their choice.
What Rogan is missing though is those heavyweights actually trained and wanted to be champions. Heavyweights outside the top 5-7 in the UFC now are just happy to be there. They won’t be ripped just by taking steroids, because they don’t train hard.
Guys are still on them and it only benefits the sophisticated users. Allowing steroids is the closest thing to a level playing field
This
People say they want a level playing field by making PEDS illegal but that’s the opposite. Because the fighters who have more money and resources, and/or knowledge can use and beat the system, while others who don’t, won’t use, because they are afraid of getting caught. Or they use, get caught and can’t fight.
Allowing steroids opens it up for everyone and if some fighters choose to not use, it’s their choice. They can’t complain and say “but they are in steroids”, well you could be too, but choose not to. So it’s a level playing field in the sense that everyone has the opportunity.
I always thought pro sports should do voluntary testing
If you want to compete “clean,” go for it, here’s your certificate.
Now, lets see how hard a humanbeing can hit someone REALLY.
Everyone knows there is rampant PED use in the UFC (or any other sport), so even with USADA (or whatever theyre using now) everyone is consenting to compete against juice heads anyway. Looking at you Mark Hunt 
USADA was never about “safety,” ZUFFA did that so they could sell the company to someone like WME.
ZUFFA cashed out and killed the UFC 
Sweet profile pic…
Haha
Armenian Paulie Walnuts 