By Michael Owens
Newly re-signed UFC light heavyweight Anthony Johnson may be about to get seriously reprimanded by his bosses.
Johnson is back as a hot commodity in the MMA world after his jump back into the big time from World Series of Fighting to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As a result, ‘Rumble’ has been doing the rounds with various publications and broadcasters who have renewed interest in him. During a recent interview with Ricky Bones on SiriusXM’s Tapout Radio show he discussed the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports. Considering Dana White and co’s steadfast anti-drugs stance, you could be forgiven for thinking Johnson might have got himself into a bit of trouble with his opinions:
“In every sport people are using something,” he said. “I mean, as long as nobody dies, nobody pulls a Chris Benoit, you know what I’m saying? I think everything is going to be fine. If it’s something that can absolutely help you, I don’t see what the problem is.”
Accusing other fighters of using PEDs is not a unique view. condoning them is quite another matter. He arguably continued to dig himself into a hole as the interview went on:
“They got to be taking something. You got to take something, even if it’s legal or illegal. With as much training as we do, you have to take something. I mean, it doesn’t have to be illegal, but you have to do something, because you just can’t say ‘I’m going to go home and go to sleep’ and just wake up in the morning and feel better. It doesn’t work like that.”
The coup de grâce was his assertion that no-one would be doing PEDs if they were earning big money like other sports stars in America. However, if that is not on the cards fighters should be allowed to do take them so they can become stars and get MLB money:
“You got guys like [New York Yankees player Alex Rodriguez] A-Rod and all them. They making millions per game. We making a couple thousand. They look at us and be like, ‘Man that’s pocket change for me.’ Hell, I’m probably about to say something stupid but I’m about to say, either pay us like them [MLB stars] and then we won’t have to use it, or let us use it so we can get to that level. One or the other… Let us do something.”
Johnson’s point is unclear, because A-Rod has admitted using steroids in the past and he is currently serving a suspension for his involvement in another PED scandal.
At least Johnson is honest, but he might want to a take a second the next time he goes live on air and starts running his mouth about all things medical. Particularly when you consider the kind of PR overdrive the UFC often commits to against the use of unnatural enhancements and the 29-year-olds unpopularity due to weight cutting issues. He’s better hop he makes weight and tests clean for his next contest.
Anthony Johnson is set to face Phil Davis at UFC 172 on April 26.
