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Having already found himself on the business end of Vitor Belfort's spinning head kick, you can hardly blame UFC middleweight contender Luke Rockhold for scrutinizing his future opponents.
Rockhold has been one of the UFC's most outspoken proponents for stepping up its initiative to crack down on performance enhancing drugs, something the promotion took major steps into implementing Wednesday.
Due to face Lyoto Machida Apr. 18 in the main event at UFC on FOX 15 in Newark, New Jersey, Rockhold cited concerns over the culture at his opponent's training camp.
"I'm not a fan of (cheating), and I definitely am pushing for more drug testing, more random blood testing and whatnot," Rockhold said on CBS Sports Radio's Gio and Jones. "Especially (within the) Black House camp. There's been (three or fur [sic] guys from that camp who have been caught cheating) and (Lyoto) Machida is a Black House guy."
A Brazilian transplant to Los Angeles, Machida has trained alongside long-time teammate Anderson Silva at the gym dating back several years. Silva, of course, failed both pre and post-fight drug screenings for his Jan. 31 headlining bout with Nick Diaz at UFC 183.
In addition to Silva the camp has also seen several other stablemates fail drug screenings in similar fashion. UFC bantamweight Brian Ortega tested positive for the anabolic steroid drostanolone following his UFC on FOX 12 win over Mike de la Torre, the same substance found in Silva's system.
In September UFC middleweight Kevin Casey was suspended one year for testing positive for drostanolone following his 61-second TKO victory over Bubba Bush at UFC 175 in July.
"I think he's a clean fighter, but I'm definitely pushing (for more testing)," Rockhold said. "I want a clean sport, like baseball. We need to get on their level. Let's start cleaning things up a little bit here."
Despite numerous offers to experiment with PEDs, Rockhold says he's never considered it.
"I couldn't live with myself, to tell you the truth," said Rockhold. "It would just never happen. I'm a true competitor. It's funny. I got injured and I was out for about 19 months. I had a bad shoulder injury I kept re-injuring, and people started getting into my ear trying to tell me I could recover faster and get back in. I just kept blocking them off.
"Just random people stopping in and out of training camps and stuff like that. There's always a couple bad seeds that pop in. But luckily, I have such a great training camp. We have the cleanest, strongest camp. We push out the bad seeds. We want to keep our camp clean."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Big day. UFC announces an overhaul of drug-testing policy in wake of high-profile failures.
All the bitches. Ronda Rousey says, ‘If 2014 was my bitch, then 2015 is going to look like my bitch's bitch.'
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas discusses the UFC-PED press conference, previews UFC Fight Night 61 and more in this week's live chat.
Stacked. UFC 187 gets title fights between Anthony Johnson vs. Jon Jones and Vitor Belfort vs. Chris Weidman.
Scrum. Ronda Rousey discusses her upcoming fight against Cat Zingano at UFC 184, fighter pay, Anderson Silva, steroids, and much more during her UFC 184 media day Wednesday evening.
MEDIA STEW
Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta talk spending millions on PED testing. (Listen to the full presser audio here)
Countdown to UFC 184: Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano.
BJ Penn's new short documentary.
BJ "The Prodigy" Penn from Roots of Fight on Vimeo.
Ronda Rousey reacts to UFC ramping up testing.
Inside the Octagon with Ariel Helwani.
Get to know Paul Daley.
I live under a rock so I'd never seen or heard of this song but Gunnar Nelson seems to be a fan.
Long watches.
UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano Media Conference Call
...
5 Rounds Today with Joe Doerksen: Development in MMA, UFC Broomfield, UFC Porto Alegre and more
...
Chael Sonnen's 'You're Welcome' - Ben Askren
...
TWEETS
See how the pros reacted to the dramatic proposed changes to UFC drug testing program.
More reactions.
Love the stance UFC is taking on PED's now. Gonna be great for the sport. Excited to know I'll be fighting normal human beings. #dontcheat
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) February 18, 2015
2 of 2 @Ruthless_RL at #ufc189 will be part of this new testing era, Make it happen !
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) February 18, 2015
Big thanks to @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta for cleaning sport up
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 18, 2015
No seriously, no steroids, I'm just super disciplined. http://t.co/G9TwPlz4b9 pic.twitter.com/Tv88gIK9nX
— michael (@bisping) February 18, 2015
@DiegoSanchezUFC It definitely makes me reconsider some of my past losses.
— Rich Franklin (@RichFranklin) February 18, 2015
I have a feeling we'll see a lot of cheat..I mean fighters drop weight classes after July 1st. #PEDPresser
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) February 18, 2015
The @ufc press conference right now. A new era for the sport and a huge positive step forward.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 18, 2015
I wonder how many fighters will go from "Top Contenders" to "Out of the UFC" after out-of-competition tests start
— David Michaud (@bulldawgUFC) February 18, 2015
Thanks to @danawhite @lorenzofertitta @ufc for helping our sport to get rid of the #PED. Now we're gonna see who is real.
— Ruslan Magomedov (@MagomedovUFC) February 19, 2015
If you're on PEDs I feel bad for you hun. I got 99 problems but steroids ain't one ;) http://t.co/ucubl80bcp via @mmajunkie
— Aisling Daly (@aisydaly) February 18, 2015
Very happy to learn about the UFC announcing a new comprehensive random PED testing.
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) February 18, 2015
Clearly a big step in the right direction for our sport.
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) February 18, 2015
Can't wait to get more details about the actual protocol, 3rd party testing agency and new sanctions.
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) February 18, 2015
Beefin'.
@Cowboycerrone I wanted respect you like my opponent but now I have to smash you in octagon! @ufc
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 18, 2015
"@TeamKhabib: @Cowboycerrone I wanted respect you like my opponent but now I have to smash you in octagon! @ufc" Better pack a lunch
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 18, 2015
"@khanriazaoif: @Cowboycerrone @ufc @shaunalshatti Khabib is a scary dude." He is. But I'm a Fucking Monster
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 18, 2015
"@Cowboycerrone: Better pack a lunch" don't forget to pack parachute before our fight
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 18, 2015
@Cowboycerrone @ufc you make interview saying this is bad fight for fans. You're a mental midget. Hope you bring A game
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 18, 2015
Remember I'm a Bud drinking, gun sling'n, Ford driven, proud American country boy that will beat anyones ass from sea to sea #Rocky4 #UFC187
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 19, 2015
Anti-beef.
Congratulations @AndreiArlovski on your fight w Travis Browne. I tried my best. Wish you best of camps. Go get yours.
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) February 19, 2015
Get well soon.
Saw @UFCDoctor & my eye is healing fast!! Cupcake is coming 4 you @bethecorreia #DontBeScaredHomie #Road2Recovery pic.twitter.com/T0DuUYgYFh
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) February 18, 2015
Welp.
I want that belt back! http://t.co/YbaBsLBQ8f @Reebok @SAN_Nutrition @ARAM_TTD
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) February 19, 2015
Struggle face.
Judo transitions with @jflorespro - love his face in this one #UFC184 #rouseyVSzingano #feb28... http://t.co/9vT7anwcxv
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) February 19, 2015
Yea.
Nick Diaz - Would? http://t.co/uqWYZY4Le3
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) February 19, 2015
Dang.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 18 2015)
Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald at UFC 189: Aldo vs. McGregor
Jon Jones vs. Anthony Johnson at UFC 187
Chris Wiedman vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 187
Donald Cerrone vs. Khabib Nurmagonedov at UFC 187
Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne at UFC 187
Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga at UFC 187
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Graham Douglas.
Shorter suspensions are a better solution than longer suspensions for positive PED test results.
I'll say this with the greatest of conviction. The suspensions for testing positive need to be restrained, and not increased.
Everyone reading this should agree. Shorter is better than longer. We all have a stake in this situation because dealing the PED use is going to bring the whole thing crashing down if we're not careful.
Any suspension is bad. Testing positive can ruin your public image and legacy. Those are all serious consequences for testing positive. Not only that, but it's also going to cost you at least one payday if you are testing positive leading up to a fight.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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