Morning Report: Anthony Johnson believes Anderson Silva's team is to blame for failed drug tests

After UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones placed the blame on Anderson Silva's failed drug tests on his staff, No. 1 contender Anthony Johnson is following suit.

Silva tested positive for steroid metabolites in drug tests before and after his main event bout with Nick Diaz Jan. 31 at UFC 183.

Like Jones, Johnson is giving Silva the benefit of the doubt.

"It was disappointing, but with the way guys are getting popped left and right it doesn't surprise me," Johnson told Fighthub. "A lot of times I think these fighters, you know, we've got our coaches, our trainers, people that we trust and sometimes they just say, 'Here, take this.' We trust them so we take it. Sometimes you just don't ask questions about what is it. You just take their word for it because they've been in your corner for so many times. You just take it. You don't think twice about it. You think it's something good for you. Once again, you trust them."

Some, including Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, Tito Ortiz and UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman have called Silva's entire career into question following the positive tests, but Johnson doesn't believe the legacy was built with the help of performance enhancing drugs.

"In Anderson's case, just for me, I just think that's what it was," said Johnson. "I don't think Anderson's really ever been a cheater. He's been a showboater, we know that. That's who he is. He makes the fights entertaining. I don't think he's ever been to the point where he's used something illegal to be the fighter that he is."

Johnson faces Jones May 23 at UFC 187 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

'We'll see what happens.' UFC president Dana White says the the company is ‘going to support' Anderson Silva regardless of his NAC punishment.

'We've been working a couple years just on beating Ronda.' Miesha Tate says if anyone is going to beat Ronda Rousey, it's going to be her.

'Come to Jesus.' UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey wants to make an example out of Bethe Correia. 'I don't just want to defeat her. I want her to leave that arena embarrassed. And the best way to do it is to come here and to beat her in her own backyard.'

Soft spot. Dana White says he'll 'try to push' Josh Koscheck into retiring after losing his fifth straight fight.

'A special brand of prick.' Chuck Mindenhall explains how, after ten years, Josh Koscheck has left his mark on the UFC.

MEDIA STEW

UFC 189 World Championship Tour embedded episode 1.

World Tour presser highlights. (Full presser here)

Backstage interviews with Demian Maia and Erick Silva.

Dana White talks Maia, Josh Koscheck, Drew Dober, Aldo vs. McGregor and Rousey vs. Correia.

One of the worst ref mistakes you'll ever see in MMA.

What language is Ronda speaking here?

Long watches.

Fight Night Rio: Post-fight Press Conference

...

Fusion Fighting Championship 15: Access All Areas

TWEETS

See how the pros reacted to UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare.

Victory lap.

Thank you all for the support and the good vibes! I tried my best and it's very good to be back! @BadBoy @AmazooAcai pic.twitter.com/dhWAwlgueb

— Demian Maia (@demianmaia) March 22, 2015

Dias de luta... Dias de Glória... #LIKEATIGER https://t.co/74nYs2RIv1

— Erick Silva (@ErickSilvaMMA) March 22, 2015

Hey guys!! All right? I am very happy with my victory! It was very nice to have won the fight in my house and still with a finalisation! Everyone knows how much the jiu jitsu is important to me and to be able to win a struggle in using maracanãzinho This appeal was amazing! As i have received many messages and much love to you guys, i have decided to make this video to be able to say thank you to all !!! Thank you very much!!!!! Ooooosssssss

Fala galera!! Tudo bem? Estou muito feliz com a minha vitória! Foi muito bacana ter ganho a luta na minha casa, e... http://t.co/A4f0bNVyn2

— Leonardo Santos (@LeoSantosbjj) March 22, 2015

Melhores momentos https://t.co/HDGF1IzyHU

— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) March 22, 2015

Never give up!! Nunca desista @blackzilians @henrihooft @coachgjones rodrigocavaca vitorbelfort... https://t.co/JN3MXsc0Cl

— Gilbert DurinhoBurns (@GilbertDurinho) March 22, 2015

I have no words to thank the affection of all of you!

Não tenho palavras para agradecer o carinho de todos vocês!! #ocomandoÉDique #DSTEAM #KS17 #UFC #mma... https://t.co/8I6cPEWXLU

— Edimilson Souza (@kevinsouzamma) March 22, 2015

I did it !!! Thank you all for the support . I'm on top of the world right now. I'm officially living... https://t.co/Cbrz87lMMS

— christos giagos (@CGiagos) March 22, 2015

Better luck next time.

My update on what's next. Thank you @oakgrovetech dewaynezinkin @crazybobcook @checkdefense... https://t.co/FloCTLSj03

— Josh Koscheck (@JoshKoscheck) March 22, 2015

Thank you very much @LeoSantosBJJ for the great fight last night and to Brazilian fans for their support. An honor to fight in Brazil! @ufc_brasil #UFCRio

Muito obrigado @LeoSantosBJJ pela ótima luta ontem à noite e aos fãs brasileiros pelo apoio. Uma honra lutar no Brasil! @ufc_brasil #UFCRio

— Tony Martin (@tmartinmma) March 22, 2015

Thanks to the people tweeting that they still love me. You guys don't know how much that means to me.

— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) March 22, 2015

Out in front got stuck, taking away I get, you won't find exactly what for. More freely, more fun. Did you prepare this time I can do from no regrets. Just a little bit is that I will regret. Just got a big weapon through this practice. To make the best of it: I can think so.

前に出て行き詰まって、距離を取ってやっぱり上手くいかなくて、丁度いいところを見つけないとな。もっと自由に、もっと楽しく。今回の僕に出来る準備はしたから悔いはない。少しだけ心残りはある。ただ今回の練習を通して大きな武器は手に入れた。それを活かせるように次の僕に出来ることを考よう。

— 菊野克紀 (@kikunokatsunori) March 22, 2015

I gave it my all and was eager to get the momentum moving, but then the referee stepped in. Im sorry Rio and UFC @ufc @UFCONFOX

— Drew Dober (@DrewDober) March 22, 2015

Khabib Champ.

Mike knows lol @danawhite @MikeTyson pic.twitter.com/Vx9b95sUNg

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 22, 2015

Beefin'.

Bring your mom!!! pic.twitter.com/3bNO4OvtJ8

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 22, 2015

There will be no charity fight. I didn't want to embarrass @Chan95Jones publicly like that @perrytooclutch

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) March 22, 2015

Come on @Chan95Jones I'll have you calling me daddy

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) March 22, 2015

Stop "@KevinRygiel: @JonnyBones @Chan95Jones @ochocinco would wreck both of you"

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) March 22, 2015

Business.

Business does not pity the weak. pic.twitter.com/esujF8S4iq

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 22, 2015

OK.

Go to @danawhite and send #wandfree no more slave! Vamos la irmaos,nao vamos parar clica no insta do... https://t.co/jxIJgfuePF

— Wanderlei Silva (@wandfc) March 23, 2015

Get well soon.

I hurt my knee while training (torn meniscus) need surgery, but I will be ready by summer Sorry fans for making you wait longer. #TeamRuslan

— Ruslan Magomedov (@MagomedovUFC) March 22, 2015

Just took my stitches out hooray !! No more stabbing myself lol pic.twitter.com/D24vYhNHlj

— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) March 22, 2015

Longo, the horror.

Late night Sunday work @law_mma @funkmaster_ufc @gpvillante @raylongomma pic.twitter.com/7Myq5uzxsZ

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) March 23, 2015

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced this weekend (March 20-22 2015)

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua at UFC 190

Katja Kankaanpaa vs. Livia Renata Souza at Invicta FC 12

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Emmery Myers.

Deconstructing the Destruction - UFC FN 62 edition : Brazil strikes back

MMA, perhaps unlike any other sport, has a great way of creating narratives and letting them grow organically. Team sports do it too, but many of those are curated, nurtured and harvested by the sports media establishment prior to consumption by the fans. As if ESPN radio were some bizarro Fox News pushing Bengazi-like hysteria upon us with inflated talk of deflated balls. The MMA fanbase however is what drives the narratives for our sport. And this is no bad thing. No sooner are these storylines created than are they are totally inverted, and like inside out boy, flipped over the bar. It was one week and one day ago when it still appeared 2015 was likely the year Brazil ceded all of their MMA titles to English first language speaking champions.

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Check out the rest of the post here.

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