Morning Report: Dana White responds to Jose Aldo's complaints, says union would have never signed off on increased PED testing

It's no secret that UFC president Dana White and the promotion's chief owners, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, aren't exactly pro-union.

Basking in the glow of their newly revealed plans to make using performance enhancing drugs in the UFC an incredibly dodgy prospect, White used the policy to further discredit the need for an MMA fighters' union.

"You know what's funny?" White asked during an appearance on UFC Tonight. "No matter what we do there's always some negative guy out there that will have some negative thing to say about it. Even a policy as tough as this, people talk about unions and things like that? If there was a [fighters'] union this would have never happened.

"This would have never happened with a union. This is the best thing to do for the sport and for the athletes."

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo spoke out earlier this week about a growing concern for up and coming fighters losing out on sponsorship income due to the promotion's outfitting deal with Reebok.

The first UFC champion to voice these concerns, Aldo called for the creation of a fighters' association and claimed a union would never have agreed to the terms rendered by the Reebok deal.

"The UFC isn't making the revenue that the NFL and the NBA are," said White. "This is the first ever deal that we've had with a huge sporting apparel company like Reebok.

"The fighters aren't being treated well? They're getting all the money. The fighters are getting paid every time they fight. Every time they step in the cage they're being paid by Reebok and you can still keep all your sponsors."

White then singled Aldo out, saying he's proof that not all sponsors are abandoning fighters because the brands will soon no longer be permitted inside the Octagon.

"Jose Aldo is the perfect example," said White. "Reebok went after Jose Aldo aggressively and [Brazilian MMA apparel brand] Venum was like, 'You're not taking Jose Aldo.' Venum ended up keeping Jose Aldo. It paid him more money."

Aldo defends his title to Conor McGregor July 11 at UFC 189 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas previews UFC Fight Night 68 and discusses the UFC's Marketing and Development presser in this week's live chat.

Next. Dana White says Luke Rockhold gets the next shot at Chris Weidman's UFC middleweight title and that light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will likely make his first title defense to Alexander Gustafsson.

Breaking ground. UFC announces 'UFC Lab' to promote athlete training and rehabilitation.

MEDIA STEW

Inside the Octagon with Ariel Helwani.

Vincente Luque vs. Nathan Coy on TUF 21.

Episode 4 of Mick Swick's UFC 189 vlog.

Leslie Smith on beating up male groper, training with Diaz bros.

Ronda Rousey seems like a fun interview.

TTTHS.

Long watches.

UFC Special Announcement Press Conference

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UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Boetsch Care/Don't Care Preview

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5 Rounds Today - UFC Fight Night Goiania Recap, UFC Fight Night New Orleans Preview, WSOF 21

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You're Welcome with Chael Sonnen - Randy Couture

TWEETS

See how the pros reacted to the UFC's new drug testing policies.

More testing responses.

Yes but you cant get the best testing body to do this otherwise. Small price imo, MJ legalization is diff issue https://t.co/i3h2kVVW16

— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) June 3, 2015

Soooo what your saying is blow is good, just not for weight cuts?

— Jake Heun (@JakeHeun) June 3, 2015

The @UFC commitment to health,safety and FINALLY lessening PED use is fantastic.Glad finally implementing CIR/IRMS.Fighters need a union,too

— Vada-Testing.org (@Vada_Testing) June 3, 2015

have to read more into details of the policy but from what @arielhelwani reported this is a great day for @ufc athletes who don't use PED

— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) June 3, 2015

With the new drug testing policies, don't be surprised if you see fighters that looked like sprinters look like marathon runners now.

— Ulysses Gomez (@uselessgomez) June 3, 2015

I've always been a proponent for year-round athlete drug testing. @ufc.

— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) June 3, 2015

A huge step taken by @ufc today in their attempt to help clean up our sport. Great Job!!!

— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) June 3, 2015

I would love to see all the cheaters get caught & suspended but look at all the other who got caught Slap on the wrist & right back in #fact

— Doni Miller (@DoniMiller) June 4, 2015

A level playing field/octagon courtesy of the @ufc & @usantidoping Proud to be setting the bar high for mma & all other professional sports

— Patrick Cummins (@OfficialDurkin) June 3, 2015

I proposed a 4 year suspension years ago as per WADA regulations. Got a lot of backlash for it. Good to hear that folks are coming around.

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) June 4, 2015

Oh well.

So I woke up this morning thinking I'm not really the sit around until December kinda guy??

— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) June 3, 2015

@Cowboycerrone perfect cowboy! I almost asked you at the airport if you wanted to sit around! Had a feeling you wouldn't! Let's get it going

— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) June 3, 2015

Well when you dreams to fight before December get smashed, Remember there plenty of crazy shit... https://t.co/r5kChKj3P7

— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) June 3, 2015

It's on.

Ladies and gentlemen it's on! Repost @ufc ・・・ UFC middleweight @LukeRockhold will get next shot at... https://t.co/MXjf9XqFfR

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) June 4, 2015

Beef.

We are not at war with UFC. We are at war with zuffa. They stole the UFC from us, the fans and fighters. We are fighting to get it back.

— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) June 4, 2015

There's a lot more of this.

@NateRockQuarry @shaunalshatti it's common sense actually. Realistically I think not many fighters would say "yes, please randomly test me &

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 4, 2015

@NateRockQuarry @shaunalshatti ...and let's pay for it with our union." Also Reebok deal/Aldo quote about Union was my follow up.

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 4, 2015

@kennyflorian @shaunalshatti plz give an example of a pro sports org that has a union and no drug testing. NBA? NFL? MLB? No...

— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) June 4, 2015

@kennyflorian @shaunalshatti No union pays for drug testing. That's what the employer pays for. Again, look to the big leagues.

— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) June 4, 2015

@NateRockQuarry @shaunalshatti Nate, not one of them use USADA. Not one. That's the truth. Very different procedures.

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 4, 2015

Not happy.

It's as if they're mocking the belt even more. You lose to the real champ, then fight a guy who lost his last fight? Weird

— malki kawa (@malkikawa) June 4, 2015

Get well soon.

Justin Scoggins @scogginsflow has one hard ass foot. Had to get my broken cheek bone put back in... https://t.co/Q5P9fw0JGT

— ☆SAMPO☆ (@JSampoMMA) June 3, 2015

Light heavyweight.

Louisiana, y'all are on one with this "boudin" stuff. What is this @dc_mma ? pic.twitter.com/1KfTJTbhTz

— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) June 3, 2015

Only one of the greatest creations known to mankind. Have u had any? U are a heavyweight, try some. It's amazing! https://t.co/wNxBhipOS7

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 3, 2015

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (June 3 2015)

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FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Michael Shulski.

Jonathan Gottschall's "The Professor in the Cage".

Jonathan Gottschall is a professor of literature at Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. A fan since the 90s, Gotschall started training in mma and had one amateur fight. He was also a guest on Joe Rogan's podcast on May 18, 2015. His book, The Professor in the Cage: Why Men Fight and Why We Like to Watch, is rated at four and a half stars on amazon.com. This article explores Gottschall's writings and how they fit in with the themes commonly discussed on mmafighting.com.

The Professor in the Cage echos the recent sentiment that fighting is an essential part of not only human nature, but also exists, to some degree, in virtually all life forms. Gotschall makes use of evolutionary theory to argue that humans (and other animals for that matter) use athletic competition or play fighting to establish hierarchies of dominance. He calls this "the Monkey Dance". These hierarchies function to execute tasks such as warfare. These hierarchies aren't necessarily immoral. Oftentimes, leadership roles are assigned and efficiency is increased.

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Check out the rest of the post here.

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