Jon Fitch on PED use: Those that use them are weaker-minded
Posted on December 19, 2011, 06:05 PM by Trent Reinsmith
UFC Welterweight Jon Fitch has lost exactly one fight since March 2003, a five round unanimous decision to UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre in August of 2008. In all, his career MMA record stands at 23-3-1-1.
Fitch has been away from the Octagon for some time, with his last fight taking place on February 27 of this year. Following that fight, a three round majority draw with BJ Penn, Fitch underwent shoulder surgery. Now, healed up and ready to compete, Fitch will face Johny Hendricks at UFC 141, which will take place on December 30, 2011 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
Heading into the fight Fitch spoke about a variety of topics, with one subject really seeming to bring the venom out in the top-ranked welterweight, performance enhancing drugs. “I think it’s cowardly to use them. I don’t think it’s necessary, I think those that use them are weaker-minded. But I think [the UFC] should be doing more about it. I think they should pay a little greater expense to get better testing. I think blood tests would be much better rather than urine tests. They could do the blood test the week before when they do our blood medicals for HIV and Hep C. Also, [there should be] stiffer fines. I think the athletic commission fining them a little bit, I don’t think it’s enough. I think UFC should make an example out of guys that get caught cheating. Take 50% reduction in their purses for the rest of their career if they get caught. Something that’s actually going to stay and stick. That takes away the excuse of ‘oh well, everyone else is doing it and I’m here to make money’. Well now if you get caught, you’re going to make 50% less money for the rest of your career. I think that would be a big [deterrent] for people that want to cheat.” – for more see MMASucka.com
What do you think LowKick’ers, is Fitch on to something with his proposed punishment?
Further Reading: Jon Fitch speaks out: "I'm irritated, I'm pissed off. I'm tired of being ignored."
Jon Fitch during his fight against Kuniyoshi Hironaka of Japan at the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) 64 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, October 14, 2006. Photo credit: Francis Specker
Comments
true story mr. fitch, true story
I agree with John Fitch. Everyone should stay clean and honest in martial art.
Weaker minded but stronger muscles.....Weak me NOW!!
you asked for it
Yeah bigger muscle but tiny sack.
John Fitch is right. He is probably one of the best fighters and he doesn't cheat and it pisses him off to see guys getting away with it while he and other fighters stay legit.
Fu*k yeah man...you are 100% rigth...there should be no room for this kind of thing in modern MMA...it is sad tjat the Ufc looks to the other side as it happens.
There are like a million loop holes in the athletic commission. Just look at hormone replacement. Just from the top of my head, Randy Couture, Mr.Sonnen, Dan Handerson, Big Foot, there are others as well. The thing is if there is a "medical" condition then you are excused. It just seems that a lot of athletes have a "medical" condition. It's such a grey area. Either allow PED's or have a zero tolerance program with improved random testing. Like raid the house at 3am and draw blood ninja style.
I like the idea of a surprise test.
Bas Rutten didn't take anything as far as supplemants when he was fighting. The dude didn't even drink Gatorade. He saw his opponant as being both physically weak and weak minded if using PEDs. In his perspective, he still had the advantage even though his foe was juiced up. He looked at it as a character flaw in the fighter.
or greedy
i think that one dude that fights for strike force chris santos should be tested for hgh.
Beware what you wish for. I say let well enough alone. If you crack down on these guys then 80% of not only the UFC but MMA would be cleaned out. You get no Brock lesnar, No Overeem, No GSP, no Chael Sonnen etc. etc. etc. You cant have your cake and eat it too.
It's a good point but these guys love their jobs and may stick around even if that happened. For sure some would go or they wouldn't be able to compete at the highest level anymore but in the long run it would be worth it.
I doubt GSP does it, he don't have oversized head or neck - he is just one of the most dedicated fighters with an awesome training regime. he trains gymnastics and there's many gymnasts with better physiques than GSP who don't juice either. Overeem for sure. Brock used to and maybe still does, Sonnen for sure
I would agree with you based on GSPs' demeanor and seemingly humble presence but after watching the video about him using grease and stuff I can just say who knows. I mean he had not just 1 guy but many fighters and observers including Chuck, Matt Hughes, BJ, mayhem miller,Sherk and others all experience a sure sign of a cheat in GSP. Matt said plainly that he competed over 1000 times and says he knows the difference between a greased fighter and one that isn't and he says GSP was. BJ says he was and made a scene out of it only to be called a baby even though Chuck Liddell and Frank Mir and an observer from the commision saw it happen. I can't put it past the guy considering how safe he is inside the cage as well he just does not want to lose. Maybe he's clean now and no longer greases but he sure did grease at one time.
If these guys can't compete without PED's then they are not good enough to compete and should be in a different organization. It's a bit similar to Bodybuilding, there are two main streams, tested competition and not tested competitions, guess where all the money flocks too. ARNOLD!!
Maybe that's Dana's plan for Strikeforce:
UFC = Juice League
StrikeForce = Clean League
JK
Just because you dont have an oversized neck or head doesn't mean your not juicing. There are so many different types of performance enhancing drugs and illegal susbtances that are avaialble to these guys we have no idea about. And they are always three steps ahead of the testing procedures. The more money and popularity you have the easier it is to get it. It's also alot easier for a guy like GSP to not get caught.
He may be on to something a little bit with the 50% reduction in purse forever thing, but honestly I think that wouldn't affect people at the top nearly enough. GSP makes about 4-5 million a fight, but it's mostly due to sponsors, and hence not subject to the restrictions of the UFC.
Remember when Tim Sylvia admitted to using steroids, not for performance, but because he wanted to look better. That was golden.
And we care what Fitch thinks why?
People that use steroids often do so because they are trying to level the playing field against people that re naturally more gifted than themselves. Jon Fitch is not particularly gifted, but he still dominates everyone not named Georges St. Pierre because he WORKS HIS ASS OFF. He doesn't see why it should be different for anyone else, and neither do I.