Anthony Johnson: Fighters Have To Use Steroids, Pay Us Like MLB Stars So We Don’t

Former UFC welterweight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson was recently handed a golden opportunity when the promotion re-signed him to face Phil Davis at UFC 172 this April. “Rumble” was released from the UFC in early 2012 after failing to make weight for the third time leading up to his middleweight bout with Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort.

He regrouped at light heavyweight (and even heavyweight) to win six straight bouts, most recently blasting Mike Kyle with a vicious hook at WSOF 8 in January. With the chance to become an instant title contender on the line, Johnson is wasting absolutely no time in stepping back into the limelight.

But that may be for better or worse.

Recently appearing on Sirius XM’s Tapout Radio, Johnson offered his view that most fighters in MMA are using performance-enhancing drugs. And he’s okay with that, as long as they don’t kill someone (transcribed via MMA Mania):

“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.”

“In every sport people are using something. 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. Until that moment you go crazy on the person — whoever it may be — you can’t absolutely blame them… I don’t know. I guess it’s just an iffy situation.”

“If you abuse it, of course you are going to get popped for it and do stupid stuff. But if you use it the right way and you just do what you are supposed to do, then it shouldn’t be a problem. But with the way the world is right now, hell you can… Everything is all messed up right now. I don’t know man. I think if you can do it, do it. I don’t have nothing against it. You know what I’m saying? As long as you don’t kill nobody.”

That sounds like quite the controversial approach given the black eye that steroids, TRT, and other PEDs place on MMA. Even if Johnson feels that way about illegal substances, it’s probably best for him to keep his mouth shut while he’s still on relatively thin ice following his long-awaited UFC return.

At the same time, Johnson believes that the issue ties in with fighter pay, which has been blasted as being ridiculously low for many fighters in the Octagon. Johnson said that the pay fighters receive is paltry compared to other professional athletes, noting that an increase in salaries might curb the rampant use of PEDs in the UFC. His words, right after he noted he was about to ‘say something stupid’:

“….you got guys like A-Rod and all them. They making millions per game. We’re 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) 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.”

He didn’t state exactly why getting paid like pro baseball players would get rid of the need or desire to use PEDs in MMA. Apparently he thinks that fighters will simply stop using them once they become massive millionaires. It’s a very questionable view, and it’s an even more dangerous stance that PEDs should be allowed in combat sports.

Fighters do put their bodies through a very rigorous and depleting regimen on a daily basis, one that’s no doubt very tough to recover from without help. However, that doesn’t mean that using illegal substances is justified. The debate rages on over PEDs in MMA, but it’s hard to think that “Rumble’s” philosophy will be taken into account when attempting to solve the problem.

Do you agree with Johnson’s stance of fighters either needing to use performance-enhancing substances or much more money, or has “Rumble” already put his foot in his mouth?