Dana White (photo) did not like GSP's criticism of the UFC's anti-doping policy. Photo: YouTube/Reproduction
Known for not mincing words and being very direct in his statements, UFC president Dana White is the type to avoid a controversial question in his interviews. Therefore, at the press conference after UFC Fight Night 35, early this Thursday (16), Dana revealed that he expected questions about the recent criticism of Georges St Pierre to Ultimate's anti-doping policy, cited by the former champion as one of the reasons that motivated his departure from the sport. White was very unhappy with GSP's statements and said that the Canadian is still upset with his opinion on the fight against John hendricks at UFC 167.
“I think Georges St-Pierre is upset with me for everything I said at the press conference after UFC 167 and for me saying he didn't win the fight. If so, he should act like a man and call me, or come here and talk to me. I find this whole situation very strange. He said we are a monopoly. Our competitor is Viacom, a company worth 40 billion dollars. I will never see that amount of money in my life, and neither will the UFC. If a company like this is our competitor, I don't know how we can be a monopoly. If he thinks anything about any subject, he should come here and say it, or tell me. I'm not a very sensitive guy, he wouldn't hurt my feelings. I think he lost the fight to John hendricks. If this hurt him, he should tell me so. I never said anything bad about him. That's why I find this situation surreal. He wanted to stay out for a while because of personal problems and now he is giving more interviews than when he was fighting,” the president said.
Throughout the press conference, White voluntarily returned to the subject a few times and said that no organization on the planet tests its fighters as much as the UFC. “Georges St-Pierre thinks that a certain type of test should have been done on the fighters, and he did it on himself. He chose to do it and he did it. In boxing, guys have been tested for decades, and they haven't reached a consensus until today. The Nevada Athletic Commission will test them. Our athletes are tested. Many do TRT, which is allowed. But they are monitored. Perhaps the fight I most enjoyed seeing in my life was between Antonio Pezão e Mark Hunt. Both were tested, and Pezão was caught above the limit. You know what happened? It was destroyed. He lost his scholarship, his win bonus, all his other bonuses and was suspended. This is what happens to those who are caught out of bounds. Vitor belfort is always tested, and is always within established legal limits. I don’t know why Georges St-Pierre said what he said, but I think he should have come and talked to me face to face, like a man,” he concluded.
Before the fight against John hendricks, Georges St Pierre proposed that fighters undergo regular testing by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). The statements angered the North American, who refused to take the tests and, at the time, even stated that the former champion was the one who lived under suspicion of using illegal substances. On November 16th, Hendricks and St. Pierre faced each other for the welterweight belt and the Canadian defended his title for the ninth time. A few weeks later, however, GSP announced his retirement from MMA for an indefinite period. Given the scenario, Ultimate confirmed that John hendricks e Robbie Lawler they would fight for the vacant belt in the category, on March 15th, in the main fight of UFC 171.
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