Israel Adesanya offers $3 million to anyone who has concrete evidence he’s taken steroids
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya offers a sizable reward for anyone who can prove he’s taken steroids during his career.
Ahead of his UFC middleweight title defense at UFC 276, reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was honored by the promotion for having 50 clean USADA drug tests. Following the ceremony in which Adesanya, like other fighters who have also had 50 clean tests under the USADA program, donned his new letterman jacket provided by the UFC, and then met with the media to talk about the feat as well as his upcoming title fight against Jared Cannonier.
In his press conference with the media on Wednesday, Israel Adesanya not only discussed how it felt to be a clean athlete under the UFC’s USADA drug testing program, but also opened the door for him to take a shot at former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, as well as skeptics towards his clean career. When he faced Paulo Costa in the main event at UFC 253, the champion was captured with a swollen pectoral muscle, which led to online speculation of steroid use, which became known as “Tittygate” around social media. When he met with the media, Adesanya addressed the previous rumors while offering up a sizable reward to anyone with “concrete evidence” that he’s taken steroids.
.@stylebender is offering $3 million to anybody with "concrete evidence" of him using PEDs 💰
Full #UFC276 media day scrum ▶️ https://t.co/gPxHBAIWvi pic.twitter.com/ofsCgIrJAv
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 30, 2022
“I mean when you’re great…They talk about “Tittygate” they just find excuses to take away my greatness and I understand this is what people are supposed to do, so I let them. Look, I will give $3 million dollars to anyone who can ever have concrete evidence that I even know what the f**k I’m doing with steroids or how to take steroids. I promise you, $3 million dollars if you can find anyone who has concrete evidence that I’ve ever even purchased, or touched, or done any type of performance-enhancing drugs or whatever.”
The reigning middleweight champ who has never suffered defeated in the UFC’s middleweight division and has only one loss to former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz, said the whispers did get to him after his victory over Costa.
“It got to me a little bit after the Costa fight cause I was like ‘These fu**ing c**ts are just trying to take away my greatness.’ cause I had a f***ing spectacular performance. I’m like how the f**k you going to try and take that away with accusations based off nothing? I’m like yeah, pull up, show me what’s up. $3 million, I know you don’t have that in the bank, I do.
While the critics and skeptics will always look for a way to bring the champion down, Israel Adesanya has proof that he’s a clean-fighter under the UFC and USADA rules and regulations.
ORDER AND WATCH UFC 276 BELOW
UFC 276 fight card:
Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier – 185 lbs
A. Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway – 145 lbs
Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira – 185 lbs
Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena – 170 lbs
Pedro Munhoz vs. Sean O’Malley – 135 lbs
Brad Riddell vs. Jalin Turner – 155 lbs
Donald Cerrone vs. Jim Miller – 170 lbs
Ian Garry vs. Gabe Green – 170 lbs
Brad Tavares vs. Dricus Du Plessis – 185 lbs
Uriah Hall vs. André Muniz – 185 lbs
Jessica Eye vs. Maycee Barber – 125 lbs
Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Julia Stoliarenko – 135 lbs
