Dan Henderson Lobbies For Random Drug Testing In Post-TRT Era
MMA legend Dan Henderson recently ended a recent three-fight slide with a devastating third round knockout of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at March 23’s UFC Fight Night 38.
“Hendo” scored the come-from-behind win while being the last man to ever receive a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) after his paperwork was already filed for the Brazilian match before the NSAC and UFC banned the oft-discussed treatment for good.
The former Pride and Strikeforce champion has famously been on the controversial therapy for years now, but he told MMA Junkie he’s ready to fight without using it:
“If I have to sacrifice that to be able to compete, I can do that. I still feel very confident I’ll be able to compete without it. I don’t know how many years that I wasn’t using it at all, you know, and probably needed it before I got diagnosed and started using it.”
Henderson also followed up on a previous statement that the UFC took the easy way out in banning TRT, noting that he’s always been for random drug testing in MMA:
“You know, I’ve always for the last few years, been vocal about trying to get some sort of random drug testing. That would have been the biggest and best thing to do for the sport, to clean up the sport and get rid of all the performance-enhancing drugs, is to have random, no advance notice drug testing. Once again, I mean, it’s just a matter of a little more money, but I think that they would gain so much in credibility if they started implementing that, and I would love for that to happen.”
Now headed for his first post-TRT fight, “Hendo” was rumored for a UFC 175 match-up with No 5-ranked challenger Daniel Cormier, a bout that has now been talked about for UFC 173’s co-main event after this week’s confusing shakeup of UFC spring and summer events.
The crafty power striker spoke up about his potential contest with “DC”:
“If I am fighting Cormier, you know, he’s a tough guy. Almost similar to myself I guess. He hits hard, he’s not afraid to bang, and he’s a really good wrestler. He’s very explosive; moves his head well. He’s just developing himself in all the areas that he needs to be a good MMA guy. I like to watch him fight, he’s a great guy and represents the sport well, so I’m sure that it will be an interesting fight if we ended up fighting.”
Although that bout has supposedly been verbally agreed upon, no official word has come about the potentially exciting showdown. But with age and the toll of many wars beginning to catch up with “Hendo,” does he stand a chance against the undefeated Cormier?
