By Adam Martin
MONTREAL — Matt Hughes has fought Georges St-Pierre three times, so it’s fair to say he has a pretty good idea about what kind of fighter he is.
And that’s a clean fighter, not a cheater, like Nick Diaz has insinuated.
Speaking to Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Thursday afternoon, Diaz, who takes on St-Pierre in the main event of UFC 158 with the UFC welterweight title up for grabs, flat-out said his opponent is using steroids.
“I believe (St-Pierre) is on steroids and I don’t think they test around here either,” Diaz told the Tim and Sid show.
On Friday afternoon, speaking at a fan question and answer session prior to the UFC 158 weigh ins, the UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC welterweight champion Hughes – who fought St-Pierre at UFC 50, UFC 65, and UFC 79 – was asked by a fan if he believes St-Pierre is on steroids.
Hughes, who officially announced his retirement from the sport in January and was given a job with the UFC as its vice president of athlete development and government relations, answered the fan’s question in a short and sweet manner.
“I think (the athletic commissions) test for everything,” Hughes said.
The problem of performance-enhancing drugs has become a huge topic in the MMA world, especially with the recent popularity of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) amongst some of the UFC’s top fighters.
As well, many of the sport’s best fighters have been caught using a variety of PEDs and banned substances. For instance, Diaz himself was suspended a year after testing positive for marijuana metabolites following his UFC 143 fight with Carlos Condit. Joey Beltran was caught for using steroids and was suspended, and so was Rousimar Palhares. So was Muhammed (King Mo) Lawal. So was Stephan Bonnar, and so was Cris (Cyborg) Santos.
But St-Pierre? Never. Despite his incredible 22-2 record in MMA and his Greek God-like physique, St-Pierre has never tested positive for any PED or banned substance, and considering he’s been in the main event of most of the cards he’s fought on and main event fighters are the ones tested the most, it seems as though Diaz’ accusations aren’t based on fact but rather on pure speculation.
Diaz, who has been antagonizing St-Pierre for years, also insinuated at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference for UFC 158 that St-Pierre was on steroids.
St-Pierre’s response to the accusation was quick and to the point.
“I’m not on steroids, and I’ve never cheated in my life,” the champion said.
As part of Hughes’ new role with the UFC, he is responsible for implementing the UFC’s official code of conduct, which was put into writing just this year.
Of course, one of the things the code of conduct covers is the fact that using PEDs and banned substances is going to get a fighter suspended, so part of Hughes’ role is to help educate the UFC’s athletes on what they can and cannot let into their bodies without risking a suspension, fine, and possible loss of employment.
But he believes doesn’t have to worry about St-Pierre.
As for how Hughes is liking his new role with the company, the American was honest in saying that, it’s quite different than stepping into the cage on a Saturday night.
“It’s different for me,” Hughes said of his new job. “My wife has a hard time with me not being the happiest person sometimes. I grew up my whole life competing. I woke up in the morning and worked out. Now I wake up in the morning and scratch my head a little bit. I still try to work out but it’s not the same.
“When it’s all you’ve done you’re whole life, it take a while to get used to. I’ve been told backstage it’ll take me one or two years before I really get in the sync of not stepping in the Octagon. I come to these events and I’d much rather be weighing in at 170 pounds and not fielding questions.”
But the question about St-Pierre being on steroids was one that the fans wanted to know, and it’s one that Hughes had to answer, and he answered it by saying St-Pierre isn’t a cheat. And until he tests positive for anything, the book can be closed on Hughes thinking the French Canadian is cheating, even if Diaz is convinced.
