Nate Diaz’s coach, Richard Perez, has stood by previous claims UFC star Conor McGregor is taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Prior to the Notorious’ loss to Diaz at UFC 196, Perez made the accusation that “McGregor has got to be on some kind of steroids,” per Anton Tabuena of Bloody Elbow. And speaking to Submission Radio (h/t Tabuena), the coach said McGregor must have been taking something to make the 25-pound jump from featherweight to welterweight:
Like I told you at the beginning, I said I’m not the one that really knows, but just by watching a guy to come up from 145 to 170, you’re gonna have some fat on you. Believe me, you’re going to have to have some fat somewhere. Around your waist, somewhere. He didn’t have any fat at all. He was solid muscle. So how are you going to build that much in two weeks and be solid muscle.
He was supposed to fight at 155, but he was already overweight. I know he was. When he found out that (Rafael dos Anjos) hurt his ankle, he called Nathan out at 170. So that tells me right there that he couldn’t get down to weight because something’s making him build up.
Like I said, I’m not the one who really knows about him, but to me, I feel like he’s gotta be on some kind of substance, you know, to get built up. Cause he’s a little guy, and a little guy can’t get real bulky that quick.
Here is a listen to the interview with Perez in full:
McGregor was initially scheduled to challenge for the lightweight belt against Rafael dos Anjos before the Brazilian withdrew with a foot injury. Diaz stepped in as a late replacement, the fight was set for a welterweight limit and the American proved too strong for McGregor, forcing a submission in the second round.
Accusations flew around from both camps in the buildup, with Diaz stating in the pre-fight press conference that “everybody [in the UFC] is on steroids,” per Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting, a claim which UFC president Dana White denied to TMZ.
McGregor has always reacted angrily to suggestions of doping in the past, responding to Diaz’s claims by saying “I'm not on no steroids, what the f--k are you talking about?,” per Raimondi. The Notorious was also unhappy last year after a urine sample from his scheduled opponent Jose Aldo was discarded in controversial circumstances:
After losing to Diaz at UFC 196, the featherweight champion looks scheduled for a rematch with his conquerer at UFC 200, per Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting.
Perez was also asked how he feels a second bout between the two would go, insisting that with more time to prepare, Diaz would be even more dominant second time around, as he “was out, enjoying himself,” when the call came to step in at UFC 196.
“So if it took him two weeks to dominate a guy that’s undefeated, that’s the golden boy, what do you think is going to happen in three months training?” Perez added. “McGregor’s never seen Nathan in really good shape, he’s seen him only half-ass. This is nothing. He wasn’t really in tip-top shape at all.”
Of course, Diaz will be in better shape should the two square off once again. But McGregor would have had to alter his own program at late notice too. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden thinks that for a man who pays such close attention to detail, that would have been a hindrance:
The UFC has made strides to combat the drug problem which has gripped MMA, introducing stringent testing procedures that are administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. As reported by Brent Brookhouse of MMA Junkie, there were 353 tests conducted on 156 athletes between July 1 and the end of 2015 in keeping with these new regulations.
The company is certainly seeking to make strides when it comes to preventing the use of performance-enhancing drugs, and allegations like the one made by Perez currently come without substance.
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