Jackson: I think I’m for IV ban if it stops EPO

Super coach Greg Jackson appeared recently on Stephie Daniels‘ The Three Amigos podcast, and discussed the ban on fighter post weigh-in rehydration via an IV, that is coming on October 1.

Three Amigos Podcast: Do you agree with the upcoming IV re-hydration ban, and will you have fighters that may end up moving around in weight divisions due to that ban?

Greg Jackson: I don’t think we’ll probably move around in weight divisions. So, it’s a horns of a dilemma there — that’s actually the wrong term, sorry I’m still a little tired — I don’t know where I land on that right now. Part of it is that you know you want your guy to go in there rehydrated. Fighters are going to cut weight, and what they say is “Well you shouldn’t cut weight, because that’s silly.” But getting in a cage and punching people in the face, some people would consider silly, so you’re not dealing with people who are following the rational lines of life, especially from a doctor’s point of view. But there are people using that to mask EPO and other stuff, so is it more dangerous to send your person in there a little dehydrated, or against somebody who is on EPO who’s in the 5th round isn’t tired at all and just keeps smashing away at your guy? I mean, that’s a lot of brain damage there too. It’s the trend, it’s the way things are going, and we’ll figure out how to hydrate the best we can. There’s certainly no easy answers and that’s a bit of a dilemma.

I think I am for the ban if it gets rid of [especially things like] EPO. They’re always coming up with new stuff, and [you have] fighters that all of a sudden never gas out and can go all day long when they never used to be able to do that. Certainly either they’ve changed their training regimen, or maybe they’re experimenting with that kind of stuff, so if that takes that way and evens the playing field out, then I am for it.

Transcription by Mookie Alexander.

Read entire interview…