The relationship between the UFC and USADA may be coming to an end, but the war of words between Dana White and Travis Tygart is far from over.
Amid news of a massive shakeup for the promotion’s next pay-per-view event, UFC 294, USADA CEO Travis Tygart simultaneously revealed that they would no longer be working with the UFC come January 1, 2024, and that Irish megastar Conor McGregor was at the core of the rift that sent the two parties drifting apart.
The announcement by USADA did not sit well with the UFC CEO who immediately snapped back at the anti-doping agency, calling the statement nothing more than pure “scumbagism.”
On Thursday, the UFC officially announced that they would be moving on from USADA after eight years and kickstarting a partnership with Drug Free Sports International in the new year. But that doesn’t mean the fight with USADA is over. In an interview with TheMACLife on YouTube, White was asked for any additional thoughts on Tygart’s statement claiming the relationship with the UFC became “untenable” over the Conor McGregor affair.
“I summed it up yesterday in one word. Scumbag,” White said. “Listen, it is what it is. They did what they did and think about this, right. They’re in a business where they’re looking to bring other sports leagues in. Were with us for eight years. We helped put them on the map. They helped us build an incredible program. This is how you’re going to end your relationship with us.
“Who else would want to do business with these guys after that? Not me. It doesn’t matter to me. We’re moving on and good luck to them.”
Dana White says USADA CEO Travis Tygart "went full Britney Spears" in the leadup to a split as UFC's anti-doping partner. 😬
Full video: https://t.co/SCPBzTQTgn pic.twitter.com/4ZzyDBNQ5n
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 13, 2023
Dana White Goes After USADA CEO
White was far from done, targeting Tygart directly and likening him to the perpetually unhinged pop star, Britney Spears.
“This guy went full Britney Spears and lost his mind,” White added. “Get ready. You’re probably gonna see this guy on Instagram dancing with knives probably in the next two weeks or something. He went nuts. He lost his mind and it is what it is. It’s whatever.”
Kicking off their partnership in 2015, USADA has tested UFC athletes more than 27,000 times over their eight-year relationship. It remains to be seen how things will proceed once the promotion begins its partnership with DFSI, but one would assume the contentious six-month pre-fight screening rule will likely be thrown out the window come January 1.
What changes would you like to see implemented when it comes to testing athletes in and out of competition?
Watch the full interview below:
