USADA released their updated list showcasing what UFC fighters have been randomly drug-tested the most.
Among all UFC fighters, six have been drug-tested at least twenty times, with three tied at twenty-one. Firstly, USADA has had their eyes set on Sharabutdin Magomedov despite the Russian having yet to make his Octagon debut.
Magomedov’s passed tests have led to him being approved for his first UFC fight, which goes down on October 21 against Bruno Silva.
The next member of the twenty-one test club is Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. The number six-ranked bantamweight has fought twice in 2023, losing a split decision against Cory Sandhagen and then bouncing back by securing a unanimous decision win against Pedro Munhoz.
‘Chito’ now hopes to challenge Sean O’Malley for the 135-pound title in his next fight.
The final UFC fighter tested twenty-one times this year by USADA is Jon Jones. Earlier this year, ‘Bones’ returned from a three-year layoff to run through Ciryl Gane and become the new UFC heavyweight champion.
Jones is scheduled for his first title defense against Stipe Miocic in the UFC 295 main event on November 11.
Check out the updated list of the most drug-tested UFC fighters below:
USADA Updated their testing pool today. Here's the top tested athletes of 2023. Paulo Costa is a marked man ahead of his return vs Khamzat Chimaev this month. pic.twitter.com/2XnE0Xho1k
— Andy Hickey MMA (@AndyHickeyMMA) October 6, 2023
Which three UFC fighters have been tested the most by USADA in 2023?
In third place, Ariane Carnelossi has been tested twenty-three times by USADA in 2023. Carnelossi has only fought four times since September 2019, with her latest bout in May 2022. Yet, USADA seems to be suspicious about the 30-year-old Brazilian.
The second-place honor goes to Charles Johnson for his twenty-six clean drug tests. Johnson has stayed active by fighting three times in 2023, winning one and losing his last two. ‘InnerG’ is scheduled to get one more fight in before 2024, as he takes on Rafael Estevam on November 18.
Last, but not least, Paulo Costa tops the USADA count with thirty-three random tests in the calendar year. Costa hasn’t fought since his unanimous decision win against Luke Rockhold in August 2022.
Therefore, the former middleweight title challenger’s impressive physique and constant jokes about “secret juice” could have led to the most tests among UFC fighters.
Costa returns to action on October 21 when he takes on Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 294 co-main event.
