USADA tested UFC champ Jiri Prochazka a record 51 times in 2022, 15 this month alone

Back in 2019, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was tested by USADA a total of 42 times, much to the surprise of…

By: Milan Ordoñez | 7 months ago
USADA tested UFC champ Jiri Prochazka a record 51 times in 2022, 15 this month alone
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

Back in 2019, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was tested by USADA a total of 42 times, much to the surprise of many. According to UFC exec Jeff Novitzky at the time, it was the highest volume of yearly tests he had seen on one athlete in any sport.

We’re only at the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2022, and that number has already been surpassed. As first noted by TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka had already undergone 51 USADA tests for the year.

USADA’s UFC database confirms the aforementioned number, showing that Prochazka was tested 15 times this October alone. He had 27 tests in Q3, seven in Q2, and two in Q1, for a total of 51 so far in 2022.

USADA doesn’t publicly discuss their testing methods, so it is still unclear why the UFC champion is being targeted with heavy testing in recent months.

To give an idea on just how big and irregular that figure is, USADA awards jackets for those who reach 50 clean drug tests. Kamaru Usman was the first UFC fighter to receive that accolade in 2021, and he has been in the testing pool since it started in 2015. Six years worth of testing for Usman, was eclipsed by Prochazka in a few months.

The highest total in 2021 was Misha Cirkunov getting tested 27 times. In 2020, the highest was Jon Jones’ 25 tests. In 2019, Sean O’Malley had 26.

Prochazka, who’s been on a 13-fight win streak beginning in 2016, captured the UFC undisputed 205-pound title from Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 in June in Singapore. The two men are now slated for a rematch on December 10 at UFC 282 in Las Vegas.

Share this story

About the author
Milan Ordoñez
Milan Ordoñez

Milan Ordoñez has been covering combat sports since 2012 and has been part of the Bloody Elbow staff since 2016. He’s also competed in amateur mixed martial arts and submission grappling tournaments.

More from the author

Recent Stories