LAS VEGAS — It has been nearly two years since the UFC hired Jeff Novitzky, mostly for his expertise and involvement in high-profile anti-doping cases involving famous athletes like Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong.
In the last 22 months, though, Novitzky has taken on numerous roles as the UFC’s vice president of athlete health and performance, most notably becoming a major proponent of earlier weigh-ins and weight-cutting reform. In May, the UFC will open a Performance Institute for fighters and Novitzky has played a key role in its development.
In this wide-ranging Q&A, Novitzky, a former U.