Author: Nathan McCarter

Nate Diaz Vapes CBD Oil During His Post-UFC 202 Media Scrum

Nate Diaz had a little shock value left for everyone after his UFC 202 defeat to Conor McGregor.
At the post-fight press conference, Diaz started to smoke on the dais. It caught the media off-guard and called into question what exactly he was smoking. …

Nate Diaz had a little shock value left for everyone after his UFC 202 defeat to Conor McGregor.

At the post-fight press conference, Diaz started to smoke on the dais. It caught the media off-guard and called into question what exactly he was smoking. The speculation didn’t take long to be resolved.

Diaz was vaping.

Exactly what was he vaping? Cannabidiol (CBD) oil.

Per Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, writing for Huffington Post, CBD is one of the many chemicals in marijuana plants. The chemical “does not make people high and is not intoxicating.” The chemical is possibly therapeutic.

How will the CBD affect Diaz with his post-fight testing? That’s not exactly clear.

Combat Sports Law broke down the difference in testing procedures by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The NAC adopts the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) guidelines, which ends with the post-fight sample being given. Whereas the UFC-USADA agreement extends the in-competition testing for six hours after the conclusion of the scheduled bout.

It is unknown when Diaz provided his samples or if his vaping during the media scrum would even lead to a positive test.

Given the troubles his brother, Nick, has gone through with positive tests in Nevada it was a curious decision to take to the pen right after the fight. No matter how slight, the possibility of a positive test result should have given the Stockton native some restraint.

It is just one more story to keep an eye on in the coming days and weeks. Diaz is never not entertaining.

Diaz vaping CBD as soon as the event concludes? We’re not surprised.

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Dana White Says Conor McGregor Must Defend or Vacate the Featherweight Title

Dana White appeared on both SportsCenter and the UFC post-fight show on Fox Sports 1 after the conclusion of UFC 202 to speak about the main event between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.

White did not mince words in saying that McGregor has to defend th…

Dana White appeared on both SportsCenter and the UFC post-fight show on Fox Sports 1 after the conclusion of UFC 202 to speak about the main event between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.

White did not mince words in saying that McGregor has to defend the 145-pound championship or vacate the title should he choose to compete at lightweight (155 pounds). White, on SportsCenter, offered his opinion stating, “If I were Conor I would defend my title.”

However, if you listened to McGregor following the event there does not seem to be any plans for another go at featherweight.

In his post-fight interview in the cage with Joe Rogan, McGregor was talking about a trilogy fight with Diaz. However, the fight would have to be on his terms in the lightweight division. McGregor continued to dampen his return to 145 at the post-fight press conference.

McGregor claimed it was difficult to be excited about a rematch with Jose Aldo following his performance against Frankie Edgar. But he did not close the door completely saying, “We’ll see.”

The victorious Irishman mentioned that a third fight just might be for the lightweight championship. If that were to occur it would mean that he would have to fight Eddie Alvarez for the strap before the trilogy could be completed. Given his star power and leverage, it is most certainly a possibility. It is also a fight that Alvarez has asked for himself.

On Fox Sports 1’s post-fight coverage White was adamant the trilogy will not happen right away. He said, “We’re definitely not doing this a third time,” before adding, “right now.” White mentioned that everyone would like to see another bout between the two, but it does not appear to be in the cards for the immediate future.

Diaz mentioned he is not taking another fight until the rematch with McGregor is on the table.

It’s difficult to read into the crystal ball with the conclusion to UFC 202 still fresh, but all indications from McGregor would point to a slim chance at a return to the division where he made his name. No one should be surprised if he is stripped of the gold as he stakes out a new home in the 155-pound division.

He will leave the featherweight kingdom as its dominant figurehead as he searches for new conquests.

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Cody Garbrandt vs. Takeya Mizugaki Results: Winner and Reaction from UFC 202

It didn’t take long, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny Cody Garbrandt of a UFC title shot at 135 pounds.
Garbrandt (10-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) took the center of the cage right away during UFC 202 on Saturday night in Las Vegas, but Takey…

It didn’t take long, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny Cody Garbrandt of a UFC title shot at 135 pounds.

Garbrandt (10-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) took the center of the cage right away during UFC 202 on Saturday night in Las Vegas, but Takeya Mizugaki (21-10-2, 8-5) wasn’t going to give up the cage easily. The two entered into a brief exchange that saw both men’s strikes blocked by the other. Another exchange went Mizugaki’s way.

Garbrandt then landed a right hand right over the top of Mizugaki’s defense to set him on the canvas. The Ohioan followed up with repeated heavy strikes that forced the referee to stop the bout at 0:48 of the first round.

There was a lot of action in a limited amount of time.

In the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, the prospect of a bantamweight title fight was brought up to Garbrandt. The camera cut to the champion, Dominick Cruz, who was egging on Garbrandt from the Fox Sports set in the arena.

Former champion T.J. Dillashaw may have something to say about all of that, but the momentum seems to be with Garbrandt following his most recent performances in 2016.

Garbrandt brings in devastating power and a willingness to eat shots to hand them out.

The excitement generated from Garbrandt will force the UFC’s hands in booking his next fight. There is a growing fervor due to how Garbrandt finishes his opposition.

Mizugaki has suffered crushing defeats in recent outings, and another one to Garbrandt will call his future into question. Mizugaki is a talented veteran, but athletes always give way to Father Time. There is perhaps no greater degeneration than for those who compete in combat sports. The body can only take so much punishment.

The UFC has a difficult decision ahead of who to give the next bantamweight title shot to, but Garbrandt’s showing at UFC 202 will be difficult to deny. He has asserted himself as one of the brightest up-and-coming stars in the organization.

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UFC 202 McGregor vs. Diaz: Early Weigh-In Results and Reaction

As is the new normal with the UFC, the actual weigh-ins for UFC 202 took place early on Friday. The staredowns and show will unfold later in the evening. This process gives the fighters crucial extra hours to rehydrate from their cuts to the contracted…

As is the new normal with the UFC, the actual weigh-ins for UFC 202 took place early on Friday. The staredowns and show will unfold later in the evening. This process gives the fighters crucial extra hours to rehydrate from their cuts to the contracted weights.

All 24 participants made weight for the evening.

Nate Diaz, one-half of Saturday’s main event, was one of the first men to step on the scale in Las Vegas, weighing in at 170.5 pounds. McGregor came later and was under the limit at 168 pounds.

The rematch is officially set, and the rivals are eager to do battle.

Anthony Johnson and Glover Teixeira weighed in close to the same time and came in at 205.5 pounds.

The light heavyweight showdown will likely elevate the winner to a title tilt against Daniel Cormier later in 2016. Johnson came up short in his interim title shot against Cormier in May 2015, but he leveled the champ with a monstrous right hand early in the fight. Teixeira has had one shot at the gold and lost to Jon Jones.

One of the other premier bouts on the card is a welterweight showcase between Donald Cerrone and Rick Story. Cerrone told ESPN.com’s Eric Tamiso that after UFC 202 he plans on returning to 155 to pursue the lightweight title. Should he stay at 170, the fight with Story will still have divisional implications for both men.

Story checked in at the 171-pound limit, and Cerrone came in at 170 even.

Holding the weigh-ins early allows the fighters to get the difficult part of cutting weight over earlier than in the past, and the additional recuperating time should continue to deliver better in-cage results for the fans. It has been an excellent step for everyone involved, although the dog and pony show that occurs in the evening is still a part of the production.

UFC 202 is set and ready to go down Saturday. Strap in.

 

UFC 202 Weigh-In Results

  • Nate Diaz (170.5) vs. Conor McGregor (168)
  • Anthony Johnson (205.5) vs. Glover Teixeira (205.5)
  • Rick Story (171) vs. Donald Cerrone (170)
  • Hyun Gyu Lim (171) vs. Mike Perry (169)
  • Tim Means (171) vs. Sabah Homasi (170.5)
  • Cody Garbrandt (136) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (136)
  • Raquel Pennington (135.5) vs. Elizabeth Phillips (134)
  • Artem Lobov (144.5) vs. Chris Avila (146)
  • Randa Markos (116) vs. Cortney Casey (116)
  • Neil Magny (171) vs. Lorenz Larkin (170.75)
  • Colby Covington (171) vs. Max Griffin (170.5)
  • Alberto Uda (185.5) vs. Marvin Vettori (185.5)

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UFC 202 Primer: Donald Cerrone vs. Rick Story Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Donald Cerrone’s (30-7, 1 NC) rise as a welterweight contender will be put to the test at UFC 202, where he’ll square off against Rick Story (19-8).
Cerrone finished 2015 with a disappointing result against then-lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anj…

Donald Cerrone’s (30-7, 1 NC) rise as a welterweight contender will be put to the test at UFC 202, where he’ll square off against Rick Story (19-8).

Cerrone finished 2015 with a disappointing result against then-lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos. Cowboy jumped right back into the cage in early 2016 by moving to 170 pounds against Alex Oliveira. A victory in Pittsburgh gave him a shot against Patrick Cote.

Now with back-to-back wins, Cerrone has put himself into the fray at 170.

Story has silently put together an impressive three-fight win streak. It is silent because of a nearly two-year absence between victories against Gunnar Nelson (October 2014) and Tarec Saffiedine (May 2016).

This is a meaningful welterweight clash with two known commodities. The winner will enter serious contention at welterweight as the new Tyron Woodley era begins.

Who has the edge between Cerrone and Story? What will the result of UFC 202 be?

Let’s take a look at the head-to-toe breakdown between these two veteran UFC fighters.

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GSP Joins USADA Testing Pool, ‘To Be Eligible to Fight You Need to Be Tested’

The return of Georges St-Pierre is inching closer to reality with each passing day.
He is ready to take the next step. In an interview with Ram Gilboa for Bloody Elbow, GSP let it be known that he is in negotiations with the UFC and will be starting th…

The return of Georges St-Pierre is inching closer to reality with each passing day.

He is ready to take the next step. In an interview with Ram Gilboa for Bloody Elbow, GSP let it be known that he is in negotiations with the UFC and will be starting the process to be tested by USADA.

The former undisputed welterweight champion has long been outspoken about performance-enhancing drugs in the sport and has been vocal in his support of the USADA testing in the UFC, via Ryan McKinnell of Yahoo Sports.

In the interview with Gilboa, GSP stated that he would have begun his testing in Las Vegas on August 10. He was also candid about receiving an exemption, stating, “I don’t want to be an exception, because I was very outspoken about performance-enhancing drugs. It would be bad for my reputation if I would have an exemption—I don’t want to have a free pass, I want to be like everybody else.”

Who is on his radar? Perhaps the current welterweight champion, Tyron Woodley?

GSP said that Michael Bisping was originally the opponent offered, but negotiations stalled once the UFC sold. Now, Bisping is scheduled to fight Dan Henderson in a rematch of their UFC 100 encounter.

A second fight with Nick Diaz would also interest GSP as well.

The Canadian star mentioned that he is still a welterweight, and that makes the fight with Woodley the logical decision. The new champion called for the fight soon after winning the gold, stating he only wanted “money fights,” per Marc Raimondi of MMAFighting.com. GSP’s return against Woodley would surely be a premiere bout the UFC would love to have atop a marquee sooner than later.

GSP’s return is still not official, but with each passing day, it seems more like an inevitability. It is time for the UFC and GSP to come to terms, dot the i’s, cross the t’s and put him back under the bright lights fighting for gold. And there’s no better place than Madison Square Garden for that to happen.

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