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Nick Diaz’s Failed Drug Test: Legal Debate Aside, Its Unprofessional and Dumb

Nick Diaz got popped for marijuana following his “controversial” unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143.Now the Internet explodes with rebuttals about how dumb it is to test for marijuana and you have those who think they should.Personally…

Nick Diaz got popped for marijuana following his “controversial” unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143.

Now the Internet explodes with rebuttals about how dumb it is to test for marijuana and you have those who think they should.

Personally, either way, it doesn’t matter for me. The matter at hand shouldn’t be whether or not to test for marijuana—it should be how unprofessional and stupid it is to test positive for a drug you know you will get caught for.

Nobody is perfect and I understand that, but this isn’t the first time Diaz has tested positive for the drug. That alone should make him more aware, especially heading into a title fight knowing that if you get caught the belt will be stripped.

Its like he didn’t care and seeing how Diaz has been in the past and just his overall personality, he didn’t.

See, it doesn’t matter for me. Its his body and he can do whatever he wants. To the commission though, the drug will make you fail the test.

This was a big moment in Diaz’s career and almost gave the UFC their dream fight for current undisputed welterweight champion, Georges St-Pierre.

It was huge and if he would have won it would have gone up in a cloud of marijuana smoke.

Again, the debate at hand isn’t whether or not this should be tested for and whether or not he should be suspended for it. The debate at hand is how unprofessional he is, knowing what he was doing would get him caught for the second time.

To me, doing something you know you’ll get caught for is just dumb. I’m not perfect—nobody is—but to do something like this on the biggest stage and almost getting a rematch for the belt you so coveted, is just inexcusable.

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UFC 143 Results: What We Learned from Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce

Mike Pierce was the underdog going into his fight at UFC 143 against Josh Koscheck. Even as the underdog, Pierce almost pulled off the win, but lost by split decision.Pierce gave Koscheck all he could handle, but Koscheck was able to take Pierce down o…

Mike Pierce was the underdog going into his fight at UFC 143 against Josh Koscheck. Even as the underdog, Pierce almost pulled off the win, but lost by split decision.

Pierce gave Koscheck all he could handle, but Koscheck was able to take Pierce down on a few occasions and was likely the decider on the two scorecards favoring Koscheck.

Here is what we learned from the third fight on the pay-per-view portion of the card.

What we’ll remember about this fight:

Pierce put up a valiant effort. Unfortunately for Pierce, it wasn’t meant to be. Another highlight might be Koscheck giving the crowd the finger/business in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.

What we learned about Josh Koscheck:

Koscheck was getting pushed by Pierce, a fighter many considered a step below the former title challenger. Koscheck also needs to learn a new way to gauge his range. That open-handed stuff will eventually get him a point deduction. Oh, and nobody likes Koscheck.

What we learned about Mike Pierce:

Pierce is a tough guy and almost pulled off the split-decision victory. He looked good in his striking, but was overpowered by Koscheck’s wrestling, and that eventually cost him.

What’s next for Koscheck:

Koscheck will most likely get the loser of the Nick Diaz versus Carlos Condit.

What’s next for Pierce:

Pierce will go back to the middle of the division and I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave him another guy in the top 15 or top 10.

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UFC 143 Results: What We Learned from Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway

In a battle of the UFC’s two young guns in the featherweight division, Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway had a nice little ground scramble and showed their potential tonight at UFC 143.Holloway, who was drawing comparisons to Anthony Pettis, came out and…

In a battle of the UFC’s two young guns in the featherweight division, Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway had a nice little ground scramble and showed their potential tonight at UFC 143.

Holloway, who was drawing comparisons to Anthony Pettis, came out and was able to stuff the first takedown by Poirier, but inevitably was taken down and beaten from there.

Here’s what we learned from the fight.

What we’ll remember about this fight:

The ground scramble that ended the fight was pretty awesome. Poirier had Holloway in an armbar, which he escaped. Then Poirier had Holloway in a triangle and rolled him over and from there took his arm to end the fight.

What we learned about Max Holloway:

Holloway showed some promise in this fight. His UFC debut didn’t go exactly as planned, but he has a lot to learn on the ground. His striking is pretty good, but again, it is the ground game that needs the work.

What we learned about Dustin Poirier:

No matter where this fight goes, Poirier is pretty dangerous. With this win it is his second straight victory by submission. Since moving down to featherweight, he is 4-0 and is on track to have a title shot sometime this year most likely.

What’s next for Holloway:

Holloway will probably get a tune-up fight against a newcomer to the UFC. He is only 20 years old, so I’m sure the UFC will look to keep him under the promotion’s banner and watch him progress.

What’s next for Poirier:

Maybe a fight with recently defeated No. 1 contender Chad Mendes is in the future for Poirier. Poirier needs to get some names on his resume, so why not against Mendes?

Mendes’ training partner, Danny Castillo, is still the only man to defeat Poirier.

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UFC 143 Results: What Needs to Go Right for a Mike Pierce Win

Mike Pierce enters what is perhaps the biggest opportunity of his career as an underdog yet again, at UFC 143.Carlos Condit was expected to face Josh Koscheck, but now Pierce gets a career-changing opportunity to create a huge upset.Everywhere you look…

Mike Pierce enters what is perhaps the biggest opportunity of his career as an underdog yet again, at UFC 143.

Carlos Condit was expected to face Josh Koscheck, but now Pierce gets a career-changing opportunity to create a huge upset.

Everywhere you look, Koscheck holds a distinct advantage. Whether it be striking or grappling, Pierce has an uphill battle.

Pierce will have a tough time taking the much more agile and athletic Koscheck down. Pierce needs to get lucky and there is no better way to say it.

If Pierce can land a punch right on Koscheck’s button and come at him with a flurry of punches, Pierce will win the battle.

He needs to make something happen and create his own opportunity to win the fight, whether it be standing or on the ground.

There is something that gives Pierce a fighting chance here, and that is the fact that he has yet to be stopped in his MMA career.

It’ll be hard for Koscheck to stop Pierce. That is something that will help Pierce. Being able to ride the storm he could see Koscheck gas. Although highly unlikely, Pierce does have that opportunity.

At the end of the night, Pierce is David here and Koscheck is Goliath. More unlikely things have happened in fights, and Pierce has been on the better side of those unlikely fights.

Luck could be on his side tonight, and with that he could pull off the biggest upset so far in 2012.

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UFC 142 Fight Card: Will Jose Aldo Play It Safe Against Chad Mendes?

Jose Aldo has been hearing it from fans lately that the once entertaining striker has played it safe now that he is in the UFC. Now the current UFC featherweight champion faces a huge test at UFC 142 in Chad Mendes.Mendes is much like his training…

Jose Aldo has been hearing it from fans lately that the once entertaining striker has played it safe now that he is in the UFC.

Now the current UFC featherweight champion faces a huge test at UFC 142 in Chad Mendes.

Mendes is much like his training partner, Urijah Faber, whom Aldo beat convincingly in 2010. Of course there is a difference between Mendes and Faber, though. Mendes is an improved version of the former WEC featherweight champion.

Mendes has the ability to bring the fight to Aldo and take him down with his powerful wrestling. Once there, it is only a matter of time before Aldo gets drained from being on the bottom.

Aldo has to bring his fight to Mendes and keep him away. In order for Aldo to win, the fight has to stay standing and he has to pick Mendes apart from the pocket. If he can do that it greatly improves his chances.

Aldo is a devastating striker and has the ability to knockout anyone in the 145-pound weight class. I don’t think anyone here can dispute that.

Here though, Aldo needs to be different. If he plays it safe and doesn’t push a fast tempo with crisp striking, Mendes will get him down.

Mendes is the one fighter Aldo can’t afford to sleep on as he is probably the best chance the featherweight division has at a new champion.

Aldo needs to work his leg kicks to wear out Mendes and then begin the striking clinic. Mendes is improving in his striking, but he isn’t at Aldo’s level.

If Aldo decides to play it safe, Mendes will make him pay.

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UFC 141 Predictions: Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks

Jon Fitch makes his first return since he and B.J. Penn fought to a draw in February at UFC 127. His first fight is against Johny Hendricks at UFC 141.Fitch is really good at keeping a fighter on the ground, and I’ll probably get six or seven comments …

Jon Fitch makes his first return since he and B.J. Penn fought to a draw in February at UFC 127. His first fight is against Johny Hendricks at UFC 141.

Fitch is really good at keeping a fighter on the ground, and I’ll probably get six or seven comments mentioning “Fitch by blanketing” or “Fitch by bear-hugging.”

Now, though, Fitch gets a taste of his own medicine against another very good and accomplished wrestler in Johny Hendricks.

This fight will definitely test Fitch’s stand-up skills, because even if the fight does make it to the ground, I don’t see Fitch being his normal dominant self.

Fitch’s striking hasn’t really been the talk of the town. In fact, it never has and probably never will be. It isn’t his style, and it doesn’t win him fights. Pretty simple if you ask me.

Hendricks will definitely force Fitch out of his comfort zone in this fight. I do think, though, from his training, that Fitch probably does have the better stand-up, just based on who he trains with.

This might be the moment where fans finally don’t think a Fitch fight is boring, and that will make me happy—especially if Fitch wins.

I really, really, really, really doubt that either fighter finishes this fight. I actually think there is a better chance of an asteroid coming right now and striking me as I write this.

Nope, still here.

Anyway, I think if Fitch will get enough takedowns to win a round or two, he’ll steal the decision from a game Hendricks.

Fitch by Unanimous Decision.

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