Despite an impending suspension, Nick Diaz‘s UFC future will remain intact.
Zuffa CEO Lorenzo Fertitta chatted with fans on Thursday via Twitter, where he answered numerous questions regarding the sport’s biggest names.
Fans were especially interested in Diaz.
After losing a unanimous decision to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, it was revealed that the former Strikeforce champion’s drug test came back positive for marijuana.
“Really like the kid, just needs to get it together,” Fertitta posted. “I’m a sap for real fighters. He will be back.”
Diaz has had his share of troubles since returning to the UFC. At UFC 137, he was set to challenge Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight title, but after missing multiple scheduled press conferences, UFC President Dana White revoked his title shot.
A suspension for this sort of offense can range anywhere from six to 12 months.
For Diaz, there is a good possibility he incurs the harshest penalty from Nevada State Athletic Commission and gets a one-year suspension.
This isn’t the first time his drug test results have come back positive.
At Pride 33 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Diaz had his submission win over Takanori Gomi overturned after his post-fight drug test results came back positive for marijuana.
This hopefully serves as a wake-up call for Diaz, who is easily one of the best welterweights in the world. He’s in the prime of his career, and the kind of opportunities he continues to get in the UFC don’t come around often.
Even after losing to Condit, Diaz was offered an immediate rematch.
This situation doesn’t boil down to whether or not marijuana is a “performance-enhancing drug.” It comes down to doing the right thing, and unfortunately for Diaz, smoking a little grass isn’t considered as such by commission standards.
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