NEW YORK — It’s been three months since Nick Diaz fought, three months since his forced exile from MMA following a UFC 143 post-fight drug test that came back positive for marijuana metabolites.
While Diaz’s legal team is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with the Nevada state athletic commission regarding a suspension, he’s back home in Stockton enjoying some of his other athletic passions, including jiu-jitsu and triathlons. And judging from the comments of his brother Nate, he’s not spending much time pining for a return to the octagon.
“The way things have been going since forever, I don’t think he’s interested,” Nate said. “He’s not interested in fighting, but who knows what’s going to happen in the future.”
Nick (26-8, 1 no contest) moved to the UFC in mid-2011 and was expected to face welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre for the title before skipping two press conferences and being yanked from the bout by UFC president Dana White. Diaz’s actions were costly, because though he beat BJ Penn at UFC 137, he dropped a close unanimous decision to Carlos Condit just three months later, moving him out of top contender status.
That’s a spot his brother could reach this weekend with a win.
While Nate continues making final preparations for his UFC on FOX 3 main event matchup with Jim Miller, Nick has been training for a jiu-jitsu superfight with vaunted grappler Braulio Estima at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12 in Lon Beach, California.
Nick also helped Nate prepare for this fight. As of Wednesday afternoon, Nate was not sure if Nick would make it to East Rutherford, New Jersey to support him on fight night, but if he makes it, he will be one of his cornermen for the bout.
It’s just one of the many things Nick has going on right now. Far from missing fighting, Nick might make fighting miss him.
“Most people retire but they don’t got s— to do,” Nate said. “They’re going to get fat, they’re going to get bored, they’re going to sit at home. Nick’s competing in a jiu-jitsu tournament next weekend. He just did four triathlons in the last two months, and he’s having fun, man. Staying busy.”