According to a report from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has plead not guilty to two DUI charges in San Joaquin County Court in California on Thursday.
As previously reported by MMA Fighting, Diaz was arrested on both September 6th of 2014 and November 20, 2013, both for driving under the influence. Diaz faces charges of driving under the influence, driving under the influence with an alcohol or drug level above .08, and unsafe speed for prevailing conditions.
Diaz reportedly missed several court dates after the November arrest and surrendered to court in August of this year in response to a bench warrant. He was released on $25,000 bail.
Diaz is scheduled to face former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 183 on January 15, 2015. UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta told ESPN he did not believe Diaz’s legal issues would not affect the fight.
“I don’t necessarily think, and this is me personally, the charges would prevent the fight from happening,” Fertitta said.