The lawyer of Nick Diaz has outlined his intent to appeal the UFC fighter's recently administered ban, issued for multiple failed drug tests, with Diaz himself reacting angrily to the sanctions.
As was reported by USA Today’s John Morgan, Diaz was hit with a five-year ban and a $165,000 fine by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. MMA journalist David Kano stated the commission was banning Diaz for "not just marijuana but disregard."
Naturally, Diaz has been critical of the decision made. “Bottom line is...these guys are legally trying to rob me,” the fighter told Heidi Fang of FOX Sports. “… I want to tell them what I think. I want to tell every one of them that they're a bunch of dorks.” Diaz continued:
I wanted to just get up and tell them all like 'Look, you guys are way the f--- out of line. You guys have been trying to hold me down from day one.’
That's pretty much this whole sport has been trying to keep me from where I belong and that's the number one position. I'm the biggest draw. I'm the best fighter. I've been fighting for longer. I've been throwing more punches than everybody in the sport. I'm going to dodge more punches than everyone in this sport. And that's the bottom line. That's what's really going on. We got a whole system trying to hold me down.
Diaz also hit out on social media, accusing the NSAC commissioner of hypocrisy:
The Stockton-born welterweight was tested three times on the night of his fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 183. Diaz passed two, taken before and after the bout, but he failed a third afterwards.
As reported in Fang’s piece, Diaz’s attorney, Lucas Middlebrook, confirmed their intention to appeal the ruling. Middlebrook branded the decision “arbitrary and capricious” and claimed the reason his client did not testify during the trial was because “we're not getting an impartial hearing.”
The reaction from the overwhelming majority of the UFC community has been in favour of Diaz. While it’s widely acknowledged that a ban was deserved for the 32-year-old, the maximum possible has been viewed as extremely harsh when compared to other recent offences.
Indeed, professional MMA fighter Jake Shields also blasted the decision made by the commission and hailed Diaz’s influence in the sport:
News of the appeal comes as no surprise given the outrage that accompanied the initial ban. Granted, Diaz is a multiple offender, having failed three drug tests overall, but with those having taken anabolic steroids like Silva and Hector Lombard only given one-year bans by comparison, many think this a harsh verdict.
As such, it does seems as though the NSAC has thrown the book at Diaz. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden admits there are some problems in MMA that need to be addressed, but marijuana use is not in the same bracket as performance-enhancing drugs:
It’s a devastating blow for Diaz and it’s apparent by his words that he’s completely distraught by the verdict. The appeal gives him fresh hope of getting the ban reduced, which Diaz's team appear confident of doing.
But this entire process is likely to take more time out of the career of a fighter who, with his talent and determination, should be competing for the top honours in the UFC. Diaz is one of the most captivating characters around and as this saga continues to rumble on, the sport will be worse off without him.
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