Although UFC president Dana White issued a brief, if not generic, statement Thursday regarding Nick Diaz’s (Pictured) flunked drug test, he didn’t address the troubled welterweight’s future with the planet’s premier mixed martial arts promotion.
Thankfully for Mr. 209′s fanboys, UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta was stuck on a 18-hour flight back from Brazil and took to his Twitter to help kill the time. Despite testing positive for marijuana for the second time in his controversial career, Fertitta claims Diaz will be welcomed back to the Octagon once his impending suspension is lifted.
“He will be back,” Fetitta tweeted. “Really like the kid just needs to get it together. I’m a sap for real fighters.”
Diaz dropped a controversial unanimous decision to Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight title this past Saturday at UFC 143. An immediate rematch was being mapped out until the Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed Diaz had once again failed a drug screening on the account of weed.
Following his upset victory over Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 in February 2007, the NSAC overturned his win to a no contest after traces of THC were found in his system.
In addition, Diaz was slated to battle Jay Hieron for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title in August of 2009. However, he pulled a no-show for a mandatory drug test and was yanked from the event after failing to obtain a license.
Cesar Gracie, Diaz’s longtime coach, subsequently revealed his client “would have tested positive for cannabis” if he had provided a urinalysis, so he opted to ditch the exam in order to avoid a suspension.
Diaz currently faces up to a year-long ban and could be docked as much as 40% of his $200,000 ‘show purse’ from Saturday.
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