Sometimes it seems that the only person that does not want Nick Diaz to be successful is, well, Nick Diaz
Following one of the highest profile fights in his career, it has been announced by the director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), Keith Fizer, that Diaz has failed the UFC 143 post-fight drug test. MMAjunkie.com confirmed that according to Fizer, Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolics.
In the mist of reports that Diaz’s UFC 143 opponent Carlos Condit was prepared to sign on for an instant rematch with Diaz and even Tweets from Dana White indicating the rematch was set, everything has been halted by the failed drug test.
Diaz who was very critical of the judge’s decision to award Condit the victory had become close to using his brash personality to work into another fight basically shot himself in the foot with bad choices.
This is not the first time that Diaz has failed a drug test for marijuana. In 2007, Diaz failed a drug test that was taken before his victory over Takanori Gomi. That failed drug test erased one of the greatest finishes in mixed martial arts history from the record books as Diaz submitted Gomi with a gogoplata. It was the first time in MMA history someone successfully finished their opponent with that move.
Then in 2009, Diaz was scheduled to fight Jay Hieron for the Strikeforce welterweight championship at Strikeforce: Carano vs Cyborg but was scratched from that fight when Diaz was unable to gain a license from the NSAC. He was not awarded the license due to his failure to attend a pre-fight drug test.
Of course, we are all familiar with Diaz recent failure to show up to pre-fight press conferences that cost him a shot at the UFC welterweight title at UFC 137. An injury to champ Georges St-Pierre caused the title fight to be scrapped altogether, but still the proof remains that Diaz is his own worst enemy.
How can one of the most talented fighters in the world allow his self to be subject to these types of mistakes and bad choices? Why is his camp and the people he has around him unable to intervene and help the enigmatic Diaz along the way? More importantly, Diaz is a grown man. How can he not make the right choices and avoid these setbacks?
Could you imagine the rants we would have heard from Dana White should Diaz have won this past Saturday only to fail the drug test? It may have been better that Diaz did lose than have a belt in the UFC and fail the test.
In an official press release from the UFC, Dana White simply commented, "I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana," said White. "It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.”
With Diaz, there will always be more questions than answers. At just 28 years of age, Diaz should be moving into the prime of his career. It is sad to see a guy with the talent to be one of the UFC’s biggest stars continually set back by his own poor choices.
What does the future hold for Nick Diaz?
At this point Diaz will have to appear in a hearing before the NSAC which is expected to be held in April. Keith Kizer told MMAjunkie that "In the past, the norm for a positive test for marijuana is six months, but we have had two repeat offenders and they both got a 12-month suspension," he said. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that's what will happen here."
A six-month suspension will likely be the minimum action laid down by the commission.
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