Nick Diaz News: Former UFC welterweight title contender likely to get shortened suspension from Nevada
Former UFC welterweight title contender Nick Diaz is looking to get a shortened suspension after some discussions with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
In September, the 32-year old Stockton, California native was initially slapped with a five-year suspension and a $165,000 fine after testing positive for marijuana metabolites during his UFC 183 post-fight drug test. Diaz faced former middleweight champion Anderson Silva during the said fight, where the latter also tested positive for anabolic steroids.
Silva, on the other hand, was merely given a slap on the wrist through a one-year suspension that lapses in February 2016. However, in a report by MMA Fighting.com's Ariel Helwani through Bloody Elbow, the Commission may have had a slight change of heart, and instead, has decided to reduce Diaz's sentence to 18 months.
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"Just reported that settlement talks between Team Diaz and NAC are going well and they are discussing a new 18 mth suspension + 100k fine," Helwani tweeted.
Diaz's case went as far as going on a national level in the United States that a White House petition was set up for the NSAC to lift that ban, which was described as being "unfairly" imposed.
"Nick Diaz was unfairly banned from being a professional fighter by the Nevada Athletics Commission," the statement on the website reads. "They ruled based on their personal feelings and beliefs towards the use of medical Marijuana and used their power to deprive Mr.Diaz of being able to make a living."
As of Thursday, November 5th, the number of signatures has reached a total of 114,815. For his part, the elder Diaz brother is pleased with how things have been going between his camp and the Nevada State Athetic Commission.
He even went on to thank his supports that have stood behind him since day one.
"Just spoke with my legal team at Campbell & Williams and talks with the NV athletic commission are going well," Diaz said through an Instagram post. "We're working hard with them to get this right. Thanks for the support."
