Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit (James Law/HeavyMMA)
Positive test is second for Diaz in Nevada
LAS VEGAS – It looks like that Nick Diaz–Carlos Condit rematch won’t be happening after all.
According to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his UFC 143 main event on Saturday in Las Vegas. NSAC executive director Keith Kizer on Thursday released the results of the commission’s drug screenings to HeavyMMA.
This is Diaz’s second drug infraction. In 2007, also in Nevada, Diaz tested positive for marijuana after a win over Takanori Gomi at Pride 33, which took place at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. He was suspended for six months after that fight, which was overturned from a win for Diaz to a no contest.
UFC president Dana White on Thursday issued a statement regarding Diaz’s positive test expressing disappointment.
“I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana,” White said. “It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.”
On Saturday, Diaz, the former Strikeforce welterweight champion, faced Condit for the UFC’s interim welterweight title with champion Georges St-Pierre on the shelf for much of 2012. But despite being a 2-to-1 favorite in the fight, Diaz dropped a five-round unanimous decision to Condit, who became the new interim champ.
The fight was close, and despite the unanimous decision win for Condit, there was backlash from Diaz’s camp – and Diaz said after the fight he would leave MMA as a result of the decision.
But just Wednesday, UFC president Dana White said Condit was amenable to a rematch – and that the new interim champ would be in Las Vegas this week to work out the details of another fight with Diaz. According to published reports, though, Diaz’s camp said the fight was not likely to happen.
And now there’s a reason it won’t, or won’t happen anytime soon.
Diaz could appeal the decision, in the hopes of getting a forthcoming suspension reduced. But given his previous suspension, it would be an uphill battle. The NSAC tested a total of 18 fighters on Saturday’s card.