Former UFC fighter Nate Diaz is claiming self-defense in regard to his involvement in a viral brawl that took place Saturday night on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Diaz on suspicion of second-degree battery for his alleged role.
In a statement to MMA Fighting, Diaz attorney Walter Becker “looks forward to presenting all of the facts about this incident to the District Attorney which clearly demonstrate that a trained fighter named Rodney Petersen aggressively pursued Nate with the intention of engaging him and once doing so, Nate acted entirely in self-defense. No further comment will be made at this time.”
The charge stems from a video of the incident in which the Diaz appears to be seen choking social media personality Rodney Petersen. Prior to the choke, Petersen is seen in the video putting both hands up in a non-combative fashion as Diaz makes his way closer. After Petersen was rendered unconscious by the hold, Diaz dropped Petersen’s body head first onto the pavement.
