Nate Diaz is far from OK with how the UFC is profiting off him and his brother, Nick, and he let that be known Wednesday.
The UFC is selling “The 209 Pack” of Diaz brothers NFTs, and it wasn’t lost on Nate that they went on sale on the marijuana holiday 4/20. As part of its social media campaign, the UFC announced that the NFTs specifically would be available “on 4/20.”
That did not sit well with Nate.
“It’s sh*t like this why I need to get the f*ck out of the sorry ass UFC,” Diaz tweeted. “Didn’t you guys suspend nick [sic] for 5 years and fine me hella money for a vape pen?! Now you’re reaping the benefits. I hope nobody buys this bullsh*t.”
It’s shit like this why I need to get the fuck out of the sorry ass UFC. Didn’t you guys suspend nick for 5 years and fine me hella money for a vape pen?! Now you’re reaping the benefits. I hope nobody buys this bullshit 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼🖕🏼 pic.twitter.com/I3yPB9uJT9
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) April 20, 2022
While it might not change Diaz’s sentiment, it should be noted that the Nevada Athletic Commission – not the UFC – suspended Nick Diaz five years following a positive drug test for marijuana in 2015.
Also, Diaz’s reference to being fined “for a vape pen” would be in reference to his use of smoking from a vape pen during the UFC 202 post-fight press conference following his August 2016 loss to Conor McGregor. But there’s no public record of Diaz being fined for the incident, although it did prompt a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency rule change.
The attitude on marijuana use by fighters from the UFC, NAC and USADA has come a long way in the years since those Diaz-related incidents. In 2021, both USADA and the NAC amended their policies to not discipline fighters for positive marijuana tests.
Diaz’s harsh tweet is the latest evidence of strain in the relationship between him and the UFC. Diaz has one fight left on his contract but has been unable to secure a booking, despite publicly stating multiple times that he wants to face Dustin Poirier and Poirier also agreeing. Diaz’s frustration has mounted to the point that he’s publicly asked for his release.
Diaz most recently fought last June, losing a unanimous decision against Leon Edwards at UFC 263.
