Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal may not fight for that vaunted “Baddest Motherfucker” belt at UFC 244 after all.
Diaz tweeted on Thursday that he has pulled out of the main event, scheduled for November 2, after being told he tested positive for “elevated levels” of a banned substance that came from “tainted supplements.”
“You’re all on steroids, not me,” Diaz captioned a lengthy screenshot of a longer explanation in which he wholly denied taking anything that could be tainted.
“I’m not gonna make it out to NYC for fight week next week because they say I tested with elevated levels that they say might be from some tainted supplements. I call false on that cause I only take Whole Food or natural food supplements. I don’t even eat meat. So until UFC, USADA or whoever is fucking with me fixes it, I won’t be competing.”
Diaz continued, “I don’t give a fuck about some money over my dignity and my legacy. I’m not playing along with this bullshit. I’m not staying quiet and figuring it out after the fight. That’s cheating. So fight game I’ll see you when I see you. Sincerely, The real baddest mother fucker in the game.”
The UFC and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the MMA organization’s anti-doping partner, have yet to issue a statement. However, sources speaking to ESPN said that Diaz has not been provisionally suspended, despite “testing positive for trace amounts of a prohibited selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM).”
“UFC and USADA are gathering information and will issue a statement as soon as possible,” USADA spokesperson Adam Woullard told ESPN.
Multiple fighters, including Masvidal himself, rallied around Diaz.
“You not the baddest mofo in the game (i am) but you are one of the cleanest mofo’s @NateDiaz209,” Masvidal tweeted. “I’ll see you nov 2. I know your name is clean.”
Light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, who’s faced USADA suspensions after failing drug tests in the past, showed nothing but support for Diaz.
“I do. Keep your head up man,” Jones tweeted. “I knew I was innocent and was willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours with scientists and lawyers to prove it.”
Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman volunteered to replace Diaz ahead of his own December 14 fight against Colby Covington.
“I’ll fight in Nov and Dec. that’s what a BMF does now come see me!”
Both Covington and Ben Askren, who has a tumultuous relationship with Usman, shot him down.
Even Conor McGregor’s coach commented on Diaz’s latest development.
Stay tuned as this story develops.
