Conor McGregor is the latest high-profile star to speak out in support of fellow fighter Nick Diaz over the highly controversial five year suspension from the sport he was handed down over a positive marijuana drug test following his fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 192 earlier this year.
“The Nick Diaz situation…is absolutely ridiculous,” McGregor told Ariel Helwani on the latest episode of ‘The MMA Hour’ show. “I can’t wrap my head around that whole situation.”
Clearly McGregor is as baffled as everyone else that the Nevada State Athletic Commission could essentially end the 32 year-old Diaz’s fighting career for taking a relatively harmless drug that is in no way performance-enhancing. Admittedly this was the Stockton native’s third such offense, but even so it’s clear that they have blown this situation out of all proportion.
Support for Diaz has come in from all quarters since the verdict came in, with even legendary singer Cher of all people posting a Twitter message last week stating, “Lift the NSAC ban from MMA fighter Nick Diaz” to her nearly 3 million followers.
It means more coming from one of the sport’s biggest stars though, particularly one who’s not known to speak out in support of his fellow fighters, and in this instance McGregor is happy to conced that he is in fact a fan of Diaz.
“I wish him well,” McGregor said. “I’ve always been a big fan of Nick and his style of fighting. it would be a sad day if Nick doesn’t lace up the gloves again and won’t make that Octagon walk.”
