Nate Diaz says Jorge Masvidal fight is off in profane tirade over failed doping test
The highly anticipated “Baddest Mother F---er” bout between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal at next week’s UFC 244 appears to be off.
Diaz announced via Twitter on Thursday that he tested positive for “elevated levels” in a pre-fight drug test and is “not gonna make it out to NYC for fight next week.”
Diaz blasted the test results in a profanity-filled tirade, claiming he only takes natural supplements.
Diaz: ‘I’m not gonna play their game’
(Warning: Explicit language in the tweet below.)
Your all on steroids not me pic.twitter.com/ykrZmRIoPS
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) October 24, 2019
“I call false on that cause I only take Whole Food or natural food supplements,” Diaz wrote. “ So until UFC, Usada or whoever is F---ING with me Fixes it I won’t be competing. I’m not gonna play their game and try and hide it or keep quite (sic), as they suggested.”
Report: Diaz not suspended
ESPN reports that Diaz has not been suspended by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency “despite an adverse drug-test finding.”
"UFC and USADA are gathering information and will issue a statement as soon as possible," USADA spokesperson Adam Woullard told ESPN.
Masvidal tweets support of Diaz
Masvidal didn’t appear convinced that the fight was off, tweeting “I’ll see you nov 2” while calling Diaz “one of the cleanest mofo’s” in the game.
You not the baddest mofo in the game (i am) but you are one of the cleanest mofo’s @NateDiaz209 I’ll see you nov 2. I know your name is clean. I don’t need @usantidoping to tell me shit!
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) October 24, 2019
Diaz, 34, has never tested positive for banned substances. He is a proponent of CBD use and lit up a joint at a UFC event in August.
Diaz and Masvidal were slated to fight in the main event at UFC 244 on Nov. 2 in New York at Madison Square Garden, with the winner to claim the newly created “Baddest Mother F---er” belt.
Diaz returned to the Octagon in August after a three-year hiatus for a dominant unanimous-decision victory over Anthony Pettis.
Diaz called out Masvidal after the fight as Masvidal watched smiling from the crowd.
"I want to defend my title against Jorge. He's a gangster, but he ain't no West Coast gangster."@NateDiaz209, welcome back! #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/Y5DdHcnwzO
— UFC (@ufc) August 18, 2019
Masvidal, a veteran fighter from Miami, rose to popular fame after his flying knee to Ben Askren’s head resulted in the fastest knockout in UFC history at UFC 239 in July. Both fighters are known for their relentless, aggressive fighting styles, leading to the creation of the “Baddest Mother F---er” belt for next weeks’s scheduled fight.
A cancellation would be a significant blow to the UFC 244 card that was built around Masvidal and Diaz.
McGregor chimes in
Conor McGregor, who has split a pair of high-profile bouts with Diaz, didn’t miss the opportunity wedge his name into the news after Diaz tweeted, with a tweet claiming that “There’s only one Bad Mother F---er in this game.”
McGregor deleted the tweet shortly after posting it.
A third bout between McGregor and Diaz would be one of the biggest in UFC history.
McGregor recently announced that he will return to the Octagon in Las Vegas on Jan. 18. He did not name an opponent. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported that Donald Cerrone and Justin Gaethje are the top candidates to take on McGregor in January.
More from Yahoo Sports:
