Was "Karo Parisyan vs. Nick Diaz" a cursed fight?

Karo Parisyan and Nick Diaz fought way back in 2004 at UFC 49. They were two young guys trying to make their mark on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, and they absolutely tore the house down. Great great fight.  Well worth the 15 minutes of your time if you have not seen it. Karo won a close decision and as they careers went on the fight was constantly brought up. Other than maybe Karo's fight with Diego Sanchez and Nick's fight with Gomi that fight was the most exciting fight of their careers. 

Despite both individuals having a boat load of talent neither has really been able to get their careers to the level that their talent would suggest. In both cases their short failings appear to be due to self-inflicted wounds. Both have failed drug tests that took away victories (in Diaz's case a HUGE victory), and in the past few months both have backed out on big time promoters right before a major card. Now at 26/27, with lots of time left in the day, each now appear to be flakes whose problems (both seem to involve substance abuse) outweigh their upsides. So was that fight a cursed fight? Did they make a deal with fate that they could have a legendary fight but it would lead to a career of flake-y-ness and "a day late and a buck short"ness? What say you...