Hi Nicholas,

Is it ok if I call you Nick? I think it is, hey Nick, sup.

If you only knew how much you've affected MMA media with your antics you'd give a fuck. Brock Lesnar's diverticulitis didn't spawn as many topics and debates as you have. The average person probably has no idea who the fuck you are and doesn't care at all if you fight again, but these keyboard warriors here, they'd die to prove their points about you. You lost that fight against Carlos Condit but no one cares about him, I don't see anyone even talking about him even though he's wearing an Interim Title belt.

They wanted to see you, a couple hardcores on here will pretend that Carlos Condit vs. GSP is the fight they wanted but that is just some trolling or something, the people who mattered, (DFW and co.) they wanted you in the limelight.

But apparently you never got this memo. I don't know if it is you being ignorant, your management not telling you, or maybe you need an internet connection and a computer so you can log on and see how much drama everything you do creates and maybe you'd clean up your act.

You had every opportunity for all the things you claimed you wanted but never got. They bent the rules and screwed people to try to get you where you wanted to be and in the end you just fucked yourself.

This may come off as whiny and useless but you're the biggest fucking disappointment since Kimbo Slice. No, Gina Carano. Or Chael and his problems with three sided objects. Or maybe Brock's early career demise and Fedor's fall combined with Anthony Johnson's weight cutting. I don't know, at the end of the day I can't believe how pissed off I am because you literally have no one to blame but yourself. You're like the whiny spoiled brat who gets what he wants for reasons beyond anyone's comprehension and then you thank them by pissing all over it.

I thought I didn't have to ragequit being a fan the way you ragequit after you lost because they were gonna give you another thing you didn't deserve, a rematch, but you fucked that up so I guess I'm done here.

Peace Homie

We caught up with John Danaher at the UFC on FOX 2 open work outs.... Now I can say in this industry I have meet some characters, but none, absolutely none are as unique at John Danager. After walking around in Chicago during the freezing cold, John Danaher decided to tell me a short story about how the Mongols invaded Russia during the winter and that we are not cold, but basically wimps. Thanks Danaher for a very unique experience with you. (Sorry guys no Mongolian story in video)

So uh, Nick Diaz tested positive for weed have you heard? Listen, I was going to come up with a solid introduction later followed by the obligatory transition into the meat of my post, but then I thought “for why?” and said forget it. So I’ll just skip right to it.

Nick Diaz is not like other people. He truly is a special and unique snowflake that happens to be so special and unique that many are quick to misinterpret his behavior in the most negative way possible and hold it against him. Maybe it’s the fact that he and I share a similar background and similar experiences so I can easily relate to him. Maybe it’s because I like that he keeps it real even to a fault. Maybe it’s because I can tell that whatever he loves, whether it be his home, his job, or his family, he loves deep down to the core of his soul. But at the end of it all, I think it boils down to the fact that Nick Diaz clearly suffers from a psychological condition that is so severe that it debilitates him, disorients him, and I’m willing to bet at times even scares him. Somehow he finds a way to keep going.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I have a soft spot for Nick Diaz there I said it. He had me at “beauty pageant.” It bothers me when people refer to him as classless, think of him as scum, and wishes to deny his participation in something that he loves simply because of his condition. Watch his interviews and compare the ones where he is not sitting out in front of a large crowd filled with cameras and reporters to the ones where he is. Watch him suddenly start to fidget and squirm, stutter and become flustered when he can’t find his words. Watch as his downturned eyes struggle to remain on a fixed spot when someone asks him the simplest of questions. Watch how awkwardly he smiles when he realizes that he might get into a little bit of trouble for what he is about to say, because he knows people will misinterpret it. It’s a little bit more than “classless” and “socially awkward” and “unprofessional” don’t you think? Actually it’s not any of those things; it’s just him trying his damndest not to lose his shit.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Nick Diaz is not actively seeking to cause trouble and he’s not trying to hurt himself, his opponent (outside of the cage that is), or the UFC. He’s trying to navigate a minefield of voracious spectators dissecting his every move waiting until he fucks up again so they can say “I told you so.” Newsflash: He told us so, like many many years ago. When it comes to this popped test, it’s a non-issue. I can’t believe I’m defending a pot-head because I hate pot-heads—they’re annoying as shit and either they laugh at absolutely everything OR they force me to listen to their conspiracy theories on the Illuminati—but this particular pot-head has what basically amounts to a prescription for medical marijuana. It’s his own personal choice of treatment for whatever it is that ails him, and if he treats his ailment in his own home in his own fucking state where he has the legal permission to do so, that should not come back to haunt him 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 2 months down the line while he is obeying the rules in another state (presumably). For those who don’t understand this I will assume you don’t have first-hand knowledge of what synthetic drugs do to people who suffer from mental illness.

Doctor: “Having anxiety attacks, Nick? Here, take this Klonopin and suffer from the following side-effects of drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness, problems with coordination, difficulty thinking or remembering, muscle or joint pain, and blurred vision. I know you’re a cage fighter and all but that’s neither here nor there because this is approved by the NSAC. Oh, and FYI you have to take this for 6 months before you really start to benefit from the effects, and if your system doesn’t take to it very well we’ll have to change it up and try out a different drug or a combination of many drugs for another 6 months. Oh and that/those drug(s) might increase the frequency and duration of your anxiety for a while or cause intense suicidal thoughts before it actually starts working, or doesn’t LULZ!”

Nick Diaz: “I’m outta this shit.”

I know he’s supposed to promote fights but it’s not in him to do things their way all the time. It’s not that Nick cannot do it their way; it’s that he is rendered incapable of doing it their way consistently when his stress levels are peaked. He simply cracks under too much pressure. I don’t know how to solve this problem myself as he is a very unique snowflake: I feel his anxiety alone is a disability and he should have a bit of an exemption in some cases, or even be allowed to video conference. Or the UFC should construct smaller and more contained press junkets and if that’s not possible then maybe the last case scenario could leave them giving him a small fine for not fulfilling his duties of showing up to press conferences to appease the fans who take offence to that sort of thing (I don’t take any offence to that sort of thing). That’s all I got but whatever the case, releasing him from the UFC because of this is ridiculous. I say just get over it and let the motherfucker fight.

I absolutely do not buy into the idea that MMA has become boring or that game plans and fights going to decision have ruined the sport. I have thoroughly enjoyed the year in MMA so far and there are plenty of bouts that I am anticipating with childlike glee. Here's my top five.

1 - Junior Dos Santos vs Alistair Overeem

Images via chesterkickboxing and UFCdogbet

It looks like, on May 26th Junior Dos Santos should defend his Heavyweight Title against Alistair Overeem. I should not have to explain why this is going to be great, the only thing that can wrong with this fight is if it is over too quickly. Dos Santos and Overeem are the two best strikers in their division and both come into this fight on the back of great knockout victories. Dos Santos is a boxer with supreme power and Overeem is a kickboxer with brutal knees. They both have the capability to hold their own on the ground, but it is unlikely to go there. This is destined to end with a beautiful knockout.

2 - Ben Henderson vs Frankie Edgar

via 5thround

At the end of this month, the UFC takes a stacked card to Japan and the title fight between Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar promises to be great. Edgar will be glad that this guy is not called BJ or Gray as he has fought two opponents in his last four fights. Ben Henderson faces a very different test for the champion with his insane pace and work rate and his powerful wrestling. Edgar is a decent wrestler himself and has some of the best boxing in MMA, should he be able to stand long enough to use it. Those factors, plus the fact that Frankie Edgar has been doing Rocky impressions in his past few fights, mean this is sure to entertain.

3 - Rousey vs Tate

via 5thround

Ronda Rousey talks the talk, on the 3rd of March we will see if she walks the walk. This fight is the most hyped fight in women's MMA since Gina Carano fought Cris Cyborg. There is debate about whether this is too soon for Rousey, but now that it is set it promises to be intriguing. Rousey is an olympic bronze medallist in Judo and has finished her first four MMA fights by armbar in the first minute. Miesha Tate is the newly crowned Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion and on a six fight win streak, including four finishes. Tate has a wrestling background and plenty of MMA experience, Rousey a Judo background and is untested at the top level.

4 - Jon Jones vs Rashad Evans

via mmamania

All being well, this fight should finally go down on April 21st in Atlanta at UFC 145. It has been a while in the making as injuries and schedules got int he way of a fight that needs to happen. Jones and Evans fell out due to friction in their camp over the eventuality of them fighting each other. Ever since, a war of words in the media has built the hype. As Evans put away Phil Davis last month with a dominating performance, he took away the last obstacle between him and Jones. Now let's hope they both make it safely to the cage in April.

5 - Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen

via fightmania

This June, probably in a Brazilian football stadium, Chael Sonnen is (hopefully) getting his rematch with Anderson Silva. In August of 2010, Sonnen came the close to upsetting the great Brazilian before he succumbed to to a triangle choke. A suspension, two wins and a lot of strange ranting later and Sonnen finds himself in a position to have another crack. Was Sonnen's good performance the result of his cheating? Was Anderson Silva out of sorts because of an injury or is Chael really his kryptonite? We should find out later this year.

So, what do you think? Have I left anything out or included fights that you could not care less about? Hit the comment section and let me know.

This post was first published at jiMMA.

This is not a defense of Nick Diaz.

Nick Diaz broke the rules and now he has to face whatever punishment is meted out by his employer and the Nevada State Athletic Commission. I leave the debate over what that punishment should be to a dozen other posts, and thousands of other vitriolic comments.

via www.emersonkent.com

What this is, is a defense of basic logic, and the hopefully noncontroversial premise that words have meanings that should be respected.

First, let's break down the deductive method behind the belief that Nick cheated by using marijuana:

1) Using marijuana is against the rules

2) Violating the rules is cheating

3) Nick Diaz used marijuana

Therefore

4) Nick Diaz cheated

The process of that deduction is fine, but the outcome is wrong, because one of the premises -- 2) violating the rules is cheating -- is demonstrably incorrect.

So let's talk about that premise. I've looked up cheating in every dictionary I can get my hands on, and the primary definition is, universally, some variation of the following:

"Act dishonestly to gain an advantage, esp. in a game or examination: 'she cheats at cards.'"

In all cases, the primary definition of cheating focuses around an act of deception intended to defraud or deprive another person out of something of value. Without the intent to gain an unfair advantage, the dishonest act itself is not enough to constitute cheating. So unless you can make a case that Nick Diaz smoked marijuana to gain an advantage over his opponents (and I'd be interested in seeing that logical process unfold) you can't make the case that he cheated.

So let's go back to that second premise: 2) violating the rules is cheating. It fails its own deduction.

Both of the following premises are correct

1) all rules prohibit cheating

2) some rules prohibit things that are not cheating

Therefore

3) While all cheating is rule breaking, not all rule breaking is cheating

Nick Diaz violated the rules, but he didn't cheat, and that's not just semantics. His actions are missing a critical element of willful, purposeful deception that makes cheating so odious in sport. He should be judged for his rule violations, but not against the standard of cheaters.

My comment would've been buried under the countless others but here is my opinion:

Nick Diaz has a prescription for Medical Marijuana and in terms of state law can legally carry and smoke it in California. He takes it to relieve an actual medical condition and a doctor has given him that right (yes, I'm aware of the apparent ease of getting a prescription in Cali).

Nick Diaz is a draw. I have several friends who only follow a handful of fighters and Diaz has become a favorite among them. Before this positive test showed up I was making fun of them and their bitching about Diaz being "screwed out of a decision." I actually did score it 1,2,5 for Diaz but believed, after watching the fight again, that it could have went to Condit just as easily. It wasn't anything to cry about.

Now, I find myself arguing for Diaz. Why? because posts talking about firing a fighter who was taking something medically prescribed to him has actually become a solid argument.

I'm aware Marijuana is a banned substance in the Nevada fight game. I also agree Nick Diaz should have taken more care of this issue and been more responsible. But I also believe that smoking Marijuana cannot be put in the same ball park like doing steroids, greasing, or TRT supplements. It didn't give Nick an advantage, was taken to help in his personal life (not inside the ring) and lets not kid ourselves, it's pretty much been accepted into our culture by now. I could get weed much easier than I could ever get alcohol in my teens. Shit, even now it's easier to grab an 8th than getting up and going to the liquor store.

Here's my issue. Sonnen was charged with fraud (not fight related) and increase testosterone levels (100% fight related). The man is one of the most recognizable faces in the UFC and even though his talent is very debatable, the man is popular, draws seats and is still in the UFC. Rampage Jackson goes off about Dana and also has an incident where he hits a poor women with his truck. I don't remember if she was pregnant or something, but these charges were dealt with and he's still in the UFC. GSP greased, lets not kid ourselves (and I'm a big fan), Guillard greased.

Chris Leben 2x, Thiago Silva,Sonnen, etc. These guys all did something that directly affected their performance in the ring. They knew what they were doing and they are all still employees. How can you justify firing Diaz? and don't even get me started on TRT therapy being allowed (basically doctor approved Steroids) while doctor approved Marijuana is still worth a suspension?

The firings must be standardized. That's how a socially responsible employer works. You can't just fire off peoples jobs depending on how you feel about the issue. If Diaz is to be fired for some marijuana, but all those cases above are forgotten, then the UFC is not being ethical or fair to it's employees and fans.

Here in Canada I can smoke up and have no worry about a cop arresting me. Sure it's illegal, but I'll be damned if I can remember the last time anyone I heard someone was arrested for carrying some weed (other than a buddy who had over 15lbs of it in his trunk, but that's another story). Should we really be putting Diaz on the firing line because of something almost every North American has tried at least once? Especially when he's legally allowed to do it in his state?

I agree the suspension should and will most likely stand. The damage is done, Diaz screwed up and will have to do his time. But as a fight fan, I see way too many fun fights for him in the welterweight division. He is a draw, a real fighter, an honest human being, and an exciting character to watch. His hands are great, and he comes in, in perfect, steroid free shape everytime. As a human being, I see it unjustified to see a man lose his job over such a weak positive "drug" test.

MMA is a sport for losers. I used to love MMA until I realized I hated it. There are just so many things wrong with this "sport" I don't know where to begin. My reasoning is sound, contradictions are nonexistent, knowledge is superb, my logic is perfect, and my reasoning is as circular as an oval.

1.) Too many decisions. Go watch a typical UFC or Strikeforce fight and 45% of the time it ends in a decision. I hate decisions. They're the wimpiest form of victory ever created and it is painful to see how many decisionfest champions there are in the UFC. Frankie Edgar doesn't knock anyone out, Jose Aldo has defended his title three times by decision, but none of them beats the decision king known as Georges St. Pierre. GSP should totally stand for "Gudges Score Papers". He has had so many decisions in his career that he frequently makes his day-to-day life. St. Pierre often wakes up in the morning and decides "Do I wear a leather jacket or a raincoat?" He then drags it on for 25 minutes and then chooses raincoat, but then apologizes to his friend waiting at the door, promising to finish making his choice quicker next time. GSP is bad for this awful sport with his stupid ass lay-and-pray ways, which leads me to....

2.) The ground game is boring. Seriously, who sees grappling and wrestling as fun? I see it as pussies who are too afraid to duke it out with their fists. I think the ground game is a hell of a lot like gay porn. And as a heterosexual male who likes women (although they rarely like me back), I know exactly what gay porn probably looks like. I mean, name any straight guy who tries and then enjoys beating another guy by trying to wrap his legs around a man's face? Creepy. Not only that, but the ground game in MMA features a lot of sexual sounding terms. Lay-and-pray, ground-and-pound, back mount, north-south position, rape choke, etc. Every time I watch the ground game I feel like the dry-humping style of Cole Konrad should result in a finish of another sort. It's a well known fact that ADCC tournaments feature pre-fight lubricants. I much prefer striking, which leads me to......

3.) The striking is too sloppy. It sucks. It just does. Even at the highest level. I think it's a bunch of boxers who flamed out in that sport and came to MMA and learned a few things. These guys have terrible angles, awful punching technique, and tend to just swing wildly. Oh yeah, and MMA fighters have weak chins. I know that because most KOs end with some lucky ass haymaker landing, just like Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin. I can't stand Anderson Silva. He's too smart for a worthless sport like this. I wish mental harm on him so that he takes up soccer instead.

4.) Not enough guys who WAR. You see Arturo Gatti fight? That son of a bitch could WAR. He would be in so many epic fights even beyond the Micky Ward trilogy. Who really WARs in MMA? I'm thinking Jorge Gurgel (who was smart enough not to use his stupid grappling skills and duke it out like a man), Matt Riddle, Dan Hardy, and Leonard Garcia. None of those guys can strike for beans, but they bring it. All of them have rock solid chins and bring their best every single night. It's fascinating to watch. Sure they land strikes as often as Mario Mendoza could hit a baseball, but they are warriors who WAR and should never leave the sport.

5.) Jon Jones. Someone take the horseshoe out of this guy's asshole because what a lucky prick this guy is. He trains in MMA for only three years and now he's the best LHW in the world. No one trains in any sport that quickly and becomes the best at his craft. Jason Pierre-Paul needed his entire childhood to become one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, for god's sake! Jones is cocky, fake, and I hope that Rashad Evans gives him a good ol' fashion lay-and-pray decision win so that I can enjoy watching Jon Jones lose and still find a reason to hate why he lost. He beat all of my heroes from PRIDE like Quinton Jackson, Shogun Rua, and the biggest PRIDE star of them all Lyoto Machida. I don't like Jones' fighting style because he has no jab, tries these amateurish flashy elbow thingies that belong in Karate Kid, and acts like he's all that when in reality he's only beaten a washed up Quinton Jackson, a banged-up Shogun, and an overrated novelty fighter in Machida. He hasn't paid his dues and is everything that is wrong with this sport. He's also with Greg Jackson MMA, who is my source of bitchiness when I wake up in the morning. His fight camp (if it can be called that) and his stalwart of boring and/or overrated jokes like Donald Cerrone, Leonard Garcia, Jon Jones, Georges St. Pierre, Diego Sanchez, and Clay Guida will be the death of the sport I suddenly stopped liking after Nick Diaz lost a fight.

I don't like MMA anymore. In fact I outright hate it in the same way I hate seeing Sofia Vergara's chest, puppies, kittens, food, drink, daylight, the thing that Peter Frampton used to make his guitar talk, and the ability to speak my mind.

MMA sucks. So so much. Sometime over the last few days was the straw that broke the llama's neck.

Just as in Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 the UFC had a terrific fight that was so good, it was demanded by fans to see it again. Just as the immediate rematch was about to be made, Chael however was suspended by the CSAC for elevated testosterone levels, and on top of that he was convicted for money laundering. Imagine that closely contested bout ended with Chael getting the decision...The UFC would have been embarrassed with a this man as their Champion. His title would have been stripped from him and the whole ordeal would have been twice as ugly as it was.

Jump to UFC 143, we have Nick Diaz facing off against Greg Jacksons own Carlos Condit. This was also a hotly contested bout but as Compustrike and Fightmetric numbers have shown us Carlos Condit clearly won that fight. The only way Diaz won that fight was in the eyes of the same judges who gave Garcia the W against KZ. Yes he walked forward...but he did not control that fight. As you see i think Carlos won due to better execution even if it was a rather boring and deceitful game plan to the fans. With figthers twittering that Diaz won and most journalist considering Carlos the winner this bout was all but set for a rematch before GSP returned...Diaz however had to do what he's expected to and test positive for an illegal substance. Now just imagine if we won...The fight between him and GSP being hyped...maybe GSP coming in the cage...promo getting started thinking about another blowout in Toronto...and boom Diaz is out for a year. Glad Carlos won to save us the headache of having to see UFC scramble to find someone to fight GSP in Nov.

The UFC needs to do everything they can to ensure Georges St-Pierre comes back healthy, wealthy, and wise. "Rush"ing him back into action because of this Nick Diaz pissing bong water (part II) is a huge mistake and could cause GSP problems. Now if he is really healthy, yes, he should come back. But the back-up plan could be just as exciting.

I think the winner of Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger should fight Carlos Condit next.

Why? First off, the UFC doesn't necessarily abide by conventional rankings. Lyoto Machida was 1-2 in his previous three fights before fighting Jon Jones. Rampage Jackson got his shot after losing to Rashad Evans two fights before. Timing and name recognition means almost as much.

If Diego Sanchez beats Ellenberger he will be on a three fight win-streak with Ws over Paulo Thiago, Martin Kampmann, and Ellenberger. Its not the worst winning streak in the world, he's a big name, and the fact that him and Condit trained together would make things very interesting. Sanchez always comes to fight (except against Hathaway) and is a name that can sell. Ellenberger is an up-and-coming fighter who knocked out Jake Shields and fought Condit before (to a split decision) and that story writes itself. The UFC has also had interim champions defend their interim titles before (Nog vs. Mir I).

None of these guys are the "real" champion anyways because none of them have beat GSP. So why not, while the champ fully recovers, we have a couple of young studs fighting each other?

Amidst the stupid comments that resembled a stupidity glass overflowing with stupid, there was an interesting comment made in the article about Nick Diaz failing his drug test. If fighters can get medically cleared, they are allowed TRT but under no circumstances shall a fighter take THC in any form, recreational use or medically prescribed. So why the difference? Why should a fighter be allowed to be involved in "therapy" that would absolutely give a competitive advantage to the user but wouldn't be allowed to use a prescribed medicine that is used for treating things, such in this case, anxiety. Why? LOOP HOLES!!! From a legal point of view marijuana would be a banned substance for an athlete since it is only decriminalized and is an acceptable form of medicine in a few states and is still illegal from a federal point of view. Not to mention that the state in which this foul committed is known for being absurdly strict when it comes to marijuana laws. I'm not condoning the rules, just explaining how these two rules can coexist.