A couple of hours before the weigh-in, we spoke to ONE Fighting Championship's headliner, Ole Laursen as he was cutting the last few pounds for his lightweight bout against Felipe Enomoto.

He has always been one of the bigger lightweights in the region, but couple that with an absence from fighting since October of 2010, and it made this cut a bit tougher than usual. The Filipino-Danish fighter talked about the experience, and finally getting a chance to be fighting again.

"It's been a while since I have gone down as far as 70 kgs, probably K-1 Max back in 2007. All of my fights for Martial Combat were at around 73 kgs." Laursen said after making the lightweight limit on the unofficial weigh-in earlier today, "I was sitting in the sauna and considering taking the 20% cut but I thought 'no way I need that money'. I feel fine now, and I will be 100% by fight night."

"This is the longest break I have had from fighting since my career began, it's been a long time since my last fight in 2010. It just feels natural to be fighting though because I'm always taking fighters to events anyway so it just feels like this is my turn," he continued, referring to providing guys like Wadson Teixeira and others chances to fight for top promotions in Asia.

It's been a year and four months since the Martial Combat Super-Fight champ competed, and while there's a lot at steak as his headlining bout in Jakarta approaches, Laursen remains calm and confident that his skills match up very well against an opponent known for his ground skills.

"I watched a couple of Felipe Enomoto's fights. I'm not really nervous, I feel good," Laursen continues, "I'm a striker and that's what I do best but what the world doesn't know is that I have a ground game, I like to roll and I consider myself a grappler as well as a striker. I think I'm going to go in and try to keep it standing but if it goes to the ground, I know what's up."

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I'm sure you've heard the news by now. The UFC's resident anti-hero Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites today and is about to face a long suspension. This will be Nick's second weed suspension by the NSAC, and he has now screwed up both of his scheduled UFC appearances in one way or another. In addition, he also blew his chances at a rematch with Carlos Condit, a bout that was all but official before this positive test surfaced. Precedent states that he will not be released from the promotion. But it's high time Dana White set a new precedent and kicked Stockton's finest to the curb.

Before you start screaming "it's just weed, man!", let's get one thing out of the way. It doesn't matter that it's "just weed." NSAC rules say it's an illegal substance. Whether you agree with that or not is completely irrelevant. The bottom line is that it IS illegal, and unless it was a false positive for some reason, Diaz, of his own free will, ingested something in a certain time frame that he knew might lead to a positive test. The fault (again, if it's not a false positive) falls entirely upon one person - Nick Diaz. Apologize and make excuses for him all you want. Nothing changes that simple fact.

More On Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz' UFC 143 Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable | Dana White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana After UFC 143 | NSAC Boss Keith Kizer Confirms One Positive Drug Test

After Diaz skipped two press conferences and was removed from his UFC welterweight title bout with Georges St. Pierre before UFC 137, he was given the stiff sentence of instead competing in the co-main event against B.J. Penn. This time he will actually be severely punished. He will lose a large portion of his UFC 143 purse, and a purse from the Condit rematch. He will also be out for a year, based on NSAC precedent for repeat offenders. Luckily for Nick, UFC president Dana White is notoriously soft on people that pop for illegal substances. He has stated multiple times that a long suspension, which robs the fighter of the opportunity to make a living, is punishment enough. I suspect that will be the case here as well. But, Mr. White, this situation is different, and you should treat this differently.

As I have stated before, Diaz, a guy who flaunts his ability to beat marijuana tests to the media yet still gets busted, has been enabled for his entire career. He has been allowed to do as he pleases, with little to no repercussions. His coaches cover for him at every opportunity. His fans, even when faced with a mountain of evidence in regards to his guilt, still protect his "good" name and ignore his transgressions. On top of all this, his promoters/bosses have frequently let him skate because he's a commodity they hope to squeeze future revenue out of. Where does it end? Where's the line in the sand?

If Dana White has any sense, he will cut ties with Diaz once and for all. White loves to say that MMA will become the biggest sport in the world one day. He's not going to get there any time soon by continually enabling fighters that can't follow simple rules, fighters that actually flaunt their ability to get around those rules beforehand. Unfortunately, the anti-hero has sunk his hooks into the hearts of fans with money in their wallet, and the mighty dollar rules all when it comes to the UFC. You'll see Nick Diaz in the octagon in 2013. And people will still care. And that's pathetic.

SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit

No one should be surprised that Nick Diaz has once again failed a drug test for marijuana. His post-UFC 143 positive test results represent the second time he has failed a drug test in Nevada. Diaz infamously failed a drug test that turned his biggest career win over Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 into a No Contest. Diaz also forced the cancellation of a 2009 Strikeforce title fight against Jay Hieron when he failed to appear for a pre-fight drug test.

Going into the UFC 143 interim welterweight title bout with Carlos Condit, Diaz fans were sanguine about his use of marijuana and his ability to pass any drug tests. He fought B.J. Penn in Nevada at UFC 137 and passed his drug test with no problems. He fought for Strikeforce three times in 2010 with no problems. But the reefer iceberg was floating under the surface the whole time, waiting to sink his MMA fortunes.

This is the same Nick Diaz who told the LA Times in 2009, "I can pass a drug test in eight days with herbal cleansers. I drink 10 pounds of water and sweat out 10 pounds of water every day. I'll be fine."

This is the same guy whose response to the question of whether his pot smoking was getting in the way of his MMA career said, "Actually, on the contrary, my fight career has gotten in the way of my marijuana smoking.."

This 2007 Diaz interview with CBS Sports is even more over the top.

More On Nick Diaz
Dana White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana After UFC 143 | NSAC Boss Keith Kizer Confirms One Positive Drug Test | Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch In Jeopardy, Was Never 'Official' | Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch Becomes Official Amid Managerial Confusion |

Ben Fowlkes sums up the situation at MMA Fighting:

...most people in the MMA world probably don't care that he smokes weed. It's not giving him an unfair advantage over his opponents, and it isn't jeopardizing his health. I suppose you could argue that it makes him a poor role model for kids, but no more than fighters who like to knock back a few too many adult beverages at the after-parties, and certainly not more than those who abuse use steroids or other performance-enhancers (not to mention, Nick Diaz is your kid's role model? If so, you've got bigger issues coming your way real soon).

But if some fighters can get permission to up their testosterone levels before a fight, why can't Diaz use something that helps him relax and enjoy Reno 911 re-runs?

The answer is: because the athletic commission says he can't. Right or wrong, those are the rules, and Diaz knew it. The UFC might have been content to look the other way as long as he passed his drug tests, but the moment he fails to hold up his end of the bargain is the moment he has a problem.

Fowlkes brings up an excellent about about testosterone levels. It's ironic that fighters like Chael Sonnen, Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt and Todd Duffee have been allowed to get prescriptions for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) but Diaz, with his prescription for medical marijuana can't get a pass.

We'll turn to the issue of whether or not marijuana should be a prohibited substance tomorrow, but for now just know that it was only a matter of time before Diaz failed another piss test. It's utterly maddening for such a talented fighter, a man at the peak of his athletic abilities to be looking at losing up to a year of his fighting career over something so avoidable.

Diaz was already talking about retiring based on the judges' scores for the Condit fight, I can only imagine this doesn't make him want to reconsider that decision.

Nick, put down the pipe, MMA needs you back.

SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit

Earlier today, Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana after his UFC 143 fight with Carlos Condit.

It's been a turbulent few days for Diaz. After losing a close and controversial decision to Condit in the main event of UFC 143, a frustrated Diaz announced his retirement from MMA. Yesterday, word leaked of the UFC's plans for a Condit vs. Diaz rematch as Condit's first defense of the UFC Interim Welterweight Title, but those plans were immediately called into question at the same time that Kizer announced one fighter had failed a drug test. Many assumed it was Diaz, and those suspicions were proved to be correct.

Now, the UFC has issued a statement from Dana White, and it is short and clear:

I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana. It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

This is not the first time Diaz has tested positive for marijuana. After his 2007 defeat of Takanori Gomi in one of the final Pride shows, Diaz also failed a drug test, resulting in that victory being overturned into a No Contest. This is also the second time in his recent UFC tenure that Diaz has caused the company massive headaches. His failure to show up for press conferences in the lead-up to UFC 137 caused them to pull him from the planned Diaz vs. GSP main event, and now this news will surely derail any plans for Condit vs. Diaz 2 happening anytime soon.

For more on this story, check out all our Bloody Elbow coverage:

• Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana After UFC 143
• Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch In Jeopardy, Was Never 'Official'
• Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch Becomes Official Amid Managerial Confusion
• NSAC Boss Keith Kizer Confirms One Positive Drug Test
• SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit

Name:	Alexandre Pantoja
Nickname:	--
Age:	21
Height:	5'5"
Location:	Brazil

After a brief trip back to the United States to conclude the latter half of our top ten flyweight countdown, we now journey back to Brazil to crack the top five. Surprisingly, we lead the second half of our climb to the summit with 21-year-old Alexandre Pantoja (10-2), a Nova Uniao fighter who is currently riding a three-fight win streak and has only lost to flyweight kingpin Jussier da Silva over the course of the last three years. I say surprisingly because more informed fans and analysts feel he may be the next great flyweight fighter from the region.

Those claims aren't without supporting evidence. He wiped out a couple of flyweight regulars in Ralph Lauren and Michael William Costa in bouts in ‘09 during a five-fight winning streak and quickly submitted heralded up-and-comer Bruno Azevedo at Shooto Brazil 18 in September of 2010. His resume isn't chalk full of experienced talent, lending some evidence to the contrarian point of view that the hype isn't justified yet.

Inevitably, we did buy into the opposing opinion. His strength of record isn't great, and it isn't decked out with wins over larger, more experienced bantamweights like some of our early picks. But it's difficult to see a ceiling already when Pantoja is only 21 years old and possesses a well-balanced arsenal of weapons.

Adept both on the feet and on the ground, Pantoja can win in any area of a fight. He's excellent off his back, consistently threatening with submissions or scrambling his way back to his feet. He's a strong striker, utilizing a Muay Thai base to batter opponents with a wild, aggressive approach that has produced more knockouts than your average flyweight fighter.

Defense is a concern, and it's heavily reliant on his conditioning, which has been hit or miss. He tends to get sloppy as fights drags on, mimicking a windmill with his striking attacks and leaving his chin exposed. His aggressive, uncontrolled attack is the likely culprit, and as he matures -- it should become less of a problem.

Time will tell whether that's the case. In the meantime, Pantoja needs to fight tougher competition that will push him to his limits. He needs to wade in the deep end to get a sense of where he stands. Right now, there isn't much Brazil can offer him at 125 lbs. with the exception of a rematch with Formiga. Past the rematch, there isn't much left for Pantoja in terms of credible match-ups in Brazil. If he can't gain the interest of Joe Silva yet, blowing up a few veterans while improving technique should suffice into mid-to-late 2012. If he hasn't gotten the call by then, Twitter campaigns seem to work.

Since the birth of the UFC's flyweight division creates a question of who we should consider as prospects, we've tweaked the criteria specifically for this weight class. Most notably, we drew a line, excluding the following well-known, established flyweights: Jussier ‘Formiga' da Silva, Ulysses Gomez, Ian McCall, Yasuhiro Urushitani, BJ Kojima, Rambaa Somdet, Mamoru Yamaguchi, Dustin Ortiz, Darrell Montague, Danny Martinez, and any flyweights outside of our original criteria.

Footage of Alexandre Pantoja after the fold...

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The speculation can now end. Nevada State Athletic Commissioner Keith Kizer has emailed the media to confirm that Nick Diaz tested positive for a drug of abuse after his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit:

From: Keith Kizer
Date: Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Subject: UFC 143 - steroid/drug tests

The following athletes were tested: Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Fabricio Werdum, Josh Koscheck, Renan Barao, Ed Herman, Dustin Poirier, Max Hollaway, Matt Riddle, Henry Martinez, Edwin Figueroa, Alex Caceres, Matt Brown, Chris Cope, Rafael Natal, Michael Kuiper, Stephen Thompson and Dan Stittgen. All results received thus far have been negative, except Mr. Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites. A complaint for disciplinary action against Mr. Diaz has been filed.

This is bad news for Diaz, bad news for the UFC, and bad news for the fans.

Kevin Iole has more:

Diaz isn't the first fighter to test positive for marijuana recently. Matt Vanda appeared before the Nevada commission Jan. 31 after a second positive test for marijuana. He had initially been suspended for 90 days by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board after marijuana was discovered in his system following a Nov. 12, 2010, bout against Ossie Duran.

Marijuana was again found in Vanda's system following a Dec. 16, 2011, loss to Marco Antonio Rubio in Las Vegas and on Jan. 31 the Nevada commission fined Vanda 40 percent of his $11,000 purse and suspended him for a year.

If Diaz is fined 40 percent of his purse, it would cost him $80,000 of the $200,000 he earned in the unanimous decision loss to Condit last Saturday for the UFC interim welterweight title.

More on this story from Bloody Elbow:

• Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch In Jeopardy, Was Never 'Official'
• Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch Becomes Official Amid Managerial Confusion
• NSAC Boss Keith Kizer Confirms One Positive Drug Test
• SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit

Former Strikeforce middleweight champ Cung Le lost to Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139, but he doesn't intend to go out like that. Le, who was just awarded a $5,000 Twitter bonus from the UFC tweeted yesterday to his 21,000 followers:

The 39-year-old Le has been mostly focused on acting in Hollywood productions for the last few years but it looks like he intends to get a few more UFC fights in before Father Time forces him to call it a career. Le was undefeated in a decade-long combat sports career before getting KTFO'd by Scott Smith in 2009. He beat Smith soundly in their 2010 rematch then moved to the UFC and got KO'd by Silva.

Le made a reported $350,000 for his UFC debut and presumably will be earning a comparable amount for a second bout with the promotion.

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including the ongoing Carlos Condit/Nick Diaz rematch saga, Bellator's recent card updates and we'll also follow up on Tuesday's topic of "What Made You An MMA Fan?"

We'll be joined by Titan Fighting featherweight Anthony "Sharkbait" Gutierrez to discuss his upcoming bout with Brandon Pfannenstiel at Titan Fighting 21 on March 2. Gutierrez is the No. 6 featherweight prospect on Leland Roling's 2012 World MMA Scouting Report and is someone to watch out for. We'll chat with him about his fight, his rise in the sport and much more.

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