UFC exec Matt Hughes: 'Punk' Diaz can't expect leniency

Earlier today, former Bellator featherweight and bantamweight champion Joe Warren took a different stance to Nick Diaz' five-year suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Warren said Diaz should have obeyed the rules, and now, UFC Hall of Famer and executive Matt Hughes has voiced his criticism of the Stockton local.

As well as receiving a five year suspension, 32-year-old Diaz also received a hefty $165,000 fine for his misconduct. The former Strikeforce welterweight champion tested positive for marijuana metabolites for the third time when he fought Anderson Silva at UFC 183.

Diaz's lawyer Lucas Middlebrook presented a sound defense to the commission, pointing out how his client had passed two out of three drug tests on the night of UFC 183, but the NAC were adamant in their conviction of Diaz.

Here's what Matt Hughes had to say about the issue on Twitter earlier today:

I think the suspension was excessive, but you can't walk in there like a punk and expect leniency. @baltim0re28

— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) September 17, 2015

I shouldn't have used "punk" when talking about being in front of the commission. I watched the video of him after. @remergedj

— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) September 17, 2015

@remergedj I would have acted different. Problem might be he's bragging about it in videos. Not just doing it. Commission sees that.

— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) September 17, 2015

Nick Diaz' opponent Anderson Silva tested positive for two anabolic steroids on the night of UFC 183: androstane and drostanolone. 'The Spider' was suspended for one year (retroactive Jan 31st) and could return to the Octagon as early as February, next year.

Matt Hughes retired in 2013 after suffering two consecutive KO's to B.J. Penn and Josh Koscheck. The former welterweight champion now serves as the VP of Athlete Development and Government Relations within the UFC.