Nick Diaz out against Lim....Fickett to step in - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

T-Bone · 03-26-2008, 08:06 PM

If true...this is very bad. Two of EliteXC's best fighters won't be part of Saturday's event. No Shields...No Nick Diaz.

- DIAZ OUT; FICKETT STEPS IN TO FACE KIM - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more

Quote:

After a tumultuous week of matchmaking for the upcoming Elite XC/Strikeforce co-promoted show, MMAWeekly.com has learned from sources close to the fight that Nick Diaz is out of his fight against Jae Suk Kim for undisclosed reasons.

Drew Fickett will now step in and face Kim instead as he was currently without a bout after Jake Shields dropped out of their bout due to injury.

The exit of Nick Diaz came suddenly after Elite XC had just released what was surely the final change to their upcoming Showtime card.

Jae Suk Kim will now face Drew Fickett in a fight that will take place at 170lbs and will be a part of the televised portion of the show.

MMAWeekly.com was unable to secure any further details as to why Diaz had to drop out of his bout, but we will follow up as more information becomes available.

AikaImmortal · 03-26-2008, 08:24 PM

Diaz knew he would get his ass stomped, thats why.

Gygax · 03-26-2008, 09:16 PM

This is getting friggin ridiculous. How come I have a feeling this is that scumbag Gary Shaw holding Diaz out for the CBS/EliteXC show on May 31.

AikaImmortal · 03-26-2008, 10:12 PM

Yeah, and watch he will get an easy feeder win too.

FightFan76 · 03-26-2008, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gygax

This is getting friggin ridiculous. How come I have a feeling this is that scumbag Gary Shaw holding Diaz out for the CBS/EliteXC show on May 31.

Yeah that is probably a good guess, I bet he pops up on that card b/c he is a well known MMA fighter.....

Flying Triangle Choke · 03-27-2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gygax

This is getting friggin ridiculous. How come I have a feeling this is that scumbag Gary Shaw holding Diaz out for the CBS/EliteXC show on May 31.

If that's true, I hope they don't let him near the mic that night...

Gygax · 03-27-2008, 07:05 AM

There's a big dispute over why he is being pulled. It all comes down once again to Nick's use of marijuana. He now has a prescription to use medical marijuana to help with his ADD. Whatever. CSAC's director, Armando Garcia is involved, which is never a good thing. That guy is a complete jackass and is likely responsible for this garbage. Whatever again. Put Garcia, Shaw, and Diaz in a room together. They can blast away at each other.

The whole story is detailed over on Sherdog.

Quote:

Nick Diaz will not fight Saturday night in San Jose, Calif., nor will he collect the $50,000 purse he was set to receive for his bout against South Korea's Jae Suk Lim.

California State Athletic Commission executive officer Armando Garcia made that determination Wednesday.

Why? It depends on whom you ask.

"He did not turn in his medical information in time for the fight," said Garcia, confirming an MMAWeekly report that Diaz was removed from the Showtime-televised card. "They were just turned in today."

Late Wednesday evening, however, EliteXC President Gary Shaw, who promotes Diaz, disputed Garcia's account.

"He never mentioned anything about late medicals," said Shaw. "And if there were late medicals it wasn't because of Nick Diaz and it wasn't because of EliteXC."

The issue, as described to him by Garcia, said Shaw, was Diaz's prescription for medical marijuana, which is legal in California based on the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.

"He's got a medical marijuana card," confirmed Diaz's manager Cesar Gracie, who mentioned Attention Deficit Disorder as the cause for the prescription.

"Nick is a naturalist by heart," said Gracie. "He thinks Ritalin is an amphetamine. He thinks that's really bad for you. People with ADD are kind of hyper, so he has trouble sleeping. He got the medical marijuana card and he takes his pot to go to sleep and be more focused. It's completely legal in California. Voters voted it in. The commission is actually supposed to obey that, so this will probably open up a legal case. If it was something small, OK, f---- it, whatever. But if they're not even going to allow him to test clean, that doesn't make sense. That's overstepping their boundaries."

Completing paperwork on March 10 in the Los Angeles offices of Dr. Richard Gluckman -- in an effort to renew his license to fight in California, Diaz underwent a battery of tests including MRI, EKG, ophthalmological, neurological, bloodwork for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and a comprehensive physical -- the 24-year-old from Stockton, Calif., noted his use of medical marijuana.

Not the first mixed martial artist to list marijuana as prescribed medication on CSAC forms, Diaz included the information, said Gracie, in case a positive test arose out of the CSAC's strict anti-doping regulations, which began almost one year ago. (Earlier this month, the California commission fined and suspended Toby Grear, who cited the use of Marinol based on a medical marijuana prescription.)

Two and a half weeks later, Garcia said he first learned of Diaz's medical marijuana usage. As with any mention of prescribed medication taken by fighters applying for a license, Garcia said an investigation was required to determine the reason for the prescription.

"If you're a fighter and you know you're going to fight in a state that has a commission and they test for drugs -- they have a doping program -- you have to tell them way ahead of time, not three days before the weigh-in or the fight," Garcia said. "You have to give the commission the opportunity to evaluate your ailment and the reason you were prescribed a certain drug. And if you don't do that, you're risking not fighting."

Shaw, who said the responsibility for filing medicals to Sacramento rested with Dr. Gluckman's office, called Diaz's acknowledgment of marijuana usage "entrapment."

"He does what you ask him, and you punish him?" said a puzzled Shaw. "It's like if you have a Ferrari and a police officer gives you a speeding ticket before you turn the key.

"It wasn't about lateness because I say you definitely can't pull him off if your own doctor sent it in. We have guys getting licensed today, so you know it's an outright lie."

Garcia declined to comment on Shaw's recollection of their conversation.

Scheduled to appear on a televised bout on the undercard of Frank Shamrock's tilt with Cung Le, Diaz's ouster from the HP Pavilion-housed event forced EliteXC to put together a bout between Lim and Drew Fickett, who was left without an opponent when Jake Shields (Pictures) dropped out Tuesday because of a back injury. (The winner between Fickett and Lim will fight Shields for the vacant EliteXC 170-pound title.)

Diaz should return to action on June 14 in Hawaii, said EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw.

The brash 160-pounder is no stranger to mixing marijuana and MMA. In March of last year the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended, fined and stripped Diaz of his win over Takanori Gomi after testing positive for THC levels more than three times the accepted limit.

My favorite part is Gary Shaw calling CSAC's Armando Garcia a liar. That's hilarious. The two biggest scumbags and con artists in the business going after each other.

Hey Gary, maybe before you go calling others liars, look in the mirror. Ask Gary Turner if Shaw is a liar.

Gooner · 03-27-2008, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gygax

He now has a prescription to use medical marijuana to help with his ADD.

LOL, that is just awesome.

T-Bone · 03-27-2008, 08:32 AM

Gygax - I knew you'd love this one...your two faves - Nick Diaz and Gary Shaw.

Then throw in Armando Garcia, the excuses and the EliteXC pattern of fights breaking down...

No matter how you break it down, this just isn't good.

jyd94 · 03-27-2008, 10:00 AM

Shaw should have known Garcia was going to be a dick about this and should have been on top of this from the start. You shouldn't have to babysit fighters but you should be aware of things that might be issues for your company and fights you are promoting.

Pitbull · 03-27-2008, 11:55 AM

This is so disappointing. Nick can't give up the weed for his career...for shame.

Gygax · 03-27-2008, 12:09 PM

Cesar Gracie has stated that Nick was planning on cycling off the weed so as to not fail the drug test, but the cycling is no guarantee of a clean test.

Crashsti · 03-27-2008, 12:15 PM

So basically Diaz has ADD and can't sleep so he needs weed? Maybe somebody should introduce him to Valerian root.

Gygax · 03-27-2008, 12:19 PM

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Originally Posted by Crashsti

So basically Diaz has ADD and can't sleep so he needs weed? Maybe somebody should introduce him to Valerian root.

He is claiming to be a naturalist according to Gracie. Then he should be well versed in a variety of natural herbs and supplements that could help him other than one that will make him fail drug tests. But nah, can't go without the ganja.

Crashsti · 03-27-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gygax

He is claiming to be a naturalist according to Gracie. Then he should be well versed in a variety of natural herbs and supplements that could help him other than one that will make him fail drug tests. But nah, can't go without the ganja.

Thats just sad. The guy is a talented fighter and he's letting weed make the choices for him. To me its simple. You want to fight you just don't smoke.

fullonshred · 03-27-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashsti

Thats just sad. The guy is a talented fighter and he's letting weed make the choices for him. To me its simple. You want to fight you just don't smoke.

That's addiction folks. Nick is right about Ritalin being an amphetamine though. As are several other ADD Drugs. I can't blame ANYONE for not wanting to take any of those drugs. Not that I'm convinced Nick really suffers from ADD. Maybe, maybe not.

OneBigThrow · 03-27-2008, 04:36 PM

Ive always known nick had ADD

he cant focus his hate on one opponent at a time

Rush · 03-27-2008, 08:33 PM

Maybe he has ADD, then again, maybe not. Either way, it sucks. Priorities need to be adjusted it sounds like.

takeAnap · 03-27-2008, 09:34 PM

I'm really dissapointed to hear this. I was excited to see him back in the cage! I was really hoping that he had passed the whole weed stage. Guess not.

kev0 · 03-27-2008, 09:50 PM

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Originally Posted by jyd94

Shaw should have known Garcia was going to be a dick about this and should have been on top of this from the start. You shouldn't have to babysit fighters but you should be aware of things that might be issues for your company and fights you are promoting.

I dont get it.. I've always kind of thought Armando Garcia was kind of the only voice of reason within the CSAC. Am I way off base?