UFC 244 Is Back on; Nate Diaz Has Been Cleared

By: Stephen Hardy-Delaney

This past Thursday evening, MMA fans received devastating news from reports that USADA found elevated levels in a drug test from Nate Diaz that could be caused by tainted supplements.

Oh, My Goodness…

Say it isn’t so! The biggest fight of the year with the most anticipation and possibly a fight for the ages has now been put at a huge risk and MMA fans are devastated.

But worry no more as reports from ESPN and UFC President Dana White have confirmed that UFC 244 is back on and Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal look to square off, November 2.

ESPN reporter, Ariel Helwani had posted on his Twitter when news had first broken out that the fight is still on, and Diaz had not been suspended yet.

“There is increased optimism this fight won’t be canceled after all, however, hurdles still remain.” Helwani stated. “To say Diaz fight is off is inaccurate.”

According to Marc Raimondi and Ariel Helwani, sources told ESPN that Diaz tested positive for trace amounts of a prohibited selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM).

Diaz would go on to post this on his Instagram story and his Twitter page:

Nate Diaz has been a spokesperson for maintaining that he is a clean athlete and has been vocal about cheaters in the UFC. The weed-smoking bad boy from Stockton, California has spoken about being clean and eating clean as a vegan ever since he first started in the UFC and expects the same from all fighters who compete in MMA.

Diaz is coming off a victory over former UFC Lightweight Champion, Anthony Pettis at UFC 241 where he would call out Jorge Masvidal who was in the crowd that night and claimed he wanted to face another “gangster” in the game of MMA. The fight has been highly anticipated even having a belt specially made for it. The “baddest mother f—–” (BMF) belt which is up for grabs for these two fighters to claim.

Jorge Masvidal gave his take on the whole fiasco:

Last Friday night, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto would break news that Nate Diaz is eligible to compete at UFC 244 and that USADA ruled that Diaz has not committed an anti-doping violation. Elevated levels of SARMS was traced to a contaminated organic, vegan, plant-based daily multivitamin.

Dana White would go on to post on his social media, “The fight is ON!!! I 100% knew Nate wasn’t taking anything to cheat. #UFC244 November 2, MSG. #BMF”

This coming Saturday, we will witness potentially one of the most dynamic cards and one of the greatest fights in UFC history between 3^rd ranked welterweight, Jorge Masvidal and 6^th ranked welterweight, Nate Diaz goes toe to toe for a fight for the ages.

Catch this card on ESPN+ only on pay-per-view, November 2^nd.