Jon Jones, Nate Diaz, Brock Lesnar push off NSAC, but Conor McGregor’s hearing set

Conor McGregor – and/or his duly appointed representative – will go before the Nevada State Athletic Commission to answer for a July news conference fracas in Las Vegas connection with his rematch against Nate Diaz at UFC 202.

Meanwhile, Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC) will push off telling his side of the story on McGregor (20-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), as will interim UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones (22-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) and heavyweight Brock Lesnar (5-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) after their respective drug test failures in connection with July’s UFC 200.

The NSAC recently released an agenda for its Oct. 10 meeting in Las Vegas, which includes requests for continuances from Diaz, Jones and Lesnar.

Jones, the No. 1 ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings, and Lesnar are temporarily suspended pending a hearing on their cases, a standard procedure following a suspected anti-doping violation. Ex-champ Lesnar’s suspension was formalized Aug. 23 at an earlier NSAC hearing.

The reason for the continuances is not known, though it’s not uncommon for fighters and their reps to put off a formal NSAC hearing while they put together a defense. Diaz’s older brother, Nick Diaz (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC), delayed a hearing on his third marijuana violation on several occasions before presenting a detailed defense that was as effective as it seemed to be damning when it came time for the NSAC to deliver a ruling.

According to FOXSports.com, Jones’ hearing is expected to take place in November.

Jones was suspended after an out-of-competition test administered by UFC anti-doping partner USADA revealed the presence of two banned substances, hydroxy-clomiphene and letrozole metabolite, which are known to act in tandem with performance-enhancing drug use by blocking estrogen hormones. Interim light heavweight champ Jones, who was pulled from a title unifier against champ and current No. 2 Daniel Cormier (17-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), denied PED use and his reps pointed to a tainted supplement.

Lesnar, meanwhile, also tested positive for hydroxy-clomiphene and its metabolite, failing out-of-competition and in-competition tests in connection with a fight against Mark Hunt (12-10-1 MMA, 7-4-1 UFC). Because the results of the tests were not received by the NSAC prior to UFC 200, he fought Hunt and earned a unanimous decision. Hunt, currently the No. 13 heavyweight later blasted the promotion, demanding No. 12 Lesnar’s fight purse.

Jones and Lesnar face fines and suspensions from the NSAC as well as from USADA, which conducts its own results management process as the UFC’s anti-doping body and could hand down a two-year sentence for the alleged first-time offenders.

Diaz and McGregor, respectively the No. 6 ranked lightweight and No. 1 ranked featherweight, also face fines and other punishments as the commission sees fit. Jones and Cormier, for example, were fined 10 percent of their respective show purses and ordered to perform community service after they brawled in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino’s lobby during a news conference.

For complete coverage of on UFC 200 and UFC 202, check out the UFC Events section of MMAjunkie.