Dana White: UFC 'probably' will cut Nick Diaz if he fails UFC 158 drug test

MONTREAL – UFC President Dana White said the organization “probably” will cut Nick Diaz if the title challenger fails his drug test at Saturday’s UFC 158 event.

White laid out the scenario following today’s UFC 158 press conference at Montreal’s Bell Centre, which also hosts this weekend’s pay-per-view title fight between Diaz (26-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) and UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (23-2 MMA, 17-2 UFC).

Diaz, who attended the press conference after no-showing Wednesday’s open workouts, addressed the topic of drug tests during the media event. The fighter, who recently concluded a yearlong suspension after a second failed drug test due to marijuana, suggested he’s taking extra precautions to assure he doesn’t fail a third test.

“I think I tested, like, for metabolites or a nanogram or something (at UFC 143), so I just did a little more than I did last time (to assure it doesn’t happen again),” Diaz said. “I’m sorry if I don’t pass the test, but I think it should work out.

“I’ve passed plenty of them before, unless they just weren’t testing me. I wonder how much they test people around here.”

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) was unable to confirm with a representative from the Quebec’s athletic commission (Regie des Alcools des Courses et des Jeux) if UFC 158 fighters will be tested for performance-enhancing drugs, as well as drugs of abuse, such as marijuana. It’s also not clear if Diaz underwent additional testing prior to the event because of his past infractions.

The UFC, of course, recently cut another fighter after multiple failed drug tests due to marijuana. Veteran UFC fighter Matthew Riddle recently got his walking papers after failing a test at UFC on FUEL TV 7 in February. White, though, said his release wasn’t due just to the failed test. Instead, he said his comments about using the drug did him in.

“Matt Riddle is a f–ing moron,” White said. “That’s why he got cut.”

For more on UFC 158, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Nick Diaz)