NSAC to reach out to Nate Diaz on re-hearing following UFC 202 bottle-throwing incident

LAS VEGAS – The Nevada State Athletic Commission is giving Nate Diaz the chance to reduce his punishment for a melee with Conor McGregor ahead of this past August’s UFC 202.

“What’s fair is fair,” NSAC Chairman Anthony Marnell told MMAjunkie after the commission today voted unanimously to reduce McGregor’s fine and community service.

The commission ran back the UFC lightweight champ’s case, accepting a settlement agreement that issues McGregor a $25,000 fine, plus court costs, and 25 hours of community service to be completed within six months. Previously, he was given 50 hours and fined 5 percent of his $3 million purse, or $150,000.

Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC), who lost a majority decision against McGregor (20-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) at UFC 202, settled with the NSAC this past December after McGregor’s contentious hearing, agreeing to a $50,000 fine and 50 hours of community service. But today, the commission and its legal rep said the punishments handed out for the water bottle-throwing incident were not in line with the fighters’ actions.

Marnell indicated what goes for McGregor should also apply to Diaz, who paid his fine when he reached his agreement.

“You could speculate that the commission will probably have some sort of reduction and some sort of refund coming back to date,” he said. “We do have a refund process if we re-hear it. My No. 1 goal is fairness. The public might see us getting really lopsided on these things, and I’m trying to keep it on the rail.”

Diaz’s rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The fighter has vowed to not return to the octagon without receiving a hefty payday for his work. UFC President Dana White claimed Diaz has turned down multiple fights, prompting a fiery online response from the slugger from Stockton, Calif.

For complete coverage of UFC 202, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

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