Nick Diaz will be permitted to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 1 after it was confirmed his five-year drug suspension had been reduced to 18 months, along with a $100,000 fine.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission "quickly approved" a settlement to reduce Diaz's punishment on Tuesday, according to FoxSports.com's Damon Martin. Diaz tested positive for marijuana following a unanimous-decision defeat to Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in January 2015, his middleweight debut.
Immediately following Tuesday's announcement, UFC President Dana White revealed his happiness to hear Diaz had seen his punishment reduced, per mixed martial arts reporter Adam Hill:
UFC president Dana White on NAC's settlement with Nick Diaz: "It was the right thing to do. I'm happy for Nick."
— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) January 12, 2016
Diaz's defeat to Silva was ultimately ruled a no contest, but the 32-year-old is looking to bounce back from a three-fight winless streak following losses to Georges St-Pierre in 2013 and Carlos Condit in 2012.
