The UFC Suspends and Fines Nate Diaz for Derogatory Tweet

The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced on Friday that it has suspended and fined Nate Diaz for a derogatory tweet the lightweight fighter made on Thursday.

The UFC acted quickly and put Diaz on suspension and launched an investigation into the matter.

“We are very disappointed by Nate Diaz’s comments, which are in no way reflective of our organization,” the UFC said in a statement on Thursday. “Nate is currently suspended pending internal investigation and we will provide further comment once the matter has been decided.”

The incident arose when Diaz took to twitter and reacted to the news that Pat Healy’s $130,000 in bonuses for his UFC 159 submission win over Jim Miller had been rescinded after Healy tested positive to marijuana following the fight.

Healy had won Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night bonuses.  The $65,000 for Submission of the Night was transferred to Bryan Caraway.  Caraway had lobbied for the bonus and voiced his disapproval of marijuana use.  His actions and comments didn’t sit well with Diaz.

Diaz voiced his opinion via twitter on Thursday using a homosexual slur in reference to Caraway.

Diaz tweeted, “I feel bad for Pat Healy that they took an innocent man’s money away and I think the guy who took the money is the biggest (homosexual slur) in the world.”

In a release on Friday, the UFC detailed the disciplinary action taken against Diaz for violating the promotion’s code of conduct policy.  Diaz is suspended for 90 days and fined $20,000.

“UFC lightweight Nate Diaz has received an immediate 90-day suspension and $20,000 fine for violating the UFC’s fighter code of conduct,” read the UFC’s statement. “The language used in his tweet was regrettable, offensive and inconsistent with the values and culture of the organization, and is not tolerated.”