UFC veteran Nick Diaz looks set for a return in 2021 — this and much more craziness on Thursday's social media roundup.
Nick Diaz set for UFC comeback in 2021?
For a while now, there has been a lot of speculation going around about when and if Nick Diaz will ever make a return back to the Octagon. Manager Kevin Mubenga recently told Fanatics View's James Lynch that Diaz is "99.9 percent" likely to make a return in 2021.
"----.----------%"
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) December 3, 2020
Nick Diaz' manager is confident that Stockton's finest is returning in 2021 -- pic.twitter.com/Pjxy23C7Ur
Diaz has not fought since a 2015 unanimous decision loss to MMA legend Anderson Silva. The result was later changed to a no-content because Silva tested positive for drostanolone and androsterone. Additionally, Diaz tested positive for marijuana.
High-time for Niko Price
Moving on from one positive marijuana test in 2015 to one in 2020, UFC welterweight Niko Price has also tested positive for marijuana following on from his draw against UFC legend Donald Cerrone at UFC Vegas 11. This is the second time Price has had a victory turned into a no-contest due to a positive marijuana test.
From one marijuana test to another. Five years after Diaz's positive test, UFC welterweight Niko Price also tested positive for weed. The test comes after his majority draw against Donald Cerrone at UFC Vegas 11. This is the second time Price has had a win overturned due to a marijuana violation.
The Nevada commission has suspended UFC’s Niko Price six months and fined him $8,500 for a positive marijuana test. His draw against Donald Cerrone in September will now be a no contest.
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) December 2, 2020
Price reacted to the news on Twitter.
Thank you all for the kind words. I’ll be back and ready to throw down right away after this suspension in march/April @ufc @seanshelby #ufc
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) December 2, 2020
Tim Elliot, who also received a marijuana suspension from the NSAC, accused the organization of feeding off stoners' money.
Stoners are keeping the NSAC in business
— Tim Elliott (@TElliott125) December 2, 2020
Happy birthday Chito!
Help us wish a very Happy Birthday to @ChitoVeraUFC! -- pic.twitter.com/ldnLjDAPNX
— UFC (@ufc) December 2, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov not interested in Conor McGregor or Dustin Poirier rematches
Khabib Nurmagomedov has given his opinions on the upcoming fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier in January. It's fair to say that Khabib is not entertaining the idea of fighting either man.
Khabib Nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) not interested in fighting the winner of Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier at #UFC257 ----
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) December 2, 2020
Full story: https://t.co/rvr4VX7Fx4 pic.twitter.com/5EwEMEZD0M
Jack Hermansson not hiding anything.
Jack "The Joker" Hermansson meets Marvin Vettori this upcoming weekend at UFC on ESPN 19. Hermansson has invited his opponent Vettori to stomp on his injured toe. If that does not tell you how crazy Hermansson is, then I don't know what will.
Not only is @jackthejokermma not hiding his injured toe, he’s inviting #UFCVegas16 opponent Marvin Vettori to stomp on it -- (via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/6Fa1efgrAd
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 2, 2020
Neil Magny wants Khamzat Chimaev
After Leon Edwards recently tested positive for COVID-19, his fight with fast-rising star Khamzat Chimaev has had to be postponed until early 2021. Neil Magny has put his name in the hat as a potential opponent for Chimaev.
5 round fight in 2 weeks, wouldn't be the first for me! Holla at me @ufc
— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) December 1, 2020
COVID-109 smash.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, lots of UFC fights — and more specifically main events — have had to be put on hold. Seems like the novel coronavirus is putting a whooping on MMA in 2020.
Covid smesh. #UFCVegas17 pic.twitter.com/mjABZMtOwq
— MacMally-- (@MacMallyMMA) December 1, 2020
Khabib wants MMA in the Olympics
Khabib Nurmagomedov has expressed his desire to make MMA an Olympic sport.
Khabib is focused on making MMA an Olympic sport.
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 3, 2020
More from @marc_raimondi -- https://t.co/7mCSKbiWQ5 pic.twitter.com/nzn795Kmf7
T.J. Dillashaw looks ahead to a return to the Octagon.
And to finish off Thursday's social media roundup, former two-time UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw has given his thoughts on a potential return to the Octagon in 2021. Dillashaw, who has been very open about his decision to take EPO, has also given his thoughts on if he would have been able to justify taking the PED if he had not have been caught.
"I would have made that excuse to myself. I feel like I would have been able to justify it, how f---ed up that is."@TJDillashaw candidly answered whether he would have been able to justify taking EPO, had he not been caught. (via @bokamotoESPN) pic.twitter.com/Yc9WqkSV3F
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 3, 2020
Dillashaw also went on to criticize former two-divison king Henry Cejudo and current champion Petr Yan.
"How are you calling yourself a champion? You're an interim champion."
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 3, 2020
Based on the opponents they faced, @TJDillashaw doesn't feel Petr Yan or Henry Cejudo were true bantamweight champions -- (via @bokamotoESPN) pic.twitter.com/FMm8VPzP6y
Yan and fellow top title challenger Aljamain Sterling responded.
Wait in line, cheater https://t.co/wskArkbG05
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) December 3, 2020
When you cheat your entire .@UFC career, and comfortably sit out for 2 years, with MILLIONS you won from cheating, I think two things!
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) December 3, 2020
.@TJDillashaw is:
1) In need of another paycheck and ready to take a sauce-less asskicking for it.
2) He discovered another work around in 2yrs----
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