Either someone at the Nevada Athletic Commission has a sense of humor, or coincidence is king, because Nate Diaz received a medical suspension that is almost too good to be true in the aftermath of his UFC 196 victory over Conor McGregor.
After submitting McGregor with a spectacular second-round rear-naked choke, Diaz has been sidelined until April 20 due to a laceration over his right eye.
For those unaware, April 20 has become somewhat of a cult holiday in cannabis culture, and Diaz, along with older brother Nick Diaz, has never been shy about admitting his proclivity to partake in the increasingly legal recreational drug.
UFC 196 took place March 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The main card aired live on pay-per-view.
Humor aside, only five fighters from the event were issued potentially lengthy medical sentences. Ilir Latifi (toe), Siyar Bahadurzada (jaw), Brandon Thatch (left foot), Nordine Taleb (left knee), and Marcelo Guimaraes (left knee) all will require doctor's clearance on various injuries sustained during their fights, or be held out of competition until Sept. 5.
The complete list of UFC 196 medical suspensions can be found below.
- Ilir Latifi: Requires x-ray on left second toe, if positive then requires clearance by doctor or no contest until 09/05
- Siyar Bahadurzada: Requires doctor's clearance on jaw or no contest until 09/05; minimum suspension no contest until 03/27, no contact until 03/20
- Brandon Thatch: Requires x-ray on left foot, if positive then requires clearance by doctor or no contest until 09/05; minimum suspension no contest until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
- Nordine Taleb: Requires x-ray or MRI on left knee, also requires doctor's clearance or no contest until 09/25
- Marcelo Guimaraes: Requires x-ray or MRI on left knee, also requires doctor's clearance or no contest until 09/25; minimum suspension no contest until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
- Nate Diaz: Suspended until 04/20, no contact until 04/05 due to laceration over right eye
- Erick Silva: Suspended until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
- Chas Skelly: Suspended until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
- Julian Erosa: Suspended until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
- Valentina Shevchenko: Suspended until 04/05, no contact until 03/27 due to left eye laceration
- Justin Salas: Suspended until 04/05, no contact until 03/27 due to laceration under right eye
Get the latest gear
