Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz Seek Delays In NSAC Hearings, Silva Not Retiring
After UFC 183 main-eventers Anderson “The Spider” Silva and Nick Diaz failed post-fight drug tests, the MMA world was put into turmoil. The longtime former middleweight king, who also failed a pre-fight test, was shockingly popped for multiple types of anabolic steroids, while Diaz tested positive for marijuana for the third time.
After the news broke, suspensions for each man were expected, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has yet to hand down any punishment. If the two fighters get their wish, that could take even more time, as each man has requested a continuance for their respective hearings.
Apparently both fighters were supposed to appear in front of the commission this upcoming Monday, but both have been postponed. NSAC executive Bob Bennett confirmed via MMAFighting that Diaz is officially of off Monday’s schedule, and Combate reported that Silva was as well, but no specific date has been announced for “The Spider’s” new time slot.
With both Silva and Diaz facing potentially lengthy suspensions, it’s clear that they may be taking this extended time to further prepare a defense; especially Silva. The man many consider to be the greatest fighter of all time recently announced that he was planning to admit his wrongdoings and make a statement regarding his actions.
Some are even questioning if Silva is going to make a statement, as he originally stated that he had never taken any banned substances. But in typical “Spider” fashion, he is once again saying one thing and doing another. However, according to UFC tonight’s Ariel Helwani, retiring is not even in Silva’s mind, despite the controversy:
“Right now, it’s kind of up in the air how long Anderson will be out for, but I did reach out to several members of his team, several members that are very close to him, and they said, one hundred percent, he is not retiring, he is not thinking about retiring, this is not a setback for him as far as the fighting career is concerned.”
These are some interesting words from “The Spider”, but with these delays, the consequences for two of MMA’s most disgraced stars will take some time to unfold. What kind of punishment will each man receive?
