UFC icon Nick Diaz has been pictured for the first time in months to reassure fans of his health after wild claims he had been drugged and flown to Mexico against his will.
Diaz, 41, has been inactive on social media for a year and the MMA legend hit headlines back in June when a woman – who claimed to be his ex-girlfriend – alleged that he had been involuntarily admitted to a Mexican rehab facility.
His longtime coach quickly refuted the claims and posted online that he is ‘healthy and well’, adding: ‘Not cloned or kidnapped. Has not joined MS-13.’
Despite the reassurances, there were no sightings of the UFC legend – until now – with Jose Garcia, a personal trainer, sharing a new clip on Thursday.
In it, Diaz can be seen speaking to the camera for a few seconds, telling his fans: ‘Hey, I’m Nick Diaz. I’d like Squatters Squad, [inaudible], my family to take care of my house. Currently focused on my health and I’ll be home soon.’
UFC legend Nick Diaz has been pictured for the first time in months after shocking rumors
The caption of the video reads: ‘Straight from Nick Diaz. Watch and listen,’ and a follow-up comment from Garcia said: ‘Nick is in better health, been clean and sober for almost a year.’
Fans had grown worried about the older Diaz brother after the bizarre series of claims posted online – and later deleted – earlier this year.
‘Nick has been forcibly taken by his cousin and transported across the border into Mexico, where he is confined in a rehabilitation facility against his will,’ the message began.
‘He was drugged during this process and has made numerous attempts to escape, but the authorities consistently return him to the facility.’
The unidentified Instagram user claimed Diaz’s communication was ‘severely restricted,’ with all messages being relayed through someone named Ruben. Diaz hoped to return home to California, the user said, and wanted to know who had the power to keep him locked up at a drug rehab facility in Mexico.
Nate Diaz poses with his brother Nick after his submission victory over Tony Ferguson in a welterweight fight during the UFC 279 event at T-Mobile Arena on September 10, 2022
As for the true identity of that Instagram user, that remains a bit of a mystery. The account features pictures of a woman alongside Diaz, who the user described as their ‘love’ in at least one post.
This is just the latest bizarre story involving the older Diaz brother. In November last year, he took criticism from fans for selling personalized online messages through a company called Cameo, only for many to receive blank videos with static noise.
‘A real scam, they sent me a three-second video with a black screen,’ read a September 20 review. ‘I spent 229 dollars on a three-second video with a black screen. Please, let no one else fall for this scam.’
Diaz joined the platform in March 2022. While 54 percent of his reviews gave him five stars, 39 percent of his clients gave him the worst rating while seven percent gave him two stars.
In September 2015, Diaz was infamously handed a five-year ban from MMA after his post-fight drug test from UFC 138 came back with traces of marijuana metabolites. The Nevada State Athletic Commission also fined him $165,00 following a failed drug test from UFC 138.
A woman, who hasn’t been identified, claimed Diaz was kidnapped and taken to Mexico
While Diaz lost to Anderson Silva at UFC 183, the result was later overturned after Silva’s pre-fight drug test showed traces for drostanolone, which is an anabolic steroid.
Following his appeal, the suspension and fine were reduced to 18 months and $100,000 in January 2016. However, Diaz would not fight again until 2021, losing to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266. He holds a 26-10 MMA record with 13 knockouts and eight submissions.
The Stockton native’s most notable run came between 2008 and 2011, winning 11 straight bouts. Following the win streak, he lost back-to-back title efforts against Carlos Condit and George St-Pierre before the infamous Silva fight.
Nick is the older brother of Nate Diaz, another MMA legend who famously choked out Conor McGregor after stepping in on short notice at UFC 196 in 2016.