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Nick Diaz once claimed he paved the way for Conor McGregor. Diaz also said that the Irishman would not be the star he is without fighters like the Stockton native.
Nick Diaz told MMA Fighting:
"I'm the original Conor McGregor. I'm the original model of Conor McGregor. He wouldn't be who he is if it wasn't for me. Nothing against him. I'm the original real deal. I never did steroids in my entire life. I had to learn how to fight the real way and the right way. That's why I'm the best fighter in the entire world."
The claim from Nick Diaz came after he was given one of the most controversial suspensions in the history of the sport. After testing positive for marijuana following his iconic UFC 183 battle against Anderson Silva, Diaz was sentenced to a five-year suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Check out Nick Diaz's video below:
In January 2016, Diaz's punishment was reduced to a suspension of eighteen months along with a fine of $100,000.
He returned to active competition after six long years away from the octagon at UFC 266 against Robbie Lawler.
Conor McGregor praised Nick Diaz for his UFC 266 performance
Conor McGregor did not shy away from geeking on social media in anticipation of Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler.
Before the fight started, 'The Notorious' tweeted:
"This is tremendous! Let’s go @ufc! #TheOGLeague"
Although Nick Diaz put up an exciting fight, the Stockton native looked a shadow of his former self inside the octagon. The six years he spent away from professional competition clearly affected Diaz's performance.
That being said, the fight was not disappointing by any stretch of the imagination. Robbie Lawler maintained his trademark relentless pressure throughout the contest. He landed great shots to Diaz's body and pressed him towards the cage. Meanwhile, Stockton's own answered with some brilliant combinations with his patented sluggish yet efficient boxing.
The contest ended in a TKO victory for Robbie Lawler in the third round. Nick Diaz failed to stand up from the ground and sat there as the referee motioned him to carry on. Although Diaz lost the fight, he gave the entire world of MMA what they wanted - a vintage Diaz brawl.
Conor McGregor posted tweets commending Nick Diaz's efforts while taking shots at his younger brother Nate Diaz.
