A Twitter diary of Nate Diaz's potential withdraw from UFC 244

Diaz Brothers — Aug 16, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA; UFC presenter Joe Rogan interviews Nate Diaz during weigh ins for UFC 241 at Anaheim Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC’s biggest fight of the year might not happen. On Thursday, Nate Diaz took to social media to declare that he was out of his upcoming fight against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244.

Diaz indicated that he will not make the trip to Madison Square Garden after being informed by USADA that he may have failed a drug test, possibly due to a tainted supplement. Diaz emphasized his desire to not be linked to a drug test failure.

In his social media post, Diaz also stated that he was urged by officials to keep quiet about the matter.

ESPN has reported that the fight is not cancelled, but UFC officials are exploring their options.

UFC 244 takes place on Nov 2.

Below is a running social media diary of the developments in the Diaz-USADA saga.

The day started off with Conor McGregor stepping into the headlines, and the UFC was still promoting he BMF bout.

Attendance is #SuperNecessary. pic.twitter.com/vNWeSuntyH

— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2019

Then Diaz dropped the afternoon bomb!

Your all on steroids not me pic.twitter.com/ykrZmRIoPS

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) October 24, 2019

Masvidal quickly gave his response.

You not the baddest mofo in the game (i am) but you are one of the cleanest mofo’s @NateDiaz209 I’ll see you nov 2. I know your name is clean. I don’t need @usantidoping to tell me shit!

— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) October 24, 2019

Just as the speculation of McGregor saving the day percolated, his coach sent out an ambiguous tweet.

Well well well, the plot thickens eh??

— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) October 24, 2019

Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman offered his services.

I’ll fight in Nov and Dec. that’s what a BMF does now come see me!! #THECHAMP #MSG @danawhite @danawhite @AliAbdelaziz00

— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) October 24, 2019

But Colby Covington and Ben Askren didn’t take him so seriously.

FAKE NEWS. Quit trying to fight journeymen Marty. Let Masvidal fight another .500 fighter or Leon Scott. You got a date with daddy December 14th. And we’re not talking about the one in Federal Penitentiary. https://t.co/wO9ssn3NGY

— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) October 24, 2019

Marty is lying. He won’t fight Jorge

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 25, 2019

Jon Jones offered some empathy to Diaz.

And just like that, years of hard work discredited overnight, with one phone call. https://t.co/dyCAivteLU

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 24, 2019

Not many people in the world know what you’re feeling right now, I do. Keep your head up man. I knew I was innocent and was willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours with scientists and lawyers to prove it.

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 24, 2019

I know you feel like someone is setting you up, that’s exactly how I felt. At times its going to feel like a pretty hopeless situation but maybe it’s not, you can’t just give up and do nothing. This is a different type of fight man, you owe it to your fans to fight it.

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 24, 2019

Now for the news side of things

As of right now, Diaz vs. Masvidal is still on, and Diaz hasn’t been suspended. But it’s more complex than that. More: pic.twitter.com/mqhgCc284n

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 25, 2019

There was optimism USADA would issue a statement on Nate Diaz tonight, but that is looking less and less likely from what I’m told. Because Nate has spoken about it publicly, USADA is free to do so per its policies, but it’s looking like that won’t happen until tomorrow.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 25, 2019

Nate Diaz story is as fluid as it gets. A lot of people caught off guard by it. Not many answers right now, including the ultimate status of the fight itself, but it’s not a prank. That said, it is not accurate to say the fight is canceled as of right now. Developing.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 24, 2019

A Twitter diary of Nate Diaz’s potential withdraw from UFC 244

Below is a running social media diary of the developments in the Diaz-USADA saga.