Free Nicky: NSAC Reportedly in Settlement Talks Prior to Official Appeal

When Nick Diaz was called before the Nevada State Athletic Commission in September for testing positive for marijuana, MMA fans familiar with the antics and attitude of the most powerful state body in the sport expected a harsh sentence. Nick had popped for this particular "banned substance" before, so a small fine and appropriate suspension was sure to follow.

What did follow, however, was the absolute ridiculous ire of Commissioner Pat Lundvall, and an extreme and unprecedented 5-year suspension for MMA's favorite badboy.

Everyone was watching on Fight Pass, which the UFC goes to great length to broadcast, in order to provide more transparency from the quasi-legal governing body of all things combat sports in Nevada. At the end of what seemed like the longest witch-hunt in its history, the NSAC fined Nick $165,000 in addition to his suspension.

The world took a collective sigh of frustration, and then everyone started going in. Fellow UFC fighters showed support by claiming they would never fight in Nevada as long as the suspension stood, and the sports biggest stars made sure to tell the media how they felt. Even Cher got in the mix.

Testing for marijuana usage in mixed martial arts is a controversial topic, but even the naysayers seemed to agree that the punishment certainly did not fit the crime. Over 100,000 people signed a White House petition saying just that, which has yet to be responded to by the Obama administration.

Fast forward to the present day, and the NSAC has yet, peculiarly, to hand down its punishment officially, in writing. Nick Diaz and his legal team have been waiting for the disciplinary action to come down, so that they could make an official appeal in district court.

That hasn't happened, and reports (as well as contacts close to Fightland, and an Instagram post of Nick's) indicate that the commission may be in talks to modify their decision, and settle with Nick Diaz—avoiding the official appeal, and doing so much needed damage control to its reputation and perceived legitimacy.

If true, Nick could be back in the UFC's Octagon within a year… or at least sooner than five freaking years.