Panicked UFC fans need not worry about Nick Diaz’s reported kidnapping, drugging and involuntary commitment to a Mexican rehab facility: The 41-year-old MMA legend is just fine, according to his long-time coach.
Cesar Gracie, who trained both Nick and his famous brother Nate during their UFC days, put a stop to the rumor mill on Instagram, where he posted a picture of the Stockton, California native putting in some work on the mat.
‘Nick is healthy and well,’ Gracie, a member of Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s first family, wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of what looked like Diaz. ‘Not cloned or kidnapped. Has not joined MS-13.’
Fans had grown worried about the older Diaz brother after an Instagram user reported the bizarre claims days earlier.
‘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 since-deleted 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.
As seen in this post by Cesar Gracie, a person resembling Nick Diaz (in blue) trains on the mat
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.
But while this person may seem like Diaz’s romantic interest, Gracie shot down that notion by writing that Diaz does ‘not have a girlfriend but is probably looking.’
Daily Mail has reached out to the person for comment.
Further confusing the matter has been Diaz’s own silence.
This is just the latest bizarre story involving the older Diaz brother. In November, 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 7 percent gave him two stars.
This person, who hasn’t been identified, claimed Diaz was kidnapped and taken to Mexico
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.
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.
Diaz holds a 26-10 MMA record with 13 knockouts and eight submissions as he gears up to face Vicente Luque at UFC 310 in December.
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.