It's probably fair to say Nate Diaz is rarely surprised. Rarely, but not never.
Taking to SportsNation to discuss his upcoming UFC 202 scrap with former victim Conor McGregor, the UFC's fourth-ranked lightweight told his hosts that he's 'surprised that people are surprised' when a star name within the organisation tests positive for banned substances - an issue which has blighted recent promotions.
Diaz's assertion that 'Everyone's on steroids' during the build-up to his original fight with McGregor were as far as he would be drawn on the subject (McGregor, as you may recall, wasn't happy with the insinuation), but Diaz told SportsNation that he had been approached on several occasions to put supposedly performance-enhancing substances in his body:
I've been saying that I'm surprised that people are surprised. You know, I've been years in this sport. I've had the top people come up to me, trying to push this stuff on me all the time. I'm like, 'when you've done what I've done, we can't even consider talking about this. And even then, still, no.
But it's like, when people approach me I'm like 'what the fuck? Everyone's on steroids!'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxQ3l26QVEc
It's an undoubtedly alarming accusation by the typically transparent Diaz who, to be fair to him, has never seemed interested in bullshit. The 'top guys' he refers to, one would suggest, are likely 'top' strength and conditioning coaches as opposed to the UFC's top brass. Even allowing for this, however, Diaz's remarks raise more questions after a tumultuous couple of months for the organisation.
