Each week, ESPN.com writer and MMA Live Extra analyst Brett Okamoto provides his take on the hottest topics in the world of mixed martial arts.
This week, Okamoto squares off with Muhammed Lawal to debate the latest news and trends. Lawal (15-4), a former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, is 7-3 since he joined Bellator in 2013 and will challenge Linton Vassell on Sept. 19 at Bellator 142 in San Jose.
1. What do you think of the Nevada State Athletic Commission's decision to suspend UFC welterweight Nick Diaz for five years?
Editor's note: The NSAC suspended Lawal nine months for a failed drug test in 2012. Lawal accepted responsibility for the test result, but said he took the substance unknowingly.
Lawal: I think it's bull----. I hope the UFC does something to look out for him. I hope his lawyers take it to a higher level and get it overturned. The thing is, when you get there, they already have their mind made up about what they're going to do. I had the pill bottle of the substance that got me in trouble. I had it in my car and said, 'Hey, let me go to the car and grab it so I can show you what it was and prove to you what I'm talking about.' They had evidence right there, but they were like, 'Nah, it's OK.' (NSAC commissioner) Pat Lundvall, she runs that place. When it comes down to it, the other commissioners are kind of down to earth, but they use Pat as a scapegoat because she's straight-forward. She'll be like, 'I recommend a four-year ban and a 50 percent fine. All in favor?' And the rest of them just say, 'OK. Next topic.' They don't really care. They're just there to collect the money.
Okamoto: I wrote a column on what I thought about it immediately after attending the hearing, but to summarize here: I thought the terms of the punishment were based on a personal dislike for Diaz, which means I think it was a blatant abuse of power. I can tell you right now, there was a personal battle going on between the commission and Diaz and his attorneys from the opening minute of that hearing. The NSAC didn't appreciate Diaz and his well-prepared attorney challenging its authority (and competence) -- and that ultimately played a major factor in his sentence. In May, four months ago, the NSAC proposed a set of guidelines for suspension lengths, which called for a three-year ban on a third-time offender for marijuana. So why then, did it suspend Diaz five years? Because it was personal, which is unacceptable.
2. What is the No. 1 lesson fighters should take away from what happened to Diaz?
Lawal: Hire Nick Diaz's lawyer (Lucas Middlebrook), because his lawyer is a beast from what I saw. That dude is a straight beast. And I want to shake his hand. The thing is, when you go into a hearing, you think it's like a court situation but it's not. It's just a disciplinary action. They don't run it like a court. It's a dictatorship. Diaz had no say. He had no power. He had nothing. I guess what fighters should take away is, if you're going to smoke weed, do it at the right time? I don't even know. Free Nick Diaz. That's what I'm saying. They've got to change something. I'm disgusted. I hope this is an eye-opener for fans because fans are so pro-organization. They're not pro-fighters. It took Diaz getting a five-year suspension for fans to say, 'OK, let's back the fighters.' This and the Reebok deal in the UFC.
Okamoto: There is no guarantee of due process during an NSAC disciplinary hearing -- so do everything in your power to never attend one. As outrageous as Diaz' punishment is, had he jumped through the administrative hoops of informing the NSAC of his medical marijuana use and applying for a therapeutic-use exemption prior to the fight against Anderson Silva, his situation today would be very different. There are certain rules combat athletes have to play by and Diaz does ignore them. This is the third time he's failed a test for marijuana. Whether he agrees with the NSAC's method of testing for marijuana or even its ban on the drug itself, at this point he needed to show at least a sliver of understanding of those rules and the potential consequences.
3. Will the apparent outrage over Diaz' suspension spark any wide change in suspension lengths or NSAC procedures?
Lawal: We'll see. The UFC can put on a great fight and people might say, 'Yeah, tell me about this fight,' and leave Diaz in the dust. Hopefully not. I hope the UFC looks out for Diaz because I feel like he got f----- over. Give him a job. Let him do something until they get everything sorted out.
Okamoto: It could eventually be one of many straws on the camel's back, but I don't think it's the final one that breaks it. The question now is what will happen in the appeal process. I do believe there are questions surrounding the collection of Diaz' drug test the NSAC needs to answer. It also needs to publicly answer why Diaz was tested multiple times, using different methods, on the night of the fight. At the very least, Diaz will force the NSAC to answer those questions during an appeal. I do think the MMA community in general will continue to follow this story -- but as far as a sweeping change to the NSAC's procedures? This one case is not going to lead directly to that.
4. Where would an upset win against Liam McGeary this weekend rank in terms of the greatest victories in Tito Ortiz' career?
Lawal: I don't even know. I really don't know much about his career. It's so Stone Age, I have to go back to the archives to read up about it. I don't pay any attention to Tito, straight up.
Okamoto: Probably pretty low. That's not to diminish Saturday's main event, but when you compare it to other fights in Ortiz' career, it doesn't register anywhere near the top. That said, it's a championship fight and McGeary is no slouch. If he were to win a Bellator title, nearly 10 years removed from his last UFC title fight, that's pretty impressive. A win against McGeary wouldn't be considered one of the "greatest" wins of Ortiz' career, but it might be one of the "coolest," given the circumstances.
5. Following his victory last weekend, will professional boxer Floyd Mayweather stay retired with a 49-0 record?
Lawal: I think he'll stay retired. You see how it is with GSP (Georges St-Pierre). While you're in the game, you can be dominant but if you're not "satisfying the fans," they start s------- on you. Then you leave the game though, and it's like, 'Oh, we miss you.' GSP was the greatest fighter I've ever seen. He was winning, winning, winning, knocking people out -- and then people got better and made adjustments. They got closer, but he was still winning -- and guess what? The fans started going, 'Oh, GSP couldn't finish half-a-sandwich.' They s--- on him. Now he left the game, and they're like, 'I want to see GSP fight Robbie Lawler.' That would be a great fight, but why should GSP come back for the fans when they s--- on him?
Okamoto: It just doesn't feel like the final fight of Mayweather's career will be last weekend's breeze of a decision against Andre Berto -- a fight that failed to sell out the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The MGM's new 20,000-seat arena will open its doors in Las Vegas next year -- and wouldn't it be tragic if Mayweather, Mr. Las Vegas himself, never graces a ring inside of it? He'll be back to perform in that arena and best former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano's 49-0 record.
