It didn't take long after Nate Diaz tweeted Thursday that he was pulling out of UFC 244 because of an issue with a failed drug test before other fighters started trying to fill the potential void.
It's uncertain what -- if any -- impact Diaz's tweet will have on his scheduled bout on Nov. 2 against Jorge Masvidal for what the UFC is marketing as the BMF title. All sides were still looking into the situation as fighters took to social media.
As far as Masvidal was concerned, the fight was still on and he believed Diaz is a clean fighter.
"You not the baddest m-f- in the game (i am) but you are one of the cleanest m-f-'s," Masvidal tweeted at Diaz, adding, "I'll see you nov 2. I know your name is clean. I don't need @usantidoping to tell me s---!"
UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, who had his own issues with failed tests and suspensions by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, also showed support to Diaz.
"And just like that, years of hard work discredited overnight, with one phone call," Jones tweeted.
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
Meanwhile, welterweight champ Kamaru Usman, who has a fight scheduled for Dec. 14 against Colby Covington, volunteered to step in if Diaz doesn't fight.
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
Covington, whose nickname for Usman is "Fake News," wasn't having it.
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
Ben Askren doesn't think Covington has anything to worry about.
Marty is lying. He won't fight Jorge
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 25, 2019
ESPN No. 3-ranked middleweight Kelvin Gastelum and No. 5-ranked welterweight Rafael Dos Anjos expressed curiosity about the situation.
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) October 24, 2019
If Diaz is really out I know a guy...
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) October 24, 2019
And the coach of Conor McGregor also weighed in.
Well well well, the plot thickens eh??
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) October 24, 2019
