Nick Diaz is hoping and praying that his legal council can come up with something amicable as they try to work something out with the Nevada Athletic Commission on reducing the sanctions meted on the 32-year-old UFC fighter.

Diaz was handed a five-year ban recently for failed drug tests. He underwent three drug tests during UFC 183. The first and last one was done by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) while the second was made by a non-affiliate.

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The controversy arising is that the NAC chose to acknowledge the non-WADA certified lab which led to Diaz seemingly life-time ban.

The initial plan was to take legal action, but as it turns out, Diaz's legal team has opted to approach it more gently by seeking reduced sanctions.

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NAC chairman Francisco Aguilar confirmed that they are indeed in settlement talks, but the matter was not on the table when the NAC met Thursday.

Apparently there is something way off with how the whole drug-testing process was administered and Diaz hopes that the mess could be straightened out soon. He relayed the following via his Instagram account:

“Just spoke with my legal team at Campbell & Williams and talks with the NV athletic commission are going well. We’re working hard with them to get this right. Thanks for the support.”

This is actually the third time Diaz has tested positive for marijuana. He also tested positive back in 2007 and 2012. But this time, there were inconsistencies and such is what Diaz and his legal council are trying to weed out.

Celebrities and fellow UFC stars have decried the suspension order on Diaz, seeing it a bit stiff and uncalled for.

Aside from the five-year ban, Diaz was also required to pay a total of $165,000 for that failed drug test at UFC 183.

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