The MMA world couldn’t believe that Nick Diaz was handed a five year suspension

Let's put this into perspective... Anderson Silva tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and was suspended for one year. Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites and has been suspended for five.

While it's not as cut-and-dry as that statement because Diaz is something of a recidivist, having tested positive for the same substance on two previous occasions in Nevada, the disparity between the punishments didn't go unnoticed. The book wasn't so much thrown as it was hurled at Diaz and, along with a $165,000 fine, the suspension seems a tad excessive as the Nevada State Athletic Commission looked to make an example of the welterweight. Suffice to say that the MMA community was surprised by the outcome of the disciplinary hearing.

Nick Diaz suspended for 5 years and fined 33% of his purse. For weed. Yes, you read that correctly. #UFC

— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) September 14, 2015

Never seen so much time wasted in my life #freeNickDiaz #LegalizeIt — Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) September 14, 2015

5years for smoking a natural plant.. Then all the juice heads get a slap on the wrist. #seriousbro... http://t.co/ebPqEWsb7P

— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) September 14, 2015

This is going to create a uproar & will take @nickdiaz209 to new heights as a icon for the many medicinal marijuana using fans #justwatch — Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) September 14, 2015

I personally feel that Nick Diaz getting what amounts to a lifetime ban for a non-PED is absolutely insane!! Out of touch with reality

— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) September 14, 2015

Nick Diaz suspended for 5 years for marijuana. Absurd how they got to that. This is a dark day for combat sports. — Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 14, 2015

https://twitter.com/FunkMaster_UFC/status/643535603418664961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/DiegoSanchezUFC/status/643536132643389440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/Scottjorgensen/status/643537004362354689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/ChuckMindenhall/status/643534760585883649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/KingMoFH/status/643537626268598272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/shanknapp/status/643538689377857541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/colemillerATT/status/643538247277260801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/EliasTheodorou/status/643539150457688065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/ChadLaprise/status/643541665060384768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw