Veteran MMA coach Cesar Gracie has emphatically denied claims that UFC legend Nick Diaz was kidnapped and forcibly taken to a rehab facility in Mexico.
Gracie, who has trained both Nick and his brother Nate Diaz, took to Instagram to dispel the concerning allegations, posting a picture of what appeared to be the 41-year-old training on the mat.
“Nick is healthy and well,” wrote Gracie, a respected member of Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s first family. “Not cloned or kidnapped. Has not joined MS-13.”
The odd situation began when an unidentified Instagram user claimed in a since-deleted post that Diaz had been “forcibly taken by his cousin and transported across the border into Mexico, where he is confined in a rehabilitation facility against his will.” The post further alleged that Diaz was “dr*gged during this process and has made numerous attempts to escape.”
According to the mysterious social media user, Diaz’s communication was being severely restricted, with all messages being relayed through someone named Ruben. The post claimed the star wanted to return to California and was questioning who had the authority to keep him detained.
The identity of the Instagram user remains unclear. While the account features photos of a woman with Diaz, who the user referred to as their “love” in at least one post, Gracie dismissed any romantic connection, stating that Diaz does “not have a girlfriend but is probably looking.”
This is especially suspicious coming from Cesar Gracie considering there were allegations he came and hijacked Diaz’ camp ahead of Robbie Lawler match, his last UFC clash.
This latest incident adds to a string of unusual situations involving the elder Diaz brother.
Cesar Gracie has attributed former UFC champion Nick Diaz’s career decline to his association with Ronda Rousey nearly a decade ago, claiming she introduced him to a “Hollywood lifestyle” that derailed his focus. Gracie, who trained Diaz from age 16, expressed concern about his former student’s shift toward “weird” Las Vegas and Hollywood friends, noting that unlike his brother Nate who found stability through marriage, Nick never had that grounding influence. The timing is particularly relevant as Diaz withdrew from UFC 310 and appears to be facing serious financial difficulties – he’s been accused of selling counterfeit UFC gloves on Instagram for $50 each (having sold 127 pairs) and has drawn criticism for delivering low-quality, blacked-out videos on Cameo despite charging $209 for personalized messages, leading many customers to call him a “scammer” in reviews.
Diaz, who holds a 26-10 MMA record with 13 knockouts and eight submissions, was preparing to face Vicente Luque at UFC 310 in December but the bout was cancelled. His most notable career stretch came between 2008 and 2011 when he won 11 consecutive bouts before losing title fights against Carlos Condit and George St-Pierre.
