UFC star Nate Diaz found himself caught up in the news in a most unfortunate way.
On Wednesday, the Miami Herald retracted a story that linked Diaz to an altercation with Miami police. The newspaper originally reported that Diaz had been “hospitalized after he attacked Miami cops at a police station.”
Moments after the story went live on the Herald website and spread on social media, Diaz’s publicist, Zach Rosenfield, told MMA Junkie that the story was false.
“The story is 100 percent and inequitably inaccurate,” Rosenfield said. “Nate has been in Stockton since the Tuesday after the Super Bowl (held Feb. 2 in Miami Gardens), and there is no possible way that what is being reported is relatable to him.
“At no point did Nate have any interactions with Miami law enforcement. Zero issues whatsoever, and he’s never been attached to anything close to domestic violence in his life.”
Shortly after the backlash, the Miami Herald removed the story from its website. A statement obtained by MMA Junkie from a Herald editor admitted the story was “wrong,” and a correction with link to a new story was posted on social media (via Twitter).
The updated version of story reports the person actually involved in the alleged incident was Michael Albert Nates, a 31-year-old MMA fighter from Miami.
Despite the correction, Rosenfield told MMA Junkie that Diaz is considering legal action for the defamation of the UFC veteran’s name.
“This whole thing is utterly irresponsible, and we are exploring legal action,” Rosenfield said.
Diaz (20-12 MMA, 15-10 UFC) last competed at UFC 244 in November when he lost by third-round TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal in a fight for the “BMF” title.
