Cejudo protests Diaz ban, refuses to fight in Nevada even for potential title shot

Henry Cejudo's principles are stronger than his desire to strap UFC gold around his waist.

A top-flight flyweight prospect, Cejudo, with his Olympic pedigree and undefeated record, is likely closing in on a potential title fight against division overlord Demetrious Johnson. But, if it does happen, it definitely won't be staged in the state of Nevada.

In support of Nick Diaz, who was recently handed a five-year suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for marijuana use, Cejudo has vowed never to compete under Nevada's umbrella - even if it means putting off a potential title shot.

"I'm just here to take a step for my personal view, and I just couldn't do it," Cejudo told MMAFighting.com's "The MMA Hour." "Even if that means leaving the belt on the line and leaving somebody else to fight whoever has that belt at that time, I'm willing to do that. I'm willing to show the type of person with the type of character that I am."

According to Cejudo, Diaz was unjustly targeted. The victim of an athletic commission with an agenda.

"My immediate reaction was that it was something that was unjust," Cejudo said. "Throughout the period of 2004 through 2012, I've probably been tested about 100 times by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency), but never have I run into a case where somebody has been tested three times in the span of probably 12 hours. To me it's something that's unjust, and I feel like as an Olympic athlete who's now a UFC fighter it gives the … I feel like I have his side because I've been there before. And not to discount the fact that he passed two tests and the only test that came back negative was a test that wasn't even credited by WADA.

"To me it was just like, man, I felt like Nick Diaz was targeted from the get-go. And I just can't sit there and let this man be suspended for five years. I can't even live with myself, because I've been through this process from the age of 17 to the age of 26."