Cesar Gracie Says He Doesn't Blame Dana White Removing Nick Diaz from UFC 137

Following Nick Diaz's sudden absence from two consecutive promotional events for UFC 137, UFC President Dana White has removed him from the event entirely.

White's attitude towards fighters is strictly business, and while the decision to pull Diaz out of UFC 137 was surprising to most, it didn't seem to bother Diaz's longtime friend, and head trainer, Cesar Gracie.

In fact, Gracie said he fully supports White's decision.

"I don't blame Dana White on this at all," Gracie told MMAJunkie.com.

Diaz's absence forced White and his opponent, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, to promote the event themselves. It was learned, in spite of Diaz's no-show appearance, Carlos Condit will now face the champion. Condit originally was scheduled to meet BJ Penn in the co-main event.

In regards to his future with the UFC, Gracie is unsure of what punishment Diaz will receive but he said he wouldn't be surprised to see the Strikeforce welterweight champion released from the company, a move that White is even contemplating.

"I'm extremely disappointed. He's done a lot of stuff, but this is the worst of it," he said.

"If I were him, I would be begging Dana White to get my job back and work your way up to a title shot at some point."

Gracie's loyalty has always been alongside fighters like Diaz, but in an event like this, even he is uncertain of how to continue his relationship with the Stockton, California native.

"At this point, I don't know what I'm going to do with Nick because he's not only disrespected the sport, he's disrespected me and himself," he said.

"He got what he deserved by not taking this fight."