UFC fighter Nick Diaz was handed down a shocking five-year suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission during Monday's hearing for failing a drug test back in January"”his third marijuana-related offense in his career.

As reported by Yahoo Sports, the commission, headed by chairman Francisco Aguilar and commission members Skip Avansino, Pat Lundvall and Anthony A. Marnell III, voted unanimously to suspend the 32-year-old for five years and fine him 33 percent of the $500,000 he made for his UFC 183 bout against Anderson Silva.

As a note, Silva, who also failed a series of drug tests related to UFC 183, wherein anabolic steroids and benzodiazepine traces were found in his blood, was suspended for one year and fined 30 percent of his $600,000 purse for the fight.

ESPN reports that Lucas Middlebrook, Diaz's lead attorney, will appeal the five-year suspension along with the fine amounting to $165,000.

"I think it was a completely arbitrary and capricious decision," Middlebrook said. "You heard my opening statement. Based on the facts, if they were to make such a decision, it would be ripe for judicial review. This was a kangaroo court and you heard the commission: Their decision wasn't based on fact. It wasn't based on evidence."

"One commissioner said, "Your attorneys are very persuasive, but you don't respect us. So here's a five year ban.'"

For his part, Aguilar had this to say: "This is not just a marijuana issue. This is an issue of marijuana, a lack of being forthright, a lack of cooperation to make the sport better, a disregard for the rules"”it hurts other athletes just as much."

ESPN points out that the suspension is the second-longest ever handed down by the NSAC. Back in September of 2014, Wanderlei Silva was handed a lifetime ban. That ruling was later reversed by a Nevada district judge.

"That's ridiculous," Diaz said. "I never did steroids in my life. I know all the fighters, they are all on steroids."

Now there's new rules in effect, yeah, you've got guys not on steroids now, but they used to be. They've always been on steroids. I don't do steroids. I don't break the rules."