UFC star smokes marijuana during training, passes it to fans [Photos]

UFC star Nate Diaz lights up a joint during training [Courtesy]

Nate Diaz lit up a joint and then passed it around the fans as he worked out ahead of his UFC return.

The popular Californian fights for the first time in three years on Saturday when he takes on Anthony Pettis.

And he sparked controversy by lighting up at the open workouts before revealing it was a perfectly legal CBD joint from his own line of cannabis products.

"I gotta smoke the weed after the fight," he joked.

"[The rise of CBD] is crazy. It's real cool that everyone's up on game now. They stuck their head in the bucket a bit after we brought it to their attention.

He later passed it to fans [Courtesy]

"It was popping up everywhere so we made our own, Game Up Nutrition, me and my brother."

Diaz's last fight was a narrow points decision loss to Conor McGregor in 2016, five months after he choked out the Irishman in their first fight.

And the 34-year-old feels he is finally getting the respect he deserves for his performances.

"I think I am, because I took it," Diaz said. "No one at the whole roster for the last three years, no one even reads the blueprint. I’m like, 'It’s right there. Why don’t you go take it?' Nobody did.

"Tomorrow if somebody jumps up and says they’re the man I’m taking that position."

Diaz and McGregor have continually been linked with a trilogy fight but the former was making no promises.

"I can’t tell you (what happens after this fight),” he said. "I'm going to fight this weekend, and time will tell on all that stuff; we’ll see what happens."