by Dann Stupp on May 01, 2011 at 7:00 am ET TORONTO – The UFC's current crop of welterweights has little to offer, and with a super fight with middleweight champion Anderson Silva apparently unlikely, what's next for 170-pound titleholder Georges St-Pierre? It was the big question after St-Pierre's decisive but heavily panned decision victory over Jake Shields in Saturday's UFC 129 main event. But UFC president Dana White has a potential solution: a fight with Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz. White, who addressed the possibility in a post-UFC 129 press conference at Toronto's Rogers Centre, admits there are hurdles to the fight. There are Diaz's plans to box professionally later this year, and there's also public uncertainty over his Strikeforce contract and what (if any) rights Showtime has to the fighter's future bouts. There's also, of course, Diaz's supposed unwillingness to "play the game," as White says. After all, if White were to move Diaz over to the UFC and give him a title shot, he doesn't want to see what he saw at UFC 129 weigh-ins with brother and event fighter Nate Diaz. "I talked to them again here tonight," White said after the soldout UFC 129 show. "When they got off the stage [Friday], the were yelling [expletive] at fans, and Nate Diaz starts flipping everybody off when they get off the stage. Everywhere we go, I talk to those two first and say, 'Be cool. Everything is going to be good, right?'" "They're unique individuals, those two. I like them. I like their attitudes. I like their styles. You've got to play the game a little bit, please. And please don't flip off fans and threaten to kick everyone's asses." But if Nick Diaz can make that commitment, is a return to the UFC a legit possibility? After all, since leaving the organization in 2006, Diaz is 11-1 and now ranked among the world's top welterweights. Despite the UFC's recent purchase of Strikeforce and his promise that business would continue "as usual," is there anything that could prevent White from setting up St-Pierre (22-2 MMA, 16-2 UFC) vs. Diaz (25-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC)? "I can do what I want to do," White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). White even took an informal poll of media members after the press conference to gauge their interest in the potential bout. With the pros far outnumbering the cons, White seemed even more intrigued by the idea. But there are hurdles, of course. "I've got to go talk him about boxing first, and then we'll see what happens there," said White, who said he plans a trip to Diaz's Stockton, Calif. home for a chat. "I do respect Nick Diaz's boxing. He's got good boxing for MMA, but boxing and MMA are two totally different sports, man – two totally different sports." If the fiery competitor is willing to put his boxing aspirations on hold, a shot at UFC gold could be a hell of a consolation prize. After all, the UFC's current contenders – such as Jon Fitch, Carlos Condit, Dong Hyun Kim, Thiago Alves and Jake Ellenberger – either already have lost St-Pierre or present significant marketing hurdles, which isn't good for St-Pierre, a fighter who's been dominant but far from flashy in recent bouts. Which makes Diaz all the more intriguing option. "It's an interesting fight," White said. "I was there live for that last fight (Diaz's TKO of Paul Daley). I was blown away by Nick Diaz’s last fight. He looked incredible."
Diaz is Literally THE ONLY Viable Option that GSP has Left, @ 170...ANY Other Welter Fight WOULDN'T B Woooorthy of a UFC Main Event...On Another Thread, REED Suggested GSP vs. a Ranked MIDDLEWEIGHT, but Other than That, GSP's ONLY Other Options R Nick Diaz OR Anderson Silva... REED:mj:
It's obviously the best fight for the UFC at 170. Diaz brings his own fan base that have watched him destroy cats in Strikeforce. The 170 pound options in the UFC are Condit, Anthony Johnson, Dong Hyun-Kim or Marquardt. None prompt even the smallest interest in me. Make it happen Dana. And while you're at it, don't make Gilbert Melendez waste our time fighting KJ Noons or some other clown. Get him a UFC opponent as well. And to be perfectly honest, I don't want to see Henderson-Babalu 8 or some catch weight nonsense with Fedor. Give Henderson a rematch with Silva and let's see how it goes.
Is it just me or is that a waste of time? Seriously, I have no desire to see Henderson move up to HW and beat a shell of the real Fedor. It's a lose-lose-lose-lose situation.
they are meeting at a catchweight. And its not a sure deal hendo wins. In fact, i would probably pick Fedor.
Actually it isn't a done deal yet. Also, it WILL be a HW fight. Henderson indicated he isn't asking for a weight limit. Regardless, it will be over 205 pounds and be a HW fight. And Henderson wins easily in my opinion.
The size difference is what makes this remotely interesting to me. But I think Henderson's punch and ability to take a punch give him a distinct edge. Perhaps I'm underestimating Fedor's take down ability, but I think he will have a difficult time with Hendo.
Well, you bring up a great point. Fedor really does have a great chin. And that's not speculation. He really has been in with some guys that can bang and never gone anywhere. I just think Henderson's right hand is a different animal. And Henderson carries the power well from 185 to 205. So it seems he'd bring some pop to HW's in the 215-225 range. For me this fight is more about how slow and weak Fedor has looked recently. I don't think he can win a stand up battle with Henderson and I don't know that he has the strength TODAY to throw Dan around. And don't get me wrong. My lack of interest in this fight isn't because Fedor has no chance of winning. It's because it is meaningless in the overall scheme of things. Henderson should be defending his belt. Fedor should be deciding whether he wants to stay at HW or train his ass down to 205. Either way, pairing them is a spectacle and not an important fight.
There cant always be important fights to the sport. Sometimes there are important fights to the fighters. A fight can determine if its time to re-sign someone or cut their contract. It can decide if one needs to retire or if one can go on. Fedor has given much to the sport. I think we should be supportive. You bastard.
:laughing::laughing: Holy cow. I need to rethink my fan standing. You are right. Sometimes fights are important for reasons other than just pleasing me. Damn it.
