With UFC champ St-Pierre livid, Condit gives way to Diaz for Super Bowl weekend fight by John Morgan on Oct 30, 2011 at 1:45 am ET LAS VEGAS – Once again, Nick Diaz (26-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) proves to be just the right kind of crazy. Moments after defeating MMA legend B.J. Penn in the main event of Saturday night's UFC 137 event, Diaz told a Mandalay Bay Events Center crowd he thinks UFC champ Georges St-Pierre (22-2 MMA, 16-2 UFC) faked an injury in order to avoid a fight. The move earned St-Pierre's attention, and UFC president Dana White said Carlos Condit (27-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has agreed to step aside in order to make the fight it seems everyone now wants to see. "I've known Georges St-Pierre since 2004," White said at the evening's post-event press conference in Las Vegas. "He's one of the nicest guys I've ever met, and he's always exactly the same no matter what the situation is, no matter who he's fighting. Since 2004, I've never seen him like he was tonight. Georges St-Pierre flipped out tonight after Nick Diaz was in the ring, and Nick needs motivation. He's got it. He's going to fight Georges St-Pierre. "Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside and get the next guy. [St-Pierre] said, and I quote – you're going to think I'm full of [expletive], but this is the truth – I quote, 'He's the most disrespectful human being I've ever met, and I'm going to put the worst beating you've ever seen on him in the UFC." White said the bout will likely take place Feb. 4 in Las Vegas, at the company's traditional Super Bowl weekend event. Condit will also compete on the card, and a win guarantees him a shot at the winner of the St-Pierre vs. Diaz matchup. And if Condit loses? "That would suck," White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). However, White said Condit was not forced to withdraw from the planned contest with St-Pierre. Instead, the UFC boss said he presented the former welterweight champ with an option, and Condit elected to step aside in favor of the blockbuster matchup. "I didn't call him up and say (you're out)," White said. "I like Carlos Condit. I respect him, and yeah. He's getting the title shot. He'll get the next shot at the guy, and he said he wants to fight on that card, too, so he's going to fight on that card. It was a good conversation." With the announcement made, Diaz had no problem immediately jumping into the villain role. "You see how I have to come off just to get a fight," Diaz said. "I've got to come off like that just to get a fight. I've got to be the bad guy and point the finger. Make me the bad guy. I'm the bad guy. Now I get a fight." Meanwhile, St-Pierre responded with a statement issued through UFC brass. "This is what I wanted since the beginning," St-Pierre stated. "Let's do what was supposed to be done originally. I've always wanted this fight. Now I want it even more. I can't wait for Super Bowl weekend."
First, I am convinced that GSP's injury was fabricated probably by the UFC. There was no sense pitting GSP against Carlos Condit who is little known. This was a great way to build hype for a Nick Diaz match with GSP. Now they have a fantastic ground swell of demand for a GSP-Diaz bout and Condit will get to fight on the same card and likely gain some exposure. It's a double win for the UFC. Second, how in the hell does GSP plan to put a beating on Diaz? By laying on him for 5 rounds? There is no way he beats him striking nor will he even come close to submitting him. And GSP has never been a consistenly devastating ground-and-pound guy. GSP could win through his wrestling superiority but there is no way he "puts the worst beating you've ever seen on him in the UFC." That would be shocking. One of the key things to me in any stand up battle between GSP and Diaz is that Nick will be the first guy GSP has faced that won't be at a reach disadvantage. Their reach is exactly the same but I think it's clearly that Diaz is even rangier. But on the opposite side is the wrestling and how it might affect Diaz's high output, constant pressure striking. Will GSP's unparalleled take down ability make Diaz less likely to constantly attack? Personally I think Diaz is one of the few guys who can be very aggressive with his striking while not putting himself off balance or out of position to defend take downs. Not to mention, he is a tough guy to control when he's on his back. If this Super Bowl card ends up with GSP-Diaz and Silva-Sonnen, count me in.
Exactly. I'll bet anything that GSP will fight timidly (as always) against Diaz. But Diaz is too much of a man to let GSP do his thing. He'll force the pace and GSP will fold mentally
The more plausible scenario is that GSP simply controls Diaz for 5 rounds with wrestling and wins a boring decision. Diaz does have a chance though, and it's absolutely a fight I want to see.
You guys may think im crazy, and this is just an initial speculation subject to change, but i think GSP will control Diaz with the jab for the first two rounds and then take him down and submit him with ease.
Gsp can't sub Dan Hardy and gets outboxed at points by Shields but he will outbox Diaz and sub him ? Yup you're crazy. opcorn:
Don't let GSP's successful jab in the Koscheck fight fool you. His jab was basically absent in the Shields fight. And as I said, Diaz will be the first guy GSP has ever fought that won't be at a reach disadvantage. It will be tough for GSP to control 10 minutes with Diaz IF they remain standing. If GSP goes the first 2 rounds WITHOUT taking Diaz down, he loses the fight in my opinion. I just don't think there is anything GSP can do in the stand up that will slow Nick's pressure and swarming style. GSP will look for the take down quick. But on to the most questionable thing you said. How the hell does GSP submit Diaz with ease? First, Diaz is an accomplished tournament BJJ practicioner. Second, in 34 professional MMA fight Diaz has never been submitted. Lastly, GSP hasn't submitted anyone since 2007 despite spending almost entire fights with Hardy, Penn, Fitch and Alvez in TOP position. The absolute only way I see Diaz getting stopped is potentially via cuts from ground and pound.
The Fight's Now BIGGER Than it would have Been, had it Taken Place Last Night...Good for the UFC... REED:cheer:
No one will agree with me, but I honestly think it is the BIGGEST that can currently be made in the UFC. Diaz is the perfect 'bad guy' in this one. You can't help but have a strong opinion about Nick. Either you absolutely love the guy or you absolutely hate him. There is very little middle ground. Meanwhile, GSP is dominant but he is also the squeaky clean French Canadian that always says the right things. GSP-Silva, JDS-Velasquez? Bull.... GSP-Diaz is the biggest fight in MMA right now.
I'm not sure Sonnen - Silva 2 is, but GSP Vs Silva definitely is. This is Nick's first UFC fight in absolute years, he's nowhere near as much of a UFC star as Silva.
Silva-Sonnen and GSP-Silva certainly rival GSP-Diaz in terms of fights that fans can't wait to see. But man, there is just something about Diaz and his personality that makes him more popular than people think. That being said, I figured no one would agree. If there was a poll among MMA fans, the idiots that only know names would pick GSP-Silva for sure.
You think so? I dont know man. Sonnen has been out of the light for a minute. You could be right, but i just see Diaz as being so much more hated.
Man, Sonnen's trash talk of Silva was all over the sports pages a couple of weeks ago after he won. Either way, probably not much to choose between the two. Keep in mind, Sonnen has already headlined with Silva and he almost won - but as you said, maybe that was too long ago now.
The GSP-Diaz ''beef'' is very ridiculous. The UFC try way too hard to market their fight as grudge match, it's very played out.
The UFC does try way too hard. But Diaz is just being himself. I would bet the house that nothing he did the other night was scripted. That was 100% him in all his douchbaggery.
Yeah, but I can guarantee you 100% that GSP doesn't give two shits about Diaz or what he says. GSP is the consumate pro type, he'll see Diaz as just another good opponent. I know the UFC have got to do they they have to, to promote fights etc, but all these pseudo beefs and "twitter beefs" (ol) are started to annoy me. I like some shit talk and hype as much as the next guy, but when it's so obviously manufactured it's just annoying, and far too WWE for my tastes :)
Agree 1000%. After watching Koscheck try to get under his skin on TUF, I doubt anything bothers GSP. He was cool the entire show. He certainly isn't getting pissed off by Diaz running his mouth. If anything, he probably expected it. Not to mention, he looked like he was laughing about it cageside on Saturday.
I have seen GSP curse people out after his fights. He holds it in, but he does get bothered by what people say.
Just watched the first Primetime show. Condit segments were boring as hell for me. Diaz is one interesting guy. I wish the whole show was based on him. His 2nd grade picture shows that he has always been an angry guy.
