UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit

UFC 143 was, for better or worse, an event we’ll all be talking about for months to come. Now once again it’s time to ask: what’s next? What does the future hold after Carlos Condit beat Nick Diaz to claim the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship? Here’s my answer to just that: a new edition of my “What’s Next for the Winners and Losers” series of articles, now featuring UFC 143.

Next for Ed Herman

With this win I think Ed Herman has finally moved up to the middle rung of the Middleweight division. So I think it’d make a lot of sense to put him up against the UFC’s mid-level gatekeeper: Demian Maia. Maia’s striking has grown by leaps and bounds compared to his UFC debut, and his ground game is still as good as it’s ever been even if he never seems to use it nowadays. This would either be a good rebuilding fight for Maia or a strong indicator that Herman’s comeback has some real fire behind it, so I’m all for it.

Next for Renan Barao

At this point I think Barao is ready for a shot at the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Barao didn’t crumble under pressure like I thought he would, if anything he looked more confident and composed than ever. I don’t know if Barao wants to sit out while Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber coach a season of the Ultimate Fighter and then fight each other, but if he doesn’t, it’ll probably be explicitly stated in his next bout that if he wins he gets a title shot.

Next for Josh Koscheck

That’s an interesting question. If Josh Koscheck wants to stay at Welterweight and Nick Diaz wants to stay in the UFC, Diaz vs. Koscheck is a possibility. If Georges St. Pierre remains out for a while and Condit wants to defend his Interim Championship, Koscheck vs. Condit is a possibility. If Georges St. Pierre returns and beats Carlos Condit, Koscheck moving up to Middleweight is a possibility. Koscheck’s career is quickly reaching a major turning-point, it’ll be interesting to see how the next several months play out.

Next for Fabricio Werdum

I’d certainly love to see Werdum take on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, but it looks like Big Nog will be out for a while. If not him, I’d like to see Werdum face either Frank Mir or Cain Velasquez. Those are two big fights for all involved, and a win in either of those fights could push either of those fighters into immediate title contention. Fabricio Werdum showed that he’s capable of being a top-tier Heavyweight in the UFC, I say it’s time to see if he’s ready for an actual title shot.

Next for Nick Diaz

UFC 143: Nick Diaz Picture

This is what I’ve been saying to my friends: if Nick changes his mind, he’ll continue to fight in the UFC and I guarantee he’ll be champion one day. If Nick won’t change his mind, he’ll stop doing MMA completely and switch over to boxing. If Dana White tries to hold Nick Diaz hostage and threatens to sue him for breach of contract, Diaz will toss up the middle fingers and tell White to go ahead and sue him. No matter what happens, Nick Diaz will do what he always does: whatever he feels like.

Next for Carlos Condit

Depending on how quickly he heals, Georges St. Pierre. And if Condit does face GSP, I think we all know what’s going to happen: he’s getting taken down for five rounds. There is no escaping George St. Pierre’s takedowns, it may as well be a fact of life that once GSP grabs hold of you, you’re going down. Condit will have the same “puncher’s chance” that all of the other strikers GSP has faced have had… but we all know how those fights turned out.

About the author

Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews, and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.

UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit

Today is the big day! In the main event of UFC 143, Nick Diaz will face Carlos Condit for the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as top Strikeforce star Fabricio Werdum fights Roy Nelson in his return bout. As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring UFC 143 “Diaz vs. Condit”.

Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks

Herman has been looking all kinds of awesome lately, but Clifford Starks has been impressive as well. Starks is undefeated, but I do think Herman will be the one to give Starks his first loss. It won’t be easy, though: both these fighters will push their opponent to their limits. Herman simply has more experience being pushed to his limits. Ed Herman wins by Split Decision.

Renan Barão vs. Scott Jorgensen

Renan Barao is going to put a lot of pressure on Scott Jorgensen… but Jorgensen has never wilted under pressure. I think both fighters will go tit-for-tat, and that his inability to overwhelm his opponent will sap at the confidence of Barao. Eventually Barao will become too focused on putting away an opponent that just refuses to be put away, and Jorgensen will counter-punch his way to victory. Scott Jorgensen wins via Unanimous Decision.

Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce

As I stated in my “Complete Collection” post, Pierce is establishing a pattern of losing to top competition. He’s never been finished, though, and I don’t think Koscheck will be the one to finish him. Koscheck may strike for a while, but before long he’ll go back to his dominant wrestling. Pierce is going to be spending a lot of time on his back in this bout. Josh Koscheck wins by Unanimous Decision.

Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum

Now this is one tough fight to pick. On the ground it’s a toss-up: Fabricio Werdum has fantastic submissions off his back, but Roy Nelson loves to smother people he’s on top of. Fabricio Werdum’s striking has been continuously improving for quite some time now, but he doesn’t have the kind of one-hit KO power that Nelson has been able to utilize.

Here’s what I think is going to happen: I can’t say how or when, but I can’t shake the feeling that Werdum gets caught. Maybe it’s on the ground when he’s attempting a submission. Maybe it’s up against the cage when he’s fighting for position. Maybe he comes in a bit too overzealous on a striking exchange. But I’m predicting that somehow, someway Roy Nelson will be able to land that big bomb of his and put Werdum away. Roy Nelson wins by TKO in Round 2.

Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit

If you’ve followed me for any extended length of time, you’ll know by now who I’m picking to win this fight. A lot of MMA fans have a long list of fighters they consider their favorites. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just not me. My list of favorite fighters can be counted on one hand.

Nick Diaz is one of those fighters.

I believe in Nick Diaz, I truly do. I believe that his striking, his ground game, his chin, his pacing, and his cardio all combine to make a fighter that not only can survive but thrive against any obstacle put before him.

I know Carlos Condit is one of the best Welterweights in the world, I’ve known this since I first saw him compete in the WEC. This has been a long time coming for Condit, and if he wins I’d certainly be happy that he will finally be getting the recognition and respect that he deserves.

But in the end… I believe in Nick Diaz. I think Nick Diaz is going to survive Condit’s early onslaughts and take him into deep waters, where Diaz excels. It’ll be five long rounds of pure mayhem, but by the end of the third it’ll be clear that Condit is fading while Diaz has only just begun. Don’t be surprised if Round 5 is ruled a 10-8 round in favor of Diaz. My official prediction is that Nick Diaz wins by Unanimous Decision.

About the author

Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews, and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.

UFC Primtime: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” is a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading into an upcoming major MMA event. Everything from why you should watch, what you should expect in the co-main and main event, and even where and when you can find it on TV is all covered in detail. So let’s get right to it with today’s edition, featuring UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit.

The Event

UFC 143 “Diaz vs. Condit”, currently scheduled for Saturday, February 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two preliminary bouts can be seen at the UFC’s Facebook page starting at 7:00 PM ET. Four more prelims can be seen as part of a “UFC on FX” broadcast starting at 8:00 PM ET. The five-fight Pay-Per-View card is scheduled to begin at 10:00 PM ET.

Why You Should Care

This event will see the crowning of a new champion, albeit an “Interim” champion while current UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre is on the sidelines due to a major injury. Nevertheless, the main event of Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz should be a tremendous match-up.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event

Don’t blink. Fans and the media say that all the time when it comes to fights like these, but it’s never been truer in the case of a fight between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. Both fighters have made their careers off of getting into their opponent’s face, beating them to a pulp, and then more often than not dramatically finishing them. This is going to be an all-out war from the first bell to the last, regardless of how long this fight goes.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event

Fabricio Werdum is returning to the UFC with an interesting mix of fan hype and fan nonchalance. Werdum is still “the man that beat Fedor”, but he’s also the man that had a very boring fight with Alistair Overeem recently. Roy Nelson, meanwhile, always seems to be right on the verge of title contention before being dealt a tough loss. This is a big proving point for both fighters, and if they show up at their best we’re in for a really fun fight.

Why You Should Watch This Card

The prelims (even the ones on Facebook) are stacked. The main Pay-Per-View card is stacked. In addition to the two big fights anchoring the event, you’ve also got a great lighter-weight fight in Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen. You’ve also got bad-boy extraordinaire Josh Koscheck in action. This card simply screams “must watch”.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card

The only real problem I have with this card is that Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks doesn’t belong on a Pay-Per-View of this caliber. That’s not said to disrespect either fighter, but if that fight could’ve been replaced by another fight featuring one or two top-level UFC stars… then this could’ve easily taken Event of the Year. That’s the only complaint I have, other than that I absolutely cannot wait to see this show.

Closing Thoughts

No matter what happens, I have a good feeling that UFC 143 is going to be an Event of the Year contender. There are too many good fights; there are too many awesome fighters. The UFC pretty much hit it out of the park when it comes to the matchmaking for this event. So long as the fighters themselves deliver, this should be one event we’re all talking about for months to come.

About the author

Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews, and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.

The current welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, is out and recovering from a second knee injury that occured during his intense training. GSP is still planning to return no earlier then October, and will eagerly face the interim champion that will unify the belt.

Also on the main fight card, Roy Nelson will take on the two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, Fabricio Werdum, in a heavyweight bout. And former welterweight title contender Josh Koscheck will be challenged by Mike Pierce. Expect this Super Bowl weekend to be a memorable one, so don’t miss out on this exciting event.

In this recent video interview with MMA Prime TV, Werdum confirms that Dana White approached him via his twitter account, as simple as that, and landed a new four-fight contract. He also expresses that he is very happy to be back in the UFC, and is ready to bring MMA fans a new Fabricio Werdum, an entertaining Werdum that is. He says he is going for the knockout this time around, and it’s going to be the “big show.” Werdum also talks about a rubber match with Alistair Overeem, since he beat him once by submission in Pride, and Overeem won the second fight in STRIKEFORCE by unanimous decision. That was the last time we saw Werdum in a fight, after a three fight winning streak in STRIKEFORCE, and claims that he lost to Overeem that night because of excessive training.

Right now, Werdum looks physically in great shape, and his confidence is shinning, you can tell in the video. If he can easily pick apart Roy Nelson in the heavyweight bout at UFC 143 like Chael Sonnen did to Brian Stann when he first returned in the UFC. I see Fabricio Werdum moving up the ladder quickly, and it would be great to see him fight, BJJ expert, Frank Mir. Since his strongest technique is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I’m confident as well in Werdum, and hope to see him become the number one contender in the UFC heavyweight division sooner rather than later.

Check out the entire picture gallery above, which also features other MMA fighters like Dan Hardy, Brendan Schaub, and Francis Carmont just to name a few.

More about this training

Alvaro Romano (Ginastica Natural) introduced his unique training to GSP and his champion crew. It was a day of full-throttle, intense training. The introduction was his core principles, followed by BJJ three-time World Champion Gilbert Durinho showing some inside information.

Source: vitorbelfort.com

[See image gallery at www.yellmagazine.com]

The One And Only Nick Diaz

Sometimes it still amazes me that I’m a Nick Diaz fan. A lot of people still hate him, loathe him even, and it’s not difficult to see why. For the longest time, I couldn’t stand Nick Diaz either. I hated him for his cockiness, his brash attitude, for the way he disrespected his opponents both inside and out of the cage, for the way he acted as if nothing was ever good enough no matter how much he was getting paid or how many opportunities he was being given… the list goes on and on. But yet the fact remains: I am a Nick Diaz fan. I’ll go one further: I’m at the front of the bandwagon. Why is that? With Nick Diaz becoming an even bigger star thanks to his UFC return and the fact that he’ll be facing Georges St-Pierre soon, I feel the time is right to make my stand. So here it is: this is why I’m a Nick Diaz fan.

UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre

Let me start off by addressing both the cynics and those that are tired of all the Nick Diaz fans vs. haters arguments: I will not deny that Nick Diaz both does stupid things and says stupid things. I do not put Nick Diaz on a pedestal, I will not defend his actions other than to say “it’s Nick being Nick”. That’s something I think all Nick Diaz fans need to come to terms with, if I may be so bold. Because I think that if you take Nick Diaz as he is and don’t blindly rush in to defend his next controversial action or interview, you’re better able to understand both him and why you’re a fan of him.

I want to address this as well before getting to my core argument: Nick Diaz is one hell of a fighter. Nick Diaz doesn’t have boring fights. Nick Diaz will fight his opponents where they’re best at simply to prove that he can. Inside of the cage, Nick Diaz is one of the best fighters in the world. There’s simply no way to deny that anymore.

Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn

Taken purely on his merits inside of the cage, it’s easy to see why Nick Diaz has a following. But to truly understand why Diaz has such a massive following, you have to understand that the thing most people hate about him is also the thing so many people love about him.

The thing I’m talking about is simple: Nick Diaz has no “off” switch. He has no filter. That’s increasingly rare not only in MMA, but in professional sports as a whole. Some people see that as a good thing, and I can certainly see their point: in MMA’s constant quest for widespread acceptance, sometimes we need guys that wear suits, smile their pretty smiles at the camera, and answer in short, respectable sound bites that are as politically correct as they come.

And then you have Nick Diaz, who flips you the bird and calls a press conference a beauty pageant and insinuates that if a reporter came to his neighborhood he’d get slapped.

Nick Diaz - Double Bird

But none of that is a joke to Nick Diaz. He’s not acting, he’s not playing a character. If Nick Diaz thinks you’re not worthy of his respect, he’ll let you know it. If he thinks the situation he is in sucks and could be better, he’ll let you know it. If he thinks he’s the most under-paid and over-trained fighter in the business, he’ll let you know it. But it’s not because he doesn’t care about what he says, and it’s not because he doesn’t understand that what he says is controversial and could get him into a lot of trouble.

Why we like Nike Diaz? Read the conclusion on the next jump…