Articles tagged as diaz
Nick Diaz and Legal Team Strongly Considering a Challenge to NSAC's Ruling
Despite a stinging rebuke at the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) today, Nick Diaz and his legal team have not given up the fight to secure the fighter a license.
Diaz's lawyer Ross Goodman believes the commission acted in disregard for established and unequivocal Nevada statutory code at today's hearing. After being contacted by MMA Fighting, Goodman says Diaz and his legal advisors are strongly considering petitioning a district court to review the NSAC's decision.
Should they choose to move forward, "we would file a petition for judicial review in front of a district court judge," Goodman told MMA Fighting. "It would entitle a judge to basically look at the hearing anew."
Judicial review is a process by which if one requires an occupational license from the state and are denied such authorization by the relevant state agency, the petitioner can ask relevant courts to weigh assess the merits of the petitioner's claims. This method can be used in cases where the petitioner believes the state agency broke the law, acted unfairly or made a decision not based on facts.
In addition to the review, Goodman contends they could also motion the judge for a stay the suspension while he or she deliberates the larger merits of the petition.
Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in February of 2012. For the infraction, the NSAC suspended Diaz at a hearing today in Las Vegas for one year effective from the date of his last fight and fined him 30 percent of his purse, or approximately $60,000. Diaz must also pass a drug test when reapplying to earn a license.
While Goodman objected to several questions asked and conclusions reached by the NSAC, Diaz's legal case primarily rests on whether marijuana metabolites are banned substances in the state of Nevada.
Goodman argued both today and in documents related to Diaz's previous lawsuit against the NSAC that marijuana metabolites are not a prohibited substance in the state.
Marijuana is prohibited for fighters licensed in Nevada by virtue of NAC 467.850(2)(f), which incorporates all prohibited substances on the current Prohibited List published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). However, Goodman argues marijuana is only prohibited "in competition". Goodman maintains WADA permits use of marijuana and other cannabinoids outside of competition and per the construction of Nevada's stated regulations, in that state as well.
Goodman suggested today marijuana metabolites are not grounds to find Diaz guilty of violating the law. Given the outcome of the hearing, however, it appeared unpersuasive to the commission.
"It was clear by their questioning that their decision was already made up," Goodman said. "In my closing argument I basically reminded 'Skip' Avansino, who is the chairman [of the NSAC], that in the TUE hearing that occurred before us [with UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen] he said 'the presence of a prohibited substance would constitute a violation'. Those were his words. The chairman of the commission."
"All you have to do is look at the ruling and tell me where it says that Nick tested for the presence of marijuana. Because he didn't. And if you're saying 'the presence of a prohibited substance would constitute a violation' then you have to show me where in the rules marijuana metabolite is a prohibited substance."
"They never answered that," Goodman continued. "They never responded to that. They just made up a rule. They read the rule in there. It was like on an ad hoc basis."
"[Avansino] agreed with what our whole position is: that evidence of prior use of a prohibited substance is not presence of a prohibited substance. Everyone acknowledges that marijuana metabolites means that at some point before that you used marijuana, but evidence of prior use is not a violation. You have to show presence of prohibited substance according to Nevada rules to constitute a violation. That was never addressed. That was never responded to. That was never clarified."
"Effectively what they did," Goodman concluded, "was punish him for legally consuming marijuana more than a week before the fight and then having an inactive component sequestered in his fat tissue after the fight."
Goodman also expressed surprise at what he perceived as the lack of basic literacy among the commissioners on Nevada's own regulations as it related to banned substances. Early in the hearing, commissioner Pat Lundvall appeared confused regarding what Nevada's laws and those of WADA did and did not say.
"It was clear that the commissioners didn't really prepare for the hearing," Goodman maintained. "It was really alarming, the fact that something so basic, so clear, which is that marijuana in general is allowed out of competition but not in competition. To kick off the hearing suggesting there is no distinction indicated what was to come after that."
Goodman argues Nevada borrowing WADA's Prohibited List of banned substances to help the commission regulate drugs of abuse is a key first step to regulating banned substances. If they really wish to regulate metabolites, however, then Goodman recommends they also adopt WADA's Code.
"If they felt so strongly about the issue, then they should have amended the rule or modified the rule in the future to incorporate and adopt WADA's code which does constitute a violation if you have any metabolite in your system. Because the rule says any prohibited substance, it's markers or metabolites present in your sample. That's what WADA's Code says, which is something Nevada has not adopted. There's no counterpart rule in Nevada. There's nothing in the rule that says metabolites are a prohibited substance."
Goodman was also dismayed at what he felt was a line of irrelevant questioning among the commissioners that attempted to portray Diaz's use of marijuana as recreational or performance enhancing. On the latter charge, Goodman notes the separation of competition testing as a refutation of the commission's argument.
"You heard him testify. That's what happens when you have ADHD: you can't focus. They tried to construe that as 'oh, that must be performance enhancing'. That is absurd. There was nothing more ridiculous than that statement."
"Instead of performance enhancing, it's more life enhancing for Nick. It helps him out. It helps him deal with attention deficit disorder. Of course, WADA has already determined that which Nevada adopts: that marijuana is not performance enhancing because it separates it between in and out of competition. Well, they don't do that for other performance enhancing drugs in WADA."
As for Diaz's attitude after repudiation, Goodman contends Diaz is still ready continue his MMA career. "Nick was disappointed obviously, but he's in good spirits. He's in good spirits in general. He knows the truth of it. He knows he didn't lie to the commission. He knows he didn't mislead the commission and he understands he did everything he was told to do legally. He got a physician's statement, he was qualified to use it, he understands the rules do not require metabolites as a violation."
And is the former Strikeforce welterweight champion still un-retired as he stated when previously filing a lawsuit?
"Nick's sworn in his affidavit he's not retired. He's only 28 years old, he's at the top of his game. I don't want to speak for Nick, but I think he's looking forward to getting back in the cage as soon as he can."
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, nevada, substance, goodman
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse
Diaz fined, suspended one year by NSAC
MMA Junkie reports Nick Diaz has been suspended one year retroactive to February 4th per the Nevada State Athletic Commission ruling. In addition, Diaz was fined 30 percent of his UFC 137 fight purse which amounts to $60,000.
The NSAC determined Diaz had failed his UFC 143 drug test and was less than truthful on his pre-fight medical questionnaire.
Diaz’s attorney was unsuccessful in arguing that a showing of marijuana metabolites did not prove he had used it for in competition use and that the World Anti-Doping Agency code does not prohibit out of competition use of marijuana. Despite a medical witness on behalf of Diaz, the Commission handed down a 1 year suspension.
The Commission indicated that there’s a strict liability standard that makes an athlete responsible for what’s in their body. However, according to the report by MMA Fighting, the Commission inferred that it would have entertained a usage exemption for Diaz’s use of marijuana based on his past medical history.
Payout Perspective:
The suspension is another chapter in the tumultuous career of Nick Diaz. It will definitely hurt Diaz’s career and the UFC’s welterweight division. The Nate Diaz-GSP matchup would have drawn considerable interest especially if it would have been slated for GSP’s return at UFC 154 in Montreal (assuming that’s when he comes back).
The Diaz legal team put up a novel defense but in the end none of the legal wranglings could save Diaz from his fate. Worse for Diaz is that the legal efforts probably means a big legal bill in addition to his fine and suspension.
Maybe Diaz will focus his time on triathlons, boxing or help out his brother. But, if and when Diaz returns, hopefully he matures and gets his act together. He’s an asset to the UFC and that’s why the UFC hasn’t bailed on him yet.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, year, commission, competition use
Read the full article at MMA Payout
Cesar Gracie reacts to Nick Diaz grueling NSAC hearing
The long and drawn out drama between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight contender Nick Diaz and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) finally came to an end today (May 21, 2012).
At the hearing, the NSAC suspended the Stockton slugger for a period of 12 months and docked him 30 percent ($60,000) of the purse he earned for his fight with Carlos Condit at UFC 143, which was the event that Diaz failed a post-fight drug test for marijuana metabolites.
That means that should Diaz decide to end his mixed martial arts (MMA) retirement plans he made after his loss to "The Natural Born Killer" in Feb. 2012, he still won't be able to return to action until Feb. 2013.
During the hearing, which lasted for several hours, it became quickly became clear that Diaz and his defense team were facing an uphill battle. And Diaz's trainer, Cesar Gracie, would have something to say about the process and intense line of questioning.
And say something he did.
Check out what the famed trainer had to say via his official Twitter account, which was pointed directly at the world's leading MMA promotion:
@ufc Get drunk and wreck cars or do steroids between fights is OK. Smoke weed legally between fights and NSAC throws the book at you
In case you didn't quite grasp the veiled jab, it seems that Gracie is taking a shot at UFC Light Heavyweight champion and company poster boy Jon Jones' weekend drunken mishap, which led to the arrest of the 24-year-old champion and the destruction of his $190,000 Bentley.
The "steroid between fights" comment, I leave it to you to ponder a guess as to who he is aiming that toward, though I have guess or two of my own.
First the whole no-show for his "super fight" grappling match with Braulio Estima and now a year-long suspension from MMA, it truly hasn't been a good couple of weeks for Diaz. It will interesting to see if he decides to return to MMA once his suspension is up or if he decides to take a stab at the boxing world, something he has often said he would entertain.
Time will tell ... nine months to be exact.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, nsac
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Nick Diaz suspended for a year, fined $60,000 for failed drug test
Any hopes of UFC welterweight Nick Diaz beating the rap for a failed drug test and returning to the ring rather than remain retired were dashed earlier today when the Nevada State Athletic Commission reviewed his case, shrugged off his team’s arguments, and threw the book at him for their trouble. Diaz, who has been at outspoken proponent of marijuana use and receives it legally in California, was popped for “marijuana metabolites” in his system after a February fight with Carlos Condit.
As a result of the NSAC’s findings Diaz will be suspended from competition for a year and was fined 30% of his purse from the bout (equating to $60,000).
A Look at Diaz’s Case Against Suspension
Diaz tested positive for marijuana use five years ago after a match-up with Takanori Gomi, also in Nevada, and was handed a six-month suspension in that instance.
The 28-year old has not commented publicly on the matter but, at least for the time being, it appears his MMA career is officially over (or at least until 2013).
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: diaz, year, drug test, marijuana, marijuana use
Read the full article at Fighters.com
NSAC issues one-year suspension, fine to Nick Diaz
In a hearing that stretched over three hours and two rooms within the
Grant Sawyer Office Building in Las Vegas, the Nevada State Athletic
Commission unanimously voted today to suspend Nick Diaz for his failed
drug test at UFC 143.
Diaz's suspension runs 12 months from the date of the event, which took
place Feb. 4. Additionally, he has been fined $60,000, or 30 percent of
his $200,000 show purse.
Diaz, who was present at hearing, must also submit a clean drug test in order to be licensed again in Nevada.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, las vegas, nevada state, drug test
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNick Diaz Suspended For One Year, Must Forfeit 30 Percent of UFC 143 Purse
Embattled UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has been suspended for one year by the Nevada state athletic commission on Monday for his post-UFC 143 drug test that came back positive for marijuana metabolites.
In addition, Diaz will have to forfeit 30 purse of his $200,000 fight purse, a total of $60,000.
In a three-hour hearing at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas, Diaz's attorney Ross Goodman argued that the presence of marijuana metabolites in Diaz's sample did not prove he had used the drug in-competition, and that because World Anti-Doping Agency code does not prohibit out-of-competition marijuana usage, no suspension should be given.
Goodman produced an expert witness, Dr. John Hiatt, who is now semi-retired but previously worked for reputable drug lab Quest Diagnostics, told the commission that Diaz's test level results -- 25 nanograms per milileter -- could certainly be consistent with someone who stopped using marijuana as much as eight days prior to the test, or even more.
"Depending on the amount of body fat a person has, the rate of turnover of that fat, whether they’re gaining weight or losing weight, they may be positive for marijuana in the urine for the metabolite for days, weeks, or even more than a month after last use," he said.
Diaz explained his history with marijuana, saying he first began taking it recreationally with friends before learning it could possibly used to address his ongoing issues with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Diaz said he was first diagnosed with that around the time he was in second grade, and that for years, he was ordered to take drugs including Ritalin, Adderall and Prozac.
As he got older, he said, he learned that some of these drugs were similar to methamphetamine and began to learn about the therapeutic uses of marijuana.
Later though, NSAC chairman Skip Avansino and deputy attorney general Christopher Eccles seized upon that admission to make a point about potential performance-enhancing aspects of marijuana.
At one point, Avansino asked Diaz if he used marijuana while training? Diaz responded yes, and later added that he used it for "sparring, competitive training, hard training, triathlon racing. Anything that's not going to test me for it. Sure, why not?"
Eccles then asked if it increased his focus, and Diaz said yes.
But in the end, NSAC seemed to be unable to get past two things. First was the presence of marijuana metabolites in his sample. Even Dr. Hiatt admitted that the test was the industry standard for drug usage.
The second was that Diaz had not included any mention of his marijuana usage on a pre-drug test questionnaire, nor any mention of a "serious medical issue" like ADHD that precipitated his use.
Goodman, who mounted a vigorous defense of Diaz, argued that Diaz did not disclose the medical marijuana usage because the form supplied to him had only questions about "prescription" and "over-the-counter" medication, and neither of those truly applied to Diaz's situation, since it was not technically a prescription but a doctor's note that made him eligible to buy medical marijuana from a dispensary.
Diaz said he not consider his case a "serious medical issue," saying he believed the question was reserved for things that would "prevent me from fighting" like a broken bone or injury.
NSAC executive director Keith Kizer at one point testified of his own belief that Diaz had tried to dilute the sample, saying he had done so in a October 2011 test, which came back marked "abnormal/negative" from the lab. Kizer said Diaz said that in the post-UFC 143 test, Diaz did not submit a sample until the early morning hours, under threat of not being paid.
"There was definitely at attempt, in my mind, both in October and February, for him to dilute the sample," he said.
In his closing argument, Eccles asked the commission to hold Diaz accountable for his "doping violation," and they did.
Lundvall noted there is a strict liability standard that the athlete is responsible for, but also added that she wished Diaz would have approached the commission about a therapeutic use exemption for his usage.
"I think a reasonable person would deduce you have a serious medical condition," she said.
The commission's vote was unanimous for the one-year suspension, which means won't be eligible to fight until at least February 3, 2013.
Posted in: diaz, test, drug, marijuana, marijuana metabolites
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse
NSAC suspends Diaz one year for positive test
Nick Diaz was suspended for one year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his positive test for marijuana metabolites at UFC 143.
Posted in: diaz, year, test, nevada state, marijuana metabolites
Read the full article at sportsnet.ca
Nick Diaz Gets 1-Year Suspension, Fine from NAC for Failed UFC 143 Drug Test
Nick Diaz won’t be returning to the Octagon anytime soon.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, nac
Read the full article at SherdogNick Diaz suspended 12 months by NSAC for failed drug test, fined 30-percent of purse for Carlos Condit fight
After a hearing that dragged on for what felt like hours and hours, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) brought the hammer down earlier today (Mon., May 21, 2012) on Nick Diaz for his failed drug test for marijuana metabolites at UFC 143 back on Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas.
And they didn't hold back one bit.
That's because Diaz was suspended for 12 months retroactive to the date of his fight against Carlos Condit, which means he'll be out of action until at least February 2013. On top of that, he was fined 30-percent of his entire fight purse.
If that seems harsh, well, that's because it is. Remember, Alistair Overeem was suspended for nine months after he tested with a T/E ratio of 14:1 and reportedly attempted to duck out on tests.
Then again, this was Diaz's second drug test failure for marijuana in the state of Nevada, the first coming all the way back in 2007 after his thrilling submission victory over Takanori Gomi. He was suspended six months and fined 20-percent of his purse for that first offense.
To read more on Diaz's hearing in front of the NSAC today, including all the relevant notes and quotes, click here.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, month, test, drug test
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Year-Long Suspension Upheld By Nevada Athletic Commission For Nick Diaz
Well, it appears we won’t be seeing Nick Diaz inside an Octagon again anytime soon. Monday, after a lengthy hearing, the Nevada Athletic Commission decided to uphold the year-long suspension given to Diaz for his failed post-fight drug test following a loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. The test showed marijuana metabolites in the [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, carlos condit, nevada, marijuana metabolites
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Nick Diaz Suspended for a Year, 30% of UFC 143 Purse
Nick Diaz went before the Nevada State Athletic Commission in a grueling three hour meeting to challenge his suspension for a positive drug test. In the end, after being grilled for hours on medical/personal history of marijuana and his failed UFC 143 test , the commission voted unanimously to suspend Diaz for a year and dock him 30% of his UFC 143 fight purse.
Diaz came off as truthful in the hearing but often too truthful at times. At one point in the hearing Commissioner Pat Lundvall reminded Diaz that he promised to quit smoking following his failed PRIDE 33 drug test and asked Diaz when he started smoking again, Diaz candidly responded “I would imagine when I got home.”
While Diaz’s legal team did their best to use the WADA code as the basis of the argument, the commission reminded them that while NSAC uses WADA as a base, WADA rules have no bearing on Nevada rulings.
Diaz’s suspension was dated retroactively to February 4.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nevada state, hour meeting, medicalpersonal history
Read the full article at MMA Frenzy
UFC's Nick Diaz Gets Year Suspension Upheld By Nevada State Athletic Commission
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) voted unanimously to uphold the 12 month suspension they gave UFC Welterweight Nick Diaz after a very long hearing today in Las Vegas, Nevada. Diaz failed a post-fight urine test following his UFC 143 interim title fight loss to Carlos Condit. His urine showed marijuana metabolites.
He was also fined 30% of his purse and bonus from the fight. The suspension runs from the date of the bout, ie. until February 4, 2013.
Diaz appeared before the NSAC with his attorney Ross Goodman. Goodman argued that the appearance of marijuana metabolites in no way indicated that Diaz was impaired during the fight and that the NSAC's rules only prohibit marijuana use at fight time, much like it allows fighters to drink alcohol between fights but prohibits them from fighting drunk.
The argument Goodman presented was very similar to the argument originally presented by Jonathan Tweedale, Commissioner with the Vancouver Athletic Commission here at Bloody Elbow back in February.
Notes from the hearing after the jump...
Goodman attempted to make the claim that the NSAC had no evidence that Diaz was impaired during the bout. The Commissioners do not seem overly sympathetic to that argument.
Nick Diaz was then sworn in. Commissioner Pat Lundvall immediately raised the issue of Nick Diaz' previous suspension in Nevada after his bout with Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 in 2007. Diaz promised the Commission it would not happen again. Lundvall then asked him when he next smoked cannibas and Diaz admitted he smoked immediately on returning home from his hearing.
There followed extensive questioning about Diaz' history of medical marijuana usage, his diagnosis with ADHD and use of prescription stimulants to combat that condition before switching to medical marijuana. The commissioners then zeroed in on Diaz' use of marijuana before receiving his medical marijuana card.
Extensive questioning on Diaz' mode of using marijuana to train followed. Diaz denied that being high while training allowed him to "take more hits." He did admit that sometimes he could attain a certain "zone" of performance but didn't ascribe that directly to his marijuana usage.
An extensive attempt to get Diaz to admit that he had to have a "serious medical condition" to receive a medical marijuana card. Diaz never would admit that was his understanding although the commissioners seemed to think that was a prerequisite of obtaining a California cannabis card.
The Commission then called a Dr. Sample who answered questions about the testing protocol and what the test results could tell us about the timing of Diaz' marijuana use.
At this point the hearing had to adjourn and move to another conference room.
Diaz' team then called in their own doctor (a former employee of Quest Labs) who testifed that "In this case, a sample with 25 ng/ml is consistent with a regular user who stopped 8 days before test sample collection."
The doctor than stated that "It's my conclusion [Diaz] wasn't on THC at the time of the fight."
The doctor stated that he was actually surprised Diaz' metabolite levels weren't higher given his smoking habits and an 8 day period without smoking.
The questioning then focused on Diaz' weight cut and whether there was an inconsistency between what Diaz told his doctor and what he put on his paperwork submitted to the NSAC as regards the size of his weight cut.
After closing statements from Diaz' attorneys, the commissioners spoke. Pat Lundvall expressed her wish that Diaz had applied for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) before the fight.
Another commissioner said it was unlikely that the NSAC would change their testing apparatus. Lundvall then moved for a 12 month suspension.
Posted in: fight, diaz, marijuana, commissioner, nsac
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz’s NSAC Hearing Live Stream
Live stream videos at Ustream Nick Diaz vs. the NSAC finally goes down today and thanks to the fine folks at MMA Junkie, everyone gets to watch it live. The hearing is scheduled to start now (12pm ET), but Diaz is the last item on the agenda so there’s still time before all the madness [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick, stream, hearing, stream videos
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz NSAC hearing and LIVE updates today (May 21) from Las Vegas
If you haven't had enough drama in your lives lately, today will most certainly fill your need.
Nick Diaz, who tested positive for marijuana metabolites and was given an indefinite suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) this past February after his UFC 143 title defeat at the hands of Carlos Condit, will be stating his case before the commission.
Diaz's attorney, Ross C. Goodman will be representing him at the meeting, which begins at 12:00 p.m. ET and it's not known whether Diaz will be here himself.
Also on the docket for this NSAC meeting will be Chael Sonnen's therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy, which he'll need if he wants to have success against Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 148.MMAmania.com will be LIVE, updating all the details on the happenings of the commission hearing today.
We'll have complete updates of the hearing after the jump:
Brian Hemminger here. The meeting is starting right now (12:05 p.m.)
12:05 p.m. - Herb Dean will be refereeing the main event between Herb Dean and Junior dos Santos.
12:15 p.m. - Robert Byrd will referee Paquiao-Bradley in boxing next month.
Posted in: diaz, pm, anderson silva, nsac, use exemption
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Keith Kizer’s ready to drop the hammer on Nick Diaz
Keith Kizer is preparing to go after Nick Diaz for a one year suspension due to testing positive for marijuana for a second time.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, keith, year suspension
Read the full article at Fight Opinion
Nick Diaz suspended for 12 months by NSAC
Today Nick Diaz finally appeared before the NSAC to decide his fate stemming from a failed UFC 143 drug test for marijuana metabolites. After much back-and-forth between the Nevada general attorney's office and the legal team of Diaz led by Ronald Goldman, the commission decided to take serious disciplinary action and suspend the controversial fighter for a full twelve months. On top of that, 30 percent of his fight purse was taken in addition to his fight bonus.
This may come as a shock to some, seeing as
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, fight purse, marijuana metabolites, attorneys office
Read the full article at Low KickLefko on MMA: Nick Diaz made for Court TV
Nick Diaz is set to become the latest MMA fighter to bring drama from the cage into the courtroom.
Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, mma fighter, court
Read the full article at sportsnet.caLatest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of May 13, 2012
Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Josh Barnett and Megumi Fujii pictured above, we can all "get along."
Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Fightline, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport.
This week, The Fight Nerd reviews the 'Tapout Textbook', MMA Convert gets an exclusive from Cris 'Cyborg' and Lowkick interviews UFC 146's Edson Barboza.
The full list of links is after the jump.
- Interview with lightweight contender Edson Barboza (LowKick)
"I want to be fighting against the best fighters in the world. I want to win my space step by step. I am not in a hurry. I know I am in a really hard division, and it keeps me motivated to train harder and harder. Today I am focused on my next fight. I want to do my best inside the octagon. What will happen after that, it is in God's hands."
- 'Tapout Textbook' Book review (The Fight Nerd)
Is this book truly worth of being a textbook, or is it as good as your old algebra textbooks from high school that you defaced with drawings of phalluses and boobs (which was how all of my books were... I swear they were that way when I got them)?
- Keith Kizer ready to drop the hammer on Nick Diaz next Monday (Fight Opinion)
Today, Nick Diaz (via his attorney Ross Goodman) lost their injunction hearing in a Las Vegas court room. Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission says that the commission will hold a hearing next Monday to give Diaz his suspension for a second positive drug test in Nevada (marijuana). Kizer is preparing to go for a full year suspension for Diaz.
- Oklahoma PPV tax declared unconstitutional (MMA Payout)
MMA Payout has learned that the Oklahoma PPV tax has been declared unconstitutional by the state Attorney General of Oklahoma. The tax has been challenged by the UFC as it threatened litigation prior to a review of the issue by the Oklahoma AG.
- Cris 'Cyborg' planning to return to women's MMA as bantamweight (MMA Convert)
Cristiane "Cyborg" Venancio (formerly Santos) confirmed in a Twitter exchange with Five Ounces of Pain that she will return to action as a bantamweight.
- Struve and Johnson talk late opponent switch (Fightline)
With Mark Hunt injured and out of UFC 146, Stefan Struve will now be taking on Lavar Johnson. The opponent switch comes just a little over a week away from the event, but Johnson and Struve both should be standing on near-equal footing come fight night.
- Nah-Shon Burrell looking to make statement against Spang (Five Ounces of Pain)
- Michael McDonald lists UFC 145 fight shorts for charity (5thRound)
How much are Michael McDonald's (Pictured) UFC 145 fight-worn shorts worth to you? The up-and-coming featherweight has listed the trunks he wore in April's scrap against former WEC champ Miguel Torres on eBay.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, fight nerd
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Donald Cerrone “100% confident” he can beat Nate Diaz in a rematch
It’s hard to imagine the Donald Cerrone who outclassed Jeremy Stephens so thoroughly in the stand-up department on Tuesday night at UFC on Fuel 3 is the same “Cowboy” that Nate Diaz picked apart with strikes in his previous outing. In fact, Cerrone himself would tell you an imposter entered the Octagon last December against Diaz.
Diaz’s dominant decision win still stings when Cerrone thinks about it as he made clear in an interview with Fuel TV shortly after his victory over Stephens.
“That fight’s not in the rear-view,” said Cerrone when asked if his success against Stephens had allowed him to move on from the loss. “No, no…that wasn’t me. I was off, and I’m not making excuses – he was the better man. He looked great in his last fight and my hat’s off to the dude. He’s really turning the career in his career and there’s a bad taste in my mouth. The dude, I really want to fight him. I’m 100% confident I can beat him.”
With Diaz likely sitting out until receiving the title-shot he was promised in beating Jim Miller earlier this month it appears Cerrone will have to wait awhile before a shot at redemption. In the interim he hopes to fight on August 11 at UFC 150 given the event’s proximity to his birthplace in Colorado. While he doesn’t have a specific opponent in mind, he is open to the idea of taking on Anthony Pettis as many fans have called for.
“Yeah, c’mon…anyone…I don’t care. Whoever they want me to fight. Whoever I’ve got to fight to get the belt, this is the year I want it. I’m coming,” stated an animated Cerrone. “Last year, my rookie year, I was scared. Everyone was asking about the belt. I’m like, “Oh man, that’s a big deal. Coming here, fighting for a belt my first year.’ Now I’m ready. Pettis…c’mon…whoever they want. Denver’s what I want though.”
Cerrone improved his overall record to 18-4 with his solid showing against Stephens. The victory was only the fourth by way of decision in his career with thirteen total wins via submission.
Check out the full interview below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, diaz, i ’m, ’m, cerrone
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBraulio Estima Still Wants BJJ Match With Nick Diaz, Cesar Gracie Agrees
After all of the drama of the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo superfight that never was, both Braulio Estima and Nick Diaz's trainer Cesar Gracie say that they'd be willing to try again.The first time around was an unmitigated disaster. Diaz flew into Long Beach, grew angered by an issue related to weigh-ins, and left without saying a word to anyone, much to the dismay of the assembled crowd as well as those who had paid to watch an online pay-per-view.But, Gracie said, while Diaz "made a lot of mistakes" in choosing to abandon the competition unannounced, in his opinion, the majority of the blame belongs with the man who according to the show's official website, was in charge of marketing, Nalty Junior.
In a joint interview on the "Inside BJJ" podcast with Tim Freeman, both Estima and Gracie gave their viewpoints of the controversial weekend.According to Gracie, the explosive issue that led to the fracture of the match was weight. He said that Junior had initially told their side that Estima could make 175 pounds, but a maximum of 180. According to Estima, Junior told him he could either weigh in at 180 pounds on Friday or 185 pounds on Saturday. A sub-issue was the timing of the weigh-in. Because none of the other grappling "superfights" required weigh-ins, there was no contracted time to hit the scales.
Diaz landed in Long Beach on Friday night at 180 pounds, ready to weigh-in and eat, but Gracie says when Junior relayed the information to Estima, they eventually were told he would not be weighing in that night. Estima said that was because while in Long Beach, he heard nothing about the weigh-ins on Friday night, so decided to eat. At some point later in the night though, the two sides seemed to agree that he would hit 180 pounds on Saturday."Junior was too disorganized," Gracie said. "He was telling him one thing what he wanted to hear, and telling us a completely different thing, maybe what we wanted to hear."
Estima believed that because it was considered a "friendly" competition, the weigh-ins were not a big deal, a sentiment clearly not shared by Diaz. Angered by the chaotic setup, he left without a word to anyone."We didn’t know Nick had left," Gracie said. "He does things on his own timing. He makes a decision and he doesn’t really talk to people about it. It’s something that needs to be fixed, but I didn’t know Nick wasn’t there. Nobody knew."Gracie said that after he learned Diaz left, several Brazilian top jiu-jitsu competitors in attendance offered to step up in his place, but Estima turned them down.Estima, who did not get paid for the event, essentially said that was because he had his heart set on a Diaz match. He noted his own personal sacrifices made in preparation, including a family vacation that was scaled back due to his training commitments and diet issues, as well as a 15-hour flight from abroad. In addition, he thought the prospect of facing off against Diaz was simply cool."I really wanted to take a picture with him, because actually, at the time, I was a big fan of him as a fighter," he said.It's not clear if he's still a Diaz fan, as he called his unannounced exit "very disrespectful," but one thing that was obvious was that Estima is still very much interested in grappling with him on the mats, as long as there is a date, time, place and agreed-upon number set for the weigh-ins.Gracie said he would still like to see the match happen as well, but noted that Diaz currently has his hands full with an upcoming Nevada state athletic commission meeting that will determine the immediate future of his MMA career."Right now, Nick is dealing with all this NSAC stuff, and it’s like they’re coming at him double-barreled, because he had the audacity to challenge them in court and everything, and say, 'get a lawyer," he said. "And they’re not used to doing that, so they’re coming at this guy crazy. We’ve got to deal with that stuff, make sure his head is right and everything. But I would love to see it. I’m sure he’d do it in the future, but it wouldn’t involve Junior."As for Estima's Saturday night comment that he'd be willing to fight Diaz in MMA, well, he took that back, chalking it up as the disappointment talking."When I mentioned about the fight MMA with Nick Diaz, I was a little bit overheated," he said. "I think It is kind of a little bit over the top for me to say that to him. My idea I wanted to come across was, if he was around, I would show up."
Posted in: diaz, nick, estima, gracie, weighin
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMMA Roundtable: Zombie Hunting, Grand Prix Importance, More
The "Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung is the talk of the MMA world on Wednesday morning. Pound-for-pound, he might be the most exciting fighter alive. He certainly has a legitimate argument for it, as he's yet to have even a remotely uninteresting match while competing under the Zuffa banner.
Even if there's someone you would personally place ahead of him on this mythical list, Jung is all we can ask for in a fighter. He is fearless, aggressive and constantly searching for a finish, yet he is also continually adding technical refinements to his game that allow him to succeed against an increasing level of competition. But is he ready for a featherweight championship opportunity? To tackle that question and several others in the news, I invited colleague Dave Doyle for this week's edition of The MMA Roundtable.
1. With his win over Dustin Poirier at UFC on FUEL 3, did Chan Sung Jung prove that he's ready for a title shot?Mike Chiappetta: I would say yes. With his win, he proved that he's capable of competing with anyone, Aldo included. I very wrongly picked Poirier to win, and to be honest, I thought he would do so in quite dominant fashion. As I saw it after watching tape on both, Poirier was sharper in all the important phases of the game. But Jung has made several slight but key alterations to his approach that now complement his aggression to add an extra element of danger to the proceedings. His best attribute though, might be his ability to turn the fight into one that favors his style. Would he be able to force Aldo into that kind of fight? Maybe, maybe not, but I think we'll get to find out.Why? Just as importantly as his fight skills, he is immensely popular. There aren't many featherweights that can claim that, and let's face it, the UFC often considers box-office value when making these decisions. Because of all these factors, don't be surprised if the Zombie gets plugged into a title shot in his next match.Dave Doyle: We've known Jung has plenty of heart since his first fight on these shores, the 2010 Fight of the Year loss to Leonard Garcia in Sacramento. Since then, though, we've watched "The Korean Zombie" blossom into the complete package of a fighter right before our eyes. We've seen him exhibit knockout power against Mark Hominick. We've seen him demonstrate outstanding technique in his submissions. We see a fighter who gets better all around with each fight. In short, we've seen the birth of a contender. I'm not going to go off the deep end here and call him the favorite in a potential bout against Jose Aldo Jr. or anything, but, let me put it this way: Assuming Jung goes on to meet Aldo, this will be the first time in a long time that I don't go into an Aldo fight automatically assuming the featherweight champ will steamroll his opponent. 2. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix concludes this weekend. Was it a success or failure?Doyle: Mostly a failure, but there’s still a potential silver lining. Go back to the Grand Prix’s beginning and consider what the company’s goals were in putting the tournament together. It was designed to show that Strikeforce, then an independent company, had a superior heavyweight division to the UFC, and, realistically, it was designed as a showcase for Fedor Emelianenko coming off his loss to Fabricio Werdum.Well, how did that work out? There was the disastrous opening night, in which Fedor got pummeled by Antonio Silva and Andrei Arlovski was brutally KO'd. The company was sold to the UFC. Josh Barnett’s licensing issues caused a holdup. Alistair Overeem left the company. On and on the list goes. Now for the potential redemption: After all this, there’s still the ability to build a new star. Daniel Cormier’s on a roll. He looks better with every fight. His knockout of Antonio Silva was impressive. If he looks good Saturday and can defeat a former UFC champion in Josh Barnett, then we’ve got ourselves a new heavyweight headliner. So there’s still hope for the Grand Prix.Chiappetta: This is a question that won't be answered until Saturday night. Despite all of the negatives Dave pointed out, a tournament's ultimate importance is in building buzz for the winner. If Cormier or Barnett walk out of the HP Pavilion with a growing chorus of believers, it will have ultimately served its (admittedly altered) purpose. This only works because the winner is eventually going to move over to the UFC, where presumably, he can make a solid case for the No. 1 contender slot. If the Strikeforce heavyweights hadn't moved over and the winner was forced to stay there, thereby depriving us of any fun speculation, it would have been fair to call the whole thing an unmitigated disaster. As it stands now, it is whatever Cormier or Barnett make of it.
If the winner moves to the UFC and builds buzz into a title match, then it's a success. If nobody cares, it will have been mostly for naught.3. Can King Mo Muhammed Lawal excel at mixed martial arts while busy working in pro wrestling simultaneously?Chiappetta: What King Mo is going to be attempting is no easy task. First of all, full disclosure: though I've been a sports reporter for the majority of my career, I worked for the WWE for a years in the early 2000s, so I have a pretty good understanding of the pro wrestling industry. Pro wrestling is awfully demanding. Most good athletes require a few years to learn the craft of "story-telling" a match, and even if you're good at it, injuries are quite common. Even if Impact Wrestling tries to work an abbreviated schedule with Lawal and minimizes his risk by having him concentrate on basic moves and his verbal gifts, he's still going to have to apply himself to excel, thereby minimizing his MMA time by some degree.It's not impossible that he can be good at both, but my concern for him is his health. He's had multiple knee issues in the last few years, and at 31 years old, he's not old, but he doesn't have youth on his side, either. The one thing that can help him? Bellator's light-heavyweight division is arguably its weakest. Champ Christian M'Pumbu recently lost a non-title fight with Travis Wiuff, and no one in the weight class comes close to sniffing the top 20. If Lawal stays healthy, he should be OK. But that's a big "if."Doyle: "King Mo" has an astounding ability to mesmerize the mixed martial arts media. His last fight sold precisely 927 tickets, yet his every move gets tracked as if he's got the combined star power of Brock Lesnar and Jon Jones. And it's for precisely that reason that I think he's going to become a huge star in the world of pro wrestling. Rasslin' success is based in large part on the ability to hype yourself, with, of course, a dose of legitimate athleticism thrown in. Lawal has already proven with his outsized ability to draw attention in MMA that he's blessed with the sort of charisma that translates well to wrestling, and he has the athletic talent needed to make the package complete. Now, does that mean it will translate to MMA success? Unlikely. As Mike astutely notes, pro wrestling is a physical grind, and Lawal already is coping with injuries and ailments. Pulling off both is going to be one tough feat. In wrestling, a hurt performer can go on for years with a style that works around their injuries. MMA offers no such luxury.4. Was Nick Diaz's submission grappling match no-show unfairly scrutinized? Doyle: You can make a general case that Nick Diaz’s life is overly scrutinized. If word gets out on the Internet that Diaz went to Whole Foods, within hours there would be a half-dozen blog posts psychoanalyzing his choice of vegetables. If Diaz wants to smoke weed in his free time? Not my problem, or anyone else’s. Does he have social anxiety disorder? That’s between him and his shrink. In the specific case of last weekend’s planned grappling match with Braulio Estima in Long Beach, though, yes, he deserves every bit of scrutiny which comes his way. This is for a simple reason: He stiffed the fans, the very people who have made mixed martial arts as big as it is. Diaz might have valid reasons for being upset with how the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo was being run. If he pulled out of the event beforehand and had Cesar Gracie explain to the fans his reasoning before the event went live, instead of two days after the fact, then they would have at least had a case. But when you leave both a full house live and people who were watching online stranded -- people who are your hardest-core fans -- then you’ve crossed a line and you deserve whatever scrutiny follows. Chiappetta: I may be in the vast minority here, but I think this Diaz-Estima situation was the most overblown drama I've seen in ages. You know why? Diaz is a mixed martial artist. That's his job. That's how he makes his living. He planned to do a jiu-jitsu match on the side, and that's fine, but let's be honest, it was a temporary diversion from him, and as it turns out, he got diverted from his own diversion.Let's put this into a bigger context. Imagine if eccentric Los Angeles Laker Metta World Peace blew off a free throw shooting contest. Do you think that would draw major headlines? Nope, it wouldn't measure a blip on the radar screen. This is a parallel situation.Let's get one thing clear: I'm not excusing Diaz of wrongdoing. Obviously we would like our professional athletes to act, you know, professionally. But Diaz has shown time and time again that that's not always going to happen. While I do feel sympathy for the fans who paid to see him, and also for Estima, who traveled from abroad for the match, this is kind of like the parable of the boy and the snake. The snake promises not to bite the boy if he saves him from freezing cold, but after the boy saves him, the snake bites him anyway. Why? Because he's a snake, that's why. We know who Diaz is; we should no longer be surprised when he does these things.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, he
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'Fed up' Braulio Estima fires back at Cesar Gracie for 'inexcusable' behavior by Nick Diaz
You didn't really think this would end so quietly ... did you?
Famed mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer Cesar Gracie, who often serves as his fighter's mouthpiece as well as their head coach, gave his best explanation as to why Nick Diaz failed to appear at his scheduled ‘Super Fight’ against Braulio Estima at the first ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo this past weekend (May 12, 2012) in Long Beach, California.
You can read that statement by clicking here.
Braulio was obviously disappointed, especially given the fact that he made a very long trip from London to California to attend the expo and participate in the highly-anticipated jiu-jitsu match against one of the top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight fighters of today, only to have him ''run away' in the final hour.
Not long after Gracie gave his statement as to why his student decided to bolt on the event altogether, citing "disrespect" and "lack of professionalism," which left Estima waiting alone on the mats ready to roll, Braulio himself responded to the above statement via his official Twitter account.
Check it out, after the jump.
@CesarGracieBJJ Hi César i was reading yr statement. vry interesting points..
1st- When junior approached me 2 Offer me the fight I was actually training at the blackzilians at the time so obviously I was training Mma. Junior told me abt nick not wanting 2 fight an Mma fighter. I nevr fought before so he said it was fine & y u dnt cancel the fight before if ths was really an issue..??
2nd- nobody has ever bended no rules for me. Because there was no rules set to start off with, it wasnt going to be a UFC match but a superfight on a BJJ Expo so the whole point here was for us to show a fight..has Nick signed a contract that stated the date time and weight that we both need to reach? I didn't. And since this whole thing was going to be a friendly event I really don't see any issue here even if Nick turned up 10lbs overweight. Still when asked I went and dropped the weight to meet the requirement. Actually to put things straight it was myself that called Junior around 10pm Friday to check if there is going to be a weigh in at all. He kept contacting you and got back to me saying I need to be 180 that time, of course I said I can't for the simple reason I was away in Irvine and it was already late at night but I said sure no problem I'll make it first thing in the morning if needed, even if it would put me in a bigger disadvantage I didnt care I just came to fight. Junior had actually called me back no later than midnight that he spoke to you and confirmed the weigh in for 10am.
Besides when did Nick actually weigh in? And who witnessed that if we are being so strict and proffessional?
3rd - you are saying Nick had left by 10am Saturday morning? Why you never said anything then? I even asked you I'd like to see him and his weight and you said he's not gonna come down because he ate already and wouldn't make the weight anymore. And Lana after speaking to you called his room and said he was actually there sleeping. Nobody at any point had mentioned he could have left. Leaving me believing we would fight till the very last minute, now youre talking about lack of proffesionalism in the organisation of the superfight and this was very professional behaviour right?
There is many more points here that I don't agree with but I am just fed up of this whole situation and don't agree for anyone to ever release the blame from Nick for whatever reason, we were there to fight and that's what should happen no excuses, we are both professional athletes and should respect one another no matter what. And this is inexcusable.
Some of the disappointment was aimed at the fact that Diaz was set to donate his entire earnings from the event to charity and that his disappearing act not only affected his reputation further, but also the charity itself.
There is, however, a positive side to all of this madness as MMA Uncensored's Mike Straka confirms that the Diaz camp did indeed make a sizable donation to St Jude's Children's Hospital. Though undoubtedly a very honorable and extremely nice gesture on the part of Diaz, apparently, all is not well that ends well ... at least not on Estima's end.
Whose side are you on?
For more on last weekend's grappling fiasco click here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, braulio
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCesar Gracie gives Nick Diaz’s side of the story after last weekend’s BJJ debacle
UFC welterweight Nick Diaz is not necessarily the most eloquent individual, often cracking under the pressure of media attention similarly to the way he breaks opponents inside the Octagon. However, coach/mentor Cesar Gracie has no such problem penning a thoughtful statement laced with objectivity, not profanity.
Gracie did just that last night regarding Diaz’s decision to no-show a scheduled BJJ superfight with Braulio Estima. And, while the renowned instructor certainly defended Diaz in the public plea, he also made it clear he wasn’t happy with how the 28-year old handled himself either.
“Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately,” wrote Gracie after revealing a number of situations behind-the-scenes had lead to Diaz’s behavior.
According to Gracie, the company behind the match misrepresented the situation by presenting Estima as an opponent without aspirations to compete as a Mixed Martial Artist. Feeling as though the Brazilian would likely use a BJJ victory over Diaz as a means of promoting himself in the MMA arena, Gracie and Diaz were initially inclined to pull out of the bout sooner but felt obligated to perform based on Renzo Gracie’s financial investment in the WJJE (where the bout was to be held).
UFC President Dana White Reacts to Diaz’s No-Show
Another issue arose when Estima failed to make an agreed upon weight the night before the clash was to take place. This was apparently the final straw for Diaz who left town the morning of the match and went home without telling anyone.
Read the full statement from Gracie below:
“My decision to write an account of what happened this weekend is not to answer to the detractors of myself or my team, as no explanation is owed them. It is instead based on my acknowledgement and respect to our fans and supporters. I never thought I would be answering for something that happened at a grappling tournament, however with the worldwide popularity of the sport and my team increasing, I understand that our supporters need answers.
Below is a compilation of events in chronological order. I included the behind the scenes problems we had to let you, our supporters, know how things deteriorated.
Facts
In the month of February I was contacted by a Brazilian named Junior asking me if I wanted to participate in an Expo\Jiu-jitsu tournament. The goal was to put one of our team’s stars in the event to attract sponsors and ensure it was successful. The event was not that far away and they desperately needed exposure. Junior stated that he was working with my uncle Rilion and my cousin Renzo on this project and they were in fact partners. Rilion and Renzo are 2 people that I greatly admire and respect and I was more than happy to partner up with them. I discussed the idea with Nick Diaz and he readily agreed to enter in the black belt gi division. He did not seek any reimbursement. Junior thought it better for Nick to do a super fight as he thought this would be more of a spectacle and bring in more attention.Nick was not as enthusiastic but agreed on the condition that whoever was picked to go against him was not a MMA fighter. He knew even a mediocre MMA fighter would try to use a match and/or victory over him to further their career in MMA. Nick believes a reputation as a fighter should only be earned in a ring or cage.
I relayed this to Junior and he agreed to arrange for a strict jiu-jitsu competitor.
In March I received the disturbing news from Rilion that Junior had broken his agreement with him. Rilion stated to me that Junior was registering all World Jiu-jitsu Expo names under his name alone and was no longer taking his phone calls. When contacted by me, Junior stated that he would no longer honor his financial obligations to Rilion because “Rilion was doing nothing and treats me like one of his clerks”.
He then went on a tirade about Rilion which I interrupted and reminded him that Rilion was my family member and I would not listen to someone speaking negatively about him.
This rift left me in a dilemma. My instinct was to sever ties immediately. Rilion was my original jiu-jitsu instructor and his reputation as an honest person was impeccable. On the other hand we had already committed Diaz and Caio Terra. Our removal would destroy an event Renzo provided all of the funding for.
I consulted with Rilion who advised me to move forward with the event. He was the one that had brought Renzo into this project and convinced Renzo to fund it. He also still believed in the idea of an American tournament that paid the best BJJ guys on the planet to showcase their skills. We agreed to move forward without him since at this stage Junior had entrenched himself and his removal was impossible. Lastly Rilion warned me that Junior was not to be trusted and would undoubtedly try to cheat me and Renzo.
In early April I got the call from Junior asking what I thought of a Braulio Estima vs Nick Diaz matchup. I had heard of Braulio and knew he was a formidable jiu-jitsu practitioner. I was under the impression that Braulio competed in the close to 200lbs weight category.
When I asked Junior he assured me that Braulio could weigh in as little as 175 lbs right before the match.
I presented his information to Nick who accepted the matchup and seemed happy to go against the top BJJ player in the world at that weight. Nick started training for the match and I brought up several BJJ black belts to compliment his training.
Looking through some of Estima’s YouTube videos, it was soon discovered that he had in fact been planning on entering upon a career in MMA. We wondered if the match with Diaz was a way to create a buzz around him and get him signed with a prominent organization.
I called Junior who assured me Estima would not be fighting in MMA and that he had spoken with him and been assured he had given up on the idea of ever fighting. Junior reiterated, “Cesar I spoke with Braulio, the guy is in his 30?s, he has a family and doesn’t want to live that type of life at this stage in his life…etc”
I repeated this info to Nick. A week or so later it was all over the Internet that Braulio had joined the “Blackzillians” and was training for a MMA fight. We had been lied to. Furthermore it was evident that Nick’s sole condition that he not go against a wanna be MMA guy was violated and this was in fact an attempt by Braulio to ignite an MMA career.Nick was to have been accurately portrayed as a fighter returning to his BJJ roots. He had even agreed to give his entire purse to charity; St Jude’s Children’s Hospital for kids with cancer. If you know the story of Ralph Gracie’s son you would understand why this charity was chosen. Nick’s name having been added to this event had saved it but now it was clear he was to be the patsy, not respected but used.
Despite all of this Nick was still going to compete. He brought up Kron Gracie and prepared himself. Around this time I was informed by Junior that Braulio wanted to weigh in the day before and not right before the match as is the custom in IBJJ competitions and Abu Dhabi. At the time Nick was about 186lbs so I consented to both guys weighing in at 180lbs the night before.
Nick boarded a plane on Friday for Long Beach having cut 6 pounds for the weigh in that night. On his way there I got a call from Junior telling me Braulio would not be making weight! ”Cesar Braulio is complaining about the weight cut. Can we have him weigh in tomorrow? He can’t make the weight tonight how about 185 in the morning?”
Nick arrives in Long Beach to the news that there will be no weigh ins that night. As a professional with over 30 fights this was the final straw. The disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event.
At 3:20 in the morning I received a text from Junior that Braulio would in fact make the 180lbs weight class at 10:00AM. With no other option available I said fine I’ll check with Nick in the morning. At 10:00AM Braulio did weigh in at 180lbs but by that time Nick had already left.
Opinion
As a Brazilian I love Brazil but not all things Brazilian. In the last decade I have witnessed Brazilian cronies running the IBJJF and making it impossible for Americans to get a fair shake when competing against their Brazilian countrymen. These cronies have instituted rules to where if you miss weight by even half a pound you are disqualified and not refunded your entry fee. They gladly keep your money and treat you like crap in your country because they can. One of these cronies (Junior) decided to bend all the rules for Braulio Estima and treat Nick Diaz like crap. Sorry that didn’t work out here.
As for Braulio I still respect him as a great BJJ artist. As far as calling Nick out for a MMA fight, he knows that is impossible because Nick is signed with the UFC and in MMA you have to make weight when they want you to. Not when you want to. If Braulio ever finds success in MMA then he can mention Nick’s name for a fight. Right now he should respect the man.
Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately.
Renzo and I have spoken and we are committed to continuing with this otherwise awesome event….without the services of Junior.
It should be noted that Nick paid to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitable the sum of what would have been his entire purse.
Thank you,
You have my apologies and my respect
Cesar Gracie
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, braulio, rilion
Read the full article at Fighters.comNick Diaz Nevada Hearing Pushed To May 21
On April 24th, Ross Goodman, Nick Diaz's lawyer, attacked the year-long suspension put upon Diaz by the Nevada State Athletic Commission by challenging the speediness of the deliberations. Yesterday, Judge Rob Bare has decided that the attack was to no avail and that the hearing to determine the validity of the suspension will happen later this month.
Mike Chiappetta over at MMA Fighting has the confirmation:
In a Monday hearing in Clark County (Nevada) district court, judge Rob Bare denied an injunction request that would have effectively overturned his temporary suspension by the the Nevada state athletic commission, stemming from a February drug test that was positive for marijuana metabolites.
The official minutes of the hearing will not be available until Wednesday, but Judge Bare's executive assistant Tara Duenas confirmed the ruling to MMA Fighting.
NSAC executive director Keith Kizer told MMA Fighting that Diaz's hearing with his sanctioning body would be placed on the May 21 docket.
The decision to deny the injunction request and schedule the hearing for later this month is relatively normal for most cases in the legal system. The novelty of Goodman's attack maneuver upon the suspension was sufficient to raise some eyebrows, but ultimately, Judge Bare sided with the NSAC. Keith Kizer, executive chairman of the NSAC, told Chiappetta that the judge's advice to put hearing delays in formal writings would be taken into consideration for the future.
Posted in: diaz, judge, suspension, nevada, hearing
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDiaz injunction denied; hearing set for Monday
UFC fighter Nick Diaz didn't get a reinstatement to fight again but his case did set a precedent Monday that may benefit fighters in future.
Posted in: diaz, fighter, monday, precedent monday, diaz injunction
Read the full article at sportsnet.caCesar Gracie’s Official Statement on Nick Diaz/World Jiu-jitsu Expo
Late last evening via GracieFighter.com, Nick Diaz’s coach and manager Cesar Gracie released an official statement on his student no-showing the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo over the weekend.
Gracie starts off by explaining the initial organization of the expo, which was apparently overseen “by a Brazilian named Junior.” Upon learning of his uncle Rilion and cousin Renzo’s involvement with the expo, Cesar brought up the idea to Nick Diaz, who initially agreed to participate in a black belt tournament.
I discussed the idea with Nick Diaz and he readily agreed to enter in the black belt gi division. He did not seek any reimbursement. Junior thought it better for Nick to do a super fight as he thought this would be more of a spectacle and bring in more attention. Nick was not as enthusiastic but agreed on the condition that whoever was picked to go against him was not an mma fighter. He knew even a mediocre mma fighter would try to use a match and/or victory over him to further their career in mma. Nick believes a reputation as a fighter should only be earned in a ring or cage.I relayed this to Junior and he agreed to arrange for a strict jiu-jitsu competitor.
Before long, Cesar learned that Rilion an Junior had come to a business disagreement and severed ties. Considering Renzo’s large financial stake in the tournament, Rilion advised Cesar to move ahead with the tournament, but with caution; Cesar agreed. Junior proposed Braulio Estima as an opponent for Diaz with the strict assurance that Estima had no intentions of ever competing in mixed martial arts.
I repeated this info to Nick. A week or so later it was all over the Internet that Braulio had joined the “Blackzillians” and was training for an mma fight. We had been lied to. Furthermore it was evident that Nick’s sole condition that he not go against a wanna be mma guy was violated and this was in fact an attempt by Braulio to ignite an mma career.Nick was to have been accurately portrayed as a fighter returning to his BJJ roots. He had even agreed to give his entire purse to charity; St Jude’s Children’s Hospital for kids with cancer. If you know the story of Ralph Gracie’s son you would understand why this charity was chosen. Nick’s name having been added to this event had saved it but now it was clear he was to be the patsy, not respected but used.
Cesar says that even after learning of this, Diaz intended to go through with the fight. He also agreed to weigh in the night before the competition at 180lbs.
Nick boarded a plane on Friday for Long Beach having cut 6 pounds for the weigh in that night. On his way there I got a call from Junior telling me Braulio would not be making weight! ”Cesar Braulio is complaining about the weight cut. Can we have him weigh in tomorrow? He can’t make the weight tonight how about 185 in the morning?” Nick arrives in Long Beach to the news that there will be no weigh ins that night. As a professional with over 30 fights this was the final straw. The disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event. At 3:20 in the morning I received a text from Junior that Braulio would in fact make the 180lbs weight class at 10:00AM. With no other option available I said fine I’ll check with Nick in the morning. At 10:00AM Braulio did weigh in at 180lbs but by that time Nick had already left.
Gracie gave respect to Estima as a BJJ player, but answered his call for an MMA fight with Diaz by saying he needed to “find success in MMA” first. He pointed to what he believes was a crooked promoter’s intentional tipping of the scales in his countryman’s favor as what ultimately cancelled the fight.
As a Brazilian I love Brazil but not all things Brazilian. In the last decade I have witnessed Brazilian cronies running the IBJJF and making it impossible for Americans to get a fair shake when competing against their Brazilian countrymen. These cronies have instituted rules to where if you miss weight by even half a pound you are disqualified and not refunded your entry fee. They gladly keep your money and treat you like crap in your country because they can. One of these cronies (Junior) decided to bend all the rules for Braulio Estima and treat Nick Diaz like crap. Sorry that didn’t work out here.
The coach didn’t deflect all the blame from Diaz though, asserting that he will be reprimanded for his disappearing act. He also reminded us that Diaz did make the agreed-upon donation to St. Jude’s out of his own pocket.
Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately. Renzo and I have spoken and we are committed to continuing with this otherwise awesome event….without the services of Junior. It should be noted that Nick paid to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitable the sum of what would have been his entire purse.
Renzo Gracie has since spoken out about the event since it all went down last Saturday, appearing on the MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo taking blame for the situation for his role in allowing Junior to organize.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, cesar, braulio
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyRenzo Gracie on Nick Diaz no-show: 'If there’s someone to blame, it’s me'
Jits, lies and videotape.
There's been a lot of finger-pointing in the wake of last weekend's World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, one that was marred by a canceled "superfight" between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Nick Diaz and his opponent, famed grappling stud Braulio Estima.
Diaz, who failed to appear in the main event, took his ball and went home after getting played by a Brazilian crony, according to his official statement.
The man behind the expo, longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Renzo Gracie, wants to be the guy to take the blame for the breakdown in communication, as well as his decision to let an "amateur" deal with the fighters scheduled to attend.
His comments from "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo" (transcribed by The Score) after the jump.
"I have to be honest, if there’s someone to blame, it’s me. Even though it was my expo, I had one guy working on it and he was good at organizing it and putting it together. The only thing he’s not good at is dealing with fighters. From what I understand, Junior called Cesar Gracie’s room the night previously at midnight and said Braulio Estima would be 10 pounds overweight. You have to understand, Nick Diaz was already giving up too much fighting that caliber of fighter in BJJ. For Nick to take the match, it shows the kind of guts he has. It ended up turning out the way that it did because the guy dealing with the fighters is an amateur, and he didn’t understand the emotions the athletes go through."
Weigh ins, fables and scales, oh my!
While Renzo is (kind of) taking responsibility for last weekend's fiasco, there is a long list of culpable parties. Diaz's temper, Estima's weight cut, Junior's lies and Gracie's leadership make for a volatile mix. And Dana White can't believe you're even shocked!
For more fallout from the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo click here.
Posted in: diaz, guy, nick, fighter, expo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiaz absent at World Jiu Jitsu Expo
MMA Weekly reports that Nick Diaz did not appear at his scheduled jiu jitsu superfight against Braulio Estima this weekend. Diaz was in the main event which was held at the World Jiu Jitsu Expo this weekend in Long Beach, California.
The fights were available online on via live stream for $9.95 with Diaz as the selling point for the card.
Cesar Gracie explained on his web site (via MMA Weekly) that Diaz’s absence at the event was due in part to mishandling of the event. The crux of the explanation was that Diaz wanted to grapple with a jiu jitsu practitioner and not an individual aspiring to be an MMA fighter. According to Gracie, it was represented that Estima was not training for MMA. However, it was relayed later that Estima was planning to be an MMA fighter. Also, Gracie explained that Estima was having issues making weight which apparently was the last straw. Despite no-showing, Gracie stated Diaz donated money to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital in the amount of money he would have made for the superfight.
Payout Perspective:
No-showing this past weekend probably hurt the Nick Diaz brand. But, then again, this behavior is normal for Diaz. Gracie’s explanation sheds some light on what could have been the problem causing Diaz not to participate Saturday. Certainly, Diaz’s absence hurt the event as many relied on his appearance — sponsors, vendors, fans in attendance and those purchasing the live stream online. Diaz’s explanation is plausible and his demand not to meet a grappler aspiring to be in MMA makes sense from Diaz’s point of view.
From a public relations perspective, it seems like Diaz, not Gracie, could have made the statement about the reasons for not appearing. Regardless of the management of the event or the promises given about his opponent, many people relied on Diaz to appear at the event. Even if he were to decline participation and just show up to sign autographs and/or conduct a demonstration it would save face. With the no-show, it continues the stigma that Diaz does not play the game and hurts future appearance opportunities.
Posted in: diaz, mma, event, gracie, mma fighter
Read the full article at MMA PayoutMorning Report: Cesar Gracie Releases Official Response, Says Nick Diaz Felt Like He Was in a Circus
Let's get this out of the way now. Cesar Gracie released an official response to the whole Nick Diaz no-showing the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo situation, and it's definitely... something.
But hey guys, pay attention real quick. Are you ready for this? I'm going to blow your mind.
There's a UFC card tonight.
(I get it, most of you already knew that. But I'm willing to bet there's at least one guy out there who just got his mind blown. So for that guy, you're welcome.)
Obviously the whole Diaz soap opera continues to roll on, but I can't be the only one who just wants to tune out the noise and watch some actual, real-life fighting. Remember the last time there were mid-week fights, and how they proved to be a nice little slice of violence to relieve the weekday monotony?
Even if tonight's UFC on FUEL 3 card isn't the most star-studded, you and I both know that likely means we're about to see nothing but brawls. And besides, personally, I'm ultra-curious to see if Chan Sung Jung has really turned a corner or if Dustin Poirier is actually the can't-miss prospect we all think he could be. And how can Donald Cerrone possibly recover after having his soul snatched by Nate Diaz? I demand answers.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
UFC on FUEL 3 weigh-in results. All fighters made weight at Monday's UFC on FUEL 3 weigh-ins, including featherweight headliners Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier.
Cesar Gracie responds. Cesar Gracie issued an official response to the bizarre Nick Diaz situation, explaining that Diaz abandoned his match with Braulio Estima because of a series of perceived slights which accumulated to make him feel like "he was at a circus."
The MMA Hour. Ariel Helwani and The MMA Hour return to your life with a championship line-up featuring Junior dos Santos, Urijah Faber, Josh Barnett, Daniel Cormier, Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson and Vinny Magalhaes.
Nick Diaz-Braulio Estima. Ben Thapa presents a comprehensive timeline detailing how exactly the Nick Diaz-Braulio Estima situation spiraled so heavily out of control, so quickly.
Nick Diaz's injunction denied. Judge Rob Bare denied an injunction request that would have effectively overturned Nick Diaz's temporary suspension during a Monday hearing in Clark County district court.
WANT TO BUY AN M-1 TITLE?
Current bid to buy Vinny Magalhaes' M-1 light heavyweight belt: SOLD at $100k?
Yesterday's bid: $2,125.00
MEDIA STEW
So Dana White wasn't happy with the pessimistic coverage of the UFC on FOX 3 ratings, and he released a 4 1/2 minute video blog to tell you.
Donald Cerrone might want to be wary of getting too comfortable tonight, because Jeremy Stephens has a history of doing violent things when he's down two rounds to zero.
Wanderlei Silva is forced into dog-duty for his latest video blog, so he carries the little pup to the beach and launches into a surprisingly poetic speech about how much of a jerk Vitor Belfort is being on TUF Brazil.
We wish we could show you Korean Zombie vs. Leonard Garcia I, since it was probably the most insane fight ever held. But instead, we'll just have to settle on Korean Zombie vs. Leonard Garcia II and one of the most creative submissions in MMA history. (How ridiculous would it be see Zombie bust another one of these out tonight?)
Prepare to see one of the worst leg breaks you've ever seen in your life:
Told you. That unfortunate limb belongs to Gerry Hopkins, whose leg kick was checked by Ash Griffith earlier this week at England's Total Combat 47. (HT: MMA HQ)
CESAR'S RESPONSE
Will be posted at 10:30pm PST. Ross Goodman (attorney) asked to review it before posting. Thinks I am too forthcoming for own good
— Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) May 15, 2012
Graciefighter.com. Up
— Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) May 15, 2012
DANA ON DIAZ
@evan1evan next time!? Dude, what planet do you live on? It's been my problem for over a year. Do u not watch the UFC or follow MMA?
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 13, 2012
GOIN' ZOMBIE HUNTING
Want to thank my family,friends and supporters!! Thank you guys so much for everything. Tomorrow I will fight with my heart. Thank you
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 15, 2012
WOW...
Good to see the other Lakers respond to Kobe's demand they step up their game. The playoffs aren't like raping someone. He can't do it alone
— Sean McCorkle (@BigSexyMcCorkle) May 15, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Monday, May 14, 2012):
- UFC on FOX 4: Chad Griggs (11-2) vs. Phil Davis (9-1)
- UFC on FUEL 4: Aaron Simpson (11-3) vs. Jon Fitch (23-4-1) confirmed
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day is a thorough recap of Josh Barnett's rocky relationship with the UFC: The Sketchy Past Of Josh Barnett Leaves His Future In Question
In one of the most anticipated Heavyweight bouts of the last year, Josh Barnett is set to face-off against former Olympian Daniel Cormier on May 19th at the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals. Daniel has been a highly touted and impressive prospect since he was signed by Strikeforce. After racking up 7 wins and remaining undefeated, Cormier was tapped as an alternate for the Grand Prix. When Alistair Overeem was dropped from the organization, Daniel got the call to fill his spot against Antonio Silva. In the biggest test of his MMA career thus far, Cormier impressed with a TKO victory and earned his spot in the finals. There's no doubt that win or lose he's looking at an exciting future with the UFC.
The picture is not so clear for veteran fighter Josh Barnett, however. At a glance, the choice seems easy. He's an uncontested top 10 fighter. He's charismatic. He's widely recognized as being a part of some of the best fights in the sports history in his battles against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. And he breezed through the first two rounds of the tournament without a scratch. Easy call, right? Not so fast. There's a reason Barnett is one of the most infamous fighter's in MMA's short history. Namely, PED's.
Barnett started strong, rattling off 10 consecutive victories before losing to former UFC champion Pedro Rizzo at UFC 30. He recovered well, though, and finished his next two fights earning himself a shot at the title against Randy Couture. Josh scored the TKO victory late in the second to win the Heavyweight title, but his triumph would be very short-lived. Barnett tested positive for three different banned substances and was kicked out of the promotion by UFC president Dana White (Note: Mike Sloan of Sherdog has reported that Barnett also failed at UFC 34, but was not punished. I was unable to find any other confirmation of this report). Barnett was sentenced with a six month suspension and forced to find somewhere else to compete.
This failed test would be a turning point in Barnett's career.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, mma, barnett, cesar
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseCesar Gracie says Nick Diaz’s lack of communication was inexcusable
Renowned coach Cesar Gracie is a lot of things for polarizing welterweight Nick Diaz – a trainer, a mentor, a father-figure, and now apparently a spokesperson. Gracie, who has stood up for Diaz publicly before, finally broke the silence surrounding the 28-year old’s decision to not show up for a scheduled grappling match this past weekend.
While Gracie expressed disappointment in a written statement published late last night he also made it clear he understood where his star pupil was coming from given the lack of professionalism he received from the organization hosting the bout.
According to Gracie, the issues influencing Diaz’s decision related to opponent Braulio Estima being presented as someone with no interest in a MMA career as well as the Brazilian’s weight-related demands. Originally Diaz’s camp had been told Estima was purely focused on grappling as a means of quelling their concerns about a BJJ-based win being used as a means of self-promotion in the MMA field. When they learned he had started training for an eventual MMA debut a red flag went up. Estima also failed to make an agreed-upon weight the night before the match-up, adding to Diaz’s displeasure with how things were being handled.
However, that doesn’t mean Gracie let Diaz off the hook for his role in the matter.
“Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately,” wrote Gracie.
Gracie also added Diaz donated a sum equal to that of his purse from the event to St. Jude’s Hospital as he’d planned to do with his winnings.
The full body of Gracie’s statement can be found below:
My decision to write an account of what happened this weekend is not to answer to the detractors of myself or my team, as no explanation is owed them. It is instead based on my acknowledgement and respect to our fans and supporters. I never thought I would be answering for something that happened at a grappling tournament, however with the worldwide popularity of the sport and my team increasing, I understand that our supporters need answers.
Below is a compilation of events in chronological order. I included the behind the scenes problems we had to let you, our supporters, know how things deteriorated.
Facts
In the month of February I was contacted by a Brazilian named Junior asking me if I wanted to participate in an Expo\Jiu-jitsu tournament. The goal was to put one of our team’s stars in the event to attract sponsors and ensure it was successful. The event was not that far away and they desperately needed exposure. Junior stated that he was working with my uncle Rilion and my cousin Renzo on this project and they were in fact partners. Rilion and Renzo are 2 people that I greatly admire and respect and I was more than happy to partner up with them. I discussed the idea with Nick Diaz and he readily agreed to enter in the black belt gi division. He did not seek any reimbursement. Junior thought it better for Nick to do a super fight as he thought this would be more of a spectacle and bring in more attention.Nick was not as enthusiastic but agreed on the condition that whoever was picked to go against him was not a MMA fighter. He knew even a mediocre MMA fighter would try to use a match and/or victory over him to further their career in MMA. Nick believes a reputation as a fighter should only be earned in a ring or cage.
I relayed this to Junior and he agreed to arrange for a strict jiu-jitsu competitor.
In March I received the disturbing news from Rilion that Junior had broken his agreement with him. Rilion stated to me that Junior was registering all World Jiu-jitsu Expo names under his name alone and was no longer taking his phone calls. When contacted by me, Junior stated that he would no longer honor his financial obligations to Rilion because “Rilion was doing nothing and treats me like one of his clerks”.
He then went on a tirade about Rilion which I interrupted and reminded him that Rilion was my family member and I would not listen to someone speaking negatively about him.
This rift left me in a dilemma. My instinct was to sever ties immediately. Rilion was my original jiu-jitsu instructor and his reputation as an honest person was impeccable. On the other hand we had already committed Diaz and Caio Terra. Our removal would destroy an event Renzo provided all of the funding for.
I consulted with Rilion who advised me to move forward with the event. He was the one that had brought Renzo into this project and convinced Renzo to fund it. He also still believed in the idea of an American tournament that paid the best BJJ guys on the planet to showcase their skills. We agreed to move forward without him since at this stage Junior had entrenched himself and his removal was impossible. Lastly Rilion warned me that Junior was not to be trusted and would undoubtedly try to cheat me and Renzo.
In early April I got the call from Junior asking what I thought of a Braulio Estima vs Nick Diaz matchup. I had heard of Braulio and knew he was a formidable jiu-jitsu practitioner. I was under the impression that Braulio competed in the close to 200lbs weight category.
When I asked Junior he assured me that Braulio could weigh in as little as 175 lbs right before the match.
I presented his information to Nick who accepted the matchup and seemed happy to go against the top BJJ player in the world at that weight. Nick started training for the match and I brought up several BJJ black belts to compliment his training.
Looking through some of Estima’s YouTube videos, it was soon discovered that he had in fact been planning on entering upon a career in MMA. We wondered if the match with Diaz was a way to create a buzz around him and get him signed with a prominent organization.
I called Junior who assured me Estima would not be fighting in MMA and that he had spoken with him and been assured he had given up on the idea of ever fighting. Junior reiterated, “Cesar I spoke with Braulio, the guy is in his 30?s, he has a family and doesn’t want to live that type of life at this stage in his life…etc”
I repeated this info to Nick. A week or so later it was all over the Internet that Braulio had joined the “Blackzillians” and was training for a MMA fight. We had been lied to. Furthermore it was evident that Nick’s sole condition that he not go against a wanna be MMA guy was violated and this was in fact an attempt by Braulio to ignite an MMA career.Nick was to have been accurately portrayed as a fighter returning to his BJJ roots. He had even agreed to give his entire purse to charity; St Jude’s Children’s Hospital for kids with cancer. If you know the story of Ralph Gracie’s son you would understand why this charity was chosen. Nick’s name having been added to this event had saved it but now it was clear he was to be the patsy, not respected but used.
Despite all of this Nick was still going to compete. He brought up Kron Gracie and prepared himself. Around this time I was informed by Junior that Braulio wanted to weigh in the day before and not right before the match as is the custom in IBJJ competitions and Abu Dhabi. At the time Nick was about 186lbs so I consented to both guys weighing in at 180lbs the night before.
Nick boarded a plane on Friday for Long Beach having cut 6 pounds for the weigh in that night. On his way there I got a call from Junior telling me Braulio would not be making weight! ”Cesar Braulio is complaining about the weight cut. Can we have him weigh in tomorrow? He can’t make the weight tonight how about 185 in the morning?”
Nick arrives in Long Beach to the news that there will be no weigh ins that night. As a professional with over 30 fights this was the final straw. The disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event.
At 3:20 in the morning I received a text from Junior that Braulio would in fact make the 180lbs weight class at 10:00AM. With no other option available I said fine I’ll check with Nick in the morning. At 10:00AM Braulio did weigh in at 180lbs but by that time Nick had already left.
Opinion
As a Brazilian I love Brazil but not all things Brazilian. In the last decade I have witnessed Brazilian cronies running the IBJJF and making it impossible for Americans to get a fair shake when competing against their Brazilian countrymen. These cronies have instituted rules to where if you miss weight by even half a pound you are disqualified and not refunded your entry fee. They gladly keep your money and treat you like crap in your country because they can. One of these cronies (Junior) decided to bend all the rules for Braulio Estima and treat Nick Diaz like crap. Sorry that didn’t work out here.
As for Braulio I still respect him as a great BJJ artist. As far as calling Nick out for a MMA fight, he knows that is impossible because Nick is signed with the UFC and in MMA you have to make weight when they want you to. Not when you want to. If Braulio ever finds success in MMA then he can mention Nick’s name for a fight. Right now he should respect the man.
Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately.
Renzo and I have spoken and we are committed to continuing with this otherwise awesome event….without the services of Junior.
It should be noted that Nick paid to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitable the sum of what would have been his entire purse.
Thank you,
You have my apologies and my respect
Cesar Gracie
PHOTO CREDIT – HDNET/STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, gracie, braulio
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCesar Gracie issues official Nick Diaz no-show statement, blames Brazilian crony
It's been 24 long hours, but the Nick Diaz camp has finally issued a statement that provides its side of the story about what happened at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo this past Saturday (May 12, 2012).
Diaz -- who has established an unreliable reputation for making promised appearances thanks in large part to his recent rocky Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) stint -- failed to show up for his superfight against Braulio Estima at the event.
In fact, Estima waited on the math, fruitlessly, while public announcements were being made for Diaz to report for duty.
He never appeared.
That's because, according to his trainer Cesar Gracie, Diaz had left. He had no choice after "disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event." Gracie posted a detailed statement on GracieFighter.com that described the "facts" behind the situation, which included a Brazilian crony promoter who not only disrespected Diaz, but also his Gracie family members.
This crony, who is named Junior, also lied to Diaz about numerous things, including the weigh-in process, which Gracie explains was designed to give Estima an unfair advantage, as well as Estima's desire to enter mixed martial arts (MMA) someday soon. And, as Gracie tells it, to use the Diaz name as a springboard to further his MMA aspirations.
Something that was apparently a major concession prior to agreeing to the grappling match.
Check out a portion of Gracie's statement after the jump:
In early April I got the call from Junior asking what I thought of a Braulio Estima vs Nick Diaz matchup. I had heard of Braulio and knew he was a formidable jiu-jitsu practitioner. I was under the impression that Braulio competed in the close to 200lbs weight category. When I asked Junior he assured me that Braulio could weigh in as little as 175 lbs right before the match. I presented his information to Nick who accepted the matchup and seemed happy to go against the top BJJ player in the world at that weight. Nick started training for the match and I brought up several BJJ black belts to compliment his training. Looking through some of Estima’s youtube videos, it was soon discovered that he had in fact been planning on entering upon a career in mma. We wondered if the match with Diaz was a way to create a buzz around him and get him signed with a prominent organization. I called Junior who assured me Estima would not be fighting in mma and that he had spoken with him and been assured he had given up on the idea of ever fighting.
Junior reiterated, "Cesar I spoke with Braulio, the guy is in his 30′s, he has a family and doesn’t want to live that type of life at this stage in his life…etc" I repeated this info to Nick. A week or so later it was all over the Internet that Braulio had joined the "Blackzillians" and was training for an mma fight. We had been lied to. Furthermore it was evident that Nick’s sole condition that he not go against a wanna be mma guy was violated and this was in fact an attempt by Braulio to ignite an mma career.Nick was to have been accurately portrayed as a fighter returning to his BJJ roots. He had even agreed to give his entire purse to charity; St Jude’s Children’s Hospital for kids with cancer. If you know the story of Ralph Gracie’s son you would understand why this charity was chosen.
Nick’s name having been added to this event had saved it but now it was clear he was to be the patsy, not respected but used. Despite all of this Nick was still going to compete. He brought up Kron Gracie and prepared himself. Around this time I was informed by Junior that Braulio wanted to weigh in the day before and not right before the match as is the custom in IBJJ competitions and Abu Dhabi. At the time Nick was about 186lbs so I consented to both guys weighing in at 180lbs the night before. Nick boarded a plane on Friday for Long Beach having cut 6 pounds for the weigh in that night. On his way there I got a call from Junior telling me Braulio would not be making weight! "Cesar Braulio is complaining about the weight cut. Can we have him weigh in tomorrow? He can’t make the weight tonight how about 185 in the morning?"
Nick arrives in Long Beach to the news that there will be no weigh ins that night. As a professional with over 30 fights this was the final straw. The disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event. At 3:20 in the morning I received a text from Junior that Braulio would in fact make the 180lbs weight class at 10:00AM. With no other option available I said fine I’ll check with Nick in the morning. At 10:00AM Braulio did weigh in at 180lbs but by that time Nick had already left.... As a Brazilian I love Brazil but not all things Brazilian. In the last decade I have witnessed Brazilian cronies running the IBJJF and making it impossible for Americans to get a fair shake when competing against their Brazilian countrymen. These cronies have instituted rules to where if you miss weight by even half a pound you are disqualified and not refunded your entry fee. They gladly keep your money and treat you like crap in your country because they can. One of these cronies (Junior) decided to bend all the rules for Braulio Estima and treat Nick Diaz like crap. Sorry that didn’t work out here.
As for Braulio I still respect him as a great BJJ artist. As far as calling Nick out for a mma fight, he knows that is impossible because Nick is signed with the UFC and in mma you have to make weight when they want you to. Not when you want to. If Braulio ever finds success in mma then he can mention Nick’s name for a fight. Right now he should respect the man. Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately. Renzo and I have spoken and we are committed to continuing with this otherwise awesome event ... without the services of Junior. It should be noted that Nick paid to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitable the sum of what would have been his entire purse.
For more on the Nick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima fallout be sure to click here and get up to speed. And to hear UFC President Dana White's reaction to Diaz's no-show news click here.
Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, weight, braulio
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Nick Diaz's camp issued a statement explaining why he no showed.
submitted by JesusHadALittleLamb [link] [5 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick, jesushadalittlelamb, camp, statement
Read the full article at RedditDiaz denied injunction by Nevada court
MMA Fighting reports that Nick Diaz’s request for an injunction has been denied by a Nevada court. However, Diaz’s hearing on the merits of his case will be heard before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on May 21st.
In addition with filing their Complaint on April 26th, Diaz’s attorney filed a temporary injunction seeking a court order staying the NSAC’s suspension of Diaz for failing his UFC 143 drug test. The NSAC opposed the injunction stating that Diaz’s legal actions were premature.
No transcript of Monday’s hearing was released as of this writing although the ruling was confirmed by MMA Fighting.
Payout Perspective:
While this was a win for the NSAC, the Diaz camp received a date for a hearing on the merits next week. So, despite losing Monday, they have a week to prepare for the hearing. Diaz faces a year suspension if his defense is not successful.
Posted in: diaz, year suspension, hearing, diaz ’s, injunction
Read the full article at MMA PayoutNext Monday, Keith Kizer’s ready to drop the hammer on Nick Diaz @MMASupremacy @mmatorch @ultmma
Keith Kizer is preparing to go after Nick Diaz for a one year suspension due to testing positive for marijuana for a second time.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, keith, year suspension
Read the full article at Fight OpinionDana White reacts to Nick Diaz no-show, calls shocked fans 'brain dead'
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White is never one to hold back when he has something on his mind or if asked to give his honest opinion on anything, especially on a fighter and anything mixed martial arts (MMA) related.
So when Nick Diaz was a no show for his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ‘superfight’ against mat wizard Braulio Estima this past weekend (May 12, 2012) at the first-ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, Calif., you could pretty much bank on the fact that White would have something to say about it.
He didn't disappoint.
Commenting on his official Twitter account, White -- who claims he had no idea that Diaz was even going to be competing at the event -- says that he really isn't shocked that the shifty Stockton scrapper bailed on a commitment.
He is, however, surprised that "braindead" people are shocked:
"No, not shocked and I'm surprised u people are! He no showed a Las Vegas press conf to a fight he was gonna make HUGE $ and title. People are f***in nuts and braindead to be OUTRAGED and SHOCKED that Nick no showed something."
Of course, White knows all too well what it's like dealing with the volatile personality that Nick Diaz possesses.
After failing to appear at two press conferences to promote the highly anticipated title fight between he and UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, White yanked the the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter from the main event and replaced him with Carlos Condit.
Diaz, however, did remain on the card to take on B.J. Penn in the co-main event, which was later bumped to the headliner because of an injury that forced "Rush" off of the card all together.
Though Diaz is technically not one of White's employees at the moment -- he announced his abrupt retirement after his loss to Condit at UFC 143 -- White says it isn't his problem:
"that's a fight? Since when is a BJJ match a fight? Not my problem. The promoter of that shows problem. I have enough of my own."
While Diaz has recently hinted at a possible return to MMA, he first has to resolve all of his issues with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). His return, however, may not be too well received given his latest shenanigans. Diaz was reportedly set to donate his entire winnings from the grappling match to charity.
How about it, Maniacs. Are you among the brain dead bunch who were shocked Diaz no-showed or, like White, is it just par for the card whenever he is involved in an event?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, event
Read the full article at MMA ManiaInjunction Sought By Nick Diaz Denied By NSAC
Nick Diaz had hoped the Nevada district count would grant him an injunction in his case against the Nevada State Athletic Commission concerning a failed post-fight drug test. However, those hopes were denied Monday. That means Diaz must appear May 21 in front of NSAC. “That’s pretty much what we wanted in the first place, [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nevada state, nevada, injunction
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz's Injunction Denied, Forcing Him to Wait Until NSAC Hearing for Career Clarity
Nick Diaz will be forced to wait at least one more week before learning about the status of his stalled mixed martial arts career.
In a Monday hearing in Clark County (Nevada) district court, judge Rob Bare denied an injunction request that would have effectively overturned his temporary suspension by the the Nevada state athletic commission, stemming from a February drug test that was positive for marijuana metabolites.
The official minutes of the hearing will not be available until Wednesday, but Judge Bare's executive assistant Tara Duenas confirmed the ruling to MMA Fighting.
NSAC executive director Keith Kizer told MMA Fighting that Diaz's hearing with his sanctioning body would be placed on the May 21 docket.
Diaz's suit, filed on April 24 through attorney Ross Goodman, claimed that NSAC had violated his due process right to a speedy hearing, a requirement that the commission will determine the outcome of any summary suspension within 45 days of the suspension.
NSAC rebutted the claim, suggesting that Diaz and his manager Cesar Gracie had precipitated the delay by offering to produce a medical marijuana card, and then failed to present that documentation.
In previous legal responses, Goodman has argued that NSAC has no legal authority to suspend Diaz for marijuana metabolites, saying that result suggest out-of-competition use. Under the rules of the strict World Anti-Doping Agency, out-of-competition marijuana use is not prohibited.
"We were ready, willing and able to proceed, and we held it off because his attorney asked to do so to produce the card," Kizer said. "It now appears that Mr. Diaz and Mr. Gracie were less than honest with Mr. Goodman about having the card."
Diaz was not present for the Las Vegas hearing.
On May 21, he'll face the prospect of a one-year suspension.
As for NSAC, Kizer said they will take the judge's advice of putting hearing delays in formal writing to avoid any future confusion.
Posted in: diaz, suspension, nsac, hearing, marijuana metabolites
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz camp's request for injunction denied, NSAC hearing set for May 21
A request to drop Nick Diaz's suspension was denied today in a Nevada district court, which clears the way for a hearing on the disciplinary complaint filed against him in February.
Judge Rob Bare ruled that while the NSAC technically violated state statutes by not conducting the hearing within 45 days of Diaz's initial suspension, the fighter needs to appear before the commission before a judge intervenes.
The NSAC now will hear Diaz's case on May 21.
Posted in: diaz, nsac, diazs case, nsac hearing, february judge
Read the full article at MMA JunkieHow The Nick Diaz-Braulio Estima Situation Spiraled Out Of Control
Ultimately, Nick Diaz was the one who chose to walk out of the Long Beach Convention Center without grappling with Braulio Estima, but it was the people around him that put him in a position where that seemed like a good idea. This topic has generated an astounding amount of commentary on Nick Diaz's past, present and future in combat sports, yet this might actually be the single best example of the weird echo chamber of mixed martial arts media and how that can be toxic to a fighter.
Several people close to Cesar Gracie and Nick Diaz started a furor that grew beyond corralling or facts and ended up derailing the Nick Diaz/Braulio Estima Superfight at the Long Beach Spring Open. Chief among those taking up the cause against Braulio Estima and heightening the drama were two members of the MMA media, Layzie the Savage and Zeus.
Over at Middle Easy, Layzie has built a genuine and strong relationship with several members of Cesar Gracie's Gracie Fighter team - the Diaz brothers being prominent among them. This has led to Layzie doing work directly for the Diaz brothers and at other times working as a "video journalist" for the irreverently-themed combat sports site run by Zeus.
Layzie has the strong relationship he does with the Diaz brothers because he lives in the same region of northern California, has similar outlooks on areas of life, gets along well with them and their friends, usually has a good camera handy, a passable hand with video editing and is often vocally supporting the same things they do. With him, the line between media and friend or fan is very blurred.
And that is a part of why things went wrong Friday and Saturday.
@CesarGracieBJJCesar Gracie @graciemag_br @RenzoGracieBJJ I am hearing Estima won't be making weight. May 11 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
Continued after the jump...
The above Tweet by Cesar Gracie was sent to his cousin, Renzo Gracie, and Luca Atalla, the founder of Gracie Magazine, at 2:57 pm ET. Renzo and Luca are prominent among the organizers of the World Jiu Jitsu Expo, as well as the series of Superfights being made at the Long Beach Spring Open. Renzo's reply was clearly delivered in a joking manner "Cesar don't give me a problem before I land I miss you cousin", and Luca tagged in with "@RenzoGracieBJJ @cesargraciebjj and don't pass the problem to us haha @lucaatalla tweeting here :)".
Cesar closed the public conversation with "@RenzoGracieBJJ @graciemag_br Renzo and Luca teaming up against me. This sucks. Lol". The tone of the conversation seems to be light-hearted and Renzo cracked further jokes about making Braulio run until the contracted upon weight was reached. The Twitter talk ceased at that point and undoubtedly, many phone calls and texts were being sent to various organizers, promoters, fighters and friends or media members.
At 11:37 on Friday night, Middle Easy took up the story and tweeted that Braulio Estima was 9 pounds overweight, while adding a bit of snarky commentary. Layzie tweeted twenty three minutes later, "If I were @NickDiaz209, I'd make @BraulioEstima kick rocks and try to make a name of someone else. 9lbs over weight is ridiculous." In a prescient moment, Dr. Ann Maria DeMars (the judo world champion and mother of Ronda Rousey) tweeted the following to the Middle Easy account:
MiddleEasy MiddleEasy
Braulio Estima came in 9lbs over in his weigh-in for his match against Nick Diaz. Dude needs to cut the carbs.
May 12 Favorite Retweet Reply
in reply to @MiddleEasy↑
@DrAnnMariaDrAnnMaria @MiddleEasy so what happens if you're 9 lbs overweight? Do they get to beat it out of you? May 12 via Echofon Favorite Retweet Reply
The long-standing International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) tradition is to weigh in the day of the competition or even just before reaching the mats. Several other grappling competitions allow weigh-ins the day before or the day of, but the Superfight tradition in this particular competition usually does not require much of a weigh-in, if one is done at all. The fighters are of such high level that anything less than fifteen to twenty pounds is apparently forgiven. None of the other athletes involved in the other Superfights (Kyra Gracie/Alexis Davis, Caio Terra/Jeff Glover, Rafael Lovato Jr./Lucas Leite, Victor Estima/Kron Gracie) were required to make a certain weight for their battles. In an unusual move, Braulio and Nick had signed contracts to perform in this grappling match and Nick publicly promised to donate all of his purse to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Part of that contract apparently stipulated a weight both fighters had to make at some unknown-to-this-writer time prior to the grappling match.
Just what that contracted upon weight was or when it was supposed to be reached is a topic of contention. There is much talk that Braulio signed a contract that said "85 kg" (187 lbs) and it was to be done on the day of the match. There is more talk that Braulio had to hit 185 lbs or 180 lbs. Which weight Braulio contractually had to hit remains to be seen, but is actually irrelevant at this point. What matters is that Braulio weighed in at 189 lbs on Friday evening and after some talking between the teams of the two opponents, Braulio ended up making weight at 180 lbs Saturday morning. The Estima weigh-in was witnessed by several people - including Lana Stefanac, a very successful BJJ black belt grappler and one time MMA fighter in the female heavyweight division and member of the Gracie Fighter team. Video of this weigh-in was taken by Stuart Cooper, a British film-maker who has been working with Braulio for some weeks and will arrive later this week. Stefanac supposedly alerted Cesar Gracie of the weight and the fight appeared to be on as scheduled.
The standard weight divisions for the IBJJF are roughly every 13 or 14 lbs from 126 lbs onwards up to 221 lbs. There is a middleweight division set at 181.0 lbs (one lb above the weight which Braulio and Diaz weighed in at). To the best of this writer's knowledge, Braulio has not missed weight for a competition he has entered and has been surprisingly open about the injuries he has had over the years - including being briefly paralyzed by a neck injury sustained during MMA training. Braulio underwent surgery in 2010 and returned to submission grappling in 2011. Diaz has been overweight exactly once in his MMA career, against Muhsin Corbbrey for a catchweight bout at 168 lbs. Nick had a famously rough time making 155 lbs and his move to welterweight saw a revitalization of his career as he settled into the more natural weight class for his frame and mass.
As a long time competitor, Nick is familiar with the IBJJF-style weight divisions of submission grappling and has competed in past tournaments and superfights in and out of the gi. His long Superfight with Lucas Leite (Part 1, Part 2) two and a half years ago at the 2009 Gracie Open was a statement of how good Nick's defensive jiu jitsu actually is. Leite at the time was an elite competitor, but has grown now into a consistent title threat in the middleweight division. He actually stepped in to grapple Rafael Lovato Jr. when an injury sidelined Kayron Gracie.
It is worth noting that essentially none of the grapplers in any of the superfights was grappling someone exactly the same weight as themselves. Lovato Jr. mostly grapples in the light heavyweight division (one above Leite). Caio Terra gave up somewhere between ten and twenty pounds to Jeff Glover. Victor Estima is slightly larger than Kron Gracie (who is not 5'10" as the rookie commentating team mistakenly said on-air). Kyra and Alexis were visibly different in size as well. However, none of the matches were between metaphorical Davids and Goliaths and jiu jitsu weight divisions allow for as much variance as 15 pounds between the lightest and the heaviest competitors allowed within the division. The weight issue should not have been the show-stopper it was made out to be by some - but Layzie the Savage of Middle Easy took it and ran with it straight to the UnderGround forum. An extended tweet made by Layzie at 12:40 am of May 12th was used as the start to a long thread in which Layzie made clear his fuzzy hybrid role as a Diaz supporter/MMA personality:
It's an opinion.
I'm not sure what Estima is making but the money is unimportant. It's very minimal compared to what Nick makes for fighting so it's the principal of the fact that Nick has been training and dieting and Braulio has been eating and not dieting and expecting to come in 20-30 pounds heavier and without the energy sap of having to cut weight. That's some BS
[...]Nick, himself, would never in a million years speak out about feeling that way.
He would just 'fight'... because that's what Nick Diaz does... He just 'fights'... Whoever, wherever, whenever...and people know that...
As a friend and as a fan, I think he's being taken advantage of. I can see where you are coming from, but that's just my opinion.
Hopefully I'm wrong, and there's some reasonable excuse.
After proof of Braulio making weight was posted, Layzie disappeared from that UnderGround thread.
Further complicating things is the weird dynamic that the Diaz brothers have on social media. A number of supposedly fake Twitters, Facebook and YouTube accounts have been created and they emulate the real Nick and Nathan so much that the Twitter account alone has 27,000+ followers and the Facebook account 50,000+ likes. Nick has 50,000 followers on his real Twitter and Nathan has over 100,000 on his real Twitter account. The fake accounts have taken to saying the following:
Promoter fails to donate the money to charity as agreed. (shady) Promoter changes rules for weigh ins to accommodate fellow Brazilian
Match ain't happening
Needless to say, this sent the online discussion in a whole new tizzy because the news that the fake accounts are fake has not gotten to everyone and not everyone who talks about these things verifies the source as being valid. The name of the promoter remains unknown to this writer at present, but tweets from Cesar and Renzo are illuminating.
Cesar's:
@CesarGracieBJJCesar Gracie Btw the promoter was NOT Renzo! It was some guy called Junior. @nickdiaz209 loves @RenzoGracieBJJ May 13 via Twitter for iPad Favorite Retweet Reply
@CesarGracieBJJCesar Gracie acredito no Nick vai ser um lutao ... PS: faco o Braulio pesar antes da luta... 175 ou 180... Vc decide ... regras ... -Junior (promoter) May 13 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
The above Portuguese given by Cesar translates roughly to "I believe Nick will have a great fight. P.S. I will see Braulio make weight before the fight, 175 or 180, you decide the rules."
Renzo's:
prettyboymarkc mark connors
@RenzoGracieBJJ sounds like you were involved with some shady promoters for the bjj expo if the rumours are true.
May 13 Favorite Retweet Reply
in reply to @prettyboymarkc↑
@RenzoGracieBJJRenzo_Gracie_BJJ @prettyboymarkc lol there was only two people working on this Expo, me and a nut job called Junior, he is crazy. But I was there supporting May 13 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
The involvement of Renzo in this leads this writer to believe that the supposedly revoked charity donation is a complete fabrication. Renzo is a fighter and a trainer who enjoys making money, but he has made his reputation as a very honest person. It would be hard to believe that Renzo would not step in to make the donation himself or find a way to make it work before letting the match fall apart.
At the venue itself, Layzie was with Ronda Rousey for most of the day. He says publicly that he had little to no contact with Nick at this time and that is generally believable. Layzie was in the media scrum when Braulio was giving interviews and asking pointed, although biased questions about the weird saga. In that scrum, Braulio said in response to the question of who from Gracie Fighters witnessed his weigh-in "Lana, Lana" in his Brazilian accent. Layzie misheard this as "Ronda" and shouted "Ronda Rousey?" Braulio unfortunately said "Yes," due either to the clamor of the scrum or through his own hearing mistakes/inattention (something I am very familiar with being both deaf and from a bilingual household).
Zeus and Layzie then went on to make this piece over on Middle Easy. A video featuring Ronda Rousey saying that she never saw Braulio weigh in that day and that he "obviously is a liar" is prominent in that piece.
Oddly enough, this Ronda video is the single most commendable thing Layzie has done in recent memory. Although he misheard "Lana" as "Ronda", the hustle he displayed in getting Ronda to comment and to get the video up is exactly the kind of aggressive fact-checking that "old" journalism is based on. That the scoop was based on a mistake only obviates its validity - not its quality or delivery. The rant Ronda goes on is a great one and would have been entirely newsworthy if it hadn't been based upon a mistake of hearing.
The problem lies in the delivery of the Middle Easy piece and further coverage beyond the video - as the piece strongly intimates that Braulio is lying regarding the weigh-in happenings and that the drama surrounding the whole saga organically made its way over to the UnderGround forum:
The info spread on The Underground, fanboys created their hyper-complex conspiracy theories, then the morning after the debacle, Braulio Estima posted on his Facebook that he made weight, and that became verified fact.
Shortly after Nick Diaz pulled off a no-show to his highly anticipated fight against Braulio Estima, LayzieTheSavage did some investigative reporting, fact-checked his sources and found evidence that Braulio Estima is not exactly telling the truth regarding making the agreed upon weight of 180 lbs to compete against Nick Diaz.
An update was made to the piece that states that they are following up with Lana Stefanac regarding the weigh-in details and Layzie has tweeted an apology for mixing up the two. However, those updates do little to blunt the impact of Middle Easy's tweet regarding the piece, "We're pretty certain Braulio Estima never made weight in his match with Nick Diaz, and here's why...".
This type of toxic misinformation was and is being thrown about with little regard or patience for facts or official confirmation. The resulting clash of narratives has made quite a few people - including high profile athletes and trainers - come out of this debacle with metaphorical egg on their faces. Renzo is now facing a barrage of Tweets, texts and e-mails from people asking about Junior, the shady promoter. That promoter is probably under a landslide of electronic media right now asking for refunds for the stream - despite four successful Superfights that would get top billing at most other submission grappling events. Ronda Rousey attended one event and answered truthfully to one question, only to end up opening a can of worms. Eddie Bravo put up a highly inflammatory pro-Nick/anti-Braulio statement on the Underground forum - but retracted and edited his comment once he found out that Braulio had indeed made weight.
There is a distorted echo chamber of sorts in MMA and sussing out who is telling the truth and who is blowing smoke or hustling for their own agenda can be a chore best assigned to managers, agents and/or trusted friends. For Nick Diaz, the trust in those around him failed him on Friday and Saturday in an admittedly less high-profile manner than his UFC 137 shenanigans or the positive drug test following the Carlos Condit title fight at UFC 143. He chose to walk away and the pre-match ludicrousness of Cesar, Layzie, Zeus, the fake Diaz brothers account and the thousands of fans on the UG, Facebook, Twitter and more probably made it seem like a rational decision based in passable logic. The lion's share of the blame should be upon Nick, but it should also go towards the weird role that media members now play in many camps across the world. They are not simply friends, fans, personalities or professionals, but hybrids that establish relationships with fighters that shade more towards the parasitical than the symbiotic and somehow, a few parlay this into Internet fame and perhaps full-time paying jobs. Peter King has made a spectacular career out of this with his cud-chewing ruminations on football and baseball and it has partly ruined the mainstream discussions of the sports.
In what sane MMA world is a friend and a fan like Layzie tweeting journalistic-sounding things like this, while simultaneously serving as the official videographer/editor/designated news leaker for the entire Gracie Fighter team? Furthermore, we see Layzie acting as an impromptu PR person in telling us that Nick Diaz will "pay the donation to St. Jude's out of pocket".
In the end, we should take the advice of Dr. DeMars, Ronda's mother,
@DrAnnMariaDrAnnMaria @RondaRousey Mom advice of the day. You have a fight coming up , just train & ignore everyone else's drama May 13 via Echofon Favorite Retweet Reply
Posted in: diaz, nick, weight, layzie, braulio
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White: People are 'braindead' to be shocked at Diaz no show
submitted by MoLiHuaLong [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, show, dana, people, molihualong
Read the full article at RedditDana White Offers Up His Take On Recent Nick Diaz Situation
UFC president Dana White was asked to comment on Nick Diaz and his no-show over the weekend at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. As expected, White offered up a very candid explanation via his Twitter account. @evan1evan no, not shocked and I’m surprised u people are! He no showed a Las Vegas press conf to a [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, dana, people
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz's wild weekend in review: No shows Brazilian jiu-jitsu superfight against Braulio Estima
Never let it be said that Nick Diaz doesn't keep things interesting.
Quite a few fans of mixed martial arts (MMA) were exposed to the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo this past Sat., May 12, 2012, thanks to the inclusion of Diaz, who was scheduled to square off in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu superfight against Braulio Estima at the event.
Except he flaked, to the surprise of no one.
Well, that's not entirely true. Some were surprised that a man who lost a welterweight title fight against Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre -- and millions of dollars in the process -- for no-showing a pair of press conferences would pull his disappearing act one more time.
Because he's an adult and adults are supposed to learn from their mistakes.
But perhaps there's more to the story. In fact, Diaz's biggest supporter in the media, Middle Easy, has spent the better part of the past two days going to bat for him and proclaiming the promoters of the event were shady. There was also a weigh-in snafu with Estima, who apparently missed weight the day before but was able to make weight the day of the contest.
And somewhere in between someone was trying to switch up the rules. Or something like that. That's what he said or she said or they said or someone said and somehow speculation became fact and vice versa and the entire ordeal is one big mess.
After the jump, let's sort it out with links to all the stories coming out of Diaz's latest escapades.
First, the event itself went down and paying customers were treated to an entire card's worth of jiu-jitsu action. Sure, Diaz and Estima didn't do their thing in the main event but there were five other matches worth checking out and MMAmania.com had complete coverage of all of them.
Nick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima results and live match coverage
Unfortunately, after fans plunked down their hard earned money to watch Diaz compete athletically (seeing as he's unable to do so in MMA thanks to a failed drug test), he no-showed the event for reasons that weren't immediately clear.
Nick Diaz no shows Brazilian jiu-jitsu superfight against Braulio Estima
Estima, who was left sitting on the mat waiting for Diaz while fans in attendance looked on in confusion, told his side of the story to the media and proclaimed he was just as baffled as everyone else.
Braulio Estima "doesn't understand why Nick Diaz would run away"
Instead of focusing solely on Diaz and his decision to split at the worst possible moment, how about checking out some highlights from Kyra Gracie's match against Alexis Davis? Also, hear more from her on a potential move to MMA, which could be coming soon.
Kyra Gracie really wants to fight MMA but is focusing on jiu-jitsu career for now
One of the big losers so far in all this has been the fact that Diaz had promised to give his entire purse to charity. A tweet from LayzieTheSavage, a friend of Diaz's who also works for Middle Easy, has said that Diaz will be paying the promised donation out of pocket.
Of course, that's not official and should be treated as such.
Ultimately, this debacle has served as yet another lesson that the only thing that's certain when it comes to Nick Diaz is that nothing's for certain.
Until next time, Maniacs.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, estima, jiujitsu
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMorning Report: Nick Diaz Pulls a Nick Diaz, Bails on Charity BJJ Pay-Per-View
To the best of my knowledge, there's no word in the English language to describe being ‘mildly surprised' and ‘completely not surprised' at the same time. But you can bet, if there was, you'd be reading it right now.
I won't insult your intelligence with a lengthy recap because by now you already know the story, but Nick Diaz was supposed to show up to fight Braulio Estima at the World Jui-Jitsu Expo for charity on Saturday night, and, well, Nick Diaz didn't show up.
I don't how we got to this point, but somehow, after years of flaky behavior and childish antics, an exhibition grappling match just served as the tipping point for Diaz's cult-like presence. If only because this latest figurative middle finger is impossible to defend.
Skipping the press conferences, the f*** your mother non-apologies, those are one thing. After all, it's the actual fights that matter, and Diaz would never skip out on a fight. Or at least that's what we all said. But now he has, and even the most dedicated Diaz fans don't really have an excuse. Estima didn't make weight? See, that's wrong. Cesar Gracie said so himself. So really, all this noise is irrelevant. What it comes down to is this. Braulio Estima was at the World Jui-Jitsu Expo. Nick Diaz was not. Everyone who paid $9.95 got screwed.
But I'll save the outrage for others, because right now it's flying from every direction. To me, the more interesting angle is finding out what happens from here.
Like it or not, this bizarre weekend only adds to the intrigue of Diaz. Following the man is like rolling on a late-night roulette heater. Red or black, odd or even, everybody's jumping around the board hoping normalcy wins out. But after the house hits the zeros enough times, and everybody wises up to the game, what's the fallout? Does the UFC become more wary of a Diaz-headlined pay-per-view? Is this the last time we'll all get burned or just another set-up for tomorrow's disappointment? Because if we're being honest, you'll still pay to see his next fight and so will I. Maybe that's part of the problem, but it probably isn't changing anytime soon.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Nick Diaz no-shows World BJJ Expo. Retired UFC welterweight Nick Diaz no-showed the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, leaving a furious Braulio Estima to stew about the failed charity superfight. Diaz's trainer, Cesar Gracie, was unsure about the reasoning for Diaz's absence, though is it possible we only have ourselves to blame?
Weekend MMA results. Catch up on the rest of the weekend with fight results for TUF Live, Bellator 68 and the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, plus an exclusive BJJ photo gallery and complete video highlights for Kyra Gracie vs. Alexis Davis, Kimbo Slice vs. Jesse Porter and the pitiful display that was Bob Sapp vs. Mariusz Pudzianowski.
UFC on FUEL 3 dissections. Preview tomorrow's UFC on FUEL 3 action with comprehensive breakdowns of the preliminary card and Fabio Maldonado vs. Igor Pokrajac.
Plans for Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix winner still unknown. The "plus-one bout" scheduled to take place after the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix continues to be shrouded in mystery, despite the fact that the tournament concludes this Saturday.
Vinny Magalhaes puts M-1 championship belt on ebay. After months of tenuous back-and-forth bickering with M-1 officials, disgruntled M-1 light heavyweight champion Vinny Magalhaes was officially stripped of his title. His response -- listing the belt on ebay.
WANT TO BUY AN M-1 TITLE?
Current bid to buy Vinny Magalhaes' M-1 light heavyweight belt: $2,125.00
Starting bid: $0.09
MEDIA STEW
It was easy to forget, but the inaugural episode of UFC Primetime: Dos Santos vs. Mir aired late on Friday night. We're always looking out for you, so here's the replay in case you missed it the first time around.
Usually not a whole lot happens in a 36-second fight. But this blistering Jesus Martinez vs. Aung La Nsang clip from Bellator 68 has to be the exception. (Props to @BeauLaFave for the find.)
Dustin Poirier has something special waiting for him after fight night.
The headlining attraction of KSW 19 may have been a total farce, but the co-main event turned out to be the perfect showcase for one of the last great non-UFC middleweights. Seriously, check out the finish on this one. (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Let's be honest here -- Nick Diaz is a masterful troll. Evidence No. 1: While Braulio Estima was busy lambasting Diaz at the Expo, Diaz was (presumably) giggling away and 'liking' the video on YouTube. (At least now we know he's a fan of MMAFighting.com.)
In other news, Rory MacDonald's black eye looks straight out of 28 Days Later.
(via instagram)
DIAZ BEING DIAZ
Man, watched/bought the BJJ SUPERFIGHT and I'm hella disappointed Nick Diaz didn't show up
— Travis Barker (@travisbarker) May 13, 2012
@nickdiaz209 why do u keep self destructing your career? We want to love your swagger but you make it so hard!
— Duke Roufus (@dukeroufus) May 13, 2012
If they make a Where's Waldo movie, Nick Diaz has to be Waldo
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) May 13, 2012
Found this one on Facebook. #hilarious twitter.com/VinnyMMA/statu…
— Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) May 13, 2012
Still can't take the Nick Diaz fan outta me. Just hope he gets past whatever mental or emotional issue it is that leads to this behavior.
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) May 13, 2012
@nickdiaz209 the truth can only be told by him. For sure he has his reasons. He represents BJJ better than anyone in the fray. Let's wait
— Renzo_Gracie_BJJ (@RenzoGracieBJJ) May 13, 2012
Unfortunately the so expectedsuper fight Estima vs Diaz didn't happened.I'm very sad as I did everything possib... tl.gd/hd231s
— Braulio Estima (@BraulioEstima) May 13, 2012
Will have a full statement tomorrow on graciefighter.com. Today is Mother's day. Happy Mother's Day!
— Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) May 13, 2012
SWEET REVENGE
Okay ... Couldn't help tweeting this cause it felt too damn good sending this message to not share it instagr.am/p/KeSmDfBEQH/
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) May 11, 2012
JUST A CONVERSATION BETWEEN FRIENDS
@ForrestGriffin don't try to confuse me with your word riddles. People with Elvish names are always trying to confuse us human folk.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) May 12, 2012
@ForrestGriffin also started grappling to cauliflower his ears because I told him that pregnant women don't find pointed ears attractive.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) May 12, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced over the weekend (Friday, May 11, 2012 - Sunday, May 13, 2012):
- UFC on FUEL 4: T.J. Dillashaw (5-1) vs. Vaughan Lee (12-7-1)
- UFC on FUEL 4: Raphael Assuncao (16-4) vs. Issei Tamura (7-2)
- UFC on FUEL 4: Chris Cariaso (13-3) vs. Josh Ferguson (8-4)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day takes a break from the Diaz noise to look at the upcoming return of K-1, courtesy of Brent Ducharme: Five Things To Know About The K-1 MAX 2012 Final 16
1. Mike Zambidis vs. Chahid Oulad el Hadj II
When they first met in the K-1 MAX 2010 tournament's round of sixteen, Zambidis and el Hadj engaged in a high-paced, back and forth affair that many kickboxing observers consider a classic. Their bout went to an extension round (which seemed to be grounded more in an understanding of potential entertainment value than actual merit), and both were put on the canvas in the course of the bout.
As these two fighters prepare to meet in the round of sixteen once again, their established identities provide the sense that another memorable battle may be in store. Mike Zambidis has posted a 3-2 record in his last five fights (just as he had prior to the 2010 tournament) and there are questions regarding how long the heavy-handed Greek fighter can remain on the biggest stage in kickboxing. As for Chahid Oulad el Hadj, he is the same banger that Zambidis planted overhand rights on nearly two years ago. The 23-year-old has been outclassed by many top kickboxers in the world today, but remains committed to an all-action style that is fan friendly if not the most likely to help build a sustainable career.
What's more, Mike Zambidis always has interesting bouts in the K-1 MAX round of sixteen. In 2005, he obliterated Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto with a right hand that is well worth the look. The next year, Zambidis battled with lanky Japanese standout Yoshihiro Sato. 2007 saw him defeat Gago Drago by decision following an extension round. Zambidis was on the wrong side of a knockout in the extension round when he met Andy Souwer in the round of sixteen in 2008.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, vs, mdash
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White says anyone surprised by Nick Diaz’s no-show must be “braindead”
It didn’t take long for word to spread about Nick Diaz’s decision to skip a heavily advertised jiu-jitsu match scheduled for Saturday night with the news since resulting in an overflow of opinions on how the controversial competitor handled the matter. Diaz, who was set to take on highly-touted blackbelt Braulio Estima, avoided informing anyone of his plans prior to pulling out and has yet to explain his behavior.
One person whose jaw didn’t drop at the notion of Diaz flaking was UFC President Dana White, citing his own experiences with the former Strikeforce champion in a post on Twitter addressing the situation.
“No, not shocked and I’m surprised u people are! He no showed a Las Vegas press conf to a fight he was gonna make HUGE $ and title,” wrote White in reference to Diaz’s actions leading up to UFC 137 where he was supposed to fight Georges St-Pierre. Diaz missed two press conferences, the latter of which was in Las Vegas, and was replaced in the bout by Carlos Condit.
“People are f***in nuts and braindead to be OUTRAGED and SHOCKED that Nick no showed something,” White added candidly.
Independent of his aspirations on the mat as a submission-grappler it also remains to be seen if Diaz will ever return to the Octagon. He is currently facing a possible suspension due to marijuana use and has stood relatively firm on his surprising retirement a few months back.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, saturday night, diaz, nick, press conferences
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz not reinstated at hearing today; must appear before NSAC May 21st
Today Nick Diaz and his camp's request for an injunction in his ongoing legal battle stemming from a failed drug test at UFC 141 was turned down in district court. The judge started off by saying that the set of circumstances surrounding this case are odd.However, Diaz will indeed have to appear before the NSAC and find out what his true punishment is before the judge can intervene directly. This will take place next Monday, May 21st.: Nevada state Judge Bare stated the following, revealed via MMA Fight
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, judge, drug test, camps request
Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz’s fight for freedom to fight again is now in court @MMASupremacy @mmatorch @mmaonthereg
Team Diaz is fighting to get an injunction in a Las Vegas courtroom over the indefinite suspension that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has levied on Nick Diaz.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, nevada state, injunction
Read the full article at Fight OpinionMMA fans are so fickle.
I swear MMA has the most fickle fan base, than any other sport. One minute your hopping on band wagons, and sympathizing with a socially awkward guy, next your complaining relentlessly how you wasted money on a $10 card and how you hate Diaz now, despite getting to see Kyra Gracie's ass and a bunch of awesome BJJ fights Am I disappointed I didn't get to see Diaz fight? Hell yea! Am I pissed off at Diaz? Yes! Am I pissed off I spent $10 on the fight? Fuck yea But your turning MMA and BJJ into some weird Wrestling soap opera. Your forgetting why you like MMA, and the fighters that participate in them. You like them because you like how they fight...not because of their behavior. Thats all secondary. I think Nick Diaz is abrasive and unpredictable, but dammit, do I love how he fights. You like MMA because of the fights and the fighters behind them. You want a nice story, and some drama, MMA isn't the sport for you, go watch WWE. Second off, none of you know the entire story! We're getting reports Diaz missed weight, as well as reports that Braulio missed weight. Theres also reports that the promotional company was trying to screw Diaz and he wasn't going to play ball. It's all speculation! So lets hold off on jumping on the "Fuck Diaz" bandwagon, if not for this reason alone. Overall, you got to enjoy a good night of fights. I for one have never seen a BJJ PPV, and thought it was awesome, and I bet most of you haven't either. So get over it. I for one, will continue to be a Nick Diaz fan, despite some of his BS. Bring on the downvotes. submitted by AntiHer0z [link] [12 comments]
Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, i love, i pissed
Read the full article at RedditCesar Gracie Promises Full Statement Concerning Nick Diaz And His No-Show This Weekend On Monday
Cesar Gracie, the trainer for Nick Diaz, has informed the public that his camp will make a statement concerning the no-show appearance by Diaz at this past weekend’s World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. “Will have a full statement tomorrow (Monday) on graciefighter.com,” Gracie’s Twitter account posted Sunday. “Today is Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day!” Diaz, who is [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, gracie, cesar gracie, noshow appearance
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBloody Elbow Roundtable: Should MMA & Grappling Promoters Blacklist Nick Diaz?
With Nick Diaz no showing at the World Jiu Jitsu Expo last night in Long Beach, California, he continued his habit of not being able to 'play the game', as UFC President Dana White once famously put it. Leaving his opponent Braulio Estima, the crowd in attendance and those who had bought the online Pay Per View in the lurch, Diaz continues to be unreliable as evident by his drug test failure in wake of the championship fight with Carlos Condit, as well as missing press conferences that cost him a shot at the UFC Welterweight title to begin with.
Due to his unreliability and behaviour, should Submission Grappling and MMA Promoters blacklist Nick Diaz from here on out?
T.P. Grant: Yes. If Diaz can't be relied on to show up for a grappling match, that in the grand scheme of things didn't mean anything, he has blacklisted himself. "Does Nick Diaz show up?" will be a question that is asked every time he is scheduled to appear on shows from here to the end of his career.
The worst part is, the people around him seem to refuse that it is a problem. Cesar Gracie, as Nick's coach, mentor and teacher, should be pushing Nick to get help if his social problems are really this bad, but instead he makes excuses. I think Cesar has lost sight of the line between teacher and friend, and is no longer acting in Nick's best interests.
KJ Gould: If Diaz is true to his word and stays retired from MMA, it may not be an issue promoters have to consider. Since it's often hard to believe whenever a fighter as young as Diaz retires and sticks with it, promoters are in the bind of wondering if it's worth the risk counting on Diaz even if he can bring some money in.I think MMA and Grappling promoters should blacklist Diaz, to send a universal message about what happens to those who mess about and fail to act like a professional. Of course I can't see that happening, and there will be some promoters who will take a punt and find out the hard way.Diaz didn't just let his opponent, audience and fans down, he let down a charity: the St Jude's Children's Hospital, who he was in effect representing with his purse meant to go to them. It'd be good if the promoters made the donation regardless, but it doesn't look good on Diaz and shouldn't fill anyone with confidence that he's worth the time or effort to work with in the future.
Brent Brookhouse: I think the point where you no show charity events is where it becomes inexcusable. Now we're starting to hear all the excuses. If there were issues with the weigh in or worries that the money wasn't going to be donated to charity, it's not like Nick and his people don't know how to get in touch with the media ahead of time. Instead, it's more selfish nonsense where nobody matters to Nick but Nick.
If it was an issue with the weights? Who cares? It's for charity and it wasn't like it was something that mattered in the long term. I know it sucks, but just talk about it before and after the fight, letting people know that it's not at the agreed upon weight. No showing is never the way to handle something like this.
Read more after the jump
KJ Gould: Certain things don't add up about the excuses. Braulio Estima appeared to make weight 5 hours before the match, where as Diaz supposedly made weight the day before and had eaten. If anyone was at a disadvantage going onto the mat, it was Estima, and same day weigh-ins are pretty typical of most grappling events. Day before weigh-ins are reserved for Boxing and MMA because of the striking impact issue and brain hydration, among other things. Cesar Gracie off all people knows this.Then you have Estima showing up and doing everything professionally, after international traveling through multiple time zones, while comparatively Diaz only has to come from down the road.If there is any kind of issue with the money involved, that's where lawyers come in. Diaz and his camp have a really good one fighting the NSAC at the moment, so it's not as if they don't know where to look. Even then, when a small promotion like this (compared to the UFC) is putting on a show, getting paid once the gate takings and revenues collected post-event is pretty common.I think a lot of what we've been hearing is excuse and unfounded speculation. Diaz is just a head case that's talented at fighting, but the amount of time and money invested in him is producing diminishing returns. He's no longer worth it.
Fraser Coffeen: As a promoter you have to weigh the pros and cons of booking Diaz. The pros are obvious - he's a name that has a lot of interest and he'll draw eyes to your product. This weekend's show is a prime example, as we gave it far more coverage than we would have without Diaz involved.
But the cons are that it creates huge troubles for you down the line. In the short term - how will this weekend's promoters respond to the requests for a refund they are sure to get? In the long term, this reflects poorly on the organization. While the blame belongs on Diaz, fans who got screwed this time won't always see that and may be hesitant to buy your product next time. To me, those cons outweigh the pros, so yes, he should not be booked.
Will that happen? No way. Because smaller organizations (and maybe even that one really big organization) are willing to roll the dice. The pros are going to happen - he WILL draw interest in your show. The cons? They might happen, or they might not. Promoters will still take that gamble in the interest of viewer-ship, and Diaz will just keep burning them.
Ben Thapa: The word "blacklist" is not one we should be using. That concept implies that no matter what situation arises, the person being blacklisted would never, ever be part of the deal. They are excluded in totality. Persona non grata.
You cannot do that with Nick Diaz. He is too skilled, too controversial and ultimately, too popular to exclude like that. The solution rests in opening honest and constant communications with Nick himself and not with his hangers-on - for I believe this missed Superfight debacle rests squarely upon Nick allowing the hangers-on around him to make him angry and paranoid.
The continually belligerent and disconnected-from-reality Tweets, comments and words of the coterie surrounding Nick Diaz are indicative of an arrangement that truly does not serve Nick well. They serve as a bizarre echo chamber that mixes some facts, large helpings of conspiracy theories and the occasional dollop of self-serving nonsense into a corrosive atmosphere that works to Nick's detriment. The echo chamber does not confound Gil Melendez, Jake Shields or Nate Diaz - for they show up and they battle their hearts out.
Nick has never been one to reach out and establish honest-if-not-congenial relationships with promoters, organizers or his opponents. They come to him and the unsettling of his opponents is always a desired goal of the Diaz brothers. However, that hurts Nick because when uncertainty over weigh-in arrangements starts, he can't get a clear, coherent answer from the promoters themselves and instead trusts those around him to have a secure grasp upon the truth and his best interest in heart.
That did not happen and thus the fight did not happen. Nick Diaz is a very talented combat sports enthusiast, training in sambo, Brazilian jiu jitsu, wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, judo and more. He is perhaps a more dedicated martial artist than someone like Georges St. Pierre. But he cannot stick to a schedule that gets him the fame and fortune he wants if he keeps trusting the people around him. They won't let him.
That is what separates GSP from Nick - the professionalism and the showing up come hell or high water. Nick used to have that reputation, but the UFC 137 debacle combined with this no show means Nick is sliding in a bad direction and it has absolutely nothing to do with his fighting skills or will to battle.
In the end, Nick Diaz is still worth it for promoters as a draw and as a fighter to watch.
KJ Gould: With Diaz's history, and with him seemingly needing a nanny more than a manager to care for him when it comes to anything 'fight business' related, exclusion in totality looks like an attractive option. No matter how talented and popular he is, promoters should be genuinely concerned about not seeing a return on their investment. If promoters constructed contracts to protect themselves and make Diaz financially accountable, because he's 'high risk', is that something they could even get Diaz to sign?
Ben Thapa: One of the oddest things about Diaz's sticking point being the weight thing is that essentially none of the BJJ fights that night took place with two people of the exact same size. For example, Caio Terra gave up anywhere from ten to twenty pounds to Jeff Glover. When you only weigh 130ish pounds, those extra lbs really matter - much more so than the five to seven pounds Nick was worried about at 180ish lbs.
KJ Gould: Plus it's not like Diaz has never competed in anything that high in weight before, even in MMA against guys like Scott Smith and Frank Shamrock.
Steph Daniels: I find it odd that none of the other competitors on the card had to weigh in except Braulio (he was even observed by a member from the Diaz camp), and why didn't Diaz weigh in with a member of Estima's camp present?
Jack Slack: I don't think that Nick needs to be blacklisted from anything, but I do believe he needs to be broken of his silly whims. He has spent the last 5 years being pampered by Strikeforce; normally one of the highest paid fighters on the card, choosing his own opponents, never having to fight a decent wrestler. The UFC didn't do much better in treating him like a normal fighter - promise of an instant title shot, then a fight with a lightweight boxer in a division stacked with top ranked wrestlers.
He'll need the money again soon I'm sure, and after all the crap he's pulled, the UFC will likely try to find some way of giving him a slap in the face - perhaps a match against a tough spoiler like Mike Pierce or Jon Fitch with no promise of a title shot. We can only hope.
Dallas Winston: The thought of "blacklisting" Nick Diaz in the fight business is just unrealistic. He's so freakishly talented in so many different ways and I can't imagine a unified ban specifically for him, in MMA or grappling. I'm a huge fan of Nick Diaz and accepted a long time ago that we're all just along for the ride. Yesterday, before the grappling event, I was thinking about what a win-win situation this was for NIck. If he loses or gets submitted -- so what? It's Braulio f**king Estima. If he won or was even competitive, it would drastically increase his mystique and drawing power. Unfortunately, the no-show emphasized his unpredictability. Being a complete wild card has always been a big part of his appeal, but lately it's been too much unpredictability, and without the showcase performances to compensate.
Steph Daniels: And no, I don't think he should be blacklisted. I wouldn't be adverse to him being assigned a handler, though. I think certain personalities need to be guided through their commitments, and he's definitely one of those people. Missed flights, pressers, seminars and jiu jitsu charity matches all equate to one thing. He needs a firmer hand nudging him in the right direction. A PR agent or firm might be wise also, because there seems to be nobody at the wheel in that department either.
T.P. Grant: I don't think nick diaz should be blacklisted either but each time he does this he hurts himself. I don't think anyone can put him in as a headliner at this point and feel comfortable about it. I don't think he will get black listed, but it will limit future oppurtunties.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, time, nick, promoter
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz flakes on BJJ superfight with Braulio Estima
In a move surprising few but disappointing many, UFC welterweight Nick Diaz was a no-show for a BJJ superfight with decorated blackbelt Braulio Estima. The match-up was supposed to take place last night at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo with a portion of his salary going to charity.
Diaz did not offer an explanation for his actions though speculation on the matter has pointed to Estima’s failure to make weight on Friday night (though not technically required to do so until Saturday morning).
Diaz Ready for Return to Competition
Things unfolded in real time publicly as Estima walked out onto the mat prepared to grappler. Shortly thereafter it was announced Diaz was nowhere to be found. A potential replacement was named though Estima refused, stating he had trained specifically for Diaz.
No word has come from Diaz or his camp on the matter as of this report.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: diaz, estima, bjj superfight, competition things, charity diaz
Read the full article at Fighters.comReactions to Nick Diaz’s No-Show from Around the Internet
Even when Nick Diaz isn’t fighting, he’s hogging headlines.
Last night the mercurial welterweight skipped out on a planned Brazilian jiu-jitsu super match against expert grappler Braulio Estima at the inaugural World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, a grappling event organized by Renzo Gracie.
As with most everything Diaz does, this latest antic drew a lot of attention and prompted many of his peers and other figures in the MMA world to speak out. You can check out a small collection of only a few of those reactions below while you wonder, “What will Nick Diaz do next?”
Diaz Brothers
Promoter fails to donate the money to charity as agreed. (shady) Promoter changes rules for weigh ins to accommodate fellow Brazilian
Match ain’t happening
Braulio Estima
Unfortunately the so expected super fight Estima vs Diaz didn’t happened. I’m very sad as I did everything possible for it to happen. I weighed in at 180lbs this morning at 10 am as agreed and asked to see nicks weighing too but I was informed by Cesar his Coach that he was 180lbs in the previous night and that he ate and is over 180lbs even though I just let it go an still showed up to fight. What pisses me off the most is that he was telling he was going to give his purse to charity for the childrens hospital and than don’t show up. What kind of person is that. Shame. Ps. I’m sorry for all the ones who stayed up to watch this fight but I’m sure the prelims fights was amazing. Thank u all for the support aways
Renzo Gracie
@nickdiaz209 the truth can only be told by him. For sure he has his reasons. He represents BJJ better than anyone in the fray. Let’s wait
Nate Diaz
Braulio didn’t show up on weight the day of weigh ins knowing he had pull? Wtf
Cesar Gracie
Nick is out
Dana White
no, not shocked and I’m surprised u people are! He no showed a Las Vegas press conf to a fight he was gonna make HUGE $ and title
people are f***in nuts and braindead to be OUTRAGED and SHOCKED that Nick no showed something.
Ian McCall
“@eL_EV3N11: @Unclecreepymma what do u think about Nick Diaz ducking his BJJ super fight with Estima tonight?” bulls***
Siyar Bahadurzada
The Nick Diaz version of “i’m gonna make you am offer you cannot refuse” will be: “I’m gonna give you a reason, you cannot understand!”
Jon Anik
We’ve got 24 fighters accounted for in Fairfax, Virginia and ready to put on a show Tuesday night. Movin’ on… #UFC
Mark Bocek
Diaz no show, very surprising, great guy for the sport… #mma #UFC
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, estima
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUpset by Nick Diaz's Grappling Match No-Show? Sorry, But You've Got Only Yourself to Blame
When it comes to the art of the no-show, Nick Diaz is a master. He’s the Picasso of blowing stuff off, the Rembrandt of staying home. He may have started small, with conference calls and interviews, but his greatness in this arena simply could not be contained. Soon he had moved on to no-showing entire press conferences, even when it cost him a UFC title shot and a boatload of money. Like all the greats, he suffered for his art. Also like the greats, he did his suffering in private, in part because no one can ever seem to locate the guy at the most critical moments. Now, after sitting out his submission grappling match with Braulio Estima at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach on Saturday, Diaz may have completed his masterpiece. By no-showing an event that was supposed to benefit charity, and by offering his fans no prior notice before skipping out on something they had paid $12.95 to watch on a live internet stream, Diaz may have set the irresponsibility bar so high that even he can’t clear it.Final frontier: conquered. With this triumph, Diaz has carved his name into the permanent record of flaking out. Generations from now, when our space descendants decline to show up for their space commitments, their peers will utter that they have ‘Diaz’d out’ of their obligations. By then, the man himself will be long forgotten. Only the legend of his deeds will live on.
It’s not that I’m surprised by Diaz’s latest no-show. Sure, it’s impressive that he found a way to disappoint fight fans even while serving a suspension from fighting, but it’s still not exactly shocking, is it? From the minute you plan an event around the assumption that Diaz will be at an appointed place at an appointed time, your plan is flawed. You have to know that. Like snake-handlers who get a face full of fangs, the organizers behind the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo courted this particular brand of letdown. We all did, in fact, and it’s time we took responsibility for that.You’re upset that you paid good money to sit home on a Saturday and watch a grappling match that didn’t happen? Sorry, but I have no sympathy for you. If you’re enough of a Diaz fan to pay to watch him grapple, then you’re enough of a Diaz fan to understand the risks. Complaining about the no-show is like buying a ticket for a Guns N’ Roses show in the early ‘90s, then whining when Axl Rose jumps off the stage and punches you in the face. You had to know this was a possibility, if not a likely outcome. You just got Diaz’d. Deal with it.Same goes for you, St. Jude Children’s Hospital. You thought Diaz was going to participate in a paid competition benefitting your charity? Should have done your homework first. Then you would have known that there was a good chance he’d blow the whole thing off before maybe, possibly offering an unconvincing explanation that, not surprisingly, blames anyone but himself. You’ve now been Diaz’d in the first degree.And you, Braulio Estima, who flew in from overseas just to meet Diaz on the mats? Don’t even get me started. In the world of rational people, sure, you made a good point when you said that showing up for a grappling match to benefit a charity is "not about showbiz; it's about being a good person." But we’re not talking about rational people, are we? We’re talking about Diaz, who does whatever he wants and accepts zero responsibility for it. You knew that when you got on the plane, or at least you should have. That's why the stewardesses were shaking their heads at you. 'Look at that poor guy,' one imagines them whispering to one another. 'He's off to get Diaz'd.'It’s a little bit ironic that, after all his shenanigans in MMA, it would be something as innocuous as a missed grappling match that would deal such a blow to Diaz’s reputation. On Twitter and on internet messageboards today, I see even hardcore Diaz supporters -- the ones who took his side when he blamed the UFC and Georges St-Pierre for his squandered title shot -- renouncing their faith in the church of the 209. As much as MMA fans love to watch Nick Diaz the fighter, Nick Diaz the person makes that activity increasingly difficult. If he weren’t so talented, maybe it wouldn’t be so frustrating. Maybe he’d just be one more flaky, irresponsible person in world teeming with them, and we’d all have stopped caring about whether he thinks it’s worth the effort to keep his word. Clearly, that’s not how it is. The enigma of Diaz is such that we can’t bring ourselves to look away, even when we know we should. Just like that sad sack Charlie Brown, we put our well-founded misgivings aside to take one more run at kicking that football. When it’s pulled away at the last minute, we’re reminded that we have only ourselves to blame.It’s not like we didn’t know this was a possibility. It‘s not like it’s some new development. We put our faith in a person who’s trampled on it without apology several times before, and we got what we deserved. We got Diaz’d. Now it’s up to us to decide how many more times we’re willing to go through it again.
Posted in: diaz, fan, itrsquo, braulio estima, diaz fan
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz no-shows grappling match with Braulio Estima
The legend of Nick Diaz grew last night, though not necessarily in a positive manner, after the controversial competitor played the role of absentee in a much-hyped BJJ superfight with decorated grappler Braulio Estima. The two were scheduled to serve as the main event in a series of matches at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo with their purses being donated to charity.
Problems first arose when Estima had difficulty making weight on Friday night, upsetting Diaz. However, Estima hit his required mark on Saturday morning and things seemed to be back on track. However, for unknown reasons at this point, Diaz ultimately decided to pass on their bout without informing anyone and hasn’t be heard from since.
An alternate was brought out to face Estima though the visibly upset submission-specialist passed on the opportunity, saying he came to face Diaz and Diaz only. He also added he would be willing to fight Diaz under MMA rules in the future since the 28-year old was apparently not willing to take him on in BJJ.
Those closest to Diaz have since gone online to comment on the matter with none revealing his location or reasoning though younger brother Nate Diaz offered up some possible insight on why his sibling may have skipped the scrap, taking to Twitter this morning and reaffirming issues with Estima’s difficulty on the scale, writing, “Braulio didn’t show up on weight the day of weigh ins knowing he had pull? WTF?”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, saturday morning, estima, braulio estima, “ braulio
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz no shows Brazilian jiu-jitsu superfight: Braulio Estima 'doesn't understand why he'd run away'
There are three things in life that are certain: 1) Death, 2) Taxes, and 3) If left to his own devices, Nick Diaz is probably not going to show up to whatever engagement he may have at any given time.
Such was the case last night (Sat., May 12, 2012) at the Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif., when Diaz failed to shows up for his planned Brazilian jiu-jitsu superfight against Braulio Estima.
And, naturally, Estima is pissed off about it:
"I know he's supposed to be the big MMA bad guy and he's all tough, he's supposed to be showbiz, but what is this? When you make an announcement that you're going to fight for charity and you don't show up, what the hell is going on? It's not about showbiz. It's about being a good person. I don't know what is going on. ... I'm a professional athlete. I never thought he wouldn't show up. I came from the U.K., I made the weight, I made 185 pounds, I didn't expect him to not show up. I don't understand why he'd run away."
There's more to the story, of course. Diaz was reportedly told the day before the event that Estima would not be able to make weight for the submission grappling match, though that ended up not being the case. His trainer, Cesar Gracie, told MMAFighting.com he had no idea where Diaz was and no one was able to locate him.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fans know all too well what it's like dealing with the Stockton slugger, who lost out on a welterweight championship opportunity against Georges St. Pierre after no-showing multiple press conferences.
Not quite the same as Estima literally waiting for him on the mats in front of fans, but you get the point.
Hear more from Estima after the jump, including his all but challenging Diaz to an MMA fight on his terms.
Editor's note: Nick Diaz's YouTube account actually "liked" this video shortly after it went up. Take that for what you will.
Posted in: diaz, show, nick, estima, beach calif
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz Decides Against Appearing At World Jiu-Jitsu Expo
Former UFC welterweight contender and ex-Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz left the crowd at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo empty-handed Saturday night, failing to show for a planned super-fight with Braulio Estima. Diaz was set to donate his purse to charity, but left the crowd, Estima and many in the MMA and jiu-jitsu community extremely upset. Estima, [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, jiujitsu, jiujitsu community, crowd estima
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz blames "shady promoter" for BJJ superfight no show
Nick Diaz was originally scheduled to face Estima in the main event of last night's World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, but to disappointment of grappling fans gathered at Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, Diaz simply didn't show up.
Today, Nick Diaz (allegedly) released the following status on Diaz Brothers official Facebook page, accusing the WJJ Expo organizers for skewing the weigh-in rules.
Diaz is currently under temporary suspension for failing his post-UFC 137 drug test. Former Strikeforce
Posted in: diaz, nick, didnt show, bjj superfight, face estima
Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz a no-show for World Jiu-Jitsu Expo superfight with Braulio Estima
UFC fighter Nick Diaz no-showed a scheduled World Jiu-Jitsu Expo superfight with Braulio Estima on Saturday in Long Beach, Calif.
Diaz's absence understandably left fans and Estima steamed.
Diaz, who reportedly was going to donate his purse to charity, has offered no explanation for skipping the event, which was sold online as a $9.95 pay-per-view.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, estima, jiujitsu, braulio estima
Read the full article at MMA JunkieTweet Of The Day: Braulio Estima Reacts To Nick Diaz Not Showing Up For BJJ Super-Fight
Nick Diaz once again ditched an event, this time no-showing a scheduled grappling match against Bralio Estima at the World Jiujitsu Expo. Estima who was disappointed at Diaz for being unprofessional, took to twitter shortly after the bout:
@BraulioEstimaBraulio Estima Unfortunately the so expected super fight Estima vs Diaz didn't happened. I'm very sad as I did everything possible for it to happen. I weighed in at 180lbs this morning at 10 am as agreed and asked to see nicks weighing too but I was informed by Cesar his Coach that he was 180lbs in the previous night and that he ate and is over 180lbs even though I just let it go an still showed up to fight. What pisses me off the most is that he was telling he was going to give his purse to charity for the childrens hospital and than don't show up. What kind of person is that. Shame. Ps. I'm sorry for all the ones who stayed up to watch this fight but I'm sure the prelims fights was amazing. Thank u all for the support aways May 13 via Twittelator Favorite Retweet Reply
A furious Estima also talked about this on MMA Fighting's video, where he calls Diaz "disrespectful to him, the sport, and the kids in his charity".
More quotes after the jump.
"I know he's supposed to be the big MMA bad guy and he's all tough, he's supposed to be showbiz, but what is this? When you make an announcement that you're going to fight for charity and you don't show up, what the hell is going on? It's not about showbiz. It's about being a good person. I don't know what is going on."
"I'm a professional athlete. I never thought he wouldn't show up. I came from the U.K., I made the weight, I made 185 pounds, I didn't expect him to not show up. I don't understand why he'd run away."
"I'll fight him in MMA. If maybe he feels more comfortable there, I'll do it. I gave up a lot of things to make this to happen. I came here to fight, you said you were going to be here, were going to give your purse to charity. It is very disrespectful."
"It's a shame. I'm sorry on his behalf that the show didn't happen. All you guys, I was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. It's a shame, it's disrespectful for me, and for the sport, and for the kids in his charity."
Posted in: fight, diaz, show, estima, charity
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDiaz responds about his no show at last nights BJJ super-fight.
submitted by Sin2K [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: night, diaz, show, superfight, bjj
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz - trolling or just stupid?
submitted by pinkyoshi [link] [comment]
Posted in: diaz, nick, pinkyoshi link, pinkyoshi, trolling
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz's No-Show Leaves Braulio Estima Steamed
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The request rang out over the public address system at the Long Beach Convention Center several times Saturday night: "Will Nick Diaz please report to the registration table?"
But the call was never heeded.
Diaz, mixed martial arts' most enigmatic figure, no-showed his planned submission grappling main event against decorated jiu-jitsu star Braulio Estima.
Diaz, who had previously announced that he was going to donate his purse from the bout to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital of Memphis, left behind a disappointed capacity crowd at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo and one angry, jilted opponent.
"I know he's supposed to be the big MMA bad guy and he's all tough, he's supposed to be showbiz, but what is this?" said Estima, who won two gold medals at the 200 ADCC tourney and is a three-time World Championship gold medalist. "When you make an announcement that you're going to fight for charity and you don't show up, what the hell is going on? It's not about showbiz. It's about being a good person. I don't know what is going on."
The first hints of potential controversy came when Estima weighed in at 189 pounds on Friday for a bout that was supposed to be 180. Both camps agreed the fight would continue if Estima weighed in at 185 on Saturday morning, which he did.
"I'm a professional athlete. I never thought he wouldn't show up," said Estima. "I came from the U.K., I made the weight, I made 185 pounds, I didn't expect him to not show up. I don't understand why he'd run away."
Diaz's trainer, Cesar Gracie, told MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani that his fighter, who is under suspension from MMA due to failing a drug test after his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit, had issues with Estima missing weight.
"I don't know," Gracie said. "I know he was mad when he was told Braulio would not make weight last night. No one has seen him today. Braulio ended up making weight this morning."
The event proceed as planned after Diaz missed his check-in with event officials. The remainder of the card went off while officials attempted to find Diaz. BJJ star Robert Drysdale offered to take Diaz's place, but Estima did not want to meet a substitute opponent.
Estima showed up on the main mat as scheduled, and then the announcement was made to the crowd that Diaz had no-showed, putting a damper on what had been a successful event.
"Braulio wouldn't accept anyone else as an opponent," said event spokesman Renzo Gracie. "It was set up for Braulio to fight Nick, and unfortunately it didn't happen."
Estima was disturbed enough with the situation that he offered, on multiple occasions, to fight Diaz in a mixed martial arts bout. Estima has no professional MMA experience, but trains in the sport with the Blackzilian camp.
"I'll fight him in MMA. If maybe he feels more comfortable there, I'll do it. ... I gave up a lot of things to make this to happen. I came here to fight, you said you were going to be here, were going to give your purse to charity. It is very disrespectful."
With Stockton, Calif.'s most famous resident nowhere to be found, those left behind were left to speculate at what may have caused the latest chapter in Diaz's well-documented history of bizarre incidents.
"I think he got anxious with the whole situation," Renzo Gracie said. "Braulio is at the top of his game. I knew something like this could happen."
"It's a shame," said Estima. "I'm sorry on his behalf that the show didn't happen. All you guys, I was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. It's a shame, it's disrespectful for me, and for the sport, and for the kids in his charity."
Posted in: fight, diaz, event, estima, braulio
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWorld Jiu-Jitsu Expo: Nick Diaz Misses BJJ Match With Braulio Estima
Tonight was supposed to be a special night at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo as UFC welterweight Nick Diaz was supposed to take on BJJ Champion Braulio Estima in a superfight. Unfortunately, Diaz did not appear and left Estima waiting on the mat before it was clear Diaz would not show.
Caesar Gracie told MMAFighting he did not know why Diaz did not show, stating:
“I know he was mad when he was told Braulio would not make weight last night. No one has seen him today. Braulio ended up making weight this morning.”
While Diaz was upset Estima did not make weight the day before, Estima did cut the weight and weighed in this morning. Day of competition weigh-ins are very common in grappling tournaments and Estima had flown in from the United Kingdom for the bout.
While others volunteered to face Estima, including BJJ standout Robert Drysdale, the irate Brazilian insisted he would only face Diaz.
The no show put the damper on the impressive display of grappling put on for those both in the crowd and those that had paid $9.95 for the PPV. Both Diaz and Estima were going to donate their purses from tonight’s bout to charity but it is unsure if that will happen since the bout did not occur.
Full Results:
Jeff Glover def. Caio Terra via points 10-6
Kron Gracie def. Victor Estima via one advantage
Rafael Lovato def. Lucas Leite via points 2-0
Bill Cooper def. Nino Schembri via referee’s decision due to ties in points and advantages
Kyra Gracie def. Alexis Davis via points 5-0
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: diaz, weight, estima, point, braulio
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNick Diaz No-Shows Grappling Super-Fight Against Braulio Estima
Nick Diaz is at it again.
When he didn't show up for Press Conferences in the past, Diaz got punished and even cost him a title shot against Georges St. Pierre. He says he just didn't enjoy attending "beauty pageants", but he would never ditch a fight anyway.
That's exactly what he did tonight though. Diaz had a grappling super-fight against Braulio Estima set, with his entire purse was supposed to be donated to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. It was supposed to be an excellent way to keep him active during his time off from licensing issues due to his Marijuana positive test. It was supposed to be a good way to keep his name in the press, and to help a good cause at the same time.
During the main event of the World Jiujitsu Expo, Braulio Estima was left alone on the mat, sitting on his knees, with Diaz no where to be found. Robert Drysdale offered to step in to face him, but Estima declined, saying "I came to fight Nick Diaz".
Not only did Diaz ditch a high-profile BJJ match, he ditched a charity he promised to support.
When Cesar Gracie was asked, he said he had no idea where his star pupil was or why he decided to no-show:
"I don't know," Cesar Gracie told MMAFighting.com. "I know he was mad when he was told Braulio would not make weight last night," Gracie said. "No one has seen him today. Braulio ended up making weight this morning."
Estima wasn't happy about the outcome. After he was left on the mat without an opponent, the BJJ legend addressed the crowd and even challenged Diaz in an MMA bout.
Posted in: diaz, nick, estima, cesar gracie, braulio
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz no-shows Brazilian jiu-jitsu super fight against Braulio Estima
Diaz gotta Diaz.
Nick Diaz was all set to fight multiple time world champion Brazilian jiu-jitsu player Braulio Estima in the main event of the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo tonight (May 12, 2012) in Long Beach, California.
But first he had to show up.
Estima showed up, had a tough weight cut, but made weight for their bout, which was the headliner of the inaugural event that was being put online via a pay-per-view stream for $9.95, but Diaz didn't.
Instead, fans were left scratching their heads. After all, the bout was supposed to be for charity. There had been reports throughout the night that Diaz hadn't shown up yet, but most just assumed he was being fashionably late.
When he completely no-showed the main event, the fans in attendance and around the world were justifiably livid.
His opponent, Braulio Estima, took to the microphone to announce that he had actually showed up, flown in from England made weight and had done his part. He even went as far as to challenge Diaz to an MMA fight, saying he would beat him in Diaz's realm since apparently Diaz didn't want to fight him in his.
Estima, being an incredibly accomplished grappler, had been boasting about being the first man to submit Diaz in competition.
Perhaps Diaz believed him?
Diaz is currently serving a suspension in mixed martial arts (MMA) for testing positive for THC metabolites after his interim title fight against Carlos Condit at UFC 143, but Brazilian jiu-jitsu bouts are perfectly legal without upsetting any commissions.
Do you Maniacs have any theories on what Diaz was actually doing instead of showing up to his contracted BJJ super-fight?
To see a full play-by-play of the fights that actually happened at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, click here.
Posted in: fight, world, diaz, estima, jiujitsu
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCesar Gracie Unsure Why Nick Diaz No-Showed BJJ Superfight
Nick Diaz failed to show up to his Brazilian jiu-jitsu superfight against Braulio Estima, and as of Saturday night, his manager and trainer couldn't answer why.Cesar Gracie told MMAFighting.com following the conclusion of the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo that he had no idea why Diaz didn't show up. "I know he was mad when he was told Braulio would not make weight last night," Gracie said. "No one has seen him today. Braulio ended up making weight this morning." Following the Diaz no-show, Estima challenged him to an MMA fight. BJJ star Robert Drysdale offered to replace Diaz but Estima had no interest in fighting a replacement. "I came to fight Nick Diaz," he said.
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, cesar gracie, braulio estima, today braulio
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz no-shows Estima match.
Stream of the event here - http://www.coolsport.tv/stream7.php Estima now calling Diaz out on the mic. Even the biggest Diaz fan can't excuse this. submitted by brettawesome [link] [21 comments]
Posted in: diaz, stream, estima, noshow, mic
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima Results
MMA Fighting has Nick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima results for Saturday night's action at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, Calif. The Diaz vs. Estima superfight headlines a six-fight card. Other fights on the card are Caio Terra vs. Jeff Glover (no-gi), Kron Gracie vs. Victor Estima (gi), Rafael Lovato vs. Lucas Leite (gi),
Bill Cooper vs. Nino Schembri (gi) and Kyra Gracie def. Alexis Davis (no-gi).
This is new territory for Braulio Estima.
Being one of the most decorated BJJ players in the world isn't the worst gig, though you'd probably be surprised at the lack of recognition that comes with a closet full of golden hardware. But getting wrapped-up in the Nick Diaz circus? That's a different beast entirely.
The unique cult of personality that surrounds Diaz, eliciting squawks of ‘don't be scared homie' at defaced portraits of Carlos Condit halfway across the globe, is exactly why the two-time ADCC champion suddenly finds himself inundated with P.R. requests, as inquiring eyeballs flock to watch Diaz's latest exploit with half-gawking curiosity.
For Estima, it is an impeccable stroke of fortune he never planned for.
"This was the perfect (set of circumstances)," the 31-year-old Brazilian explained on The MMA Hour. "I was actually going to do a free seminar at the expo of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and I heard Nick Diaz was going to do a grappling match at the same expo. The first thing that came to my mind was, ‘Wow, that would be a great match-up because we have kind of the same weight and kind of the same height, and he fights with submissions, I fight with submissions. He is a legend in the MMA sport.'"
In a surprising turn of events, Diaz, caught in a tenuous legal battle with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, had turned to Long Beach's World Jiu-Jitsu Expo to satiate his competitive urges. While hundreds of miles away, deep in the coastal wetlands of Boca Raton, Estima buried himself into coaching duties for the Blackzilian camp, preparing Rashad Evans for his upcoming UFC 145 title fight.
Braulio Estima vs. Nick Diaz countdown video
As luck would have it, the two timetables matched-up perfectly."I was training in Florida when Junior, one of the main guys for the expo, approached me and said, 'How about a fight with Nick Diaz?' Estima cheerfully recalled. "I said, 'Wow. Man, I would love to have this fight!' This will help both of us."
Now, in a matter of weeks, Diaz vs. Estima has become the most heavily-publicized BJJ match in recent memory. Selling at $10 a pop, the pay-per-view has delivered a flood of new observers to the niche expo, each of whom know next to nothing about Estima and his lifetime of accomplishments.
Nothing, except of course, that he's supposed to wipe the floor with Diaz.
"I think people underestimate a lot, the experience that Nick has," Estima mused. "He's not an easy fight. I think because of my name, because of what I've achieved ... the pressure is all on me. Which helps him. He has nothing to lose in this match. I have everything (to lose).
"He has no pressure to win this fight. He just needs to go in there and do a good job."
Estima, who has won everything from the Mundials to the Pan American Championships, admits he won't be 100 percent for the match because of how abruptly the opportunity arose. But as he puts it, the unusual set of circumstances could become an interesting nuance that makes things "a little bit more even."
"I'm coming off of a break since Abu Dhabi, and haven't been training as hard as I was for ADCC," Estima confessed. "I had to lose a lot of weight to make this fight at 180. I will be coming from Thailand which is like 14 hours of difference. The jet lag is going to be great."
So if this match feels different, it's probably because it is. In more ways than one, apparently. With more eyeballs come more expectations, and for Estima, a rather tough spotlight to be thrust into.
But when the time comes, and he and Diaz look eye to eye, none of that will matter. He's been here his entire life, and this moment, just like all the others before it, is going to feel right at home.
"I can't wait to put my feet on the mat and start grappling," Estima concluded with a grin.
"I really want to be the first guy that ever taps him."
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, vs, estima
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWorld Jiu-Jitsu Expo Results: Diaz vs. Estima
MMA Fighting has World Jiu-Jitsu Expo results for Saturday's Diaz vs. Estima card in Long Beach, Calif.In the main event, Nick Diaz will battle Braulio Estima. Also on the card, Rafael Lovato will square off against Kayron Gracie, and Kyra Gracie will face Alexis Davis.
Check out the World Jiu-Jitsu Epo results below.
Complete CardNick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima (no-gi)Kayron Gracie vs. Rafael Lovato (gi)Victor Estima vs. Kron Gracie (gi)Nino Schembri vs. Bill Cooper (gi)Kyra Gracie vs. Alexis Davis (no-gi)Caio Terra vs. Jeff Glover (no-gi)
Posted in: diaz, vs, estima, gracie, braulio estima
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz Vs. Braulio Estima Superfight Live Discussion
For all the BElitists around the world, this is your formal invitation to chit-chat with your brethren while watching a star studded BJJ card, featuring a superfight that makes me want to bite my knuckles in anticipation. The much talked about match between UFC welterweight contender, Nick Diaz, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu master, Braulio Estima, is finally upon us.
In 30 short minutes, the pre-show will kick off, and at 10 pm EST, the card itself will begin. You can get your pass to watch via http://mobileblackbelt.tv/ for only $9.95. If you're thinking to yourself, 'Do I want to part with 10 bucks for this event?', keep in mind that a portion of the proceeds from the PPV stream will go to charity. The card in it's entirety is as follows:
NICK DIAZ vs. BRAULIO ESTIMA (NO-GI)KAYRON GRACIE vs. RAFAEL LOVATO (GI)VICTOR ESTIMA vs. KRON GRACIE (GI)NINO SCHEMBRI vs. BILL COOPER (GI)KYRA GRACIE vs. ALEXIS DAVIS (NO-GI)CAIO TERRA vs. JEFF GLOVER (NO-GI)
This event is part of the debut of the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, taking place at the Long Beach Convention Center in California. As reported here on Bloody Elbow, Nick Diaz will be donating his entire purse to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Hope you guys enjoy the show.
Posted in: diaz, nick, vs, estima, bjj card
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Braulio Estima says that he will not let Nick Diaz taunt him, and he’ll submit him by triangle inside of 4 minutes
The Diaz brothers didn’t pick up facial warfare at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, it was handed down from several previous generations of the Diaz bloodline. Mean-mugging is not something you learn to do after being bullied in grade school it’s hereditary. Last week, Nate Diaz used his trademarked 209 war face to demonstrate that he was the number one contender for the 155lb UFC championship, and tonight, Nick Diaz will grapple one of the finest BJJ practitioners in the world. It wouldn’t feel right if there wasn’t controversy, so to spice things up, Braulio Estima arrived overweight by nine pounds yesterday. Knowing that Nick Diaz ‘ain’t scared, homie,’ today (according to his facebook page.) he reached the agreed weight of 180lbs and the match can take place. Wasting no time, Estima rehydrated and began the first round of interviews with the media where he explains that Nick Diaz will not taunt him like he does his other opponents, and he expects this match to end within 4 minutes, by triangle. The festivities kick off live on PPV at 9:30pmEST/6:30pm PST.
[Source]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, ’t, braulio estima
Read the full article at Middle EasyBraulio Estima says that he will not let Nick Diaz taunt him, and he’ll submit him by triangle inside of 4 minutes
The Diaz brothers didn’t pick up facial warfare at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, it was handed down from several previous generations of the Diaz bloodline. Mean-mugging is not something you learn to do after being bullied in grade school it’s hereditary. Last week, Nate Diaz used his trademarked 209 war face to demonstrate that he was the number one contender for the 155lb UFC championship, and tonight, Nick Diaz will grapple one of the finest BJJ practitioners in the world. It wouldn’t feel right if there wasn’t controversy, so to spice things up, Braulio Estima arrived overweight by nine pounds yesterday. Knowing that Nick Diaz ‘ain’t scared, homie,’ today (according to his facebook page.) he reached the agreed weight of 180lbs and the match can take place. Wasting no time, Estima rehydrated and began the first round of interviews with the media where he explains that Nick Diaz will not taunt him like he does his other opponents, and he expects this match to end within 4 minutes, by triangle. The festivities kick off live on PPV at 9:30pmEST/6:30pm PST.
[Source]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, ’t, braulio estima
Read the full article at Middle EasyWorld Jiu-Jitsu Expo Today, Features Diaz-Estima Superfight
The very first World Jiu-Jitsu Expo will take place later today at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California.
The event will feature six grappling superfights between some of the very best male and female submission grapplers on the planet. Sitting atop the lineup of BJJ superfights is a no-gi match between submission wizard Braulio Estima and MMA renegade Nick Diaz.
Currently retired from mixed martial arts and battling it out with the Nevada State Athletic Commission over his marijuana suspension, the competition against Estima should provide the elder of the fighting Diaz brothers with a nice distraction as well as an outlet for his competitive drive.
Diaz is pegged as the underdog by a wide margin to Estima, who is considered by many to be the world’s best submission grappler.
You can view the entire card for $9.95 on mobileblackbelt.tv beginning at 6:30PM PT with a pre-show; the grappling matches will kick off at 7:00Pm PT. Check out the lineup below:
Nick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima (No-Gi)
Kron Gracie vs. Rafael Lovato (Gi)
Victor Estima vs. Kron Gracie (Gi)
Nino Schembri vs. Bill Cooper (Gi)
Kyra Gracie vs. Alexis Davis (No-Gi)
Caio Terra vs. Jeff Glover (No-Gi)
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: diaz, vs, estima, gi, nogi
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNSAC turns down Nick Diaz' request for injunction; hearing set for May 14th
In the latest development in the saga of the Nevada State Athletic Commission v. Nick Diaz, the Nevada attorney general's office has filed an opposition to the latest claim made by Diaz' legal team. Diaz insisted he was not given a hearing within the allotted time, but the commission is responding on the grounds that he cannot take any legal action until disciplinary action has been handed down to him. Another step in a back-and-forth war, this latest report leaves us wondering when, if ever, we will see
Posted in: diaz, nevada state, backandforth war, injunction hearing, team diaz
Read the full article at Low KickDiaz is AWOL at World Jiu-Jitsu Expo
Nick Diaz was suppossed to face Braulio Estima in a BJJ Superfight in Long Beach, California today as part of the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. Diaz said he would donate his winnings to charity. Unfortunately for the charity in question (St. Jude's Childrens Hospital)and fans who paid to see the match, when it came time to step on the mat, Diaz was not present.Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com asked Cesar Gracie, Diaz's trainer and manager, the reason. Gracie had this to say: "I don't know. I know he was mad when
Posted in: diaz, i dont, bjj superfight, presentariel helwani, reason gracie
Read the full article at Low KickBraulio Estima: I Want to Be First Guy That Ever Taps Nick Diaz
This is new territory for Braulio Estima.
Being one of the most decorated BBJ players in the world isn't the worst gig, though you'd probably be surprised at the lack of recognition that comes with a closet full of golden hardware. But getting wrapped-up in the Nick Diaz circus? That's a different beast entirely.
The unique cult of personality that surrounds Diaz, eliciting squawks of ‘don't be scared homie' at defaced portraits of Carlos Condit halfway across the globe, is exactly why the two-time ADCC champion suddenly finds himself inundated with P.R. requests, as inquiring eyeballs flock to watch Diaz's latest exploit with half-gawking curiosity.
For Estima, it is an impeccable stroke of fortune he never planned for.
"This was the perfect (set of circumstances)," the 31-year-old Brazilian explained on The MMA Hour. "I was actually going to do a free seminar at the expo of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and I heard Nick Diaz was going to do a grappling match at the same expo. The first thing that came to my mind was, ‘Wow, that would be a great match-up because we have kind of the same weight and kind of the same height, and he fights with submissions, I fight with submissions. He is a legend in the MMA sport.'"
In a surprising turn of events, Diaz, caught in a tenuous legal battle with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, had turned to Long Beach's World Jiu-Jitsu Expo to satiate his competitive urges. While hundreds of miles away, deep in the coastal wetlands of Boca Raton, Estima buried himself into coaching duties for the Blackzilian camp, preparing Rashad Evans for his upcoming UFC 145 title fight.
Braulio Estima vs. Nick Diaz countdown video
As luck would have it, the two timetables matched-up perfectly."I was training in Florida when Junior, one of the main guys for the expo, approached me and said, 'How about a fight with Nick Diaz?' Estima cheerfully recalled. "I said, 'Wow. Man, I would love to have this fight!' This will help both of us."
Now, in a matter of weeks, Diaz vs. Estima has become the most heavily-publicized BJJ match in recent memory. Selling at $10 a pop, the pay-per-view has delivered a flood of new observers to the niche expo, each of whom know next to nothing about Estima and his lifetime of accomplishments.
Nothing, except of course, that he's supposed to wipe the floor with Diaz.
"I think people underestimate a lot, the experience that Nick has," Estima mused. "He's not an easy fight. I think because of my name, because of what I've achieved ... the pressure is all on me. Which helps him. He has nothing to lose in this match. I have everything (to lose).
"He has no pressure to win this fight. He just needs to go in there and do a good job."
Estima, who has won everything from the Mundials to the Pan American Championships, admits he won't be 100 percent for the match because of how abruptly the opportunity arose. But as he puts it, the unusual set of circumstances could become an interesting nuance that makes things "a little bit more even."
"I'm coming off of a break since Abu Dhabi, and haven't been training as hard as I was for ADCC," Estima confessed. "I had to lose a lot of weight to make this fight at 180. I will be coming from Thailand which is like 14 hours of difference. The jet lag is going to be great."
So if this match feels different, it's probably because it is. In more ways than one, apparently. With more eyeballs come more expectations, and for Estima, a rather tough spotlight to be thrust into.
But when the time comes, and he and Diaz look eye to eye, none of that will matter. He's been here his entire life, and this moment, just like all the others before it, is going to feel right at home.
"I can't wait to put my feet on the mat and start grappling," Estima concluded with a grin.
"I really want to be the first guy that ever taps him."
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, estima, expo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNSAC opposes Nick Diaz camp's motion for preliminary injunction
In the latest salvo between the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Nick Diaz, the Nevada attorney general's office, on behalf of the commission, has filed a document opposing a request for an injunction against the fighter's temporary suspension.
The document argues that Diaz can't take legal action until the commission makes a final ruling on his disciplinary complaint.
According to the commission, it has been held up by both the absence of evidence that the attorney general requested and the fighter's initial challenge of his failed drug test.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nevada state, commission, diaz cant
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDonald Cerrone: 'I want another 'Fight of the Night' scrap against Nate Diaz'
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight contender Donald Cerrone was riding a six-fight win streak heading into his bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" last December. A win would more than likely have catapulted the always entertaining fighter straight to the top of the crowded 155-pound division.
Unfortunately for "Cowboy," he ran into a very determined Nate Diaz.
In what was a "Fight of the Night" bonus winner, Diaz and Cerrone went toe-to-toe in an all stand-up war. After 15 minutes of action, Diaz prevailed the victor, earning the unanimous decision by out striking Cerrone, and setting a CompuStrike striking record for a three round fight, in the process.
Now, looking to start another win streak, "Cowboy" will take on Jeremy Stephens at UFC on Fuel TV: "Korean Zombie vs. Poirier" on May 15, 2012, at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. With "Lil' Heathen" preferring the stand up game as well, expect another "Fight of the Night" candidate when the two talented lightweights step into the Octagon.
Should Cerrone come out victorious, he already has plans on calling out Diaz once again for a rematch, in a fight he hopes to take place in his home state when the UFC heads to Denver, Colo., on Aug., 11, 2012, for UFC 150, which features the rematch for Lightweight title between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson.
Appearing on Pro MMA Radio, the Jackson-Winkeljohn-trained fighter talks about what went wrong in his fight with Diaz, his recent hospital trips, and also gives his perspective on the Jon Jones and Rashad Evans fall out.
"I haven't really watched the fight to tell you the truth, I was just real flat-footed, man I was just off. Some people have off nights and that was a hell of an off night, you know? I wasn't fighting the way I fight. No excuses, he showed up that night and I didn't. My hat's off to the dude. He looked real good against Jim Miller. I'm a fan of the dude. As much shit as we were talking, he goes out there and fights, that's what he does. After this fight, I'm going to call him out and get him to fight me in a rematch in Denver, see if he takes the bait. He throws down, I would like to fight him again on the main card and get that fight of the night because it would be another scrap for sure."
Diaz recently revealed that he will indeed wait for his chance to compete for the title against the winner of "The Answer" and "Smooth" at UFC 150, which he earned after he defeated Jim Miller via second round submission at UFC on Fox 3 this past weekend (May 5, 2012). Should Nate decide to take another fight in the interim, Cerrone would probably have to wait his place in line, seeing as how Anthony Pettis wants his crack at at the new number one lightweight contender, as well.
Before Cerrone can look forward to a rematch with Diaz, he has his hands full against the scrappy and hard hitting Stephens:
"He ain't much of a kicker, I kick, but he has heavy hands. He throws a big overhand and gots good body shots and has good takedowns. When he is on top he is doing very well. So, where do I need to take him? I need to put him on his back and stay long and out strike him. Yeah, my submission game is feeling incredible right now, it's something I've really been working on. I'm coming out, I'm winning, I know that. I'm going for the finish any chance I get."
"Cowboy" also revealed that he recently had to make a couple of hospital visits due to staph infection and a serious case of intestine problems which required a lengthy hospital stay. However, he says that none of that will interfere with his performance in Virginia:
"This fight was a son of a bitch man. I had staph infection in my knee so bad I had to go into the emergency room and get IV's. I just get out of the hospital and I get pulled right back in because I rolled my stomach. My stomach got twisted, so I did eight more days in the intensive care unit, so, it was pretty sweet man. I twisted one of my intestines right below my stomach, in training. I got into an accident, so my stomach is messed up anyways, from years ago. They were talking about surgery. They were going to try one thing where they let all of my intestines out and they fill me full of water and try to unspin it, and that worked, thank God, I guess, so. I'm not telling you that (when it happened), because I don't want anyone else to know, you're the first person I said it to. The whole thing was hush, hush, hush. The only person that new was the insurance company of the UFC. I don't want anyone saying, "Oh, he was in the hospital, he ain't training." Shit, let's go, I'm ready, there ain't no stopping me. I was in the hospital for me knee and my guts, let's go. I'm a cowboy to the end, so. I'm healthy and great. If anything, it just helped lose weight."
Eager to get back on the horse, "Cowboy" appears to be more than healthy and ready to right his ship.
But will "Lil' Heathen" derail his plans of a rematch with Diaz? Or will Cerrone makes sure he doesn't have another "off night" and get back to his winning ways?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: ufc, fight, night, diaz, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLorenzo Fertitta reacts to UFC on FOX 3 ratings, vows to promote Nate Diaz like Jon Jones
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made its return to national television this past weekend (May 5, 2012) with UFC on Fox 3, featuring a Lightweight title fight between the surging Nate Diaz and the always tough Jim Miller and a co-main even battle between Welterweights Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks.
The televised portion of the card was kicked off in style by a Heavyweight scrap between knockout artist Lavar Johnson and Pat Barry that showed once again the reason Johnson is a force to be reckoned with, knocking out "HD" in the very first round.
In what UFC President Dana White called a "perfect night," "Kos" and "Big Rigg" also entertained the crowd in a back-and forth affair, while Alan Belcher proved his dominance over Rousimar Palhares in a middleweight tilt.
Sounds like a successful night, right? Unfortunately, UFC on FOX 3 didn't do too well in the ratings. In fact, they were the lowest of all three Fox events. Despite the dip in viewers, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta is not worried one bit.
Speaking to Yahoo! Sports, Fertitta talks about the decrease in viewers for UFC on Fox 3, and also says that a bright note was that Nate Diaz showed that he can be a future pay-per-view (PPV) star.
Check it out:
"Would we like to see the numbers be trending differently? Yes, of course, but we're not concerned and we don't think it's an overall reflection of our business. There are reasons for it. If you think about it, for the first [Fox] fight we had a massive amount of promotion within the NFL on Fox. And we led with our big show, the heavyweight championship, so of course, we were going to draw a much broader range of viewers. The fight in January in Chicago actually performed pretty well, even though it was a little below the first one. It was still super solid. This last show, I'd say it was a moderate performance. Really, what we're looking at is, 'How did we rank within the competition compared to what was going on that night?' And in hindsight, going on Cinco de Mayo may not have been the best thing to do."
Low numbers aside, the UFC did do well in the 18-49 demographic in its time slot (via Yahoo! Sports):
Despite the competition, the UFC ranked first in the 18-49 demographic in its time slot. (The Mayweather fight didn't count, because pay-per-view shows aren't tracked by Nielsen.) The UFC had 1.471 million 18-49 viewers Saturday. Even that, though, was significantly less than in the first two Fox cards. On Nov. 12, the UFC drew 3.776 million 18-49-year-olds and on Jan. 28 it was 3.072. The live viewing of the April 28 boxing match between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson on HBO attracted 1.57 million total viewers and 919,000 in the 18-49 demographic, despite being in 80 million fewer homes than UFC on Fox 3.
Fertitta also believes the fact that the event was also competing with the record setting box office blockbuster movie "The Avengers," didn't help their cause. On a bright note, Lorenzo is confident that the UFC has found a new star to promote in the form of Nate Diaz:
"If The Avengers did [a box office of] over $200 million for the weekend, unfortunately for us, there were a great number of our potential viewers sitting in a movie theater somewhere. Or, they were out that night celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Listen, I'm not trying to make excuses. Hats off to HBO and Bernard Hopkins. That's a great job and a great number they pulled. But when you say, 'Are we concerned,' I'd say no. We're excited. We had a situation where 2.5 million people, which I would say is still a substantial number, got to see what I would say was a tremendous product. All four fights were great fights and in the main event, Nate Diaz showed he's potentially a breakout star who down the road could move the needle for us on pay-per-view. The playbook is playing out for us exactly the way we wanted it to. Before I was involved in the pay-per-view business and understood the ins and outs, I was always scared to death to change the channel. We will work on this and look at it, but we're not unhappy. We got a tremendous amount of exposure for a kid like Nate Diaz. We're going to build him the way we built Jon Jones. Two years ago, nobody knew who Jon Jones was, and now, a couple of weeks ago, we did a very good [PPV] number for his fight that I think really crossed over and where the non hard-core fans were talking about it."
With UFC on Fox 4 slated to go down in August, which features a Middleweight scrap between Brian Stann and recently acquired Hector Lombard and a Light Heavyweight bout between Lyoto Machida and Ryan Bader, the UFC will hope that the decline in viewership doesn't continue.
Or will it?
"All-American" has a great story to tell as a United States military veteran, but will it be enough to move the needle on national television? And can Nate Diaz really be a future pay-per-view (PPV) draw for the promotion?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, nate, nate diaz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo: Nick Diaz Vs. Braulio Estima Super-Fight Countdown Show
This weekend, UFC contender Nick Diaz will be taking on BJJ legend, Braulio Estima in a grappling super-fight. The match will headline the World Jiu Jitsu Expo, along with 5 other matches and will be available for viewing online at $9.99. As reported earlier, the proceeds from the purse Nick Diaz will be getting, will be donated to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
BJJ Film maker Stuart Cooper has created an in-depth preview of the match from the point of view of Braulio Estima, where the BJJ champion talked about the match against Diaz, cutting weight, and using this as a prelude to his future MMA debut. Check out the video below:
Braulio Estima: "I'm not gonna go there playing easy. I'm going to play my best game, and I will try to be the first guy to submit (Nick Diaz)."
"This is a once in a lifetime thing. Getting one of the top ones in MMA, and getting one of the top ones in BJJ, fighting together, for all the world to come and see. It's going to be amazing."
Related: How Will Nick Diaz Vs. Braulio Estima Go This Weekend
The 15-minute video is executed very well, so if you're even slightly interested in the match, I do suggest watching it. You can read the rest of the key quotes after the jump.
A lot of people consider him as the underdog... But he's a very tough guy. Very flexible. He has a phenomenal gas (tank). He's a triathlon guy so you know stamina is not his problem.
I'm coming back from a big break, which makes this thing even. I will be cutting a lot of weight... Which is a challenge that I want to give a go anyway, because I'll be fighting MMA in the lower weight, which is the same weight as Nick Diaz. So I want to start to feel how to fight at that lower weight class.
I am the favorite, and everyone expects me to go there and annihilate him. Which, if it happens, then good. But I am not going to underestimate him. I think he's a great fighter, and this brings a lot more pressure.
The guy is a special guy. It's going to be a tough match. I'm not expecting nothing easy. I'm not gonna go there playing easy. I'm going to play my best game, and I will try to be the first guy to submit him.
He doesn't care about points. He cares about submissions. And I'm going to go there too. I'm going there to beat him by submission.
This is a once in a lifetime thing. Getting one of the top ones in MMA, and getting one of the top ones in BJJ, fighting together, for all the world to come and see. It's going to be amazing.
Posted in: diaz, guy, nick, estima, im
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNate Diaz On Gilbert Melendez: ‘There’s No One Better Than Him’
Nate Diaz has positioned himself for a run at the UFC lightweight championship. His training partner and close friend, Gilbert Melendez, currently holds the Strikeforce lightweight title. So, as frequent training partners, how does Diaz feel he stacks up with Melendez? Well, he let us all know in a recent interview with Sherdog. I’ve been [...]
Posted in: diaz, training partners, nate diaz, training partner, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ConvertLightweight Rankings: Where Does Melendez Really Rate?
When Nate Diaz was interviewed in the Octagon following his tour-de-force win over Jim Miller at last weekend's UFC on FOX 3 card in New Jersey, he left no doubt who he considered the number-one lightweight in the world: Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez.
You'd expect him to say this, of course, since the two are training partners. But figuring out where Melendez should rank, exactly, isn't so cut and dried.
With six straight wins, the 20-2 Melendez has the second-longest current win streak of any top-10 lightweight, trailing only unbeaten Bellator champ Michael Chandler (10). During that run, "El Nino" avenged his only two career losses, to Josh Thomson and Mitsuhiro Ishida.
But can Strikeforce provide the quality of competition necessary to make a case for Melendez as No. 1?
Strikeforce has put together Melendez and Josh Thomson in San Jose on May 19 in what might be the least-anticipated trilogy fight of recent times.
If Melendez wins that matchup, as most expect, then what? Strikeforce's 155-pound division is running pretty thin these days.
As is its stable of bankable headline talent. With Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Dan Henderson all back in the UFC; Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos suspended due to steroids, and the seemingly interminable heavyweight tournament finally winding down next week.
Showtime isn't about to let go of one of the few remaining television draws it has at its disposal, which means Melendez might fritter away his prime against less-than-elite competition.
Diaz could very well be correct in calling Melendez the best in the world. But as long as Melendez is in Strikeforce, we'll never find out.
(Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.)
1. Benson Henderson (4) If you want to find something to nitpick about the champion, he hasn't finished an opponent since submitting Donald Cerrone back in 2010. Beyond that, there's not much to criticize about the current king of the hill.
2. Gilbert Melendez (2) It's probably not fair that Melendez is being judged for a situation that's out of his control. But at the same time, the situation puts more pressure on the champ to look impressive in each outing, beginning with his bout against Thomson.
3. Frankie Edgar (1) When undersized fighters who take a lot of damage hit their career turning point, it happens in the blink of an eye. I'm not saying Edgar is there yet, but he's taken beatings in his past several fights and he's only won one of his past three.
4. Nate Diaz (10) The hottest fighter at 155 pounds not wearing major-promotion gold at the moment. Will a long wait for the winner of the Henderson-Edgar rematch serve to cool him off.
5. Gray Maynard (3) Yes, I'm aware Maynard beat Diaz on a split decision two-and-a-half years ago and that I'm ranking Diaz ahead of Maynard anyway. But Maynard hasn't won a fight in 21 months, while Diaz has blazed his way through the weight class. The good news for "The Bully" is that he can rectify this next month when he meets the next fighter on the list.
6, Clay Guida (5) The only loss on his record in this decade was his Fight of the Year-candidate decision against Ben Henderson in November. But he's hardly the only one to lose to Bendo, and a win over Maynard would put him right back into the Top 5.
7. Anthony Pettis (6) Still nothing on the docket for "Showtime," who has won seven of his past eight fights. Highly unlikely it will be a UFC title shot, though.
8. Jim Miller (7) Miller had a strong run in winning seven consecutive UFC fights form 2009-11. But he's also 0-4 against guys ranked ahead of him on this list. He will need a strong win in his next outing to stay ranked.
9. Michael Chandler (NR) The unbeaten Bellator champ KOd Japanese legend Akihiro Gono directly into retirement.
10. Eddie Alvarez (NR) The Philly phenom rebounded from his Bellator title loss to Chandler with a convincing TKO of Shinya Aoki, avenging a previous loss.
Want more? Then check out Bloody Elbow's consensus rankings for each weight class from bantamweight to heavyweight.
Posted in: fight, diaz, strikeforce, melendez, maynard
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBraulio Estima: 'I want to be the first to submit the MMA legend Nick Diaz'
submitted by theomegachrist [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick, estima, braulio, theomegachrist
Read the full article at RedditHow Will Nick Diaz Vs. Braulio Estima Go This Weekend At World Jiu Jitsu Expo?
Neither Diaz brother believes much in downtime. While challenging his suspension for a positive drug test, Nick Diaz signed up for a no-gi grappling superfight against Braulio Estima to be held on May 12, 2012. To couch this in terms of a metaphor, it is as if an Olympic decathlon contender decided to challenge Usain Bolt to a 400 meter run on live TV.
This grappling match is unusual because it is now rare that someone on the level of Diaz, a title contender in the comparatively more lucrative world of MMA, would participate in a grappling match against Estima, one of the twenty best Brazilian jiu jitsu grapplers on the planet right now. There is little in the way of mega-publicity headed Diaz's way for this match as it takes place outside the UFC - unlike the appearance of Brock Lesnar in the pro wrestling circuit. There is no financial reward - as Diaz is donating his expected purse to charity. All that is left is the purposeful choosing of an immense personal and technical challenge for Diaz that is worth respecting and bringing attention to. Can Nick shock the world and bring more glory to 209?
For Estima, this is a chance to show MMA fans what he can do and to make further connections within the MMA world. If he loses, his reputation takes a bit of a dent and his prospect wattage dims considerably. His training partner Roger Gracie has already taken that dent after a loss to Muhammad Lawal and is now going to make a new weight class his home. Will the same fate befall Braulio?
Hit the jump for a look at the styles of Diaz and Estima, as well as an overview of the other matches at the World Jiu Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California on May 12, 2012.
Related Coverage: Nick Diaz to donate entire purse to St. Jude's Children's Hospital | Stephie Daniels interviews Braulio about impending MMA debut | Ben Thapa previews the ADCC 2011 Superfight between Jacare and Braulio | Ben Thapa on ADCC 2011 Results (the significance of Braulio's victory against Jacare)
Braulio spoke with our own Stephie Daniels for a short time while in Abu Dhabi on a dying phone regarding the Diaz super-fight and about Andre Galvao, a future opponent in yet another super-fight:
It is good for him to fight someone in BJJ because he cannot fight in MMA at the moment. He can take his fitness levels from MMA and transfer them here. This is going to be huge. It will be difficult to beat him and I'm actually very excited. I've also got a sponsor who is excited about this and is allowing me to fight him, which is great too.
Regarding an MMA rules fight with Andre Galvao subsequent to their upcoming ADCC super-fight in 2013:
I don't think so, because we are friends, and when you add punches to the face, that puts a strain on any friendship.
NICK DIAZ vs. BRAULIO ESTIMA (NO-GI)
Diaz battled Carlos Condit for the UFC interim welterweight title, but came up short on the judges' card and was subsequently suspended from fighting due to a positive drug test for marijuana metabolites. His talent and achievements within MMA are unquestioned and Nick built his very solid grappling game under the tutelage of Cesar Gracie, a notoriously difficult instructor in terms of handing out belts. The nine, often spectacular submission victories Diaz holds in his MMA career show his dangerous finishing abilities in the context of no-gi grappling. He gives almost everyone he meets fits on the ground, but Braulio Estima is not a regular run of the mill grappler.
Braulio Estima was at the absolute pinnacle of the sport of Brazilian jiu jitsu in 2009. He won every major tournament he entered and his ADCC 2009 run was magnificent. His double gold in the 88 kg and the Absolute divisions were both won by a rare submission called the inverted triangle. Unfortunately, the brilliance of the 2009 campaign dimmed in 2010, as Braulio dealt with nagging injuries in between then and the 2011 ADCC. Like the sprinter Bolt, his dominance was hampered by these injuries, but Braulio's victory over Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in the ADCC Superfight showed he was back and that he was grappling at a very high level. The 4-0 points victory does not reflect the extreme frustration Jacare experienced trying to pass Braulio's guard and the lightning-quick back take Braulio had off an unusual transition. Braulio wins again and again in and out of the gi.
Both fighters stand to gain little in their respective niches from this battle. If Nick wins, he gains little in the MMA world, but jumps considerably in the BJJ world. If Braulio wins, he's lived up to expectations, yet his MMA career isn't helped much. However, both should gain respect from the fans for agreeing to match each other as the headliner to what will be an entertaining superfight card.
Braulio's guard is immensely difficult to solve. He submitted Marcelo Garcia after a tiny grip-based mistake, submitted Andre Galvao in 2009 with an inverted triangle and caused Xande Ribeiro (a much bigger grappler) to quit due to injury after applying another inverted triangle. His back take on Jacare in the ADCC 2011 Superfight was very impressive and he should be able to do much more to Nick.
The two grapplers should be of roughly similar size, but Braulio will probably be the stronger of the two on the ground and much more able to take advantage of transitions after Diaz tries something. Both Diaz brothers have a tendency to expose their backs or chill out in turtle until they spin out and grab a limb. However, Braulio is too good to fall for that and will probably run up the score a good deal on a very game Nick after taking him down. Due to this being no-gi, a submission is difficult to predict, but Braulio probably can secure Nick's back after a while and get the RNC.
RAFAEL LOVATO JR. vs. LUCAS LEITE (GI)
Lucas Leite is a threat to win any gi tournament he enters. He recently reached the finals of the 2012 Abu Dhabi World Pro against Claudio Calasans and lost a points victory. Lovato Jr. is also a threat to win these tournaments, but hasn't quite cracked through to the gold medal since his victory over Rodolfo Vieira in the no-gi 2011 World Pro. Rafael took third in the same Abu Dhabi tournament, losing by an advantage to one of the finalists in a controversial match. Both men are probably going to engage in an extremely intense, pressure-based battle to get grips and sweeps. I suspect that this one will be decided by an advantage or two.
VICTOR ESTIMA vs. KRON GRACIE (GI)
This match actually happened at the 2012 Pan Am and Victor was disqualified for an illegal knee reap. The rules are the same and Kron is again the favorite to win. Victor loves pulling guard and then working for guillotines or sweeps. Kron does not care where he ends up and hunts submissions from all over, often to his detriment in a point-based decision.
NINO SCHEMBRI vs. BILL COOPER (GI)
Nino is perhaps the best innovator in the sport that the Americans overlook. He was playing around with omoplatas, twisters and all kinds of other unusual tactics in the '90s. His competition record is absolutely stellar and some of his matches could feature in a hypothetical Top 100 BJJ Matches of All Time list. Unfortunately, he is facing Bill "The Grill" Cooper who will push the pace higher and higher until neither grappler can go any further.
Cooper's match against Finfou a couple years ago remains my favorite spirit-breaking-through-pace-pushing moment ever. Bill actually has fought on the Strikeforce undercard a couple times and is 2-1 in his pro MMA career. Look for Bill to move through all the angles possible to attack and for Nino to follow, hunting a submission on the dangerous Cooper. Nino could get a finish, but it is unlikely. Look at their previous match in 2010 for a clue of what this insanity will look like:
KYRA GRACIE vs. ALEXIS DAVIS (NO-GI)
Kyra has an injured foot, but is still game for this. She lost the finals of the 2012 Abu Dhabi World Pro to Michelle Nicolini by footlock as she stuck it out at a bad time and couldn't tough it out enough to escape. If Davis is smart, she goes after that foot and wins. If not, Kyra will probably control her and slowly whittle her down until Davis wises up and attacks the foot.
CAIO TERRA vs. JEFF GLOVER (NO-GI)
Caio usually wins every competition he enters as a roosterweight - or loses in the finals to Bruno Malfacine. Glover is 20ish pounds heavier and a very strong submission grappler. If this were gi, I'd pick Terra in a heartbeat, but Glover finished Robson Moura, a legendary grappler in his own right, at the last ADCCs. Glover probably wins a controlled fight here.
Posted in: world, diaz, mma, nick, braulio
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBraulio Estima: 'I want to be the first to submit the MMA legend Nick Diaz'
Competing in grappling tournaments for over 16 years and studying the art since the age of 16, second degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt, Braulio Estima, is one of the most decorated mat wizards in the world today.
With a long list of credentials and accomplishments in jiu-jitsu, including multiple victories in the esteemed Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) with plenty of gold medals to prove his dominance, Estima is set to take on his newest challenge in the form of crossing over to become a full blown mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter later this year.
Making Imperial Athletics his permanent training camp, "The Blackzilians," which includes such fighters as Rashad Evans, Alistair Overeem, Antonio Silva and Jorge Santiago, among others, are some of the select fighters that are helping this submission master make his MMA debut.
But before he trades his Gi in for a pair of 12 ounce gloves, Estima will compete at the first ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo (which is the brainchild of Renzo Gracie) this weekend (May ,12, 2012) in Long Beach, California.
His opponent?
None other than former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 170-pound title contender, Nick Diaz.
Appearing on The MMA Hour, Estima talks about how his match with Nick, one he wanted, came to be and that he wants to be the first person to submit Diaz and says people should not be so quick to count out Diaz in the match.
Those comments after the jump.
"I was going to do a seminar at the expo in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and I heard Nick Diaz was going to do a grappling match at the same expo. The first thing that came to my mind was, "Wow, that would be a great match because we have the same weight and kind of the same height and he fights with submission, I fight with submission, and he is a legend in the MMA sport. I was training in Florida when Junior, one of the man guys for the expo, approached me and said, 'How about a fight with Nick Diaz?' And I said, 'Wow. Man, I would love to have this fight.' This will help both of us. He is a top MMA fighter but came from Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It will be great for me to fight against an MMA legend so that I can hopefully show what I got. And his will be a very good highlight for my debut."
Diaz, who has not competed in an all jiu-jitsu match in over two years is going to be the obvious underdog heading into this weekend's showdown, however, Estima says people should not be so quick to count him out:
"I think people underestimate a lot Nick. I think because of my name, because of what I have achieved , the pressure is all on me. Which it helps him, he has nothing to lose. I'm coming off of a break from and haven't trained as hard as I have for ADCC, I lost a lot of weight to make this fight at 180, I will be coming from Thailand which is 14 hours of difference, so the jet lag is going to be great. So this actually brings the match a little bit even. But even though, I push myself in every possible way, I think I will do well and I really want to be the guy who first guy to make him tap. To be able to perform Jiu-Jitsu in MMA the way that he does, you have to be very good. He doesn't have much of a record of just fighting in BJJ, because he stopped two years ago, you know, so it's going to be difficult. In two years, things change. I'm a completely different fighter than two years ago. But he has no pressure to win this fight, he just has to go in there and do a good job. It's going to be a great match to watch."
The much anticipated match between Estima and Diaz goes down this weekend (May 12, 2012) in Long Beach, California. For the record, the bout will be a no-Gi match. So how about it Maniacs, anyone think Diaz has the tools to make this contest competitive?
If you're not in the California area, you can order the event in HD for only $9.95 via mobileblackbelt.tv.
Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, estima, jiujitsu
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBraulio Estima is preparing for his superfight with Nick Diaz in 3 days, and we have the video
The last few years of watching Nick Diaz fight lead you to believe there is no way of really beating him. It’s like one of those Zynga games on Facebook; you could play for years, but you can’t really win despite how many missions you complete in FarmVille. Nick Diaz and Zynga automatically make you losers by standing in their vicinity. The main difference is that on May 12, the superfight between Nick Diaz and Braulio Estima is going to be contested purely in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Braulio is arguably the best grappler in the world. We could spend the remaining time we have left before the sun melts the Earth debating that, but by then, Braulio would probably win an additional dozen grappling tournaments, further supporting that line of reasoning. Here’s a video courtesy of Stuart Cooper of the Brazilian preparing for Nick Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, braulio, braulio estima
Read the full article at Middle EasyFrankie Edgar has high praise for Nate Diaz; talks UFC 150 rematch vs. Ben Henderson
Frankie Edgar had some positive words for Nate Diaz following his decisive victory over Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3 in New Jersey, going as far as to call Diaz "kind of a teammate." Edgar did not expect Miller to be finished, as it had never happened in a UFC Octagon until Saturday night. Edgar may find himself facing Nate Diaz soon should he regain the Lightweight championship in his rematch with Ben Henderson.
While Edgar states that he believes the fight would take place in September, it has been
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate, nate diaz, edgar
Read the full article at Low KickNate Diaz says Gilbert Melendez is the best 155-pound fighter on the planet
Who is the world's best 155-pound fighter?
According to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight number one contender Nate Diaz, who catapulted himself into the upper echelon of his weight class by submitting Jim Miller at UFC on FOX 3 last Saturday night (May 5, 2012) in New Jersey, it's none other than friend and training partner Gilbert Melendez.
One of Stockton's finest tells Sherdog.com why the Strikeforce Lightweight Champion is the king of kings:
"I've been training with Gilbert and Jake (Shields) for years. These guys are older than me, they've shown me a lot. I've followed their careers, these are guys I look up to. Me and Gil been battling it out in here for years. There's no one better than him. These guys that are champion now, Ben Henderson is the champion, he's done great too but he just got the title, he just won it. Gil's been holding it down, fighting the top contenders, he's been ready to fight for the UFC title too, forever. There's no doubt in my mind he's the best 155'er on the planet and I think he deserves to be right there in the UFC holding the UFC belt, but they got him locked down on that Strikeforce contract. People might not know but that's the best guy in the world and he's got the belt to prove it. He's the man."
Hear more from Diaz on Melendez and the current UFC lightweight title picture after the jump.
For more on Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller at UFC on FOX 3 click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, guy, ufc title, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRenzo Gracie: 'Braulio Estima is going to be a very tough fight for Nick Diaz'
Longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and all around Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) wizard. Renzo Gracie, has not seen action inside a cage or a ring since his loss at the hands of Matt Hughes at UFC 112 two years ago.
That, however, hasn't stopped him from keeping busy in the MMA world---Jiu Jitsu to be exact. In fact, the sixth-degree black belt created and is the president of the first-ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, which is set to go down on May 12, 2012 in Long Beach, California.
The expo will feature many of today's top jiu-jitsu practitioners from all over the world who will convene in Long Beach to see who indeed is the slickest submission artist of them all.
The inaugural show will feature a very intriguing "superfight" as former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and recently retired Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contender Nick Diaz will take on one of the best Jiu-Jitsu players in the world in second degree black belt, Braulio Estima, at 180 pounds.
Estima, who is currently preparing for his MMA debut later this year with the help of UFC Light Heavyweight contender Rashad Evans and the rest of the "The Blackzillians" down in Florida, is one of the most decorated grapplers in the sport today. Estima has won the prestigious Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) championship twice, and is a three-time world champion with 13 gold medals in total while competing at the Pan American Championships, European Championship and Nogi Pan American Championships.
Basically, he's an all-around certified submission badass.
Though he doesn't have quite the same credentials as Estima, Diaz, who is a black belt under Cesar Gracie, is no slouch when it comes to the submission game. Nick currently has nine victories via submission under his belt, though he has proven that the stand-up game is his preference.
So how did his match-up with Braulio come to be? Appearing on the most recent edition of The MMA Hour, Renzo reveals that Diaz himself asked for the bout, stating that he wanted to be matched up against the best and Gracie goes on to say that the match will be a very tough test for the Stockton slugger.
Check it out:
"It's going to be a tough fight, especially under those rules of just jiu-jitsu, a very tough fight. If the fight was an MMA fight, it would be different ball game, but, the fact that it is just jiu-jitsu, it's going to be a real test for Nick because Braulio is the best out there. He is one of the best. You know, the funny thing is that Nick picked this fight, he wanted to fight the best. He didn't want to fight the second or the third you know? So that is how this match-up ended up happening. And to be honest, even I am interested to watch that very much."
Diaz is currently engaged in a battle with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) over his UFC 143 post-fight drug test which came back positive for marijuana metabolites, and hasn't seen action since coming up short in capturing the UFC's interim 170-pound strap against Carlos Condit on Feb., 4, 2012 at UFC 143.
After his unanimous decision loss to "The Natural Born Killer," Diaz declared he was done fighting and would walk away from MMA.
Though Renzo states he's never touched pot in his life, he doesn't believe that Nick's marijuana use should be considered a performance enhancing drug (PED). In fact, Renzo says it's the complete opposite and his issues with the NSAC will not interfere with his participation in Nick's grappling match with Estima:
"Not at all, not at all. My man, smoking pot is legal in California, you know, what can I do? I never smoked pot in my life, never, never touch it. To me, you know, I see a lot of people getting drunk you know, and I see a lot of people defending the flag of Bob Marley. Man, every time I see someone smoking pot, I see them lying on the couch and they don't want to move. So, I don't think this is a performance enhancing drug. I think it's a slow down drug. The guys, all they do is they smoke and eat and they sleep."
Diaz can truly lay claim to being one of the best grapplers in MMA, but is he in over his head taking on someone the caliber of Estima? Or will the bad boy from Stockton surprise the Jiu-Jitsu world and defeat "Carcara" at his own game?
To learn more about the first ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, click here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, estima, jiujitsu
Read the full article at MMA Mania
UFC on Fox 3 by the numbers and inside the box score
-Nate Diaz is now 11-5 in the UFC. Diaz began his UFC career with a five fight winning streak -Diaz has four submission wins by triangle choke, two by armbar, one by keylock, one by injury and now four by guillotine choke -Diaz has won UFC fight of or submission of the night bonuses in four of his last six fights-Diaz has 12 submission wins in his pro MMA career-Diaz is 9-3 as a UFC lightweight-The submission loss to Diaz was the first time Jim Miller had been stopped in 25 career pro MMA fights and two amateur bouts.-After a seven fight winning streak Miller is 1-2 in last three bouts-Miller is 10-3 in the UFC-Per FightMetric Diaz blew out Miller in total strikes with a final tally of 97-27 in the nine minute bout-Johny Hendricks has won via spilt decision in two of his last three fights-Hendricks is in the midst of a four fight winning streak-Five of Hendricks' nine UFC fights have gone to decision- Josh Koscheck has now lost six times as a MMA pro; four have come via decision-Koscheck is 3-2 in his last five fights-After a run of 21 fights with no split decision wins or losses, Koscheck has rendered a judge's split decision in his last two bouts-The Hendricks-Koscheck match up was the first time two former NCAA Division I wrestling champions competed against each other in the UFC-Per FightMetric Hendricks out struck Koscheck 82-57 in total strikes- FightMetric Effectiveness Score gave the fight 259-180 in favor of Hendricks -Betting underdogs won six fights they competed in. The biggest dog to payout was flyweight Louis Gaudinot at +250.-The UFC returned to the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the first time since UFC 32 in June 2001. UFC 32 was headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Tito Ortiz vs. Elvis Sinosic. Below is an attendance and gate comparison between the two shows.UFC 32Attendance: 12,500Gate: unavailableUFC on Fox 3Attendance: 10,788Gate: 1.1 million
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, submission, hendrick
Read the full article at UltMMANate Diaz: A Case Study In Dominating Fight Tempo
Tempo. Pace. Rhythm. Momentum. These are fairly impalpable aspects of hand-to-hand combat that can be challenging to identify or describe, yet they can have drastic repercussions on a fight's outcome.
In the unified rules of MMA, the main thrust of the Control category was to acknowledge a wrestler who controlled his opponent through takedowns and positional advantage. As with most elements of grappling, it's much easier to identify the tangibility of a fighter securing or defending a takedown, having his guard passed or his back taken. Also, because these actions are less subjective to interpret and much more black and white, grappling statistics will generally be more accurate -- and therefore more valuable -- than striking statistics.
However, there are certain characteristics of control that aren't so plain and obvious. Most are reflected in the free-movement or striking phase of combat, but the grappling department is not entirely devoid of these contentious issues -- such as the oft-debated scenarios of a bottom-fighter threatening with sweeps or submission attempts and dictating the momentum with an active guard. This interplay, like analyzing who's directing the ebb and flow of a striking match, is trickier to assess from the standpoint of control.
The beloved term "Lay-N-Pray" was coined for a wrestler who invoked positional and/or locational control with the noticeable absence of activity or offense. Anderson Silva's most unappreciated performances were actualized under the same credentials but, instead, the middleweight champion dominated the location of the fight by forcing Patrick Cote, Thales Leites and Demian Maia to stand up with him. In the clinch phase, two examples of encounters that were heavy on control but light on offense are Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera and Aaron Simpson vs. Brad Tavares.
With the displeasing and unclear facets of control behind us, let's look at the most recent sample of exciting and attributable advantages of control in a stand-up affair. Nate Diaz demonstrated his uncanny ability, which is fully shared by big brother Nick Diaz, to dominate the tempo of a stand-up battle against Jim Miller in the main event of last weekend's UFC on Fox 3 show. In every match up featuring one of the Diaz brothers, the most important single factor is whether they'll be able to dictate the momentum, pace and location of the fight -- because whenever they can, they win.
Continued in the full entry.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
In the first round of Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller, it was clear which instruments Miller wanted to employ in order to orchestrate the rhythm: leg kicks, takedowns and a stifling clinch game. In the first half-minute of their lightweight clash, Miller cracked off two crisp leg kicks and locked horns in the clinch and snatched a body lock while pursuing a high-crotch takedown.
Diaz ate both low kicks but defended the clinch assault well by digging an underhook on one side and grabbing tight wrist control on the other. This allowed him to peel away from Miller's grasp, circle off the fence and drift back into the cage's open space; effectively negating Miller's preferred realm of combat to duel in his own. The entire first half of the opening stanza saw another successful clinch tie-up and pair of Miller leg kicks. While this was far from momentous, Miller did succeed in controlling the momentum by applying these techniques effectively.
The subtle changes in the fight's flow came about in the latter half of the first round. What makes the Diaz brothers so special from the perspective of tempo is that most fighters are content to read their foe's rhythm and capitalize on whatever opportunities they're given. Nick and Nate accomplish more than that: they excel at both thoroughly disrupting their opponent's tempo and imposing the relentless, high-volume boxing onslaught that's become their distinctive trademark.
Nate started to steal the momentum with a wide right hook and blistering straight left combination, then another, then a series of straight, snapping jabs. Again, the results weren't a significant about-face but Miller, who'd kept a tight range while pressing forward, was steered backwards and forced to completely disengage and reset. The key is that the location where they re-engaged is where Nate Diaz is at his deadliest, and every time he steered Miller back to the outer fringe of striking range, he had the opportunity to disrupt Miller's flow and enforce his own.
A personal victory was achieved when Nate moved forward to initiate the clinch with Miller. That zone was assumed to favor Miller, as it was close enough to jam Nate's lengthy pawing and one step closer to taking him down. Nate made a definitive statement by fearlessly engaging Miller in the clinch and, because he was able to mount offense and cause Miller to back pedal, he effectively took one of Miller's perceived advantages out of the equation.
Sensing this, Miller tried to aggressively clinch up again to re-establish the momentum, but Diaz applied his leverage well with a wide base and technical defense (underhooks, whizzer and countering with a kimura attempt). Diaz circled off and pressed Miller on the cage wall and started landing his signature assortment of tight punches -- both upstairs and down -- and cleaving knees. In the final minute, the dynamics had changed and Diaz was now walking Miller down, showing signs of that confident swagger and stinging freely with sharp combinations, one of which dropped Miller.
The second round was a classic display of Nate Diaz when he knows he's orchestrating the music. He had a strong read on Miller's timing, what selection of strikes and angles he was typically attacking with and, having cemented that the clinch was not a danger-zone, Diaz absolutely owned the striking range. He began to slip, dodge and side-step Miller's advances while finding the mark with his brilliant counter-boxing.
The Diaz brother's mastery of tempo goes beyond controlling the pace. One reason their frenetic boxing is so tough to decipher is the way they play around with the tempo (and angles) of their strikes. This has been deemed as the pitter-patter shatter because the steady stream of half-power punches will be unexpectedly complemented with a huge power shot; usually a scorching uppercut or hook to the body at close range or the right hook and left straight combination from outside. The brethren are also heralded for having a silky smooth guard game and being impossible to hold down, much of which can be attributed to their knack for disrupting their opponent's flow and imposing their own.
There are two ways to win in MMA: striking and/or grappling. The more subtle means that mixed martial artists use to succeed with striking and/or grappling can be fascinating, and the Diaz brother's unparalleled mastership of dominating the fight's tempo is one.
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate, control, tempo
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThis picture proves that the Diaz brothers' ability to mean mug is part of their genetic makeup
If you ever wondered why both of the Diaz brothers mean mug comes so naturally and are probably the best mean mugs in combat sports ever (Diego Sanchez' angry fight face is pretty good too though), this picture of Nate and his grandparents should explain it all. Just look at the mean face mastery Gramps is displaying. Gramps might have the meanest mug in the whole family. This might be the first picture I've ever seen in which Nate is not the most gangster looking dude in it. The mean mug is obviously not something that had to be taught and practiced to perfection. Its in the Diaz blood. If that mean mug is somehow connected to their fighting skills then I'm pretty sure Grandpa will put a serious whooping on anybody that disrespects his senior citizen discount status.
Posted in: diaz, combat sports, picture, mug, picture ive
Read the full article at Middle EasyFormer UFC Champ Frankie Edgar Impressed By Nate Diaz
Frankie Edgar has been around the sport of MMA long enough to know a solid performance when he sees one. While witnessing the recent Nate Diaz-Jim Miller main event fight at UFC on FOX 3, “The Answer” came out with plenty to say in regards to Diaz and his submission victory. Edgar, in an interview [...]
Posted in: diaz, nate, event fight, edgar, frankie
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC CENTRAL: What's next for Diaz?
On UFC CENTRAL, recapping UFC on Fox 3, where Nate Diaz submitted Jim Miller in the main event, plus an interview with Georges St-Pierre.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate diaz, jim miller, recapping ufc
Read the full article at sportsnet.caFormer UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar calls Nate Diaz 'a stud' after UFC on FOX stoppage over Jim Miller
Well it looks like Nate Diaz impressed more than just the UFC brass this past Saturday night (May 5, 2012) with his second round guillotine choke finish against Jim Miller in the main event of UFC on Fox 3.
With the victory, Diaz will be earning a title shot against the winner of the Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson 2, which is hopefully going down later this summer.
One of those combatants, the former UFC lightweight champion, Edgar, tells Fuel TV's Ariel Helwani that he's taking his hat off for Diaz's performance on the big stage.
"Nate [Diaz] is a stud, man. He's kind of a teammate so I was happy for him. Man, it was a hell of a performance, it really was... Jim [Miller] is tough as nails. I didn't know what the outcome would be, but I definitely didn't think Jim would get finished. Hats off to Nate, man. He's a stud for sure."
"The Answer" also discusses the injury which is delaying his title rematch against Henderson in the full video posted after the jump:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate, jim, jim miller
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Dana White Says UFC Title Shot Will be Next for Nate Diaz
UFC president Dana White talks after Saturday's UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller card and says main event winner Nate Diaz will be waiting for a lightweight title shot.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, shot, saturdays ufc
Read the full article at Heavy MMAVideo: Gracie breakdown of Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller and Alan Belcher vs Rousimar Palhares at UFC on FOX 3
UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" went down last Saturday night (May 5, 2012) from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ, featuring two examples of high-level submission skills on the televised main card.
First up is streaking middleweight striker Alan Belcher, who also proved he's just as dangerous on the ground, daring Brazilian bone-breaker Rousimar Palhares to lock up one of "The Talent's" legs -- for the sole purpose of proving he couldn't.
Moments later and "Toquinho" was pounded into oblivion.
Two fights later and Nate Diaz was earning his lightweight title shot by handily disposing of fellow 155-pound contender Jim Miller with a nasty power guillotine in the main event.
What do those two bouts have in common?
Both were given the "Gracie Breakdown" by Rener and Ryon Gracie as part of their popular post-fight video series designed to deconstruct noteworthy displays of grappling in the wake of every major UFC event.
Learn anything?
For results and more on Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller and Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares click here and here.
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, vs, miller, power guillotine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAnthony Pettis: I match-up well with Nate Diaz
Former WEC Lightweight champion, Anthony "Showtime" Pettis, will once again have to wait for his opportunity to challenge the UFC gold. Pettis was rumored to fight Nate Diaz for the #1 contender spot in the UFC Lightweight division, but now it looks like Diaz, who defeated Jim Miller at last Saturday's UFC on FOX 3, has decided to wait for the outcome of Henderson vs. Edgar rematch.
Pettis is currently on a two-fight winning streak, holding a professional MMA record of 15-2.
Further Reading: Submit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, petti, nate diaz, saturdays ufc
Read the full article at Low KickMayweather Vs. Cotto, UFC On Fox 3 Results: Monday Morning Wrap Up
It was a huge weekend for combat sports as Floyd Mayweather, the world's biggest pay-per-view attraction, and the UFC both put on shows on Saturday night. Mayweather met Miguel Cotto in one of his most fan-friendly performances that saw Cotto shine but Mayweather shine even brighter.
The UFC returned to Fox TV for the third time with their lowest-rated but perhaps most satisfying edition in terms of in-cage action. The event saw Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks earn title shots with wins over Jim Miller and Josh Koscheck. Here's all of Bloody Elbow's coverage from the weekend:
The Events
Diaz Vs. Miller Live Results And Play by Play - Dallas Winston
Analysis
UFC On Fox 3 Diaz Vs. Miller Post-Fight Analysis - Kid Nate
10 Brightest Stars From Weekend's Combat Action - Brent Brookhouse
UFC On Fox 3 Winners And Losers - Tim Burke
Multi-Media
Nate Diaz, Johny Hendricks Post Fight Interviews
Video Highlights UFC On Fox 3 Diaz Vs. Miller
UFC On Fox 3 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage
Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 162: UFC On FOX Results Review - Matt Bishop
Aftermath
UFC On Fox 3 Overnight Ratings Down Significantly - Brent Brookhouse
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMorning Report: Nate Diaz Puts a Stamp on the FOX Violence We've All Been Waiting For
It only took seven months, an hour with 59 minutes of talking, and another two hours of largely lethargic decisions, but the MMA oblivious public finally scored a taste of what mixed martial arts is truly about.
Yes, UFC on FOX 3 delivered and it delivered hard, offering up four matches that epitomized the unique visceral splendor of our sport on a national scale. The winning formula: get two massive men to club each other in the brain like they were trying to pop the cork off a champagne bottle, segue seamlessly into a war of grappling attrition that gets Joe Rogan to bust out terms like ‘twister' and ‘banana split' to a bewildered audience of millions, and close with two absolute wars (the last of which nearly ends with the first severed tongue submission in UFC history), to stroll into the night with three newly minted contenders and a new legion of violence converts. Like Dana White said, it was pretty much perfect.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
UFC on FOX 3. Even after the dust settled, our comprehensive coverage of UFC on FOX 3 continued with fight night results, post-fight press conference video, bonuses, medical suspensions, post-fight interviews, exclusive photos, preliminary ratings and a look from the morning after.
Weekend fight results. Catch up on the rest of the combat sports weekend with results for TUF Live, Bellator 67 and Super Fight League 3, along with Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto results and photo galleries.
Nate Diaz to wait for title shot. Following his victory on Saturday night, Nate Diaz will remain on the shelf to fight the winner of Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar for the UFC lightweight championship.
Former fighter judges Hendricks-Koscheck. Former UFC fighter Ricardo Almeida served as an official judge for Saturday's UFC on FOX 3 fight card, ultimately becoming the only man to score Josh Koscheck as the winner over Johny Hendricks.
BJ Penn turned down fight against Gilbert Melendez. According to UFC President Dana White, former lightweight champion BJ Penn declined a welcome back fight against Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez and instead elected to remain retired.
MEDIA STEW
It's always a little crazy to see how the Diaz brothers can draw people into a firefight simply by throwing up their hands and yelling. It works even when we know it's coming. It'll be interesting to see how Bendo/Frankie responds.
<A href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=4ec235aa-89bb-4544-9ffe-136f8ccb2fb8&src=v5:embed:syndication:&from=shareembed-syndication" mce_href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=4ec235aa-89bb-4544-9ffe-136f8ccb2fb8&src=v5:embed:syndication:&from=shareembed-syndication" target="_new" title="Highlights: Diaz - Miller">Video: Highlights: Diaz - Miller</A>
Diaz wasn't the only top-10 lightweight on display this weekend. Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler returned to action for the first time since his coming-out party last November, and it didn't take long for him to put the leather on Akihiro Gono.
Koscheck-Hendricks was a solid scrap and Johnson-Barry was as blistering as expected, but the sneaky top-candidate for fight of the night had to be Alan Belcher vs. Paul Harris. Who else was teetering on the edge of their seat when it looked like Toquinho was about to rip Belcher's knee right off his body?
<A href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=2ade846e-68a2-4c60-b4d0-408040a011d2&src=v5:embed:syndication:uuids&from=shareembed-syndication" mce_href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=2ade846e-68a2-4c60-b4d0-408040a011d2&src=v5:embed:syndication:uuids&from=shareembed-syndication" target="_new" title="Highlights: Belcher - Palhares">Video: Highlights: Belcher - Palhares</A>
Akihiro Gono's unfortunate 56 seconds against Michael Chandler looks like they'll be his last, as the 37-year-old PRIDE veteran reportedly retired following the match. It only seems appropriate to sign off with a look back to the hallmark of his younger days: ridiculously grandiose ring entrances highlighted by red afro wigs, snappy choreography, back-up dancers and Japanese superstar DJ Ozma. (HT: Reddit)
So, Kultar Singh Gill cruised to a first-round KO at Super Fight League 3, and then did this, (click to start the gif):
(via Zombie Prophet)
SCORING HENDRICKS VS. KOSCHECK
Close one, I would give it to kos but I think judges say Hendricks @UFCONFOX
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) May 6, 2012
I had Koscheck winning the fight but that was a close one. What did u guys think? I think the debate will be over who won the 1st round.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 6, 2012
Hmmm. Hendricks? Mabe Kos with that last takedown though. @UFCONFOX @ufc
— Aaron Simpson (@aaronsimpson) May 6, 2012
LAUGHING AT THE DANGER ZONE
Belcher is playing with fire
— ian mccall (@Unclecreepymma) May 6, 2012
Apparently he's a human fire extinguisher
— ian mccall (@Unclecreepymma) May 6, 2012
@alanbelcherufc impressive.. escaping the bear trap and smashing it to pieces! @ufconfoxsports
— Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) May 6, 2012
STEP 1: DECAPITATE PAT BARRY, STEP 2: COLD BEER WITH PAT BARRY
twitter.com/HypeOrDie/stat…
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) May 6, 2012
twitter.com/HypeOrDie/stat…
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) May 6, 2012
WEEKEND TIDBITS
Even in defeat, there is something oddly satisfying about trying to sleep with a cracked nose and blown ankle #thefans #theoctagon @UFC
— Jim Miller (@JimMiller_155) May 6, 2012
Krotchcheck loves that finger jab to the eye... its becoming his signature move!
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) May 6, 2012
FORGOT TO SHOW YALL THIS!!!DR. HEADSTACHE FROM HOSPITAL LAST NIGHT!!! moby.to/x4j7r1
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) May 7, 2012
@MCHammer thanks Mc Hammer
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 6, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced over the weekend (Friday, May 4, 2012 - Sunday, May 6, 2012):
- Dana White confirms Nate Diaz (16-7) vs. Ben Henderson/Frankie Edgar winner
- Dana White tentatively sets Jon Jones (16-1) vs. Dan Henderson (29-8) for UFC 151 on September 1
- UFC 147: Wanderlei Silva (34-11-1) vs. Vitor Belfort (21-9) confirmed as main event
- Roger Gracie (4-1) vs. Keith Jardine (17-10-2) scheduled for July Strikeforce event
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day sees unambig don his teacher's hat to take a look back at fight night: Diaz vs Miller: Unambig report cards
John Hathaway (B) vs Pascal Krauss (B-)
No surprises here. Hathaway came well prepared with solid knees and good wrestling and standup, besting the German fighter, who earned a little respect in defeat. I think Krauss was thrown a tough challenge in his debut, but he definitely belongs in the UFC. And I think lesser fighters would have been finished after that first knee by Hathaway in the first. Good showing for both fighters. Only you wouldn't know it because the New Jersey fans booed it lustily, demonstrating that if brain cells were a commodity in New Jersey, the state would have the GDP of Zimbabwe.
John Dodson (C) vs Tim Elliott (A)
I was really impressed with Dodson following his bantamweight showing in TUF. No longer. Truth be told, I thought Tim Elliott worked him over thoroughly, and if Dodson hadn't nearly poked his eye out in the first round, Elliott would likely have been the winner. Although Dodson probably scraped by in the first two rounds, he was beaten convincingly in the third, looking slow and trying to nurse his boo-boo.
Having said that, the fight was great. I loved the speed, the movement of Elliott, and the unorthodox moves. I seriously hope Elliott gets another chance because he is something to behold. As awkward and weird as he is, anybody who does cartwheels and flips during a fight is a guy I want to see fight again.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, mdash
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on FOX 3 results recap: Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller event wrap up from New Jersey
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to network television this past Saturday night (May 5, 2012) with UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller," featuring what may have been the star making turn of Nate Diaz when he submitted Jim Miller in the second round of the main event to earn a crack at the 155-pound crown.
It's just too bad so few people saw it happen.
Johny Hendricks failed to make the impression he was hoping for in the co-headlining match-up against Josh Koscheck, but "Big Rig" came away with a split decision victory that may have earned him a welterweight title shot.
And what's there to say about Lavar Johnson and his knockout of Pat Barry? Or Alan Belcher and his first round comeback against Rousimar Palhares?
In cased you missed any or all of it -- or just want to keep the discussion alive -- below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event in New Jersey.
In we go.
UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller"
Results and live fight coverage
Recap and morning after discussion
Post-fight press conference video
Bonuses and awards
Event photos gallery
Medical suspensions and injuries
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller fight video highlights
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck fight metric report
"Prelims" results and recap
Fight recap: Lavar Johnson floors Pat Barry
Fight recap: Alan Belcher beats Rousimar Palhares at his own game (kind of)
Fight recap: Johny Hendricks edges out Josh Koscheck
Fight recap: Nate Diaz submits Jim Miller to earn lightweight title shot
Fight review and analysis: Lavar Johnson vs. Pat Barry
Fight review and analysis: Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares
Fight review and analysis: Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Fight review and analysis: Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
UFC on FOX 3 post-fight fallout
Overnight ratings come in at 2.25 million viewers
Big winners and lowly losers
Event report card
MMA Mania Matchmaker
UFC on FOX 3 and Mayweather vs. Cotto a contrast in styles between MMA and boxing
Finally the UFC delivers a fun, exciting event on the FOX network
UFC President Dana White calls UFC on FOX 3 a perfect show
What's next for Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks?
Nate Diaz will, apparently, wait to face the winner of Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar for the lightweight title
Take a bow, Nate Diaz, you deserve it after submitting Jim Miller
A new and improved Nate Diaz means bad news for the lightweight division
Anthony Pettis wants a number one contender fight against Nick Diaz
Johny Hendricks fought through sickness to defeat Josh Koscheck
A picture of Josh Koscheck's busted up eye after Johny Hendricks fight
Alan Belcher becomes a title contender with win over Rousimar Palhares
Lavar Johnson takes Pat Barry's place in the heavyweight division by knocking him out
That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What gets your vote for the biggest story coming out of UFC on FOX 3?
Sound off, Maniacs.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, nate
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On Fox 3 Results Recap: Nate Diaz Vs. Jim Miller
In the main event of UFC on Fox 3, Lightweights Jim Miller and Nate Diaz met in a much anticipated fight. After two rounds of surprisingly one sided action, Nate Diaz walked away the victor, defeating Miller via guillotine choke in round 2. Diaz is now on a 3 fight win streak and undefeated since returning to Lightweight last year. Miller drops to 21-4 and has lost 2 of his last 3 fights.
Heading into this fight there were a lot of questions about how it would play out. Would the two decorated submission specialists engage on the ground? Or would Diaz rely on his unique boxing style and keep the fight standing? As it turned out, it was Diaz who dictated the pace of the fight, taking Miller apart on the feet, then finishing him on the ground. What looked like a close battle on paper turned into a brilliant, dominating performance from Diaz. The controversial fighter earned his shot at the UFC Lightweight title with this win.
What was the high spot of this fight?
Diaz's choke was fantastic, brutal stuff. But for me the highlight was the moment in round 2 when Nate got comfortable and started clowning Miller. I know many are not fans of those moments, but it's consistently my favorite part of Diaz brothers' fights because you know it means they are in the zone. And when Nate and Nick are in the zone, they are among the best boxers in MMA today.
Where do these guys go from here?
At the post-fight press conference, Dana White confirmed what he suggested last week - Nate Diaz will indeed be the next challenger for the UFC Lightweight title. He'll have to wait for the Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson rematch this fall, but once that is done, Nate will be up. Either potential opponent will provide a fascinating match-up, though I suspect Diaz has a better shot against Edgar than Henderson.
Jim Miller is in a rough spot. After putting together a terrific run in the Lightweight division, he's now 1-2 in his last 3 and far outside the title picture. It seems quite possible that he's now locked into a gatekeeper to the title kind of role, which is a tough place to be. The top of the division is pretty busy at the moment, so he may need to wait and see how things shake out before setting up his next fight. If Gray Maynard defeats Clay Guida, Guida vs. Miller seems to make sense.
Watch it now, later or never?
Now. Between this and the Donald Cerrone fight, Nate Diaz has proven that he belongs among the Lightweight elite. This is a great showing and a highly entertaining fight. Check it out now.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC on Fox 3 in the full entry.
Mayweather Vs. Cotto And UFC On Fox Results: 10 Brightest Stars From Weekend's Combat Action - Brent Brookhouse
UFC On Fox 3 Overnight Ratings Down Significantly - Brent Brookhouse
UFC On Fox 3: Hendricks, Koscheck Both Injured, Complete Medical Suspensions - Kid Nate
UFC On Fox 3 Video: Nate Diaz, Johny Hendricks Post Fight Interviews - Kid Nate
UFC On Fox 3 Results: Winners And Losers - Tim Burke
Video Highlights UFC On Fox 3 Diaz Vs. Miller - Kid Nate
UFC On Fox 3 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 162: UFC On FOX Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC On Fox 3 Diaz Vs. Miller Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Kid Nate
UFC On Fox 3: Diaz Vs. Miller Live Results And Play by Play - Dallas Winston
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, fox, nate
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 3 results: Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller event photos gallery from New Jersey
UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" took place this past Saturday night (May 5, 2012) from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, featuring Nate Diaz earning a lightweight title shot -- which he'll actually wait for, apparently -- by submitting Jim Miller in the second round of their main event match-up.
A Diaz could be a champion in the UFC before the year is out, folks. And it's not Nick.
Johny Hendricks continued his assault on the 170-pound division by defeating Josh Koscheck via split decision in the co-headlining bout. The result was disputed by some -- Ricardo Almeida scored the fight for "Kos" -- but the Fight Metric numbers backed it up.
Other action on the card saw Lavar Johnson brutalize Pat Barry in their heavyweight affair and Alan Belcher escape one of Rousimar Palhares patented leg locks to pound him out for a first round stoppage.
A photo gallery is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump. For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here and here.
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares
Lavar Johnson vs. Pat Barry
Anthony Ferguson vs. Michael Johnson
John Dodson vs. Tim Elliott
John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker
Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish
Dennis Bermudez vs. Pablo Garza
Roland Delorme vs. Nick Denis
Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola
Posted in: diaz, result, vs, miller, john
Read the full article at MMA Mania
UFC on FOX 3 Musings
DIAZ IS MUST-SEE TV, TITLE SHOT NEXTFor purists, a fight is a fight, regardless of who is competing. I’m not a purist. I enjoy watching some guys compete more than others, and for the moment, at least, the Diaz brothers are at the very top of my list. Nate Diaz reminded me of that on Saturday night.His thrilling win over Jim Miller not only earned the Stockton slugger his first shot at UFC gold, it brought the third consecutive post-fight bonus check. This time, he won “Submission of the Night” honors for his slick tap out of a man who had never before been stopped in his professional career.Diaz now has nine post-fight bonuses in 16 UFC fights. In other words, more often than not, Diaz thrills the crowd with the “Fight of the Night,” “Knockout of the Night,” or “Submission of the Night.” Maybe that isn’t such a big deal when a fighter only has a handful of UFC bouts under his belt. It is amazingly impressive when a fighter has competed 16 times. The nine post-fight bonus awards means Diaz is only a single bonus check shy of Chris Lytle’s record of 10. Because styles make fights, and Diaz’s style almost always forces an opponent to fight in entertaining fashion, it seems likely that his next bout will bring a record-tying performance.As mentioned, Diaz’s next bout will be for the UFC lightweight championship. That means he will either face reigning champion Benson Henderson or the man Bendo snatched the title from, Frankie Edgar, probably sometime this fall. I guess that opportunity could get delayed if Bendo and Edgar fight to an ultra-close decision, with Edgar getting the nod. A rubber match would almost certainly be appropriate in that situation. Barring that outcome or an injury, Diaz will likely face the winner of Bendo-Edgar this winter. Both Bendo and Edgar are all-action fighters who love to get down and dirty. That makes for a beautiful dance partner for Diaz, who I predict will set a new record for UFC post-fight bonuses before the end of 2013.REMEMBER DANA’S WORDSI know Josh Koscheck is frustrated right now. I’m sure his fans are equally frustrated. From my vantage point, he received the wrong end of the split decision on Saturday night. I scored the fight 29-28 for the reality show alumnus, giving him what I viewed as fairly comfortable 10-9 scores for the first and third rounds. Hendricks easily won the second round, in my opinion. Two of the three judges in New Jersey disagreed with me, scoring it 29-28 the other way. Whether you agree with me or the two judges who scored the fight in favor of Hendricks, there is no denying the fact that the fight was close. It was an entertaining back-and-forth affair. One that I’m sure UFC President Dana White would point to when preaching his mantra to his army of competitors – never allow the judges to decide a fight. The reality is it’s tough to really try and force a stoppage at any point in a fight because overaggressiveness leaves the attacker wide open to be knocked out or submitted with a counter move. It’s even tougher to convince a guy to take those risks when he believes the fight is even heading into the last round. Yet, that is apparently what Kos needed to do heading into the third round on Saturday night.Who do you think won the fight?THE GREAT BEARD DEBATEDo bushy beards provide some level of protection from punches? I have no idea, to be honest. It seems likely that they help to some degree. Sort of like an organic pad, right? Again, I don’t know.The question has been raised more than once in 2012, as mountain man look-alikes, such as Roy Nelson and, more recently, Johny Hendricks brushed off monstrous shots to the jaw like they were jabs. I guarantee that more than a few fans of The Ultimate Fighter are probably wondering whether the cheek fur sported by quarterfinalist Michael Chiesa will play any role in his journey to capture the vaunted “six-figure contract.”I did a bit of Internet research on the subject, expecting to find some sort of guidance. I assumed that some sports scientist would have allowed curiosity to get the better of him. Well, if there is a learned piece out there on the topic, I certainly couldn’t find it.There is no arguing that both Nelson and Hendricks have tremendous chins. The world has known that about Nelson his entire career. We learned that for sure about Hendricks on Saturday night. It remains to be seen whether Chiesa belongs in that iron-jawed club.So, there you have it. Nelson and Hendricks are definitive proof that a beard helps, right? Opponents of that theory will quickly point out that Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson and Alessio Sakara both donned remarkably full beards when they got brutally knocked out by Seth Petruzelli and Brian Stann, respectively. Is that definitive proof that a beard doesn’t help? No. Four is not a big enough representative sample to be statistically relevant. It is just enough to give anyone a little support for whichever side of the debate fence he or she sits on.For the record, I think has to help to some degree, even if only a miniscule amount. What do you think?IS JOHNSON THE NEXT HEAVYWEIGHT STAR? LET’S NOT GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES JUST YETLavar Johnson is one bad dude – a seriously bad dude.Anyone who can basically bully, beat up and then knock out Pat Barry is a scary human being. Johnson did just that on Saturday night. That makes it two spectacular knockout wins in his first two UFC bouts. Both came against extremely durable guys. The most recent, as mentioned, came against one of the most dangerous strikers in the game. Those performances definitely demand attention in the UFC heavyweight division. They have to make even the roughest, toughest strikers take a bit of a pause when thinking about slugging it out with Johnson. Yet, before we anoint this guy as the next great heavyweight, we have to remember that final two Strikeforce fights resulted in submission losses, and not from particularly accomplished heavyweight grapplers. We need to see Johnson demonstrate great takedown and/or submission defense before we get the hype train running too fast. Let’s not forget that, despite knocking Barry out, he got taken down and easily mounted by a guy with a relatively modest ground game, as far as UFC heavyweights go. Yes, I know Barry is working hard on his wrestling and submissions, but nobody is going to confuse him for Frank Mir any time soon.The win should be enough to earn Johnson a marquee matchup on an upcoming main card. A bout with former interim champion Shane Carwin would be a tremendously fun fight. A matchup with former TUF winner Roy Nelson is another one that instantly comes to mind as a great next bout for Johnson. The former would be another crazy bombing exhibition. The latter would be a stiff test of Johnson’s takedown defense and ground game, assuming Nelson decided to focus on getting the action to the mat.BELCHER TAKES HIS CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVELAlan Belcher has always had a ton of potential. The Arkansas native has been a mainstay in the UFC middleweight division since debuting nearly six years ago, but he has never been universally viewed as a legitimate title contender. The one thing that has eluded him all along was a career-defining win to propel him to admission into the 185-pound Preferiti.That is no longer the case. Belcher’s TKO win over Rousimar Palhares instantly inserts him into the title mix. Not because Palhares was close to a title shot. I doubt he was anywhere near the top of the UFC’s short list of possible opponents for Anderson Silva, assuming the champ can survive a second bout with Chael Sonnen, which is not a guarantee by any stretch of the imagination.Belcher’s win propels him toward the top of the division because of the way he beat Palhares. “Toquinho” is one of the best ground fighters in the sport and certainly the best leg lock artist. Most would have assumed that it would be MMA suicide for Belcher to play the submission and ground position game with Palhares, particularly if he got a hold of one of Belcher’s legs. That is precisely what happened. Palhares had a good grasp of Belcher’s right leg early in the fight and was in good position to sink in a knee bar or heel hook. Belcher would have none of it. He defended expertly and even attempted to attack with submissions of his own from the tenuous position.After moving to the top position, commentator extraordinaire Joe Rogan, who is one of the most knowledgeable MMA minds on the planet, was imploring Belcher to retreat back to his feet. Again, spending time in Pahlares’ guard is precisely what the Brazilian wanted. Belcher didn’t care. He not only stayed in his foe’s guard. He pounded him out from that position.The win was a vivid display of just how talented and well rounded Belcher really is. The win should have been his seventh in a row. Most, including me, believe that he was robbed in his split decision loss to Yoshihiro Akiyama back in July 2009. Correct that outcome and Belcher can make a tremendous argument for the number one contender spot. He is probably one more win away from truly earning the spot, but he is definitely in the discussion after the way he beat Palhares.A bout with Michael Bisping or the winner of the rematch between Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva could be just what the doctor ordered for Belcher to earn his first shot at UFC gold.
Posted in: ufc, fight, belcher, diaz, johnson
Read the full article at UFCFrankie Edgar surprised by Nate Diaz’s finish of Jim Miller
UFC lightweight Frankie Edgar knows a thing or two about his respective weight-class. The 14-2 former title-holder has faced many of the division’s best including BJ Penn, Gray Maynard, Benson Henderson, Sean Sherk, and Jim Miller. As such, like countless fans, Edgar was caught off-guard by the way in which Nate Diaz handled Miller last night in headlining action at UFC on FOX 3.
The submission loss marked the first time Miller had been finished in his career despite having taken on a number of top-ranked opponents.
“Nate Diaz is a stud. He’s kind of a teammate, so I was happy for him, and man…it was a helluva performance,” said Edgar in an interview with Fuel TV after the event’s conclusion. “I know Jim’s tough as nails. I didn’t know what the outcome would be but I definitely didn’t think Jim would get finished so hats off to Nate. He’s a stud for sure.”
As chance would have it, Edgar could very well see Diaz inside the Octagon at some point soon given their immediate futures. Edgar is set to take on Henderson this fall for divisional gold while Diaz earned a title-shot with his performance against Miller. However, Edgar hasn’t looked past Henderson and simply wants to scrap again as soon as possible.
Dana White Confirms Diaz Will Wait for Title-Shot
“People call you former champ. It definitely stings a little bit. So I’m eager to get back in there and get that strap back around my waist,” admitted Edgar, saying he expected to fight Henderson in September after healing up from surgery to correct some issues with his nose.
Check out the full interview with Edgar below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: diaz, miller, edgar, jim, frankie edgar
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC on FOX 3 ratings: 'Diaz vs Miller' averages 2.25 million viewers
UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" took place last night (Sat., May 5, 2012) from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and featured a main event of Nate Diaz earning a lightweight title shot with a slick submission victory over Jim Miller.
The bad news? Not nearly enough people saw it happen.
Indeed, the overnight ratings are in and according to TV By The Numbers, the show garnered 2.25 million viewers for the FOX network, good for a 1.0 rating. If that sounds terrible, that's because it is, all things considered. The silver lining here is the numbers were good enough to win the timeslot in the important demographics.
But there's no denying the decline in viewership for each UFC event on FOX is alarming.
Here's how the first three events looked when the overnight ratings came in:
UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" -- 4.64 millionUFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" -- 4.57 millionUFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" -- 2.25 million
There are a million differing reasons that could be given regarding how exactly viewership has seen that steep of a decline. Perhaps it's been the decline in importance of the headlining fight. The first show featured a heavyweight championship showdown while the second saw a proven pay-per-view (PPV) star.
Diaz and Miller, talented as they are, aren't exactly box office behemoths with big name recognition.
There was also a problem with marketing and promotion. The first FOX event was heavily hyped, with promos airing during Sunday NFL football games. The second show was given a similar treatment. This latest show, obviously much smaller in scope, was dominated in the headlines by a far more important boxing match in Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto, which took place later in the night in Las Vegas.
After running two FOX shows with big stars, the world's largest fight promotion decided to rely on the power of its brand name. As it turns out, maybe its brand name isn't so powerful after all.
For complete UFC on FOX 3 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here and here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz passes on Anthony Pettis, will wait for a title-shot
A little more than a year ago UFC lightweight Anthony Pettis was in position to challenge for the divisional strap. However, then-champion Frankie Edgar was booked in a rematch with Gray Maynard after the two fought to a Draw, forcing Pettis to choose between a period of inactivity or risking his go at the gold. “Showtime” bravely went with the latter, though his gamble ultimately backfired after he lost a decision to Clay Guida and saw his title-shot go up in smoke.
Last night Nate Diaz found himself under similar circumstances in the aftermath of beating Jim Miller at UFC on FOX 3. Shortly after his triumph the 27-year old was presented with two options– face Pettis in September or sit on the sidelines for nine months, twiddling his thumbs while Edgar and current champ Benson Henderson settle their score this fall before getting a crack at the winner.
Apparently it didn’t take long for the Californian to make his decision.
“I literally just talked to Nate Diaz. (He) is going to wait to take the title-shot,” said UFC President Dana White in an interview with Fuel TV after last night’s FOX event.
Diaz’s performance against Miller marked his third straight win since returning to lightweight after a run at 170 pounds, adding to other instances of success against Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone. He holds an overall record of 16-7 with fourteen finishes.
“We’ll figure it out,” White added when asked about how the organization would handle the 15-2 Pettis’ future. Pettis has come out victorious in back-to-back fights since the Guida loss, most recently knocking Joe Lauzon out in February at UFC 144.
Watch the full interview with White below where he discusses Diaz’s evolution as a fighter as well as the other main card clashes at UFC on FOX 3:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, anthony pettis, petti, nate diaz
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC on FOX 3 results recap: What's next for Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks?
UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" featured a full card of crazy fights, ridiculous finishes and an overall great result, as Ultimate Fighting Championship made its third foray into mainstream network broadcasting in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sat., May 5, 2012.
The biggest star of the night had to have been headliner Nate Diaz. His second-round submission win over Jim Miller proved that not only has he found his home in the lightweight division, but he should be a very suitable opponent for whoever emerges victorious between Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar, when the two do battle in September.
Johny Hendricks was looking to put on a show against Josh Koscheck and earn the right to be next in line for a welterweight title shot. But while he did get the split decision win, it was a decision that really could have gone either way. For now, it looks like title contention may still be a ways off.
The future has been decided for one man, while the other's crystal ball looks a little hazy. Either way, both are certainly going to enjoy this weekend a bit more, knowing that the months of training they put in have been validated with victory.
After the jump, we'll talk about what's next for the two big winners from UFC on FOX 3, Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks:
Last night's win made it three in a row for Diaz. He's looked phenomenal as of late, and the fighters he's been taking out are all top guys.
His striking is near the top of the division, his jiu-jitsu may very well be the best at 155-pounds, and he's relatively young and only getting better with each opportunity in the cage.
After the fight, UFC President Dana White announced that Diaz would be taking a break from action, waiting on the results of the Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar showdown (likely to be fought in September) and will take on the winner for the lightweight championship belt.
Not bad for a guy who, just a year ago, had lost two fights in a row and looked like a fish out of water in the welterweight division. He's harnessed his chi and found his "inner Stockton."
I'm hesitant to say he can beat Henderson, but after watching what he's done in his last three fights, I'm also hesitant to say that he can't.
Johny Hendricks is now 8-1 in the UFC. He's won his last four fights, and in so doing, he's beaten two fighters (Koscheck and Jon Fitch), who both contested for the division title against Georges St. Pierre.
So, one could reason that this should make him the new number one contender, right?
Not so fast.
First off, there's currently a dramatic triangular traffic jam at the top of the 170-pound weight class. Georges St. Pierre is the champion, but he's still rehabbing from a knee injury and won't be able to go anytime soon.
Carlos Condit is the interim champion. His next fight should be against to unify the belts (and likely will be), but the whole issue with Nick Diaz (former number one contender) and his status with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) really muddies the waters.
If Diaz was licensed and ready to go, it'd be hard to argue against a rematch between him and Condit. That way St. Pierre can get healthy without hurrying to rush back.
With all of that being considered, the truth is that Hendricks doesn't deserve to be considered a number one contender. Will he get that distinction eventually? Possibly. But his win over Koscheck was not the resume builder he needed and probably not what he wanted, either.
To me, I think the answer couldn't be simpler. Johny Hendricks vs. Rory MacDonald should be booked as soon as possible. The fight couldn't make any more sense. Both guys are being considered the next big deal in the welterweight division. Let them prove it.
I'm looking at you, Joe Silva. Make this happen. You can even take credit for it like it was your idea. I don't need the acclaim. I do this for the love of the game.
Posted in: fight, diaz, division, he, hendrick
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVIDEO: Dana White Talks UFC On Fox Results With Ariel Helwani
Following Saturday's UFC on Fox 3 event, Dana White was all smiles and caught up with Ariel Helwani for a few minutes for Fuel TV to recap why he was so happy.
A few of the highlights from the short talk:
White said it was tough for anyone to complain about the event like they have for past Fox shows. "Tonight was the perfect night," he said.
He said the fights went just as he expected, except for for Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller. He commented that the show format was running over by 35 minutes but the finish saved the day.
White said that Diaz has always been talented and that moving around to lightweight and welterweight has been good for him. He said Diaz is waiting for the title shot and they'll have to figure out what to do with Anthony Pettis.
He expects Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson II for either August or September.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, ariel helwani, fox results
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 3 results: New, improved Nate Diaz means bad news for lightweights
One of the things that's always fascinated me about Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight contender Nate Diaz is how closely his style mimics that of his brother, Nick Diaz, as well as parallel improvements both have made over the same timeline. The latter has lifted both from being merely talented fighters, with one glaring deficit, to potent contenders who are an incredibly difficult package to contend with.
Lack of takedown defense and core wrestling ability was the Achilles heel for both in the early part of their careers. Both Diaz's, during the first half of their UFC campaigns, could pretty much be reliably beaten in one way and one way only: by strong wrestlers taking them down, working them within the confines of the top position (quite often to little effect) and winning a judges' decision. The Diaz brothers possess incredible durability along with stifling jiu-jitsu, and better foes seemed to pursue a very narrow but clear-cut strategy to ride these out to a decision.
But with Nick's quantum leap in striking, which fully kicked in during his Strikeforce days, he became another kind of fighter altogether. It created an added level of pressure to opponents, fatiguing them as much mentally as physically; Nate has now reached that same level.
Two years younger than Nick, the lightweight battler put on a career-defining performance Saturday night in the UFC on Fox 3 main event from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., dispatching Jim Miller with a second round submission and landing an eventual 155-pound title shot in the process.
That same Diaz pressure that is now Nick's signature style is obviously something Nate has mastered, and in breaking Miller's will, Nate did something that Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard and Ben Henderson came nowhere close to doing: he finished Miller, one of the most tenacious and reliable fighters in the sport. You can also see the great jiu-jitsu game in Nate in terms of how he outs of a potentially troublesome bottom position; when Miller did get Diaz on the mat, Nate immediately secured a butterfly hook/counter move to deny Miller the chance to solidify his spot, then creating a scramble to get free.
It's going to be fun to watch the lightweight title work its way to Diaz, with Henderson rematching Edgar, presently scheduled for UFC 150 on Aug. 11, 2012. Whomever wins -- and I like Henderson on account of the first fight, and his inevitable improvement -- facing Diaz is a whole different kind of assignment.
It's the small things Diaz does to wear out opponents, underwritten by incredible grappling smarts and toughness. Whether it's banging foes in close, or bouncing shots off their heads in the endless stand up confrontations he seems to relish in forcing, Diaz wears down opponents because he's always, always, always fighting. His improved takedown defense was what changed the tone of the Miller bout, as he stuffed Jim's early attempts with solid countering and positioning, something you didn't see earlier in his career.
Over a five-round fight, improved takedowns and a surging ability to strike make Diaz an incredibly tough assignment. He and Ben Henderson might be one of the best match ups the game has to offer, with Henderson's punishing blend of size, wrestling and Houdini-like ability to wrest himself out of bad positions and excruciating submissions.
Until then, whoever is preparing to fight Nate Diaz knows there are no easy spots, no places to rest, and you're in for one hell of a long night and fight. That's good news for Diaz fans, and waited since he arrived after winning The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 in June 2007.
Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or at twitter.com/jasonprobst.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, henderson, miller, nate
Read the full article at MMA Mania“UFC on Fox 3: Diaz vs. Miller” Post-Fight Press Conference (Video)
UFC on Fox 3: Diaz vs. Miller is now in the books, having gone down last night at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The event saw Nate Diaz establish himself as the next lightweight contender in line behind Frankie Edgar with a dominant victory over longtime divisional frontrunner Jim Miller. Diaz submitted Miller in the second round of their lightweight main event, picking up a Submission of the Night bonus in the process.
In the evening’s co-main event, welterweight contenders Johny Hendricks and Josh Koscheck battled back and forth over three rounds in a fight that was ultimately ruled a split decision in Hendricks’ favor.
Check out the video below to hear UFC president Dana White and many of the fighters from the card deal with the fallout from the event.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: diaz, event, miller, night bonus, card deal
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC On Fox 3 Results: Match Making In The Aftermath
In the aftermath of UFC on Fox 3, looking at the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings gives us some very clear possibilities for the future of the winners and losers of last night's event. The Izod Center of East Rutherford, New Jersey hosted an event that will leave its fingerprints on the futures of several UFC divisions.
First up the headliners. The Lightweight division remains in its usual rematch-related muddle with new champ Ben Henderson booked up with an expected rematch against former champ Frankie Edgar at UFC 150 in August. That leaves Nick Diaz in position to hurry up and wait for his title shot. He seems to be fine with taking a longer break and waiting on the champion.
Same goes for Welterweight winner Johny Hendricks who squeezed past Josh Koscheck with a split decision win. Hendricks claims he's willing to wait but the 170lb class is even more gummed up than the 155lbers. Champion Georges St. Pierre is rehabbing a torn and surgically reconstructed ACL and interim champ Carlos Condit is waiting on GSP. That means Hendricks will possibly be waiting until early next year for his shot. That's no fun.
Here's the fights I would rather see in the interim:
Nate Diaz vs. Anthony PettisWith the division's #3 fighter Gilbert Melendez stuck in the limbo that is Strikeforce (and Diaz would likely refuse to face teammate Melendez anyway), the #4 and #6 fighters Gray Maynard and Clay Guida set to face off in June at UFC on FX 4, #8 Pettis is Diaz' best option. For his part Pettis, who's nursing some injuries, wants to face Diaz. Let's not keep the fans waiting forever, book Diaz vs. Pettis in a #1 contender's bout in the Fall.
Johny Hendricks vs. Jake Ellenberger/Martin Kampmann winnerHendricks shouldn't get the luxury of hibernating until the title picture clears up. Especially when the #3 Ellenberger and the #9 Kampmann are meeting at The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale on June 1. That match up naturally creates a loser as well as a winner which leads us to...
Josh Koscheck vs. Ellenberger/Kampmann loserKoscheck is still a very dangerous man as his near-win over Hendricks attests. He deserves a chance to remain in the top 10 with a bout against the loser of Ellenberger/Kampmann. The winner of that fight would be back in the mix (to the extent that Koscheck isn't exiled from the mix as long as GSP holds the title).
Jim Miller vs. Donald Cerrone/Jeremy Stephens loserThe #12 Cerrone faces the unranked but formidable Stephens at UFC on Fuel TV 3 on May 15. A bout with the loser of that fight gives Miller a good chance at landing on his feet.
Alan Belcher vs. Mark Munoz or Vitor BelfortBelcher is ready for a chance to prove himself amongst the elite of the UFC Middleweight division. Munoz is set to face Chris Weidman at UFC on Fuel TV 4 and if he wins a #1 contenders bout against Belcher would be just the ticket. Alternatively, if Vitor beats Wanderlei Silva at UFC 147, Belcher vs Belfort would also be an attractive scrap, possibly in Brazil.
Lavar Johnson vs. Mark Hunt/Stefan Struve2 million plus people just saw Johnson put a brutal beating on Pat Barry. In a few weeks nearly a million people will see Hunt vs. Struve. Presumably brutality will be involved. Let's make more brutality happen with Johnson vs the Hunt/Struve winner. A title shot wouldn't be too far down the road from there for somebody.
Louis Gaudinot vs. John DodsonThey seemed to be headed in different directions after The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale but now that they've both moved down to the Flyweight division and picked up a win, I think these two should face off with a shot against the winner of the Flyweight tournament in the winner's future.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, winner, hendrick
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller Bonuses
Nate Diaz, Lavar Johnson, Louis Gaudinot and John Lineker each picked up $65,000 bonus awards for their performances at UFC on Fox on Saturday night.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, bonus, john lineker
Read the full article at Heavy MMANate Diaz Announces Himself as Elite Lightweight by Finishing Jim Miller
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- Just when you thought no Nick Diaz in your life meant MMA got a little more boring, here comes brother Nate Diaz to pick up the slack.Nate is young and fast and talented, and now, we can say he is elite, too. If you had any remaining doubts about that after his throttling of Donald Cerrone last December, you probably don't after he became the first man to finish Jim Miller at Saturday night's UFC on FOX 3.Think about this: Miller is a man who's stepped into the cage with current lightweight champion Ben Henderson, current No. 1 contender Frankie Edgar, and the last No. 1 contender Gray Maynard. None of them finished him. None of them came close. But Diaz did it, and in a scheduled five-round fight, needed less than two of them to pull it off. That left even Miller in a complimentary mood.
"He fought a beautiful fight," Miller said. "He had my number."
When you get someone as proud as Miller to say something like that, you know it's checkmate. Those aren't words he's easily uttered in the past. He came into the fight with a lifetime .875 winning percentage, and had been a divisional standout in the UFC, at one point winning seven straight fights and knocking on the door of a title shot. But against Diaz, Miller found little success. The two may have fought a fairly even first round -- two judges scored it for Diaz while one scored it 10-10 -- but he still didn't look comfortable trying to close the distance against Diaz's five-inch reach advantage. In the round, Diaz out-struck him 49-17, according to FightMetric.But in the second round, Diaz really turned it on. All of the sudden, it was as if he was locked in. He started taunting Miller, talking to him, playing with him, really. And whatever he threw, he landed. At one point, he put his arms down, invited Miller to hit him, and then connected on a front kick. Diaz was simply in the zone, landing 48 strikes to Miller's 10."I don't even remember what he was saying," Miller said. "It didn't affect me. It was the strikes he was landing that affected me. I shouldn't have given him the opportunity to be speaking … He took the momentum and held it."That is the kind of thing a Nick Diaz opponent walks away saying, which makes you wonder if Nate's career is about to follow a similar career trajectory in terms of success. At one point of Nick's career, he was 15-7 with 1 no contest, and then, everything seemed to click, and he rolled off an 11-fight win streak, taking him to the brink of a UFC welterweight title shot, an opportunity he lost through his own no-showing of two press conferences.Nate was 15-7 heading into last night's fight, and suddenly he was as good as we've ever seen him. Could that same kind of streak be coming? It could. Diaz's biggest problem has always come from wrestlers, and Miller certainly took his chances to get it to the mat. Diaz was simply better than him, shutting down four of five tries. There are certainly better functional MMA wrestlers in the UFC lightweight division than Miller, but Diaz's performance in this aspect can only be seen as a positive.Another promising quality? The sideshow circus that comes with Nick's behavior seems to be no issue for Nate. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly noted how Nate has been no problem to work with, and does what's asked of him. Diaz wasn't outwardly celebratory after the fight. Sitting at the post-fight press conference podium, Diaz spent most of his 30 minutes there checking congratulatory text messages on his phone, occasionally looking up when he received a question. Perhaps surprisingly, Diaz said he was willing to wait to get a shot at the lightweight title, something he was promised during fight week if he won.Since Diaz has entered the UFC, we've seen a lot of him. According to MMADecisions.com, his 16 fights over the last five years is the most of anyone in the UFC during that time, far ahead of a slew of guys with 13. That activity has made him sharp, but it's also the reason he doesn't mind taking a breather while Henderson and Edgar sort out the division.Diaz may always have a problem with wrestlers -- and with either Henderson or Edgar, he's guaranteed one -- but at least at 155, he won't be giving up size and muscle as he was in his brief move to 170. Much like brother Nick, Nate has learned that unwavering striking volume and an attacking ground game make for a dangerous combination, even against a wrestler.That's the message his win over Miller sent to the rest of the division. Nate Diaz is no longer just Nick's little brother. When it comes to lightweights, he's now elite.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, miller, nate
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseClassy Nate Diaz [FIXED] (UFC on FOX 3 spoiler - don't click if you haven't watched the fight yet, even if you're on r/mma browsing the day after the fight, and out of curiosity want to click a Nate Diaz link, still having not watched last night's fight,
submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [comment]
Posted in: fight, diaz, click, nate diaz, dont
Read the full article at RedditUFC on FOX 3: Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz Video Highlights
Nate Diaz and Jim Miller squared off inside the Octagon at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Diaz dominated his opponent en route to an impressive submission victory towards the end of round 2. Cesar Gracie product will now face the winner of Henderson vs. Edgar rematch, which will take place later this year. Nate Diaz is now 16-7 in his professional Mixed Martial Arts career.
Further Reading: Full UFC on FOX 3 Recap
Video: Highlights: Diaz -
Posted in: diaz, nate, nate diaz, arts career, jim miller
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on FOX 3 results recap: Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller fight review and analysis
The stakes were high last night (May 5, 2012) for the UFC on FOX 3 main event between lightweights Nate Diaz and Jim Miller in East Ruthorford, New Jersey, and expectations were met or exceeded on just about all accounts.
Diaz had a potential title shot on the line while Miller was hoping to secure one more huge victory to get himself into the title picture as well.
The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five winner seemingly had a wrestling disadvantage, but Miller was unable to capitalize on it.
The biggest surprise of all was Miller, a man who'd never been stopped despite three losses to top five current UFC lightweights in 24 previous fights, being forced to tap out to a Diaz guillotine choke.
So how in the world did the proud Stockton native submit such a high level Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt? And what's next for both terrific fighters?Follow me after the jump for our Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller UFC on FOX 3 post-fight review and analysis:
Miller tried to put pressure on Diaz early, pushing him into the fence and working to mix in dirty boxing, knees and takedown attempts, but Diaz hung tough and was able to remain standing. It was a very grueling pace and Diaz was able to escape and create distance again.
In striking range, Miller tried to land some leg kicks but Diaz countered with his incredibly accurate boxing. Diaz's punching flustered Miller and the New Jersey native was unable to find his range with his boxing, repeatedly coming up short with his overhand left and right hands.
Miller switched to single-leg takedown attempts but again they were unsuccessful. As he tried to circle to his left, Diaz pounced with a beautiful 1-2 combination which blasted through his defenses and actually sent the hard-headed AMA Fight Club member to the ground.
The wounded Miller went to his bread and butter which was the ground game and both men traded sweeps and top position for the final 30 seconds.
In the decisive second round, both men stalemated in the clinch before resetting in the cage center and this was where Diaz completely took over. It started with a simple wiggle of his fingers, then it was dropping both hands to his sides before wading in and throwing solid knees up close and personal.
After the next separation, the taunts started flowing from Diaz and Miller took the bait, leaping in with a wild flying knee as Diaz countered with a swift combination. He continued to taunt, noticing Miller's reaction and Miller mixed up his attack with a front kick to the face but Diaz just slapped his own face as to make it seem like Miller couldn't hurt him.
Once in the clinch, Diaz had a "come on mother fucker" get bleeped out and it was noticeable that Miller was breathing heavily here out of his mouth. Miller, after eating several more knees and beginning to bleed heavily from his nose, began to get increasingly desperate.
This led to Miller rushing forward with a takedown attempt, missing with his left leg trip and finding himself badly caught in Diaz's web. The Cesar Gracie product's guillotine wasn't completely locked in at first but he had Miller in all sorts of trouble, eventually stepping over and mounting him, which is just about the worst position to be in while being choked out and Miller had no choice left but to tap out.
For Jim Miller, he was simply outclassed. Diaz thwarted him at just about every turn and he had some major issues landing his punches from a distance. His best attack was in the clinch with short strikes and his leg kicks from the pocket but even then, he was constantly getting countered and getting as good as he was giving. If I had any suggestions, it would have been to work his leg kicks more and to aggressively shoot in for a double leg takedown when Diaz was building momentum rather than trying to fire back with flying knees and front kicks. Those just played into Diaz's game be creating openings in his defenses which Diaz continued to exploit.
Miller has repeatedly put on great fights, but he has also come up short now every time against the elite in the division. Unfortunately, with this loss, he's almost certainly out of title contention for a significant period and will likely become a high level gatekeeper. I wouldn't be surprised to see him face the upcoming loser of the Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida fight. Other options include the Donald Cerrone vs. Jeremy Stephens loser or perhaps the loser of Jacob Volkmann vs. Paul Sass.
For Nate Diaz, this was a masterful performance. He was able to avoid taking much damage in the clinch and utilized his length very well. I loved that he mixed in more knees and even some leg kicks to diversify his striking attack and keep Miller guessing. Best of all was once he got comfortable in the striking exchanges and starting trash-talking and taunting. Miller is such a blue-collar worker in MMA, it was insane to see him lose his composure. Diaz took advantage of every opening that Miller gave him during his wild attacks and then capitalized on Miller's desperation with that takedown attempt in the second round, reversing it swiftly into an offensive attack of his own.
This fight answered a lot of Diaz's critics in terms of his ability to fend off some takedowns against a tough wrestler. Granted, Miller is a very well-rounded fighter and not just a wrestler, but Diaz was able to avoid being put on his back repeatedly and was quick to sweep, throw submissions or get back to his feet in all the brief instances where he was put on the ground.
There's no need to speculate. Nate Diaz will wait for a title shot. He mentioned he wanted some time off anyways in his post-fight interview so he has no problem with potentially having to wait until the end of 2012 before fighting again considering it will be for the title this time. Diaz will fight the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson next. That leaves Anthony Pettis out to dry, but that's not Diaz's problem whatsoever.
For complete UFC on FOX 3 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Are you now a believer in this new and improved Nate Diaz 2.0 in the lightweight division? Is he a serious threat to become the next UFC champion at 155 pounds? What would you do with Jim Miller next?
Sound off!
Posted in: ufc, diaz, miller, leg, nate
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 3 post-fight press conference full video for 'Diaz vs Miller' in New Jersey
UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is officially in the books after a solid night (May 5, 2012) of major mixed martial arts (MMA) actions.
In the main event of the evening, Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller, a fresh lightweight title contender was solidified, as Diaz submitted a very game Miller to earn a crack at the 155-pound crown. As confirmed by UFC President Dana White, he will wait for the winner of Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar part deux.
As usual, the stars of the show came to dish the dirt on the event immediately afterward, including Nate Diaz, Jim Miller, Johny Hendricks, Josh Koscheck, Alan Belcher, and Lavar Johnson, among others. Naturally, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White emceed the post-fight event wrap up show.
For complete UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here. To check out a complete UFC on FOX 3 results recap of the pay-per-view (PPV) main card click here. And for all the latest UFC on FOX 3 news and notes you can handle check out our complete event archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 3 results recap from last night for 'Diaz vs Miller' in New Jersey on May 5
Third time was indeed the charm for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion last night (May 5, 2012) staged its latest event on the FOX network from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. And after two previous uninspiring efforts, the UFC finally pulled off a very very impressive main card in the "Garden State."
In the main event of the evening, the unpredictable Nate Diaz -- who had a Lightweight title shot on the line -- did what the Diaz boys do so well, boxing up perennial top division contender Jim Miller for 1.5 rounds and then putting him away via tongue-crushing submission (power guillotine) in the second stanza.
Like butta.'
It's easy to write, but it's much harder to explain how effortlessly Diaz sliced through the super tough and talented New Jersey native. Diaz came into this bout with several question marks about his wrestling (or lack thereof), which appeared to be the glaring weakness in an overall above average arsenal. MIller was supposed to close the distance, score takedowns and brutalize Diaz en route to a lopsided decision.
Didn't happen.
Diaz kept his distance, played his game and notched the biggest win of his professional fight career. He's had an up-and-down journey inside the Octagon since winning The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) years back, flip-flopping between divisions and occasional setbacks.
However, he made a very big statement -- massive nationwide television audience notwithstanding -- that he is a legitimate threat to the UFC 155-pound champion. And, perhaps more telling about his MMA maturity, he's willing to sit and wait for the opportunity that he's earned outright.
No complaints here.
Johny Hendricks entered his co main event fight against Josh Koscheck riding a wave of momentum that crested with a 12-second stoppage of perennial top Welterweight contender Jon Fitch in his previous performance. If lightening could strike twice, and he could topple Fitch's long-time training partner in impressive fashion, "Big Rigg" would be riding rather dirty.
Let's call him untidy (and that's not a reference to his unkept bushy beard).
Hendricks won last night via split decision. And he did it against one of the toughest 170-pound fighters in the world. But, he got a little help from the judges sitting ringside because the outcome could have gone either way. Koscheck put up a very good fight in the first and third rounds, and there is a very good case that he could have walked away the winner.
But, he didn't.
Hendricks landed several huge shots throughout the 15-minute fight and won a very convincing second round, which appeared to be his keys to victory. He's clearly at the forefront of the division, but a clear-cut number one contender he is not.
Defeating the winner of Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann will earn him that distinction. Emphasis on "earn."
I don't have much to say about Alan Belcher after his exciting first round technical knockout of fearless leg-locker Rousimar Palhares. Why? Because "The Talent" has been telling everyone who will listen for the past two years that he is a very dangerous man, who more than lives up to his nickname.
Unfortunately, despite his shameless -- and often comedic -- self promotion, most folks just pass it off as nonsense. That's a massive mistake, especially when you're talking about a cat crazy enough to initiate and insane game of footsie with the sport's most devastating and unstable 185-pound submission specialist.
Belcher did the stupidest thing imaginable last night, diving right into Palhares' bread basket and daring him to take a leg back to Brazil. Palhares, national television be damned, was more than likely to oblige, but Belcher didn't let him. He set the trap and then used the seemingly senseless opportunity to set up a vicious ground-and-pound finish that would have certainly stopped most humans much sooner.
If folks weren't listening to Belcher's words all these years, I'm pretty certain they heard those fists last night loud and clear. Get that man on a poster, immediately, and set him up against the winner of Brian Stann vs. Hector Lombard or Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch.
It's long overdue.
Take a bow, UFC matchmakers, kicking off an important and influential fight card like this with a heavyweight scrap with the fireworks potential of Lavar Johnson vs. Pat Barry was a homerun. Neither man has a ground game worth a lick and both of them hit like mules.
Did I say homerun? I meant grand slam.
Johnson and Barry lived up the expectations and went balls to the wall until it became clear that punches hurt. Barry tried to flip the script, taking the fight to the ground once he felt the "Big" power, but Johnson eventually got the fight back up to the feet where it belonged.
And it was where Barry, a K-1 veteran, didn't want to be because Johnson was just too big and too powerful ti withstand. Once Johnson got going, and Barry realized his only offense was a curled up defense, it was only a matter of time before the referee in charge of the action saved "HD" from the beating of a lifetime.
Johnson looked absolutely ferocious inside the Octagon. And I don't want to see the promotion match him up with some well-rounded, heavy-handed MMA fighter his next time out who can ruin all the fun. No, I want the UFC to book Lavar Johnson vs. Mark Hunt as soon as the New Zealander is done with Stefan Struve at UFC 146 later this month ... win or lose.
That's a walk-off grand slam.
That's enough from us. Now it's your turn to discuss UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" in the comments section below.
Is Diaz championship material? Do you agree with the Hendricks-Koscheck decision? Who should be next for Belcher? Is Johnson a serious heavyweight contender?
Let's hear it, Maniacs.
Be sure to also check out our complete UFC on Fox 3 blow-by-blow coverage of the entire "Diaz vs. Miller" event right here. Our complete UFC on Fox 3 results recap of the Facebook/FUEL TV "Prelims" action can be found right here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, johnson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White: Nate Diaz will wait for his shot at the UFC Lightweight title
UFC President Dana White revealed about Nate Diaz's decision to wait for his shot at the UFC Lightweight title, instead of fighting Anthony Pettis for the number one contender spot. Recent rumors suggested that Diaz will now be facing Pettis for the right to challenge the winner of Edgar vs. Henderson rematch, but now it looks like the former WEC Lightweight champ is now once again denied of his shot at glory.
Henderson and Edgar will meet again at UFC 150 on August 11th, which means that Nate Diaz is not
Posted in: ufc, diaz, anthony pettis, nate diaz, glory henderson
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on FOX 3 results recap: 'Report Card' for 'Diaz vs Miller' MMA event in New Jersey
With the best performance of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career last night (May 5, 2012) in the UFC on FOX 3 main event from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., Nate Diaz became the first man to finish Jim Miller, cinching a Lightweight title shot in the process.
His second-round finishing choke was preceded by a fight that was a classic example of the Diaz style. He used a stifling, high-pressure attack where he constantly forced Miller to work. Diaz increased his accuracy and dialed in on the feet, bouncing shots off the game Miller's head before delivering the finisher. The win confirms Diaz's massive improvement over the past two years, shoring up his takedown defense, while his ever-tricky ground game negated Miller's wrestling advantage and forced him into a standup bout that wasn't to his advantage.
In the co-main of the UFC on Fox 3 card, Johny Hendricks battled to a split decision win over former title challenger Josh Koscheck. With cards 29-28 across the board, Hendricks' consistent left hand and a solid second round edged out Koscheck in a close, intensely contested bout.
Here's a closer look at the night's fights, with grades for each performer:
Nate Diaz: AThe much-heralded Diaz style is a fascinating tactical approach, but it only works if you've got some incredibly rare skill sets. Among these are a granite chin, excellent conditioning and a suffocating Brazilian jiu-jitsu game to be fearless in volume-heavy exchanges. Diaz has these in spades, and the quantum leap his striking has taken in recent bouts -- along with his incredibly good defensive grappling -- makes him a tough riddle for any lightweight on the planet, particularly in a five-round fight.
Diaz was especially on point tonight, and you could see him begin to dictate the pace as Miller began to resemble numerous victims of both Diaz brothers halfway through the first round. Winging punches, his expression looking increasingly frustrated, Miller got sucked into Nate's game, which is predicated on making opponents work and constantly punishing them from every position and opening available.
With champ Ben Henderson slated to rematch former belt holder Frankie Edgar, Diaz represents a compelling test against either guy. His guard game and submissions are as stifling and dangerous as anyone in the division, and his ability to wear down opponents mentally and physically on the feet makes him a vexing proposition on the feet. And he's as durable and difficult to stop as they come (his only stoppage loss was to Hermes Franca, early in his career - since then, nobody's come remotely close).
Diaz has waited a long time and taken more than his share of ups and down in a career often plagued by wrestling deficits and a lay-and-pray approach to beating him on the cards. After tonight, it's pretty much established that you're going to have to be one helluva fighter to get the best of him over five rounds.
Alan Belcher: AAn epic performance by the rising middleweight, who can now be considered a legit top-five contender in the 185-pound division. Dodging a terrifying series of leg lock attempts by the dangerous Rousimar Palhares, Belcher adeptly defended each time, correctly picking spots to whack Palhares in the face and soften him up for the eventual ground and pound assault that finished the bout in impressive fashion. With a moniker like "The Talent," Belcher is deserving of it, and with a huge frame for the weight class and a very solid skill set, he finished the division's most feared submission artist while playing right into Palhares hands. Or so it seemed.
A jump up is definitely warranted for Belcher in his next fight.
Lavar Johnson: B+The hard-swinging heavy is powerful but crude, with a limited ground game despite virtually every indication that he needs to work on it. That said, after getting worked by Pat Barry early -- on the mat, of all places -- Johnson surged with an onslaught of shots as the tiring Barry simply absorbed them on his arms, skull and everywhere else, crumbling en route to a first-round stoppage. A huge win for Lavar, bumping his UFC ledger to 2-0 after his impressive knockout of the usually durable Joey Beltran. It will be interesting to see how the UFC matches Johnson next, however, especially given his grappling issues. If the promotion matches him with another headhunting striker, that's an early Christmas gift. Given his size and power, however, Johnson may occupy the kind of niche Barry has in recent fights -- that of the heavyweight bomber designed to provide early to mid-card fireworks without necessarily being considered a contender threatening for a title shot.
Johny Hendricks: B+A solid showing by Hendricks, who picked good spots to work from, particularly in the clinch, to outhustle "Kos" to a close decision. This was the kind of test that fans hoped to see him get against Jon Fitch, but Hendricks' massive left hand ended that one barely after it began. A tough, distance-going battle against a proven commodity like Koscheck will only help Hendricks improve, giving him confidence in what he can do. However, he still got outgrappled in spots and looked a little tired in the end, and his standup isn't quite what it will need to be to take on the elite of the division, at least at this point. But he's got plenty of time to improve. Remember, Koscheck used to be a one-dimensional wrestler, too.
Josh Koscheck: B-Koscheck looked sharp and potent on his feet in the first round against Hendricks, and I thought he did enough to win an exceptionally tough fight by taking the third round. However, Josh ran into a real tough stylistic matchup tonight. His takedown defense and athleticism remain one of the best combinations of pure ability in the division, but the loss to Hendricks puts him in a kind of Rich Franklin territory at this point - a talented veteran who clearly can't beat the champ, and is now in a measuring-stick kind of spot against rising talent.
Jim Miller: CMiller should hold his head high, as he befell the same fate many Diaz foes (both Nate and Nick) in recent years. The key factor tonight was Diaz' improved takedown defense, as Miller's best shot was planting him on the mat and dictating the action. Exceptionally tough and well-conditioned, Miller fell short nonetheless against a high-level opponent, which also plagued him in a one-sided decision loss to Henderson. He remains a tough opponent for any lightweight, but tonight, styles and overall striking skill showed Diaz to be the better fighter.
Rousimar Palhares: C-Palhares' dangerous game works both ways, and going for heel hooks, ankle and leg locks brings out all sorts of submission defense flaws against foes unschooled in defending them. But against a well-prepared foe, it also exposes you to getting smashed in the face because you're vulnerable. Palhares' willingness to go for these attacks makes submissions exciting, but you have to wonder how he'll adjust his game in future fights; he remains a physical wonder with a powerhouse frame, and he has heavy hands despite somewhat crude striking technique, along with good takedowns. This was the kind of setback that affirms his place in the middle of the division's pecking order, while affirming how dangerous he can be. In a couple of spots, he looked close to getting a fight-finishing lock on Belcher's limbs, only to have Belcher squirrel out.
Pat Barry: FWith a stand up-oriented foe, Barry had a great match up here, but failed terribly. Perhaps he got caught between styles, as it was somewhat weird to see him get side control and mount repeatedly, and eschew his powerful elbow and fist strikes to attempt submissions, including an Americana, which is a traditionally hard hold to finish. Barry then completely gassed after having Johnson virtually marooned on the mat, and absorbed a huge series of shots before dropping to the mat with the fight being stopped. You gotta love "HD" as he always provides excitement, but this was the kind of stylistic fight he was supposed to win, and instead, he blew a big opportunity.
For complete UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, miller, game, hendrick
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Quick Quote: Anthony Pettis wants number one contender fight against Nate Diaz
"Let's do it. Nate Diaz thinks he's the number one contender, I think I'm the number one contender. Let's figure out who the real number one contender is -- we've got time to do it. I haven't heard nothing yet (about my next fight), but I think I have a clear path decided right now.... I'll make sure I'm ready to fight around September. I haven't had a clear shot to the UFC title until now, so I'm going to take advantage of this.... I think I match up great with (Nate). I think that Carlos Condit showed the blue print on how to beat these guys and I think my style of striking is just like his. So, it's going to be a tough fight. I'm not saying it's going to be easy at all, but I think my style is a great match up for him."
-- Who's the real number one contender at 155-pounds? Anthony Pettis tells FUEL TV that he should be next in line for a title shot against the winner of the upcoming Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar rematch, which is scheduled to go down later this year. Nate Diaz believes he should be given the title shot after he submitted Jim Miller in the main event of UFC on FOX 3 last night (Sat., May 5, 2012) at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Pettis' line of thinking -- and it's difficult to argue against -- is that he and Diaz should just fight in September, which is roughly around the time Henderson and Edgar will hook 'em up again, and the winners of those respective match-ups meet late this year or early next year. Seems simple enough. Except UFC President Dana White has already promised Diaz the next crack at the 155-pound crown and apparently the Stockton slugger is going to wait instead of risk his standing in the division. It's hard to blame him but equally as difficult not to salivate at the thought of a Pettis vs. Diaz bout. You Maniacs like the sound of that fight? Or is Diaz's current plan to wait the right thing to do?
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, contender, number
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on Fox 3: Take a bow, Nate Diaz, you deserve it after submitting Jim Miller
Jim Miller is notoriously hard to beat.
In two dozen fights, spread over over five years, Miller had only been defeated by three men going into last night's (Sat., May 5, 2012) UFC on FOX 3 main event. The first to do so was Frankie Edgar, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight titleholder before both men began plying their trade inside the Octagon. The next man to claim victory over the New Jersey native was Gray Maynard, perennial contender to the 155-pound crown.
The third fighter to defeat Miller is the current lightweight champion, Ben Henderson who wrested the title away from "The Answer" at UFC 144 in Japan. It took each man 15 minutes to defeat the AMA Fight Club product, each needing assurances from three judges to seal their victory.
He's hard to beat and impossible to finish, it would seem.
Last night in New Jersey, in Miller's own proverbial backyard, it took Nate Diaz less than 10 minutes to not only achieve victory but do what what three of the best lightweights in the UFC -- no, the world -- couldn't do.
He finished Miller, submitting him with less than a minute remaining in the second round. And in doing so, Diaz put himself on the short list of title contenders.
The long-time gameplan to defeat a Diaz brother, while difficult to pull off in practice, is simple in theory and has already been laid out. A strong wrestling/grappling base with decent submission defense from the top has proven to be the Stockton boys' Achilles' heel time after time. Older brother Nick Diaz dropped bouts to Diego Sanchez, Karo Parisyan and Sean Sherk during his first UFC stint after each man performed in such a manner.
The younger Diaz moved up to welterweight after lost consecutive bouts to Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson, both of which employed a similar strategy. He dropped back down to 155-pounds when he was manhandled by Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald.
It seemed, going into the bout, if Miller was to win, it would be on the ground. He would need to be on top and his Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt would also have to come in handy as he defended any number of submission attempts from Diaz as the Stockton fighter had his back against the canvas.
Miller did, in fact, try to get the fight to the ground and managed to do so a few times but it was only momentary. Diaz was able to spring back up to his feet almost immediately to continue the fight in a vertical position, one which would benefit the Stockton native more than it would Miller.
It was during these stand-up exchanges where the patented Diaz boxing came into play. They seem like pitter patter punches with little power behind them connecting one after the other while fans and pundits ask themselves how those could ever hurt. B.J. Penn's face showed the wear and tear those punches carry with them after his UFC 137 bout with the elder Diaz and Miller's face, while not as bad as the Hawaiian's, also displayed those scores of punches definitely carry their toll.
Diaz parlayed the striking advantage into the fight-ending submission, wearing Miller down and using his Cesar Gracie training to snake his arm around his opponent's neck and forcing a tap out. And he did so after A) negating Miller's takedown attempts, which was the biggest question mark in his defense and B) forcing the New Jersey native to abandon any gameplan he might have had and fight the fight Diaz wanted.
That's the mark of an evolved fighter, it's the mark of a champion.
Former World Extreme Cagefighting Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis has already called out the winner, in hopes of setting up an eliminator bout while Henderson and Edgar settle their unfinished business. It's unknown whether this fight will come to fruition or if Diaz will await whoever is champion after the UFC 144 rematch.
Regardless of who Diaz fights, however, it's certain now that he is no longer just somebody's little brother.
He is Nate Diaz and he is a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, bout, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaClassy Nate Diaz
submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: diaz, tekprodfx, nate, nate diaz
Read the full article at RedditDana White Says Nate Diaz Awaits Winner of Henderson-Edgar UFC Lightweight Title Rematch
Nate Diaz appears to have solidified his position as No. 1 contender to the UFC lightweight title.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, nate diaz, hendersonedgar ufc
Read the full article at SherdogNate Diaz vs Jim Miller full fight video highlights from UFC on FOX 3
Nate Diaz submits Jim Miller in the second round of their main event fight at UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" last night (Sat., May 5, 2012) from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In becoming the first man to finish Miller throughout his long and illustrious professional career, Diaz likely earned a shot at Anthony Pettis in a true number one contender bout. It was said he might earn a title shot with a victory over Miller but the reality is the 155-pound division is still in limbo with the Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar rematch still not scheduled and Pettis as high on the totem pole. So why not hold a mini tournament of sorts and let it sort itself out that way? Either way, Diaz was incredibly impressive in victory tonight, looking as good as he ever has against a dangerous opponent. For a more detailed look at the Diaz vs. Miller fight click here and for complete UFC on FOX 3 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo Highlights UFC On Fox 3 Diaz Vs. Miller
UFC Lightweight Nate Diaz finished Jim Miller in the second round of their UFC on Fox 3 bout. He will wait a shot at the winner of the Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar rematch expected for UFC 150. Diaz will not fight Anthony Pettis in the interim.
In the video above ESPN puts together the highlights of Diaz vs. Miller as seen on Fox TV. Diaz baited Miller into fighting his fight and outlanded the New Jersey native. Once the fight went to the ground, Diaz made short work of Miller and got the submission.
Diaz may be headed for a title shot but it's unclear where Miller will go from here. He's racked off enough losses recently that it seems unlikely he has any title shot possibilities in 2012. Miller will need to reel off a long string of wins to get back into contention.
Diaz' brother Nick Diaz, the UFC Welterweight contender who is currently suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission worked in Diaz' corner.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 3 Bonuses: Nate Diaz Earns Submission of the Night Honors
E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Nate Diaz's nasty guillotine choke of Jim Miller didn't just earn him a likely title shot against the winner of September's Ben Henderson-Frankie Edgar lightweight title rematch. It gave him a heavier wallet.
Diaz's slick finish earned him submission of the night honors, meaning he'll pocket an extra $65,000 on the evening.
Diaz's efforts edged out a pair of strong submissions: Roland Delmore's rear-naked choke of Nick Denis that finished their fight with one second left in the first round, and Louis Gaudinot's guillotine of John Lineker, which stopped their bout with six seconds left in round two.
Gaudinot didn't walk away empty-handed, though. His flyweight bout with Lineker, which was two rounds of nonstop action, earned fight of the night honors. Both fighters pocketed $65,000.
Also leaving town with an extra 65 grand was heavyweight Lavar Johnson, who scored KO of the night for his first-round finish of Pat Barry. With Johnson winging about three dozen punches in his finishing flurry before the fight was called off, that comes out to about $1,800 per punch.
Posted in: fight, night, diaz, submission, john lineker
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on FOX 3 results: Nate Diaz will wait for title shot against Ben Henderson vs Frankie Edgar winner
In the main event of UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" last night (Sat., May 5, 2012) at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Nate Diaz submitted Jim Miller in the second round of their 155-pound showdown.
And he earned himself a title shot in the process.
That was confirmed by UFC President Dana White at the UFC on FOX 3 post-fight press conference. Initially, it looked as though Anthony Pettis would swoop in and an unofficial mini tournament would be held. Pettis should be back from injury in September and that would be right around the time Diaz could be back in action after some time off.
Plus, the big Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar rematch is likely to take place in September as well.
That sounds all well and good but in a rare instance of White living up to his promises, Diaz was given the choice to wait for the title shot. Obviously, a title shot is far more appealing than a fight to risk losing it with little to gain other than another paycheck.
And so the stage is set, Maniacs. Believe it or not, Nate Diaz could be a UFC champion by the time his brother, Nick, returns to the Octagon. Either way, before the year is out, Diaz vs. Henderson or Edgar is set.
Anyone willing to put money on Stockton bringing a UFC belt home?
For complete UFC on FOX 3 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here. To watch the UFC on FOX 3 post-fight press conference click here.
Posted in: ufc, title shot, diaz, fox, shot
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on Fox 3 Bonuses: Diaz, Johnson, Gaudinot, and Lineker Nab $65,000 Awards
With a night full of exciting and tightly contested fights. the night’s bonuses were also tightly contested. Two main card fighters, Nate Diaz and Lavar Johnson, were amongst those that earned $65,000 bonuses, along with Louis Gaudinot and John Lineker, who fought on the preliminary card and earned “Fight of the Night” honors.
Diaz won the main event, along with “Submission of the Night” with his second round guillotine over Jim Miller. This was the first time in 25 career fights that Miller has ever lost due to stoppage. The win, Diaz’s third consecutive since returning to the lightweight division, also gave Diaz his third consecutive fight night bonus. He now has earned nine during his career, with tonight’s being his fourth “Submission of the Night”.
Johnson also extended his streak of bonuses, as he won his second “Knockout of the Night” bonus of 2012 with his win over Pat Barry. After losing his last two fights in Strikeforce in 2011, Johnson has started off 2-0 in the UFC. After knocking out Joey Beltran at UFC on Fox 2 in January, Johnson continued that tonight over Barry, giving him nine knockout wins in his last eleven fights.
While the knockout bonus went to the gargantuan heavyweight Johnson, the smallest men on the night earned “Fight of the Night” as flyweights Gaudinot and Lineker nabbed the bonus thanks to their exciting back-and-forth matchup. The green-haired Gaudinot ended up the victor after suffering a bevy of strikes in the first round. He came back in the second, eventually choking out the Brazilian with a guillotine choke at 4:54 of the second round.
For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 3, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: fight, night, diaz, johnson, bonus
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC on FOX 3: Nate Diaz Post-Fight Interview
Nate Diaz Forgoes Fight with Anthony Pettis, Awaits Winner of Henderson vs. Edgar Rematch
UFC on Fox 3 main event winner Nate Diaz will not fight fellow lightweight contender Anthony Pettis to decide the next number one contender. Nate Diaz will take his previously promised title shot and await the winner of UFC 150′s rematch between Frankie Edgar and champion Ben Henderson.
UFC President Dana White had initially announced the winner of tonight’s main event would face Pettis before the Fox telecast, but stated in the post-fight conference that the move was not official. White went on to say that the bout was never mandated but only proposed if Diaz wanted to stay busy.
Diaz defeated lightweight contender Jim Miller earlier tonight in the UFC on Fox 3 main event in impressive fashion, as he became the first man to ever submit Jim Miller.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, winner, fox telecast
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNate Diaz gets title shot, will wait for winner of Benson Henderson-Frankie Edgar II
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Nate Diaz is your next lightweight No. 1 contender.
UFC president confirmed at Saturday night's UFC on FOX 3 post-event press conference that Diaz did indeed earn a shot at the 155-pound title with his win over Jim Miller.
And while there were reports that Anthony Pettis might still stand in Diaz's path to a title shot, White said Diaz was offered and agreed to stay on the sidelines until he can face the winner of Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar II, which takes place later this year.
Posted in: title shot, diaz, title, anthony pettis, diazs path
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC on FOX 3 bonuses and awards for 'Diaz vs Miller' in New Jersey
UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, has officially wrapped, which means it's time for those select fighters who went above and beyond in their respective fights to get a little extra grease for their efforts.
To the tune of $65,000 each.
The promotion dished out its standard post-fight monetary bonuses to four out of the 22 fighters on the card, and it's probably no surprise who's headed home with a second sack of simoleons.
In a shocker, Lavar Johnson was awarded "Knockout of the Night" honors for unloading some heavy artillery at Pat Barry in the opening bout of the main card on network TV. Johnson threw a ton of "Big" bombs in stunning "HD" quality until he got the desired result.
Barry on his ass. And later in the hospital.
"Submission of the Night" was also easy pickings, as main event competitor Nate Diaz submitted the tough-as-nails Jim Miller in the second round with a slick one-arm guillotine that had the New Jersey native biting on his tongue and spitting up blood.
Quite the visual for executives at the FOX network, no doubt.
Finally, Louis Gaudinot and John Lineker were awarded "Fight of the Night" for their thrilling back-and-forth war of attrition that saw the former choke the latter unconscious after jumping a guillotine in the second round. Lineker earned his extra $65K just by hanging on for as long as he could and losing consciousness with just six seconds remaining in the round.
So close but so far away.
Here are the special fight bonuses for UFC on FOX 3:
Knockout of the Night -- Lavar Johnson
Submission of the Night -- Nate Diaz
Fight of the Night -- Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker
Again, each fighter received $65,000 extra for their performances in addition to their respective base salaries, which we will pass along as soon as possible.
For complete UFC on FOX 3 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, night, diaz, fox
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on Fox 3 Main Card Recap: Diaz Submits Miller, Hendricks Defeats Koschek
UFC on Fox 3 took place tonight live from East Rutherford, New Jersey. The action-packed card culminated in an impressive performance by Nate Diaz as he became the first person to ever finish Jim Miller. In other action, Johny Hendricks edged Josh Koscheck in a hard-fought affair, while Lavar Johnson and Alan Belcher both picked up impressive finishes as well.
Diaz Submits Miller
Nate Diaz made Jim Miller look like a newcomer in their fight tonight. Miller tried his best to control range and use his legkicks but Diaz proved too much for the New Jersey fighter.
In the second, Diaz rocked Miller with a stiff punch that sent Miller into a desperation shot that Diaz quickly took advantage of. Diaz initially landed an ugly guillotine choke but was able to readjust his hands and transitioned into a powerful arm-in guillotine that forced Miller to tap for the first time in his career.
Hendricks Edges Koschek
Johny Hendricks advanced early and often in his fight with Josh Koschek as he threw power lefts that were effective through out the fight. Koschek more than kept it close however by landing power shots when Hendricks advanced that wobbled the former Oklahoma State wrestler in the first round after an accidental eye-poke.
Hendricks also used takedowns to cause trouble for Koschek. While Hendricks was unable to keep Koschek down long either time, he used the opportunity to throw heavy knees into Koschek’s thighs.
The third round ended as the most definitive round of the fight, as Josh Koschek was finally able to score a takedown. While Kos was constantly looking to advance and do damage, Hendricks effectively used the lockdown position that kept the Edinboro product from doing too much damage before the round ended.
Belcher Impresses Against Palhares
While many fighters brag about being fearless, Alan Belcher personified it tonight as he willingly went to the ground against the dangerous Rousimar Palhares and came away with the win.
Belcher expertly countered a powerful single leg takedown by throwing in a leg and using a calf slicer to secure twister back control. Belcher looked for a twister and banana split but Palhares defended well and transitioned to kneebar/heel hook position. Belcher did an amazing job of defending against the leglock wizard, and was able to scramble into Palhares’s guard.
From there, the fight was basically over once Palhares lost wrist control and Belcher put him away with devastating ground and pound.
Johnson Blasts Barry
Lavar Johnson appeared to be in trouble early when Pat Barry secured a reversal and had a strong americana wrist lock on Johnson. Barry was unable to finish the armlock and that proved fatal for Barry.
The much larger Lavar Johnson powered up to his feet and hammered Barry against the fence. Barry tried his best to cover up and survive but a nasty knee followed by a powerful uppercut to hook combination sent Barry to the floor in an awkward position.
Full Results:
Main Card
Nate Diaz def. Jim Miller via submission (guillotine choke) at 4:09 of Round 2
Johny Hendricks def. Josh Koschek via split decision (29-28,28-29,29-28)
Alan Belcher def. Rousimar Palhares via TKO (strikes) at 4:18 of Round 1
Lavar Johnson def. Pat Barry via TKO (strikes) at 4:38 of round 1
Preliminary Card
Michael Johnson def. Tony Ferguson via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,30-27)
John Dodson def. Tim Elliott via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
John Hathaway def. Pascal Krauss via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,29-28)
Louis Gaudinot def. John Lineker via technical submission (guillotine choke) at 4:54 of round 2
Danny Castillo def. John Cholish via unanimous decision (30-37,30-27,30-27)
Dennis Bermudez def. Pablo Garza via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,30-27)
Roland Delorme def. Nick Denis via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:59 of round 1
Karlos Vemola def. Mike Massenzio via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:07 of round 2
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: diaz, round, miller, koschek, hendrick
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC on FOX 3 bonuses: Johnson, Diaz, Gaudinot and Lineker earn $65K awards
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Lavar Johnson, Nate Diaz, Louis Gaudinot and
John Lineker each earned $65,000 bonuses for their performances at
tonight's UFC on FOX 3 event.
Johnson earned the night's "Knockout of the Night" bonus, Diaz picked up
the "Submission of the Night" award, and Gaudinot and Lineker took home
"Fight of the Night" honors.
UFC president Dana White announced the winners following the event.
Posted in: night, diaz, gaudinot, bonus, lineker
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNate Diaz Calls on Guillotine, Submits Jim Miller in UFC on Fox 3 Main Event
Nate Diaz did what 23 previous men could not: he finished Jim Miller.
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate diaz, jim, jim miller
Read the full article at Sherdog
UFC on Fox 3 Results: Nate Diaz Steam Rolls Jim Miller; Proclaims Teammate True No. 1 Lightweight
Since returning to the lightweight division in 2011, Nate Diaz hasn't just been reborn. He's become the Terminator.
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Posted in: diaz, nate, google, bull, terminator retweet
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyDiaz defeats Miller via 2nd-round submission
Nate Diaz continued his dominant return to the UFC lightweight division Saturdya by defeating Jim Miller by submission in the second round.
Posted in: diaz, submission, miller, jim miller, division saturdya
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNate Diaz finally gets that title shot, nice
The 209 gets another guaranteed title shot. Let's hope the universe doesn't get drunk one night and screw things up, like what we witnessed in the ‘guaranteed’ title shot between Nick Diaz and Georges St. Pierre at UFC 143. Something tells me Nate Diaz's directions to the airport have been written, laminated and stapled to the dashboard of his car for months now.Nate Diaz started mean mugging Jim Miller <strong>before he even entered the octagon</strong>. There must be something to that. It would be hilarious if forty years from now, we find out that Nate Diaz was actually a mutant and he had the ability to drain a large portion of his opponent's energy just by staring at them.When the bout started, Jim Miller seemed to counter Nate Diaz's jabs with lower leg kicks, something that he probably picked up on while watching endless replays of Nate's fight against Cowboy Cerrone. As the fight went on, Nate Diaz slowly peppered Jim Miller with a potpourri of eloquent stand-up, rendering his face into a shade of crimson red.In the end, Nate caught Miller in a tight guillotine, forcing him to tap out in the second round. Seconds after Miller tapped out, I noticed Ronda Rousey going absolutely <strong>nuts</strong> in her seat – and I’m pretty sure she actually fell over celebrating Nate’s victory.Props to Nate on an amazing win and be sure to catch Nate and Nick Diaz on ‘Ronda Rousey’s Road Trip to the 209’ coming to MiddleEasy in just a few days.
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate, nate diaz, jim miller
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC on FOX 3 Results: Nate Diaz Submits Jim Miller in Main Event
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Nick Diaz was supposed to be the first brother to earn a shot at UFC gold, but instead, it might be younger brother Nate Diaz.The Stockton, Calif. native came into Jim Miller's home state and overwhelmed him, leading to a second-round guillotine submission win at UFC on FOX 3. It was the first time in Miller's career he has been stopped, as all of his previous losses have come via decision.Miller didn't get off to a bad start.
In fact, the first round trended his way early, as he punched his way into the clinch and worked to the body while holding Diaz against the fence. That was the early trend, which Diaz finally bucked when he scored a smashing left hand that sent Miller down. Miller recovered quickly but it was clearly the best punch of the round.But early in the second, it was clear that Diaz had found his rhythm, as he started taunting Miller and inviting him in. Miller didn't shy away from contact, once running in with a flying knee, but Diaz was in control from that point forward, scoring with left hands and knees to the body.The end came when Miller went low for a takedown. Diaz wrapped his hand around Miller's neck, and Miller tried a trip takedown, but Diaz sunk in the guillotine and they ended up on the ground. Diaz ended up with the choke mounted, and Miller had no choice but to tap out."He had my number," Miller said. "Nate is a tough guy. I knew it was going to be a tough fight coming in. He was landing strikes and hurting me."It was clearly the biggest win of Diaz's career. Before the fight, UFC president Dana White had said that a victory could put him in line for a title shot."I'm trying to be No. 1 in this world," Diaz said.He may have to wait for a while to get a shot at the belt though. Frank Edgar and Ben Henderson have to settle their newfound rivalry first, and Anthony Pettis may also have something to say about Diaz jumping him in line.The win made -- his third straight in the UFC -- made Diaz 16-7.Miller fell to 21-4.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, miller, jim miller, millers neck
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC On Fox 3 Diaz Vs. Miller Results And Post-Fight Analysis
Did we really need to hear "he's biting his own tongue off!" complete with a close up of Jim Miller's bloody face and truly endangered exposed tongue? The card for UFC on Fox 3 Diaz Vs. Miller was light on star power but engineered to deliver action for the network. On the whole I'd say it did deliver that. Will be curious to see how the ratings went over the course of the broadcast to gauge the viewer interest in the bouts themselves.
For the most part the UFC got the best outcomes from the fights. Rising title contenders Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks advance towards lucrative pay-per-view title shots. Hometown boy Jim Miller and aging heel Josh Koscheck did their service to the cause and hopefully didn't suffer excessive injury. Not sure where either of those guys go from here.
I'll break down every fight on the card after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
Nate Diaz came to New Jersey, Jim Miller's home state and shut Miller down. Nate did his whole bit, the taunting, the pitty pat punches in bunches, and the lethal grappling. Diaz has earned a title shot.
Johny Hendricks had to work to get past Josh Koscheck and was happy to get away with a split decision win. Hendricks survived an early assault from Koscheck that had him reeling and came back with a nice mix of lead uppercuts and left hooks to hurt Koscheck. I hope Koscheck's orbital bone is alright, his right eye looked swollen and it's no secret that it hasn't been the same since Georges St. Pierre shattered it.
Whoever trained Alan Belcher for Rousimar Palhares needs to write a "how to defend the leg lock" manual for MMA. I'd buy that shizzle. I'm not going to know what to make of what we just saw until I re-watch the fight in slow mo and talk to some 50/50 guard specialists from the BE grappling posse but I know it was beautiful. Belcher really outdid himself.
Lavar Johnson probably surprised a lot of people by mugging Pat Barry. Barry looked soft and overweight but let's not forget that Johnson fought a very smart fight. Still the fact that Pat Barry had him mounted, side-mounted and was working for an Americana don't say much for Johnson's grappling.
Michael Johnson surprised me when he started tagging Anthony Ferguson. I had Ferguson pegged as the harder puncher.
A really nasty thumb to the eye of Tim Elliott helped John Dodson get the breathing room to hep him solve for Elliott's unconventional style. Even a nut shot later in the second didn't take the wind out of Elliott's sails. Another quality fight even if I would strongly argue against the decision.
John Hathaway and Pascal Krauss made me wish they were doing more UK and European fights.
Louis Gaudinot and John Lineker put on a man-sized scrap at flyweight. They showed reckless abandon in the initial exchange and largely kept up that pace for the rest of the fight. Linker has some vicious boxing and really worked Gaudinot's body at one point backing him up against the fence for a sustained beating. But Gaudinot persisted, dominated the fight on the ground and finished with a guillotine choke that put Linker out cold.
Danny Castillo took a round or so to figure out the lanky John Cholish. Cholish had some luck with trips and throws that seemed to take the double leg oriented Castillo by surprise. Cholish's length also seemed to throw Castillo off his striking game initially but Castillo figured it out and ground out the decision by winning the last two rounds.
Dennis Bermudez vs. Pablo Garza has me wondering what division has the greatest average height disparity as the lanky Garza was made to look like a Featherweight Ichabod Crane by Bermudez' take down clinic. Bermudez racked up 8 take downs including at least 3 slams from high crotch lifts that had Garza crawling away by the end.
Canadian Bantamweights Roland Delorme and Nick Denis put on a brutal exhibition for those watching the UFC's Facebook stream. Denis came out blasting Delorme with crushing knees that would have finished 90% of fighters. But not Nick Denis, he survived the barrage and came back to submit Denis with just a second left.
Karlos Vemola looked like he was going to pick up another loss but came back to submit Mike Massenzio in the opening bout. Vemola's slam in the first might have turned the tide and his Peruvian Necktie attempt was creative if not enough to get the finish on its own. A beating from top position while he had Massenzio's back created the opportunity for the rear naked choke finish.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, koscheck, miller
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 3 post fight press conference live stream video for 'Diaz vs Miller'
UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., is took place tonight (Sat., May 5, 2012), airing live on national television.
Immediately following the event, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White and a handful of participating fighters will be on hand for the UFC on Fox 3 post-fight press conference, which is now embedded below (after the jump) for an approximate 11 p.m. ET start time.
A replay will also be available below for those who turn in early or miss the live broadcast altogether.
Be sure to tune in for post-fight reactions from all the major players -- Nate Diaz, Johny Hendricks, Alan Belcher, Lavar Johnson and more -- as well as up-to-the-minute results of all the post-fight bonuses, including "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night."
Check it out below:
For complete UFC on FOX 3 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, fox, postfight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On Fox 3 Results: Nate Diaz Chokes Out Jim Miller
Nate Diaz def. Jim Miller by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:09 of the second round
Nate Diaz came into New Jersey and made a huge statement in his main-event Lightweight bout with Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3 tonight. Diaz was able to latch on to Miller's neck with a power guillotine and there was no escape for Miller, who tapped out for the first time in his career at 4:09 of the second round. Diaz seemingly earned a title shot with the win.
Miller landed a solid leg kick to open the fight. The fighters engaged in a long clinch battle against the fence, with neither getting an advantage. Diaz started to establish his volume boxing game while Miller repeatedly missed with winging right hands. After another extended clinch battle, Miller scooped a leg but couldn't get anything. Diaz landed a left on Miller's chin that appeared to drop him. Diaz tried to spin and take Miller's back, but Miller reversed and got a late takedown. Diaz swept at the bell.
After some Miller kicks to start round two, the fighters clinched against the cage. Miller separated and strafed Diaz with a big elbow. Diaz started dropping his hands, gaining confidence in his boxing. Miller started to bleed. Miller went for a flying knee, which led to some Diaz taunting. Diaz locked on a front headlock and landed a knee, so Miller dropped down. Nate landed some strikes, then locked on a power guillotine. Despite some rolling, Miller had no escape and was forced to tap. Miller appeared to have his tongue out of his mouth and was biting down on it while being squeezed. Yuck.
The win earned Nate Diaz a future UFC lightweight title shot, though that won't be for a while. Miller has now lost two out of his last three bouts.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate, jim miller, power guillotine
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 3 results: Nate Diaz submits Jim Miller with a second round guillotine
The main event of the UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" event that took place tonight (Sat., May 5, 2012) at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, featured a lightweight title eliminator bout pitting Nate Diaz against Jersey native Jim Miller.
Diaz, who has won both of his fights impressively since returning to the 155-pound division, is on the cusp of fighting for the division title if he can defeat Miller, a wrecking ball who had only ever lost to division champions and perennial contender Gray Maynard.
Maybe Diaz didn't earn a title shot thanks to the logjam at the top of the division but perhaps Anthony Pettis will have a hell of a fight awaiting him when he returns from surgery.
That's because the Stockton slugger used the Brazilian jiu-jitsu game he's been known to flash every now and again to submit Miller in the second round with a super slick guillotine.
Overall, this was one hell of an evening for the UFC on FOX and the main event delivered.
Right away, Miller started working leg kicks. Diaz, a strong boxer, didn't like this and clinched up fairly quick. They killed close to two minutes hanging out on the fence with neither fighter getting the better of the other.
Once they reset, Miller went back to the kicks. And they were working well. Diaz's long arms started coming into play, however, as the Stockton slugger settled into a rhythm and landed a few solid shots.
Unfortunately, the clinch game dominated the opening frame, and Diaz was dominant there. He was outlanding Miller 33-13 in the clinch at one point.
Finally, Diaz landed a nice straight left that dropped Miller. He attempted a submission but Miller turned it over and took Diaz's back before he swept Miller and ended the round landing a knee on the way back up to their feet.
Whew. Hell of a flurry to close out the opening round.
The second stanza played out much like the first. Miller had to negate the reach advantage of his opponent, so he was forced to get inside, which would lead to tie ups and stalemates against the fence. It didn't make for the most exciting action but you can't blame these guys for doing the right thing at the right time.
Miller finally started to loosen up and went for a flying knee. He missed -- and ate a few shots for his effort -- but his hometown crowd showered him with cheers for his reckless abandon.
After another clinch, Diaz got confident and started taunting Miller by throwing lazy front kicks. Miller looked terribly tired and and shot forward with a lazy shot. The result was Diaz locking in a guillotine that was tight enough to get the tap.
209, represent.
Remember, too, to check out all of MMAmania.com's blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of the UFC on FOX 3 fight card by clicking here.
Posted in: diaz, round, fox, miller, shot
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 3 results: Nate Diaz wins again, becomes first to stop Jim Miller
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Quite simply, Nate Diaz is for real.
For the third time in as many UFC fights, Diaz turned in what could be
viewed as the best performance of his career, this time tapping out
perennial contender and hometown favorite Jim Miller.
The UFC on FOX 3 main event took place at IZOD Center in East
Rutherford, N.J. It aired on the evening's FOX-broadcast main card
following preliminary bouts that aired on FUEL TV and streamed on
Facebook.com.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fuel tv, jim miller, rutherford nj
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC on FOX 3: Diaz vs. Miller Results
MMA Fighting brings you UFC on FOX 3: Diaz vs. Miller results. UFC on FOX 3 takes place at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.. The event is headlined by a lightweight fight between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller. Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks is the co-main event.
The first two UFC on FOX main event offerings have left many viewers a bit unsatisfied. The first had a knockout so quick, it bordered on anticlimactic based upon the level of attention that led up to it. The second featured a fight that went all five rounds, though was considered somewhat lackluster.But the third? When it comes to Jim Miller and Nate Diaz, these two couldn't possibly have a boring fight, could they? Diaz brothers simply don't have "boring" in their DNA, and Nate essentially gave Miller his stamp of approval as an opponent, saying he respected his aggressive fight style."These two … if this fight sucks, I don't know what to tell you, man," UFC president Dana White said "These two are going to go in there and go at it. For one round or five rounds, they're going to go."
Both are action fighters, always pushing forward, setting the pace, willing to contest the fight anywhere. On their feet, Diaz (15-7) is probably the more accomplished of the two, relying on overwhelming volume to dictate the action. At 6-feet tall and with a 76-inch reach, Diaz usually has a built-in advantage when it comes to fighting from distance. Working under boxing coach Richard Perez, he has become well-schooled in learning to make good use of the jab as well. In many ways, he is the spitting image of his brother Nick. If the fight stays standing, Diaz historically throws more volume. According to stats provider FightMetric, Diaz lands 4.24 strikes per minute while he's only hit 2.62 times per minute. The numbers for Miller (21-3) are not quite as strong, as he lands 2.23 strikes per minute while opponents connect on him at a clip of 1.89 strikes per minute. Miller, though, is usually defensively excellent at avoiding contact, as opponents swing and miss at him 67 percent of the time. However, because of the height and reach differential along with Diaz's technical skill, it might not be so easy to make him whiff this time around. If the fight stays standing, it might well be Diaz's to win. Not only will his length play a role, but he also throws early and often to the body, a tactic that could benefit him greatly by sapping Miller of energy, no small thing in a five-round fight. But both fighters are quite well versed on the ground as well, both boasting black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In fact, both have more than half of their career wins by submission (10 for Diaz, 12 for Miller). But it may well be the transitions that win or lose this fight. If you examine Diaz's career defeats, one thing stands out: he struggles with wrestlers. In all five of his Octagon losses, he lost on points due to someone who worked to put him on his back. Miller has the gas tank and willingness to employ that kind of plan.To be fair, Miller is not an overwhelming MMA wrestler -- he lands just 46 percent of takedown tries -- but he's good enough to be dangerous, and his courage in chasing the position will at the least put Diaz in uncomfortable moments.Diaz only defends 45 percent of attempts against him, so chances are at some points, Miller will get the fight to the ground. Once there, he will not shy away from engaging with Diaz as some do. That should lead to some interesting ground scrambles and chain submission attempts as each works for a finish. It also should lead to some difficult-to-score rounds.That might come into play because in their 46 combined fights, the pair have only one loss that came via finish, and that was when Diaz was just 21 years old. That means a lot of exchanges, a lot of scrambles, and a lot of sequences where both men have their moments.So how does it ultimately play out? I see Diaz with a slight edge standing. For one thing, he trains with one of the best southpaw strikers in MMA, his brother Nick, every day, so he's not going to have a problem facing another lefty. We also know his conditioning will be off the charts. But things start getting hazier in the clinch and in the striking-to-wrestling transitions. Diaz's judo is usually good for a takedown or two per fight, but Miller is tenacious when he sets his mind to a takedown, and as we've seen with both Diaz brothers, they're often content to play guard and look for submissions from the bottom. Even though they are often attacking from there, if they ultimately don't get the tapout, judges tend to score it for the guy on top.Unlike other opponents, at least Miller isn't likely to lie there conservatively and take the points. He won't let the position go uncontested. If he works from the top, he'll look to inflict damage and finish. Miller does have aggressive ground and pound, which he often uses to set up submissions by creating openings. Ultimately, I don't think either man will get a finish. They're both just too tough and durable. That leaves us going five rounds, and while Diaz's stamina is without question, Miller has also never shown an issue in that regard, and given that he's more likely to score takedowns, and the fact that he'll be aggressive from the top, I'll pick Miller scraping by in a very close decision that finally satisfies the UFC on FOX viewers.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, fox, miller
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseApparently the Diaz brothers have a sister.
submitted by zyrumtumtugger [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: diaz, brother, diaz brothers, sister, zyrumtumtugger
Read the full article at RedditUFC On Fox 3 Fight Card Primer: Jim Miller Vs. Nate Diaz
In the main event of this weekend's UFC on Fox 3 show, Jim Miller (21-3; 10-2 UFC) faces Nate Diaz (15-7; 10-5 UFC) in a pivotal Lightweight match-up. The USA TODAY / MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings currently have Miller ranked at #5 in the Lightweight division and Diaz just below him at #7. The Fox card begins Saturday, May 5 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with prelims starting at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT on Fuel TV.
What was already an intriguing fight got a little more interesting this week. Dana White announced that, for Nate Diaz at least, a UFC Lightweight title shot is on the line here, as Diaz will move on to face the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson should he defeat Miller. For Miller, a win here will move him 1 or 2 fights away from that shot. Aside from those title implications, this is still a fascinating fight. You have the Diaz style boxing and Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu of Nate going up against the rugged grappling and submission game of Miller. It's a great clash that could play out in many ways.
How do these two stack up?
Miller: 28 years old | 5'8" | 71" reachDiaz: 27 years old | 6'0" | 76" reach
What have these two done recently?
Miller: W - Melvin Guillard (Sub) | L - Ben Henderson (UD) | W - Kamal Shalorus (TKO)Diaz: W - Donald Cerrone (UD) | W - Takanori Gomi (Sub) | L - Rory MacDonald (UD)
How did these two get here?
Just one year ago, Jim Miller was one fight away from a title shot. His impressive win streak brought him to a clash with Ben Henderson where a Miller win would likely launch him into #1 contender status. But Henderson upset Miller, eventually using that momentum to claim the belt himself. Miller has since bounced back with a big win over Guillard, but he's in a tough spot now. With Henderson currently holding the title, and Miller having such a definitive recent loss to him, you can see why a win here won't guarantee him a title shot this time. But if he keeps winning, that shot will become more and more difficult to deny.
Related: UFC On Fox 3: The Grappling Tendencies Of Jim Miller And Nate Diaz | UFC On Fox 3 Judo Chop: The Southpaw Striking Of Jim Miller
Nate Diaz is a former Ultimate Fighter winner who came into the UFC in 2007 with a very promising future. But after winning his first 4 straight, he ran into problems as a series of grinding wrestlers defeated him. Nate dropped 3 of his next 4 and decided to move up to Welterweight. There, he went 2-2 before dropping back down. He returned late last year with a win over Pride veteran Takanori Gomi, then a great win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 141. There's a bit of marketing at play in Diaz's proposed title shot here, as the Diaz name has been hot in the past year thanks to big brother Nick, but a win over Miller would indeed make him a viable contender.
Why should you care?
The title contention is one reason, but this is also just a great fight. I'm fascinated to see how each man approaches this, and could see it going down in so many ways. This has the potential to be a real classic.
More UFC on Fox 3 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
UFC on Fox 3: Diaz Vs. Miller - Rousimar Palhares Vs. Alan Belcher Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC On Fox 3 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC On Fox 3: The Grappling Tendencies Of Jim Miller And Nate Diaz - Ben Thapa
UFC On Fox 3 Staff Picks And Predictions - Tim Burke
UFC On Fox 3 Judo Chop: The Southpaw Striking Of Jim Miller - Fraser Coffeen
UFC On Fox 3: Diaz Vs. Miller - Pat Barry Vs. Lavar Johnson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC On Fox 3's Jim Miller: 'When I Get Hold Of Him, I'm Going To Be The Stronger Guy' - Steph Daniels
UFC On Fox 3 First Two Prelims Now On Facebook - Ben Thapa
UFC On Fox 3 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke
UFC On Fox 3: Diaz Vs. Miller - Fuel TV Prelims Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC On Fox 3: Danny Castillo Says He'd Rather Die Than Let His People Down - Steph Daniels
UFC On Fox 3: Full Card Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC On Fox 3 'Dark Matches' Dissection - Delorme Vs. Denis, Massenzio Vs. Vemola - Dallas Winston
UFC On Fox 3: Lack Of Star Power Will Test The UFC Brand - Fraser Coffeen
UFC On Fox 3: ESPN Will Not Show Event Live In UK - KJ Gould
UFC On Fox 3: Johny Hendricks Discusses Josh Koscheck, Koscheck Talks About Boxing - Tim Burke
UFC On Fox 3: Dana White Video Blog Number 2 - Tim Burke
UFC On Fox 3: Is Josh Koscheck Too Old To Beat Johny Hendricks? - Kid Nate
UFC On Fox 3: Dana White Video Blog Part 1 - Clowning On Faber - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on Fox 3: Diaz vs. Miller Discussion Thread [Spoilers]
Main Card Diaz vs Miller Koscheck vs Hendricks Palhares vs Belcher Barry vs Johnson Prelims Ferguson vs Johnson Dodson vs Elliott Hathaway vs Krauss Gaudinot vs Lineker Castillo vs Cholish Bermudez vs Garza Delorme vs Denis Massenzio vs Vemola submitted by butatwutcost [link] [5 comments]
Posted in: diaz, vs, miller, johnson, hathaway
Read the full article at RedditUFC on FOX 3 Live Results
Two of the sport’s most talented lightweights are set to scrap tonight inside the Octagon on a card featuring a number of other divisionally relevant match-ups. Were that not enough, the show is also free!
UFC on FOX 3 is headlined by Nate Diaz’s dance with Jim Miller as each 155er attempts to solidify his spot at the top of the organization’s contendership ladder. Diaz is coming off back-to-back wins over Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone, while Miller submitted Melvin Guillard in his last outing.
Other bouts on the main card include Rousimar Palhares-Alan Belcher, Pat Barry-Lavar Johnson, and Johny Hendricks-Josh Koscheck.
Miller Says Diaz is as Tough an Opponent as You’ll Find at 155 Pounds
Things kick off at 4:00 PM EST on Facebook before Fuel TV takes over at 5:00 PM EST, eventually throwing things to FOX at 8:00 PM EST. As always, Fighters.com will be watching throughout and reporting outcomes as they occur.
Read below for a full list of live results:
Karlos Vemola vs. Mike Massenzio
Roland Delorme vs. Nick Denis
Dennis Bermudez vs. Pablo Garza
John Cholish vs. Danny Castillo
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker
Pascal Krauss vs. John Hathaway
John Dodson vs. Tim Elliott
Michael Johnson vs. Tony Ferguson
Lavar Johnson vs. Pat Barry
Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: diaz, vs, miller, john, donald cerrone
Read the full article at Fighters.comBreaking It Down: UFC on FOX 3
Much like yesterday’s look at Bellator 67, a very much-abbreviated version of my breakdown accompanies the UFC on FOX 3 fights thanks to some technical difficulties on my end. I’m just going to throw down my picks and how I think they win. If you have any analysis, opinions, or anything to say, feel free to let loose in the Comments section.
Let’s just get right to it, shall we?
Mike Massenzio defeats Karlos Vemola via Unanimous Decision
Nick Denis defeats Roland Delorme via TKO Round 1
Dennis Bermudez defeats Pablo Garza via Unanimous Decision
Danny Castillo defeats John Cholish via Unanimous Decision
John Lineker defeats Louis Gaudinot via Knockout Round 1
Pascal Krauss defeats John Hathaway via TKO Round 2
John Dodson defeats Tim Elliott via Knockout Round 1
Tony Ferguson defeats Michael Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Lavar Johnson (16-5) vs. Pat Barry (7-4)
Johnson hasn’t been stopped since his professional debut but I think that streak will end tonight. It’s going to be a stand-up war and in such affairs I tend to go with the better striker who is undoubtedly “HD”. Truly, this will come down to which man lands the first punch since both are powerful dudes.
Winner – Pat Barry defeats Lavar Johnson via Knockout Round 1
Rousimar Palhares (14-3) vs. Alan Belcher (17-6)
Palhares is as one-dimensional as they come but damn is he good at his singular strategy! However, Belcher is a beast and has faced good BJJ guys before. As long as he can avoid Palhares’ leg-attack he should be able to pick him apart with strikes. Hell, even Dan Miller rocked Palhares, so Belcher should have no problem sealing the deal.
Winner – Alan Belcher defeats Rousimar Palhares via TKO Round 2
Josh Koscheck (17-5) vs. Johny Hendricks (12-1)
This fight is almost too close to call since both are similar in nature. Each has knockout power and a solid wrestling base. In fact I could even see a stalemate of sorts with the crowd raining down boos. Koscheck looked “suspect” (his word) against Mike Pierce in his last fight but I don’t think he’ll take any more risks tonight given Hendricks’ power.
Winner – Johny Hendricks defeats Josh Koscheck via Unanimous Decision
Nate Diaz (15-7) vs. Jim Miller (21-3)
Diaz has struggled against other guys built in the mold of Miller – a top notch grappler with a good chin and respectable boxing. I also think Miller has better cardio than Diaz when it comes to a fight. Diaz might have him in a triathlon but, as you all know, this is MMA. As such, I think Miller will capitalize on the holes in Diaz’s game and come away with a hard-fought decision win.
Winner – Jim Miller defeats Nate Diaz via Unanimous Decision
I’ll be back next week with some actual depth instead of just my picks. The fights go down tonight with the preliminary card airing on Facebook at 4:00 PM EST, Fuel TV at 5:00 PM EST, and the main card on FOX at 8:00 PM EST.
Enjoy the fights!
Posted in: diaz, round, decision, miller, defeat
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC on FOX 3 fight card: Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller fight prediction, preview and breakdown
Two rock-solid Lightweight fighters collide in the UFC on FOX 3 main event later this evening (May 5, 2012) at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., proving a vexing test of will for both Nate Diaz and Jim Miller.
In Diaz's case, he'll have a chance to showcase his ever-improving striking, which lit up and beat down the game but outmatched Donald Cerrone in December. It was a showcase performance for Nate, who really seems to be coming into his own with on-point boxing and a nimble sense of when to engage and when to evade.
Miller's impressive seven-fight win streak marked him as an elite contender, until he ran into Ben Henderson, whose bigger frame and punishing physicality delivered a vicious beating that left the scrappy Miller in rebuilding mode. After submitting the talented but inconsistent Melvin Guillard, Miller needs a victory to insert himself back into the conversation of who the top contenders really are.
Body types play a huge role in this match up, as Diaz' six-inch height and considerable reach advantage will force Miller's hand. Jim is a competent boxer but not in Diaz' class, especially with Nate's increased volume of late. Diaz, however, relies on the threat of his jiu-jitsu and stifling guard to discourage foes from taking him down and, hopefully, riding their way to a cautious but top-game-dominated decision. That's exactly how Miller overwhelms people, however, and the fact that he'll be giving away too many advantages on the feet forces his hand somewhat.
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on Fox 3 fight between Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller:
The Breakdown
Trying to match strikes with a Diaz on the feet often leaves foes looking like they're fighting underwater. The volume, pressure and constant ping-ponging of shots off your body leaves you a beat behind, bounced around like a pinball and forever unable to get untracked. Diaz' sharpshooter approach was brutally effective against Cerrone, a talented kickboxer himself. However, solid and submission-wary wrestlers have been able to exploit Diaz' modest takedown defense and work their way to decision wins, and Miller's definitely of the caliber to do it - at least against the less-developed version of Diaz that was ridden to defeats by the likes of Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson. Miller, however, is a pretty good blend of takedown artist and jiu-jitsu savvy, and if he gets in Diaz' tricky guard, he'll have to walk a fine line between working enough to justify the ref keeping it on the mat or risking sweeps or submission attempts that will allow Diaz to get back to the feet. It's a delicate balance, but Miller's talented enough to pull it off.
This is also a points-conscious fight for both, meaning it's not likely either guy has illusions about finishing. Diaz and Miller are two of the most durable and submission-proof guys in the game, with outstanding conditioning. The choice between the tactical move to definitely win a close round versus going for a riskier finish could definitely spell the difference in this fight.
The Pick
There is very little separating the top ten lightweights in the world, and Diaz and Miller are basically fighting for right to state a case that they belong in the top five. Nate's striking will set the tone early, but if Miller can stay low and steer clear of Diaz' high-output attack, and he can a shot to plant Nate on the mat and work to pile up points and build the perception that he's winning, even if it's isn't overwhelming.
However, there is something jarring about fighting a Diaz and there are very few safe places to be. On the ground, their masterful jiu-jitsu makes passing guard virtually impossible to sustain, and their rock-solid chin and tactical smarts rarely leave them in a disadvantageous position. It's also why they can strike with such confidence - they're not worried about being taken down and can let their hands go with impunity.
Miller's an incredibly hard worker but you get the feeling that he's playing right into Diaz' strengths. Nate will potshot him on the feet in the beginning of rounds and force Miller's hand, at which point Diaz will make him work harder than most might expect for takedowns, and Miller will be unable to definitely score or control Nate on the mat. Restarts will play a big part in this fight, and each time Diaz will resume piling up points with effective scoring, leaning and countering and mixing in shots from distance and good combinations. It won't be the kind of sustained beating Cerrone took, as Donald never really threatened with takedowns, and Miller virtually has to have any hope of winning. But it will be enough for Diaz to score effectively and sway the judges to walk about with an entertaining and competitive split decision on the cards.
Diaz via split decision
Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC on Fox 3 results of all the "Diaz vs. Miller" action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FUEL TV "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the FOX broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 4 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Sunday morning.
See you later!
Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst or jasonprobst@gmail.com
Posted in: fight, diaz, fox, miller, nate
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On Fox 3: Nate Diaz Vs. Jim Miller Dissection
For tonight's featured attraction of the UFC on Fox 3 show, we have a battle of polar opposites. Nate Diaz and Jim Miller are both legit strikers and BJJ black belts, but the likenesses pretty much stop there.
Duress from his coach and teammates was the only reason the humble Jim Miller (21-3) ever asked for a title shot. And why wouldn't he? He was on a 7-fight win streak in one the UFC's most stacked divisions and has only lost by decision to former #1 contender Gray Maynard and current lightweight champion Benson Henderson throughout his 12 Octagon performances. Miller seemed embarrassed at taking even the slightest step toward acknowledging his accomplishments and his sheepish post-fight request for a title shot was genuinely polite -- which is far from the standard in MMA. Miller is a blue-collar workhorse who always shows respect to his opponents and does all his talking in the cage.
Nate Diaz (15-7), however, would fight the champion of any organization, in any weight class, tonight -- for free, in his backyard or outside in the parking lot. The mere potential of engaging in hand-to-hand combat with another human being would utterly insult, offend and enrage him, and errant middle fingers and malicious sneers would surely follow. Sure, he'd love to have a UFC championship belt, but I have a hunch he'd value being equipped with his nunchaku in the event of a playful, brotherly ambush just as much.
More UFC on Fox 3 Dissections
Koscheck vs. Hendricks | Palhares vs. Belcher | Barry vs. Johnson Fuel TV Undercard | Facebook Undercard
In addition to the personality clash, Diaz is a tall (6'0") and lanky (76" reach) lightweight driven by pure offense, which is transmitted through distinctly unorthodox and aggressive boxing, fluidly effective sweeps and submissions and -- when forced -- a serviceable Judo acumen in the clinch. Miller has more of a compact stature (5'8", 71" reach) who intelligently draws upon his bulletproof 3-dimensional arsenal (striking, wrestling, BJJ black belt) to implement whatever attribute is most appropriate.
The timeless outlook for a well-rounded mixed martial artist is selecting the most effective tools to exploit weaknesses. Broad diversity is also accompanied by the concern of whether that particular fighter's more extensive arsenal of good weapons can be applied to unhinge a narrower arsenal of great weapons. The rap sheet on Diaz has always reflected that a stand-up shootout is something to avoid and a clinch- or grappling-based strategy can pay dividends ... as long as it's conjoined with high-level submission defense.
Therefore, the straightforward question is whether Miller can replicate the takedown-heavy performance of monstrous lightweight and standout wrestler Gray Maynard or the deceivingly powerful onslaught of top welterweight Rory MacDonald. With wrestling emerging as a critical avenue for Miller, when compared to those two fighters, the salient differences are height/length and pure wrestling voracity. The size-factor is an indisputable statistic and, while Miller is no slouch of a wrestler by any means, I'm not sure we can place him on the same pedestal as Maynard or MacDonald.
Complete analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
On one hand, it seems a little too convenient to write Diaz off anytime he's matched with a serviceable takedown artist. Conversely, one could counter by citing his struggles with Joe Stevenson and Dong Hyun Kim, who are immensely talented but not quite as hefty or domineering as Maynard and MacDonald.
Diaz is phenomenal at capitalizing on his length in the striking department, but has struggled to translate that length into extra leverage on the defensive end. Though lacking brute strength, a wiry athlete with stretchy proportions can impose massive leverage in several scenarios, just like Rafael Cavalcante did with his clinch-work against Muhammed Lawal or light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones does with his devastating clinch takedowns.
Traditionally, Diaz's length magnifies his unique striking but seems to work against him when shucking off grapplers. Adopting technical footwork to keep him out of the spots where he's forced to rely on physical attributes would be an integral complement, but he hasn't excelled there either, thus the ease with which Donald Cerrone up-ended him with chopping kicks or the way his extended and heavy lead-legged stance is susceptible to low singles and ankle picks.
The unending forward movement and constant pressure of Diaz has made him a fan favorite but stands as a strategic flaw against opponents who endeavor to get inside and attack from phone-booth range, as Miller certainly will. In the past, Miller has never forced takedowns and has been confident enough in his striking to await the right opportunity. Against Diaz, he might not be afforded that luxury. While the tendencies noted above highlight some potential opportunities for Miller, Diaz will be pouring it on with strikes and has an unparalleled knack for dominating the tempo on the feet and disrupting his opponent's.
Most of Miller's takedown defense are set up pretty well, but initiated in straight lines rather than angles. While that doesn't mean he won't be successful, it does reduce his ability to fully exploit some of Diaz's flaws. Miller isn't entirely experienced against exceptionally tall adversaries nor southpaws like Diaz either. And let's not forget -- Nate is a black belt of the highest degree on the mat, so it's not a cakewalk for Miller if he can secure a takedown and it's no easy task to keep Diaz down.
Should they become entangled, Miller has excellent scrambling. This is where his explosiveness and compact frame work well, as he's a frenetic scrambler who typically passes to a better position before his opponent can react. Nate is an adept scrambler as well, but his real bread and butter is the virtual library of smooth sweeps and submission opportunities he creates with his active hips. Once firmly planted on the ground, Miller is far from an idle top player and prefers activity over control. This trait benefits Diaz, who is a nightmare to hold down and preys on his opponent's activity with counter-sweeps and escapes.
I'll conclude with a summary of the match up based on the dynamics within the Three Phases of Combat.
Free-Movement Phase: Clearly Diaz. He's at his best when peppering with high-volume combinations and moving of his own volition. Since every fight starts standing, Miller will be tasked with forcing the action to a different phase or dueling in Diaz's realm of specialty.
Clinch Phase: Miller, though not by a landslide. Most of Diaz's takedown susceptibility comes from outside takedowns that bypass the clinch and go directly from the free-movement phase to grappling. He's capable with trips, throws and Thai knees in the clinch, but tends to allow himself to be pressed against the fence too easily and often. How frequently and efficiently Miller can initiate the clinch is probably the most pivotal factor, as it keeps him out of Diaz's preferred range and one step closer to his. If he struggles to clinch, he's once again relegated to tactics from outside, and shooting doubles or striking on the fringe with Diaz is not ideal.
Grappling Phase: It seems as if, if the fight hits the ground, chances are that Miller will be on top. As much as I hate to admit it, the judges have historically scored this as winning (regardless of the specifics). Diaz has one of the most active guards in the sport along with a cunning set of sweeps but, barring a submission or an escape, the grappling portion leans toward Miller.
Even though Miller gets the nod in 2/3 of the categories, he's faced with breaking out of the single phase where Diaz has the advantage and keeping him there. Regardless, Miller comes in as a substantial favorite in the -220 department and there is plenty of evidence to support it. My prediction is based more on instinct and preference than strictly logic, so I'm taking a chance that Diaz can defy the odds and pull out an entertaining win.
My Prediction: Nate Diaz by decision.
Poll
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Diaz
Miller
25 votes | Results
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate, he, phase
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 3 fight card: Predictions, preview and a complete guide to 'Diaz vs Miller' in New Jersey
For fans of mixed martial arts, this past week has been a slow crawl of steadily rising anticipation for tonight's "Diaz vs. Miller" event, going down at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
UFC on Fox 3 will feature a lightweight title eliminator bout pitting Stockton bad boy Nate Diaz against 155-pound wrecking ball and perennial top contender Jim Miller.
In the co-main event, Johny Hendricks will seek to cement his name amongst the welterweight elite when he battles former title challenger Josh Koscheck. Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson and Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher are also slated to air on network television.
It's been a flurry of non-stop news, analysis, quotes, predictions and previews for the past week and it's certainly understandable if you missed out on a few stories.
But don't worry, Maniacs, we've got you covered.
In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines heading into tonight's broadcast.
In we go:
UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller"
Fight card and line-up
Results and live fight coverage
UFC on FOX 3 predictions and previews:
Predictions from the myth himself, Nostradumbass
Prelims preview and predictions part one
Prelims preview and predictions part two
Fight preview: Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher
Fight preview: Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks
Fight preview: Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
UFC on FOX 3 press conferences:
Pre-fight press conference
Press conference video
Press conference staredown pics
UFC on FOX 3 weigh-ins:
Weigh-in results
Weigh-in video
Weigh-in staredown pics
Weigh-in photos gallery
UFC on FOX 3 news:
Event poster
Conference call
Open workouts photos gallery
Latest odds and betting guide
Beermania: UFC on FOX 3 edition
Exclusive interview with Jim Miller
Exclusive interview with Johny Hendricks
Exclusive interview with Pascal Krauss
UFC on FOX 3 editorials:
History in the Making: Jim Miller outgrapples Charles Oliveira at UFC 124
History in the Making: Josh Koscheck pushes Matt Hughes closer to retirement at UFC 135
Jim Miller isn't looking past Nick Diaz but he expects a title shot with a win
Dana White confirms title shots on the line for Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks
An excited Johny Hendricks just can't wait to hit Josh Koscheck
Josh Koscheck has some of the best footwork in MMA
Johny Hendricks will let his fists do the bashing against Josh Koscheck
Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks is not going to be a boring wrestling match
Alan Belcher says Rousimar Palhares will go for his legs but they won't be there
UFC on FOX 3 videos:
Dana White video blog episode one
Dana White video blog episode two
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller predictions with the pros
The stars of UFC on FOX 3 get roasted
The Nate Diaz story
Jim Miller brews beer in his driveway
Josh Koscheck calls out 'retards' who think he's too old to fight
UFC on FUEL TV presents Josh Koscheck's crib
That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being.
What's been the biggest storyline heading into this event? The potential title shots awaiting Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks? The seeming lack of hype for the event thanks to Floyd Mayweather? Something else?
Enjoy the show, Maniacs.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Face-Off – UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller
The Face-Off is back for UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller as HeavyMMA's Duane Finley and Nate Lawson predict Saturday's main event between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller.
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate diaz, nate lawson, faceoff
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC on FOX 3 Fight Card: What's at Stake?
What does the UFC hope to get out of tonight's event? UFC President Dana White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta always publicly state they went each of their events and the subsequent results to play out organically. Whatever cards their dealt, that's the hand they'll play. Clearly nothing is rigged, but the UFC has the advantage of stacking the deck on some level. They sign the fighters and they create the match-ups.
In their third outing on FOX, UFC has clearly created a card designed to deliver on what the first two UFC on FOX events lacked: action. To do that, they've substituted out a strong measure of star power (by casual fan standards) for fighters who deliver on aggressive offense. In terms of star attractions, this card was booked as something more than a UFC on FX event, but less than a typical pay-per-view.
The first outing on FOX was special for its historical gravity and the battle of the heavyweight championship. Still, the action lasted all of 64 seconds. The second outing didn't put as much up for grabs, but expanded the fight card to three bouts. The action was definitely better (certainly longer), but still didn't have the 'wow' moments most of the MMA initiated are accustomed to witnessing. It's true this third outing on Fox is an attempt to set up future pay-per-view bouts and attractions. But one of the most important considerations is representing MMA on network television as faithfully as it actually can be when it's fun and exciting. I tend to believe engineering for action in MMA is often a fool's errand, but there's admittedly good reason to believe if nothing else, tonight's fights will deliver on those terms.
All of this, though, is discussion about what's riding on tonight's card. What about the actual fights themselves? A card's importance and value is partly a function of the importance of each particular fight. With that, let's take a closer look at the bouts on the main card to see what's truly at stake at the Izod Center tonight.
Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz
At stake: stepping out of the shadows. A lot rides on this fight for Miller. He won't get a title shot if he wins - nor should he - but obviously a win over a competitor like Diaz is huge. Still, Miller seems like a candidate who will have the ability to float at the top of this division for some time. How high? No one knows for sure, but he's so talented and such a ferocious competitor he'll seemingly be in fights of significance for the foreseeable future. And if he's going to eventually contend for a title, he's going to have to win beyond tonight's contest.
The real focus is on Diaz. With his brother on ice and locked in a legal battle with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the younger Diaz has a monstrous opportunity this evening. A win not only earns him a title shot, but it finally puts him past the tipping point where his identity is no longer viewed as a facsimile of his older, more famous brother's. A convincing win against Miller and eventual title shot foists the younger Diaz in a position where he isn't compared to Nick or what Nick's done or how Nick fights. Yes, their fighting styles are similar and their brotherly bond is tight. Nate Diaz won't be able to ever fully escape how his brother's life, career and style define his own.
It's also certainly not the worst fate to have one's career and abilities compared to Nick Diaz, but it's also probably not exactly fair either. Nate isn't Nick and he deserves to have his story told without it being a function of what Nick has or hasn't done. Nate merits his own spotlight for his own achievements in his own fights against opponents that were solely his. Nick Diaz is arguably the most important influence in Nate's very participation and success in MMA, but that doesn't demand we only consider Nate's existence and achievements through that prism. He's his own man on his own path. A win tonight pushes him along on that trajectory more than any other to date.
Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks
At stake: fulfilling the promise of potential. The world has been waiting for Hendricks to arrive. The question is whether this is his coming out party as the welterweight division's next big standout. Koscheck's career obviously matters, too, but he's not on a contendership track at the moment. The real eyes of the fight world tonight are on his opponent.
A two-time (nearly three) Division I NCAA wrestling champion out of Oklahoma State and absolute villain in collegiate wrestling, Hendricks' maturation into full-fledged welterweight contender has been a very slow simmer and something of an uncertainty. Many expected him, perhaps unfairly, to have a much more rapid ascension in MMA. As reality set it he wasn't going to steamroll his fellow welterweights, many insiders were unsure of whether Hendricks would ever even reach the point he has today. He's defeated everyone he was expected to, squeaked by the ultra-tough Mike Pierce and defeated perennial number two contender Jon Fitch. The problem, though, is that he beat Fitch in a way that doesn't tell us anything other than Hendricks has potent power punching (something we already saw in his win against Amir Sadollah). If he's really got the stuff to compete at the upper echelon of the division, he'll need to show it over the course of a round or two.
Some have focused on the fact this is the first time two NCAA national champions have faced one another, but that's more a historical footnote or piece of trivia. The real issue is whether or not Hendricks can hang with the elite of the division. If he can, he'll get a title shot against whoever the UFC welterweight champion is at that time. If Hendricks is going to make a name for himself in the fight game, tonight is the night to do it.
Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher
At stake: limbs and signature wins. In any fight with Palhares, life may not be at risk as such, but limb certainly is. Let's acknowledge that right up front. You don't win a silver medal at ADCC (losing only to Andre Galvao on points) by heel hooking your opposition without a) being a serious grappling talent and b) having a particular subset of skills that even world-class black belts find difficulty handling. In the MMA context, a bout with Palhares is as close to playing Russian Roulette with ACLs and MCLs as one can possibly get.
The more important consideration for this bout, however, is what a win here means for either Belcher or Palhares. In short, this would be something of a signature win for either combatant. A win here does more for either fighter than any previous win they've had in the UFC. Palhares has nice wins over Dan Miller and Jeremy Horn, but fell short against Dan Henderson and Nate Marquardt. Belcher has good wins over Denis Kang and Patrick Cote, but fell short against Yoshihiro Akiyama, Jason Day and Kendall Grove.
Perhaps most importantly, a win here unequivocally pushes the winner into the middleweight top ten. This is a fight that could serve as an inflection point for either fighter's contendership status. I know we are all focused on the absurdity and chaos that could ensue here, but this is a bout with serious upside for the winner.
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
At stake: cognitive functioning. I've talked to Barry multiple times and while I'm certain he'd love to work his way up to a UFC heavyweight title shot, I'm also fairly certain he believes that's probably a remote possibility. I'm also reasonably confident he's at peace with that. What he wants to do is fight for a living. There are some terms under which he'd like to fight, namely, for decent pay and against tough opposition. Given his penchant for the knockout and his previous statements virtually everyone in the UFC heavyweight division is either scary or huge or much bigger than him, I'd call him satisfied.
A win over Johnson certainly moves him up the ladder, but not in any hugely meaningful way. Barry is 4-4 in his UFC career. His role, by and large, is to serve as something of a litmus test for UFC heavyweight division entrants while fighting with a very fan-friendly style typically against other fighters with fan-friendly styles. Johnson is arguably in the same predicament. These fighters deserve to be in the UFC heavyweight division, but this bout is mostly about two rams butting heads on a hill top. It's action for action's sake and as long as we understand this bout on those terms, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, bout, division
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on Fox 3: No longer just Nick Diaz's little brother, Nate Diaz looks to become his own man
Nate Diaz wouldn't be fighting tonight (May 5) in New Jersey if not for older brother Nick.
When Nick Diaz began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) to avoid the rough and tumble gang life many youths in Stockton find themselves in, Nate followed him.
When Nick decided to parlay his training into a career in mixed martial arts (MMA), it wasn't too long after Nate was also making his cagefighting debut.
Even after the former Strikeforce champion discovered and fell in love with triathlons, an activity to keep him occupied and fit in between bouts, Nate sure enough grabbed some goggles, a bike and a pair of New Balance sneakers.
It's safe to say Nate idolizes his older brother. In a world he feels is always against him, in a world full of chaos and uncertainty, Nick is his only constant. Nick was, is and will always be there for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight.
Despite this, Nate has been living -- and fighting -- in Nick's shadow for the entirety of his career. It's not hard to believe when one considers Nick made his Octagon debut at 20 years of age, his penchant for trash talking before, during and after a fight, his highly publicized suspensions for marijuana use and his seemingly inability to have a boring fight. Nick, for as much as he shies away from it, always finds himself in the spotlight.
But tonight comes Nate's opportunity to step out of his older brother's shadow.
At UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller," Nate can become his own man.
With a win over Jim Miller, Nate will secure a lightweight title shot against either current champion Ben Henderson or the man "Smooth" usurped, Frankie Edgar. While Nick is already a former Strikeforce champion and got a crack at UFC gold when he faced off against Carlos Condit at UFC 143, a chance for Nate to contend for the lightweight strap would do a lot to shed him of the stigma he's not as good a fighter as his older brother.
Despite winning the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), the talent-rich 155-pound installment which restarted the division, Nate's always been viewed of as a lesser version of Nick. They share the same strengths -- excellent boxing and BJJ -- and are both prone to get manhandled on the canvas by any wrestler worth their salt. They look, talk and fight alike except Nick seemed to just be better at all of it.
With the welterweight brother apparently retired following his loss to Condit, Nate remains a mixed martial artist, ready to carry the Diaz banner into the Octagon. He holds an 8-3 record at lightweight in the UFC including his two most recent victories against former lightweight kingpin Takanori Gomi and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) standout Donald Cerrone.
While the way he disposed of "The Fireball Kid" was impressive, it was Diaz's performance against "Cowboy" at UFC 141, which opened eyes.
Many expected the bout to tear the roof off the MGM Grand Garden Arena and while it was a spirited affair and won Fight of the Night honors, Diaz dominated his opponent from bell to bell and put an abrupt halt to Cerrone's six fight win streak.
It's the type of performance Diaz needs tonight if he hopes to defeat Miller, who has only been stopped short by future champions and title contenders. Can Diaz fit that description and fight for the title? Can he win it?
Can the TUF 5 winner finally become his own man, apart from his older brother and his many accomplishments?
It all depends on tonight.
How the MMA history books will look back at Nate Diaz all depends on tonight.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, nate, brother
Read the full article at MMA Mania
UFC On Fox 3: Head Kick Legend Main Card Predictions
UFC on FOX 3: Miller Vs. Diaz
Jim Miller vs. Nate DiazChris - Riding a two-fight win streak with impressive performances over Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone, Nate Diaz is looking good going into this event. But I think this is going to be the end of his title run. Although he a very talented submission grappler, Diaz prefers to frustrate his competition through his high volume striking. I don’t expect Jim Miller to oblige him on that front at all. Because of his confidence in his Jiu Jitsu, Diaz has no problem giving up the takedown that Miller is going to be looking for. Once it hits the mat, I expect a similar fight to when Diaz fought Dong Hyun Kim. Miller probably won’t allow Nate to catch him in a submission, but Diaz won’t let himself be dominated on the ground like Melvin Guillard. Jim Miller by Unanimous DecisionPatrick - Miller will be facing a five-inch disadvantage in height and reach, and that disparity combines with Diaz’s volume striking and Miller’s own boxing-centric style to create a bad matchup on the feet for the New Jersey native. If the fight stays there for any amount of time, Miller will be in trouble, and things don’t get any better for him once he gets into the clinch. Miller possesses a great arsenal of knees and solid takedowns from the clinch, but one of the most overlooked aspects of Nate’s game is his ability to fight in tight; everyone expected Cerrone to dominate him there, but Nate significantly outlanded both Cerrone and Dong Hyun Kim (a nasty clinch fighter himself) in that phase. On the ground, things get interesting. Miller’s aggressive guard passes and submission game present a fascinating matchup with Diaz’s excellent guard and ability to attack from his back. If anything, though, I’d call it a wash. I think Diaz takes this one in a wild firefight on the feet, with some brief, inconclusive, and entertaining scrambles on the ground. Miller is tougher than a coffin nail, so Diaz by Unanimous Decision.Cory - It’s incredibly rare that either of the Diaz brothers are in boring fight, so I’m very much looking forward to this. I do have a bit of a rooting interest, as Jim Miller is also from New Jersey and both Diaz brothers wear the black hat fairly well. Both of these guys have great cardio, and if Miller were more adept on his feet, I wouldn’t have been surprised if this went the way of Carlos Condit when he went against Nick. He isn’t however, he’s a wrestler. And until I see EITHER of the Diaz brothers go out and actually beat a wrestler, I’m not picking against one. This should be a great ground battle, but I’m going with Miller - Decision.Elliot - Nate looked amazing in his fight with Cerrone- the accuracy he displayed with his punching combinations was very impressive; however, I think that Cerrone really gave away that fight, by just standing in front of Diaz and thinking that his Muay Thai based attack would prevail. Jim Miller will have no such illusions, and has the takedowns, top control, stamina, and toughness to execute the same strategy behind every loss in Nate’s UFC career, and pretty much every single one of Miller’s wins. I simply cannot ignore history. Miller UDEarl - I have gone back and forth on this fight damn near half a dozen times in the last couple weeks. At first I thought it was all Diaz peppering him from range. Then I thought Miller would grind him out on the mat while dodging sub attempts for the duration of the fight. Now I just don’t know at all. I doubt there is a finish in this fight as both guys are tough as hell. This fight will be awesome and I will officially go with Jim Miller via UD. Josh Koscheck vs. Johny HendricksChris - This fight is either going to be a lot of fun or very very ugly. Right now, everyone is very high on Hendricks following his 12 second KO of perennial number 2 Jon Fitch. That was very impressive, but I’m hesitant to forget how Rick Story was able to frustrate and stifle Hendricks against the cage. Although Koscheck has shown a love of his "ever evolving" striking skills, he also proved against Paul Daley that he’s not above grinding out a win when he needs it. That said, both Paulo Thiago and Thiago Alves were able to find Kos’s chin and I expect Hendricks to be able to do the same. Hendricks by KO, Round 1Patrick - Koscheck is one of the most overrated fighters in the UFC. He lands an exceptionally low volume of strikes, isn’t particularly accurate, and has bad timing, so his legitimate power is hamstrung by his lack of technical proficiency; his takedown game relies heavily on his athleticism-powered double leg. Okay, so maybe that was a little negative: he’s a legitimate gatekeeper to the top five. Hendricks, I would argue, belongs in that top five. He’s had the benefit of fantastic coaching since he first got into MMA, and possesses both the athleticism and the strong wrestling base necessary to excel at 170 in the UFC. Like his fellow fast-riser Jake Ellenberger, Hendricks has absolutely vicious power in his hands, and like Ellenberger he has solid (and improving) technical ability. If we were going to see Josh Koscheck, competent kickboxer, we would’ve seen it a long time ago. Hendricks by KO, Round 1.Cory - Speaking of black hats, hello, Mr. Koscheck. I had the good fortune to be right up next to Kos a couple months ago, and the impression I got was someone who was mad at the world. I think Josh is that type of guy with an eternal chip on his shoulder, but that doesn’t always translate well to his fights. His fights against Georges St. Pierre and Paulo Thiago showed how that chip could work against him - he didn’t alter his gameplan when GSP figured out his and he had a poor one to begin with against PT. I’d love to see Hendricks make a huge statement, but I think this will be mostly a slogger, as both dudes are hard to put away. Hendricks - DecisionElliot - Unlike many people, I like Koscheck. He’s rarely in a boring fight; although his chances of ever getting the belt are slim, and his skills seem to be declining (either due to age or stubbornness), he is still a handful for anyone. Hendricks is a super talented athlete, with insatiable aggression, gnarly punching power, and the well rounded skill set to deal with most threats. I think Kos has a hell of a time getting Hendricks on his back if he wants it there, and with how much Josh likes to hunt for the KO, I think Johnny will start running away towards a decision by simply following the Xtreme Couture mission statement of just beating the opponent up. As much as I’d like to say Hendricks by form of (T)KO, I will go with a Hendricks Decision.
Earl - Josh Koscheck is still reacting horribly to strikes ever since GSP jabbed his eye into a living death. Seriously, he makes Brock Lesnar look well composed under fire. He was mentally rattled by strikes from both Matt Hughes and Mike Pierce. Johny Hendricks has stupid power in his hands (especially the left) and the wrestling to dictate where the fight goes. Hendricks will make Kos panic in the stand up and "Big Rig" will not let him off the hook. Johny Hendricks, KO, Round 2.
Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan BelcherChris - This fight has been a tossup in my mind since it was announced. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Paul Harris and have been enjoying that bandwagon for a long time now. But I don’t usually sacrifice my picks for fandom. Alan Belcher is a talented MW and his skills should be respect when considering this fight. He’s an effective and creative striker who can cause serious problems for most of his opponents. However, I like Toquinho in this one. His striking has improved enough that I don’t think he’ll get caught by Belcher. On top of that, Belcher has shown an historical weakness in his takedown defense and submission defense. That leaves a lot of options for an incredible talented and ferocious grappler like Rousimar. Palhares by Submission, Round 1.Patrick - Palhares is a bit overhyped at the moment, and I think most of the top dogs in the UFC (Anderson, Munoz, Weidman, Lombard, and probably Vitor) would handily beat him. With that said, Belcher doesn’t belong among that group. He’s very athletic and has pretty awesome offensive Muay Thai, along with a tricky guard. On the downside, however, he’s eminently hittable and has pretty mediocre takedown defense (he’s been taken down by such wrestling luminaries as Patrick Cote, Kalib Starnes, and Denis Kang), and has been put in bad positions on the ground in the past. Moreover, against as exceptional a submission grappler as Toquinho, Belcher’s active guard is actually a negative, since it produces additional openings and space through which Palhares can work his guard passes. I expect Toquinho to get Belcher to the ground and take the limb of his choice home as a trophy. Palhares by Submission, Round 1.Cory - When Paul Harris doesn’t go full Tropic Thunder, he tends to win and in devastating fashion. Belcher is slick and a solid all-around fighter, but I don’t think he has what it takes to get through 15 minutes without Toquinho wrapping ahold of a limb and eating it. Palhares - SubmissionElliot- This is a really hard fight for me to pick, mainly because you just don’t know which version of either guy you’ll get; are we getting the Alan Belcher who is easily overwhelmed? Will Palhares have another hilariously awkward communication breakdown with the ref, and miss a chance to close out the fight (Dan Miller fight), or get finished in the confusion (Marquardt fight)? Rousi seems to have a solid beard, and has developed his striking to a point where he won’t be guaranteed to get KTFO for the stretches of this bout spent standing; the same could be said of Belcher, who has displayed some really solid grappling as of late. As reluctant as I am to put my foot in my mouth, I will go ahead and trust in Belcher to avoid the extremely obvious submission en route to a decision win.Earl - Everyone knows what Tree Stump is going to try to do here. Patrick nailed it. All that Belcher can hope for is that Palhares goes for his left arm and takes that Johnny Cash tattoo clean off Alan’s body. This would give him a nice, fresh start. Might I suggest a tattoo of hologram 2Pac. Toquinho via dismemberment in the first. Pat Barry vs. Lavar JohnsonChris - I’ve been a huge Pat Barry fan since I first saw his leg kick TKO over Dan Evenson. That is truly an incredible accomplishment at any level in the UFC. The power he has in his kicks is a huge advantage in every one of his fights. As far as Lavar Johnson is concerned, his knockout win against The Mexecutioner is nothing short of amazing. Beltran is well known as being able to absorb an incredible amount of punishment and brawl through it all. Johnson shut that down in the first round. However, I don’t think he’ll be able to take advantage of his most effective strike in that fight - the jab. He made great use of the jab against Beltran early and often, but he had to put a lot of weight on his lead leg to do it as well as put it way out front. Barry is used to fighting much bigger fighters and should have no trouble dealing with that. I expect this fight to look a lot like Barry vs. Beltran. Pat Barry by Unanimous Decision.Patrick - If you’re a gambler, there’s probably value on Johnson right now: he’s at about +165, and all of the late money is coming in on him. This is a really tough fight to pick: Barry’s technical kickboxing is legit, and Johnson has great power. Then again, so does Barry, and he has a substantial track record suggesting that he’s fast enough to get inside on much longer and taller fighters. Johnson’s never been knocked out, but Barry will get to that chin. Barry by KO, Round 2.Cory - I can see this fight going either way. Both dudes hit very hard, and both have avenues to win. Barry is more technical and has a wider arsenal that Johnson, who is also somewhat slow and dare I say it, a bit plodding. I say Barry - Late KOElliot - Another hard fight to predict... both men have iffy stamina, questionable submission wherewithal, and pack absolute dynamite in their strikes. Part of me thinks that Lavar’s significant reach and size advantage will be very hard for Barry to overcome at range, with Lavar’s telephone pole jab, and especially in the clinch (where Beltran had the most success against Barry) if ‘Big’ Johnson runs Pat into the fence, leans on him, and grinds him down with dirty boxing and clinch knees/ bows. Hell - Lavar can be nasty on top, so Barry had better be on point with his takedown D on Saturday. Really, Pat "The Pizza Man" Barry’s best chance is to stay outside of Lavar’s range, explode inside and unload with crisp punch + kick combos, and hope to be able to keep that up until the final bell or a (T)KO. I don’t trust the inconsistent Barry to be able to do this, and will go with Lavar Johnson via decision (or perhaps a late (T)KO).Earl - A lot has been made of Lavar’s size, reach and power as significant advantages for him. Pat Barry is always undersized and facing a disparity in reach. That didn’t stop him from lighting up Kongo, Hardonk, Cro Cop, Hague and Evensen. I think the keys to this fight are Pat’s lightning quick jab and sledgehammer leg kicks. "Big" Johnson has a little gas tank and those kicks are going to make him desperate and give Pat all the openings he needs. Pat Barry, TKO, Round 2.
Posted in: fight, diaz, miller, barry, hendrick
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendUFC on FOX 3: Nate Diaz chokes out Jim Miller in the main event
Nate Diaz moved one step closer to a shot at the UFC Lightweight title, thanks to an impressive submission victory over Jim Miller in the main event of UFC on FOX 3.
Diaz translated his height advantage into physical superiority, dominating Jim Miller from the very first seconds of the fight. Cesar Gracie product's stand up skills proved to be too much for Jim Miller, who was unable to execute his gameplan.
Miller did his best to fight back as a counter striker, but it was all Nate Diaz at the IZOD Center
Posted in: diaz, miller, jim, jim miller, gameplan miller
Read the full article at Low KickUFC On Fox 3 Video: Nate Diaz, Jim Miller Show Different Approaches
UFC Lightweights Nate Diaz and Jim Miller headline tonight's UFC on Fox 3 from Atlantic City, New Jersey. Californian Nate Diaz may or may not be fighting for a title shot, but the local hero Jim Miller can only aspire to a spoiler's role. That's a situation rife with dramatic possibility but I think some of that is lost on the fighters who are pre-occupied with concentrating on the very real physical dangers presented by their opponent.
Fuel TV's Ariel Helwani spoke to Diaz and Miller and the contrast couldn't be more striking. The laconic Diaz could only mutter, "I don't hate everybody," before giving up on his answer to a question long forgotten. Diaz emphasized his hard training and shrugged that the likeable Miller was between him and his goals.
He did perk up when Helwani asked if he liked being the out-of-town fighter going up against the local star. Diaz was clear that he'd rather be at home. He also promised to represent "the 209" aka Stockton, California.
By contrast to Diaz', the focused Miller is all game plan and talk about blitzing Diaz and imposing his game on the lanky Diaz. Miller knows that if he lays back and plays Diaz' game, he'll end up eating a lot of punches. He's looking to grind it out and dominate Diaz in close and on the ground.
Videos after the jump...SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
Posted in: ufc, diaz, miller, game, laconic diaz
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNate’s Great in Sub of Miller - UFC on FOX 3 Main Card Results
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, May 5 – The rise of Nate Diaz continued in the main event of UFC on FOX 3 at IZOD Center Saturday night, as the ever improving Californian systematically broke down fellow lightweight contender Jim Miller before submitting the local hero in the second round to earn his third consecutive victory.Miller stayed busy as he closed the distance on Diaz, pinning him against the fence as the two traded knees. After breaking, Diaz tried to establish his long-range striking attack, but Miller’s kicks to the legs kept him from getting into a rhythm, prompting another clinch against the fence. As the two jockeyed for position, Diaz was able to get some knees off before separating, and he finally began to find his range in the final minute, dropping Miller with a quick left to the head. As Diaz looked to capitalize, Miller reversed effectively, but it was Diaz on top at the bell.Diaz opted for more close quarters action in the early stages of round two, perhaps looking to tire Miller out for the later rounds. Diaz was starting to mix his attacks up nicely, bloodying Miller’s nose and beginning to taunt his foe, with each drop of his hands bringing an immediate response from the New Jersey favorite. With less than two minutes left, Diaz continued to do good work both in the inside and outside, and Miller looked to be getting desperate in an effort order to turn things around. That outlook played right into Diaz’ hands, as a takedown attempt allowed the Stockton native to sink in a guillotine choke. Moments later, despite a solid effort from Miller to break free, Diaz got the tap out at the 4:09 mark, bringing his pro record to 16-7. Miller falls to 21-4.HENDRICKS vs. KOSCHECKThe first bout in UFC history pitting two former NCAA Division I national wrestling champions against each other was primarily a striking match, and it was the standup game that allowed Johny Hendricks to eke out a close three round split decision over former welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck.Scores were 29-28 twice, and 28-29 for Hendricks, a two-time NCAA champ for Oklahoma State who ups his record to 13-1. Koscheck, a NCAA titleholder for Edinboro University, falls to 19-6.Koscheck came out firing kicks at Hendricks, who answered with one of his own before trying to land his big left hand. Koscheck got more comfortable as the round progressed, pinning Hendricks to the fence as he reeled off a series of right hands. Hendricks took the shots with little difficulty, and midway through the round he looked for a takedown, but was rebuffed. After the two were restarted by referee Kevin Mulhall, both got off solid shots at each other, and Koscheck again opened up as Hendricks got stuck with his back to the fence, finishing the round with a flourish thanks to a spinning back fist just before the bell.Hendricks fired off wild left hands to open the second round, missing all of them. A few moments later he repeated the barrage with the same result, and as he shot for a takedown, Koscheck turned him back and instead took his opponent’s back as the bout hit the mat. The two rose quickly, and Hendricks again shot, this time getting Koscheck to a knee against the fence. Koscheck rose to his feet with Hendricks holding on, and with a little over two minutes left, Mulhall restarted the action. Hendricks was finally starting to get his range with the left hand in the latter part of the round, and Koscheck’s right eye was beginning to show it.The action slowed in the opening minute of the final round, but after a restart from Mulhall against the fence, the two let loose with their go to punches – Koscheck his right and Hendricks his left. And while the two each took the other’s thunder, Koscheck’s eye continued to get worse, prompting him to look for and get a takedown with two minutes to go. Hendricks’ defense was solid, keeping him out of serious danger, but Koscheck stayed busy with his ground strikes as he looked to better his position, allowing him to keep his opponent on his back for the remainder of the fight.BELCHER vs. PALHARESAlan Belcher made a bold statement in his quest for a middleweight title shot, beating leg lock master Rousimar Palhares in the Brazilian’s area of the Octagon real estate – the mat – but doing it with a ground and pound attack that ended matters in the opening round.“That belt is mine,” said Belcher. “I’m coming for it and I think you know it.”After a brief feeling out process, Palhares (23-4) shot in and took Belcher to the mat 45 seconds into the fight. Belcher avoided any serious trouble from the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, showing off his own black belt ground game as Palhares looked for the finish. As the round hit the midway mark, the two remained locked up, looking for the smallest mistake on which to capitalize. And while Palhares appeared to be close to catching Belcher, “The Talent” broke loose and fired off strikes to the head, much to the delight of the crowd. With under a minute left, Belcher drilled Palhares with a forearm and then opened up with both hands. After a series of unanswered blows, referee Dan Miragliotta intervened at the 4:18 mark, giving Belcher (17-5) his biggest win to date.JOHNSON vs. BARRYHeavyweights Lavar Johnson and Pat Barry delivered the back-and-forth action everyone expected from them when their bout was announced, but after escaping some rough spots on the canvas, it was Johnson who was the last man standing, as he halted Barry via strikes late in the first round.Barry’s first leg kick buckled Johnson briefly, but the Californian tied “HD” up and bulled him into the fence in order to work his deadly close range game. After a brief break where Barry landed a head kick, the two locked up again and a heated exchange ensued. Following this give and take, Barry sought and got a takedown, quickly settling into side control as he worked for a kimura. Johnson gamely struggled and then broke loose, but Barry stayed in control on the mat, mixing in strikes as he looked for the arm again. With a little over a minute left, Johnson got back to his feet and went on the attack. A knee and two high kicks rocked Barry, and Johnson began teeing off with punch after punch as the New Orleans native was pinned to the fence. Many missed, but the ones that did eventually dropped Barry, with referee Dan Miragliotta stepping in to halt the bout at 4:38 of the opening stanza.With the win, Johnson improves to 17-5; Barry falls to 7-5.Watch Johnson's post-fight interview
Posted in: diaz, round, koscheck, miller, hendrick
Read the full article at UFCUFC on FOX Post-PC Recap
Seven fighters joined UFC® President Dana White at the UFC® on FOX post-fight press conference: Nate Diaz, Jim Miller, Lavar Johnson, Alan Belcher, Johny Hendricks, Josh Koscheck and Louis Gaudinot.In a night that saw several impressive submissions, headliner Diaz won Submission of the Night for his second-round submission of fellow BJJ black belt Miller. Diaz used his boxing to outwork Miller on the feet, then forced the tapout with a slick guillotine choke. With the performance, Diaz becomes the first man to stop Miller in Miller's professional career.Johnson earned Knockout of the Night for his first-round starching of Pat Barry. After surviving an early submission scare, Johnson was able to pin Barry against the cage before unleashing a barrage of punches that sent Barry crashing to the mat. This is the second consectuive KO of the Night bonus for Johnson, who finished Joey Beltran in his Octagon™ debut.Fight of the Night was awarded to Gaudinot and John Lineker for their back-and-forth brawl. After setting a blistering pace from the opening bell, Gaudinot got the fight to the ground in the second round, eventually sinking in a choke that put Lineker to sleep. All bonused fighters received $65,000.Check back soon for post-fight press conference videos.
Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, submission, miller
Read the full article at UFCUFC on FOX 3 Results: Diaz vs. Miller
MMA Fighting has UFC on FOX 3 results for all of the Diaz vs. Miller fight card May 5, plus live UFC coverage from East Rutherford, N.J., live blogs of all the fights and live UFC on FOX 3 twitter updates.In the main event, Nate Diaz will square off against Jim Miller in a key lightweight contest. In the co-main event, Josh Koscheck meets Johny Hendricks in a welterweight battle.Check out the UFC on FOX 3 results below.
Main cardNate Diaz vs. Jim MillerJosh Koscheck vs. Johny HendricksRousimar Palhares vs. Alan BelcherPat Barry vs. Lavar JohnsonPreliminary cardTony Ferguson vs. Michael JohnsonJohn Dodson vs. Tim ElliottJohn Hathaway vs. Pascal KraussLouis Gaudinot vs. John LinekerDanny Castillo vs. John CholishDennis Bermudez vs. Pablo GarzaRoland Delorme vs. Nick DenisMike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, rutherford nj
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on FOX 3 weigh-ins photos gallery for 'Diaz vs Miller' in New Jersey
UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" is all set to pop off tomorrow night (Sat., May 5, 2012) from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, featuring a lightweight title eliminator bout (maybe) pitting Nate Diaz against perennial top contender Jim Miller.
Also on tap for the promotion's return to network television is a welterweight war that will see Josh Koscheck take on Johny Hendricks, not to mention match-ups like Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson and Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher.
Before we can get to the good stuff, however, every one of the competitors on tomorrow's fight card had to hit the scales to make sure they weren't carrying any extra baggage.
Thankfully, only one of them did. And that would be John
After the jump, you can check out photos (via MMAFighting.com) from today's UFC on FOX 3 weigh-in event. For complete results click here, for staredowns click here and to watch the full UFC on FOX 3 weigh-in video click here.
Nate Diaz:
Jim Miller:
Josh Koscheck:
Johny Hendricks:
Pat Barry:
Lavar Johnson:
Rousimar Palhares:
Alan Belcher:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Nate Diaz can burst out of his brother Nick’s shadow by beating Jim Miller at UFC 148 (Yahoo! Sports)
Nate Diaz might still be a bout away from a title shot, but beating Miller would have its virtues.
Posted in: title shot, diaz, miller, nate diaz, jim miller
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsUFC on Fox 3: Diaz vs. Miller Full Weigh-in Video
Check out the full UFC on Fox 3 weigh-ins in the video featuring Nate Diaz, Jim Miller, Josh Koscheck, Johny Hendricks, and more.
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Posted in: diaz, fox, video, miller, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyFull UFC on FOX 3 weigh-in video for 'Diaz vs Miller' in New Jersey
The UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" weigh-in event took place earlier today (Fri., May 4, 2012) from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where all 24 competitors tipped the scale to make their respective bouts official for tomorrow's mixed martial arts (MMA) event.
In the video above, the first fighter steps on the scale around the 15:00 mark.
Nate Diaz (156) and Jim Miller (156) are all set to determine the (possible) next contender for the lightweight championship when they hook 'em up in the main event of the evening. In addition, Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks, Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson, and Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher will also take place on network television.
For complete UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" weigh in results click here and for staredowns click here.
Posted in: diaz, vs, miller, staredowns click, izod center
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 3 Weigh-In Results: Diaz vs. Miller
Saturday night's east coast vs. west coast lightweight battle is set.
Both New Jersey's Jim Miller and California's Nate Diaz tipped the scales at 156 pounds for their UFC on FOX 3 main event at Friday night's weigh-ins, held at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
There was no animosity between the two, but neither was there any friendliness, as the duo squared off for their post weigh-in staredown but left the stage without sharing a handshake.
"This is a huge fight," said Miller (21-3). "You've got two of the baddest men on the planet locked in a cage and however it goes, wherever it goes, you guys are in for a treat."
The stakes are a bit higher for Diaz (15-7). Earlier this week, UFC president Dana White said the win would likely earn him a title shot, though he would have a while to wait before cashing in that chip. Diaz, of course, isn't looking past Miller.
"He's tough, he's a very good opponent," he said. "I trained hard with the best team in the world, Team Cesar Gracie. I'm here to represent for my team and California."
In the co-main event, surging welterweight Johny Hendricks missed weight on his first attempt by one-half pound, but after removing his shorts, made the limit, coming in at 170.5 His opponent Josh Koscheck was the same weight. Like Diaz and Miller, the two did not share a handshake or any words after squaring off on the side of the stage.
In a middleweight main card fight, both Alan Belcher and Rousimar Palhares checked in at 186 pounds.
In the night's only heavyweight fight, Lavar Johnson (253) will have a nine-pound edge over Pat Barry (244) to go along with the height and reach differential. Johnson is 6-foot-4 while Barry is 5-foot-11.
Flyweight John Lineker was the only fighter to miss weight on the scale, stripping naked but still registering 127. He has two hours to drop the final pound necessary to make the division's limit.
Main Card Nate Diaz (156) vs. Jim Miller (156) Johny Hendricks (170.5) vs. Josh Koscheck (170.5) Alan Belcher (186) vs. Rousimar Palhares (186) Pat Barry (244) vs. Lavar Johnson (253)Preliminary Card Tony Ferguson (154.5) vs. Michael Johnson (156)John Dodson (126) vs. Timothy Elliott (125)John Hathaway (169) vs. Pascal Krauss (169)Louis Gaudinot (126) vs. John Lineker (127)*Danny Castillo (155) vs. John Cholish (155.5) Dennis Bermudez (145.5) vs. Pablo Garza (145)Roland Delorme (135) vs. Nick Denis (135)Mike Massenzio (184) vs. Karlos Vemola (185)
* Lineker missed weight and has two hours to lose the additional pound.
Posted in: pound, diaz, vs, miller, john
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on Fox 3 Weigh-In Results; Diaz vs. Miller Official
All fighters competing on tomorrow’s UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller fight card hit the scales today and all made weight for their bouts without incident, excepting John Lineker.
Today’s weigh-ins took place from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the site of Saturday’s fights.
Both Nate Diaz and Jim Miller hit the 156 mark, making their lightweight main event bout official. John Lineker weighed in one pound heavy for his flyweight fight with Louis Gaudinot and will have two hours to drop the extra weight.
Check out the full weigh-in results below.
Main Card (Fox)
Nate Diaz (156) vs. Jim Miller (156)
Josh Koscheck (170.5) vs. Johny Hendricks (170.5)
Rousimar Palhares (186) vs. Alan Belcher (186)
Pat Barry (244) vs. Lavar Johnson (253)
Preliminary Card (Facebook and Fuel TV)
Tony Ferguson (154.5) vs. Michael Johnson (156)
John Dodson (126) vs. Tim Elliot (125)
John Hathaway (169) vs. Pascal Krauss (169)
Louis Gaudinot (126) vs. John Lineker (127)*
Danny Castillo (155) vs. John Cholish (155.5)
Dennis Bermudez (145.5) vs. Pablo Garza (145)
Roland Delorme (135) vs. Nick Denis (135)
Mike Massenzio (184) vs. Karlos Vemola (185)
*Lineker has two hours to make 126lbs.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: diaz, vs, miller, john, lineker
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC On FOX 3 Weigh-In Results; Main Eventers Nate Diaz, Jim Miller On Point
Saturday night’s third event on FOX by the UFC is now official, as the weigh-ins took place Friday afternoon. UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller will feature a main event between lightweights Nate Diaz and Jim Miller. Both fighters made the mark for their bout, with Diaz coming in at 156 pounds and Miller at [...]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, miller, jim miller
Read the full article at MMA ConvertA Tale of Two Diaz Brothers - A really good piece on Nate Diaz
submitted by RunFromTheSun [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, brother, diaz brothers, runfromthesun
Read the full article at RedditWatch the UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller Weigh-ins Live at 4 p.m. Eastern
Watch the UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller weigh-ins live from New Jersey here at HeavyMMA on Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC On Fox 3: The Grappling Tendencies Of Jim Miller And Nate Diaz
I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam. - Popeye the Sailor
The point of Nate Diaz and Jim Miller being the main event of UFC on Fox 3 on Saturday May 5, 2012 is that they are near mortal locks to put on an exciting fight. Both men are highly durable, very energetic and display a savage lust for finishing opportunities, whether by submission or by strikes.
The matchmakers and the TV producers are counting on these men to be exactly who they have been in the past, figuring that it will combine for a very competitive and combative affair that makes for truly good sport and entertainment. But who are Nick Diaz and Jim Miller in terms of the ground game? What opportunities will they hunt for and which limbs will they seize against opponents that are similar to the fighter that will stand across from them Saturday night?
First, we look at Jim Miller's bout against Mac Danzig at UFC 100 in 2009, before moving through the decision loss to Benson Henderson at UFC Live 5, then lastly at the recent victory over Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX. Then we move to Nate Diaz and his battles with Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald.
Related: Judo Chop: The Southpaw Striking of Jim Miller | Judo Chop: The Unconventional MMA Boxing of Nick and Nate Diaz | Nick Diaz, Daniel Mendoza and the Sweet Science of Bruising | SBN Coverage of UFC on Fox 3
Jim Miller gets some boxing work in. Photo by Esther Lin of MMA Fighting.
Miller's Fights
Mac Danzig is no slouch on the ground. He is quite good at grappling if most normal measuring sticks - but within the context of elite level MMA, it was shown repeatedly that Mac could be bullied by an opponent with a strong top game. Jim Miller was able to do so, although some close calls threatened to derail his gameplan.
Against Danzig, Miller quickly took him down in the first round and looked to pass immediately and stay tight to prevent any submission attempts. Danzig still managed to sweep and hit a guillotine off a takedown launched by Miller just as they stood back up.
In the second round, Miller landed a double after a sprawl attempt by Danzig failed. Jim shrugged off a kimura attempt and threw several punches and elbows, trying repeatedly to land left-handed elbows and punches. A late guillotine by Danzig nearly worked, but time ran out in the round before Miller reached his breaking point.
In the third round, Miller shot repeatedly with success and Danzig unsuccessfully tried for another guillotine. After a kimura attempt by Mac, Jim took the back and went for his favored rear naked choke (the one he finished Guillard with). Amazingly, Danzig broke free from a locked on choke and reversed Miller to land some punches.
At UFC Live on Versus 5, Ben Henderson savaged Jim Miller for the two later rounds after losing the first (in the eyes of most armchair judges). The first round saw Miller essentially do his best impression of a Diaz brother, with a standing arm triangle and back take attempt that saw himself get deposited on the ground before a scramble yielded a standing kimura attempt. Bendo defended well and delivered some mean elbows, but Miller credibly threatened the future lightweight champion at multiple points in the round.
A kidney infection on top of accumulated damage caused Miller to continue taking crazy chances over the next two rounds with a kneebar/heel hook combination, which was abandoned after Bendo escaped and started to pour on the strikes to Miller's head. Another kimura attempt failed in the face of the elbows and punches as well. A late mount by Henderson saw Jim covering up and successfully escaping back to the feet, showing commendable resilience and sticking to effective grappling even when hurt or extremely tired.
Summation: Jim Miller has a very solid all around game, preferring to work from the top, displaying excellently timed defense to positional improvements by his opponents and scrambles quite well to neutral or advantageous positions. From the bottom, he displays a shrewd sense of how to isolate limbs while keeping the opponent mostly immobile. However, when going for broke, as he did against Henderson, Miller abandons position to hunt after submissions that are going to be very difficult to apply to slippery and smart opponents like Henderson or Nate Diaz.
Nate works out for the press and photogs. Photo by Esther Lin of MMA Fighting.
Diaz's Fights: The Gray Maynard fight was passed over for this article as very little of that fight took place on the ground and Diaz was largely able to deter an oddly complacent Maynard from working any takedowns with his boxing.
Long ago, Nate showed his tendency to offer up his back while hunting hip tosses, kimuras or just plain getting away while battling Clay Guida at UFC 94. He is much better at selecting his opportunities, but it is worth noting that apart from one hammerlock Guida attempted, very little damage to Nate resulted from these tactics.
Closer to the present day, the fight against Joe Stevenson at UFC Live on Versus was a terrific display of one fighter being one or two steps ahead of a very attack-minded opponent. Stevenson may be more famous for his Ultimate Fighter days or for his near sacrificial lamb bout against B.J. Penn, but he is a very good submission grappler. Each time Nate went for a kimura or a guillotine, Joe Daddy was defending and looking to improve position. Nate did come close with a guillotine and briefly had mount, but Joe bucked him off and secured his own top position well. An old Judo Chop explains the spladle Joe Daddy used to put Nate in a very uncomfortable position.
As a bonus, I dug up a live blog of the Kurt Pellegrino fight done by Luke Thomas:
Herb Dean is the ref. Pellegrino gets a quick single leg takedown and gets Nate's back. Diaz eating punches and trying to get up. Pellegrino swings to north-south and back to back control. Crowd chanting DIAZ DIAZ. Kurt puts Nate on his back, in the guard. Landing some shots from the top. Passes guard to side control. Batman is punishing Diaz in the beatdown position but a game Nate fights back to guard. Diaz certainly got his wish for tougher competition. Has a cut open on Nate's head. Diaz givea up his back and looks like he's out on his feet. Pellegrino has head control again, going for a d'arce. Diaz is struggling for a single and now has Kurt pushed against the cage standing. What a gamer! The round ends, I'd score it 10-8 for Pellegrino.
Round 2: Feeling each other out on the feet, Pellegrino gets an easy single leg then moves from 1/2 guard to full guard. Rogan is puzzled. Elbows and hammer fists from the top. Diaz trying to get a kimura. Kurt escapes. Nate looking for a guillotine, nothing, goes for an omaplata, nothing. The stand and Diaz gets a good judo throw against the fence but Pellegrino reverses. No Diaz is standing and Pellegrino gets a slam, Diaz has a triangle! What a bad mofo!!!!! Damn Nate Diaz is for real. He took an asswhipping in the first round and comes back to submit Pellegrino! Great performance. Diaz did some great celebrating between locking in the choke and getting the tap. This is a star-making performance in my book.
Pellegrino might have been the fighter to damage Nate the most on the ground in his career. Nate again hunted the kimura, guillotine and got a very quick triangle off a slam.
Against Kim, Nate was taken down early in the first round by a fast double. While on the ground, Diaz showed some willingness to go for kneebars and the ability to consistently stuff a very good top game grappler's guard pass attempts. Just about every attempt by Kim to hop over a blocking leg was brought back down to the ground. Every positional advancement that Kim enjoyed was due to Nate offering up his back as bait for a kneebar or scramble. An inside trip in the second round secured another takedown for Kim, but little came of it as the elbows and active hips of Nate frustrated Kim again and again.
Rory MacDonald has moved into MMA GIF history with his suplexes of Nate Diaz. However, the first of those suplex chains came from an inside trip that didn't exactly work. Nate gave up his back in an attempt to either get away or set up the Diaz brothers staple - the standing kimura roll. The third round suplex came off a failed ankle pick by Diaz, as he knew he was probably down two rounds to none on the judges' scorecards. The suplexes were spectacular, but Rory only got a few punches and elbows from them, as Nate was launching upkicks continuously and fending MacDonald off.
The Takanori Gomi fight was rather unusual in that instead of being taken down, Nate was able to leap to the back immediately after dropping Gomi. He was shrugged off as Gomi worked his defenses, but transitioned to an extremely nice armbar/triangle/armbar combination. This combination was so sweet that it made Gomi look clueless on the ground. That is not the case, as Gomi was an ADCC qualifier several times in no gi grappling and being dazed from several punches does not excuse Nate slicing through his defenses like a hot knife through butter.
Summation: Nate loves the figure four grip on the far side arm - which is something Dave Camarillo preaches himself - and will use that grip to defend single legs quite well. A very fast double leg can and usually will deposit Nate on his back, but his active hips and nimble feet make it very difficult to pass guard or to avoid the triangle/armbars that he loves to apply. Nate has undeniably improved his grappling since the days of Stevenson and Guida, but the attacking-while-risking-position mentality has never gone away and probably never will. He loves turtling up and rolling for a submission or a re-guard to a triangle or kimura.
Prediction Time:
Given the propensity for both fighters to work kimuras, it is possible for the top person (likely Miller) to counter a kimura with an armbar. However, I strongly suspect that Miller will come out like Pellegrino did and stay low and tight. I also believe that Miller will avoid slamming Nate down, unless he gets the back, as that triangle/armbar is lethal. As for submitting Nate, Miller's best shot is to take the back off a bait-and-roll and go for the RNC. As the Guillard fight showed, you do not give your back to Jim Miller lightly. Danzig was able to get out, but Miller has only improved since that day.
We could see a submission finish in this fight that builds from a counter to a counter, despite the very good positional and striking defense of both fighters. The excitement of the main event should be at an even higher level than it is now for the fighters are who they are - excellent submission grapplers and competent to very good strikers with near endless stamina.
Posted in: diaz, round, miller, nate, jim
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on Fox 3: Diaz vs. Miller Weigh-in Results
UFC on Fox 3: Diaz vs. Miller weigh-in results for the showdown between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller.
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Posted in: diaz, vs, miller, nate diaz, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyWeigh-in Video: UFC on Fox 3 ‘Diaz vs. Miller’
Friday’s UFC on Fox 3 “Diaz vs. Miller” weigh-ins can be viewed here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at SherdogJim Miller says Nate Diaz is “as tough as they come”
UFC lightweight Nate Diaz has lost seven times in his career. Six of them have involved a decision including two as an undersized welterweight and two of the “split” variety against Clay Guida/Gray Maynard. The lone finish came six years ago against former UFC title-contender Hermes Franca.
Even just glancing at those statistics it is easy to see how durable Diaz is with the danger he poses equally impressive given his past success including recent wins over Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone.
Jim Miller, who faces Diaz tomorrow night in the main event at UFC on FOX 3, understands exactly how difficult the challenge is in front of him. However, he also believes he has the technique and tenacity to overcome it and come away with his hand raised.
“Nate is a very tough fight for anybody in this weight class; he’s as tough as they come, and very well trained. His boxing in his last fight was awesome, and cardio-wise, his volume of punches that he threw was pretty incredible to watch. He’s good on the mat too, so it’s a tough fight,” admitted Miller in an interview with the UFC’s website.
Then again, the 21-3 Miller who has NEVER been finished knows he is no slouch himself.
“I have some similar characteristics to guys that have beaten him, so that keeps my confidence up to where I know I just have to go in and fight my fight, do what I’m capable of, and put it to him because he has shown that little bit of weakness. It’s about trying to capitalize on that,” the 28-year old added, alluding to his combination of grappling prowess and solid stand-up.
Fans can catch the meeting between Miller-Diaz when the main broadcast starts up on FOX at 8:00 PM EST (with prelims on Fuel TV and Facebook in the hours leading up to the event).
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, miller, nate diaz
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC On Fox 3 Judo Chop: The Southpaw Striking Of Jim Miller
At UFC on Fox 3 this Saturday, Jim Miller and Nate Diaz will collide in a fascinating main event. Dana White has stated that, should Diaz win, he'll be next in line for a shot at the UFC Lightweight title, but even without that title shot at play, this is a great bout. In some ways, this is your classic striker vs. grappler match-up. Because despite his strong BJJ credentials, Nate Diaz has become more of a boxer than anything else, while Miller combines wrestling and submissions into an aggressive, grinding ground game.
Here, I wanted to take a look at the stand-up side of this battle. Obviously, Nate Diaz has the more well documented stand-up game, and to get caught up on his striking, I strongly encourage you to check out this collaborative Judo Chop Kid Nate put together in 2010. But what I wanted to examine here was something not as often discussed - the stand-up game of Jim Miller.
Related: Judo Chop: The Unconventional MMA Boxing of Nick and Nate Diaz
Again, Miller is not known for his striking, as his ground game is his main offensive tool. But he's also a well-rounded fighter who has improved that striking over the years. Here, we'll take a look at four aspects of his striking:
His use of southpaw stance
Defensive movement and positioning
Offensive style
How he matches up against Diaz
Join us in the full entry for this breakdown of Jim Miller's striking.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
Southpaw stance
Miller is a southpaw, meaning that he fights left-handed, with his left leg back. As the majority of fighters use an orthodox stance, this opens the door for some different things from Miller. And one of the strongest assets of his offensive stand-up games is how well he uses that stance.
Photo by Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Miller uses a lot of strikes that capitalize on this stance. When fighters in opposite stances meet, their bodies are more open than normal. Miller takes advantage of this with an excellent body kick that he quickly fires off. He also has a nice inside leg kick which he quickly throws to his opponent's lead leg (shown above vs. Duane Ludwig). Again, because of their opposite stances, that lead leg is more exposed, and the inside leg kick is an excellent weapon for the southpaw fighter.
Defensively, Miller does not utilize his stance as effectively. Again, when fighters in opposite stances meet, the best foot positioning is to move your lead foot to the outside of your opponent's. Miller doesn't do this much, and in the Kamal Shalorus fight, Shalorus was able to get the superior foot positioning at first and connect with Miller when he came inside, stopping his offense in the early minutes. But the real danger for a southpaw fighter is the straight right down the middle (shown below vs. Kamal Shalorus), and Miller leaves himself too open for this punch - he's been caught by it a number of times, most notably by Gray Maynard.
Photo by Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
Defense
Miller has a solid chin, but his defenses could use a bit of tightening up. In particular, he has a bad tendency to not keep his elbows tight to his ribs when he strikes. If you watch his elbows (his lead right elbow mainly), they tend to be up and away from his body. Keeping your elbows in tight allows you to use your arms to protect against body shots. By keeping his elbows loose, Miller opens his body up. As a southpaw this is particularly problematic because as mentioned above, his body is more exposed. He's been hit in the body before, and has improved this positioning somewhat, but could go further with it.
With his movement, Miller has recently begun to use angles more, which is a good improvement. Previously, he tended to move just straight in and out, which is both too predictable and opens him up to being trapped against the cage when retreating. He's added in more angles, both on offense and defense, but again, I'd like to see him work that aspect of his game more.
Offense
Photo by Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
The best striking offense from Miller is the southpaw offense discussed above. He has a great body kick and inside leg kick, and also a nice lead right hook. He also makes good use of combos. Previously, Miller tended to throw combos that mixed together punches and kicks nicely. Now, he's opened up more and mixes a variety of straight punches, kicks, uppercuts, and knees (above vs. Shalorus). It's a good varied offense that stays focused and relatively simple (nothing crazy flashy from Miller) yet puts these different strikes together in a way that allows them to flow into each other while also confusing his opponent. And of course, as a grappler, he is always happy to end the combo with a clinch or takedown, which makes his offense more difficult to defend against.
Vs. Nate Diaz
Unfortunately, Nate Diaz's striking attributes work particularly well against Miller. The biggest issue is that Nate is also a southpaw. This means that Miller won't have the advantage of his southpaw offense. The last time he faced a southpaw (Ben Henderson) Miller struggled to find his rhythm on his feet, and I anticipate a similar struggle here. Diaz also will have a 5" reach advantage, which will allow him to get those straight punches inside Miller's guard. Finally, he is skilled at working the body, so if Miller keeps those elbows up, Diaz will punish him.
Overall
Jim Miller has shown good improvement in his stand-up game over the years. He's also built it around his natural physical attributes as a south-paw, and the end result is a very solid game, albeit one with some defensive holes. However, Diaz is the perfect foil to Miller's striking style. On Saturday night, Miller should use extreme caution and minimize the time standing with Diaz. If the fight ends up being contested primarily on its feet, Miller is in for a tough time here.
Posted in: diaz, miller, body, stance, southpaw
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 3 predictions, preview and analysis
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is heading back to primetime this Saturday night (May 5, 2012) with UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller," featuring a lightweight bout that pits Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz.
With a possible shot at the 155-pound title awaiting the winner, don't be surprised to see this fast-paced fracas take home "Fight of the Night" when all is said and done.
If that's the case, you can also make an argument that Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher will produce "Submission of the Night," thanks to the frightening jiu-jitsu game of "Toquinho," which still doesn't scare "The Talent."
Then again, most stateside fight fans want to see "Knockout of the Night," evidenced by the relentless boos that reign down whenever a fight hits the floor. The good news is they won't have to look much further than Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson, a battle of hard-hitting heavyweights that is damn-near guaranteed to have someone staring at the lights.
Don't blink!
That leaves us with Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck as the last of the four main card fights to make the FOX airwaves. This could be a one-hitter quitter, like "Bigg Rigg" pulled against Jon Fitch last December, or WrestleMania, if Koscheck wants to see who the better mat technician is.
So who cleans up in "Dirty Jersey?"
I've laid out my best guess for the main card fights below. In addition, I've also provided links to our complete undercard preview as well as a closer examination of the UFC on FOX 3 odds and betting lines.
See you on the other side.
155 lbs.: Nate Diaz (21-3) vs. Jim Miller (15-7)
Nostradumbass predicts: Why did UFC President Dana White so willingly offer Nate Diaz a title shot if he wins? Probably because he knows he won't. Don't get me wrong, I like to watch the wily Stockton slugger tool his fellow lightweights in the stand-up, but he's only as good as his opponents allow him to be.
Like Donald Cerrone.
Stand and bang with Diaz and you're losing the fight. Take him down and rough him up, like Jim Miller will, and it's cruise control for three (or five in this case) rounds. If you're slamming your keys down in disgust, firing off a "I hate Nostradumbass" Email, did you sleep through the Clay Guida decision?
How about the Joe Stevenson fight?
I won't be too hard on him for the losses at welterweight, despite getting rag-dolled by Rory MacDonald, but what 155-pounder did Diaz beat that indicates he's going to run through Miller? The same Miller who only has three losses on his record? If you're keeping score at home, that's one to a current champion (Ben Henderson), one to a former champion (Frankie Edgar) and one to a two-time number one contender (Gray Maynard).
He's elite.
Don't bother with the jiu-jitsu argument, because I watched Miller kneebar Rafael Oliveira, who is as good as any lightweight grappler in the division. Like Diaz, he also ends more than half his fights by way of tap, nap or snap.
This one is all about the gameplan.
Diaz will be the busier striker, but without that one-punch knockout power, it's not going to be enough of a deterrent to keep Miller of taking him down (at will) and beating him up. The ground game will be neutralized and the judges will have no choice but to side with the hometown hero.
Prediction: Miller def. Diaz via unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Johny Hendricks (12-1) vs. Josh Koscheck (17-5)
Nostradumbass predicts: This is one of those fights that I go back-and-forth on, because they're pretty evenly matched. I know a lot of the hoopla surrounding Johny Hendricks' welterweight rise to power is the vaunted left hand of doom, but let's not forget that under the ZUFFA banner, he's gone to the judge's scorecards just as often.
Jon Fitch didn't respect the power, but I believe Josh Koscheck will.
I usually pick against guys who have a change in training camp and overhaul a lot of their pre-fight preparations, but in this case I think it had the opposite effect. Koscheck looked tired and flat in his last fight against Mike Pierce, drained from all the shenanigans at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) prior to leaving.
Now he's aligned himself with coaches he actually likes and is incorporating a new offense into what was arguably a stale and predictable attack. Not that I expect him to unleash some sort of stand-up blitzkrieg, but it will keep him in the fight when the fists start flying.
Which is a strange thing to predict from two outstanding collegiate wrestlers.
It should be dead even on the ground and Hendricks will give him all he can handle on the feet, but in the end, I think "Kos" is just too experienced and too battle-tested to give this one away. I predict a VERY close fight that swings in favor of the private pilot.
Prediction: Koscheck def. Hendricks via split decision
185 lbs.: Alan Belcher (17-6) vs. Rousimar Palhares (14-3)
Nostradumbass predicts: Rousimar Palhares is a very seductive pick here, based on his frightening jiu-jitsu prowess, but let's not put the myth before the man. This is the same guy that was put on queer street by Dan Miller, who hasn't knocked anyone out in 19 professional fights.
He's also been known to go bat-shit crazy during a fight.
If you break it all down, you have a guy who is good at two things: Bench-pressing Volkswagens and tearing people's legs off. But that's not going to cut it against a "talent" like Alan Belcher, who is a well-rounded mixed martial artist with enough sense to keep this thing upright.
Until he drops "Toquinho."
Sound crazy? Belcher has superior striking skills and is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. That might not mean a whole lot on the ground if he wants to tempt fate, but it lets me know it will probably be good enough to get him out of danger if he ends up in a sprawl.
Palhares is a one-trick pony and no different than a stand-up fighter with insane knockout power. It only works when your opponents fight scared. The new and improved Belcher, who smoked Jason MacDonald last September in New Orleans, is fearless, and will send this bone-breaking brute back to Brazil.
Prediction: Belcher def. Palhares via technical knockout
265 lbs.: Pat Barry (7-4) vs. Lavar Johnson (16-5)
Nostradumbass predicts: Speaking of one-dimensional fighters, Lavar Johnson brings his metal mitts to the Octagon against Pat Barry. And I'm not insulting the guy, he said it himself, jiu-jitsu belongs in a grappling tournament, not a "Big" bout on television.
That stands in stark contrast to Barry, who already admitted he's ready to wrestle if he gets hit hard enough.
Not happening.
Not because I don't think "HD" can get it to the floor, but because when he goes to the ground, he'll be snoring. Now, I know you're thinking that Barry is a professional kickboxer and not a heavy-handed bricklayer, but Johnson thought of that too.
That could explain why he spent his entire training camp under K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Carter Williams.
He'll be expecting those devastating leg kicks, which Barry rattles off so effectively he barely needs to set them up. But with such a disparity in both height and reach, even with lousy footwork, it's hard for me to imagine the cocky and stocky kid from 'Nawlins getting the killing blow in without eating one himself.
This is a first rounder folks, don't take a pee break.
Prediction: Johnson def. Barry via knockout
That's a wrap, folks.
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., May 5), which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on FOX. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 6 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts on Facebook and FUEL TV.
For previews and predictions on the preliminary card fights click here and here. To see all the odds and betting lines for UFC on FOX 3 click here and remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of "Diaz vs. Miller."
What do you think? Now it's your turn ... let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for tomorrow night's event.
Posted in: fight, diaz, vs, miller, barry
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 3 Main Event Breakdown: Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz
The first two UFC on FOX main event offerings have left many viewers a bit unsatisfied. The first had a knockout so quick, it bordered on anticlimactic based upon the level of attention that led up to it. The second featured a fight that went all five rounds, though was considered somewhat lackluster.But the third? When it comes to Jim Miller and Nate Diaz, these two couldn't possibly have a boring fight, could they? Diaz brothers simply don't have "boring" in their DNA, and Nate essentially gave Miller his stamp of approval as an opponent, saying he respected his aggressive fight style."These two … if this fight sucks, I don't know what to tell you, man," UFC president Dana White said "These two are going to go in there and go at it. For one round or five rounds, they're going to go."
Both are action fighters, always pushing forward, setting the pace, willing to contest the fight anywhere. On their feet, Diaz (15-7) is probably the more accomplished of the two, relying on overwhelming volume to dictate the action. At 6-feet tall and with a 76-inch reach, Diaz usually has a built-in advantage when it comes to fighting from distance. Working under boxing coach Richard Perez, he has become well-schooled in learning to make good use of the jab as well. In many ways, he is the spitting image of his brother Nick. If the fight stays standing, Diaz historically throws more volume. According to stats provider FightMetric, Diaz lands 4.24 strikes per minute while he's only hit 2.62 times per minute. The numbers for Miller (21-3) are not quite as strong, as he lands 2.23 strikes per minute while opponents connect on him at a clip of 1.89 strikes per minute. Miller, though, is usually defensively excellent at avoiding contact, as opponents swing and miss at him 67 percent of the time. However, because of the height and reach differential along with Diaz's technical skill, it might not be so easy to make him whiff this time around. If the fight stays standing, it might well be Diaz's to win. Not only will his length play a role, but he also throws early and often to the body, a tactic that could benefit him greatly by sapping Miller of energy, no small thing in a five-round fight. But both fighters are quite well versed on the ground as well, both boasting black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In fact, both have more than half of their career wins by submission (10 for Diaz, 12 for Miller). But it may well be the transitions that win or lose this fight. If you examine Diaz's career defeats, one thing stands out: he struggles with wrestlers. In all five of his octagon losses, he lost on points due to someone who worked to put him on his back. Miller has the gas tank and willingness to employ that kind of plan.To be fair, Miller is not an overwhelming MMA wrestler -- he lands just 46 percent of takedown tries -- but he's good enough to be dangerous, and his courage in chasing the position will at the least put Diaz in uncomfortable moments.Diaz only defends 45 percent of attempts against him, so chances are at some points, Miller will get the fight to the ground. Once there, he will not shy away from engaging with Diaz as some do. That should lead to some interesting ground scrambles and chain submission attempts as each works for a finish. It also should lead to some difficult-to-score rounds.That might come into play because in their 46 combined fights, the pair have only one loss that came via finish, and that was when Diaz was just 21 years old. That means a lot of exchanges, a lot of scrambles, and a lot of sequences where both men have their moments.So how does it ultimately play out? I see Diaz with a slight edge standing. For one thing, he trains with one of the best southpaw strikers in MMA, his brother Nick, every day, so he's not going to have a problem facing another lefty. We also know his conditioning will be off the charts. But things start getting hazier in the clinch and in the striking-to-wrestling transitions. Diaz's judo is usually good for a takedown or two per fight, but Miller is tenacious when he sets his mind to a takedown, and as we've seen with both Diaz brothers, they're often content to play guard and look for submissions from the bottom. Even though they are often attacking from there, if they ultimately don't get the tapout, judges tend to score it for the guy on top.Unlike other opponents, at least Miller isn't likely to lie there conservatively and take the points. He won't let the position go uncontested. If he works from the top, he'll look to inflict damage and finish. Miller does have aggressive ground and pound, which he often uses to set up submissions by creating openings. Ultimately, I don't think either man will get a finish. They're both just too tough and durable. That leaves us going five rounds, and while Diaz's stamina is without question, Miller has also never shown an issue in that regard, and given that he's more likely to score takedowns, and the fact that he'll be aggressive from the top, I'll pick Miller scraping by in a very close decision that finally satisfies the UFC on FOX viewers.
Posted in: fight, diaz, miller, opponent, i dont
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseA Title Shot Looming, Diaz Deals with the Mission at Hand
If you want a glimpse into who Nate Diaz is, just ask him what he thinks life after winning a UFC championship would be like. There’s no talk of a nicer car or house, of money, or even of being considered the best lightweight on the planet. His first, and only, priority are the people that have helped him along the way.“I got friends and family that need to be taken care of, so that’s what I’m working on,” Diaz told UFC.com. “I’ve got guys out here that I’ve been trying to get their names out, and I’ve got training partners that have talent, and I think if I had some more ears listening, I can get them out there.”He reels off some names, forgetting some, but not maliciously. As he notes Lucas Gamaza, Daniel Roberts, Rudy Hernandez, Jonny Carson, the El Nino Training Center, the Cesar Gracie Fight Team, and Damian and Tarzan Douglas, he stops only to say, “I could list people for days.”For him, this is more important than talking about himself. The way he sees the world, fighting is what he does for a living, but it’s the time spent in the gym with his training partners, who are not just friends, but virtually family, that’s most important. So when he was awarded his Jiu-Jitsu black belt from Cesar Gracie in April, it was a big deal, to say the least.“I started training when I was about 15 years old,” he said. “So it means a lot and I feel like I’ve been working for it for a long time. When I started, I knew that was one of the goals because I was watching Royce Gracie, my coach Cesar, and Dave Terrell and all these badasses do their thing. So I knew I had something I was aiming for. It would have helped if I wasn’t fighting to maybe get it a little sooner because I had a lot of stuff to cover in the meantime. There were a lot of guys that I was competing with in the blue belt division and purple belt division who went on and got black belts a couple years ago. But all the time they were on the mat, a lot of time I was on the mat and also in the ring sparring and kickboxing and wrestling and doing all kinds of other stuff. I would teach classes when I could, but it’s kinda hard to teach when you’ve got fights and stuff. So I had some obstacles, but I’m glad I finally did it.”If you’ve followed the fight game for any length of time, one thing is clear – Gracie doesn’t hand out black belts haphazardly or as a reward for showing up. Diaz is only the fourth member of the Cesar Gracie Fight Team to earn the coveted honor (Diaz’ brother Nick, Jake Shields, and David Terrell are the others), and even though the youngest member of that group has impressed fight fans with his standup attack, he has not neglected the gentle art on his way up the MMA ladder.“Jiu-Jitsu’s a big part of my game, and it’s a big part of everybody’s game because if you don’t know it, you’re gonna sink in this,” said Diaz. “You’ve got to cover every angle as much as you can, so it’s definitely a big part. I do jiu-jitsu every day and as soon as the fight gets a little closer, I don’t put on my gi as much, but as soon as the fight’s over, I’m usually right back in my gi. I gotta learn the best I can and be the best martial artist I can be.”But it is the unorthodox yet brutally effective striking attack of Diaz that has been the catalyst for his resurgence at 155 pounds after a 2-2 stint at welterweight that saw him finish Rory Markham and Marcus Davis, only to drop two decisions to Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald. Diaz insists that we may not have heard the last of him among the 170-pounders.“The thing with 170, I didn’t even want to fight Rory MacDonald or Dong Hyun Kim because no one knew who they were,” he said. “I felt they kinda built a name off me. I was just fighting Melvin Guillard and Clay Guida at 155 and now I go up to 170 and they’re sticking me all these hard fights with no names. So it’s kinda lose-lose for me and win-win for them. Not to put myself on a high horse, but I’m losing to Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald and it was kind of irritating. I didn’t specifically say I was going back to ’55; I told my manager I would fight at ’55 or ’70, whatever the bigger fight I could get. I would rather fight Takanori Gomi than Joe Blow at 170. I’ll still fight at 170. It would seem like I got washed out of that division, but I don’t think so. Both of those guys didn’t do much to me.”But once he fought Gomi and Donald Cerrone back at 155, the difference was night and day. He dominated the former PRIDE champion on the feet before submitting him late in the first round, and he snapped Cerrone’s six fight winning streak with a three round standup clinic that you don’t see too often from soon to be jiu-jitsu black belts. Yet as far as Diaz is concerned, this didn’t happen by design; he just dealt with what was given to him on fight night.“It’s hard work and you’ve got to do a lot of jiu-jitsu and a lot of boxing,” he said of his training life. “Sometimes you might do more of one than the other or not done enough of one, but you need to make sure you cover it all. You don’t usually go into a fight with a plan to do jiu-jitsu on somebody or just box somebody. You have to be ready for whatever they’re gonna throw at you.”And as Gracie covers the ground game, Richard Perez has done great work with both Diaz brothers on their boxing, and they’ve also had help from some folks in high places, like current super middleweight boxing champion Andre Ward.“I sparred with him a couple times and I sparred with a lot of his partners at his gym,” said Diaz of Ward. “He’s definitely the best boxer in this area and I think he’s the best boxer in the world, pound for pound, right now, so it was good to just be in the same environment with him and in the same gym as him and Nick working together. I picked up a lot of stuff, and I worked with all his coaches’ guys too; it’s good work over there.”So for all the preconceived notions of Diaz and his brother of just being mean mugging brawlers from the “mean streets” of Stockton, California, it’s clear that it’s the art of fighting and the work that goes into it that matters most. In a lot of ways, Diaz is almost a mirror image of his opponent this Saturday in the main event of UFC on FOX 3, Jim Miller. Neither go chasing down cameras or interviews, preferring to let their fighting do the talking. And when you ask Diaz about his foe, the respect is obvious.“He’s tough everywhere,” he said. “I’ve seen the guys he works out with and he’s got a black belt in jiu-jitsu and decent standup and he’s a good wrestler, so he’s definitely a well-rounded fighter, and it’s gonna be a tough fight.”Plus, it’s going to be held in Miller’s New Jersey backyard. For some, that could be an issue. For Diaz, it’s another night in the lion’s den, and he’s just fine with it.“I’m always behind enemy lines,” he said. “I’m not worried about it. There might be some booing, but whatever, that’s the name of the game. I’ll fight anywhere. But I would definitely rather be at home, for sure.”Which begs the question, could Nate and Nick Diaz have become who they are today anywhere but the 209 area code they rep proudly? Would a Palm Springs or Hollywood upbringing have given them the drive to succeed or the chip on the shoulder to believe they could conquer the world? Diaz pauses to ponder the question.“I don’t know,” he said. “I think we live in the best state and the best country in the world, so I think we’re pretty fortunate about that. We can drive to southern California or drive to the bay area and we’ve got everything right here. I think people are pretty real out here. It’s not hard to recognize some fake stuff when I leave town.”Not a surprising answer from a real fighter, one whose life could change significantly on Saturday night should he beat Miller and earn a shot at the UFC lightweight title. But none of that is on the radar at the moment.“I’m just concentrating on this fight. There’s a lot of hype, a lot of talk, and that (getting a title shot with a win) is what I’ve heard, but first things first, and I’ve got to fight Miller. I’m dealing with the mission at hand right now.”
Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, ’ve, lot
Read the full article at UFCDana White not optimistic on Nick Diaz's chances against NSAC
NEW YORK CITY - Nick Diaz's camp won't find a vote of confidence from
UFC president Dana White in their recent challenge to the Nevada State
Athletic Commission.
"I get the whole thing they're going for - the metabolites or whatever
it is," White said. "Nick can't smoke marijuana leading up to a fight. You just
can't do it."
While fans and pundits have debated the merits of the drug's legality
and the state's case against Diaz, White said he respects the rule of
the commission.
Posted in: diaz, nick, thing theyre, states case, drugs legality
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNate Diaz says brother Nick still isn’t interested in fighting
Despite Nick Diaz‘s recent statement regarding a return to the ring if the Nevada State Athletic Commission wipes the slate clean of punishment pertaining to a failed drug test for marijuana metabolites it appears the enigmatic Diaz is no closer to fighting again today than he was a month ago. While he himself has remained fairly quiet on the issue in public, letting teammates and lawyers do the talking for him, those who know him best have a good idea of his true intentions.
As such, the one individual worth listening to above all others is the scrapper’s younger brother, Nate Diaz, who recently updated the world on his sibling’s status when asked about it while promoting his bout this weekend against Jim Miller at UFC on FOX 3.
Details of Diaz’s Lawsuit Against the NSAC
“Most people retire but they don’t got sh*t to do. They’re going to get fat, they’re going to get bored, they’re going to sit at home. Nick’s competing in a jiu-jitsu tournament next weekend. He just did four triathlons in the last two months, and he’s having fun, man. Staying busy,” said the 27-year old Diaz in a conversation transcribed by MMAFighting. “The way things have been going since forever, I don’t think he’s interested. He’s not interested in fighting, but who knows what’s going to happen in the future.”
While Diaz left the door open with his final statement it appears his brother is in a good place and happy to remain there. His next outing will come in a grappling superfight against Braulio Estima.
PHOTO CREDIT – DIAZBROTHERS.COM
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Posted in: diaz, nick, ’t, brother, ’re
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC on FOX 3 fight card: Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller preview
A potential UFC lightweight title shot is on the line this Saturday night (May 5, 2012) as The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five winner Nate Diaz takes on blue collar scrapper Jim Miller in the main event of UFC on FOX 3 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Diaz was once a staple of the lightweight division but was nowhere near of sniffing a title shot. After an up and down trip to welterweight, he dropped back down to 155 and hasn't looked better. He most recently halted all of Donald Cerrone's momentum at UFC 141 by laying a beatdown on "Cowboy" and UFC President Dana White said he can earn a title shot by beating Miller.
Jim Miller is your every day, humble and hard-working man. Ben Henderson halted his seven fight win streak and his shot at the title, but he bounced back by choking out Melvin Guillard in the first round this past January in his first main event in the UFC. Now he's got a huge stage to do something amazing and put himself right back in the title picture again.
Will Diaz withstand the pressure and pull out the victory under the bright lights? Can Miller play to his strengths and capitalize on Diaz's weaknesses? What's the key to victory for both men on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Nate Diaz
Record: 15-7 overall, 10-5 in the UFC
Key Wins: Donald Cerrone (UFC 141), Melvin Guillard (UFC Fight Night 25), Takanori Gomi (UFC 135)
Key Losses: Rory MacDonald (UFC 129), Gray Maynard (UFC Fight Night 20), Clay Guida (UFC 94)
How he got here: Diaz didn't take the easy road. He made his MMA debut in the WEC and by his seventh professional fight, he was fighting for the promotion's lightweight title against Hermes Franca at the Brazilian's peak, losing via submission in the second round.
Undeterred, Diaz tried out for TUF 5, the first season to showcase the lightweight division. The self-assured Stockton native was one of the season's stars, constantly arguing with castmates, guest coaches and the like. He defeated Rob Emerson, Corey Hill and most impressively Gray Maynard via submission to compete in the Finale where he would be gifted the show's championship after fellow finalist Manny Gamburyan separated his shoulder in the main event.
Diaz got off to a hot start, defeating his first five UFC opponents before being derailed by tough wrestlers Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson. After an impressive second round submission of Melvin Guillard, Diaz would lose a split decision to Maynard, which would fuel his decision to bump up a weight class.
At welterweight, Diaz stopped both Rory Markham and Marcus Davis in his first two fights. This would put him in a position against some of the toughest young 170 pounders. Diaz had trouble getting outmuscled by Dong Hyun Kim in a tightly contested match and would get tossed around the cage by Rory MacDonald in a bout where he was completely physically dominated.
This spurred the decision to return to lightweight, as suggested by his coach Cesar Gracie and Diaz was paired up against Gomi, a scrappy fighter with some serious history against his brother. The former TUF winner destroyed Gomi, crushing him in the stand up and then finishing it on the ground with a nifty armbar transition from a triangle choke. He proclaimed that he was ready for the elite 155 pounders afterward and they gave him one in Cerrone.
How he gets it done: Diaz is becoming more and more like his older brother, Nick, every time we see him in the Octagon. It appears that after starting out as more of a submission fighter earlier in his career, he wants to stand and bang now. As Nick has grown in his boxing, so has Nate. He showed remarkably similar tendencies in his striking during his last two bouts with Gomi and Cerrone: talking trash, taunting with both arms, throwing quick precision strikes and a high volume of them.
Diaz needs to keep the pressure on him in the stand-up. Miller has some improving technique, but that starts to go out the window when someone is putting a severe amount of pressure and not giving him a moment to collect his thoughts. If Miller is forced to fight on pure instinct, he could be dragged into a brawl which is exactly what Diaz wants.
If the bout goes to the ground, it will be initiated by Miller, but don't discount Diaz and his judo techniques. He's got very underrated ability to use his opponent's momentum against them and if his New Jersey opponent gets reckless shooting in for a takedown, he could either find himself reversed onto his back, stuck in a guillotine choke or even Diaz's patented double middle finger triangle choke special.
Diaz will try to keep this fight standing as long as possible and really get in Miller's face. Pure offense and high volume attacks could be what it takes to frustrate Miller and force him to make mistakes.
Jim Miller
Record: 21-3 overall, 10-2 in the UFC
Key Wins: Melvin Guillard (UFC on FX) Matt Wiman (UFC Fight for the Troops), Mark Bocek (UFC 111)
Key Losses: Ben Henderson (UFC on Versus 5), Gray Maynard (UFC 96), Frankie Edgar (Reality Fighting 14)
How he got here: Jim Miller, one of the most consistent fighters in the UFC today, got his start on the New Jersey circuit in a couple promotions, Reality Fighting, Ring of Combat, even having one fight in the IFL before making his UFC debut against David Baron at UFC 89 all the way across the pond in England.
He would win handily, tapping his opponent with a third round rear naked choke. After another impressive win over The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five alumni Matt Wiman just two months later, he would face eventual title challenger Gray Maynard at UFC 96.
Miller would be outstruck in the stand-up over the course of three rounds, losing a unanimous decision, but that loss lit a fire under him.
The AMA Fight Club fighter destroyed everyone in his path afterwards, winning seven straight in the division and vaulting his way up to one of the promotion's top lightweight contenders. He was especially impressive in catching Brazilian submission specialist Charles Oliveira with a kneebar while standing and then crushing then-undefeated WEC veteran Kamal Shalorus with a knee to the face.
Miller was out for blood with a title shot on his mind but his hopes got shot down against Ben Henderson late last year in a fight where he simply got outworked and outmuscled on the ground. He bounced back in a big way on the big stage, choking out Melvin Guillard and he'll have even more eyes on his this time, making his major network debut on Saturday night against Diaz. .
How he gets it done: The New Jersey native is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but also has a year of Division I collegiate wrestling at Virginia Tech to fall back on. He's put in a tremendous amount of time working on his striking and has become deadly with his technique, precision and power.
The Mike Constantino-trained fighter is incredibly well-rounded as a fighter and now appears to have no weaknesses in his game. What he needs to do is find Nate Diaz's weaknesses and exploit them.
Look for Miller to stand as long as he feels comfortable. He can take a shot so I won't be surprised if he trades with Diaz a bit. He's been putting a ton of time in working on his muay thai skills so don't be surprised one bit if he tries to work in some big leg kicks as Diaz does not defend them very well and has been prone to even getting staggered with them in the past.
If and when the opportunity arises, I expect Miller to shoot in deep on Diaz and take this fight to the ground. We haven't seen how the Stockton native can handle a good wrestler in his lightweight return so this will be the perfect chance for Miller to find out whether Diaz has improved enough in that department. If he puts Diaz on his back, he needs to work his ass off to keep him there and pound him while avoiding any sweeps or submissions.
Fight X-Factor: The first factor is pressure. Dana White went out and confirmed that Diaz can earn a title shot with a victory on Saturday night. Will that added pressure affect him in any way, make him fight differently and take less risks with so much on the line? Diaz doesn't seem like the type of man who would sacrifice his principals, but there's a ton of money riding on him winning and stranger things have happened.
The other factor has to be Diaz's development in his defensive wrestling. He was manhandled in his last two losses at welterweight and it was an issue for him in his first run through the lightweight division. He hasn't faced a wrestler who can grind him out and not get submitted yet since dropping down and he has a lot to prove in this fight. If he can't stop Miller from taking him down or can't get back to his feet, it could be a really long 25 minutes for the native of the 209.
Bottom Line: These are two of the most entertaining 155-pounders on the planet. This fight was given main event billing for a reason, because the UFC knows that both Miller and Diaz can bring it, have great cardio and have potential to put on an incredible fight for up to 25 minutes. I expect a ton of action, although there is some potential that Miller could take Diaz down for five rounds and keep him on his back. Even if that happens, Diaz isn't the type to just take it lying down and Miller isn't a lay-and-pray-er. I would expect submission attempts out the wazoo, aggressive ground and pound from Miller and crazy sweep attempts and guard passes. And that's the worst case scenario. Get out your popcorn folks. This one should be good.
Who will come out on top at UFC on FOX 3? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Which top lightweight contender will potentially earn a title shot with a huge main event win on the national stage?
Jim Miller
Nate Diaz
10 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC's Nick Diaz To Donate Entire BJJ Superfight Purse To Charity
The debut of the World Jiu Jitsu Expo kicks off with a bang on May 12, featuring a superfight that can only be defined as epic. UFC welterweight contender, Nick Diaz will be facing off against ADCC superstar, Braulio Estima in Long Beach, CA.
Diaz has been on hiatus from the UFC pending the outcome of his hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The date of that hearing has yet to be set, due to some legal back and forth between Diaz' attorneys and the commission.
An HD stream of the entire card, which is a very strong card, even without the superfight, will be provided by mobieblackbelt.tv and will cost $9.95. A pre-show will begin at 630 pm Pacific and the fight card will kick off at 7 pm.
The full fight card is as follows:
NICK DIAZ vs. BRAULIO ESTIMA (NO-GI)KAYRON GRACIE vs. RAFAEL LOVATO (GI)VICTOR ESTIMA vs. KRON GRACIE (GI)NINO SCHEMBRI vs. BILL COOPER (GI)KYRA GRACIE vs. ALEXIS DAVIS (NO-GI)CAIO TERRA vs. JEFF GLOVER (NO-GI)
Mobile Black Belt will be donating 10% of the PPV proceeds to charity, and Nick Diaz will also donate his entire purse to charity. Diehard jiu jitsu fans will be able to purchase the event for 30 days after the live stream, so if you happen to miss it live, you've got a month to get your fix. Tickets to the live event are also available via mobilblackbelt.tv
Posted in: diaz, nick, fight card, vs, card
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowJohnston on MMA: Is Nate better than Nick?
With a win over Jim Miller Saturday on Sportsnet, Nate Diaz could surpass his older brother Nick Diaz in terms of his pedigree in MMA.
Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, nate, term
Read the full article at sportsnet.caJohnston on MMA: The better Diaz brother
With a win over Jim Miller Saturday on Sportsnet, Nate Diaz could surpass his older brother Nick Diaz in terms of his pedigree in MMA.
Posted in: diaz, mma, diaz brother, brother, term
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNate Diaz vs Jim Miller staredown pic from UFC on FOX 3 press conference on May 3
The UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" event is still a couple of days away, but that doesn't mean main event participants Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller couldn't get together for a pre-fight staredown.
That's exactly what they did earlier today (May 3, 2012) at the Beacon Theater press conference in New York City to tie up any loose ends prior to this weekend's (May 5) lightweight showdown at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In addition to the main event match-up of Diaz vs. Miller, heavy-handed heavyweights Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson will collide, along with welterweight warmongers Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks.
Check out their staredowns -- as well as a staredown between Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher -- after the jump.
Barry vs. Johnson:
Koscheck vs. Hendricks:
Palhares vs. Belcher:
For a complete recap of the UFC on FOX 3 pre-fight press conference complete with all the relevant news, notes and quotes click here.
Posted in: diaz, vs, miller, staredown, york city
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNew Jersey approves Nick Diaz for UFC on FOX 3 second's license
NEW YORK CITY - A temporary suspension in Nevada has not prevented Nick Diaz from obtaining a second's license in New Jersey.
Diaz was approved this past week to corner his younger brother, Nate Diaz, in the main event of UFC on FOX 3, which takes place Saturday at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
"Had [the suspension] been finalized, we may have looked at it differently," New Jersey State Athletic Control Board legal counsel Nick Lembo today told MMAjunkie.com. "But at this point, the matter is under review."
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, jersey, jersey state
Read the full article at MMA JunkiePistols and Predictions - UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller featuring Ronda Rousey
It's time to raid under your parents' bed, get those guns from the shoe box and do absolutely nothing because we don't condone random acts of gun firing. If you're going to blast any firearm, we suggest you do it in a controlled environment like The Gun Store in Las Vegas. If at any circumstance you find yourself in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, then that rule does not apply. If you're under the threat of an endless amount of undead, conserve your ammo and remember that head shots are the only way to go.
In this new episode of Pistols and Predictions, Ronda Rousey takes her aim at predicting UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller through the use of very large weapons. There's even a little Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix action thrown in solely for your enjoyment. Don't forget to watch UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller this Saturday 5 pm PST/8 pm EST on FOX.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, gun, enjoyment dont
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC on Fox 3 Press Conference Video: Josh Koscheck, Nate Diaz sound off
Earlier today the UFC on Fox 3 pre-fight press conference had some entertaining statements by the fighters on Saturday night's card from New Jersey. Any UFC card that has Nate Diaz and Josh Koscheck on it is bound to have a good amount of trash talk. Much speculation has been made as to the true title implications of the May 5 card, with White earlier insinuating that Nate Diaz would earn a title shot with a win, however his opponent Jim Miller may not. When asked about this situation and if he would wait
Posted in: ufc, diaz, josh koscheck, nate diaz, ufc card
Read the full article at Low KickNate Diaz: Despite NSAC Lawsuit, Brother Nick Diaz 'Not Interested' In Fighting
NEW YORK -- It's been three months since Nick Diaz fought, three months since his forced exile from MMA following a UFC 143 post-fight drug test that came back positive for marijuana metabolites. While Diaz's legal team is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with the Nevada state athletic commission regarding a suspension, he's back home in Stockton enjoying some of his other athletic passions, including jiu-jitsu and triathlons. And judging from the comments of his brother Nate, he's not spending much time pining for a return to the octagon.
"The way things have been going since forever, I don’t think he’s interested," Nate said. "He’s not interested in fighting, but who knows what’s going to happen in the future."Nick (26-8, 1 no contest) moved to the UFC in mid-2011 and was expected to face welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre for the title before skipping two press conferences and being yanked from the bout by UFC president Dana White. Diaz's actions were costly, because though he beat BJ Penn at UFC 137, he dropped a close unanimous decision to Carlos Condit just three months later, moving him out of top contender status. That's a spot his brother could reach this weekend with a win.While Nate continues making final preparations for his UFC on FOX 3 main event matchup with Jim Miller, Nick has been training for a jiu-jitsu superfight with vaunted grappler Braulio Estima at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12 in Lon Beach, California.Nick also helped Nate prepare for this fight. As of Wednesday afternoon, Nate was not sure if Nick would make it to East Rutherford, New Jersey to support him on fight night, but if he makes it, he will be one of his cornermen for the bout. It's just one of the many things Nick has going on right now. Far from missing fighting, Nick might make fighting miss him."Most people retire but they don’t got s--- to do," Nate said. "They’re going to get fat, they’re going to get bored, they’re going to sit at home. Nick’s competing in a jiu-jitsu tournament next weekend. He just did four triathlons in the last two months, and he’s having fun, man. Staying busy."
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, month, nate
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC On Fox 3: How Does Nate Diaz Stack Up Amongst Lightweight Title Challengers
As reported by MMAFighting, Dana White confirmed today that, if he defeats Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3 Saturday night, Nate Diaz will be granted a title shot against the winner of Benson Henderson vs Frankie Edgar. The only caveat is that the fight is only a title eliminator for Diaz and not for Miller. The most obvious reason for this is that Miller just suffered a loss to current champion Henderson at UFC on Versus 5 less than a year ago, while Diaz has had two very impressive performances since his return to the lightweight division.
This announcement has been met with a bit of criticism, however. Many are questioning Diaz's credibility as a challenger when he'll only be on a three fight win streak if he manages to upset Jim Miller. The real question this brings up is who else would be a more fit challenger at this point? Right now, taking a look at the top Lightweight fighters in the UFC, there's not very many standouts:
#4 Gray Maynard vs. #6 Clay Guida
Despite Gray coming off a loss to former champion Frankie Edgar, he's still a possibility in the title picture as it's not unheard of for a former contender to get another shot after one or two wins. His likelihood as a contender most likely increases if Edgar is able to defeat Henderson in the rematch, as well. After 3 fights Maynard and Edgar are 1-1-1 and the second two matches are rightfully acclaimed as two of the best fights in recent history. That story needs an ending and those two are bound to meet again in the Octagon.
The immediate title hopes for Clay Guida, however, seem more bleak. Considering the fact that he, like Miller, is coming off a recent loss to Benson, it's far more likely that he's going to need at least one more win before the UFC tries to sell him as a contender.
#8 Anthony Pettis
After his UFC 144 Knockout win over Joe Lauzon, many people were clamoring for him to rematch Ben Henderson. Their first fight was an incredible back and forth battle where Pettis simultaneously grabbed the decision and wowed MMA fans everywhere with The Showtime Kick. On the other hand, the compelling rematch seemed to be the only strong argument for his title shot. Since winning the WEC championship at the promotion's closing event, Pettis has gone 2-1. He lost his UFC debut to the grinding wrestling of Clay Guida, but recovered with a strategic decision against Jeremy Stephens and the spectacular KO of Lauzon. While they're solid wins, that streak does not make a strong argument for a contender.
Oddly enough, that is pretty much the end of the list. Every other UFC fighter in the top 15 is coming off a loss to a higher ranked fighter. It's amazing that the division has changed so much since this time last year when there was a complete logjam of contenders waiting for Edgar and Maynard to fight.
It's still hard for me to justify Diaz's title shot here. Right now, he's on a two fight win streak that only includes Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone. Despite Gomi's success earlier in his career, he has only one impressive win in the UFC. That fight was pretty much tailor-made for Diaz to have a highlight return to the division. When Cerrone fought Diaz, he was coming off an incredible 4 fight win streak inside of a year of competition. His competition wasn't the greatest, but that kind of activity is still remarkable. Diaz exposed him as a limited striker in a clear decision victory.
Topping that streak off with a win over Jim Miller should without a doubt put Nate in title discussions, but he should need one more win before he gets it. The best case scenario in my mind would be a face-off against Anthony Pettis for number one contender. The UFC will be wasting the potential for a great fight by skipping this opportunity. The loss is doubled by the fact that Diaz will be put on the shelf for at least 6 months while he waits for Henderson vs. Edgar at UFC 150 in August.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, miller
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendNate Diaz, not Jim Miller, in line for a title-shot with win at UFC on FOX 3
UFC President Dana White has confirmed Saturday night’s main event between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller could very well provide a #1 contender in the lightweight division but only if Diaz wins. Since returning to lightweight from welterweight the 15-7 Diaz has defeated Takanori Gomi and the red-hot Donald Cerrone.
“Should Diaz win, Diaz is definitely getting a title shot,” said White in a recent conference call with media. “Should Miller win, Miller’s probably going to be a fight or two away.”
Miller (21-3) rebounded from an August 2011 loss to current UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson by submitting Melvin Guillard earlier this year. He is 8-1 in his last nine fights with the lone setback coming to the dynamic title-holder.
Diaz-Miller will face off at UFC on FOX 3 alongside other featured fights like Alan Belcher-Rousimar Palhares and Johny Hendricks-Josh Koscheck.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, miller, nate diaz, jim miller
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainLet Nate Diaz Taunt and Talk, Jim Miller Will Be Punching Him in the Face
Jim Miller isn't worried about Nate Diaz taunting him or talking to him in the cage. He grew up with two brothers and there's nothing Diaz can say to him that he hasn't already heard.
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Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, jim, jim miller, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyWith Brother Nick Sidelined, Nate Diaz Flies the Family Flag
NEW YORK -- One of the biggest misconceptions in MMA is that there is no depth to the Diaz brothers. They've been mistakenly characterized as thugs, brawlers and misanthropes, when the reality is that both are motivated, diligent workers who hold their inner circle as family, and have little need for those on the outside.While welterweight Nick Diaz is the bigger star of the two, he's also sidelined due to a suspension handed down by the Nevada state athletic commission. That leaves 27-year-old Nate Diaz as the flag-bearer of the family.There are many similarities between them. They look alike. Both are southpaws. They speak in a similar style and cadence. Neither is particularly comfortable in front of a bank of cameras, either. Indeed, it seems as if the Diaz brothers are at their best while competing.
But there is also evidence that both are at least slightly warming up to their public roles. Say what you will about Nick, but he's an absolutely riveting interview when he chooses to engage the media. And now, so too is Nate coming into his own in public speaking.On Wednesday at the Church Street Boxing Gym in downtown Manhattan, Diaz was in many ways just what we have come to expect, but in other ways completely different. He showed up over one hour past his scheduled workout time, which was perfectly Diaz of him. But then he threw a couple of curveballs. At one point, he asked the assembled media if they would stop filming the last part of his workout, the words "please" and "thank you" punctuating his request. Later, he apologized for being late and for making the media wait for him.And in between, he was genuinely engaged. Without question, there was media in that room who had previously been wondering if the wait was worth it. He's going to show up when he wants, answer a few questions, and leave, you figured.But that wasn't the case at all. Diaz (15-7) stood in front of the horde and thoughtfully answered every question that came his way.One thing he made clear: he respects his Saturday night UFC on FOX 3 opponent Jim Miller. The Diaz boys have been vocal in the past about their dislike of conservative fighting styles. They come to scrap, and they expect the same of whoever steps in the cage with them. When he looks at Miller, he sees someone who brings the same kind of intensity he does."Yeah, I can respect that he fights people," he said. "There’s these guys who come out and do a lot of boring s---. I’m like, 'What are we watching here?' I think they favor the wrestler a lot in this sport. And I think that anybody who comes down, throws some punches, does some jiu-jitsu ... I’m not hating on anyone though. You’ve got to do what you've got to do to win. If you have to hold on tight for your life or run around the ring, that’s what you've got to do. You’ve got to get paid, but I can respect a guy who’s going to come in there and fight with you a little bit."That's the Diaz way, with engaging a must, and going for the finish a cardinal rule. For this camp, he had Nick alongside of him everyday in practice, looking over him, evaluating, adjusting. In fact, he said the best part of Nick's retirement is the fact that there is more time to spend with him, saying he was receiving extra attention from "the best fighter in the world."But he also shows plenty of thought past the obvious. Like when he noted that this break was good for Nick in "letting him have some spare time to just think about other stuff, other than fighting."Nate, though, hasn't reached the point yet where he needs a similar break. Indeed, UFC president Dana White said on Wednesday that if Diaz won, he would find himself in line for a crack at the UFC lightweight championship after Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar settle their newfound rivalry.That's just fine with Diaz, who feels long ready for the opportunity."I think that I can keep up with probably anybody in the UFC, titleholder or not," he said. "I think it’s just how you’re going to perform on the day. But on my best day, I think I could beat anybody in the division."He may soon get the chance. Miller (21-3) is a venerable opponent, having gone 10-2 during his octagon run. All three of his career losses are to either former UFC lightweight champs (Edgar and Henderson) or No. 1 contenders (Gray Maynard).Diaz hopes to make it four, because that will mean that he gets to the level where he can challenge for a championship. The Diaz brothers may not voice their feelings very often, but this one comes down to family pride."I hope I can perform well because I feel like I perorm for both of us," he said. "I don’t want to let my team down, my brother down. He helps coach me, and I hope I can go out there and do good, and make everyone look good."
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, media, brother
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on FOX 3 open media workout photos gallery for 'Diaz vs Miller' in New Jersey
Mixed martial arts (MMA) shutterbug sensation, Esther Lin for MMAFighting.com, was on the scene at the Church Street Boxing Gym in lower Manhattan earlier today (May 2, 2012) to shoot several of the notable fighters who will compete on the UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" main card for the event's open media workouts.
Naturally, the two men who will collide in the main event of the evening, Nate Diaz and Jim Miller, were on the scene to promote their Lightweight clash, which now has 155-pound title implications on the line.
The other main card fighters who will be featured on the FOX broadcast -- Josh Koscheck, Johny Hendricks, Pat Barry, Lavar Johnson, Alan Belcher and Rousimar Palhares -- were also on the scene to work up one of the last few real sweats prior to fight night (May 5, 2012) at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Check out more great pics from the UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" open media workout after the jump, courtesy of Esther Lin for MMAFighting.com:
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the UFC on FOX 3 on fight night, which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on the FOX network. We'll also deliver live results from the "Prelims" bouts on FX earlier than that around 5 p.m. ET.
For more on UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" be sure to check out our complete event archive right here. To view Lin's complete photo gallery for this event CLICK HERE.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 3: Nate Diaz Scrum
Free Fight: Nate Diaz vs Kurt Pellegrino
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Posted in: fight, diaz, vs, pellegrino, rx
Read the full article at RedditNate Diaz, Johny Hendricks Guaranteed Title Opportunities With Wins at UFC on FOX 3
Are the main and co-main event of this weekend's UFC on FOX 3 lightweight and welterweight title eliminators? The answer is 'yes', but only if you're lucky enough to be named Nate Diaz or Johny Hendricks.
UFC President Dana White spoke to the media today via conference call and confirmed title opportunities were technically on the line, but the chances of Miller or Koscheck earning those shots seemed remote.
"We're in one of those situations that we were in before with [Phil] Davis and [Rashad] Evans," said White, referencing the predicament affecting the aforementioned light heavyweights heading into UFC on FOX 2. "Should Diaz win, Diaz is definitely getting a title shot. Should Miller win, Miller's probably going to be a fight or two away."
White didn't explain the calculation behind his decision. However, there is a meritorious and availability case to be made for Diaz. He's 2-0 since returning to lightweight, beating Takanori Gomi by armbar at UFC 135 and throttling Donald Cerrone en route to a unanimous decision at UFC 141.
Miller, by contrast, had a superb run in the lightweight division from UFC 100 to UFC 128, but fell short against now champion Ben Henderson at UFC on Versus 5. The AMA Fight Club-trained fighter rebounded nicely against Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX 1, but his bout with Diaz only marks only his second fight since losing to Henderson.
According to the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Rankings, Miller is ranked 5th at lightweight while Diaz checks in at 7th. There are other lightweights ahead of both Miller and Diaz, but they're all tied up in other bouts or have more recent career losses. Henderson is set to rematch Frankie Edgar at UFC 150 and Clay Guida will face off against Gray Maynard at UFC on FX 4. Guida is ranked higher than Diaz, but he and Maynard are also both coming off of losses.
As for Johny Hendricks and Josh Koscheck, White said their predicament mirrored Miller vs. Diaz. Should Hendricks win, he'd receive a title shot. Koscheck, on the other hand, would likely be required to fight and win one or two additional times.
Hendricks and Koscheck are ranked 5th and 6th, respectively, in the welterweight division. The only two fighters ahead of both are Jake Ellenberger and Nick Diaz. Ellenberger is scheduled to face Martin Kampmann at the TUF: Live Finale while Diaz is currently unable to fight until his suspension is lifted or expires in Nevada.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, miller, hendrick
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseRound 5 Releases New Series Featuring Nick Diaz
Round 5 on Monday announced the release of its "Ultimate Collector" Series 9 figurines, featuring Nick Diaz, Chris Leben, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, Don Frye, and Benson Henderson.
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Posted in: diaz, nick, release, series, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyLightweight Lie: The Winner of Jim Miller-Nate Diaz Will NOT Get a Title-Shot
This weekend two of the top lightweights in MMA will meet in headlining action on network television when Jim Miller mixes it up with Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 3. Leading up to the five-round bout fans have been led to believe the winner of the fight will emerge as the top contender in the UFC’s stacked 155-pound division. While that may sound nice and sell tickets, when examining the circumstances surrounding the match-up as well as the state of the weight-class it seems fairly clear the man emerging with his hand raised will NOT be receiving a crack at the championship in his next outing.
Lightweight title-holder Benson Henderson will put his belt on the line in mid-August against Frankie Edgar. Rest assured, if Edgar comes out with a close win Henderson will be granted the rematch he was willing to give “The Answer”. However, even if Henderson wins convincingly the bout is three months away. “Bendo” would likely need another few months off afterwards to regroup and prepare, putting Miller/Diaz in the position of sitting on the sidelines for six months while other deserving challengers emerge in the interim.
Diaz-Miller Talk Title-Shots
It also needs to be taken into account that Diaz/Miller haven’t dominated as of late. There’s no question both are sharp but Miller was handled by Henderson less than a year ago and Diaz, who is more deserving of a title-shot than Miller, lost two fights in a row at welterweight before deciding to drop down. I know the defeats can’t be held against him as much as they would be had they come at 155 pounds but it still merits consideration.
The best way for the UFC to handle the matter is to book the winner of Diaz/Miller against Anthony Pettis when he returns from injury and schedule it for around the time Edgar-Henderson face off. That fight would eliminate any debate surrounding the true #1 contender and be extremely entertaining as well. It would also keep Diaz/Miller busy instead of on the sidelines collecting dust. If not Pettis then another threat such as Edson Barboza, Clay Guida, or Gray Maynard.
Whatever happens, one thing is certain. No matter what is said don’t believe for a second Miller or Diaz will earn a title-shot on Saturday night. Nothing is guaranteed in MMA and no promise is worth a dime without it being printed on a piece of paper with a “sign here” line and the words “bout agreement” at the top.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, henderson, miller, titleshot
Read the full article at Fighters.comHistory in the Making: Nate Diaz puts on a clinic against Takanori Gomi at UFC 135
The Diaz brothers are cut from the same cloth.
Both are hard-nosed scrappers who are nearly impossible to finish; however, both have also had trouble with larger fighters who were able to keep the fight on the mat.
Such was the case with Nate Diaz's move up to welterweight. He did exceptionally well in his first two bouts, earning stoppage wins over Rory Markham and Marcus Davis, but hit brick walls in the form of Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald, the latter of which tossed Diaz around like a ragdoll.
Despite his six-foot frame, the younger Diaz didn't have the muscle or wrestling chops to crack the upper echelon of the welterweight division. So, a move back to the more natural 155-pound weight class was in order.
His first fight back at lightweight was against an old family foe, Takanori Gomi. "The Fireball Kid" and Nick Diaz clashed at PRIDE Fighting Championships' penultimate event and put on one of the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) displays in history. The Japanese fighter opened a chasm under Diaz's eye and broke his orbital bone only to fall straight into a gogoplata submission, securing the win for Stockton native.
Nearly five years later, Nate Diaz looked to pick another win for his family at UFC 135 against the former number lightweight in the world.
He steps inside the Octagon this Saturday (May 5, 2012) against Jim Miller in the main event of UFC on Fox 3 with a potential title shot on the line. But, before he does, let's examine his one-round thrashing of the Japanese champion.
Let's go:
Each fighter begins pawing their jab at each other and while Gomi's fist hangs about half a foot away from his opponent's face, Diaz is nearly tagging the Japanese fighter every time he sticks his arm forward. Gomi, thinking he might have the distance figured out, eats a straight right from the Stockton native and looks to counter with a haymaker of his own.
Instead, a quick left jab from Diaz stuns Gomi and "The Fireball Kid" drops to the mat, albeit momentarily, before getting back to his feet. Immediately, Diaz begins to stalk his opponent, backing him up against the cage and using his superior reach to his utmost advantage. A solid body punch lands for Gomi but just about everything else whiffs through the thin Denver air.
Pressure is the name of the game for Diaz, who constantly throws punches, forcing Gomi to work tirelessly to avoid getting hit. As the Japanese fighter circles away, the Stockton native moves laterally to cut off the Octagon, keeping "The Fireball Kid" with his back literally against the wall. One of Gomi's patented whirlwind right hands is dodged by Diaz who counters with a solid hook that staggers the former PRIDE champion.
Gomi answers back with another body punch but the cardio possessed by the Diaz brothers is legendary in the sport. A few punches to the ribs won't affect them one bit. The two lightweights clinch up after an exchange and Diaz really begins to open up.
Midway through the round, Diaz starts dropping his hands and taunting his opponent. He waves his hand in front of his face before popping a jab off and snapping Gomi's head back. Punch after punch land against the Japanese fighter's skull. Nearly every single strike throw connects and "The Fireball Kid" has no answer for it.
He attempts to drop to the mat for a takedown but Diaz's Brazilian jiu-jitsu training kicks in and he defends perfectly, quickly transitioning to Gomi's back. Before anything of consequence can occur, they're both back on their feet and the onslaught from the Stockton native continues. Gomi is able to get Diaz onto his back but just like older brother Nick did at PRIDE 33, the American instantly works towards a submission.
He nearly locks in a triangle choke but Gomi is able to avoid at least for a moment. As Diaz's legs begin to squeeze against his opponent's head and neck, "The Fireball Kid" shifts to his side so Diaz transitions to a perfectly executed armbar, immediately forcing a tapout.
It was a dominating return to lightweight, a performance Diaz replicated against Donald Cerrone a few months later.
Now with a possible title shot on the line, can he make it three in a row against Miller?
We'll find out on Saturday.
Posted in: diaz, fighter, gomi, punch, fireball kid
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNevada states position on Diaz suspension
MMA Fighting reports that the Attorney General of Nevada stated its position to Nick Diaz’s claim that his suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission violated state administrative laws and Diaz’s due process. In a letter which preceded Diaz’s lawsuit, the NSAC framed the suspension as “temporary” not a “summary” suspension as claimed by Diaz’s attorneys.
The Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto argues that Diaz’s lawsuit is misguided as the legal team “misunderstood” the suspension. In a letter to Diaz’s attorney, the AG explained the NSAC’s actions.
Via MMA Fighting:
“No Notice of Summary Suspension was ever served on your client,” Masto wrote. “In this matter, Mr. Diaz was properly served with a ‘Notice of Hearing on Temporary Suspension’ and he failed to appear at the hearing. The Commission temporarily suspended Mr. Diaz’s license at the hearing. Neither Mr. Diaz nor you objected in any manner to the temporary suspension.”
Under a “Summary” Suspension, the Nevada rules state that a hearing on the merits must occur within 45 days after the suspension. However, Nevada contends that the suspension was “Temporary” which does not come under the 45 day rule. A hearing on the temporary suspension was not attended by Diaz or his attorney. The Nevada AG also argues that Diaz’s failure to produce his medical marijuana card caused the delay in part. Nevada claims it will proceed with a hearing on the suspension although no date has been set. Meanwhile, the injunction hearing against the Diaz suspension will occur on May 14th.
Payout Perspective:
This post should clarify (h/t to Jonathan Tweedale) a previous tweet in which I stated that Nevada was responding to the lawsuit when in fact it was the lawsuit was the response to the letter sent by Nevada. One thing is correct from the tweet, in law, you have to read carefully. The timeline of events is important here considering Nevada’s letter to Diaz’s attorney regarding the status of suspension and the failure for Diaz to object to the suspension. Still, the Court will determine the status of the injunction on May 14th. This may clarify the status of the suspension and hopefully the commission will set a hearing date for it to hear the merits of the case.
Posted in: diaz, suspension, nevada, attorney, hearing
Read the full article at MMA PayoutDana White video blog for UFC on FOX 3: 'Diaz vs Miller' (Episode 2)
As promised, UFC President Dana White has come through with another video blog in advance of the UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" event set to take place this Sat., May 5, 2012, at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
White is back at the The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) gym to get predictions on the card from this season's coaches, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. The former has Pat Barry over Lavar Johnson, Rousimar Palhares taking out Alan Belcher, Josh Koscheck grinding out a decision over Johny Hendricks, and in the main event, Nate Diaz defeating Jim Miller.
As for Faber, he's got Johnson but only slightly, Belcher via training with Duke Roufus, Koscheck by way of knockout, and Diaz because he's "The California Kid's" boy. That works.
That leads into the behind-the-scenes look at UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans," which took place this past April 21 in Atlanta. White is shown getting treated for food poisoning and talking about nearly dying from the experience.
Finally, we see select fighters backstage dealing with the agony of defeat, including Mark Hominick, Miguel Torres, and Rashad Evans. "Suga" is especially compelling because he's shown trying to explain to his team what went wrong against Jon Jones. In short, a lot.
That's episode two, folks. Stay tuned for number three.
To watch episode one of UFC President Dana White's video blogs leading up to UFC on FOX 3 click here. And for all the latest news and notes on the "Diaz vs. Miller" event click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, miller, video blog
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNSAC responds to Nick Diaz lawsuit: 'He was properly served and failed to appear'
Yet another twist in the Nick Diaz vs. Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) saga.
After Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit back in February, one that ended all hopes for a fight between he and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, it seemed that his decision to retire couldn't have come at a better time, seeing as how many believed Diaz would be facing a drug-related suspension in his immediate future.
Just over two weeks following his controversial loss to "The Natural Born Killer," his license was indeed temporarily suspended by the NSAC while they prepared for a disciplinary meeting at a later date.
However, the NSAC also denied Diaz and his legal team a hearing which was set to be on April 24, 2012 to provide their argument that Diaz indeed qualified for a medical marijuana exemption due to his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and should not be punished for his positive drug test.
Why?
Diaz and his legal team failed to produce a medical marijuana card. Soon after, the Stockton slugger's legal team, which is headed by Ross Goodman, filed a lawsuit against the NSAC for failing to give their client his due process and grant him a hearing within 45 days from the date his suspension took place (Feb., 22. 2012).
Or did they?
According to the State of Nevada, the NSAC did nothing wrong in denying Diaz his hearing, but rather, Goodman misunderstood its ban.
Confused?
Further explanation comes via a letter that Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto sent to Ross Goodman (courtesy of MMA Fighting) after the jump:
"No Notice of Summary Suspension was ever served on your client. In this matter, Mr. Diaz was properly served with a 'Notice of Hearing on Temporary Suspension' and he failed to appear at the hearing. The Commission temporarily suspended Mr. Diaz's license at the hearing. Neither Mr. Diaz nor you objected in any manner to the temporary suspension."
Mike Chiapetta summarizes:
The letter effectively indicates that because Diaz was not given a "summary suspension," his case does not fall under Nevada code NRS 233B.127, which requires a hearing within 45 days. A separate code, NRS 467.117, indicates that the commission can " continue the suspension until it makes a final determination of any disciplinary action to be taken against the licensee or holder of the permit."
The letter also indicates that the NSAC delay in scheduling Diaz's hearing was partially his fault, caused while waiting for him to produce his medical marijuana card.
Goodman understood the suspension to be a "summary suspension." However, Nevada's state codes say that a summary suspension can only be ordered if an agency finds that: "public health, safety or welfare imperatively require emergency action."
The office of the Nevada Attorney General still plans on moving forward with a disciplinary hearing against Diaz, though no date has been established.
What's your opinion Maniacs, was this all a simple case of failure to understand the lingo and/or miscommunication?
Who's to blame in this matter?
Posted in: diaz, suspension, nsac, hearing, summary suspension
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNevada’s Attorney General Responds to Diaz Lawsuit
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto has responded to a recent lawsuit filed by UFC welterweight contender Nick Diaz’s lawyer, Ross C. Goodman, calling the move misguided. MMAFighting reports that Attorney General Masto believes Diaz’s legal team has misunderstood the type of suspension issued to the fighter.
In a reply to Diaz’s attorney, Attorney General Masto states:
“No Notice of Summary Suspension was ever served on your client. In this matter, Mr. Diaz was properly served with a ‘Notice of Hearing on Temporary Suspension’ and he failed to appear at the hearing. The Commission temporarily suspended Mr. Diaz’s license at the hearing. Neither Mr. Diaz nor you objected in any manner to the temporary suspension.”
The importance of the difference between a “summary suspension” and “temporary suspension” are very important in legal terms, since a summary suspension can only be issued for 45 days and puts the onus on the state to take action. Whereas in the case of a temporary suspension, the onus is on the suspended to take action.
The Attorney General also asserts that the blame for the delay lies with Diaz and his camp. Stating that the state has waited over a month for Diaz’s requested medical marijuana card.
The attorney general’s office announced they will continue to move forward with Diaz’s suspension.
As for the lawsuit, a hearing is set for May 14 to rule on Goodman’s request for an injunction against the state.
While it seems out of place for a State’s highest ranking legal official to become involved in what should be a simple matter handled by the state’s athletic commission. The actions of Diaz’s lawyer have forced the state’s hand after he challenged the legal authority of the Nevada State Athletic Commission to effectively regulate the sport.
Since the possible legal ramifications of Diaz’s lawsuit could result in a landmark, and possibly catastrophic, decision for the state regulation of MMA. It makes sense the case has drawn the ire of Nevada’s highest ranking legal official.
For more on this story and all things MMA, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: diaz, suspension, state, attorney, summary suspension
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNevada Fires Back At Nick Diaz Lawsuit For 'Due Process' Violation
Nick Diaz's lawyers filed a lawsuit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission last week for failing to hold a hearing over Diaz's suspension. Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his loss to Carlos Condit, since that time we've been treated to a lot of legal nonsense about why it should be okay that Diaz tested positive for substances you're not allowed to test positive for.
The NSAC responded to the Diaz lawsuit via a letter, effectively killing the entire basis of Nick's legal action. MMA Fighting got their hands on the letter and here's a bit of what it contained:
"No Notice of Summary Suspension was ever served on your client," Masto wrote. "In this matter, Mr. Diaz was properly served with a 'Notice of Hearing on Temporary Suspension' and he failed to appear at the hearing. The Commission temporarily suspended Mr. Diaz's license at the hearing. Neither Mr. Diaz nor you objected in any manner to the temporary suspension."
The letter effectively indicates that because Diaz was not given a "summary suspension," his case does not fall under Nevada code NRS 233B.127, which requires a hearing within 45 days. A separate code, NRS 467.117, indicates that the commission can " continue the suspension until it makes a final determination of any disciplinary action to be taken against the licensee or holder of the permit."
That final determination still hasn't been made, in part because the commission requested to see Nick's medical marijuana card over a month ago, yet no one on Nick's side has presented it.
In the end, Diaz's defense has always kind of been nonsense. I get that people like Nick and that marijuana being illegal to begin with is silly. But it's not like the testing procedures are particularly murky for the NSAC. Fighters are aware of what substances are and aren't allowed to pop up in your urinalysis. And if you think one may because you're using it for a legitimate reason, there are procedures you are supposed to follow to disclose it and request an exemption.
Diaz never followed any of that, instead bragging for years about how easy it is to beat the test. I've said it before, but his behavior didn't exactly reflect someone who was looking to handle the situation in the best possible way. He acted like a little kid sticking his tongue out at authority because they couldn't prove he did anything wrong.
Now he has a legal team stumbling around and doing things that seem to be really on point, but that's usually because we don't have a deep legal understanding. All the stuff about NRS 233B.127 seemed like they were on to something, but that's because no one dug through the codes to see that NRS 467.117 effectively destroyed the "due process" argument.
And the commission has made no secret for the past month that they're waiting on Diaz's team to show them his medical marijuana card so that they have all available information before deciding on his punishment. Why has no one provided that yet?
The whole situation is a mess and, frankly, kind of embarrassing. Count me among those excited for it to just be done already.
Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, hearing
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowLive Chat: Nick Diaz's Lawsuit, UFC on FOX 3 Discussion
As we all know, UFC welterweight Nick Diaz filed suit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), making him the first fighter to have that distinction (dubious or otherwise). I've noticed, though, there's a fair amount of confusion about what he's claiming in court and what the state of Nevada's response is actually saying. It's admittedly complicated, but also worth understanding.
So, join me today at 1 p.m. ET for this week's live chat. I'll answer any and all questions about the lawsuit as well as what the state's response is really all about.
But we don't have to just talk about Diaz. Anything you care about is open: Hector Lombard vs. Brian Stann, UFC on FOX 3 discussion, Mayweather vs. Cotto, or whatever else is on your mind. Don't be shy. It's your chat as much as it is mine.
Remember: you can login to the ScribblieLive service with your Facebook or Twitter accounts. If you'd rather not do that, simply use their native service. I don't care how you get involved just as long as you do.
Alright, be back here at 1 p.m. ET today. Talk with you then.
Posted in: diaz, chat, state, commission nsac, states response
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNSAC responds to prior claim made by Nick Diaz
Last week news broke that the legal team of Nick Diaz had filed a lawsuit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Stemming from his pending suspension after a failed UFC 143 drug test, the suit relies on the basis that Diaz was denied his right to due process after not being granted a hearing within the allotted 45 days of his suspension. However, the NSAC responded to the suit with a letter from attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto. The letter states that Diaz was never in fact under the
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nevada state, week news, letter states
Read the full article at Low KickVideo: Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller UFC on FOX 3 fight predictions, Jon Jones vs Alexander Gustafsson and more with the pros
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just a few days away from returning to national television when it hits the FOX airwaves with a Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller -led mixed martial arts (MMA) offering from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on May 5, 2012.
It's a pivotal Lightweight clash that has championship ramifications on the line -- the winner of the 155-pound bout will inch one step closer toward earning a title shot later this year or early next. And it's one that pits a striker with fantastic Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills (Diaz) against a strong wrestling-minded fighter who doesn't have many -- if any -- holes in his game.
Can Diaz keep the fight standing? Will Miller maul the Stockton, Calf., native with relentless ground and pound?
Several professional MMA fighters -- Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, Forrest Griffin, Rory Singer, Chael Sonen, Chidi Njokuani and Urijah Faber -- breakdown the upcoming main event, as well as provide input on the co main event between Josh Koshcheck vs. Johny Hendricks.
That's not all.
Several pros talk about Alexander Gustafsson and whether or not the Swede is a threat to current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, whose next fight is against Dan Henderson later this year, in the near future. The fellas also debate the future of Quinton Jackson and predict if "Rampage" will return to the Octagon when healthy and what we might be able to expect if and when he does.
For more on Diaz-Miller click here, Jones-Gustafsson possibilities click here and Jackson click here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, vs, click, rutherford nj
Read the full article at MMA ManiaState Of Nevada Says Nick Diaz Has No Basis For Lawsuit
Well, it appears that the saga known as Nick Diaz vs. the state of Nevada has taken another turn. Last week, Diaz filed a lawsuit against the state because he felt the suspension issued against him was violated when a hearing did not take place within 45 days. Now, as Mike Chiappetta of MMA Fighting [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, state, mike chiappetta, week diaz
Read the full article at MMA ConvertState of Nevada Rebuts Nick Diaz Lawsuit
Last Tuesday, UFC welterweight Nick Diaz filed a lawsuit against the Nevada state athletic commission, claiming that the state regulation agency violated his right to due process by declining to grant him a hearing on the status of his fighter's license within 45 days of his suspension. According to the state of Nevada's office of the attorney general, the legal move is misguided. That is because Diaz's legal team, headed by Ross C. Goodman, cited a "summary suspension" of Diaz's license. According to Nevada's state codes, a summary suspension can be ordered if an agency finds that "public health, safety or welfare imperatively require emergency action."But in a written response from Nevada attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto to Goodman and forwarded to MMA Fighting, the state of Nevada asserts that Diaz's legal team misunderstood the suspension.
"No Notice of Summary Suspension was ever served on your client," Masto wrote. "In this matter, Mr. Diaz was properly served with a 'Notice of Hearing on Temporary Suspension' and he failed to appear at the hearing. The Commission temporarily suspended Mr. Diaz’s license at the hearing. Neither Mr. Diaz nor you objected in any manner to the temporary suspension."
The letter effectively indicates that because Diaz was not given a "summary suspension," his case does not fall under Nevada code NRS 233B.127, which requires a hearing within 45 days. A separate code, NRS 467.117, indicates that the commission can " continue the suspension until it makes a final determination of any disciplinary action to be taken against the licensee or holder of the permit."The letter also indicates that the NSAC delay in scheduling Diaz's hearing was partially his fault, caused while waiting for him to produce his medical marijuana card.
"I've waited for more than a month for the card," Masto wrote.Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites on February 4, shortly after losing a UFC 143 match against Carlos Condit. On a pre-fight medical questionnaire, he denied taking any "prescribed medications" in the last two weeks. On April 4, Nevada sent Goodman a letter asking him to produce Diaz's medical marijuana card. Goodman later produced a letter from Diaz's doctor, Robert E. Sullivan, who said he had first issued a physician's statement in June 2009 which noted that Diaz had a 'serious medical condition" which would, in his professional opinion, "benefit from the use of medical cannabis." He issued a follow-up statement on Feb. 28, 2012, re-affirming the same.The Nevada attorney general's office said that they are moving forward with their complaint against Diaz, and that they would still attempt to hold a disciplinary hearing on the matter.Meanwhile, Nevada's Clark County District Court has set a May 14 hearing at 10:30 am on Goodman's request for an injunction against the suspension on Diaz's license.
Posted in: diaz, suspension, nevada, hearing, summary suspension
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC Live: Diaz vs. Miller on Sportsnet Saturday
Watch five hours of live UFC fights Saturday on Sportsnet, ending with the lightweight bout between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, miller, nate diaz, sportsnet saturday
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC Full Fight Video: Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis
Nate Diaz is getting ready to step in the Octagon with Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3, but first, check out this full UFC 118 fight video of Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis.
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate, jim miller, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklySick Nate Diaz HL by LayzieTheSavage
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Posted in: diaz, tekprodfx, nate, hl, layziethesavage
Read the full article at RedditNate Diaz fights Jim Miller this Saturday, so let's get hyped for it starting today
Nate Diaz will be the first to tell you that modern-day school lunches are based solely on surplus, not nutrition. The last time I talked to Nate, he told me America is spending more money on keeping people in prison than they are to properly feed our kids. Nate told me that food is a narcotic, so the entire country is addicted. We just need to make sure we're addicted to the right stuff, not sugar-coated lard squares. That's really the only conversations I've ever had with the Diaz brothers -- it always turns into a discussion on how food sucks which then shifts into Nick (or Nate) shadowboxing in the corner for no apparent reason. That's the Tao of the Diaz Brothers, and this Saturday we'll see Nick cornering Nate in a potential title eliminator bout against Jim Miller at UFC on FOX in East Rutherford, New Jersey. We'll be there on location, but in the meantime check out this video of Nate Diaz getting ready for his upcoming bout. It'll make your Monday morning go by just a little bit more smoothly if you do so.
Posted in: diaz, nate, nate diaz, diaz brothers, time i
Read the full article at Middle EasyThe Blueprint - Diaz vs. Miller
Very few things are certain when it comes to the UFC lightweight division. Benson Henderson is the champion. Barring injury, he will make the first defense of his crown later this year against the man he snatched it from, Frankie Edgar. Beyond that, little is cut in stone. For example, it is nearly impossible to state with certainty who sits in the number one contender spot. Is it Anthony Pettis, the last man to defeat Henderson? What about former champion and future Hall of Famer BJ Penn? Don’t pay any attention to his retirement talk. This guy will fight again. I’m as certain of that as death and taxes. What about Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, who is one of the most talented lightweights on the planet not currently competing in the UFC? Some would actually argue that he is the best of the best, period.Of course, we cannot forget perennial contenders Nate Diaz and Jim Miller. The pair will square off on in the main event of the UFC’s third live broadcast on FOX this Saturday night. Many believe that the winner will move to the head of the championship challenger queue. A boring win probably won’t “get ‘er done,” to quote Larry the Cable Guy. If, however, the winner scores a decisive victory or survives a thrilling back-and-forth war, then I definitely agree with the masses. The winner will almost certainly stand next in line.A likely title eliminator on network television in primetime. How is that for pressure? Pretty intense, isn’t it? Many fighters cave in the face of such pressure. They go out and fight not to lose, rather than fighting to win. It makes for disastrous television. While I cannot guarantee anything, it seems extremely unlikely that Diaz and Miller will do anything other than let it all hang out in front of millions of viewers in a desperate attempt to secure their first shot at a UFC championship. The statistics back up that claim, too.Diaz is one of the most decorated post-fight award winners in UFC history. More than half of his 15 trips to the Octagon resulted in an “of the night” bonus, making him one of the most thrilling fighters in the sport today. Miller doesn’t quite rise to Diaz’s level, in terms of fan-friendly outings, but he is no slouch. One quarter of his UFC bouts earned him a lucrative and career-enhancing post-fight bonus. It’s no accident that these guys are headlining UFC on FOX 3. UFC President Dana White expects it to be a barnburner, with the winner being perfectly positioned to present himself to the world as the next in line for the winner of Henderson-Edgar II.This fight is extremely easy to break down. It is the quintessential striker versus grappler bout, with a twist.There is no doubt that Diaz wants to keep the fight on the feet. His standup game, though extremely unorthodox, is one of the most effective in the division. He is basically a carbon copy of his older brother Nick. Nate walks down opponents from a southpaw stance. He paws with both hands, reaching out as if he is trying to grasp his opponent’s wrists. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he turns a paw into a slapping shot. Normally, slapping shots are ineffective. The Diaz brothers have somehow figured out how to turn those shots into whipping, effective punches. Neither has true one-punch knockout power. They instead swarm opponents and overwhelm them with activity.Nate absolutely wants to do that against Miller. His game plan is to use non-stop offense as a way to defend. He wants to keep his hands moving and completely forget about kicks, unless they are at the end of punches. That is OK because Diaz isn’t much of a kicker in the first place. He is a technically brilliant brawler who uses unyielding pressure to break an opponent’s will before breaking his body.Miller, by contrast, is more of a reactionary fighter, rather than an aggressive predator. He has serviceable standup, but his bread and butter is getting foes to the ground and either beating them up or, far more likely, using his ground-and-pound attack to force his opponent to give up his back to try and escape the onslaught and then sinking in a choke. He did exactly that in his last fight. Facing the ultra-explosive and always entertaining Melvin Guillard, Miller had to wade through extremely deep waters after getting dominated on the feet early in the first round. But before the round ended, he found a way to get it to the ground and he used his impressive ground skills to secure a submission through superior ground control and excellent grappling technique.A black belt under Jamie Cruz, Miller is a vastly underrated submission specialist. Most consider him a wrestler first. I disagree. I view him as a top-focused ground fighter, one who equally blends wrestling, BJJ and ground-and-pound. His major weakness, however, remains both his standup and his inability to really offer dangerous submissions from his back against top opponents.It stands to reason that Diaz will seek to exploit the first of those weaknesses, but won’t have the takedown chops to try and take advantage of the second. Diaz will almost certainly want to use his tremendous height and reach advantages to keep the action on the outside in order to help avoid the takedown. If the takedown comes, he won’t panic. That is the twist. Diaz is a black belt under Cesar Gracie, so he is one of the more comfortable fighters from his back in the division.I will actually take that one step further. Diaz has one of the most spectacular offensive guards in the division. He isn’t intimidated by being on his back against anyone.The reality, though, is he has struggled from his back with guys who posses great top games and very good submission defense. Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida both fit that description, and they each ground out victories over the former reality television star. Thus, it is tough to imagine him having success from his back against a top-focused fighter like Miller, who, as mentioned above, is also a black belt.Miller has only three losses in his professional career. All three came against superior wrestlers – Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard and Benson Henderson. He has faced many, many superior strikers, and has defeated each of them. That suggests that he should be able to pass the Diaz test, since the Stockton native is nowhere near Miller in terms of wrestling skills.I’m not so sure. Diaz presents a different sort of standup game than anything that Miller has ever seen before. He doesn’t overcommit, like Guillard did. He is rarely out of position. And he is becoming better and better at incorporating his sprawl into his boxing. If Diaz is able to keep the fight off the ground, he wins easy. Sure, Miller could win by shocking knockout. He blasted Kamal Shalorus out of there with a series of punches followed by a knee just over a year ago. Anyone can get knocked out on any given night in mixed martial arts. But Diaz isn’t Shalorus. And Miller isn’t winning this fight by knockout – not on the feet, at least.Can I see Diaz winning by slick submission from his back or maybe catching a standing guillotine? Sure. A Cesar Gracie black belt has the ability to win any fight by submission if an opponent makes a mistake. It just isn’t likely, because Miller is extremely good from the top.This fight is a tough fight to call, when it is all said and done. All I know for certain is that it has all the ingredients of a great fight. If forced to pick, I’m currently leaning toward Diaz. He has more tools in his arsenal, and he is arguably coming off the two most impressive performances of his professional career – utter dominations of Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone. Then again, when I started writing this piece a couple of hours ago, my mind was leaning toward Miller, a guy who has only lost once in his last nine fights. And that was to reigning champion Henderson. If he can get Diaz to the ground and keep him there, this could be one of the more intriguing and fast-paced ground battles of the year.Maybe tomorrow I’ll lean toward a draw. Who knows? Who do you think will win and why? Fill up the comment section below. I’ll be reading, as always.QUICK FACTSNate Diaz• 27 years old• 6’0• 155 lbs• 76-inch reach• 15-7 overall• 3-2 in last 5• 5-5 in last 10• 66.7% of wins by submission• 20.0% of wins by KO/TKO• 13.3% of wins by decision• Has only been stopped once as a professional, armbar loss in 2006• 53.3% of UFC fights resulted in post-fight award (Submission of the Night 3x, Fight of the Night 5x)• Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner• Current layoff is 127 days• Longest layoff of career is 310 daysJim Miller• 28 years old• 5’8, 155 lbs• 71-inch reach• 21-3 overall• 4-1 in last 5• 8-2 in last 10• 14.3% of wins by KO/TKO• 57.1% of UFC wins by submission• 28.6% of UFC wins by decision• Has never been stopped in his professional career• 25% of UFC fights resulted in post-fight award (Submission of the Night 3x, Fight of the Night)• Current layoff is 106 days• Longest layoff of career is 172 days
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, miller, •nbspnbsp
Read the full article at UFCFree fight: Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis
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Posted in: fight, diaz, vs, nate, rx
Read the full article at RedditUFC on FOX video: The Nate Diaz story
From Stockton, Calif., all the way to East Rutherford, N.J., follow along with the story of Nate Diaz as he prepares for his UFC on Fox 3 headlining bout against Jim Miller on May 5, 2012, at the IZOD Center.
On the line is a lightweight title shot, or at least that's a distinct possibility. Miller expects to get one if he wins the bout and there's an argument to be made for Diaz as well. Were he to emerge victorious, he would have three consecutive victories in one of the toughest divisions in the UFC against three game opponents, no less than two of which saw him win a bonus award.
Sounds like enough, no? Or would you Maniacs disagree with Diaz being awarded a title shot with a win over Miller?
For all the latest and greatest news and notes on the UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" event click here.
Posted in: ufc, title shot, diaz, fox, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiaz vs. Miller and Koscheck vs. Hendricks who do you have winning and why?
I have Diaz because he has looked outstanding against his last two opponents and Koscheck because I believe the change in his camp is really going to benefit him and we're going to see him better than ever submitted by MAO_ZEBONG [link] [5 comments]
Posted in: diaz, vs, koscheck, miller, camp
Read the full article at RedditNate Diaz, not title shot, the center of Jim Miller's pre-UFC on FOX 3 focus
Jim Miller has reason to be quick on his feet
against Nate Diaz, and not just because a
lightweight title shot could be on the line.
Diaz has a five-inch reach advantage to go with four inches of height.
What's more, he's just as good as his older brother, Nick Diaz, in
walking opponents down with punches.
"There are things that I'm good at," Miller said. "So that's where I'm going to try to keep the fight."
Posted in: title shot, diaz, nate diaz, line diaz, height whats
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFree UFC Fight: Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis (UFC 118)
Nate Diaz will return to action at UFC on Fox 3, looking to make another step towards a shot at the UFC Lightweight title. The man standing against Diaz in the cage will be no other than Jim Miller, who successfully bounced back from defeat to Ben Henderson with a convincing performance against Melvin Guillard.
Two years ago, Diaz stepped inside the Octagon to face Marcus Davis at UFC 118. Diaz defeated Davis via Submission at the end of Round 3, in what was without a doubt one of his best performances in
Posted in: ufc, diaz, ben henderson, melvin guillard, davi
Read the full article at Low KickUFC CENTRAL: Miller vs. Diaz predictions
A look at who should win the featured fights at UFC on FOX 3 including a bout between lightweight contenders Jim Miller and Nate Diaz.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, miller, jim
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNick Diaz Sues Nevada Athletic Commission, Requests Relief from Suspension and Disciplinary Action
UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has filed suit in Nevada District Court against the Nevada Athletic Commission, requesting relief from his ongoing suspension and any future disciplinary action by the NAC.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, commission, nevada
Read the full article at SherdogNick Diaz files lawsuit against NSAC, says he’s willing to fight again if punishment is lifted
The strange saga surrounding welterweight Nick Diaz’s status took an interesting twist this week when the controversial competitor’s legal team filed a lawsuit against the Nevada State Athletic commission, stating the regulatory board had violated Diaz’s right to due process and acted conversely to their own laws. As a result, Diaz is looking to have his “summary suspension” lifted and the case against him thrown out.
Specifically, the points Diaz’s camp has taken issue with relate NSAC’s obligation to provide him with a formal hearing within 45 days and well as a statute saying temporary suspensions are only to be issued in the interest of “preserving public health”. Diaz was forcibly sidelined in early February and, despite repeated requests, has not been given an opportunity to plea his case in front of the NSAC. Based on the regulatory board’s lack of response it has been stated Diaz is in essence “indefinitely suspended” and unable to make a living because of it.
Diaz’s disciplinary issues stem from having tested positive for marijuana metabolites after a February 4 fight with Carlos Condit. His side has argued his marijuana use is medicinal and, as he stopped smoking more than week before the fight, he did not violate any rules.
Also worth noting, in a sworn affidavit filed along with the legal documents submitted to the NSAC, Diaz stated, “If the summary suspension is set aside, I would be prepared to compete against Mr. Condit or against any other opponent deemed suitable immediately.” The statement is the first time the 28-year old has addressed the likelihood of fighting again instead of remaining prematurely retired.
It is unknown when the NSAC will address the allegations from Diaz’s counsel.
Check out full versions of the documents below thanks to SBNation by clicking on this link.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, nevada state, nsac, summary suspension, nsac diaz
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainTwitter Mailbag: Nick Diaz's Lawsuit, Brock Lesnar in the HOF, and More
After a brief hiatus, the Twitter Mailbag is back and ready to answer all your questions on topics as diverse as Hector Lombard’s chances for wearing UFC gold, to Brock Lesnar’s Hall of Fame worthiness, to what you should ask for if you want to wet your whistle in Germany.
Got a question of your own? Look me up at @BenFowlkesMMA on the old Twitter device and then fire away. In the meantime, let’s get this TMB started right, shall we?Dan Brooks @Combat_BlogWhy is Nick Diaz suing the NSAC? Could that possibly work out well for him?
In short, Nick Diaz is suing the Nevada State Athletic Commission because they won’t let him fight, and yet won’t give him a chance to make his case that he should be able to fight. As you’ll no doubt recall, he was suspended after testing positive for marijuana following his decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. That was over two months ago, but, according to Diaz’s lawsuit, "the NSAC has still not convened a hearing. Nor has a hearing been scheduled. Accordingly, the NSAC's application of NRS 233B.l27 and/or NRS 467.117 is an unconstitutional deprivation of Diaz's due process rights."Now, can that possibly work out well for him, you ask? I have no idea, but at least it’s an encouraging sign. Let’s stop for a second and just appreciate the fact that Diaz has a lawyer who is actually pursuing this thing. That would have been unimaginable a couple years ago, when the most complicated legal maneuvering he was capable of was no-showing a drug test that he knew he would fail. Now that he’s back in the UFC, he’s got a Vegas heavyweight handling his business, filing affidavits that, somewhat hilariously, quote an alternate universe Diaz as saying: "The summary suspension against me, made without any consideration of the merits of the Complaint, is the only reason I am aware of that a rematch against Mr Condit has not been scheduled. If the summary suspension is set aside, I would be prepared to compete against Mr. Condit or against any other opponent deemed suitable immediately."First of all, imagine Diaz using a word like ‘suitable’ in conversation. Imagine him referring to the guy who peppered him with "little baby leg kicks" as "Mr. Condit." It’s like trying to picture Donald Cerrone in a bowler rather than a cowboy hat: so impossibly wrong, it’s hilarious. But second, imagine what would have happened if Diaz would have been left to his own devices here. This is the guy who retired after a decision didn’t go his way. You think it was his idea to get attorney Ross Goodman in on this? I’m guessing no. I’m guessing that, if it were left up to Diaz, he would have filed a writ of ‘Eff your mother’ and called it a day. That he didn’t -- that he, in fact, enlisted the help of a professional who could at least put some pressure on the NSAC -- is a good sign. I’m not sure if it means he’ll be back in the cage against Mr. Condit any time soon, but at least it gives us reason to hope that he’s not done yet. For now, I’ll take it.Jason Rule @JasonRuleTMB? You covered Schaub a bit in your Hurt Business series. After his most recent KO where does he go? 205, back to Grudge?Who says he needs to go anywhere? Obviously it’s not a great career move (or, you know, brain move) to keep getting knocked out, but let’s not be so quick to hit the eject button on the guy. Schaub’s a talented fighter, and he was looking good against Rothwell, at least right up until he decided to plant his feet and play Rock-em, Sock-em Robots with Big Ben. With Rothwell’s chin, he can afford to play that game. With Schaub’s, probably not. Is that a problem that’s going to be solved by moving to light heavyweight, assuming Schaub could even get down to 205 pounds without donating a kidney? I doubt it. Plenty of light heavyweights can swat, and in that division Schaub loses the speed advantage he currently enjoys at heavyweight. Maybe the answer is simply using that speed advantage a little more, and brawling a little less. Schaub is a big, athletic guy who does a lot of things well. It just seems like taking blows to the head is not one of those things. I don’t know if you can build a better chin in the gym, but you can get better at preventing people from testing it.Noel Luperon @NoelLuperonhow many Ariel Helwani's does it take to change a light bulb?Just one, but it takes him three hours.Luke Williamson @ltw0303Doesnt @ufc almost have to bring King Mo back? If for any other reason to give Jones another contender after Hendo? #mailbagI broached this topic with UFC president Dana White after the recent event in Stockholm. While he still wasn’t terribly pleased with Lawal, he didn’t rule out the possibility of the former Strikeforce champ getting back in Zuffa’s good graces. White said he respected Lawal for reaching out to Nevada commissioner Pat Lundvall to apologize for his remarks on Twitter, and said we’d now have to wait and "see how this whole thing goes down." It’s not exactly an enthusiastic endorsement, but it’s not a hard no either. Personally, I think Lawal is too good a fighter not to be in the UFC. Whether he’s a legitimate challenger for Jon Jones is yet to be determined, but I hope we get the chance to see for ourselves.Maggie Hendricks @maggiehendricksIf you could match up any fiction writers (alive or dead) who, why, and who wins?Depends what kind of fight I’m in the mood for. If I want an all-out slobberknocker between two departed great ones, I match up John Steinbeck against William Faulkner. If I want something a little more tactical between two living gems, I go with Amy Hempel vs. Maile Meloy. If I want a satisfying squash match that would fit right in on a New Year’s Eve card in Tokyo, I let Ernest Hemingway punch a hole in Jonathan Safran Foer’s face. Now that I think about it, I can’t imagine a time when I wouldn’t be in the mood for that last one.Justin @JBodIn hindsight, will Rampage be remembered more as a great personality or fighter?A little of both, though I’m not sure ‘great’ is the word I’d use to describe his fighting career or his personality. Instead, I might go with ‘fascinating.’ Or even ‘enigmatic.’ Inside the cage and out, he’s always been memorable, and at times extremely frustrating. Was he a great fighter? Maybe once, and maybe he still is in brief flashes, but as Dana White recently pointed out, he never quite became the fighter he could have been. He never seemed as interested in it as we were. He wanted to make movies, to be showered with praise and never, ever called out on his often absurd behavior in public. He wanted to be champ, then he wanted to quit MMA altogether, and then he wanted to go fight outside the UFC. He changed his mind a lot, in other words, and his career trajectory looks like that of a man who couldn’t decide on what he wanted to do long enough to fully commit to doing it. That’s how I think we’ll remember Jackson when he’s gone: interesting, entertaining, and all over the place.Terry Shillito @TerryShillito#twittermailbag I don't think we've heard your take on MMA in the olympics. Should it be in? Do they copy boxing? Etc.
The UFC knows it would be a great feather in its cap to get MMA into the Olympics, but I don’t think many fans realize that it wouldn’t be as fun in practice as it is in theory. Look at Olympic boxing, for instance. Between the head gear and the limited rounds, it’s so different from pro boxing that it’s practically a different sport altogether. The same would probably be true for MMA, since few fighters would want to take elbows to the head without getting a paycheck at the end of the night. Could it become an interesting way for amateur MMA fighters to make a name for themselves before going pro? Maybe. But if you think you’re going to see Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen go five rounds with a gold medal on the line, you’re kidding yourself.
_ajP @_ajpWith the NFL draft upon on us, if you were the UFC, who would your #1 pick be from outside the org to come to UFC and why?Does Strikeforce count as an outside organization? If so, with the first pick in the 2012 purely fictional UFC draft, I select Gilbert Melendez, lightweight, of San Francisco, California. With my second pick, I select Luke Rockhold, middleweight, of San Jose, California. With my third pick, I trade some of next year’s picks to get the duo of Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett. I don’t even care who wins that fight, both of them deserve to be in the UFC. And besides, I plan to resign as fictional GM of the UFC after this season, so let the next guy worry about all the fictional draft picks I gave up. Sucker.A Fragile Smile @AFragileSmiledo you think Brock Lesnar is UFC HOF worthy?Nope. Assuming he stays retired from MMA (and I think he will), he’s a 5-3 fighter with a career that lasted just a little over four years. Granted, he became UFC heavyweight champ in that time, and he brought a lot of mainstream attention to the sport, but that still doesn’t make him one of the all-time greats. It makes him a useful PR tool and an interesting guy to have around, at least for a little while. Shouldn’t a Hall of Famer be more than that? Shouldn’t he be one of MMA’s best, and not just one of the sport’s most popular?I think so, but then again, MMA doesn’t have a Hall of Fame right now -- the UFC does. The UFC decides who gets in and who stays out, and it makes those decisions all on its own, and for its own reasons. That’s its prerogative as a private organization, but we shouldn’t confuse it for the real thing. It’s not the same as what happens in Cooperstown or Canton, so we shouldn’t put too much stock in it either way. Some day soon, I hope, MMA will have a real Hall of Fame. In the meantime, the discussion surrounding the UFC’s HOF doesn’t mean a whole lot.Matt Giesbrecht @MattGiesbrechtWhat season on TUF is your favourite and why?Without a doubt, it’s season four: "The Comeback." What’s not to love there? You had Shonie Carter putting bling stones on everything, Matt Serra being the most obnoxiously effective (effectively obnoxious?) cornerman in the world, plus a little Chris Lytle and Jorge Rivera thrown in for good measure. All that, plus it was the season where Georges St-Pierre learned to be a pimp from the man who dressed like that because he did the damn thing. Sorry, but it’s going to take more than some tired locker room pranks to top that.Dylan Lippincott @dylanlipWhat's next for rashad? Does he rematch machida? At 32 how much time is left.I wouldn’t mind seeing another Evans-Machida fight, if only because I’d like to know if one of MMA’s most gruesome-looking knockouts could possibly be replicated. And besides, what else is either one of them supposed to do right now? But even if Evans won that rematch with Machida we’d find ourselves right back at more or less the same point, wondering what’s next. I don’t think the clock is running out on Evans just yet. His style should give him a little more longevity than the brawlers of the MMA world typically enjoy, and it’s not like he’s been pushed into a premature old age by a bunch of bad beatings. It’s just that, as long as Evans and Jon Jones are in the same weight class, it seems unlikely that he’ll ever fight for UFC gold again. That’s why, if he thinks he can manage it, now’s the time for Evans to move down to middleweight and take his chances. The cut will only get harder as he gets older, and there isn’t much left at light heavyweight except some just-for-the-hell-of-it bouts against others who are in the same position. That’s not a bad way to get paid for a little while, but it’s not much of a long-term strategy. If Evans wants a shot at being champ again, he’s either got to drop weight classes or else hang around and hope that Jones moves up to heavyweight while they’re both still young. James @lightbluesheepBest beer (or beverage) on your recent European trip? #mailbagWhile in Hamburg I had a delicious local beer by the name of Astra that I highly recommend if you ever get out that way. If you make it to Frankfurt, you’ve got to try the Apfelwein. If you go to Sweden, however, just do what the Swedes do and travel to Denmark for good, reasonably priced drinks. Your wallet will thank you.Deadpanda @DeadpandaCPDoes 5'9 Lombard honestly stand a chance of getting UFC gold when he's an Umpa Lumpa standing next to 6'2 Silva? #reachmattersFirst of all, how much longer do you think Anderson Silva is going to hang around in this sport? A year, maybe two? The man is 37 years old and closing in on what might be his last meaningful title defense. While he probably could keep fighting on into his 40s, it doesn’t seem like he necessarily wants to.But I digress. Your question was about Hector Lombard, and whether a relatively short middleweight can find success in the UFC’s 185-pound division. It’s true that he’s going to be giving up some height and reach against guys like Brian Stann, Chael Sonnen, or Yushin Okami, all of whom are big dudes. Then again, Lombard’s dealt with that before. What he hasn’t done is taken on any of the division’s elite fighters. Not yet. Lombard’s got a great record on paper, but who’s the best fighter he’s beaten? He’s spent the last several years throttling guys who either weren’t good enough for the UFC or weren’t good enough to stay in the UFC. That makes it tough to know what he’s really capable of, though he is an exciting fighter and a fun addition to a division that could use a little fresh blood. All I’m saying is, let’s see him beat a credible contender in the UFC before we start matching him up against the champ in our heads. Let’s also not assume that we know who the champ will be a year or so from now.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fighter, hersquo, itrsquo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz Will Be Allowed to Corner Brother Nate at UFC on Fox 3 Next Saturday
Despite having his issues with another state athletic commission, Nick Diaz has no problems with New Jersey’s athletic commission, as the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board will allow Diaz to corner his brother Nate at UFC on Fox 3 in East Rutherford on May 5th. Nate is fighting in the main event against Jim Miller in a five-round affair to determine the number one contender in the lightweight division.
Nick Diaz is currently under suspension with the Nevada Athletic Commission following a failed drug test after UFC 143 in February. However, the NJSACB will not hold that against Diaz, as they have issued a corner’s license for next weekend’s fight.
This was first reported by MMAWeekly.
This news comes just hours after Diaz and his representatives announced that they are suing the Nevada Athletic Commission due to the way the commission has handled Nick Diaz’s case following his suspension. Diaz was originally set to meet with the NSAC at the scheduled meeting on April 24th, but the NSAC denied that opportunity.
UFC on Fox 3 takes place next Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. For complete coverage, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, commission, control board
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNick Diaz Announces Lawsuit Against NSAC, Mentions Octagon Return Vs. Carlos Condit
It appears retirement is not something Nick Diaz plans on sticking to. Recently, Diaz announced that he has filed a lawsuit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission following his post-fight drug test that came back with traces of marijuana in his system. NSAC has yet to hold a hearing for the test, so Diaz feels [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, nevada state, system nsac
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz Sues the Nevada State Athletic Commission
Suspended UFC welterweight Nick Diaz is suing the Nevada State Athletic Commission over alleged Due Process violations. Diaz’s lawyer, Ross Goodman, filed the complaint on Tuesday April 24, the same day NSAC denied the license of Alistair Overeem.
MMAFighting reports the lawsuit pertains to NSAC’s handling of Nick Diaz’s UFC 143 drug test, which tested positive for marijuana metabolites. Diaz has remained under a summary suspension since the failed test.
The lawsuit is seeking to grant a stay of Diaz’s suspension and prevent NSAC from taking any further disciplinary action on Diaz. Diaz’s complaint also asserts that NSAC violated his due process by not promptly granting him a hearing related to the disciplinary action taken against him.
Diaz is alleging that since NSAC has not granted him a hearing within 45 days of the start of summary suspension, he has technically been issued an indefinite suspension. The indefinite suspension would be a violation of NRS 233B.127, a statute that states:
Under NRS 233B.127, which applies to all revocations, suspensions, annulments and withdrawals of licenses (including licenses issued by the NSAC), [p]roceedings relating to the order of summary suspension must be instituted and determined within 45 days after the date of the [suspension] unless the agency and the licensee mutually agree in writing to a longer period.
The lawsuit claims that Diaz and his counsel have made attempts to reach NSAC to set a meeting without response from NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer.
Diaz also claims a breach of statute NRS 467.117, which states that a suspension may only be issued when it is necessary to protect the “public welfare.” To put it simply, his lawyers are arguing that any type of suspension is unlawful since Diaz does not threaten the public welfare.
Diaz’s lawsuit also seeks to prevent NSAC from issuing any sort of suspension since they allege NSAC has lost any jurisdiction in the case.
Finally, Diaz’s lawyers contend that NSAC has violated the Due Process clause of the 14th Amendment by suspending Diaz. Section one of the amendment states:
“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”
If the court were to rule in favor of Diaz, it would be a crippling blow to the ability of the commissions to oversee regulation of the sport.
What started as a simple positive drug test could now effectively turn into one of the biggest landmark cases in MMA history as it not only challenges NSAC but also challenges the constitutionality of the commission’s ability to regulate the sport of MMA.
What is odd about the complaint is that it makes no reference to the merits of NSAC’s original complaint against Diaz. What is also strange, is that Diaz’s counsel makes no mention of the fact that Christopher Eccles, the Nevada Deputy Attorney General, declined Diaz’s request for a spot on the April 24 agenda because Diaz had yet to submit a crucial bit of evidence to NSAC prior to the meeting. The evidence in question, Diaz’s medicinal marijuana card, has been requested for weeks by NSAC and is a considered an important aspect of the case.
Also of note, is that an affidavit signed by Nick Diaz states the only reason a rematch between him and UFC 143 opponent Carlos Condit has not be scheduled is due to the suspension. The affidavit states that without the suspension Diaz would be prepared to fight “immediately.”
The affidavit would contradict his “retirement” after UFC 143 and his brother’s, UFC lightweight contender Nate Diaz, recent comments on a recent conference call where he stated “it’s triathlon season. I don’t think [Nick's] really interested in fighting right now. As of right now, [nothing’s changed].”
Only one thing is certain in this situation, this case is sure to take a few more twists and turns in the coming weeks.
Posted in: diaz, suspension, state, nsac, summary suspension
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyMorning Report: Nick Diaz Sues the NSAC, Says He Would Fight Carlos Condit 'Immediately'
Last night Nick Diaz became the first mixed martial arts fighter in history to sue the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Now, on a scale of 1-to-10, my guess is that sentence wasn't nearly as surprising as it probably should've been. One of Bill Simmons' most popular sportswriting memes is the ‘Tyson Zone,' which signifies an athlete whose behavior becomes so outrageous, an individual would believe any story about the athlete, regardless of how odd it may seem. Well, if Diaz hadn't reached the Tyson Zone before yesterday, he certainly has now. (Say I told you Diaz went out, bought an elephant, got it high just 'cause, then pawned it at a thrift store. You'd believe me, ergo, Tyson Zone.)
Besides its audaciousness, this lawsuit is fascinating for three reasons:
1.) Diaz may actually have a very real, very legitimate case here. Under Nevada law, the commission is required to "determine the outcome through proceedings related to the order of a summary suspension within 45 days of the date of the suspension." Despite protests from Deputy Attorney General Chris Eccles that Diaz would not be heard until his medical marijuana card was produced, the lawsuit maintains that "Diaz and his lawyers made repeated attempts to reach the NSAC to obtain a formal hearing to finally adjudicate the NSAC's complaint without any response from Executive Director of the NSAC Keith Kizer." If that is indeed true, Diaz's case immediately becomes a very sharp thorn in the side of the NSAC.
2.) The precedent this could set has the potential to be resounding. While Diaz's case is an extremely centralized one, a victory would go a long way to shattering any remaining sense of invincibility that exists behind the commission. Diaz fought the law and Diaz won. That message cannot be overstated.
3.) On the same day his brother says Diaz just isn't that interested in fighting right now, Nick states in a sworn affidavit that he "would be prepared to compete against Mr. Condit or against any other opponent deemed suitable immediately." Now, even if the idea of Diaz referring to Carlos as Mr. Condit is laughable, the significance behind his words is clear. Diaz is still angry at how UFC 143 went down. He's far from retired. And he wants revenge.
When it comes down to it, as someone who personally loves watching the violence Diaz brings with him to the cage, isn't that really the most important part of all this?
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MEDIA STEW
This feels appropriate given the circumstances.
It's unbelievable, but this seems to be a video of Alistair Overeem visiting his testosterone-happy doctor, Hector Oscar Molina. Even Tra Telligman, the former fighter who Overeem says hooked him up with Molina, makes an appearance. (HT: MMA Mania)
Since his Overeem-dos Santos promo quickly became outdated, NickTheFace stepped up his game to pump out this Tarantino inspired Mir-dos Santos trailer.
Regardless of political affiliation, we can all appreciate this Chris Lytle campaign ad for his run to the Indiana State Senate. (HT: MiddleEasy)
That has to be the most boss warzone watch ever. Seriously, look at the size of that thing. Click for larger size. (HT: MiddleEasy)
BIG NIGHT FOR THE JONES'
Draft party at the semi-finished Bone Caveyfrog.us/65911z
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) April 27, 2012
Congratulations to the new New England Patriot @ChanJones99
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) April 27, 2012
Chandler Jones, Jon Jones' brother, went 1st round to the @Patriots. Im so pumped!!! Congrats Jones family!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 27, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, April 26, 2012):
- Bellator 68: Marcos Galvao (11-5-1) vs. Travis Marx (19-3)
- Bellator 68: Carmelo Marrero (14-5) vs. Seth Petruzelli (14-6)
- Bellator 68: Jacob Kirwan (9-4) vs. Don Carlo-Clauss (8-6)
- Bellator 68: Marcin Held (12-2) vs. Derrick Kennington (6-2)
- Bellator 68: Claudio Ledesma (6-2) vs. Anthony Leone (10-5)
- Bellator 68: Francois Ambang (1-3-1) vs. Gregory Milliard (2-2)
- Bellator 68: Jesus Martinez (6-2) vs. Aung La Nsang (9-7)
- Bellator 68: Eddie Fyvie (9-5) vs. Jeff Lentz (9-2-1)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day is a heartfelt open letter from BE's benten20: Thank You MMA for everything: A letter of thanks
Most of the time we all joke around on here but every once in a while, someone posts a serious fanpost about themselves or some other serious matter. This fanpost is about what the sport of Mixed Martial Arts means to me and what is has done for me. For most of my school life in both elementary school and high school, I was bullied. Physical, verbal, and mental abuse which only got worse as the years progressed. It got so bad I felt i had to go a high school that was out of Brooklyn just to make sure no one from my old school would be there.
Turns out that being the short chunky kid who is not good at sports and is a nerd isn't the best combination for making friends. 9th and 10th grade were two of the worst years of my life as i was constantly picked on a belittled. I had my head slammed into a concrete wall, was thrown out of a moving van, pushed down a staircase and I'm leaving out the mental and verbal abuse. By 11th grade I hit my growth spurt and starting pumping iron. Towards the end of the year, people seemed to curiously stop picking on me. I began to think maybe things would change.
Turns out that didn't happen as there is always someone who's bigger and stronger. By 12th grade i was probably one of the bigger guys but this one guy made my life a living hell. He abused me and made me his rag doll nearly breaking my neck. He broke my phone and told me it was my fault for being in his way. Just for good measure he stole the only girl that i was ever close with. I figured it was just him but turns out lots of people had to join however they can as someone made a poll with the title: should Ben kill himself. By the time high school finished i had no confidence in anything I did. I was an empty shell who didn't care about life.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in Monday's post.
Posted in: bellator, diaz, jone, vs, school
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDiaz sues Nevada State Athletic Commission
MMA Fighting reports that Nick Diaz has filed a lawsuit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission. In addition, Diaz’s attorney filed a preliminary injunction which would stay Diaz’s suspension related to his failed drug test from UFC 143.
Via MMA Fighting:
The suit is asking the court to immediately stay the summary suspension handed out to Diaz by the NSAC as well as to enjoin the NSAC from going ahead in any further disciplinary proceedings. Diaz’s complaint also asks the court to declare his due process rights have been violated by the NSAC’s failure to promptly convene a hearing to determine the merits of the disciplinary complaint against him.
Diaz – Prelim Injunction
Diaz vs. NSAC
Diaz’s attorney stated that according to statute, Diaz’s disciplinary hearing must have been heard within 45 days of the temporary suspension or it would consider the complaint dismissed. However, Diaz failed to appear at a temporary suspension hearing according to the NSAC.
Payout Perspective:
This will be interesting to see how the court rules on April 14th – the date of the preliminary injunction hearing. Diaz is not challenging the merits of the NSAC’s complaint, but the process. This could have major implications for the NSAC and athletic commissions on a broader scale as it relates to how it governs.
Diaz indicates that he is ready to fight immediately if the suspension is lifted. This could be helpful for the UFC for its late summer/fall schedule as a rematch with Carlos Condit would fill a PPV main event in prelude to a GSP showdown in Montreal.
Posted in: diaz, suspension, nevada state, nsac, hearing
Read the full article at MMA PayoutNick Diaz sues Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), ready to rematch Carlos Condit as soon as possible
Due process? More like overdue process, amirite?
Nick Diaz was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after testing positive for marijuana metabolites following his five round unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, which was held on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The former Strikeforce middleweight champion has a prescription for medical marijuana after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is legal in both Nevada and his home state of California.
He was going to use that as part of his defense at his hearing in front of the NSAC, too, if they had ever actually scheduled him one. The reason one wasn't scheduled? The State Attorney General requested a copy of Diaz's medical card prior to locking down a date.
No card was produced. Instead, Diaz's legal team, led by Ross Goodman, spent their time drawing up a lawsuit for violations of statutory law and Diaz's Constitutional rights to Due Process.
MMAFighting.com has the details:
Diaz's suit centers on three allegations, two of which relate to statutory complaints for which he seeks injunctive relief -- namely, to have the temporary suspension lifted and to not be required to go any further punitive proceedings. The other allegation focuses on Diaz's due process rights, the NSAC's violation of which entitles Diaz to both injunctive and declaratory relief, according to the lawsuit.
Diaz is arguing the NSAC is in violation of two statutory codes. First, statutory code NRS 233B, requires the commission to determine the outcome through proceedings related to the order of a summary suspension within 45 days of the date of the suspension.
Diaz and his lawyers argue this term has passed without any date set for a hearing. "Diaz's license has, in effect, been suspended indefinitely," says the lawsuit, "in the absence of any adverse findings having been made against him by the NSAC."
...
Diaz's complaint also cites breach of statute NRS 467.117, which requires that a "temporary suspension may be made only where the action is necessary to protect the public welfare". In other words, Diaz's temporary suspension is unlawful because no basis has been established that demonstrates suspending Diaz was done as a matter of preserving public health.
Citing the alleged violation of these two statutes by the NSAC, Diaz's complaint asks the court to enjoin NSAC from proceeding with any further punitive proceedings because "the NSAC has lost statutory jurisdiction to proceed with the complaint."
For those of you not well versed in legal mumbo jumbo, the gist of the situation is this: Diaz was suspended unlawfully in the first place but even then, the NSAC was required to give him a hearing within 45 days of said suspension. They failed to do so and because of that, the entire case should be dismissed and Diaz should be allowed to go back to work immediately.
Now, this would set one hell of a precedent if Diaz is successful, which he could very well be considering his case his solid. We knew hiring Ross Goodman meant the Stockton slugger wasn't playing around but these folks mean business.
Or, at least, they just want to let Diaz get back to his business, which is battling it out inside the Octagon for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and its fans.
To that end, Diaz has thrown any and all retirement talk out the window. Not only that, he's now ready to rematch Carlos Condit for the right to fight UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre once he's healthy.
"On February 7th, 2012, the UFC's President publicly announced that Mr. Condit agreed to an immediate rematch against me. It is my understanding that the winner of that rematch will be offered a contest against Georges St-Pierre, the current UFC welterweight champion. The summary suspension against me, made without any consideration of the merits of the Complaint, is the only reason I am aware of that a rematch against Mr Condit has not been scheduled. If the summary suspension is set aside, I would be prepared to compete against Mr. Condit or against any other opponent deemed suitable immediately."
It wouldn't be a day in the life of Nick Diaz if there wasn't some measure of insanity, right?
Posted in: diaz, suspension, rematch, condit, nsac
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz Files Lawsuit against Nevada Commission
Nick Diaz may not be fighting in the Octagon any time soon, but that doesn't mean he isn't looking for a fight.
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Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC's Nick Diaz Sues The NSAC
MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas is reporting that suspended UFC Welterweight Nick Diaz has filed suit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for violating his due process rights. Diaz was suspended for failing a post-fight drug test following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title.
Diaz was found to have marijuana metabolites in his urine. His lawyer, Ross Goodman, has been attempting to push a line of defense first devised by Vancouver Athletic Commissioner John Tweedale in a guest op-ed for Bloody Elbow. Namely that the presence of marijuana metabolites does nothing to indicate that Diaz was intoxicated during the fight and pointing out that the NSAC rules only forbid intoxication and not pre-fight usage. Diaz claims he quit smoking for 8 days before the bout. He also claims he has a medical marijuana card in California.
Diaz had hoped to get a hearing at the April 24th meeting of the NSAC earlier this week but did not manage to get on the Commission's agenda. There appeared to be something of a push-and-pull between Diaz' lawyer and the commission regarding Diaz' failure to produce his California's doctor's recommendation that he use medical marijuana.
We'll look at the points of Diaz' complain after the jump...
Luke Thomas breaks down the suit at MMA Fighting:
Diaz's suit centers on three allegations, two of which relate to statutory complaints for which he seeks injunctive relief -- namely, to have the temporary suspension lifted and to not be required to go any further punitive proceedings. The other allegation focuses on Diaz's due process rights, the NSAC's violation of which entitles Diaz to both injunctive and declaratory relief, according to the lawsuit.
Diaz is arguing the NSAC is in violation of two statutory codes. First, statutory code NRS 233B, requires the commission to determine the outcome through proceedings related to the order of a summary suspension within 45 days of the date of the suspension.
Diaz and his lawyers argue this term has passed without any date set for a hearing. "Diaz's license has, in effect, been suspended indefinitely," says the lawsuit, "in the absence of any adverse findings having been made against him by the NSAC."
...
Diaz's complaint also cites breach of statute NRS 467.117, which requires that a "temporary suspension may be made only where the action is necessary to protect the public welfare". In other words, Diaz's temporary suspension is unlawful because no basis has been established that demonstrates suspending Diaz was done as a matter of preserving public health.
Citing the alleged violation of these two statutes by the NSAC, Diaz's complaint asks the court to enjoin NSAC from proceeding with any further punitive proceedings because "the NSAC has lost statutory jurisdiction to proceed with the complaint."
Time will tell if this is a shrewd move by Diaz' legal team or a self-defeating mistake.
Posted in: diaz, suspension, complaint, nsac, marijuana metabolites
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz sues Nevada State Athletic Commission, seeks dismissal of suspension
Retired UFC welterweight Nick Diaz is looking for his day in court.
Diaz's lawyer, Ross Goodman, on Tuesday filed suit against the Nevada
State Athletic Commission seeking relief for his client against a
temporary suspension the camp feels is unlawful.
The lawsuit was first reported by MMAFighting.com.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, nevada state, nevada
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNick Diaz Sues Nevada Athletic Commission, Claims Due Process Rights Violated
UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has filed a lawsuit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for alleged violations of statutory law and his Constitutional rights to Due Process.
Diaz, acting through his lawyer Ross C. Goodman, filed it in Nevada on Tuesday, April 24th. Diaz's motion for a preliminary injunction was filed today.
The lawsuit is related to a failed drug test by Diaz that was conducted by the NSAC. It was announced on Feb. 9th the Stockton, Calif. native tested positive for marijuana metabolites from a test administered after his UFC 143 bout with Carlos Condit. He was subsequently given a summary suspension by the NSAC.
The suit is asking the court to immediately stay the summary suspension handed out to Diaz by the NSAC as well as to enjoin the NSAC from going ahead in any further disciplinary proceedings. Diaz's complaint also asks the court to declare his due process rights have been violated by the NSAC's failure to promptly convene a hearing to determine the merits of the disciplinary complaint against him.
Diaz's suit centers on three allegations, two of which relate to statutory complaints for which he seeks injunctive relief -- namely, to have the temporary suspension lifted and to not be required to go any further punitive proceedings. The other allegation focuses on Diaz's due process rights, the NSAC's violation of which entitles Diaz to both injunctive and declaratory relief, according to the lawsuit.
Diaz is arguing the NSAC is in violation of two statutory codes. First, statutory code NRS 233B, requires the commission to determine the outcome through proceedings related to the order of a summary suspension within 45 days of the date of the suspension.
Diaz and his lawyers argue this term has passed without any date set for a hearing. "Diaz's license has, in effect, been suspended indefinitely," says the lawsuit, "in the absence of any adverse findings having been made against him by the NSAC."
"Under NRS 233B.127, which applies to all revocations, suspensions, annulments and withdrawals of licenses (including licenses issued by the NSAC), [p]roceedings relating to the order of summary suspension must be instituted and determined within 45 days after the date of the [suspension] unless the agency and the licensee mutually agree in writing to a longer period."
The lawsuit claims Diaz and his lawyers made repeated attempts to reach the NSAC to obtain a formal hearing to finally adjudicate the NSAC's complaint without any response from Executive Director of the NSAC Keith Kizer.
Diaz's complaint also cites breach of statute NRS 467.117, which requires that a "temporary suspension may be made only where the action is necessary to protect the public welfare". In other words, Diaz's temporary suspension is unlawful because no basis has been established that demonstrates suspending Diaz was done as a matter of preserving public health.
Citing the alleged violation of these two statutes by the NSAC, Diaz's complaint asks the court to enjoin NSAC from proceeding with any further punitive proceedings because "the NSAC has lost statutory jurisdiction to proceed with the complaint."
The former Strikeforce welterweight champion is also claiming his Constitutional rights to due process were violated by the NSAC's lack of action in the face of temporary suspension. As it relates to due process, Diaz's complaint argues "The Due Process Clause requires that a statutory provision permitting a temporary suspension pending final determination requires a promptly convened final hearing to determine the merits of a disciplinary complaint."More than two months have passed since the temporary suspension of Diaz's license was effected by the NSAC, yet "the NSAC has still not convened a hearing. Nor has a hearing been scheduled. Accordingly, the NSAC's application of NRS 233B.l27 and/or NRS 467.117 is an unconstitutional deprivation of Diaz's due process rights."
To be clear, Diaz's lawsuit is not asking the court to make a determination about the merits of the commission's original complaint against him for testing positive for marijuana metabolites, but the effects could still be far reaching. If the court agrees with Diaz's complaint, it could limit the commission's ability to effect temporary suspensions and alter other commission practices with respect to all fighters who compete in the state of Nevada.
Such a possibility makes Diaz's lawsuit novel in MMA for two reasons. No MMA fighter has ever sued an athletic commission, although boxers have done so on numerous occasions. More importantly, Diaz's lawsuit writ large would challenge the very method by which the NSAC is allowed to temporarily suspend all fighters and hold them subject to further review.
Seemingly for the first time in history, an athlete is asking a court to put under a microscope the commission's practices and is asking a court to find those practices unlawful in a way that would force a major shift for the commission to continue its oversight responsibilities.
Diaz's motion for a preliminary injunction staying the suspension and the NSAC's disciplinary proceedings is set to be heard on Monday, May 14th.
The entire complaint from Diaz's lawyer is available for viewing. The motion for preliminary injunction, including Diaz's sworn affidavit, is also available.
In that sworn affidavit, Diaz states he is 'immediately' prepared to fight again if his summary suspension is lifted. "On February 7th, 2012, the UFC's President publicly announced that Mr. Condit agreed to an immediate rematch against me. It is my understanding that the winner of that rematch will be offered a contest against Georges St-Pierre, the current UFC welterweight champion," said Diaz.
"The summary suspension against me, made without any consideration of the merits of the Complaint, is the only reason I am aware of that a rematch against Mr Condit has not been scheduled. If the summary suspension is set aside, I would be prepared to compete against Mr. Condit or against any other opponent deemed suitable immediately."
Posted in: diaz, suspension, commission, complaint, nsac
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC On FOX: Diaz Vs. Miller Press Conference Notes
After taking several weeks off in regards to events, the UFC is right back in the swing of things with a press conference for UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller Thursday. The card takes place May 5 from East Rutherford, New Jersey. In the main event Jim Miller and Nate Diaz will meet in a [...]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, press conference, miller, nate diaz
Read the full article at MMA ConvertTitle shot next for UFC on FOX 3 headliner, according to Nate Diaz
A lightweight tilt between standouts Jim Miller and
Nate Diaz hasn't officially been dubbed a title
eliminator.
Unofficially, it may be a different story.
"That's what I was told was happening," said Diaz, who on May 5 headlines UFC on FOX 3 opposite Miller.
Posted in: title shot, diaz, nate diaz, title eliminator, story thats
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNate Diaz Says Brother Nick Diaz Not That Interested in Fighting Right Now
Two months have passed and the status of Nick Diaz remains as much a question mark as it was on the night of UFC 143, when Diaz stunned spectators by retiring from mixed martial arts after expressing disgust at the judging for his interim title loss to Carlos Condit.
With Diaz still in his prime at 28 years old, many, including UFC President Dana White, believe the impulsive retirement to only be temporary. However, the man closest to Diaz, his younger brother UFC lightweight contender Nate Diaz, has rebuffed those sentiments in the past, stating that he believes the former Strikeforce champion is unlikely to change his mind.
On Thursday afternoon, Nate reiterated those feelings, explaining that his brother has other priorities besides a return to MMA.
"He's busy right now. He's got triathlon season," Diaz revealed to MMAFighting.com. "I don't think he's really that interested in fighting. So as of right now, no."
Further complicating matters, Nick remains caught in a tenuous battle with the Nevada State Athletic Commission stemming from a positive test for marijuana metabolites following UFC 143.
Diaz' lawyer Ross Goodman contends that the presence of marijuana metabolites do not qualify as a prohibited substance as Diaz possesses a legal medical marijuana card, and that Diaz' usage was stopped eight days before for the fight, and thus should be considered out of competition.
Diaz is currently scheduled to meet Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Braulio Estima in a 180-pound BJJ superfight at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12 in Long Beach, CA.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, marijuana, he, marijuana metabolites
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller Real Time Conference Call Highlights
The UFC is set to return to network television in a little more than a week with a fantastic card featuring a pair of contender-laden co-headliners in addition to a handful of other fan-friendly matches.
At the top of lineup is a bout between lightweights Nate Diaz and Jim Miller who will be battling it out for a title-shot, each an accomplished grappler with wins over a number of respected 155-pound peers. Before Miller-Diaz mix it up, top welterweights Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks will throw down with the winner likely moving a single victory away from earning a championship opportunity of his own.
Other scheduled scraps for the May 5 show include those between Alan Belcher-Rousimar Palhares and Pat Barry-Lavar Johnson.
Before taking to the Octagon a week from Saturday night, the quartet of co-headlining competitors will dial in to discuss their upcoming fights during a conference call with media starting today at 1:30 PM EST. As usual, Five Ounces of Pain will be listening in and reporting live results back to readers as they unfold from the line.
Read below for a breakdown of soundbytes/highlights:
Josh Koscheck
Johny Hendricks
Jim Miller
Nate Diaz
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, johny hendricks, contenderladen coheadliners, barrylavar johnson
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNate Diaz on Nick Diaz: I don't see him getting back in the cage
Apparently suspended fighter Nick Diaz is sticking to his guns and staying away from the Octagon, according to his brother, UFC Lightweight challenger Nick Diaz. After dropping a razor-thin decision o Carlos Condit for the UFC Interim Welterweight championship in February, Diaz as found to have marijuana metabolites in his post-fight drug screen. A much-publicized legal battle has ensued between Diaz' legal team and the NSAC, but Nate Diaz reported that is brother would not be interested in an MMA fight
Posted in: diaz, nick, nate diaz, welterweight championship, brother ufc
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on FOX 3 conference call LIVE updates today (April 26) for 'Miller vs Diaz'
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will today (April 26, 2012) hold a media conference call to promote next Saturday's (May 5, 2012) UFC on Fox 3: "Miller vs. Diaz" event, which will air live on the FOX television network in primetime nationwide.
The conference call will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the main and co-main event fighters of the evening: Jim Miller, Nate Diaz, Johny Hendricks and Josh Koscheck.
Miller is one of the top contenders for the lightweight title. He won seven fights in a row before dropping a bout to the current champion, Ben Henderson, last year. He came back strong to submit Melvin Guillard in the main event of the first UFC on FX event. His opponent, Diaz, dropped back down to 155 pounds last year and has looked amazing, destroying both Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone to instantly enter title contention.
Hendricks is a multiple-time national champion wrestler who, despite just one career loss, has had trouble breaking through. That was, until a 12 second knockout over perennial number two 170-pound fighter in the world, Jon Fitch, this past December, which instantly thrust him into the top contenders. His opponent, Josh Koscheck, came up short in a his 2010 title bid, but after healing from an orbital injury, has won his last two fights to get back into the mix.
We'll have complete updates of the UFC on FOX 3 conference call after the jump:
Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, conference, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMMA Fan Does Impressions Of Popular UFC Fighters
FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com.
Admit it, we've all pulled off a few fighter impressions over the years. Each and every one of us are guilty of doing Georges St. Pierre. Think not? Tell me if this sounds familiar:
"I wuz not eempressed by yer performence!"
Well, one mixed martial arts (MMA) fan had the cajones to record himself impersonating a handful of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) combatants, including Junior dos Santos, Nate Diaz, Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva, B.J. Penn, Michael Bisping, Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem and Quinton Jackson.
There is also a special appearance from Anderson Silva.
I think the guy did a decent job, the one I thought was the most on-point voicewise was Nate Diaz and I thought the "Reem" one was funny too.
Editor's note: I like seven out of 10, but the one that had me laughing was "The Axe Murderer." Nate Diaz was probably number two for me. -JH
Posted in: diaz, quinton jackson, nate, fighter impressions, onpoint voicewise
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC's Dana White Says B.J. Penn Is Not Retired
B.J. Penn claimed that he was "done" after being thoroughly roughed out by Nick Diaz at UFC 137. Penn has been more of less "off the radar" since the loss but there has still been a fair amount of curiosity over if the legendary fighter was actually hanging up the gloves.
UFC president Dana White addressed the situation this weekend (via MMA Fighting):
UFC president Dana White recently had a chance to speak with the Hawaiian great at the recent UFC on FX card in Sweden, and the pair addressed his future. According to him, Penn's career as an active fighter isn't over.
"I heard some s--- that he said he was going to retire and all this stuff," White said. "He was like, 'Nah, I'm going to fight again.'"
So, that sounds like Penn hasn't decided he's done quite yet.
I do enjoy Dana saying he "heard some s---" as though it was some sort of rumor that had been spread around the internet.
This was the interview Penn gave in-cage after the Diaz loss:
Hats off to Nick Diaz. He's the man. Joe, this was probably the last time you'll see me in here. I can't keep performing at the top level. That's it Joe. I got a daughter and another daughter on the way, I don't want to go home looking like this. I'm done.
That being said, never take a fighter's retirement in the ring/cage directly after a loss as gospel. Emotions are riding too high and things usually change after a few months.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, dana, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNSAC Won't Hear From Nick Diaz On April 24th, Needs Copy Of Medical Marijuana Card
UFC welterweight Nick Diaz is currently suspended indefinitely by the Nevada State Athletic Commission because of a positive test for marijuana metabolites following UFC 143. It was expected that his case would be heard when the commission meets on April 24th, and Diaz's lawyer Ross Goodman even submitted a letter demanding to be on the agenda on that date:
"In discussions with Mr. Kizer, following the Summary Suspension Order, Mr. Kizer informed me and others that this matter would be placed on the NAC’s agenda," Goodman wrote. "Our client was and is confident that there is no basis for disciplinary action against him and therefore did not object to a delay beyond the required 45-day time limit as long as the matter was heard and determined in April."
However, his case will not be heard. Why? The commission wants to see his medical marijuana card first:
"On several occasions, you told me and Mr. Kizer that Mr. Diaz had a medical marijuana card," Eccles wrote. "You agreed to produce the card prior to the disciplinary hearing. I’ve waited for more than a month for the card. As a result, I issued a Request for Production for the card and other information regarding Diaz’s case. You have chosen not to provide the requested documents, including Mr. Diaz’s card. If Mr. Diaz does not have the card, simply confirm that in writing. As to the relevance of the of the documents I requested for production, it is the Commission that will ultimately decide what is relevant."
According to Nick's friend though, there is a plan in place. Check it out after the jump.
@LayzieTheSavageLayzieTheSavage Nick Diaz gave his medical marijuana card to his attorney over a week ago. Ross Goodman knows what he's doing. Don't worry, guys. ;) Apr 19 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply
I'd suggest reading both statements to gain a clearer understanding of the argument and the rebuttal. Even if Goodman does know what he's doing though, it seems like it will be a while before we find out the fate of Stockton's Finest in terms of MMA. Nick is keeping busy though, and will face Braulio Estima in a BJJ match next month.
Posted in: diaz, nick, card, mr, marijuana
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNSAC denies April 24 hearing for Nick Diaz and requests copy of medical marijuana card
Nick Diaz's due process is turning into an overdue process.
The former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after testing positive for marijuana metabolites following his five round unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, which was held on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Diaz, who must appear before the NSAC to answer for the charges, has a prescription for medical marijuana after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is legal in both Nevada and his home state of California.
He just got carded.
The State Attorney General has since requested a copy of said card prior to scheduling a date for his disciplinary hearing, which so far, neither Diaz nor his attorney Ross Goodman have produced, despite waiting "more than a month."
No card, no date.
That means the Stockton slugger will not be a part of next Tuesday's (April 24, 2012) festivities, where fellow UFC fighter Alistair Overeem appears to answer for his failed drug test, one that returned a 14:1 testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio and put his UFC 146 title fight in jeopardy.
Goodman has suggested that his client's case should be "abandoned or discontinued" by the commission after it failed to act within a reasonable time limit and exceeding its "statutory powers."
The gang over at Sherdog.com have transcribed a copy of Goodman's complaint online, as well as the Attorney General's response, right here.
While these two duke it out, Diaz will test his grappling chops against Braulio Estima in the upcoming World Jiu-Jitsu Expo (WJJE) on May 12, 2012, in Long Beach, California.
Stay tuned.
Posted in: diaz, carlos condit, state, attorney, braulio estima
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz NSAC Hearing Delayed As Medical-Marijuana Card Is Needed
Nick Diaz continues to fight his likely suspension for a failed post-fight drug test after marijuana was found in his system. Diaz, who announced his retirement from MMA after his loss to Carlos Condit, was scheduled to go before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 24. However, according to documents obtained by MMA Junkie’s [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, carlos condit, nevada state, medicalmarijuana card
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNAC Excludes Diaz from April Agenda; Camp Says Doctor's Statement Proof of Legal Marijuana Use
Nick Diaz will have to wait a bit longer to find resolution, as the UFC welterweight has not been placed on the Nevada Athletic Commission’s April 24 agenda. Sherdog.com confirmed Wednesday with Keith Kizer, executive director of the NAC, that the commission plans to hold Diaz’s hearing at a later date.
Posted in: diaz, commission, ufc welterweight, nac, commission plans
Read the full article at SherdogNick Diaz Unable to Garner Spot at April 24th NSAC Meeting
The suspension and the saga that has followed with Nick Diaz continues to get more complicated, as Diaz and his legal support group wrote a letter to the Nevada Athletic Commission requesting a formal placement at a hearing scheduled for April 24th. Christopher Eccles, the Nevada Deputy Attorney General, declined that request, stating Diaz and his group have yet to provide a specific piece of evidence- Diaz’s medical marijuana license.
Following UFC 143 in February, where Diaz lost to Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight champion, Diaz failed a post-fight drug test, testing positve for marijuana metabolite. Ross Goodman, Diaz’s lawyer, defended his client by bringing up that Diaz is legally allowed to use the drug in his home state of California, due to his medical marijuana license. However, since Diaz’s group has yet to provide the commission with that information, Diaz’s case has yet to progress.
MMAJunkie first reported the news, while MMAAddict posted both Goodman’s letter to the Nevada Attorney General, along with the Attorney General’s response.
The NSAC will not include Diaz at the hearing on April 24th, instead deciding to wait to determine if Diaz and his defense group is able to provide the information needed for his case. The NSAC will still have quite a lengthy list of topics to discuss, though, as there are 36 cases scheduled on the agenda. The most notable case is the final one, as Alistair Overeem will present his case for a request to earn a license to fight at UFC 146, scheduled for May 25th.
Following the fight at UFC 143, Diaz stated his desire to retire from mixed martial arts competition. The suspension made it certain that he would not return to the Octagon for quite some time. Since then, Diaz has scheduled a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu super fight with Braulio Estima at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California on May 12th.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, case, group, marijuana license
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyThe Top Ten Unreleased MiddleEasy Videos You've Never Seen...Because They're Unreleased
If I had a dollar for every video MiddleEasy has discarded over the years, then I could afford a better intro to a Top Ten list.
Throughout the years, we literally have terabytes of archived footage we've never used on the site. We can't explain it, we just love to shove a camera in the face of people in the MMA industry and hopefully capture some rare multimedia gem. This generally ends up with hours of LayzieTheSavage unintetionally pointing the camera to the floor while he talks about something that happened in Stockton, California that no one cares about. Seriously, if I have to go through another video of him talking about 'the homie that's in prison' then I'll -- well I'm not sure what I'll do. If it happened right now, I would probably go to bed because I'm pretty tired. In any other case, I would do something drastically different that I can't quite figure out at this moment.
Regardless, there is no such word as irregardless. People that use the term should be stabbed in the forehead with a plastic fork regardless of time or location. Those same people are also not allowed to check out our new list of The Top Ten Unreleased MiddleEasy Videos You've Never Seen...Because They're Unreleased.
I know that you know that we know we have an enormous amount of unreleased footage gathered over the years. Some of this stuff was intentionally buried, others were just forgotten in the infinite expansion of time and space. Therefore we felt to manifest a new top ten list to compile these lost wonders. Enjoy -- and remember to brush your teeth twice a day. Thank you.
Don't be jealous, homie.
LayzieTheSavage has a plethora of sweaty male groupies that love to make physical contact with him whenever he's in their vicinity. It's like Layzie is a magnet for Nick Diaz superfans that scream at inappropriate times. I've personally witnessed the bromance from MMA fans across the world when they encounter the videographer formally known as 'Michael Mardones.' It's undoubtedly a sight to witness. Generally I stand just behind him and check out the hysteria he creates whenever he walks down a crowded hallway before and after MMA events. Keep in mind that Layzie isn't even an on-camera interviewer and he gets more dudes wanting to hug him than -- well, than me. That's cool. I'm dating a chick. She's Canadian and is far more attractive than the dudes in this video captured after the UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit weigh-ins.
The first time I met Vinny Magalhaes, I completely ignored him at a dinner table. It was one of the most unintentional gangsterish thing I've ever done. I blame it on a horrendous level of light at the restaurant we were dining at.
That entire statement is a lie.
The first time I met Vinny Magalhaes, he slept on my sofa in Las Vegas with one of my friends way back in the day. Wait, not that way folks. Well maybe that way. You're going to have to ask the 2011 ADCC champion on Twitter because that's not a topic I'm getting into.
It goes without saying that we love Vinny Magalhaes on MiddleEasy. We're not sure why, but we just do. We love Magalhaes like kids love to climb on a sofa and pretend the floor is a never-ending pit of lava. Coincidentally, we also love Mike 'The Joker' Guymon -- especially when he use a MiddleEasy shirt to videobomb an interview with Vinny Magalhaes in this clip captured at an M-1 Global event in Orange County, California back in 2011.
We've spotted Gilbert Yvel on two separate occasions in two different areas of the country and both times we ran up to him like fat kids running up to a stranded ice cream truck. Ever since MiddleEasy started, we've talked about Gilbert Yvel like some demigod living on a cloud, occasionally coming to earth to procreate with our human women. We assume Yvel would also try to reproduce with Targzissian women if he had the chance, but they just seem a little difficult to locate in our galaxy.
We caught up with the Dutch consciousness collector at some random MMA event and decided to pick his brain, before he devoured ours with some fava beans. Yvel told us that above else, some promoter burned him in an upcoming fight and apparently he wanted to inform the entire planet of this severe lack of respect.
Sometimes people get rocked and you sit back and say 'Oh yeah, I saw that coming'. Occasionally there's a punch that drops a fighter in such a spectacular fashion that you can't help but kick every piece of furniture in your living room. UFC 107 was one of those scenarios. I think we all incidentally threw our bottle of Red Stripe half-way across the room when Kongo went down from that frate trane of a punch Mir landed on his dome. Seconds later, Mir climbed off his unconsciousness body, threw his hands up in the air and at that exact moment we all knew the final transformation of Frank Mir was complete. Whatever humanoid Frank Mir was before Brock Lesnar made his face into an incomplete cherry pie was dead. He was resurrected as some 265lb megalodon that still had beef with Brock Lesnar.
I'm not sure what demons haunt Frank Mir, but whatever they are, they have to be better than the ones in that 'Paranormal Activity' movie. I watched it because the people in the commercial were jumping out of their seats in the movie theater. Paranormal Activity just made me realize people in commercials that jump out of their seats are idiots. It's as if Brock Lesnar accidentally pushed the 'I will never stop obsessing over you' button on the back of Frank Mir's head.
LayzieTheSavage caught up with Frank Mir in the hallway of local Las Vegas MMA show a couple years ago and asked him what exactly his beef is with the former UFC heavyweight champion. Mir admitted that -- well maybe you should just watch this video coming in at number seven of our Top Ten Unreleased MiddleEasy Videos You've Never Seen...Because They're Unreleased.
Scott Coker referring to Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz is like watching a commercial for a new Atari 2600 system. Both entities are antiquated technologies that were pretty cool at the time, but now about as entertaining as going into beast-mode with a pair of nunchucks in the comfort of your living room.
It's the fight that everyone wanted, but as we slowly crawl into 2013, it appears to be an impossibility. Sort of like folding a single piece of paper in half more than seven times. However, you can't tell past-tense Scott Coker this.
Check out this interview we conducted with the (former) Strikeforce head honcho regarding a bout the MMA world will never see.
This video was captured shortly after Nick Diaz put on what some consider fight of the year in 2011. It seems like just yesterday when the entire MMA community proclaimed that 'if Nick was smart, he won't trade strikes with Paul Daley.' Apparently all of you arm-chair strategists out there that urged Diaz to take Daley down as soon as possible have nothing on Cesar Gracie, a guy that actually called Nick would win by a knockout in the first round.
Nick Diaz is a fighter known to take boxing to a boxer, bring grappling to a submission artist and in this unreleased clip, he brings paranoia to an already paranoid LayzieTheSavage.
We have a ton of video of Jay Hieron that will never be released on MiddleEasy. Let's just say the dude loves to have a great time. Back in 2009, I broke the news to him via phone text that Marius Zaromskis got a Strikeforce welterweight title shot against Nick Diaz over him and, well that's the last time Jay Hieron and I really texted. He was beyond angry, and justifiably so.
We caught up with Hieron at the 'It Ain't Chemo' charity event in Las Vegas this year shortly after his title bout against Ben Askren. As always, Jay held nothing back in regards to the judging of the Bellator title bout -- and then he drops a story about how he fought God. Yeah, we're not making this stuff up.
In all of our years on MiddleEasy, we don't think we've ever been totally disregarded from an MMA clothing company as much as we did with RevGear.
In the Summer of 2011, we thought we would get a clothing company on board with the site and feature a short ad in the beginning of all of our videos. We approached RevGear because they seemed to be interested in the idea. The response we received from the owner of RevGear seemed positive, but he needed to wait on his business partner to get back into town before making any decisions. 'That's fine' we thought. In the meantime, we actually took the initiative and created a small video in which we got a crew of MMA fighters to sign the same piece of RevGear and we were going to present the clip along with a media package to the owner of RevGear. The video was completed, so we shot an email back to the company. We received a response from his business partner stating the owner of RevGear was now out of town. The optimists that we were, we developed an entire RevGear sponsored contest in which we would give away the signed gear to one of our lucky readers. Contest was ready, proposal was sent -- and nothing. Seriously, that was the last time anyone at MiddleEasy heard from the guys at RevGear. Sure we sent them an influx of emails, but they didn't respond to a single one.
After we finally realized that we were burned, we just ate our losses and gave up on the entire concept. In fact, I think LayzieTheSavage sold the signed RevGear shorts on eBay last year. Egh, whatever.
Let this be a lesson to all budding MMA websites out there, don't do what we did -- but watch our failed RevGear pitch video anyway.
Some of you remember the infamous Nick Diaz/Mayhem Miller hallway altercation that spawned an entire movement. A movement that was ultimately never fulfilled.
You've undoubtedly heard the story before, but I'll give all you MMA newcomers a little rundown on Strikeforce lore. After Nick Diaz grabbed a unanimous decision over KJ Noons back in 2010, he made his way to the dressing room only to cross paths with Mayhem Miller. Now it would have been smart of me to preface the entire Mayhem Miller vs. Nick Diaz history before I got to this part of the story, but I'm listening to MGMT's Electric Feel as I write this, and it's really funky so I apologize for my brain not operating in a sequential order. Funky as in good, obviously. Anything that band puts out is stunning.
Prior to the encounter, Mayhem Miller claimed Nick Diaz's 'hood' antics were getting old and he felt that he needed to 'mature.' Miller then called out Nick Diaz to a superfight middleweight bout. It was now time for Nick to make his move, so he accepted the challenge but only at a catchweight between middleweight and welterweight. Mayhem Miller claimed he couldn't cut anymore to make the catchweight and then stated it would be easier for Nick to put on a few pounds. Nick Diaz, being the Strikeforce welterweight champion at the time, proclaimed that it was ridiculous that a guy who he felt was 'irrelevant' was essentially trying to talk his way into a fight 'he didn't deserve.'
Now jump to 2010, minutes after Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons wrapped up at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. When Nick saw Mayhem in the hallway, he slung a full water bottle directly at Mayhem Miller's head. It clipped Miller near the eyebrow, exploded, then splashed over Mayhem Miller's manager. Immediately, Strikeforce personnel and HP Pavilion security got in between the two. Mayhem Miller appeared to be shocked, but Nick Diaz started yelling 'Come on you fat [expletive], fight me!' (referring to Mayhem's inability to cut weight). After the two were separated, Nick made it to the post-fight press conference where the entire incident was somewhat ignored.
The reason why I know the details is because I saw the video of the entire altercation the night of the fight. We didn't film it, but the people that did capture the incident are in our video below. We tried everything to get the footage, folks. Money, theft, trades -- nothing worked.
This video represents the minutes leading up to the altercation. In fact, at the end of the clip, Nick Diaz walks down the hallway where he has the incident with Mayhem Miller. The reason this video is deemed illegal, is because it was. Media were instructed not to film backstage, and LayzieTheSavage is obviously the living incarnation of the Honey Badger in this video.
Imagine traveling 24+ hours to the other end of the planet in order to make one YouTube video -- and it gets rejected. Speaking from experience, there's nothing you can really do except hop on the next plane back to the US and smack yourself on the forehead repeatedly while you nearly circumnavigate the globe.
Over a year ago, I flew to Singapore in order to get the jump on the MMA industry and be the first site to thoroughly cover an emerging gym called 'Evolve MMA.' No one really knew much about it aside that it appeared to be a slice of Beverly Hills nestled deep in the South Pacific. Back in 2009, MiddleEasy broke the news about the grand opening of the gym and served the MMA world with some of the first pictures of the facility.
In early 2011, I took the pilgrimage to Singapore and met with Evolve MMA owner, Yodchatri Sityodtong. If you're an avid MiddleEasy reader, then you probably remember the first article I composed on the gym with a tour of the Evolve MMA facility. Shortly after that feature was published, I promised all of you a second video which covered fighters actually training in the second Evolve MMA gym, also located in Singapore. Unfortunately, that video never surfaced -- until now.
When I finalized the video, I sent it over to Yodchatri to get his opinion on the piece. Within seconds, I received an email with something along the lines of 'Dude, don't release this!' Apparently, Yodchatri felt the video didn't really do justice to the talent Evolve MMA truly had to offer. I guess he felt that a flying armbar performed by Shinya Aoki just wasn't impressive enough. I think I responded to his email with 'Look, we don't have to release it, but it would be an incredible waste of really good hip-hop.' There was no budging, so the feature was hacked, slashed and murdered on the MiddleEasy editing room floor.
Well, here's the video that took me 48+ hours of traveling planet Earth just to complete. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's pretty damn slick.
Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, video, middleeasy
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz hearing on hold as NSAC awaits medical-marijuana card
A tersely worded letter from Nick Diaz's camp demanding to be placed on the agenda for next week's Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting was unsuccessful.
The Nevada attorney general issued a response on Monday that states the fighter's appeal won't proceed without a medical-marijuana card previously agreed to be admitted in the commission proceedings.
Diaz's appeal of a suspension the NSAC issued thus has been tabled and isn't on the agenda for the commission's April 24 meeting in Las Vegas.
Posted in: diaz, commission, nevada attorney, medicalmarijuana card, fighters appeal
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNAC Excludes Nick Diaz from April Agenda; Camp Says Physician’s Statement Proof of Legal Marijuana Use
Nick Diaz will have to wait a bit longer to find resolution, as the UFC welterweight has not been placed on the Nevada Athletic Commission’s April 24 agenda. Sherdog.com confirmed Wednesday with Keith Kizer, executive director of the NAC, that the commission plans to hold Diaz’s hearing at a later date.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, ufc welterweight, nac, commission plans
Read the full article at SherdogThe Greatest Fights That Never Happened - Part 1
Barring a last minute disaster (knock on wood) it looks as if the long anticipated and much delayed match between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans will finally take place this Saturday. When the bell rings for the main event we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief, for dream matches like this, the sort that spark water cooler discussions and Sherdog forum flame wars, have a terrible tendency to fall apart. We can still be thankful that Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei actually met and even more thankful that it was only a year after both men lost their belts. Instead, it could have easily been another Couture and Coleman, a fight a decade after it had any relevancy. Even so, we can count our blessings for even Couture-Coleman, for at least we finally got some measure of closure. The only thing worse than an overly delayed "superfight" or "dream match-up" is one that never takes place. Of these last sort there are, unfortunately, many examples.
In celebration of us being able to cross off at least one of these long-desired dream fights here is a top 10 list of the remaining greatest matches that have never happened, as ranked by a combination of the fight's relevance, fan interest, and the frustration it generated. Today we cover numbers 10 through 6.
Honorary Mention: Wanderlei Silva vs Randy Couture, Bobby Lashley vs Batista, Kimbo Slice vs Brett Rogers, Eddie Alvarez vs Gilbert Melendez, and Rampage Jackson vs King Mo (how sad would it be if this match took place later this year in the WWE?)
10. (Tie) Nick Diaz vs Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz vs Jason Miller
via mmavidtrail.com
The purchase of Strikeforce by Zuffa in March of 2011 suddenly made possible matchups that were mere fantasy before. And no matchup ignited the public's imagination more than that between the UFC's and Strikeforce's welterweight champions, George St-Pierre and Nick Diaz.
After a brief period of "business as usual" during which Nick threatened to turn his talents to boxing, Diaz was released from his Strikeforce contract and signed to the UFC where he was immediate given a title shot against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 137. But thanks to repeated mistakes by Diaz's travel agent, the match was scratched and Nick was given BJ Penn instead. Ostensibly this was to teach Diaz a lesson, but what was learned was that Mr. Diaz could fight. After his impressive showing - and his only partially coherent post fight rant against St-Pierre - the Diaz-GSP fight was back on. Signed for Superbowl weekend, it promised to be one of the biggest shows of the year, but as often happens, bad luck struck when St-Pierre was forced from the card with an injury. Taking his place in what was now a duel for the Interim Welterweight Title would be Carlos Condit. In the end it was Carlos Condit who ended up taking the decision, settling up a future Condit-GSP unification bout and leaving us wondering if we'll ever get to see GSP-Diaz.
via www.cagedinsider.com
This wasn't the only recent must-see match involving Nick Diaz that frustratingly failed to go down. Back in April of 2010, Diaz was involved in one of the most notorious incidents of the year, when, at the end of Strikeforce: Nashville, he and his Gracie Jiu-Jitsu teammates put a beat down on the limelight stealing Jason "Mayhem" Miller. What made this incident even worse was the fact that it took place on national TV. The only saving grace was that in the aftermath of this PR disaster everyone wanted to see Diaz vs Miller. Strikeforce had been gifted a blockbuster fight.
After the fighters served their suspensions fans waited anxiously for the grudge match to be announced... but it never was. Never mind that Scott Coker seemed genuinely excited at its prospects or the Mayhem promoted the hell out of it, talking smack, resurrecting the idiom "Don't Be Scared Homey", and even offering to drop down to 179 pounds to make it happen. But it never did. Diaz for his part showed a lack of enthusiasm and offered an incomprehensible explanation as for why it wasn't taking place but the true culprit in derailing this fight was later revealed to be CBS. The Tiffany Network in their outrage over what had happened at Nashville had chosen Miller to make an example of, scuttling the match and his career with the promotion. When he signed with the UFC chances for the fight taking place were as good as dead.
9. Anderson Silva vs Matt Lindland
Hard to believe, but at one time Matt Lindland was thought by many to be the man to beat Anderson Silva. An outlandish idea today, but during the early days of Silva's dominant UFC run, Lindland was looking equally impressive, having won 10 straight contest in his weight class while his only two losses were against the future UFC light heavyweight champion Rampage Jackson and the number one heavyweight in the world, Fedor Emelianenko. Unfortunately Lindland was persona-non-grata to the UFC, and so fans could only imagine how his wrestling, thought to be the best in the whole middleweight division, would fare against an Anderson Silva who'd recently been taken down by Travis Lutter and Dan Henderson. Any excitement for a Lindland-Silva contest died at the hands of Vitor Belfort at Affliction: Day of Reckoning. Since that brutal KO loss Lindland had gone 1-3 while Anderson has cemented his place at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings.
8. Royce Gracie vs Mark Kerr
In March of 1998, Royce Gracie, the original Ultimate Fighting Champion, was still undefeated, having gone 11-0-1 through the first 5 UFC shows. But he hadn't fought in three years, and many were wondering how he'd stack up against the new breed that had arisen in his absence. Specifically Mark Kerr. Kerr had ripped through the world of MMA since Royce retirement, going 7-0 with all his victories coming via a destruction worthy of his later nickname "The Smashing Machine". How would Royce fair against such a dominant beast? Our question was to be answered at the second Pride event, where the two men had been booked to headline. Unfortunately, the match never took place as Royce pulled out due to a back injury. A second opportunity for the two to meet occurred at Pride 10 where both men, each still undefeated at 12-0-1, entered into the Pride Grand Prix. Instead both would record their first career loss that night and any interest in seeing a Royce-Kerr fight quickly faded.
7. Norifumi Yamamoto vs Urijah Faber
For the years of 2007 and 2008, many MMA fans, including myself, considered this to be "The Fight": the top two featherweights in the world, each with only a single loss on his record, one representing the American MMA scene, the other Japan, Kid Yamamoto versus the California Kid. Interest in match between Yamamoto and Faber began to grow in late 2006, and by 2007 Urijah was admitting that his manager had been contacted by K-1 in hopes of putting the fight together. Unfortunately, the two fighters were signed to different promotions who saw little interest in working together. In the case of K-1, the money was to be made holding the fight in Japan. In the case of the WEC, Zuffa had a strict no co-promotion policy. Still it didn't kill interest or hope that somehow the fight would get made, and as Urijah and Kid fanned the flames by asking repeatedly for the fight to be made, it only grew more intense. The match lost its luster when Urijah Faber lost to Mike Brown at WEC 36 in November of 2008. The next year Kid Yamamoto dropped two himself, first to Joe Warren and then Masahori Kanehara. Interest in the matchup was briefly resurrected when Kid Yamamoto signed with the UFC in 2011, but his continuing downward spiral has put to bed the idea that these two men who sat atop the lower weight classes for half a decade would ever meet.
6. Ken Shamrock vs Tank Abbott
What would have been a true grudge match, the origins of which go back to UFC 11 when Lions' Den fighter Jerry Bohlander, exhausted after his opening round victory, was pulled by Ken Shamrock from his fight with Tank. Instead Abbott would be forced to face the fresher Scott Ferrozzo and lose. Taking umbrage with the Lion' Den decision, Abbott looked forward to gaining some measure of revenge against Ken Shamrock at UFC's Ultimate Ultimates but was denied his chance when his time it was Shamrock who pulled out of their second round match due to a broken hand. After this Tank openly referred to the Lion's Den fighters as "pussies" and "fake fighters".
According to Ken Shamrock, it was backstage at this event that he confronted Abbott about his disparaging remarks towards the young Bohlander. Abbott quickly backed off with his tail between his legs but as soon as Ken was no longer in earshot he was back to the insults. It was then that Ken knew he wanted to kick his ass.
While the veracity of Shamrock's story is unknown, the result nevertheless was that soon the two were publicly trading insults. Tensions quickly ran high at UFC events where it felt as if the venues were divided between the armed camps of Shamrock and Tank supporters.
via www.kombatko.com
Unfortunately, both Ken and Tank left the UFC for the higher paying world of pro wrestling before any match could be made. A second chance arose for the two to finish old business when Tank returned to the promotion at UFC 41, only a few months after Ken had already done so. Soon there were open discussions of fight between the two, but, again it failed to materialize. After his match at UFC 40 Ken had taken some time off to wrestle and recover from knee surgery and by the time he was ready to return in Summer of 2004 Tank had already lost three in a row. Still, Dana White announced in January of that year that the long awaited Tank-Shamrock match would go down that June. A drunk Tank even showed up at a pro wrestling match to harass Ken, helping to fuel the interest in seeing them finally settle old scores. But by the time UFC 48 came around, it was Kimo Leopoldo facing Ken and not Tank.
via www.meganandstefan.com
There would be other opportunities. In 2008 Elite XC had signed both men and again there was discussions of a match between them, but it failed to get made before Elite XC collapsed (thanks in part to Ken). The last gasp for Shamrock-Tank was with the Wargods promotion, where it was finally derailed, for good it would appear this time, when Ken tested positive for steroids following a fight with Ross Clifton .
Coming up "The Greatest Fights That Never Happened - Part 2"
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, ken
Read the full article at Head Kick Legend
Nick Diaz wants this weed thing dealt with
Up until this point, fighters haven't had the best record when going up against athletic commissions. A lot of dudes have appeared with sob stories or reasonable explanations and been sent home with the same suspension they'd have landed if they hadn't shown up at all. But Nick Diaz's gameplan seems a little different. He's going to lawyer his way through this thing, and now his lawyer has gone on the offensive:
The law does not permit the NSAC to suspend our client indefinitely pending a hearing and determination of the complaint, but imposes a reasonable and definite time limit when which the complaint must be heard and determined. By enactment effected May 22, 2009, Nevada’s legislator amended NRS 233B.127(3) to provide that “[p]roceedings relating to the order of summary suspension must be instituted and determined within 45 days after the date of the order unless the agency and the licensee mutually agree in writing to a longer period.” [emphasis added] (Prior to this amendment, the time limitation was that the proceedings be instituted and determined “promptly”.) Requests for documents, including documents which are not relevant to the matters in dispute and which are protected by statutory and common law privilege, do not operate to extend the time limit within which a hearing must be held pursuant to the statutory limitation.The final day for the hearing and determination of the NSAC’s complaint against Mr. Diaz was therefore April 6th, 2012 — 45 days after the date of the Summary Suspension Order. In discussions with Mr. Kizer, following the Summary Suspension Order, Mr. Kizer informed me and others that this matter would be placed on the NSAC’s April agenda. Our client was and is confident that there is no basis for disciplinary action against him and therefore did not object to a delay beyond the required 45 day time limit as long as the matter was heard and determined in April.However, our client objects to any further delay.We presume that the NSAC will comply with its statutory obligation to have this matter heard on April 24th, 2012. If not, my client takes the position that the NSAC has by virtue of its delay irrevocably elected to discontinue or abandon its complaint against Mr. Diaz. The NSAC has no authority to hear or determine the complaint at a later date, and any such purported hearing or determination of the complaint would be ultra vires the NSAC’s statutory powers.
It will still be interesting to see how all this plays out when Diaz gets his day in front of the NSAC. They're sticklers for rules, but is that only when the rules swing their way? Or do they just cherry pick what they want and ignore what's inconvenient?
Posted in: diaz, day, complaint, nsac, client
Read the full article at FightlinkerVideo: Nick Diaz the skater
From pipe to half-pipe.
For those of you wondering what sidelined Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 170-pound contender Nick Diaz is doing (besides smoking medicinal marijuana) while his lawyer battles it out with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), wonder no more.
Middle Easy brings us footage of the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion, who is apparently a Goofy-Foot, tic-tacking his way through the kitchen before handing his deck off to some unknown interloper, who flaunts a few moves of his own.
Diaz eventually reclaims the board and rattles off a couple of half-hearted Ollies before unleashing the elbows of doom for the viewing audience.
Who said he wasn't a fan of the camera?
It's hard to imagine why he would ever want to return to the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) when life in Stockton is so exciting and meaningful. In addition to grinding on the kitchen counter, Diaz can also continue to assassinate some hapless produce with his brother's samurai sword.
Find out what else Diaz is up to right here.
Posted in: diaz, nevada state, arts mma, lawyer battles, goofyfoot tictacking
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz and Ronda chilling out
submitted by SpaceG [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, ronda, spaceg
Read the full article at RedditCesar Gracie talks about Nick Diaz's BJJ superfight against Braulio Estima
You know in Avatar when the military went to Pandora to harness the energy from that unobtainium stuff? Well Braulio Estima already beat them to it and it looks like he used it solely for purpose of putting people to shame with his Gracie Barra jiu-jitsu. If Braulio Estima ever appeared in a Playstation game, Sony would have to throw a few extra buttons on their controller. The guy has received more golden bling around his neck than a mid-90s Slick Rick and now he's signed to compete in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu super fight against Nick Diaz. That's right, Nick Diaz is not scared of a three-time ADCC champion...homie.
The date is May 12th and it all goes down in Long Beach, California (affectionately referred to as 'The LBC' by Snoop Dogg). Nick Diaz and Braulio Estima will compete at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in the 180 lb division in a grappling match of epic proportions. LayzieTheSavage caught up with Cesar Gracie in the 209 this weekend to get his opinion on Diaz's superfight along with an update on Nick's NSAC debacle.
Posted in: diaz, nick, estima, braulio, braulio estima
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz's attorney demands NSAC hearing April 24th or the suspension is bogus
Tonight, I basically parked my car halfway in someone's driveway because the streets were jammed bumper to bumper. I may not have a car by the time you read this. It could exist in that big car park in the sky. Automobile afterlife, where 2001 Honda Civics can have fire-side chats with 1962 Ford Mustangs and talk about the old days. Alternatively, my car could be in 'car purgatory,' otherwise known as the Los Angeles Impound. It costs like a trillion dollars to get your car out and throughout the entire process you feel like you're in one elaborate 'walk of shame.' It's like bailing your girlfriend out of jail after she took off her heel and started clobbering some chick at a bar. There's nothing fun or funny about getting your car towed. In the worst case scenario, if my car does get yanked by parking authorities, I think I will employ the 'Ross Goodman' defense and everything should be alright.
If you haven't been following the '209 Saga' the past couple weeks, Ross Goodman is Nick Diaz's attorney. As of Friday, he wants the Nevada State Athletic Commission to hear Nick Diaz's case on April 24th or he believes the NSAC will abandon all authority to their complaint against Diaz. Goodman is also giving the NSAC 'no later than April 16th' to respond. Here's Ross Goodman's letter sent to the NSAC that was obtained from our buds at FightOpinion.
Re: Hearing of First Amended Complaint against Nick Diaz
Dear Mr. Eccles:
We have received no response to our correspondence dated April 12th, 2012, seeking confirmation that the NSAC’s complaint against Mr. Diaz will be heard on April 24th, 2012.
Our client’s license is presently suspended on a summary basis until a final determination of any disciplinary action to be taken against him, under an order made by the NSAC pursuant to NRS 467.117(2) and NRS 233B.127(3) on February 22nd, 2012 (the “Summary Suspension Order”).
The law does not permit the NSAC to suspend our client indefinitely pending a hearing and determination of the complaint, but imposes a reasonable and definite time limit when which the complaint must be heard and determined. By enactment effected May 22, 2009, Nevada’s legislator amended NRS 233B.127(3) to provide that “[p]roceedings relating to the order of summary suspension must be instituted and determined within 45 days after the date of the order unless the agency and the licensee mutually agree in writing to a longer period.” [emphasis added] (Prior to this amendment, the time limitation was that the proceedings be instituted and determined “promptly”.) Requests for documents, including documents which are not relevant to the matters in dispute and which are protected by statutory and common law privilege, do not operate to extend the time limit within which a hearing must be held pursuant to the statutory limitation.
The final day for the hearing and determination of the NSAC’s complaint against Mr. Diaz was therefore April 6th, 2012 — 45 days after the date of the Summary Suspension Order. In discussions with Mr. Kizer, following the Summary Suspension Order, Mr. Kizer informed me and others that this matter would be placed on the NSAC’s April agenda. Our client was and is confident that there is no basis for disciplinary action against him and therefore did not object to a delay beyond the required 45 day time limit as long as the matter was heard and determined in April.
However, our client objects to any further delay.
We presume that the NSAC will comply with its statutory obligation to have this matter heard on April 24th, 2012. If not, my client takes the position that the NSAC has by virtue of its delay irrevocably elected to discontinue or abandon its complaint against Mr. Diaz. The NSAC has no authority to hear or determine the complaint at a later date, and any such purported hearing or determination of the complaint would be ultra vires the NSAC’s statutory powers.
We expect your response no latter than 4 PM, Monday, April 16th, 2012.
Very truly yours,
Ross C. Goodman, Esq. GOODMAN LAW GROUP, P.C.
We would send LayzieTheSavage on the case, but he's too busy pretending to work out with the Diaz brothers at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and taking silly pictures with Ronda Rousey. Damn, that guy has a hard life. Working for MiddleEasy is torture.
Posted in: diaz, car, complaint, april, nsac
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz Faces Multi-Time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion Braulio Estima in Grappling Super Fight
Nick Diaz may still be awaiting to find out his fate in MMA from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but that doesn't mean the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu student can't stay busy in other areas.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, nevada state, jiujitsu
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz Legal Team Files New Claim With The NSAC
Ross Goodman, the attorney of UFC Welterweight contender Nick Diaz, has filed a new complaint letter with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Diaz has been suspended since UFC 143 when he failed a post-fight drug test after losing a decision to Carlos Condit in an interim title bout.
Goodman's new claim is response to an allegation by the NSAC that lied on his pre-fight questionnaire (pdf), by not listing marijuana as a prescription drug he was using and checking "no" on a box asking about prescription drug use. Diaz has a doctor's recommendation that he use medical marijuana to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Medical marijuana is legal in Nevada and California.
Goodman further claims that the NSAC complaint "does not allege any facts supporting that Diaz violated a rule"and that "after the fact allegations impugning Diaz's character serve to distract from the core issue that Nevada does not prohibit inactive marijuana metabolites."
More On Nick Diaz Nevada Rebukes Nick Diaz Suspension Defense, Claims He Lied On Pre-Fight Questionnaire Nick Diaz Hires Lawyer, Challenges Suspension | Nevada Temporarily Suspends Diaz' License, Open To Medicinal Marijuana Request | NSAC Explains Nick Diaz Could Have (But Didn't) Requested Exemption For Marijuana Use | Nick Diaz' Coach Shocked By Drug Test Failure | No Disciplinary Sanction Warranted For Nick Diaz Under A Principled Interpretation Of NAC 467.850 | In Defense of Diaz's Weed Habit | Diaz Is to Blame, But So Are Meaningless Marijuana Tests | Diaz Should Be Released By The UFC | Diaz' Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable |White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed' | Fighters React to Diaz's Positive Drug Test | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana
That means that the presence of inactive marijuana metabolites does not indicate marijuana use immediately prior to competition -- ie there is no evidence that Diaz fought stoned. This line of argument was first publicly raised by Vancouver Athletic Commission member Jonathan Tweedale here at Bloody Elbow.
Goodman also contends that his client's drug use should be considered "out of competition" as it was stopped eight days before for the fight and that marijuana metabolites do not qualify as "drugs of abuse" -- nor are they listed as a prohibited substance.
Goodman's complete response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission is here. (PDF)
Posted in: diaz, nick, drug, marijuana, nevada
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowText of Team Diaz rebuttal to Nevada commission @MiddleEasy @ultmma @mmatorch @ekc
The legal tango back-and-forth between Nick Diaz's camp & the Nevada State Athletic Commission continues.
Posted in: diaz, nevada state, commission, nevada, tango backandforth
Read the full article at Fight OpinionNick Diaz lawyer files new claim against NSAC over allegations of lying
This one is far from over, folks.
Ross Goodman, attorney for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Nick Diaz, has filed a new claim with the Attorney General's office this week in response to accusations that Diaz falsified information to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his five round unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, which was held on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The NSAC is claiming Diaz lied on his pre-fight questionnaire (click here to see a copy), by checking "no" on a box asking if he took or received any prescription medication two weeks prior to weighing in.
The presence of marijuana metabolites would argue otherwise, but technically, the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion was telling the truth.
Diaz has a prescription for medical marijuana after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is legal in both Nevada and his home state of California. But since a doctor is unable to legally prescribe pot, the line of questioning could be subject to interpretation.
And as Goodman further argues (via MMA Weekly), the complaint "does not allege any facts supporting that Diaz violated a rule"and that "after the fact allegations impugning Diaz's character serve to distract from the core issue that Nevada does not prohibit inactive marijuana metabolites."
Goodman also contends that his client's drug use should be considered "out of competition" as it was stopped eight days before for the fight and that marijuana metabolites do not qualify as "drugs of abuse" -- nor are they listed as a prohibited substance.
No date has been determined for Diaz's upcoming disciplinary hearing but he's currently enjoying a self-imposed retirement, one his brother Nate expects to last indefinitely. We'll see if the results of his hearing have any influence on that decision.
In the meantime, he's expected to test his grappling chops in a "superfight" against Braulio Estima next month at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo.
For more background on Diaz and his UFC 143 drug test click here. To read Goodman's response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) in its entirety click here.
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, nevada, marijuana metabolites, metabolite
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz Counsel Responds to Amended Complaint from Nevada Athletic Commission
Counsel for UFC welterweight Nick Diaz responded on Wednesday to the Nevada Athletic Commission’s amended complaint regarding Diaz’s positive test for marijuana metabolites following his Feb. 4 bout at UFC 143.
Posted in: diaz, marijuana metabolites, diaz ’s, commission ’s, commission counsel
Read the full article at SherdogDiaz Camp Again Responds to NSAC Complaint, Hearing Still Not Scheduled
While Nick Diaz is set to grapple Braulio Estima, his lawyer, Ross Goodman, continues to grapple with the Nevada State Athletic Commission over his failed drug test announced after his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit. Diaz was originally only facing punishment for his failed drug test, but subsequent statements from Diaz lead to an amended complaint that included the additional charge of providing ”false or misleading” information for not disclosing his medicinal marijuana usage.
Goodman contends that Diaz should not be suspended since the metabolites in Diaz’s system are not explicitly listed on the list of banned substances. Goodman is also challenging that Diaz was out of competition when he smoked, since marijuana is technically not banned for out of competition use. That assertion is unlikely to matter much to NSAC however, as Diaz admitted to smoking within two weeks of the fight. This matters since the medical form asks for all medications taken 2 weeks prior to the fight, a period that can count as “in competition.”
As for the charge of providing ”false or misleading” information, Goodman argues that Diaz could not have known that he had to disclose the medicinal marijuana since it is not technically a prescription drug nor technically an over-the-counter drug.
Ironically, it was Goodman’s original response to the NSAC complaint that led to the additional NSAC complaint. NSAC argues that since California’s laws on medicinal marijuana require that the person must suffer from a serious medical illness to receive a recommendation, that Diaz was obligated to notify the NSAC.
Goodman maintains that there was no way Diaz was qualified to state his condition on the questionnaire, and that any omitted information on the questionnaire was a result of ambiguity in the questions and not malicious.
According to MMAJunkie, NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer says that Diaz’s camp has yet to schedule a hearing with the commission nor has he submitted other information, including his medical marijuana card, to the commission.
Once the hearing is set, Diaz will be facing several possible punishments since he was previously suspended by Nevada once before. While his lawyer could possibly get Diaz off on the charges, the NSAC’s recent crackdown on athletes who test positive could prove problematic.
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, information, nsac, goodman
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyEstima about Diaz: "He owns good and effective Jiu-Jitsu"
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]
Posted in: diaz, estima, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link, jiujitsu
Read the full article at RedditDiaz files claim against NSAC; denies lying on pre-fight drug questionaire
News recently broke that a claim has been put in place against the NSAC by the legal team representing suspended fighter Nick Diaz. Diaz, suspended for failing a drug test since his bout versus Carlos Condit at UFC 143, is still awaiting the final details of his possible suspension from the NSAC. However news of the claim seems to be centered around a different dispute, one that attempts to refute an earlier suggestion from the commission that had Diaz lying on a pre-fight questionnaire concerning the
Posted in: diaz, carlos condit, claim, drug test, prefight questionnaire
Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz camp issues second response to NSAC's UFC 143 complaint, hearing not set
In a second legal response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Nick Diaz's camp has again attacked the foundation of a disciplinary complaint against the fighter following a failed drug test at UFC 143.
The response repeats an earlier claim by Diaz's Las Vegas-based attorney, Ross Goodman, that the marijuana metabolites prompted his failed test aren't banned by the commission.
It also fires back at an amended NSAC complaint filed March 27 that alleges Diaz lied when he failed to disclose his use of medical marijuana on a pre-fight medical questionnaire.
Posted in: diaz, drug test, complaint, response, test arent
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNick Diaz’s Lawyer Files New Claim Firing Back at Allegations that He Lied to NSAC
Nick Diaz's lawyer Ross Goodman has filed new paperwork answering charges that his client lied to the commission on a pre-fight questionnaire.
Posted in: diaz, nick, claim, lawyer, paperwork
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyDiaz' lawyer files case against NSAC complaint
The new angle taken by the Nevada State Athletic Commission against UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has been sternly opposed by his lawyer.
Posted in: diaz, case, nevada state, lawyer, nsac complaint
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNick Diaz to Face Top Grappler Braulio Estima in BJJ Super-Fight
Make that semi-retired.
Welterweight mixed martial artist Nick Diaz will be taking on world class Brazilian jiu-jitsu player Braulio Estima in a BJJ superfight next month in California. The surly Stocktonian has not competed in a strictly BJJ match in two years.
A BJJ black belt under Cesar Gracie, Diaz hangs his hat on top-notch grappling skills, but he’ll have his hands full with Estima. The 31-year-old Brazilian is as decorated a grappler as they come, having won multiple BJJ competitions at the highest level. A two-division Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship winner in 2009, Estima will take on Diaz as he prepares to transition from high level grappling to mixed martial arts competition later this year.
Most recently, Estima took out former Strikeforce middleweight champ Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in a super-fight at the 2011 ADCC tournament.
Diaz, who has never been submitted in BJJ competition, announced his retirement from MMA following a controversial unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 earlier this year. That loss cost him a shot at UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and also ended an eleven-fight winning streak that included victories over BJ Penn, Paul Daley, KJ Noons, and Frank Shamrock.
The Diaz-Estima match will be fought no-gi at 180lbs and is slated to take place on May 12 in Long Beach, California as part of the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo.
Posted in: diaz, carlos condit, estima, bjj, bjj superfight
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNick Diaz gets his opponent for World Jiu-Jitsu Expo: multi-time BJJ champ Braulio Estima
Nick Diaz never backs down from a challenge. On May 12, at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, Diaz will get just that, as he has been paired with widely-respected grappler Braulio Estima in a previously announced superfight.
The WJJE confirmed the match-up this week.
Estima is a multi-time winner of several Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments including a victory over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at the 2011 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling Championship. The 31-year old Estima is slated to make his MMA debut later this year and is currently training with the Blackzilians in Florida.
Diaz, also known for his ability on the mat, announced his retirement from MMA following a loss to Carlos Condit even though many feel he’ll return down the road. The 28-year old is a black belt in BJJ under Cesar Gracie but has not competed in a BJJ bout in over two years. However, he’s also never been submitted in 34 MMA bouts.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: diaz, year, estima, jiujitsu, florida diaz
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz Set To Face Top-Level BJJ Fighter At ‘World Jiu-Jitsu Expo’
Nick Diaz will make his return to competitive action on May 12 when he competes in the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California.
Diaz announced his retirement from MMA following a loss to Carlos Condit earlier this year, but decided to return to Brazilian jiu-jitsu by entering the Expo. However, officials decided to place Diaz in a superfight instead of a tournament.
The man to face Diaz will be a worthy challenger, as Braulio Estima brings a wealth of championships to the bout. He defeated Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at the 2011 ADCC Submission Wrestling Championship, and is currently working with the Blackzilians in Florida for his MMA debut later this year.
Diaz is a black belt in BJJ under Cesar Gracie, but has not competed in a jiu-jitsu bout in over two years. MMA Fighting was the first to report on the signing of Estima for the bout.
Photo credit: Tracy Lee/Yahoo! Sports
Posted in: diaz, mma, bout, year, jiujitsu
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz vs Braulio Estima booked for World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12
Nick Diaz may be on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) sidelines awaiting punishment for his failed drug test following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit but that doesn't mean he has to sit out altogether.
No, the Stockton slugger and noted Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner will keep himself busy by competing in a superfight against Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Champion Braulio Estima at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo (WJJE) on May 12, 2012, in Long Beach, California, according to a report from MMAFighting.com.
Gracie also revealed that Diaz wanted to go all out and enter a tournament. However, at the behest of the WJJE, he will only compete in a superfight next month. The UFC is okay with Diaz competing because he doesn't currently have a fight lined up.
The reason for that, of course, is that he's still awaiting his hearing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to determine his punishment for failing the aforementioned drug test at UFC 143. To read more on that click here.
The good news, for MMA fans at least, is that Diaz likely isn't retiring from the fight game anytime soon. Not if Gracie has his way. But until he can come back to the Octagon where he belongs, why not stay sharp in jiu-jitsu competition?
For all the info you need to know on the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, the very first of its kind, click here.
Posted in: ufc, world, diaz, drug test, jiujitsu
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMorning Report: Nick Diaz Draws World Champion As Next Opponent
Nick Diaz is back and he's about to face a world champion. A few months ago that sentence would have caused half of the MMA community to spontaneously combust, but since then the whole retirement/suspension thing has dampened that excitement.
Still, even if Diaz is considerably outmatched (which he is), his BJJ super-fight against Braulio Estima proves one thing. Nick's thirst for competition is still strong. Cesar Gracie can say we haven't seen the last of Diaz all he wants, but the best evidence is seeing with our own eyes. And now we have.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Nick Diaz, Braulio Estima agree to BJJ super-fight. Nick Diaz will meet ADCC gold medalist Braulio Estima in a 180-pound BJJ super-fight at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12 in Long Beach, California.
Rashad Evans looks back on the way things were. UFC 145 headliner Rashad Evans reflected back on his relationship with Jon Jones and the team at Jackson-Winkeljohn, remembering the moment when it all changed.
UFC on FUEL 2 Facebook dissection. Dallas Winston returns with a comprehensive breakdown and analysis of Saturday's entire UFC on FUEL 2 Facebook preliminaries.
TUF ratings continue to drop despite live format. Ratings for The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX hit a new low last week, leading to speculation of the reason behind the declining numbers.
Eric Prindle vs. Cole Konrad moved to Bellator 70. Bellator 65's heavyweight title fight, Eric Prindle vs. Cole Konrad, has been postponed until May 25, 2012 after Prindle suffered a broken right hand in training.
MEDIA STEW
MMA law requires us to use the 209 news as an excuse to revisit Diaz's greatest moment of in-fight grappling wizardry. Besides, has anyone ever said the phrase, "Na, I don't feel like watching Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi right now?"
Randy Couture is probably the toughest 48-year-old on the planet right now, so if you disagree with his rankings of MMA's top pound-for-pound fighters, we encourage you to take it up with him. (HT: Reddit)
You will never see a UFC 145 promo more worthy of the Van Damme name. (HT: Middle Easy)
Joe Rogan, Bas Rutten and Josh Barnett engaged in some grappling shenanigans on HDNet's Inside MMA, with Rogan demonstrating a super-slick way to take someones back from half-guard, only to be immediately shown up by Barnett's ninja prowess.
Par Barry's haircut is coming along rather nicely, don't you think? (via @HypeOrDie)
MAYHEM AND CHAEL, PART II
I love the MMA media's obsession with Fael. After the Brazilian kicks his head in, I'm going to end his career.
— Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) April 10, 2012
JUST MAKING SURE
@gspufc2011 he will fight 100%
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 10, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Tuesday, April 10, 2012):
- UFC 149: Thiago Alves (19-9) vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5, 2 NC)
- Bellator 65: Eric Prindle (7-1, 1 NC) vs. Cole Konrad (8-0) postponed until May 25 at Bellator 70
- ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors shifted to June 23, 2012 at Kuala Lumpur's 8,000-seat Stadium Negara
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day is an remarkably extensive thesis from Bloody Elbow's Mike Riordan: A Theory On Successful Wrestling Translating To Successful MMA Wrestling
It would be nice to have an imaginary world where we could reliably predict a wrestlers success in MMA by watching to see how they blast through double leg takedowns again and again. However, we live in the real world and that simple reduction of the difficult crossover process of a very complex set of skills does not work.
The problem is that at the moment, we have many different wrestlers-turned-MMA-fighters that exhibit many different styles and experience varying degrees of MMA success. Outward signs of "physicalness" or aggression as a wrestler are not enough. Whether clearly demonstrated or not, a wrestler achieves elite levels collegiately or internationally possesses more than adequate "physicalness" to succeed in any martial art and it is their processes and set-ups that lead to success that is more important. As a result, watching a wrestler use a double leg again and again successfully in a wrestling match does not mean that he would be a good fit for MMA.
This is relevant to American folkstyle and freestyle wrestling and perhaps to the future of MMA talent evaluation.
What style of wrestler will translate in the best MMA fighter? This question untrimmed and unqualified is impossible to answer. Few wrestlers can be reduced to a style or type, and most elite wrestlers have risen to their place in the sport through a level of refinement that leaves them completely anomalous.
What I want to do is begin a live discussion of, if not an answer to, a more manageable question. What sort of wrestling attack style will yield the best offensive wrestling results in MMA?
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: world, diaz, mma, nick, wrestler
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz - Imma Show You How Great I Am
submitted by 10thMoon [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, show, nick, imma, thmoon
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz, World Champion Braulio Estima Agree to Meet in BJJ Super-Fight
Braulio Estima, one of the best Jiu-Jitsu players in the world, will welcome Nick Diaz back to the world of BJJ. The Diaz vs. Estima BJJ super-fight, which will be contested at 180 pounds, will take place at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12 in Long Beach, Calif., according to WJJE officials. The 31-year-old Estima has won a plethora of BJJ competitions over the past decade. He most recently defeated Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in a super-fight at the 2011 edition of the prestigious Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling Championship and won gold medals at the 2009 ADCC tournament in the 88kg and Absolute divisions. He is currently training with the Blackzilians in South Florida in preparation for his MMA debut later this year. Diaz, a black belt under Cesar Gracie, hasn't competed in a BJJ match in two years. He has never been submitted in BJJ competition.
Diaz hasn't competed in MMA since his loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in February. According to his manager Cesar Gracie, he is still waiting to find out when his Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing will take place after he tested positive for marijuana metabolites following the fight. The first-ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center. In addition to the Diaz-Estima super-fight, fans attending the Expo can take part in free seminars with BJJ stars Renzo Gracie, Roger Gracie, Robert Drysdale, Rodrigo Comprido and Andre Galvao. For more on the Expo, including how to purchase tickets, visit the WJJE official Web site.
Posted in: world, diaz, gracie, bjj, expo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNate Diaz earns BJJ blackbelt from Cesar Gracie
When lightweight Nate Diaz enters the Octagon against Jim Miller next month at UFC on FOX 3 he’ll do so with a few new weapons in his arsenal after fulfilling the necessary requirements to earn a blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from longtime coach Cesar Gracie. Miller is also a blackbelt in the art-form, making for what should be an entertaining ground war come May 5.
Diaz’s upgraded status was confirmed on Twitter as well as though a series of revealing photographs on MiddleEasy.
Gracie Comments on Diaz’s Status as a Contender
The 26-year old’s status as a submission specialist is nothing new considering ten of his fifteen total wins have come by way of tap-out. Among the opponents Diaz has finished inside the Octagon are Marcus Davis, Kurt Pellegrino, Melvin Guillard, and Takanori Gomi. He is coming off a convincing decision win over Donald Cerrone and will likely earn a title-shot if he’s able to get by Miller.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, nate diaz, cesar gracie, submission specialist
Read the full article at Fighters.comNate Diaz finally receives his black belt in BJJ from Cesar Gracie
submitted by branmat14 [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, bjj, cesar gracie, branmat
Read the full article at RedditDiego Sanchez interested in fights with Anthony Pettis, Nate Diaz
If UFC stand-out Diego Sanchez has ever been in a boring fight you can bet your bottom dollar the lack of excitement wasn’t a result of anything he did. Known for a fearless, fan-friendly approach to competition, “The Dream” has put together a career highlight reel full of entertaining outings most recently including a February match-up with Jake Ellenberger.
It’s a trend Sanchez would like to continue in the future regardless of what division he fights in, having entered the Octagon as both a welterweight and lightweight, and a reputation he’ll have an opportunity to build on later this year after he heals up from shoulder surgery.
When it comes to his return, Sanchez has stated it’s likely he’ll give 155-pounds another shot and he already has two opponents he’d like to test his skills against – Anthony Pettis and Nate Diaz.
Sanchez Willing to Fight Teammates if Match-up Makes Sense
“I told Dana I really liked that fight,” said Sanchez in an interview with MMAJunkie Radio when asked about facing Pettis. “I want to fight a guy who’s a fan favorite and who has a lot of fans and is a big draw. It’d make us both better, the sport better. Plus, the guy has a win over the champ, so that’d bump me up right to the top.”
Diaz is also in the title-hunt, picking up consecutive wins over Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone, and happens to have a huge public following as well.
“It’d be a Fight of the Night,” Sanchez stated on Diaz. “You’re going to get the ground game, standup. You’re going to get it all. You’re going to get a real fight with a Diaz.”
With a pair of winning options ahead of him and a new found dedication to training/living right the future looks bright for Sanchez, not to mention fans who love scintillating scraps.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: fight, diaz, sanchez, ’d, diaz “
Read the full article at Fighters.comPic: Nate Diaz "finally" awarded Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Cesar Gracie today, according...
Pic: Nate Diaz "finally" awarded Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Cesar Gracie today, according to Jake Shields (R). His brother Nick Diaz (L) also makes it into the photo. Diaz will next get the opportunity to put his superior grappling skills to the test when he takes on Jim Miller in the UFC on FX 3 main event, which is set for the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on May 5, 2012.
Posted in: diaz, jim miller, brazilian jiujitsu, rutherford nj, photo diaz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC veteran and TUF season 5 winner Nate Diaz received his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt from...
UFC veteran and TUF season 5 winner Nate Diaz received his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt from Cesar Gracie today. Cesar Gracie has also awarded black belts to other MMA stand outs like Nick Diaz, Jake Sheilds and Gilbert Melendez.
Nate is coming off a UFC 141 win over Donald Cerrone and is set to face Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3 for a shot at the UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, belt, nate, ufc veteran
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNate Diaz just got his black belt from Cesar Gracie! Eff yeah!
Hell yeah. After years of training Nate Diaz just ran the gauntlet at Cesar Gracie's gym and after Cesar slapped him one last time, Nate was awarded his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Grats from everyone at MiddleEasy dude. Go home and listen to the Joe Rogan podacast tonight and relax in the way the 209 best sees fit (marijuana), you deserve it.
If you haven't been following their antics on Twitter, Ronda Rousey, LayzieTheSavage and Mrs. LayzieTheSavage: Jessica Dawn have embarked on an adventure-laden road trip from the greater Los Angeles area to the Diaz household somewhere in the 209. We're aware of how rawesome Ronda Rousey training with the Cesar Gracie Fight Team is, so rest assured we are documenting the entire trip for your hungry little eyes to feast on. It's due to those magnificent circumstances that we were able to capture Nate being awarded his black belt just moments ago.
Posted in: diaz, belt, nate, cesar, middleeasy dude
Read the full article at Middle EasyDiego Sanchez wants to take a trip back to 155 and hopes Pettis or Diaz will welcome him home
I've been attempting to live an internet and cable bill free life for the last three weeks and so far it hasn't been as painless as I thought it would be. At first I wasn't sure how I'd still be able to get my fill of MMA info without in home net or cable but luckily I've discovered some fantastic work arounds that have helped keep me in the in the know. Last week I discovered the wifi from my apartment complex leasing office can be borrowed from as far away as a lounge chair next to the pool. It's like I go on a mini vacation every night after work now. I just pack up my laptop, an iced coffee and some coconut oil and head over to the pool for entertainment.
The pool at my complex is like my own real life variety show of entertainment. Just about every night there's at least one rudimentary street mma bout, trash talk battles akin to the short lived mtv show 'yo momma' or a spontaneous freestyle hip hop cypher session. I definitely don't need cable when I have live uncut versions of mtv, BET and Spike right in my own backyard.
Rainy days, when the pool isn't open, I've taken to going through a box of old DVDs and decided to pull out the old seasons of TUF and rewatch them as a sort of refresher. Last night I finished up season one, the season that just happened to feature Diego Sanchez as one of the contenders and ultimately winner of the middleweight contract. Hard to believe Diego was at one time a big middleweight frate trane in training, because now he is talking about dropping all the way down to lightweight from his current welterweight status.
Diego talked to MMAjunkie this week about a potential drop to 155 and who he'd like to fight in his lightweight comeback fight.
"The last time I was at 155, I was just a wreck. Mentally, I was still young and partying a lot, and I was still smoking weed. I was just a wild child. Now that I'm grounded and have my life together and am married, I'm just focused. So maybe 155 might be a better weight for me."
Regarding Anthony Pettis:
"We'll be recovering about the same time. I think he got the same surgery as me, so it'd be an even playing field. I told Dana I really liked that fight. I want to fight a guy who's a fan favorite and who has a lot of fans and is a big draw. It'd make us both better, the sport better. Plus, the guy has a win over the champ, so that'd bump me up right to the top (of the division)."
Regarding Nate Diaz:
"Them Diaz brothers are just scrappers. It'd be a 'Fight of the Night.' You're going to get the ground game, standup. You're going to get it all. You're going to get a real fight with a Diaz."
Sanchez has already called 155 home and had a fairly successful run before he decided to move up to welterweight. He fought crazy wars with guys like Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson and won them before losing to BJ Penn in one of the bloodiest and memorable UFC battles ever. Lightweight isn't a scary unknown place for Diego and it will be fun to see him make a return to the ranks. [source]
Posted in: fight, night, diaz, pool, diego
Read the full article at Middle EasyNice Nick Diaz tattoo, bro
Posted in: diaz, nick, tattoo, bro
Read the full article at FightlinkerNick Diaz fan tattoo honors PRIDE submission win over Takanori Gomi
You call yourself a Nick Diaz fan?
Step aside, Jack, as this dedicated soul has gone and one-upped you -- and every other Diaz fan this side of the western hemisphere -- thanks to his new tattoo that honors the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion's 2007 submission win over Takanori Gomi under the PRIDE banner.
The victory was eventually overturned and ruled a "no contest" when Diaz tested positive for marijuana.
That's because PRIDE 33: "Second Coming" was held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and left its fighters under the scrutiny of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
Sound familiar?
That means his sensational second round gogoplata over "The Fireball Kid" went up in smoke, but can still be relived through the power of YouTube.
And this young man's zeal.
Watch a video of said tattoo finding a home (courtesy of Middle Easy) after the jump.
Confession time Maniacs ... who has ugly ink and why?
Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, nevada state, tattoo, marijuana thats
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz fan gets tattoo of his hero submitting Takanori Gomi (Cagewriter)
Tattoos are permanent, but apparently, so is this fan's love for Nick Diaz. He had the picture of Diaz submitting Takanori Gomi to his chest.
For the rest of his life, he will tell people about Diaz beating Gomi with a gogoplata at Pride 33. Do you think he will mention the part about the fight result being changed to a no-contest due to Diaz's positive drug test?
Still, you have to be in awe of that kind of commitment. Not just to get Diaz's face or name, but an actual moment from a fight. How did the tattoo artist do?
Posted in: diaz, gomi, tattoo, tattoo artist, fight result
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsNick Diaz competing at World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in May
Former Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz will make his return to action in May – it just isn’t going to be inside a cage.
Diaz, who announced his retirement from MMA following a loss to Carlos Condit earlier this year, will compete at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12 from Long Beach, California. No opponent has named yet for the proud Stocktonian who himself has not competed in a BJJ match in years.
Diaz is a black belt in BJJ under Cesar Gracie. Gracie, who also doubles as his manager, confirmed news of the match-up with MMAFighting. The WJJE decided that Diaz should compete in a superfight instead of entering a tournament, as the controversial Californian had originally planned to do.
Along with Diaz, Renzo Gracie, Roger Gracie, Robert Drysdale, and a host of others will all be part of the festivities, teaching seminars at the show.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, gracie, years diaz, beach california
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainThis dude got friggin' NICK DIAZ tattooed on his chest
As you read this, Ronda Rousey and Mr. and Ms. LayzieTheSavage are in the 209 getting ready to train at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with the Diaz brothers and film the entire thing exclusively for MiddleEasy. Actually, they took a road trip from Los Angeles to Stockton, California and on the way they all stopped by NeoCell to scoop up a surplus of Collagen Sport supplements. What Ronda Rousey and LayzieTheSavage didn't do is stock up on permanent ink and finely-tuned needles in order to reproduce Nick Diaz submitting Takanori Gomi in Pride 33. Leave that to 2000dwrecked, otherwise known as the greatest Nick Diaz fanboy in the history of fanboys. Sorry LayzieTheSavage, but your card has officially been revoked. Props to Aydden Blayze for the find.
Posted in: diaz, nick, takanori gomi, ronda rousey, layziethesavage
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz returns to competition in May with match at World Jiu-Jitsu Expo
Though UFC welterweight Nick Diaz’s MMA career may still be up in the air, it appears the polarizing pugilist is still open to testing his widely-respected ground game as indicated by his expected presence on May 12 at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California. According to multiple sources, Diaz will compete in a “superfight” at the event against a yet-to-be-named adversary.
News of Diaz’s involvement was first reported by MMAFighting.
The bout will mark Diaz’s first significant appearance since testing positive for marijuana metabolites after a loss to Carlos Condit in February. He is expected to meet with the NSAC later this month to address any punishment associated with the infraction.
Unrelated to his use of a banned substance, the Stockton scrapper shocked the world by retiring from Mixed Martial Arts based on his dissatisfaction with the state of judging, pointing to Condit’s decision victory as an example of officials’ ignorance on the sport. He has yet to waver in his stance though a handful of his teammates/coaches have come forward to express their hope that he’ll change his mind at some point down the road.
Cesar Gracie Not Letting Diaz Retire Without a Fight
The WJJE will be the first of its kind and is expected to feature free classes from some of BJJ’s best including Robert Drysdale and Roger Gracie.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: world, diaz, stockton scrapper, marijuana metabolites, beach california
Read the full article at Fighters.comNick Diaz has an attorney who wants to school you on why Nick Diaz’s positive drug test results are nonsense
My mother always wanted me to go to law school. It’s a bummer I didn’t listen to her. I’d almost certainly have an high paying job by now. Instead, I walk around in my boxer shorts in a studio apartment rummaging the refrigerator at 5:00am because I’m too busy playing video games to sleep. If priorities had an Olympics, I’d probably fail to get my physical conducted in time to register for the competition. However, if MMA had an Olympics, Nick Diaz should be the 170lb athlete that represents America; and according to his attourney, Ross C. Goodman, there’s no way an international anti-doping committee would recognize the NSAC’s bogus drug test results.
“Nick Diaz tested for the presence of its metabolite, called “THC carboxylic acid,” which is an inactive ingredient of marijuana metabolite, which can stay in your system stored in your fat tissues for weeks, up to months, after use of marijuana. Most people understand that [the] psychological effects of marijuana after smoking it wear off within two to six hours. That is what the commission, the regulatory agencies, are concerned about because you don’t want somebody fighting under the influence or impaired by a psychoactive substance. Once that active ingredient wears off within two to six hours of use, then all that’s left are the residual metabolites from the metabolism of the marijuana stored in somebody’s fat tissues, which is not a controlled substance, which is not psychoactive, which is simply an inactive metabolite which has no impact on an athlete.Of course, it’s directly related from marijuana use, but the point is this: it’s not only Nevada, the World Anti-Doping Agency and most other regulatory bodies only prohibit the active ingredient of marijuana in-competition and not out-of-competition. So that’s an important distinction that I think everybody has to make, and, again, Nick Diaz didn’t test for marijuana, only marijuana metabolite and marijuana metabolite itself, it’s not prohibited, both in Nevada and by the world Anti-Doping Agency, which is the international organization that monitors and regulates sports competitions. Nick Diaz did not violate any rule by having an inactive metabolite in his post-fight urine test.It’s as simple as that. If you’re under the influence of marijuana, which everybody agrees an athlete shouldn’t be in-competition, then it would show when you take a post-fight urine test. It would show for THC, for the active ingredient of marijuana, as opposed to residual metabolites, which could come from consuming marijuana weeks, if not months, before the fight. Because marijuana is one of those substances which has such a long detection window, longer than almost any other drug that we know, and because it’s water soluble and it has the capacity to just stay in your fat tissues, there’s no rational basis to prohibit somebody, especially in this case, when you legally consume it weeks before the fight. And it has no effect whatsoever on that athlete’s performance, and it’s not considered a prohibited substance. And, so, that was the basis of our response to the Nevada athletic commission.”
I now know more about Marijuana than I did before I started writing this article, and that means that today is not a total waste. Unfortunately, Marijuana is still illegal in a majority of the country, and my souvenir medical marijuana license from California is about as useful to me as an all expense paid trip to Kabul, Afghanistan. I’m sure it’s nice this time of year, but I’d rather be in California picking Ross Goodman’s brain about making it illegal to wear sunglasses indoors.
[Source]
Posted in: diaz, nick, marijuana, metabolite, marijuana metabolite
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz Will Return, Just Not Inside A Cage
Nick Diaz, who announced his retirement from MMA following a loss to Carlos Condit earlier this year for the interim UFC welterweight title, will return to competition in May.
Diaz, according to a report by MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, will take part in a superfight at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California on May 12.
Diaz, a former Strikeforce welterweight champion, was interested in entering a tournamnt, but the Expo decided to pair him in a one-on-one fight instead. No opponent has been named for Diaz.
This will be the first World Jiu-Jitsu Expo to be held, and joining Diaz will be the likes of Renzo and Roger Gracie, and Robert Drysdale. For more information on the event, check out the Expo site.
While not MMA, at least seeing that Diaz still has a competitive fire should give more reason for a future return to fighting. Cesar Gracie, the trainer and manager for Diaz, has made mention of his fighter coming out of retirement, but we will just have to wait and see.
Photo credit: CombatLifestyle.com
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, expo, beach california
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz returns to active competition with Brazilian jiu-jitsu superfight on May 12
Nick Diaz may be on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) sidelines awaiting punishment for his failed drug test following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit but that doesn't mean he has to sit out altogether.
No, the Stockton slugger and noted Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner will keep himself busy by competing in a superfight at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo (WJJE) on May 12, 2012, in Long Beach, California.
That's according to MMAFighting.com, who got word from both the WJJE and Cesar Gracie, Diaz's trainer and manager. No opponent has been named.
Gracie also revealed that Diaz wanted to go all out and enter a tournament. However, at the behest of the WJJE, he will only compete in a superfight next month. The UFC is okay with Diaz competing because he doesn't currently have a fight lined up.
The reason for that, of course, is that he's still awaiting his hearing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to determine his punishment for failing the aforementioned drug test at UFC 143. To read more on that click here.
The good news, for MMA fans at least, is that Diaz likely isn't retiring from the fight game anytime soon. Not if Gracie has his way. But until he can come back to the Octagon where he belongs, why not stay sharp in jiu-jitsu competition?
For all the info you need to know on the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, the very first of its kind, click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, gracie, drug test, jiujitsu
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz's lawyer speaks more truth to power
When it was revealed that Nick Diaz planned to appeal his marijuana suspension, a lot of people wondered what the point was. Not only were his chances of winning slim to none, wasn't he also retiring or something? Well, now I'm starting to get excited. Because if Nick's lawyer Ross Goodman is half as slick in real life as he appears to be on the internet, then Diaz might be instrumental in overturning the stupid way pot is dealt with by athletic bodies around the world.
That may be a kumbaya pie in the sky justice prevails way of looking at things, but check out some Goodman quotes from Sherdog's Rewind radio show and tell me this guy doesn't have some good arguments:
The psychological and physiological effects of marijuana last upwards of six hours, but if you test within 24 hours or 48 hours, it can still show for the active ingredient of THC (formal name is delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and that’s what sports agencies and regulatory commissions prohibit -- marijuana “in-competition.” So a post-fight urine test could show for marijuana, the active ingredient, if you smoke it 24 hours before the fight....So that’s an important distinction that I think everybody has to make, and, again, Nick Diaz didn’t test for marijuana, only marijuana metabolite and marijuana metabolite itself, it’s not prohibited, both in Nevada and by the world Anti-Doping Agency, which is the international organization that monitors and regulates sports competitions. Nick Diaz did not violate any rule by having an inactive metabolite in his post-fight urine test.
He's also got answers in his back pocket for the 'Nick Diaz lied on his commission paperwork' accusation:(the rest after the jump)
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Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, hour, nick, marijuana
Read the full article at FightlinkerNick Diaz Set to Compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Super-Fight Next Month
While Nick Diaz's MMA future may still be in doubt, the former Strikeforce welterweight champion has decided to return to his Brazilian jiu-jitsu roots. The World Jiu-Jitsu Expo and Cesar Gracie, Diaz's trainer and manager, have confirmed that Diaz will compete in a BJJ super-fight at the WJJE on May 12 in Long Beach, Calif. According to Gracie, Diaz wanted to enter one of the WJJE's tournaments, however, Expo officials chose to have him only compete in a super-fight. No opponent has been signed just yet. Diaz, a black belt under Gracie, hasn't competed in a BJJ match in two years. Gracie said the UFC, "usually doesn't want (Nick) competing (in BJJ) if it's near a fight, (but) he has no fight lined up." Gracie added that he expects to find out this week when Diaz's hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his positive drug test following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit will take place. He teased last week via Twitter that Diaz's MMA days aren't over, despite retiring following the loss to Condit. The first-ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center. In addition to the Diaz super-fight, fans attending the Expo can take part in free seminars with BJJ stars Renzo Gracie, Braulio Estima, Roger Gracie, Robert Drysdale, Rodrigo Comprido and Andre Galvao. For more on the Expo, including how to purchase tickets, visit the WJJE official Web site.
Posted in: diaz, gracie, bjj, expo, jiujitsu
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz set to compete in "BJJ Superfight" at WJJE in May
While it won't be inside the octagon, it appears Nick Diaz may be returning to action sooner than expected.According to MMAFighting.com, both his manager, Cesar Gracie, and The World Jiu-Jitsu Expo have confirmed that "The Stockton Bad Boy" will compete in a "BJJ Superfight" at the WJJE in May.A black-belt under Gracie, Diaz has competed in such matches in previous years, but would traditionally be prohibited from doing so while actively signed for a fight in mixed martial arts. Last seen at UFC 143,
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, bjj, gracie diaz, bjj superfight
Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz Lawyer: 'There Was No Need To Seek A Therapeutic Use Exemption'
Nick Diaz, the controversial UFC Welterweight and former Strikeforce ww champ, has been suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission since failing a post-fight drug test after losing an interim title bout to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. Diaz will appeal his suspension next month and has retained Las Vegas lawyer Ross C. Goodman to represent him.
Goodman spoke to Sherdog in advance of the hearing. The thrust of the case appears to be whether or not Diaz was under the influence during the fight or not. The metabolites that were found in his urine at the post-fight drug test do not indicate intoxication, merely use at some point in the recent past.
More On Nick Diaz Lawyer: Nick Diaz Didn't Lie About Marijuana 'Prescription' | In Defense of Diaz's Weed Habit | Diaz Is to Blame, But So Are Meaningless Marijuana Tests | Diaz Should Be Released By The UFC |Diaz' Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable |White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed' | Fighters React to Diaz's Positive Drug Test | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana | Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA
Goodman addresses this point:
In this case, Nick Diaz tested for the presence of its metabolite, called "THC carboxylic acid," which is an inactive ingredient of marijuana metabolite, which can stay in your system stored in your fat tissues for weeks, up to months, after use of marijuana. Most people understand that [the] psychological effects of marijuana after smoking it wear off within two to six hours. That is what the commission, the regulatory agencies, are concerned about because you don't want somebody fighting under the influence or impaired by a psychoactive substance. Once that active ingredient wears off within two to six hours of use, then all that's left are the residual metabolites from the metabolism of the marijuana stored in somebody's fat tissues, which is not a controlled substance, which is not psychoactive, which is simply an inactive metabolite which has no impact on an athlete.
In anticipation of this argument from Diaz, the NSAC has lately been more focused on the issue of Diaz not applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption or listing his medical marijuana prescription on his pre-fight forms. Goodman has an answer for this argument as well:
Yeah, but Nick Diaz wasn't using it in-competition, so it's completely inapplicable here. What you're talking about are prescribed medications that an individual needs to continuously use and therefore uses during competition. Nick Diaz has a general practice of discontinuing marijuana use eight days before a fight, so he wasn't under the influence and he wasn't consuming an illegal substance -- whether you want to call it prescription medication or medical marijuana -- in-competition. So there was no need for him to seek a therapeutic use exemption. And again, that's why Nevada and the World Anti-Doping Agency say, "We don't care about your marijuana use before the fight. We only care about it in-competition." And Nick doesn't use it in-competition. It would be foolish for him to use it in-competition.
It's good to see that Diaz will have legal representation at his hearing, whether or not Goodman can persuade the commission to lift the suspension early is a different matter.
Posted in: diaz, nick, test, marijuana, use
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThe Best Damn Nick Diaz Highlight - YouTube
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Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, youtube, thescousebomb
Read the full article at RedditRoss Goodman: The NSAC needs to modify the rules instead of blaming Nick Diaz
Ross Goodman, attorney for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Nick Diaz, is taking the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to task for trying to "knock" his client prior to their upcoming disciplinary hearing.
Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his five round unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, which was held on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The NSAC is claiming Diaz lied on his pre-fight questionnaire (click here to see a copy), by checking "no" on a box asking if he took or received any prescription medication two weeks prior to weighing in.
The presence of marijuana metabolites would argue otherwise, but technically, the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion was telling the truth.
Diaz has a prescription for medical marijuana after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is legal in both Nevada and his home state of California. But since a doctor is unable to legally prescribe pot, the line of questioning could be subject to interpretation.
And as Goodman argues (via Sherdog.com), that's the commission's fault, not his client's:
"The point is that he’s not being untruthful about it; he’s not lying about it. But if it is a concern, then the athletic commission needs to be more progressive and modify the rules, instead of, after the fact, trying to find something to blame Nick Diaz on because they have a losing argument right now. Why don’t you be proactive? Why don’t you be responsible and why don’t you write questions that are reasonable and clear for somebody to understand and say, 'Have you taken medical marijuana in the last two weeks? Have you done this? Have you done that?' Instead of, after the fact, try and suggest that he was untruthful because he didn’t identify with prescription medication as a form of medical marijuana? ... The burden is on the state, the regulatory agency. The commission’s trying to find whatever they can to knock Nick Diaz, but Nick is just a fighter. It’s up to them to craft better questions on their pre-fight questionnaire; it’s up to them to do better testing if that’s what they want to do. Nick’s not responsible for any of this. If they want to be more accurate, if they want to have better pre-fight questionnaires, then it’s up to the athletic commission, the governing body, to do it, not a fighter."
Goodman also contends that his client's drug use should be considered "out of competition" as it was stopped eight days before for the fight and that marijuana metabolites do not qualify as "drugs of abuse" -- nor are they listed as a prohibited substance.
No date has been determined for Diaz's upcoming disciplinary hearing but he's currently enjoying a self-imposed retirement, one his brother Nate expects to last indefinitely. We'll see if the results of his hearing have any influence on that decision.
Stay tuned.
For more background on Diaz and his UFC 143 drug test click here. To read Goodman's response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) in its entirety click here.
Posted in: diaz, nick, commission, marijuana, goodman
Read the full article at MMA Mania5 Oz. MMA Link Club
Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy…
Ronda Rousey Lays Out Male Adversaries on Japanese Game Show (TheFightNerd.com)
Cain Velasquez Breaks Down Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem (Fightline.com)
Dan Hardy Wants to Fight Nick Diaz (MMAConvert.com)
UFC Heading to China in 2012 (5thRound.com)
MMA Legend Maurice Smith Makes Successful Comeback at Age 50 (MiddleEasy.com)
Get to Know the Sixteen Fighters on TUF Brasil (HeavyMMA.com)
Gilbert Yvel Deboned Houston Alexander Over the Weekend (CagePotato.com)
NSAC Changes Complaint Against Diaz (FightOpinion.com)
Anderson Silva’s Humorous Commercial for FOX (MMAPayout.com)
JDS Reminds Dana White of Chuck Liddell (BleacherReport.com)
Brock Lesnar Rumored for Return to WWE (MMAMania.com)
James Toney Says “Rampage” Jackson is a “Slave to the White Man” (LowKick.com)
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC
Posted in: diaz, mma, mma community, pain ‘s, velasquez breaks
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDan Hardy On Fighting Nick Diaz: ‘I Would Trade Some Punches With Him’
Dan Hardy remains on the cusp of being let go by the UFC after four consecutive losses inside the Octagon.
Nick Diaz announced his retirement from MMA following a heated defeat at the hands of Carlos Condit.
So, why are we even talking about Hardy and Diaz? Because “The Outlaw” is one of the few that would welcome a possible fight with Diaz, as he told FightHub TV in a recent interview.
I would love to fight him, I’m a huge fan of his. He’s a very entertaining guy and he comes to fight and nobody really does that anymore. I respect that and by all means I would trade some punches with him.
Before Hardy can even think about Diaz, he must first get past Duane Ludwig in May at UFC 146. Lorenzo Fertitta, the CEO of the UFC, granted the Brit another chance because of his willingness to fight, and we’ll need to see that outlaw when he steps inside the Octagon against “Bang.”
Photo credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, duane ludwig, ’ dan
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz brought disrepute to unarmed combat!
Nick Diaz's lawyer totally curveballed the Nevada State Athletic Commission by pointing out pot metabolites = out of competition usage = legal, so the commission decided to change their tack and use those metabolites to prove that *gasp* NICK DIAZ LIED ON SOME FORMS! And just in case you were wondering, yes that sounds just as petty in legalese:
6. The day before the Contest, on February 3, 2012, DIAZ completed his Pre-Fight Questionnaire, attached hereto as Exhibit 1, wherein he answered “No” to each of the following questions:Do you have any serious medical illnesses, conditions?Have you taken / received any prescribed medications in the last two weeks?Have you taken / received any over the counter medication / products in the last two weeks?DIAZ signed his Pre-Fight Questionnaire directly below the statement: “I hereby attest that the above information is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.”By answering “No” to one or more of the questions referenced in paragraph six, DIAZ provided false or misleading information to the Commission or a representative of the Commission....20. Marijuana Metabolites are not drugs approved by the Commission.21. NAC 467.886 provides in pertinent part as follows:1. A person licensed by the commission shall not engage in any activity that will bring disrepute to unarmed combat ….22. By testing positive for Marijuana Metabolites, DIAZ has violated NAC 467.850 and 467.886.23. By providing false or misleading information to one or more questions on his Pre-Fight Questionnaire, DIAZ has violated NAC 467.885 (3).
Isn't it fun watching Nick Diaz get railroaded for pot use while testosterone replacement therapy is A-OK? I'm glad the system makes sense and has its priorities straight.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, commission, prefight questionnaire
Read the full article at FightlinkerDana White Talks Nick Diaz, Roy Nelson, TUF Brasil Leak, More
As usual, UFC president Dana White continues to allow unprecedented access to the media through post-press conference interviews and other outlets. As the leading man in the UFC, the knowledge White gives helps provide an in-sight to what is going on with the leading MMA organization in the world.
Here’s a little sample of what White offered up earlier this week, including his thoughts on Nick Diaz, Roy Nelson, a leak in the TUF Brasil results, and FOX telling Joe Rogan to take it down a notch.
White told MMA Junkie about those that illegally steal UFC content, and what he plans on doing about it.
I respond to people every day on Twitter, like, (expletive) you, you criminal. Yeah, we’re coming after you. Oh, boo hoo. ‘You’re coming after the fans.’ Yeah, you’re (expletive) stealing. If you steal our (expletive), we’re going to get you. We might not get you now or next month, but eventually we will, and we’re spending a lot of money toward busting people who steal.
One of White’s current/former fighters, Diaz, was found to have tested positive for marijuana following his loss to Carlos Condit earlier this year. Diaz also announced his retirement after the fight, and has yet to change his stance on the matter. White gives his take on the drug in the same interview with MMA Weekly.
I don’t smoke weed. It’s not my thing. It’s illegal; you can’t do it. I can’t present an argument for why (Diaz) should be cool to have marijuana in his system. I think if he retired it would be the most insane thing I’ve ever seen in my life. The kid is right now at the pinnacle of his career as far as his talent goes, as far as being a well-rounded fighter.
As for “Big Country,” White has always been very out-spoken against the former winner of The Ultimate Fighter. As he tells MMA Junkie, he just can’t seem to get anything to work with Nelson.
I’ve encouraged him to shave his face and cut his hair, too, but he doesn’t want to listen to that, either, so whatever.
It’s been reported that the finalists for The Ultimate Fighter: Brasil were leaked by a member of the media in the country. This happened before with TUF, and White was very angered by the subject, as he tells MMA Weekly.
I don’t know if you saw this but another channel, another channel we were talking to, then went out and said these are the finalists in The Ultimate Fighter, and tried to like sabotage the whole show. That’s some dirty, dirty, Josh Gross dirty type (expletive). You know what I mean.
And finally, a recent story came out courtesy Joe Rogan where he talked about someone at FOX trying to get him to change his announcing style. This isn’t quite what happened, as White informed MMA Junkie.
Just to squash that whole thing, FOX never – the guy that was in his ear telling him to chill out, that was Bruce Connal, the guy who’s our guy. But the guy in the truck from FOX was saying, ‘Oh my God, he’s (expletive) screaming.’ They said the same thing to me. They’re like, ‘He’s screaming at our fans.’ That’s what we do. We scream at you. We yell at you. That’s not going to change.
Photo credit: Twitter/danawhite
Posted in: diaz, mma, fighter, mma junkie, expletive
Read the full article at MMA ConvertLatest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of March 25, 2012
Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Junior dos Santos, Lyoto Machida, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Jose Aldo, Muhammed Lawal and Anderson Silva pictured above, we can all "get along."
Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport.
This week, Bleacher Report speaks with Bellator welterweight Ben Saunders, Lowkick interviews Thiago Silva and Middle Easy catches up with Rafael Cordeiro.
The full list of links is after the jump.
- Interview with Thiago Silva (LowKick)
"My prediction is that I will fight hard like a true warrior. Everybody knows my style. When I step in the Octagon, I go to kill or die, and I will do the same on April 14th, and I will be ten times more aggressive because this fight is very important for me."
- Hot Potato: Seven photos with Kendra Perez (Cage Potato)
Sigh...we just can't help lovin' Kenda Perez. Egotastic.com has released an exclusive photo-set of the foxy Best of PRIDE hostess, and we cherry-picked the best shots for your viewing pleasure. Check ‘em out in the gallery after the jump, along with two bonus shots from her 2012 calendar.
- Rafael Cordeiro talks TUF Brazil and Shogun Rua (MiddleEasy)
LayzieTheSavage visited Kings MMA last week in sunny California and successfully interviewed Rafael Cordeiro on the subject of his famous pupils, including his take on Wand/Vitor after TUF: Brasil wraps, and Shogun's journey back to the top of the light heavyweight foodchain.
- Amateur show uses legal loophole to hold event in New York (The Fight Nerd)
While the state of New York still does not sanction, and in fact explicitly prohibits, the sport of mixed martial arts, a loophole in the Empire State's wholesale ban on combat sports does allow for sanctioned amateur MMA, which a promotion and sanctioning body will be taking advantage of for the first time in ten years.
- Nevada amends complaint against Nick Diaz, shifts strategy (Fight Opinion)
After Team Diaz filed their response to Nevada's complaint, Keith Kizer telegraphed (in the media) what the response would be. Rather than confront what Goodman & Tweedale are arguing regarding WADA standards & Nevada law, Keith Kizer & company are now shifting to what I call "the Al Capone" strategy. Kizer's side is now going after Team Diaz over the way the medical questionnaire was answered regarding Nick Diaz & his medical marijuana usage.
- UFC Facebook streams draw up to 140,000 viewers (MMA Payout)
Facebook streams of UFC fights have received as many as 140,000 viewers on its web page. This information comes from Dana White after the UFC 146 press conference this week.
- Interview with Bellator welterweight Ben Saunders (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
"I have a certain style that I bring to the cage, a certain aggressiveness, I come to fight. I can't be thinking what if I do this or what if I do that and that injures me for the next round. I'm going to go out on my shield, there is no tournament to me, for me there is no point to even think of anything beyond what's in front of me."
- Shogun seeks to be on next Brazil fight card (MMA Convert)
- Dan Hardy weighs in on Nick Diaz (Fightline)
- Demetrious Johnson - Ian McCall rematch will remain three rounds (Five Ounces of Pain)
- Dana White says Nick Diaz would be insane to retire (5thRound)
Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, week, fight nerd
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNevada amends complaint against Nick Diaz, shifts strategy @MiddleEasy @MMASupremacy @GamblingFury
Keith Kizer & Nevada have amended their complaint against Nick Diaz over his drug test failure for marijuana.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, nevada, complaint
Read the full article at Fight OpinionDan Hardy Would Love To 'Trade Punches' With Nick Diaz
Dan Hardy may be on a four fight losing streak, becoming one of the few men in UFC history to remain on the roster despite such a skid, but that isn't stopping him from still talking about wanting fights with the power players in his division. Hardy, who is expected to fight Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 on May 26, would "love to trade some punches" with Nick Diaz.
Or at least that's what he told our good friends at Fight Hub TV in a recent interview.
Related: Dan Hardy Talks UFC 146, Proving He Belongs And Training With Lorenzo Fertitta At 'Secret Gym'
Here's the video:
On if he'd be interested in fighting Diaz should Diaz not "retire":
I would love to fight him, I'm a huge fan of his. He's a very entertaining guy and he comes to fight and nobody really does that anymore. I respect that and by all means I would trade some punches with him.
Anyone who knows me knows I get very frustrated by the idea that "nobody comes to fight anymore." We're at the highest point in the sport's history as far as application of various techniques, better athletes and the finish rate is staying consistent.
This idea that nobody comes to fight seems to mainly come from guys who lost their last fight (or last four in this case). In a world where we're getting fights like Sanchez vs. Ellenberger, Alves vs. Kampmann, Johnson vs. McCall, Edgar vs. Henderson and many more great bouts just over the last three events, I do find it kind of difficult to back up the idea that no one "brings it" anymore.
But that's a rant for another day.
Also in the interview, Hardy was asked if he thought that Nick's marijuana usage was deserving of punishment and, while he initially said that it isn't a performance enhancing drug and just a personal choice, he did say that there were some professionalism issues with the situation:
It does [show a lack of professionalism], you can't deny that. He knows the rules, he knows if you fail that, it's going to be made public. People are going to be aware of it. But you know, missing weight is not professional, not showing up to press conferences is unprofessional. A lot of people are unprofessional a lot of the time throughout their career. I don't think that should be penalized any more than missing weight and that's a big deal.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nobody, vs, that
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDan Hardy: I would love to trade punches with Nick Diaz
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Dan Hardy is hoping to snap a four-fight losing streak when he takes on Duane Ludwig at the upcoming UFC 146 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for May 26, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After that?
Well, aside from trying to goad Matt Hughes into a 170-pound death match, it sounds like he'd love to be the guy that welcomes Nick Diaz back into the Octagon, assuming the Stockton slugger un-retires later this year.
"I think he's an entertaining fighter, I enjoyed his fight (against Carlos Condit). Personally, I thought he won it as well. It's a shame some people are gonna look down on him because of that (failed) drug test. I would love to fight him, I'm a huge fan of his. He's a very entertaining guy and he comes to fight. Nobody really does that anymore and I respect that. By all means I would trade some punches with him."
Hardy (via Fight Hub TV) breaks down a fight against Diaz and defends the use of medical marijuana after the jump.
More on Hardy's upcoming fight against Ludwig here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, duane ludwig, fight nobody
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White Can’t Defend Nick Diaz Drug Suspension, but Doesn’t Want Him to Retire
"I can't present an argument for why (Nick Diaz) should be cool to have marijuana in his system," said Dana White on Tuesday, but he doesn't want Diaz to retire.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, i cant, doesn ’t
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyCesar Gracie Claims Nick Diaz Will Eventually Return To MMA
Trainer Cesar Gracie has a pretty good insight into the workings of Nick Diaz. Gracie has helped mold the mind and body of Diaz for several years at his gym in Stockton, California.
Following his most recent fight – a loss to Carlos Condit – Diaz told those listening that he was finished with fighting, effectively announcing his retirement from the sport. Many thought it was just Diaz being Diaz, but so far, he has stayed true to his word. Of course, his positive drug test for marijuana following the fight might also have something to do with that.
Well, Gracie is coming out in defense of Diaz and declaring that he feels like his fighter will return, as he told Sherdog.com in a recent interview.
He’s sick of politics, the whole marijuana thing, the judges….it’s kind of a weird thing, but let’s face it, I’m not going to let that guy quit. I just don’t see it happening. He’s too good and he’s too important in this sport, I think. If it’s up to me, there’s no way that’s going to happen.
The loss to Condit really bothered Diaz, as was evident by the post-fight interview and video released of Diaz after. The idea that he would never compete again in MMA seemed strange, but Diaz has hinted at a boxing career previously, so there is always that option, as well.
Photo credit: Tracy Lee/Yahoo! Sports
Posted in: diaz, sport, gracie, drug test, postfight interview
Read the full article at MMA ConvertCesar Gracie not letting Nick Diaz walk away from MMA without a fight
Not many people understand the inner workings of someone as complex as Nick Diaz. His trainer, mentor, and friend, Cesar Gracie, however, is one of the few who does at least as well as anyone else.
Fans have not heard much from Diaz since his loss to Carlos Condit and ensuing retirement speech inside the Octagon after the defeat. Originally, the majority felt like Diaz was just upset about how the judges’ decision went. Yet, with his failed drug test for marijuana adding to the mix, it seems more possible than ever MMA has heard the last from Diaz.
Fortunately, if taking what Gracie had to say when stopping by Sherdog Radio as gospel, all hope may not be lost in terms of seeing Diaz back inside a cage in the near future.
“He’s sick of politics, the whole marijuana thing, the judges…it’s kind of a weird thing, but let’s face it; I’m not going to let that guy quit,” Gracie said. “I just don’t see that happening. He’s too good and he’s too important in this sport, I think. If it’s up to me, there’s no way that’s going to happen.”
As far as Diaz’s present demeanor, Gracie explained, “He’s pretty relaxed actually. He’s not stressed out about anything. I was with him last night. He did a few rounds boxing. Nick’s a martial artist. He’s always in some kind of training. It drives him crazy not to be. He’s always doing jiu-jitsu. He’s always doing a little something. Mentally, he’s doing great right now.”
Diaz is 1-1 in his last two fights, having defeated B.J. Penn prior to falling to Condit. The 28-year-old’s next move independent of his fighting future should come in front of the NSAC in a month when his temporary suspension for smoking pot is formally addressed.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, gracie, sherdog radio
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz' Coach Cesar Gracie: 'I Won't Let That Guy Quit' The UFC
Cesar Gracie, coach, mentor and trainer to controversial UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has a rare degree of insight into the mind of his mercurial student. Gracie has been in Diaz' corner since before the beginning of Diaz' pro career, training him in jiu-jitsu and managing his career.
Diaz vowed to retire after his controversial loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in a UFC interim Welterweight title bout. Then the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that Diaz had failed his post-fight drug test, coming up positive for marijuana, his second pot test failure in Nevada.
More On Nick Diaz Lawyer: Nick Diaz Didn't Lie About Marijuana 'Prescription' | In Defense of Diaz's Weed Habit | Diaz Is to Blame, But So Are Meaningless Marijuana Tests | Diaz Should Be Released By The UFC | Diaz' Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable |White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed' | Fighters React to Diaz's Positive Drug Test | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana | Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA
Gracie spoke to Sherdog about Diaz, the NSAC and medical marijuana:
"It might be a good thing because will they make the Nevada State Athletic Commission explain themselves? ... Marijuana's like alcohol. You can't be drunk for your fight and you can't be high on marijuana for your fight. But they don't test to see if you, a month before, if you drank alcohol. Oh my God, we're going to have to fine you because you drank alcohol a month before your fight or eight days or two weeks or whatever they want to say. You can get drunk the night before your fight. You just can't get drunk the day of your fight.
"Their testing policy does not make sense, not only to the layman like you and me but also to the World Anti-Doping Agency. They don't test the way that [the NSAC does]. They don't do the metabolites, I think it's called. That just shows if you had weed in your fat cells that was stored there up to 45 days before your fight. It doesn't make sense...."He's sick of the politics, the whole marijuana thing, the judges ... . It's kind of a weird thing, but let's face it: I'm not going to let that guy quit. I just don't see that happening. He's too good and he's too important in this sport, I think. If it's up to me, there's no way that's going to happen."
More SBN coverage of UFC 143
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, test, marijuana
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCesar Gracie is Confident Nick Diaz Will Return to MMA: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz shocked many MMA fans with his decision to retire after his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit. Diaz's failed post-fight drug test certainly didn't help things (he tested positive for Marijuana), and the Stockton native has...
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, mma fans, cesar gracie
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsCesar Gracie talks about Nick Diaz and the failed drug test
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Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, drug, drug test
Read the full article at RedditUFC Quick Quote: Cesar Gracie is not going to let Nick Diaz quit MMA
"He's sick of the politics, the whole marijuana thing, the judges ... . It's kind of a weird thing, but let's face it: I'm not going to let that guy quit. I just don't see that happening. He's too good and he's too important in this sport, I think. If it's up to me, there's no way that's going to happen."
-- Nick Diaz's mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer, coach, and mentor, Cesar Gracie, tells Sherdog.com that he knows his star pupil won't be retiring from the sport if only because he just won't let him. Diaz famously declared he was walking away from the fight game following a close unanimous decision defeat to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 this past Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada. In that fight, the Stockton, Calif., native was the aggressor, walking down his foe for five full rounds. But "The Natural Born Killer" was precise in his strikes while circling away from danger and by the end of the 25-minute contest, the judges decided they felt aggressiveness was secondary to the damage done by a smart game plan. This, of course, angered Diaz to the point of quitting during the post-fight interview. It was later revealed it would have all been for naught anyway, as he failed his drug test for marijuana metabolites. He's yet to have his hearing but he's facing a long suspension, seeing as this is the second time he's been popped for drugs in Nevada. Even if he does take an extended vacation, Gracie assures us Diaz won't be gone for good. And, really, the former Strikeforce champion has far too much to offer the sport to walk away at the age of 28 and in the prime of his career. Right?
Posted in: diaz, sport, gracie, drug test, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCesar Gracie: I’m Not Going to Let Nick Diaz Retire
Cesar Gracie doesn’t believe Nick Diaz is done fighting.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, gracie, cesar
Read the full article at SherdogCesar Gracie talks Nick Diaz's suspension
Nick Diaz is facing a lengthy suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to the fact that his UFC 143 drug test came up positive for marijuana metabolites.
The positive test was the second of Diaz’s career and it is widely believed that he will be suspended for a year when he stands in front of the Commission for his full hearing. Diaz and his lawyer have made it clear that they are going to fight the suspension.
Recently Diaz’s trainer and manager, Cesar Gracie spoke about why
Posted in: diaz, suspension, nevada state, marijuana metabolites, hearing diaz
Read the full article at Low KickRonda Rousey To Train With Diaz Brothers
Ronda Rousey has always remained close to her Los Angeles training center when it comes to MMA.
However, after doing a little session with Nick Diaz, Rousey has decided to venture to Stockton and train with Nick and Nate Diaz next month, as she told MMA Weekly Radio during a recent appearance on the show.
Yeah, I’m going up there from the 3rd to the 16th (of April) and it’s going to be the first time ever since I started doing MMA that I’m going to be training for an actual extended period of time away from my core camp, who I’ve always been with. When I did judo I used to go around all the time, like every month or so I would go away for a week or two weeks to go train somewhere else. For some reason, it’s something I never did in MMA, so they invited me to come train up there.
Rousey, who defeated Miesha Tate earlier this month via armbar to secure the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight title, is likely headed for a match with Sarah Kaufman. Rousey’s connections with Nick and Nate Diaz, along with her recent decision to partner with Chael Sonnen, will only help promote her name and women’s MMA going forward.
Photo credit: Rey Del Rio/FOXSports.com
Posted in: diaz, mma, nate diaz, train, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ConvertHitman-TapouT lawsuit boiling over
A lawsuit involving the former owner of Hitman Fight Gear and TapouT/Authentic Brands Group is heating up. MMA Payout has obtained the lawsuit which was filed in Orange County Superior Court in California.
Earlier this month, the lawsuit, filed in 2011, was leaked to the MMA blogosphere. The lawsuit, filed by Daniel Diaz, is a salacious look at the purported inner dealings behind the TapouT brand and its eventual purchase by Authentic Brands Group (ABG)
The Lawsuit
According to the lawsuit, filed on March 29, 2011, Daniel Diaz, founder of MMA clothing brand Hitman Fight Gear is suing TapouT, ABG and other related entities as a result of claimed promises and a business deal which did not go Diaz’s way. Diaz is also suing as a member of Fight Industries, LLC (F1) (known as a derivative lawsuit where a shareholder can bring suit on behalf of the company).
Diaz’s lawsuit alleges 12 causes of action (including 4 on behalf of F1) which includes: Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Conversion, Aiding and Abetting Breaches of Fiduciary Duty for Fiduciary Gain, Fraudulent Conveyance, Breach of Employment Contract – Wrongful Termination, Unpaid Wages, Unfair Business Practices for Personal Gain and Fraud in the Inducement.
The Alleged Facts
According to the lawsuit, Diaz and his brother established “Hitman Fight Gear” in 2001. In addition, Diaz did freelance design for other brands including TapouT. In 2005, Diaz entered into a contract with Russell Lin on behalf of a brand named Roxwell. Diaz would receive a 10% commission “on anything Roxwell made for TapouT” according to the lawsuit. Diaz’s lawsuit alleges that his designs under Roxwell for TapouT were a success and his income was “steadily increasing.”
The lawsuit indicates that Marc Kreiner’s role with TapouT affected Diaz’s commissions under the Roxwell contract. According to Diaz, Kreiner attempted to undercut the Roxwell contract by attempting to lower, by 10% the cost of goods on the TapouT-Roxwell contract.
According to the complaint in 2007, Punkass and Kreiner met with Diaz regarding “Hitman Fight Gear” in an attempt to purchase the company. A limited liability corporation, F1, would be set up to purchase Hitman on behalf of TapouT. Diaz agreed to a sale of his company in exchange for 1,125,000 Class B shares of F1 and an employment contract with the company. In addition, Diaz would give up his contract with Roxwell. Diaz claims that he was led to believe that the Hitman brand would be given the backing to become as big as the TapouT brand.
However, Diaz claims that the F1 company was used for the personal benefit of Kreiner. One of the allegations claimed in the lawsuit was that Kreiner was “accepting (indeed, demanding) bribes from vendors of both TapouT and F1.” (page 9 of the lawsuit) The lawsuit alleges a “kickback” scheme which vendors would receive as high as “one dollar per t-shirt which – over the life of the contract – might pay the vendor hundreds of thousands of dollars as a “kickback” to the vendor for providing Kreiner with demanded gifts.” (page 9-10 of the lawsuit).
In addition to this claimed scheme, Diaz alleges the misappropriation of TapouT and F1 funds for Kreiner’s personal use.
Diaz claims that he was not reimbursed for business expenses, which were included in his employment contract, due to the fact that F1 purportedly lacked the money to pay him.
TapouT-ABG transaction
The lawsuit claims that after TapouT and F1 were depleted, the companies were purchased by ABG for the following:
1) the payment of some of the debt Kreiner and Caldwell managed to accumulate through their alleged scheme of skimming cash and other assets out of the company;
2) future cash payments to Kreiner and Caldwell, only, the amounts of which, were to be withheld from Kreiner and Caldwell pending the resolution of remaining creditor claims against those assets
The purported transaction would leave the companies with little or no assets to pay its creditors.
Diaz claims that ABG discovered the conduct claimed by Diaz when ABG conducted its “due diligence” prior to purchasing TapouT and F1. Diaz claims that ABG used this information against TapouT and F1 (and to Diaz’s detriment due to his interest in F1) as leverage in negotiations by driving down the purchase price. In addition, Diaz states that ABG attempted to buy his “silence” through an employment contract with the new ABG TapouT entity. When Diaz refused, he believed that ABG went around Diaz. This led to, as Diaz alleges in the lawsuit, the diminution in value of F1 rendering his shares in the company worthless.
The Underground post
Earlier this month TapouT and ABG went into court seeking the return of stolen documents and disqualifying Diaz’s attorneys. The reason for this was due to an internet posting on MMA.tv (also known to most as The Underground) in which an article was posted which detailed the lawsuit. A link to the article has been taken down. This was about the same time that details of the original lawsuit hit the twittershpere. The internet post was discovered by an attorney for TapouT/ABG and a request to cease and desist was made to Diaz’s attorneys.
Prior to the posting, the parties agreed to a protective order during the discovery process which essentially means that the documents produced to each side would remain confidential. Among the documents produced included information related to the purchase of TapouT. Lawyers for TapouT claim that Diaz published information that were deemed confidential. In addition, TapouT lawyers state that the comments section after the article included information provided by Diaz which only would have been known by those privy to the documents under the protective order.
Some of the information has been released by others via twitter and/or other web sites. Essentially, the inflammatory information Diaz provides relates to the claimed indebtedness of TapouT prior to its sale to ABG. Also, some of the comments include information already identified in the Complaint related to the claims of a “kickback” scheme.
Despite the post and comments section, the court decided against immediate punishment for Diaz. The Minute Order provided by the court stated the order sought by TapouT was denied. The order did not include an explanation.
Payout Perspective:
The lawsuit appears to be heating up and there is a trial date set for this September. The lawsuit is obviously personal for Diaz and the posting on The Underground reflects this. The allegations against TapouT and ABG are serious and there may be more coming out of this lawsuit which may reveal a lot about one of the biggest brands in MMA.
Posted in: diaz, lawsuit, tapout, kreiner, abg
Read the full article at MMA PayoutNick Diaz’s Attorney Counters NSAC on Falsified Pre-Fight Form Allegation
Nick Diaz hasn’t even been given a date to appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission to appeal his allegedly positive marijuana test from UFC 143 yet and already his case has turned into a fight.
Having hired famed Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman, Diaz will be challenging the test results, as he only registered positive for marijuana metabolites as opposed to marijuana’s active chemical component Delta-tetrahydracannabinol-9 and did not technically violate any WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) regulations.
After Diaz’s camp announced their defense, the Nevada Attorney General’s office released a statement when pressed for comment in which they stuck to the original claim that marijuana metabolites still violate WADA laws and also asserted that Diaz “lied to the Commission on his Pre-Fight Questionnaire when he swore that he had not used any prescribed medications in two weeks before the fight.”
That last part is what prompted response from Goodman, who told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole that Diaz did not lie on the application, but answered in accordance to the Nevada law on medicinal marijuana, of which he supplied a copy. By Nevada law, marijuana is not considered a prescription drug since it is still a controlled substance.
“Nowhere in there does it say that the attending physician is prescribing marijuana,” Goodman said. “And so, for obvious reasons, before you speak and call someone a liar, you think you’d do a little bit of due diligence and understand what the Nevada law actually says.
“It’s not like you walk into the pharmacy and start looking around on the shelves and hope to pick up a bag of marijuana,” he continued. “That’s ridiculous. No reasonable person would believe that medical marijuana falls under the category of over the counter medications.”
Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites after losing a controversial split decision to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in an interim welterweight title fight. UFC 143 went down on February 4 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, law, nevada, marijuana metabolites
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNick Diaz's lawyer does it again
After Nick Diaz's lawyers put forward the defense that marijuana metabolines != marijuana and Diaz is technically allowed to smoke out of competition, the NSAC responded with "Nick Diaz is a liar because he didn't include pot on his pre-fight paperwork." Neener neener try and get around that, Mr Slick Pants Lawyer guy!
"In order for you to have a false official statement, it has to be sworn to," Goodman said. "It has to be under oath. If you found something contradictory in an affidavit that is sworn to under penalties of perjury, then that's where you really have a claim of false official statement. Here, you have none of that. You have a one-page, pre-printed questionnaire that was simply signed. There was no witness to attest to it, it wasn't done under penalty of perjury, (and) it wasn't sworn to."
Yeeeeeaaaaaah. I don't know about that one, guy.
"The second issue, which is really the main issue, is that he was truthful in responding to that question. He didn't take prescription medications in the last two weeks (prior to the fight)."A key point of contention, he said, is the attorney general's implication that Diaz has a prescription for medical marijuana."The way that you become a medical marijuana patient is ... that you have a doctor," Goodman said. "A doctor doesn't prescribe to you marijuana. A doctor recommends that that would be an approved use for whatever diagnosis somebody has. In [Diaz's] case, [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. So nowhere is there an actual prescription for marijuana. It would be illegal for any doctor to prescribe marijuana."
That one sounds kinda crazy too, but it's apparently true: "Since marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug by the federal government, it cannot legally prescribed by a physician nor dispensed by a pharmacy. However, physicians can recommend the use of medical marijuana for their patients and those that have received such a recommendation can legally use marijuana in accordance with certain laws."
So once again, Nick Diaz's lawyer has just jumped through another NSAC flaming hoop like Evel Knievel on a motorcycle made out of technicalities, throwing double birds and screaming "DON'T BE SCARED OF MARIJUANA, HOMEY!"
Posted in: diaz, nick, marijuana, official statement, lawyer
Read the full article at FightlinkerLawyer: Nick Diaz did not violate the rules
Ross Goodman, the lawyer for suspended UFC fighter Nick Diaz, says Diaz did nothing wrong and should have never been disciplined.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, fighter, lawyer
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNick Diaz lawyer slams NSAC for calling his client a liar about pot prescription
I get the feeling that Ross Goodman, attorney for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Nick Diaz, won't be touching gloves with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) when they face off at his client's upcoming disciplinary hearing.
That's because the Las Vegas lawyer is fuming over the commission's accusation that Diaz lied on his pre-fight questionnaire, where he swore that he hadn't used any prescribed medications in the two weeks before his bout against Carlos Condit at UFC 143, which was held on Feb. 4, 2012, at "Sin City's" Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Diaz tested positive for "marijuana metabolites" following his five round unanimous decision loss to "The Natural Born Killer," prompting his legal counsel to challenge not the results of the test, but how they are applicable (from a legal perspective) to his client's most recent appearance inside the Octagon.
Goodman argues that a mandatory suspension is unwarranted because marijuana metabolites are not a prohibited substance according to the list used by the NSAC, which is adopted from the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Diaz has a prescription for medical marijuana after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is legal in both Nevada and his home state of California.
So why all the hubbub then?
The athletic commission is claiming Diaz lied on his pre-fight questionnaire (click here to see a copy), by checking "no" on a box asking if he took or received any prescription medication two weeks prior to weighing in. The presence of marijuana metabolites would argue otherwise, but technically, Diaz was telling the truth.
Goodman explains to Kevin Iole at Yahoo! Sports:
"Nowhere in there does it say that the attending physician is prescribing marijuana. And so, for obvious reasons, before you speak and call someone a liar, you think you'd do a little bit of due diligence and understand what the Nevada law actually says. Nick has a prescription for marijuana in California. He has had a prescription for the last couple years, so it's a legal drug for him. He has the prescription for ADHD [Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder], and he says it helps him. It's not like you walk into the pharmacy and start looking around on the shelves and hope to pick up a bag of marijuana. That's ridiculous. No reasonable person would believe that medical marijuana falls under the category of over the counter medications."
Goodman also contends that his client's drug use should be considered "out of competition" as it was stopped eight days before for the fight and that marijuana metabolites do not qualify as "drugs of abuse" -- nor are they listed as a prohibited substance.
In layman's terms, this thing is a mess.
No date has been determined for Diaz's upcoming disciplinary hearing but he's currently enjoying a self-imposed retirement, one his brother Nate expects to last indefinitely. We'll see if the results of his hearing have any influence on that decision.
Stay tuned.
For more background on Diaz and his UFC 143 drug test click here. To read Goodman's response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) in its entirety click here.
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, marijuana metabolites, prescription, goodman
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLawyer: Nick Diaz Didn't Lie About Marijuana 'Prescription'
The saga continues. Earlier in the week, a lawyer representing Nick Diaz issued a formal challenge to the marijuana suspension handed down to Diaz by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. A NSAC representative immediately responded, branding Diaz a "liar" based on his answers on a UFC 143 pre-fight questionnaire. The main bone of contention was the 11th question, which asked if Diaz had "taken/received any prescribed medication in the last 2 weeks". Diaz answered no. This contradicted the lawyer's challenge, which stated that Nick had stopped his marijuana consumption eight days before the fight. There's one major sticking point to this though:
Did Nick Diaz actually have a prescription for marijuana from a California physician?The lawyer, Ross Goodman, responded to the NSAC accusation in a conversation with MMA Junkie late last night, and said that Nick's medical marijuana card doesn't constitute a prescription. This apparently means Nick didn't lie on the form. Here's what he said:
"The way that you become a medical marijuana patient is ... that you have a doctor," Goodman said. "A doctor doesn't prescribe to you marijuana. A doctor recommends that that would be an approved use for whatever diagnosis somebody has. In [Diaz's] case, [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. So nowhere is there an actual prescription for marijuana. It would be illegal for any doctor to prescribe marijuana."
Diaz submitted an affidavit (Exhibit A) with the original challenge that stated the following:
"I have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ("ADHD"). My physician, Robert E. Sullivan, approved the use of marijuana to treat ADHD."
So, no one actually said that Nick was "prescribed" the marijuana by the doctor, right?. So far so good for that defense. Well, until you look a little closer and see the affidavit submitted in the original challenge by the doctor, John Hiatt, who is Goodman's medical expert in regards to the effects of marijuana. Point 11 of his statement says the following:
"If an individual has a valid medical prescription for marijuana in some form, then in view of all the uncertainties associated with interpreting the meaning of the presence of THC metabolite in urine, it is not reasonable to reach any conclusion in regard to a persons ability to compete in an athletic contest."
But he didn't have a valid prescription according to Goodman, so I guess that argument is out the window. In addition to that, Junkie points out another prescription reference made by Goodman in the challenge, and references Cesar Gracie's comments on the issue:
Yet in his challenge to the NSAC, Goodman cites a statute originally intended to address driving that defines a prohibited substance as any for which a person doesn't have a "valid prescription." And in previous interviews, Diaz's manager, Cesar Gracie, has said Diaz carries a prescription for medical pot.
So no one is on record saying that Nick specifically had a prescription (other than Cesar), but multiple statements in the challenge make reference to the need for one. Muddied waters. After the jump you can see how Nick's lawyer responded to this, and read what Keith Kizer had to say regarding Nick's test.
Goodman's response? NSAC isn't addressing the real issues, apparently:
"So what are we talking about? I don't think the Nevada State Athletic Commission knows how to address that issue now because we brought the actual rules to light. So now I think that they're first reaction was, 'Well, shoot, we do have some potential issues,' so what else can we say was wrong here? Oh, there was a pre-fight medical questionnaire that's asking for prescription medication? That was untruthful.' "Maybe instead of attacking him and blaming him for something that's completely ridiculous, they should have a special category (on the questionnaire) that says, 'Are you a medical-marijuana patient?'"
In the article, Keith Kizer also confirms the actual ng/ml numbers from the first test:
The levels of all marijuana metabolties in Diaz's system were above an acceptable limit of 50 nanograms on his first test, according to NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer, and 10 nanograms above an acceptable limit of 15 nanograms of the carboxylic acid metabolite on the second test.
There're a lot more to it, and this is all very convoluted and complicated. I'd recommend reading the whole Junkie article to get the full picture. And if you'd like more information about California's rules regarding medical marijuana, here's what Prop 215 has to say on the issue. I think it's pretty obvious that we're going to be hearing about this a lot more over the next few months though.
Posted in: diaz, nick, marijuana, prescription, goodman
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCounsel counters Nevada’s claim Diaz lied
MMA Junkie reports on the ongoing saga regarding Nick Diaz’s response to Nevada’s allegations of marijuana use. Last week, Diaz’s lawyer argued in a response brief that Diaz should be cleared of wrongdoing.
Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites after his February 4th fight against Carlos Condit.
In a response brief addressing the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s disciplinary action, Diaz’s attorney, Ross Goodman, argued that Diaz did not break the rules as he tested for an inactive metabolite of marijuana not banned by the NSAC or WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).
Diaz’s attorney argues that Diaz’s marijuana use is not considered a prescription drug. Also, he claims that Diaz did not need it to fight as the usage ceased, as is customary before Diaz’s fights, 8 days prior to the fight. Another of Goodman’s arguments suggest that the post-fight urine test may have shown higher levels of substances due to the physiological issues occurring at the time. In Diaz’s Declaration which was attached to the response, Diaz states that he had to lose 10 pounds the day before the weigh-ins (instead of his customary 2 pounds) and the 5 round fight with Condit incurred much more physical exertion than his normal 3 round fights.
As pointed out by Fight Opinion, Diaz’s attorney’s response brief is similar in argument to that of a guest editorial penned by Vancouver Athletic Commission’s Jonathan Tweedale on Bloody Elbow.
A public information officer for the Nevada Attorney General stated that Diaz lied to the NSAC in his pre-fight questionnaire when he swore he had not used prescribed medications two weeks prior to the Condit fight.
A copy of the questionnaire is here via Yahoo!
Diaz’s attorney argues that the questionnaire is inadmissible as evidence since Diaz did not sign the questionnaire “under penalty of perjury.”
Via MMA Junkie:
“In order for you to have a false official statement, it has to be sworn to,” Goodman said. “It has to be under oath. If you found something contradictory in an affidavit that is sworn to under penalties of perjury, then that’s where you really have a claim of false official statement. Here, you have none of that. You have a one-page, pre-printed questionnaire that was simply signed. There was no witness to attest to it, it wasn’t done under penalty of perjury, (and) it wasn’t sworn to.
“The second issue, which is really the main issue, is that he was truthful in responding to that question. He didn’t take prescription medications in the last two weeks (prior to the fight).”
Payout Perspective:
Next month’s hearing will be very interesting to see how the commission will rule on Diaz’s claims. While the pre-fight questionnaire will loom as evidence that Diaz lied, Diaz’s counsel makes an interesting argument about the admissibility of the document. The questionnaire’s language does not constitute a legal declaration as the confirmation of truth language states: “I hereby attest that the above information is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.” Its likely that these forms will be updated pending Diaz’s hearing.
Secondly, we will see whether the commission will entertain Diaz’s claim that his marijuana use is not a prescription.
From the Nevada Attorney General’s perspective, its interesting that it made a statement about Diaz’s response brief prior to the hearing. Furthermore, its pubic relations team should have thought out the correct words to use when describing on the questionnaire that he had not used prescription drugs 2 weeks prior to the fight. The public information officer stated: ”not only did Nick Diaz violate the law by testing positive for marijuana metabolites, but he also lied to the commission on his pre-fight questionnaire when he swore that he had not used any prescribed medications in (the) two weeks before the fight.” (h/t MMA Junkie). The use of the word “swore” connotes the use of a legal declaration like the one Diaz gave in his response brief. The PIO could have kept it simple and stated that “Diaz violated the law by testing positive and lied to the commission.” But, to go further allowed Diaz’s counsel to counterpunch with the legality of the document argument. Perhaps this is a subtle misstep, but it allowed an opening for Diaz legal team to gain a PR advantage.
Posted in: fight, diaz, attorney, response, questionnaire
Read the full article at MMA PayoutAttorney To NSAC: Nick Diaz Did Not Lie On UFC 143 Pre-Fight Questionnaire
Nick Diaz’s attorney, Ross Goodman, didn’t take too kindly to the NSAC calling his client a liar yesterday.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Goodman refuted that Diaz “lied” about not taking any medical prescriptions two weeks prior to the Carlos Condit fight on his UFC 143 pre-fight questionnaire. He claims Diaz never lied because he wasn’t making an official sworn statement on that document and moreover, medical marijuana is not actually “prescribed” by a doctor like other medications are despite the fact that Diaz’s manager Cesar Gracie has said Diaz has a prescription for medical marijuana.
“In order for you to have a false official statement, it has to be sworn to,” Goodman said. “It has to be under oath. If you found something contradictory in an affidavit that is sworn to under penalties of perjury, then that’s where you really have a claim of false official statement. Here, you have none of that. You have a one-page, pre-printed questionnaire that was simply signed. There was no witness to attest to it, it wasn’t done under penalty of perjury, (and) it wasn’t sworn to.
“The second issue, which is really the main issue, is that he was truthful in responding to that question. He didn’t take prescription medications in the last two weeks (prior to the fight).”
“The way that you become a medical marijuana patient is … that you have a doctor,” Goodman said. “A doctor doesn’t prescribe to you marijuana. A doctor recommends that that would be an approved use for whatever diagnosis somebody has. In [Diaz's] case, [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. So nowhere is there an actual prescription for marijuana. It would be illegal for any doctor to prescribe marijuana.”
So basically we’re talking technicalities at this point and it only got more confusing as Keith Kizer and Goodman argued about whether or not it’s a safety issue further down in the story.
Regarding the NSAC’s official response from yesterday though, Goodman believes the NSAC can’t refute his point about marijuana metabolites not being a banned substance, and therefore they’re merely just trying to attack Diaz from another angle.
“So what are we talking about? I don’t think the Nevada State Athletic Commission knows how to address that issue now because we brought the actual rules to light. So now I think that they’re first reaction was, ‘Well, shoot, we do have some potential issues,’ so what else can we say was wrong here? Oh, there was a pre-fight medical questionnaire that’s asking for prescription medication? That was untruthful.’
“Maybe instead of attacking him and blaming him for something that’s completely ridiculous, they should have a special category (on the questionnaire) that says, ‘Are you a medical-marijuana patient?’”
If only it could be that simple.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out for Diaz now that his lawyer and the NSAC are essentially engaging in a public pissing match. I don’t know if it was ever their intention from the outset, but putting public pressure on the NSAC like they seem to be now is a risky move that could ultimately backfire on them.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, nsac, prescription, goodman
Read the full article at MMA ConvertJim Miller Braces for Nate Diaz: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
"Ultimate Fighter" season five Winner Nate Diaz has come a long way since his days on the reality TV series, and he's one fight away from becoming the seventh TUF winner to earn a shot at a UFC title. After putting on an impressive performance in his victory against...
Posted in: diaz, nate, ufc title, fighter season, tuf winner
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsCarlos Condit - Still Hungry
Despite the usual craziness that comes along with becoming a UFC champion, for Carlos Condit, the month after winning the interim UFC welterweight title at UFC 143 in February has been a lot less stressful than the one before it.“Yeah, absolutely,” chuckles Condit, whose five round unanimous decision win over Nick Diaz earned him the interim belt as Georges St-Pierre recovers from knee surgery. Now he’s taking a well-deserved break. “Last year was pretty tumultuous, so I’m staying in shape, but I’m taking time to just enjoy being the champion, enjoy hanging out with my family, and for the most part, I’m just mentally relaxing so I can get back into a camp here in the next couple months and be able to completely dedicated and completely into it.It was a crazy lead up to the Diaz bout for “The Natural Born Killer,” one filled not just with an intense training camp, but the added pressure of having cameras following his every move for the UFC Primetime show.“The weeks leading up to a fight are super stressful anyway, and the cameras didn’t add a whole lot more stress, but any more stress on top of a highly-stressed situation kinda amplifies it,” explains Condit, who, while always accessible to the media, has never been one to chase after the spotlight. So letting the world into not only his life, but that of his family, was something new for him.“It’s hard to put all that stuff out there,” he said. “I am kind of a private person, but that’s what people want to see and what some people connect with. I am just a regular guy. I get up and do the family thing and go and do my job like everybody else, but my job just happens to be training for cage fights.”And then fighting in front of millions. Knowing all this, it made his performance against Diaz, who hadn’t lost in over four years, even more impressive. For five rounds, Condit followed his gameplan to a tee, sticking and moving and never allowing Diaz to get into a rhythm. When it was over, the judges rendered him the victor by scores of 49-46 (twice) and 48-47. “I don’t think it was the war that everybody was expecting or even that me or Nick was expecting,” said Condit when asked his thoughts on the bout. “But it was an entertaining fight and I proved to myself that I can really stick to a gameplan and a strategy. In the past, I’ve gone in there with a strategy and once punches were thrown, I abandoned all that and kinda threw down. This fight showed me that I’ve matured as a fighter with experience.”Coming off consecutive knockout wins over Rory MacDonald, Dan Hardy, and Dong Hyun-Kim, Condit was expected to stand and swing with Diaz until someone fell, but the Albuquerque native impressively turned the tables on his foe. And though it was a close, competitive, and compelling fight, some disagreed with the final verdict, causing an internet firestorm on the Sunday after the fight that surprised many, including Condit.“Initially it did,” he said. “In the cage before they announced the decision, I felt that I had won maybe 4-1. I was positive that I had the decision and thought that I had won at least four of the rounds. Going back and watching it, some of the rounds were pretty close, but some people are completely baffled that anyone would see it for Diaz, and then some people are completely appalled and offended that I got the decision. But pretty much everybody that I’ve talked to enjoyed the fight and thought that I won, for the most part. I don’t know, it’s just one of those things.”And though it was disappointing to see Condit be the focal point for these uncalled attacks on Twitter and other social networks, he takes it with a grain of salt.“I understand it,” he said. “I think when you say MMA fans, you’re talking about a pretty broad spectrum. MMA appeals to a lot of different people, and different people want to see different things in a fight. It makes sense. There’s criticism of the way a person fought and then there’s going a little bit farther than that, and I think that’s uncalled for.”What can’t be denied is that Condit fought an impressive fight over five fast-paced rounds against one of the best welterweights in the game. He had a solid gameplan, executed it perfectly, and got a well-deserved win. Was it the Armageddon in short pants fans screamed for? No. But this isn’t a toughman competition either, and Condit knew that standing in front of Diaz and fighting his fight wasn’t the wisest course of action.“Not every single fight is gonna be like that,” said Condit. “I’ve had 30 fights in my career that were knock down, drag out fights, and if they weren’t, they were brutal knockouts. And the one time that it isn’t, people are a little upset.”But that’s why they call this mixed martial arts, and Condit’s rise from WEC titleholder to UFC champion has been a prime example of a fighter’s evolution. It also showed off a fighter who has to be considered a serious threat to the man who is also at the top, St-Pierre. After an agreed-to rematch with Diaz was scrapped due to the Stockton native's NSAC suspension, Condit is looking forward to finally testing himself against Montreal’s finest.“We had a pretty solid roadmap to what we thought would be a victory over Georges, and that’s something we had to put on the shelf because of his injury and because the fight got canceled,” said Condit, who saw a UFC 137 bout with the Canadian scrapped due to injury, as well as a early 2012 match due to a GSP-Diaz showdown that never happened, again due to a St-Pierre injury. “But it’s gonna be a very similar blueprint when we fight eventually.”Hoping for a late 2012 return to face St-Pierre, who is reportedly ahead of schedule when it comes to rehabbing his knee, Condit will just enjoy his belt and his time with the family until that phone rings. And when it does, he will not go into training camp as a content champion. Instead, he will reprise his role as a hungry challenger.“It’s bigger, but I’m not yet satisfied,” said Condit of life as a UFC champion. “There’s still that pesky word ‘interim’ in my title, and until I’m able to purge myself of that and be the undisputed champion, I’m still hungry.”
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, ’t, condit
Read the full article at UFCFollowing NSAC challenge, lawyer says UFC's Nick Diaz didn't lie about marijuana RX
A lawyer representing Nick Diaz said the Nevada Attorney General's office made a "very offensive" and "ridiculous" statement when Diaz was accused of lying on a pre-fight medical questionnaire prior to his UFC 143 fight with Carlos Condit.
Las Vegas-based lawyer Ross Goodman contends that Diaz's medical-marijuana card doesn't constitute a prescription.
So, he said, the fighter wasn't lying when he checked "no" on the part of the questionnaire asking whether he had taken or received any prescribed medications two weeks prior to his fight.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, lawyer, marijuana rx, fighter wasnt
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNick Diaz’s attorney doesn’t take kindly to calling his client a liar ()
Nick Diaz's disciplinary hearing in front of the Nevada Athletic Commission for allegedly failing a post-fight drug screen after his loss to Carlos Condit on Feb. 4 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas in the main event of UFC 143 figures to be a doozy.
The hearing isn't scheduled yet, though it's expected to be sometime next month. If things remain as contentious as they have been between Diaz attorney Ross Goodman and the commission this week, tickets are going to be harder to come by than those for the Final Four.
Goodman has taken an aggressive stance and asserts that Diaz has not tested positive for a banned substance. Goodman argues that Diaz did not test positive for Delta-9-THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, but rather for marijuana metabolites. Those metabolites are an inactive ingredient in marijuana and are not on the World Anti Doping Agency's banned list that Nevada uses, Goodman said.
Goodman is clearly going to fight the case bitterly, and on Thursday, he railed against statements made by the public information officer for the Nevada attorney general's office.
Yahoo! Sports on Monday and Tuesday reached out to Christopher Eccles, the Nevada deputy attorney general who represents the athletic commission, seeking comment on points Goodman raised. Under a new policy instituted by attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto, however, her deputies are not allowed to speak to the media as they have in the past.
As a result, public information officer Jennifer M. Lopez returned the call for Eccles and later released a statement . Via email, Lopez said, "Not only did Nick Diaz violate the law by testing positive for marijuana metabolites, but he also lied to the Commission on his Pre-Fight Questionnaire when he swore that he had not used any prescribed medications in two weeks before the fight."
It is unusual for a spokesperson for an attorney general's office to call a person who will soon have a hearing in front of a state regulatory agency a liar.
Her statement probably wouldn't have been given much notice, though, had she said Diaz must have been mistaken when he checked no to a question asking if he'd taken any prescription medications in the preceding two weeks prior to the Feb. 3 weigh-in.
But saying outright that Diaz lied put Goodman even more in attack mode. He came out swinging on Thursday and insisted that Diaz did not lie when he checked no when he said he had not taken any prescription medications in the preceding two weeks.
The Nevada law that deals with medical marijuana doesn't regard it as a prescription drug. No doctor is able to prescribe it because it is a controlled substance.
Chapter 453A.210 of the Nevada Revised Statutes lays out the requirements to obtain a registry card for medical marijuana. To get the card, patients must comply with the following regulations:
(1) The person has been diagnosed with a chronic or debilitating medical condition;
(2) The medical use of marijuana may mitigate the symptoms or effects of that condition; and
(3) The attending physician has explained the possible risks and benefits of the medical use of marijuana;
(b) The name, address, telephone number, social security number and date of birth of the person;
(c) Proof satisfactory to the Division that the person is a resident of this State;
(d) The name, address and telephone number of the person's attending physician; and
(e) If the person elects to designate a primary caregiver at the time of application:
(1) The name, address, telephone number and social security number of the designated primary caregiver; and
(2) A written, signed statement from the person's attending physician in which the attending physician approves of the designation of the primary caregiver.
"Nowhere in there does it say that the attending physician is prescribing marijuana," Goodman said. "And so, for obvious reasons, before you speak and call someone a liar, you think you'd do a little bit of due diligence and understand what the Nevada law actually says."
Diaz manager Cesar Gracie said in a 2009 interview with MMA Fighting that "Nick has a prescription for marijuana in California. He has had a prescription for the last couple years, so it's a legal drug for him. He has the prescription for ADHD [Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder], and he says it helps him."
But Goodman it is all irrelevant. He said no reasonable person regards marijuana as either a prescription drug or an over the counter medication.
Diaz having a prescription The commission may point to the following question on the form Diaz filled out, which asks "Have you taken/received any over the counter medication/products in the last two weeks?"
"It's not like you walk into the pharmacy and start looking around on the shelves and hope to pick up a bag of marijuana," Goodman said. "That's ridiculous. No reasonable person would believe that medical marijuana falls under the category of over the counter medications."
Curiously, though, in his response to the commission, Goodman himself made a big deal about a prescription. He referenced NRS 484C.210 , which deals with prohibited substances. Goodman bolded a section which reads "if the person who uses the substance has not been issued a valid prescription ... "
Diaz may ultimately be forced to accept a lengthy suspension. He was suspended for six months in Nevada in 2007 for failing a marijuana test. On Jan. 31, boxer Matt Vanda had a hearing after testing positive for a second time. Vanda was suspended for a year and fined 40 percent of his purse.
If Diaz goes down, though, he's not going to make it simple on the commission. This isn't going to be a case where the fighter hangs his or her head, is lectured to by the commissioners and then apologizes profusely and meekly accepts the punishment issued.
Goodman will make certain of that.
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, person, prescription, goodman
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsJim Miller Talks Nate Diaz, Shows Off Camp
Jim Miller gives an inside look at his camp, and discusses his upcoming UFC on FOX 3 headlining bout against Nate Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate, camp, jim
Read the full article at MMA ConvertJim Miller plans to "make a statement" against Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 3
Top Lightweight contender Jim Miller, who will face Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 3, discusses his opponent, as well as his training and preparation for the bout. Miller acknowledges the importance of headlining in his home state of New Jersey, and says he plans to make a statement against Diaz on May 5th.
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate diaz, home state, bout miller
Read the full article at Low KickJim Miller takes fans inside his training camp as he prepares to face Nate Diaz
Jim Miller has a huge fight on the horizon, as the lightweight will meet Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC on FOX 3 later this year. Were a headlining spot on FOX not enough, Miller and Diaz will be a five-round affair with the winner securing a shot at the lightweight belt currently being worn by Benson Henderson.
“I know Nate pushes a good pace, so I want to be ready for anything,” said Miller in a video from his sponsors promoting the bout. “I really want to make a statement.”
Miller is training alongside the likes of Charlie Brenneman at the AMA Fight Club in New Jersey.
Watch the complete video below where the talented 155rr shows us some of the things he is currently working on and discusses the upcoming match-up with Diaz:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate, nate diaz, fiveround affair
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainLegal Defense for Nick Diaz Likely Irrelevant According to NSAC Policy
Recently a lawyer for former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz outlined his strategy for getting his client’s suspension ended. Lawyer Ross Goodman outlined a defense based on the technicality that the marijuana metabolites his client tested positive for are not explicitly named as banned substances. The creative defense may not matter however, as Diaz did not list his prescription on his pre-fight medical questionnaire according to a statement from NSAC to Yahoo Sports.
This is a key element in the case since Diaz has admitted to being prescribed marijuana for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and admitted use within the two-week period the questionnaire asks about.
Goodman planned to argue that Diaz was not guilty of any wrong-doing due to the specific marijuana metabolites Diaz tested positive for not being explicitly named on the list of banned substances. The argument was a long shot due to a few factors including: a) despite the marijuana metabolites not being listed as illegal, if they are not approved they still fall under the non-approved substances section of the WADA code b) despite being given a prescription for marijuana in California, Diaz failed to list it on his pre-fight medicals and also he failed to register for a therapeutic use exemption c) the failure to list prescribed marijuana on his pre-fight medicals would still be a penalty d) Diaz is previous offender.
Diaz is expected to appeal the test in April if neither side files for an extension.
Posted in: diaz, list, marijuana, marijuana metabolites, prefight medicals
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyMorning Report: NSAC Calls Nick Diaz a Liar, Brendan Schaub Hunts for Ghosts
Nick Diaz may be in the midst of the most bizarre five-month stretch in MMA history. Let's recap.
Diaz destroys B.J. Penn's face so hard, Penn retires. Diaz then enrages Georges St. Pierre so badly, Georges demands Diaz take Carlos Condit's title shot at UFC 143. Impressive stuff so far.
Diaz gets his fight, Carlos is sad, but one Canadian knee eruption later, he's back in the game. Both men hype the match as a "dogfight," but Condit works a counter-heavy gameplan into a divisive decision victory. An incredulous Diaz promptly retires.
After days of public fervor, Condit's camp asks to run it back. Only problem, Diaz sure does love his weed. Weeks go by and the story fades out until the Diaz camp unexpectedly lawyers-up, claiming Diaz didn't technically break any of the NSAC's rules. And now we're here, with the NSAC calling Diaz a liar, and the story very, very far from over.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
NSAC claims Nick Diaz violated the law on UFC 143 pre-fight questionnaire. Nevada State Athletic Commission representative Jennifer M. Lopez revealed that Nick Diaz "lied" to the commission by swearing he had not taken any prescribed medications two weeks out from UFC 143.
Bellator 61 dissection. Dallas Winston is back with another gif-tastic breakdown of Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos and Bellator's middleweight quarterfinals.
Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve confirmed for UFC 146. The addition of Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve completes UFC 146's all-heavyweight main card, slated for Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas.
Cesar Gracie says Pettis or Penn may challenge Melendez next. Zuffa is struggling to find viable opponents for Gilbert Melendez, so Cesar Gracie threw down the gauntlet for a pair of surprising names.
Demian Maia moving down to welterweight. Maia announced his impending drop from 185 pounds to 170 on Wednesday morning. An opponent or timetable for his welterweight debut has yet to be decided.
COUNTDOWN TO A SLIMMER ROY NELSON
Started (on March 4th): 32,000 likes.Yesterday's mark: 101,780 likes.As of this writing: 102,094 likes.Goal (by March 18th): 132,000 likes.
Roy, you may not have technically lost this bet, but over 70,000 people wanted to see you cut down to 205. That has to count for something, right?
MEDIA STEW
Brendan Schaub got his ghostbuster on as the Ghost Adventures crew investigated the gnarly tale of Denver's Peabody-Whitehead Mansion. (HT: MMA Mania)
Ryan Hall, in case you don't know, is one of the most successful American-born BJJ players we have today. Abu Dhabi medalist. Absurd win totals. Books, instructional DVDs, the works. So anyway, Hall's just sitting in this restaurant with his friends, enjoying himself a sandwich, and this drunk guy shuffles up asking for a lighter. No one has one, so drunk guy gets upset. Like, very upset. Then he decides it's time to throw down. And that, my friends, was a poor decision.
War Machine is back in jail for another year, even if the circumstances are slightly more dubious than they were last time. So tonight, Spike TV's MMA Uncensored is set to chronicle the fighter's final 48 hours before he headed back to the slammer. Check out the sneak preview below.
Preview - War Machine's New FightGet More: Preview - War Machine's New Fight
Chris Tickle needed just 24 seconds to KO Austin Lyons and pave his way into the TUF 15 house. But the quick finish wasn't exactly a fluke. Check out Trickle (white & black shorts) taking on Dave Cochran in a fight that features not only an automatic nutshot, but also a pretty damn impressive knockout.
MIESHA TATE'S ARM IS FINE AND SHE'LL PROVE IT TO YOU
This is better lol, I'm out of the car! Side view of my arm twitter.com/MieshaTate/sta…
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) March 14, 2012
And back of my arm, see!! It's really not too bad, swelling is gone, pain is minimal, I'll be back soon enough! twitter.com/MieshaTate/sta…
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) March 14, 2012
Considering I had my arm snapped in half the wrong direction a a little over a week ago i don't think it's in all that bad shape now lol
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) March 14, 2012
ANTHONY PETTIS LAUGHS AT YOUR RUMORS
I'm not dropping to 145 to fight aldo! 155 is my home and I'll get that belt soon!!! #fb
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) March 14, 2012
PITY THE DRUNK GUY THAT ASKS THEM FOR A LIGHTER
Galera reunida, meus parceiros TUFBrasil twitter.com/SpiderAnderson…
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) March 14, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Wednesday, March 14, 2012):
- UFC 146: Mark Hunt (8-7) vs. Stefan Struve (23-5)
- UFC 146: Mike Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE's hobbie: Setting it Straight: "Rampage's" Case Against the UFC
So for your benefit folks, I've compiled a list of Quinton's grievances with the UFC. I know a lot of folks have expressed displeasure, disagreement or most commonly, confusion at some of Quinton's remarks. I'll admit, that was my first reaction as well.
Then I stayed up all night fasting and pounding Red Bulls, and the picture suddenly became a whole lot clearer. Also, I now like house music for some reason. So without further ado, here's Rampage's case against the UFC, as best as I can fathom it.
1) "Why are you giving me wrestlers that are gonna take me down and hump me?"
This is Quinton's latest complaint, and it makes perfect sense coming from him. He's a devout Christian, "God's Street Soldier" (yes, God has "Street Soldiers" - Zeus showed you can have all the fancy artillery and air support you want, but without boots on the ground, your religion's going the way of lawnmower worship) and thus has no inclination to get "humped" by another man.
But more then that, Jackson is angry with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, for making "Rampage" fight all these lay and prayers! The fans want to see a fight, damnit! And besides, in a division featuring Jon Jones, Rashad Evans, Ryan Bader, Phil Davis, Dan Henderson, a Karate guy with solid wrestling of his own and "Shogun" freakin' Rua, it shouldn't be too hard to find a non-wrestler for ol' Quinton!
Oh, he's facing "Shogun" next? Splendid. That leads us right into grievance number two:
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit us on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, march
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVideo: Jim Miller wants to make a statement in Nate Diaz fight at UFC on FOX 3
While Ben Henderson, Frankie Edgar and Anthony Pettis go round-and-round trying to sort out the lightweight title picture, another 155-pound clash set for UFC on Fox 3 on May 5 in New Jersey will go a long way in deciding the next name thrown into the mix.
Jim Miller will take on Nate Diaz in the main event of the promotion's next foray onto network television and he wants to use the platform to make a statement.
"Training's going good for this fight. We're nine weeks out right now so I'm doing a lot of technique and just trying to become a better fighter at this moment and build my cardio up. I know Nate pushes a good pace so I want to be ready for anything once I step into the Octagon. I really want to make a statement in this fight and really cement myself as one of the top 155-pounders."
A win could either earn Miller a title shot or, at the very least, a number one contender bout, possibly against Pettis if he's still waiting around. Anyone think that's the picture about to be painted? Or will Diaz step in and play spoilsport?
Posted in: fight, diaz, miller, nate, statement
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNSAC Responds: Nick Diaz ‘Violated The Law’ and ‘Lied’ on Pre-Fight Questionnaire
Nick Diaz and his attorney showed their hand yesterday. Today, the NSAC showed theirs.
Despite having what sounds like a pretty strong argument, it looks like Diaz’s lawyer, Ross Goodman, is going to face a little resistance from the commission when he gets the opportunity to plead Diaz’s case. The NSAC has heard their response and they don’t seem too impressed. None of the actual commissioners have spoken on the record yet, however NSAC public information officer Jennifer M. Lopez relayed their stance to Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole.
Christopher Eccles, a Nevada deputy attorney general who represents the state athletic commission, referred telephone calls and email messages to public information officer Jennifer M. Lopez.
In a written statement, Lopez said, “Not only did Nick Diaz violate the law by testing positive for marijuana metabolites, but he also lied to the Commission on his Pre-Fight Questionnaire when he swore that he had not used any prescribed medications in two weeks before the fight.”
To clarify the last part, Goodman claims that Diaz stopped smoking his medically prescribed marijuana eight days prior to the fight, however since Nick checked “no” on the Pre-Fight Questionnaire next to the question that asked whether he had used any prescribed medications two weeks prior to the fight, the NSAC contends that Diaz “lied” or didn’t disclose his medical marijuana use.
Goodman still believes they have a strong case, however it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to convince the commissioners of that. Regardless, Goodman believes a little common sense tells you that Diaz didn’t actually do anything wrong.
“WADA prohibits marijuana in-competition because they don’t want people fighting, or doing [expletive] under the influence of marijuana,” Goodman said. “Nobody can say – not the athletic commissioner, not [executive director] Keith [Kizer] – nobody can say Nick was impaired or under the influence of marijuana. Nobody.
“So let’s just talk street. Let’s just talk common sense here. Why do you want to punish him, basically for a metabolite that resulted from legal use eight days before the fight? Why? What did it do that you guys [the commission] are so concerned about, because contrary to what Keith is saying, we know it didn’t create a safety issue because everybody knows … that it’s out of your system in a couple of hours.”
That’s really what’s so frustrating about this. If Nick wasn’t high during the fight, then what difference does it make?
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: diaz, nick, marijuana, nsac, goodman
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNSAC: Nick Diaz violated the law and 'lied' on UFC 143 pre-fight questionnaire
Nick Diaz fans were given hope yesterday that the star fighter could perhaps avoid suspension for testing positive for marijuana metabolites following his unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit UFC 143 last month in their interim Welterweight championship bout.
That hope stemmed from the release of a report revealing the defense strategy the Diaz camp plans to use when the Stockton, Calif.,-based fighter appears before the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) next month to address the failed test, which "came as a surprise" for the medical marijuana card-carrying member.
Essentially, Diaz's lawyer, Ross Goodman, is going to argue that marijuana metabolites are not included on the list of prohibited substances (for those interested in the full legal document click here).
Well, that hope was pretty short lived, as today the NSAC responded to Goodman's assertions and then some, releasing the following statement (the bold print is my emphasis):
Not only did Nick Diaz violate the law by testing positive for marijuana metabolites, but he also lied to the Commission on his Pre-Fight Questionnaire when he swore that he had not used any prescribed medications in two weeks before the fight.
The pre-fight questionnaire can be found here (both the NSAC statement and questionnaire are courtesy of Yahoo sports). You'll notice that it has several queries that relate to the physical health of the competitor, including whether or not the he has suffered any broken bones or other injuries in the past six months and if he has used prescribed- or over-the-counter medications in the past two weeks.
And this is where the problem seemingly lies for Diaz.
Diaz indicated that he had not used any such medication on the questionnaire. Meanwhile, Goodman and his defense team included a pair of affidavits in their report, one from Nick and one from John Hiatt, an organic chemist with a Ph.D from Yale who moonlights for Quest diagnostics, one of the leading diagnostic testing facilities in the world.
His affidavit states that he has a medical condition (ADHD), he has been prescribed medical marijuana to treat this medical condition and that he ceased using this medication eight days before his fight.
Hiatt's affidavit essentially states that the level of metabolites found in Nick's system was consistent with someone who had ceased using marijuana eight days prior to the test. (These affidavits are included in the full report that Goodman released yesterday).
So not only does the NSAC consider marijuana metabolites to indeed be against the law, it has also jumped on the fact that Diaz hid his use of marijuana from it on the pre-fight questionnaire.
Now, I'm not a lawyer, but it seems that you aren't going to look very good when you come out guns blazing, only to find that one of your claims is in direct contradiction with something your client has already told the other side.
Stay tuned ... this is far from from over.
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, nsac, marijuana metabolites, questionnaire
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe NSAC sounds like they're ready to be reasonable about the Nick Diaz pot thing
If you were wondering what the Nevada State Athletic Commission thinks of Nick Diaz's pot defense, this might give you a little clue of what's to come:
Christopher Eccles, a Nevada deputy attorney general who represents the state athletic commission, referred telephone calls and email messages to public information officer Jennifer M. Lopez.In a written statement, Lopez said, “Not only did Nick Diaz violate the law by testing positive for marijuana metabolites, but he also lied to the Commission on his Pre-Fight Questionnaire when he swore that he had not used any prescribed medications in two weeks before the fight.”
INCORRECT PAPERWORK, MOTHERF*CKER! YOU'RE GOING DOWN!
Posted in: diaz, nick, commission, fight ”, christopher eccles
Read the full article at FightlinkerNevada Rebukes Nick Diaz Suspension Defense, Claims He Lied On Pre-Fight Questionnaire
Yesterday, an attorney representing Nick Diaz formally challenged Nick's marijuana metabolites suspension by submitting a response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. But it appears that the NSAC has already rebuked the defense by claiming Diaz lied on his pre-fight questionnaire (via Yahoo Sports):
Christopher Eccles, a Nevada deputy attorney general who represents the state athletic commission, referred telephone calls and email messages to public information officer Jennifer M. Lopez.
In a written statement, Lopez said, "Not only did Nick Diaz violate the law by testing positive for marijuana metabolites, but he also lied to the Commission on his Pre-Fight Questionnaire when he swore that he had not used any prescribed medications in two weeks before the fight."
Along with the article is an unverified document claiming to be a copy of Diaz's pre-fight questionnaire where he checked "no" to "have you taken/received any prescribed medications in the past two weeks". Here is a link to that document. Nick's attorney, Ross Goodman, stated in his report that Diaz stopped using marijuana (which is prescribed to him by a California physician for his ADHD) eight days before his UFC 143 bout with Carlos Condit.
Will this change anything in regards to how the situation is handled? We'll have to wait and see.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, prefight, prefight questionnaire
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMMA Roundtable: What's Next for Melendez and Aldo, Rampage-Shogun II And More
It's been a long time since we sidled up to the old MMA roundtable and threw down on some of the biggest questions of the day, so I invited my colleague Luke Thomas to his first showdown to see what he's got.
Wednesday's topics include how to keep Gilbert Melendez happy in Strikeforce, what to make of Nick Diaz's suspension appeal, and how going on a Rampage can lead to fun and profit.
1. Who will be Gilbert Melendez's next opponent in Strikeforce?Mike Chiappetta: There's been all kinds of speculation about who Melendez would face ever since he beat Jorge Masvidal in December. I think I unintentionally helped to jumpstart the possibility of Zuffa sending a UFC fighter to Strikeforce to fight him the day after the Masvidal fight when I proposed he face BJ Penn, and those kinds of rumors have persisted. Cesar Gracie recently fanned the flames by saying that Melendez would fight on May 19, and he hoped to face Penn or Anthony Pettis.But recently, a well-placed source informed me that a different name was a possibility: Gray Maynard.He hasn't fought since his knockout at the hands of Frankie Edgar last October, and given that he had two cracks at the UFC belt in 2011, he's not likely to get another title bout anytime soon. He also doesn't have a huge salary that would make the move to Strikeforce cost prohibitive. And because Maynard gave Edgar a run twice, it would also be a fight that could provide a frame of reference for just how good Melendez is. I like it, and I think it's going to happen.Luke Thomas: I really hope Mike's inside information comes true. Gray Maynard would be an excellent choice for the Strikeforce organization, its fans and the two fighters involved. It's especially the right kind of challenge for the underserved Melendez.
No matter what happens, neither Josh Thomson nor KJ Noons are suitable contenders and the champion couldn't possibly be less interested in either fight. Who can blame him? He so outclasses both that the fights are basically matters of procedure. Keeping Melendez in Strikeforce is neither fair to the champion nor his challengers. It'd be much more equitable to the rest of the Strikeforce lightweight roster to move Melendez to the UFC and let the division sort itself out with it's existing talent.
If Maynard's not up for it or not available, but we still could move talent let's consider other top UFC lightweights. They'd have to be those who likely wouldn't contend for titles, but could be stiff tests for Melendez as well as provide a dose of excitement for Strikeforce. What about Joe Lauzon or Sam Stout? Couldn't we move Dennis Siver or Gleison Tibau? Lightweight is one of those divisions that's young enough and talent-rich enough where it can be carefully poached without truly doing damage to it. And as long as Melendez is isolated, the case for doing as much gets stronger by the day.2. Since Frankie Edgar is staying at lightweight, what does UFC do next with Jose Aldo?Thomas: Aldo is a truly frustrating fighter for the UFC. He's got all the tools to be a major star and is young enough that with the right promotion could be a lasting figure for the promotion. I honestly believe if Aldo spoke English fluently and could more readily participate in media pushes, he'd be a significantly bigger star. Yes, Anderson Silva has never truly spoken English, but it took him years to turn into a star and he was able to fight and beat known commodities that helped turn him into an attraction.That is what the UFC must do with Aldo. Either entice lightweights to drop to featherweight or have Aldo move to lightweight. Hatsu Hioki and Dustin Poirier are supreme talents and worthy of everyone's respect, but Aldo will only be marking time (promotionally speaking) by fighting them. A much better option is to have him fight and beat known entities. That's how stars are born in MMA. Names on the way out are fed to names on the way up. Aldo's talent wouldn't exactly be squandered facing the current line of contenders at featherweight, but it's hardly best use of his time.Chiappetta: First off, I disagree with moving him to lightweight. Why are we always so quick to tell fighters what weight their bodies should handle? It's no small thing. Anyway, dominant champions are historically big draws, and as Aldo continues to solidify his hold on the featherweight division, he'll become one, too. There's no need to push him up a weight class in order to make that happen. So what now? Well, there's nothing wrong with Luke's first idea of having a lightweight move down to face him, as long as that fighter is a) a credible opponent and b) inclined to make that cut. Anthony Pettis has said he'd consider such an offer, but a rematch with Ben Henderson down the line seems like a more viable option for him, and a bigger money draw for the UFC. So I think UFC will stay within the division and Aldo will draw Hioki next. If I was a UFC decision-maker, I'd think long and hard about showcasing that fight on FOX. 3. Is Rampage vs. Shogun II the right call by the UFC?Chiappetta: No. I stick by my column from Monday, that the UFC should have released Jackson. But in some ways, this is a decision I think can be looked at from different perspectives as a fan, and as a business decision.As a fan, the Jackson-Rua rematch is an interesting fight, and I'll be intrigued to watch it, even though it's almost as if Jackson is being rewarded for his threats to leave the promotion. From a business perspective though, if I was a UFC decision-maker, I wouldn't offer him a fight that would allow him to go out on a high note, thereby increasing his value to prospective employers. The fact they did that makes me believe they think the relationship will be patched up ... again.
Thomas: Most certainly. I disagree with my colleague on this one.
Rampage has claimed the UFC has told him his appeal has waned. He even noted their argument was that rappers don't show up to watch him fight anymore. I have no idea if any of that is true (although it's hilarious), but if the UFC believes Rampage's star power has faded somewhat, then they're correct. It has. But it's not so faded that it's negligible.
There's a key consideration to understand that makes keeping Rampage around for one more fight borderline essential: the old guard of MMA is about to depart en masse. Consider that within the next two years (or less) the following fighters could be gone from the ranks of the UFC: Anderson Silva, B.J. Penn, Matt Hughes, Tito Ortiz, Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, both Nogueira brothers, Roy Nelson and Rich Franklin. On the bubble (up to three years) are fighters like Chris Leben, Rashad Evans and Josh Koscheck. There may well be others. All of these fighters have either expressed sincere interest in retirement, will be deep into their thirties (or forties) in the stated time span or be both.
Stated plainly, UFC needs all of the star power they can get. The UFC brand itself is hugely important, but this is a star-driven sport. Perhaps the relationship with Rampage is too fractured to be repaired, but Rampage as either a headliner or co-main event makes sense as long as it's a viable option. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.
4. How likely is Nick Diaz's appeal defense of reducing or eliminating his suspension?Thomas: Impossible to tell. Diaz is not working through a normal court of law procedure. He is not entitled to a traditional appeals system nor is an appointed, practicing judge presiding over his challenge. In short, whatever the commission wishes to do is what they'll do. They're both jury and judge here and that makes forecasting his chances of success rather difficult.That said, his case is air tight in my opinion. I don't know if his lawyer lifted the blueprint for this challenge from a post written by Jonathan Tweedale over at BloodyElbow.com, but either way Tweedale was first. He's also a member of the athletic commission in Vancouver and an attorney. And what he found was a clear misapplication of the stated guidelines of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Urine tests do not tell us when a fighter used, just that he used. Since NSAC follows WADA's guidelines on marijuana (it's not banned out of competition), then they must have testing measures in place that allow us to follow that rule. For Diaz, everything hinges on how the NSAC will try to define 'out of competition' and whether they'll directly follow WADA's guidelines there as they do with other banned substances protocol. I'll just say this: there's bellyaching among the MMA community about Diaz trying to backdoor his marijuana use into legalized territory. I could not possibly disagree more. This isn't about Diaz at all. This is about making sure the athletic commissions we trust to regulate this sport are using and applying guidelines they are bound by correctly. It's not about Diaz. It's about every fighter who competes in Nevada and arguably any other state.Mike Chiappetta: Diaz might have a legitimate defense here. There is precedent. In 2008, Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen tested positive for cocaine but was not suspended by WADA because his test came out of competition. Diaz's legal team will have to prove that his use was out-of-competition. That will be tricky because despite the fact that they claim WADA has excluded marijuana metabolites as a positive result, it has been accepted as a positive result in the past. The drugs were in his system and there's really no dispute he took them, it now all hinges on when he took them.As Luke mentioned, this isn't a court, so the process isn't structured or easy to predict. Because of that, neither is the outcome. Some state commissions have shown a willingness to reduce penalties when faced with a strong defense argument, but NSAC hasn't historically been one of them. Given that it's his second offense, I still think Diaz will be faced with a 6-9 month suspension. But the good news is the fact that since he is appealing this result, he must be planning to fight again.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, fighter, melendez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVideo: Nick Diaz kills a fruit with his samurai sword
For those of you wondering what Nick Diaz is doing (besides smoking medicinal marijuana) while his lawyer battles it out with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), wonder no more.
Middle Easy found this little gem that features the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion cutting fruit in half with a samurai sword, thanks to some softball-esque arc pitching from brother Nate that puts it right in the 209 wheelhouse. Unfortunately the video is best viewed from the fetal position, as the unknown female videographer has yet to master the advanced technique of shooting in landscape mode.
Find out what else Diaz is up to right here.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nevada state, softballesque arc, lawyer battles
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiaz Camp Issues Response to NSAC Complaint, Claims Marijuana Metabolites Not Prohibited
Nick Diaz’s attorney has issued a written response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission in regard to the disciplinary complaint filed by the NSAC after Diaz’s headlining Feb. 4 contest with Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in Las Vegas
Posted in: diaz, carlos condit, nevada state, complaint, diaz ’s
Read the full article at SherdogJust Nick Diaz wielding a sword like a Samurai
submitted by xKrazExMNUx [link] [5 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, xkrazexmnux, sword
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz Challenges Suspension
Aside from the controversial decision, the biggest story coming out of UFC 143 was Nick Diaz's failed drug test following the loss to Carlos Condit in their Interim title bout. For the second time in his career, Diaz tested positive for marijuana. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibits marijuana for "in competition use." Today, Ross Goodman, Diaz's lawyer, spoke with ESPN.com concerning some details of the case and how he intends to defend his client.
The crux of Goodman's proposed defense is whether or not marijuana metabolites (the substance actually found in Diaz's system) even qualify as testing positive for marijuana.
The basis to discipline Mr. Diaz is that he tested positive for a prohibited substance. We know he didn't test positive for marijuana. So, you look to see at WADA whether marijuana metabolites are prohibited. They do not prohibit it in any category.
What Diaz tested positive for was THC-Carboxylic Acid, an inactive marijuana metabolite. Brett Okomato paraphrases why this is relevant to Diaz's case from the challenge submitted by Goodman:
The filed document also points to the "long detection window" of marijuana in one's system as a potential reason why WADA does not include metabolites on its banned substance list.
Diaz's legal team argues that since marijuana is not prohibited to athletes out-of-competition per commission standards, it would be unreasonable for its banned substance list to contain marijuana metabolites.
Aside from what the final outcome of Diaz's appeal, the decision to file the appeal opens up another very important question: Why would Diaz take the time to appeal if he intends to retire as stated in his UFC 143 post-fight speech?
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, substance, marijuana metabolites, metabolite
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendNick Diaz's pot defense strategy is revealed
I'm not exactly sure why Nick Diaz is spending money on a lawyer to fight his marijuana suspension if he's decided he's retiring from fighting. But he is, and the lawyer sounds like he's worth every penny he's being paid. Here's the defense they've just put forward to the Nevada State Athletic Commission:
"Marijuana is the only substance that is prohibited; not marijuana metabolites," Goodman told ESPN.com."The basis to discipline Mr. Diaz is that he tested positive for a prohibited substance. We know he didn't test positive for marijuana. So, you look to see at WADA whether marijuana metabolites are prohibited. They do not prohibit it in any category."In a sworn affidavit submitted with the response, Diaz stated he has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for which he was prescribed medical marijuana by his physician, Robert E. Sullivan. Medical marijuana is legal in both Nevada and California, where Diaz resides.Diaz and his camp have said the fighter suspends his use of marijuana eight days prior to a contest. Under the statues set forth by the NSAC, athletes are not punished for using marijuana out-of-competition.According to Goodman, the substance Diaz tested positive for was THC-Carboxylic Acid, an inactive marijuana metabolite. NSAC executive director Keith Kizer was unavailable to comment on that claim Monday.The response filed to the commission, therefore, challenges that Diaz merely tested positive for an inactive metabolite, which is not listed as a prohibited substance."You have to test positive for marijuana, as opposed to this inactive ingredient Nick did," Goodman said."If there's nothing in the rules prohibiting marijuana metabolites, why are we here?"
This might just be some fancy lawyer wordplay going on right here. There's a huge list of performance enhancing and banned substances which are only detectable because of various metabolites found in an athlete's system after the fact. The metabolite isn't always the banned substance, it's often just the indicator that a banned substance was taken.That doesn't mean Nick's lawyer's defense doesn't make a lot of sense. Between an official declaration that 'out of competition' use is allowed and the fact that Diaz has a legit script for usage, it seems to me like the guy should be cut some slack. But the NSAC runs off rulebooks and even the most obvious solutions to issues are often ignored because they don't fit into the existing guidelines and framework of the commission.
Don't be surprised if the commission says "Yeah, you've made a good point, one that we'll revisit during a 2014 rules meeting. For now though, your THC concentration level was above 50 so you're still suspended."
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, substance, metabolite, lawyer
Read the full article at FightlinkerLawyer contends Nick Diaz innocent of violating NSAC policy
It’s been awhile since fans have gotten an update regarding UFC welterweight Nick Diaz’s status pertaining to a failed drug test in Nevada possibly resulting in disciplinary action against the polarizing pugilist. As many know, shortly after losing a closely contested decision to Carlos Condit it was revealed Diaz’s sample had shown “marijuana metabolites” in his system indicating he’d smoked pot leading up to the bout.
While Diaz has never hidden his use of cannabis, he typically tests clean by abstaining from it for the final period leading up to a bout. However, according to a statement Diaz’s lawyer submitted to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the 28-year old may not even need to go that far based on the way the NSAC policy is written.
‘Nick Diaz is an authorized medical marijuana patient,” began Ross Goodman in the document (per MMAWeekly). “As such, he did not test positive for marijuana (which is viewed as a prohibited substance if used without a medical marijuana license). Rather, Mr. Diaz tested for the presence of the inactive metabolite of marijuana known as THC-Carboxylic Acid. Under Nevada law and in Mr. Diaz’s home state of California, however, neither marijuana nor marijuana metabolite is considered a prohibited substance for users of medical marijuana.”
“Marijuana consumption (done) ‘out of competition’ and marijuana metabolites in general, such as the detection of Carboxylic Acid in Mr. Diaz’s post fight urine test, do not violate the policy prohibiting substances that are considered performance enhancing or potentially dangerous,” Goodman continued, making a convincing case against the notion of Diaz being disciplined under the current circumstances.
Up next, Diaz’s camp will have to wait while the NSAC reviews the six-page submission with a meeting to address the matter possibly taking place in April.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, test, marijuana, metabolite, nsac policy
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz Hires Lawyer, Challenges Suspension
Nick Diaz was famously suspended for elevated marijuana metabolites following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit, and is facing a one year suspension as a repeat offender in Nevada. Nick's lawyer Ross Goodman talked to ESPN about the defense, which is strikingly similar to what Vancouver Athletic Commission chief Jonathan Tweedale posted on BE a few weeks ago. Here's what Goodman had to say:
"Marijuana is the only substance that is prohibited; not marijuana metabolites," Goodman told ESPN.com.
"The basis to discipline Mr. Diaz is that he tested positive for a prohibited substance. We know he didn't test positive for marijuana. So, you look to see at WADA whether marijuana metabolites are prohibited. They do not prohibit it in any category."
According to the affidavit submitted with the response, Nick was prescribed medical marijuana by his physician for his ADHD, and that he stops using the substance eight days before fights. They (his defense team) consider that "out of competition" and not subject to punishment:
According to Goodman, the substance Diaz tested positive for was THC-Carboxylic Acid, an inactive marijuana metabolite. NSAC executive director Keith Kizer was unavailable to comment on that claim Monday.
The response filed to the commission, therefore, challenges that Diaz merely tested positive for an inactive metabolite, which is not listed as a prohibited substance.
"You have to test positive for marijuana, as opposed to this inactive ingredient Nick did," Goodman said.
"If there's nothing in the rules prohibiting marijuana metabolites, why are we here?"
One major question that has been asked is - why didn't Nick get a Therapeutic Use Exemption? The lawyer explains that too:
Goodman says Diaz did not take that measure because he discontinues use eight days before a contest -- long enough for the effects of the active compound in marijuana, THC, to wear off.
The filed document also points to the "long detection window" of marijuana in one's system as a potential reason why WADA does not include metabolites on its banned substance list.
Diaz's legal team argues that since marijuana is not prohibited to athletes out-of-competition per commission standards, it would be unreasonable for its banned substance list to contain marijuana metabolites.
"Why punish Nick, or anybody else for that matter, for a metabolite?" Goodman said. "We're not talking about a cocaine metabolite. We're not talking about something illegal. We're talking about a metabolite that stays in your system for weeks or months."
Diaz was originally scheduled to have a hearing in April, but that could be delayed now because of this filing.
Posted in: diaz, nick, marijuana, substance, metabolite
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz might be retired from MMA, but his career as a ninja has just begun
I used to have a set of foam-padded nunchucks when I was a kid taking martial arts classes. I actually became quite proud of my nunchucking skills. I feel that somehow, Nick Diaz would have been impressed too; if he wasn’t busy mean-mugging the rest of the kids in his elementary school at the time. It’s my deepest regret that I never moved on to master the art of wheeling a samurai sword. Not sure how it would be useful in today’s society, but if the zombie apocalypse went down tomorrow, Nick Diaz would be prepared with this skill-showcase he just uploaded to his YouTube channel of him slicing an apple in mid-flight. If that apple metaphorically represented a member of the undead trying to bite him, the end result would be a zombie with half of a cranium, rendering it unable to harm anyone else in the 209. Residents of Stockton, California should be thankful to have Nick Diaz as their neighbor.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, wasn ’t, end result
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz Fires Back at Nevada Commission
Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.
Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz Fires Back at Nevada Commission
Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.
Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz Fires Back at Nevada Commission
Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.
Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz Fires Back at Nevada Commission
Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.
Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz Fires Back at Nevada Commission
Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.
Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz Fighting Against NSAC Suspension
On February 4, the mercurial Nick Diaz battled Carlos Condit to a controversial unanimous decision defeat in the main event of UFC 143. The loss cost Diaz the interim 170lbs title, as well as a much-desired shot at true UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
After the fight, Diaz announced his retirement from the sport. He also tested positive for marijuana metabolites with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
NSAC executive director Keith Kizer filed a formal complaint against Diaz for the positive test, which the Stockton native has now challenged. Speaking with ESPN, Diaz’s attorney Ross Goodman made the argument that Diaz did not in fact test positive for a banned substance on the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) list.
“Marijuana is the only substance that is prohibited; not marijuana metabolites,” Goodman said. “The basis to discipline Mr. Diaz is that he tested positive for a prohibited substance. We know he didn’t test positive for marijuana. So, you look to see at WADA whether marijuana metabolites are prohibited. They do not prohibit it in any category.”
Diaz is legally prescribed to use marijuana to treat his ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in the state of California and tapers usage of the substance just over a week out from his fights. Considering how long inactive marijuana metabolites like THC-Carboxylic Acid — which is what Diaz registered — stay in your system, coupled with the fact that Diaz did not test positive for the active chemical in marijuana, THC, has Goodman thinking his client’s case should be thrown out.
“Why punish Nick, or anybody else for that matter, for a metabolite?” asked Goodman. “We’re not talking about a cocaine metabolite. We’re not talking about something illegal. We’re talking about a metabolite that stays in your system for weeks or months.”
Diaz has tested positive twice for marijuana in Nevada — where medicinal marijuana is also legal — and could end up with an extended suspension. Fans of the 209 will look at this as a positive sign in that a fighter seeking retirement likely wouldn’t expend the energy to fight a suspension.
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, marijuana metabolites, goodman, metabolite
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyThis is how Nick Diaz plans to beat his marijuana debacle with the NSAC
Oh, there's another Nick Diaz article on MiddleEasy. Now let's see who the first schmuck will be to complain about it in the comment section. Here's a heads up random person that complains about stuff on MiddleEasy: In reality, we really don't care. Sure you can express your belief, but in the end, it means nothing. You're not making a significant impact on the world. No third-world children will be fed from your actions nor will people be enlightened by your opinion. You're just spreading hate. No one cares about you, regardless of the amount of times you hop from message board to comment section and type your idiotic opinions. Contrary to popular belief, you are a unique snowflake. Unfortunately for those people that have the same IQ as a warm jar of mayonnaise, you are a snowflake that was created from the water droplets that collect around elephant dung.
Damn, this article got off to an angry start. Quick, someone give me a Disney film to watch.
Sure, I may be pissed off at the majority of the world this morning, but my anger still pales in comparison to the discontent Nick Diaz has for the Nevada State Athletic Commission. They're the same guys that claim marijuana is a performance enhancing drug -- which essentially means all of my old college roommates were genetically reversed-engineered super-human athletes.
Now Nick Diaz's lawyer, Ross Goodman, has officially filed a complaint against the NSAC ruling on Nick Diaz testing positive for marijuana on the basis that Nick Diaz is a medical marijuana patient and the presence of marijuana metabolites isn't prohibited under 'out-of-competition' circumstances. Check out the first two pages of the complaint below compliments of MMAFighting.
Posted in: diaz, nick, marijuana, college roommates, water droplets
Read the full article at Middle EasyLawyer for Nick Diaz challenges NSAC suspension: 'Nothing in the rules prohibits marijuana metabolites'
Looks like the one year suspension of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Nick Diaz may not be a foregone conclusion after all.
Diaz, who dropped a controversial five round unanimous decision to Carlos Condit last month in Las Vegas, flunked his UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" drug test for marijuana metabolites, drawing the ire of promotion president Dana White and earning what at the time was believed to be a mandatory suspension.
Not so fast.
The former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion hired Ross Goodman from the Las Vegas Goodman Law Group to challenge not the results of the test, but how they are applicable (from a legal perspective) to his client's most recent appearance inside the Octagon.
Goodman lays out a surprisingly effective argument (via ESPN.com) after the jump.
[The] suspension is unwarranted, according to Diaz's attorney, Ross Goodman, who states that "marijuana metabolites" are not a prohibited substance according to the list used by the NSAC, which is adopted from the World Anti-Doping Agency.
"Marijuana is the only substance that is prohibited; not marijuana metabolites," Goodman told ESPN.com.
"The basis to discipline Mr. Diaz is that he tested positive for a prohibited substance. We know he didn't test positive for marijuana. So, you look to see at WADA whether marijuana metabolites are prohibited. They do not prohibit it in any category."
Diaz and his camp have said the fighter suspends his use of marijuana eight days prior to a contest. Under the statues set forth by the NSAC, athletes are not punished for using marijuana out-of-competition.
According to Goodman, the substance Diaz tested positive for was THC-Carboxylic Acid, an inactive marijuana metabolite. NSAC executive director Keith Kizer was unavailable to comment on that claim Monday.
The response filed to the commission, therefore, challenges that Diaz merely tested positive for an inactive metabolite, which is not listed as a prohibited substance.
"You have to test positive for marijuana, as opposed to this inactive ingredient Nick did," Goodman said.
"If there's nothing in the rules prohibiting marijuana metabolites, why are we here?"
According to the report, Diaz has a prescription for medical marijuana after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is legal in both Nevada and his home state of California.
Goodman also contests that his client's drug use should be considered "out of competition" as it was stopped eight days before for the fight and that marijuana metabolites do not qualify as "drugs of abuse" -- nor are they listed as a prohibited substance.
For more background on Diaz and his UFC 143 drug test click here. To read Goodman's response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) in its entirety click here
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, marijuana metabolites, goodman, metabolite
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Primetime: Diaz vs Condit Draws 657,000 for FX Debut
“UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit”, a three-part series which aired on three consecutive Friday nights on FX, drew 657,000 viewers for it’s FX network debut.
After the debut episode, each of the following weeks saw a decline in viewership and overall, the three-part series averaged 540,000 viewers on FX. In January of 2011, the same time period on FX averaged 1.2 million viewers.
Here are the viewership numbers for all three episodes:
- “UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit” (Episode 1): 657,000 viewers
- “UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit” (Episode 2): 520,000 viewers
- “UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit” (Episode 3): 442,000 viewers
Here is a list of the viewership numbers for all Primetime debut episodes:
“UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos” (UFC on FOX): 2,000,000 viewers (FOX)
“UFC Primetime: Rampage vs. Evans” (UFC 114): 1,200,000 viewers (Spike)
“UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Hardy” (UFC 111): 1,000,000 viewers (Spike)
“UFC Primetime: Lesnar vs. Velasquez” (UFC 121): 974,000 viewers (Spike)
“UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Penn II” (UFC 94): 880,000 viewers (Spike)
“UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit” (UFC 143): 657,000 viewers (FX)
“UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Shields” (UFC 129): 610,000 viewers (Spike)
Estimated PPV Numbers for Primetime Featured Events:
“UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos”: N/A
“UFC Primetime: Lesnar vs. Velasquez” (UFC 121): 1,050,000
“UFC Primetime: Rampage vs. Evans” (UFC 114): 1,050,000
“UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Penn II” (UFC 94): 920,000
“UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Shields” (UFC 129): 800,000
“UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Hardy” (UFC 111): 770,000
“UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit” (UFC 143): 400,000
Payout Perspective:
The “UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit” three-part series was one of the lowest rated in the history of the Primetime specials. It also sold only 400,000 PPV buys, which is almost half the next lowest Primetime special PPV event – St-Pierre vs. Hardy for UFC 11, which sold an estimated 770,000 PPVs.
Now, we should take into account that the Primetime special was supposed to be GSP vs Diaz, which would have done some great numbers. Curiously after GSP had to pull out due to injury, the UFC went ahead and scheduled Diaz vs Condit for the Interim WW Title and continued their plans to film the Primetime special. As a result, it was one of the lowest “Primetime’s” ever. Another factor here to consider is the cost of producing these Primetime specials, which is said to be north of a million dollars. You have to wonder if the ROI here was worth it for the UFC.
In terms of viewership on the new FX platform, the Primetime special numbers show a negative trending pattern as viewership declined after the first episode. As for reasons for the declining viewership, the time slot is not a great one since historically networks have struggled to keep the 18-34M demographic inside the house on Friday nights. Another reason we have to account for is that it’s extremely difficult to move shows over from one network to another, as it appears that FX is still in a transitional phase with Spike TV, which counter-programs UFC events to best make use of their UFC library in 2012.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, viewer, primetime
Read the full article at MMA PayoutNick Diaz’s attorney uses Jonathan Tweedale’s marijuana defense @MMASupremacy @mauroranallo
Nick Diaz's legal team is taking a page out of the Vancouver athletic commissioner's playbook when it comes to attacking Nick's marijuana suspension.
Posted in: diaz, nick, marijuana, attorney, commissioners playbook
Read the full article at Fight OpinionNick Diaz’s Attorney Makes Strong Argument Against Marijuana Suspension
Nick Diaz and his attorney have laid their cards on the table.
According to multiple reports, Diaz’s lawyer, Ross Goodman, has filed a response with the NSAC challenging any disciplinary action as a result of his positive test for marijuana metabolites at UFC 143. Notice I said marijuana metabolites and not just marijuana though, because that plays a key role in Diaz’s defense. Goodman is arguing that Diaz shouldn’t be suspended because marijuana metabolites isn’t actually on the NSAC’s prohibitive substance list.
“Marijuana is the only substance that is prohibited; not marijuana metabolites,” Goodman told ESPN.com.
“The basis to discipline Mr. Diaz is that he tested positive for a prohibited substance. We know he didn’t test positive for marijuana. So, you look to see at WADA whether marijuana metabolites are prohibited. They do not prohibit it in any category.”
“You have to test positive for marijuana, as opposed to this inactive ingredient Nick did,” Goodman said. “If there’s nothing in the rules prohibiting marijuana metabolites, why are we here?”
“Why punish Nick, or anybody else for that matter, for a metabolite?” Goodman said. “We’re not talking about a cocaine metabolite. We’re not talking about something illegal. We’re talking about a metabolite that stays in your system for weeks or months.”
Goodman also noted that Diaz stops smoking marijuana eight days prior to his fights to ensure his use falls into the “out-of-competition” category which is not prohibited by the NSAC.
It actually does seem like they have a strong defense, certainly stronger than the good ole’ tainted supplement defense everyone and their mother uses when they appeal steroid suspensions. I’m really not sure what the difference between marijuana and marijuana metabolites is, but if they are different and the metabolites are not on the banned substance list, then I’d say they have very valid argument. What kind of response and ruling the commissioners will have though is unpredictable to say the least. Pretty much anything can happen in these hearings, so we’ll have to wait and see what the NSAC has to say about it before jumping to any conclusions.
The hearing is still targeted for April but nothing is set in stone yet. The sooner the better though, because if Diaz does get out of this and wants to get back to fighting, there might still be time to book that rematch with Carlos Condit later this summer after all.
The full response can be found here.
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, marijuana metabolites, goodman, metabolite
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz's lawyer issues response to NSAC, states that law proves Diaz didn't break any rules
submitted by branmat14 [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, didnt, branmat, diaz didnt, nsac states
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz's Lawyer Issues Response to NSAC, States Law Proves Diaz Shouldn't Be Punished
Nick Diaz is not going down without a fight.
Weeks after the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that Diaz had tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit in February and was potentially subject to an undetermined punishment, Diaz's lawyer, Ross Goodman of the Las Vegas-based Goodman Law Group, has issued a strong response to the NSAC, which raises some serious questions regarding whether Diaz deserves to be punished at all. In the response, which Goodman has shared with MMAFighting.com and can be found below, he explains that Diaz's medical marijuana use, which he states should be, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency, whose laws have been adopted by the NSAC, considered "out-of-competition" since it ended eight days before the fight, plus the fact that only marijuana metabolites were found in his system, are reasons why Diaz didn't break any of the NSAC's rules.
Goodman also states that the "presence of a marijuana metabolite is not a prohibited substance under NAC 487.850 and should not, therefore, serve as a basis for any disciplinary action."
According to Goodman, Diaz's hearing in Nevada could happen as soon as April, but no exact date has been finalized just yet. He hopes that this response will allow Diaz, who was suspended for six months and fined by the NSAC for testing positive for marijuana following his PRIDE 33 fight against Takanori Gomi February 2007, to walk away from the situation without any kind of punishment.
Read Goodman's entire response here: Nick Diaz Response to NSAC Complaint
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, nsac, response, goodman
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC Quick Pic: James Toney visits Cesar Gracie's camp to spar with Nick Diaz
Don't be scared, Toney.
The pudgy pugilist is still making news in mixed martial arts (MMA) circles thanks to his newfound association with the Cesar Gracie fight camp out in California.
As tweeted by Gracie himeself, James Toney is in town to spar with Nick Diaz and company, despite the fact that Diaz is facing a one year suspension for a failed drug test at UFC 143 for marijuana. He's also still flirting with the idea of retiring, with his brother Nate going so far as to say he doesn't think Nick is ever coming back.
We'll see.
In the meantime, why not get some training in with a world class (ahem) boxer? Check out another pic of Toney hitting the mitts after the jump.
Posted in: diaz, nick, toney, gracie, drug test
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCesar Gracie Tweets UFC About Nick Diaz Sparring James Toney, Casting Doubt On Nick's Supposed Retirement.
Cesar Gracie might have the most intriguing job in mixed martial arts, acting as the manager of the man UFC Primetime recently called "the most enigmatic fighter in the UFC", Nick Diaz.
Or should I say he used to have the most intriguing job in mixed martial arts?
After all, Diaz stated that he would be retiring from the sport following his unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 last month, and if Nick is no longer going to fight, there isn't really any point in having Gracie continue to act as his representative.
The reality is that no one really knows what Nick is going to do at this point. In an interview with Ariel Helwani just this past week, Nick's brother Nathan stated that he believed Nick was going to remain retired.
Ariel Helwani: After the fight he retired. Do you think we'll ever see him back?Nathan Diaz: Right now I don't think so, you know. He's big on uh, like I said, staying in shape, just being healthy right now, not worrying about it (fighting) thinking about it. I think he's retired you know? He hasn't been into this whole fighting thing for some time, you know, since everything that goes on with the funny wins and losses, for not just him, for me, for people on our team, so I think he's just relaxed right now and just, you know, he's pretty set on his retirement.
As for Cesar, well, when he spoke with Ariel following the fight, he was optimistic that Nick would return to the game, explaining that he felt Nick needed some time away from the sport to re-charge his batteries and would eventually want to continue in his pursuit of Georges St. Pierre.
Yesterday, Cesar continued to feed the fire, sending out a tweet that should give hope to all the Diaz fans out there who want to see Nick compete in the UFC again:
@nickdiaz209 @ufc we will be getting some great sparring. James Toney is a fan twitter.com/CesarGracieBJJ…
— Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) March 10, 2012
It seems that James Toney is a bit of a fan of Nick and Nate and has come to the Cesar Gracie academy to train with the brothers as Nate prepares to fight Jim Miller.
Normally this wouldn't be much of a story; after all, Toney could be there primarily for Nate, but the fact that Cesar tweeted at both the UFC and Nick, with no mention of Nate at all makes me think it's a little bit more curious than that.
There is no doubt that Cesar wants to see Nick continue to fight. Nick is the best fighter at the camp and currently represents the best opportunity for a Cesar Gracie trained fighter to win a UFC championship. He also stands to make a good paycheck every time Nick fights. So either Nick has been away from the gym and the tweet was a way to entice him into coming back for some sparring or he's been at the gym all along and the tweet was meant to keep him in the public eye while reminding the UFC that he's staying in fighting shape.
I'm going to go with the latter, since Nate told Helwani that Nick has been helping him prepare for Miller. On top of that Cesar is a fairly crafty manager who always seems to ensure things come up roses for Nick, making this type of public relations maneuver par for the course.
So what does Nick think about all of this? Does he already know that he'll be coming back next year? Is he waiting to see how triathlon season goes to make a final decision on his sporting future?
The only thing you can say for sure is that the ongoing Nick Diaz saga never fails to provide intrigue and whenever it does, Cesar Gracie never seems to be far away.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, gracie, cesar
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendLefko on MMA: The Diaz brother dilemma
Nick and Nate Diaz are two of the most popular and controversial fighters in the UFC and they're currently heading in opposite directions.
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, direction, lefko, dilemma
Read the full article at sportsnet.caLefko on MMA: The Diaz brother dilemma
Nick and Nate Diaz are two of the most popular and controversial fighters in the UFC and they're currently heading in opposite directions.
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, direction, lefko, dilemma
Read the full article at sportsnet.caHitman vs Tapout
Since we certainly aren't about to talk about how dope we think Tapout's clothing is, a lot of our Tapout-related blogging ends up being devoted to stuff like lawsuits being leveled against them. There was the time they were almost sued for creating pendants out of founder Mask's ashes, and then there were a few lawsuits over what a giant dickbag former exec Marc Kreiner was with employees. These didn't mean Tapout was neccessarily a sketchy business - companies this size often have to fend off litigation with a rhinestone encrusted stick. But if this latest lawsuit is true...
Dan Diaz is the former owner of the Hitman Fight Gear clothing label, which was acquired by TapouT several years ago and subsequently saw its industry presence gradually decline in prominence. He has filed suit against Dan Caldwell (‘Punkass’), former TapouT executive Marc Kreiner and the new owners of Tapout, ABG, among others.Diaz is asking for “not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000.00)” plus general damages “in an amount to be determined with precision at trial”, punitive damages “in an amount sufficient to deter and make an example of Defendants”, prejudgment interest, attorneys fees and “further relief as the court may deem just and proper.”According to his case papers, filed with the court in Orange County, California in 2011, he claims he was induced to sell Hitman to the TapouT LLC corporation on the basis of representations made by Kreiner which subsequently turned out to be false.Diaz believes that the buyout was really intended only to be a method of getting him to surrender his 10% interest in sales of TapouT gear, which stemmed from his work as a designer for the company over several years.The claim states that “Diaz is now informed and believes that Defendants made the various representations… for the sole purpose of getting Diaz to relinquish his existing rights to a ten percent (10%) commission in the sale of TapouT gear through [their agreement]…Defendants made their fraudulent representations for the express purpose of defrauding Diaz out of his commission rights.”
Man, this Kreiner guy's name keeps coming up in lawsuits even though he left the company two years ago. And just in case you're thinking the two million bucks Diaz is going for is just one of those crazy unreasonable lawsuit numbers ... well, it may be. But one of Tapout's former sales staff managed to get 3.2 million bucks out of the company based on Kreiner's crazy screamy ways. If you can get that much just for being yelled at, how much does a straight up financial screwjob net you?
Related legal Tapout shenanigans: How Orange County seized and sold Mask's share of Tapout
Posted in: diaz, company, lawsuit, tapout, kreiner
Read the full article at FightlinkerNate Diaz Thinks Brother Nick Diaz Will Remain Retired
submitted by KissMeBeard [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, nick, nate diaz, kissmebeard, brother
Read the full article at Reddit5 Oz. MMA Link Club
Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy…
Jon Jones Responds to Notion he is “Cocky” (Fightline.com)
Nate Diaz Fairly Certain Brother Nick Diaz is Not Returning to MMA (MMAConvert.com)
Georges St. Pierre Not Done with Nick Diaz (5thRound.com)
UFC President Dana White Talks Influence of Bruce Lee in Documentary on Iconic Fighter (TheFightNerd.com)
Marloes Coenen Headed to Dutch Reality Show (CagePotato.com
The Featherweights Are Coming – When Game of Thrones Meets Bellator FC (MiddleEasy.com)
An Examination of the Rising Problem with TRT in MMA (FightOpinion.com)
The Top 10 TUFers of All-Time Are… (HeavyMMA.com)
Could the UFC Eventually Be Headed to a PPV-Free Format? (MMAPayout.com)
MMA, Simpsons-style (BleacherReport.com)
Tim Sylvia Out to Show the UFC He’s in Shape (MMAMania.com)
Pat Barry Ready to Wrestle if Lavar Johnson Hits Him Hard Enough (LowKick.com)
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, mma, mma community, bruce lee
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSt. Pierre: MMA Needs A Guy Like Nick Diaz
In part 2 of our interview with the UFC welterweight champ, Georges St. Pierre updates us on his injury, says he's got a renewed passion for MMA and that the sport needs a guy like Nick Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, nick, pierre
Read the full article at Heavy MMANate Diaz & Georges St. Pierre Weigh In On Nick Diaz’s Future & Marijuana
Nick Diaz’s brother, Nate Diaz, and his biggest rival, Georges St. Pierre, give their latest thoughts on Nick now that the dust has settled in these pair of interviews with MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani and Heavy.com’s Dave Farra. Nate believes that Nick really is going to retire now that he’s earned enough money not to worry about it anymore. That’s certainly not what GSP wants to hear though. He thinks MMA needs a guy like Nick Diaz and still badly wants to fight him. Interestingly, GSP also noted that he doesn’t believe marijuana is a performance-enhancing drug and thinks Nick probably needs it to handle his anxiety issues, especially when he has to make public appearances.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, nate, performanceenhancing drug
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC Quick Quote: 'Nate Diaz wants no part of fight with Frankie Edgar'
"I'm pretty sure, like, I'm not really big on fighting Frankie, you know? Frankie came down to train with me and he represents Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida, I train with Cesar (Gracie) so, I really don't want no part of that fight. I'm mostly interested in fighting people I don't know. "
Loyalty before potential title shots? Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight contender Nate Diaz tells MMA Fighting that he wants no part in fighting former UFC 155-pound champion, Frankie Edgar. Not that he fears "The Answer," exactly, he would just rather not face someone with such strong ties to the Gracie family whom he has trained with in the past. Diaz, a member of the Cesar Gracie fight team in California, has spent some hit the mats with Edgar, who trains under Cesar's cousin in New York, Renzo. Nate will headline UFC on FOX 3 on May 5, 2012, as he takes on the very scrappy Jim Miller. The winner will be a top candidate to face the victor of the rematch between Edgar and Ben Henderson, which is tentatively planned for this summer. Should Diaz and Edgar prove victorious, it could set up a dilemma for UFC matchmakers. Or will the temptation of winning UFC gold be too much for Nate to pass up should the opportunity arise? Opinions, please.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, edgar, gracie, frankie
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCounter-programming alert: Spike TV uses Nate Diaz to challenge UFC on FOX 3
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is bringing lightweight veteran and Ultimate Fighter (TUF) champion Nate Diaz to network television on Sat., May 5, 2012, at 8 p.m. ET.
So, too, is Spike TV.
While "Diaz vs. Miller" goes down live on FOX, from the IZOD Center in East Ruthorford, New Jersey, Spike will counter-program with a block of UFC programming featuring none other than the Stockton slugger.
From the release (via MMA Torch):
Featured during the run will be an episode of UFC Unleashed, featuring Diaz's bout against Marcus Davis from UFC 118. Then comes a replay of UFC Fight Night 15 from 2008, headlined by his bout against Josh Neer, and a replay of UFC Fight Night 19, headlined by his fight against Melvin Guillard.
And the war keeps going on and on and on and on.
The UFC opted for greener pastures on the FOX network (including FX and FUEL TV) after Spike TV balked at Zuffa's increased licensing fees during contract negotiations back in 2011.
With the end of the Spike TV "Prelims" specials and various other MMA-related programming, the network had a pretty sizable gap to fill in its efforts to retain the 18-34 demographic that tuned in for televised fisticuffs.
Enter Bellator.
While Bjorn Rebney and Co. won't be able to make their Spike TV debut until 2013, the network will try and keep fight fans satiated with a constant stream of UFC fights, which they still have at their disposal, thanks to a library licensing agreement that extends through the remainder of this year.
Anyone think this will put a dent in the ratings for the debut of UFC on FOX 3?
More on the "Diaz vs. Miller" event right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, spike tv, tv, spike
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSpike TV counter-programs UFC on FOX 3 with Nate Diaz 'Unleashed' marathon
In its latest counter-programming move, Spike TV will air a Nate Diaz fight marathon opposite May's UFC on FOX 3 event.
Diaz headlines the May 5 event, which airs live on FOX, in a lightweight bout with fellow contender Jim Miller.
During the event time, Spike TV airs a five-hour "UFC Unleashed: Nate Diaz" marathon featuring the fighter's past UFC bouts.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate diaz, fivehour ufc, mays ufc
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFour Stellar Matchups On Their Way to Jersey in May
“We are going to blow the doors off the Izod Center.” - UFC President Dana WhiteOne state’s loss is another across the Hudson River’s gain as the Octagon returns to the Garden State of New Jersey, and this time FOX is coming along for the ride. While the effort to legalize mixed martial arts in New York continues to slowly progress, “Dirty Jersey” fight fans are reaping all the benefits with an event taking place on Saturday, May 5th at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, one that will air live, and free, on FOX. The card features four clashes between high profile contenders who would solidify their place near the front of the pack in their respective weight classes with a big win.Headlining the Octagon’s third appearance on network TV will be a throwdown between top 155 pound predators Nate Diaz and, Jersey’s own, Jim Miller. In the wake of Frankie Edgar’s rematch for the UFC lightweight championship with Benson Henderson, Diaz and Miller are piling up impressive wins on their individual resumes and could see a shot at the belt in their immediate future with a W on May 5th. Meanwhile, the event’s stacked supporting cast features a pair of elite welterweight wrestlers in Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks, a duo of atomic bomb dropping heavyweights with Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson, and a classic “striker vs. grappler” middleweight melee between Alan Belcher and Rousimar Palhares. All fighters, minus Palhares, were accounted for at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on Tuesday morning to talk to the always curious press and some early-rising, boisterous fans about these upcoming contests.First thing first, the lone middleweight combatant, Belcher, assured everyone that the eye injury that sidelined “The Talent” for more than a year is in the past and his future is fighting inside the Octagon. “I really need the top guys to challenge me; I want to find out where I'm at,” says Belcher, who triumphantly returned to the cage last September with a first round submission of Jason MacDonald. “I consider this the calm before the storm. I wouldn't say what I did before this point was mediocre, but I didn't give it my all. I'm ready to dedicate myself totally to this sport.”The missing man on the dais, who was probably too busy practicing his patented heel hook in his native Brazil, was well spoken for by his opponent. “There is no one else unless you want to fight Palhares and no one wants to fight him,” tells Belcher of how UFC matchmaker Joe Silva offered Belcher the matchup with “Toquinho”. With Belcher’s background in Muay Thai and Palhares’ penchant for devastating submissions, it’s no surprise where either fighter wants this bout to take place. To help work on his ground game, Belcher brought in some “secret weapons” to his gym, including UFC vet Dean Lister. The second bout on FOX features heavyweight hitters Barry and Johnson. “Both Lavar and I are allergic to jiu-jitsu, and allergic to rounds two and three,” jokes Barry about who will put his six knockout wins to the test against Johnson’s 14 knockout wins, which include his UFC debut battering of the granite-chinned Joey Beltran in January. “Does [Johnson] hit hard? I guarantee he does - he's huge. I shook his hand today and thought, ‘that's unfair.’”No nickname could sum up the 6’4” and 250+ pound Johnson better than the one he has - “Big.” “My first fight in the UFC was in Chicago, my knockout got me here and I'm blessed to fight in the best organization and I'm not going to let my opportunity go,” states Johnson, 34, who is looking to follow-up the best win of his eight year pro career by taking out former K-1 kickboxer Barry. “This fight right here is going to put me on the map. He's not looking to go to the ground and I'm not either. I'm ready to go out there and smash him.”Part internet hero, part human highlight reel, Barry is unmistakably a fan favorite both in and out of the cage, which is why he’s a perfect fit for a FOX fight with his guaranteed fireworks. “I think all around my entire package is what has given me this opportunity - it has a little to do with everything,” estimates Barry, who rebounded from a two fight losing skid with a “Fight of the Night” knockout over Christian Morecraft in January. “We are going to punch each other a lot on the fifth. I'm going to throw everything possible at him. All punches, all kicks, all knees, all elbows.”Every UFC event needs a good grudge match, and fight fans can thank two former NCAA Division I National wrestling champions for this one: Koscheck and Hendricks. The resident “black hat” of the welterweight division, Koscheck is also one of its best competitors at 170 pounds. The admitted at times questionably motivated “Kos” is geared up for Hendricks both as a “pride of wrestling” matchup as well as to earn some revenge on Hendricks for his “lucky punch with his eyes closed” 12 second knockout of Jon Fitch, who is Koscheck’s longtime friend and training partner. This will be Koscheck’s first fight training exclusively at his own gym instead of the American Kickboxing Academy, which he believes has reinvigorated him.“I'm in a new place now,” says Koscheck. “I'm excited about this fight. New coaches, a lot of new training partners. For the first time in three years I have someone teaching me boxing. I have one-on-one jiu-jitsu. I felt like I got a new life. I feel like I'm in a great place. I think you're going to see the best Josh Koscheck you've ever seen and I'm looking forward to it.”But Hendricks, the heavy-handed, Oklahoma State University wrestling standout, believes his uproarious knockout of the top-ranked stalwart Fitch in December was anything but lucky. “If you watch where my eyes are and watch where my punch lands - it couldn't have gotten any better,” asserts Hendricks, who is on a three fight win streak and knows a title shot will only be earned through Koscheck. “The whole goal is to get to the belt; second, third, none of that matters. The pressure of winning this fight? I have to win every fight to get where I want to go.”Lastly, in the main event, two BJJ aces who are just as likely to brawl until they are bloody will square off to determine a possible number one lightweight contender. Despite contrasting body types - “long and lean” Diaz vs. “stout and muscular” Miller - the two have remarkably similar careers, with the majority of their victories by submission, three each by KO/TKO, and that have both won a multitude of fight bonuses (eight for Diaz, four for Miller). Although much can be said about this dynamic duel, Diaz said very little outside of, “It would be great to have someone who comes in and wants to fight.” Diaz will get his wish with Miller for a full five 5 minute rounds on FOX. Both Diaz and Miller will be entering the cage riding high from arguably the biggest wins of their career. For Diaz, a return to 155 pounds has brought back-to-back one-sided victories and back-to-back bonus checks: “Submission of the Night” over Takanori Gomi and, most recently, “Fight of the Night” over Donald Cerrone at UFC 141. Meanwhile, Miller enjoyed a seven fight win streak inside the Octagon before losing a decision to Benson Henderson last August. The Sparta, New Jersey native got back to his winning ways in his first main event with a rear naked choke on Melvin Guillard in January and, now, he has his sights set on Diaz in his home state. “It's an honor,” affirms Miller. “I'm excited to fight in front of my home state fans. Nate and I match up very well together. I'm pretty amped already. I have to calm down because I have two more months to go. I have a ton of respect for him and his camp is a great group of guys. I really have a fire under my ass and I’m looking to come in the best I have ever been.”Live on FOX from the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, four different weight classes will rumble inside the Octagon for two purposes: to get one step closer to a gold belt and for your entertainment. Belcher and Palhares will continue the age-old struggle of standup vs. ground game. Barry and Johnson are cocked and ready to add the other’s head to their trophy case of knockouts. Koscheck and Hendricks are set to tangle with some added personal interest on the line. And finally, two of the best lightweights in the world, Diaz and Miller, will let their fists do the talking for them in the cage to campaign for a title shot.Cinco de Mayo cannot come soon enough.
Posted in: fight, diaz, koscheck, miller, im
Read the full article at UFCNate Diaz thinks Nick Diaz's MMA retirement will stick, he's got enough money now to not fight
The premature mixed martial arts (MMA) retirement of Nick Diaz: Hissy fit or legit?
Well, if you ask his younger brother, Nate Diaz -- and MMA Fighting.com's Ariel Helwani did just that earlier today after the UFC on Fox 3 press conference at Radio City Music Hall in New York, N.Y. -- he will tell you that he thinks it's the latter.
Indeed, the older Diaz apparently wasn't "caught up in the moment" or being pointlessly over dramatic when he declared his hasty retirement from the sport immediately following a controversial unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit in the UFC 143 main event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, just last month (Feb. 4, 2012).
Somewhere in Canada, Georges St. Pierre just wept a small tear.
Diaz, who chased Condit for nearly 25 minutes of their five-round fight for the interim Welterweight belt, as well as a significant amount of onlookers, felt the Stockton, Calif.,-scrapper deserved the nod. However, Condit's accurate counter-striking, backpedaling attack was enough to win the bout in the eyes of the ringside judges, as well as earn him a future date with St. Pierre, the true 170-pound division champion.
Then the situation got real funny.
Condit apparently requested a rematch because of all the post-fight outcry. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White then green-lit the second go-round; however, less than 24 hours later it was all scrapped because Diaz "surprisingly" tested positive for THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana, a banned substance in regulated MMA competition.
Diaz, a proud, card-carrying legal marijuana smoker in California, was then suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), pending a a disciplinary hearing to discuss the matter later this year. One that Diaz might now not bother to attend, considering that he's apparently got other things to keep him busy, and more than enough change in his pocket to keep doing them.
Lil' Diaz explains:
"Triathalon season is starting so he's getting ready, getting in shape for that and concentrating on being in shape, being healthy and helping me out and coaching me for this fight [against Jim Miller]. Right now, I don't think [we will see him back inside the Octagon]. He's big on, like I said, staying in shape and just being healthy right now. He's not worried about it. I think he's retired. He hasn't been into this whole fighting thing for some time ... since everything that goes on with the funny wins and losses. And not just for him, but for people on our team. So, I just think he's relaxed right now, you know? I think he's pretty set on his retirement, though. I kind of agree with him [about his decision]. It's hard to say -- he's my brother. I'm not going to tell him to go fight somebody. I think he's doing the right thing. He made enough money to just chill back, sit back and relax. People don't understand: Nick never had nothing. He came from not much, so when he complained a lot about not making a lot of money it's because there were so many people making more money than him and he works 10 times hard than them. So, they definitely paid him enough money to not have to anything. He doesn't need to fight."
Diaz has long argued that he was "overworked and underpaid."
In fact, he has consistently expressed his desire to become a professional boxer, even going as far as to tease a fight with Jeff Lacy, because he would earn more money. That ambition never materialized and perhaps never will because as Nate tells it, Nick is already living the dream and living comfortably without having to answer to anyone but himself.
Let's see how long it lasts, which is hopefully not very long. For what it's worth, remember that his good friend and training partner, Jake Shields, has a difference of opinion.
For a detailed account of Diaz's "wacky and wild ride" since returning to the UFC click here. To check out his top five "craziest moments" click here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, money, retirement, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz vs Jim Miller staredown pic from UFC on FOX 3 press conference
The UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" event is still a couple months away but that doesn't mean main event participants Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller couldn't get together for a staredown.
That's exactly what they did today (March 6, 2012) at the press conference in New York to officially announce the event for May 5, 2012, at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In addition to the main event match-up of Diaz vs. Miller, heavy handed heavyweights Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson will collide, along with welterweight warmongers Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks. Check out their staredowns -- as well as a pic of the stars of UFC on FOX 3 on top of Radio City Music Hall -- after the jump.
For a complete recap of the UFC on FOX 3 pre-fight press conference complete with all the relevant notes and quotes click here. To watch the presser in full click here and to check out the complete "Diaz vs. Miller" event archive click here.
Posted in: diaz, fox, vs, event, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz Interview
Posted in: diaz, interview, nate
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNate Diaz Thinks Brother Nick Diaz Will Remain Retired
NEW YORK -- Watch below as Nate Diaz talks about his upcoming UFC on FOX 3 fight against Jim Miller, the love he received at Tuesday's press conference, why he thinks his brother Nick Diaz will remain retired and whether he will convince him to come back to MMA.
Posted in: diaz, nick, nate, nate diaz, jim miller
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseThe winner of Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller will get a shot at Ben Henderson for the UFC lightweight title
Nate Diaz wields double middle fingers like Garrus from Mass Effect rocks an expertly-tuned sniper rifle. That's an ode to my reserved copy of Mass Effect 3 that's sitting at some Gamestop in Hollywood, California. I'm not going to touch it until we get this new Top Ten list up later today, along with our freshly manifested One FC contest tomorrow. The fate of the planet can wait for a few more days. I'm sure you guys can hold it down in the meantime.
Today at the UFC on FOX press conference in New York, Dana White announced what most people assumed would result from Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller: the winner will get a UFC lightweight title shot.
“Well, I’m still obviously still dealing with the whole Frankie Edgar thing. I’m talking to Frankie and we’ll figure this thing out...We did, we said the winner of (Diaz vs. Miller) would get the shot.”
We're already assuming Dana White consulted with Nate Diaz in order to ensure that he won't fire off the double middle fingers on national television. Let's just hope Mayhem Miller doesn't enter the cage at any point on May 5, 2012. [Source]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, miller, nate, middle fingers
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC on Fox 3: Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller winner not guaranteed lightweight title shot
Surging lightweight division contender Nate Diaz believes that beating Jim Miller at UFC on FOX 3, which emanates from the IZOD Center on May 5, 2012 in East Rutherford, N.J., will earn him a shot at the 155-pound title.
Not so fast.
UFC President Dana White was asked about the division pecking order earlier today (March 6) at a special pre-fight press conference held at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. He was, not surprisingly, non-committal on making any kind of definitive plans for the plethora of eligible 155-pounders.
And you can expect him to remain that way until he has a chance to talk to Frankie Edgar.
"I'm obviously still dealing with the whole Frankie Edgar thing. I'd like him to go to 145. I'm talking to Frankie and we'll figure this thing out. We said the winner of this (Diaz vs. Miller) would get the next shot)."
White needs an "Answer" from the former champion, who coughed up his lightweight strap to Ben Henderson last month in Japan, on whether or not he will take his advice and drop down to featherweight, where an immediate title fight against Jose Aldo awaits him.
So far, mum's the word.
While Edgar contemplates his next move, Henderson has his pick of the litter.
Aside from the winner of Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller, his World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) nemesis Anthony Pettis is currently knocking on the golden door after embalming Joe Lauzon at UFC 144 back on Feb. 25.
An opponent Miller believes has yet to earn his spot.
"Nate and I have proved that we're the top guys in the division. I personally don't feel that Pettis' win over Stephens and the knockout over Lauzon are a title run, but I don't make those decisions."
Because the outcome of Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson was mired in (minor) controversy, White is currently handcuffed until he can spread out all the pieces in his puzzle. Edgar wants an immediate rematch. White wants him to drop 10 pounds.
Miller, Diaz and Pettis all want Henderson.
How does it all play out? We may not get much in the way of resolution until after the UFC on FOX 3 event. By then, Edgar may have made up his mind and at the very least, we'll have eliminated one fighter from the equation.
Stay tuned.
For more on today's UFC on FOX 3 press conference click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, miller, edgar, frankie
Read the full article at MMA Mania'UFC on FOX 3: Diaz vs. Miller' tickets on sale this week
Tickets for the UFC's third FOX-televised event go on sale this week.
"UFC on FOX 3: Diaz vs. Miller" takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East
Rutherford, N.J. The night's main event sees a scrap between top
lightweights Nate Diaz and Jim Miller.
Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, though a pre-sale period begins on Wednesday.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, sale, ticket, week ufc
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC on FOX 3 press conference video and LIVE updates today (March 6) for 'Diaz vs Miller' in New York
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hold a public press conference today (March 6, 2012) in advance of UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller," which will take place on May 5, 2012, at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
The press conference will begin at 11 a.m. ET and will take place at The Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. Scheduled to attend will be the headlining fighters of the evening, Nate Diaz, Jim Miller, Josh Koscheck, Johny Hendricks, Alan Belcher, Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson.
We'll deliver the minute-by-minute updates from the UFC on FOX 3 prefight press conference below, as well as feature the LIVE video feed so you can watch it right here at MMAmania.com.
Nate Diaz is the winner of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five. After mixed results at lightweight, he had a 2-2 run at welterweight but seems to have finally advanced to an elite level after returning back to roots at 155 pounds. He's coming off a tremendous showing over Donald Cerrone and is poised to contend. His opponent, Jim Miller was the man at lightweight after seven straight wins in the division but was knocked off his pedestal by the current champion Ben Henderson last year. He bounced back in the main event of the first UFC on FX show and is hoping a victory over the younger Diaz brother can earn him a crack at the title and a shot at redemption.
John Hendricks had quietly gone 8-1 while competing under the Zuffa banner, but that all changed last December when he knocked out perennial number two welterweight on the planet Jon Fitch in just 12 seconds. Now, after toiling away on the undercard, he's got everyone's attention. His opponent, Josh Koscheck, failed in his attempt to win the UFC welterweight title but has won consecutive bouts since. If he can't earn another crack at the championship, he'll at least be looking to avenge his friend and former teammate John Fitch.
Al Belcher was on the verge of contention before a freak eye injury sidelined him for over a year. He returned last fall to crush Jason MacDonald and is hoping to regain his status against Rousimar Palhares.
Pat Barry is one of the UFC's most popular and lovable heavyweights. He's slowly progressed his overall skill-set and showcased some submission defense in his last fight, a first round knockout victory this past January. His opponent, Lavar Johnson, has some of the heaviest hands on the planet and he made an immediate impact in his UFC debut by doing something no one else had ever done, putting Joey Beltran to sleep with his fists. He'd love to do it again on the national stage this time. We'll have all the updates from the UFC on FOX 3 prefight press conference after the jump, as well as the LIVE video feed:
Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, press conference, conference, press
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz: Blazing A Trail....For Improved Fighter Safety?
Immediately after the Strikeforce event, the usually quiet Nick Diaz was active on his twitter account, posting a series of tweets in reference to the finish of the main event between Ronda Rousey and Meisha Tate:
The refs are just as bad as the judges in this sport sad to see that go to far because of the ref
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) March 4, 2012
Lol no one is acknowledging the ignorance
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) March 4, 2012
From the first tweet, it seems that Nick is of the opinion that the fight should have been stopped well before Meisha herself chose to tap out. After a few of his followers responded with "what if you were in an armbar and didn't tap and the ref called a fight?" Nick followed up with the second tweet, suggesting that there was a lack of understanding of the rules. Given the (unfair, in this author's opinion) reputation that Nick has gained for being a complainer, some people might dismiss the tweets out of hand. But a quick review of the unified rules found on John McCarthy's website shows that Nick is indeed correct: The fight should have been stopped long before Tate begrudgingly submitted.
You`ll have to follow the jump to find out why.
Rule number 9 in the unified rule set that all Zuffa events are contested under covers the situation Tate was in:
INJURIES SUSTAINED BY FAIR BLOWS AND FOULS:
A) Fair Blows:
If injury is severe enough to terminate a contest, the injured contestant loses by TKO.
(I chose to bold the selected sentence)Tate clearly had suffered a severe injury to her arm before she submitted. The referee in question, Mark Matheny, had a duty to step in on her behalf to protect her from suffering a more serious injury. We've seen this happen before, when Herb Dean stopped a bout for the UFC Heavyweight championship between Frank Mir and Tim Sylvia, after Dean correctly noted that Mir had broken Sylvia's forearm with an armbar. Sylvia complained instantly and it is likely that had Matheny called a stop to the contest between Rousey and Tate, Meisha would also have complained.
Such complaints shouldn't be surprising to anyone and they also shouldn't have anything to do with whether or not Matheny (or any referee in that situation) should have called the fight. Adrenaline has phenomenal pain-masking abilities and considering Tate was involved in a championship prize fight there is no doubt that she was fully immersed in the effects of the hormone. (After the fight she stated that her arm was "a little sore", which many took as a sign of her heart and toughness. I'm sure that she was singing a different tune backstage as the adrenaline wore off.) I suspect it is for this exact reason that this rule is in place: to protect fighter's from themselves when they are not able to do so.
Like any good critic, Nick doesn't just stop at pointing out the mistake; he provides a solution:
fighters should vote for refs Or have them all learn from big jon, get a blue belt train jiujitsu it's not that hard to learn basics
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) March 4, 2012
It's a fairly reasonable suggestion. After all, a lot of mixed martial arts, and specifically submission grappling, requires first hand experience in order to fully grasp what is taking place. If you don't know what a particular hold looks and feels like, how could you know when an injury has taken place? We've seen countless fighters be rendered unconscious due to choke holds well before the referee realizes that they are out (Sheila Bird vs Kim Couture comes to mind). We've also seen referee's step in well before they should have (Mac Danzig vs Matt Wiman, for example).
It takes a bit of dedication for one to become a blue belt in jiu jitsu, for most people at least a solid year of training. While that might seem like a lot of work just to be eligible to become a mixed martial arts official, when you consider the years of training and on the job practice required to become an official in other professional sports leagues, it really seems like small potatoes. When you consider the fact that not only are MMA referee`s responsible for conducting bouts in a fair manner, they are in control of the fighters physical well being, it seems like a no-brainer.
A quick review of the current system for certifying MMA officials reveals that there is no standardized training system. In order to certify officials, you must simply gain permission from the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) to do so. John McCarthy`s C.O.M.M.A.N.D. course is recognized by the ABC, as is Herb Dean`s MMARS (Mixed Martial Arts Referee School). I found various other courses that were recognized by the ABC as well, including some that were done entirely online. Each course states that you must have martial arts experience but there is no hard and fast guidelines for how much experience, or in what kind of art. So the certification of officials is left up to the individual running the course. Now, I do not doubt that Dean and McCarthy are able to identify whether or not an official is ready to work MMA matches, but I have no idea if I can extend that faith to the people running the other courses.
Either way, the time has come for the ABC to standardize the training of MMA officials into one system. I have no idea how well Herb Dean and John McCarthy get along, but as the two most recognizable officials in mixed martial arts if they were to combine their courses into one, complete with concrete metrics as far as experience and knowledge go, I`m sure they would have no problem getting the ABC to recognize it as the golden (and only) standard for MMA officiating.
Until this happens, we`ll probably continue to see spotty work by the in-cage officials and remember, Nick Diaz won`t be around forever to remind us.
Posted in: diaz, nick, official, art, course
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendUFC on FOX 3 poster pic for 'Diaz vs Miller' in N.J. on May 5
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to return to the "Garden State" for the first time this year when it slogs through the New Jersey swamp known affectionately as the Meadowlands on Sat., May 5, 2012.
UFC on Fox 3, which was recently made official for the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., will feature a main event that pits Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller in a pivotal lightweight showdown, while Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks will face off for a top spot in the 170-pound pecking order.
Heavyweights Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson are also expected to sling leather on the action-packed televised main card, as well as Brazilian leg crusher Rousimar Palhares taking on the very game Alan Belcher in a middleweight mash up.
For the latest UFC on Fox 3 news and notes check out our complete event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" fight card and rumors click here. And for UFC on Fox 3 ticket sales information click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMMA Quick Quote: Ronda Rousey pulls out her inner Nick Diaz for Miesha Tate
"I see the same thing every time. Her trying not to blink and trying to look tough, but this time she actually had the audacity to touch her forehead on mine and I had to pull out my inner Nick Diaz and push back. Thank God Scott Coker was there because I was about to, you know, ruin this from the beginning you know. So good thing we avoided the fight at the weigh-ins and were actually going to fight when were supposed to. They can expect the best damn women's fight they have seen in their lives."
-- "The Bad Girl from Venice?" It doesn't have quiet the same ring to it as, "The Bad Boy from Stockton," but it seems that after a couple of training sessions together, a little bit of that Nick Diaz attitude may be rubbing off on Ronda Rousey. The Olympic judo bronze medalist says she had to pull out her inner Nick Diaz after Miesha Tate decided to get a little too up close and personal with her at a yesterday's (March 2, 2012) weigh-in festivities as the Strikeforce Woman's Bantamweight champion literally bumped heads with the "Rowdy" one. Not one to step down, Rousey pushed back, forcing Strikeforce President Scott Coker to intervene to prevent the altercation from escalating further. With just a few hours until showtime, the time for talking and head butting will soon come to an end as the two headline this evening's (March 3, 2012) event, Strikeforce:"Tate vs. Rousey" from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. If you weren't pumped enough for this fight, how about now?
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, ronda rousey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Stigma That Follows the Diaz Brothers
Thugs. Gangsters. Animals. Lunatics. All words used to describe the Diaz brothers, Nick and Nate, two of MMA’s most fascinating figures...
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Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz - A Message to the Establishment
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Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, tekprodfx, message
Read the full article at RedditIt's time to watch Nick Diaz's official middle finger to his current dilemma
Before I created the title of this article, I threw 'dilemma' into Wikipedia and found a variety of definitions -- all of which applied to Nick Diaz's current situation with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. First there's the 'Morton's Fork' dilemma which states one has to deal with two equally undesirable choices that both yield the same result. It's the equivalent of being force to choose between an Ubereem right knee to your brain, or an Ubereem left knee. In both scenarios, your friends will have to mop your consciousness off the floor. There's also 'Hobson's Choice' which forces a person into a 'take it or leave it' situation, the dilemma of choosing an undesirable 'something,' or nothing at all. Finally there's 'Zugzwang,' a term mostly defined in combinatorial game theory -- put your thinking caps on for this one. Zugzwang is being forced to make a move against one's opponent in a scenario in which that person would choose not to make a move. The fact that the person is forced to make a move in a situation that one normally would choose not to, automatically places that person at a disadvantage. Therein lies the dilemma of Nick Diaz.
Cesar Gracie, Cynthia Vance and LayzieTheSavage brainstormed how to effectively convey Nick Diaz's tumultuous transition back into the UFC. From proving his talent across the world, getting an instant title shot against Georges St. Pierre, being stripped of that opportunity, to being granted another title fight...I think you guys know the story by now. Throughout the years, Nick Diaz has made MiddleEasy his preferred choice of MMA sites. Therefore it only makes sense that we've teamed up with Cesar Gracie to present a video so rawesome, it will make your eyeballs do back flips inside your head in sheer excitement. Enjoy.
Posted in: diaz, nick, nick diazs, person, dilemma
Read the full article at Middle EasyMMA Uncensored Live: Diaz, Hendo, and The Fall of Pride - Episode 101
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Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz Has No Comment On Failed Marijuana Test
Nick Diaz has finally spoken.
Problem is he really didn’t say anything. At least not about testing positive for marijuana following his controversial loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. Diaz appeared on last night’s premiere episode of “MMA Uncensored” on Spike TV and said he is “under instruction not to talk about that.” Bummer.
Diaz did talk a little bit about the Condit fight though and why he’s so frustrated with MMA right now. Transcription via 5th Round:
“Honestly, I felt it was smarter to play it safe and go ahead and push forward and win the rounds,” he expressed. “I’ve lost fights before where I’m landing more punches and I’m moving away from the guy. So, the way that they score things at the end doesn’t seem very consistent to me.
“I come back and I learn from my mistakes from last time and it doesn’t really make a difference in the end. So, if anything I proved that this isn’t really working out. Because of all these fights I’ve lost, I’m usually winning the fights. You watch the guys taking more damage.
“It’s just kinda irritating to me that we’re awarding people in mixed martial arts for trying to move away and not finish the fight.”
As for the future, Nick says he hasn’t really thought about any of it yet and it “just feels good to get some workouts in and try to act to normal.” For better or worse, he’s going to have plenty of time for that with his looming suspension.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, i ’m, ’m
Read the full article at MMA ConvertFormer Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz speaks on MMA Uncensored LIVE right now on Spike...
Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz speaks on MMA Uncensored LIVE right now on Spike TV! UPDATE: Diaz can't discuss marijuana ruling, but has no plans to transition to Boxing and will eventually return to MMA.
Posted in: diaz, mma, spike tv, diaz cant, marijuana ruling
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe NSAC Temporarily Suspends Nick Diaz Until Formal Hearing
No surprise, but the NSAC issued Nick Diaz a temporary suspension today for testing positive for marijuana following his interim welterweight title fight against Carlos Condit at UFC 143.
Diaz will be under the temporary suspension until he appears in front of the commission at a formal hearing which has yet to be scheduled. Diaz will have the opportunity to present his case at that time, which the commission fully expects will include a request for a retroactive medical marijuana exemption. It also sounds like the commission will have some arguments of their own against that should Diaz’s attorney bring it up.
“I also have some information, as far as from a legal research perspective, to bring on that,” NSAC commissioner Pat Lundvall said of the possible issue.
It’s unknown what length of suspension Diaz will get, but Keith Kizer noted that previous repeats offenders were given 12-month suspensions.
Whatever happens, Diaz’s close friend and training partner Jake Shields believes Nick will be back. He told Kimura.se that he thinks Nick is “burned out” and needs some time away from MMA to recapture his “love” for fighting.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, suspension, commission
Read the full article at MMA ConvertJake Shields sees teammate Nick Diaz returning to MMA
It appears at least one of Nick Diaz’s teammates feels the polarizing welterweight will fight again after prematurely retiring on the heels of his controversial loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. Jake Shields, who has trained with Diaz for years as part of the Cesar Gracie team, echoed Gracie’s sentiments regarding Diaz’s future in Mixed Martial Arts when asked for his take on his friend/training partner’s plans.
“He’s calmed down, I think he’s gonna fight again,” said Shields to Swedish outlet Kimura. “He’s been a little burned out. They’ve been fighting him like crazy, keeping him busy. I think he needs a little break.”
In terms of why he is confident Diaz will return to the ring at some point down the road, Shields stated, “I think the time off will make him love the sport again and make him wanna get back in there.”
Diaz himself has not addressed the matter and is currently embroiled in battle to prevent his license to fight from being suspended as the result of a positive hit for using marijuana. He is expected to appeal the NSAC’s findings in a few months when the board meets.
Shields currently has his hands full with Yoshihiro Akiyama who he’ll face Saturday night in Japan at UFC 144.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: jake shields, shield, diaz, carlos condit, road shields
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC's Diaz officially suspended for failed drug test
Nick Diaz won't be competing in Nevada any time soon after being officially suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday.
Posted in: diaz, nevada state, commission, nevada, ufcs diaz
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNick Diaz license suspended in Nevada, Commission prepares for disciplinary meeting
Not that this is some big surprise but a meeting was held today in Nevada to suspend Nick Diaz's license stemming from his failed drug test at UFC 143 this past Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas.
The meeting held today was more or less a formality and simply a way for the Commission to temporarily suspend Diaz's license while preparing for a disciplinary meeting later on.
MMAFighting.com has more:
During Wednesday's meeting, commission chairman Skip Avansino requested notes and minutes from the 2007 Nevada matter, as well as any related disciplinary information from other states in preparation of Diaz's upcoming hearing.
The stage was also set for a possible defense that could include a retroactive request for a medical marijuana exemption, as Eccles noted a belief that "the question will come up" given Diaz's personal license for medical use in California.
It's interesting to point out that Diaz could use his medical marijuana license in California has a defense for his failed test in Nevada. There's no real precedent for a matter such as this at present time so there's no discernible way to tell exactly what that will mean regarding potential discipline or lack thereof.
All we know is that this is the second time Diaz has failed a drug test in Nevada and the Commission is going to attempt to punish him accordingly.
Diaz's drug test failure marred an event that was already crawling in controversy, thanks to the main event bout going to a five-round decision finish that few were satisfied with.
In fact, Diaz retired in disgust after the bout, proclaiming his dislike for the scoring system in place in MMA. His team, led by Cesar Gracie, immediately started campaigning for a rematch, so that didn't last long, of course.
Jake Shields, a teammate of his, believes he'll rediscover his love for MMA during the suspension that is surely coming, whenever that may be. And for however long it may happen.
Unless, of course, the retroactive marijuana medical exemption defense actually works.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for further updates to this story as they happen.
Posted in: diaz, commission, meeting, license, nevada
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNevada Temporarily Suspends Nick Diaz' License, Open To Medicinal Marijuana Request
Following his decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, Nick Diaz' drug screening came back positive for marijuana metabolites. This is the second time that Diaz has tested positive for marijuana in Nevade with the first time following his fight against Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 in 2007. He was suspended for six months and fined twenty percent of his fight purse. The win was also overturned to a no contest.
A temporary suspension of his fight license has been handed down to Diaz on the Wednesday meeting following his UFC 143 positive test. The request was made by Christopher Eccles, the Nevada deputy Attorney General and the commission unanimously agreed on the motion. A follow up disciplinary meeting will be scheduled where Nick Diaz will be able to defend his usage of marijuana. Nick Diaz was not on the call Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday's pre-hearing was overseen by commission chairman Skip Avansino, who requested that documentation from the 2007 hearing be made available as well as any disciplinary actions handed down from other commissions. Diaz had prior issues with the California State Athletic Commission while in Strikeforce.
Diaz' case is unique as marijuana is prescribed by a doctor to help him with his ADHD in the state of California. He will likely request exemption for medicinal marijuana usage. This is without precedent as there has never been another case of a fighter asking for marijuana exemption. There is also a possibility that Diaz would request a retroactive exemption which could possibly change the No Contest back to a win.
Diaz could face up to a year suspension as well as a financial fine. The commission requested his financial earning from UFC 143 which would put not just his purse but any bonuses received at risk. His base salary was $200,000 though it is very likely that he also received undisclosed "locker room" and PPV based bonuses as well.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, commission, marijuana
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz Temporarily Suspended By Nevada Athletic Commission
Following a failed drug test after UFC 143 on February 4th, Nick Diaz has been temporarily suspended by Nevada Athletic Commission. The suspension was issued on Wednesday, and will be in place until a follow-up meeting takes place, which is where the long-term future of Diaz will be decided. That meeting is expected to take place in April.
The commission will look over all information related to Diaz’s drug test for UFC 143, along with a failed drug test from February 2007, after Diaz’s fight with Takanori Gomi at Pride 33, which also took place in Nevada. Diaz was suspended for six months following the failed drug test, and his submission victory over Gomi was overturned and ruled a no contest.
Because of his previous suspension by the same commission, it is likely that a second suspension will be more severe. A one year suspension is expected, along with possibly facing a fine. The commission requested information concerning Diaz’s full fight purse from UFC 143, in which he earned $200,000 for the fight, per his contract. Additional bonuses that Diaz received will also be looked at by the commission.
Since Diaz is licensed for medical marijuana in the state of California, the commission will also look over the defense by Diaz that he is legally allowed to use the Nevada prohibited drug.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, drug, commission, drug test
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNSAC temporarily suspends UFC's Nick Diaz, disciplinary hearing upcoming
The Nevada State Athletic Commission today voted to formalize a temporary suspension issued to Nick Diaz in the wake of his positive drug test for marijuana.
A formal disciplinary hearing is now expected at a date to be determined.
Now-UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit outpointed Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas. Diaz's post-fight drug test then revealed the presence of marijuana metabolites.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nevada state, drug test, commission today
Read the full article at MMA JunkieJake Shields: Nick Diaz has calmed down, he's going to fight again
Former Strikeforce Champion Jake Shields, who will look to get back in the win column against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 144, discusses his opponent, as well as his training and preparation for the bout. Shields also talks about his Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu teammate, Nick Diaz, explaining that, though "The Stockton Bad Boy" is a little "burned-out," he is unlikely to retire.
Posted in: shield, diaz, nick, yoshihiro akiyama, bout shields
Read the full article at Low KickNevada Suspends Nick Diaz's License, Prepares for Medical Marijuana Exemption Request
A temporary suspension of Nick Diaz's fighter license was issued during a Wednesday meeting of the Nevada state athletic commission, stemming from the positive drug sample he produced during the weekend of UFC 143.
The suspension was requested by Nevada deputy attorney general Christopher Eccles, and unanimously approved by the commission until a follow-up disciplinary meeting can be scheduled. At that hearing, Diaz will have the opportunity to present a defense. He was not present at Wednesday's meeting.
When he does sit before the commission, he will likely have to answer not only for his recent drug screening failure which saw him test positive for marijuana metabolites, but also for a previous failed screening back in February 2007, also for marijuana. At that time, he was suspended for six months and fined 20 percent of his purse.
During Wednesday's meeting, commission chairman Skip Avansino requested notes and minutes from the 2007 Nevada matter, as well as any related information from any states in preparation of Diaz's upcoming disciplinary hearing.
The stage was also set for a possible defense that could include a retroactive request for a medical marijuana exemption, as Eccles noted a personal belief that "the question will come up" given Diaz's personal license for medical use in California.
NSAC executive director Keith Kizer recently told MMA Fighting that no fighter had ever applied for a medial marijuana therapeutic use exemption, but that the commission would take the same steps as normal when considering the request.
In addition to as much as a one-year suspension, Diaz faces the possibility of a financial fine, as the commission asked to receive "full data" on his purse as well as any bonuses. Diaz earned a salary of $200,000 for the bout, but likely received undisclosed bonuses that can also be affected.
Diaz has hired Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman to defend him during the upcoming hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
Posted in: diaz, commission, meeting, marijuana, nevada
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz Temporarily Suspended Until Disciplinary Hearing Later This Year
The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday levied a temporary suspension against Nick Diaz after testing positive for marijuana for his fight with Carlos Condit at UFC 143.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, carlos condit, nevada state
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyJake Shields: A 'burned out' Nick Diaz has 'calmed down' and won't retire
"He's calmed down, I think he's gonna fight again. He's been a little burned out. They've been fighting him like crazy, keeping him busy. I think he needs a little break. Unfortunately he'll probably be suspended for a little while but I think the time off will make him love the sport again and make him wanna get back in there."
UFC welterweight fighter Jake Shields (via Kimura.se) talks about the future of longtime friend and training partner Nick Diaz, who insisted he was done with combat sports after a unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 earlier this month. Diaz will be on the sidelines following a failed drug test, but Shields believes the time off will help him find the desire to continue fighting. Shields, meanwhile, has his own fight to worry about when he takes on Yoshihiro Akiyama this Saturday night at UFC 144 in Japan. More on that fight here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, shield, diaz, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White’s latest vlog takes fans into Nick Diaz’s locker-room moments after UFC 143 loss
UFC President Dana White grants us backstage access to UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit for his first video blog entry pertaining to this Saturday’s UFC 144 extravaganza.
His latest edition includes moments with several fighters from the earlier event including Roy Nelson and Nick Diaz. Nelson, who lost a hard-fought decision to Fabricio Werdum, discusses the outcome with Diaz, saying, “I thought I won two rounds.” Sympathetic to his cause, Diaz also complains about the way his loss to Carlos Condit was scored, mentioning that the numerous leg kicks Condit threw did zero damage.
Check out the entire video in the player below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, carlos condit, rounds ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDana White takes fans backstage at UFC 143 in latest vlog
The latest in a series of video blogs from UFC President Dana White has followed the lead of his previous entries by providing a “behind the scenes” glimpse at what goes on during an event.
In his first submission for this weekend’s show in Japan, White takes a look back at the fallout from UFC 143 including a solid portion of time in the locker-room of Nick Diaz moments after his controversial loss to Carlos Condit and impromptu retirement from MMA.
“He didn’t have nothing on those kicks. I’ve felt leg kicks before. Those were no leg kicks,” said Diaz, later admitting he could have possibly lost the third or fourth round but felt confident he’d earned the first, second, and fifth frames.
Fellow Fighters Weigh-In on Diaz Situation
Other highlights include opponents Matt Riddle-Henry Martinez sharing a congratulatory moment after putting on a great show and Roy Nelson expressing some issues with the way his loss to Fabricio Werdum was scored.
Check out the vlog below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, carlos condit, fabricio werdum, video blogs
Read the full article at Fighters.comIf only Nick Diaz had just asked
Funny thing about the Nick Diaz weed situation ... NSAC head Keith Kizer says if Nick's camp had applied for a therapeutic use exemption, he might have actually gotten it:
Given that Diaz’ coach and manager, Cesar Gracie, has made a point of saying that Diaz has a legal right to use marijuana in California since a doctor prescribed it to him, one would have expected Diaz to have applied for the exemption with the commission.But that did not happen Kizer explains, as no one from Diaz’ camp has ever attempted to explain any mitigating circumstances to him about the fighter’s marijuana use or tried to contextualize it to attempt for Nick to granted a therapeutic exemption. “I have no idea what [Diaz’s] marijuana situation is,” Kizer told CagePotato on Thursday. “No one from his camp has ever come to me or the commission and tried to explain it.”
Cesar Gracie deserves a nice chunk of Nick Diaz's money for babysitting him through the oh so complex world of ultimate man fightin', but this is one of those cases where you have to ask where he was on this one? Where he was those times Nick didn't get on the plane to hit up those press conferences? There have been several key moments where a little managerial manipulation would have helped Diaz greatly. Then again, I think on a week to week basis there are often a dozen key moments, and if Cesar misses one or two now and then it's because he's only human and he probably expects Nick to be able to wipe his own ass from time to time. Probably a mistaken assumption, but as Cesar himself has said in the past, Nick is a grown man.There's also the very real chance that if Nick's camp had submitted the exemption, it might have screwed things up even worse. You never know how a commish is gonna react to something new, and trying to do 'the right thing' could have resulted in some crazy decision from them that would have ruined the fight before it even happened. Better to just drink a lot of water and hope for the best.
Posted in: diaz, nick, camp, exemption, nicks camp
Read the full article at FightlinkerUFC 144: Lightweight Division State Of The Union
With so many fights coming up spread across eight different weight classes, it's easy to lose track of what's happening in every division. Here, we take a look at where a particular division stands right now, and where it's headed.
This weekend, the UFC Lightweight division takes center stage as reigning champion Frankie Edgar defends his belt against the #4 ranked former WEC champion Ben Henderson. As is often the case in the 155 pound division, things have been rather hectic in recent months with a number of former top contenders pushed aside and new names in to take their places. Melvin Guillard, Dennis Siver, Donald Cerrone, Clay Guida... all close to title contention, now all looking to regroup.
So what comes next for the winner of Edgar/Henderson? And who is our next crop of potential challengers in the deep Lightweight waters? Let's take a look...
Next in Line:
Though not officially a #1 contender fight, chances are good the winner of #6 Jim Miller vs. #8 Nate Diaz on the May 5 UFC on Fox 3 show will be the next title challenger. Miller looked poised to get the current shot, but Henderson snatched it away from him last summer. He's since come back with a good win over Guillard, and a win over Diaz would likely seal the deal. Diaz is only 2-0 since returning to Lightweight after a brief Welterweight run. You could say he's not yet earned his spot, but wins over Cerrone and Miller make a strong case. Plus his last name is Diaz, and right now, that's a good thing to capitalize on.
Key Match Ups:
You never know who is going to emerge from the pack at Lightweight and who is going to fade back into the middle of the field, but the following fights all have the potential to create a future title challenger:
#10 Anthony Pettis vs. #12 Joe Lauzon (UFC 144) - On the undercard of Edgar vs. Henderson is this big fight. Pettis was promised a title shot for being the final WEC champion, but when Edgar vs. Maynard 2 went to a draw and the rematch was first announced, then postponed, he decided to stay active by facing Clay Guida. A loss there set him back, but he's since come back by defeating Jeremy Stephens. Joe Lauzon made big waves with his win over Guillard at UFC 136. If the winner here takes home the victory in thrilling fashion, I'd expect a title eliminator next.
#13 Donald Cerrone vs. Yves Edwards (UFC on Fuel 3) - Had he defeated Diaz at UFC 141, Cerrone would be at the very top of the division, but it didn't happen, and now the Cowboy is way down the ladder. Yves Edwards is no slouch, but he's also not a relevant contender at this point. This is a chance for Cerrone to get back on track, provided he doesn't make a mistake and take Edwards too lightly.
#20 Evan Dunham vs. Edson Barboza (UFC 146) - Just announced, this one is a great potential showcase for Barboza. Though Dunham is ranked higher, it's Barboza who has the clear momentum thanks to his spectacular KO of Terry Etim. That's the kind of moment that you need to shine at Lightweight, and if Barboza can again deliver fireworks, he'll be on the fast track up the ranks.
In The Mix:
A few former contenders sit just outside the title picture, waiting to see what's next. And come to think of it, pairing these two up looks like a pretty good idea to me:
#3 Gray Maynard - Maynard is in the unenviable position of being able to defeat pretty much anyone in the division except the champion. Call it the Jon Fitch spot. He has to be hoping for a Henderson win this weekend, as I can't see a 4th Edgar vs. Maynard happening anytime soon.
#7 Clay Guida - Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Guida is the guy you beat before challenging for the belt. Florian did it, Henderson did it, Pettis tried and failed. But can Clay himself ever get that shot?
Others to Consider:
And finally, a few names from outside the title picture that should be mentioned:
#2 Gilbert Melendez - The Strikeforce champion was rumored to be on his way to the UFC late last year, but now the talk is that he's staying put. But let's be honest - people want him in the UFC, and that's where he should be.
#15 Melvin Guillard - He's lost 2 in a row after being about 1 win from a title shot, but Guillard's combination of personality and KO power make him a constant threat to the top. He'll need some wins to get close again though.
There are tons of other possible contenders out there - Matt Wiman, Mark Bocek, Gleison Tibau... but for the moment they're all stuck together in the middle. As Barboza showed, one big win can elevate you in an instant, but for now, they'll have to fight it out among themselves and see if anyone takes that step up.
Rankings based on the USA Today / SB Nation consensus rankings, dated January 27, 2012.
Poll
Who will be the next Lightweight title challenger?
Nate Diaz
Jim Miller
Other
27 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, vs, division
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFighters sound off on the enigma that is Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz, as far as the public knows, is retired from MMA.
Following his loss to Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title, Diaz announced his retirement after bitter disappointment in the way the judges scored the fight. In the days following he was named as failing a drug test from the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to traces of marijuana metabolites in his system.
As a result few outside of Diaz’s inner-circle have any real idea on what the enigmatic scrapper will do next.
On a recent edition of SportsNet’s UFC Central, several fighters were asked to give their opinion on Diaz. Among those interviewed include Georges St-Pierre, who has been itching at the opportunity to face Diaz after the Stockton-native went off on GSP over the last year, Roy Nelson, frequent training partner Ronda Rousey, Condit, and Josh Koscheck.
“He’s just a different breed,” said Koscheck on the subject. “He’s got a chip on his shoulder. I respect that. I think that he comes to fight. The guy just likes to fight and that’s pretty good, I like that.”
Hear what the others have to say about Diaz in the video below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, diaz, carlos condit, drug test, face diaz
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSaturday Night's Mania Event: Nick Diaz's wacky and wild ride through the UFC
How do you describe UFC welterweight fighter Nick Diaz?
Crazy is the first word that pops into my head. I realize that's an unfair characterization, mostly because it's far too dismissive, but that's the result I get from a word association game.
UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre once called him "fake crazy," essentially acknowledging the fact that Diaz's behavior, while erratic, is mostly artificial, or at least it's played up to a degree not seen in most. There's no real way to prove this but it's difficult to argue.
For his part, Diaz maintains that he's not crazy, it's everyone else who is out of their minds.
All we can go on is what we see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears. To that end, Diaz's track record speaks for itself. Since making his way back to the UFC from Strikeforce, where he reigned as the welterweight champion, his career has been an up and down roller coaster ride.
We here at MMAmania.com were there every step of the way to document the insanity. From the moment he was booked to fight Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137 to the day we learned he failed his UFC 143 drug test, we've had it covered.
There was so much that happened in such a short time span, I thought it would be interesting to go back and document the timeline of events that took Diaz from the peak of the sport, ready to challenge one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters of all time, to the depths of despair, about to be suspended for one year for getting busted smoking pot.
Strap in, folks, this is going to be quite a ride.
May 1, 2011: We'll start this tale on the first day of May of last year. It was the day after UFC 129: "St. Pierre vs. Shields" where "GSP" had just put Jake Shields in his place with only one operating eyeball. The significance of the victory was masked by poor performances from both men but it opened the door for Diaz to slide his way over from Strikeforce for a superfight against St. Pierre, something Dana White openly acknowledged was possible for the first time on this day. Even Shields said he was hoping that was the course of action UFC would take.
May 6, 2011: While Diaz was openly calling for a fight against St. Pierre, he was still under contract with Strikeforce. The terms of his deal dictated that he could pursue opportunities in boxing if he so pleased, which was something he had been pining for long before he was ever calling out any French-Canadians. Diaz was flirting with multiple potential opponents for his first foray into the squared circle and on this day it was revealed that he found a taker to sign on the dotted line in the form of former IBF super-middleweight champion Jeff Lacy. It appeared as though a superfight -- and maybe Diaz's MMA career -- were going to be put on hold indefinitely.
June 1, 2011: Various reports of different potential boxing opponents for Diaz hit the web in the month proceeding this day, many of them simply posturing on the part of the Diaz camp to get a sweet deal to come over to the UFC and it was finally announced that he had signed an exclusive contract with the world's largest fight promotion and all the boxing talk went bye-bye. Not only that but he was given the fight against Georges St. Pierre for UFC 137, which was scheduled to take place on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas.
June 9, 2011: When it was announced that Diaz had signed a new UFC contract, it was said that he would be able to fight inside both the Octagon and the Hexagon, if he so chose. But that logic fell away quickly because what's the point in having him come to UFC to fight the champion in his division only to tuck tail back to San Jose if he were to lose? So on this particular day it was revealed that Diaz had officially vacated the Strikeforce welterweight title and, for all intents and purposes, became the exclusive property of the UFC.
Sept. 6, 2011: All was quiet on both fronts for a months, as St. Pierre and Diaz retreated off to Canada and California, respectively, to prepare for what promised to be the biggest fight of the year. Plenty of words were exchanged in the meantime but never in a press conference style setting, which was supposed to happen on this day in Toronto. It didn't, though, because Diaz no-showed the proceedings. This was the first sign of the pending shit storm. St. Pierre wasn't happy about interrupting his training to do all the promotion by himself but, more importantly, Dana White's unease with working with Diaz was growing worse every day.
Sept. 7, 2011: The very next day, the UFC held another press conference, this one in Las Vegas, and, once again, Diaz failed to show up. It was revealed by White that his people spent hours upon hours trying to hunt him down to get him on a plane. Hell, even his own team -- including his coach Cesar Gracie and brother Nate Diaz -- said they couldn't find him and reports were even circulated that Nick escaped out the back door of Cesar's house. Tall tale? Who knows. The result of this blatant insubordination was a very pissed off Dana White announcing that Diaz was removed from the main event of UFC 137 and would no longer be fighting St. Pierre. Instead, Carlos Condit, who was booked on the same card to take on B.J. Penn in the co-main event of the evening, would step up to the plate. He flew out just hours later to start doing media, making Diaz look even worse.
Later that same day, White initially appeared to flirt with the idea of outright cutting Diaz, expressing a strong discontentment with the entire situation. This, of course, was not the first time Diaz and the UFC had been at odds, as he had been released from the promotion years before for his inability to "play the game" as White called it. Ultimately, cooler heads prevailed and he was not released.
Even later this very same day, Diaz filmed a bizarre video from the front seat of his car -- while he was driving, no less, and screaming at other drivers on the road -- expressing his discontent with the situation and mock apologizing for "missing the beauty pageant." He maintained throughout the video that the whole thing kind of sort of felt like a conspiracy, with UFC expertly maneuvering him out of his boxing contract and into an exclusive deal with them with the promise to fight St. Pierre before ripping him from the fight. This ignores, of course, the fact that he put himself in this situation, but I digress.
Sept. 8, 2011: Even after everything had gone down and White had expressed as clearly as possible that he was disgusted with Diaz's actions, he hinted at "something big" being in the works for him. Indeed, word quickly got out on this day that Diaz would still fight on the UFC 137 card but he would do so against B.J. Penn in the co-main event, occupying the slot Carlos Condit had vacated when he stepped up to fight St. Pierre. An already hectic and bizarre situation became even more so with fans totally unsure of how to digest all this.
Sept. 14, 2011: While Diaz had found a new opponent in Penn, he had yet to fully move on from the ordeal with St. Pierre and on this day started unloading his entire payload at the welterweight champion, calling him a "little bitch" for not trying to salvage their fight. His line of thinking was that "GSP" didn't stop White from taking Diaz out of their scheduled contest more or less because he was scared and didn't want the fight to begin with.
Oct. 12, 2011: Due largely to fan outcry supporting Diaz and the Stockton slugger's continued refusal to let the issue die, White announced on this day that if Diaz could defeat Penn at UFC 137, he would once again be thrust back into a title shot. It would come against St. Pierre only if the champion successfully defended his belt against Condit. Even after all the nonsense and headaches caused, the goal was still attainable.
Oct. 18, 2011: On this day it's announced that Georges St. Pierre suffered a knee injury and he would not be able to compete in the main event of UFC 137 against Carlos Condit. "The Natural Born Killer" is ripped off the card because no fight made sense for him at that time and St. Pierre's recovery timeline was just a few months. Diaz vs. Penn was then promptly promoted to the main event, putting Diaz right back where he started at with much less at stake and a much smaller payday awaiting him.
Oct. 19, 2011: Just one week after finding out he could fight for the title again if he could win his next bout, Diaz once again found himself in hot water. This time, he showed up 45 minutes late to the UFC 137 conference call. This is perhaps even worse than a press conference no show because this requires no travel. In fact, all it requires is an functional telephone. He eventually made it but a growing tension was rising once again.
Oct. 27, 2011: On this day, Diaz openly admits for the first time that if he could take it all back, he would have ran with the boxing contract instead of hooking back up with UFC. His interests were rooted in money, mostly, namely the fact that he could make more of it inside the squared circle (or so he thought) but it seemed clear the demands of the job he was being asked to perform were too much for him. The cracks in the armor were visible for all to see at this point.
Oct. 29, 2011: After all the insanity, the day to stop all the talking was here. Diaz managed to make it through all the pre-fight festivities like open workouts and the press conference and weigh-ins and all that for the chance to climb inside the cage and do what he does best -- kick ass. And that's exactly what he did, besting B.J. Penn in a three round unanimous decision win. "The Prodigy" started strong but faded fast under the relentless pressure Diaz put him under. It was yet another career defining performance from the California native and he used the momentum to quickly call out Georges St. Pierre, who was in attendance. "I don't think he's hurt, I think he's scared, " remarked Diaz, much to the delight of all the fans in attendance.
As it turns out, that call out was enough to piss St. Pierre off on a level not seen before, at least according to Dana White, who told everyone later that night at the post-fight press conference that "Rush" sought him out and told him he wanted to fight Diaz, no matter what he had to do to make it happen. So White found Carlos Condit, told him he was taking a backseat and the rematch was booked for UFC 143, the promotion's Super Bowl weekend event. Once again, it was on like Donkey Kong.
Dec. 7, 2011: Unfortunately, bad luck struck again, as this day brought word that St. Pierre had once again injured his knee and this time it was serious. He would be on the shelf for at least 10 months time with a torn ACL. Diaz was booked to fight Carlos Condit, who was also scheduled for the card in a co-main event fight against Josh Koscheck. The two would battle over an interim welterweight title due to St. Pierre needing such a long recovery period.
Jan. 21, 2012: Dana White perhaps tips his hand a bit on this day, revealing that St. Pierre had reportedly told him he still badly wanted to fight Diaz and was pulling for him to defeat Condit at UFC 143 so they could set up the fight everyone wanted to see. White even said if all went according to plan and St. Pierre's rehab was moving along at the pace it was during this time, the bout could be put together over the summer.
Feb. 4, 2012: In what can best be described as disappointing and somewhat controversial, Diaz ended up losing a unanimous decision to Condit in the main event of UFC 143 on this day. The bout went all five rounds and for the 25 minutes the two were in the cage, it was as close as a fight can be. By the time it was over, the cageside judges felt Condit had done enough to win, leaving the Diaz vs. St. Pierre fight dead in the water.
Immediately after the conclusion of the fight, Diaz told UFC color commentator Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that he was done with MMA because he "doesn't need this shit." He complained about the scoring system, his pay and the fact that the judges were too incompetent to see that he was the aggressor in the fight and he should have been the rightful winner. He was so disgusted with the whole thing he said he was taking his ball and going home.
Feb. 7, 2012: Despite Diaz abrupt retirement, his coach, Cesar Gracie, went on a social media campaign to get an immediate rematch with Condit. The first fight was controversial enough to warrant one, after all, and this would give St. Pierre more time to heal his knee. UFC brass were sold on the idea and apparently Condit was, too, as word got out on this day that the rematch was agreed to and they were to sign contracts for it in the coming days.
Feb. 8, 2012: The very next day, Cesar Gracie came out and said the rematch would not actually be taking place, scrapped due to some unforeseen circumstances. He would not, however, elaborate on exactly what they were. Rumors started swirling and the worst was assumed. As it turns out, it was true.
Feb. 9, 2012: Where there was smoke, there was fire, and word got out on this day via an e-mail from Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer that Diaz had failed his drug test at UFC 143 for marijuana metabolites. Word of this circulated far and wide, even reaching the Times Square Ticker in New York (with no context, no less). The rematch with Condit was off and Diaz, who had popped positive in the same manner in Nevada back in 2007, was now facing a year long suspension. He said he was surprised by the positive result, thinking he had flushed his system properly before the test to pass like he's done so many times in the past. Alas, this time it was not to be.
And that brings us to today (Feb. 18, 2012). Diaz is currently awaiting his day in court, which looks like it will be April 9. Even if he gets a reduced suspension, he's likely going to be out for no less than six months. If applied retroactively from the date of the test failure -- which is usually the case -- he'll be back no sooner than August.
What a wacky and wild ride, huh?
As for the rest of the players in this story:
Georges St. Pierre is still rehabbing his knee injury and making more and more progress every day. His target return date is no sooner than November but depending on how things go, he could be out even longer. He's stated during his rehab that he still badly wants to fight Diaz and even pleaded with him not to retire. Kenny Florian was even quoted as saying St. Pierre told him he "would give up his welterweight title to fight Diaz."
Carlos Condit is in the midst of recovering from a public relations nightmare, as he's taken hits from all sides in this entire ordeal. That stems mostly from the strategy he used in his fight against Diaz but also in the manner of which the rematch plans and method of information release was handled. He's since stated that he'll wait for St. Pierre to recover and will not take a fight in the meantime, something Dana White agrees with.
B.J. Penn, who himself retired after his loss to Diaz, has talked some trash to the man who battered him at UFC 137, even challenging Cesar Gracie to a street fight. Nothing has come to fruition, of course, and he hasn't even fully made the decision on whether or not he's done fighting.
As for Dana White, he's still got bad shit happening to him every day.
Well, Maniacs (those of you who made it this far), it's been quite the journey. We here at MMAmania.com have enjoyed covering it every step of the way. And we'll continue to do so.
Sound off in the comments with whatever thoughts or memories you may have from all this madness.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, day, st
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Top Ten Diaz Brothers Middle Fingers in MMA History
The middle finger is a form of currency in the 209. If arthritis ever hit Stockton, California, the entire economy would collapse. In the 209, commodities are purchased with either one middle finger, or two -- depending on the value of the item. If you purchase anything in Stockton, California that's more than two middle fingers, people will automatically assume your first name is 'Goro' and you're defending the Netherrealms from Stockton. If the economy did collapse in the 209, there would be no 'Great Depression' -- only a greater depression. The term 'Dust Bowl' would also have an entirely new meaning.
What we're trying to tell you is things operate just a little bit differently in the hometown of Nick and Nate Diaz. Therefore, the middle finger shouldn't be received as an insult. Not at all. More along the lines of a cautionary measure to denote 'whatever you just tried, didn't work.' By that definition, my car gave me the middle finger when I tried to start it up this morning.
Check out the Top Ten Greatest Diaz Brothers Middle Fingers in MMA History, only at MiddleEasy.com.
How tragic is it that in LayzieTheSavage's greatest picture with the Diaz brothers, his face is completely covered up by a middle finger. The middle finger giveth, and the middle finger taketh away. You better thank your lucky stars no one talks like that anymore -- because that's just ridiculous. I could never imagine living in a universe in which Nick Diaz trash talks in Old English. It makes my head itch just thinking about it.
Most of you wish you had a picture like this in your personal collection. LayzieTheSavage and the Diaz brothers have some mysterious 209 bond that no one can fully understand. There's no other person on this planet that can enable a picture like this to be taken. From one amazing picture to another, we believe this moment was the turning point for LayzieTheSavage and his unprecedented coverage of the Diaz brothers. Check out this Diaz brothers middle finger moment coming in at number ten.
Whatever activity you engage in today, just please don't forget that Elite XC actually existed. The promotion brought MMA to thousands of casual fans across the country through their primetime CBS platform. While YouTube may be credited for giving birth to Kimbo Slice, Elite XC undoubtedly marketed the street fighter to such an incredibly high point that his fight against James Thompson was the most watched MMA event in history until FOX aired Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos in 2011.
In Nick Diaz's final fight with the promotion, he took on Thomas Denny on the televised portion of the card. Both fighters made it blatantly apparent the fight would be nothing less than a playground scrap fest -- and it lived up to the hype.
After trading strikes for the entire duration of the bout, Nick Diaz outscrapped Denny Thomas and watched as his body literally collapsed on the Elite XC mat. To celebrate, Nick gave a resounding double middle fingers to the crowd in Stockton, California. They understood the sentiment and praised the fellow 209er with a standing ovation.
If you're interested in the video of the bout, notice the cameras actually cut away from Nick just as he was saluting the crowd in the Stockton Arena with double middle fingers.
We know the Diaz brothers smoke the 'ganja' because they make it widely apparent that they do. We're not exposing any ground breaking news here. There's been a synonymous relationship with the Diaz brothers and medical marijuana for years now. I would even venture to say that Nate and Nick Diaz have a fascination with non-medical marijuana too. Like Joe Rogan and Eddie Bravo, the Diaz brothers would not deny they occasionally take part in the herbal sacrament. Therefore, this picture is only evidence of their appreciation of marijuana. Check out Nate Diaz giving the middle finger, along with Nick Diaz on the far right in what appears to be the backseat of a car.
Remember that one time when you thought Shinya Aoki was some playful, Japanese Carebear hybrid that always wore silly seizure-inducing pants and came out to fun, whimsical music? Remember that one time when you fronted like you knew what 'whimsical' meant until you Googled it like five seconds ago? Well all those preconceived notions of what Shinya Aoki was came crashing down when he broke Hirota's arm at Dynamite!! 2009 and repeatedly gave him the finger and then proceeded to fly around the ring like he just got an extra 30 minutes in elementary school recess. Dude is the alpha male, the pants are just a decoy.
It's wildly known that Shinya Aoki has been a massive Nick Diaz fan since the early days of Elite XC. Why else would he rock that cool limited-edition TwoThree shirt.
So we're suggesting Shinya Aoki was actually 'possessed' by the soul of Nick Diaz on that night in the Saitama Super Arena back in 2009. After the fight, Aoki told the press that he should apologize for breaking Hirota's arm and his post-fight antics -- but he doesn't.
"After my fight, I was excited, and so I did something rude that I should apologize for. But that showed just how excited I was over that fight."
"When I had his arm behind his back, I could feel it popping. I thought, 'Well, this guy's pride just won't let him tap, will it?' So without hesitation, I broke it. I heard it break, and I thought, 'Ah, there, I just broke it.' I was stopped afterward, but even if I hadn't been, continuing to break it more would have been fine by me."
"Dream got a solid win [with my victory over Hirota], so that was good, but we finished off Sengoku. Although Sengoku was already finished from the very beginning."
"When Sasahara tells me to go and do something, I do it, and that's how I live my life. If Sasahara tells me to go to Strikeforce and take them out or 'Go and kill that guy,' I'm going to do it. Even if he tells me to go take out Tanigawa, I'd do that too."
Like him or hate him, Shinya Aoki can still break your arm. Check out the disgusting arm-break in all of its glory below, along with the middle finger antics.
LayzieTheSavage informed me that the middle finger Nick Diaz gave when he walked out for his UFC 59 fight against Sean Sherk was the 'turning point.' Layzie didn't elaborate on this, but he expects me to fill you in on what he means. Well the jokes on Layzie, I'm not even going to talk about the Sean Sherk walkout. I'll use this time to show you a really cool Nick Diaz picture we published on our official Tumblr page. It's from the Pride FC videogame that was released on Playstation 2. See, Pride never die, homie.
The only reason I vividly remember this fight is because the night before this match went down, two thieves stole all of my bags as I slept inside Gatwick Airport in London, England. I had all of my belongings on a trolley and I stupidly wanted to 'rest my eyes' for a few minutes. An hour later, my bags were jacked, and all I had to look towards in life was a Nate Diaz fight the next day. It was rough returning to the US without a single possession, but this triangle sub over Kurt Pellegrino at UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Lauzon quickly got my mind off my entire world collapsing.
Although you can't see it in the .gif, when Nate sinks in the triangle and extends his hands, he gives a double middle finger just before he flexes for the audience. Sure we could show you the actual fight, but we're not trying to jump into a ZUFFA lawsuit, folks.
Back in the day, Frank Shamrock was Nick Diaz before Nick Diaz was Nick Diaz. He was the bad-boy of MMA until Nick Diaz showed up just to remind everyone that he is in fact from the 209. At Strikeforce's infamous 'New Era of MMA' press conference, Nick Diaz thought it would be appropriate to give Frank Shamrock the finger instead of shaking his hand before their 2009 middleweight bout. This moment will forever go down as one of the most awkward press conferences the world has ever seen.
We've also provided a .gif of the moment so you can see Frank Shamrock's weird and ill-placed response to a Nick Diaz middle finger. It wasn't offensive, but just weird that Frank Shamrock grabbed his crotch in retaliation. I can't be the only one that found that somewhat bizarre.
What can be said about Nick Diaz that hasn't already been said about the kid who used to steal your lunch money in third grade? If you're a guy that likes to mean mug the peeling off an orange and is an obvious master of nunchuks then Nick Diaz is the perfect role-model for you. However, if you're looking for someone who doesn't drop the F-bomb four times in a course of nine seconds, Nick Diaz may not be the guy you want to emulate your life after.
Back in July 2010, HDNet's Michael Schiavello interviewed Mayhem Miller and brushed on the topic of Nick Diaz. Mayhem had some choice words for the 209er, which warranted this in-car vlog from Nick Diaz himself. After it was published, Nick removed it from YouTube, but fortunately we saved the clip and re-published it on our YouTube page. In retrospect, I'm pretty bummed that 'We were talking about chocolate when you made fun of me' never made it to the land of internet memes. Check out the double-middle finger opener from Nick Diaz in this clip.
Sure we saw the introduction of Alistair Overeem to the UFC and the retirement of Brock Lesnar from the sport of MMA. However, we must not forget that Nate Diaz gave Cowboy Cerrone a double middle finger just before the third round at UFC 141. Out performing Donald Cerrone by over 150 strikes was just not enough to fulfill whatever void resides deep within the Stockton native. It's the equivalent of dominating a six-pack of Heineken and then systematically breaking every bottle against a brick wall and igniting the remains as a sign of sheer disrespect. Press row was set up just behind Cerrone, but I managed to catch Nate Diaz initially give Cerrone the middle finger and then switch to a double middle finger solely because he didn't feel like one hand had the ability to express how much he loathed Cerrone. Just really think about that. The psychological process that went into that is phenomenally complex. The duration he held up both hands towards Cerrone was much longer than what you guys saw on the UFC 141 PPV. As you can see in this .gif by ZombieProphet, Nate Diaz gives Cowboy the finger and then the camera cuts to Cerrone acknowledging it. While Cerrone is nodding his head, Nate Diaz is still giving him the double finger and became nearly motionless at this point. The crowd inside the MGM Garden Arena exploded and then Herb Dean signaled for the start of the final round.
You remember how your friends told you they have a friend that knows a guy that can get marijuana? Nick Diaz probably knows that same guy. Nick Diaz openly admits that he smokes weed and that fact alone should automatically place him in your ‘List of fighters I want to see Ice Age 3 with stoned’. He actually says that smoking weed is all 'part of his plan' and judging by his MMA record, the green leafy substance seems to be working.
However, the previous statement brings us to the crux of the argument: Is marijuana a performance enhancing drug? Surely the Nevada State Athletic Commission believed it to be an enhancement when they stripped Nick Diaz of one of the slickest submissions in arguably the greatest MMA fight in all time when he took on a very game Takanori Gomi at Pride 33. After sinking in only the second successful gogoplata submission in Pride FC history, the NSAC changed the fight to a 'No Contest' and suspended Diaz for six months with a 20% purse deduction after he tested positive for marijuana. The threshold for THC count within a fighter is 150 on some incredibly complex scale that we fully don't understand. Apparently Nick Diaz's THC levels registered at 175, which seems to be 'off the charts' based on the NSAC's initial response.
A couple years after the Gomi ordeal, Nick Diaz gave the proverbial middle finger to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and anti-marijuana legislation by publicizing his marijuana usage within an interview from the LA Times.
"I'm more consistent about everything being a cannabis user. I'm happy to get loaded, hear some good music . . . I remain consistent. And I have an easy way to deal with [the drug tests].
"I can pass a drug test in eight days with herbal cleansers. I drink 10 pounds of water and sweat out 10 pounds of water every day. I'll be fine."
Keith Kizer's justification as to why marijuana is a banned substance stems from the belief that a fighter is actually putting their body in danger by indulging in the barbiturate. The NSAC believes that if a fighter is under the influence of marijuana he/she will perform under their athletic standard, which consequently places them in danger. It's sort of a reach for an explanation, however to ensure that athletes are performing at the top of their game, then the NSAC should make every fighter have mandatory training days up until their fight. Both actions work on the same principle of the NSAC playing the role of 'coach' instead of an athletic governing body.
Earlier this month, the Nevada State Athletic Commission issued a press release stating Nick Diaz tested positive for 'marijuana metabolites' leading up to UFC 143. The ruling prevented UFC from assembling a very lucrative (and justifiable) rematch with Carlos Condit at some point in 2012. Days after the ruling, Dana White publicly criticized the commission, stating the only consistency with the NSAC is their inconsistency.
It all comes down our culture's demonization of marijuana and the rise of pharmaceutical giants that have control over our political system. Even though I easily could write a few paragraphs that illustrate the hypocrisy in America's medically psychotic 'War on Drugs,' I won't take up your time. Instead, I will say the only method in which we can fix our political system is to take money out of politics. That's it.
After the NSAC Nick Diaz ruling, I think my grandmother said it best in a text message she sent to me:
"Sorry to hear about Nick Dias I hope his mma days aren't over. What B.S. over a little pot. What's next, cerveza."
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, finger, middle
Read the full article at Middle EasyDana White Says Nick Diaz Situation Frustrating, but Doubts He’ll Retire
UFC president Dana White has long pleaded with Nick Diaz to play the game just "this much." The fighter from the 209 is now facing a drug test failure, but White doesn't think it's the final straw.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, fighter, dana
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGeorges St. Pierre: “I’m asking personally for him to not retire.”
Welterweight king Georges St. Pierre was a recent guest on UFC Ultimate Insider where he discussed a number of topics including his knee, Nick Diaz, and interim champion Carlos Condit. In typical form GSP remained cool, calm, and collected except when it came to the topic of Diaz who he still has a strong desire to duke it out with. However, with the Stockton scrapper sticking to his statements regarding retirement it appears the match-up may never materialize.
“The thing with Nick, he thinks he’s better than me. I think I’m better than him. I’m sure sooner or later we’ll have a chance to do it,” said a hopeful St. Pierre. “Fighting, that’s what he does best. He should not retire. He’s in his prime. I’m asking personally for him to not retire. For the fans, for me, and also for himself…let’s do it. It has to be done.”
Still, St. Pierre knows Diaz is not next in line for him no matter what, adding, “But before that I need to get back to the title. I need to fight Carlos, the #1 guy. Carlos did an amazing job fighting (Diaz). He’s an incredible martial artist. And for me, to go fight him…I take that fight as a great honor. Without a doubt he’s the best fighter that I will meet in my entire career.”
Condit earned his crack at St. Pierre’s linear title by outpointing Diaz at UFC 143. As far as when their in-ring meeting will actually take place, St. Pierre is still targeting the final quarter of 2012 for his comeback but doesn’t want to rush things, risking a setback that might sideline him for even longer or worse.
“I feel very good. I’m ahead of schedule,” explained St. Pierre. “I feel sometimes I want to do a little bit more but even though I feel good my graft is not fused properly…100%. So I need to remain calm. The danger with a lot of athletes is to push through the pain and try to go too fast (but) if I do so I might loosen up the graft and I might have to start the whole process all over again. And I don’t want to do that.”
Check out the full interview with GSP below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, i ’m, pierre, st, ’m
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGeorges St. Pierre Pleads For Nick Diaz To Continue Fighting
Georges St. Pierre sat down with Jon Anik on FUEL TV’s Ultimate Insider to talk about Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit and his knee injury. It may be a long ways off before it can happen, but GSP still badly wants to fight Nick Diaz one day. He even looked into the camera and asked Diaz not to retire so they can fight one day.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, jon anik, knee injury
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNSAC Explains Nick Diaz Could Have (But Didn't) Request Exemption For Marijuana Use
One of the biggest stories coming out of Nick Diaz testing positive for marijuana after his UFC 143 bout with Carlos Condit has been Diaz's medical prescription for the drug. While some have said that Diaz should not be punished at all for something he has a prescription for, others have pointed out that there are plenty of medical conditions which require drugs or other intervention which prevent others from fighting.
But, as pointed out in a recent Cage Potato interview with Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, there were ways for Diaz and his camp to have applied for an exemption for his use, they just didn't:
According to Kizer, though, Diaz had another option: coming to the NSAC weeks before fighting and applying for a therapeutic exemption (TUE) for his marijuana use.
Given that Diaz' coach and manager, Cesar Gracie, has made a point of saying that Diaz has a legal right to use marijuana in California since a doctor prescribed it to him, one would have expected Diaz to have applied for the exemption with the commission.
But that did not happen Kizer explains, as no one from Diaz' camp has ever attempted to explain any mitigating circumstances to him about the fighter's marijuana use or tried to contextualize it to attempt for Nick to granted a therapeutic exemption. "I have no idea what [Diaz's] marijuana situation is," Kizer told CagePotato on Thursday. "No one from his camp has ever come to me or the commission and tried to explain it."
Requesting the exemption doesn't mean they would have gotten one, but it is certainly a better first step than simply assuming that you'll be able to beat the testing every time out.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, use, marijuana use, exemption
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowKeith Kizer: Nick Diaz Could Be Retroactively Granted Therapeutic Use Exemption For Marijuana
Here’s an interesting twist to the Nick Diaz marijuana story.
It turns out Diaz could have possibly avoided the situation altogether had he applied for a therapeutic use exemption for marijuana with the NSAC like other fighters do for testosterone. NSAC executive director Keith Kizer informed Cage Potato of the possibility late this week.
According to Kizer, though, Diaz had another option: coming to the NSAC weeks before fighting and applying for a therapeutic exemption for his marijuana use.
Given that Diaz’ coach and manager, Cesar Gracie, has made a point of saying that Diaz has a legal right to use marijuana in California since a doctor prescribed it to him, one would have expected Diaz to have applied for the exemption with the commission.
But that did not happen Kizer explains, as no one from Diaz’ camp has ever attempted to explain any mitigating circumstances to him about the fighter’s marijuana use or tried to contextualize it to attempt for Nick to granted a therapeutic exemption. “I have no idea what [Diaz’s] marijuana situation is,” Kizer told CagePotato on Thursday. “No one from his camp has ever come to me or the commission and tried to explain it.”
Kizer clarified that no one has actually applied for a use exemption for marijuana before but if his doctor could have convinced the commission that he needed it for medicinal purposes and it wouldn’t have affected his performance in the cage one way or the other, it is possible they would have granted it to him.
But wait, all is not lost! It may seem like a moot point now, but according to Kizer, there’s still a chance Diaz could be granted one retroactively.
Fighters can, in effect, retroactively ask the commission to grant them an exemption for the therapeutic use of certain banned substances, Kizer says. “Sure they can. We’ve had that with athletes before where they come into their hearings and say that they did this or took that, explain mitigating circumstances and argue that they should be allowed to have done so,” he recalls.
I’m not holding my breath that it will happen, but at least Diaz’s counsel has an angle to attack the situation from when they meet with the commission in April. Wouldn’t that be something if he actually got it?
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: diaz, marijuana, use, kizer, exemption
Read the full article at MMA ConvertWatch a subdued Nick Diaz discuss his methodologies
A few feet to my right the disembodied voice of LayzieTheSavage is coming out of my Turtle Beach headset. Layzie is shouting in joyous victory at Gary LaPlante, Nate Diaz just stomped out Gomi Pride style in UFC Undisputed you see, and it sounds like an impromptu party is being thrown in the Savage household. I'm surrounded by Diaz's. Diaz's in digital form inside my Xbox, Diaz's preparing for fights on Fox, Diaz failed drug tests in Times Square and a subdued Nick Diaz getting real with the world on Showdown Joe, right here in this very article.
Nick Diaz is even stealing the show from John Lennon.
[Source]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, drug tests, household im
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC On Fuel Results: Carlos Condit Shouldn't Wait For Georges St. Pierre
Like it or not, our society is one that thrives on having a short-term memory. This is especially the case in MMA where a fighter's most recent outing is what sticks as reality.
Enter Carlos Condit, the UFC interim 170-pound champion fresh off a title-winning performance that was as polarizing a victory as we've seen in the sport in quite some time.Condit now sits on an interesting opportunity: enjoy his accomplishments and wait for a title unification bout against Georges St. Pierre or defend his belt for the first time this summer, either against de facto No. 1 contender Jake Ellenberger or Nick Diaz if his suspension either gets lifted or shortened. Among the writers of this site, media and fans, the opinion is split. Should Condit wait or defend?To me, this is an easy one. Condit should defend his title this summer.When the on-again, off-again title shot malarkey was muddying up the welterweight waters last fall, I thought Condit got screwed out of his then-promised title opportunity because St. Pierre says he demanded he fight Diaz instead. I like Condit and can appreciate how the former WEC Welterweight Champion has slowly evolved into one of the division's top talents. He earned his opportunity against Diaz a few weeks ago at UFC 143 and took advantage of it.
However, there's no doubt that his in-cage reputation took a big hit from fans and fighters alike with the win. Even his teammate at Greg Jackson's -- Diego Sanchez -- said that as a fan, he was down on the fight. People accused him of running and unfortunate connections to Kalib Starnes were made. Either you appreciated Condit's game plan or you despised it.
Even those like myself who thought Condit won felt a little empty after it was all said and done. It was ok, but was it what we expect out of a championship winning performance?That brings us to last night when Ellenberger survived a fun scrap with Sanchez at UFC On Fuel to win his sixth in a row. With Diaz likely out of the picture for most of the next year, it's hard to deny that he's now in prime position for a title shot of his own. There's simply not anyone else that has the creds right now to justify one, which is why this rematch of their September 2009 split decision makes a lot of sense for June or July.Well, it makes sense to me anyway. I've heard arguments about how St. Pierre/Ellenberger wouldn't be a draw if Condit was to lose and that Condit should wait for his big payday against St. Pierre in a pay-per-view (PPV) hat will draw between 800,000 to 1 million buys.
After the jump, here's what I would say to that sentiment.
St. Pierre vs. Condit or Ellenberger would draw the same amount of interest. Let's be realistic here: outside of Diaz, all other welterweight challengers to GSP are essentially the same person when it comes to promotion.
It's an assumption that GSP will be 100% in November, which is the month Dana White threw out recently. I'll be selfish in saying that I don't want another Cain Velasquez situation where a champion is forced to rush back and then sets his career back further after his return fight. I want one of the best in the world to be healthy for as long as he can. If that means waiting a few extra months, so be it. Yeah, yeah, no one is ever 100% but this is a bit different than a muscle pull or sprain.
People pointing to a possible Condit/Ellenberger clash as being a bad PPV draw need to chill out. The UFC will have 30+ shows this year, so the possibility of a poor draw as a main event is something they can shrug off quickly. They have had bad buy rates in the past and will have bad buy rates in the future. With that many events, not putting together a champion vs. an obvious No. 1 challenger because it would be bad for business isn't an option. (Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami, anyone?) There's always ways to help support in a co-main event spot.
The most important reason this needs to happen: Condit needs it to. Nine months on the shelf is too long to wait. What if he knocks out Ellenberger? That would not only help enhance a fight with GSP, but also erase this bad taste so many have in their mouths from the Diaz fight. A fighter entering the prime years of his career and fresh off achieving his dream of owning UFC gold shouldn't let the embers cool down.
It's time for Condit to cement himself as what he feels he is -- the best in the world -- and the way to do that is to fight.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel TV
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, st, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMorning Report: UFC on FUEL Results, Brittney Palmer's Playboy Cover
Now that Wednesday's fight night experiment has come and gone, I don't think I'm alone in saying -- more please.
UFC on FUEL may not have broken down any walls, but for what it was, the midweek mini-card was an undeniably entertaining fix of violence. As always, there was an abundance of news and tidbits to come out of last night's event, so catch up on everything you may have missed with the Morning Report.
Oh, and Playboy released a sneak peek of Brittney Palmer's Playboy spread, if you're into that kind of thing.
5 MUST-READ STORIES TO START YOUR DAY
Jake Ellenberger outlasts Diego Sanchez. Despite a near-miraculous comeback, Jake Ellenberger held off Diego Sanchez long enough to capture victory in the main event of UFC on FUEL.
UFC on FUEL fight results. Between Stefan Struve's brawl with Dave Herman, and swift finishes from Jonathan Brookins and Stipe Miocic, there was plenty of action on Wednesday night's fight card.
Dana White awards UFC on FUEL bonuses. Ellenberger, Sanchez, Miocic and Ivan Menjivar each left the arena $50,000 richer for their fight night performances.
Jon Jones: I miss being friends with Rashad Evans. Jon Jones reflected back fondly when asked about his relationship with Rashad Evans.
Sneak peak of Brittney Palmer's Playboy cover and photo shoot. Take an early (SFW) look at UFC ring girl Brittney Palmer's eight-page photospread for Playboy.
MEDIA STEW
In light of Jake Ellenberger's big win, it seems fitting to post some sort of fight video showcasing his skills. Since anything from the UFC is out of the question, here's "The Juggernaut" taking on Zach Light five years ago to the date.
Check out the fight highlights from Stipe Miocic's brutal 'Knockout of the Night' performance against Philip De Fries.
And a bonus double-dose of the Croatian, because once just wasn't enough. This time Miocic finishes off William Penn in slightly hilarious fashion.
Paul Daley talks discipline and says he's sorry for sucker punching Josh Koscheck at UFC 113. (HT: MIddle Easy)
There are few trainers as accomplished in MMA as Greg Jackson, so it's strangely enjoyable to watch Jax do his thing while he demonstrates the omoplata and ground n' pound 101 on Shinya Aoki. (HT: DSTRYR SG)
Classic Sanchez.
What else would you expect from a Japanese UFC 144 ad? One question: the Zangief guy in the back is supposed to be Dana White, right? (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Good to see the DC athletic commission is hip to the kids and their mix marshal arts. (via @macdanzigmma)
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Nick Diaz.
Diego Sanchez won regardless what the judges think that's what the fight showed !
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) February 16, 2012
Sad night for old Jake E had this been real shit he would be dead!
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) February 16, 2012
Besides the loss, I'd say the debut of Sasquatch went over pretty well.
I didn't know you were allowed to fight in a sweater...of hair #ufconfueltv
— Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) February 16, 2012
Is that teen wolf?
— Dana White (@danawhite) February 16, 2012
I can't believe Herman stole my beard lol
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) February 16, 2012
I like David Hermans sweater he's wearing.....is that cashmere? #ryanjimmo
— Ryan Jimmo (@RyanJimmo) February 16, 2012
After over a decade of grinding to get in the UFC, this happened. Tough break for Sean Loeffler.
Sean Loeffler twisted his ankle warming up so the fight had to be pulled. twitter.com/danawhite/stat…
— Dana White (@danawhite) February 16, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012):
N/A
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's FPOTD belongs to BE reader Jack Slack: The Downfall of Diego Sanchez.
A quick look through Diego Sanchez's successful fights reveals his modus operandi; the man is an animal, constantly moving forward and swarming on opponents with punches until he gets them to the mat where his effective ground and pound and slick Jiu Jitsu can be utilized. One of Diego's best matches was his defeat of Nick Diaz, in which he would throw some big punches, then literally dive at the much taller man's legs. Once he got Diaz to the mat, Diego was relentless, stacking Diaz up in guard and dropping from his feet back to his knees with huge elbows. While Diaz was never in danger of being stopped, it is certainly the most ineffectual we have seen his guard look.
However, against B.J. Penn, Diego Sanchez shot 27 takedowns, succeeded in none, and was pounded on the feet constantly. Now B.J. Penn is a marvelous athlete, but to write off his natural abilities as the reason he could do this to Sanchez when other great athletes like Nick Diaz couldn't is just downright moronic. B.J. fought the perfect gameplan against Sanchez, which from the get go seemed to be about pressure. Throughout the fight B.J. Penn backed Diego on to the cage, but instead of leading, waited for Diego to charge him. When Diego did charge, B.J. would take one or two shuffles back to avoid the first attack, slip the second and counter - and it worked. Every time.
Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, diego, sanchez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC boss: NSAC's handling of Mayweather, Diaz, Sonnen woefully inconsistent
OMAHA, Neb. - UFC president Dana White admits he doesn't know how the
Nevada State Athletic Commission is going to handle the failed UFC 143 drug test
of top welterweight Nick Diaz.
But after observing what White considers incomprehensibly inconsistent
recent handling of boxer Floyd Mayweather and UFC middleweight Chael
Sonnen, the UFC boss is praying for fair treatment.
"We'll see what happens," White told MMAjunkie.com. "We'll see if inconsistency prevails again."
Posted in: ufc, diaz, sonnen, ufc boss, nevada state
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC welterweight Diaz opens up to Showdown
Nick Diaz opens up to Showdown Joe Ferraro prior to UFC 143 to discuss a variety of topics surrounding his career.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, showdown, career, variety
Read the full article at sportsnet.caWill Carlos Condit Fight or Wait? It All Depends on GSP, He Says
With welterweight contenders like Jake Ellenberger and Johny Hendricks itching to make their case for a shot at UFC gold, interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit could be looking at some tough decisions in the coming months. After winning a unanimous decision over Nick Diaz at UFC 143, the newly-minted interim title-holder seems to have won the right to challenge Georges St-Pierre for the undisputed 170-pound strap. But as he told me when I spoke to him for this SI.com story this week, whether he'll opt to risk another fight in the meantime will likely depend on how long he’ll have to wait.
"Honestly, it depends on the recovery timeline for Georges St-Pierre," Condit said. "If he’s going to be out until November [or] December, then I might consider taking another fight in the meantime just because the timing would work out. I’d have three or four months to train for something mid-year, and then three or four months to train for Georges St-Pierre at the end of the year. If he’s going to be back a little sooner, I’d probably just wait."Recent projections from St-Pierre and the UFC seem to be targeting a fall 2012 return to action, though it’s far from a sure thing at this point. With Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez squaring off on FUEL tonight, and Hendricks slated to meet Josh Koscheck in May, there could easily be more than one welterweight with a strong case for a fight against Condit, assuming the interim champ could be talked into it.One factor in his decision-making could be the public’s response to his win over Diaz. Many fans were critical of Condit’s approach in that fight, which might very well encourage him to fight again sooner rather than later in order to answer those critics.
Condit admitted to being surprised by the level of vitriol from some fans, but insisted that by demonstrating his ability to stick to a game plan, he’d only made it tougher for future opponents to prepare for him."I employed a strategy to fight my fight, and I guess people don’t really understand that for whatever reason," he said. "And that’s fine, everybody has their own opinion. But honestly? I’m there to win fights. I’ve shown that I’m dangerous, that I can knock people out, that I can finish people, and now I’ve shown that I can stick to a strategy and execute a game plan. I’m a dynamic fighter. In the next fight, you might see something completely different than what you saw in the last fight. I think that’s where I’m going to have a lot of success and where I’m going to be very dangerous to other guys in the division."Against Diaz, Condit said, he expected to have to adjust his approach as the fight wore on, but Diaz "had one gear" from start to finish. If anything, he said, he simply had to keep reminding himself not to be drawn in by Diaz’s mid-fight trash-talk, as tempting as it might have been."There were a couple times where I just wanted to get in there and brawl with the kid. But I knew that that wasn’t the smartest thing to do. My instincts told me to shut his mouth, but I’ve been training to stick to my game plan and do what I did. He did kind of suck me into that briefly, but I snapped right back out of it."As for GSP, who made it known before the fight that he wanted Diaz to win in order to set up a future grudge match, Condit doesn’t have any hard feelings. In fact, he understands perfectly why the champ would rather fight Diaz than him, he said, and he doesn't blame him one bit."Georges has a legitimate personal beef with Nick. Nick disrespected him on live TV in front of millions of people, and Georges is pissed off about that. Honestly, it doesn’t have a lot to do with me."
Posted in: fight, diaz, people, condit, irsquom
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWhat's at Stake: the Consequences UFC, MMA Fighters Face for Wins or Losses
At UFC 143: Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz, more is on the line than a simple interim UFC welterweight title. Each fighter is at a different place in a different moment in their career. What's at stake for each surpasses a simple win or loss on their respective records. Each fight in the UFC is chance to write the future. Let's take a closer look at the match-ups to see the specific predicament tomorrow's competitors find themselves in - and where they hope to go.
More Coverage: UFC 143 Fight Card | UFC 143 ResultsWalkout Shirts: Nick Diaz | Carlos Condit | Roy Nelson
Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz
It's obvious what's at stake here from a superficial level: an interim title and a chance to face reigning UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (GSP). But that's hardly the end of it. That's particularly true in the case of Condit. For all the well-deserved praise and accolades of 'The Natural Born Killer', he's yet to earn a true signature win in his MMA career. Diaz is, incontestably, the best and highest-ranked fighter he's faced to date. A win over Diaz gives Condit the type of legitimacy that none of his previous victories could hope to offer.
For Diaz, a win over Condit would mark the second time in as many fights he's bested a former champion of a Zuffa-owned organization. Should he defeat Condit and eventually GSP (a monumentally difficult task), that would make it three former champions from Zuffa organizations in three fights.
Diaz vs. GSP is also the fight fans prefer to see. It's the fight that's better for UFC's bottom line and would likely rally more casual fan interest. Perhaps most importantly, a win over Condit and eventual bout with GSP would be the defining, culminating moment of Diaz's undulating MMA journey. While not exactly nomadic, he's historically bounced around organizations, never quite on the linear path a typical, blue chip contender takes. With a win over Penn, Diaz set his career in motion to finally achieve the ultimate prize. Losing to Condit derails that in the most profound and devastating way. In a division as thick as welterweight, title opportunities are fleeting. If Diaz wants to make good on the promise of his career, a loss to Condit at this moment is simply not an option.
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
This is one of those bouts where there's as much to lose as there is to gain. Nelson enters this bout having lost two of his last three. He most recently bested Mirko Filipovic at UFC 137, but he's thus far come up short in his Zuffa career to establish himself as a true heavyweight contender. In fact, each time he's faced a top ten UFC heavyweight, he's failed. He typically makes a strong account of himself even in losing efforts, but if he really wants to run with the front of the division, a win over Werdum is frankly a must. Werdum is currently ranked fifth is the MMA Nation/USA TODAY Consensus Rankings. A win over the Brazilian could finally position Nelson in the top 10 and back on track as a true heavyweight contender.
Werdum is similarly looking to stay relevant, but has much more to lose. Werdum jumped to the top of the heavyweight division by submitting Fedor Emelianenko in June of 2010. He's only fought once since then, a loss to now number-one heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem. A loss to Roy Nelson (currently ranked #14) could very well bump Werdum out of the top 10. By contrast, a win over Nelson likely keeps Werdum where he's at and sets up a potential showdown with former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (he's ranked only one spot above Werdum at #4). The winner of that eventual bout would have a legitimate claim to face the winner of Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem. If not them, then who?
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Perennial welterweight contender Josh Koscheck is in an unenviable position. Like Jon Fitch (before being billy clubbed by Johny Hendricks at UFC 141), Koscheck is talented enough to beat most top welterweight contenders, but a fairly clear step below GSP. And having lost to St. Pierre twice, few wish to see a third dance between the two. Koscheck is in divisional limbo. He's got to beat Pierce to stay where he is, but where he is isn't exactly going anywhere (for the moment, anyway). The true litmus test will be to see if Koscheck can stay motivated for a predicament so suffocating and an opponent that doesn't truly move him from his Sisyphean position. That isn't to say Pierce isn't a challenge. He assuredly is. The question is whether Koscheck cares enough to continue marking time.
For Pierce, the bounty is easy to see. It's not the toughest test of his career (that distinction belongs to Jon Fitch), but it is the most high profile. He's on the main card of a pay-per-view and in the featured bout of the evening. He's never before received this kind of UFC push, this kind of media attention or this kind of opportunity to create visibility for himself (Pierce is not even ranked in the top 25 of all welterweights). Koscheck represents a huge scalp. If Pierce can collect it, he can begin to do wonders for his career.
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is tied up with Urijah Faber for the immediate future, but it's not as if he's got a ton of contenders lined up should he get past The California Kid. Barao isn't exactly a well-known commodity to the larger public, but what he lacks in popularity he more than makes up for in fighting acumen. Barao is undefeated in his four-fight Zuffa run, dating all the way back to June of 2010. Jorgensen is most certainly his toughest opponent (and is ranked higher), but Barao is riding a huge wave of fan interest and career momentum with the shellacking of Brad Pickett at UFC 138.
Jorgensen simply wants another crack at the champ. He lost handily to Cruz at WEC 53, but is on a two-fight win streak and most recently defeated Jeff Curran at UFC 137. This bout with the highly-regarded Barao - at a time when the division is short on contenders - is arguably about setting up a number-one contender to Cruz's (or perhaps soon Faber's) title. Jorgensen is 29, so even if he's derailed here he probably has time to put together another title run. But each time a fighter is stopped short on a title shot path, it's increasingly difficult to start all over again. Jorgensen has a serious opportunity in front of him and needs to strike while the iron is hot.
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Herman wants to prove he belongs and can still compete within the UFC middleweight division. A win over the talented if unheralded Starks proves he at least deserves to continue his last-chance ascension. Whether Herman can compete with the upper echelon of middleweights remains to be seen (and he had trouble doing so before his two-year hiatus), but a win over Starks at least affords the chance to try his hand at it one more time.
Starks, the wrestling standout from Arizona State University, faces a great moment to kick start his UFC career. Starks holds a win over Dustin Jacoby, one he earned at UFC 137. But Herman is more of a known commodity, a respected grappler and a good test for this juncture of Starks' career. Starks beating Herman fits the model of how prospects become contenders and eventually, how contenders become stars. The unknowns beat the knowns and the knowns beat the greats. Who knows what lies ahead for Starks? I'm not suggesting any future is predetermined. But if he wants to set out on that established journey, a win over Herman is a perfectly good way to start.
From the preliminary card:
Alex Caceres has the opportunity to build on his drop to bantamweight by besting Edwin Figueroa. After a rough start in the UFC featherweight division, Caceres looked improved at 135 pounds when he topped Cole Escovedo at UFC on Fox 1.
Dustin Poirier has got to be on the short list of rising contenders in the UFC featherweight division. A win over Max Holloway won't earn him a title shot against champion Jose Aldo, but it will likely get him the chance to face a marquee name.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, contender, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseCarlos Condit Plans To Wait For Georges St. Pierre, Dana White ‘Bummed Out’ Over Nick Diaz
Carlos Condit has decided to wait for Georges St. Pierre now that a rematch with Nick Diaz is off the table.
Dana White informed MMA Junkie of the news earlier today.
“We don’t know when Georges is coming back yet,” White said. “But Carlos isn’t going to fight another fight.”
If there was an obvious contender lined up behind Condit, I’d bet we see Condit defend his interim title this summer, but there just isn’t.
Dana also voiced his disappointment in Nick Diaz for testing positive for marijuana and blowing the opportunity to potentially beat Condit and face GSP for the title.
“I’m bummed out because I think that this kid, because of the ‘Primetime,’ people actually started to like Nick Diaz and started to turn,” White said. “People who hated him turned around and started to like him. I think he gained a lot of fans, and a lot of people are interested, and he blew a huge [expletive] rematch. He could have had the opportunity to fight Condit again and possibly get another opportunity to fight Georges St-Pierre. Condit was going to do it.
“Nick Diaz is still a UFC employee, but nobody hurts Nick Diaz worse than Nick Diaz does. I don’t even know what to say. It’s just disappointing. It’s very disappointing.”
Truer words have never been spoken. Nick Diaz is without a doubt his own worst enemy.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, condit, george
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC on FUEL TV's Diego Sanchez promises to deliver what Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit didn't
And that's a dogfight!
Just about everyone and their mother expected the interim welterweight title fight between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012, to be a knock-down, drag-out war of attrition. That's because both men are proven finishers, earning rightful reputations within the mixed martial arts (MMA) community as outright bad asses.
However, Condit flipped the script on fight night, executing a very smart -- albeit uncharacteristic -- counter-striking strategy. It was the perfect antidote to Diaz's aggressive hunt 'em down, box 'em up and get 'em out attack. In fact, Diaz, along with most fans watching, was completely puzzled and failed to make any significant in-fight adjustments that got the "Natural Born Killer" to exchange on his terms.
The result was a disappointing (and to some, controversial) decision in favor of Condit.
For the fans who shelled out $45 to watch "Diaz vs. Condit," only to be let down and frustrated, Diego Sanchez promises to make it up to them by putting on a memorable, exciting performance against Jake Ellenberger in the UFC on Fuel TV 1 main event, which takes place at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb., tomorrow night (Feb. 15, 2012).
Best of all, MMA fans don't have to fork over one red cent because the fight will be included in FUEL TV's free preview weekend.
His vow:
"The switch goes on and once they lock that door, it's battle mode. I know he's going in there to knock my head off and I have to go in there and try and knock his head off, too. We're going to do what we do -- we're true, true warriors. And we're going to bring the dogfight that you didn't get to see in the last pay-per-view."
Watch "The Dream" and "The Juggernaut" talk more about their important -- an hopefully thrilling -- 170-pound showdown after the jump:
I kind of believe him. Probably because he makes me feel like I don't have much of a choice.
Posted in: jake ellenberger, diaz, vs, fight night, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit Wanted Nick Diaz Rematch; Diaz Surprised He Didn’t Beat Marijuana Test
Throughout all the drama surrounding Nick Diaz’ failed drug test, Carlos Condit has remained somewhat silent, but now his thoughts are coming to the surface. Condit opened up to Sports Illustrated about Diaz testing positive for marijuana following their controversial fight.
I don’t care. The thing about it is, it’s something they test for. It’s against the Nevada [State] Athletic Commission [rules]. I don’t really consider it to be a performance-enhancing drug, but the fact is, they’re testing for it. And you know they’re testing for it. Whatever you do in between camps, if you know they’re testing for this stuff then you’ve got to figure something out. In the past, he’s said, ‘Oh, I can smoke and I can pass these tests no problem.’ That attitude kind of came back and bit him in the ass.
Condit may not care about Diaz having marijuana in his system, but he does care about how it affects his own immediate future. Condit explained that he actually wanted the rematch after realizing how big the fight would be.
“So I called [Dana White],” Condit said. “…We talked about [the fight] a little bit. He said he thought that I won, but at the same time a lot of people were calling for the rematch and it would be a huge fight. The day before I had told my manager that I’d be into a rematch, and I told Dana White the same thing. I said I’m down. Let’s just figure out the details and we’ll do it.”
“I don’t think I need the rematch. I won the fight; I think I’d win a rematch. But the thing about it is, I want to be in big fights, fights where there’s a lot of buzz, a lot of people wanting to see the fight, and a rematch with Nick Diaz fits the bill.”
It’s all a moot point now for Carlos Condit. He has the interim belt and will move on with his career. That’s not the case for Nick Diaz though. He’ll spend the foreseeable future dealing with this issue with the NSAC and his manager Cesar Gracie may not be helping his cause. Gracie admitted on The MMA Hour yesterday that he was fully aware the Nick had smoked marijuana, but he and Nick both thought he [Nick] had taken the right steps to basically fool the drug test. He claims Diaz has a “ritual” he goes through to detoxify his body prior to taking the test. From what Gracie says, it doesn’t sound like Nick did anything different than my old dorm buddies that had to fool the drug test to get hired at Subway. The ritual seems simple: drink a lot of water and sweat.
He was surprised he tested positive. He does the same ritual every fight for the last five years. He stops it in time and he cleanses his system, works out like crazy, drinks a lot of water and purges his system of it.
This seems like an instance it would have been better to just say nothing. What has Gracie said that was even worth saying? He says he knew (I admit we all knew.) one of his fighters was getting high. Knowing Dana’s history with black listing pretty much anything that pisses him off, I’m not sure why Gracie would even come out and say this. I get that Diaz has the medical card; we all do. It just seems foolish to me to admit you know your fighters are, for lack of a better way of saying it, breaking the rules. I really doubt that Dana will ban Diaz, as he does have a lot of star power behind him. Plus, Dana hasn’t even hinted at it, but that’s never a side of the fence anybody involved with The UFC should ever even consider visiting. Diaz’ full disciplinary action is expected to be handed down soon, and the early signs tend to suggest Diaz will fight the result or at least shoot for a shortened suspension, as he has hired attorney Ross Goodman.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, rematch, test
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz surprised drinking lots of water didn't trick pot test
It's been several days since Nick Diaz tested positive for potsmoking (not something we really needed a test to determine), and we still haven't heard a peep from him. I wonder what he does when he's not fighting, training, or triatheleting? Does he sit at home watching Antiques Roadshow marathons all day? Or am I just projecting what I do all day onto him? Whatever the case, I hope Cesar Gracie is getting a nice Golden Glory percentage of Nick's money for being the guy who has to come out and try to explain his client's latest f*ckups to an angry world every other week:
"I was very disappointed," Gracie said on The MMA Hour. "Everyone knows he smokes marijuana medicinally in California. He has a legal right to do it in this state."Gracie said he was the one who was informed of the positive test and passed along the word to Diaz, and that Diaz had thought he had stopped using marijuana for long enough before the UFC 143 fight with Carlos Condit, and had enough water pass through his system, that a test would come up negative."He was surprised he tested positive," Gracie said. "He does the same ritual every fight for the last five years. He stops it in time and he cleanses his system, works out like crazy, drinks a lot of water and purges his system of it."Gracie said he thought Diaz's weight cut may have contributed to the marijuana metabolites staying in his system longer than usual. Gracie said the Diaz camp has hired an attorney, Ross Goodman of Las Vegas, who will help to appeal to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
I know what you're thinking: how the hell is Nick Diaz going to get off the hook for this when everyone and their dog knows he loves the sticky icky and his coach just admitted his way of getting around commission rules is risk-equivalent to ejaculating onto the vagina instead of inside it? Well interestingly enough, the way the Nevada commission's marijuana regulation is written might get him off the hook:
read more
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, marijuana, system
Read the full article at FightlinkerRonda Rousey talks about Weed and Nick Diaz
submitted by SemoKabe [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, weed, ronda
Read the full article at RedditRepresentin' the 209! Get your hands on Nick and Nate Diaz (without getting choked out in the...
Representin' the 209! Get your hands on Nick and Nate Diaz (without getting choked out in the process) when Round 5 releases their limited edition figurines this April as part of its "Ultimate Collector" Series 9. Get all the details here.
Posted in: diaz, nick, nate, nate diaz, edition figurines
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 gate totals $2,389,975 with 6,727 tickets sold for 'Diaz vs Condit' on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas
UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," which took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 4, 2012, tallied a live gate of $2,389,975, according to official figures from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) released earlier today.
The final attendance of 9,015 was the result of 6,727 tickets sold and 2,288 complimentary tickets, while 752 seats remained empty.
UFC 143 featured a main event between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit, former welterweight Strikeforce and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champions, respectively, vying for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim 170-pound title while division kingpin, Georges St. Pierre, recovers from recent knee surgery.
Diaz and Condit battled for five full rounds to a disappointing (from a pre-fight expectation perspective) and controversial decision, with "The Natural Born Killer" getting the nod from all three judges sitting ringside. It was so divisive, in fact, that Diaz prematurely (or perhaps immaturely) retired from mixed martial arts (MMA) on the spot.
That's not all.
Heavyweights Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson collided in the "Fight of the Night," with "Vai Cavalo" battering "Big Country" with blood-letting knees to the nose and other areas about the face. Nelson somehow absorbed everything that Werdum dished out, surviving -- and even fighting back -- valiantly, but ultimately went on to drop a painful unanimous decision.
Also on the card, Josh Koscheck barely got passed Mike Pierce after their three-round fight ended with a razor-thin split decision, while Renan Barao established himself as a serious threat to Dominick Cruz's bantamweight belt with a solid decision win over Scott Jorgensen.
For all the information you need to know from the UFC 143 event hit up our comprehensive wrap-up right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, decision, ticket, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Quick Quote: Nick Diaz surprised he tested positive for weed
"I was very disappointed. Everyone knows he smokes marijuana medicinally in California. He has a legal right to do it in this state. He (Nick Diaz) was surprised he tested positive. He does the same ritual every fight for the last five years. He stops it in time and he cleanses his system, works out like crazy, drinks a lot of water and purges his system of it."
-- Super bud? Appearing on "The MMA Hour" today (Feb. 13, 2012) Cesar Gracie -- head mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer of Nick Diaz -- says his star pupil was surprised at the news that he had tested positive for marijuana on his post-UFC 143 drug screening. Diaz, who has a prescription card to use marijuana in the state of California, clearly didn't do enough to rid himself of any traces of the banned substance. The positive result ruined any and all chances of an immediate rematch with Carlos Condit, who he dropped a controversial decision to on Feb. 4, 2012. It will also likely land Diaz a lengthy suspension, seeing as how it is the second time he has tested positive for pot in the state of Nevada. In 2007, Diaz got popped after his epic win over Takanori Gomi and was suspended for six months and fined $3,000. With the revelation the Diaz has medical clearance to use marijuana in the "Golden State," should the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) take that into consideration when it comes to laying down the sentence against Diaz? Or, is it simply inexcusable, knowing that he was well aware of the rules?
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, state, marijuana, use marijuana
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz' Coach Cesar Gracie Shocked By UFC 143 Drug Test Failure
Cesar Gracie has coached Nick Diaz for a long time. He was in Diaz' corner in 2007 when Diaz choked out Japanese star Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 in Las Vegas. He was by Diaz' side when that victory, then by far the biggest in Diaz' career, was overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to a positive test result for marijuana metabolites in Diaz' urine.
Gracie is still standing by his fighter after a second drug test failure following Diaz' decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. That loss cost Diaz the UFC interim welterweight title and the drug test results cost him a shot at an immediate rematch.
Gracie was on the MMA Hour and expressed surprise that Diaz failed the test although he knew Diaz had been using marijuana:
"I was very disappointed," Gracie said. "Everyone knows he smokes marijuana medicinally in California. He has a legal right to do it in this state."
"He was surprised he tested positive," Gracie said. "He does the same ritual every fight for the last five years. He stops it in time and he cleanses his system, works out like crazy, drinks a lot of water and purges his system of it."
Gracie said that Diaz has retained Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman for Diaz' appeal before the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Gracie also addressed the possibility that Diaz will be true to his word and retire from MMA:
"It's quite possible, actually," Gracie said. "I really believe he loves fighting. I think he's fought too much and I think with all the politics that come with this sport and everything, the negativity, it's a crazy thing and I don't think he likes that part of it and the media and everything. He wanted to test himself as a martial artist and that was the most important thing, even more important than financial gain.
"I think after a certain amount of time he'll get the love back," Gracie said. "So I do want him to go through this process and try to clear everything and get him back on track fighting."
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, test, nevada state, gracie
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCarlos Condit Wanted Nick Diaz Rematch All Along
Interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit refuted Monday a recent claim from the "Diaz Brothers" Twitter account that he accepted a rematch against Nick Diaz only after learning of Diaz’s drug test failure. On the contrary, Condit, speaking to host Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, said he’s disappointed that Diaz tested positive for marijuana following their UFC 143 fight since it jeopardizes a potential rematch.
Condit on the night of the fight felt he dominated and won a well-deserved decision. But after watching it on tape, he reconsidered that the fight could have gone either way and since it was so close, "I was looking forward to doing it again," Condit said. Condit recalls receiving a phone call Tuesday morning from UFC president Dana White."We talked about a rematch," Condit said. "It’s a fight a lot of people want to see. And I agreed with him. After the criticism and flack I took, I was motivated to shut people up." Condit told White he'd "love" a rematch, but received another phone call that evening from White, this time informing him of Diaz's drug test failure.Feedback from the fight has been across the board and Condit admits he's new to the criticism, as he feels he usually wins over the crowd by the end of the night.
"Whether you’re a fan of my opponent or a fan of me, after the fight, I’m [generally] a fan favorite," he said.After heavy promotion for an exciting finish, Condit won by unanimous decision, the second time in his 28 wins where he did not finish with a (T)KO or a submission. He acknowledges he might have won some fans at UFC 143, but also lost some fans."It’s been a process dealing with all the criticisms and even the praise," Condit said. "The thing about it is, most of these people, for the most part, they don’t care about me. They don’t care whether I get knocked out, whether I win the fight. They want to be entertained."
Condit said he had to fight the way he did to win and is proud of the way he implemented his team's gameplan of constant movement to avoid wild exchanges with Diaz."I thought I fought a damn good fight," he said.It remains uncertain the extent Diaz will be disciplined. But if Diaz is available to fight and if Georges St-Pierre takes longer to recover than anticipated, Condit's up for another five rounds with the former Strikeforce champ."I’m in this game to fight big fights and to fight the best in the world," Condit said. "Nick’s one of the best in the world. It’s something the fans would like to see. I’m willing to give Nick a rematch."
Posted in: fight, diaz, fan, rematch, condit
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC Champ Carlos Condit On Nick Diaz' Failed Drug Test
UFC interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit won a tough 5 round decision against Nick Diaz at UFC 143. A week later he was ready to do it all again, agreeing to rematch Diaz while they waited for champ Georges St. Pierre to recover from ACL surgery.
Unfortunately Diaz failed his drug test after UFC 143, coming up positive for marijuana use.
Condit spoke to Sports Illustrated about the Diaz situation:
"I don't care (about Diaz using marijuana before the fight)," Condit said. "The thing about it is, it's something they test for. It's against the Nevada [State] Athletic Commission [rules]. I don't really consider it to be a performance-enhancing drug, but the fact is, they're testing for it. And you know they're testing for it. Whatever you do in between camps, if you know they're testing for this stuff then you've got to figure something out. In the past, he's said, 'Oh, I can smoke and I can pass these tests no problem.' That attitude kind of came back and bit him in the ass."
Now Condit is expected to wait for GSP to recover from surgery so they can put on a title-unification bout in the fall. Condit was originally going to face St. Pierre last fall at UFC 137, but GSP strained his left knee and had to bow out of the bout.
More On Nick Diaz In Defense of Diaz's Weed Habit | Diaz Is to Blame, But So Are Meaningless Marijuana Tests | Diaz Should Be Released By The UFC | Diaz' Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable |White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed' | Fighters React to Diaz's Positive Drug Test | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana
Condit was next scheduled to face Josh Koscheck at UFC 143 but got bumped up to the main event against Diaz when GSP tore his right ACL.SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, test, theyre testing
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCesar Gracie: Nick Diaz Was Surprised He Tested Positive
Days after the announcement that Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana and will be disciplined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Diaz's manager and trainer Cesar Gracie said Diaz was surprised by the result of his drug test. Not because Diaz doesn't use marijuana -- he admits he does -- but because Diaz thought he had taken all the necessary steps to make sure the marijuana metabolites were out of his system before the drug test.
"I was very disappointed," Gracie said on The MMA Hour. "Everyone knows he smokes marijuana medicinally in California. He has a legal right to do it in this state."
Gracie said he was the one who was informed of the positive test and passed along the word to Diaz, and that Diaz had thought he had stopped using marijuana for long enough before the UFC 143 fight with Carlos Condit, and had enough water pass through his system, that a test would come up negative.
"He was surprised he tested positive," Gracie said. "He does the same ritual every fight for the last five years. He stops it in time and he cleanses his system, works out like crazy, drinks a lot of water and purges his system of it."
Gracie said he thought Diaz's weight cut may have contributed to the marijuana metabolites staying in his system longer than usual. Gracie said the Diaz camp has hired an attorney, Ross Goodman of Las Vegas, who will help to appeal to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
This is the second time that Diaz has failed a drug test in Nevada, having previously tested positive following his Pride victory over Takanori Gomi. Because this is a second offense, Diaz could face a yearlong suspension. It's also possible that Diaz -- who hinted immediately following the loss to Condit that he might retire from MMA -- could quit fighting entirely. Gracie said that's going through Diaz's mind now, but that he believes Diaz will ultimately decide he wants to continue competing.
"It's quite possible, actually," Gracie said of Diaz possibly walking away. "I really believe he loves fighting. I think he's fought too much and I think with all the politics that come with this sport and everything, the negativity, it's a crazy thing and I don't think he likes that part of it and the media and everything. He wanted to test himself as a martial artist and that was the most important thing, even more important than financial gain."
Ultimately, Gracie thinks Diaz will step back into the cage at some point, once he has put whatever discipline Nevada hands down behind him.
"I think after a certain amount of time he'll get the love back," Gracie said. "So I do want him to go through this process and try to clear everything and get him back on track fighting."
Posted in: diaz, test, gracie, marijuana, system
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseCarlos Condit: Nick Diaz's marijuana-minded attitude bit him in the ass
If it was up to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit, his next fight would be a score-settling rematch against Nick Diaz.
Not because the mixed martial majority was butt-hurt over "The Natural Born Killer's" unanimous decision win against the Stockton slugger (they were), but because "he wanted it," and was ready to prove that he could do it again.
Hopefully he still feels that way in 2013 after Diaz finishes up what's expected to be a yearlong suspension for drugs of abuse.
The 170-pound trash-talker was popped for "marijuana metabolites" following the UFC 143 pay-per-view (PPV) event back on Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, effectively eliminating himself from a Condit rematch as well as the division title chase.
Live by the sword, die by the sword, according to Condit. Hear that and more from the Interim champ (via SI.com) after the jump.
"I don't care. The thing about it is, it's something they test for. It's against the Nevada [State] Athletic Commission [rules]. I don't really consider it to be a performance-enhancing drug, but the fact is, they're testing for it. And you know they're testing for it. Whatever you do in between camps, if you know they're testing for this stuff then you've got to figure something out. In the past, he's said, 'Oh, I can smoke and I can pass these tests no problem.' That attitude kind of came back and bit him in the ass."
For Diaz, the infraction marked the second time he's been popped for the green stuff in Nevada, having flunked his exam after strangling Takanori Gomi at PRIDE 33 nearly five years ago.
And let's not overlook the drug test he bailed on prior to his planned fight against Jay Hieron in California.
While Diaz has the right to appeal, he's expected to face a steep monetary fine, as well as a lengthy suspension that could last as long as one year.
As for Condit?
He's expected to fight Georges St. Pierre later this year to unify the titles, but if the Canadian is in no "Rush" to return from rehabbing his surgically repaired knee, there's always that rematch against Jake Ellenberger.
Stay tuned.
Posted in: diaz, condit, he, theyre testing, performanceenhancing drug
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz's triathlon results. Assuming he is the "Nick Diaz" who is listed as 28 years old, it looks like he routinely finishes in the top of his age range. Very impressive.
submitted by jason_81 [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, age range, triathlon
Read the full article at RedditMorning Report: Weekend MMA Results, Nick Diaz's Future, Trouble in Sao Paulo
Hopefully you were productive during the UFC's mini-sabbatical, because there won't be another one like it for awhile. But just because the Octagon was packed away, it doesn't mean the rest of the MMA world hit cruise control. From regional fight results to potential trouble booking Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II in a Brazilian soccer stadium, catch up on this weekend's news with the Morning Report.
5 MUST-READ STORIES TO START YOUR DAY
One Fighting Championship 2 results. Felipe Enomoto submitted Ole Laursen and Rolles Gracie made short work of Bob Sapp at One FC's sophomore showing.
Xtreme Fighting Championships 16 results. Former WEC champ Jamie Varner inched closer to a UFC contract by smashing Drew Fickett in 41 seconds on Friday night.
UFC's hopes for stadium show in Sao Paulo appear to be fading. A Brazilian non-profit organization, Viva Pacaembu, has successfully campaigned against the UFC hosting Silva vs. Sonnen II in Sau Paulo's Pacaembu Stadium.
Keith Kizer details what's next for Nick Diaz. Kizer fielded questions about Diaz's failed UFC 143 drug test and impending suspension over the weekend.
Georges St. Pierre: MMA needs someone like Nick Diaz. As always, GSP sounded off as the voice of reason on Diaz's potential retirement.
MEDIA STEW
UFC veterans Jamie Varner and Drew Fickett face off in the main event of XFC 16.
Georges St. Pierre anxiously tries to score Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz cageside at UFC 143.
Your obligatory video of Anderson Silva dancing to James Brown. (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Wednesday's co-headliner Stefan Struve slaps a triangle on Chase Gormley for the UFC's "Submission of the Week."
Stephen Thompson + Chuck Norris' World Combat League + Referee Cecil Peoples = Pure Video Goodness.
Photographer Dolly Clew captured this ridiculous shot of Kyle Watson's blood getting knocked right out of his face during the main event of CWFC Fight Night 3. (via @CageWarriors)
Well played, Mr. Kennedy.
One of my dogs is named after the god of war, and the other is named after a Beatles song.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 10, 2012
Hard to forget that girl.
@OksanaGrishina Arf arf! Nice meeting you and your friend. A girl in a puppy suit is the last thing I thought I'd run into at the gym.
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) February 12, 2012
Sounds like a pretty classy Saturday night.
hey @arielhelwani, i just depantsed @jaime_kennedy at the playboy party. sometimes I'm a bit more than awesome. suck it @bigsexymccorkle
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) February 12, 2012
Too soon?
Whitney Houston visited me in my sleep last night to tell me my tweet was funny. Take that Internet.
— Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) February 12, 2012
Somebody needs to make this happen.
"@asumoff: @ttags12 @azst8er @kingsbu could Whitney be a potential walk out song?" Hell yes Whitney will be my next walk out.
— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) February 12, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced over the weekend (Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 - Sunday, Fed. 12, 2012):
- UFC on Fox 3: Josh Koscheck (17-5) vs. Johny Hendricks (12-1)
- UFC 144: Issei Tamura (6-2) in against Zhang Tiequan (15-2)
- UFC 145: Matt Brown (13-11) vs. Stephen Thompson (6-0)
- UFC on Fuel TV 3: Dustin Poirier (12-1) vs. Chan Sung Jung (12-3) announced as main event
- UFC on Fuel TV 3: Jorge Lopez (11-2) vs. Amir Sadollah (5-3)
- UFC on Fuel TV 3: Cody McKenzie (12-2) vs. Aaron Riley (30-13-1)
- UFC on Fuel TV 3: Brad Tavares (7-1) vs. Dongi Yang (10-2)
- Frank Mir (16-5) vs. Cain Velasquez (9-1); Forrest Griffin (18-7) vs. Tito Ortiz (16-10-1) announced by Lorenzo Fertitta
- Junior dos Santos (14-1) vs. Alistair Overeem (36-11, 1 NC) confirmed for May 26th
- Bellator 65: Zach Makovsky (14-2) vs. Eduardo Dantas (13-2) announced as main event
- Bellator 65: Lyman Good (11-2) vs. LeVon Maynard (12-8)
- Bellator 65: Duane Bastress (4-1) vs. Plinio Cruz (5-4)
- Bellator 65: Tim Carpenter (8-1) vs. Ricardo Romero (11-3)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's FPOTD belongs to BE reader fightinghistorian: The time is right for a superfight, and it doesn't involve Anderson.
Although calls for a superfight between GSP and Anderson or Jon Jones and Anderson have petered out recently, due to GSP's knee injury and the attendant opening of the welterweight division on the one hand and the reemergence of Chael Sonnen as a title challenger on the other, that doesn't mean that there isn't a viable superfight out there. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo.
Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, february, mdash
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseExamining the Cult of Nick Diaz
Envision a fighter with an indomitable will, a will that ascends him to lofty heights within his profession, but a will that struggles with the very authority making him wealthy.
Envision a fighter who claims landmark victories over BJ Penn and Takanori Gomi, yet currently stares down the second suspension of his career, following no less than a championship bout.
Envision a fighter who enters the arena with tenacity unsurpassed by any peer, yet exhibits perhaps the least discipline of anyone outside the confines of competitive combat. The paradox here is confounding. MMA has established its fan base via a sleekly polished reputation for controlled chaos. But the volatility of this sport draws volatile athletes and oftentimes puts their volatile personalities on display.
There are certain precarious situations in which these personalities benefit the sport. Largely decried at the time, Brock Lesnar's post-fight rant at UFC 100 has become one of MMA's defining moments, even solidifying him as the top star in the UFC's brief history. But for every Lesnar there is a Junie Browning or a "War Machine" (formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver), a fighter whose exploits outside the cage supersede those within it. These are the sort of men who let their personalities undermine their performance, and eventually derail their careers.
What becomes of Nick Diaz remains to be seen, but failing a post-fight drug test following the biggest match of his career has done nothing if not reveal the fascination toward him by the MMA fanbase. Diaz has long flaunted his use of marijuana, a substance banned by any athletic association he could possibly find in which to fight a sanctioned bout. So it would lead one to believe that his arrogance and ignorance would be the subject of universal ridicule, especially considering the significance of the bout he just lost. That's far from the case, however. These past weeks have revealed legions of fans on social media and internet message boards flocking to defend a bona fide rule-breaker.
But, perhaps, that is in fact his allure. The rules, as there are in place, make no sense to him, therefore he does not need to follow them. Damn the legality of a thing; if Nick Diaz wants to do something, he's going to do it. And a severely vocal portion of MMA fans adore that brash nature.
It's as if Diaz has unwittingly, understatedly created a miniature cult of personality. He doesn't shun the spotlight, nor does he seek it. It's just there, and it illuminates the unflinching belief the he is always right. He can't understand how the judges could award Carlos Condit a victory, if they are truly there to score a fight. He thinks it preposterous that he should be punished for missing pre-fight promotional events. He thinks Georges St. Pierre, one of the most dominant champions in modern combat sports, with a style tailor-made to defeat Diaz, is ducking him. It is this self-assuredness, verging on ludicrous, that makes him such a compelling figure. He is as blunt an instrument as there can be at the pinnacle of a sport, and he makes no apologies for being so.
Diaz will not become a Junie Browning or a "War Machine" simply because his natural talent will never render him irrelevant. But, at the same time, he may not become an undisputed champion in the vein of Lesnar, whose polarizing character only augmented the physical dominance exhibited during his stretch at the top. The only thing that can be said of all these men is that they were magnets for controversy. And for a man as talented as Nick Diaz, it will be sad if that is the only sure thing ever to be said of him.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, fighter, war machine, personality
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendUFC CENTRAL: What is next for Nick Diaz?
Following his loss at UFC 143, many wondered what was next for Nick Diaz. The Nevada State Athletic Commission gave us that answer.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, nevada state
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC Champ Georges St. Pierre Thinks Nick Diaz Should Not Retire
For months we heard about how badly UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre wanted to fight Nick Diaz. Diaz had been "disrespectful" and Dana White was very quick to talk to anyone who would listen about GSP's desire to hurt Diaz and how he'd "never seen" the champ act so angry. The push was there for St. Pierre vs. Diaz when it was going to be a title fight and the push remained strong even during the build up to Diaz vs. Carlos Condit. Everyone was ready for the Diaz/GSP rivalry to go full force after Diaz won ther interim belt, but it wasn't to happen.
Following his mildly controversial unanimous decision loss to Condit, Diaz claimed he was going to retire from the sport. While many didn't believe that it was more than an upset fighter speaking "in the moment," the subsequent positive drug test for Diaz may have pushed it closer to being a reality. GSP went on Bruce Buffer's "It's Time" radio show on Sherdog to say that he hopes Diaz sticks around:
"As far as Diaz, of course I would like to fight him because he thinks he's better than me...I think I'm better than him. But I think he should not retire. He did all of the sacrifice in his life to be where he's at right now. He's at the highest point of his career, and if he retires now, he's left a lot of money on the table that could pay for all of the sacrifices he has made during all those years. I think the sport of mixed martial arts needs a guy like him."
GSP also said that he may "dislike" Nick, but also appreciates the way that Diaz motivated him to train harder and be better. St. Pierre is more motivated by the sporting aspects of MMA than a desire to beat up those he feels have wronged him. That is why it was always going to be hard for me to believe that GSP was motivated by pure hatred of Diaz or anything of that nature.
Does Nick provide some fuel for Georges to want to be better? Certainly. But was/is that likely to ever possess him to operate outside of his style and win first attitude? I seriously doubt it.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: diaz, nick, gsp, pierre, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThe Sunday Junkie: Feb. 12 edition
Just went it seemed the Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz talk was over, that hope went up in smoke.
With talk of a rematch from the UFC 143 contest swirling, Diaz tested
positive for marijuana metabolites and now faces a yearlong suspension,
putting to rest for now any plans for another fight.
We were again flooded with emails, some questioning the process, others
questioning Diaz. But this week's winner of "The Sunday Junkie," our
weekly reader-feedback feature, Canadian reader Tyler Adams," thinks
Diaz's behavior leaves only one appropriate response.
Posted in: diaz, sunday junkie, weeks winner, marijuana metabolites, process others
Read the full article at MMA JunkieThe Downfall of Diego Sanchez
Diego Sanchez will forever be remembered as one of the most exciting fighters in early Zuffa years of the UFC, his mix of incredible cardio and borderline fool-hardy grit ensure that almost all of his fights have been a spectacle to behold. Of late though, Sanchez is coming off of two hard losses to John Hathaway and BJ Penn, a journeyman quality win in Paulo Thiago, and an extremely questionable victory over Martin Kampmann which exposed more holes in his game than it did return him to form. So what happened to the Diego Sanchez that swarmed all over Nick Diaz and won our hearts on the Ultimate Fighter with his bizarre personality and real world fighting skills? Diego Sanchez struggles with distance, and it has been picked up on and exploited by three of his last four opponents. Is Jake Ellenberger the kind of fighter to do the same? Probably not, but he has more than enough tools to make Sanchez struggle in other ways.
A quick look through Diego Sanchez's successful fights reveals his modus operandi; the man is an animal, constantly moving forward and swarming on opponents with punches until he gets them to the mat where his effective ground and pound and slick Jiu Jitsu can be utilized. One of Diego's best matches was his defeat of Nick Diaz, in which he would throw some big punches then literally dive at the much taller man's legs. Once he got Diaz to the mat Diego was relentless, stacking Diaz up in guard and dropping from his feet back to his knees with huge elbows. While Diaz was never in danger of being stopped, it is certainly the most ineffectual we have seen his guard look.
However against BJ Penn, Diego Sanchez shot 27 takedowns, succeeded in none, and was pounded on the feet constantly. Now BJ Penn is a marvelous athlete, but to write off his natural abilities as the reason he could do this to Sanchez when other great athletes like Nick Diaz couldn't is just downright moronic. BJ fought the perfect gameplan against Sanchez which from the get go seemed to be about pressure. Throughout the fight BJ Penn backed Diego on to the cage, but instead of leading waited for Diego to charge him. When Diego did charge, BJ would take one or two shuffles back to avoid the first attack, slip the second and counter - and it worked. Every time.
The reason this happened is because Diego relies on swarming opponents to get the takedown, every one of his previous defeated opponents had been distracted by his rushes with his hands and had left their hips exposed for him to shoot on. The thing is that Diego can hit with power, when he's standing still and swinging, but becomes a rigid arm-puncher when he attempts to strike at long distance. Just look at how he pushes his punches at Penn, it's almost Forrest Griffin-esque, and certainly nothing for Penn to worry about. Additionally his straights are slow and predictable - in his fight with BJ, Diego threw the same combination multiple times in every one of the five rounds. BJ continued to either counter it, or move out of the way with ease.
Against Hathaway, who was by no means one of the top dogs of the division on Diego's return to welterweight, Diego was now timid to strike from distance, which meant that he had to try to close the distance for a takedown without his trademark furiosity, and his wrestling just isn't at the level where he can shoot wildly and expect to pick up a takedown. Diego continued to get picked apart by the longer, taller Hathaway on the feet, due to his inability to fight at distance, then eventually fell back on the age old strategy of waiting for the opponent to punch, and then attempting to shoot underneath it. So Hathaway did this:
In his most recent 'win', Sanchez's striking was exposed in a new way. Martin Kampmann is a much taller fighter than Sanchez, and owned a significant reach, so Diego - for some unexplained reason - opted to fight with his lead hand down by his hip for the entire fight. For those of you who haven't read my Southpaw Guide, the reason to keep your lead hand up when you are a southpaw fighting an orthodox fighter is that it neutralizes the opponent's jab completely. A good southpaw striker should never be hit with as many jabs as Diego was by Kampmann. He had some success against the cage by swinging at Kampmann - who has never responded well to pressure - but he took so much punishment to the face in order to get there for a brief moment that it seemed impossible for him to win the fight. Fortunately, the judges in mixed martial arts know so little about striking that this turned out to be the face of a winner:
Once again Diego's takedowns were largely ineffectual, because he cannot close the distance unless the opponent is scared of his punches. Now has Diego simply declined? Or has the game evolved and left him behind? The author would argue for the latter. Make no mistake Diego Sanchez's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is beautiful, and his ability to take the lead in chaotic scrambles seemingly every time is very much a unique point of his abilities, but watching back his fight with Nick Diaz - will anyone be so easy to takedown by leaping in from 5 feet away in todays mma? Nick Diaz's takedown defense has always been fairly suspect, but he has improved in leaps and bounds too, while Diego Sanchez seems to rely on the same strategies he used in his promotional debut almost seven years ago.
Is Diego Sanchez a relic? The young and hungry Jake Ellenberger should be able to give us some indication in a few days time, but he is unlikely to do it the same way. Ellenberger is more likely to simply sprawl on Sanchez and brutalize him in wild exchanges and clinches than he is to draw him to where he is uncomfortable, at range, and counter him coming in as Penn, Hathaway and Kampmann did... but it's not completely unlikely.
Posted in: fight, diaz, diego, sanchez, bj
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendWhat's Next For Nick Diaz? Keith Kizer Speaks
Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer went on Sirius Radio on Friday and answered questions relating to UFC star Nick Diaz' positive test results for marijuana after UFC 143. Kizer, The NSAC has previously suspended Diaz for the same offense following his bout with Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 in 2007.
Here's what Kizer had to say on Posterous:
"The complaints have been mailed to him. He'll receive the complaint by mail and he'll have 20 days upon receipt to file an answer.
"With the complaint, those are just allegations at this time. There's been no finding against him. He'll have ample opportunity to respond to the complaint and then we'd put it on for a hearing at a time that works for him as well as the Attorney General's office.
More On Nick Diaz In Defense of Nick Diaz's Weed Habit | Diaz Is to Blame, But So Are Meaningless Commission Marijuana Tests | Diaz Should Be Released By The UFC | Diaz' Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable | White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed' | Fighters React to Diaz's Positive Drug Test | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana
Probably April based on past disciplinary complaints and at that time, there'll be a hearing before the full commission and then they make a decision at that time and if they found the athlete guilty, they'd then impose whatever discipline they felt was appropriate."
Diaz lost a unanimous decision to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. At one point it appeared that the UFC had secured agreements from both fighters for an immediate rematch. Diaz' test failure immediately scotched that possibility.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, test, complaint
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGeorges St. Pierre: “I want to fight the best man, and the best man is Condit.”
UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre is finally speaking out on the fallout from last weekend’s main event match-up at UFC 143 between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. As has been beaten to death, Condit narrowly outpointed Diaz in the bout with many feeling the wrong outcome had been rendered. Plans for a rematch were in the works but quickly scrapped after Diaz tested positive for marijuana use, potentially putting him on the sidelines for a year.
Now that St. Pierre has had some time to reflect on things he has re-evaluated how interested he actually is in fighting Diaz, at least when it comes to an expected defense of his title in November.
“I want to fight the best man, and the best man is Condit,” said the 22-2 champion in an interview on Bruce Buffer‘s Sherdog show , adding emotion had clouded his judgment beforehand. Still, that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t mind settling the score with Diaz at some point down the road.
“As far as Diaz, of course I would like to fight him because he thinks he’s better than me (and) I think I’m better than him,” explained St. Pierre before turning talk to the controversial Californian’s future. “But I think he should not retire. He did all of the sacrifice in his life to be where he’s at right now. He’s at the highest point of his career, and if he retires now, he’s left a lot of money on the table that could pay for all of the sacrifices he has made during all those years. I think the sport of mixed martial arts needs a guy like him.”
Diaz has not commented since saying he was retiring from MMA after his disgust with the judges’ decision in his fight with Condit. The 28-year old was the more aggressive, less technical of the two this past Saturday night and paid for it with the defeat.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, pierre, condit, man, st pierre
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGeorges St. Pierre Wants To Fight Carlos Condit Now
It looks like Georges St. Pierre has finally come around to the idea of fighting Carlos Condit and not Nick Diaz next.
During an recent interview on Sherdog Radio, GSP explained that while he hopes Diaz won’t retire so they can fight down the road, he wants to fight Carlos Condit now because he’s the “best man” in the division.
“As far as Diaz, of course I would like to fight him because he thinks he’s better than me,” St. Pierre told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “It’s Time” show with Bruce Buffer. “I think I’m better than him. But I think he should not retire. He did all of the sacrifice in his life to be where he’s at right now. He’s at the highest point of his career, and if he retires now, he’s left a lot of money on the table that could pay for all of the sacrifices he has made during all those years. I think the sport of mixed martial arts needs a guy like him.”
“I wanted to fight him because of what he was, not because of what he said,” St. Pierre explained. “He was ranked No. 1 before that fight. … As much as we dislike each other, I like the guy in a way that I need a guy like him to motivate me and to make me a better martial artist.”
“Of course because of the emotion I wanted to fight Diaz, but now I want to fight Condit,” St. Pierre said. “I want to fight the best man, and the best man is Condit.”
That’s good, because it really doesn’t matter now since Diaz got popped for pot. Condit is clearly the number one contender in the division now. The only question is whether or not he will be once St. Pierre is healed up and ready to fight again.
Here’s GSP’s cageside reaction to the Diaz-Condit fight in real-time.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: fight, diaz, pierre, st, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC Quick Quote: MMA needs someone like Nick Diaz
"As far as Diaz, of course I would like to fight him because he thinks he's better than me. I think I'm better than him. But I think he should not retire. He did all of the sacrifice in his life to be where he's at right now. He's at the highest point of his career, and if he retires now, he's left a lot of money on the table that could pay for all of the sacrifices he has made during all those years. I think the sport of mixed martial arts needs a guy like him."
-- Leave it to UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre to provide a steady voice of reason to all the insanity surrounding Nick Diaz and his retirement/drug test failure/loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Rush" told Bruce Buffer on the "It's Time" show that Diaz has simply made far too many sacrifices over the years to leave right when the money is getting to be good enough to pay off said sacrifices. Indeed, had Diaz defeated Condit, he would have earned a big money match-up against St. Pierre later this year but even with the loss, it's not out of line to think the two could tango somewhere down the line. That is, of course, after the Stockton smoker gets everything in order and fulfills whatever suspension is handed down to him for failing his second drug test in Nevada. Realistically, it's entirely possible that while Diaz is gone, the welterweight division works itself out and he comes back, wins a fight and bam, he's right back where he started at with a St. Pierre fight on the table. Assuming, of course, he doesn't actually follow through on his promise to retire, something the French-Canadian 170-pound champion is pleading with him not to do. Anyone think we'll eventually get to see the match-up the UFC wanted all along?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, he, sacrifice
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGSP to Diaz: Don’t Retire
UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre doesn’t want Nick Diaz to walk away from MMA.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, ’t, gsp, pierre
Read the full article at SherdogGeorges St. Pierre to Nick Diaz: Don’t Retire
UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre doesn’t want Nick Diaz to walk away from MMA.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, pierre, st
Read the full article at SherdogVideo captures Georges St. Pierre’s reaction to Carlos Condit’s win over Nick Diaz
As part of the UFC’s newest television show, UFC Ultimate Insider, the organization has decided to create a segment called “Full Blast” where fighters wear microphones while in attendance at UFC events. The first feature aired last week as part of the program’s debut on Fuel TV with welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre being recorded throughout last weekend’s UFC 143 headliner between Nick Diaz-Carlos Condit.
“Carlos hit more but he doesn’t control the Octagon. It’s hard to say. I don’t know,” says GSP midway through the fight when asked to pick a winner. He also asks Chuck Liddell, sitting ringside as well, who he has ahead on the scorecards with “The Iceman” replying Diaz but just barely.
St. Pierre is also shown telling Diaz he hopes he wins the decision after the controversial Californian comes over to taunt him immediately after the bout ends.
Welterweight Picture Shaky After Diaz’s Drug Test Prevents Rematch with Condit
Check out the full video below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, st, chuck liddell, condit check
Read the full article at Fighters.comGeorges St. Pierre Cageside At UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit
Georges St. Pierre has not fought since his UFC 129 bout with Jake Shields due to a knee injury while training for a title defense. That defense was originally scheduled to be against Nick Diaz, but Diaz skipped press obligations and the UFC punished him by giving the title shot to Carlos Condit. Then GSP got injured and the Condit fight was postponed while Diaz ran through B.J. Penn so impressively that Dana White and the UFC brass decided to move Diaz back into the title shot.
GSP would then suffer a major injury to his ACL, shelving him until mid to late 2012. So when the UFC decided to put Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz against the cage from each other for the interim welterweight title, with the winner to face GSP upon his return, it's no surprise that Georges was cageside.
The UFC released video of Georges at the fight, and that can be seen here:
I'd be interested in seeing these videos continue for future title contender bouts.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, title, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143: In Defense of Nick Diaz's Weed Habit
This is a guest editorial by Jamie Kilstein. Mr. Kilstein is a professional comedian who's been seen on Conan, The Joe Rogan Podcast and Showtime. He hosts Citizen Radio.
In a sport where competitors are routinely elbowed in the face and choked unconscious (sometimes with their own limbs), the UFC's fans sure are a bunch of babies when it comes to weed.
This week Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer stated in an email that "...[Nick] Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites," after his fight at UFC 143. UFC overlord Dana White said he was "beyond disappointed" in Diaz, and to paraphrase the hellish abyss we know as internet comments, "F**K DIAZ, YO SHULD FIRE HIS DICK 4 BEING STOOPID! NO HOMO!"
More On Nick Diaz Nick Diaz Is to Blame, But So Are Meaningless Commission Marijuana Tests | Nick Diaz Should Be Released By The UFC | Nick Diaz' UFC 143 Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable |Dana White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana | Fighters React to Nick Diaz's Positive Drug Test
The thing is: there is no physical advantage to smoking pot in the fight game. Maybe you will come up with a new arm bar variation, but you will immediately forget it once another Walking Dead marathon comes on.
In the U.S no one has ever overdosed on marijuana, while alcohol kills more people than crack, cocaine, and heroin, combined. But what do we see when we turn on the UFC's reality show The Ultimate Fighter? A house stacked with angry juice, and it always ends badly: people pissing on each other, fist fights, property destruction, etc. I've never gotten high and thrown a chair through a wall...mostly because I am sitting in that chair. I get it. Rules are rules, even when they are shitty rules. But Nick needs marijuana to treat a legit medical condition. Shit, he even has a prescription. It's hard for the general population to accept that weed has legitimate medical effects, since the general population doesn't take their insulin in Target parking lots, or on beanbag chairs listening to Bob Marley or Tool (depending on the mood). But ADHD and Anxiety can be crippling to some people. Have you seen Nick interviewed? The dude is not acting. He hates it and can barely maintain eye contact. And leading up to this main event with three Primetime specials airing on FX -- on top of the regular press grind -- it was the most pressure that he had ever faced. Diaz, although known as the bad boy, is one of the healthiest fighters the UFC has on it's roster. He is a vegan, leaning towards a mostly raw, whole food, plant based diet. In his down time, what does he do? Get into bar fights? Take steroids? Rip people off in shady real estate deals? No. He competes in fucking triathlons! He doesn't put anything into his body unless it will make him healthier. Not long ago, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was disqualified for using an illegal elbow against Matt Hamill. That is also a stupid rule, and people called it a stupid rule. The 12-6 elbow is banned like it's some sort of Dim Mak death touch, even though it's the same as other elbows. But back then people weren't screaming, "Jon Jones knows the rules! Fire him!" No. They were furious he was disqualified and had his back. But Nick Diaz is not Jon Jones. Nick Diaz will never be on the tonight show, he won't be in a commercial, and if he did do a commercial, it would be the most awkward commercial of all time.
Nick Diaz fights. It's what he is good at. It's what we love watching him do. Nick Diaz needs help and support, not to have what he is brilliant at taken away from him.
Follow Jamie on Twitter at @jamiekilstein.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, people, rule
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGeorges St. Pierre's cageside reaction to Diaz vs. Condit at UFC 143
Last Saturday night, from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, top Welterweight contenders Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz went head to head for the 170-pound interim title and a shot at reigning division champion Georges St. Pierre.
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, nick diaz, pierre, condit
Read the full article at Low KickGeorges St. Pierre ringside at UFC 143, reacting to Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit fight (Video)
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre was sitting cageside at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 4, 2012, when Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit battled for five rounds for the 170-pound interim world title.
And the camera was by his side all night long to get his immediate in-fight reactions.
"Rush" is on the mend from recent knee surgery, meaning the former Strikeforce and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champions, respectively, went toe-to-toe in the UFC 143 main event to determine who would lead the division until the Canadian sensation is ready to return to mixed martial arts (MMA) action later this year.
St. Pierre, like many people inside the arena that night in "Sin City," appeared to side with the judges, awarding the controversial decision, reluctantly, to Condit. He made no bones about it that he preferred to fight Diaz because of personal reasons.
"The Natural Born Killer" did indeed go on to get the nod from the judges, which set of a firestorm of backlash from Diaz and his supporters. He abruptly retired, his camp called for a rematch, Condit eventually agreed, UFC President Dana White prematurely announced that it would happen, and then Diaz failed his post-fight drug test because of his marijuana use.
What a long strange trip its been.
There's no word at this time when Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit will be booked to unify the 170-pound world titles. St. Pierre is expected to return in the fall, which means that Condit could be asked to take another fight -- perhaps against the winner of Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez -- before that happens.
Stay tuned.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, pierre, st, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 3 Fight Card: Diaz vs. Miller
The UFC on FOX 3 fight card boasts a main event between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller on May 5 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
The winner of Diaz-Miller will likely become the No. 1 contender for the UFC lightweight title.
Also confirmed for the FOX card will be a heavyweight tilt between sluggers Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson.
The current UFC on FOX 3 lineup is below.
Nate Diaz vs. Jim MillerPat Barry vs. Lavar JohnsonDarren Uyenoyama vs. John DodsonMike Massenzio vs. Karlos VemolaJohn Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss Danny Castillo vs. John CholishLouis Gaudinot vs. John LinekerTony Ferguson vs. Dennis Hallman
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fox, vs, john
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMiller opens as 2-1 favorite over Diaz
submitted by mmaform [link] [7 comments]
Posted in: diaz, miller, mmaform
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz drug test failure makes its way to the Times Square Ticker in New York
This is what it means to be (kind of) mainstream, y'all.
The folks at MiddleEasy.com snapped the above photo of the Times Square Ticker in New York announcing the fact that Nick Diaz failed his drug test for his main event fight against Carlos Condit at UFC 143 this past Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas.
And, as noted by Middle Easy, the ticker ran with no real context. It simply said Diaz tested positive for marijuana. That's it. Nothing about Condit or UFC 143 or the fight itself. Just the message you see above.
That's big timing it.
Unfortunately, it's more bad press for MMA in New York at a time when that's the last thing it needs. Nonetheless, there it is, in all its glory. Or shame. Whatever.
For more on Diaz failing his drug test and all the fallout click here, here and here.
Posted in: diaz, test, drug test, york, that
Read the full article at MMA ManiaOh wow, Nick Diaz testing positive for marijuana is being displayed in Times Square!
The announcement of Nick Diaz testing positive for Marijuana came on 2/09. Not only is that an amazing coincidence, it’s probably the most astute observation in MiddleEasy history. In honor of that, I started writing this article at 4:20pm to keep with the theme of the news I read this morning in Times Square about Nick Diaz testing positive for Marijuana. Nowhere did the ticker mention that Carlos Condit was the new UFC interim welterweight champion, or that a sanctioned fight took place; just that Nick Diaz tested positive for a banned substance and that it was newsworthy without any other context accompanying the statement. Whoever is in charge of the ticker in Times Square, we thank you for being an MMA fan.
Posted in: diaz, nick, marijuana, testing, times square
Read the full article at Middle EasyFriday Link Club: Fedor vs. Aleks, Nick Diaz Fallout
Fedor Emelianenko fights his brother Aleks… sorta… kinda… not really
Nick Diaz’s Love/Hate Relationship Will Be Tested While He’s Gone | MMA Fighting
Nick Diaz drug test failure: It’s time to grow up | MMA Mania
Nick Diaz Tests Positive: What’s Next for Georges St. Pierre? | Bleacher Report
Make the case to me why fighters shouldn’t be suspended for weed usage | Fight Opinion
UFC on FUEL TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger will stream free on UFC.com | 5thRound
Jake Ellenberger says Diego Sanchez’s “stupid guy pace” is going to get him hurt | LowKick
UFC 143 Main Event Referee Steve Mazzagatti Talks Bitch Slaps, Sh*t Talking and Dana White Hate | Cage Potato
Even Fedor can enjoy himself at a Russian indoor water park | MiddleEasy
Michael Bisping splits from Wolfslair MMA | Five Ounces of Pain
New Study Reveals Headgear Reduces Head Trauma, MMA world replies, “duh”
| TheFightNerd
UFC 143 initial PPV buy rates and other ratings | MMA Payout
Cung Le Hints At 2012 Return To Action | FightLine
Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, cage potato, wolfslair mma
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNate Diaz vs Jim Miller odds for UFC on FOX 3: Who opened as the -250 favorite?
His brother, Nick, may be dominating headlines thanks to a positive drug test and looming suspension but Nate Diaz has a big fight coming up against Jim Miller in the main event of UFC on Fox 3 on May 5 in New Jersey.
And he's the underdog.
According to noted oddsmaker Nick Kalikas on his MMAOddsbreaker show, Diaz is the +190 dog to Miller, who opens as the -250 favorite for their lightweight bout that should serve as a number one contender match.
Diaz has won his last two bouts since making his return to the 155-pound waters, besting both Takanori Gomi and the streaking Donald Cerrone. The latter victory put him in title contention and a win over Miller could very well push him over the top.
It won't be easy, of course, considering the New Jersey native's track record. Though he recently dropped a hard-fought decision to Ben Henderson in a bout he was dealing with sickness for, Miller is still 8-1 in his last nine bouts, including a first round submission over Melvin Guillard just last month.
Considering the platform, it being the third network televised event and these two occupying the headlining slot, the winner could have a title shot awaiting him on the other side.
Stay tuned.
In the meantime, let's hear your initial reactions to these early odds. Too high? Too low? Let's talk turkey in the comments section below.
Posted in: diaz, bout, miller, ben henderson, latter victory
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz's Love/Hate Relationship Will Be Tested While He's Gone
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, nick, relationship, mattyblayze, lovehate
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz's Love/Hate Relationship Will Be Tested While He's Gone
At some point, Nick Diaz will run out of chances. Just not now. Just not yet. Despite Diaz's positive drug test stemming from his participation at UFC 143, you can expect him to be welcomed back into the UFC with open arms, if and when he's ready to return. That's what happens when you're talented and popular and in your prime.Now the question is: will he return?Like most questions pertaining to Diaz, we'll just have to wait and see, with the understanding that anything is possible. This is a guy who missed out on a UFC championship fight and the chance to make a seven-figure payday because he couldn't organize himself enough to make three separate flights to media obligations. You think he has long-term plans?
There is some chatter from those around Diaz that he really is planning to call it quits, that he doesn't want or need MMA anymore. It wouldn't be surprising if that's truly how he feels now. He's less than one week removed from a fight in which he believes he unfairly lost, and less than a few days removed from hearing that he flunked a drug test and is likely to face a lengthy suspension. In his mind, he probably feels like the sport doesn't love him right now, so why would he love it back?The funny thing is, his popularity rating seems to be at an all-time high. After the Nevada state athletic commission disclosed his positive test, most of the chatter has been in support of him. Given the sport's young demographic, it's not surprising that most don't see marijuana use as an offense worthy of losing your job, or even being suspended from it. To them, Diaz is just another one of the wrongly persecuted victims of a misdirected war on drugs. After all, they reason, how is marijuana use beneficial for fighting? So in that way, Diaz has already won the public relations war without saying a single word in his own defense. So, too, has the UFC, which is likely to bring him back into the fold whenever his suspension is up -- and it will most likely be one year. Company CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said so much during a recent Twitter conversation with fans.From the UFC's perspective, there is just too much money to be made with Diaz to wipe your hands of him and walk away. He has become MMA's counterculture icon, it's anti-hero. On top of that, he's one hell of a fighter, a forward-moving, punch-throwing machine who is murder on the ground. The UFC is, after all, in the fight business, and few represent the rawness of prizefighting the way Diaz does.That gameness makes Diaz a magnet for those of us who prefer our MMA served up with a side of primal rawness, and that isn't going to go away just because he disappears off our TV screen for a little while.Sports is one of the few areas in which absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. That's why the comebacks of stars like Michael Jordan and Brett Favre and George Foreman were such big stories. Even if Diaz doesn't belong in that class of superstardom in the real world, he does have that cachet in ours. So if Diaz decides to come back after his yearlong ban is over, it will be a huge story. But it will be interesting to see if it works in reverse. Diaz memorably once said that "in order to love fighting, I have to hate it." But at some point, he might just hate it so much that he really, actually hates it. If that were to happen, this would be the time. He has other hobbies. He loves sport jiu-jitsu. He loves triathlons. By all accounts, he's an excellent coach, so he could make a living that way if he wanted to. Counting the Carlos Condit bout, he fought seven times in the last 24 months, and five of those times, he prepared for five-round bouts. That's a lot of wear and tear on both the body and the mind. This break will test his love/hate relationship, strain it to the point that it might become beyond saving. If he finds that he no longer needs MMA, he gave us plenty of memories for the road. It's obvious there are many parts of this sport that he can live without. Regulation, judging, point-fighters, etc. The list goes on and on. But for the next year, it's going to be very different. Those complaints are easy to make when you're in the moment, but what happens when all of it is taken away and you're left with nothing?
Then it becomes very simple. Then it comes down to this one thing: The sport moves on without you, but can you move on without it?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, sport, he, marijuana use
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVideo: Nick Diaz And The Farcical Commission Testing Regime For Pot On The MMA Tete-A-Tete
Luke Thomas and I recorded another installment of MMA Tete-A-Tete: Coarsening The Discourse yesterday before the official Nick Diaz news broke but we were able to address the rumors. Our main point is that the current testing regime for Marijuana is utterly pointless. The stated purpose of the commission is to prevent fighters from competing while high. Great. I hope we can all agree that's a worthy goal regardless of our stance on legalization.
More On Nick Diaz Nick Diaz Is to Blame, But So Are Meaningless Commission Marijuana Tests | Nick Diaz' UFC 143 Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable | Dana White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana | Fighters React to Nick Diaz's Positive Drug Test
The problem is that the testing regime involves urinalysis which doesn't tell you anything about the intoxication of the fighter during the fight, only whether or not metabolites from previous pot use are in the fighter's system. Luke and I emphatically agree that anything but an ideal way to keep athletes safe.
As Luke said over at MMA Fighting: "the urinalysis test regarding marijuana consumption used by athletic commissions (ostensibly) designed to protect the health and safety of fighters does neither and is little more than kabuki theater."
We also discuss:
Carlos Condit, Greg Jackson & Point fighting: pro and con, Luke defends the aberrant practice, I demonstrate why it's a pox on the sport.
UFC biz: 143 buyrates high, UFC on Fuel estimates at 300K top side with a sideline to rave about the quality of the UFC on Fuel 1 card.
What's going on with UFC Japan? Is Dana White being a fan boy or playing Japanese money marks? Will the event accomplish anything as far as rebuilding the sport in its historic #1 world-wide market?
UFC on Fox 3: the problem of Diaz vs. Miller as main event
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Transcript of the relevant portion are after the jump.
Note this part of the discussion is the last 11 minutes of the video clip.
Nate Wilcox: The rumor is that [Nick Diaz] failed his drug test because of marijuana and the thing is, he's done that before.Luke Thomas: Right. He's done it before. Here's the thing, I don't whether that's the case. I frankly hope it's not. Fingers crossed, I'm hoping they can still make this Condit/Diaz rematch and put it on UFC on FOX 3 but I don't even want to talk about Nick Diaz's case although I guess we can get into it specifically. It's just a major pet peeve of mine if this is true or if it's somebody else. It doesn't matter if it's Nick Diaz or if it's somebody else although there's some culpability if it is Nick Diaz and the question is "if" not that it is true but if it is Nick Diaz, I'm of two minds, if it's true. If it's true, I believe that first of all, it'd be like the Chael Sonnen/Anderson Silva thing, the UFC would have lucked out if that's the case because if it's true that's what happened, and I guess we haven't heard from the athletic commission and that'll be the final word, yay or nay on whether this whole thing is even a reality or just a bunch of nonsense, but if the UFC is investing in you in that kind of promotional way and to not honor their commitment to you and for you to be willingly participating in this exercise and fail on those grounds, that's really the height of being unprofessional. There's really no two ways about it. You're a failure to your business partners when you do something like that. On the other hand, the law of testing marijuana...Nate Wilcox: It's not a law, it's a regulation.Luke Thomas: It's a regulation, sort of. Here's why it's tested. It's a dumb law that's so incredibly bad it makes no sense. Here is the reality. Marijuana, by the Controlled Substances Act, is a Scheduled I drug which basically means it has no medicinal value and the only way it can ever be used, recreationally or otherwise, well it can't be used recreationally, but the only way it can be used in special circumstances is for research by the government but it doesn't have any medical purpose and it's basically a threat to your biology and society at large and marijuana got put on that. By contrast, for example, cocaine is a Scheduled II drug, meaning it does have some medical value. Noodle that one for a moment but the athletic commissions are required to test for Scheduled I and Scheduled II drugs, I don't know about Scheduled III, maybe, maybe not. The problem with the urinalysis for marijuana and this has been the case before and this is the case today, everyone in their right mind would say for any fighter, it's not okay if they compete high. It's just not okay, and I think you would agree with that.Nate Wilcox: Or drunk, just not intoxicated, not under the influence. It's not safe, not safe at all.Luke Thomas: It's totally dangerous. Here's the reality, a urinalysis does not tell you if a person competed under the euphoric effects of marijuana. It just tells you that they used and the reason why is, well, they tested your urine. It's testing the metabolite levels in your urine but urine is not coursing through your veins. Think of it this way, when they try to test you for your inebriation in alcohol, what do they do? They give you a blood alcohol test because it's coursing through your body at the time and your trying to determine to what extent the inebriation is, .08, whatever you think of that limit, that limit is defined as being impaired and you have cause with that but that's the basic standard. Blood tests, it turns out, they can tell if you were inebriated at a certain time with marijuana because what's it testing for? THC. Depending on the use the smoker has, depending on their body fat concentration, depending on a number of external factors, they could have smoked up to 2-3 weeks before and still have high levels of metabolites in their urine so here's the problem with the law. You're wasting taxpayer money, it doesn't keep fighters safe, it damages their career and it's basically making athletic commissions vice cops. There is no rational justification for testing fighters for urinalysis if your argument is, "We don't want them competing under the euphoric effects of THC." It's bullshit.Nate Wilcox: It is bullshit and that's Keith Kizer's argument. He's the commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and his argument is, "The reason we test for marijuana is we don't want fighters fighting while they're impaired." Luke Thomas: No one does.Nate Wilcox: No one does. It's not safe, it's not healthy. When you have fighters come in loaded up on pain pills like Don Frye and Ken Shamrock allegedly were in their fight in Pride, that' show you end up with something like Don Frye getting both ankles shredded and not tapping out in the fight. That's just bad, bad, bad. That's bad mojo. That's how you get a death in the cage. Drew Fickett notoriously has come into fights and tried to fight drunk, probably has gotten away with fighting drunk. I don't think a fighter should fight with any alcohol in their bloodstream. I don't even want a single glass of wine the same day as the fight. It's just a terrible idea. I don't want fighters fighting high. I want to have blood tests to make sure the guy's not smoking the day of the event but if the guy smoked 2-3 weeks before the event or a week before the event, who gives a shit? That gives him no advantage or disadvantage in the fight. It's immaterial. And this is a substance that's been voted legal to use as medicine in what, eight states now? And if you know anybody in Colorado/California, it's like you go into the doctor and you're like, "Ah, I've got a cough," and they prescribe you marijuana. "I've got a headache, I think I saw something," it's not hard to get these medical marijuana prescriptions. Diaz has a medical marijuana prescription and he's been very vocal about, "I'm not gonna stop smoke. I'm just gonna clear myself out with herbal remedies." It's worked.
Diaz got drug tested at UFC 137 as a main event fighter and he passed so something went wrong here with Diaz's cleansing if that's the case and we don't know. We do not have any idea. Luke Thomas: This is just rumor. All I'm pointing out is people are talking about it and if they're talking about it, I want to get out in front of it and say, if it's Nick Diaz or anybody else, the law in California and in New Jersey and in Nevada is bullshit. Nate Wilcox: Yep, it's a stupid requirement and I've got problems with the whole drug-testing regimen. I'd like to see almost everything legal with blood tests and let's just know what these guys are on. Let them do whatever they want. I think intoxicants should still be banned. I don't want anybody fighting on alcohol or pain pills or pot while they're impaired during a fight but as far as performance enhancing drugs, I'm kind of like, "Well, whatever. We can't stop it necessarily but let's at least know what they're doing and know accurately with blood tests." To me, it's worth the money. I'd pay $5 extra for a pay-per-view if that meant they would spend that money blood testing the athletes and keeping them safe because the piss tests are a joke. They don't even test for Human Growth Hormone. They've got fighters with heads the size of pumpkins that look like Barry Bonds' big brother and there's no way to catch that with urinalysis. It's just ridiculous. It's a farcical hypocrisy that does nothing to protect the fighters. It's just a fig leaf for the athletic commissions and the promotions to say, "Hey, we're testing," when they're not. Just give it up!"Luke Thomas: Alright, again, we can hope for the best that this is not the case. Hopefully we can get some clarity on the issue soon. Somebody out there will report the truth one way or the other. My hope, I still hope against hope that we can get Condit/Diaz II on FOX. I didn't even want the rematch originally to be perfectly honest but it felt like the fan momentum was so much there that they were gonna make it and I know Cesar Gracie is out there saying what he's saying. I am hoping that it's just leveraging stuff because I want to see these two fight again and I want to see them doing it leveraging the controversy they've built. That would be nothing better for those two and for the sport to get that on a UFC on FOX. Nate, last word, if they do rematch, where do you want them to rematch?Nate Wilcox: I want them on FOX. I want them on FOX. I think that's just huge. They've got their pay-per-view calendar pretty much filled out without that fight but they have that gaping hole on FOX and that would be a huge fight on FOX television and I think that the second fight would be a very different fight. You've got Diaz, who didn't adjust mid-fight to what Condit was doing, but this is a guy who rebuilt his entire game when he ran up against wrestlers who could stop his jiu-jitsu so he became this mugging boxing style of fighting and he ran into somebody who found a way to counter that. I look forward to seeing how Diaz and his camp adjust to that strategy. How hard can it be to stop a guy from spinning out away from you on the cage? I think he discovered in the fifth round that he could get Condit down and it seemed like he could dominate Condit on the ground. You gotta think that the second fight would be way different. I think the utmost of both fighters. They're incredibly skilled, incredibly mentally powerful, incredibly physically conditioned athletes. Both are from good camps, well trained. It's a fight I'd want to see again. I enjoyed watching the last fight two or three times. I watched it twice yesterday and enjoyed it both times, paid attention the whole way through. I still don't know how I'd score the fight but I'd like to see it on FOX. Again, this is Nick Diaz. He might still be retired. He might be serious about that. There could be any number of things other than this rumor and this is just a rumor.Luke Thomas: The reason we're talking about it is it's such, every time it comes up, it's such a thorn in my side because you can get people who are like pro marijuana supporters who are like, "Well, I don't want guys competing high." Neither do I, but what they're doing doesn't address it at all. At all. It's a total fucking lie. Nate Wilcox: I don't want guys fighting on HGH but they are. Every single event but they're not tested for it at all. I guarantee it.
Posted in: fight, diaz, fighter, test, marijuana
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143's Nick Diaz tests positive for marijuana, what's next?
Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz, who quickly established himself as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 170-pound number one contender upon his Octagon return in 2011, tested positive for marijuana following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit back on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas.
For Diaz, the infraction marked the second time he's been popped for the green stuff in Nevada, having flunked his exam after strangling Takanori Gomi at PRIDE 33 nearly five years ago.
And let's not overlook the drug test he bailed on prior to his planned fight against Jay Hieron in California.
While Diaz has the right to appeal, he's expected to face a steep monetary fine, as well as a lengthy suspension that could last as long as one year.
Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer explains the next steps for Diaz (via SiriusXM Fight Club) after the jump.
"Mr. Diaz will receive the complaint. The complaints have been mailed to him. He'll receive the complaint by mail and he'll have 20 days upon receipt to file an answer. With the complaint, those are just allegations at this time. There's been no finding against him. He'll have ample opportunity to respond to the complaint and then we'd put it on for a hearing at a time that works for him as well as the Attorney General's office probably April based on past disciplinary complaints and at that time, there'll be a hearing before the full commission and then they make a decision at that time and if they found the athlete guilty, they'd then impose whatever discipline they felt was appropriate."
UFC President Dana White released a statement in the wake of the commission's findings, expressing his "disappointment" in the Stockton slugger's inability to play by the rules.
Diaz is not expected to be released based on this transgression, as ZUFFA chief Lorenzo Fertitta told Twitter followers he would be accepted back into the promotion after serving his time.
Anyone agree with that decision?
For more on the fallout from UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" and the ensuing drug test fiasco click here, here and here.
MMAmania.com's Brian Hemminger contributed to this report.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, time, commission, complaint
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz Suspension Likely One Year Based On Most Recent Actions By NSAC
With Nick Diaz popping a positive test for marijuana following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit, there has been some questioning of how long Diaz will be suspended. Nevada has handed down two recent suspensions for marijuana and both fighters have had their licenses suspended for one year and also lost a significant percentage of their purse.
As Nate pointed out yesterday, Kevin Iole wrote about Matt Vanda, a boxer who tested positive for marijuana for the second time this past December. Vanda had popped once in New Jersey and only received a 90 day suspension and on his positive test in Nevada he got the full twelve months and lost forty percent of his purse.
On the undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III, Joel Casamayor tested positive for marijuana, his first such issue. Casamayor was fined $10,000 (ten percent of his $100,000 purse) and had his license suspended for a year.
Tim Burke: Nick Diaz Should Be Released By The UFC
Given Diaz's prior positive test there is almost no chance we see him not get the full year license suspension, which will be enforced by every other commission. Given that the commission could fine him up to 100% of his purse for the test, I have a feeling we're going to see him get at least the forty percent suffered by Vanda. Especially given his continued flaunting of his drug use and how easily he claimed he could pass any of the commission's tests.
More after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Diaz will also have to stand in front of the NSAC and endure some serious heat after his suspension when he attempts to get his license reinstated. The commission has been making a bigger and bigger show of these license hearings as of late. They took boxer Victor Ortiz to task for comments made in an interview that the next time he headbutts someone he isn't going to hug them, but rather try to break their nose. This was apparently such a moment of seriousness that the commission had to have a full hearing to let him know that fouling is bad and if he fouled in his (now rescheduled) bout against Andre Berto, they'd be very upset. The same kind of drama was brought to Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s hearing to get his license despite his recent legal troubles.
It will be interesting to see how Nick handles the, quite frankly, condescending nature of the NSAC questioning during these hearings and if he'll simply sit back and put on a smile and get through it or if he'll feel the need to respond negatively and possibly jeopardize his ability to get a license in 2013. Not to mention, as the Ortiz situation shows, the NSAC will hold you accountable for things you say in the media. So Diaz needs people advising him to not go out in public and talk about how he'll continue to smoke before fights. There is no guarantee that he gets a license if the commission feels that he is making a mockery of their process and continues flaunting his pre-fight use.
Kid Nate: Nick Diaz's UFC 143 Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable
There is also the question of how a twelve month layoff will affect Diaz. He has been on a very busy schedule, fighting seven times since the start of 2010. While his competing in triathlons will keep him in great shape and he certainly won't be leaving the gym any time soon, there is no accounting for what the actual lack of full competition for over a year will do to a fighter.
Finally, one has to wonder how serious of a position the UFC will ever put Diaz in going forward. He's already lost a title shot for failing to meet media obligations, now he popped a second positive drug test when put into a main event interim title fight. When he comes back from the suspension (assuming the UFC doesn't release him), is there a chance that Dana White and company ever see fit to put him in a position of importance again? I just don't see it.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, suspension, test, license
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC On Fuel: With Nick Diaz Out, Jake Ellenberger Leads Welterweight Contender Pack
With Nick Diaz on the shelf for an indeterminate amount of time after failing a post UFC 143 drug test and current UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre expected to be out until at least November, Jake Ellenberger has moved into pole position to be the next challenger to interim champion Carlos Condit's 170-pound title.
That is assuming, of course, that Ellenberger can get past Diego Sanchez in this Wednesday's UFC On Fuel main event, something he is favored heavily to do. He is clearly at the top of a mediocre pack of welterweights, a group marred by inconsistency, drawing power and a lack of notable wins.
Jake Ellenberger
Going into February, Ellenberger (26-5, 5-1 UFC) was the division's hottest challenger outside of Diaz. After dropping a tight split decision to Condit in his September 2009 debut, the 26-year-old finished four of his next five opponents by T/KO including Jake Shields in just 53 seconds last September. Even if Diaz hadn't been suspended, an argument could be made that another win would put him in title contention. Now it's undeniable he'd be the No. 1 contender.
While Condit hasn't been warm on a rematch with Ellenberger, he might not have a choice. It's unrealistic that the new champ is going to wait 10 months to fight Diaz when there's money and reputation to be made with a summer title defense. There's been some residual damage from the style in which he beat Diaz, a reason why the talk of a rematch this week made a lot of sense. Sitting on the sidelines for GSP doesn't make sense. Condit has to compete again before a title unification bout can happen.
Johny Hendricks
Following a surprising 13-second knockout of Jon Fitch in December, the Oklahoma State wrestling champion finds himself in another surprising position: title contention if Ellenberger loses. Hendricks (12-1, 7-1 UFC) has flown under some radars but since his August 2009 debut, he's only lost once in eight Octagon battles. The Fitch KO capped a big year and the Diaz situation may open up a much bigger door for him in 2012.
Jon Fitch
The poster boy for the eternal winning vs. entertainment argument, the Hendricks loss greatly hurts him if Ellenberger loses. We all know the deal: Fitch (23-4-1-1, 13-2-1 UFC) isn't a box office draw and constantly has had to defend himself for his fighting style. After his loss to GSP in his only title shot, Fitch won five in a row before going to a draw to B.J. Penn. With the defeat to Hendricks, the UFC has their out in not giving the AKA product another title opportunity, thus avoiding a potential champion that's perceived as bland. Fair? No, but it's reality.
Diego Sanchez
So what of Ellenberger's opponent this Wednesday? Would a win put Sanchez (23-4, 12-4 UFC) in Dana White's mix? It's an outside possibility as it would be his third win in a row after consecutive losses to Penn (lightweight fight) and John Hathaway. While some saw his unanimous decision win over Martin Kampmann as a gift, he also has name value and at 30 years old, White may be tempted to pull a surprise and give him a chance with an impressive win over Ellenberger.
Josh Koscheck
The outsider of the group, Koscheck (17-5, 15-5 UFC) does have consecutive wins over Matt Hughes and Mike Pierce, but the latter wasn't convincing and the fight public isn't clamoring for another Koscheck title opportunity after his eye was busted up by GSP in December 2010. Stranger things have happened, but it would take a lot for Koscheck to be considered a viable opponent for Condit this summer.
When it comes to getting a title shot, Ellenberger simply needs to follow the mantra of the late Al Davis: just win, baby.
More On Nick Diaz from Bloody Elbow:
Op/Ed: Nick Diaz Should Be Released
Dana White "Disappointed" In Diaz
Op/Ed: Diaz Failure Was Inevitable
Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana Use
Posted in: ufc, diaz, ellenberger, title, nick
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMorning Report: Nick Diaz Tests Positive for Marijuana, Dan Henderson Considers Fight at Heavyweight
In retrospect, I guess we shouldn't be that surprised that Nick Diaz outkicked his coverage and tested positive for weed during a UFC 143 drug screening. After all, this is the guy that hit a bong in the middle of a Strikeforce conference call.
But still, Hendo might fight at heavyweight if we can find him a good match-up. So it's not all bad.
5 MUST-READ STORIES TO START YOUR DAY
Nick Diaz tests positive for marijuana. Nick Diaz is facing a lengthy suspension after testing positive for marijuana metabolites for the second time.
Diaz's positive drug test not surprising, but still bizarrely disappointing. Like a father that discovered his son's weed hidden under the dresser drawer, Ben Fowlkes isn't angry at Diaz's failed test, just disappointed.
Dana White 'beyond disappointed' in Nick Diaz. White was unexpectedly measured in his short public statement.
Dan Henderson won't wait for title shot. Now that Jon Jones is tied-up with Rashad Evans, Hendo wants to fight in April or May. More surprisingly, a move up to heavyweight apparently isn't out of the question.
UFC 143 trending near 400,000 pay-per-view buys. Early estimates have the buyrate for last weekend's UFC 143 show far exceeding expectations.
MEDIA STEW
TUF 14 prankster Akira Corassani pulls one over on Frankie Edgar.
This is a video where a man named Michael Page acts like Anderson Silva for 63 seconds then smashes some unfortunate man with a tornado kick for his professional MMA debut. (Thanks to Sam James.)
Even Fedor can't help but crack a smile at the water park. (HT: MiddleEasy)
Our own Luke Thomas discusses whether Nick Diaz's stubbornness could prevent him from ever claiming UFC gold.
UFC heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum takes on former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza at the 2004 Jiu-Jitsu World Cup.
A 20-year-old Diego Sanchez runs through Shannon Rich.
How about Michael Bisping as Cung Le's next opponent?
"@ryemel0013: @CungLe185 would u like to fight @bisping next? I think that would be a great fight for u and him!" Be a great match up.
— Cung Le (@CungLe185) February 9, 2012
That's actually not a bad point.
I dont understand why do banks attach chains to their pens? If Im trusting u w/ my money, u should trust me with ur pens.
— Joe Duarte (@JoeDuarteMMA) February 9, 2012
Rampage is almost ready for UFC 144.
O yes, I can wear my tight shirts again...... Hahahaha
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) February 9, 2012
Would've been awesome if it worked.
In high school forrest once faked a seizure to get out of an exam. It didn't really work He just failed a week later
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) February 10, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012):
Bellator 60: Shamar Bailey (13-5) vs. Josh Shockley (8-1); Travis Wiuff (65 - 14) vs. Anthony Gomez (5-1); Mike Corey (11-2-1) vs. Bobby Reardanz (8-10), according to Sherdog.
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's FPOTD belongs to BE reader jim-ma: Tate vs. Rousey and Kaufman vs. Davis: Come on Strikeforce, Play Fair.
Come on Strikeforce, play fair. As Ronda Rousey spent her time pushing for this fight, she spent most of it openly drawing on the looks of her and her opponent as the selling point. She was worried the fight may never happen and, since a fight between two pretty girls is very marketable, she wanted it to happen as soon as possible. For the future of women's MMA, this seems pretty damning.
As a female fighter, it seems very short sighted to reduce your division to a beautiful sideshow. I understand why Ronda feels the need to make the most out of her career while she can, it just does not reflect well on her female colleagues. There is a great division of fighters there. Tate and Rousey are great athletes, each with their own story and representing wrestling and Judo respectively. That is already marketable.
Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre for the Morning Report? Send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, vs
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseLatest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of February 5, 2012
Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Mark Munoz, Jake Ellenberger and Anthony Pettis pictured above, we can all "get along."
Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport.
This week, The Fight Nerd reviews Gary Goodrige's new book, Cage Potato scores an interview with referee Steve Mazzagatti and Bleacher Report speaks with Jorge Santiago.
The full list of links is after the jump.
- GSP talks scientific training methods, the interim title and Silva vs. Sonnen II (LowKick)
"The question is not if Chael Sonnen will beat Anderson Silva, I believe he has the perfect style to do it. The only problem is, his last fight with Michael Bisping, he was coming pretty straight, and if he does that with Anderson Silva, he will run into punches. So, I think if he can move standing up without getting hit and find a way to close the distance bring the fight to the ground, he's got a very good chance to win. The thing is not really if he's going to win or not, but how he's going to get out of Brazil after that?"
- Steve Mazzagatti talks slapping, sh*t talking and Dana White hate (Cage Potato)
Love him or hate him, "The Mazz" don't care. He has a job to do and he isn't in this game to make friends.
- Roger Gracie weighing move to 185 pounds (Five Ounces of Pain)
Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold has been very vocal about his desire to see the organization bring in some new contenders for him to face. However, it appears the promotion may already have a new option for Rockhold on their roster with the ability to fight at 185 pounds and give any opponent a run for his money.
- Diaz's positive test not surprising (MMA Fighting)
Stop me if you've heard this one. Nick Diaz fights in Las Vegas, does his usual schtick enlarging his fame among his diehard fans and leaving the rest of the MMA world slightly confused, but intrigued. Then the drug-test results come back, and suddenly he has a real problem that won't go away. Not without a suspension and a fine, in all likelihood.
- Dustin Poirier threatens to "expose" Korean Zombie (5thRound)
- Michael Page's awesome anti-walk off knockout (MiddleEasy)
It's sixty six seconds of of incredible confidence, dancing, style, explosive athletic ability and a walk off KO so good Michael Page doesn't even walk off, he just stands there and absorbs the soul of his opponent as he basks in his impressive victory. Michael Page can lose his next 10 fights in a row and I will still be fascinated by this fight and Page's post fight celebration. Watch it now. Watch it twenty times.
- Review of Gary Goodrige's book "Gatekeeper" (The Fight Nerd)
As the new guard of MMA begins to take over, the old guard is finally beginning to reveal their stories to fans around the world. In this case, one veteran from the bareknuckle days of cage fighting, Gary Goodridge, is telling his tale to the world, with his new autobiography entitled, "Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary ‘Big Daddy' Goodridge."
- Make the case to me why fighters shouldn't be suspended for weed usage (Fight Opinion)
Best arguments in the comments section will be copied into this post.
- UFC 143: Payout Perspective (MMA Payout)
Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This week we take a look at UFC 143 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada where Nick Diaz took on Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight belt.
- Interview with Jorge Santiago (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
"I've been through this before in my life. I fought in the UFC and I got cut back in 2006. Everybody thought I was done. They didn't think I would come back but I did. I proved them all wrong. I became a top middleweight in the world. And, I'll do it again," promised Santiago. "I don't care what people think."
- Why an immediate rematch between Diaz and Condit would have been bad (MMA Convert)
Nick Diaz may have urinated into a cup and destroyed his income potential for the next twelve months, but this article isn't about that. No, it's about how, if the UFC had made an immediate rematch between Diaz and Carlos Condit - so soon after their UFC 143 scrap that the Stockton native's marijuana-infused piss was likely still warm as it sat on a shelf in the lab - that it would've been bad. "Bad" as in, pointless. "Bad" as in, disingenuous. "Bad" as in, please, Dana White, give us a freakin' break.
- Ronda Rousey says Cyborg sets a bad example as a role model (Fightline)
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, carlos condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWhite addresses Diaz drug test
The UFC’s Dana White issued a statement after it was discovered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana. Diaz was the only drug test of the fighters that competed at UFC 143 that was positive for an illegal substance.
The brief press release sent out by the UFC quoted White: “I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana,” said White. “It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.”
Payout Perspective:
It will be interesting what will happen with Diaz’s future in the UFC. 143 showed that he has the potential to carry a PPV. For one reason or another, the fans are drawn to him. The UFC knows he is a commodity and won’t release him. He’s already caused White headaches by no-showing press conferences and missing plane flights. We’ll see what tolerance White has for Diaz.
The short press release seems out of the ordinary since White does not ordinarily send out releases to address situations like this. If nothing else, it clarifies that he’s putting discipline action in the hand of the NSAC.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, release, press release, nevada state
Read the full article at MMA PayoutWhy an Immediate Rematch Between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit Would Have Been Bad
Nick Diaz may have urinated into a cup and destroyed his income potential for the next twelve months, but this article isn’t about that. No, it’s about how, if the UFC had made an immediate rematch between Diaz and Carlos Condit – so soon after their UFC 143 scrap that the Stockton native’s marijuana-infused piss was likely still warm as it sat on a shelf in the lab – that it would’ve been bad. “Bad” as in, pointless. “Bad” as in, disingenuous. “Bad” as in, please, Dana White, give us a freakin’ break.
When Diaz spent five rounds chasing after an elusive Condit for the interim welterweight title, unable to unload his patented (and it really is patented – I checked with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia) barrage of Pitter-Patter Punches of Doom ™, a few things were proven to the world. First, that, unlike those before him, Condit had devised a foolproof plan to avoid getting destroyed, and he was more than able to stick to it. Second, that when faced with an opponent he couldn’t trap against the cage or taunt and insult into standing and trading, Diaz didn’t have the wherewithal to change it up and shoot for takedowns (maybe he was too high?). And third, no matter how much Diaz chases someone around the cage and puts his triathlon experience to good use, that mileage is not going to count towards any kind of love on the judges’ scorecards. This is all stuff that we learned on Saturday night, when we were promised nonstop, pulse-pounding action and instead got a big dose of “I eschewed Dungeons & Dragons night for this?!”
Then there’s the little fact that, if, by hook or by crook, Diaz had won the decision, talk of an immediate rematch would’ve been shushed with a quickness. Because why the hell would the UFC want to upset the best laid plans of mice and men, plans they’d laid out that involved the “villainous” Diaz taking on the “heroic” Georges St. Pierre with a fair amount of pay-per-view cheese (i.e., dollars) for everyone? The answer is, no way would the UFC want that. Diaz vs. St. Pierre was the money match all have been clamoring for, and if a razor-thin decision in favor of the Stockton Bongmaster was what it took to make it happen, so be it. But once Condit got the maddening decision nod, then came the talk – talk that gravitated towards White practically assuring us this was something the fans wanted, and that it was just about a done deal. Phooey on that. The UFC wanted to milk a rematch, and hopefully get the Diaz/St. Pierre matchup back on track. What fans (myself included) wanted after UFC 143 was over was their money back.
Which leads us to the last point of this discussion, the “give us a freakin’ break” part of why Diaz vs. Condit II would’ve been bad. When BJ Penn lost the decision to Frankie Edgar the first time around (at UFC 112), the Hawaiian got an immediate mulligan (at UFC 118). Sure, there was likely a rematch clause somewhere in Penn’s contract that was the impetus behind the redo, but so what? We got a rematch between Penn and Edgar, and the second time around the wrestler from New Jersey beat Penn even worse than before. Think we want to see Condit do the five-round Riverdance with Diaz? No way. Give us – all of us, including Diaz and Condit – a break. Diaz lost, let’s move on with our lives.
In a way, it’s good that Diaz put his fate in the hands of a bag full of Chronic and smoked his career like some cheap Skunk Weed. At least this way, it’s out of White and the UFC’s control. Now Diaz’s rematch with Condit doesn’t get to happen until the Nevada State Athletic Commission is done blazing.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, way, rematch, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertLefko on Diaz: Reflection time
After testing positive for marijuana, UFC welterweight Nick Diaz will have plenty of time to ponder his future, which may be what he wanted.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, time, lefko, reflection
Read the full article at sportsnet.caFighters React To Nick Diaz's Positive Drug Test
Less than 48 hours hours ago, after much griping, it appeared that Nick Diaz would indeed receive his rematch with Carlos Condit. Now it's unclear when, or if, Diaz will ever fight in the UFC again.
The polarizing Stockonian tested positive for "marijuana metabolites" in the aftermath of UFC 143, according to Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer. Given that this is Diaz's second offense, a lengthy suspension is likely forthcoming.
It seems strangely fitting that after five days of fervent debate, the positive test puts the Condit-Diaz controversy to bed in the most Diaz-like way imaginable. As the UFC and Condit were busy plotting their next move, a slew of Diaz's colleagues sounded off on the announcement.
Nick Diaz was the aggressor of the fight while he was high as a kite is a testament to how good he really is and how much pot he can smoke.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 9, 2012
I was positive after 143.... Very positive, condit won... Lol
— malki kawa (@malkikawa) February 9, 2012
Lmfao to the haters.
— KJ Noons (@kjnoons) February 9, 2012
Telling me that the top fighters in MMA smoke pot regularly is like saying that @ryanbader and @Kingsbu suck at beerpong: FACT
— Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) February 9, 2012
Nick Diaz tests+ for weed, so Fkn what!!He should be praised for doing so well hi! Plus he has a medical marijuana license! Wtf
— Adam Schindler (@Schindiggity) February 9, 2012
The #ComeOnSon award for the first quarter of 2012 goes to.... Nick Diaz.
— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) February 9, 2012
"@Michael_Pugh: @mayhemmiller and @MieshaTate What are your thoughts about Diaz's test failure?" #stupid
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) February 10, 2012
There is absolutely no freaking way that Nick Diaz test positive for Marijuana #trolling
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) February 9, 2012
They shouldn't test for it but they do.
— Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) February 10, 2012
I read that Diaz may lose 80,000 of his 200k purse. Cesar could have let me train & follow nick around for 40k to make sure he was clean
— Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) February 9, 2012
"@spilledbagofice: Nick should just say there was some THC in a supplement he got from GNC.#blameGNC" everyone else does. Haha
— Duane Ludwig (@DUANEBANGCOM) February 10, 2012
Tricky Nicky got caught smokin' that sticky! # #UFC #RT
— Joe Duarte (@JoeDuarteMMA) February 9, 2012
@twitchykun weed is the opposite of performance enhancing haha
— Joe Duarte (@JoeDuarteMMA) February 9, 2012
@KCBanditMMA The @DiazBrothers209 R 2 of the realist doods I've met in this sport! Ive got nuthin but good things 2 say about em. #Realtalk
— Danny Castillo (@lastcall155) February 9, 2012
To make you feel slightly better after the shit news of Nick Diaz testing positive, I offer the black keys youtube.com/watch?v=490s68…
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) February 10, 2012
Posted in: diaz, nick, test, february, mdash
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz Should Be Released By The UFC
I'm sure you've heard the news by now. The UFC's resident anti-hero Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites today, and is about to face a long suspension. This will be Nick's second weed suspension by the NSAC, and he has now screwed up both of his scheduled UFC appearances in one way or another. In addition, he also blew his chances at a rematch with Carlos Condit, a bout that was all but official before this positive test surfaced. Precedent states that he will not be released from the promotion. But it's high time Dana White set a new precedent and kicked Stockton's finest to the curb.
Before you start screaming "it's just weed, man!", let's get one thing out of the way. It doesn't matter that it's "just weed". NSAC rules say it's an illegal substance. Whether you agree with that or not is completely irrelevant. The bottom line is that it IS illegal, and unless it was a false positive for some reason, Diaz, of his own free will, ingested something in a certain time frame that he knew might lead to a positive test. The fault (again, if it's not a false positive) falls entirely upon one person - Nick Diaz. Apologize and make excuses for him all you want. Nothing changes that simple fact.
After Diaz skipped two press conferences and was removed from his UFC welterweight title bout with Georges St. Pierre before UFC 137, he was given the stiff sentence of instead competing in the co-main event against B.J. Penn. This time he will actually be severely punished. He will lose a large portion of his UFC 143 purse, and a purse from the Condit rematch. He will also be out for a year, based on NSAC precedent for repeat offenders. Luckily for Nick, UFC president Dana White who is notoriously soft on people that pop for illegal substances. He has stated multiple times that a long suspension, which robs the fighter of the opportunity to make a living, is punishment enough. I suspect that will be the case here as well. But, Mr. White, this situation is different, and you should treat this differently.
As I have stated before, Diaz, a guy who flaunts his ability to beat marijuana tests to the media yet still gets busted, has been enabled for his entire career. He has been allowed to do as he pleases, with little to no repercussions. His coaches cover for him at every opportunity. His fans, even when faced with a mountain of evidence in regards to his guilt, still protect his "good" name and ignore his transgressions. . On top of all this, his promoters/bosses have frequently let him skate because he's a commodity they hope to squeeze future revenue out of. Where does it end? Where's the line in the sand?
If Dana White has any sense, he will cut ties with Diaz once and for all. White loves to say that MMA will become the biggest sport in the world one day. He's not going to get there any time soon by continually enabling fighters that can't follow simple rules, fighters that actually flaunt their ability to get around those rules beforehand. Unfortunately, the anti-hero has sunk his hooks into the hearts of fans with money in their wallet, and the mighty dollar rules all when it comes to the UFC. You'll see Nick Diaz in the octagon in 2013. And people will still care. And that's pathetic.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, time, nick, rule
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz' UFC 143 Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable
No one should be surprised that Nick Diaz has once again failed a drug test for marijuana. His post-UFC 143 positive test results represent the second time he has failed a drug test in Nevada. Diaz infamously failed a drug test that turned his biggest career win over Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 into a No Contest. Diaz also forced the cancellation of a 2009 Strikeforce title fight against Jay Hieron when he failed to appear for a pre-fight drug test.
Going into the UFC 143 interim welterweight title bout with Carlos Condit, Diaz fans were sanguine about his use of marijuana and his ability to pass any drug tests. He fought B.J. Penn in Nevada at UFC 137 and passed his drug test with no problems. He fought for Strikeforce three times in 2010 with no problems. But the reefer iceberg was floating under the surface the whole time, waiting to sink his MMA fortunes.
This is the same Nick Diaz who told the LA Times in 2009, "I can pass a drug test in eight days with herbal cleansers. I drink 10 pounds of water and sweat out 10 pounds of water every day. I'll be fine."
This is the same guy whose response to the question of whether his pot smoking was getting in the way of his MMA career said, "Actually, on the contrary, my fight career has gotten in the way of my marijuana smoking.."
This 2007 Diaz interview with CBS Sports is even more over the top.
More On Nick DiazNick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana After UFC 143 | Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch In Jeopardy, Was Never 'Official' | Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch Becomes Official Amid Managerial Confusion | NSAC Boss Keith Kizer Confirms One Positive Drug Test | SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Ben Fowlkes sums up the situation at MMA Fighting:
...most people in the MMA world probably don't care that he smokes weed. It's not giving him an unfair advantage over his opponents, and it isn't jeopardizing his health. I suppose you could argue that it makes him a poor role model for kids, but no more than fighters who like to knock back a few too many adult beverages at the after-parties, and certainly not more than those who abuse use steroids or other performance-enhancers (not to mention, Nick Diaz is your kid's role model? If so, you've got bigger issues coming your way real soon).
But if some fighters can get permission to up their testosterone levels before a fight, why can't Diaz use something that helps him relax and enjoy Reno 911 re-runs?
The answer is: because the athletic commission says he can't. Right or wrong, those are the rules, and Diaz knew it. The UFC might have been content to look the other way as long as he passed his drug tests, but the moment he fails to hold up his end of the bargain is the moment he has a problem.
Fowlkes brings up an excellent about about testosterone levels. It's ironic that fighters like Chael Sonnen, Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt and Todd Duffee have been allowed to get prescriptions for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) but Diaz, with his prescription for medical marijuana can't get a pass.
We'll turn to the issue of whether or not marijuana should be a prohibited substance tomorrow, but for now just know that it was only a matter of time before Diaz failed another piss test. It's utterly maddening for such a talented fighter, a man at the peak of his athletic abilities to be looking at losing up to a year of his fighting career over something so avoidable.
Nick, put down the pipe, MMA needs you back.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, test, drug
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWhite talks about Diaz failed test
submitted by dp517 [link] [20 comments]
Posted in: diaz, talk, test, dp
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz popped again for smoking pot
Dana White hasn’t ever been known by the public as have much hair. However, it turns out that could be for the best, as the UFC President would have likely pulled it all out over the past few days based on the whirlwind of controversy surrounding a potential rematch between welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. White has now been given one more thing to stress about as it appears Diaz has tested positive for marijuana use for the second time in his career.
An email from the Nevada State Athletic Commission mentioned Diaz was found to have “marijuana metabolites” in the sample he submitted in relation to his UFC 143 headliner with Condit.
UFC Ready to Make Rematch but Diaz’s Team Says Its a No-Go
A “beyond disappointed” White said he is letting the NSAC handle things and hasn’t commented in any detail on the situation. Diaz’s camp has also been quiet since the news broke this afternoon.
Diaz also tested positive in Nevada stemming from a 2007 fight against Takanori Gomi where he watched a win changed into a No Contest in addition to being suspended for six months and fined $3,000.
He is now facing a steeper fine based on the amount of money he made for his bout against Condit as well as a yearlong suspension based on it being his second offense in the State.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, carlos condit, hasn ’t, marijuana use
Read the full article at Fighters.comDana White releases statement on Nick Diaz drug test failure: 'Beyond disappointed'
With a firestorm swirling now that Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer has spilled the beans on Nick Dia testing positive for "marijuana metabolites" for his UFC 143 bout against Carlos Condit, it was only a matter of time before UFC President Dana White made his voice heard.
It's just somewhat surprising the manner in which he's chosen to do so.
A prepared statement was released to the media today and it's short and sweet (via MMAFighting.com):
"I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana," White said in the statement that the UFC distributed to the media. "It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission."
Indeed, it is in the hands of the NSAC and they've filed a complaint for disciplinary action. And, seeing as this is the second time Diaz has been popped for Marijuana while fighting in Nevada, it won't be surprising in the least to see him slapped with a one-year suspension.
That would be an awful long time for White to contemplate exactly what he wants to do with his controversial welterweight top contender. It's a shuffling act for the UFC boss, considering the lack of fighters who can move the needle on pay-per-view (especially with Georges St. Pierre hurt and Brock Lesnar retired).
Of course, Diaz has been one big headache since he came over from Strikeforce. Missing press conferences, missing flights, getting ripped from main event title shots, and now failing drug tests after retiring out of anger due to a close decision.
It's a bad look, Maniacs. Anyone think White will cut ties with the controversial slugger and send him back to Stockton? Or will he simply let the commission do its job and deal with Diaz when he returns from whatever punishment is handed down?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, ufc boss, nevada state, time diaz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White On Nick Diaz Failed Drug Test: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed'
Earlier today, Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana after his UFC 143 fight with Carlos Condit.
It's been a turbulent few days for Diaz. After losing a close and controversial decision to Condit in the main event of UFC 143, a frustrated Diaz announced his retirement from MMA. Yesterday, word leaked of the UFC's plans for a Condit vs. Diaz rematch as Condit's first defense of the UFC Interim Welterweight Title, but those plans were immediately called into question at the same time that Kizer announced one fighter had failed a drug test. Many assumed it was Diaz, and those suspicions were proved to be correct.
Now, the UFC has issued a statement from Dana White, and it is short and clear:
I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana. It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
This is not the first time Diaz has tested positive for marijuana. After his 2007 defeat of Takanori Gomi in one of the final Pride shows, Diaz also failed a drug test, resulting in that victory being overturned into a No Contest. This is also the second time in his recent UFC tenure that Diaz has caused the company massive headaches. His failure to show up for press conferences in the lead-up to UFC 137 caused them to pull him from the planned Diaz vs. GSP main event, and now this news will surely derail any plans for Condit vs. Diaz 2 happening anytime soon.
For more on this story, check out all our Bloody Elbow coverage:
Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana After UFC 143
Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch In Jeopardy, Was Never 'Official'
Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch Becomes Official Amid Managerial Confusion
NSAC Boss Keith Kizer Confirms One Positive Drug Test
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC Pres Dana White Issues Nick Diaz Statement
UFC president Dana White on Tuesday night believed he had put the Condit vs. Diaz rematch together, but on Thursday he found himself commenting on Diaz's failed drug test instead.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, dana, drug test, tuesday night
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyDana White 'Beyond Disappointed' in Nick Diaz
UFC President Dana White has weighed in on Nick Diaz's failed drug test with a prepared statement that's tamer than most UFC fans would probably expect from White.
"I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana," White said in the statement that the UFC distributed to the media. "It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission."
The prepared statement comes across like something a PR staffer would write for White, not like something White would say himself: It doesn't contain any F-bombs, and it doesn't say anything about what this does for Diaz's future with the UFC. White has also been silent on Twitter, where he usually doesn't hesitate to mix it up with fans when controversy explodes in the UFC.
But the way White is responding may demonstrate just how much he's seething that Diaz continues to refuse to "play the game" the right way. White may be so angry about Diaz's unprofessionalism that he doesn't want to say a word because he knows his anger may lead him to take things too far.
Because this is Diaz's second positive marijuana test, the Nevada State Athletic Commission may suspend him for a full year. That would take any decision about what to do with Diaz out of White's hands until February of 2013. By then, White may have simmered down long enough that he's willing to give Diaz another chance.
Or by then the UFC's welterweight division may have moved on without Diaz, and White may decide to let Diaz go entirely, and let him be a disappointment for some other promotion.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nevada state, statement, doesnt
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseThe MMA (After) Hour: Dissecting Nick Diaz's Positive Drug Test
The MMA (After) Hour is a new feature on MMAFighting.com where we'll provide you with breaking news and interviews in audio podcast form when there isn't a regular episode of The MMA Hour scheduled.
On this first-ever edition of the podcast, we discuss Nick Diaz's positive marijuana test with MMAFighting.com's Ben Fowlkes, what this means for Diaz's MMA future, what the UFC should do next with Diaz and Carlos Condit, and much more.
Listen below or download the audio directly here.
The MMA (After) Hour: Nick Diaz
Posted in: diaz, mma, hour, nick, nick diazs
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNSAC: Nick Diaz Tested Positive For Marijuana at UFC 143
The rumors were true.
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit II isn’t going to happen because Nick Diaz has tested positive for marijuana at UFC 143. The NSAC’s Keith Kizer revealed the news today.
“All results received thus far have been negative, except Mr. Diaz (who) tested positive for marijuana metabolites,” Kizer said in a statement. “A complaint for disciplinary action against Mr. Diaz has been filed.”
Not exactly shocking news for anybody who’s at all familiar with Diaz. Everyone knows he smokes weed and actually, it’s perfectly legal for him to do so in his home state of California where he has a medical marijuana card. The problem is the state of Nevada tests for it and while Nick has bragged in the past about how easy it is to beat a marijuana test, he still managed to test positive for it for the second time in his career.
And it couldn’t come at a worse possible time. He’s at the height of his popularity and was days away from being handed a rare second chance at beating Carlos Condit and moving on to a big money fight with Georges St. Pierre. Instead, he’ll likely have to pay some kind of fine and serve some kind of suspension. I won’t deny that the rule itself is pretty dumb, but the bottom line is Nick should have known better, especially after getting busted for the same thing back in 2007 for his epic fight against Takanori Gomi at PRIDE 33.
The situation sucks, but at least Condit won the fight. Imagine how screwed up the welterweight title picture would be if he hadn’t.
Here’s Joe Rogan sharing a funny story about the first time Nick got popped for pot.
Posted in: diaz, time, nick, marijuana, mr diaz
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz tests positive for marijuana
UFC fighter Nick Diaz has tested positive for having marijuana in his system in the wake of a match-up against Carlos Condit at UFC 143.
Diaz lost by unanimous decision to Condit in the main event of the card, as “The Natural Born Killer” claimed the interim UFC welterweight title.
Rumors of a possible Diaz-Condit rematch were being talked about on Wednesday. Cesar Gracie, the manager and head trainer for Diaz reported that there would be no rematch, and added he had no further comment.
Diaz, who announced his retirement from MMA inside the Octagon following the loss, also tested positive for marijuana back in 2007 following his win over Takanori Gomi.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, carlos condit, diazcondit rematch, head trainer
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNSAC: Diaz hearing possible for April, past multiple offenders issued yearlong suspension
The Nevada State Athletic Commission is likely to hear the case of Nick
Diaz sometime in April, according to NSAC Executive Director Keith
Kizer.
For now, Diaz is temporarily suspended following a disciplinary
complaint filed by the NSAC to the Nevada Attorney General that states
the fighter broke rule 467.850 of the commission's administrative code
when he tested positive for marijuana metabolites following UFC 143.
At the NSAC's next meeting on Feb. 22, Kizer will ask the commission to
uphold the temporary suspension until the formal hearing in April, where
Diaz is expected to answer to the complaint.
Posted in: diaz, commission, april, nsac, nevada attorney
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWith Diaz’s Positive Test, Carlos Condit Moving On
Carlos Condit's manager Malki Kawa reacts to the news about Nick Diaz's positive drug test, and comments on what's next for the UFC interim welterweight champion
Posted in: diaz, test, drug test, nick diazs, diaz ’s
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz's Positive Drug Test Not Surprising, But Still Bizarrely Disappointing
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Nick Diaz fights in Las Vegas, does his usual schtick enlarging his fame among his diehard fans and leaving the rest of the MMA world slightly confused, but intrigued. Then the drug-test results come back, and suddenly he has a real problem that won’t go away. Not without a suspension and a fine, in all likelihood.For the second time in his professional career, Diaz has been busted for marijuana use by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The first was back in 2007, when his spectacular submission win over Takanori Gomi at PRIDE 33 was changed to a no contest after Diaz turned in a urine sample with THC levels that would make Willie Nelson blush. Fast forward five years, and it’s the same story, only this time in the UFC, and at a time when he can least afford it.
If you were surprised to learn that Diaz has a bit of a thing for weed, I have some news about Ernest Hemingway and booze that may shock you. If, like most of us, you already knew that Diaz liked a puff from time to time and just assumed he’d gotten better at fooling the drug tests, the news is probably more of a vague disappointment than anything else. It’s not that he uses one of the most harmless drugs (and least performance-enhancing ones) on the banned substances list -- it’s that he got caught for it. Of all the questionable things Diaz does -- from slapping and taunting opponents to making the lives of the UFC PR staff miserable -- smoking weed is actually probably the most defensible. After all, he lives in California, where medical marijuana is legal. His trainer, Cesar Gracie, has publicly stated in the past that Diaz has a prescription for it, and if anyone could make the case for needing a little something to soothe his general anxiety, it’s Diaz. My point is, most people in the MMA world probably don’t care that he smokes weed. It’s not giving him an unfair advantage over his opponents, and it isn’t jeopardizing his health. I suppose you could argue that it makes him a poor role model for kids, but no more than fighters who like to knock back a few too many adult beverages at the after-parties, and certainly not more than those who abuse use steroids or other performance-enhancers (not to mention, Nick Diaz is your kid’s role model? If so, you’ve got bigger issues coming your way real soon). But if some fighters can get permission to up their testosterone levels before a fight, why can’t Diaz use something that helps him relax and enjoy Reno 911 re-runs? The answer is: because the athletic commission says he can’t. Right or wrong, those are the rules, and Diaz knew it. The UFC might have been content to look the other way as long as he passed his drug tests, but the moment he fails to hold up his end of the bargain is the moment he has a problem.Rematch with Carlos Condit? It’s a non-issue now. And can you imagine if the decision had gone his way, and if the organization was left waiting out a Georges St-Pierre injury and a Diaz drug suspension before it could make the fight that fans desperately wanted to see?At the same time, it’s sad and a little bizarre that the least harmful thing Diaz does to himself is among the most harmful to his career. As much as he loves to complain about wholly imagined injustices, this one is sort of real. If a guy can get permission for testosterone, why can’t he get it for marijuana? If he smokes it legally a week before his fight, why does it matter whether it shows up in a urinalysis? And yet, it does matter, at least to the NSAC. Diaz knows it is, as do his coaches, who have at least some responsibility to try and look out for the guy. They learned this lesson once already, so it’s hard to feel too much sympathy for them the second time around. It’s also difficult to feel too angry or betrayed. This isn’t an attempt to cheat, it’s just a failure to get away with something that none of us really cared he was doing anyway. It’s an oversight. It’s a screw-up that lends itself to the existing narrative of immaturity and irresponsibility in unfortunate ways, and at perhaps the most unfortunate time. If Diaz thought MMA wasn’t worth the trouble when he lost a close decision, what’s he going to think now that the NSAC is likely to fine and suspend him? What if one of the most interesting and entertaining fighters in the sport is run into an early retirement by his own inability to deal with adversity, combined with an antiquated rule regarding a misunderstood substance?It will be a shame, certainly. It also be frustratingly pointless. More than anything, it’s just dumb. Diaz didn’t break this rule as an act of civil disobedience. He simply messed up his own system somewhere along the line. That, or he found a brand new way to sabotage himself. Either way, he’ll have plenty of time to think about it now. So will his employers at the UFC.
Posted in: diaz, time, way, drug, itrsquo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz UFC 143 Drug Test Positive for Marijuana
UFC 143 headliner Nick Diaz has tested positive for marijuana for the second time following his loss to Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC 143 this past Saturday in Las Vegas, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced on Thursday.
Diaz also tested positive for marijuana in Nevada following his upset over Takanori Gomi in Pride in February 2007, which resulted in the fight being changed to a no contest and Diaz receiving a six month suspension and fine.
More to come on this breaking news…
Posted in: ufc, diaz, carlos condit, marijuana, thursday diaz
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana After UFC 143
The speculation can now end. Nevada State Athletic Commissioner Keith Kizer has emailed the media to confirm that Nick Diaz tested positive for a drug of abuse after his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit:
From: Keith Kizer Date: Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 4:16 PMSubject: UFC 143 - steroid/drug tests
The following athletes were tested: Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Fabricio Werdum, Josh Koscheck, Renan Barao, Ed Herman, Dustin Poirier, Max Hollaway, Matt Riddle, Henry Martinez, Edwin Figueroa, Alex Caceres, Matt Brown, Chris Cope, Rafael Natal, Michael Kuiper, Stephen Thompson and Dan Stittgen. All results received thus far have been negative, except Mr. Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites. A complaint for disciplinary action against Mr. Diaz has been filed.
This is bad news for Diaz, bad news for the UFC, and bad news for the fans.
More on this story from Bloody Elbow:
Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch In Jeopardy, Was Never 'Official'
Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch Becomes Official Amid Managerial Confusion
NSAC Boss Keith Kizer Confirms One Positive Drug Test
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, condit, mr diaz
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz Tests Positive for Marijuana
The Nevada Athletic Commission has confirmed that Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana at UFC 143 and will face disciplinary action, almost certainly canceling his planned rematch with Carlos Condit and throwing his future into question.
"Mr. Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites. A complaint for disciplinary action against Mr. Diaz has been filed," Nevada Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer wrote in a statement distributed to the media.
After losing to Condit by unanimous decision, Diaz was expected to get a rematch before it became clear that there was an issue with Diaz's drug test. Now Diaz is likely to be suspended at least six months, and possibly longer because he's a repeat offender: Diaz was also busted for marijuana after his upset submission victory over Takanori Gomi in Pride, and that result was subsequently changed to a no contest.
Diaz's future is in doubt not only because the Commission may suspend him, but also because the UFC may decide he's more trouble than he's worth. UFC President Dana White has repeatedly lamented Diaz's refusal to "play the game," and if Diaz can't pass a drug test at the biggest fight of his career, the UFC may not trust him to participate in big fights going forward. There's also the matter of Diaz's post-fight comments, when he said he doesn't know if he even wants to fight anymore.
It's also unclear what will happen with Condit, who was declared the interim welterweight champion for his victory over Diaz. At the moment it appears likely that Condit will sit out until Georges St. Pierre has sufficiently recovered from knee surgery and can return to the Octagon, which is tentatively planned for November.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, carlos condit, marijuana
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz's drug test for UFC 143 returns positive for marijuana
Where there's smoke, there's fire and there's also Nick Diaz, toking up.
Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer today confirmed that Diaz failed his drug test for "marijuana metabolites" at the UFC 143 event this past Feb. 4, 2012.
Also screened for performance enhancing drugs, as well as drugs of abuse, were Carlos Condit, Fabricio Werdum, Josh Koscheck, Renan Barao, Ed Herman, Dustin Poirier, Max Holloway, Matt Riddle, Henry Martinez, Edwin Figueroa, Alex Caceres, Matt Brown, Chris Cope, Rafael Natal, Michael Kuiper, Stephen Thompson and Dan Stittgen.
Those fighters all passed with flying colors.
For Diaz, this marks the second time he's been popped for marijuana in Nevada, having tested positive following his win over Takanori Gomi back in Feb. 2007.
This result mars an event that was already crawling in controversy, thanks to the Diaz vs. Carlos Condit main event bout going to a five-round decision finish that few were satisfied with.
In fact, Diaz retired in disgust after the bout, proclaiming his dislike for the scoring system in place in MMA. His team, led by Cesar Gracie, immediately started campaigning for a rematch, so that didn't last long, of course.
But now he'll be on a mandatory vacation imposed by the NSAC.
After all the insanity surrounding Diaz since he signed a contract with the UFC, from his removal from the UFC 137 main event for missing press conferences all the way up to this drug test failure, one has to wonder if Diaz is worth the headache he's surely given Dana White.
Then again, UFC 143 drew a better than expected 400,000 buys on pay-per-view.
Either way, stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more details on Diaz's drug test results as they become available.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, test, drug
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiaz Busted for Pot - CONFIRMED
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [17 comments]
Posted in: diaz, mattyblayze, pot
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz tests positive for marijuana metabolites, faces discipline following UFC 143
Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz may ultimately fight again someday, but it doesn't look like it will be anytime soon.
Former Strikeforce champion Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following
his controversial five-round clash with former WEC titleholder Condit
at this past weekend's UFC 143 event.
That's according to Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director
Keith Kizer, who today emailed the event's drug-testing results to
MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, today emailed, marijuana metabolites, fiveround clash
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNick Diaz tested positive for marijuana, a complaint has been filed by the NSAC
Marijuana is as much as a performance enhancing drug as World of Warcraft is a 'opposite sex attraction enhancer.' Let me preface this article by stating it's ridiculous that our society has demonized perhaps one of the least-threatening recreational substances that's as natural and indigenous to the planet as a handful of wheat grass, a basket full of cranberries or a cup of water.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission has issued a press release stating Nick Diaz tested positive for 'marijuana metabolites' leading up to UFC 143. Some of you remember Diaz tested positive for marijuana after his Pride FC fight against Takanori Gomi, nullifying perhaps one of the greatest fights we've ever seen in MMA. Since this is Diaz's second positive marijuana drug test from NSAC, expect a suspension that will be longer than six months.
Here's a brief rundown on THC metabolites and how the retain in the human body from About.com.
Some THC metabolites have an elimination half-life of 20 hours. However, some are stored in body fat and have a elimination half-life of 10 to 13 days. Most researchers agree that urine tests for marijuana can detect the presence of the drug in the body for up to 13 days.
However, there is anecdotal evidence that the length of time that marijuana remains in the body is affected by how often the person smokes, how much he smokes and how long he has been smoking. Regular smokers have reported positive drug test results after 45 days since last use and heavy smokers have reported positive tests 90 days after quitting.
Note that with regular smokers (like Nick Diaz) metabolites can last in the system as long as three months after ceasing smoking. Therefore, no amount of running, triathlons or GSP Rushfit can extract the substance from the system. This undoubtedly puts a halt to the recently semi-announced Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit rematch, and will only further promote an early retirement from Nick Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, nick, body, drug, marijuana
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 143 drug test results return with one positive for 'Diaz vs Condit' event
Uh-oh.
With all the controversy surrounding the UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" event, and most of it swirling around the Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit headlining bout, this just puts the cherry on top.
Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer sent out an e-mail today confirming that one fighter who competed on the card returned a positive result on their drug test:
Thank you for the many email and phone calls. I am still waiting for all the steroid and drug test results to come back. We did have at least one positive test. I will send out an email later today on that matter.
Naturally, assumptions are going to be made and at this point, it's difficult to refute them. The Diaz camp had been lobbying for a rematch with Condit and apparently got their way, as UFC President Dana White all but confirmed the two were going to be set up for another date later this year.
Then, suddenly, everything changed course and Cesar Gracie, head of the Diaz band of rebels, changed his tune.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Gracie told multiple media outlets that the rematch would NOT be happening. He refused to go into specifics, though, and left us all to wonder just what the heck is going on.
But then Josh Gross straight out asked Gracie about the rumor floating around that Diaz had failed his drug test and his response was rather interesting, to say the least:
I asked Cesar Gracie yesterday re: rumor about an issue w/ Nick Diaz's drug test. His answer: "I have been told not to comment on anything."
And the plot thickens.
To be clear, we cannot confirm at this time that Diaz failed his drug test, even if all signs are pointing in that direction. Kizer noted that he will notify everyone once all results are in and then -- and only then -- can speculation be laid to rest.
In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts on all this madness, Maniacs.
Posted in: diaz, result, test, drug, drug test
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUnnamed fighter at UFC 143 tests positive for drug use
The plot has thickened concerning the on again, off again rematch between welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, as the Nevada State Athletic Commission has confirmed at least one athlete who fought at UFC 143 tested positive for a banned substance.
While nothing has surfaced where specifics are concerned, it has been rumored that Diaz may have been popped for THC, the active drug in marijuana, again as he did once before in Las Vegas five years ago after a bout with Takanori Gomi. However, his status is little more than speculation at this point.
What is certain is that details are set to emerge later today in a follow-up email from the NSAC while some remaining tests are done.
If Diaz is the fighter in question it might explain his manager/trainer Cesar Gracie’s recent statements saying a rematch with Condit is off despite UFC President Dana White announcing it had been agreed to verbally.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, takanori gomi, las vegas, carlos condit
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz Tests Positive Following UFC 143
Nick Diaz has tested positive for marijuana following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit, and will be subject to a suspension and fine from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, carlos condit, nevada state
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143: NSAC Boss Keith Kizer Confirms One Positive Drug Test
The rumors have been swirling that someone on the UFC 143 card failed his post-fight drug test. Now we have confirmation via an email from Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer that SOMEONE on the card did indeed fail a drug test.
Here's an email sent from the NSAC commission to members of the MMA media:
From: Keith Kizer Date: Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 12:16 PMSubject: UFC 143 Thank you for the many email and phone calls. I am still waiting for all the steroid and drug test results to come back. We did have at least one positive test. I will send out an email later today on that matter.
Keith KizerExecutive DirectorNevada Athletic Commission
Things to keep in mind:
There is no indication as to who is the fighter in question.
There is no indication as to whether the drug test failure is for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) or drugs of abuse.
But this does tie in neatly to the rumors that have swirled around the on-and-off nature of the Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit rematch.
Here's another clue for you all, SI reporter Josh Gross tweeted this earlier:
@JoshGrossESPNJosh Gross I asked Cesar Gracie yesterday re: rumor about an issue w/ Nick Diaz's drug test. His answer: "I have been told not to comment on anything." Feb 09 via web Favorite Retweet Reply
More on this story from Bloody Elbow:
Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch In Jeopardy, Was Never 'Official'
Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch Becomes Official Amid Managerial Confusion
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: diaz, condit, test, drug, email
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowTwitter Mailbag: Debating the Condit-Diaz Controversy and More
The Twitter Mailbag is back and ready to answer all your questions, even if most of you only want to talk about Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. Never fear, we also find time for a few other topics in this edition of the TMB. If you’ve got a question of your own, you can find me on Twitter here. Or keep pretending that you’re too cool for Twitter. How’d that work out with other technological developments, by the way?Enough preamble. Who wants to get us started?@tommyahlering does nick diaz deserve a rematch at this point?‘Deserve’ is an interesting word here. Really, who deserves an immediate rematch? Who’s undeniably entitled to one? I’d argue that it’s really only essential in the cases of a draw, a no contest, or some type of bizarre/unfair ending, such as in the case of the first Mac Danzig/Matt Wiman fight, where the referee mistakenly stopped it thinking that Danzig had been choked unconscious. Those are instances where the fight ends with such a lack of closure that an immediate rematch is justified, maybe even necessary.But a close fight that ends in a debatable decision? I’ll file that under: rematch possible, but not essential. Diaz wasn’t robbed by the judges in this fight. Not like "Shogun" Rua was robbed in his first fight with Lyoto Machida, anyway. Diaz lost a close decision, just like Michael Bisping did against Chael Sonnen and also like Rua did against Dan Henderson. The big difference is, Bisping and Rua didn’t complain quite so loudly or threaten to retire over it. I can see why some people want a rematch here. With Georges St-Pierre injured, the welterweight division is in a holding pattern anyway, so why not? At the same time, it sets an annoying precedent. It tells fighters that if they don’t like the outcome of a close fight, all they have to do is whine about until they get another chance. What would happen if Diaz won a narrow decision in the rematch, and it was Condit who threw the post-fight tantrum? Would they do it a third time to settle things once and for all? Would the entire 170-pound division have to sit around and wait for someone to either win decisively or take a loss with dignity?It’s not that you couldn’t make the case for an immediate rematch here, given the circumstances. But does Diaz deserve one? Brother, to quote Clint Eastwood, deserve’s got nothing to do with it.@AdriantheWizard If the Condit/Diaz rematch doesn't unfold & Condit refuses to wait for GSP, who's the next contender for the interim belt?That’s the problem, isn’t it? If the UFC doesn’t hold Condit out of action until GSP is healthy enough to fight, then who is there for him to fight? On the flipside, if it does bench him until GSP is ready, what’s the point of having an interim title? It’s a tough one, no doubt about it.What makes it more difficult to figure is the fact that GSP has already cleaned out the division pretty well. If you put Condit up against someone like Josh Koscheck, you run the risk of being forced into a third GSP-Koscheck bout, which a lot of fight fans wouldn’t cross the street to watch. That leaves contenders that GSP hasn’t yet faced, guys like Johny Hendricks (who’s coming off that 12-second KO of Jon Fitch) or the winner of the Diego Sanchez-Jake Ellenberger fight. Realistically, none of those fights generates a lot of heat right now, so the UFC would have a tough time selling it. Let’s just face it: as long as the true champ is hurt, there’s no clear way to go that doesn’t feel like a consolation prize.@SeaninDC my theory is most people upset at CC/Diaz not b/c of running, but b/c they feel CC won on a technicality ie evade not fight...its like winning a game by the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the gameI’m familiar with this argument. I make it every time my wife beats me at Scrabble using words like ‘za’ and ‘jo.’ The fact is, even when I make this argument I know that it’s just sour grapes. Winning is winning. Just because people wanted Condit to march right into Diaz’s punch combinations, that doesn’t mean he has to. He did the smart thing. When he felt his back touch that fence, he got out of there before Diaz could do the same thing to him that he did to B.J. Penn. He brought the fight back to the open space and started over. He also landed a lot of punches, kicks, and spinning elbows for a guy who was supposedly fleeing in terror for 25 minutes.I understand that some fans were expecting another Diaz-Daley, but a) that didn’t work out so well for Daley, and b) if Diaz wanted Condit to stand in one place and box him, it was his responsibility -- not Condit’s -- to make it happen. You can pick your strategy, but you don’t get to pick your opponent’s.@ctlacosta what's a fan to do during ufc's long march break?Read a book or something. I recommend Jim Shepard’s Like You’d Understand, Anyway. Anybody who can switch between stories about Texas high school football players and Roman legionaries stationed at Hadrian’s Wall can keep you entertained until the UFC returns to the airwaves.@blackzag05 what beer embodies Nick Diaz's spirit? #mailbagSteel Reserve. I think technically it’s malt liquor rather than beer, but it’s close enough. I think it’s the Nick Diaz of alcoholic beverages because a) it’s powerful, b) the people who like it seem to really like it, often while crouched beneath bridges, and c) one way or another, it tends to provoke a strong reaction right away.@heizerbjj here's my Twitter mailbag question. How many Twitter mailbag questions were regarding Diaz/Condit? Also, do you think the Sonnen/Bisping decision was worse than the "robbery" of Diaz/Condit?The answer to the first question is: more than I care to count. The answer to the second is: neither was an especially bad decision, which is true of most close fights. I happened to score those fights for Sonnen and Condit respectively, but if they had both gone the other way I wouldn’t have been shocked. That’s how it goes with decisions. If you let the fight stay that close, you’re rolling the dice. Fighters know this. Fans know it too, or at least they should. It’s just that, when you’re rooting for one fighter over another, it tends to color your judgment. You talk yourself into believing that a close fight was a clear win for your guy, which is when the robbery talk starts up. Neither of those fights was a robbery. Sorry, Diaz and Bisping fans, but that’s the truth. @jmhawkins I'm lucky enough to be going to UFC 144 in Japan. How different do you think this card will be to a usual UFC event?First of all, you are lucky. That should be a memorable experience, and I’m a little jealous that I won’t be there as well. I was fortunate enough to cover one of the Dynamite!! New Year’s Eve events for Fight Magazine a couple years ago, and it’s something I’ll never forget.But you raise an interesting question that I’m not sure anyone can answer with any certainty just yet. The UFC is generally pretty good at exporting its product in its purest form. The staging, the music, the lights, the pre-fight activities -- all that runs like a Swiss watch at this point. What the UFC can’t always account for are the cultural differences. For instance, who knew that the crowd in Rio would start throwing beer until it happened? Not the UFC staff, many of whom looked as if they didn’t even know such a thing was possible as soon as the suds started raining down on them.Japan, needless to say, is probably going to be a different environment. In a city the size of Tokyo, it’s surprisingly easy to get 50,000 or so fans into the Saitama Super Arena, which is a cavernous airplane hangar of an arena that you have to see to believe. But the Japanese fight fans may not react the same way as a Vegas crowd to pump-up highlight reels and techno "Hotel California" remixes. In fact, they may not react much at all, which is both good and bad. Good, because it means we’ll all be spared the booing that sometimes starts up if a fight slows down for even a few seconds. Bad, because the TV audience might not know what to make of a pay-per-view broadcast that’s so quiet you can hear the fighters breathing.@generalwebb anderson silva reminds me of fedor. He beats average guys and duck his best challenger. Is the spider overated?By ‘best challenger’ I assume you mean Chael Sonnen, and by ‘duck’ I assume you mean ‘already beat once.’ So no, I’m afraid I can’t agree that Silva is overrated. He’s beaten everybody there is to beat in the middleweight division, and he’s slated to take on Sonnen again this summer. How can you possibly complain about that?@AndytheHurst What does the UFC do with: Josh Koscheck, Gray Maynard, Vitor Belfort, Rampage Jackson, and Roy Nelson?When you lump them all together like that, it seems like there’s only one clear option: convince them to form a Guns N’ Roses tribute band and tour the country in a used RV. Obviously Rampage is the only one with the charisma to be Axl Rose, and Josh Koscheck is just a few months and a ban on peroxide away from having Slash hair. Maynard, Belfort, and "Big Country" can fight over who gets to be Duff McKagan. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t watch a reality show about this brilliant little endeavor. It’s called ‘Becoming GN’R,’ and it will be the most successful show on FUEL by the end of this sentence.@JasonRule Beltran is going down to lhw. To late to save his job. Do see Big Country doing the same?I hope not. I’m ordinarily suspicious of fighters who think they’ll change everything with a move up or down in weight, but it’s almost never a good idea for heavyweights who move down to light heavyweight, where the competition tends to be faster and more athletic. At around six feet tall, Nelson would still be short for the division at 205 lbs. He’d be slow and hungry too. That’s no way to live.@VineStreetLife TMB:any ideas on how to objectify the scoring in an MMA contest? Is such a thing even possible? This is the root of the issue.I think judges could stand to be better educated, and to be held accountable for the decisions they render. But in a fight as close as Condit-Diaz, some controversy is inevitable. You’re asking people to watch a five-minute round, during which each guy might throw 20 or 30 strikes, attempt a couple takedowns, and employ all manner of defensive tactics. Then, when it’s over, we turn to the judge and say, ‘So, what’d you think?’ That’s fine when one guy is clearly winning, but in a back-and-forth round it gets arbitrary in a hurry. MMA is such a diverse sport that it’s not just about who threw and landed more strikes. For instance, how do you score a takedown that didn’t result in a submission attempt or even any significant action on the ground? How do you score a failed takedown attempt? How do you score a blocked head kick that breaks the blocker’s arm, even if no one knows about it until after the fight? A certain amount of guesswork and human error will always be involved. The best we can hope for is that we have judges that know what they’re looking at and looking for, and that we root out the ones that are habitually rendering bad decisions. We all know who they are.@BroccoliMonster #TMB How do you think the Rousey/Tate fight will go?For starters, let me say that it’s a fight I’m really looking forward to, and in a just world it would get a lot more hype than it has so far. As for a prediction, I think Tate will frustrate Rousey on the feet early on, win some rounds with takedowns and a very conservative ground game, and take a decision that Rousey spends the next six months complaining about. And yes, then Tate will no choice but to face Sarah Kaufman again, which is when the real fun starts.@JefftheJeff Mailbag: the Diaz Bros. vs The Hart Foundation: who ya got?!As long as the Diaz boys don’t make the mistake of taking their eyes off Hitman and Anvil during the singing of the national anthem, I think the 209 cruises to victory thanks to vastly superior cardio. Those tanning beds really take it out of you.@JoakimKalantari why do you hate Nick Diaz?Against my better judgment, I’m going to address this one only so that I can never address it again. I don’t hate Nick Diaz. I love watching Nick Diaz fight. My colleague John Morgan over at MMA Junkie once told me that he thinks the highest praise a media member can bestow upon a fighter is to say, ‘I’d pay to see this guy fight,’ and I think he’s right. We attend these events and watch these pay-per-views for a living, but even if I had to dig into my own pocket to see Diaz fight, I would. I have.At the same time, my job is not to be a fan, to pick sides and stick with them no matter what. My job is to call it like I see it, and with Diaz there’s simply no way to do that without being critical from time to time. He’s a great fighter, but outside of the cage he’s a bit of a mess. He insists on playing by his own rules, and he’s never encountered a problem that he couldn’t blame on someone else, even if he alone caused it. He has a passionate, loyal fan base, and from a purely sporting perspective that makes sense. He’s great at what he does. At the same time, few MMA fighters have sabotaged their own careers to the extent that Diaz has. We all make mistakes, but he adamantly refuses to take responsibility for his. He is a man with the virtues of his faults, which makes him fascinating. It does not, however, make him faultless. It doesn’t make him beyond criticism. His fans can think that any criticism of him amounts to unforgivable blasphemy, and that’s fine. That’s the prerogative of fans. The job of writers is to tell it like it is, which is what I try to do, even while knowing without a doubt that it will always upset somebody somewhere.@TheHarrison101 What did you think of the UFC's new intro?It’s awesome. I was suspicious after hearing Dana White tout its price tag -- as a rule, when someone starts telling you how expensive something is, they’re trying to convince themselves that the cost was justified -- but when I saw it I felt damn near inspired. It’s visually fun, and it’s an homage to this sport’s growth and development. Plus, I was so sick of that freaking gladiator.@Vilainsoleil What's your take on the Strikeforce HW's? They are 3-0 and yet Carwin/Big Nog are above Cormier/Barnett...It’s a regrettable situation, but one that will be remedied in time. The average fan may not appreciate how good Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier are, or even what a great fight that should be, but at least there’s an end in sight. The Strikeforce heavies are doing pretty well in the UFC, and the two guys left in that heavyweight Grand Prix should only continue the trend. That is, if they can make the move while they’re still young.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, fan, itrsquo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Trending Near 400,000 PPV Buys
Early indications have UFC 143 doing better on pay-per-view than many expected heading into the event. The event, which was main evented by an interim welterweight title fight between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz, appears to have gotten a boost due to the involvement of Georges St. Pierre in the overall "storyline."
At least that's what Dave Meltzer thought in his Wrestling Observer newsletter:
Based on preliminary trends, the show looks to have done in the range of 400,000 buys, which is more than I would have predicted. The key seems to be the Prime Time show, with so much talk stemming in particular from episode two, but also episode three. Most of our indicators, from the web site poll, to the newsletter poll, had a higher volume than expected as well. Because the show had no undercard, and really nothing was even promoted hard but the main event, it's clear that Diaz's win over B.J. Penn and his antics involving GSP have made him a draw. The interest in this fight was because people smelled GSP vs. Diaz and saw this as step one in the story. The strongest markets per capita look to have been Edmonton, Las Vegas, Calgary, Albuquerque (Condit's home city), Vancouver, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Toronto, San Francisco (Diaz is from Northern California), Montreal (GSP's home market since he was to face the winner), Halifax (GSP strong market), Phoenix, San Antonio and San Diego.
So again, it appears that GSP being set to return against the winner helped move the needle a little bit. But there is also something to how engaging of a personality Diaz is and he has really grown as a draw over the past few years between Strikeforce and his move to the UFC.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, gsp, time show
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMMA News Round Up: UFC Targeting Hawaii With B.J. Penn, Edwards Vs. Cerrone At UFC On FX 3, More
We've been pretty focused on the Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit results and ensuing fallout, rumors, denials, hopes and disappointments that some news has slipped past. Here's a quick round up of the latest UFC news you might have missed.
Dana White bringing UFC to Hawaii, wants BJ Penn to headline - MMAmania "We're still working on that, but we want to do it. I was kind of hoping to go to Hawaii again and do a B.J. (Penn) fight at the Aloha Bowl, but B.J. wants to take some time off. He's going to relax for a while. We're coming regardless, but that was the fight I really wanted to do there."
Donald Cerrone vs. Yves Edwards Set for UFC on FX 3 - MMA FightingThe two veteran lightweights will get their chance to bounce back from losses on FX.
UFC on FOX 4 set for Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 4 - MMAmaniaIt's official UFC on Fox is coming back to SoCal, this time to the Staples Center instead of Anaheim's Honda Center. Anyone care to look up the relative capacities of the two joints?
Anderson Silva and Cung Le lead latest UFC Twitter bonuses award winners - MMAmaniaCheck out the complete list of UFC/Strikeforce fighters who shared $60,000 in Twitter bonus award money for the last quarter of 2011. I was kind of surprised at some of the winning fighters.
Spike TV To Counter Program UFC on Fuel TV With Diego Sanchez Marathon - MMAmaniaSpike TV continues to play bare-knuckle hardball with the UFC. Dave Meltzer expects the Spike TV reruns to beat the live fights by anywhere from 400,000 to 600,000 viewers.
Jason Mayhem Miller Wants a Fight, Tells Fans To Tweet Dana White - MMA FightingMayhem wants to get the taste of his performance against Michael Bisping out of his mouth. Who's a good opponent for the high-profile, low performance Miller?
Anderson Silva paints his body, wrestles Amazonian tribesmen (Video) - MMAmania.comWorth a watch if you want to see a UFC champ muck-wrestling with native peoples.
Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua parts ways with longtime manager Eduardo Alonso - MMAmania.comIt's been a rough week for managers of Brazilian fighters.
Ranking The Fight Camps - Head Kick LegendHKL's new editor-in-chief Luke Nelson uses the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings to evaluate which fight camps are hot, and which are not.
The Fighter We'd Most Like To Get Into A Twitter Beef With - Gals Guide To MMAThe Gals look at who can throw down on Twitter, who plays too rough and who folds like a tortilla.
Tattoo Of The Week: Brandon Saling - Gals Guide To MMA"White Steel" across a man's belly. Thumbs up or thumbs down?
Pushing Nick Diaz: A Study in Match Making - Head Kick LegendHKL's Jack Slack looks at the process of building Nick Diaz.
Joe Rogan re-watched UFC 143, now believes Diaz beat Condit (Video) - MMAmania.comRogan is man enough to change his mind. How about you? I re-watched the fight twice yesterday and am further away from making a decision than ever. Might give it to Diaz by a hair based on the first two and fifth rounds, but Condit handily won 3 & 4.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, bj, twitter
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White beyond disappointed in Nick Diaz
UFC President Dana White returned to the United States today after spending time in Brazil filming the upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” White was probably looking forward to spending some decompressing from his hectic schedule when he returned to Vegas, instead he was faced with Nick Diaz testing positive during his UFC 143 drug tests.
Shortly after the Nevada State Athletic Commission released the news that Diaz had been found to have marijuana metabolites in his sample, the UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fighter ”, spending time, states today
Read the full article at Low KickDiaz / Condit 2 off via mysterious circumstances
Remember yesterday how we kinda sorta reported that there'd be an immediate Diaz / Condit rematch? Yeeaaaaah, about that.
Diaz's manager/trainer, Cesar Gracie, told MMAJunkie.com Wednesday that there will be no rematch with Condit. Gracie would not offer the website any more information about the matter. But Gracie was a bit more definitive when contacted by ESPN.com."Yeah, I said that (there will be no rematch). But that's all I can say," Gracie said. "I can't say anything else. I can't do anything."Quote that if you want to. There is not going to be a rematch. Other than that, that's all I can say."
Well what the hell does that mean?
There's a rumor floating around twitter that Nick failed a UFC 143 drug test for *gasp* marijuana, and that makes sense since it's been way too long since that bag has bit him in the ass. But there's also the chance that he was super cereal about that retirement thing, and he doesn't care if some whack-ass bitches are offering him a stupid rematch for a fight he already f*cking won.Both possibilities fall under the much broader 'Nick Diaz is a crazy person' umbrella, from which pretty much any scenario could be possible. Nick Diaz cut his hand badly on a ninja star. Nick Diaz is moving to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Nick Diaz threw a glass bottle at a 14 year old. Nick Diaz has whatever Gina Carano had. All totally possible because Nick Diaz is Nick Diaz. But yeah, my money is on that weed thing.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, rematch, i cant
Read the full article at FightlinkerMorning Report: Diaz-Condit Rematch Unlikely, Cung Le Wants Another Fight
Cesar Gracie is either a marketing genius or Nick Diaz is serious about this whole retirement thing. Either way, no one really appears to know what's going on. So while the UFC treads water in welterweight limbo, catch up on everything else MMA has to offer with the Morning Report.
5 MUST-READ STORIES TO START YOUR DAY
Cesar Gracie says Diaz vs. Condit rematch not happening. "There will be no rematch," Gracie revealed. "I can't do anything. Quote that if you want to."
Dustin Poirier and Korean Zombie spar on Twitter. Two of the UFC's fastest rising featherweights appear to be on a collision course after exchanging jabs online.
Top-10 welterweights: Carlos Condit creeps up on GSP. In light of the ongoing Condit-Diaz drama, Michel David Smith runs down the top-10 for MMA's 170-pound division.
Cung Le tops UFC Twitter bonuses. Zuffa's quarterly Twitter awards feel slightly less Brazilian this time around.
Ronda Rousey interview. Ariel Helwani talks to Rousey about her newfound stardom, psychological warfare, and Miesha Tate's grappling credentials.
YESTERDAY'S MEDIA GUMBO
Alistair Overeem is good at many things, but using those monstrous Dutch hands to unsnap bra straps is apparently not among them. Fairly SFW, but use your best judgement. (HT: Reddit)
Our own Luke Thomas examines whether Nick Diaz was robbed at UFC 143.
A look back to when Jake Ellenberger was barely "The Juggernaut" and Dan Henderson was "Hollywood."
Anderson Silva lands almost every shot on a sparring partner while Freddie Roach tosses advice from the corner.
UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste strips down in this (somewhat SFW) photo shoot with Complex Magazine.
UFC President Dana White rips the athletic commissions in his inaugural presidential address.
Looks like we'll see Cung Le in action at least one more time.
"@T_Webb_31: Cung Le any chance we see you back in the @ufc :) a thank you to your fans perhaps" that's my plans this year!
— Cung Le (@CungLe185) February 8, 2012
K.J. Noons, keeping it real.
Fighters get instant rematches if you cry like a baby. Can I get rematch too w diaz if i cry like a b***h? @danawhite @lorenzofertitta @ufc
— KJ Noons (@kjnoons) February 8, 2012
Someone is a little bitter.
Breaking news! Giselle purchases the Giants. Brandon Jacobs gets fired.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 8, 2012
I'm sure Kenny would disagree with you there.
Peyton > Eli...there I said it, been wanting to get that off my chest...
— Benson Henderson (@SMOOTHone155) February 8, 2012
Chael wastes no time coming out swinging.
When I want your advice I'll beat it out of you, Stupid. Now go back to singing to hamburgers and telling Segal he's legit.
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) February 8, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Here's what was announced yesterday (Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012):
UFC on FX 3: Igor Pokrajac (24-8) in against Thiago Silva (14-2, 1 NC)
Bellator 64: Ben Askren (9-0) vs. Douglas Lima (21-4)
Bellator 64: Season Six featherweight semifinals, match-ups TBD
Bellator 64: Chris Horodecki (18-3-1) vs. TBA
Worldwide MMA: Karo Parisyan (19-8, 1 NC) vs. Dave Menne (45-16-2); Lyle Beerbohm (16-2) vs. Jamie Varner (18-6-1, 2 NC); Drew Fickett (41-16) vs. Kevin Knabjian (12-6-1), according to Cagepotato
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's FPOTD belongs to BE reader Monte Fisto: Diaz v. Condit and the Rule of 'Trembling Shock.'
A blow that lands with trembling shock is a blow that moves the target: stops them in their tracks, snaps their head back, knocks the wind out of them, etc. As someone who has scored competitions, I was looking for blows that would damage an unprotected opponent (or even better, those that actually managed to damage a protected opponent).
...
What I saw in that fight was Nick Diaz -- especially in the first two rounds, and even, to some extent in the third -- repeatedly landing "trembling shock" blows (both to the body and head) and Condit landing very, very few comparable shots (he started to pop a few off in the third and especially the fourth).
Found something entertaining, brutal, or just plain bizarre for the Morning Report? Send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, rematch, cung
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseRematch between Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz once again in jeopardy
UFC welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit are only four days removed from their headlining fight at UFC 143 yet for some it may feel like four weeks based on the amount of debate surrounding the closely-contested bout and on-again, off-again nature of a potential rematch between the two. Things appeared to have come to a head on Tuesday night when UFC President Dana White announced Condit-Diaz would be fighting again. However, as life often shows, things are unfortunately not always what they seem.
According to Cesar Gracie, Diaz’s manager/trainer, a second scrap will not happen anytime soon if at all.
GSP Willing to Forfeit Title to Face Diaz
Gracie confirmed his belief to both MMAJunkie and MMAWeekly on Wednesday though opted not to give specifics as to his reasoning. White has not commented since his original remarks on the rematch taking place.
Discussion surrounding an immediate re-pairing of the two surfaced shortly after the controversial decision was read on Saturday night. Many viewers felt Diaz had been robbed after actively pursuing a constantly moving Condit while Diaz was so disgusted with the scoring he announced his impromptu retirement from MMA.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, rematch, carlos condit, tuesday night
Read the full article at Fighters.comCesar Gracie says rematch between Diaz-Condit is no longer taking place
The roller-coaster ride of the proposed rematch between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz continues as now word has surfaced saying it is no longer a go, at least according to Diaz’s head trainer Cesar Gracie.
UFC President Dana White recently reported an immediate rematch between Diaz and current UFC interim welterweight champion Condit would be scheduled to take place before Georges St. Pierre returned from injury. Just as quickly as the rematch was reported, rumors started that someone from either Diaz or Condit had decided against the bout.
According to a report by MMAJunkie it may have been Gracie himself who nixed things though he did not offer much more than to say the match would not go down, leaving those around the MMA world to sit and wonder.
Gracie’s comments are just the latest in a string of twists and turns surrounding the scrap. Condit is still expected to be in Las Vegas on Friday to meet with White. Until then fans will continue to have to wait and see what happens next if anything at all.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, rematch, condit, gracie
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz tests positive for marijuana metabolites
On Tuesday night it looked like we would see a rematch between the UFC 143 main event competitors Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit as UFC President Dana White tweeted that evening that Condit had agreed to face Diaz in a rematch, defending the interim UFC welterweight title he captured when he took the unanimous decision victory from Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Today any chance of an immediate rematch went up in smoke when the Nevada State Athletic Commission released the news that Diaz had
Posted in: ufc, diaz, rematch, decision victory, face diaz
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143 pay-per-view buys estimated at 400,000 for 'Diaz vs Condit' event on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas
The results of the event may not have been what UFC desired but surely they're happy to see the buyrate.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer (subscription required) is reporting that UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," which took place on Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, did 400,000 pay-per-view buys in preliminary estimates.
That's a pleasant surprise for an event lacking star power in the traditional sense. Nick Diaz is an Internet darling, sure, but his main event bout against B.J. Penn -- a far bigger star than Carlos Condit -- did just 280,000 buys.
Then again, a championship was on the line this time around (even if it was an interim title), and the event took place on Super Bowl weekend. Add in a three-part Primetime series airing on FX and the "Prelims" special on the same channel garnering a highly respectable 1.4 million viewers on average for a two hour broadcast and maybe this shouldn't be such a surprise.
The event featured Carlos Condit winning a five-round unanimous decision over Nick Diaz in what some consider controversial fashion, as all three judges awarded "The Natural Born Killer" the victory and in turn, the interim UFC welterweight championship and the promise to fight Georges St. Pierre later this year.
But it's gotten wacky ever since.
Diaz abruptly quit the sport in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan before his management team took to Twitter to campaign for an immediate rematch. Initially, the Condit camp refused and proclaimed they're preference was to wait for St. Pierre to recover from a knee injury that will sideline him until November.
Then, suddenly, word got out that the rematch was booked. Indeed, UFC President Dana White confirmed that the bout was in the works and even said Condit was the one who asked for it. That seemed strange enough but then things got even stranger.
Gracie, who had been so vehemently asking for the rematch, quickly changed his tune and said the fight would not be taking place. He refused to elaborate any further but emphatically stated multiple times to multiple media outlets the bout will not occur.
But, again, we still don't know why.
Now, we're in a holding pattern, waiting on more news. But in the meantime, everyone can rejoice with the news that the show performed better than expected at the box office.
Yippee.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White Statement on Nick Diaz
Las Vegas, Nevada – Dana White, President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship© organization, has issued the following statement on the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s report on UFC 143 interim welterweight championship contender Nick Diaz. "I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana," said White. "It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.”
Posted in: diaz, nick, nevada state, state, nevada
Read the full article at UFCProof that Nate Diaz shoots machine guns when his middle fingers are low on ammo
Whatever you're currently doing at the moment, there's a large probability that Nate Diaz isn't interested in it. Well, unless you're talking about living a gluten-free lifestyle. Nate could effortlessly talk a hole through your brain when it comes to eating healthy. He could then tell you how to close that hole using all-natural supplements and holistic remedies. In reality, Nate Diaz is just a down-to-earth guy that has an extreme obsession with firing machine guns at inanimate objects.
LayzieTheSavage caught up with the 209er at The Gun Store in Las Vegas, Nevada for an autograph signing and cut this slick video in return. You're going to like it because you can't get enough of the Diaz brothers. Don't worry, I know you better than you know yourself.
Posted in: diaz, nate, gun, youre, machine guns
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 143 initial PPV buy rates and other ratings
Dave Metzler of the Wrestling Observer reported the initial PPV buy rate for UFC 143 were approximately 400,000 buys. The numbers seem to be a pleasant surprise for the overall viewership for UFC 143 which includes improved prelim ratings on FX.
MMA Junkie reported that the UFC 143 prelims on FX earned 1.4 million viewers. While the prelim numbers still do not compare with Spike TV’s version of the prelims, its a significant improvement from 142 and the FX version is a 2 hour show.
Also, the UFC 143 weigh-ins on Fuel TV scored 38,000 viewers for the fighters just getting on the scale.
As for the success of UFC 143, Metzler indicated that the UFC Primetimes aided in the buy rate. Also, the Nick Diaz factor helped the buy rate as well since none of the other matches were heavily promoted.
Payout Perspective:
The 400K buy rate blows away my expectation of 250K buys. The buy rate is surprising and while the Diaz factor definitely helped, I also have to think the new marketing and promotion (including the new shows on Fuel) from the Fox deal was a factor. If indeed, Diaz carried this PPV, it will be interesting to see what happens with him next. Certainly, the UFC hoped that Diaz would have won which would set a great matchup with GSP. A rumored rematch with Condit was on and off most of Wednesday.
Frankly, it makes no sense for Condit to grant a rematch until he faces GSP to unify the titles. For Condit, he was originally forced to step aside for Diaz at 143 and then reinserted when GSP went down. Unless, the UFC forces the rematch, it makes no sense for Condit to do it.
From the UFC’s perspective, Diaz is a talented, but temperamental star on the rise. Arguably, the buy rate can be attributed in large portion to his persona. So, if you are the UFC, what do you do?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, prelim, rate
Read the full article at MMA PayoutNick Diaz vs Carlos Condit rematch not happening according to Cesar Gracie
And you can quote him.
The Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit rematch that UFC President Dana White had tweeted was basically a done deal with just a contract signing left on the agenda is now off the table, at least if we're to believe Cesar Gracie.
Diaz's manager told ESPN.com that the rematch is off. But he won't say why:
"Yeah, I said that (there will be no rematch). But that's all I can say. I can't say anything else. I can't do anything. Quote that if you want to. There is not going to be a rematch. Other than that, that's all I can say."
Details are sketchy and nearly all information surrounding exactly what's going on is speculation at best but something is certainly up. Where there's smoke, there's fire (maybe literally, in this case) and it likely won't be long until we get official word as to exactly what's happened.
Until then, feel free to give us your best guess as to exactly just what the heck is going on around here.
Posted in: diaz, rematch, i cant, official word, cesar gracie
Read the full article at MMA ManiaPushing Nick Diaz: A Study in Match Making
It is no secret that Nick Diaz basically kept the Strikeforce brand afloat through the last three years of his career. An exciting volume puncher who brings a unique style, always takes big shots, often gets in to trouble, but finishes the vast majority of his fights. These are all highly desirable qualities in a fighter; consistency and excitement being the greatest marketable assets in a fighter - there's a reason Chuck Liddell was the biggest star in MMA during his 3 year, knockout filled winning streak. What many fans do not realize is the efforts which matchmakers go to to make stars like Diaz a reality for their promotion. Despite the welterweight division being filled to the brim with takedown artists, Nick Diaz has still not fought a decent wrestler in the last half a decade.
The Role of a Match Maker
What many fans fail to understand is that there is a reason match makers such as Joe Silva make such huge amounts of money. A matchmaker's job is to either:
1) Put on a barnburning fight
OR
2) Sell a fighter as a superstar
In every event you will see the staple brawlers tend to the first order of business such as Chris Lytle and Chris Leben, fighters who are unlikely to get a title shot on their ability but that a matchmaker can rely on to put on an exciting fight win, lose or draw. Exciting brawlers can often stay in the major leagues of MMA despite a losing record if they entertain the crowds, and this is excellent because not everyone can be a Georges St. Pierre but still deserve gainful employment.
The second concern of selling a fighter is where Joe Silva, and other matchmakers earn their money. It is hard to sell fights under a brand unless there are stars within that brand that act as a figurehead. Often these will be exciting fighters such as BJ Penn, or fighters who have a following from outside MMA such as Brock Lesnar or Herschel Walker.
The subtleties of a good matchmakers' understanding are indeed impressive; when the UFC was attempting to sell Brock Lesnar for instance, they matched him against Frank Mir immediately. Frank Mir was coming off 2 unimpressive performances and a submission over one dimensional kickboxer Antoni Hardonk, he lack stand up prowess, wrestling ability and had been pounded out on his back 3 times by smaller men - a stylistic dream for a Division 1 wrestler who needs to make a huge impression. 9 times out of 10 Brock Lesnar beats Frank Mir based on their styles and abilities, but by the time the fight came around Countdown to UFC shows had played up Mir's ex-champion angle and made much of his BJJ despite the majority of his submissions at the time coming over fighters like Petey Williams, Tank Abbott and Wes Simms. While Lesnar lost the fight, Mir only achieved about 3 seconds of offense throughout due to Lesnar making a basic error, the rematch showed what the first match should have looked like.
Pushing the Nick Diaz Brand
Let me first say that Nick Diaz is an exceptional fighter and athlete, one of the authors favorites to ever compete in combat sports, but from an objective perspective he has been pushed like few other fighters have.
Nick Diaz has trouble with wrestling, this much is a fact. Anyone who saw him wading in like a zombie to pick up singles through the first four rounds of his fight with Carlos Condit can attest to the lack of polish in this area of his game. Yet in a division which is filled to bursting with wrestling talent; Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Jake Ellenberger, Johnny Hendricks, Mike Pierce, Tyron Woodley, Brian Ebersole, Matt Hughes, Ben Askren to name a few, Nick has not fought a single accomplished wrestler in 5 years. A quick glance through his record for those unfamiliar with his first run in the UFC will indicate why, the two accomplished takedown artists he fought - Karo Parisyan and Sean Sherk - laid all over him.
Now have a look at Diaz's record through the last five years since that 2006 loss to Sean Sherk; filled to the brim with strikers - most often one dimensional ones or older competitors who have abandoned their ground games such as Shamrock and Sakurai. Now there is something incredibly impressive about taking on great strikers at their own game and beating them there, but essentially this means that Nick Diaz - a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt - has been fighting one dimensional kickboxers in an MMA match.
Through Strikeforce Nick was a premier attraction, one of the highest paid fighters on the roster, because of his entertaining style and consistency, but this was helped along through the employment of only strikers as his opponents. These went from the relevant and dangerous Marius Zaromskis and Paul Daley, to the undeserving but game Scott Smith, Hayato Sakurai and Frank Shamrock, to scraping the bottom of the barrel as lightweight KJ Noons and middleweight gasser Evangelista Santos were brought to welterweight in order to scrap with Diaz on the feet.
Even when he came to the UFC and wrestlers filled the roster, failing an immediate title shot Diaz was given BJ Penn, an undersized welterweight who relied entirely on striking at that point in his career, dropped half a foot in reach and was still took Diaz down in the first round. Now this was a match of convenience of course, due to injuries the two were matched instead of their original opponents, just as it was coincidental that Diaz met Condit, a striker, afterward. What is questionable now however is that Diaz is getting an immediate rematch with Condit in hopes that he'll win convincingly and get a marketable title shot. If he loses, will he ever fight another wrestler?
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, fighter
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendNick Diaz Gets His Way Again but Was It the Right Call?
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before – Nick Diaz bitches and Dana White hands him the keys to the castle. For the second time since UFC 137, Diaz has thrown a fit with the UFC President giving him his way. After blowing his initial shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship because he decided that the pre-fight press conferences were unnecessary, White still granted Diaz main event status against B.J. Penn. Of course the UFC was in a bind because an injury sustained by champion Georges St. Pierre caused him to bow out of his title defense against Carlos Condit, but the point remains.
Diaz would go on to defeat Penn via Unanimous Decision and called out St. Pierre in a profanity laced attack claiming that GSP wasn’t really injured and instead was ducking a potential fight with him. At the UFC 137 post fight press conference White claimed that GSP was as angry as he had ever seen him and demanded his next fight be against the Stockton, CA resident as opposed to Condit. White also stated that Condit was okay with the situation and instead would face a yet to be named opponent at UFC 143 in the co-main event. As we would learn later on, Condit was not happy with the situation.
Of course, as luck would have it, GSP’s knee injury would turn out to be much more severe than anyone first thought and he would require surgery keeping him out until the fall of 2012. The natural thing to do for the UFC was to match-up Diaz and Condit which was scheduled for the main event of UFC 143 and would be for an interim title. The winner would then face “Rush” once he was healthy for the right to become the undisputed 170-pound champion.
The anticipation for Diaz-Condit was incredible as the UFC marketing machine was in full effect. White was telling anyone who would listen that this bout could be one of the best the UFC had ever seen. Based upon both fighters’ histories he wasn’t off as both men liked to stand and bang. They also brought a lot of intensity, toughness, and heart into every one of their fights. GSP felt uncomfortable rooting against the fellow Greg Jackson trained Condit, but still harbored a lot of ill will towards Diaz and made no secret of who he was pulling for.
The much anticipated tilt took place this past Saturday night and did not go anywhere near as well as planned. Condit fought a methodical, well-planned fight. He avoided Diaz’s pressure by keeping his feet moving at all times and landed a great deal of leg kicks and seemed to be ahead on the judges scorecards. When Bruce Buffer announced “The Natural Born Killer” as the winner it did not sit well with Diaz or his legion of fans who felt that Condit was awarded for avoiding Diaz at all costs and doing the bare minimum to take home the victory. As Joe Rogan interviewed Diaz after the fight he went into full tantrum mode and claimed he was done with MMA; that he no longer needed to be part of the sport.
It seems as though his threats and promises have worked to his advantage once again as word leaked out yesterday that Condit had not only agreed to, but asked for a rematch with Diaz before his scheduled bout with St. Pierre. Apparently Diaz was able to get under the skin of Condit in much the same way he did with GSP. The entire thing just goes to show you that self promotion is just as important as the fight you put on inside of the cage. The real story here is whether or not the UFC is hoping for a Diaz win so they can finally get the money bout everyone wanted in the first place, but has been canceled on two separate occasions – St. Pierre vs. Diaz.
Diaz lost the bout on all three judges’ scorecards. He won just one round on two of the judges’ cards and was awarded two rounds by the third judge. No one is arguing the fact that Condit fought a safe fight, but is there really a need for an immediate rematch based upon the outcome of the first fight? However, to be honest, this is the best call the UFC could make. Without trying to placate Diaz who seems to know how to push White’s buttons along with his opponents, if this fight doesn’t take place there is a potential nine-month gap between fights for Condit. If that is the case then what was the need to create the interim title in the first place if it was just going to be held up for nearly a year anyways?
The fight was close enough to get these two guys back in the cage as soon as possible. As we have learned in the past the judges aren’t always the most educated, responsible people in the arena at any given time. It’s certainly not fair to ask Condit to wait a minimum of nine months before GSP is ready to fight. This fight will kill three birds with one stone, it keeps Diaz happy, even if it means bowing down to his demands once again, it keeps Condit fresh and it gives more meaning to the interim title. For once the UFC is making the right call.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, gsp, condit
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainPost-UFC 143 Roundtable - Did Carlos Condit Run His Way To Victory?
Matthew Roth: So UFC 143 is over and the new champion was crowned. What I want to know from you guys is did the judges get the decision right and why? Did Carlos Condit run away or was he remaining elusive while breaking down Nick Diaz for 25 minutes?
Fraser Coffeen: Condit won. He avoided Diaz's shots while landing strikes of his own. That is counter striking, and it's a perfectly acceptable and legitimate aspect of striking. Condit did it beautifully.
Tim Burke: What Condit did was very smart. Did it make for a very good fight? No. Was he on his bike a lot? Yes. I don't believe that was simply counterstriking though. He was literally running across the cage at some points. Still, you can't argue with effectiveness.
I believe the bout could have gone either way. Diaz has a case for 1, 2 and 5. I scored it 48-47 Condit, but it was close.
Josh Nason: I thought the judges got it right and if there were 10-10 rounds actually given, I think the fifth round was that even that it would be a draw. Instead of calling out Condit for a rematch though, Diaz decided to "retire" when there's a great case to see them hook it up again. Some of the MMA community calling out Condit for "running" was a little nuts though, especially from fellow fighters. It's a really polarizing fight which should mean rematch.
Matthew Roth: I've read a bunch of people saying what Condit did was bad for the sport. Which is ridiculous to me.
Lots more after the jump...
KJ Gould: Condit won. He aimed to hit without getting hit. You know, 'Sweet Science' stuff. And some of the combos he landed were absolute doozies. That left hand, left leg kick, right head kick combo? Fans of striking got semi-hard watching that.
You can't win fights from just running. Kalib Starnes infamously ran, and I think he lost every round 8-10 on almost every judge's scorecard as a result.
Fans that were disappointed are likely the victims of UFC promising something they never have control over in delivering. Lesson learned: don't believe the hype.
TP Grant: Condit won, the judges got this right. Condit came in with a very smart game plan, and I don't think that game plan here is a dirty word. Diaz has good hands but he is flat footed and really goes to work once he has trapped his victim on the fence. Condit wanted to keep Diaz just out of range and land sharp leg kicks, which Diaz doesn't check. And if he found himself on the cage he looked for an opening to escape.
Accusations of running thrown at Condit are over blown, the man was ripping off combinations and landed over 150 strikes. I was entertained by the fight and found it exciting, and my only thought afterwards was wanted to see more rounds of it. I though the main problem here was that Diaz had no Plan B, Condit had a more diverse striking game mixing together kicks, punches, knees and elbows while Diaz limited himself to just punches and the occasional b*tch slap.
Josh Nason: I hope all the fighters that are giving Condit crap on the interwebs go balls out their next fight Leonard Garcia style. Something tells me they won't. Condit won, Diaz lost. I think this is simply residual bitterness from not getting to see GSP vs. Diaz. Blame GSP's knee for that folks, not the new interim 170-pound champ.
David Castillo: Dave Walsh put it best: 'controlling where the action is taking place is not the same as controlling the action itself'. And lo and behold, the numbers from fight metric illustrate this basic fact, which is that Condit, despite being elusive, was still active, and effective. The only reason this fight has garnered such a reaction is that a) Nick Diaz has a large devoted fanbase and b) it didn't meet the expectations we all built up or it. On first watch, I felt like Diaz had a stronger case (though I had it a draw as a result of Diaz taking the 1st and 5th, with Condit taking the 3rd and 4th with the second being a draw). On repeat viewing, that was not the case, as Nick looked more effective than he actually was.
Josh Nason: It's pretty nuts (and indicative of our culture to run those we perceive as wronged) that suddenly the MMA community is rallying around Diaz when they've been just fine to treat him as a pariah for the past few years.
Tim Burke: I think a lot of people are just analyzing the fight the way they would analyze any fight. I've torn a strip off Diaz multiple times, but he DOES have a case for winning three of the five rounds. A case doesn't mean I'm saying he won the fight. But it was close.
KJ Gould: I don't understand how anyone could give Condit the last round though. That's bats*it crazy.
TP Grant: Well there are people out there who don't reward position, they want a fight to "do something with it".
KJ Gould: Understandable when you take someone down and stall in guard. Diaz took Condit down, took his back and had complete control. In MMA that's the best position because in Condit's position he has the least number of offensive options. Even from under mount Condit had more punching and elbowing options available to him - even if strategically it'd be a bad idea giving someone like Diaz a limb.
Out of concerted efforts to finish a fight, Diaz had it when he had Condit's back with over a minute left. Clearly, Condit was on the defensive.
TP Grant: Oh I agree, mostly the people who argue position shouldn't be scored are those who say the only measure of a fight is damage and also seem to think that Pride rules never resulted in bad decisions.
Matthew Roth: Cage side I thought that Condit fought an amazing fight. There have been other talented fighters who have abandoned their game plans because of Nick's taunting and shenanigans. Carlos didn't. He forced Nick to fight his fight and the stats prove that. A minute of back control doesn't negate four minutes of getting out struck. And even on the ground, Carlos was still throwing strikes which is why he ended the fight with top position throwing elbows
I'm okay with the judges decision though the media room was pretty split on the matter.
Dallas Winston: Diaz taking Condit's back has more to do with effective grappling than "control" or "position". Effective striking and grappling are the main two credentials and significantly outweigh the lower categories. That means Diaz clearly won effective grappling in the 5th and that Condit would have to noticeably out-strike him to compensate.
It's disturbing that there's an argument for either fighter in rounds 1-3 and everyone agrees they were close rounds, but almost no one scored any of them 10-10. I think this fight is a classic fit for 10-10 rounds. I just don't get the reluctance in using that score for what everyone agrees were competitive rounds with no clear-cut winner.
Overall, I walk away from Diaz vs. Condit with the feeling that the fighters were extremely evenly matched and neither really proved themselves superior to the other. Even Pierce vs. Koscheck from this card and other fights like Rampage vs. Hendo and Shogun vs. Hendo awarded one winner in matches I thought could've gone either way.
Posted in: fight, diaz, round, condit, dont
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz vs Carlos Condit rematch kills a few birds with one stone but it sends the wrong message
By now you should know that Nick Diaz is not retiring and Carlos Condit's next fight will not be against Georges St. Pierre. Instead, a rematch has been booked with the papers set to be signed and the bout officially announced this Friday (Feb. 10, 2012).
We don't know when and we don't know where but we do know that it's happening. And according to UFC President Dana White, "Carlos wanted it."
This seems like an odd declaration, especially considering the fact that Condit's representatives were absolutely singing a different tune in the immediate aftermath of the UFC 143 main event this past Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They were saying Condit was going to wait for St. Pierre to get healthy because why risk losing out on the shot to unify the titles? After all, they felt the result of the first fight was definitive.
There are plenty who disagree, including Diaz, of course, but his entire camp, as well. That includes Cesar Gracie, never one to mince words and a guy we can always count on for a sound byte or two. He campaigned publicly for a rematch, rallying the Stockton troops and social media blasting those with influence enough to make a rematch come to reality.
And now it's happened.
Unfortunately, this may be sending the wrong message, in more ways than one.
Before Diaz vs. Condit 1, Dana White had been saying that St. Pierre's rehabbing was so far ahead of pace that he could return in the summer and he would have no problem making the fight between Diaz and the welterweight champ at that time.
Then Condit spoiled the party, just like he said he would, and suddenly St. Pierre's injury is still bugging him and he re-injured his knee jumping up watching UFC 143 and now he's still going to be out until late this year.
Uh-huh.
Because of the promotional tactics employed in the lead-up to Diaz vs. Condit, we can safely assume that the powers that be wanted Diaz to win the fight. Who can blame them? With Georges St. Pierre showing some fire we haven't seen from him since the Matt Serra rematch, hype was building to a fever pitch for GSP vs. Diaz, the good guy vs. the bad guy. With Brock Lesnar retired, this would have been the UFC's best -- and likely only -- chance to have a pay-per-view crack the million buy mark.
But Condit screwed that up by teaming up with Greg Jackson to create a strategy that Diaz had no clue how to deal with. A strategy fans the world over despised and decried for its lack of action. "The Natural Born Killer" has made his name by being just that, a man who brutalizes his opponents before finishing them off with no prejudice.
Not a guy who "runs away from a fight" and "plays the game" just to "win on points."
So when that happened, fans revolted and Diaz took his ball and went home. This, of course, put the UFC in a highly undesirable position. A 28-year-old potential superstar had just quit, a championship bout they wanted to put together disappeared into thin air, the guy who took said superstars place is getting smeared in the media (both by pundits and even fellow fighters), and the champion on the sidelines, St. Pierre, is apparently saying he'll give up his title just to fight the superstar who just quit.
Creative solution? Rematch.
This sets a dangerous precedent, though. Essentially, it's the UFC admitting that the outcome of the first fight was not what they desired and they're making the fight again in the hopes they get what they originally hoped for. It would be naive to think otherwise. Dana White himself admitted to scoring the fight for Condit and feeling as though there was no controversy. And really, that's the only reason to make an immediate rematch of this nature, if the result of the first fight wasn't definitive.
The good news for UFC is they can make the argument that it wasn't, even though the mouthpiece of the organization said it was.
The other issue with making this immediate rematch is the UFC has now become the parent who caved to the crying child that didn't get his way. After losing to Condit, Diaz went from a bad boy boxer to an immature fighter and stomped off in a huff, proclaiming he was done.
Now that UFC has come calling with the promise of a rematch to make it all better, what does that say to the rest of the talent on the roster? That if you cry long enough and hard enough -- and find a little bit of support from an online community that adores you -- you'll get your way.
Tsk-tsk.
As our friend Zach Arnold at FightOpinion.com opined, we're basically being asked to forget the outcome of the first fight. But now that the rematch has been made, it raises a simple question Arnold touched on:
I understand why Carlos Condit wouldn't mind a rematch with Nick Diaz - because he thinks he can beat him again. I understand why Nick Diaz wants a rematch. What I don't see is how the rematch is going to produce a dramatically different outcome unless Condit gives up the Greg Jackson counter-strategy that we saw at UFC 143 and decides to go for broke in order for Nick to have a better chance to knock him out.
So, if you hated the outcome of the first fight and the way the judges scored it, what makes you inclined to believe that you want to see the rematch if the fans were bored with the way the fight played out the first time?
And therein lies the rub. What on Earth makes anyone think a rematch will look any different? What information do we have to make us believe Diaz will come with a dramatically different game plan, one good enough to counteract the game plan Condit will surely resurrect?
The biggest criticism of Diaz throughout his career has been his inability to adjust. Indeed, instead of figuring out the best strategy to defeat what Condit was doing in the first fight -- even something as simple as using footwork to cut off the cage to force exchanges -- Diaz threw his hands up and started trash talking in the hopes that would coax his opponent into engaging on his terms. When that didn't happen and he lost, he quit.
Unless he suddenly becomes a different person by the time they step inside the cage to do it again, we're likely looking at five more rounds of the same thing we witnessed at UFC 143.
Who knows, maybe this time the judges feel the pressure and side with Diaz. But if it's another close decision would they do a third bout? Sadly, the feeling is that if Condit wins, it will be considered. If Diaz wins, he'll move on straight to St. Pierre, no matter how he gets there.
Is the wrong message being sent here? Yes. Will it matter to MMA fans? I doubt it.
Am I wrong?
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, rematch, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz II already a no-go, says Cesar Gracie
Almost as soon as it seemed a reality, a rematch between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit is not happening.
When contacted today by MMAjunkie.com, Diaz manager
Cesar Gracie said "no" when asked if a rematch recently announced is a
reality. He declined further comment.
UFC president Dana White issued a tweet late Tuesday that said Condit
had accepted a rematch with Diaz and was headed to Las Vegas on Friday,
presumably, to finalize a contract for the fight.
Posted in: diaz, las vegas, rematch, condit, cesar gracie
Read the full article at MMA JunkieCarlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz Rematch Rumored to be Off
A rematch between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz appears to be off just hours after UFC President Dana White said Condit had agreed to face Diaz again despite narrowly outpointing him this past Saturday at UFC 143 to win the interim welterweight title and a shot at champion Georges St-Pierre.
Diaz’s manager, Cesar Gracie, told The MMA Show this afternoon that he believes the rematch won’t take place and promised on Twitter that “everything will be out soon.”
Meanwhile, Condit’s manager, Malki Kawa, told The MMA Show that as far as he knew a rematch was still in the works, but if it was off it was on Diaz’s side.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for further updates on this breaking news…
Pictured: Nick Diaz
Posted in: diaz, rematch, condit, carlos condit, mma show
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyCarlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch In Jeopardy, Was Never 'Official'
Let me start by apologizing for my wording on the post this morning, I ran a post with the headline "Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch Becomes Official Amid Managerial Confusion." The bout was not official at that point, Dana White had simply confirmed that Condit had agreed to the bout. That was sloppy on my part and I apologize for any confusion caused by it.
It now appears, from reports coming from a variety of different directions, that the rematch will not happen due to an "issue" in the Diaz camp. No one has yet been quite willing to say what the "issue" is, but I've heard it from enough people that it does seem there is something that is keeping the Diaz camp from being able to accept the fight.
The first person I saw reporting that there was a problem was Front Row Brian on Twitter (some tell me he also beat everyone to news of Condit agreeing to the fight yesterday).
Cesar Gracie hinted that something was also going on a few moments ago via his Twitter:
@CesarGracieBJJCesar Gracie We greatly appreciate our fan support. Everything will be out soon. Feb 08 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
We'll follow up on the story as more details emerge.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: diaz, condit, morning i, diaz camp, retweet reply
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC books Nick Diaz-Carlos Condit II for future event
The story surrounding last Saturday night’s main event match-up between UFC welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit took another strange twist last night when UFC President Dana White went online to announce his organization had received verbal agreements from both men to face off a second time later this year. Previously it had been thought Diaz would take some time off before getting the itch to fight again and Condit would wait for bout with injured champion Georges St. Pierre.
The catalyst for the change may have occurred over the weekend when St. Pierre was quoted by Kenny Florian on UFC Tonight as saying he would give his belt up to fight Diaz, a rival who has gotten under the French-Canadian’s skin with a number of inflammatory comments and his attitude in general.
Condit’s Camp Says They Don’t Want Second Fight with Diaz So Soon
All told, the situation has been a rollercoaster kicked off by a closely contested decision at UFC 143 seeing Condit emerge with his hand raised despite his counter-pointing strategy in comparison to Diaz’s aggression and ring control. Shortly thereafter Diaz announced his retirement, White said he would be open to a rematch, and Condit’s camp changed their tune from saying he would be willing to defend the interim title he’d just won to wanting to wait for Diaz. Whether the ride has ended remains to be seen.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, condit, event matchup
Read the full article at Fighters.comRematch!
After the Condit / Diaz fight on Saturday night, Dana White teased us with a quote where he said Condit / Diaz 2 could happen immediately, but both guys would 'really have to want that fight.' Between Nick 'retiring' and Carlos not being stupid, that didn't seem very likely. Add in all the chatter from everyone and I had an immediate rematch on par with a snowball's chances in hell.
From Lorenzo Fertitta:
Just spoke to @lorenzofertitta. He said @CarlosCondit has definitely earned title shot/right to wait for GSP. No rematch. @lorenzofertitta told me GSP was upset and wanted him to make rematch but he said, "I can't do that to Carlos."
From Condit's management Malki Kawa:
"At this point, [a rematch] is not something we’re looking to do," he said. "We're looking for Georges. People forget, Carlos waited a long time to get this fight. He was moved around, and shuffled around between fights. He won the fight. It doesn't interest us at all. I think clearly and decisively, he won the fight. Even [UFC president] Dana [White] scored it for him. All of the opinions that matter scored Carlos as winner."
From Condit himself:
"I'd give Nick Diaz a rematch. Just maybe not right away."
And now the only evidence you need that a rematch is indeed going to happen: Dana White's twitter.
the rumor is true. Carlos did accept the fight today and Carlos is coming on Friday not thur.
With that, we are apparently getting Condit / Diaz 2. This is the second time the UFC has called Carlos Condit up and asked him to do something incredibly stupid for them. The first time is when they asked him to step aside so Nick Diaz and GSP could fight. Now they're asking him to step up again ... in the hopes that Nick Diaz and GSP can still fight. I'm one of those people who thought Diaz won rounds 1, 2, and 5, but I don't know about this. What's the point of #1 contender fights if they get redone whenever 'the wrong guy' wins?There are a lot of reasons this fight makes sense though. The entire world is split down the middle between fighters as to who really won. Stats point to Condit edging Diaz on strikes, but as Hitler would say "Diaz doesn't give a sh*t about pussy ass kicks!" Georges ain't doing nothing til November and it's not like there's another welterweight contender out there looking super-sayan that Condit just has to fight.
So ... are you excited about Condit / Diaz 2? Or are you looking forward to Condit / Diaz 3, 4, or maybe 5? However many til the UFC gets the results they want.
Posted in: fight, diaz, rematch, condit, carlo
Read the full article at FightlinkerJoe Rogan re-watched UFC 143 at home, now believes Nick Diaz defeated Carlos Condit (Video)
"Going back to the Diaz/Condit fight, my point about missing things, is I watched the fight at home and when I watched the fight at home, I had a slightly different opinion. When I watched it live I thought that Carlos Condit won it. In the fourth round I said that Condit was winning this fight and when I said that, I was a little bit out of school, because on the scorecards maybe necessarily he wasn't winning, in my head even, but, there was a trend in round three and four where Condit was scoring way more than Diaz was, that's why I was saying that Condit was winning that fight. The bottom line is when I watched it at home I gave Nick Diaz round one, round two and round five. At home when I watched it, I thought Nick Diaz won that fight."
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan talks about why he originally thought Carlos Condit "might have edged" Nick Diaz on the scorecards in "The Natural Born Killer's" five round unanimous decision win at the UFC 143 pay-per-view (PPV) event last Saturday night (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rogan also explains the difficulty in accurately predicting the outcome of a fight while simultaneously deconstructing it for the viewing audience at home, therefore leading to a change in opinion when he re-watched the Interim Welterweight Championship title fight at home, in a more controlled environment. He also names specific rounds that he believes should be scored in favor of Diaz, but is this an effort to bolster the company's decision to announce a possible rematch? Or does he simply make a convincing argument for a Diaz win?
Posted in: fight, diaz, round, condit, home
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCondit vs. Diaz rematch in the works
New UFC interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit has accepted the challenge from Nick Diaz for a rematch, according to president Dana White.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, rematch, condit, president dana
Read the full article at sportsnet.caCondit OK's rematch; Diaz coach says no-go
New UFC interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit has accepted the challenge from Nick Diaz for a rematch, according to president Dana White.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, rematch, condit, president dana
Read the full article at sportsnet.caPost UFC 143, Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz Rematch in the Works
That didn't take long. The fallout from Saturday's UFC 143 main event between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz now will apparently include a rematch.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, rematch, carlos condit
Read the full article at Heavy MMAAnderson Silva, Dan Henderson and Joe Rogan all thought Nick Diaz won. Do Condit fans really think it was a clear cut win?
Seriously everytime I log on to /r/mma or sherdog, its all talk about how nick lost that fight and doesn't deserve a rematch. As soon as that decision was announced I new there would be a rematch because the fans were robbed a good fight. Everybody is bitching about Nick Diaz way more than I see Diaz "nuthuggers" claiming he whined his way into a rematch. When the biggest names in the sport all say it was Diaz's fight you really think that the judges really made the right decision? I mean come on 2 of them scored it 49-46, giving only rd 3 to Diaz. Nobody even doubts Condit won rd 3, its 1,2 and 5 that Diaz should have won. Diaz didn't even get a medical suspension. That means after the fight a doctor looked over Diaz and said he's good enough to fight tomorrow if he wanted too. Doesn't that, as a FIGHT fan make you question who really won the fight? submitted by voodoochild87 [link] [comment]
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, fan, rematch
Read the full article at RedditEven Hitler thought Nick Diaz won that fight!
Dana White confirms Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz II set for later this year
And the saga continues…
Trainer Cesar Gracie recently came forward to express his belief that fans hadn’t seen the last of Nick Diaz inside the Octagon or any cage for that matter. While Gracie thought it would take Diaz a year or so before getting the itch to fight again, it appears it will actually only be a matter of months after UFC President Dana White went on Twitter to confirm Condit had agreed to fight Diaz again and clear up any confusion surrounding the outcome of their first bout.
White did not go into specifics but did say that Condit wanted the match-up to occur. Today’s news came as a complete 180 from comments made this week by Condit’s manager who said his client would wait for Georges St. Pierre rather than face Diaz again in an immediate rematch.
This past weekend, Diaz was handed a decision loss at the hands of Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC 143. The bout was for the interim UFC welterweight title and Diaz, along with numerous fans, fellow fighters, and media members, felt like he deserved to have his hand raised when things were done.
During the post-fight interview, the Stockton native announced he was done with MMA and was moving on, citing the judges’ approach to scoring as the reason for his departure from the sport. The news shocked just about everyone watching in attendance and live on pay-per-view, including Joe Rogan who was conducting the post-fight interview. When Rogan continued to push for more from Diaz, the controversial welterweight explained he felt all Condit did was run from him.
PHOTO CREDIT – HDNET/UFC
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, condit, decision loss, postfight interview
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGeorges St. Pierre willing to give up championship to fight Nick Diaz
Yes, you read the headline correctly.
While UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre has not come out to officially say he’d be willing to relinquish his rights to the title in order to fight polarizing rival Nick Diaz, it appears he has mentioned he’s open to doing so in private company.
The shocking revelation came Tuesday evening as part of UFC Tonight where host Kenny Florian, who is friends with GSP and trains with him at TriStar, said the currently injured St. Pierre brought it up over dinner after watching Carlos Condit outpoint Diaz last weekend at UFC 143.
Condit earned a shot at St. Pierre with the victory though it may be in vain if “Rush” follows through on his comments by giving up his belt to settle the score with Diaz. During the build up to the Diaz-Condit bout GSP expressed his desire to see Diaz win after the Stockton scrapper called him out after beating B.J. Penn in his previous Octagon appearance.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, pierre, st, st pierre
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCesar Gracie puts the brakes on Condit vs. Diaz II discussion
Just hours after receiving confirmation that the newly crowned Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit had accepted, it now appears that the rematch between he and Nick Diaz will not happen.UFC President Dana White announced late Tuesday evening that Condit had, in fact, agreed to face Diaz in a rematch, revealing that the Jackson's MMA fighter would be headed to Las Vegas on Friday to finalize the bout.However, contrary to such reports, Diaz's manager, Cesar Gracie, has already put the brakes on any
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, condit, cesar gracie, face diaz
Read the full article at Low KickDana White: Carlos Condit Accepts Rematch With Nick Diaz
One day after Carlos Condit's management insisted that Nick Diaz was in his rearview mirror, there seems to be a change of course for the new UFC interim welterweight champion. Late on Tuesday night, UFC president Dana White tweeted that Condit accepted the proposal for a rematch, and would travel to Las Vegas on Friday in hopes of finalizing the deal. "The rumor is true. Carlos did accept the fight today and Carlos is coming on Friday not [Thursday]," he wrote.Early Wednesday morning, White told MMA Fighting via text that he had no timetable yet for the bout's date, as he's currently in Brazil filming an international version of The Ultimate Fighter.
However, he returns on Thursday and will meet with Condit about making the rematch a reality.As recently as Monday, Condit's manager Malki Kawa told MMA Fighting that he would advise his client to focus on a potential championship unification with linear title holder Georges St-Pierre."At this point, [a rematch] is not something we’re looking to do," he said. "We're looking for Georges.But apparently, Condit was swayed by the outcry over the decision. The three cageside judges scored the bout 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 for Condit. Reaction to the decision was split, with Diaz supporters noting that he was often the aggressor, moving forward and initiating the action, while Condit supporters believed he employed an effective counterstriking style that allowed him to land more blows during the course of the five-round bout.
Regardless of the outcome, it was a departure from his usual style. Known for his aggression and finishing instincts, Condit had stopped opponents in 26 of his 27 career wins prior to UFC 143.Afterward, Diaz said he would retire, voicing frustration with the judging system. Meanwhile, White said he would allow Condit to chart his own course and wait for GSP if that was his wish. But now it appears that instead of hanging up his gloves, Diaz will get the chance to avenge his loss, and instead of preparing for St-Pierre, Condit will spend the next few months getting ready to face Diaz one more time.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, rematch, condit, carlo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143: Dana White Confirms Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz Rematch
In the wake of UFC 143, the primary focus of discussion throughout the MMA community has been the legitimacy of Carlos Condit's win over Nick Diaz. Throughout the fight, Condit frustrated Diaz as he constantly circled away and forced Nick to chase him. After the fifth round, the judges awarded Condit the unanimous decision. Aside from fight fans arguing the merits of Condit's technical performance, the story this week has been whether or not there will be a rematch between the two.
After the fight, Dana White himself came out in support of a rematch, saying:
You know, people are bitching and thinking it was close or whatever, we can do that fight again before GSP comes back.
Nick Diaz's camp seems to be in support of this, as Diaz's manager Cesar Gracie himself came out blasting the NSAC judges for their scoring Saturday night. Gracie went as far as to say that the judges had and have had a bias against Diaz personally for his style and in-fight antics. He did not specifically call for the rematch, but playing up the drama to this extent definitely shows that Gracie doesn't want to let the issue pass.
In pretty much direct response, Condit's manager, Malki Kawa released a statement today:
"At this point, [a rematch] is not something we're looking to do," he said. "We're looking for Georges. People forget, Carlos waited a long time to get this fight.
In a surprise turn of events, it seems Dana White found the right price tag to change the mind of Condit and his management team. Via his twitter, White responded to a fan asking if rumors of the rematch were true. Dana responded:
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, rematch, condit
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendCarlos Condit Reportedly Agrees to Verbal Rematch with Nick Diaz
UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit has reportedly agreed to a rematch with Nick Diaz following their close fight Saturday night. While it was initially believed that Condit would wait for UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre to get healthy, it appears that he will now rematch the recently “retired” Diaz. Rumors about the fight spread earlier this evening with UFC President Dana White later confirming via twitter.
Diaz and Condit battled in an extremely close fight that split the MMA community when it came to who won the fight. While this is not too uncommon in a judgement based sport, this fight stood out since those that agreed on who won seem to give each fighter different rounds.
When the bout is signed it will end the brief retirement of Nick Diaz after he expressed his anger about the decision following Saturday’s fight. The fight would also give Diaz a second shot at fighting champion Georges St-Pierre when he comes back from knee surgery.
No timetable was given on when the fight would occur, though it could likely happen during the summer and could possibly headline a traditional Independence Day weekend card.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for more on this developing story and all things MMA.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, mma community, condit
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyCarlos Condit Reportedly Agrees to Rematch with Nick Diaz
UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit has reportedly agreed to a rematch with Nick Diaz following their close fight Saturday night. While it was initially believed that Condit would wait for UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre to get healthy, it appears that he will now rematch the recently “retired” Diaz.
Rumors about the fight spread earlier this evening with UFC President Dana White later confirming via twitter.
Diaz and Condit battled in an extremely close fight that split the MMA community when it came to who won the fight. While this is not too uncommon in a judgement based sport, this fight stood out since those that agreed on who won seem to give each fighter different rounds.
When the bout is signed it will end the brief retirement of Nick Diaz after he expressed his anger about the decision following Saturday’s fight. The fight would also give Diaz a second shot at fighting champion Georges St-Pierre when he comes back from knee surgery.
No timetable was given on when the fight would occur, though it could likely happen during the summer and could possibly headline a traditional Independence Day weekend card.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for more on this developing story and all things MMA.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, mma community, condit
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyWe're pretty sure Dana White just announced the Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz rematch
Everyone out there, pat yourself on the back. With the endless comments across the internet and the innumerable message board threads that appeared just after UFC 143's Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz bout have finally paid off. Your influential voice has been heard by the top brass at ZUFFA, and now it looks like Carlos Condit has accepted a rematch against Nick Diaz at some point in 2012. No need to smash anymore flat-screen televisions in disgust -- Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit II is on the horizon.
Here's what Dana White said on Twitter just minutes ago when an eager fan asked about a potential rematch.
What Dana White is referring to at the end of his Tweet is essentially Carlos Condit is coming to Las Vegas to take part in an 'announcement.' There you have it folks, now get the popcorn ready -- and don't be scared to put butter all over it, homie. Props to LiverKick.com writer, Rian Scalia, for the find.
Posted in: diaz, nick, condit, carlos condit, carlo
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC summons Carlos Condit to Las Vegas, announcement expected this Friday
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit has had less than three days to enjoy his shiny new belt. No matter, he's apparently headed back to the scene of the crime, quite literally if you're a Nick Diaz fan, to talk business.
Condit's manager, Malki Kawa, tonight (Feb. 7, 2012) took to Twitter, revealing that the presence of the "Natural Born Killer" was requested in Las Vegas, Nevada, and an "announcement" is expected by the end of this week.
Here's the full snip:
Well, the powers to be just called. @CarlosCondit and myself will be in vegas and hope to have an announcement on fri... :)
Of course, one would immediately imagine that Condit could return to "Sin City" to negotiate a possible rematch against Diaz sometime this spring/summer. Condit earned a unanimous decision over the Stockton, Calif., scrapper in the UFC 143 main event this past weekend (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
But, the lopsided decision, for most mixed martial arts (MMA) fans, went over like a led balloon. Many felt that Diaz, who chased Condit for nearly 25 minutes of their five-round fight, as well as nearly finished him in the waning seconds of it, deserved the nod.
At the very least, a split decision.
However, Condit's accurate counter-striking, backpedaling attack was enough to win the bout in the eyes of the ringside judges, as well as earn him a date with the true division champion, Georges St. Pierre, later this year. Prior to the bout, St. Pierre -- who can't compete until much later this year because of a knee injury -- made it clear that he wanted to fight Diaz, a bout that was originally scheduled to go down at UFC 137 back in Oct. 2011.
But, it never happened for a ridiculous amount of reasons. And with Condit's win, combined with Diaz's hasty/bratty post-fight decision to retire from MMA altogether, it may never happen.
Then again, if Condit is in town to negotiate a Diaz rematch, one that his trainer, Greg Jackson, and even UFC President Dana White, felt wasn't warranted because the judges got it right on fight night, then that possibility still lives.
Maybe.
Time will tell. This Friday, actually.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, decision, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White confirms Condit vs. Diaz II
submitted by fsckerdot1q [link] [7 comments]
Posted in: diaz, vs, condit, ii, fsckerdot
Read the full article at RedditCesar Gracie Thinks Nick Diaz Will Take A Long Break Before Returning To The UFC
“I think Nick will miss fighting when he’s not doing it for long enough, so I do see him coming back at some point. Not now, but maybe end of the year, 2013, something like that… He’s had breaks before. I think it was good for him. He focused on his triathlons. I think he does get antsy after a while. After about six months, the guy wants to fight. I think he’s been fighting too many times, and I don’t think he’s got that in him right now. So I think an extended layoff would be a great idea for him… What people forget is Nick is only 28 years old. He’s a young guy at the peak of his career. He’s a polarizing figure. But whether you love the guy or hate him, you want to see the guy fight. That’s the biggest thing. He’s definitely not boring. He puts people in the seats, and that’s the bottom line… So a guy like that, he’s going to be around, and I think the GSP fight will eventually happen someday.”
— Cesar Gracie, via MMA Junkie, commenting on Nick Diaz’s retirement comments at UFC 143
I’m sure we’ll see Nick Diaz back one way or the other, but I think it would be a mistake to take too long of a layoff. The momentum and buzz behind Diaz was at an all-time high coming into the Condit fight. He lost, sure, but Condit didn’t exactly beat him up and smash his aura like Antonio Silva did to Fedor Emelianenko. In fact, exactly one half of the people who voted in the “Who won?” poll on UFC.com believe Nick won that fight. In other words, the Condit fight may have slowed down the Diaz bandwagon but it didn’t run it off the road. In a perfect world, I’d say Nick should fight again sometime this summer whether it be against Condit, Koscheck or someone else to keep that momentum going, but if his heart isn’t in it right now, then maybe it’s best he just lay low for awhile.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: fight, diaz, guy, nick, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertCarlos Condit okay with fighting Nick Diaz again…just not until 2013
It looks like Carlos Condit will indeed twiddle his thumbs for nine months while waiting for welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre to fully recover from knee surgery instead of taking to the Octagon again, risking the interim belt and title-shot he earned by beating Nick Diaz by way of a controversial decision this past weekend at UFC 143. Condit’s camp had originally come out to say he would be open to another match-up as opposed to remaining inactive, and UFC President Dana White had mentioned an immediate rematch with Diaz to settle any debate over who the more deserving fighter was, but it appears neither scenario will play out in the end.
“Listen, Nick Diaz is up in arms, Cesar Gracie is up in arms, and I understand that, you want to win, it’s a championship fight. That’s what you’re in this business for and I can appreciate all the passion and support for those guys,” said Condit’s manager Malki Kawa to MMAWeekly when asked about his client fighting Diaz again before GSP. “Believe it or not, I’m a fan of Nick Diaz. I like the Diaz brothers; I like the way they fight. I think they’re true fighters and good for the sport, but when you look at it, Carlos Condit won that fight. Two judges scored it four rounds to one, one judge scored it three to two; It wasn’t a split decision; it was a unanimous decision across the board.”
“That rematch can happen later on in the future,” Kawa continued. “No one’s afraid of Nick, but we have to do what’s best for (Carlos’) career and in my opinion and the people around me and the advice that we’ve been taking, the best fight and the only fight is Georges St. Pierre.”
Gracie: “It takes two to make a dogfight.”
Condit and St. Pierre are expected to fight in November. Diaz’s future remains uncertain after hastily retiring from MMA based on his disgust with the judges’ decision. Many people felt Diaz deserved the decision based on aggression and ring control while others, including those keeping an official score of the fight, gave the nod to Condit based on his ability to “stick and move”.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at Fighters.comWhy Carlos Condit will be the most dangerous man Georges St. Pierre has ever fought
FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com.
With UFC 143 in the books, many fight fans are bemoaning the loss of the much-anticipated match-up between UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre and former Strikeforce Champion Nick Diaz, but is it because they've been blinded by the emotional build-up and the Diaz mystique?
An unbiased comparison of the resumes between the Stockton slugger and new Interim 170-pound champion, Carlos Condit, clearly shows what St. Pierre himself said in the now-infamous Diaz no-show press conference: "The Natural Born Killer" is a tougher challenge for him.
And a more deserving contender.
Condit may not have the polarizing charisma to sell as many tickets as Diaz, but realistically, he poses a much more serious threat to the throne. This is also a better fight. As a die-hard St. Pierre fan, this fight makes me nervous, whereas the Diaz fight looked like a cakewalk, comparatively.
Lets look at some key facts the Diaz bandwagon seems to overlook:
Condit has as many finishes as Diaz has total wins.
With 13 KOs and 13 submissions, Condit is the most well-rounded guy GSP has fought since Penn, maybe ever, and he's much bigger and more powerful than Penn was. There's nowhere GSP can take this fight and feel safe.Condit's only loss in the last six years was a split decision to Kampman in his UFC debut. Condit finished his last five UFC opponents, all but Hardy are current UFC contenders, not Strikeforce wannabes. Diaz has only one meaningful win over UFC-level talent. And we all know how inconsistent Penn is, especially at anything over 155-pounds. Before that, Diaz's biggest win was over Robbie Lawler EIGHT YEARS AGO!
Diaz has NEVER beaten a serious wrestler or takedown artist. In his previous UFC stint, he lost to Karo Parisyan, Sean Sherk, and Diego Sanchez. He hasn't faced a serious wrestler since. Condit finished Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald, both undefeated before and since they lost to Carlos. He also finished Jake Ellenberger who hasn't lost in four years -- except to Condit. That's three contenders who haven't lost a fight in the UFC to anyone but "The Natural Born Killer."I honestly think Carlos Condit could well be THE MOST DANGEROUS FIGHTER GSP HAS EVER FOUGHT!
Add to that the fact that GSP will not have his master game-planner Greg Jackson in his corner and that many of his coaches are currently coaching Carlos, and the fact that GSP will be coming off a VERY long layoff and major surgery that could seriously hinder his explosiveness and power, and I see this as very possibly the toughest test of St. Pierre's career.
Agree or disagree? Sound off in our poll.
Poll
Who is the biggest threat to the title reign of Georges St. Pierre?
Jake Ellenberger (5-0 since Condit)
Rory MacDonald (12-0 except for Condit)
Dong Hyun Kim (15-0 except for Condit)
Nick Diaz (1-1 in the UFC)
Carlos Condit (who recently beat all of the above)
50 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, diaz, pierre, condit, carlo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCesar Gracie envisions a Nick Diaz return to UFC but says fighter deserves time off
A good night's sleep has dulled anger within the Diaz camp.
Diaz manager Cesar Gracie doesn't know whether the
fighter's retirement will stick following a decision loss to Carlos
Condit, but he anticipates it won't.
"I think Nick will miss fighting when he's not doing it for long enough,
so I do see him coming back at some point," Gracie today told
MMAjunkie.com. "Not now, but maybe end of the year,
2013, something like that."
Posted in: diaz, gracie, decision loss, cesar gracie, fighters retirement
Read the full article at MMA JunkieCondit’s Manager: Rematch With Diaz Can Happen But GSP Is First
Carlos Condit's manager Malki Kawa says they aren't afraid of rematching Nick Diaz, but right now the fight that makes the most sense is facing Georges St-Pierre.
Posted in: diaz, gsp, condit, manager, kawa
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyAccording to UFC, this is what the world thinks of the Diaz vs. Condit decision...
This geographical breakdown of the planet's opinion of UFC 143's Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz decision just proves that Peruvians are too irresponsible to make their own decisions. It also illustrates what I've suspected for quite some time now: Egyptians are diehard Carlos Condit fans and they will stop at nothing to show their loyalty to the UFC interim welterweight champion.
If you visit UFC.com and venture to the 'Who do you think won the Diaz vs Condit fight' poll, you'll have the ability to participate in planetary-wide social experiment to see who truly won at UFC 143. The following screen shot was captured at 1:00 pm PST on February 7th (today). For UFC to place this on the front page of their site, you would be naive to not believe a Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit rematch will go down at some point in 2012. We all know it's going to happen, folks.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, carlo
Read the full article at Middle EasyCesar Gracie: “One guy running away is not a dogfight.”
Last weekend’s main event offering from Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz at UFC 143 was far from what many fans expected to see based on the typically tough-nosed style of each as well as the pre-fight comments from both camps. It was also unlike the bout Cesar Gracie anticipated unfolding, at least to a certain extent.
Gracie, Diaz’s head trainer and manager, recently called Condit’s counter-pointing strategy into question after “The Natural Born Killer” avoiding engaging in the “dogfight” he’d implied he was up for during the weeks leading up to Saturday night’s scrap.
“Carlos was running at one point, and Nick slapped him in the face said, ‘Quit running.’ We were there for a dogfight. Carlos said he’d provide for the fans a dogfight, a great fight where they were going to go at it. That was not a dogfight. It takes two to make a dogfight. One guy running away is not a dogfight,” said Gracie on Monday in an interview with The MMA Show.
However, Gracie doesn’t fully fault Condit for taking the smarter, less aesthetically pleasing route instead of catering to the expectations of others, and actually blames the coaching staff at Greg Jackson’s gym for the gameplan.
“It’s one thing to avoid standing in the pocket, it’s one thing to know how to dodge punches and kicks, and be somewhat elusive and have great defense. It’s another thing to turn your back and run from a fighter. That’s completely different,” said Gracie of Jackson’s approach to fighting. “You shouldn’t be telling your fighter to fight like that. I think it’s a disgrace and a shame. I’ve said this before: I don’t like that camp. I’m not going to take that back.”
The future of both Diaz and Condit appear a bit hazy at the moment, as Diaz said he was retiring after the loss and Condit is likely waiting 9-10 months for Georges St. Pierre to heal up from a knee injury rather than take another fight as his management implied he would prior to his closely-contested win over Diaz.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC
Posted in: diaz, condit, gracie, dogfight, dogfight ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainThe Forward Roll: UFC 143 Edition
UFC 143 was supposed to clear up a few things in the welterweight division. Define a No. 1 contender. Move another name forward. Chart the course towards Georges St-Pierre. Instead, we're left with chaos after a unanimous but controversial decision win by Condit which left many clamoring for a rematch, Diaz saying he was ready to hang up his gloves, and the UFC unsure of what will come next. Nowhere near as bad but also troubling: Josh Koscheck barely squeaked by Mike Pierce in a decision that also had many observers voicing objection. So there's plenty to think about, and plenty to project in this edition of The Forward Roll.
Carlos ConditIt was bad enough that both Diaz and Georges St-Pierre significantly overshadowed Condit on the way to UFC 143, but even after Condit won and snapped Diaz's lengthy 11-fight win streak, he was almost immediately cast aside for criticisms of his performance, claims of a judging robbery, and Diaz's retirement talk. Let's get one thing straight: Condit didn't run from Diaz; he moved to the center of the cage and re-set. He engaged Diaz many times, as Diaz didn't get the marks on his face by accident. It may not have been a typical Condit performance, but neither is it worthy of the scorn he's received from many. This is a fighter who has only two decision wins in 28 career victories. You may find fault with the judges' decision, but Condit came in with a plan and executed it, choosing to live with the results. Now the question is whether or not he'll defend the interim belt or wait for St-Pierre.Prediction: Condit faces St-Pierre in the late fall.Nick DiazDiaz said he'd walk away from the sport after feeling robbed by the judges yet again. It had to be frustration talking, but who knows how long the sentiment will continue. Diaz is still just 28 years old, near his athletic and earnings prime, and unlikely to drop very far in the rankings as the result of a contested loss. After fighting seven times in the last 24 months -- including five scheduled five-round bouts -- perhaps he simply hit a breaking point. Either way, he's due some time off. Diaz should take a couple of months to indulge his non-MMA interests, from triathlons to sport jiu-jitsu, and make his decision with a clear head. But the smart money expects to see him back at some point this year.Prediction: Jon Fitch and Diaz were both top five ranked for the last couple of years. Both are coming off losses. That sounds good.Fabricio WerdumWerdum's striking game looked excellent in his three-round destruction of Roy Nelson, with major advancements to his Muay Thai clinch and kicking. Add those new tools to his brilliant jiu-jitsu and the 34-year-old has to be considered near the top of the division. Prediction: He faces Frank MirRoy NelsonNelson continues to reshape his body, weighing just 246 for the fight against Werdum. Now it will be interesting to see if he drops more weight, in which case he can probably drop to 205, or stays in the same ballpark. Regardless, losses to Werdum, Mir and Junior dos Santos put into question his ability to rise to the upper echelon of the division. Prediction: He faces the Mark Hunt-Cheick Kongo loser
Josh KoscheckIt's hard to raise Koscheck's stock after escaping with a razor close win, even if Pierce is a solid opponent. But afterward, Koscheck explained that he had issues with his training camp, and is leaving his longtime home at American Kickboxing Academy. That would certainly affect his preparation, so we'll have to give him a pass on a mediocre performance. Prediction: He faces the Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez winnerMike PiercePrior to the bout, I thought Pierce had a legitimate chance to beat Koscheck, and I feel that Pierce won the bout. According to FightMetric, he landed more strikes in both the first and second rounds. But it was not to be, as Koscheck's takedowns and takedown defense might have swayed the judges. The loss shouldn't affect Pierce's standing much in the organization, as even company president Dana White said he scored the fight for Pierce. Prediction: He faces Brian EbersoleRenan BaraoAnother impressive win from Barao, who swept the judges' scorecards against top 10 featherweight Scott Jorgensen. The victory puts Barao in good position, as the only top featherweight who has yet to face current champ Dominick Cruz. Cruz, however, is locked in to fight Urijah Faber around summertime, so Barao will have to fight and win at least once more before challenging for the belt. Prediction: He faces the winner of Michael McDonald vs. Miguel TorresDustin PoirierThe 23-year-old easily handled a low-reward matchup with the debuting Max Holloway, winning by first-round submission. Poirier remains one of the featherweight division's best young talents, and prior to the Holloway bout, had been scheduled to face Erik Koch. That's still a fight worth making.Prediction: He faces Koch
Posted in: fight, diaz, decision, prediction, condit
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit's Camp Wants GSP, Not Diaz Rematch
After beating Nick Diaz by mildly controversial unanimous decision at UFC 143, Carlos Condit was put into a difficult spot. UFC president Dana White suggested that a rematch between the two might be the way to go, an idea our own Kid Nate supported.
Condit already lost his scheduled title shot against Georges St. Pierre after the UFC took it away and gave it to Diaz following his win over B.J. Penn. When GSP got hurt, it gave Condit a chance to face Diaz and the win gave him a version of a championship and guaranteed a shot at Georges St. Pierre and the legitimate welterweight title.
So for his camp, the idea of fighting Diaz again is not that appealing right now. Or at least that's what Condit's manager, Malki Kawa, told MMA Fighting:
"At this point, [a rematch] is not something we're looking to do," he said. "We're looking for Georges. People forget, Carlos waited a long time to get this fight. He was moved around, and shuffled around between fights. He won the fight. It doesn't interest us at all. I think clearly and decisively, he won the fight. Even [UFC president] Dana [White] scored it for him. All of the opinions that matter scored Carlos as winner."
They have told other sites that they're willing to wait until roughly November to fight GSP, any longer than that and Condit will need another fight to keep busy. At that point a rematch could be talked about.
Thoughts on this after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
As for me? I completely understand not wanting a rematch here. Diaz is a tough fight for anyone and Condit did his job and won the bout. He has already been pushed aside because of Diaz once, why should he not get his shot at GSP (assuming he is ready in time) again?
And what if Diaz pulls off the win the second time out? Does he get a shot at GSP right away? If so, why? It would seem the only fair thing to do in a 1-1 split would be to have the rubber match. Of course, that wouldn't happen because the UFC wants a fight between GSP and Diaz, it's something they felt they could market easily and is a bigger fight than Condit/GSP.
So Kawa is completely in the right to say that they don't want to rematch Diaz. There is almost nothing to gain and everything to lose in a rematch. Condit beat Diaz the first time around by sticking to a disciplined strategy, he isn't likely to suddenly engage in a firefight the second time around, so if he wins the same fight it's not going to do wonders for his reputation with people who hated the first fight. And if Diaz can make the correct adjustments to cut the cage off rather than chase, Condit loses and almost certainly doesn't get a rubber match as Diaz gets the title shot.
I can see no reason not to hold out for his shot at St. Pierre.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, rematch, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMorning Report: Cesar Gracie Duels Greg Jackson, Roy Nelson Parties With Coolio
Saturday is long gone, but the Condit vs. Diaz controversy somehow rages on. The fallout continued in spades yesterday, from Cesar Gracie's belittlement of the judges, to the Condit camp's refusal to sign a rematch. Catch up on all the back-and-forth with today's edition of the Morning Report.
5 MUST-READ STORIES TO START YOUR DAY
Cesar Gracie calls UFC 143 judging a "perfect storm of incompetence." Still fuming from the judging slight, Gracie minced no words during Monday's episode of The MMA Hour.
Greg Jackson: stick-and-move strategy was "no-brainer." Unsurprisingly, Jackson adamantly defended the pro-Condit decision, explaining, "it's not like we reinvented the wheel."
Fabricio Werdum complains Roy Nelson's face hurt his leg. Days later, Werdum is still feeling the effects from "Big Country's" Homer Simpson-style gameplan.
Carlos Condit's camp not interested in Nick Diaz rematch. Despite the war of words, Condit's manager made it clear that the interim champ has absolutely no interest in an instant rematch.
Brandon Vera explains his withdrawal from Thiago Silva rematch. Beset by a backlash from fans, "The Truth" took to Facebook and clarified his abrupt decision.
YESTERDAY'S MEDIA GUMBO
Hungry for violence? Check out Yury Bessmertny's crushing knockout of Gago Drago from Thai Boxe Mania. (HT: Liver Kick)
Not enough? Watch Chad Sermon and Brian Kerr revert back to Pride rules (to devastating results) at Shepherdsville's Hardrock MMA 43 event. (HT: Middle Easy)
Yup, this is somehow from the exact same event. This time Braedon Ward and Brandon Bishop suffer a double KO in the most bizarre way imaginable. (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Roy Nelson's Roller-Coaster Weekend, Part 1. (via @roynelsonmma)
Roy Nelson's Roller-Coaster Weekend, Part 2: Coolio Edition.
Wise words from Tim Kennedy.
@TimKennedyMMATim Kennedy The vampires in Underworld are what vampires are supposed to be like. Not that g** glitter crap. Feb 06 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
Better hope that tantrum retirement is short-lived.
@GeorgesStPierreGeorges St-Pierre ...I still hope to meet Nick Diaz in the Octagon one day. Feb 06 via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Nik Lentz has a simple solution for all the controversy.
@NikLentzNik Lentz Ufc mma If you are upset at the Diaz/Condit fight, there is a simple fix..Make the cage smaller. Larger areas favor reach, height and evasion. #UFC Feb 06 via Seesmic Favorite Retweet Reply
Chael Sonnen still isn't convinced he'll get his fight.
@sonnenchchael sonnen I wouldn't pack for June in Brazil just yet, Eagles. Grab a coat, though, because if this happens Hell is frozen. Feb 06 via web Favorite Retweet Reply
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Here's what was announced yesterday (Monday, Feb. 6, 2012):
UFC on Fox 3: John Hathaway (15-1) vs. Pascal Krauss (10-0)
UFC on Fuel TV 1: T.J. Dillahsaw (4-1) vs. Walel Watson (9-3) moved to main card
UFC on FX 2: Daniel Pineda (16-7) in against Mackens Semerzier (6-3)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's FPOTD belongs to BE reader KGNLuc: Greasing with water: The tragic, almost complete transcript of what was said in Nick Diaz's corner during UFC 143.
A lot has been said and written about Nick Diaz' fight with Carlos Condit. One point of discussion has been Diaz seeming inability to adapt in a fight that was at least close or - in the opinion of many fans and more importantly the judges - he was losing. Personally I thought Diaz did win the fight, but this is definitely a case of "could've gone either way". More interesting to me is the question, what was going on with Nick, whether he was following a gameplan, if he really did get bad advice by his corner and so on. Luckily, the UFC provides an audio-stream straight from the corner of Nick Diaz. Even more luckily for you gentlemen I had the insane idea to make a transcript of the high-points for the poor suckers who do not get these streams for free like us germans.
Don't forget to follow @MMAFighting on Twitter and 'like' us on Facebook.
Found something informative, entertaining, brutal, or just plain bizarre for the Morning Report? Hit me at @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, feb
Read the full article at AOL FanhousePost UFC 143: Four different routes for Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz lost a hotly contested decision Saturday night to Carlos Condit. This no doubt has thrown the dynamo for a loop considering he would have had a date with GSP lined up had he taken the win (and the interim title). In fact, he seemed so disgusted with fighting after the way he lost the match that he subsequently retired from MMA. Knowing his history of brash decisions we are only left to hope that he goes back on that plan, and keeps scrapping.
If Cesar Gracie is able to talk his brooding brawler
Posted in: diaz, nick, decision, carlos condit, cesar gracie
Read the full article at Low KickGeorges St. Pierre remains open to fighting Nick Diaz
The one thing that UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre seemed to want more than anything else on Saturday night was to see Nick Diaz stand in the center of the Octagon with his hand raised in victory. In the days leading up to the event, St. Pierre made it clear that he wanted to face Diaz in his next bout, however that opportunity was denied him by a Carlos Condit victory.
There were many fans that also wanted to see St. Pierre meet Diaz and while that fight may not happen as soon as St. Pierre
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, pierre, st, face diaz
Read the full article at Low KickForget About Diaz, GSP Now Has to Focus on Carlos Condit
UFC President Dana White knows that Georges St-PIerre wanted to fight Nick Diaz, but that's not happening now, so his advice is to get focused on Carlos Condit cause that's who he's facing when he returns.
Posted in: diaz, condit, carlo, georges stpierre, diaz gsp
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyJoe Rogan talks about Nick Diaz beating Carlos Condit
submitted by User100011 [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, carlos condit, rogan
Read the full article at RedditUFC 143 salaries released
MMA Junkie reports that the salaries for UFC 143 with Nick Diaz and Josh Koshcheck heading up the list. Diaz earned a reported base of $200,000 while Koscheck received $146,000 for his win.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission released the salary information today. The total UFC payroll for Saturday night totaled $880,500.
Via MMA Junkie:
Carlos Condit: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus)
def. Nick Diaz: $200,000
Fabricio Werdum: $100,000 (no win bonus)
def. Roy Nelson: $20,000
Josh Koscheck: $146,000 (includes $73,000 win bonus)
def. Mike Pierce: $20,000
Renan Barao: $22,000 (includes $11,000 win bonus)
def. Scott Jorgensen: $20,500
Ed Herman: $62,000 (includes $31,000 win bonus)
def. Clifford Starks: $8,000
Dustin Poirier: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
def. Max Holloway: $6,000
Edwin Figueroa: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Alex Caceres: $8,000
Matt Brown: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
def. Chris Cope: $8,000
Matt Riddle: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
def. Henry Martinez: $6,000
Rafael Natal: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Michael Kuiper: $6,000
Stephen Thompson: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)
def. Dan Stittgen: $6,000
Payout Perspective:
Notably, Diaz and Werdum had flat fees for their work. Condit earned $110K with a $55K win bonus which means that he was only guaranteed $55K in a title fight. In comparison, Condit’s last fight before 143, he earned $34K plus $34K win bonus for a total of $68,000 (UFC 132 versus Dong Hyun Kim). Hopefully he received a locker room bonus for his fight. It looks like $6K was the bottom pay for the night for four fighters while three others received $8K.
Posted in: ufc, saturday night, diaz, bonus, list diaz
Read the full article at MMA PayoutCarlos Condit’s camp not interested in rematch with Nick Diaz, ready to wait for GSP
In a change of direction, new interim champion Carlos Condit appears ready to wait for Georges St. Pierre to return from injury before fighting again inside the Octagon. Condit defeated Nick Diaz this past Saturday at UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, securing himself a piece of UFC gold for the first time in his career.
Last week it was reported by Condit’s management team that if he was to beat Diaz for the interim title he would likely stay active, defending the belt once before potentially facing GSP. However, Condit’s manager, Malki Kawa, changed his tune on those claims earlier today.
“At this point, (a rematch) is not something we’re looking to do,” said Kawa, in an interview with MMAFighting. “We’re looking for Georges. People forget, Carlos waited a long time to this get fight. I think clearly and decisively, he won the fight. All of the opinions that matter scored Carlos as winner.”
Diaz’s trainer/manager, Cesar Gracie, was a guest today on the MMA Hour, said in response to Kawa’s statements, “Of course they’re not interested in a rematch. They lost the first one.”
There was talk of an immediate rematch between Condit and Diaz taking place based on the bout being scored very closely, though that could have been difficult to work out as Diaz announced his retirement from MMA immediately after the fight.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, rematch, condit, carlo
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCamp Condit Wants Georges St. Pierre, Not A Rematch With Nick Diaz
Carlos Condit’s decision victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 143 has been so controversial, it wouldn’t be that far-fetched of an idea to do an immediate rematch while Georges St. Pierre continues to rehab his knee. Dana White was open to the idea after the fight. Cesar Gracie said they would “probably” be interested in doing that today. But, Carlos Condit and his management, not so much.
Condit told Ariel Helwani right after the fight that he would rather just wait for GSP and his manager, Malki Kawa, more or less echoed that sentiment today on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, basically stating that they’re moving past Nick Diaz.
“At this point, [a rematch] is not something we’re looking to do,” he said. “We’re looking for Georges. People forget, Carlos waited a long time to get this fight. He was moved around, and shuffled around between fights. He won the fight. It doesn’t interest us at all. I think clearly and decisively, he won the fight. Even [UFC president] Dana [White] scored it for him. All of the opinions that matter scored Carlos as winner.”
“It was a performance that was excellent,” Kawa said. “He picked apart a very formidable fighter. Two judges saw it four rounds to one, and one saw it three to two. The fact that he didn’t stand and bang with him? I’m sorry, not every fighter has to do that. He did what he had to do, and that goes to show me that this guy is mature, he’s fighting fights that are smart. People are like, ‘Oh, Carlos is not a finisher.’ The guy threw how many spinning elbows? How many spinning back fists? He threw a flying knee. He tried to finish Nick Diaz when the time and the opening was there. I can’t find a flaw in his performance.”
“Carlos is a fighter,” Kawa said. “At the end of the day, this is not a guy who wants to sit around and wait. He wants to fight. You never know. Right now, the idea is that we want Georges St-Pierre. The goal is to fight Georges St-Pierre. He wants to be the best in the world, so that’s the fight that interests us at this moment.”
You can’t really blame them. Condit doesn’t have much to gain and lot to lose by getting back in the cage with Nick Diaz before taking his shot at Georges St. Pierre.
To be honest, other than really wanting to see GSP vs. Diaz and a rematch being the only possible avenue to that at this point, I really don’t want to sit and watch Condit “stick-and-move” (Greg Jackson’s words) for another 25 minutes while Nick chases him around the cage. And I sure as heck don’t want to pay for it. Condit played it smart and got the win. Good for him, but I’d rather spend my $50 on guys who are gonna get after it no matter what’s on the line.
Image via Twitter.com/danawhite
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, george, carlo
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143: Can Carlos Condit Defeat GSP Without Greg Jackson?
At UFC 143, Carlos Condit became the UFC Interim Welterweight champion by defeating the toughest opponent of his career. Nick Diaz was on a powerful winning streak and seemed destined for a fight with Georges St. Pierre, but Condit got in the way. The result of that fight is not without controversy. Many think Diaz should have won, and many think Condit only got the win by running away in a boring performance. Yet the results speak for themselves – in the end, it was Carlos Condit who had his hand raised, Carlos Condit who became the new champion, Carlos Condit who now moves on to face GSP. But when he does face St. Pierre, he’ll be doing so without one of the best tools in his arsenal.
Greg Jackson, the long-time coach to Condit and occasional trainer for St. Pierre, is in all likelihood going to sit this fight out, choosing to corner neither man. In the lead-up to UFC 137, during the period when it looked like GSP vs. Condit would headline that show, Jackson addressed this issue with MMA Fighting:
Ariel Helwani: Greg, two of your star fighters are going to fight each other in October. What will do you?
Greg Jackson: Teammate protocols are pretty clear in this situation so everybody knows what happening. I step out, the other coaches -- John [Danaher], Phil [Nurse] and Firas [Zahabi] -- will take care of GSP and probably [Mike] Winkeljohn and some of the other guys here will take care of Carlos. But I step out of it, so I won't be cornering either guy. They'll fight each other. Those are the new teammate protocols. We knew this would be coming -- it will probably be coming again --but this time we are very well prepared.
Carlos trains in Albuquerque full-time, while GSP's home base is in Montreal, so how will you not offer advice when you see him in the gym?
Carlos is still training with a team. I am just not going to do game plans and private lessons and everything that I normally do for the guys because usually it's a pretty intense process -- I give them private lessons all the time -- heavy on the game planning, heavy on the personal growth plan, and for this, I'll just let the other coaches do that for both Georges and Carlos. So I'll just step out. They're all amazing coaches. Geez, I'm the worst coach on the team. They'll all do their thing.
Though he has not yet spoken about this in the aftermath of UFC 143, it seems likely that Jackson’s stance will be the same, and that Condit will find himself without his head trainer’s services during the fight. And that is a serious blow to the new champion.
In his defeat of Diaz, Condit’s greatest strength was his game planning, led by Jackson. Jackson and Condit figured out how to deal with Diaz’s unorthodox striking and successfully nullified the high-volume puncher over the course of 25 minutes. It was clear they studied tapes and formulated a plan that would lead to victory. Without that gameplan, expect a very different result from Condit vs. Diaz.
Against GSP, Condit will need an even greater emphasis on strategy. St. Pierre is one of the most cerebral fighters in the game, a champion who always forces his opponents into their areas of weakness, while never showing any weaknesses himself. Unlike some champions, and some great fighters, GSP doesn’t have an obvious hole in his game. That’s not to see he is unbeatable – no one is – but finding the path to victory against him will be difficult. Greg Jackson is the kind of master strategist and coach who perhaps can find that path – but he won’t.
This past weekend, Carlos Condit took the biggest step up in competition of his career, and he succeeded largely on the strength of his strategic approach. Against GSP, he’ll take an even greater step up, and his key partner in that strategic planning will be taken away from him. I said after the Diaz win that I was finished underrating Condit, and I am not going to go back on that now. But the loss of Jackson will make an already difficult mountain to climb just that much harder. This will be the true test of what Carlos Condit is made of. Can he pass?
For more on this issue, check out "Carlos Condit and Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz" by Kid Nate.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: diaz, jackson, gsp, condit, carlo
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Trainer Cesar Gracie Blasts Judges For Condit Decision
Nick Diaz made no secret of his unhappiness with the judges decision in his loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. Diaz went so far as to declare his retirement from MMA as a result of the decision. Now his coach Cesar Gracie has made it clear he agrees with Diaz, even if he's not retiring himself.
Gracie spoke to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour today
"I literally just got off my computer to watch that first round again," he said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "And I thought, you'd have to be insane to think a guy chasing the other guy down, landing the significant punches, and running after a guy, trying to fight a guy who will not fight, that is scared to fight, and you lose? How do I tell my fighter what he should have done better? It takes two men to fight. If one guy doesn't fight, that should be a point deducted."
Gracie said that the judges' scoring might have been personal rather than unbiased.
"I don't think the judges like Nick," he said. "He comes off, he talks in the ring... Carlos was running at one point, and Nick slapped him in the face said, 'Quit running.' We were there for a dogfight. Carlos said he'd provide for the fans a dogfight, a great fight where they were going to go at it. That was not a dogfight. It takes two to make a dogfight. One guy running away is not a dogfight.
"I don't know what the judges were looking at," he continued. "They've never liked Nick in Vegas. They've never voted for him in a decision. The only one was the BJ Penn fight, and he almost had to kill BJ to get that one. I don't think they like his attitude, a guy that's going to go out there and talk. I think they think he's disrespectful. They're going to find a reason to judge against him. I don't think he can get fair judging in that state at all."
Mike Chiappetta has more from Gracie at MMA Fighting.
I worry that Diaz isn't getting the realistic feedback he needs from his very insular camp. Like Diaz, his teammate Jake Shields thrived in the weaker Strikeforce environment but has struggled in the UFC. I wonder if broadening their horizons a bit might be helpful to the whole team.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: fight, diaz, guy, judge, dogfight
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCesar Gracie 'shocked' at UFC 143 decision, says 'incompetent judges' don't like Nick Diaz and are ruining MMA
When the dust settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, after UFC 143 this past weekend (Feb. 4, 2012), there was a new Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Interim Welterweight Champion crowned in Carlos Condit.
The event, however, did not end without having a dark cloud lingering over it. And that cloud, yet again, had to do with the judges' decision. The Octagon side judges awarded Condit a unanimous decision victory over Diaz and had many fans and media confused at the scoring and their call.
After the bout, Diaz, in utter disgust, announced his retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), leaving fans across the globe disappointed at the possibility of not seeing Diaz compete in combat sports ever again.
Two days removed from UFC 143, the MMA community is still buzzing with the controversial decision of the main event and it seems that everyone has their opinion on who truly deserves to be the interim UFC 170-pound champ.
Cesar Gracie, Nick Diaz head trainer, is no exception.
Speaking on The MMA Hour, Gracie discusses the decision the judges, who he says do not like Diaz, rendered that left his pupil without UFC gold and without the opportunity to face welterweight kingpin Georges St. Pierre:
"He clearly won that fight. I've told him, when he lost before, that he has to let it go. But this fight was clear he won. I was shocked, we were all in disbelief, especially with the scores that they read. Every judge had Nick losing that first round. It takes two to make a dog fight and one fighter running away does not make it a dog fight. In my opinion, I don't think the judges like Nick. He talks in the ring and Nick slapped Carlos at one point in the face and told him to quit running. The judges have never liked Nick in Vegas, they don't like his attitude. He nearly had to kill B.J. Penn (at UFC 137) to earn that decision. I think they think he is disrespectful and they are going to find a way to go against him. I don't know what fight they were looking at. I literally thought they had mixed up the fighters names when they read the score. Everybody was confident that Nick won that fight."
Gracie also gave his thoughts on whether or not he believed Carlos Condit fought like a coward due to the game plan he and Jackson's MMA camp used, a camp, he says, he is not very fond of:
"Coward is a big word to use. I think anyone that fights in the UFC for as long as Carlos has fought, he is not a coward. I like Carlos Condit, you get a good vibe from him, but, I do not think he is a coward in any sense of the word. He just listened to his corner's game plan. Run away and throw some leg kicks. I am disappointed in the way he fought for sure, he promised a dog fight and it did not happen. I am impressed by his skills and I was concerned, but the tactic he used, it loses stock in other people's eyes and I was obviously disappointed. If Nick had been knocked out by Carlos, I would feel better right now than what I do. I don't like that camp (Jackson's MMA) and I'm not going to take that back. I like the fighters there, but when you have coachs that tell people to fight like that, I don't like it. I am proud to not corner my guys like that and I never will, we have a code and I'm proud of the way we fight."
On whether or not Diaz will truly hang up his gloves after announcing he would do so after his UFC 143 loss:
"I haven't talked to him about it (retiring). I would hate to see that. He is not just fighting his opponent, he is fighting the judges that do not like him. The whole judging criteria is so flawed, they don't answer to no one they are not reviewed and they will never be fired. They are making decisions that are ruining the sport and are ridiculous and no one is going to get them out of there. You have incompetent judges that do not even know anything about this sport. The criteria makes no sense and it is insane. I can understand Nick's frustration. We can have a rematch, sure, set up a rematch, but if it is with the same judges how are we going to win? I don't know how they had him losing that first round. After the fight, an actual official from Nevada came up to me and told me, you should have Nick box, because in boxing, they will still rob you, but he is still going to walk away with millions and millions of dollars. "
Condit, now awaits the return of Georges St. Pierre, which could mean he would have to ride the pine for another nine months to see action.
Are you Maniacs surprised at the revelation the Gracie has bestowed upon the MMA world that judges seem to have a disdain for Nick Diaz and his "bad boy" attitude inside the Octagon?
Thoughts?
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, judge
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCesar Gracie on Nick Diaz-Carlos Condit Judging: 'Perfect Storm of Incompetence'
Cesar Gracie blasted the judging of the three cageside officials charged with scoring UFC 143's main event matchup between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, calling the trio "a perfect storm of incompetence."In the now controversial interim welterweight title bout, Gracie's longtime protege Diaz lost a unanimous decision 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 as scored by Cecil Peoples, Patricia Morse-Jarman and Junichiro Kamijo. Gracie took major exception to the scoring of the first round, which many observers scored for Diaz.
"I literally just got off my computer to watch that first round again," he said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "And I thought, you'd have to be insane to think a guy chasing the other guy down, landing the significant punches, and running after a guy, trying to fight a guy who will not fight, that is scared to fight, and you lose? How do I tell my fighter what he should have done better? It takes two men to fight. If one guy doesn't fight, that should be a point deducted."Gracie said that the judges' scoring might have been personal rather than unbiased. "I don't think the judges like Nick," he said. "He comes off, he talks in the ring… Carlos was running at one point, and Nick slapped him in the face said, 'Quit running.' We were there for a dogfight. Carlos said he’d provide for the fans a dogfight, a great fight where they were going to go at it. That was not a dogfight. It takes two to make a dogfight. One guy running away is not a dogfight."I don't know what the judges were looking at," he continued. "They’ve never liked Nick in Vegas. They've never voted for him in a decision. The only one was the BJ Penn fight, and he almost had to kill BJ to get that one. I don't think they like his attitude, a guy that's going to go out there and talk. I think they think he's disrespectful. They're going to find a reason to judge against him. I don't think he can get fair judging in that state at all."
Judges are independently appointed by each state's athletic commission. Last Saturday night's fight marked the fifth time Diaz has fought to a decision in Nevada, and he has lost four of them. In addition to the Condit bout, he lost three-rounders to Joe Riggs, Diego Sanchez and Karo Parisyan, with all three of those bouts coming between 2004-2006.Gracie held back on criticism of Condit, except to say that he was "disappointed" in the way he fought after promising a war, but placed the blame for that on Condit's coaching staff. "It's one thing to avoid standing in the pocket, it's one thing to know how to dodge punches and kicks, and be somewhat elusive and have great defense," he said. "It’s another thing to turn your back and run from a fighter. That's completely different. You shouldn't be telling your fighter to fight like that. I think it's a disgrace and a shame. I've said this before: I don't like that camp. I'm not going to take that back."After the fight, Diaz said he might be done with mixed martial arts. Gracie has yet to speak with him in any depth about his future, but said he could understand Diaz's frustration in the moment. Some have wondered whether an instant rematch would lure Diaz back. On Monday, Condit's manager Malki Kawa told MMA Fighting that his side wasn't interested in that. That came as no surprise to Gracie. "Of course they're not interested in a rematch," he said. "They lost the first one."Gracie said he has yet to hear anything from UFC officials regarding a rematch, but that he would be on board for it. One prerequisite? A new location."The whole judging criteria is so flawed, and that these guys don't have anyone to answer to," he said. "Once they're in there, they're not getting reviewed. You're going to get fired because you're obviously an incompetent judge? That doesn't happen. It's like the Supreme Court. You're in there for life. You can do whatever you want and you can tell everybody basically to 'F off' if they don't like it. It's a position of total power. They're making decisions that are ruining the sport and are ridiculous. No one’s going to get them out of there. It's absurd if you think about it."
Posted in: fight, diaz, guy, gracie, dont
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseRematch?
One of the big hopeful headlines coming out of UFC 143 was Dana White saying there could possibly be an immediate Diaz / Condit rematch before GSP comes back:
"Carlos Condit won this fight. No matter how much Georges and Nick hate each other, Carlos Condit won, and I think the fans are mad at the way Carlos Condit fought. Too f------ bad. He came in with a game plan and stuck to it and won.""It's crazy, but, I was thinking it after the fight. You know, people are bitching and thinking it was close or whatever, we can do that fight again before GSP comes back. It depends on Carlos too, he's really gotta say, and Nick's gotta say I want to fight him again too."
Well, Carlos Condit was sitting right next to Dana White during the press conference and he seemed non-plussed at the idea of basically giving Nick Diaz another chance at not screwing up the big money fight everyone wants to see. It's not like Carlos can just pull the same gameplan out and use it again. A large amount of it's success relied on Nick Diaz being dumb, and as a fellow idiot once said, "Fool me one, shame on you. Fool me, I ain't gonna get fooled again!"Piling on the obvious 'No' answer is Condit's management, who said this today:
"At this point, [a rematch] is not something we’re looking to do," he said. "We're looking for Georges. People forget, Carlos waited a long time to get this fight. He was moved around, and shuffled around between fights. He won the fight. It doesn't interest us at all. I think clearly and decisively, he won the fight. Even [UFC president] Dana [White] scored it for him. All of the opinions that matter scored Carlos as winner."In addition to pointing out the unanimous judges' decision as well as White's opinion, Kawa noted that fight statistics showed Condit out-landing Diaz. FightMetric stats had Condit landing 159 total strikes, and Diaz landing 117."It was a performance that was excellent," Kawa said. "He picked apart a very formidable fighter. Two judges saw it four rounds to one, and one saw it three to two. The fact that he didn't stand and bang with him? I'm sorry, not every fighter has to do that. He did what he had to do, and that goes to show me that this guy is mature, he's fighting fights that are smart."
Condit had a lot of success taking a page out of the playbooks of Dominick Cruz and Lyoto Machida (circa 2007 before his daddy demanded more aggression). Unfortunately for him, most fans think those playbooks suck. He made his bed, now he has to lie in it. His bed full of money and title shots. Poor Carlos!
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, carlos condit, carlo
Read the full article at FightlinkerNick Diaz tops list of UFC 143 salaries with $200,000 take
For someone who has preached the importance of money as much as Nick Diaz it appears the Stockton scrapper may want to reconsider his implied retirement from MMA for financial reasons rather than any competitive desire.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission released the list of UFC 143 salaries today where Diaz out-earned the rest of his peers by a fairly significant margin even though he lost his fight. According to NSAC figure, Diaz was paid $200,000 for his headlining spot against newly named interim champion Carlos Condit, who also cracked the six-figure mark with an $110,000 paycheck for his performance.
Other fighters fattening their bank accounts with notable salaries included Josh Koscheck ($146,000) and Fabricio Werdum ($100,000). On the opposite end of the spectrum, somewhat surprisingly, Roy Nelson only made $20,000 in defeat, the same as Mike Pierce and a little less than Scott Jorgensen, indicating he is likely still on his original TUF contract despite it being two years old.
Here is a complete list of pay for UFC 143 including event specific bonuses where required:
Stephen Thompson: $77,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus, $65,000 Knockout of the Night bonus) def. Dan Stittgen: $5,000
Rafael Natal: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Michael Kuiper: $6,000
Matt Riddle: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Henry Martinez: $6,000
Matt Brown: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Chris Cope: $8,000
Edwin Figueroa: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Alex Caceres: $8,000
Dustin Poirier: $89,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus, $65,000 Submission of the Night bonus) def. Max Holloway: $6,000
Ed Herman: $62,000 (includes $31,000 win bonus) def. Clifford Starks: $8,000
Renan Barao: $22,000 (includes $11,000 win bonus) def. Scott Jorgensen: $20,500
Josh Koscheck: $146,000 (includes $73,000 win bonus) def. Mike Pierce: $20,000
Fabricio Werdum: $165,000 (no win bonus, includes $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus) def. Roy Nelson: $85,000 (includes $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
Carlos Condit: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus) def. Nick Diaz: $200,000
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, bonus, night bonus
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSt-Pierre still wants to face Diaz down road
Injured UFC champion Georges St-Pierre knows he will likely face interim welterweight title holder Carlos Condit, but still wants Nick Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, champion, face, stpierre, face diaz
Read the full article at sportsnet.caCarlos Condit's Camp Not Interested in Nick Diaz Rematch
In the hours after Carlos Condit's close but unanimous decision win over Nick Diaz at UFC 143, UFC president Dana White seemed to warm up to the possibility of a rematch between the two. After all, it may be nine months or more until division champion Georges St-Pierre returns to fight the interim champion, a lengthy wait.
But at least for now, the Condit camp seems uninterested in the possibility of Condit-Diaz II. On Monday afternoon, his manager Malki Kawa told MMA Fighting that the new interim champion would be much more likely to set his sights on unifying the interim and linear titles.
"At this point, [a rematch] is not something we’re looking to do," he said. "We're looking for Georges. People forget, Carlos waited a long time to get this fight. He was moved around, and shuffled around between fights. He won the fight. It doesn't interest us at all. I think clearly and decisively, he won the fight. Even [UFC president] Dana [White] scored it for him. All of the opinions that matter scored Carlos as winner."
In addition to pointing out the unanimous judges' decision as well as White's opinion, Kawa noted that fight statistics showed Condit out-landing Diaz. FightMetric stats had Condit landing 159 total strikes, and Diaz landing 117.
"It was a performance that was excellent," Kawa said. "He picked apart a very formidable fighter. Two judges saw it four rounds to one, and one saw it three to two. The fact that he didn't stand and bang with him? I'm sorry, not every fighter has to do that. He did what he had to do, and that goes to show me that this guy is mature, he's fighting fights that are smart.
"People are like, 'Oh, Carlos is not a finisher,'" he continued. "The guy threw how many spinning elbows? How many spinning back fists? He threw a flying knee. He tried to finish Nick Diaz when the time and the opening was there. I can't find a flaw in his performance."
Even in defeat, Diaz managed to steal the spotlight from Condit by saying he would retire due to his frustration with the judging. Kawa said that was no concern of Condit's, whose only goal has been to be the champion.
After a six-month training cycle due to various opponent switches, Condit will take some time off before he finalizes his next move.
"Carlos is a fighter," Kawa said. "At the end of the day, this is not a guy who wants to sit around and wait. He wants to fight. You never know. Right now, the idea is that we want Georges St-Pierre. The goal is to fight Georges St-Pierre. He wants to be the best in the world, so that's the fight that interests us at this moment."
And as for a rematch first?
For now, forget it. Though it's ultimately Condit's decision, his manager and advisor isn't keen on it.
"The fans disagree [with the decision] because they got hyped up to see Nick & Georges fight each other," Kawa said. "Well, let them fight each other. We’ve moved on."
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, carlo, kawa
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Fighter Salaries: Nick Diaz Top Earner
The NSAC has released the fighter salaries for UFC 143. Keep in mind, these figures represent the base contracted pay the fighter receives from the promotion. These figures do not include any additional undisclosed discretionary bonuses, pay-per-view revenue sharing bonuses or sponsorship money, which in many cases exceeds a fighter’s base pay. These numbers also do not account for taxes, insurance, and license fees.
Nick Diaz didn’t win the fight, but he did make the most money at UFC 143. Diaz earned $200,000 in a losing effort to Carlos Condit. Condit also did well for himself taking in $110,000. Josh Koscheck and Fabricio Werrdum also broke the six-figure mark while Roy Nelson would have only gone home with a disclosed $20,000 had he not won the $65,000 Fight of the Night award. His toughness may not have won him the fight but at least it earned him some extra cash.
Payouts
Courtesy of MMA Junkie:
Carlos Condit: $110,000 ($55k +$55k win bonus)
Nick Diaz: $200,000
Fabricio Werdum: $100,000 (no win bonus)
Roy Nelson: $20,000
Josh Koscheck: $146,000 ($73k +$73k)
Mike Pierce: $20,000
Renan Barao: $22,000 ($11k +$11k)
Scott Jorgensen: $20,500
Ed Herman: $62,000 ($31k +$31k)
Clifford Starks: $8,000
Dustin Poirier: $24,000 ($12k +$12k)
Max Holloway: $6,000
Edwin Figueroa: $16,000 ($8k +$8k)
Alex Caceres: $8,000
Matt Brown: $30,000 ($15k +$15k)
Chris Cope: $8,000
Matt Riddle: $30,000 ($15k +$15k)
Henry Martinez: $6,000
Rafael Natal: $20,000 ($10k +$10k)
Michael Kuiper: $6,000
Stephen Thompson: $12,000 ($6k +$6k)
Dan Stittgen: $6,000
Bonuses
$65,000 bonus to each fighter.
Knockout of the Night – Stephen Thompson
Submission of the Night – Dustin Poirier
Fight of the Night – Fabricio Werdum & Roy Nelson
Total Payout
A disclosed total of $1,140,500, including all bonuses, was paid out to the fighters.
Posted in: fight, night, diaz, fighter, bonus
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143 Salaries: Diaz, Condit, Koscheck Lead The Way
The Nevada State Athletic Commission has released the salary information for UFC 143, and there aren't a lot of surprises. Nick Diaz was the top earner, making 200k to show. Meanwhile, the man that beat him earned 110k, and that was with a 55k win bonus. Next on the list was Josh Koscheck who earned 146k. Fabricio Werdum was the only other fighter to break 6 digits with a 100k payday.The total payout was $880,500.
On a side note, It is immensely saddening that Matt Riddle makes more than Roy Nelson, Mike Pierce, and two top 10 bantamweights. Here is the full list:
Carlos Condit: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus)def. Nick Diaz: $200,000
Fabricio Werdum: $100,000 (no win bonus)def. Roy Nelson: $20,000
Josh Koscheck: $146,000 ($73,000 win bonus)Mike Pierce: $20,000
Renan Barao: $22,000 ($11,000 win bonus)Scott Jorgensen: $20,500
Ed Herman: $62,000 ($31,000 win bonus)Clifford Starks: $8,000
Dustin Poirier: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)Max Holloway: $6,000
Edwin Figueroa: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)Alex Caceres: $8,000
Matt Brown: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus)Chris Cope: $8,000
Matt Riddle: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus)Henry Martinez: $6,000
Rafael Natal: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus)Michael Kuiper: $6,000
Stephen Thompson: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)Dan Stittgen: $5,000
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: matt riddle, diaz, josh koscheck, matt, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Fighter Salaries: Nick Diaz Rakes in $200,000
Nick Diaz earned a reported salary of $200,000 for his fight against Carlos Condit at UFC 143 this past Saturday in Las Vegas, according to the Nevada athletic commission.
Condit, who defeated Diaz for the UFC interim welterweight title, on paper made $55,000 as his show purse and a $55,000 bonus for the win.Please note that salaries reported by the UFC to the commission do not necessarily reflect a fighter's actual earnings, once other possible bonuses (such as a cut of the pay-per-view for big stars) and sponsorship money is factored in. Salaries for the rest of the fighters are below.
Pay-Per-View BoutsCarlos Condit ($55,000 + $55,000 = $110,000) def. Nick Diaz ($200,000) Fabricio Werdum ($100,000 + no win bonus) def. Roy Nelson ($20,000) Josh Koscheck ($73,000 + $73,000 = $146,000) def. Mike Pierce ($20,000) Renan Barao ($11,000 + $11,000 = $22,000) def. Scott Jorgensen ($20,500) Ed Herman ($31,000 + $31,000 = $62,000) def. Clifford Starks ($8,000)Preliminary BoutsDustin Poirier ($12,000 + $12,000 = $24,000) def. Max Hollaway ($6,000) Edwin Figueroa ($8,000 + $8,000 = $16,000) def. Alex Caceres ($8,000) Matt Brown ($15,000+$15,000 = $30,000) def. Chris Cope ($8,000) Matt Riddle ($15,000 + $15,000 = $30,000) def. Henry Martinez ($6,000)Rafael Natal ($10,000 + $10,000 = $20,000) def. Michael Kuiper ($6,000) Stephen Thompson ($6,000+$6,000 = $12,000) def. Dan Stittgen ($6,000)During the post-fight press conference, Werdum, Nelson, Thompson and Poirier each earned a $65,000 bonus.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bonus, salary, show purse
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Payroll: Diaz ($200K), Koscheck ($146K) Take Top Purses
Nick Diaz couldn’t take out Carlos Condit in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 143, but the Stockton, Calif., native still took home the show’s biggest disclosed paycheck.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, carlos condit, show ’s, stockton calif
Read the full article at SherdogEven in Losing, Nick Diaz Sits Atop the UFC 143 Fighter Salaries
The UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit fighter salaries were released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday with Nick Diaz topping the list, despite losing his fight.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, fighter, nevada state, salary
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Fight Photo Gallery
MMAWeekly.com's exclusive UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit fight photo gallery by Scott Petersen.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, photo
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143 Salaries: Nick Diaz, Josh Koscheck Top Fighter Payroll
UFC 143 headliner Nick Diaz earned $200,000 and main card winner Josh Koscheck scored $146,000 to top the $879,500 payroll for this past Saturday’s UFC 143 event in Las Vegas, the Nevada State Athletic Commission confirmed today.
Main event winner Carlos Condit came in third at $110,000 for his unanimous decision victory over Diaz, who did not have a win bonus on the line, while Fabricio Werdum also broke six-figures as he earned an even $100,000 for his co-main event win over Roy Nelson.
Werdum, Nelson, Dustin Poirier, and Stephen Thompson each scored $65,000 bonuses on top of their official salaries, which are only the official numbers reported by the UFC and do not include bonuses, sponsorships, fees, or expenses.
The complete UFC 143 salaries included:
MAIN CARD
Carlos Condit: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus) def. Nick Diaz: $200,000
Interim UFC Welterweight Championship
Fabricio Werdum: $100,000 (no win bonus) def. Roy Nelson: $20,000
Josh Koscheck: $146,000 ($73,000 win bonus) def. Mike Pierce: $20,000
Renan Barao: $22,000 ($11,000 win bonus) def. Scott Jorgensen: $20,500
Ed Herman $62,000 ($31,000 win bonus) def. Clifford Starks: $8,000
PRELIMINARY CARD
Dustin Poirier: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus) def. Max Holloway: $6,000
Edwin Figueroa: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Alex Caceres: $8,000
Matt Brown: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus) def. Chris Cope: $8,000
Matt Riddle: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus) def. Henry Martinez: $6,000
Rafael Natal: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Michael Kuiper: $6,000
Stephen Thompson: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Dan Stittgen: $5,000
More UFC 143 coverage: UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Tops Nick Diaz to Win Interim Title, Shot at GSP
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, bonus, nelson
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 143 payouts and salaries for 'Diaz vs Condit' event fighters on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas
UFC 143 fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Diaz vs. Condit" pay-per-view (PPV) event this past Saturday night (Feb. 4, 2012) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, were released to MMAmania.com earlier today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
As expected, headlining fighters Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit were the top earners of the night. "The Natural Born Banker" is now depositing $110,000 for taking home a unanimous decision victory over his befuddled foe, who will be cashing his check for $200,000 in the Stockton Security Exchange later this week.
UFC import/export extraordinaire Fabricio Werdum was also in triple figures ($100,000) thanks to the Muay Thai clinic he put on Roy Nelson. "Big Country" can buy a lot of Whoppers with the $20,000 he earned in defeat. Rounding out the big bucks was welterweight bad boy Josh Koscheck ($146,000) and middleweight Ed Herman ($62,000).
But that's not all.
Here is the complete list of UFC 143 salaries and payouts:
Carlos Condit: $110,000 ($55,000 to show, $55,000 to win)Nick Diaz: $200,000Condit def. Diaz via unanimous decision Fabricio Werdum: $100,000 (no win bonus)Roy Nelson: $20,000Werdum def. Nelson via unanimous decisionJosh Koscheck: $146,000 ($73,000 to show, $73,000 to win)Mike Pierce: $20,000Koscheck def. Pierce via split decisionRenan Barao: $22,000 ($11,000 to show, $11,000 to win)Scott Jorgensen: $20,500Barao def. Jorgensen via unanimous decisionEd Herman: $62,000 ($31,000 to show, $31,000 to win)Clifford Starks: $8,000Herman def. Starks via submissionDustin Poirier: $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win)Max Holloway: $6,000Poirier def. Holloway via submissionEdwin Figueroa: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)Alex Caceres: $8,000Figueroa def. Caceres via split decisionMatt Brown: $30,000 ($15,000 to show, $15,000 to win)Chris Cope: $8,000Brown def. Cope via technical knockoutMatt Riddle: $30,000 ($15,000 to show, $15,000 to win)Henry Martinez: $6,000Riddle def. Martinez via submissionRafael Natal: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Michael Kuiper: $6,000Natal def. Kuiper via unanimous decisionStephen Thompson: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Dan Stittgen: $5,000Thompson def. Stiigen via knockout
The total disclosed payroll for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" was $880,500.
Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments such as PPV bonuses, among others. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.
For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for UFC 143 click here.
For complete UFC 143 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.
Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, show, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143: Main Card Recap
I thought the events of last night deserved to marinate in my brain for 24 hours before I formulated any thoughts, thus the late (by net standards) recap but here goes:
UFC 143 ended up being a great night of technical mixed martial arts. It was promoted as though it was sure to be filled with violence and instead we saw technique and strategy, above all else, prevail. From the opening fight, which featured Ed Herman falling behind on the feet only to apply swift and deadly jiu jitsu technique once he hit the ground with Clifford Starks, through to Carlos Condit's masterful main event performance against Nick Diaz, the card was a perfect example of a common martial arts tenet: Attack your opponent where they are weakest.
Full recap of all five fights on the main card after the jump.
Ed Herman vs Clifford StarksHerman won this by rear naked choke at 1:43 of the second round. He had lost the first round, after taking a handful straight right hands from Starks throughout the course of the round and generally finding little success with his own striking attack, which was largely a right hand uppercut. Joe Rogan pointed out that it was with that punch that he had knocked out Tim Credeur so perhaps Starks was ready for it. Either way, he struggled to land it. Following a clinch against the cage early in the second round, Herman used a neat outside leg sweep to take Starks to the mat, immediately moved to mount and when Starks rolled over Herman sank in the rear naked without much resistance. He was fairly measured in his post fight interview, hoping to get a big name fight in the middle weight division while at the same time acknowledging that he had been hurt a little by Starks in that first round. Unfortunately for Herman, I see Rousimar Palhares as being a real possibility for him if he wants a step up. Palhares needs another win to cement himself as a title contender and Herman is looking to break into the top 10, so the match makes sense for both parties. Oh yeah, they are on equal 3 fight win streaks. If Herman wanted to go the conservation route he might look at someone like Costa Philippou, who has two fights of his own but might not be the ground fighter that Herman is.
Renan Barao vs Scott JorgensenThe first of four action filled decisions, Barao controlled the distance masterfully with kicks, both to the leg, body and head, forcing Jorgensen to shoot for take downs well outside of range, which Barao then defended. It was an excellent strategy against a wrestler and proved that you can incorporate kicks into your attack without being at risk of the take down. Barao worked his kicks into his combination's and only used threw them once he had Jorgensen moving backwards. I think Jorgensen was close to getting a take down once, in the first round. Every other attempt was easily stuffed by Barao, who will now get serious attention as the next title challenger at 135. Could he end up having another fight before meeting Cruz? Maybe the winner of Miguel Torres vs Michael McDonald but other than that I don't see many credible fights for him at this time.
Josh Koscheck vs Mike PierceWhile this fight was a fairly close one, it was probably the least "technical" in terms of the techniques and strategies used. Both Koscheck and Pierce have fairly basic stand up games, predicated on landing big power strikes, pretty typical wrestle-boxer stuff. I would say that Pierce had the heavier punches, as Koscheck didn't look comfortable with a couple of the shots he took. Koscheck looks remarkably uncomfortable with his stand up, still not fully confident in himself since the GSP fight. He barely threw his right hand, which could have been for a strategic purpose that I didn't grasp (facial protection, take down defense) and he won the fight almost surely because he landed a takedown in the third round, giving him two in the fight to Pierce's one. I had not realized that Koscheck was already 34, which I found a little surprising. I think he has one more run in him though and would like to see him take a high stakes fight with Jake Ellenberger, were he to defeat Sanchez, or Johny Hendricks.
Fabricio Werdum vs Roy NelsonWerdum had the most surprising performance of the card, actually coming through on his promise to trust the striking that he showed against Alistair Overeem. I didn't think he would find success going that route against Roy Nelson, who has a granite chin and a big right hand but Werdum was far to tall and strong for Nelson. He overwhelmed him in the clinch in much the same manner that Frank Mir did, only Mir turned the dominance into takedowns, while Werdum struck Nelson repeatedly with knees and punches. I think Roy found out his true potential in the division: A high level gate-keeper, who will never beat the top 5 or 6 fighters in the division. I'd like to see Roy fight Shane Carwin when Carwin returns from injury to test this theory and to see where Carwin stands. As for Werdum, it would appear he is going to fight Mir in a title eliminator. I can't really see how any other fights make sense except for the winner of Mark Hunt/Chieck Kongo, but either of those men would likely be no big challenge for Werdum. The one thing working against Werdum is that he has lost to Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem, so the desire to see him get a chance at the title isn't great right now.
Nick Diaz vs Carlos ConditI wasn't incredibly surprised by Carlos Condit's choice of strategy against Nick Diaz. I had seen openings for both BJ Penn and Paul Daley to escape the bad situations they got themselves in against Diaz (on the cage, shelled up eating punches) and undoubtedly Greg Jackson and Condit had also seen them. I suspect that this was the way that GSP would defeat Nick Diaz, should he have been able to do so. Going to the ground with Diaz is almost sure to end in a submission, so staying on the feet and avoiding the Diaz trap by circling away from the cage is the best way to take him on. Georges would have used jabs to score, while Condit used kicks, mostly to the leg, to do his damage. I'll leave you with a couple of in-depth thoughts that I have on the way the fight played out and the way it was evaluated:
This match-up is absolutely perfect for a potential trilogy. I highly doubt we're going to get one, since I take Nick Diaz at his word that he is going to retire, but if he stays on I hope we see an instant re-match. In fact, I'm shocked that the idea wasn't brought up far more often in the post fight discourse. Boxing has a lot of rematches, particularly when two highly ranked and evenly matched fighters fight to a close decision the way Diaz and Condit did. Would Diaz go to his ground game sooner? Would he be smart enough to figure out how to counter Condit's stand up strategy? Would Carlos open up much sooner and with more commitment with the knowledge that he can escape a bad position against Nick? It's not often MMa can take a page out of boxing's book but now is a great time for Dana to do it and make a re-match.
The UFC Primetime and the countdown shows are great theatre but they are getting stale, especially when every fight is billed as a knock out waiting to happen. The reason the fight had so much controversy attached to it is because we were yet again sold a bill of goods that didn't match the produc description. No one told us Condit was going to use a tailored game plan to win. We were told he was going to challenge Nick in an epic striking match. Somehow the UFC needs to find a way to promote their fights without relying solely on the prospect of unconsciousness to make it seem attractive. After all, good MMA is so much more than that, as the fight showed. We just expected one thing and got another and that always leads to unhappiness in the ranks, even if what we got was better, in many ways, than what we were expecting.
I see a few people praising Condit as putting on a performance for the ages. He did not. He fought with a very singular strategy that was predicated on avoiding exchanges with Diaz. He retreated constantly, which differs from Frank Edgar's in and out style that was used as a comparison in more than a few places, and any time Diaz attacked him Condit countered with the intention of moving away, not to do damage. I would describe his striking as disruptive more than dangerous and I thought it was telling that most fighters saw the fight for Diaz. Diaz came forward the whole time, thus rendering Condit's striking as fairly ineffective. All that being said, it was enough to win the judges nod. But let us not trip over ourselves to call Condit's fight one of the all time great displays.
And that does it for UFC 143. Thanks for reading!
Posted in: fight, diaz, way, condit, herman
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendUFC 143 salaries: Diaz ($200K) and Koscheck ($146K) earn top paydays
Main-event loser Nick Diaz ($200,000) and main-card winner Josh Koscheck ($146,000) were the top earners at this past weekend's UFC 143 event.
MMAjunkie.com today obtained the list of disclosed paydays from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The total disclosed payroll for the event, which took place Feb. 4 at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center, was $880,500.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, nevada state, payday
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 143 Results: Dana White Is Right, A Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Rematch Is The Way To Go
There have been a lot of complaints about Carlos Condit's unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 143's interim welterweight title fight on Saturday. Most notably, Nick Diaz vowed to retire from MMA after the decision was read. Diaz, and many fans, were frustrated with Condit's counter-strike and circle away strategy, but Diaz had no answer for it inside the cage.
UFC president Dana White expressed his hope for a rematch between the two fighters as the best solution:
"I know (Georges. St. Pierre) wanted that Diaz fight bad, but it's not going to be Diaz so he better get angry with Carlos Condit or focus on Carlos Condit or whatever he needs to do. Carlos Condit won this fight. No matter how much Georges and Nick hate each other, Carlos Condit won, and I think the fans are mad at the way Carlos Condit fought. Too f*cking bad. He came in with a game plan and stuck to it and won. You know what's funny man, is that when he said that, I was thinking the same thing. It's crazy, but. I was thinking it after the fight. You know, people are bitching and thinking it was close or whatever, we can do that fight again before GSP comes back. It depends on Carlos too, he's really gotta say, and Nick's gotta say I want to fight him again too."
If White can persuade the volatile Diaz to reconsider retirement, this is the way to go for three reasons:
It will give Diaz a chance to adjust to Condit's tactics. A truly great fighter would have been able to respond in-cage but I'd like to see what Diaz and his team come up with given a few months to prepare. Diaz' entire flat-footed arm-punching style is a response to his frustration with the way MMA fights are judged on the ground and his serial losses to better wrestlers in the UFC. I look forward to seeing if he can adapt to Condit's game plan and if so, how.
It will give prevent the division from being entirely on hold while champion GSP recovers from ACL surgery. Sure it means a log jam at the top of the division, but that's fine as the new wave of contenders (Johny Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger, Rory MacDonald, etc) need time to sort themselves out and build up their names with fans.
It will ease the pressure on GSP to return from surgery prematurely. He'll already be coming back in a title fight after an 18 month layoff and major surgery, the pressure to get back into the Octagon early makes a bad situation worse.
Hopefully Diaz' coach Cesar Gracie can talk him back into the cage for one more go at Condit. What do you think?
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Poll
Should Condit give Diaz an immediate rematch?
YUS!
No, the first fight sucked I don't want to see 2.
Yes but Diaz is gone.
No, let's wait on GSP
98 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, carlos condit, carlo
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Fighter Salaries: Nick Diaz and Josh Koscheck lead the pack
The Nevada State Athletic Commission has released the final salary figures for the fighters competing on Saturday’s UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit fight card from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The top earner was Nick Diaz who took home $200,000 in a five round losing effort to Carlos Condit ($110,000). Condit’s win earned him the interim UFC Welterweight Championship, while Diaz implied he was going to walk away from mixed martial arts following the loss.
The second
Posted in: diaz, las vegas, condit, nevada state, salary figures
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143 ‘Reaction from the Action’ for “Diaz vs. Condit”
The concept of sport is to take advantage of opportunities and to invoke a method or strategy to win any way possible. Often, that strategy neutralizes an opponent’s strength more so than showing off your own strength. In this past weekend’s UFC 143 main event, Carlos Condit did just that, as he swiftly moved around the cage throughout the five round match against Nick Diaz.
Diaz’s past opponents often remained stationary throughout their matchups, but Condit did not want to be drawn into Diaz’s strength, which is to put pressure on his opponent with his boxing and not allowing them to move out of his pocket.
While Condit was moving around non-stop, which is often seen as a sign of weakness, it is not his responsibility to fight exactly how Diaz wants him to. Yes, Condit should implement his own offensive gameplan on Diaz more, but statistics show that Condit landed more strikes throughout the fight. That defeats the opinion that Condit did nothing and only moved away from Diaz.
For Condit, who fought to a decision for just the fourth time in his career, he knew fighting to his usual style would work in Diaz’s favor. A 49-46 score in favor of Condit, which two judges scored it as, is not how I scored it. The third score, 48-47 Condit is how I felt the fight took place. However, following the fight, many MMA fighters took to Twitter to declare the fight as a robbery. A robbery this certainly was not.
While those fighters are complaining about the decision, they are only doing that. They state Condit did not deserve to win the fight, but are not stating a reason why Diaz did deserve to win.
The term Octagon control has come up quite a bit in defending the victory for Diaz. While that is certainly a true sense of scoring a fight, it cannot be used as a reason to give a round to Diaz when Condit outlanded him in total strikes in four of the five rounds.
Previous fights have had similar scenarios pan out, such as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida at UFC 123 in November 2010. Jackson was awarded the victory, even though Machida landed more significant strikes. Jackson landed more total strikes, but never had Machida in any danger. Condit won both categories on Saturday, outlanding Diaz in both significant and total strikes.
Regarding Diaz’s retirement during the post-match interview, I certainly hope that is not the case. Diaz brings a fantastic style that is not often seen throughout the sport. Fighters and fans alike easily gravitate to wanting to watch a fighter of that style. While his demeanor outside of the Octagon is often criticized, it is far too misunderstood to be what is remembered most about his career. Inside the cage, Diaz has a personality similar to Anderson Silva. While Diaz is more brash, they both will taunt their opponent, hoping to draw a reaction in their favor.
The top three fighters in the welterweight division seems evident, with Georges St. Pierre, Condit, and Diaz pinned at the top. With St. Pierre and Condit set to fight later this year, if Diaz decides against retirement, where does he go from here? A rematch between Condit and Diaz has been brought up, but the UFC doesn’t seem to be particularly interested in that, especially with UFC President Dana White scoring the fight in Condit’s favor himself.
Biggest winner: Carlos Condit
Condit implemented a strategy nearly to a T. His prize? Another five round championship fight, this time with a completely different style in Georges St. Pierre.
Fabricio Werdum must be brought up here as well, as he looked very impressive against Roy Nelson. His striking looked the best it ever has during his career, as he locked in a strong muay Thai clinch on multiple occasions. An eventual rematch with champion Junior dos Santos is not out of the question if he continues to look like he did on Saturday.
Biggest loser: Las Vegas crowd
It is understandable that a city that hosts so many UFC events will not be overly ecstatic for every card. However, even with an excellent fight going on between Condit and Diaz, the crowd was heard booing during the affair. The Las Vegas crowd routinely fails to show up until the main card, and even then, they can barely be heard throughout the night.
With so many cities around the world hoping to host future UFC events, the organization could look into bringing fewer events to its home. Keeping the New Years, Super Bowl, Independence Day, and Ultimate Fighter events there, while mixing up the schedule, would be a good start.
Biggest question: Should there be a guideline for refereeing decisions?
During the event, two fights saw multiple infractions, yet only one was punished. During the preliminary card, Alex Caceres incidentally kicked Edwin Figueroa in the groin twice. On the second instance, referee Herb Dean penalized Caceres two points. That cost Caceres the fight, as he went on to lose a split decision. On the main card, Josh Koscheck was warned multiple times about open-handed punches against Mike Pierce. Koscheck was first warned in the second round, then late in the third round, Herb Dean again warned Koscheck, but did not penalize him for the infraction.
Deducting points is not uncommon, but deducting two points is a rarity. What is most perplexing is that the same referee decided not to punish a fighter for multiple infractions at the same event.
Future matchups to make:
Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit:
With the victory, Condit is now set to challenge St. Pierre for the welterweight championship. St. Pierre’s return is expected to take place in November, with Condit unlikely to fight before then.
Fabricio Werdum vs. winner of Cheick Kongo vs. Mark Hunt:
Unfortunately for Werdum, the heavyweight division is still looking for overall depth. Frank Mir or Cain Velasquez would be excellent opponents, but the pair could possibly be set up against each other. He already holds a win over Antonio Silva, and the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final still has not been set up. The winner of Kongo/Hunt, which takes place at UFC 144 later this month, will be sporting a three fight win streak.
Josh Koscheck vs. Nick Diaz:
Koscheck is also in a tough spot, as he already holds two losses to champion Georges St. Pierre. He is now leaving his longtime camp at American Kickboxing Academy, choosing to train on his own in Fresno. I suppose it truly is “team me,” as he declared at the pre-fight press conference. He mentioned that getting motivated for Pierce was tough, so getting motivated for Diaz should be a lot easier. Of course, this all hinges on Diaz deciding not to retire.
Renan Barao vs. Brian Bowles:
Barao looked impressive against the always tough Scott Jorgensen. For Barao, it was important to challenge himself against a strong wrestler. He was able to stuff Jorgensen throughout the match, even though he seemed to slow down in the last round. In Bowles, he would receive yet another tough challenge. Winning that challenge could possibly set up a bantamweight title fight for Barao later this year.
Dustin Poirier vs. Chang Sung Jung:
Poirier himself mentioned this matchup during post-fight interviews, and I have to agree with him in setting this one up. He seems against taking on Jose Aldo immediately after this win, hoping to continue to work on his skills as he works his way up the ladder. A matchup with “The Korean Zombie” would almost guarantee an exciting fight and determine who really is ready to take on the featherweight champion.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, condit
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz And His Rage Irrespective Of The Machine
"Like autumn leaves, his sense fell from him. An empty glass of himself, shattered somewhere within. His thoughts like a hundred moths, trapped in a lampshade.
Somewhere within, their wings banging and burning. On through endless nights. Forever awake he lies shaking and starving, praying for someone to turn off the light."
What follows from this verse is one of the meanest riffs Tom Morello ever produced. But the lyrics also feel like they apply to the most "enigmatic" figure in mixed martial arts: the one and only, Nick Diaz. Minus, of course, any sense of meaning, social context, or political direction (however disagreeable you might find that direction).
Still, Nick makes very clear in interview after interview that if there's a constant to Nick's mind it's that his attitude validates the idea that the human brain is a ‘team of rivals', and Nick's brain is in constant rivalry.
I feel this is part of what makes Nick so elusive to us as a personality. We know what it's like to understand the paradox of controlling the impulse to shout an obscenity at someone who means us no harm (an experience typical in the workplace where we occasionally have to stand next to the incompetent). Nick does not.
When I watched Nick's interview at the press scrum with our very own Matt Roth, it's as If even the most simple, and trivial questions demand a full body search. Nick's mind perceives a world where curiosities wear black hats, and inquiries display their own Schutzstaffel insignia.
So what happens when an opponent he respects doesn't fight the way he would like, and he ends up on the wrong end of a close decision in a title fight for a shot at a larger money fight with Georges St. Pierre?
When Diaz exclaims he's "outta of this s**t", and threatens retirement, I believe him. That doesn't mean it'll happen. It doesn't mean he won't change his mind. It doesn't mean Dana White won't throw him more money to keep him knowing he's an elite fighter, and still a draw with the potential for a future match with GSP given that Nick is only 28.
But it does mean that Diaz is sincere with his frustration. And it does mean that if ever there were a figure in MMA to make good on such a wild, dramatic prediction, it would be Diaz. It also means Nick is a big fat sore loser.
SBN Coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
I've never been one to romanticize the thesis that mixed martial arts is all about respect, honor, and some cheap more-ploy-than-philosophy idea of "the way of the warrior". To his legion of fans, Nick is certifiably a ‘warrior'. But what kind of warrior treats defeat like a hexagonal conspiracy? What kind of warrior responds to loss like some bubble gummer on her 16th birthday, throwing a hissy fit over the fact that she got a brand new Taucoma instead of a Lexus?
The fight itself failed to live up to its expectations, but I find it downright bizarre that Carlos Condit has received any flack at all. Not that he has, but in the way that he has. I feel stupid for giving very stupid opinions the oxygen of publicity, but why the distinction between fighting and game planning among fans? Condit was more than willing to strike with Diaz. The numbers reveal as much. He just didn't want to strike with Diaz with his back against the cage.
The criticism that Condit fought "smart" instead of simply fighting is utterly hollow. Nick's very specific and calculated method to get Condit against the cage was just as much of a ‘gameplan' as Condit's to stay outside and strike from distance. There's no doubt in my mind that if Nick stood in the center of the octagon, Carlos would have too. But just as Nick didn't fight to his opponent's strength, neither did Condit hence why the fight was so close.
If Nick is angry about the way his opponent fought, then his failure to adapt will be his downfall, and he will have nobody to blame but himself. I suspect the blame will never fall on his shoulders, in his mind. He'll never ask himself why he couldn't have thrown more kicks, or attempted more takedowns. It'll just be his own insular chorus of what Condit didn't let him do inside that lampshade of his.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, condit, mind
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 results recap: Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit event wrap up from Las Vegas
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to pay-per-view this past Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) with UFC 143 "Diaz vs. Condit," featuring "The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit busting his hump to earn a unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz and the interim UFC welterweight championship.
And a date with Georges St. Pierre later this year.
Fabricio Werdum impressed in his three-round beatdown of Roy Nelson, showcasing a far more diverse game than we've come to expect from the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace.
And what's there to say about Josh Koscheck's performance against Mike Pierce? No, really, what's there to say?
In cased you missed any or all of it -- or just want to keep the discussion alive -- below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event in Las Vegas.
In we go.
UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit"
Results and live fight coverage
Recap and morning after discussion
Post-fight press conference video
Bonuses and awards
Event photos gallery
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit fight video highlights
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit fight metric report
"Prelims" results and recap
Fight recap: Ed Herman submits Clifford Starks
Fight recap: Renan Barao cruises past Scott Jorgensen
Fight recap: Josh Koscheck decisions Mike Pierce
Fight recap: Fabricio Werdum beats down Roy Nelson
Fight recap: Carlos Condit defeats Nick Diaz to win interim welterweight championship
Fight review and analysis: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Fight review and analysis: Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson
Fight review and analysis: Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Fight review and analysis: Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
Fight review and analysis: Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
UFC 143 post-fight fallout
Big winners and lowly losers
Event report card
Video of the new UFC intro
Nick Diaz says he's done with MMA because he doesn't need this shit
MMA scoring is an inexact science but doesn't change Carlos Condit's wins over Nick Diaz
Carlos Condit critics need to get real because Nick Diaz didn't win
Carlos Condit emerges as a clear cut contender to Georges St. Pierre but does it matter?
Carlos Condit came to Las Vegas to punch Nick Diaz in the face, not talk trash inside the cage
What's next for Nick Diaz, assuming he doesn't retire?
What's next for Carlos Condit?
Dana White is not opposed to a Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit rematch
Is Nick Diaz a bad boy boxer or just an immature fighter?
Carlos Condit and his wife celebrate his win over Nick Diaz
Rashad Evans breaks down Carlos Condit vs. Georges St. Pierre
Fabricio Werdum batters Roy Nelson into gatekeeper status
Dana White would make Josh Koscheck vs. Jon Fitch if it made sense
Josh Koscheck would win fans if he wasn't so busy alienating them
Josh Koscheck is done with being nice to MMA boo birds, will keep being a dick
Dustin Poirier calls out Chan Sung Jung, says he's not ready for a title shot yet
Ed Herman shows off his busted up eye the day after Clifford Starks drilled him in it
That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What gets your vote for the biggest story coming out of UFC 143?
Sound off, Maniacs.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, condit, carlo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaJoe Rogan tweeting about Diaz vs Condit.
https://twitter.com/#!/joerogan scoring https://twitter.com/#!/joerogan/status/166482805025546240 leg kicks https://twitter.com/#!/joerogan/status/166485905681555456 rematch https://twitter.com/#!/joerogan/status/166484999900643328 submitted by JustKea10 [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, vs, leg, rematch, justkea
Read the full article at RedditCarlos Condit's camp wants Georges St. Pierre, not Nick Diaz rematch
Don't expect to see Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz II any time soon. At least, not if Condit's camp has anything to say about it. According to his manager, Malki Kawa, it's simply not a fight that interests the new UFC interim Welterweight champ. Instead, Kawa says that after his decisive victory over Diaz, Condit is focused solely on his showdown with reigning 170-pound kingpin, Georges St. Pierre.
Posted in: diaz, welterweight champ, condit, diaz condit, condits camp
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143 Results Recap: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit
In the main event of UFC 143, Carlos Condit stuck to a very intelligent gameplan and picked up the UFC interim welterweight title by defeating Nick Diaz by unanimous decision. The scores were 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. The bout was closer than the scores made it appear, with Diaz having a case for winning three of the five rounds. Fans have been bitterly divided over the opinion of Condit's gameplan, which involved him landing strikes and circling away from being cornered by an oncoming Diaz. Either way, it's impossible to deny that the gameplan was effective.
The first two rounds were close, with Diaz coming forward and landing strikes while Condit threw leg kicks and avoided damage. Condit seemed to pull ahead in the third and particularly the fourth, while a visibly frustrated Diaz started throwing less strikes. Condit was controlling the fifth as well until late in the round when Diaz managed to get his back, lock up a body triangle, and attempted to submit Condit. "The Natural Born Killer" held Diaz off until the final bell though, and claimed the decision
What was the high spot of this fight?
Probably either Diaz trash-talking Condit in round two, or Nick's back control and attempted subs in the final stanza.
Where do these guys go from here?
Whether you were a fan of his style or not, Condit is now the UFC interim welterweight champion. He has two choices - he can wait until Georges St. Pierre is healthy (likely in the fall) and unify the titles in a bout with the current champion. Or, he can choose to defend his interim title in the meantime. A rematch with Diaz would be a possibility, along with bouts with Josh Koscheck or the winner of Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez.
Diaz announced his retirement after the bout, believing he had won decisively and showing his disgust with the final scores. Whether Diaz goes through with that remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem likely. A rematch with Condit is a possibility, as is a next bout with Josh Koscheck or a whole host of top contenders. Will we see Diaz in the octagon again? My guess would be a definitive yes.
Watch it now, later or never?
Now. While it wasn't even close to what people expected excitement-wise, watching Condit implement his gameplan and frustrate Diaz has to be seen to be believed. Plus, you can decide for yourself whether Diaz has a legitimate gripe regarding the scoring or not.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, condit, burke
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Results Recap: Fabricio Werdum Vs. Roy Nelson
In the co-main event of UFC 143, Fabricio Werdum battered Roy Nelson around the cage for three round and picked up a unanimous decision victory. All three judges had it 30-27 for Vai Cavalo. Werdum's muay thai was on point all night, and he landed a gaggle of solid punches and knees from the thai clinch. He opened a large cut on Nelson's face in the first round with a knee and just kept going from there. Nelson landed his big right had a couple of time and staggered Werdum at least once, but was unable to capitalize on it. He did manage to cement his image as a fighter with an iron chin, though.
The bout was Werdum's first in the UFC in over three years, and he returned in style. He immediately positioned himself as a top contender in the division, and will likely get a top-five opponent in his next bout. Meanwhile, Nelson has lost three out of his last four (all against top guys) and while his slimmed-down physique has helped his cardio a bit, UFC president Dana White still wants Nelson to move down to 205.
What was the high spot of this fight?
The first-round knee that bent Nelson's nose sideways and opened up a large cut.
Where do these guys go from here?
Werdum looked extremely impressive against Nelson, and it was his best performance since his submission victory over Fedor Emelianenko. As stated above, he will be a contender for the UFC heavyweight title right away. A bout against former champions Cain Velasquez or Frank Mir could definitely be in his future.
It's tough to see where Nelson goes from here. It's clear that he doesn't have the tool to be an elite heavyweight, but will he be satisfied with a gatekeeper role? Despite the push from many to get Big Country to drop to 205, it doesn't seem to be a likely scenario for a 35-year-old with somewhat limited standup. A bout with the winner of the Ben Rothwell vs. Brendan Schaub matchup (Nelson defeated Schaub to win TUF 10) could be a good fit.
Watch it now, later or never?
Now. I was tempted to go with later because it went to decision, but Werdum put an epic beating on Nelson for 15 minutes and it was pretty entertaining. Plus, it won fight of the night.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, condit, nelson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Results Recap: Josh Koscheck Vs. Mike Pierce
In the third bout of the UFC 143 main card, Josh Koscheck didn't look great but he managed to squeak out a split decision victory over a game Mike Pierce. Pierce outstruck Kos over the course of the fight, but Josh used timely takedowns and a few power shots to get the razor-thin victory. While some people were screaming robbery, the fight just came down to an extremely close second round that honestly could have gone either way. The final scores were 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 in favor of Koscheck.
The bout sets up Koscheck for a possible shot at interim champ Carlos Condit (who he was originally scheduled to meet on this card) if Condit chooses to defend his title before Georges St. Pierre returns from injury. One of the biggest pieces of news in terms of Kos came after the fight though, when he stated that he had left American Kickboxing Academy. Pierce can't seem to get over the hump when he faces top-level opponents, and where he goes from here is somewhat unclear.
What was the high spot of this fight?
It was a battle of grinders, and not a lot was going on. The most interesting part was probably when Koscheck poked Pierce in the eye after receiving an earlier warning, but referee Herb Dean elected not to take a point from him. It ended up making a big difference on the outcome.
Where do these guys go from here?
Koscheck didn't look very good at all, but he picked up the W anyway. He has now won two straight bouts since his return from a long orbital injury layoff, and has re-established himself as a top contender. Could he get a shot at Condit's interim belt? Maybe. Now that he has left AKA, the possibility of a Josh Koscheck vs. Jon Fitch fight was floated as well, but seems unlikely. A bout with Nick Diaz (if doesn't choose retirement) is a definite possibility as well.
Pierce is now 5-3 in the UFC, with all his losses being in close fights with top-shelf talent. He is clearly a guy that can give almost any 170 pounder fits, but a combination of some bad luck and coming up a tiny bit short has slowed his ascent in the division. A bout with former training partner Rick Story would be very interesting and the bad blood would definitely add some flavor to the matchup.
Watch it now, later or never?
Never. Koscheck's post fight speech (where he flipped off the crowd) was the only entertaining thing that happened.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, result, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 results recap: Bidding farewell to the 'Diaz vs Condit' event in Las Vegas
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) put its best foot forward by wrapping up another campaign of mixed martial arts (MMA) action this past Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada with the UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" event.
In a somewhat controversial headliner, Carlos Condit won a unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz to earn himself the interim welterweight title and a crack at Georges St. Pierre's belt.
Former Strikeforce heavyweight and Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert practitioner Fabricio Werdum made his return to the Octagon by delivering three rounds of punishment to Roy Nelson en route to a decision victory.
The action earned both Werdum and Nelson "Fight of the Night" honors, and left fans with an image of a bloody and battered "Big Country" that we're starting to get a little too familiar with.
Those are just some of the highlights. Let's take a look at the rest of the mental scrapbook pages that made up UFC 143.
If you watched the build up to the fight between Diaz and Condit, you might have assumed that it was a foregone conclusion who was going to advance.
Diaz would need to get past the "Natural Born Killer" to get his title fight versus "GSP" that he'd long been demanding.
It wouldn't be easy, but certainly, he'd be able to scrap, trashtalk and bully his way to a victory and then we'd get the fight we all wanted to see.
Diaz thought he was going to win. St. Pierre wanted him to win. UFC President Dana White may have said he was impartial, but be serious. Think of the potential payday. "St. Pierre vs. Diaz" sells itself.
All that went out the window on Saturday night when Condit came out, stuck to the gameplan, fought a smart fight and took home the win. He played spoiler. He said he was going to.
He's a man of his word.
But not everyone felt so sure that he should have been given the nod from the judges. Diaz was the biggest critic of the decision, and in the heat of the moment, he announced to Joe Rogan that he was so upset, he would be retiring from the sport of MMA.
No word on whether his retirement will actually come to fruition. There is also no word on whether or not Condit will wait until November to fight St. Pierre, or if he will take a sooner fight to bridge the gap.
We'll keep you posted.
Read a full recap with in-depth analysis of the Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit fight at UFC on 143 here. For full fight video highlights of "Diaz vs. Condit," click here.
Fabricio Werdum was once employed by the UFC before. In a little over a year, Werdum went 2-2 in the Octagon, losing his last fight via KO to current UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 90 on Oct. 25, 2008 in Rosemont, Ill. He was cut immediately afterwards.
Since that point in time (leading up to UFC 143), "Vai Cavalo" went 3-1 under the Strikeforce banner, most notably defeating Fedor Emelianenko with a triangle choke that MA fans (and Fedor himself) will never forget.
In his UFC re-entry bout, Werdum was given a tough opponent in Roy Nelson, who is known for his big belly and his granite chin (among other things). It would not be a cakewalk (pun intended), but it would certainly but Werdum in a favorable light if he were able to win.
For three rounds, Werdum absolutely battered "Big Country" with muay thai striking that has clearly improved in leaps and bounds since his last stint with the UFC. His stand up was crisp, clean and brutal.
He never even really had to use his world class jiu-jitsu, and that's a scary premise for the rest of the heavyweights in MMA, worldwide.
Nelson will probably now be in a position where he will be in danger of being cut if he doesn't win his next fight and look good doing it.
Werdum should now get a high profile opponent, and has successfully placed himself "in the mix."
Check out an informative synopsis of the Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson fight at UFC 143 here and here.
The main pay-per-view (PPV) card also showcased a welterweight mash up between big mouthed bad boy Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce.
Originally, Koscheck was slated to fight Condit, until an injury to "GSP" forced a shake up of the card. Koscheck never really appeared to give Pierce a lot of respect. He clearly felt insulted that he was even having to fight him.
Either way, the fight ended up being a lot closer than Koscheck or anyone else probably expected it to be. "Kos" did end up receiving the split decision, but it really could have gone either way.
Next for Koscheck? Dana White said he wouldn't mind seeing him fight Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit. MMAmania.com will certainly keep you informed and updated on those scenarios.
Read a full fight breakdown of the Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce fight at UFC 143 here.
The preliminary fights were fought on FUEL TV as well as two early fights that were streamed on the UFC's Facebook fan page.
The Facebook portion of the card featured the emergence of a bright and shining prospect in karate expert Stephen Thompson, who grabbed hold of the spotlight with a fantastic head kick KO over Dan Stittgen.
His combined professional kickboxing and MMA record is now 26-0. "Wonderboy" is 28 years old and appears to have a tremendous upside.
Read a recap of the Dan Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson fight at UFC 143, as well as a rundown of all the other UFC 143 prelims here.
For his big time breakthrough fight finish, Thompson was given a check for $65,000 for the "Knockout of the Night" award. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to your bosses and the fans.
He wasn't the only one lucky enough to take home a big check.
Read the list of fight bonus award winners, including "Knockout of the Night," "Submission of the Night," and "Fight of the Night" here.
Those are the bright spots and dark corners of UFC 143 that stand out in our memories. How about you? What would your recap look like? Give us your rundown in the comments section.
For complete UFC 143 results and a detailed recap of all the action click here. To check out a recap of the UFC 143 prelim fights that were seen on FUEL TV, click here.
And just in case you want to get up to speed on the entire UFC 143 fight card from top to bottom click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, condit, werdum
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Results Recap: Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen
In the second bout of the UFC 143 main card, Renan Barao picked up a solid unanimous decision victory over Scott Jorgensen. All three judges had it 30-27 for Barao. He showed off a combination of flashy striking and effective counterfighting, and managed to shrug off all of Jorgensen's attempts to take the fight to the floor. Barao even forced Jorgensen to pull guard at one point in the second round, but couldn't get anything going there either.
The win for Barao leaves him as the most logical contender for the UFC bantamweight title after Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber meet for a third time. He is now 3-0 in the UFC and 5-0 under the Zuffa banner, taking out increasingly strong competition along the way. It's back to the drawing board for Jorgensen, who picked up his first loss in the UFC but has a few guys ahead of him in the bantamweight pecking order now.
What was the high spot of this fight?
Nothing really stands out, though Barao did throw a few spinning kicks that looked pretty cool.
Where do these guys go from here?
As stated above, Barao is the most likely candidate to meet the winner of Cruz vs. Faber 3 later this year. If that bout doesn't go down for a while and the UFC wants Barao to fight again before then, a bout with Brian Bowles would make the most sense.
Jorgensen's hopes for another shot at the title were dashed with this loss, and his place in the division isn't clear at this point. With two other top contenders moving down to flyweight, he's unlikely to drop much in the rankings. But at the same time, there aren't a lot of big-name opponents out there for him either. A do-or-die matchup with Eddie Wineland could be very interesting.
Watch it now, later or never?
Later. Barao is a very interesting fighter and all that, but neither fighter does much damage in the bout, and there's not a ton going on most of the time. It's worth taking a pass on.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, condit, burke
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 results: Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit event photos gallery from Las Vegas
UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" took place last night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring Carlos Condit winning his first UFC championship -- even if it's just an interim title -- with a close unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz.
Look out, Georges St. Pierre, "The Natural Born Killer" is coming.
Fabricio Werdum showcased a brand new Muay Thai skill set we previously hadn't seen in a decision win over Roy Nelson in the co-main event of the evening, as the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace used his knees to pummel "Big Country" and put himself in contention in the UFC heavyweight division.
Finally, Josh Koscheck started slow and finished slower but managed to eek out a decision victory over powerful wrestler Mike Pierce.
A photo gallery (via MMAFighting.com) is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump. For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here and here.
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway
Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa
Matt Brown vs. Chris Cope
Matt Riddle vs. Henry Martinez
Rafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper
Stephen Thompson vs. Dan Stittgen
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, decision victory
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Musings - Condit vs. Diaz
NOT AS ADVERTISED, BUT POSSIBLY THE BEST TACTICAL DISPLAY OF 2012 TO DATEAnyone who read my pre-fight breakdown knows that I was seriously salivating over what appeared to be a surefire barnburner between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. I really thought the matchup had all the necessary ingredients for a “Fight of the Year” performance. The fight certainly didn’t live up to the hype from an all-action standpoint, but that does not, in any way, detract from what was a near flawless performance by Condit.“The Natural Born Killer” committed to a game plan that consisted of sticking and moving with the use of constantly changing angles. He never varied from that attack, not even for a minute. Sure, Diaz trapped him a few times, forcing Condit to fight with his back against the cage. But those exchanges lasted only a few brief seconds before the new interim champion circled away from the cage and resumed his tactical approach. Diaz pleaded with him over and over to stand and fight, using vitriolic trash talking, taunts with his hands at his side, and doing just about everything else he could think of to try and goad his foe into a brawl. Condit never gave in to temptation, despite the fact that his natural inclination is to plant his feet and go to war with opponents. Anyone who believes that is easy to do should go back and watch Diaz’s career over the last four or five years. Every one of his opponents, except for British slugger Paul Daley, entered the cage with the same game plan. Only Condit was able to successfully implement it.While the end result wasn’t a “Fight of the Year” battle, it was a virtuoso tactical performance, arguably the best of 2012 so far.DEFEND OR NOT TO DEFEND, THAT IS THE QUESTIONCondit’s win over Diaz brought him a share of the championship that he so desperately coveted, but the belt comes with a dilemma. UFC President Dana White revealed after the fight that champion Georges St-Pierre is nowhere near being ready to resume full mixed martial arts training. The current estimate is the champion will finish his rehabilitation sometime in June, which means he won’t likely return to competition until November, at the earliest. GSP’s health leaves Condit in a precarious position. He has to decide whether to wait for GSP and unify the belts in his next fight or take an optional defense while the Canadian standout is on the mend. That may seem like an easy choice, but this is anything but an easy decision. Let’s look at both sides of the issue. The argument in favor of waiting is an easy one to make. First and foremost, Condit knows that his title is only a placeholder until GSP returns. He will forever be able to refer to himself as a UFC titlist, but not a champion, until he defeats GSP (or GSP fails to return from his current injury exile). Thus, he hasn’t really accomplished his goal of reaching the pinnacle of the sport. Not yet anyway. Taking an interim fight in the unpredictable world of the UFC, where there is no such thing as a tune-up or keep-busy championship bout, creates a risk that he will never actually receive the opportunity to challenge for the true championship. Thus, the risk created by defending the interim belt outweighs the reward, in terms of building Condit’s legacy in the sport. Second, if there is ever a time to face GSP, who is one of the best fighters on the planet, pound for pound, it is right after he returns from a major injury. GSP will have to deal with the dreaded cage rust when he returns. I’m not listening to any argument to the contrary. There is no way that he will be as sharp in his first fight back as he was in his last bout. The issues caused by the time away from active training and actual fighting are compounded by the mental hurdle associated with getting over an ACL tear is no joke. It takes most athletes some reps in actual competition, even once fully healed and rehabilitated, to subconsciously believe that the knee is ready for game speed. I will be shocked, if GSP is any different.GSP, therefore, should have holes in his game that might not otherwise be present, if Condit faces him at any other point in their respective careers. Why risk blowing that opportunity, just to take an interim fight?The argument for taking an interim fight is also pretty straightforward. Any advantage that Condit has over GSP due to the champion’s injury-forced exile is tempered by the interim champion self-exiling himself for a long period of time. Keep in mind that the longest layoff of Condit’s career is 269 days. If he fights GSP on November 1, he will break his personal inactive mark by two days, and there is no guarantee that the true champion will be ready by November 1. Any little setback in his rehabilitation or preparation could postpone the fight even further, which means cage rust will be just as big of a problem for Condit as it is GSP. Think otherwise? Talk to Rashad Evans about hanging around and waiting for an opportunity, rather than remaining busy. He will quickly admit that long stretches away have affected his subsequent performances. Again, why would Condit be any different?Equally relevant is the fact that the fight game is as much about earning a living as it is competition. Condit doesn’t get paid to sit on the sidelines. He gets paid when he fights. Does it make financial sense to wait until November or possibly later for his next payday? Remember, we are talking about a guy with a wife, baby and new mortgage. I’m a firm believer that fighters need to maximize their earnings during their brief time in sport. All fighters have very limited shelf lives. The question of “what’s next” once their career reaches its expiration date is a daunting one for all but the wealthiest of fighters, particularly since the expiration date arrives at different times for different fighters. It is a date that is nearly impossible to predict. So, passing up lucrative paydays, even in the face of risking a potentially more lucrative one down the road with GSP, seems like financial suicide to me.Equally important, however, is the mental aspect of opting to sit on the sidelines. Think about it for a minute. If Team Condit attempts to talk their man into waiting for GSP, I question whether that would create a little doubt in the back of his mind. After all, if he isn’t good enough to defeat whomever the UFC puts in front of him, what makes anyone think he is good enough to defeat the man who many believe to be the single best fighter in the world? Will that self doubt cause hesitation when he actually receives the opportunity to fight GSP?I’m a firm believer that Condit should take an interim defense of the interim title, based on GSP’s protracted timetable. Not only will it help maximize his short-term earnings, it will also put him in the best possible position, in my opinion, to remain at the top of his game for when the opportunity to face GSP does finally arise.What would you do, if you were advising “The Natural Born Killer”? Let me know in the comment section below.PAY NO MIND TO THE RETIREMENT TALKNick Diaz announced after the loss to Condit that he was hanging up the vale tudo gloves. To quote Public Enemy, “don’t believe the hype.”Diaz isn’t going anywhere. Not after that loss, anyway. His words inside the Octagon were those of a deeply frustrated fighter who believed that, once again, he was treated wrongly by the system. I’m not so sure that he will continue to hold that belief when he goes back and watches the tape of the fight.For the record, I scored the fight 3-2 for Diaz, giving him the nod in rounds one, two and five. The first two rounds were easy to score, in my opinion, as were rounds three and four. The final round was a bear, and I’ll admit that I still go back and forth on that one. On one hand, Condit definitely landed more in terms of striking volume and significant strikes. He also showed far better Octagon control by darting in and out, while Diaz continually and ineffectively chased him around. On the other hand, the takedown followed by the back mount was the single most dominant position of the round for either fighter. Condit was in more danger of getting stopped in those moments than Diaz was at any point in the fight. Of course, Diaz didn’t actually come very close with any of his submission attempts, so there is a school of thought that says I shouldn’t give so much weight to the takedown and back mount. It is a completely subjective question, one that I actually don’t feel that strongly about. In fact, after re-watching the fight, I am actually starting to lean toward Condit for the final round.Whatever your scoring philosophy, the bout was close enough that it wasn’t highway robbery for either man to drop the decision on Saturday night. Diaz should not feel as if he has been wronged by the establishment. He should instead ask himself why he was unable to cut off the cage when Condit was on his bicycle, or why he didn’t get off first when Condit came into range. It was a very un-Diaz-like performance, one that I chalk up to a bad night mixed with a virtuoso effort by Condit. Diaz isn’t going anywhere, folks. Trust me on that one. In fact, I think he is probably just one win away from re-asserting himself as the number one contender. Dana White mentioned in a post-fight interview that Diaz versus Josh Koscheck would be an interesting next fight. I agree. I think that is an excellent way to shake out who stands behind Condit, if he opts to wait for GSP. If Condit decides to take an interim challenge, I think Diaz has a strong argument that he deserves a rematch. Either way, my guess is that Nick Diaz will be back in action inside the Octagon before summertime.
Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, gsp, condit
Read the full article at UFCUFC 143 Results Recap: Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks
In the first bout of the UFC 143 main card, Ed Herman overcame some solid shots from his opponent and picked up a second round submission victory over Clifford Starks. Herman got off to a shaky start, looking to land uppercuts but eating big straight rights over and over from Starks. He was doing okay in the clinch, but at range he was getting busted up. He finally got a takedown late in the first, but was quickly reversed by Starks, who easily took the first round.
The second round was a different story though. Starks once again pushed it against the fence, but Herman scored a nice trip takedown, quickly advanced to mount, and once Starks flipped over Herman had it well in hand. The tap came soon thereafter. Starks looked quite impressive in the fight though, and the stock of both fighters is likely to go up in the aftermath of the bout.
What was the high spot of this fight?
Herman's beautiful trip that led to the finishing sequence.
Where do these guys go from here?
Herman has now won three bouts in a row since his two-year injury layoff, and has finished all three of the fights. He definitely had some trouble with Starks early, but weathered the storm and looked extremely impressive once he created an opportunity for himself. You'd have to expect that he'll get a fringe top-25 fighter for his next bout. The winner of the Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes bout at UFC on Fuel 1 seems like a solid next opponent for Short Fuse.
Starks proved that he can hang (at least for a while) with a talented middleweight, and his striking looked much better than it did in the Jacoby fight. Perhaps he wasn't ready for a main card fight yet, but he does have the ability to be a solid mid-tier 185er in the UFC. A matchup with fellow Michael Kuiper, who also dropped his bout at UFC 143, would be interesting.
Watch it now, later or never?
Now. This was the only finish on the main card and maintained a good pace throughout. It's worth 10 minutes of your time.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, condit, burke
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 results: What's next for Nick Diaz, assuming he doesn't retire?
It was a familiar scene, with the expected dose of bitterness and exasperation. But if Nick Diaz's post-fight interview and vow to retire after losing a decision to Carlos Condit last night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) at UFC 143 in Las Vegas, Nevada, is merely talk, some serious thought should be put into who his next opponent should be. That's because if Diaz is to risk being beaten and further pushed into his long-running pit of disgust with the sport, the UFC ought to at least make it worthwhile for everyone involved.
At press time, it's unclear as to whom newly-crowned interim champ Condit will face next. There's some talk of a rematch with Diaz, given champ Georges St. Pierre's uncertain recovery time, which is presently November. I don't think Diaz' retirement will stick, but I'm not sure if he'll stay around if he continues to lose decisions where he doesn't feel definitively beaten.
That's why the UFC ought to think carefully how they match him at this point, because he remains a very marketable fighter with a big fan base. It'd be shame if Diaz, a mere 28 years old and at the top of his game, left the sport right when it could benefit most from his presence.
Nick is one of the most durable fighters in the game. He's only been stopped legitimately once, early in his career, in the beginning of his trilogy vs. Jeremy Jackson, a loss he definitively avenged twice. Cuts led to a TKO loss against K.J. Noons, in a bout where Diaz' exit was marked by a classic double-middle-finger salute as he exited the venue. Decision setbacks during his first UFC run against Karo Parisyan, Diego Sanchez, Joe Riggs and Sean Sherk saw him echoing the same sentiments: opponents didn't want to fight.
He might have been held down and bested on points, but he never really felt like he was beaten down. It's the common refrain in every Diaz loss, and there is some merit - because in an no-time-limits Vale Tudo style fight, I'm not sure anyone at welterweight would beat him. But that's not the world we live in, and as such, there needs to be common ground found between Diaz' desire to be bested cleanly and an exciting fight.
So here's a closer look at available opponents, along with analysis of what they'd bring to the table to give everyone involved a satisfying fight.
ConditExcitement Factor: C+A rematch between the two was mentioned as a possibility in the postfight press conference by Dana White, but I don't think it materializes. First, their fight was workmanlike but hardly thrilling in terms of fan-friendly action. Second, there's not a lot I can see going differently, especially now that Condit executed a perfect game plan that won him the belt. The only upside in making this is the UFC somehow banking on the more-marketable Diaz winning and therefore making a bigger fight for GSP's return. But the downside is another underwhelming main event that only further degrades Diaz' short-term value with a result that surprises few. Condit was good Saturday night, but there wasn't a lot to make any more of a case of him vs. GSP than already existed.
Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann winnerExcitement Factor: AThese two square off March 3 at the UFC on FX 2 card, in what should prove an explosive bout. Both are punishing strikes with a standup-reliant style, but they've got solid jiu-jitsu if they need it. Alves' long-underused ground game was brutal and effective in his last outing, as he punished unbeaten newcomer Papy Abedi in a vicious first-round stoppage. Kampmann is a proven commodity with toughness and consistency as well. The winner of this fight would be perfect for Diaz, because both guys are excellent standup artists. Alves vs. Diaz is particularly interesting, because Alves' physical strength would pose some real challenges for Nick in the tie-ups and perhaps on the ground as well. This is the kind of fight where Diaz might, for once, lose and be satisfied that the other guy legitimately beat him. And there's no question that fans would tune in to watch a blood-soaked classic unfold. Everyone wins here, plus both are credible enough contenders to warrant a bout vs. Diaz.
Josh KoscheckExcitement Factor: DThe prefight trash talk would be entertaining, and there's no doubt Koscheck would be one of the few Diaz foes to engage in some serious verbal exchanges. But come fight time, this is a double-dose of viewer Ambien that would bum everyone out. Diaz, because he'd probably get held down to a decision loss, and casual fans, because Koscheck is light years better at wrestling than people who've already wrestle-smashed Diaz. There's a slim to moderate chance that Diaz's standup could light Kos up and get a stoppage, at which point he's right back in the title hunt, but realistically, if you want to see the postfight interview for this one, you already watched Diaz's version of it Saturday night. You also saw it when Sanchez decisioned him. It also gives Kos the chance of a credible win over an elite contender when he's nowhere near a title shot, so it is risky matchmaking for the UFC, who basically need to knockKoscheck off because he's not getting a crack as long as GSP is still champ.
Jon FitchExcitement Factor: FSee Koscheck entry above. The only difference is that while Kos might stand a little, Fitch would certainly take it to the mat. Styles make fights and it's not Fitch's fault, but only hard-cores would want to see this. Plus, I'm pretty sure the UFC is tickled with how Johnny Hendricks KO'd Fitch in 12 seconds, given their contentious relationship with the longtime contender - giving him a crack at Diaz is a big step back up the ladder that makes no sense for them since they've been trying to hang a loss on him for years.
Rory MacDonaldExcitement Factor: B+The streaking welterweight faces tough Che Mills April 21 at UFC 145, which would place him and Diaz for a summer date at earliest. But the Canadian, assuming he wins over Mills, is a good style match for Diaz and would probably produce a fight that was exciting and revealing for both. Plus, you have the plotline of MacDonald's impressive decision win over Nate Diaz, which is always good for a revenge theme. Rory's commitment to standup and pushing the pace would be a wonderfully combustive element, given Diaz' mindset to doing the exact same thing. It's also a good piece ofmatchmaking to show how MacDonald can hang against the elite of the division. Rory's matured since his epic battle and final-seconds defeat to Condit, and Diaz is an exciting a style as any to see how he'll hang against the best.
Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst or Jason@Jasonprobst.com
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, there
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Results Recap: Dustin Poirier Vs. Max Holloway
In the final fight on the UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit prelims on FX, Dustin Poirier defeated UFC newcomer Max Holloway. Poirier used a beautiful chain of submissions before finally locking in a mounted triangle/armbar to tap Holloway in the first round. The submission earned Porier the Submission of the Night bonus, and rightfully so. Poirier is now 12-1 overall, and a perfect 4-0 in the UFC. He seems to be closing in on a Featherweight title shot with Jose Aldo. Holloway loses for the first time in his career, dropping to 4-1.
Right from the start, this was a very exciting fight. Both men came out with aggressive stand-up, with Holloway looking particularly impressive in his willingness to take the fight to the more experienced Poirier. As Hollway began to have more success on his feet, Poirier switched to his wrestling, taking the younger fighter down. From there, Poirier controlled with those submissions, ending up with the win.
What was the high spot of this fight?
The submission sequence at the end, clearly, though the entire thing was quite good.
Where do these guys go from here?
Poirier was originally set to face Erik Koch here, and that may be a good option for his next fight depending on what Koch's timetable is on his injury. But he's also very high up the Featherweight ranks at this point. I'd love to see Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung for #1 contender status, but with Jose Aldo having no challenger set-up, I wouldn't be shocked to see Poirier get the call up right now.
Holloway may have lost, but he looked good and clearly earned himself a future in the UFC. He seems like a perfect candidate for Leonard Garcia in a fight that will let Holloway show off his striking and hopefully give him a nice win.
Watch it now, later or never?
Now. It was short, exciting, and had a thrilling finish. About as entertaining a one round fight as you'll find.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, result, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDiaz v Condit. Slap count down in 5,4,3.....
submitted by FatStupidAmerican [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: diaz, condit, count, fatstupidamerican
Read the full article at RedditUFC 143 Results Recap: Alex Caceres Vs. Edwin Figueroa
In a wild Bantamweight fight at UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, Edwin Figueroa defeated Alex Caceres via split decision. The scorecards were 28-27, 27-28, 28-27, with Cacaeres having been deducted two points for low blows. Caceres now drops to 6-5 overall, 1-3 in the UFC, while Figueroa brings his recird up to an impressive 9-1, 2-1 in the UFC.
This was a very strange fight, which was largely defined by two unintentional low blows Caceres connected on Figueroa. Early in the first round, Caceres caught him low on an inside leg kick. As Figueroa writhed on the ground, it looked like the fight would be stopped, but he regained his feet, and came back to nearly end the fight himself with a brutal headkick. Round 2 saw Caceres again land a low blow, resulting in referee Herb Dean deducting 2 points from Caceres - a move that is unprecedented in the UFC. Figueroa never fully recovered from the low blows, but gutted through the fight.
What was the high spot of this fight?
That headkick from Figueroa in round 1 was fantastic, and I am shocked it didn't end the fight.
Where do these guys go from here?
This fight was so strange that it's hard to really evaluate much about either man. Figueroa is now on a 2 fight win streak in the UFC, but his ground game had definite issues here. But again, how much of that was due to the low blows?
At just 1-3 Caceres could easily be on the chopping block, but he is a recognizable face in the division, and with the weirdness of this fight, there's reason to keep him around for one more shot.
Watch it now, later or never?
Later. There was a lot of fun stuff here, particularly in round 1, you just have to fast forward through about 10 minutes of groin shot downtime.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, result, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Results Recap: Matt Brown Vs. Chris Cope
In a Welterweight fight at UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, UFC veteran Matt Brown faced fellow Ultimate Fighter alum Chris Cope. Brown was able to take the advantage in round 2, knocking Cope out with a left hook and some quick but heavy ground and pound. The fight was stopped at 1:19 in round 2. Brown bounces back from a loss here and is now 13-11 overall, 6-5 in the UFC. Cope drops his second in a row and is now just 1-2 in the UFC, 5-3 overall.
The first round was relatively close, though Brown seemed to have a power advantage. The Immortal controlled more of the clinch grappling, and was able to throw Cope to the ground, plus land a heavy punch to close the round. In the second, Brown landed a heavy right hook on the ear to stagger Cope. As Cope moved away, Brown brought in a nice left hook to put him down and out. Impressive win from Brown, who has struggled in the UFC lately.
What was the high spot of this fight?
That pair of hooks from Brown was quite nice and clearly did some damage to Cope, who was visibly disoriented after the fight.
Where do these guys go from here?
Hard to say for Brown. He is a staple of the division who can provide a good test for younger fighters on their way up, though I don't see any reason to move him up much in competition at this point.
Cope could be cut, but I suspect will earn one more shot. Expect his job to be on the line in that one.
Watch it now, later or never?
Later. It was a very workmanlike bout that lacked big fireworks, but the end was nice, especially if you are one of the many people who are annoyed by Cope.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, condit, burke
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143: Payout Perspective
Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This week we take a look at UFC 143 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada where Nick Diaz took on Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight belt.
Condit frustrates Diaz for interim belt
We saw the Stockton Slap but Carlos Condit executed his game plan to perfection in eluding Diaz’s boxing skills and a last round submission attempt to win the interim title. The bout was reminiscent of Frankie Edgar versus BJ Penn at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. In that one, Edgar executed a game plan to perfection that by Round 5 you knew that the favorite was in trouble. Same here with Condit.
For Condit, a date with GSP is in the future. Despite his post-fight interview where he quit MMA, Diaz will likely be back and a Josh Koscheck fight seems about right. Even in defeat, a Nick Diaz post-fight interview is always entertaining.
Werdum outlasts Big Country
A solid debut for Fabricio Werdum who edged out Roy Nelson in a battle of BJJ black belts. A very good fight that won Fight of the Night honors. Werdum may not be ready for the top tier of this division but maybe a couple more impressive victories could earn him a return bout against Junior dos Santos.
Koscheck defeats Pierce
A closer bout than most thought. Arguably, Pierce could claim he should have won. Not sure why Josh Koscheck is such a hated man but Nick Diaz is gaining fans for being about as bad. Of course, Koscheck’s post-fight “salute” to the fans won’t help his plea for fans.
Attendance and gate
MMA Junkie reports that UFC 143 drew 10,040 fans for a gate of $2.3 million.
Bonuses
MMA Junkie also reported the fight night bonuses for UFC 143. Each fighter received $65,000.
Fight of the Night: Fabricio Werdum versus Roy Nelson
Submission of the Night: Dustin Poirer
KO of the Night: Stephen Thompson
Poirer and Thompson were the clear cut winners for their divisions as Poirer had an impressive submission and Thompson’s educated foot won him a KO.
Sponsors
The octagon included a couple new logos including the UFC’s new official corn nuts sponsor, Corn Nuts. Also, the History Channels’ new show, Full Metal Jousting. The show is from the producers of the Ultimate Fighter. It also included MetroPCS which also ran commercials during the prelims. In addition, UFC Undisputed 3 was featured as the UFC is pumping up the game for its release as you can purchase the game via GameStop. The Octagon also had its usual mainstays of Harley Davidson, Musclepharm, Tapout, Dodge and Bud Light.
The Corn Nuts sponsorship included a “corn”er cam. A nice play on words. It will be interesting to see what future activation plans it has with the UFC. MetroPCS also sponsored the Judge’s Call which occurred right before the judge’s decision.
The US Marines, as always, sponsored the Tale of the Tape for Koscheck-Pierce. RYU was also a featured sponsor although its signage was not featured.
Every time Josh Koscheck fights I’m reminded that Lugz is still around.
Roy Nelson was sponsored by the History Channel’s new show for his fight. Maybe it was fitting that his white shorts were stained with blood for “Full Metal Jousting.”
UFC Primetime
Good reviews for this set of shows. It was a little weird for the show to feature GSP’s rehab but this may have compensated for the lack of Diaz information. An interesting snippet from the last episode of Primetime: Nick Diaz didn’t know who was playing in the Super Bowl. We will try to update you with ratings if we can obtain them.
Post-UFC 143 Headlines
Condit versus GSP. Its not the matchup that most, including GSP, wanted. But we will see this fight sometime later this year. Perhaps, this is Montreal’s fight to have since its spring card was delayed. It should be a good battle although the UFC could have marketed a Diaz versus GSP fight easier. Nonetheless, the UFC could get Diaz versus Koshcheck which could get a lot of interest albeit not for a title.
What would Nick do? UFC Primetime got more out of Nick Diaz than most have seen. But, how likely would Diaz do another behind-the-scenes look after this loss. His disdain for any type of media coverage is evident. But, he’s a compelling figure that many have grown to like (or hate). Regardless of what fans think, he’s an asset for the UFC that they must manage.
Dustin Poirier may be the only hope for the 145 division against Jose Aldo. An impressive fight with some great jiu jitsu. We’ll see how he progresses.
Odds and Ends
- I liked the new intro to the PPVs. I’m wondering why they didn’t go with something like this earlier. Long live Gladiator Man.
- Good move by the UFC and Fox to go back to the weigh-ins without commentary. I think for those that tune in to watch them, they like to see and hear the whole thing rather than get analysis.
- What do you think Nick Diaz was saying to Lorenzo Fertitta right after the fight?
-Diaz said he was paid way too much for MMA in his post-fight in Octagon interview. I thought his complaint was that he wasn’t paid enough.
- It will be interesting to see the numbers for the UFC in 3D in theaters. Based on twitter, there were very positive reviews but we’ll have to see if that equates to good attendance.
- We saw the first commercials for TUF on FX.
- For those watching the Super Bowl, here’s the Kia ad with Chuck Liddell. He’s in the commercial briefly around the 1:00 minute mark.
Conclusion
A good night of fights but Diaz-Condit didn’t have the star power of GSP. The co-main events and undercard featured good match-ups but only for hardcore MMA fans. How many casual viewers knew Mike Pierce? It will be interesting to see how much the 3D in theater attendance takes away from the PPV buy rate. A buy rate above 250,000 should be considered a success.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, gsp
Read the full article at MMA PayoutCarlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz 2 Coming Soon?
UFC president Dana White seemed open to a Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz rematch before titleholder Georges St-Pierre returns from injury.
Posted in: diaz, nick, vs, condit, carlo
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143 Results Recap: Matt Riddle Vs. Henry Martinez
In a UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit preliminary fight in the Welterweight division, Matt Riddle barely squeaked by Henry Martinez to take a split decision victory. The judges scored the bout 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. Both Riddle and Martinez were replacements for the originally scheduled Amir Sadollah vs. Jorge Lopez fight. Riddle brings his record up to 6-3, while Martinez loses in his UFC debut and drops to 8-2.
From the beginning it was clear that Riddle had a significant size advantage over Martinez, who typically fights at Lightweight. However, over most of the first two rounds, it was Martinez who controlled the action with superior boxing. Late in the second round, Riddle switched his primary striking from punches to kicks in order to take advantage of his reach. From there out, Riddle controlled the fight, resulting in the close decision win.
What was the high spot of this fight?
Late in the second Riddle figured out how to deal with Martinez and celebrated by launching a wild combo that was fun in that crazy brawling kind of way.
Where do these guys go from here?
Riddle seems like one of those fighters who is more interested in going out there and having fun than actually winning and advancing his career, which makes him a tough one to set up fights for. Maybe fellow TUF season 7 alum Amir Sadollah?
Martinez almost won a fight where he was giving up considerable size. He deserves another UFC shot back at Lightweight against any one of dozens of other lower end Lightweight fighters.
Watch it now, later or never?
Later if you like the kind of wild Garcia type stand-up battle, never if you don't.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 results: MMA scoring an inexact science but doesn't change Carlos Condit's win over Nick Diaz
Part of post-fight banter is comparing scorecards, be it with other fans or journalists covering the sport. But a note to all who venture to go there: the only true and legitimate way to compare them is to score a fight precisely like judges do, by making one decision at the end of a round with no option whatsoever to change it.
This puts a whole new tone on scoring fights. Anyone who says they had it "49-46, maybe 48-47" is waffling in a way that no real judge can. It's a one-and-done thing, which adds some extra element of pressure, especially in a close fight.
This can be hard, especially when you're scoring a close fight where one guy seems to have a consistent edge in action where the tone and pace has few, if any wild swings. That was precisely how the UFC 143 main event bout between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit last night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada, felt, but that's also why I scored the fifth for Diaz, with a final card of 49-46. The fifth could legitimately be classified as a makeup round for Diaz, who'd been close in a couple others, but without either guy getting visibly hurt, or a tempo change, Condit was simply doing too much for me to mount a big case for Diaz.
Nick definitely threatened in the final moments of the fifth, which was much closer than Condit ever came to finishing him. The second round was the only one where Diaz outlanded Condit -- 30 to 25 -- and even then it was very close. I must add that it's also a lot easier to score the fifth for someone like Diaz in that situation where there's little to no question that the fight has already been decided.
Would I score the fifth round of, say, Frankie Edgar-Gray Maynard II with that approach? Definitely not. There's no room for makeup round to reflect the competitiveness of the fight when the whole thing is nip-and-tuck. But Condit-Diaz didn't feel that way at all. At least not to me. You may feel otherwise.
That said, I was surprised with how many fans on Twitter interacting with me on the fight felt Diaz one. I'm loath to rely too heavily on strike and other statistics, because a five-round fight is, in its essence, five separate contests independent of one another.
Translation? Just because one fighter has a big edge in strikes may not accurately reflect the tone of the entire bout.
You can pile up a huge edge in one round with several others that are close (Maynard-Edgar II is a perfect example of this, with Maynard landing a 44 of his 99 total strikes in that wipeout opening round). It also doesn't take into effect that's landing the more effective shots and getting a bigger reaction out of landing.
Throw in takedowns and submissions attempts, both of whom have no clearly delineated equivalency in scoring compared to strikes, and it can get really murky. Does a takedown equal getting up from one? How many solid leg kicks are equal to a submission that is barely escaped? Are failed takedown attempts points for the defending fighter? The only person I know who obsesses over these more than me, and certainly more then the average fight judge, is my man Dallas Winston at Bloody Elbow. And he never sleeps.
On that score, Condit vs. Diaz was remarkably simple. Save for Diaz' threatening back control in the waning seconds of the bout and two missed submission attempts, it was almost entirely striking that comprised the action Saturday night. Given that neither guy was able to visibly rock, stun or floor the other, there was little to tilt the scales in favor of either being the power puncher that should get more credit for shots landed. Condit was 146 of 273 overall, Diaz 110 of 223. Going forward and getting outlanded is a hard argument for a winner unless you're rocking the other guy (which Diaz never achieved) or landing the bigger shots (which he didn't).
I think a lot of the anti-Condit sentiment came from a mixture of fans expecting a bloodbath and people just flat-out unable to accept that Diaz lost, fair and square. Tomorrow's another day, and hopefully Diaz's retirement talk is just post-fight emotion taking over.
But on this one, Nick was beaten on every front, plain and simple.
Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst and Jason@jasonprobst.com
Posted in: fight, diaz, guy, round, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Results Recap: Rafael Natal Vs. Michael Kuiper
Rafael Natal needed an impressive performance at UFC 143 Saturday to stay relevant in the UFC's middleweight division and did just that, earning an entertaining unanimous decision victory over UFC newcomer Michael Kuiper in the evening's second fight.
Natal (14-3-1, 2-1-1 UFC) won his second straight and showed significant aggression in the fight's opening round, securing several takedowns and working for submissions. Kuiper (11-1, 0-1 UFC) didn't look completely comfortable working from his back, but did enough to survive.
Both men showed a lot of wear in the second as they struggled to keep up the fervent pace with some sloppy striking, but Natal got a takedown late to edge out a close round. Kuiper opened the window in the third round with a big right hand that dropped Natal to his knees and continued to ground and pound.
However, Natal's superior ground game took over and he held tight to Kuiper, eventually reversing position and getting to a standing position. He secured a big takedown with two minutes to go and used that same ground game to control Kuiper while going for head and arm choke submissions.
What was the high spot of the fight?
Kuiper's right hand in the third round that dropped Natal to his knees was visually pleasing, while Natal's takedown in the third was also a big move.
Where do these guys go from here?
Even with his second straight win, Natal hasn't done anything yet to earn himself bigger promotion. He's gone the distance in four straight fights and until he starts finishing opponents again, Natal will remain in the first or second spot in most cards. Expect a fight against another middle-of-the-road middleweight in May or June.
Kuiper will get another shot as he's just 22 years old and made a decent accounting of himself in his biggest fight to date. He does need to work on conditioning, which hurt him in this fight.
Watch it now, later or never?
With the glut of fights out there, there's no rush or necessity to watch Natal/Kuiper.
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, result, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White prepared to give Nick Diaz immediate rematch
Last week, Carlos Condit’s manager came out to say their team would consider a scenario with “The Natural Born Killer” defending his interim welterweight title if victorious at UFC 143 based on the amount of time remaining before linear champion Georges St. Pierre is fully healed from knee surgery. Now it appears the UFC may be open to obliging the request with an opponent already in mind – Nick Diaz.
Diaz, who Condit outpointed last night at UFC 143 in the evening’s main event, was seen by numerous fans, fighters, and media members as having deserved the victory based on his aggression as opposed to Condit’s calculated counter-attack in the extremely close contest. While UFC President Dana White was not among them, stating he felt Condit deserved the judges’ favor, he apparently understands the argument against it and would be willing to put the fight together if both sides agree to terms.
“It’s crazy, but…I was thinking about it after the fight,” said White in an interview with MMAJunkie. “People are bitching, and people think that was close…we could do that fight again before GSP comes back.”
However, White isn’t ready to force Condit into an immediate rematch with Diaz nor does he know if Diaz has any interest in continuing his MMA career based on his post-fight statements about retirement.
“It depends on Carlos, too. Carlos has got to say – and Nick’s got to say, ‘I want to fight him again,’ too,” White explained.
Fighters facing off in back-to-back bouts is not without precedent, such as when Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn squared off in consecutive clashes after “The Answer” barely beat Penn the first time around.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, condit, carlo
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 143 Results Recap: Stephen Thompson Vs. Dan Stittgen
The excitement level of UFC debuts seem to go either one way or another: really good or quite dull. In the opening bout of UFC 143 Saturday, two Octagon newbies set out to make it more the former than the latter with one succeeding mightily.
Stephen Thompson (6-0, 1-0 UFC) kept his professional and amateur fighting career undefeated with a first round knockout of Dan Stittgen (7-2, 0-1 UFC), thanks to Thompson's trusty right foot that found the side of Stittgen's head.
Thompson came into his UFC debut with a combined 57-0 pro/amateur kickboxing record with 46 knockouts and made himself known to MMA fans on the biggest stage in a hurry.
Thompson controlled the fight throughout, using a sideways stance and a variety of kicks to hold off Stittgen who seemed content to stand and throw leg kicks to counter. Thompson was calm in waiting for his opportunity and it came quickly and violently.
What was the high spot of this fight?
Without a doubt, it was the Thompson head kick that earned him $65,000 for Knockout Of The Night and a fight re-air on the FX portion of the show.
Where do these guys go from here?
Thompson earned himself a reprieve from the opening bout of an event to at least the FX/Fuel prelims on an upcoming show. As far as talent level, the UFC would be wise to pair him against another opponent with similar experience before jumping him up the chain. His pre-MMA experience might eventually warrant that, but patience is a virtue with a fighter like Thompson. Expect to see him in May on the third Fox show or UFC On FX 3.
Stittgen didn't do much to warrant a return engagement as he essentially acted as a sparring partner for Thompson. Why he decided to keep the fight standing against a high-level kickboxer is a mystery.
Watch it now, later or never?
Watch it now as the head kick was simply awesome.
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, condit, burke
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowLefko on UFC 143: Take Diaz at his word
In a controversial move, Nick Diaz declared his decision to retire from the octogon and his actions Saturday night indicate he was sincere.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, move, word, lefko
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC 143 results: Nick Diaz a bad boy boxer or just an immature fighter?
Georges St. Pierre called him "fake crazy" and said he believes he has "mental issues." Fans have lauded him for having "attitude" and shunning tradition for an in-your-face approach centered around the fact that he plays by the rules only so much as it suits him. The Stockton bad boy act is appealing to many but after his loss to Carlos Condit in the main event of last night's (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) UFC 143 pay-per-view (PPV) in Las Vegas, Nevada, there's one word that can describe Nick Diaz better than any other.
Immature.
None of us should have been shocked by the outcome of last night's fight. Not the decision, though some are calling it controversial, but rather the manner in which the bout played out. Did we really think Condit, a cerebral assassin, would walk down the aisle, step inside the cage and go toe-to-toe with Diaz. Did we really?
If we did, it was rooted in hope instead of actual analysis. In hindsight, we all should have saw this coming, including Diaz. Condit's game plan was impeccable, suited to his style while exploiting the weaknesses still present in Diaz's game. He frustrated the California native, effectively executing the stick-and-move style that has made Frankie Edgar such a beast at 155-pounds.
It was brilliant, really. A work of art, even. This was arguably Condit's finest hour, even if he didn't break any bones with a slick submission or send his opponent off to La La Land with a big knockout. All he did was earn a 14-pound piece of gold and a promise to fight one of the greatest mixed martial artists on the planet later this year.
Diaz, meanwhile, in a sad display, told everyone he's taking his ball and going home.
Diaz is still too caught up in the outdated notion that a "fight" is two men standing in front of each other and wildly winging punches until someone falls down. On the streets of Stockton maybe that's exactly how it goes but inside the Octagon against the best the world has to offer, that's simply not the case and it never will be.
When Diaz couldn't force a flurry against the cage, he threw his hands up and started trash talking Condit in an attempt to bait him into an exchange. Instead of finding the best way to deal with Carlos before the fight, Diaz came in with the same strategy he's always had and when it didn't work out the way he wanted, he essentially threw a tantrum in the center of the cage and might as well have looked at the ref and said, "Wha, wha, he won't fight."
The next step in said tantrum? To stomp off in a huff and quit. And that's exactly what he did, telling Joe Rogan the following:
"You know I don't need this sh*t. You know what I mean? I pushed this guy backwards the whole fight. He ran from me the whole fight. I landed the harder shots. He ran the whole time. He kicked me in my leg a little bit. That was the way they understand to win in here, I don't want to play this game no more. I'll help out my team and my brother but I'm out of this sh*t."
Essentially, because Condit didn't fight Diaz the way Diaz wanted him to, Diaz is quitting.
Suddenly the bad boy act reveals itself as something entirely different. This isn't what a tough guy from the mean streets of Stockton would do. This is what a child would do when they don't get their way.
Diaz knew the game coming in. He knew his opponent was smart enough to realize that playing into his game would have been a silly miscalculation that would have cost him a title, a big fight against Georges St. Pierre and a lot of money.
This is not to say that Diaz was completely out of line. No, he applauded Condit and said he's happy for the new UFC interim welterweight champion and his family. "Good job, Carlos, you're the man, bro," he said. Credit where it's due.
But instead of vowing to come back stronger and better than ever, to work on his obvious flaws and improve his mixed marital arts game, Diaz complained about the system before exiting stage left. That's not what winners do. It's not what legends do. It's not what martial artists do.
It's what immature, inferior fighters do.
Posted in: fight, diaz, way, condit, game
Read the full article at MMA ManiaObservations from My Couch: UFC 143 ‘Diaz vs. Condit’
A few observations from UFC 143: “Diaz vs. Condit”:
-Sure, Stephen Thompson may be an unorthodox striker in MMA and good at karate, but we’ve seen how this movie ends. He goes on to win the belt, then gets destroyed by some prodigy and standing-guillotined until he’s a quivering mass of unconscious humanity on the floor.
-Matt Riddle is the most… he’s the most… sorry, I just can’t make myself care about Riddle.
-It took Chuck Liddell about ten years of MMA competition to become a case study in the effects of repetitive head trauma. Chris Cope is on track to cut that time in half.
-Really, I’d say the biggest loser in the Alex Caceres/Edwin Figueroa bout was Figueroa’s nutsack.
-Dustin Poirier will be a contender in the featherweight division. Unfortunately, toying with tomato cans will get him nowhere.
-Ed Herman is like a less-skilled, less-talented, uninspiring and only moderately-effective version of Randy Couture, who will never ever come within shouting distance of the title. I’d say that qualifies him to fight for the Strikeforce belt.
-He may or may not have a chance against Dominick Cruz, but Renan Barao is the most ready to challenge the champ. Make that fight, Joe Silva!
-Seriously, Josh Koscheck needs to be filmed rescuing a busload of orphans from bandits or something. The hate the audience levels upon him is kind of unwarranted.
-Roy Nelson: so tough, yet so incapable of hanging with the elite heavyweights.
-Ugh. It pains me to say this, but Carlos Condit definitely out-struck Nick Diaz and earned that decision. Yes, he ran just about the entire time. However, it was a tactical “run” as opposed to a scared “run”, and he landed a wide array of kicks, knees, punches, backfists and elbows. The sad thing is, Diaz is the better fighter. No one will ever kick Diaz’s ass. That’s not the case with Condit, though, who will likely get laid upon by Georges St. Pierre and ground-and-pounded.
Posted in: diaz, condit, chuck liddell, renan barao, strikeforce belt
Read the full article at MMA ConvertDana White open to another Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz fight before GSP returns
Public opinion seems to be split down the middle in terms of whether Nick Diaz was more deserving of a decision victory last night at UFC 143 than actual winner, Carlos Condit. Both battled for twenty-five minutes with Condit taking an aesthetically unpleasing, counter-striking style rather than engaging Diaz in stand-up exchanges for any extended durations.
UFC President Dana White, who has never been afraid to criticize judging, offered up his take on the headlining tilt after the event had concluded where he found no fault in the outcome but understood criticism from fans/media who felt Diaz earned the interim belt based on aggression and having taken Condit’s back in the fifth round.
A Round-by-Round Look at Condit vs. Diaz
“Nick Diaz is the master of getting you to fight his type of fight,” said White in a conversation with MMAJunkie. “Fighters have egos, and millions of people are watching. When you start getting open-hand slapped by the other guy and he’s calling you names – ‘Alright, you want to do this?’ – they step in, and they do it. Carlos Condit kept his cool tonight, fought a perfect fight. He started early, chopping those legs, and that did make a big difference toward the end of the fight. It slowed Nick down a lot – body shots, too.”
However, with Georges St. Pierre out until November while recovering from knee surgery, it appears White is willing to do his part in providing a more satisfying conclusion to the Diaz-Condit saga by having them fight again in a few months.
“It’s crazy, but…I was thinking about it after the fight. People are bitching, and people think that was close…we could do that fight again before GSP comes back,” explained White before adding, “It depends on Carlos, too. Carlos has got to say – and Nick’s got to say, ‘I want to fight him again,’ too.”
A disappointed Diaz said he was retiring from MMA immediately after the scores were read, disgusted with the notion of losing despite dictating the bout’s pace. A second shot at Condit could prompt him to return, while Condit’s camp has said “The Natural Born Killer” would be open to a title-defense before facing St. Pierre.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, condit, carlo
Read the full article at Fighters.comDana White Doesn’t Think Nick Diaz Will Retire After UFC 143 Loss
Despite Nick Diaz's knee-jerk retirement announcement after his loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Saturday, Dana White thinks Diaz will be back.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, carlos condit, doesn ’t, saturday dana
Read the full article at Heavy MMANo Robbery Here: Carlos Condit Earned Decision Win Over Nick Diaz
Judging by Nick Diaz’s reaction to his unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, you’d have thought he’d just been robbed on live TV. You’d have thought he’d returned home to find that judge Cecil Peoples had made off with all his most prized possessions, from his road bike to his Tupac CD’s. You definitely wouldn’t have thought that he’d merely lost a close decision in a close fight, though that’s exactly what happened."I don't need this [expletive]," Diaz told Joe Rogan after the decision was announced. "He ran from me this whole fight. I landed the harder shots. He kicked me in the leg with little baby kicks."Of course, he said this while sporting a set of facial bruises and lacerations that told a very different story. You don’t get that kind of damage at a track meet. Obviously Condit must have been doing something besides running and baby-kicking. According to the FightMetric stats, that something was out-working Diaz with strikes in four of the five rounds, landing a total of 159 strikes to Diaz’s 117.
Granted, stats don’t always tell the full story with an MMA bout. Condit did spend a considerable amount of time avoiding Diaz, or at least ducking out of the way and getting the fight back to the center of the cage. If you’re of the opinion that no fighter should ever win a decision while backpedaling -- even if he’s landing more strikes in the process --- then sure, you could cry foul over the decision. Just know that you’re using your own made-up criteria to judge the fight, not the one that matters.According to the unified rules of MMA, judges score bouts based on "effective striking, effective grappling, control of the fighting area, effective aggressiveness and defense." Nowhere in there does it say you can’t back up or circle away. Nowhere does it say that you have to let a guy like Diaz walk you down and unload on you against the cage. Condit clearly didn’t want to get stuck with his back to the fence, where Diaz is most effective, so he continually brought the fight back to the center, where he was more effective.In other words, Condit fought the smart fight. He also fought the slightly busier fight, at least according to the numbers. While it might have looked like Diaz was far more aggressive, if only because he walked forward in a straight line for most of the fight, Condit actually threw more strikes (329 to 258, according to Fight Metric) and landed more significant strikes (151 to 105). You can accuse him of running away if you want, but, like Diaz, you’d have to ignore the obvious evidence to the contrary, which plenty of fans are no doubt willing to do.Maybe part of the problem here is expectations. Many people (Diaz included, perhaps) thought this was going to be a brawl. They expected to see two guys standing toe-to-toe, chopping away at each other until somebody fell. They didn’t get that fight, even though Diaz did his best to deliver it, and so they naturally blame the guy who decided to pursue a game plan rather than the guy who was unable to adjust to it.It’s easy to see why Diaz wanted the kind of flat-footed, close-up boxing match that he was pressing for all night. He’s good at that style. He might be better at it than anyone in MMA -- certainly better than Condit. That’s why it only made sense for Condit to stay on the move, to force Diaz to reset and start his attack over. And while Diaz was doing that, Condit hit him. He ducked under hooks, stayed out of range of those long jabs, and picked his spots.That’s not to say it wasn’t a close fight. Several of those rounds could have gone either way, and don’t believe for a second that Condit had no doubt about how the judges were going to score it. Standing there and waiting for Bruce Buffer to get through the preamble and just spit it out, Condit looked like one of those alleged fathers on the Maury Povich paternity test show. He might have been hoping for good news, but that was not the look of a man who knew for sure what was coming.That’s how it goes with close fights. When neither man clearly dominates, you end up standing there at the end of the night, hoping for the best. Diaz can complain that Condit didn’t engage in the kind of fight he wanted, but he can’t say that the guy didn’t fight. Not with his face looking like that. Not if he wants anyone to take him seriously.
Posted in: fight, diaz, guy, decision, condit
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Post-Fight News & Notes: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II Agreed For June In Brazil
Rundown of UFC 143 post-fight news and notes…
— 10,040 attendees filled the Mandalay Bay Events Center for a $2.3 million live gate.
— Stephen Thompson picked up a $65,000 KO of the Night bonus in his UFC debut for that sneaky head kick he used to put Dan Stittgen’s lights out. Dustin Poirier was awarded the Submission of the Night bonus for his sweet mounted triangle/armbar. And Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson earned Fight of the Night for their bloody battle.
— It’s been quite awhile since I remember fans so passionately split about a decision like they are with Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit. Honestly, when the fight was over I felt like Condit had won it and I really wanted Nick Diaz to win. I wasn’t actively scoring it as the fight progressed though, so perhaps I’ll change my mind when I go back and watch it again.
For what it’s worth, Dana White thought Carlos Condit won the fight as well and I’m sure he was internally hoping Diaz would win given the magnitude of GSP vs. Diaz.
“Carlos Condit won,” White said following the evening’s post-event press conference. “He went in there, and he fought a great fight. He stuck to his gameplan and didn’t fall in Nick Diaz’s (style of fight).”
“Nick Diaz is the master of getting you to fight his type of fight,” White said. “Fighters have egos, and millions of people are watching. When you start getting open-hand slapped by the other guy and he’s calling you names – ‘Alright, you want to do this?’ – they step in, and they do it. Carlos Condit kept his cool tonight, fought a perfect fight. He started early, chopping those legs, and that did make a big difference toward the end of the fight. It slowed Nick down a lot – body shots, too.”
Even though Dana felt Condit won the fight, he thought it was close enough to warrant a rematch if both fighters wanted it.
“It’s crazy, but … I was thinking about it after the fight,” White said. “People are bitching, and people think that was close, we could do that fight again before GSP comes back.”
“It depends on Carlos, too. Carlos has got to say – and Nick’s got to say, ‘I want to fight him again,’ too.”
That would certainly be one way of handling it. Condit said he was leaning towards waiting for GSP in his post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, however Dana was pretty adamant that he wanted Condit to fight again if GSP is going to be out for too long. Nevertheless, I seriously doubt Condit would want to fight Diaz again, so we’ll have to see what happens. Dana also thought Josh Koscheck vs. Nick Diaz would be a good match-up.
— Of course, that’s all assuming Nick Diaz doesn’t actually retire. But I doubt he will and so does Dana White.
“You never know with Nick Diaz,” White said. “You never know. I think he’s just upset right now, and I think he’s emotional, but who knows?”
“I think once he goes home and realizes and calms downs – look, Nick Diaz is a fighter,” he said. “I don’t see Nick Diaz retiring, but who knows? This isn’t one of those sports where you want to be half in, half out.
“If that’s how you feel, maybe you should retire.”
Nick Diaz didn’t comment on it past his post-fight interview, but I’m sure Cesar Gracie will address it this week.
— Carlos Condit’s comments on the fight and moving forward as the interim welterweight champion:
“He was talking. I was landing punches,” Condit told UFC.com after his title-winning performance. “I think I was winning. No matter how much he talked, I was hitting hard and I was hitting him solid. That’s what I came here to do. I didn’t come here to talk.”
“[This win] is huge. This is just another step toward my ultimate goal of being among the best mixed martial artists in the world,” said Condit. “I’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot more improvements to make. Georges is a true champion, and he’s the best in the world.”
“I have the best fans in the world. I get so much support and respect from people all over the world who I don’t even know,” said Condit. “I want you guys to know how much it f—ing means to me. This isn’t always fun, and it’s not always easy, but hearing from fans and getting support from you guys gives me motivation.”
— Roy Nelson didn’t win last night, but he showed once again just how darn tough he is. Even one of his biggest critics, Dana White, was impressed with how Big Country kept fighting after taking so much punishment. He’s not sure what’s next for Nelson, but he hopes Nelson will continue to take his training and diet more seriously.
“I don’t know,” UFC president Dana White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “We’ll see what happens. I mean the guy brings it. He comes to fight. I just – you wonder what he could do if he really, really trained and got into it.”
“I’ve been telling Roy forever if Roy took himself serious – for instance, Roy had moments there,” White said. “He rocked Werdum once with a couple of shots. If he was in good enough shape to keep that kind of a pace, he would win more fights.”
“I don’t know,” White said. “He’s tough though. He’s so tough. He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever seen.”
Here’s a pic of that nasty cut Fabricio Werdum opened up over his eye if you don’t mind seeing a little forehead flesh.
— Here’s some interesting news. Josh Koscheck revealed after the fight that he has split from AKA.
“I’ll be training out of Fresno for now,” Koscheck told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’m no longer affiliated with some of the people at the gym that I’ve been training at.”
“It was a tough camp,” Koscheck said. “This is my last camp there. I’m going to do my own thing.”
So does that mean he and Jon Fitch will finally fight? Koscheck says “good luck with that.”
“That’s what I whispered to him,” White told MMAjunkie.com. “I said, ‘Now I’m doing the Jon Fitch fight.’ That’s what I said to him. He said, ‘Good luck with that.’”
Dana said he “wouldn’t do it just to do it,” but if the fight made sense he would push for it. I’m not sure how many people are really clamoring for that one though.
— And last but not least, Dana White confirmed that Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen have verbally agreed to meet in June in Brazil and bout agreements should be finalized soon. It’s still unclear exactly where in Brazil the fight will happen. They wanted to do it at a soccer stadium in San Paulo, but apparently noise ordinances are making that difficult to book.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, dana, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement
MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani caught up with Dana White after UFC 143 for their customary chat, asking the boss what he thought about the night's proceedings and what could be next for his new interim welterweight champion.
Some highlights of the five minute interview:
How he scored Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz and his analysis of both men's game plans.
Whether he feels Diaz' heart in still in MMA and if he thinks Diaz is truly retired.
His opinion on whether Condit should wait to fight Georges St. Pierre or fight again before then.
His love of Roy Nelson's chin and hatred of his mullet and beard.
How he scored Mike Pierce vs. Josh Koscheck and making Koscheck vs. Diaz a reality.
His surprise at a two point deduction in the Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa fight.
His reaction at a shirtless Mike Goldberg running around backstage (yes, this happened).
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
For the full video, make the jump!
Posted in: fight, diaz, vs, condit, minute interview
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCarlos Condit and his wife celebrate UFC 143 win over Nick Diaz in Las Vegas
Victory is sweet. Celebrating it with your wife even sweeter.
Carlos Condit earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz last night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) in the main event of UFC 143 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and shortly after hit "Sin City" hard to bask in his glory.
Even if there are still fans who don't agree with it.
That didn't stop "The Natural Born Killer" from having a good time. The Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz party may have been spoiled but Condit is going to keep on keeping on.
Check out a few more pics after the jump. For more on the Condit vs. Diaz fight click here, here and here.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Video Highlights for “Diaz vs. Condit”
In case you missed last night’s UFC 143 event or want to check it out again, Fox Sports has released highlights from UFC 143, including Carlos Condit’s main event win over Nick Diaz to claim the interim UFC welterweight title and a shot at champion Georges St-Pierre as well as wins by Fabricio Werdum, Josh Koscheck, Renan Barao, and Ed Herman.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, event, fox sports
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights
Video: Highlights: UFC 143
Missed last night's UFC 143 event? Well, a couple of minutes may not be enough, but you can quickly get up to date with this Fox Sports video that covers the highlights and results for all of the main card bouts from last night's show.
4 minutes and 34 seconds to cover all the results and notes for several fights naturally won't do it justice. To get you up to date on all you need to know about UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, do make sure to check out our complete coverage, results, and analysis of the event:
Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, tim, burke
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit defeats Nick Diaz, gets next shot at GSP
Carlos Condit is now the new Interim UFC Welterweight Champion, after defeating Nick Diaz via Unanimous Decision in the main event of UFC 143 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Condit had a clear gameplan of avoiding Nick Diaz strikes, going full throttle into a counter-punching mode. Diaz chased Condit around the Octagon, and was able to land good striking combinations on several occasions, but it was Carlos Condit who the quantity and quality in this match-up.
Diaz failed to execute his gameplan. He was unable to
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, carlos condit, carlo
Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz will not "accept" loss to Carlos Condit, says retirement is possible
After a frustrating five-round defeat against newly-crowned Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit, Nick Diaz has announced that tonight's octagon appearance may have been his last.Fresh off a dominant victory over B.J. Penn, Diaz came into tonight's main event as the favorite, but appeared to have no answers for Condit's strategic approach. By utilizing a diverse striking set and constant footwork, "The Natural Born Killer" was able to avoid Diaz's high-volume boxing attack en-route to a comfortable
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, condit, carlos condit, fiveround defeat
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143 results: Carlos Condit critics need to get real because Nick Diaz didn't win
After Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ring announcer announcer Bruce Buffer belted out the final result of the UFC 143 main event fight between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit, the Twitterverse -- much like everywhere else -- was starkly divided by both fans and mixed martial arts (MMA) insiders on who indeed deserved to win the controversial decision.
And this wasn't just biased folks from the 209 area code who claimed Diaz was robbed, but respected MMA types whose opinions carry credibility among anyone vaguely familiar with the sport.
"That decision was an absolute joke," Tweeted former UFC champion and legendary trainer Pat Miletich. "At best, Condit won two rounds."
And noted trainer Duke Roufus poured it on even thicker, sharing his strong feelings via Twitter.
"I am done teaching guys to fight! Gonna teach them to run like bitch & hold guys down like a bitch it wins! How do u like that fight fans?"
We live in a fast-moving world, especially where anyone and everyone's input can be shared in the real time. But I wonder if anyone would be criticizing a stand up artist who avoided takedowns, or a wrestler that planted a dangerous striker on the mat and carefully worked and controlled his way to a decision.
Condit did "Fighting 101," which is implementing your strengths, while minimizing those of an opponent who is hellbent on rearranging your face. Sometimes, in the case of a Cain Velasquez, or Alistair Overeem defeating Brock Lesnar, that translates into an exciting bout. In other cases, you get a Matt Lindland highlight reel (of his wins, not his losses, which were usually far more compelling).
But, winning is winning.
Much of the resentment stemmed from the fact that almost everyone was sure this was going to be a rollicking, bloody bout. And we didn't get it. But, just because Condit refused to stand there and let Diaz punch him in the face endlessly doesn't mean Diaz gets some sort of Groupon with the judges.
He wasn't able to implement his gameplan. And despite ringside judge Cecil Peoples' legendary assertion that "leg kicks don't win fights," they certainly do ... at least in this case (in part). Condit's attacks exploited the biggest hole in Diaz's aggressive, in-your-face style, excess weight on the front leg to set up hand strikes, and he kept it as a go-to during a technically sound performance.
We all deserve a second chance to watch Diaz-Condit. As of this writing, I've watched it three times now, and still don't see anything meriting a decision for Diaz. I picked Diaz to win, and like him, I'm a native Northern Californian. I've seen the guy fight for nearly a decade now, and have come as close to rooting for him as I can allow myself for any fighter.
Yet for all this, there's no way I can say he won that fight. Can you honestly say that you do?
Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst and Jason@jasonprobst.com
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, decision, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit
At UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, Carlos Condit pulled off a big upset, winning the UFC Interim Welterweight title and spoiling the UFC's plans for a Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre super-fight. Now, Condit is the unlikely champion, and it's Condit vs. GSP fans have to look forward to. There's a lot to unpack about Condit's win - Was it boring? Can Condit vs. GSP live up to the idea of Diaz vs. GSP? Can Condit threaten GSP? - but I want to start with a much more basic question:
Who exactly is this guy?
Despite being a UFC champion, and despite having over 30 pro fights to his name, Carlos Condit is a fighter who seems to have somewhat flown under the radar of fan recognition until now. So let's examine the career highlights of The Natural Born Killer and get a better sense of the new champ.
Condit started his career fighting in regional shows primarily in the southwestern United States. There is not a lot of footage of these early fights available, which is a shame as the results read like a beautiful suite of violence. 52 second win in his debut via rear naked choke; 45 second win via armbar; 29 second win via TKO - Condit won his first 8 fights, all via stoppage, all in the first round, and 6 of those 8 within the first minute. Here's one early fight as Condit faces Jarvis Brennaman. Even at this stage in his career, you can see how advanced Condit is. Note his incredibly slick transitions between submissions.
Videos and more in the full entry.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Condit's big break came in early 2006, a little over 3 years into his career. By that time he had put together a 13-2 record, still with stoppages in all his wins, and still having never gone past the first round. He was invited to take part in the stacked Rumble on the Rock Welterweight tournament, which also featured heavy hitters such as Jake Shields, Frank Trigg, Yushin Okami, and Anderson Silva (this tournament is the home of the Okami vs. Silva DQ). Condit came into the tournament determined and looked incredible. Here is his first round destruction of the highly favored Renato Verissimo:
And his semi-final victory over Frank Trigg:
Condit would go on to lose a decision in the finals to Jake Shields, but with two wins over highly respected UFC veterans in a grand total of 1:39, Condit walked out of this tournament with a tremendous amount of respect. That momentum carried him first to Japan, where he found success in Pancrase, going 3-0, then to the WEC.
In just his second WEC fight, Condit defeated John Alessio for the vacant Welterweight title. He defended that belt three times, again winning by stoppage every time. Perhaps his most impressive WEC bout was also his last. Condit defended the title against Hiromitsu Miura in 2008. Miura proved to be an extremely resilient foe who gave Condit all he could handle. But the champion persevered and kept his perfect 100% finishing ratio intact with a stoppage late in the 4th round. After that fight, Zuffa shut down the WEC Welterweight division, moving Condit to the UFC.
In spite of his impressive accolades in the WEC, Condit was often looked down on as a champion of that organization. With Zuffa owning both the WEC and UFC, many looked at the WEC Welterweight division as redundant, a home for those fighters who were not good enough to make it in the big leagues. Condit was seen as the champion of the minor leagues, a man who stood tall over others who couldn't hack it. He was the classic big fish in a small pond.
His first fight in the UFC did little to challenge those perceptions as he lost a decision to Martin Kampmann. It was a good fight that seemed to clearly lay out Condit's future in the UFC - he was a fighter who could provide action-packed fights and tough tests for prospective challengers, but was unlikely to break into the top of the division himself.
After that Kampmann loss, Condit picked up a very close decision win over Jake Ellenberger (the first, and until last night, only decision win of Condit's career) and then snuck by Rory MacDonald. At the time, those were not seen as anything special, but time has proved that both Ellenberger and MacDonald are for real, and Condit's wins over them hold considerably more weight. Next came his highlight reel KO of Dan Hardy and his spectacular flying knee KO of Dong Hyun Kim. With the momentum from those big wins, he was set to face B.J. Penn at UFC 137 before the Penn/Condit/Diaz/GSP shuffle led to last night.
Leading into the Diaz fight, Condit was still being overlooked and viewed as just a name in the way of Diaz vs. GSP. And even now, after having defeated Nick Diaz, the man who rolled through Penn, Condit is taking criticism, accused of being a boring fighter who had to run away to defeat the superior Diaz.
But to overlook Condit is to ignore the story of his career. Take a look at these incredible statistics - he has a record of 28-5, and of those 28 wins, he has finished his opponent in 26 of them. That gives him an astounding 93% finishing ratio - the highest of any UFC champion, and the highest I can think of for any fighter competing at this level of the sport. Of those 26 stoppage wins, all but 5 have come in the very first round. This is a man who has fought his way to the top, and has destroyed everyone who has gotten in his way.
At UFC 143, we lost GSP vs. Diaz. And that is a shame. But we gained GSP vs. Condit. And if you look at Condit's resume, look at his highlight reel, look at the trail of victims leading up to the fight with GSP - if you look at all of that and you don't get excited about the prospect of Condit vs. St. Pierre? Then I'll humbly suggest that you take a closer look at the career of the new champ.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Stats Don’t Lie: How Carlos Condit Beat Nick Diaz at UFC 143
A lot of Nick Diaz fans are upset because of the result of his UFC 143 fight against Carlos Condit, me included. I don’t disagree with the judges’ scores; I am upset that Nick Diaz, the fighter I had pegged to win, let me down. Diaz was the aggressor in all 5 rounds but it [...]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, carlos condit, fighter i
Read the full article at Fighthub TVUFC 143 by the numbers and inside the box score
-With the win over Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit joins Frank Shamrock, Jose Aldo and Dominick Cruz has the only men to hold UFC and WEC championships. -The decision was only Condit's second in his 28 career wins-The 25 minute fight was the longest of Condit's career. Condit's previous longest fight was 19:43 versus Hiromitsu Miura. -After dropping his UFC debut Condit has won his last five fights -The loss to Condit snapped a 11 fight winning streak for Diaz. -Diaz's 11 fight winning streak, the longest of his career, spanned four promotions and 45 months-Six of Diaz's eight career losses have come via decision -Diaz is 0-2 for Jackson's MMA fighters in his career -The loss drops Diaz to 7-5 in his UFC career -Per Compustrike Condit topped Diaz 146 to 110 in total strikes landed -The Fight Metric effectiveness score had the bout 306-274 in favor of Diaz. In the ten point must system Fight Metric scored the fight 48-47 Condit -Fabricio Werdum's win over Roy Nelson was his first in the UFC since October 2008-Werdum is 4-1 in his last five fights-Werdum is 4-0 in his career versus American born fighters-All three of Nelson's UFC losses have come via decision -The loss drops Nelson to 3-3 in his UFC career-Six of Nelson's seven career losses have come via judge's decision -Per Fight Metric Werdum outlanded Nelson 98-55 in total strikes-Betting favorites went 10-1 at UFC 143. The lone underdog to payout was Carlos Condit at +175. -With UFC 143 the promotion returned to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada for the first time since UFC 137 in October 2011. UFC 137 was headlined by Nick Diaz versus BJ Penn. Below is a attendance and gate comparison between the two events UFC 137Attendance: 10,313Gate: $3.9 millionUFC 143 Attendance: 10,040Gate: $2.3 million
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, career, condit
Read the full article at UltMMAUFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Video Highlights
UFC 143 delivered an exciting line-up last night from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the stacked card was a highly anticipated Welterweight showdown between "The Stockton Bady Boy" Nick Diaz and "The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit, who went five-rounds for the interim title and a shot at reigning division champion Georges St. Pierre.
Posted in: diaz, nick, condit, welterweight showdown, carlo
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143 results recap: Winners and losers from 'Diaz vs. Condit' event in Las Vegas
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) just conducted a textbook campaign of mixed martial arts (MMA) fights, was an accomplice in a robbery and then exited the scene of the crime.
At least that's the story Nick Diaz will be telling his grandchildren in 30 years.
The main event at UFC 143 on Feb. 5, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, saw a hard fought and close decision victory go to Diaz's opponent Carlos Condit. Diaz felt like he won ... and he wasn't the only one.
Afterward, he was so upset by the decision that he stated he will be retiring from the sport. If he really follows through, it would be a loss for him, as well as for MMA as a whole.
Speaking of losses, let's take a look at the laundry list of losers from UFC 143. It doesn't have to be all "doom and gloom." We can talk winners, too:
WINNERS
Fabricio Werdum -- In his UFC re-entrance, "Vai Cavalo" was given no tomato can by drawing Roy Nelson, one of the toughest guys in the business. Everyone knows this guy is one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners in the world. What they might not know is that his stand up is very good and just keeps getting better. He's now fought two of the best strikers in the heavyweight division in Alistair Overeem and Nelson, and he hasn't really been hurt at all. At UFC 143, Werdum outstruck "Big Country," outgrappled him and outclassed him. He's back and shouldn't be going anywhere for a while.
Renan Barao -- He fought a three round war with a very tough Scott Jorgensen. True, he couldn't put Jorgensen away, but that's easier said than done. Barao outstruck Jorgensen 118 to 58, including several huge spinning back kicks that had the crowd on their feet. He was faster, more precise and just flat out better in every aspect. Afterwards, he called for a shot at Dominick Cruz and his championship belt. Of course, this can't happen, as "The Dominator" is currently slated to fight Urijah Faber after they coach against each other in the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). The title shot for Barao may not come next, but it's coming soon.
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit -- I'm gonna keep it short and sweet because I didn't like how this one turned out (scroll down to the "Losers" section for more on this). Despite my disappointment in the results, this was a fantastic fight that mostly lived up the hype.
Stephen Thompson -- In his UFC debut, this new welterweight acquisition made a great first impression by brutally knocking out Dan Stittgen with a pretty head kick in the first round. His karate background was evident, as his unorthodox stance clearly confused his opponent. He kept his hands low, his distance elusive, and he used a beautiful combo that lead to a finish in his inaugural Octagon appearance. I expect big things from this fighter in the future.
Matt Brown -- "The Immortal" looked solid tonight, coming off a loss to Seth Baczynski at UFC 139 on Nov. 19, 2011 in San Jose, Calif. The fight was a war, and it was clear that Chris Cope was trying to make things as chaotic as possible, in the hopes that he might land a chance, finishing blow in one of the scrums. Unfortunately for Cope, it was Brown who landed the first big shot. After catching a leg kick in the second round, Brown countered with a big left hook, then a combination of several other short, quick punches that left Cope crumpled up in a ball on the floor. It wasn't a massive win, but it was much needed and he looked solid in so doing.Dustin Poirier -- In the early portion of his fight with UFC newcomer Max Holloway, Poirier was kept on his toes by a young prospect, looking to make a name for himself in his debut. The fight saw Holloway getting the better of the stand up in the first round, but eventually, Poirier took the fight down to his world where he was able to pull off a very nice armbar submission from the top triangle position. Very high level stuff. The win is Poirer's fourth consecutive UFC win. He's undefeated in the Octagon and just keeps getting better with each performance.
LOSERS
Alex Caceres -- "Bruce Leeroy" was putting on an exhibition of kicks in his fight versus Edwin Figueroa. The problem is that two of those kicks landed squarely in the nether region, eventually meriting him a two point reduction penalty by referee Herb Dean when it happened the second time in round number two. It's a shame, because he really looked impressive overall. You just can't give fights away by doing stuff as dumb as that. Kick me in the groin once, shame on you. Kick me there again -- well -- still, shame on you. Stop that.
Josh Koscheck -- After a long media campaign where Koscheck publicly declared that Mike Pierce essentially didn't belong in the cage with him, he certainly didn't show it at UFC 143, if this is, in fact, the case. He may have notched the split decision win, but it was close -- really close. Afterwards, his victory interview was almost entirely interrupted by the crowd in attendance who seemed dead set on booing him out of the building. While he did try and pretend it didn't bother him, he appeared bothered as he walked out of the cage with his head down. It makes me ask the question: "Is this a guy who wants to be the heel, or has he just embraced it to save face?"
Chris Cope -- Being a tough guy that can take a beating will only get you so far in this sport. He's now lost two UFC fights in a row and is probably on thin ice. In his fight versus Matt Brown, the disparity was very clear. They weren't on the same level. If that's the case, he's going to have a lot of trouble against some of the division's elite. Go ahead. Think of a fighter you could match Cope up against that would be a good fight and would also be one you'd want to watch. Be honest. See what I mean?
MMA Judging -- I'm probably going to get mauled for this. I'm sorry. I don't care. Nick Diaz won that fight. I'm not even a Diaz fan, but come on! He pushed the pace. He was the aggressor the entire fight! He landed the bigger shots and never looked hurt at any point. Was it close? Sure. But I just don't see how you don't give Diaz rounds one, two and five. I'm not buying it. Moreover, how in the hot Hell do you give Condit four of the five rounds?? It's true that Condit outstruck Diaz by a margin of 146 to 110. But don't be deceived by that. Of Condit's 146 strikes landed, 104 of them were leg strikes. How many kicks did Diaz absolutely walk through during this fight? How many leg kicks did Condit throw just to keep Diaz at bay and not even intending to do damage? I'll re-watch this fight again later and maybe I'll be less upset about it, but right now, I disagree 100 percent.
Nick Diaz -- I get that he was mad after his loss. It sucked. He felt like he did what he needed to win. He felt like he got robbed. But he probably should have sat on his emotion for a night and made a statement the next day. He also may say he wasn't denigrating Condit's performance by his rant, but he did nonetheless. If he really does retire over this, it will be a crying shame.
So that's my list of winners and losers. Be sure to show me how much better your list than mine by bringing your well thought out barbs and jabs to the comment section below.
For complete UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" results, including blow-by-blow details of all the action, click here and here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, round, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Morning After: Carlos Condit Has What It Takes To Beat Georges St. Pierre
Georges St. Pierre hasn't lost a fight -- and really hasn't even been tested -- in four years. That's about to change.
Carlos Condit, who won the UFC interim welterweight title by beating Nick Diaz on Saturday night at UFC 143, is going to test St. Pierre in a way he hasn't been tested in years. The next time GSP steps into the Octagon, he'll be stepping into the Octagon with the best opponent he's faced.
We knew heading into Saturday night how physically tough Condit was. You don't win 27 professional MMA fights and win four in a row in the UFC, as Condit already had heading into Saturday night, without a whole lot of toughness.
More Coverage: UFC 143 Results | UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference
What Condit showed against Diaz is how mentally tough he is. Condit survived 25 minutes against one of the best welterweights in the world and never wilted. Condit didn't change his game plan in the second round when Diaz started to get the better of the striking exchanges and began openly taunting Condit, as Diaz so often has to his opponents. And Condit didn't panic and didn't give in during the final minute of the fight, when Diaz took him down and took his back. A lot of men -- even a lot of great fighters -- would have been ready to break by that point. Condit couldn't be broken.
So is Condit good enough to beat GSP? As a striker, I believe he's already better than GSP. And he has a more diverse array of submissions than GSP as well. The big question is whether Condit's wrestling and takedown defense will prove to be good enough that he can stay off his back against St. Pierre. That's a tall order, but I like Condit's chances.
St. Pierre is also, of course, coming off a serious knee injury -- the kind of injury that some athletes never fully recover from. And St. Pierre will be battling ring rust when he fights Condit: By the time he's ready to step into the Octagon in November, he'll have been off for a year and a half. St. Pierre is also three years older than Condit. Those are all factors that favor Condit.
GSP will be the betting favorite heading into that fight, but Condit has a very good chance to win it. When Condit beat Diaz on Saturday night, we may have seen the man who has what it takes to beat GSP.
UFC 143 Notes
-- Fabricio Werdum showed off some great muay Thai in his victory over Roy Nelson. Werdum's stand-up has looked ugly in a couple of bad losses to the two best heavyweights in the world, Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem, but make no mistake: He's a very good striker in addition to being the best heavyweight grappler in all of MMA.
-- Matt Riddle's split decision victory over Henry Martinez gives him a respectable UFC record of 6-3, but let's be honest: Riddle is not a very good fighter. He barely got by Martinez, an undersized opponent who took the fight on short notice, and Riddle's other UFC wins are over DeMarques Johnson, Greg Soto, Dan Cramer, Steve Bruno and Dante Rivera. Not exactly a murderer's row.
-- When the 20-year-old Max Holloway stepped into the Octagon with the 23-year-old Dustin Poirier, we got a great look at the future of the featherweight division. Poirier put on a tremendous display on the ground in forcing Holloway to tap out to an arm bar from a mounted triangle, but give Holloway credit for the way he tested Poirier on the feet at the start of the fight. Poirier is a future featherweight title contender, and with work on his ground game Holloway could be too.
-- The UFC's new pay-per-view opening is an improvement over the old gladiator opening, but I still think there should be a fresh new opening with each show and the focus should immediately be on that night's main event fighters.
UFC 143 Quotes
"I know I'm the most hated man in MMA." -- Josh Koscheck, egging on the fans after they booed him following his split decision win over Mike Pierce.
"Don't fall for it when he's talking to you."--Greg Jackson telling Carlos Condit not to get sucked into Nick Diaz's style of fight. Jackson's advice was wise; it came after the second round, when Diaz was taunting Condit and trying to bait him into a brawl, but from the third round on Condit seemed comfortable and ready to fight his fight.
"Those lead leg round kicks -- we work them a lot in karate -- people don't see them." -- Stephen Thompson, after knocking out Dan Stittgen on the first fight of the night. Thompson was right: Stittgen certainly didn't see that kick coming. Thompson is an exciting new fighter for the UFC.
Good Call
Referee Kim Winslow stepped in at just the right time to stop the fight in Matt Brown's technical knockout victory over Chris Cope. After Brown knocked Cope down, Winslow gave Cope a chance to protect himself on the ground before stepping in to stop the fight when Brown landed two more punches that Cope couldn't answer. Stopping the fight immediately when Brown knocked Cope down would have been too quick because Cope was still conscious and trying to get into a better position. Stopping it any later would have subjected Cope to too much punishment. Winslow's stoppage was perfect.
Bad Call
I disagreed with referee Herb Dean taking two points away from Alex "Bruce Leroy" Caceres after his second low blow of the fight. Warning Caceres for the first low blow was the right call, but the second low blow should have only resulted in one point being deducted, not two. A two-point deduction would have been appropriate for an intentional low blow, but both of Caceres's kicks appeared to be accidental low blows. The judges gave the fight to Edwin Figueroa by split decision, 28-27, 28-27 and 27-28, which means that if Dean had only deducted one point instead of two, it would have been a majority draw.
Later in the same card, Dean again faced a situation where he warned a fighter about a foul and then that fighter committed the very same foul he had been warned about: Dean warned Josh Koscheck to keep his fingers away from Mike Pierce's eyes, and then Koscheck poked Pierce in the eye after that warning. But this time Dean only warned Koscheck again instead of taking even one point away, let alone deducting two points.
Stock Up
When Ed Herman lost three of four fights in 2008 and 2009 and then missed nearly two years with a knee injury, it was reasonable to wonder if his career might be coming to an end. Instead, Herman's stock has shot up with three straight wins since returning from that knee injury, and he looked great on Saturday night. Herman is fighting as well as he ever has.
Stock Down
Michael Kuiper entered UFC 143 as a well-regarded prospect with an 11-0 record, but he wasn't ready for an opponent on the level of Rafael Natal, who beat him by unanimous decision. Kuiper is only 22 years old and may have a good future in the UFC, but he's not there yet.
Fight I Want To See Next
Carlos Condit vs. Georges St. Pierre. This is going to be fun.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, pierre, condit
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWill Nick Diaz's retirement stick? Following UFC 143, UFC boss not so sure
LAS VEGAS - UFC president Dana White understands why Nick Diaz is upset, even if he doesn't agree with the fighter's belief that he won Saturday's UFC 143 main event.
He also understands if Diaz goes through with an announced retirement, even if he thinks it'd be financially foolish to do so.
Quite simply, White has given up on trying to predict the 28-year-old's often-erratic behavior.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, retirement, fighters belief
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum
Bloody Elbow's Matt Roth was at the post post-fight press conference "scrum" where Dana White spoke to the assembled MMA media for a good 20 minutes. The first installment is above, parts 2 and 3 are after the jump.
Highlights include:
Dana's response to fans and media complaining about Carlos Condit's game plan against Nick Diaz.
Dana's assessment of Josh Koscheck's performance against Mike Pierce.
The possibility of the UFC booking Koscheck vs. Jon Fitch now that Koscheck has left the American Kickboxing Academy.
Dana's continuing wish that Roy Nelson would cut down to light heavyweight.
Stephen Thompson's KO of the Night performance and Joe Rogan's excitement over Thompson as a prospect.
Dana discusses the new The Ultimate Fighter format on FX with live fights.
Dana talks about international expansion and indicates that India will likely be the next country to get its own version of The Ultimate Fighter.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Part 2
Part 3
Posted in: diaz, vs, koscheck, dana, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCondit punching the spit out of Diaz... literally...
submitted by pan0phobik [link] [8 comments]
Read the full article at Reddit
UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan
The UFC 143 main event between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz reminded of a very specific reality when it comes to the fight game. Condit's ability to stick to a gameplan that neutralized Diaz's style cut into some of the excitement expected from the fight. Instead of a wild brawl we were given a tense strategic fight.
For many fans Condit's gameplanning was a sort of betrayal, he broke the agreement some saw the main eventers as having with the fans. For me it was one of the things you need to see at the highest levels of the sport, just as vital as Dan Henderson's wild brawl with Mauricio Rua. I'm not suggesting that the two fights are on the same level of excitement for me, but rather that I find both fights to be acceptable and exciting in their own way.
In the Bloody Elbow staff picks, everyone but me picked Diaz to win. The reasons ranged from Diaz having too good of a chin for a firefight to Diaz's barrage being too much for Condit to withstand for 25 minutes to not being able to find space for his own strikes as Diaz relentlessly threw blows. Even when I picked Condit, I thought he would look to get the fight off the feet and work from top position.
Instead of trying to dent Nick's chin in a firefight that most picked Diaz to win, Condit circled, kept his back of the cage and used kicks to score points while exploiting the holes in Diaz's footwork to stay out of danger.
This is, to me, the point of combat sports. Condit practiced the art of hitting while not getting hit.
Much of the anger and disappointment seen from certain fans stems from the idea that it isn't legitimate to look to score points and not finish. To some people, looking to win a decision is not nearly as legitimate as fighting for the finish at all times. That seems to ignore the fact that Condit was working high kicks, he did throw powerful combinations at Diaz's head and he worked spinning backfists that never really landed.
But why should Condit have gone for broke trying to knock out a man who is notoriously hard to knock out? Why go for submissions against a man who has never been submitted? Based on the majority of analysis of the fight, Condit was very unlikely to stop Diaz, so he didn't ever go for broke trying and leave an opening for Diaz to get his offense rolling.
Condit fought smart, and sometimes fighting smart means backlash from the fans. It's an unfortunate reality of the game, but Condit should be proud of his ability to stick to a smart strategy and can look at his UFC championship belt if he ever finds himself unsure of if he did the right thing.
Posted in: fight, diaz, fan, condit, score points
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Exemplified Smart Gameplanning
In both main events of last night's event, the victors, Fabricio Werdum and Carlos Condit established effective gameplans and their opponents, Roy Nelson and Nick Diaz, were unable to enact theirs or react to the ones that Werdum and Condit implemented on them.
Let's start with the co-main event of Roy Nelson losing a decisive battle to the Muay Thai attack of Werdum. Do note this post is going to be exceedingly gif heavy, so if your interwebs are just a series of tubes, you may not want to click on the jump until you upgrade from your Commodore 64.
all gifs are via IronForgesIron.com
Fabs expertly trolls Roy with a little misdirection and follows it up with a 1-2 and a knee that goes around the blocking elbows of Nelson to land not on the chin/nose, but on the side of the jaw/ear/temple area. In his fight with Stephan Struve, Nelson was able to get in on the lankier fighter and land that big overhand right that he was looking for tonight against Werdum. Werdum was able to use his length very well tonight, keeping Roy at bay for much of the fight.
Here we see Roy go for the lead hook, only to whiff air as Werdum lands a solid front/push kick to Roy's grill. Why? The leg is longer than the arm, and Werdum uses head movement to avoid even a grazing blow. I've not been a huge Werdum fan since the tepid fight he had with Bigfoot Silva, but we saw a much improved and diverse attack from Vai Cavalo than I think we've ever seen before.
For good measure, here's one last gif of Werdum using great movement to make Roy hesitate before he threw a kick and bailed (even though it missed):
In the star attraction tonight, the Natural Born Killer, Carlos Condit, used an incredibly solid gameplan that frustrated and outwitted Nick Diaz. Nearly all of Diaz's recent wins have come against fighters who stood in the pocket and tried to arm block the punches. BJ Penn stayed in the pocket. Paul Daley. Cyborg Santos - who actually had some good success because he's a tough SOB (and leg kicked a lot), but just didn't have the chops to stay on his feet and got subbed.
He's coming in, I'm gonna circle left, circle, circle, don't get hit, stick out a jab, move, reset.
Nice, caught him ducking, landed with the knee, let's get a Thai clinch, oops, I'm up against the cage, I don't wanna be here aaaaaaaaand gone. Reset.
Jab, jab, jab, 1-2, hands high, jab, jab, oops I'm up against the cage, I don't wanna be here aaaaaaaaand gone. Reset.
OK he's seen the 1-2, here's a Brazilian kick, toss the jab out there, oops I'm against the cage, here's an uppercut to distract him and I'm back. Reset.
Oh hell, he just backed me down, I'm up against the cage, I got hit by a left, slipped the right hook, held him off with the jab and circled out, nice job, I only got hit once. Reset.
Fellas, this was all just round one. He did this the entire fight, with the exception that he started landing a ton of shots. Go take a look at the FightMetric of this if you haven't already. Those leg kicks really started to take their toll late. Diaz was pressing forward a lot slower in the later rounds, and he wasn't able to land many power shots to the head. This let Carlos do some awesome stuff like this:
Nick Diaz's gameplan is to back people into the cage and whale on them until they drop and Carlos didn't let him do it. Nick Diaz loves to utilize his height and reach advantages over many people in the division and he couldn't do it. Neither Roy Nelson or Nick Diaz were able to properly adjust to what Condit and Werdum were doing to them. Both of them tried the same thing that they entered the cage with but couldn't succeed at. Both fighters got out-pointed tonight by fighters that exploited the small weaknesses that they have. In Nelson's case it's that his striking defense has always just been his granite chin and willingness to take three to land the bomb. Just not effective when the bomb never comes. For Diaz, it was his striking style that doesn't involve a lot of kicks or power punches, his inability to cut off the cage properly and inability to get the fight to the ground more often.
Had Roy perhaps been more willing to go to the ground with Werdum, maybe he lands some vicious GNP. If Diaz were a better wrestler, perhaps he grabs a hold of Condit and puts him in serious trouble, the way that Jake Ellenberger did for a while and his teammate Jake Shields did back in the day.
The losers last night bravely fought in the best way they thought they knew. Roy kept throwing that big right, trying to make Werdum go boom. Nick kept winging and wanging, trying to bully someone who wouldn't stand still long enough to get beat on. Gameplans 2, stubbornness 0.
Posted in: diaz, cage, werdum, roy, jab
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendUFC 143 results recap: Carlos Condit vs Nick Diaz fight review and analysis
The anticipation from hardcore MMA fans could not have been higher for the UFC 143 main event last night (February 4, 2012) between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz with the interim UFC welterweight title on the line. Even more people were already getting hyped up for a super-fight between Nick Diaz and Georges St. Pierre.
But someone forgot to tell Carlos Condit that he was supposed to lose.
With both men's incredibly aggressive fighting styles, this fight was hyped up as one of the best of the year, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, the result wasn't nearly what many expected.
So how did "The Natural Born Killer" frustrate Diaz and score a unanimous decision and claim UFC gold? More importantly, where do both elite welterweights go next?
Follow me after the jump for our Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz UFC 143 post-fight review and analysis:
There was a large outpouring of anger from many who thought Diaz won, but I'll explain why Condit was the rightful victor. Just follow along.
Diaz has a reputation for being a slow starter and Condit took advantage, peppering the Stockton slugger's legs with repeated kicks while circling away from danger. While Diaz didn't throw many strikes in the first round, he kept a constant pressure on "The Natural Born Killer" by repeatedly channeling him towards the fence with terrific footwork. Condit, though, was not going to let himself be bullied, instead, quickly exploding away from being cornered and resetting again in the center of the cage.
This was a cycle which would repeat itself time and time again throughout the fight. Diaz thrives on cornering opponents along the fence and then unleashing huge flurries of strikes to overwhelm his opponents, but Condit was having none of it. On top of escaping danger, he would make sure to sneak in a big punch to the body or a leg kick in on the exit to make sure he was staying active while retreating.
Condit stuck to the gameplan in round two, although he began to mix in push kicks, front kicks, flying knees and spinning back fists/elbows. Diaz was not happy about this and began to taunt him, dropping his hands to his sides, even slapping the Greg Jackson-trained fighter in the face, but he couldn't get the Arizona native to deviate.
At one point, Diaz finally cornered Condit along the fence, throwing combinations of strikes to the body, but instead of panicking, the former WEC welterweight champion grabbed Diaz behind the head, threw a knee and again circled away from danger.
Rounds three and four were more of the same, except the big difference was Condit became much more fluid and comfortable near the end of the third. From that point on, not only was Condit clearly getting the better of the striking exchanges, he was starting to make infuriate the former Strikeforce standout. Diaz even began shooting in for takedowns, but wrestling is not his forte and he couldn't secure anything significant.
In the final round, Condit was once again well on his way to clearly outstriking Diaz, but he made a mistake and allowed his back to be taken with a minute left in the fight. Diaz tried to secure a choke and then an armbar, but Condit defended well, forcing a scramble at the final horn.
In the end, the judges awarded Carlos Condit a unanimous decision with scores of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46. Here's why I think they made the correct call.
Nick Diaz was never able to find a rhythm - Diaz is at his best when unloading a huge volume of punches at his opponent along the fence. He can sneak in the power strikes to both the head and body because he's overloading his opponent's ability to defend and it's a terrific strategy but Carlos Condit never let him do it. Every time Diaz finally trapped Condit along the fence, "The Natural Born Killer" would escape and reset in the center.
Condit did not pull a Kalib Starnes - Yes, Carlos Condit was on his bicycle for much of the fight, circling away so much he gave the referee a huge workout but he was not running. While backing away, Condit would randomly explode forward with flying knees, punches, elbows and spinning back attacks as well as constantly throwing kicks both to the legs and body. Also, whenever he exploded away from danger when cornered along the fence, he almost always threw a huge punch to the body or a kick before doing so.
Forward movement doesn't mean you win - We've seen this with elusive fighters like Lyoto Machida and he's praised for it, but just because Carlos Condit wasn't moving forwards, doesn't mean he didn't win those rounds. Sure Nick Diaz was constantly moving forward, but he was not outstriking Condit. Check out the Fightmetric report if you don't believe me. The only round Diaz landed more than Condit was the second, and even that was only by three more significant strikes.
Condit never lost his composure - Despite Diaz's best efforts to talk trash, drop his hands, toy with him after the horn and even slap him in the face, Carlos Condit never deviated from his gameplan. He was instructed with a specific method for defeating Diaz and he kept at it despite the Stockton scrapper's best efforts to distract him and force him into a brawl, which is a fight Diaz would have had a much better shot at winning.
Nick Diaz never had a sense of urgency - In the final round, Nick Diaz received some horrible advice from his corner, telling him that they thought he was up 3-1. I don't care how biased you are with him being your brother, you can't do that to a fighter and make him believe he's ahead that badly when the fight is that close. (I actually scored the first four rounds for Condit, although the second round could have gone either way). By giving Nick a false sense of security, he wasn't nearly as aggressive in spending his energy as he could have been. He had plenty left in the tank when it was over. If he had been more active in pursuing Condit, it would have exaggerated his opponent's backward movement to a degree where the judges may have actually given him a few more rounds.
My final thought for those that are disappointed with the result is this. Stop being angry at Carlos Condit for not fighting the exact same way that the last 11 people have when they lost to Nick Diaz. If he had fought his normal style of crazy-aggressive forward action, Nick Diaz would have beat him. Plain and simple, he forced Nick Diaz to fight his fight instead, which was something that no one has done to Diaz in four years. He deserves some credit for that, not vilification.
Okay, back to the fallout of the fights:
For Nick Diaz, he truly only has himself to blame. He did not make adjustments to Condit's gameplan. He didn't pick up the pace despite clearly having plenty left in the tank at the end of the fight and he only checked about 10 percent of the leg kicks thrown his way, if that. Moving forward constantly doesn't automatically give you a win. Sure it looks better, but you have to land strikes too, and he didn't land nearly as many strikes as Condit did.
Diaz said he was quitting MMA in his post-fight speech. We don't know if that's all bluster or raw emotion from disappointment right now. Hopefully he's not actually going to step away because he's still one of the best in the world. There are still several great fights for Nick Diaz which practically promise excitement. One possibility is the upcoming loser of Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger. The other is the winner of Martin Kampmann vs. Thiago Alves and the last one could be a rematch with Carlos Condit depending on whether or not the fans demand it.
For Carlos Condit, that was the picture perfect use of a gameplan to defeat a very tricky fighter. He never allowed Diaz to get into any sort of rhythm, he took advantage of a defensive liability and battered Diaz with leg kicks and eventually got comfortable enough to start mixing in combinations of his own. He earned this victory and no one should take it away from him simply because they wanted a Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre fight more or they wanted the fight to be more action-packed.
Next up for Condit will most likely be Georges St. Pierre depending on whether or not the champ is recovering as quickly as we've heard. Another possibility could be the winner of Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger for one defense of the interim title or, while it's a long shot, a rematch with Nick Diaz. It all depends on how Georges St. Pierre's recovery is going. Either way, there's plenty of opportunity for interesting fights in a suddenly very wide open division.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Despite my best efforts to persuade you otherwise, do you still think Nick Diaz won last night? Will Diaz stay retired? How will Carlos Condit fare against Georges St. Pierre if he indeed faces the reigning champion next?
Sound off!
For complete UFC 143 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz Says He's Walking Away From MMA, Confusing Us One Last Time
If Saturday night was the end for Nick Diaz, it came just the way we would expect it: in a jumbled, confusing mess. The enigmatic UFC welterweight star lost a close, controversial decision to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, and then, seemingly on the spur of the moment, decided he was done with mixed martial arts.Never mind that it was his only loss in his last 11 fights. Never mind that he's just 28 years old. Never mind that he's as popular as he's ever been, to the point that the Mandalay Bay Events Center crowd booed Condit even after he won. The way Diaz phrased it, he wasn't leaving MMA; instead, it was the sport that was forcing him out. "I don’t need this s---," he said in his post-fight interview. "I pushed this guy backwards. He ran from me the whole fight. He ran this whole fight. I landed the harder shots. He ran the whole time. He kicked me in the leg with little baby leg kicks the whole fight. That’s the way they understand to win in here. I don’t want to play this game no more."
More Coverage: UFC 143 Results | UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference
Keep in mind that just seconds before that, he'd called Condit "the man" and said he was happy for Condit and his family.Sure, the two statements don't necessarily jibe, but his off-the-cuff unpredictability is part of the reason that the fascination in Diaz has multiplied over the last few years. And that heat-of-the-moment outburst is symbolic of the fighting style that often seemed to conclude with fury overpowering reasoned tactics.As he has in the past, Diaz refused to accept the decision against him, pointing out that he was the one moving forward throughout most of the five-round bout. But the judges ruled that Condit was the more effective fighter, likely due to out-working Diaz for cage positioning and then firing off his own offense.According to FightMetric, Condit out-struck Diaz in the fight by a 159-117 count overall, and a 151-105 number in "significant strikes." Diaz suggested leg kicks won Condit the fight, and there may be some truth to that. In strikes to the head and body, Diaz landed 111 to Condit's 91. In strikes to the legs, it was Condit 68, Diaz 6.in some way, he should be flattered that opponents have to dramatically alter their game plans to beat him. Condit didn't fight his normal style, but his planning and execution were excellent, and Diaz can't expect judges should to simply ignore the many kicks he landed. Diaz doesn't get to rewrite the rules each fight to favor his style. But because he's not happy with the way the fights are scored, he's gone.Have we actually seen the last of Diaz? Who knows? At this point, would anything he does actually surprise you? If any 28-year-old fighter in his prime actually called it quits and stuck to it, it would somehow make perfect sense that it was Diaz, only because it wouldn't make any sense at all.
That of course, seems a long shot. Most likely, he will be back. He seems to be a man who needs fighting. It's something he's done for over a decade already and it's the way he measures himself. He didn't go to college to become a pencil pusher or to a trade school to learn how to install HVAC. Diaz quit high school to train martial arts so he could become a fighter.And he's been world class at it for years now. In fact, one close loss aside, this is about as good as he's ever been.Maybe when he gets home and sits down and thinks about it, that's the conclusion that he'll come to. But for now, no one knows what he'll do, maybe not even Diaz himself. The statement he made in the cage is the only one he's made so far. He declined an invitation to the post-fight press conference, leaving UFC president Dana White to speculate about his future."Nick Diaz is a fighter," White said. "I don't see Nick Diaz retiring, but who knows? This isn’t a sport where you want to be half in, half out, [saying,] 'I don't know what I want to do.' If that’s the way you feel, you probably should retire." White said later that he'd be open to a Condit-Diaz rematch. Maybe that will lure Diaz back. He wanted the chance to fight Georges St-Pierre, and a win over Condit would make that a possibility once again. Or maybe he'll do what he said he would and walk away for good, a complex character leaving us scratching our heads one final time. Then, years from now, you'll be sitting around wondering whatever happened to Nick Diaz, thinking to yourself that he was so good, so young, so confusing.
Posted in: fight, diaz, way, condit, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White: I don't know if Nick Diaz is serious about retiring from MMA
UFC President Dana White discussed last night's UFC 143 in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was headlined by Carlos Condit's victory over Nick Diaz in the main event of the night. White spoke about possible upcoming bouts in the UFC, such as Nick Diaz vs. Josh Koscheck, and Nick Diaz's somewhat dramatic retirement announcement. White revealed he's unsure whether Diaz will actually retire from MMA, claiming that the money he made fighting Carlos Condit could be a deciding factor.
Further Reading: Full UFC 143
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, i dont
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz
Going into UFC 143's welterweight interim title fight between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz, the expectations were that Diaz would inevitably outstrike and wear down Condit with his unique blend of high-volume punching and incredible conditioning.
Diaz was expected to corner Condit up against the cage and box him up with barrages of arm punches that would slowly but surely accumulate and grind Condit down. Just like Diaz beat down B.J. Penn, Evangelista Santos, Paul Daley and so many others.
But it didn't happen like that because Condit and his coach Greg Jackson put together a game plan that defused Diaz' advantages and because Condit's conditioning proved to be more than a match for Diaz'. Diaz did back Condit up throughout most of the fight. Diaz relentlessly walked Condit down and struck when he backed against the fence. But just as often, Condit counter-struck and spun away, back to the center of the cage.
Judges Score Cards From Condit Vs. Diaz | Nick Diaz Announces Retirement After Loss
And while Diaz did out-punch Condit, Condit out-struck Diaz by out-kicking, out-kneeing and out-elbowing him over the course of the fight. Condit also picked up the pace in the championship rounds and really had Diaz frustrated in the fourth round. Diaz did come back at the end of the fifth to get a take down and attack Condit's throat and left arm, but he was unable to get the finish.
In the end, Condit took home a unanimous decision with all three judges agreeing that he'd won three rounds. They didn't agree about which three rounds he won but they all agreed he won three. CompuStrike showed that Condit outstruck Diaz 146-100, despite being outpunched 42-86. FightMetric scored it 306-274 for Condit with their unique but very apt scoring system.
The long and short of it is that Greg Jackson and Condit figured out how to beat Diaz and Condit executed on it. SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, round, condit, greg jackson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 results recap from last night for 'Diaz vs Condit' in Las Vegas on Feb. 4
The sun has set on yet another Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pay-per-view (PPV) event from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. And for the first time since April 2008, the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion has a new (interim) welterweight champion not named Georges St. Pierre.
His name? None other than Carlos Condit. However, it very well could have been -- and in some eyes should have been -- Nick Diaz.
Condit squeaked by the Stockton, Calif., slugger in the UFC 143 main event, backpedaling for essentially five rounds and playing a strategic -- and apparently very effective -- game of keep-away for five full rounds. The "Natural Born 'Kicker'" slipped punches, circled and countered with effective strikes and kicks, while keeping his distance and refusing at all costs to get trapped along the fence.
Diaz was, unsurprisingly, the aggressor throughout the entire interim welterweight title fight. He walked down Condit and attempted to corner him up against the cage, or at the very least, get him to exchange in the center of the Octagon. He soon began to talk trash, throw up his hands and bait Condit into fighting his fight.
Condit never bit. Not even a nibble.
On the contrary, Condit was remarkably disciplined and stuck to his gameplan. And midway through the third round he appeared to find his groove, loosening up and starting to score points with the judges. He found a home for his leg kicks, as well as another for his shin on Diaz's grill more than a few times.
Mix in some nice, creative strikes in short bursts, and it was a recipe for success.
Condit got himself in some trouble in the final minute of the fight, getting tripped and letting Diaz -- a very dangerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt -- take his back and work for a fight-ending submission. Condit defended the choke well, and then the following arm lock, to seal his split decision victory and earn an invitation to unify the belt against St. Pierre later this year once "Rush" is fully recovered from recent knee surgery.
Party pooper.
Diaz, meanwhile, was so upset with the decision that he declared that he was "done with MMA." It was clearly an emotionally-charged statement and one that he will likely revise in the days, weeks and months ahead as the bitter taste of controversial defeat begins to wane.
Maybe.
In the co main event, heavyweights Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson collided in what turned out to be an exciting, back-and-forth slugfest that ended with the Brazilian's hand raised in victory after 15 minutes of action.
It would have ended sooner if Nelson's chin wasn't made out of otherworldly, indestructible material, but alas, "Big Country" can take one hell of a punch ... and crushing knees, too. Werdum connected kneecap-to-nose on more than one painful occasion, even making it squirt blood all over Nelson's big belly.
Yet somehow, someway, Nelson remained upright and kept trudging forward, looking to land one big shot and rip a Hail Mary victory from the clutches of defeat. It never came.
Werdum -- who hadn't seen the inside of the UFC's Octagon since Oct. 2008 -- went on to earn a unanimous decision, but it certainly wasn't without a fair share of shaky moments. Nelson rocked him with a few good 'ole fashion haymakers, but he managed to recover quick and notch a very important victory that will get him on the heavyweight contender radar.
And if we're lucky, maybe Frank Mir's radar, too.
Before their welterweight showdown, Josh Koscheck promised to be the first man to finish the resilient Mike Pierce. He didn't honor that promise last night. Not even close. In fact, he's fortunate that he left "Sin City" with a win.
Pierce essentially fought his fight, closing the distance and boxing up "Kos" in the clinch, as well as alongside the cage. He even pumped the jab, finding a home for it early and often right on the face of the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA)-trained fighter.
Koscheck appeared puzzled, uncomfortable and unsure of how to go about putting points on the judges scorecards. He eventually came to his senses and resorted to his bread and butter, high-level wrestling, to land several very important takedowns, which if he didn't land, more than likely would have cost him the fight.
Even though Koscheck didn't really do much with the takedowns, they were a critical component of his split decision victory. One that will keep him on the up-and-up in the welterweight division, whether MMA fans like it -- or agree with this evening's decision -- or not.
It wasn't pretty, and it certainly wasn't as easy as he predicted, but he got the job done. Someone get Johny Hendricks on the horn immediately: That's a match to make, all things (Jon Fitch) considered.
Renan Barao doesn't just look like a complete psychopath, but he kind of fights like one, too. The Nova Uniao-trained fighter lost his first-ever MMA fight way back in 2005 and hasn't looked back since, reeling off a ridiculous 27 consecutive victories.
Make that 28.
Barao stormed past Scott Jorgensen, a former number one bantamweight contender, in a very fast-paced, exciting fight that went the distance despite the Brazilian's best efforts to end it sooner. He drilled "Young Guns" with several blistering strikes, but Jorgensen was just too durable to go home early.
Jorgensen appeared to abandon his biggest strength (wrestling) early, opting instead to sling leather with his much more accomplished striking counterpart. Either that, or he determined that Barao's takedown defense was just too good to continue testing.
Regardless, Barao punched, kneed and kicked himself to a another solid victory. In the process, he clearly established himself as perhaps the most serious threat to Dominick Cruz's 135-pound world title. He wants a chance to fight for it, shrieking in Portuguese after his win, "I WANT THE BELT!" but he'll have to take a spot behind Urijah Faber.
After that It would most likely be wise to do what the man says and give it to him. Immediately. Before someone gets hurt (again). He's scary.
After suffering a terrible in-cage knee injury during a fight against Aaron Simpson more than two years ago, it appeared that the MMA career of Ed Herman was on the fritz. "Short Fuse" had dropped three of four bouts and it didn't appear that The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 alum would be able to make a significant contribution to the 185-pound division moving forward.
Mindless mularkey, Maniacs.
Herman, riding a two-fight win streak, strutted into the Octagon last night to battle Clifford Starks, a strong, undefeated wrestling-minded fighter who would certainly test the tension of his surgically-repaired knee ligaments with takedown attempts and scrambles.
However, Herman beat him to it, securing two takedowns after the pair traded leather throughout most of the first rounds, the second of which led to a rear naked choke submission finish. In fact, Starks seemed content to stand and trade with Herman, landing several hard shots that probably would have dropped lesser competition.
It was certainly a much different, and much improved, performance from Starks in the striking department since his unanimous decision win over Dustin Jacoby in Oct. 2011. But, unlike that fight, it didn't get the job done against a dangerous, well-rounded fighter like Herman.
Stick with what works. Herman did and now he's back in the thick of things, most likely earning another televised fight in a future against a notable opponent. His hard work to turn his career around is paying off.
And it could not have come at a better time with the middleweight division in need of a talent injection.
That's enough from us. Now it's your turn to discuss UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" in the comments section below.
Do you agree with the Diaz-Condit decision? Is Diaz really done with MMA? Does Werdum have what it takes to make a run at the title? Who should "Contender Killer" Koscheck fight next? Is Barao a future champion in the making? Let's hear it, Maniacs.
Be sure to also check out our complete UFC 143 blow-by-blow coverage of the entire "Diaz vs. Condit" event right here.
While you're at it, check out our fight-by-fight recaps, video highlights and immediate reactions for UFC 143:
Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz
UFC 143 results: Carlos Condit wins controversial decision over Nick Diaz to win interim welterweight title
Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit full fight video highlights from UFC 143
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
UFC 143 results: Fabricio Werdum outstrikes Roy Nelson en route to decision win
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
UFC 143 results: Josh Koscheck earns split decision win over Mike Pierce
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
UFC 143 results: Renan Barao cruises past Scott Jorgensen for decision win
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
UFC 143 results: Ed Herman submits Clifford Starks in the first round
Last, and certainly not least, check out our complete UFC 143 results recap of the Facebook/FX "Prelims" right here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, decision, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 results recap: 'Report Card' for 'Diaz vs Condit' in Las Vegas
With a resolute commitment to a smart gameplan, Carlos Condit outpointed Nick Diaz via unanimous decision to win the interim welterweight title at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As the pair squared off Saturday night (Feb. 4, 2012) in the UFC 143 main event, expectations were high for a grueling dogfight, given both men's recent showings. But, Condit flipped the script, using movement and picking spots expertly to take the duke on scores of 49-46 (twice) and 48-47.
At press time, it was unclear whether the newly-minted interim champ would wait until November to square off against injured champion Georges St. Pierre, whose recovery from a knee injury temporarily vacated the title. But regardless of whom he faces next, "The Natural Born Killer" showed a heady blend of composure and toughness in turning back a determined Diaz, who pressed forward for most of the bout in search of meaningful exchanges that rarely materialized.
In the co-main event, Fabricio Werdum showed improved striking and a potent Muay Thai clinch in a unanimous decision of Roy Nelson. The heavyweights spent most of the fight on the feet, with a tiring Nelson unable to effectively land his trademark overhand right for much of the fight.
Instead, Werdum used kicks and workmanlike hands to pile up a points lead that carried him to an impressive and much-needed win in his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Here's a closer look UFC 143 competitors graded out:
Carlos Condit: APerspective is everything in assessing a fighter's performance, especially in the context of how he'll execute compared to previous opponents' failure to do so. And on that score, Condit aced the test. It's been 11 fights and four years since anyone had much success standing against Nick Diaz, when K.J. Noons cut and stopped the Stockton battler. Using movement and constantly attacking Diaz's lead leg, Condit refused to be sucked into the kind of extended, mano-a-mano exchanges that almost always leaves Diaz' opponents the worse for wear. Carlos seemed to have an alarm that went off whenever his back was against cage, prompting him to slide off, and he stuffed Diaz' handful of weak takedown attempts, to boot.
This was an outstanding gameplan designed to maximize Condit's strengths in leg kicks and a move-diverse attack, while minimizing Diaz's tendency to win volume-based exchanges and gritty punchouts. It worked perfectly.
The downside is that while he looked pretty good tonight in defusing the ultra-tough Diaz, there weren't many stylistic clues to compare how he'd do against St. Pierre. The longtime welterweight kingpin is a completely different style, suffused with overpowering wrestling and explosive athleticism, but Condit will need a great gameplan to win that fight, as well. Tonight, he came up in a high-pressure situation and executed to the letter. He also kept his cool in the closing moments of the fifth, as Diaz finally got him down, took the back and attempted a rear naked choke. Tonight was the culmination of a long road for Condit, proving he belongs with the elite of the 170-pound division.
Fabricio Werdum: B+A rejuvenated Werdum has always lacked solid stand up, but he put it together tonight against Roy Nelson. With perhaps the best bottom game in the heavyweight division, his campaign at heavyweight might go as far as his stand up takes him.
He's no prime bomber just yet, however, and seemed conscious of doing just enough to win rounds and dictate exchanges -- a future match against a heavy-handed wrestler might reveal more from Werdum. He's a very talented heavyweight who seems to evolve only to come up flat in performances, but tonight was one of the better performances of his career given low expectations coming off his dreadful decision loss to Alistair Overeem.
Mike Pierce: B+The hard-nosed welterweight fought an excellent, overachieving-style bout against Josh Koscheck, and nearly won it, losing a razor-thin split decision. Pierce mitigated Koscheck's strengths by forcing a rough, down-and-dirty fight. Using his quick, heavy hands to get off first, he mixed in enough takedown attempts to keep Koscheck off-kilter in spots, though the former UFC title challenger did enough to nick the decision on the judges' cards. Coming in as a heavy underdog, Pierce did better than most people thought, and with a meaningful exchange his way, could have easily won this fight.
The UFC's welterweight division is definitely in flux right now with GSP's absence and Condit as the interim champ. Pierce should definitely be in line for another big-name fight to show his mettle once more; with all five losses via decision, he's a tough customer that showed it tonight.
Ed Herman: B+Veteran middleweight got his third win in a row against upstart Starks, after eating some heavy leather in early exchanges. Herman's been around the block twice and then some, and his experience proved a huge factor here. After getting nailed readily in the bout, Herman used a nice trip-takedown after Starks' mental lapse offered the opening in a clinch, which was essentially the beginning of the end which led to a rear-naked choke submission win in the second. Herman's standup has improved from non-existent to semi-reliable, but his defense against strikes is presently backed up by a strong chin and little else. He'll head a lot more head movement and stand up to succeed against the better class of the division.
Renan Barao: B+With a clear-cut decision win over Scott Jorgensen, Barao upped his record to 28-1, and steps into the elite of the 135-lb. division. The victory wasn't easy, as his early dynamism and excellent lower-leg kicks couldn't discourage the resolute Jorgensen, who simply kept coming and forcing him to work. With a wonderful talent like Renan, the first thing you want to see if how he adjusts in a tough bout he can't win early; those adjustments are precisely what he'll need if he gets a title shot, which may be later this year after Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber finished their rubber match next spring.
With a boatload of experience and now 5-0 under the Zuffa umbrella, Barao may competing for a belt fairly soon. Like most Nova Uniao fighters, he has outstanding striking with great takedown defense, with an uncanny ability to dictate range and the timing of exchanges. He'll need to improve on those to challenge for a title, especially against the wily champ Cruz, who is the master of those tactics.
Scott Jorgensen: B-An honest product that always gives you a full day's work, Jorgensen came on strong down the stretch against the dynamic Barao, forcing trades after it was clear a takedown simply wasn't going to happen. Outmatched in terms of striking ability, the former world title challenger kept pressing, as Barao tired somewhat, and landed some decent shots in a revealing bout. As was evident in his decision loss to champ Dominick Cruz, Jorgensen's limited reach and size make it tough to him to strike at distance against rangier foes, but he's durable and persistent enough to make them work throughout, because he never quits.
This was a piece of matchmaking designed to force Barao to prove he's ready for the elite of the 135-lb. division and show what kind of resilience he'll have in tough distance match, and it succeeded on both counts.
Josh Koscheck: C+Kos had little to gain and everything to lose tonight, especially as he's lost twice to Georges St. Pierre and is nowhere near another title shot as long as GSP is champ. But the talented welter bit down and rode out a surprisingly tough challenge from the motivated Pierce. Like fellow veterans and victims of GSP in Jake Shields and Jon Fitch, Kos will probably have to face a long line of upstart talent at 170, and as Johny Hendricks showed against Fitch, a loss could be a major setback in an already-uphill campaign to get a title shot. Kos didn't shoot for takedowns early enough in the bout and apply his amazing wrestling abilities, and looked somewhat flustered in exchanges. Veterans know how to grind out a close win, which he ultimately did, but this wasn't Kos at his best tonight.
Flipping off the crowd in his postfight interview didn't help, either, as he could've taken the high road in making nice with fans. If there's any mystery as to why they boo the talented Koscheck, he's the only one contemplating it after tonight.
Nick Diaz: C+Diaz has never been satisfied when the judges' decision goes against him, and tonight was no different. Saying he's "done" with the sport in his postfight interview is hopefully a heat-of-the-moment statement, because he remains one of the game's most talented and exciting fighters. That being said, he was outstruck and outworked tonight just enough to lose a convincing decision. If there's a definite hole in the "Stockton Style" that Nick and brother Nate Diaz use, it's the availability of the lead leg to be repeatedly punished, followed by movement to force him to chase and reset.
Denied the pocket-range exchanges that have defined his signature wins in recent years, Diaz was unable to get extended combinations off, while Condit piled up points as he picked spots, landed cleanly and scooted away. Another longtime Diaz weakness, takedowns, flared up against as he was unable to get Condit to the mat until the final moments of the bout. His outstanding jiu-jitsu might have been able to swing the momentum of close rounds his way if he'd been able to get Condit to the mat.
Retirement talk aside, this was a somewhat flat performance by an outstanding fighter facing a guy with a great gameplan. Diaz remains a highly bankable fighter with a loyal fan base. It will be interesting to see future opponents try and replicate the Condit gameplan. Attempting to do so is probably easier said than done.
Clifford Starks: C-Unbeaten coming into the bout, Starks showed much-improved standup, drilling Herman and planting the seeds for what seemed a huge win over the veteran. However, as Herman simply refused to bend, Starks came a bit unraveled, and paid for it, with a takedown that led to the fight-ending submission. A huge middleweight with solid wrestling, Starks' first loss is a good learning experience for him and should motivate him to work on correcting the mental lapses that led to the takedown and defeat. He's got some good basic tools, but didn't utilize them in a fight that was very much winnable until it went south on him. Fortunately for him, 185 pounds is the UFC's thinnest bench in terms of depth, so he'll have time and leeway to develop as he continues to learn the game.
Roy Nelson: C-A relatively svelte 246, Nelson never recovered by a first-round barrage of knees and numbing punishment from Werdum, and was reduced to heaving the occasional punch with few effective weapons. Nelson looked somewhat like the tired and heavier version that was decisioned by Frank Mir, and Werdum's outstanding guard work on the one occasion Nelson did get top position stifled future considerations of going there later in the fight.
A very flat showing by Nelson, who was unable to adjust to Werdum's surprisingly good standup, especially with his kicks. This may have been a bad style matchup for Roy given the fact that he couldn't fall back on wrestling to ride out rounds and the decision. That's something that's definitely an option against future opponents he can't outstrike, but it wasn't one tonight.
For complete UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.
Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst and Jason@jasonprobst.com
Posted in: fight, diaz, decision, condit, exchange
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts
As I sit here in the media room surrounded by the photo and video reporters, I the emotions of a live event are finally being lifted. There was a ton of anticipation for the interim title bout between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit as many people expected the fight to deliver fireworks. While the general feeling is split, there is no doubt that both fighters elevated themselves despite the decision. With three hours before my flight back to Austin, Texas, let's take a look at the biggest winner and losers of UFC 143.
WINNERS
Carlos Condit: Throughout the entire week, the media were discounting Condit's ability to play spoiler for the potential matchup between Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz. While it may not be the fight that people expected, Condit fought a perfect fight and walked away with not just the win but also a sweet Harley Davidson motorcycle. Not a bad way to spend Super Bowl weekend, huh?
Fabricio Werdum: He looked incredibly dominant in every facet of the fight, especially in the clinch. Lesser men would have crumbled to those knees to the face so the lack of a finish cannot be held against the two time Abu Dhabi champion. He's likely a win or two away from a shot at the UFC heavyweight belt.
Dustin Poirier: Dustin 'Diamond' was originally scheduled to face Eric Koch in a title eliminator. Unfortunately, the Duke Roufus product suffered an injury and was replaced by Max Holloway. While the fight may not have earned him a shot at Jose Aldo's belt, Poirier walked away with a $65k bonus which will ease that pain.
Ed Herman: There's something to say about a complete career rebirth. After a slew of injuries that kept him sidelined, Herman is now on a three fight win streak and a new found look on MMA.
Stephen Thompson: The highlight reel knockout over Dan Stittgen is a great way to make a UFC debut. The fact that he's such a highly touted prospect will mean that the UFC will develop him slowly as he has a bright future in the promotion. A fantastic performance from a young fighter.
Losers and other thoughts after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
LOSERS
Matt Riddle: That was a god awful performance against a featherweight. It may seem absurd but Matthew Riddle has regressed since his time on the Ultimate Fighter. The only good news for Riddle is that as bad as he was tonight, he still put on a better performance than...
Rafael Natal: Rafael Natal is hands down the worst fighter in the UFC's middleweight division. I'm not arguing this or even offering any sort of evidence. If you watched the fight tonight you know I'm right. He walked away with the W but looked awful in the effort.
Alex Caceres: I hate saying that his game plan was to land two ridiculously hard low blows but holy cow did those take a ton out of Edwin Figueroa's tank. Justice was served though as Caceres walked away with the L and hopefully with a lesson in leg kicks.
OTHER THOUGHTS
Nick Diaz may have announced his desire to leave MMA following the loss to Carlos Condit but I don't expect this to be the last time we see the elder Diaz brother in the UFC. He put on a great performance and the fact that people were arguing about the scoring is evidence of that fact. Hopefully seeing his brother fight Jim Miller will provide him with more motivate to return to MMA.
Josh Koscheck may have been victorious but tonight but he looked awful in the victory. It was apparently his last fight with AKA so who knows if that was a factor but this wasn't a fight that he should be proud of.
Roy Nelson is one of the toughest men alive. Those knees were ridiculous and he still stayed in the fight. Huge dap to the recently slimmed Roy Nelson for stay competitive against a top fighter.
What's going on with Scott Jorgensen? He hasn't used his patented guillotine and has fallen off the bantamweight map with this loss to Renan Barao. Disappointing for such a promising young fighter.
Henry Martinez deserves credit for fighting Matt Riddle who likely entered the cage around 190 pounds. Insane that he did as much damage as he did. I'm looking forward to seeing him return to the UFC closer to his natural weight class.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, fighter, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowVideo: UFC 143 winner Carlos Condit came to Las Vegas to punch Nick Diaz, not trash talk inside the cage
"This is just another step toward my ultimate goal of being among the best mixed martial artists in the world. He was talking, [Nick Diaz] was landing punches, you know? I think I was winning. No matter how much he talked, I was hitting him hard, I was hitting him solid. That's what I came here to do: I didn't come here to talk. From the very beginning, I broke that leg down. I chopped his leg, chopped his leg, chopped his leg, so even if he had the cardio, he didn't have the wheels. I've got a lot of work to do, and a lot more improvements to be made. Georges St. Pierre is a true champion, he's the best in the world. It's huge."
Newly-minted UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit had a gameplan to defeat Nick Diaz in the UFC 143 main event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and he was sticking to it no matter what the fiery Stockton, Calif., slugger said inside the cage during their five-round battle. It was clear that Diaz was growing impatient with Condit's wise strategy, which comprised circling away from Diaz, countering and refusing to get backed into a corner and beaten up. In fact, Condit's feet barely stopped moving all night (Feb. 4, 2012), turning in a very disciplined performance even when Diaz threw up his hands, stuck out his chin and dared the "Natural Born Killer" to get down and dirty. He remained focused and resolute even when the fans in attendance began to grow a little restless. His defensive offense, however, eventually won them over, as well as the judges sitting ringside, who awarded him a controversial unanimous decision that -- at least on paper -- appeared to be accurate. With the win, Condit sets up a future date with reigning division champion Georges St. Pierre later this year to unify the belts. One that will take a similar effort of remaining upright and off his back if he intends on achieving his ultimate goal. Easier said than done, but he'll have more than enough time to work up yet another effective gameplan.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, las vegas, leg, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCondit on UFC 143 Victory: Diaz Was Talking, I Was Landing Punches
Carlos Condit earned the biggest win of his career on Saturday night, outpointing former Strikeforce titlist Nick Diaz to capture the UFC interim welterweight championship at UFC 143.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, carlo, welterweight championship
Read the full article at SherdogCarlos Condit Believes He Won First Four Rounds Against Nick Diaz
LAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Carlos Condit talks about his UFC 143 win over Nick Diaz, why he deserved to win, his performance and what's next for him.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 post-fight press conference full video for 'Diaz vs Condit' in Las Vegas
UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, is officially in the books after an eventful night of fights. As usual, the stars of the show came to dish the dirt on the event, including Carlos Condit, Josh Koscheck, Fabricio Werdum, Renan Barao, Ed Herman and Dustin Poirier. To watch the highlights of Diaz vs. Condit click here and for complete UFC 143 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, blowbyblow coverage
Read the full article at MMA Maniawhat pros had to say about the main event
josh neer @joshneer Wow. Nick got robbed 4-1 diaz. Carlos was doing the Forrest Gump #runforestrun Ariel Helwani @arielhelwani Condit wins via decision. Great fight. I think I had it 3-2 Diaz but need to watch again. Cody McKenzie @TheCodyMcKenzie Wow really goes to show you how bad these judges suck Carlos ran the entire time Mike Kogan @MikeKogan Fucking judges are blind. 48-47 Diaz. Steve Wonder would have scored it. @nickdiaz209 @NateDiaz209 Micah Miller @Mavymcmavmav What a fucking robbery Joe Lauzon @JoeLauzon I eagerly await fight metrics for this fight... I thought Diaz won that all night long. Yves Edwards @thugjitsumaster I wanted Nick to win but there's no way Condit won 4 rds backing up. Pat Miletich @patmiletich That decision was an absolute joke. At best, Condit won 2 rounds. Kit Cope @KitCope Agreed! RT @mattlindland: Great fight Diaz 1,2,5 Condit 3,4 Mark Muñoz @mark_munoz Gr8 fight! Think Diaz 4 rounds to 1. We'll see! #ufc143 Matt Lindland @mattlindland Great fight Diaz 1,2,5 Condit 3,4 Dan Henderson @danhendo Wow, I would not want to judge that one. I had it even after 4. And diaz in the 5th submitted by qwerty622 [link] [55 comments]
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, fight i, rt mattlindland
Read the full article at RedditFightMetric Scores UFC 143 Main Event For Carlos Condit
There’s always going to be plenty of debate about who won whenever there’s a close fight and that was certainly the case with tonight’s UFC 143 headliner between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. Some felt Condit rightfully won while others believe Diaz should have won.
Well, for what it’s worth, FightMetric’s scoring of the fight supports the official judges’ decision to award the fight to Condit. According to their breakdown, Condit deserved to win 48-47, taking rounds 1, 3 and 4. They also had Condit winning the fight overall based on their effectiveness score.
Most notably, Condit landed 151 significant strikes to Diaz’s 101 and broke the UFC record for single leg strikes landed in a fight with 68.
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, carlos condit, ufc record
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143 In Tweets: Pros Score Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit
It's the biggest cliché in mixed martial arts, but the words most certainly held true on Saturday night. Never leave it in the hands of the judges.
Unfortunately for Nick Diaz, he did just that, brawling back-and-forth with Carlos Condit for five rounds at UFC 143, only to drop a razor-thin unanimous decision, along with a shot at the undisputed UFC welterweight championship that had eluded him for so long.
The verdict was as close and controversial as they come, and while Diaz was preoccupied unleashing his post-fight fury inside the Octagon, his contemporaries sounded off via Twitter with their scorecards of the divisive interim title tilt.
@danhendoDan Henderson Wow, I would not want to judge that one. I had it even after 4. And diaz in the 5th Feb 05 via Seesmic Favorite Retweet Reply
@MieshaTateMiesha Tate I thought Condit won the fight I know Diaz is pissed but Condit had a solid game plan that worked, I thought he won for sure Feb 05 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
@titoortizTito Ortiz I had a draw! #UFC143 Feb 05 via TweetCaster for Android Favorite Retweet Reply
@JoeLauzonJoe Lauzon I eagerly await fight metrics for this fight... I thought Diaz won that all night long. Feb 05 via HootSuite Favorite Retweet Reply
@SiyarTheKillerSiyar Bahadurzada 4-1 Condit!!!!!!!! Perfect performance!!!!!!! As I said the only way to beat Diaz was to confuse and irritate him!!!!!! Feb 05 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
@TimKennedyMMATim Kennedy I HATE judges! @ufc Feb 05 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
@patmiletichPat Miletich That decision was an absolute joke. At best, Condit won 2 rounds. Feb 05 via Mobile Web Favorite Retweet Reply
@MiguelTorresMMAMiguel Angel Torres I score this fight 50-45 in favor of GSP. @ufc Feb 05 via txt Favorite Retweet Reply
@Jens_PulverJens Pulver Diaz wins via ring generalship, one moving forward, one moving backward. Ala delahoya vs Trinidad in my opinion, it's 3 opinions that judge Feb 05 via Twittelator Neue Favorite Retweet Reply
@mattlindlandMatt Lindland Great fight Diaz 1,2,5 Condit 3,4 Feb 05 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
@SBNLukeThomasLuke Thomas RT @DamonMartin: Dana White says he had the fight scored 3-2 for Carlos Condit. #UFC143 Feb 05 via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet Reply
@jonfitchdotnetJon Fitch I think condit won Feb 05 via Echofon Favorite Retweet Reply
@mark_munozMark Muñoz Gr8 fight! Think Diaz 4 rounds to 1. We'll see! #ufc143 Feb 05 via Echofon Favorite Retweet Reply
@TheCodyMcKenzieCody McKenzie Wow really goes to show you how bad these judges suck Carlos ran the entire time Feb 05 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
@joshneerjosh neer Wow. Nick got robbed 4-1 diaz. Carlos was doing the Forrest Gump #runforestrun Feb 05 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply
@RondaRouseyRonda Rousey If I wanted to see a man run for 25 minutes I'd go to a track meet. Diaz is the real champ, what a bulls*** fight Feb 05 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
@CungLe185Cung Le I meant Diaz rounds 1,2 & 5 and Condit 3 & 4 Feb 05 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply
@EllenbergerMMAJake Ellenberger You got to be kidding me... Feb 05 via Echofon Favorite Retweet Reply
@BrianStannBrian Stann @carloscondit won that fight in my opinion, so happy for him, put a belt around his waist!! He is a great person & father Feb 05 via TweetCaster for iOS Favorite Retweet Reply
@thugjitsumasterYves Edwards I wanted Nick to win but there's no way Condit won 4 rds backing up. Feb 05 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
Posted in: diaz, condit, feb, reply, retweet
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Video Highlights: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Video highlights of Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 143 via ESPN.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertJosh Koscheck Parts Ways with AKA, Open to Fights with Diaz or Condit
Josh Koscheck says he has finished his time with American Kickboxing Academy, and also comments on potential match-ups with Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, koscheck, condit, josh
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143 results: Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit fight metric report shows judges made right decision
By now, opinions have been cast and vary greatly from pundits to fans to fighters regarding the UFC 143 main event bout last night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) in Las Vegas that saw Carlos Condit take a close unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz.
The fight was interesting because Condit executed a game plan that flabbergasted his foe and made it hard on the judges to nail down exactly how to score it. He was landing plenty of shots, dipping in and out and sticking and moving, but Diaz was clearly the aggressor and walked him down the whole way, getting in a few good punches of his own.
In the end, though, the three judges all scored the fight for Condit, awarding him the interim welterweight championship and a shot at Georges St. Pierre later this year. Diaz, thinking he was the rightful winner and tired of the way the sport is set up, retired in disgust immediately following the bout.
Stats don't always tell the full story, of course, but thankfully Fight Metric has released their report on the contest and we get a bit more clarity on the controversial bout. Let's take a look after the jump.
The full striking report spanning all five rounds (click on over to Fight Metric to see the round-by-round breakdown) shows that Condit outlanded Diaz 159-117 in total strikes and 151-105 in significant strikes. Diaz was better to the head and body but "The Natural Born Killer" was just that when he went to the legs.
Ouch.
On to the grappling, which there was admittedly little of:
Diaz gets credit for landing one of his three takedown attempts as well as a pass to Condit's back at the end of the fifth frame. Outside of that, the entirety of the bout was contested on the feet.
Finally, the performance rating:
As you can see, Condit was rightfully awarded the decision -- based purely on the numbers -- by a score of 48-47. Fight Metric awarded Condit rounds one, three and four and Diaz rounds two and five.
Well, Maniacs, now that you've seen the fight, and the Fight Metric report, what are your thoughts? Anyone changing their mind? Or is your opinion now reinforced?
Sound off.
For a more detailed look at the Diaz vs. Condit fight click here. To watch highlights click here and for complete UFC 143 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, bout, condit, report
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Fight Video Highlights
It took five erratic months and a slew of last-minute lineup switches, but Carlos Condit earned a date with Georges St. Pierre after all.
The former WEC kingpin defeated Nick Diaz to claim the UFC interim welterweight strap at the main event of UFC 143, snatching the judge's nod after 25 grueling minutes in front of the packed Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Full video highlights of Condit's stunning upset can be seen below.
For more, catch the play-by-play by MMA Fighting's own Luke Thomas.
ROUND 1 - Diaz opens southpaw while Condit is orthodox. Diaz starts out doing the stalking while Condit doing a lot of moving. Two outside leg kicks from Condit land. Diaz backing Condit into the fence, but he manages to circle out. Left straight from Diaz finds the mark. Brazilian kick from Condit whiffs over the head of Diaz. Condit with two more outside leg kicks to Diaz's lead leg. Diaz begins talking to Condit now. Spinning back fist from Condit misses and Diaz lands a right against the fence and a hard body shot. Left straight now from Diaz. Right hook to the body from Diaz and Condit misses on another spinning back elbow.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Diaz.
ROUND 2 - Condit whiffs again on a Brazilian kick, but Diaz is still pressing. Outside leg kick from Condit lands, but he misses on a flying. Diaz backs Condit into the fence, but can't get much. Spinning back fist from Condit partially lands, but not with a ton of authority. Diaz switching stances and taunting Condit with a slap. He eats several front leg kicks, but nothing major. Body kick now from Condit. Left straight to the body, right hook to the head lands for Diaz with Condit on the fence. Middle kick again for Condit but eats a jab for his efforts. Against the fence both fighters exchange in the pocket and now Condit is landing a bit more. Diaz rips several hard shots to the body, but works his way off the fence. Condit more active and more mobile this round. Diaz reaches for a takedown, but is stuffed.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Condit.
ROUND 3 - It's more of the same to start round three and Condit lands a hard body shot and inside leg kick. Now a head kick finds the mark for the New Mexico native. Diaz lands a three punch combination to the body and head. Right hand now for Condit, though not with a ton of authority. Right hook to the body from Condit and he moves out of the pocket. Diaz still stalking, but hitting nothing but air. Now Diaz eats a short outside leg kick. And another. Condit lands a punch-kick combo, but Diaz retaliates with two hard left hands. Hard right knee from Condit plus a right to the body. Condit lands an outside leg kick, but slips in the process.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Condit.
ROUND 4 - Condit again sticking and moving, mostly with leg kicks. Diaz tries to clinch, but Condit breaks it and circles away. Front kick from Condit, but not with much power. Diaz presses Condit into the fence and changes levels, but eats two punches for his efforts. Diaz's offensive output has slowed consideriably. Outside leg kick from Condit. Body kick from Condit partially lands and he circles away. Body shot and outside leg kick from Condit, plus a head kick on a second combination. Condit is opening up now. Diaz tries to grab a single, can't and eats a knee to the middle. Jab now from Condit. Diaz again trying to get Condit against the fence, but can't do it.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Condit.
ROUND 5 - Condit sticking with the game plan and landing lead outside leg kicks. Diaz misses with a hook to the body and Condit circles out. Diaz lands his own inside leg kick, but Condit is still strong in the pocket. Condit throwing kicks to stay busy, but not landing anything big. Condit misses on a spinning back elbow. The fighters trade leg kicks, but Condit lands harder. Then Condit fires a left hook and a hard head kick. Diaz gets double underhooks, but Condit escapes. Diaz lands a right hook, but eats a knee to the middle from Condit. Diaz gets Condit's back standing and drags him to the floor. He's got Condit's back and is working feverishly to get something going. Diaz locks up the rear naked choke grip, but Condit pushes him off. Condit escapes. The round ends.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Diaz and the fight 48-47 Condit.
UFC 143 results: Carlos Condit defeats Nick Diaz by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Posted in: diaz, round, leg, condit, kick
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseIt's a shame most MMA fans will never appreciate what a chess match the main event was. [SPOILERS]
As time goes on, and I learn more about the sport, I always find that I appreciate what a chess match MMA is at the highest levels. It comes down to so much more than just brawling, but most MMA fans will never appreciate this. Nick Diaz is a nightmare of a fighter. GSP was wrong: Fitch was not the Terminator, Nick Diaz is. Nick Diaz has an iron chin, is not afraid to eat shots, constantly presses forward, and throws an enormous volume of punches straight down the pipe at his opponent's faces. He never gets tired and he never quits. Once he gets someone pinned against the cage, he's basically unbeatable. His little brother Nate used the exact same strategy against Cerrone, and made a multiple time Muay Thai champion look like an amateur striker. Nick pressed BJ Penn against the cage, and decisively outboxed one of MMA's greatest all time boxers. Not even Paul Daley, a man notorious for his punching power, could do enough damage to Nick to even slow him down. Condit knew this, and he refused to fail where his predecessors had. Much like a bullfighter dodges a bull, Carlos would not have any of Nick's 'bullying' strategy. He knew how to circle out and not get pinned against the cage. Make no mistake about it, Carlos was not afraid to trade strikes with Nick. The Fightmetric proves this. But everytime Nick started to get the upperhand, Carlos moved out of danger. He fought a perfect match. Carlos's movements were downright graceful, and well timed. Much like "Judo" translates to the "gentle way," Carlos refused to absorb the brunt of Nick's offense. He traded while he was winning, and immediately moved when Nick started landing. I don't think most people understand the amount of skill and discipline it takes for a fighter to be able to pull off a gameplan like this. Most fighters with Condit's resume would have fallen in love with their fists and tried to take Diaz's head off when the first taunts came. But again Condit would not have any of it. Condit trusted his striking enough to trade with Diaz on his own terms, but gracefully refused to play into Diaz's hand. Unfortunately, there is a rush of people complaining that Condit refused to actually 'fight' Diaz and that he kept running away. These people can't understand how masterfully Condit beat Diaz. It was perfect. He could not have been any more of a Kryptonite to Diaz's Superman. Condit had the brains to figure out the plan, the talent to execute the plan, the conditioning to see it through, and the discipline to stick to it. This, ladies and gentlemen, is true talent. It is marvellous. We just witnessed a great fight, and it is a shame and a blackeye for the sport as a whole that anyone would expect Condit to brawl with Diaz against the cage otherwise suffer being called a coward. Please, appreciate MMA for not only the violence, but also the athleticism, the talent, and the IQ it takes to not only win, but to win against the best of the best. TL;DR People shouldn't call Carlos a coward. They should appreciate how masterfully he beat Diaz. submitted by The_Demolition_Man [link] [13 comments]
Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, condit, carlo
Read the full article at RedditUFC 143 draws a reported 10,040 attendees for $2.3 million live gate
LAS VEGAS - Saturday's "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" event drew a reported
10,040 attendees and generated a live gate of $2.3 million.
UFC president Dana White revealed the figures at the evening's post-event press conference, which MMAjunkie.com attended.
Featuring an interim welterweight title contest between former WEC
titleholder Carlos Condit and former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz, UFC
143 marked the company's first 2012 event in Las Vegas.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, condit, la
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights
Carlos Condit defeated Nick Diaz by unanimous decision at UFC 143 Saturday night from the Mandalay bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. With the win, Condit became the UFC's interim welterweight champion and will face long-time champion Georges St. Pierre in GSP's return fight after recovering from a knee injury. Condit was able to avoid being suckered into Diaz's striking game and his gameplan of sticking to the outside and working leg kicks and deciding when he wanted to open up with strikes earned him the win on all three judges' scorecards with scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.
Diaz was almost able to steal the fight in the final minute when he was able to secure a takedown and take Condit's back. Carlos was able to defend well enough to get to the final bell and get his hand raised. Following the bout Diaz claimed he was retiring from the sport of mixed martial arts because he didn't want to put up with a sport that would score the fight for Condit who many saw as having "ran" the whole fight.
Here are the full highlights from the fight courtesy of ESPN:
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, condit, fight video
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz vs Carlos Condit full fight video highlights from UFC 143
Carlos Condit takes a controversial decision over Nick Diaz in the main event of UFC 143 last night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Condit worked a smart game plan, making Diaz chase him around the cage for five rounds and 25 minutes while peppering with shots before jumping back out of range. It was highly effective and frustrated the Stockton slugger, who never did settle in and get comfortable. Still, Diaz felt he did enough to win with his aggressive, stalking approach and was so upset at the outcome he announced his retirement from MMA in the post-fight interview. We'll wait and see if he sticks with it. For a more detailed recap on the "Diaz vs. Condit" fight click here and for complete UFC 143 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, fight video, blowbyblow coverage
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiaz Announces Retirement After UFC 143 Loss to Condit
Nick Diaz is done, apparently.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, loss, retirement
Read the full article at SherdogUFC Hands Out $65,000 Bonuses Following UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced the winners of their UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit post-fight fighter bonuses.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, bonus, ufc hands
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis
Carlos Condit was able to use movement to keep Nick Diaz from really ever getting off through the majority of five rounds in the UFC 143 main event and it was good enough to win him the interim welterweight championship. As for Nick Diaz? It was enough to send him into retirement.
...or at least what he says will be his retirement.
I scored the fight 49-46 for Condit, it seemed pretty clear to me that he won the first four rounds, even if the first two were reasonably close. I thought the fight was a thoroughly enjoyable affair that saw Condit fight smart and never allow himself to get pinned up against the cage where Diaz has done his best work over the past few years. While many felt it was "running," to me it was taking advantage of Diaz's footwork and openings to get back out into the middle of the cage where he could score with leg kicks and pick and choose when to engage with combinations.
The reality is, strategy is important at the upper end of fight sports. In the same weight class where we saw the whole "Georges St. Pierre got too strategic once he got to the top of the sport" cries, we now are seeing it with Condit. Maybe it's that there are so many dangers at 170 that sometimes it takes a strategic approach to get the win.
Asking Condit to stand and trade with Diaz is asking him to do the same thing that got fighter after fighter busted up by Nick.
Carlos earned his victory and his shot at St. Pierre. I know I'll be looking forward to that fight when the time comes.
I have a feeling Diaz thinks by "retiring" from the UFC, he can try the boxing thing that he has floated so often. Once the UFC lets him know that their contract doesn't exactly allow that, I have a feeling we'll see Diaz right back in the UFC Octagon.
Diaz is still absolutely one of the best 170 pounders in the sport and will trouble almost anyone in the sport. I hope he really isn't walking away, even if I do really hate his inability to ever handle failure with any semblance of professionalism.
I can't wait for the next round of cries that Roy Nelson suddenly cut to 205 pounds and learn a completely new way to fight at 35 years of age. The Roy Nelson who has proven time and time again that he can't handle top end heavyweights is the real version. He's the only one you're getting, so just accept it.
Fabricio Werdum's muay thai looked very solid tonight. He was able to work knees, leg kicks and decent punching combinations to wreck Nelson over three rounds. He had some scary moments where Nelson appeared to get in with big enough power to sting him, but Werdum would just fire back and take the fight right back over. I'm not sure I buy into the idea that he can hang with Junior dos Santos because he was better at beating up Roy Nelson, but it was an impressive performance.
Josh Koscheck survived an ugly, ugly fight against Mike Pierce. I don't know what to say other than that Pierce's toughness and Koscheck's inability to diversify his striking beyond "throw right hand hard" made the fight a bit harder than it really should have been.
The real defining moment from the Koscheck/Pierce fight was Herb Dean not taking a point from Koscheck. After one warning "in the action" for reaching out with his hands open, and then a time where Dean stopped the fight to warn Koscheck to not poke the eyes, Koscheck eventually poked Pierce in the eye. That is exactly a situation where a point should be taken. Koscheck was given a clear warning and did not heed the referee's instructions, resulting in a foul. That was a failure on Herb's part, and totally inconsistent from earlier in the evening when he took two points from Alex Caceres for a second horrible low blow.
Much more after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Renan Barao beat a very tough opponent in Scott Jorgensen at 143. But he displayed some cardio issues that cause some concern for a potential title fight and he also wasn't quite exciting enough in victory to elevate him to that status as a title challenger some of us were hoping for. I think he needs one more solid win before putting him in a title fight.
Clifford Starks is a talented fighter and good enough that Ed Herman's win over him carries some solid meaning. Herman's last few fights have been very impressive and encouraging after a horrible injury layoff.
Max Holloway did a good enough job despite being trounced by Dustin Poirier that people are still saying that he's got a bright future. I can't say I disagree but I'm still more excited about Poirier's future as I remain more impressed by him every time I see him.
Alex Caceres lost his fight against Edwin Figueroa entirely because of a two point deduction for kicks to the groin. For those wondering, a two point deduction is completely legitimate and the violence of both kicks make me not too upset about it having happened.
Chris Cope will hopefully never be on another UFC card. Props to Matt Brown for finishing him in violent fashion.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, koscheck, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCarlos Condit Upsets Nick Diaz at UFC 143, Diaz Says He’s Quitting MMA
Carlos Condit won a five-round unanimous decision victory against Nick Diaz on Saturday at UFC 143, and after the fight an upset Diaz said he will leave the sport.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, decision victory
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Exclusive Fight Night Photo Gallery
Take a look back at Saturday's UFC 143 card through the eyes of HeavyMMA photographer James Law, including the five-round main event between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, condit, heavymma
Read the full article at Heavy MMA
Condit vs. Diaz Official UFC Statistics
UFC 143 - Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, official
Read the full article at Fight MetricFightMetric; Diaz vs Condit
submitted by seKer82 [link] [10 comments]
Posted in: diaz, vs, condit, fightmetric, seker
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz Gets Beat By Carlos Condit, Retires at UFC 143
I'm not going to accept the fact that this was a loss. I've lost fights before, where, uh, ya know, like, I'm not going to accept that either. That ain't right. I pushed him back the whole fight. I walked him down. I got the take down. I'm the guy who went out on top. Had I thought I wasn't ahead, I'd have chinned in and finished that arm lock. Hey Carlos is a great guy, I'm happy for him and his family. I think I'm done with this MMA. It's been great out here. I've had a good career.........But I don't think I'm going to get enough to keep going in this. It's been a good time. You know Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Good job Carlos, you're the man, bro.
Well, well, well.....No, I'm not going to gloat or even say "I told you so". The hissy fit that Nick Diaz threw in the cage after he was defeated by Carlos Condit was downright embarrassing for himself, Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu, the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts. It was petulant. It was bratty. It was a complete justification of every single thing that every single critic has ever said about him.
Carlos Condit followed an absolutely masterful gameplan to perfection. He did not get sucked in to a Nick Diaz fight. He made Nick Diaz fight his fight. Nick Diaz wanted to do what he does which is back his opponent into the cage and swarm them with punches. Condit exited perfectly every time Nick tried to back into the cage and he exited with strikes. It was an incredibly risky strategy given how much weight is put on the person who is moving forward in judging. Carlos outlanded Nick and that is something that cannot be disputed and the kicks are what sealed the deal for him. If you scored this fight for Nick Diaz, you probably also scored Chuck Liddell vs. Keith Jardine for "The Iceman". Plodding forward does not and should not win you a mixed martial arts fight.
As for the tantrum.....
If you want to complain about your pay, complain about the media, complain about the work you are required to do in your chosen vocation as a professional fighter then the least you can do is act like a professional fighter. You could have said you disagreed with the decision and vowed to come back stronger. You could have been a man but you acted like a child. I know this retirement will not stick. You will be back and we all know you will be back. Carlos Condit was not stupid enough to stand in front of you and eat bombs until the referee peels you off of them. You need to learn how to adjust on the fly. How many times did you think you could fight the same exact fight until someone caught on? You claimed to be the most well rounded fighter in MMA. That is a lie. A well rounded fighter can shift gears and tweak a gameplan. A well rounded fighter can adapt. You did none of that. You lost and you deserved to lose.
I know you will be back, Nick. I want you to come back. You are a very exciting performer. I just hope you can return as a man. Good luck to you, Nick Diaz.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, carlo, im
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendUFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz
Everyone who watched UFC 143's welterweight interim title fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit had their own score in their heads. Nick Diaz clearly thought he won the fight, apparently retiring in a snit after the loss. But only three people's opinions mattered and they all agreed that Carlos Condit won the fight. Here are each judges' round-by-round scores:
Judge Cecil Peoples had it: 10-9, 10-9, 9-10, 10-9, 10-9 for Condit.
Judge Patricia Morse Jarman had it: 10-9, 10-9, 9-10, 10-9, 10-9 for Condit.
Judge Junichiro Kamijo had it 10-9, 9-10, 10-9, 10-9, 9-10 for Condit.
Some interesting things to note. First off it's pretty amazing that only one judge scored the final round for Diaz given the take down and back mount. Secondly, it's interesting that only Kamijo had Diaz winning the second but Jarman and Peoples had Diaz winning the third. Everyone agreed that Condit won the first and fourth rounds.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: diaz, judge, title fight, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Tops Nick Diaz to Win Interim Title, Shot at GSP
Carlos Condit outpointed Nick Diaz to win the interim UFC welterweight title and earn a shot at champion Georges St-Pierre with a unanimous decision victory in the main event of UFC 143 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Condit stuck to his game plan throughout the five-round fight, as he frequently tagged Diaz with well-timed punches and kicks while continuously circling away to avoid Diaz’s patented combinations. Diaz threatened to finish Condit in the final minute as he took his back and worked towards both a choke and armlock, but ran out of time before he could lock either on.
The judges awarded Condit a unanimous decision win by 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 scores.
Posted in: ufc, title shot, diaz, condit, welltimed punches
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 143's Nick Diaz is 'done with MMA' because he 'don't need this sh*t'
In the main event of UFC 143 last night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nick Diaz lost a controversial unanimous decision to Carlos Condit and in turn, a chance at UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre.
It was a close fight, close enough that scores on social media sites everywhere ranged from 50-45 Diaz to 48-47 Condit.
In the end, the judges sided with "The Natural Born Killer," which shocked Diaz. So much so, in fact, that he threw his hands up in disgust when the decision was read and promptly informed color commentator Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview that he's "done with MMA" because he "don't need this shit."
Essentially, his message was that if winning big fights like this means "playing a game," as he put it, he simply doesn't want it. He stalked Condit throughout the fight, walked him down, took him down, took his back, attempted submissions, threw the kitchen sink at him, all that good stuff.
And still, he lost.
So, off he goes, into the Stockton sunset to help train his brother and the Cesar Gracie fight team but never to compete in MMA again. Unless, of course, he's just hot under the collar from the decision -- much like B.J. Penn was following his defeat to Diaz last October -- and will change his mind when he gets the chance to cool down.
It's easy to understand how Diaz feels after a fight like that but is he rushing the gun by calling it a career? And how did you score the bout, Maniacs? Was Diaz the rightful winner?
Posted in: fight, diaz, decision, condit, dont need
Read the full article at MMA ManiaC'mon Diaz....
submitted by whatdoicallthisone [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: diaz, cmon diaz, cmon, whatdoicallthisone
Read the full article at RedditUFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair
Carlos Condit used a solid, measured gameplan to capture the UFC interim welterweight title by winning a unanimous decision over Nick Diaz in the main event of UFC 143. Condit ignored all of the mind games Diaz tried to employ in the fight, and landed a ton of damaging kicks while staying away from situations where Diaz could truly open up on him. The scores were 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 for Condit. He now has a date with UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre when he recovers from his injury. Diaz claimed he was going to retire in his post-fight interview.
Diaz took the center of the cage immediately, but it was Condit firing first with kicks. Diaz continued to walk down Condit and landed a couple of nice shots, while Condit responded with leg kicks. Diaz threw some kicks of his own, and started to drop his hands and talk to Condit. Diaz dug to the body with a big shot, but Condit again responded with a leg kick. Condit tried a couple of spinning elbows without success. Diaz closed out the first round by clowning a bit, but not landing anything.
Condit opened the second with a variety of flashy strikes, but nothing landed. Condit continued to work the legs, and he actually landed a spinning backfist. Diaz actually dropped his hands and begged Condit to him him, then open-hand slapped him when he didn't. Diaz talked some trash, but didn't land much until a good right connected halfway through the round. Condit landed a body shot, and Diaz clowned some more. Finally Diaz landed a solid combination, but Condit stayed calm and landed more kicks. Diaz stared Condit down to close out another close round.
The third saw more of the same as the first two rounds. Solid kicking game from Condit, and Diaz continually coming forward with solid combinations. Condit did a good job of circling away so he wouldn't get cornered and be prone to a Diaz flurry. Diaz landed a very big left hand with a minute to go, but it had no effect on Condit. Diaz upped the pace late, but ate a lot of leg kicks over the course of five minutes.
Diaz looked visibly frusrated at Condit's gameplan early in the fourth, but couldn't do much to keep Condit in front of him. Diaz dropped down for a single two minutes in, but Condit shrugged it off and landed a strike as he escaped. Condit started to land a lot more in he latter half of the round with nice combinations. Condit bloodied up Nick's eye with a jab late in the round.
Diaz continued to chase Condit around the cage in the fifth and opened up his own kicking game a bit more. The pace slowed ever so slightly, and less strikes were being landed by both for the first half. Condit landed a big head kick that didn't face Nick at all. Finally Nick clinched up with Carlos, but Condit escaped again and went back to attacking the legs. Diaz managed to land a nice right, but Condit responded with a good knee. Diaz managed to get Condit's back with 75 seconds to go and secured back mount. After locking up a body triangle, he tried valiantly to sink in a choke but Condit fought him off. The round and the fight ended in a big scramble, but the fighters hugged after the final horn.Diaz is a former Strikeforce welterweight champion that expected to take on Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title here, but an injury to GSP gave Condit the spot and the bout was for an interim title. Condit, a former WEC welterweight champion, was on a four-fight winning streak entering the bout, with the last two wins coming by brutal knockout.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, round, welterweight, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSo here's what FightMetric tells us about Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 143
The last I saw of LayzieTheSavage, he sat next to me and said something along the lines of 'Man, [expletive] [expletive] [expletive] it's just [expletive].' As a community, I think we all need to collectively put him on suicide watch. I haven't seen him since the end of Diaz vs. Condit at UFC 143, but I do have his bottle of water that I will most likely drink if he doesn't return in the next few minutes.
From my cageside seat at UFC 143, through my rose-colored glasses (manufactured in the 209), I had Nick Diaz winning the second, third and fifth round -- yielding a unanimous decision for the former Strikeforce welterweight champion. The judges for Diaz vs. Condit (Junichiro Kamijo, Patricia Morse Jarman and Cecil Peoples) scored the fight in favor of Carlos Condit. We're still waiting on the judges' score cards to come in, but when they do we'll publish them in this article.
Some of you are still perplexed about Carlos Condit grabbing a unanimous decision win over Nick Diaz, so here's the FightMetric breakdown of the bout.
As far as Nick Diaz retiring, it's something that I've heard about for months now. However, I just didn't think it would happen tonight after UFC 143. In reality, Nick has always expressed a desire to compete in other sports that tests his endurance. It's a passion that the Stockton native has pursued since he was a kid. While this may be the end of Nick Diaz in MMA, it should not deter the fact that Nick brought a level of quirkiness (and excitement) to MMA that garnered the intrigue of MMA fans across the planet.
Props to Carlos Condit on his unanimous decision win and I think it's safe to say that we're all looking forward to see Carlos Condit vs. Georges St. Pierre at some point in 2012 for the UFC welterweight strap.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, condit
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Beats Nick Diaz
After 25 minutes of action inside the Octagon, Carlos Condit defeated Nick Diaz in a hard-fought unanimous decision at UFC 143. The victory earns Condit the UFC interim welterweight champion and the right to face No. 1 welterweight Georges St. Pierre, who is recuperating from a knee injury and expected to return late this year.
The judges scored the fight 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 for Condit.
"Hats off to Nick Diaz," Condit said afterward. "He's a warrior. I've got nothing but admiration and respect for how he fights."
Diaz was so unhappy with the decision that he said afterward he might retire from the sport.
"That ain't right," Diaz said. "I pushed him back the whole fight. ... I think I'm done with this MMA. ... I don't need this s--t."
In a very close first round, both men took some time feeling each other out and then they proceeded to engage in a tough and even kickboxing exchange, with the fight never going to the ground and neither man wanting to take it there. Diaz appeared to be more comfortable with the pace of the fight as the first round ended.
In the second round it became more Diaz's fight, as he began to land more of his trademark high-volume punching. He also started to do more of his taunting. In his corner after the round, Condit's coach Greg Jackson said, "Don't fall for it when he's talking to you," apparently concerned that Condit was getting sucked into Diaz's fight.
In the third Condit began to make it more his own fight, mixing knees and elbows in with his punches and kicks and diversifying his striking. But Diaz landed some hard punches as well in a very competitive, exciting round that was just heating up after five minutes.
Condit was coming alive in the fourth round, landing good solid shots and maintaining just as active a pace as Diaz. The fourth was a very good round for Condit, who had to feel good about his chances heading into the fifth.
And at the start of the fifth Condit looked great, and Diaz looked like he was wearing down. However, as the fifth went on Diaz got a second wind, and in the final minute of the fifth round Diaz took Condit down and took his back. Diaz wrapped Condit up in a body triangle and nearly sunk in a rear-naked choke, but Condit managed to pull free just before the fight came to an end, and the judges decided that Condit had won it.
And now Condit will prepare to face St. Pierre.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, round, condit
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 results: Carlos Condit wins controversial decision over Nick Diaz to win interim welterweight title
The main event of the UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" pay-per-view, which took place last night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, featured a former Strikeforce welterweight champion taking on a former WEC welterweight champion for the interim UFC welterweight championship.
Nick Diaz came in with all the hype in the world, the favorite to move right along to a fight against Georges St. Pierre (the actual 170-pound king) later this year. But Carlos Condit has been pushing himself as the man to spoil the party. So did he?
Indeed he did, as he worked one of the smartest game plans of his career en route to a five-round, 25-minute unanimous decision win to earn the title and a promise to meet St. Pierre later this year to unify the belts.
When asked afterwards, Condit thanked his camp for preparing him to win this fight. He also tipped his hat to his opponent, Diaz, who worked his ass off and was shocked when the decision was announced. I'm sure many fans are feeling the same.
This one is going to be debated for a long time.
Condit opened with a leg kick and a circle to the outside while Diaz pushed ahead like he usually does. It was clear from the outset that Carlos was averse to ever letting Nick get him up against the cage in an exchange, though Diaz was able to walk him down plenty.
Considering the cardiovascular conditioning of both fighters, hopping on the bicycle early wouldn't be detrimental in a five-round fight.
It wasn't long, however, until Diaz started putting his hands down and talking trash in an attempt to lure Condit into the war he came in hoping for. It didn't work, though, and Condit stayed true to his game plan.
Boy, what a close opening round.
The second round saw more of the same. Diaz pushing forward, Condit firing off kicks. In fact, "The Natural Born Killer" was circling out and looking to land spinning back fists. His varying offense wasn't having the intended effect, however, and Diaz just kept coming.
Like he always does.
Condit's game plan for the purpose of his opponent and how he operates was solid in the early going. He was sticking and moving, never staying in one place for longer than a second or two. While it was effective in keeping Diaz at bay, it's not something the judges look favorably on.
Through two, it was still extremely close.
There wasn't much change in the third round, other than the fact that Condit was opening up more on his strikes and getting far more comfortable. In short spurts it looked as though he would take the heavy edge but Diaz would always answer back with a well timed and even better placed punch that made the Greg Jackson trained fighter back up again.
After three rounds, the judges were going to have to earn their paycheck in a big way.
Again in the fourth, Diaz started talking, hoping his words could force a sustained exchange where Diaz is best. Condit, of course, was hearing none of it and was content to pick his spots with solid shots from the outside.
And it was working, too, as he was landing cleaner and more often.
Four rounds and who the hell knows, Cecil Peoples was cageside probably just as confused as the rest of us.
As the two got going deep into the final frame, it was no more obvious who the victor would be. Diaz attempted more and more to drag Condit to the ground or work from the clinch but Carlos was too slippery from sweat and too smart to get caught.
Diaz finally got Condit down and took his back while working a rear-naked choke as time ran down in the fight. He couldn't quite make the submission happen but it was a thrilling end to a close fight that seemingly could have gone either way.
In the end, it went Condit's way and he'll fight St. Pierre later this year.
Thoughts?
Don't forget to check out our complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the main card action.
Posted in: fight, diaz, round, welterweight, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Decisions Nick Diaz to Become Interim Welterweight Champion
As of the time of this writing, we have it three rounds to one for Carlos Condit over Nick Diaz at UFC 143. While Diaz was strong early, Condit has gained in strength every subsequent round.
ROUND 4 - Condit sticking with the game plan and landing lead outside leg kicks. Diaz misses with a hook to the body and Condit circles out. Diaz lands his own inside leg kick, but Condit is still strong in the pocket. Condit throwing kicks to stay busy, but not landing anything big. Condit misses on a spinning back elbow. The fighters trade leg kicks, but Condit lands harder. Then Condit fires a left hook and a hard head kick. Diaz gets double underhooks, but Condit escapes. Diaz lands a right hook, but eats a knee to the middle from Condit. Diaz gets Condit's back standing and drags him to the floor. He's got Condit's back and is working feverishly to get something going. Diaz locks up the rear naked choke grip, but Condit pushes him off. Condit escapes. The round ends.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Diaz and the fight 48-47 Condit.
UFC 143 results: Carlos Condit defeats Nick Diaz by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Posted in: diaz, round, condit, land, condit diaz
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Round 4
Moving into the fourth round of UFC 143's main event between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, we've got the former WEC champion ahead two round to one. In the third round the Greg Jackson product used better movement, angles and combinations to keep Diaz guessing. The story of this fight so far is Condit getting better with each passing round.
ROUND 4 - Condit again sticking and moving, mostly with leg kicks. Diaz tries to clinch, but Condit breaks it and circles away. Front kick from Condit, but not with much power. Diaz presses Condit into the fence and changes levels, but eats two punches for his efforts. Diaz's offensive output has slowed consideriably. Outside leg kick from Condit. Body kick from Condit partially lands and he circles away. Body shot and outside leg kick from Condit, plus a head kick on a second combination. Condit is opening up now. Diaz tries to grab a single, can't and eats a knee to the middle. Jab now from Condit. Diaz again trying to get Condit against the fence, but can't do it.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9
Posted in: diaz, round, condit, kick, leg kick
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Round 3
We have even with each fighter taking one round a piece for Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit (the main event of UFC 143). Diaz took the first round on our score cards. Condit claimed the second and did so with better movement and more volume striking.
ROUND 3 - It's more of the same to start round three and Condit lands a hard body shot and inside leg kick. Now a head kick finds the mark for the New Mexico native. Diaz lands a three punch combination to the body and head. Right hand now for Condit, though not with a ton of authority. Right hook to the body from Condit and he moves out of the pocket. Diaz still stalking, but hitting nothing but air. Now Diaz eats a short outside leg kick. And another. Condit lands a punch-kick combo, but Diaz retaliates with two hard left hands. Hard right knee from Condit plus a right to the body. Condit lands an outside leg kick, but slips in the process.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Condit.
Posted in: diaz, round, condit, kick, leg kick
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Round 2
In the first round of Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 143, it was Diaz who the slightly more effective of the two. MMA Fighting scored the first frame for Diaz, but it was by no means a blow out.
ROUND 2 - Condit whiffs again on a Brazilian kick, but Diaz is still pressing. Outside leg kick from Condit lands, but he misses on a flying. Diaz backs Condit into the fence, but can't get much. Spinning back fist from Condit partially lands, but not with a ton of authority. Diaz switching stances and taunting Condit with a slap. He eats several front leg kicks, but nothing major. Body kick now from Condit. Left straight to the body, right hook to the head lands for Diaz with Condit on the fence. Middle kick again for Condit but eats a jab for his efforts. Against the fence both fighters exchange in the pocket and now Condit is landing a bit more. Diaz rips several hard shots to the body, but works his way off the fence. Condit more active and more mobile this round. Diaz reaches for a takedown, but is stuffed.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Condit.
Posted in: diaz, round, condit, fence, kick
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Round 1
The main event of UFC 143 is Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit. This is a welterweight bout, meaning 170 pounds. This bout is airing on pay-per-view. Diaz is the former Strikeforce welterweight champion, while Condit is the former WEC welterweight champion. This is for the UFC interim welterweight championship. The referee in charge of the action is Steve Mazzagatti.
Follow Luke Thomas @SBNLukeThomas on Twitter for more updates.
ROUND 1 - Diaz opens southpaw while Condit is orthodox. Diaz starts out doing the stalking while Condit doing a lot of moving. Two outside leg kicks from Condit land. Diaz backing Condit into the fence, but he manages to circle out. Left straight from Diaz finds the mark. Brazilian kick from Condit whiffs over the head of Diaz. Condit with two more outside leg kicks to Diaz's lead leg. Diaz begins talking to Condit now. Spinning back fist from Condit misses and Diaz lands a right against the fence and a hard body shot. Left straight now from Diaz. Right hook to the body from Diaz and Condit misses on another spinning back elbow.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, round, welterweight, condit, welterweight championship
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Live Blog: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Updates
LAS VEGAS -- This is the UFC 143 live blog for Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit, the main event of tonight's UFC pay-per-view at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.While UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre heals from a knee injury, Diaz (26-7) and Condit (27-5) will battle it out for the interim title in the mean time.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: UFC 143 ResultsWalkout Shirts: Nick Diaz | Carlos Condit | Roy Nelson
Round 1:
Round 2:Round 3:Round 4:Round 5:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, round, condit, carlo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143: ‘Diaz vs. Condit’ Live Results and Play-by-Play (7:10 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas at 7:10 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of UFC 143, which is headlined by a UFC interim welterweight championship bout between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, result, las vegas
Read the full article at SherdogUFC 143 Live Results and Play-by-Play
UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit live results and play-by-play on Saturday, Feb. 4, in Las Vegas. The main event features Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, las vegas, playbyplay
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143 Quick Results
UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit quick results on Saturday, Feb. 4, in Las Vegas. The main event features Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, vs, las vegas
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Real Time Results
It’s been a long and winding road but UFC 143 has finally arrived with a welterweight title-fight in tow, as Nick Diaz will face Carlos Condit in the main event for the right to claim ownership to an interim belt and a guaranteed shot at Georges St. Pierre if so desired. The card also features a number of other interesting bouts with divisional impact such as Fabricio Werdum’s co-headlining collision with Roy Nelson and the bantamweight battle between Scott Jorgensen and Renan Barao. Other athletes in action include Ed Herman, Dustin Poirier, and Josh Koscheck.
As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in from start to finish and bringing readers live results as they unfold in real time from Las Vegas. Prelims start at 7:00 PM EST on Facebook before heading over to FX and eventually PPV (10:00 PM EST).
Read below for a full list of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit outcomes:
Daniel Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson
Rafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper
Chris Cope vs. Matt Brown
Alex Cacaeres vs. Edwin Figueroa
Matt Riddle vs. Henry Martinez
Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Scott Jorgensen vs. Renan Barao
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson
Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, ed herman
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Live Results
In the iconic words of Bruce Buffer, “It’s tiiiiiiime!”
UFC 143 has finally rolled around and with it comes as fine a main event as could be asked for, as polished pugilists Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz will duke it out for the interim welterweight title and a chance to fight linear champion Georges St. Pierre later this year. Both men enter the bout on impressive winning streaks and have a propensity for putting opponents away rather than seeing things go to the judges’ scorecards.
The card also features Scott Jorgensen vs. Renan Barao, Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce, and Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson.
Check out the Countdown to UFC 143 Special
Fights start at 7:00 PM EST on Facebook/FX before the primary action kicks off at 10:00 PM EST on PPV. As always, Fighters.com will be glued to the set and delivering outcomes back to readers as they take place.
Find a complete rundown of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit results below:
Daniel Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson
Rafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper
Chris Cope vs. Matt Brown
Alex Cacaeres vs. Edwin Figueroa
Matt Riddle vs. Henry Martinez
Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Scott Jorgensen vs. Renan Barao
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson
Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, vs matt
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit. Our live coverage will start with the Facebook prelim stream (roughly 7 p.m. ET) through the FX broadcast of the prelims (8 p.m. ET) and through the PPV broadcast (10 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
This post will cover live results and thoughts for the PPV main card.
The evening's main event sees Carlos Condit take on Nick Diaz for the interim welterweight title. Heavyweights Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum square off in the evening's main event. Former title contender Josh Koscheck returns to the Octagon to face Mike Pierce. Rounding out the main card action is a bantamweight bout between Renan Barao and Scott Jorgensen and a middleweight showdown between Ed Herman and Clifford Starks.
Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: diaz, ppv, event, condit, clifford starks
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Fight Card Primer: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit
For the first time in almost three years, a UFC welterweight title bout won't have Georges St. Pierre as one of the contestants. Due to GSP's injury, an interim title will be up for grabs in the main event of UFC 143, and what a main event it is. On one side you have one of the most interesting personalities in the game, and his skills in the cage match his unpredictability outside it. On the other side, you have a guy that almost always finishes fights and has heart for days. Ex-Strikeforce champ vs. ex-WEC champ. Nick Diaz (26-7, 1 NC, 7-4 UFC) and Carlos Condit (27-5, 4-1 UFC) face off for the title.
Diaz is ranked at number two at welterweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Condit is currently holding down the number four position. The winner of this bout will cement themselves in the two slot and will likely be meeting GSP in the summer to unify the belts. This welterweight UFC 143 fight will be the main event of the night, and will be aired live on pay-per-view. The PPV broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Diaz: 28 years old | 6'1" | 76" reachCondit: 27 years old | 6'2" | 76" reach
What have these two done recently?
Diaz: W - B.J. Penn (UD) | W - Paul Daley (TKO) | W - Evangelista Santos (SUB) Condit: W - Dong Hyun Kim (KO) | W - Dan Hardy (KO) | W - Rory MacDonald (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Nick Diaz has been competing in MMA for over a decade, and has picked up titles in three different organizations along the way. After winning the WEC welterweight title (a belt Condit later held) way back at WEC 6 and defending his IFC title, Diaz was invited to compete in the UFC. He went 6-4 in his first run overall, engaging in incredible fights with the likes of Karo Parisyan and Diego Sanchez. After he left the UFC of his own accord, he dropped to lightweight and fought Takanori Gomi in one of the best fights of all time. He won by gogoplata, but tested positive for marijuana and the fight was ruled a no-contest. Following an uneven stint at lightweight in EliteXC, he moved back to 170 in Strikeforce and went on a tear, picking up their title and winning all six of his bouts in the organization. By then Diaz was immensely popular, and was brought into the UFC to face Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137. However, he famously missed two press conferences and lost his shot at the title, instead having to fight legend and friend B.J. Penn. A decision win over Penn set up another bout with GSP, but St. Pierre blew out his knee and Diaz will have to face Condit for the interim title now.
Carlos "The Natural Born Killer" Condit has been around the sport of MMA just as long as Diaz has, coming up in the southwest regional circuit and making his bones in Hawaii and Japan. His first taste of notoriety was at the Rumble on the Rock welterweight tournament in Hawaii in 2006, where he made it all the way to the finals before dropping a decision to Jake Shields. A loss in his next bout to Pat Healy seemed to light a fire under Condit, and he has won 12 of his last 13 boths since then. He debuted in the WEC in early 2007, and quickly scooped up their welterweight title. Carlos managed to defend the belt three times before he was brought into the UFC to face Martin Kampmann. He lost an incredibly close split-decision in one of the more underrated bouts in UFC history but cemented his spot in the organization with his performance. He had close calls in his next two bouts, squeaking out a split-decision win over Jake Ellenberger despite being badly hurt in the first round, and stopping Rory MacDonald with just 7 seconds left despite dropping the first two rounds. His last two bouts have both been incredible KO wins for Condit, over Dan Hardy and Dong Hyun Kim. He has definitely earned this opportunity, and a win over Diaz would obviously be the biggest of his career.
Why should you care?
This is one of the most interesting bouts in recent UFC history in terms of styles and technique in the cage. Add two additional rounds and a title to fight over and this could be the best fight of the year. If that doesn't garner your interest, I don't know what will.
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 predictions with Randy Couture: Nick Diaz over Carlos Condit in main event (Video)
UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" is all set to pop off from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, tonight (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) and will feature former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz taking on former WEC champion Carlos Condit in the main event of the evening.
And, of course, we've got UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture's prediction for the exciting welterweight scrap:
"I think, again, the veteran in Diaz. I think both guys are amazing. A little more refined striking from Diaz but he only uses his hands, typically. Condit has a tendency to use more of his other tools, his kicking and he's long, which is unusual for Diaz to be against a guy who's longer and taller than he is. I would give Diaz the nod on the ground. His jiu-jitsu, I think, is better than Condit's, he's a better submission guy. Who knows where the fight is going to go? With Diaz, especially, they have a tendency to want to bang and be on their feet most of the time, unless he's dealing with a guy like Diego Sanchez who forced him to fight on the ground. I think Diaz is going to pull it off."
"The Natural" thinks Diaz takes it but what do you Maniacs think? Anyone want to give some love to "The Natural Born Killer?"
Posted in: diaz, guy, event, ufc hall, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Fight Card Primer: Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
Who would have expected this bout a year ago? One guy has earned his stripes by dominating ADCC's and submitting Fedor Emelianenko. The other tore through a surprisingly solid TUF 10 field and has shown a ton of resiliency in his UFC tenure so far. We're gonna find out if the Ultimate Fighter will give Vai Cavalo a rude re-introduction to the UFC when Roy Nelson (16-6, 3-2 UFC) throws down with Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1, 2-2 UFC).
Werdum currently occupies the five slot in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Nelson is down at number 14. As mentioned above, pretty much all of Werdum's hype is built off his win over Fedor Emelianenko. He does have solid wins over Antonio Silva and Gabriel Gonzaga, but a win over Nelson isn't sending him rocketing up the charts. Nelson is a different story though, and a win over Werdum would undoubtedly be the biggest of his career. This heavyweight UFC 143 fight will be the co-main event of the night, and will be aired live on pay-per-view. The PPV broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Werdum: 34 years old | 6'4" | 78" reachNelson: 35 years old | 6'0" | 73" reach
What have these two done recently?
Werdum: L - Alistair Overeem (UD) | W - Fedor Emelianenko (SUB) | W - Antonio Silva (UD) Nelson: W - Mirko Filipovic (TKO) | L - Frank Mir (UD) | L - Junior dos Santos (UD)
How did these two get here?
Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum has been an MMA vet for 10 years now, which might surprise you (it surprised me!). He acquitted himself well in Pride, then moved over to the UFC in 2007. His first run in the organization has largely been viewed as a failure by fans because he got Donkey Kong KO'd by current UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, but wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera were quite impressive at the time. Three straight wins in Strikeforce, including the win over Fedor, earned him a main event fight against Alistair Overeem that was, for lack of a better word, terrible. Werdum needs this fight to rebuild his credibility, and his status as a top contender at HW rides on his UFC 143 performance.
Roy "Big Country" Nelson is working to overcome your biases. The former IFL heavyweight champion could probably have earned his way onto UFC cards on merit alone, but his belly was his gimmick. Dana White threw him onto TUF 10 and told him to prove himself, and he did exactly that. His KO of Brendan Schaub in the finals was particularly beautiful. Another win over Stefan Struve earned Nelson a huge opportunity against Junior dos Santos, but JDS managed to take him out and win a unanimous decision. A second straight loss, this time to Frank Mir (Big Country was allegedly stricken with pneumonia at the time) was a huge setback, but a win over Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 137 got him back on the right track. A win over Werdum here would go a long way towards proving that he deserves the money matchups.
Why should you care?
There's actually a lot of intrigue here. ADCC winner vs. fat guy doesn't sound like much initially, but Nelson has some serious skills on the ground. On the feet, Nelson has the big right hand but Werdum is probably the better striker overall. Many variables = many possible outcomes. That's why we watch this stuff, right?
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143: Georges St. Pierre Explains How Nick Diaz Is 'Fake Crazy' - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Main Event Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Roy Nelson Vs. Fabricio Werdum Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Josh Koscheck Vs. Mike Pierce Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, werdum
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Fight Card Primer: Josh Koscheck Vs. Mike Pierce
Not many guys can say they have 20 fights in the UFC, but after Saturday night, one of the combatants in this fight can make that claim. Whether he can say that after his hand is raised or not remains to be seen, because he's facing one of the toughest opponents of his career. American Kickboxing Academny's Josh Koscheck (16-5, 14-5 UFC) faces off with Team Quest's Mike Pierce (13-4, 5-2 UFC).
Koscheck is currently number six at welterweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Pierce is unranked. Frankly, it's a crime that Pierce isn't on the list as he is clearly a top-20 fighter at 170 pounds. Kos isn't going to move up much with a win here, but Pierce could finally earn the respect he deserves with the upset. This welterweight UFC 143 fight will be the third bout of the main card, and will be aired live on pay-per-view. The PPV broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Koscheck: 34 years old | 5'10" | 73" reachPierce: 31 years old | 5'8" | 71" reach
What have these two done recently?
Koscheck: W - Matt Hughes (KO) | L - Georges St. Pierre (UD) | W - Paul Daley (UD) Pierce: W - Paul Bradley (SD) | L - Johny Hendricks (SD) | W - Kenny Robertson (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Josh Koscheck is a name that you probably recognize by now. He was TUF 1's bad boy, and has carved out a stellar UFC career over the last six years. As mentioned above, this is his 20th bout in the organization. The 34-year-old put together a three-fight winning streak in 2009-10 that was enough to earn a second fight with Georges St. Pierre. They had met once before in a non-title bout, and GSP had eked out a close decision. This time though, at UFC 124, St. Pierre broke Koscheck's orbital bone with the first jab of the fight, which forced Kos to gut out 25 minutes of agony and led to a unanimous decision loss. He is undoubtedly one of the top welterweights in the world though, and rebounded from a long orbital injury layoff with a first round knockout of UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes. Can Kos maintain his spot in the pecking order tonight?
Mike Pierce is a blue-collar wrestler from Oregon that earned fame the hard way. After grinding it out on the Pacific Northwest circuit and putting up an impressive WEC victory, Pierce earned a UFC bout and dispatched Brock Larson by unanimous decision. His next scheduled bout for UFC 107 was a gigantic step up when he was scheduled to face...guess who? Josh Koscheck! The UFC changed things up though and gave Kos Anthony Johnson while sticking Pierce with arguably an even tougher opponent, Jon Fitch. Fitch dominated the first two rounds, but Pierce rebounded in the third and hurt Fitch badly. He was unable to get the finish though, and dropped a decision. Three straight wins after that led to a bout with Johny Hendricks, where Pierce fought valiantly but dropped a split decision. He rebounded with a second win over Paul Bradley though, and now looks for the biggest win of his career over Kos.
Why should you care?
Koscheck talks a lot, but he usually backs it up. Can he defeat a man that MIGHT be his equal when it comes to MMA grappling? The winner will get a big-name opponent next time out, so this is vital for the career of both guys. That should make it worth your time.
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143: Georges St. Pierre Explains How Nick Diaz Is 'Fake Crazy' - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Main Event Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Roy Nelson Vs. Fabricio Werdum Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Josh Koscheck Vs. Mike Pierce Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, koscheck, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 fight card: Previews, predictions and a complete guide to 'Diaz vs Condit'
For fans of mixed martial arts, this past week has been a slow crawl of steadily rising anticipation for tonight's "Diaz vs. Condit" event, going down at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC 143 will feature a welterweight championship bout for an interim title created in the wake of Georges St. Pierre's knee injury. Former Strikeforce king Nick Diaz will duke it out with "The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit.
In the co-main event of the evening, a slimmer Roy Nelson will test his skills against heavyweight Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Fabricio Werdum while Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce will settle their differences in a 170-pound showcase.
It's been a flurry of non-stop news, analysis, quotes, predictions and previews for the past week and it's certainly understandable if you missed out on a few stories.
But don't worry, Maniacs, we've got you covered.
In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines heading into tonight's broadcast.
In we go:
UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit"
Fight card and line-up
Results and live fight coverage
UFC 143 predictions and previews:
Predictions from the myth himself, Nostradumbass
"Prelims" preview and predictions part one
"Prelims" preview and predictions part two
Fight preview: Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Fight preview: Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
Fight preview: Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Fight preview: Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
Fight preview: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
UFC 143 press conferences:
Pre-fight press conference
Press conference video
Press conference staredown pics
UFC 143 weigh-ins:
Weigh-in results
Weigh-in video
Weigh-in staredown pics
Weigh-in photos gallery
UFC 143 news:
How to watch the event
How to watch the event in 3-D
New UFC intro from Hans Zimmer debuts entitled 'Evolution'
Event poster
Open workouts photos gallery
Latest odds and betting guide
Complete statistical analysis of Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Exclusive interview with Dave Camarillo
Exclusive interview with Ed Herman
Steve Mazzagatti and Cecil Peoples join the UFC 143 cast and crew
UFC 143 editorials:
History in the Making: Nick Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight king
History in the Making: Carlos Condit closes out the WEC welterweight division in thrilling fashion
Ultimate Submissions: Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum showcase heavyweight jiu-jitsu
A look back at Nick Diaz's top 5 craziest moments
UFC on FOX 2 was a dude but Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit will save us
Georges St. Pierre thinks Nick Diaz has mental issues
Georges St. Pierre doesn't want a post-fight confrontation with Nick Diaz
Georges St. Pierre questions the legitimacy of the interim belt Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit are fighting for
Georges St. Pierre explains his hatred for 'crazy' Nick Diaz
Georges St. Pierre is pulling for Nick Diaz to beat Carlos Condit
Nick Diaz: GSP is a more respectable athlete, Carlos Condit is a more respectable martial artist
Nick Diaz isn't crazy, everyone else is just out of their minds
Everyone is focusing on Georges St. Pierre, not Carlos Condit, and that makes Nick Diaz sick
Nick Diaz will wait to fight Georges St. Pierre if he beats Carlos Condit ... or bail to another weight class
Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre could happen this summer
Ronda Rousey: Georges St. Pierre needs to step aside and let Nick Diaz kick his ass
Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz is going to be a five round war
Carlos Condit: Nick Diaz is like the terminator but I have more weapons at my disposal
Johny Hendricks is calling for the winner of Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Fabricio Werdum will use speed to defeat 'fatty' Roy Nelson
Josh Koscheck is eyeing fights against Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort after Mike Pierce
Josh Koscheck hopes Georges St. Pierre never comes back
Mike Pierce: Josh Koscheck is the Michael Bisping of the UFC welterweight division
UFC 143 videos:
Dana White video blog episode one
Countdown to UFC 143
Primetime episode one
Primetime episode two
Primetime episode three
Extended UFC 143 preview
NFL stars make their predictions for 'Diaz vs. Condit'
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit fight video simulation
Georges St. Pierre does media at UFC 143
Georges St. Pierre injury update
Carlos Condit is impressed with Nick Diaz's toughness but expects to win
Lock your car doors and don't make eye contact, here comes Nick Diaz
Fabricio Werdum used Facebook and Twitter to get back into the UFC
That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being.
What has been the biggest story heading into this event? Georges St. Pierre casting his giant shadow over the proceedings? Nick Diaz and all his usual eccentricities? Something else?
Sound off, Maniacs.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, condit, carlo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Fight Card Primer: Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen
Bantamweight alert! If there is one bout on the card other than the main event that is almost guaranteed to be exciting, it's this one. Potential superstar vs. well-rounded grinder. The winner will be in line for a UFC bantamweight title shot. Renan Barao (27-1, 1 NC, 2-0 UFC) meets Scott Jorgensen (13-4, 2-0 UFC).
Jorgensen currently sits at number five at bantamweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Barao is in the number seven spot. With the three and six spots belonging to guys that are dropping to flyweight, the winner of this bout is almost guaranteed the number three spot and a fight with Dominick Cruz or Urijah Faber. This bantamweight UFC 143 fight will be the second bout of the main card, and will be aired live on pay-per-view. The PPV broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Barao: 25 years old | 5'7" | 70" reachJorgensen: 29 years old | 5'4" | 66" reach
What have these two done recently?
Barao: W - Brad Pickett (SUB) | W - Cole Escovedo (UD) | W - Chris Cariaso (SUB) Jorgensen: W - Jeff Curran (UD) | W - Ken Stone (KO) | W - Dominick Cruz (UD)
How did these two get here?
Renan "Barao" Pegado is a 25-year-old Brazilian that entered the sport in mid-2005. He lost his very first bout by split decision, and...hasn't lost since. Since then, he has won 27 of his 28 bouts (one was a no-contest due to an illegal soccer kick) and he has finished 19 of them. He entered the WEC in mid-2010 and was forced to take a catchweight bout against an opponent who came nowhere near making weight (Anthony Leone). Nonetheless, Barao submitted him in the third round. He then submitted Chris Cariaso at WEC 53 to earn his ticket into the UFC. A solid decision win over Cole Escovedo at UFC 130 earned him a co-main event slot against Brad Pickett at UFC 138, and he did not disappoint. He dropped Pickett with a huge knee, and managed to submit him. He'll look to continue his dominance against Jorgensen.
Scott "Young Guns" Jorgensen is a 3-time Pac 10 wrestling champion that transitioned to MMA after college. He was a longtime veteran of the WEC, entering the promotion with just five fights under his belt back in early 2008. After going just 2-2 in his first four bouts, Jorgensen rattled off a five-fight winning streak over the likes of Takeya Mizugaki and Brad Pickett to earn a title shot against champion Dominick Cruz at the final WEC event. Cruz handled him and won by unanimous decision, but Jorgensen rebounded with two UFC victories (including a huge KO of Ken Stone while in his guard) and earned a number one contenders bout with Barao.
Why should you care?
I will slap you if you need to seriously ask this question. Bantamweights. Number one contenders matchup. Jorgensen. Barao. Come on people, this is going to be sick.
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143: Georges St. Pierre Explains How Nick Diaz Is 'Fake Crazy' - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Main Event Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Roy Nelson Vs. Fabricio Werdum Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Josh Koscheck Vs. Mike Pierce Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, barao
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Results
UFC 143 Fight Card Primer: Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks
It's not easy to lead off a pay-per-view, but that's what these guys will have to do. On one side, you have the wily veteran who has resurrected his career after a long layoff. On the other side, you have a raw prospect looking to gain some recognition in the biggest fight of his career. TUF 3's Ed Herman (19-7, 6-5 UFC) meets undefeated Clifford Starks (8-0, 1-0 UFC).
Neither fighter is currently ranked at middleweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings,and not much is going to change after this bout. Herman could earn some consideration with a couple more wins though. This middleweight UFC 143 fight will be the first fight of the main card, and will be aired live on pay-per-view. The PPV broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Herman: 31 years old | 6'2" | 75" reachStarks: 30 years old | 5'10" | 75.5" reach
What have these two done recently?
Herman: W - Kyle Noke (SUB) | W - Tim Credeur (TKO) | L - Aaron Simpson (TKO) Starks: W - Dustin Jacoby (UD) | W - Artenas Young (UD) | W - Rudy Aguilar (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Ed "Short Fuse" Herman rose to prominence as a cast member of the Ultimate Fighter 3, where he made it all the way to the finals before losing to Kendall Grove. His early UFC career was marked by inconsistency, and he was just 4-4 going into a bout with Aaron Simpson at UFC 102. He hurt his knee in that bout, and it cost him almost two years of his career. While he was out, he left Team Quest to form his own camp, and finally returned at the TUF 13 Finale last June where he blew though Tim Credeur and knocked him out in just 48 seconds. Another quick win (this time a nasty submission) over Kyle Noke at UFC on Versus 5 has fully revitalized Herman's career, and he hopes to stay in beast mode against Starks.
Clifford Starks was an NCAA division 1 wrestler at Arizona State University and was a teammate of UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. He fights out of Arizona Combat Sports. He made his pro debut in late 2009 and mostly fought for the Rage in the Cage promotion before getting a shot in the main event of Shark Fights 20. He picked up a decision in an uneventful fight, mostly due to his opponent refusing to engage. Either way, that win earned Starks a UFC bout on just two weeks notice, where he defeated Dustin Jacoby by unanimous decision at UFC 137. Wrestling is his biggest strength in the cage and he'll look to ground Herman as soon as possible.
Why should you care?
Herman has been a tank since he came back on the scene, and you rarely get a boring fight out of him anyway. Starks is a little more cautious than Herman, but it should be a solid matchup.
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143: Georges St. Pierre Explains How Nick Diaz Is 'Fake Crazy' - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Main Event Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Roy Nelson Vs. Fabricio Werdum Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Josh Koscheck Vs. Mike Pierce Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matt Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matt Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, herman
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 ‘Diaz vs. Condit’ Results & Recap
UFC 143 takes place later tonight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event airs live on pay-per-view at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The pay-per-view broadcast will be preceded by prelim specials on Facebook at 7pm ET/4pm PT and FX at 8pm ET/5pm PT.
In the main event, Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit go to war for the interim UFC welterweight title.
In the co-main event, Fabricio Werdum returns to the UFC to take on Roy Nelson.
Josh Koscheck meets Mike Pierce in a welterweight match-up.
Renan Baroa faces Scott Jorgensen in a bantamweight bout.
Ed Herman takes on Clifford Starks in a middleweight bout.
Results and recap below.
Results
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier
Jorge Lopez vs. Matt Riddle
Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa
Matt Brown vs. Chris Cope
Dan Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson
Rafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper
Recap
Matt Brown vs. Chris Cope:
Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa:
Jorge Lopez vs. Matt Riddle:
Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier:
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks:
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen:
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce:
Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson:
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit:
Bonuses $???
Submission of the Night:
Knockout of the Night:
Fight of the Night:
Posted in: diaz, vs, event, matt, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143 Fight Card Primer: Dustin Poirier Vs. Max Holloway
The prelims for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit wrap up with a bout in the Featherweight division. UFC and WEC veteran Dustin Poirier (11-1; 3-0 UFC) faces UFC newcomer Max Holloway (4-0; UFC Debut). This 145 pound fight is the final fight on the FX prelim card. Porier is currently the #7 ranked Featherweight in the world according to the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, with Holloway unranked. The prelims air on FX starting at 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, with the PPV broadcast following at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
This fight was one of those replacement for a replacement fights where injury greatly changed the plan. As first scheduled, Poirier was to face the #8 ranked Erik Koch in a great fight that would have helped determine a possible challenger to Jose Aldo. When Koch was injured, he was replaced by #22 Ricardo Lamas. Lamas was then injured, and replaced by the debuting Holloway. While the Koch vs. Poirier fight would have been nice, Holloway, though overmatched on paper, is a very exciting prospect who could make a great fight here.
How do these two stack up?
Poirier: 23 years old | 5'9" | 73" reachHolloway: 20 years old | 5'11" | 70" reach
What have these two done recently?
Poirier: W - Pablo Garza (Sub) | W - Jason Young (UD) | W - Josh Grispi (UD) Holloway: W - Eddie Rincon (Dec) | W - Harris Sarmiento (SD) | W - Bryson Kamaka (KO)
How did these two get here?
Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier started his career fighting as a Lightweight in the regional circuit in Louisiana, where he trains with UFC veteran Tim Credeur. In 2010 he made the jump to the WEC as an undefeated prospect. A loss to Danny Castillo in his WEC debut led to him dropping down to Featherweight, where he has gone a perfect 4-0 in the WEC and UFC combined, with big wins over Josh Grispi and Pablo Garza among others. Poirier has a wild, highly aggressive style that has won him a lot of fans among the hardcore MMA fan base, but has yet to have that breakout performance that breaks through to the more casual fans.
Max "Blessed" Holloway will be stepping into the cage for only the 5th time when he faces Poirier. At 20 years old, he is now the youngest fighter on the current UFC roster. Holloway is 4-0, with all his fights coming in his home of Hawaii, and has a very strong highlight reel that suggests a nice future in MMA. In our 2012 Scouting Report, Holloway finished #7 in the Featherweight division, with Leland Roling praising his aggressive striking and his conditioning. He has fought against some solid competition, but he is facing an absolutely huge step up in competition here. He has a lot of potential - the question is can he capitalize on this massive opportunity?
Why should you care?
Poirier is known to UFC fans for bringing the excitement, and after Saturday, I expect Holloway could have that same reputation. This should be an incredibly fun throwdown, and a possible fight of the night (though on this card, there are a lot of fights up for that bonus).
For a more in-depth look at Poirier vs. Holloway, check out Dallas Winston's fight dissection and Leland Roling's scouting report on Holloway.
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 fight card: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit prediction, preview and breakdown
It's hard to imagine a pairing that would promise a greater combination of intensity, two-way violence and sustained action than Nick Diaz vs. Condit, which will headline the UFC 143 main event tonight (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dueling for the interim championship thanks to Georges St. Pierre's knee injury, these two are far more alike than either would willingly admit. Both rely on striking, conditioning and excellent Brazilian jiu-jitsu to bail them out when modest to mediocre wrestling fails them. Both also have outstanding chins and a tendency to battle back when hurt, precisely when it looks like they're vulnerable.
Diaz's smothering stand up attack has vexed even the most dangerous foes, seemingly able to find a groove in tossing leather and daring you to try and exchange. It's one of the best-executed con jobs you'll see in mixed martial arts (MMA), as opponents initially think little of Diaz's pushing, pawing attack until they're too punch drunk to resist being mugged. The Cesar Gracie-trained fighter's outstanding submission game has also made recent opponents reluctant to attempt takedown, making his stand up that more effective.
Since dropping a close decision loss to Martin Kampmann in his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut, Condit has steamrolled into this bout with four impressive wins. Gifted with a great knack for when to explode and shoeleather toughness, Condit utilizes his 6'2" frame to uncork anything and everything to punish foes.
Whether it's pretty kickboxing combinations or textbook jiu-jitsu, he's very efficient in how he approaches opponents, backed up by a pitiless killer instinct when they're hurt. The finishing round and barrage he put on Rory MacDonald in a fight he was clearly behind in was a thing of sustained beauty, and his dismantlings of Dan Hardy and Dong Hyun Kim showed he's really coming into his own.
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 143 fight between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit:
The Breakdown
Condit may be tempted to stand and bang with Diaz, which would be his first mistake, even if he feels he's holding his own or better. Why? Because without threatening a takedown - something he's got a slight advantage in in terms of their relative abilities to score and defend against them -- he's conceding a stand up match to Diaz, who sets a fast pace when he isn't worried about having to drop his hands and deal with tie-ups and grappling.
"The Natural Born Killer" should look to exploit the main hole in the Diaz stand up style, and that's attacking his lead leg with teep kicks and smashing shots to the lower limb to take away his striking base. He should also look to deliver flying knees in close, when Diaz wades forward tossing shots, as well as spin Diaz in clinches to hammer home more knees.
Diaz puts combinations together and forces opponents to buy in to his game, invariably sucking them dry until they wilt. What's fascinating about this match is that both have incredible chins and yet are constantly looking to finish opponents. In Condit's 27 victories, an astonishing 26 are inside the distance, with only the super-tough Jake Ellenberger going the distance, in a bout that really could have gone either way. Diaz has only been finished once, early in his career, and has shown perhaps the best pure chin in the sport, absorbing bombs from middleweights like Scott Smith while barely flinching.
On the ground, Condit's jiu-jitsu doesn't get the raves that Diaz' does, but it's every bit as good in a purely MMA sense. He has great defensive grappling, a very tough guard to pass, and physically he might be just a tad stronger than Diaz, especially if he's on top. Condit should look to force tie-ups and grappling whenever possible, especially if hitting a takedown late in a round can help sway the judges his way in what is sure to be a close, five-round war.
If Diaz has one weakness standing, it might be in the Muay Thai discipline. While his striking from distance and mid-level pocket range is laser-sharp and accurate, he tends to be a bit lazy in clinches and can be nailed by a good Muay Thai stylist, which Condit is. Carlos' knees and kicks from the distance will have to be outstanding, because Diaz's hands and standing work rate are too much for just about anyone that faces him.
The Pick
Much of this fight will be decided by how Condit wants to engage. Part of the Diaz con job is opponents thinking they can stand with him as though to prove a point, and a couple minutes later you're getting your bell rung every few seconds and look like a man fighting underwater.
If Condit uses big kicks, movement and tie-ups to keep Diaz from getting into his potent standup groove, he should follow them with takedowns and riding Diaz from the top while scoring enough to avoid a ref restart. This is a pretty good prescription to win a fight given his skills, as Diaz will have a tough time submitting him.
However, there's something in Condit's makeup that makes him a pitbull-style fighter, and he's never shied away from a mutual chin-check, something Diaz will be forcing whenever they are on the feet. I think Condit gets sucked into a war here, and like Donald Cerrone learned against Nate Diaz, loses too much, too early to really recover his bearings and change the tempo of the fight.
Diaz will score readily on the feet and eat some big shots from Condit, and keep pressing ahead. By the middle of the fight, the weary Condit will look to take it to the ground, but Diaz will stymie him from his back enough to get restarts when needed, or work his way back up. Both will be bloodied and battered down the stretch, but Diaz will simply prove too much with his high-output style, punishing Condit to win a spectacularly entertaining and clear-cut unanimous decision.
Diaz via unanimous decision
Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 143 results of all the "Diaz vs. Condit" pay-per-view (PPV) action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FX "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7:00 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Saturday morning.
See you later!
Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst or Jason@jasonprobst.com
Posted in: fight, diaz, opponent, condit, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143: Georges St. Pierre Explains How Nick Diaz Is 'Fake Crazy'
Georges St. Pierre made a comment on UFC Primetime that caused a bit of a stir when he said that Nick Diaz was "fake crazy." During Friday's Q&A session for UFC 143, GSP was asked about the comment and attempted to clear up exactly what he meant.
Via Yahoo! Sports:
What I believe is, he's a very smart guy. He knows what he's doing. He would not be able to do what he's done in his career if he wasn't smart. I do believe maybe he has some mental issues ... I do not believe he is a bad human being. Truth my eyes, because he has been very disrespectful to me and because maybe we'll fight, he's disrespectful, but to you guys, I'm sure if you saw him and asked him for an autograph he'd give it to you.
So, basically GSP thinks that Diaz is playing a character. The same as people accuse Chael Sonnen of doing on a regular basis.
Is GSP onto something? Or is this the real Nick Diaz?
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, gsp, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Fight Card Primer: Alex Caceres Vs. Edwin Figueroa
In a prelim fight at UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, Alex Caceres (6-4; 1-2 UFC) faces Edwin Figueroa (8-1; 1-1 UFC). This fight is in the Bantamweight division and is the third of four fights on the FX prelim card. Neither man in currently ranked in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. The prelims air on FX starting at 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, with the PPV broadcast following at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
The Bantamweight division tends to deliver highlights and this fight should be no exception. Both Caceres and Figueroa are dynamic fighters. Caceres uses his kicks and somewhat unorthodox style to make fights flashy, and Figueroa has delivered his own fireworks inside the Octagon. Look for both men to try and impress in this exciting match-up.
How do these two stack up?
Caceres: 23 years old | 5'10" | 70" reachFigueroa: 27 years old | 5'7"
What have these two done recently?
Caceres: W - Cole Escovedo (UD) | L - Jim Hettes (Sub) | L - Mackens Semerzier (Sub) Figueroa: W - Jason Reinhardt (TKO) | L - Michael McDonald (UD) | W - Johnny Bedford (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Alex "Bruce Leroy" Caceres came into the UFC courtesy of The Ultimate Fighter where he was a member of Team GSP. He quickly stood out on the show, thanks primarily to his large personality and love of Bruce Lee. That personality immediately turned off a lot of people, as Caceres is surprisingly unliked as a fighter. Many wrote him off after going 0-2 in the UFC, but he dropped down from Featherweight to Bantamweight and looked good in his upset win over Escovedo. Considering that those loses both came against tough opponents, it seems people may have been too harsh on this young fighter. Still, at just 1-2 in the Octagon, he needs a win here.
Edwin "El Feroz" Figueroa came to the UFC on short notice, stepping in to face Michael McDonald. He lost that fight, but turned in a great performance, taking home Fight of the Night honors. He followed that up with a big win over Jason Reinhardt. Figueroa fights out of Texas, and is a finisher, earning all of his wins by either submission or KO. He looked strong against Reinhardt, and is ready to keep that momentum going here.
Why should you care?
This is just a well put together fight between two exciting fighters. Plus, Bruce Leroy is the kind of fighter who you either love or can't stand, but either way, he gets you emotionally invested, and isn't that what matters?
For a more in-depth look at Caceres vs. Figueroa, check out Dallas Winston's fight dissection.
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCarlos Condit not planning to wait for GSP if successful against Nick Diaz
If Carlos Condit exits UFC 143 tonight with the interim title in tow it appears he has plans to defend the belt before potentially facing linear champion Georges St. Pierre in November. Though “The Natural Born Killer” hasn’t discussed his plans publicly one way or another, his manager recently revealed the possibility of Condit taking out another top contender in a few months as a means of continuing to build up his profile until he’s a legitimate superstar in MMA.
Contrarily, the man Condit faces tonight – Nick Diaz – will apparently take the opposite approach, opting to fight as a middleweight while holding on to the interim strap until GSP returns from injury.
Condit Calls Diaz the “Toughest Guy He’s Fought” Entering UFC 143 Headliner
“I don’t blame them,” said Malki Kawa (Condit’s manager) to MMAJunkie Radio of Diaz’s team’s decision before continuing, “But if there’s another fight that makes sense stylistically, a guy staying busy – I’ve seen – is better than a guy who takes long breaks.”
“You can build a bigger fan base and get people excited,” he continued, adding, “It’d make the GSP fight even bigger…So if the right opponent steps up, I think we maybe need to take the fight.”
Catch Diaz-Condit tonight to see what the future of the division holds when they meet on PPV with the broadcast starting at 10:00 PM EST. Prelims are on Facebook/FX starting three hours earlier.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: condit, diaz, fight, guy, ufc
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 143 Fight Card Primer: Matt Brown Vs. Chris Cope
At UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, Matt Brown (12-11; 5-5 UFC) squares off against Chris Cope (5-2; 1-1 UFC). This Welterweight fight is the second of four fights on the FX prelim card. Neither man in currently ranked in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. The prelims air on FX starting at 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, with the PPV broadcast following at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Cope and Brown are an interesting pairing as there are strong similarities between both men's path into the UFC. Both came to the organization through The Ultimate Fighter. Both ended their stint on TUF looking decent but not spectacular, though having developed a distinct persona on the show - Brown was the tough Chuck Norris type, while Cope was the goof (the weigh-in picture sums up each man's image nicely). Those personas helped each stand out from the pack and stay somewhat relevant in the UFC. The big difference is, Brown has the serious experience edge - he's been down the path that Cope is just beginning.
How do these two stack up?
Brown: 31 years old | 6'0" | 76" reachCope: 28 years old | 6'1" | 73" reach
What have these two done recently?
Brown: L - Seth Baczynski (Sub) | W - John Howard (UD) | L - Brian Foster (Sub) Cope: L - Che Mills (TKO) | W - Chuck O'Neil (UD) | W - Ron Keslar (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Matt "The Immortal" Brown was part of season 7 of The Ultimate Fighter. Coming out of the show, he looked like a typical TUF veteran who would have a brief UFC career, but he turned heads in a tough losing effort against the at the time undefeated Dong Hyun Kim. He followed that performance up with 4 straight wins, giving him a 4-1 UFC record. Since then he has struggled, losing three straight before saving his job with an upset win over John Howard last year. He's since lost again, and could be fighting for his job here.
Chris "C-Murder" Cope is largely known for his grin and his Ric Flair style "Woo!" A member of Team Lesnar last year, Cope started his UFC career with a win over fellow TUF fighter Chuck O'Neil. He looked good in that win, but then lost to Che Mills at UFC 138. The California fighter has experience in Strikeforce, but is still very new to MMA with only 7 pro fights to his credit. Like Brown, he's coming off a loss, and I could see him being cut with a loss as well, though he's probably not in as dire a situation as Brown.
Why should you care?
Possible loser leaves town match-up here. The last time Brown was in this situation, he delivered, and I expect he'll do so again. There's not a ton of relevance here, but it's a well matched fight.
For a more in-depth look at Brown vs. Cope, check out Dallas Winston's fight dissection.
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Fight Primer: Matt Riddle Vs. Henry Martinez
After missing his UFC 143 fight against Luis Ramos due to a last-second illness, Matt Riddle (5-3, 5-3 UFC) returns to action against the debuting Henry Martinez (8-1), a recent injury replacement for Jorge Lopez.
How do these two stack up?
Riddle: 25 | 6'1" | 74" reachMartinez: 28 | 5'7" | 68" reach
What have these two welterweights done recently?
Riddle only fought once in 2011, a decision loss to Lance Benoist at a September Fight Night, and comes into Saturday on a two-fight losing streak. Martinez has won four in a row with two wins each by TKO and submission, competing as recently as a few weeks ago.
What else should I know?
Riddle is one of the unique few that has spent his entire career in the UFC, making his debut in June 2008 after a run on the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter. He has power but gone the distance in five of his eight career fights. Martinez is a product of Greg Jackson's camp and has finished in six of his eight victories with his only loss to Bellator veteran Wilson Reis. One thing that might work into Riddle's favor is a six inch height and reach advantage.
How can I watch?
FX at 8 pm EST
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 'Primetime' video for 'Diaz vs Condit' (Episode 3)
In cased you missed any or all of it last night (Feb. 3, 2012), here is the third and final episode of the "all access" behind-the-scenes look at the UFC 143 main event between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
To watch the episode one and two of UFC 143 "Primetime" click here and here.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and FX collaborated for the latest "Primetime" series, which follows former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz as he prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the interim title TONIGHT (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
To get up to speed on the reaction to episode three of UFC 143 "Primetime" click here. For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" fight card and rumors click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, primetime
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Fight Primer: Rafael Natal Vs. Michael Kuiper
The UFC introduces another new fighter into the fray as young middleweight prospect Michael Kuiper (11-0) makes his Octagon debut at UFC 143 against veteran Rafael Natal (13-3-1, 1-1-1 UFC) in the evening's second bout.
While not a sexy fight, there are some elements that could make this quite entertaining.
How do these two stack up?
Natal: 29 years old | 77" reach | 6'0"
Kuiper: 22 years old | 6'0"
What have these two done recently?
Natal has won four of his last five, defeating Paul Bradley by unanimous decision at last August's UFC 133. The Netherlands-born Kuiper will make his U.S. debut after running up a perfect record fighting in the Netherlands and throughout Europe. He last competed nearly nine months ago, knocking out Morris Cilfoni in the first round.
What else should you know?
Natal has been around the MMA block with 17 pro fights in various organizations, but hasn't made an impact in the UFC with three largely forgettable performances. Before signing with the UFC, he had finished opponents in five straight victories. Kuiper is an interesting sign by the UFC as he's just 22 years old and has finished 10 of his 11 opponents. He's also a black belt in judo and has shown he can submit opponents as easily as he can knock them out.
Natal may have an advantage if the fight goes the distance as Kuiper has just one career decision with six fights never getting out of the first round.
Why should you care?
By name value alone, this fight isn't exciting anyone, but if Natal takes some risks in going for finishes and Kuiper continues to display the skill set he's used thus far in his near three-year career, this could be a lot more entertaining than most expect.
How can I watch?
Facebook at approximately 7:30 PM EST
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCondit beats Diaz at UFC 143 for interim title
Carlos Condit ruined the welterweight fight the world wanted to see, and might have just retired MMA bad boy Nick Diaz in the process.
Posted in: diaz, mma, condit, boy, welterweight fight
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC 143: Condit wins interim title; Diaz done
Carlos Condit ruined the welterweight fight the world wanted to see, and might have just retired MMA bad boy Nick Diaz in the process.
Posted in: diaz, condit, carlos condit, welterweight fight, title diaz
Read the full article at sportsnet.caGeorges St. Pierre Relishes Potential Underdog Status In Nick Diaz Bout
The underdog status is an unfamiliar place for UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, but he doesn't appear to be objecting to it. GSP recently told CSN Washington he believes if Diaz defeats Carlos Condit tonight at UFC 143 and he and the Stockton-native square off, the interim champion will be the favorite.
"Absolutely, I will be the underdog," said St. Pierre on The Fight Fix. "Everybody will be thinking I'm going to lose this fight. That's perfect. That's what I want. It's perfect motivation for me."
St. Pierre has been relegated in recent fights to telling audiences each new opponent he faces is miraculously the most dangerous test of his career. That's typically fight promotion speak. But facing a ready Nick Diaz after an extended layoff from ACL surgery in the prime of his career, St. Pierre may well be right that Diaz will be regarded as the one to beat by oddsmakers as much as fans.
As for the ammunition Diaz's less than glowing words about St. Pierre provide, the champion didn't suggest he was taking them too much to heart. "I don't think Diaz is a bad human being," St. Pierre noted. "I just believe maybe he has problems with social skills. It's not personal. He did say personal bad stuff about me, but I just hope we're going to be able to fight each other. It's gonna be good."
The welterweight champion also responded to UFC welterweight contender Josh Koscheck's hope that GSP never returns to MMA. "It doesn't go well for Koscheck because my knee is doing better every week," responded St. Pierre with a smile. "I will come back soon."
The champion believes he could be back in the Octagon on an accelerated timeline. He's rehabilitating his damaged knee aggressively and without much distraction. So little distraction, in fact, he is completely unaware of tomorrow's Super Bowl, who is playing and what the hoopla is all about.
"I don't know anything about football. I don't even know who is in the final," St. Pierre noted. "I hear so much about football and I've been rehabbing with a lot of football players and football fans. So, I'll make sure the Super Bowl is on - because I'm in Vegas and I have to drive back to Los Angeles to continue my rehab - I'll make sure I be on the road listening to some beautiful music while the game is on so I cannot hear about it."
Despite being a professional athlete, St. Pierre confesses he's "not a sports fan at all, either hockey or whatever. I don't watch sports too much."
"I'm more a nerd."
Posted in: fight, diaz, pierre, st, st pierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Main Event Dissection
The main attraction of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit is a scintillating match up for the interim welterweight championship that pits Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
The magnetic appeal of this surefire dogfight stems from its unusual brew. Excitement for a show is aroused when the centerpiece fighters bear just one of the elements that fight fans historically adore. Diaz and Condit do not merely exude a multitude of these electrifying traits, they embody them to the very core: stone-cold gameness, endless aggression, constant forward motion and fearlessly embracing precarious situations with absolutely no concept of the word "caution."
The icing on the cake is that Condit and Diaz both follow the most respectable and innovative philosophy on "defense" that mankind could ever imagine, which is offense, and a lot of it. If that doesn't work? More offense. The result is nothing short of unquenchable blood-lust that inevitably unfolds as mass carnage ... all for our viewing pleasure. Such are the ingredients boiling in this cauldron.
Nick Diaz (26-7) probably doesn't like you. He doesn't like the media or doing interviews either. He definitely doesn't like anyone who is audacious enough to sign a contract to fight him, which is the equivalent in his eyes of insulting everything he deems righteous and just in the world. In fact, there's only one thing I know for a fact that Nick Diaz genuinely likes, and that's fighting. He greets sportsmanlike handshakes with defiant middle fingers. If his opponent is within eye-shot, you can bet the meanest mug in MMA is trained directly on him, lip curled in a feral sneer and eyes radiating a maniacal and menacing glare that wordlessly conveys the taunt, "I can't wait to beat your ass." He might not say it aloud -- but you can still hear it.
Repping one of the most volatile arsenals in the sport, Diaz is one-half technical auteur and one-half brawling street thug. The base brutality of his incessant boxing stands in stark contrast to the elegant grace and fluidity of his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Since losing to K.J. Noons by cut stoppage back in 2007, Diaz has pieced together an eleven-fight roll and shows no intentions of stopping.
More UFC 143 Dissections
Barao vs. Jorgensen | Herman vs. Starks | FX Prelims | Facebook Prelims
Carlos Condit (27-5) is more of a silent killer. Rather than vocalizing his desire to render people unconscious or twist their limbs into confusing angles that even math professors can't comprehend, Condit just beams a chilling and unsettling aura of steely conviction. The kind that makes you scan the room nervously for the nearest exits or clutch your cell phone dearly with the numbers 9-1-1 already dialed in, just in case.
The Greg Jackson trained Muay Thai artist was the longstanding welterweight champion in the WEC before the higher weight classes were folded into the UFC. His split-decision defeat to Martin Kampmann in his Octagon debut was Condit's first loss since 2008 and snapped an eight-fight streak. He responded with four-straight wins, one of which was over top contender Jake Ellenberger, and racked up a "Fight of the Night" bonus in his next and "Knockout of the Night" honors in the two that followed.
You know the score -- we'll reconvene with gifs and analysis after the break.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Striking in MMA is becoming more complex than ever. We're seeing an armada of flashy and atypical kicks from traditional martial arts, Nick Denis just treated us to the first one-shot standing elbow KO in the UFC since Bobby Hoffman circa 2001, Muay Thai fighters are purported to have eight limbs, Jon Jones is coming out of his corner crawling like a spider; all hell is breaking loose.
That makes it quite extraordinary that Diaz, a pugilist of the sweet science, is still one of the most dynamic strikers in MMA.
It should be so easy to write off this volume-based style as destined for failure. No defense. No power. Chin's wide open. Diaz has been burdened with that criticism for years yet he continues to defy logic through success. Half of his wins are by TKO and he's never been knocked out cold. He eats power punches like they're potato chips.
The effective aspect of his boxing is that he's become a master of disrupting his opponent's rhythm by blaring his own louder, as he excels at taking over as the fight wears on.
To the right is his rare gogoplata that Diaz used to ensnare Takanori Gomi, testifying to the creative malice of his serpentine guard skills. He's a complete package on the mat and excellent with scrambles, sweeps, defense, controlling posture, creating opportunities and snagging submissions.
The only area he doesn't specifically excel is wrestling, but he has slick Judo that provides adequate takedowns and takedown defense. Regardless, his lack of wrestling prowess is mirrored in Condit, so this match up will consist of pure offensive firepower colliding head on.
Condit oozes Muay Thai. His stance, clinch and collection of strikes all smack of the art.
As opposed to Diaz's constant stream of offense, Condit is more judicious in his selection but makes 'em count. He's prevalent from a distance, preferring to gather himself and spring in with volleys from the perimeter.
He employs the teep and front kick like a jab and often follows immediately behind it, such as the flying knee to the left.
He's comfortable in either stance and switches back and forth freely. His left hook is strong and he complements it nicely with straight punches, commonly leading with a crisp one-two from the traditional stance.
Low kicks are popularly asserted as a keen tool against Diaz based on the frequency of those thrown by Evangelista Santos. Condit has attacked the leg with roundhouses in the past but mostly as an auxiliary weapon. Considering the way Diaz closes range in a hurry with the willingness to take one in order to give one, kicks lend a risk as well.
This clever sweep is reminiscent of Diaz and just one of many reasons why these fighters are so eerily similar and evenly matched.
The clash of styles also draws many comparisons to Nate Diaz, Nick's younger brother, and his recent brawl with Donald Cerrone. Nate and Nick are nearly carbon copies of one another, and both Cerrone and Condit are Greg Jackson students who are long and lanky Muay Thai specialists with stellar BJJ and downright scrappers.
And when this fight plays out in my head, it goes a lot like Nate's fight with Cerrone.
The overall level of competition in the UFC is far better than Strikeforce, yet Diaz has tackled a pretty stout list of strikers there and throughout his career. Based on those performances, it's hard to see Condit out-gunning him in a straight shootout. In fact, even though it doesn't reflect how closely matched these two are, I don't see too many ways for Condit to win. A decision would require both matching and exceeding Diaz's obscene output or timing takedowns for an edge on the score cards. I don't see either submitting the other unless it's when pouncing after a damaging strike.
I'm in agreement with the betting lines that have Diaz as a narrow favorite and expect him to overwhelm Condit on the feet after an even first round.
My Prediction: Nick Diaz by decision.
All gifs via Grappo and Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Poll
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Diaz
Condit
15 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Fight Primer: Dan Stittgen Vs. Stephen Thompson
A battle of UFC rookie welterweights -- Dan Stittgen (7-1) vs. Stephen Thompson (5-0) -- opens up UFC 143, but one of the combatants is undefeated in over 60 fights and trained by one of the best in the business.
How do these two stack up?
Stittgen: 31 | 6'1"
Thompson: 28 | 6'0" | 75" reach
How did these two get here?
Stittgen is a third-year pro, competing mainly in the central U.S. He's finished six fights, five by various submissions. Until a recent decision victory, Stittgen had never gone outside the first round.
While the undefeated Thompson is relatively new to MMA, he comes into the UFC with a tremendous kickboxing background (37-0 amateur, 20-0 pro, 46 total KOs) and a slew of championships to his credit. He made his pro MMA debut in early 2010 and has fared well in the southern U.S. circuit with decision wins in his last two.
What else should you know?
Thompson (ranked #10 in our recent World MMA Scouting Report) has done some training with Firas Zahabi and is a black belt in several martial arts with a blue belt in Brazilian jiujitsu. He's clearly the more experienced fighter of the two, but Stittgen is no easy draw for Thompson. MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta did a feature on Thompson, which is worth checking out.
Why should you care?
With two guys looking to make an impact and a history of finishing opponents on both sides, this could be a very fun fight if both Thompson and Stittgen decide to really go for it. Alas, the curse of the boring UFC debut may arise as well.
How can you watch?
Facebook at approximately 7 PM EST
You can catch more UFC 143 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Fabricio Werdum Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery - Matthew Roth
Super Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143 - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Carlos Condit 169, Nick Diaz 169 - Tim Burke
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Renan Barao Vs. Scott Jorgensen Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions - Tim Burke
Frank Mir Thinks UFC 143's Fabricio Werdum Is Heavyweight's Best Grappler - Matthew Roth
UFC 143 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Watch Full Countdown Show On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason
UFC 143 Judo Chop: Carlos Condit Lands A Flying Knee KO - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 143: Dana White 'No One Knew GSP At One Time Either' - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Details Of The New PPV Opening Montage, RIP Gladiator Man - Matthew Roth
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Ed Herman Vs. Clifford Starks Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage And Video - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Josh Koscheck Hopes Georges St. Pierre 'Never Comes Back' From Knee Surgery - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 131: UFC 143 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing - Tim Burke
UFC 143: A Look At The Ground Games of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson - Ben Thapa
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning - Anton Tabuena
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - FX Channel Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness' - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA - Kid Nate
UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 143: The Contradictory Marketing Of Nick Diaz And How The Reem May Not Be As Awesome As You Think - Ben Thapa
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, thompson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCondit survives bumps, ready to fight Diaz
Bouts against B.J. Penn, Georges St-Pierre, and Josh Koscheck have fallen through for Carlos Condit but he's ready for Nick Diaz at UFC 143.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, josh koscheck, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at sportsnet.caA look back at UFC 143's Nick Diaz's top five craziest moments
Growing up, I was a huge fan of Guns N' Roses, and, in particular, its frontman Axl Rose.
He was a rock star in every sense of the word. Sure, the label was easy to slap on since he was in one of the biggest bands on the planet, but he also had beautiful models on one arm, a bottle of whiskey in the other hand and he always did and said whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.
I mean, the guy's actions -- or inaction in the case of Montreal -- started two city-wide riots during GNR's heyday.
There's something so appealing about someone who simply doesn't care what others think of them. Someone who is not preoccupied with how what they're doing will make them look to others, but are just more concerned with actually doing it.
It's the same reason Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight contender Nick Diaz has become such a polarizing figure.
Those who cheer on the Stockton, Calif., native really cheer him on, while those who hate him won't mince words about how they truly feel about UFC 143's main eventer. Tonight (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, he steps inside the Octagon against Carlos Condit to decide an interim welterweight champion. It promises to be a war, the kind of fight where Diaz excels.
But, he's not just a whirlwind of aggression inside the cage -- he's one outside of it, too. A quick rundown of Diaz's craziest extracurricular activities follows after the jump.
5. "Please excuse Nick Diaz from fighting as he has been very high."
In August 2009, Diaz was set to take on Joe Riggs in a rematch of their controversial (more on that later) UFC 57 bout. Riggs pulled out and Jay Hieron stepped in to challenge Diaz for the vacant welterweight title. The fight never happened because Diaz skipped a pre-fight drug test. Reason being, Diaz is a card-carrying medicinal marijuana user in California and a handshake agreement with the former head of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) kept the Stockton fighter from having to take random piss tests.
When new management at the CSAC took over, it attempted to get Diaz in before his fight with Hieron. Since Diaz wasn't expecting the test, it can be assumed his urine would have been more smoke than liquid at that point. His manager and trainer Cesar Gracie explained it pretty well, saying they'd rather skip the test and pull out of the fight than assuredly getting popped for THC and being handed a possible one-year suspension.
What's craziest is this isn't even the first time pot has played a significant role in Diaz's career. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
4. Screw fighting during the time limits!
Axl Rose helped start two riots; Nick Diaz helped start two post-fight brawls. The most famous of which was of course the infamous "Nashville Brawl" involving Jason Miller and Cesar Gracie teammate Jake Shields. The "Bully Beatdown" host crashed the post-fight proceedings and asked Shields for a rematch, an action which Diaz, younger brother Nate and Gilbert Melendez didn't take too kindly to. The ensuing scuffle put a black eye on the sport or whatever, I'm told.
But even before that, an incident at Elite XC's "Return of the King" event took place hundreds of miles away in Hawaii. K.J. Noons had just defended his lightweight title -- which he had won by beating Diaz via doctor stoppage months prior -- and EliteXC officials wanted the Stockton bad boy to step inside the cage for a faceoff to promote a rematch. The two did their thing and all was going to plan until Noons' proud papa -- drunk according to Diaz -- decide to 'bow up to Dem Diaz Boys. Nate tossed a water bottle at the elder Noons and a fracas broke out.
Is there anywhere Nick Diaz wouldn't fight?
3. Heck, screw fighting inside a cage!
The answer is no.
Following the aforementioned fight with Riggs -- a losing effort for Diaz -- the two were taken to a local hospital to tend to their respective wounds. It seemed Diaz wasn't content with three rounds worth of action and was itching for a little bit more.
He continued to trash talk his opponent until eventually hitting Riggs with what "Diesel" referred to as a "sucker punch." The two immediately began to brawl -- with Riggs even ... ahem, soiling himself -- before the fight was broken up.
Fighting in a hospital? That's pretty thug, I have to admit.
2. UFC title shot? Only if you show up for a "beauty pageant"
When it was announced Diaz would challenge Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137, it was due in part to the fact Diaz had only lost one fight in the previous five years and was the reigning Strikeforce welterweight champ. Add in St. Pierre's sometimes robotic and milquetoast fight promotion -- "Dis is my toughest challenge, I respect 'im very much" -- and a powder keg like Diaz was exactly what the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) needed in a weight class that was rapidly becoming stagnant.
The thing about gunpowder -- or someone like Diaz -- is it's sometime too volatile to handle. And when the challenger skipped out on a handful of flights and missed two press conferences, Dana White learned that lesson the hard way.
Diaz wasn't seen as a worthy challenger for the welterweight strap by some and they felt it was his outlandish behavior that earned him the title shot. If that's true, the same behavior cost him the bout as well. He was pulled from the main event and replaced with Carlos Condit and in typical 209 fashion, posted a YouTube video -- shot from his car as he battled northern California traffic -- decrying the decision and sarcastically apologizing for "being a fighter" and not showing up for the "beauty pageant."
He was immediately booked against Condit's old opponent, B.J. Penn, and fate intervened when "Rush" bowed out, making Diaz's new fight the main event for UFC 137.
1. The biggest win of his career ... up in smoke
Pardon the silly pun but it very well could be the most accurate way to describe the situation.
After Diaz willingly walked away from the UFC in late 2006, he was hired on by Pride Fighting Championships (Pride) to take on their lightweight champion Takanori Gomi in a non-title bout during their first venture in the United States. Diaz had never fought at 161-pounds before but the match-ups in Pride were sometimes less about sport and more about spectacle.
The fight itself was remarkable. The Stockton native weathered Gomi's storm -- suffering a broken orbital bone in the process -- and won the fight in the second round via the statistically improbable gogoplata submission.
Six weeks later, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) announced Diaz had tested positive for an obscene level of THC and the result of the bout would have to be changed. Their rationale was wonky at best: Diaz was so high he was numb to the pain inflicted on him by his Japanese opponent. The NSAC overturned the win and it now sits on his official record as a "No Contest."
But we all know better.
Will Diaz provide a moment on Saturday we can add to this list? His detractors certainly hope not. His proponents on the other hand would love nothing more.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, welterweight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Video: Georges St. Pierre Predicts Diaz Vs. Condit, Hates On The Super Bowl
Injured UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre talked to Jennifer Williams of The Fight Fix and made his prediction for the UFC 143 interim title fight between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. The winner of that fight is likely to face GSP in the late Summer or Fall in a title unification bout.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
GSP likes Condit's chances in the early rounds but believes if it goes into the championship 4th and 5th rounds that Diaz will prevail. That's a big sign of respect from the champ for Diaz' vaunted conditioning.
GSP also talked about the Super Bowl and bemoaned the amount of time he has to spend hearing about American football because he trains with so many pro football players. He gloats that he plans to be driving back to Los Angeles from Las Vegas during the Super Bowl so he won't have to hear about the game.
GSP adds that he's a "nerd" and doesn't care to watch sports including Canadian football and hockey as well as American football.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, gsp, condit, football
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSit back and watch this video of Joey Diaz breaking down UFC 143
I can't envision a method in which to tell you everything that happened tonight, but I've squeezed every amount of energy left within me to get this UFC 143 breakdown video by Joey Diaz on MiddleEasy.com. We have a few more clips that we'll try to deliver to your desktop before UFC 143 goes down in just a few hours, but if we don't sleep then our eyeballs will roll into the 5th dimension and the world will be wrapped in holographic rainbows. At least, that's what I envision extreme sleep deprivation to be like.
Check out this clip of Joey Diaz absolutely murdering your perception of the UFC 143 card.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, joey, joey diaz, holographic rainbows
Read the full article at Middle EasyWill Diaz vs Condit be similar to Diaz vs Cerrone?
That's what I think. submitted by Jam_med [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: diaz, vs, condit, cerrone, that
Read the full article at RedditWill the Real Nick Diaz Please Stand Up?
Say what you will about Nick Diaz, but few people know the brash welterweight very well, but is the UFC Primetime series helping him turn a corner with how people understand him?
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, people, primetime
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyCarlos Condit: “Nick is probably the toughest guy I’ve ever fought.”
A veteran of 32 bouts, UFC welterweight Carlos Condit has faced some of the sport’s toughest draws such as Rory MacDonald, Dan Hardy, Jake Ellenberger, Dong Hyun Kim, and Jake Shields. However, “The Natural Born Killer” knows the man he’ll be standing across from in the Octagon tonight – Nick Diaz – is unlike any opponent he’s met thus far along his professional path.
Diaz will enter the cage on an eleven-fight winning streak including a recent beatdown of B.J. Penn. The 28-year old has also only been legitimately stopped a single time in more than thirty fights, suffering a TKO in 2002 after having fought twice earlier in the evening as part of a tournament.
Condit acknowledged the challenge Diaz presents in a recent interview with the UFC’s website, saying he was up to the task and eager to see how things will unfold in the ring during their UFC 143 headliner.
“I think that styles make fights, and I think that this style match-up is going to be extremely exciting,” said an animated Condit. “It’s a very tough fight; Nick’s one of the best in the welterweight division. I think there are some guys stylistically that could probably beat him, but I think the matchup between us — we’re very evenly matched. We have similar skill sets, maybe a little bit different approach — different style — but it’s exciting.”
As far as how much he respects Diaz’s talents, the 27-5 Condit put him at the top of a long and talent-laden list.
“Nick is probably the toughest guy I’ve ever fought,” explained Condit. “He’s an endurance athlete — he puts tons and tons of pressure on guys — and he’s got some really good skills with his hands; his jiu-jitsu’s great. But I just really need to fight my fight. If I do that, I feel like I’m going to walk away with the belt.”
Catch their main event melee on PPV starting at 10:00 PM EST with prelims on FX/Facebook starting at 7:00 PM EST.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, condit, condit “
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNFL Stars Make Their Picks for the UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Main Event
Super Bowl QB Eli Manning of the N.Y. Giants, as well as Michael Strahan, Dhani Jones, Kurt Warner, Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, Von Miller and Warren Sapp make their picks for the Nick Diaz vs. Carlos...
Posted in: diaz, vs, nfl stars, warren sapp, ny giants
Read the full article at Heavy MMAVideo: UFC 143 predictions from NFL stars Eli Manning, Jerry Rice, Von Miller and more
Because we know you're wondering what players from the NFL, both past and present, are thinking of tomorrow night's UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" main event in Las Vegas, we present you with a video featuring predictions ranging from Eli Manning to Jerry Rice to Kurt Warner.
Manning -- who will lead his New York Giants in the Super Bowl this Sunday night against the New England Patriots (and I'm covering it right here on MMAmania.com, Maniacs) -- is rolling with Diaz:
"I gotta go with Diaz. You know, he's a tough guy. Coach Sullivan -- our quarterback coach -- is a big fan, so he's been talking him up all week so, I think he's swayed my decision, so I'm going Diaz."
Who are the rest of the current and former pros taking? If you can't watch the video or would rather read their picks, hit the jump for the text.
Michael Strahan:
"I'm going to tell you who's going to win the Diaz-Condit fight. I believe it's going to be Diaz. I mean, he's aggressive, he's young, he's hungry, he's long, rangy, powerful and the biggest thing (is) he has an incredible motor. He doesn't slow down. It should be a great fight and good luck to both fighters."
Dhani Jones:
"Condit's going to win this fight. You know why? Because he's a 'Natural Born Killer,' he's a scrapper. He's the only guy on the mat, that's what's up. Yeah."
Jerry Rice:
"I think Nick Diaz is going to win that fight because you know what? He's going to bring the hammer."
Von Miller:
"I think Diaz, he's going to pull it off. He's been competing at a high level these last couple of fights. I want to see Diaz get it."
Warren Sapp:
"Nick Diaz: Do what I do to the quarterback -- kill 'em! It's just that simple. Kill 'em! Nick Diaz, love you."
Kurt Warner:
"Being an underdog myself, I gotta go with the underdog, Carlos Condit. He's a tenacious, blue collar guy, going to stalk his prey, going to come after him, going to beat him down. I'm going with the underdog."
That's five votes for Diaz to just two for Condit. Does the majority have it right here? And who amongst these footballers sounded like they knew the most about the sport of MMA?
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, he, kurt warner
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Main Event Results - Condit Wins Interim Belt, Sets up GSP Fight
LAS VEGAS, February 4 – Georges St-Pierre longs to punish the only fighter he hates. But instead of facing bitter rival Nick Diaz for the UFC welterweight title, GSP must now mentally prepare to battle a teammate of sorts in Carlos Condit. With GSP watching cageside, Condit uncharacteristically and methodically danced and kicked his way to a unanimous decision victory over Diaz Saturday night in the UFC 143 main event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The triumph earned Condit the UFC interim welterweight title, and he will meet St-Pierre for the belt sometime later this year depending on St. Pierre’s pending recovery from a torn ACL. “It was pretty sweet. My coaches and teammates prepared me for this fight,” said Condit, the former World Extreme Cagefighting champ who pushed his record to 28-6. “I did what they told me to do and it carried me to victory. Hats off to Nick Diaz. He’s a warrior. I’ve got nothing but respect for how he fights.” Regarding his future date with GSP, who trains at Tri-Star in Montreal under Firas Zahabi but who has also trained extensively with Condit trainer Greg Jackson, Condit had this to say: “It is an honor. Georges is a guy I’ve looked up to since I was young and before I was in the UFC. I’m completely honored.” Diaz, who stalked Condit nearly all of the fight and had his moments with combinations – including an impressive 8 or 9-punch combo to Condit’s body in round two – surprised everyone in the post-fight interview, effectively announcing his retirement at the relatively tender age of 28. “I’m not going to accept the fact this was a loss,” said Diaz (27-8), who hadn’t lost in over four years. “I’ve lost fights before…but that (decision) ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight, I walked him back …Carlos is a great guy. I think I’m done with this MMA ... I had some fun. I don’t need this s---. I pushed this guy backward the whole fight. He kicked me with little baby leg kicks the whole fight. I don’t want to fight this way anymore. I’m out of this s---.” Diaz had made things very interesting late in the final round when he took Condit down, took his back and tried for a rear naked choke. To chants of “Diaz! Diaz!” the usually ultra-aggressive Condit came out in the first round way more mobile than usual, firing away with leg kicks. In the second half of the round, however, Diaz, ever-stalking and now verbally taunting, scored with his boxing, included a beautiful shot to the body followed up with a crisp punch to the face. By round’s end, Diaz was still sticking out that chin and taunting and Condit was bleeding under his left eye. In round two, Condit was more reticent and dancing. Greg Jackson’s were fingerprints all over it and Diaz was the one constantly pushing the action. In Diaz’s best sequence of the fight, he caught Condit against the fence and unleashed a volley of eight or nine punches to the body. Condit wasn’t nearly as busy as he had been in the first stanza. In rounds three and four, Condit started attacking Diaz with more vigor, primarily behind an assortment of kicks to Diaz’s lead leg, midsection and head. Never did it seem as if the charging Diaz was wounded, but perhaps the noted boxer became frustrated by Condit’s constant mobility and refusal to stand in the pocket to exchange. Nevertheless, it was an intelligent and effective strategy, one that allowed Condit to cinch rounds three and four in the eyes of many in media row. Simply, Diaz’s fists had trouble finding any part of Condit’s body. Judges scored it 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46 for Condit.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, round, condit
Read the full article at UFCLast 9 Nick Diaz fights
well just spent some time on google simply typing in 'nick diaz vs other guy full fight' and now my history is full of his last 9 fights leading up to tomorrow.. I'd do one for condit but i'm at a [6] and had a bit to drink, but heres nick diaz last 9 fights.. im sure at least one person here wouldn't mind watching one or even all of these.. so starting off Diaz vs Thomas Denny, EliteXC Diaz vs Frank Shamrock, strikeforce (watch this shit if you haven't before) Diaz vs Scott Smith Diaz v Zaromskis Diaz vs Sakurai, dream Diaz vs Noons 2 (lost first fight cus eyebrow cuts diaz vs cyborg Diaz vs Paul Daley Diaz vs BJ Penn submitted by smokebudsmoke [link] [5 comments]
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, vs, wouldnt mind
Read the full article at RedditUFC Quick Quote: Georges St. Pierre believes Nick Diaz has mental issues
"What I believe is, he's a very smart guy. He knows what he's doing. He would not be able to do what he's done in his career if he wasn't smart. I do believe maybe he has some mental issues ... I do not believe he is a bad human being. Truth my eyes, because he has been very disrespectful to me and because maybe we'll fight, he's disrespectful, but to you guys, I'm sure if you saw him and asked him for an autograph he'd give it to you."
-- UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre tells fans at a Q&A today (via Cagewriter) that thinks Nick Diaz is a smart guy. After all, the Stockton bad boy would not have raised his profile in the manner in which he has without some savvy and know how when it comes to the fight game. I mean, there's no way he just stumbled upon fame, right? His schtick may not necessarily be calculated but he definitely knows how to stir the pot just enough to drum up interest for when he steps inside the Octagon to do what he does best ... kick ass. That said, St. Pierre does believe Diaz has some mental issues. He doesn't elaborate on that point, though, choosing instead to be as complimentary as possible, despite his vocal displeasure with how he's been treated by the former Strikeforce welterweight champion. All told, "GSP" is likely right but it doesn't matter in the end. Diaz has to defeat Carlos Condit at UFC 143 tomorrow night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada, to set up a potential match-up but even then it's questionable thanks to St. Pierre's ailing knee. But if Diaz does emerge victorious, and the French-Canadian's knee holds up, we could be in for one of the most compelling showdowns in the history of the sport. Mental issues or not, that's something we can all hope for, including St. Pierre. Is there anyone rooting for Carlos Condit tomorrow night?
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, pierre, st, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Results and Live Play-by-Play for “Diaz vs. Condit”
MMAFrenzy.com will have live results and play-by-play from tonight’s UFC 143 event in Las Vegas, which is headlined by Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight title and a shot at champion Georges St-Pierre.
Our live coverage will begin at 7pm ET for the preliminary card, which airs on Facebook (7pm) and FX (8pm), and 10pm ET for the pay-per-view main card.
Enjoy the live UFC 143 results below, share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest UFC 143 coverage.
UFC 143 Live Results
MAIN CARD
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Interim UFC Welterweight Championship
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Scott Jorgensen vs. Renan Barao
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
PRELIMINARY CARD
Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway
Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa
Matt Brown vs. Chris Cope
Matt Riddle vs. Henry Martinez
Rafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper
Stephen Thompson vs. Dan Stittgen
UFC 143 Play-by-Play (refresh for updates)
NICK DIAZ vs. CARLOS CONDIT
Round 1 -
ROY NELSON vs. FABRICIO WERDUM
Round 1 -
JOSH KOSCHECK vs. MIKE PIERCE
Round 1 -
RENAN BARAO vs. SCOTT JORGENSEN
Round 1 -
ED HERMAN vs. CLIFFORD STARKS
Round 1 -
Pictured: Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit (via @danawhite)
Posted in: ufc, diaz, round, vs, condit
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Weigh-in Video
The full video from the UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit weigh-ins.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, video, vs, condit
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143 'Diaz Vs. Condit' Exclusive Weigh-Ins Photo Gallery
Mandalay Bay will play host to UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit on Saturday February 4th. Georges St. Pierre was originally scheduled to defend his welterweight title against Nick Diaz but was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury. Esther Lin of MMA Fighting took some amazing shots of the weigh ins and Bloody Elbow has chosen the best of the best to showcase for you.
Carlos Condit (169 pounds) vs Nick Diaz (169 pounds)
More photos after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Roy Nelson (246 pounds) vs Fabricio Werdum (246 pounds)
Josh Koscheck (170 pounds) vs Mike Pierce (170 pounds)
Renan Barao (136 pounds) vs Scott Jorgensen (135 pounds)
Ed Herman (185 pounds) vs Clifford Starks (185 pounds)
Dustin Poirier (146 pounds) vs Max Holloway (144 pounds)
Alex Caceres (136 pounds) vs Edwin Figueroa (135 pounds)
Matt Brown (171 pounds) vs Chris Cope (171 pounds)
Matthew Riddle (170 pounds) vs Henry Martinez (169 pounds)
Rafael Natal (186 pounds) vs Michael Kuiper (183 pounds)
Dan Stittgen (170 pounds) vs Stephen Thompson (170 pounds)
Posted in: pound, diaz, nick diaz, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Weigh-In Highlight Videos: Diaz vs. Condit, Koscheck vs. Pierce
The UFC has released highlights from Friday’s UFC 143 weigh-ins, as headliners Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit made their interim title fight official and Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce also hit the scale ahead of Saturday’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas.
Watch the UFC 143 weigh-in highlights below and stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for complete coverage of UFC 143.
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit:
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 143 weigh in photos gallery for 'Diaz vs Condit' on Feb. 3 in Las Vegas
UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" is all set to pop off tomorrow night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a welterweight interim title bout pitting Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
That's not to mention Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum in a heavyweight attraction and the suddenly contentious match-up between Josh Koscheck and rising 170-pound contender Mike Pierce.
Before we can get to the good stuff, though, every one of the competitors on tomorrow night's fight card had to hit the scales in "Sin City" to make sure they aren't carrying any extra baggage. Thankfully, none of them are and all 11 bouts are now official.
After the jump, you can check out photos (via UFC.com) from today's UFC 143 weigh-in event. For complete results click here, for staredowns click here and to watch the full UFC 143 weigh-in video click here.
Nick Diaz:
Carlos Condit:
Roy Neslon:
Fabricio Werdum:
Josh Koscheck:
Mike Pierce:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, heavyweight attraction
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAll fighters hit necessary marks at UFC 143 weigh-ins
All fighters came in ready to go during Friday’s weigh-in event for UFC 143 including main eventers Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.
Diaz and Condit will meet in a bout to deterimine the interim UFC welterweight championship Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will be available on pay-per-view, while four of the six prelim bouts get FX television viewing and another two will be shown on Facebook (all starting at 7:00 PM EST).
Both Diaz and Condit tipped the scales at 169 pounds, right under the 170-pound limit. The winner will hold the UFC title until they can face Georges St-Pierre in a unification bout sometime in 2012.
“I’m here to represent Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu or I’m ready to take my ass whooping. It’s whatever,” said Diaz, after weighing in.
Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum each weighed 246 pounds, easily making the heavyweight limit for their co-main event bout. The weight was the lowest of Nelson’s MMA career. Also, welterweights Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce each came in at 170 on the dot. Their moment on the stage was highlighted by Pierce wearing a blonde wig and the two being separated after things got heated during the face off.
Read below for a full list of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit weights:
Dan Stittgen (170 lbs) vs. Stephen Thompson (171 lbs)
Rafael Natal (186 lbs) vs. Michael Kuiper (183 lbs)
Matthew Riddle (170 lbs) vs. Henry Martinez (169 lbs)
Matt Brown (171 lbs) vs. Chris Cope (171 lbs)
Alex Caceres (136 lbs) vs. Edwin Figueroa (135 lbs)
Dustin Poirier (146 lbs) vs. Max Holloway (144 lbs)
Ed Herman (185 lbs) vs. Clifford Starks (185 lbs)
Renan Barao (136 lbs) vs. Scott Jorgensen (135 lbs)
Josh Koscheck (170 lbs) vs. Mike Pierce (170 lbs)
Roy Nelson (246 lbs) vs. Fabricio Werdum (246 lbs)
Nick Diaz (169 lbs) vs. Carlos Condit (169 lbs)
PHOTO CREDIT -UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, lb, condit
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Weigh-In Photos
MMAWeekly.com's UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit weigh-in photo gallery by Scott Petersen.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, photo
Read the full article at MMA WeeklySuper Bowl XLVI Video: NFL Players Pick The Winners of UFC 143
The network deal between the UFC and Fox has created some interesting opportunities to provide cross over between traditional 'stick and ball' sports and MMA. The UFC caught up with some NFL stars to get their picks for the UFC 143 main event between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz.
Eli Manning:
I gotta go with Diaz. He's a tough guy. Coach Sullivan, our quarterback coach is a big fan so he's been talking him up all week. I think he's swayed my decision so I'm going Diaz.
Michael Strahan:
I'm gonna tell you who's gonna win the Diaz/Condit fight. I believe it will be Diaz. I mean he's aggressive. He's young. He's hungry. He's long, rangy, powerful and the biggest thing is he has an incredible motor. He doesn't slow down so it should be a great fight and good luck to both fighters.
Dhani Jones:
What's going on? It's Dhani Jones. You know, Condit's gonna win this fight. You know why? Because he's a natural born killer! He's a scrapper. He's the only guy on the mat. That's what's up!
Jerry Rice:
I think Nick Diaz is gonna win that fight because you know what? He's gonna bring the hammer.
Von Miller:
I think Diaz is gonna pull it off. He's been competing at a high level in these last couple of fights. I wanna see Diaz get it.
Warren Sapp:
Nick Diaz...do what I do to the quarterback. Kill him. It's just that simple. Kill him. Nick Diaz, love you.
Kurt Warner:
Being an underdog myself, I've gotta go with the underdog Carlos Condit. He's a tenacious, blue-collar guy. He's gonna stalk his prey...gonna come after him...gonna beat him down. I'm going with the underdog.
NFL Pros picking Diaz: Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Jerry Rice, Von Miller, Warren Sapp
NFL Pros Picking Condit: Dhani Jones, Kurt Warner
Video after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: he, diaz, ufc, condit, fight
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowLefko on UFC 143: Diaz against the world
UFC welterweight Nick Diaz is facing the opportunity of a lifetime yet you still get the sense he wants to find another place to escape to.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, welterweight, sense, lefko
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC 143: ‘Diaz vs. Condit’ Preview – The Main Card
Josh Koscheck said it best at the press conference yesterday. With Georges St. Pierre relegated to couch-potato-with-a-mending-ACL status, the welterweight division has gotten interesting again. Case in point: Saturday’s UFC 143, which will see as its main event Nick Diaz throwing leather at Carlos Condit for the interim strap, while earlier in the night Koscheck gets to either re-establish himself as a contender in the weight class or crumble under the might of Mike Pierce – someone who, a year ago, could never dream of upward mobility as long as GSP was champ. Yes, with the Canadian man-cuddler stuck on the sidelines, there are a slew of welterweights suddenly in play, each one capable of presenting a unique opportunity for soon-to-be interim champ Diaz to punch into oblivion (or, if the improbable happens, for Condit to outlast in a gutsy war). There are other bouts on the UFC 143 card, of course, including a heavyweight pairing between a TUF winner and a Brazilian who’s been shuffled around from the UFC to Strikeforce and back, plus a fascinating bantamweight tussle. But golly, the 170 pounders now have a reason to care, and so do we. Preview time!
-Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit – When he destroyed all comers in Strikeforce, you people hailed him as nothing more than a can-smasher. Then Diaz had his heralded return to the Octagon, and made BJ Penn look like Wesley “Cabbage” Correira when the giant human punching bag took on Tim Sylvia. Where you at, haters? The fact is, Diaz is the most skilled – and most exciting – welterweight out there, and if St. Pierre had never torn his ACL, GSP’s best hope at victory against the jiu-jitsu black belt with the never-ending supply of punches would be to lay on him and pray he never gets back up. Thankfully, that’s not what’s going to happen with Condit, who hasn’t had a boring fight in forever, and who tends to “go for it” in lieu of emulating a down comforter. The beauty of the Diaz/Condit fight, therefore, is not so much who will come out on top, but that it’s going to be a damn exciting ride for all watching. Diaz is winning this one via TKO. So what, though? It’s going to be fun!
-Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum – Nelson peaked when he won TUF, so what we have in him now is a heavyweight with ability and skill, a heavyweight who will never be the champ as long as studs like Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez walk the Earth. Jiu-jitsu champ Werdum is credited with being the man who started Fedor Emelianenko on the road to vulnerability, and he certainly has got the grappling skills to give anyone a hard time. Unfortunately, his last outing (against Alistair Overeem) was so uninspired, it’s a wonder the UFC gave him this fight. Unless Nelson trips over his own mullet and falls into Werdum’s triangle choke, the TUF winner is going to press the Brazilian against the cage with his considerable girth and eke out a decision that no one will be proud of.
-Mike Pierce vs. Josh Koscheck – For scoring a split decision over Paul Bradley, Pierce gets to inch further on up the food chain and tangle with someone who went the distance with the champ. He’s going to die. In his last time at bat, Koscheck KO’d Matt Hughes and nearly retired him, and his list of wins reads like a “who’s who” of killer welterweights. Look, Koscheck isn’t the best, but what he brings to the table in terms of wrestling and striking makes Pierce’s skillset look like rubbish. Koscheck is either taking the dominant decision or earning the TKO.
-Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen – If not for the frenetic footwork and fists of champ Dominick Cruz, Jorgensen would be the top dog in the bantamweight division. Yet here comes Barao, who’s riding a win streak filled with beatings and submissions like a pugilistic Bodhi from “Point Break”, astride a surfboard made of bones and skulls and looking down upon the world from the crest of a tidal wave. If this were happening in any other more-established division, this kind of matchup would generate a ton of hype. But alas, the 135-pound weight class is too new for that, so we’re going to have to enjoy this pairing for what it is, which is a clash between the number two man in the division against a dude rocketing to the top. If I had to guess, I’d say Jorgensen’s wrestling will make life too difficult for the Brazilian. Who knows, though. Maybe Barao will sub him.
-Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks – TUF runner-up Herman never really managed to dig into the 185-pound weight class and make a name for himself, so now we get to see him in the occasional bout against fellow members of Team Irrelevant. Oh, hey, here’s Starks, a Division 1 wrestler with one win in the Octagon against no one you ever heard of. Unless Herman’s knee once against buckles under the stress of combat, he should have his way with Starks. Or not. It doesn’t matter.
Posted in: diaz, vs, koscheck, division, champ
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz vs Carlos Condit staredown pic from UFC 143 weigh-ins
The UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" weigh-in event took place today (Fri., Feb. 3, 2012) in Las Vegas and that means staredowns with all the major players.
That includes the two headliners for tomorrow night's event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit. For those hoping for some fireworks, sorry, nothing to see here. Diaz kept it professional, as did the always dapper "Natural Born Killer."
Heavyweights Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum will hook 'em up in the co-main event of the evening while welterweight bad boy Josh Koscheck makes his return to battle Mike Pierce. See them all stare at each other after the jump.
For complete UFC 143 weigh-in results click here.
Posted in: diaz, event, las vegas, comain event, weighin
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit On Mark
Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit each weighed in at 169 pounds for their main event interim welterweight title fight at UFC 143.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 143 ‘Diaz vs. Condit’ Weigh-In Results
The UFC 143 weigh-ins took place earlier this evening at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
All fighters made weight.
No drama between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit at the weigh-ins, but both looked to be in great shape. Roy Nelson is still far from skinny, but he does appear to be slimming down still and putting on muscle. Mike Pierce and Josh Koscheck nearly got into in it when Pierce put on a wig to match Koscheck’s curly blonde hair. They only butted heads a little though before Dana White stepped in.
The weigh-in results:
Nick Diaz (169) vs. Carlos Condit (169)
Fabricio Werdum (246) vs. Roy Nelson (246)
Josh Koscheck (170) vs. Mike Pierce (170)
Renan Barao (136) vs. Scott Jorgensen (135)
Ed Herman (185) vs. Clifford Starks (185)
Max Holloway (144) vs. Dustin Poirier (146)
Alex Caceres (136) vs. Edwin Figueroa (135)
Matt Brown (171) vs. Chris Cope (171)
Jorge Lopez (169) vs. Matt Riddle (170)
Rafael Natal (186) vs. Michael Kuiper (183)
Dan Stittgen (170) vs. Stephen Thompson (171)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
UFC 143 “Diaz vs. Condit” will take place tomorrow, Feb. 4, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live on pay-per-view at 10pm ET/7pm PT.
More UFC 116 weigh-in pics at CombatLifestyle.com. Video via MMA Fighting.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, weighin
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Diaz, Condit on Target
For the first time since 2008, a man other than Georges St. Pierre will lay claim to the UFC's welterweight strap.
Welterweight headliners Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit both made weight during Friday's UFC 143 weigh-ins at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, rendering their interim title tilt official. No stranger to championships bouts, Diaz managed to hit his mark perfectly, tipping the scales at 169 pounds to a chorus of cheers from the adoring Las Vegas audience. Condit quickly followed suit, clipping the welterweight limit at 169 pounds.
Diaz was markedly tempered throughout the proceedings, especially considering his well-documented aversion to weigh-ins. "I'm ready to take my ass-whooping," he declared. "It's whatever."
Likewise, Condit appeared to be high spirits. "Nick Diaz is the toughest guy I've ever fought," he coolly stated. "I'm as prepared as I've ever been. I can't wait to get out there and do this thing."
Elsewhere on the main card, Roy Nelson continued his commitment to a sleeker figure, tipping the scales at a trim 246 pounds. His opponent, Fabrico Werdum, marked the end of a three-and-a-half year UFC sabbatical by similarly registering in at 246 pounds.
Meanwhile, Mike Pierce played heavily to the crowd's dislike of welterweight rival Josh Koscheck. After weighing in at 170 pounds, Pierce donned a blonde Koscheck-esque wig, which briskly incensed the former All-American. Both fighters had to be separated by UFC President Dana White.
Full weigh-in results are below.
More Coverage: UFC 143 Fight Card | UFC 143 ResultsWalkout Shirts: Nick Diaz | Carlos Condit | Roy Nelson
Main Card (Pay-Per-View):Nick Diaz (169) vs. Carlos Condit (169)Roy Nelson (246) vs. Fabricio Werdum (246)Josh Koscheck (170) vs. Mike Pierce (170)Renan Barao (136) vs. Scott Jorgensen (135)Ed Herman (185) vs. Clifford Starks (185)
Preliminary Card (FX):Dustin Poirier (146) vs. Max Holloway (144)Alex Caceres (136) vs. Edwin Figueroa (135)Matt Brown (171) vs. Chris Cope (171)Matt Riddle (170) vs. Henry Martinez (169)
Preliminary Card (Facebook):Dan Stittgen (170) vs. Stephen Thompson (171)Rafael Natal (186) vs. Michael Kuiper (183)
Posted in: ufc, pound, diaz, vs, condit
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseGrappling with Issues – 2/3/12
Is Carlos Condit more likely to finish Nick Diaz tomorrow night at UFC 143 than the opposite occurring? Who were you most impressed by at UFC on FOX 2? Will Chael Sonnen beat Anderson Silva in their rematch? What can the UFC/FOX do to improve their broadcasts?
Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!
Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse Jeremy Lambert whose general contributions and “Scorecard” event-breakdowns can be regularly found on Five Ounces. As always, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t hesitate to offer your own take on the topics in the “Comments” section below.
Also, it is with great regret we announce this will be Jeremy’s final GWI barring the occasional “guest starring” stint as he will be leaving the site to explore other avenues. The column will have a brief hiatus before returning in two weeks with a new format (same ol’ style).
More impressive performance at UFC on FOX 2 – Rashad Evans or Michael Bisping?
Lambert: Evans. I realize he didn’t look great in victory, but at the end of the day, he won and Bisping didn’t. And it’s not like Evans showed any flaws in his fight against Phil Davis either. He scored takedowns on an accomplished wrestler, showed much improved top control, and out stuck him with an effective jab despite being the short of the two. Bisping was the most impressive in defeat, but he still lost and that should count against his performance.
Conlan: I’m not sure losing should always count against a fighter, especially in the case of Bisping who could have easily walked away with a decision win had someone else been sitting at the judges’ table. Evans definitely dominated Davis and that in itself says something without question but he couldn’t put him away despite having plenty of advantageous positions. Meanwhile, Bisping did away with the widespread notion Sonnen would take him down with ease or put on a show similar to that in Evans-Davis. As such, I think “The Count” deserves the nod on this one, not to mention he took on the #2 guy in the division with less than two weeks to prepare and beat him in the minds of a lot of folks.
What is one thing about the UFC on FOX broadcast you would change if given free reign over the production?
Lambert: Make it less NFL. Drop the NFL on FOX music, the stupid robots, and Curt Menefee. FOX has done a lot of great things with the graphics and set up, but it still feels too much like a NFL broadcast and not a UFC broadcast. I can’t be the only one annoyed by the music, especially when it’s played after every commercial break. The robots are stupid on the NFL games, what are they really adding to the show? And Menefee, while an excellent NFL host, doesn’t appear to know anything about MMA. It’s like FOX wants to give the show credibility and what’s more credible than the NFL? But it makes the UFC broadcast feel cheaper and like a rip off.
Conlan: I can’t disagree with a single thing Lambert said. Menefee was a slightly better, less lipstick-y version of Gus Johnson and the robots/music made the whole show feel like a NFL knockoff. To add to the list, I’d like to see future cards booked with the consumer in mind. While a hardcore fan undoubtedly appreciates grappling technique and closely contested match-ups, the average viewer wants to at least see one bout between strikers with a knockout all but guaranteed. They probably don’t even care about divisional ranking because they don’t have any perspective on what it actually means – they just want to see someone go to sleep. Having Bisping fight an adversary like Vitor Belfort instead of Demian Maia (his original opponent) to open up the card would have probably provided a highlight reel finish and gotten some buzz going. Instead viewers were treated to three fights with five of six competitors having a background in wrestling/BJJ, hence some fairly mediocre ratings.
If he beats Roy Nelson, how many more wins will Fabricio Werdum need to merit a title-shot?
Lambert: One. The heavyweight division is pretty wide open right now. There’s Junior dos Santos defending his title against Alistair Overeem, possible fight between Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir to decide the #1 contender, and then who? Brock Lesnar is gone, Shane Carwin is on the shelf and has lost two straight, Rodrigo Nogueira just lost, and everyone else still needs a couple of big victories. The only person who could jump Werdum is the Strikeforce HW GP winner, but who knows when the finals will be and the winner of that bout will still have to fight once more in Strikeforce before being brought over.
Conlan: Agreed 100%. Contendership is far from solidified for any heavyweight out there, incoming or otherwise. I think Mir vs. Werdum would make for a great fight as well, especially if Velasquez fights Antonio Silva as was rumored a few weeks ago. Of course, Nelson could throw yet another wrench in the divisional contendership plan by taking Werdum out tomorrow night. All I know is Samer Kadi is no doubt on edge with all the heavyweight excitement out there!
More likely to be finished on Saturday: Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit?
Conlan: My first inclination would be to say Diaz based on Condit’s power and arsenal of strikes but upon further review I’ll actually go with Diaz. The sovereign son of Stockton has only been finished a single time in his career and that came in 2002 after he’d already fought twice earlier in the evening. Comparably, Condit has been submitted three times and Diaz’s BJJ is no joke. He also has potential for picking Condit apart with strikes while maintaining cardio, another possibility where scoring a stoppage is concerned.
Lambert: I’ve got to go with Diaz as the more likely of the two to be finished. Condit has the power advantage and Diaz, while having a great chin and ability to recover, is hittable. If Condit can get to Diaz early with his power, there’s a chance that he can put him down and be crafty enough to finish him. There’s also the leg kicks, which Diaz doesn’t check. If Condit can take away Diaz’s legs, he could finish him late since Diaz won’t be able to throw with as much volume on just one leg.
Will Chael Sonnen beat Anderson Silva in the rematch?
Conlan: No. Sonnen looked sloppy against Bisping and is unlikely to repeat the performance he put on against Silva the first time around. He’ll also be dealing with the pressure of performing in Brazil after eighteen months of talking smack about “The Spider”. I’m unsure of how mentally strong Sonnen actually is and could see him wilting under the Sao Paolo spotlight.
Lambert: I don’t think Sonnen’s performance on Saturday means anything when it comes to the rematch against Silva. Bisping is an underrated wrestler, at least defensively, while Silva is more content to play the guard game off his back. That said, even though I think Sonnen poses the biggest threat to Silva in the division, right now the champ is just on another level and he’ll be fired up about this fight. As long as Silva is healthy (and that’s actually a big question mark) then he should have an easier time with Sonnen in the rematch.
What fight should headline UFC on FOX 3?
Conlan: Since the card is in May it gives the UFC some time to play with the main event. There are a ton of stars fighting in February and plenty of options to choose from. As such, it’s hard for me to pluck one out of the bunch but, assuming he’s successful at UFC 145, I think Quinton Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin would be a great choice for the lineup. Both have mainstream success and will appeal to the common fan, plus each likes to strike and “Rampage” could easily score a highlight reel knockout on Griffin (or get picked apart again). Beyond that, their original fight was extremely close, Jackson wants a rematch, and Griffin has nothing on his plate.
Frankie Edgar, who defends his belt in a few weeks, would also be a solid choice too if he gets by Ben Henderson given his Jersey roots, though I’m not sure who he’d fight unless Zuffa bites the bullet and brings over Gilbert Melendez.
Lambert: Fellow writer Kadi brought up the possibility of Velasquez vs. Mir, which is a fight I like, but not as a main event. I think the main event has to be a fight between two guys coming off victories. Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller is reportedly the main event, which, while it should be a good fight, is a pretty underwhelming main event bout in terms of name value.
Condit mentioned that he would fight again if Georges St. Pierre can’t return until the end of the year. So if Condit and Josh Koscheck win on Saturday, why not have them headline the third FOX card? It’d be an interim title fight, they wouldn’t be sacrificing that many PPV buys, and they’d be highlighting guys who are around for the long haul.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, silva, condit
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 143 fight card: Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit preview
Two former welterweight champions will meet in one of the most eagerly-awaited interim title fights ever tomorrow night (February 4, 2012) as former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz meets former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC 143 in Las Vegas.
Nick Diaz is an anti-hero, winning over fans by not even trying to win over fans simply because of his incredibly entertaining fighting style and due to the fact that he stands out from the crowd with his attitude. His big win streak outside the UFC was validated by his thrashing of former champion B.J. Penn last fall and now he's got a shot at interim UFC gold.
Carlos Condit has long been one of the most exciting welterweights on the planet. He's truly come into his own recently with consecutive first round knockouts over Dan Hardy and Dong Hyun Kim. "The Natural Born Killer" is a bonus machine and after having two title shots delayed, he's looking to take out his frustration on Nick Diaz tomorrow night.
Will Nick Diaz continue his incredible run to UFC superstardom with another emphatic victory? Can Carlos Condit prove the doubters wrong and spoil the dream fight between Diaz and Georges St. Pierre? How does each riveting 170 pounder win tomorrow night?
Let's find out:
Nick Diaz
Record: 26-7 (1 No Contest) overall, 7-4 in the UFC
Key Wins: B.J. Penn (UFC 137), Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley), Frank Shamrock (Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz)
Key Losses: Sean Sherk (UFC 59), Diego Sanchez (Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale), Karo Parisyan (UFC 49)
How he got here: Nick Diaz has been fighting tough challengers since he was 17 years old. He battled Chris Lytle to a unanimous decision victory in just his second professional bout. Diaz was the inaugural WEC welterweight champion and burst onto the scene in the UFC when he knocked out Robbie Lawler, a fighter the promotion had been grooming to be a potential future champion.
Diaz had a 6-4 run in the UFC, but could never quite get over the hump. He left the promotion in early 2007 and defeated Takanori Gomi via gogoplata in one of the most exciting bouts in MMA history although the result was overturned with a positive test for marijauna. Diaz would lose a match to K.J. Noons for the EliteXC lightweight title before heading to Strikeforce and winning the inaugural welterweight championship there.
Diaz is was the midst of a 10 fight winning streak that included victories against the likes of Paul Daley, Evangelista Santos, Hatato Sakurai as well as avenging his loss to Noons. When he made his UFC return last fall, he earned his much-deserved validation with a victory against B.J. Penn. Not only did he beat the former multi-divisional champion, he put a horrific beating on him.
He'll get a shot at interim UFC gold tomorrow night.
How he gets it done: Nick Diaz has got a crazy offensive attack in his striking that consists of pure volume strikes, mixing in so many blows that the opponent gets confused and doesn't see the heavy shots coming.
Diaz also likes to talk trash, leave his arms up, get his opponent flustered. It's all a giant mind game for him. If he can get Condit angry, perhaps draw him into a brawl, that's the type of fight he loves and that's the type of fight he can win. If Condit loses his composure in the fight, he could make a mistake that the Stockton slugger could capitalize on.
The Cesar Gracie trained fighter has a style reliant on constant pressure and using heavy offense as his best form of defense. He's one of the few fighters who can push an incredibly intense pace for up to five rounds and never get tired, especially at welterweight. He can win this fight if he keeps Carlos Condit on the defensive for up to five straight rounds and never relents.
Body shots will also be very important. Diaz throws strikes with precision whether they're jabs, crosses or big uppercuts and hooks to the body. Those blows suck the life out of opponents and if he can land enough of them on Condit, he can slow him down and then really open him up in the later rounds.
Carlos Condit
Record: 27-5 overall, 4-1 in the UFC
Key Wins: Dong Hyun Kim (UFC 132), Jake Ellenberger (UFC Fight Night 19), Rory MacDonald (UFC 115)
Key Losses: Martin Kampmann (UFC Fight Night 18), Jake Shields (Rumble on the Rock 9)
How he got here: Carlos Condit is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet. He first came to fame in the WEC where he fought for and won Mike Pyle's vacant welterweight title in just his second fight with the promotion.
Condit would defend his WEC welterweight title three times before the UFC would merge all fighters above lightweight into its promotion. In his first fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Condit had an absolute barnburner with Martin Kampmann in a fight that was extremely close with both men displaying incredible scrambles and exciting striking. Kampmann would walk away with a split decision victory.
In Condit's next fight, he would again have another Fight of the Year candidate against Jake Ellenberger. "The Natural Born Killer" survived being rocked multiple times to outgrapple and outwork Ellenberger and come away with a razor thin split decision victory.
The Greg Jackson-trained fighter was at it again in his next fight, getting dominated by Rory MacDonald in the first two rounds before turning it on and overwhelming the fading "Waterboy," scoring an insane TKO victory with just seven seconds remaining in the contest.
Most recently, Condit would showcase his striking, knocking out out the brash former title challenger Dan Hardy in the first round as both men traded big lead hooks. After a fight with Chris Lytle fell through due to an injury, the former WEC champ ran through the previously undefeated Dong Hyun Kim with a ferocious flying knee and follow-up punches on the ground.
After multiple delays and opponent switches, he'll be battling Diaz for the interim UFC welterweight title.
How he gets it done: While both men are very competent with submissions and sweeps on the ground, I'm almost certain that this fight is held in the stand-up realm.
I feel that while Nick Diaz has better punching technique, Condit has more one-strike power. He put Dan Hardy's lights out with one punch at UFC 120 and he's got the explosive power to take out someone like Dong Hyun Kim with a flying knee last summer. The key for Condit is to actually have room to breathe and throw those types of strikes. He'll need to use his footwork to avoid letting Diaz corner him and unleash his patented barrage of high volume strikes.
Expect to see Condit keep his distance early, and throw a large volume of kicks. If there's any striking weakness for either of the Diaz brothers, it's been leg kicks. Donald Cerrone took out Nate Diaz's legs repeatedly with kicks and Evangelista Santos teed off on Nick Diaz last year in his title fight with heavy kicks. Condit needs to go to work on the Stockton native's legs early and often to slow him down.
If Diaz gets hobbled, Condit will smell blood like a shark and pounce. Nick Diaz does not have the best striking defense, making up for it with tremendous offense so if he gets slowed down and can't utilize good footwork, it could be "The Natural Born Killer's time to shine.
Fight X-Factor: There are two major X-Factors for this fight. The first is Nick Diaz's trash talk. Normally, a fighter's talk doesn't get into the heads of his opponent, but Nick Diaz practically forces his foes to brawl with him by talking smack, taunting, leaving his hands at his sides and completely frustrating his opponents. He's going to be doing everything he can in the Octagon to fluster Condit and take him off his game and get him to deviate from his plan of attack. If he can do it, he'll give himself a significant edge in the fight.
The other X-Factor for this bout is Nick Diaz's slow starts. It often takes him some time to warm up in a fight and he tends to get hit hard early. Don't forget that he actually lost the first round of his fight with Penn as well as his first round with Evangelista Santos last year before turning it on. If there's ever a moment of vulnerability for the Stockton scrapper, it's his slow first round and you better believe that Carlos Condit is preparing for that. If he can catch Diaz before he truly wakes up for the fight, he could ruin a ton of parlays with a stunning first round stoppage.
Bottom Line: This is usually the part in the preview where I try to convince you that a fight is going to be exciting when you think it might not be, but that's not the case here. Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit is a dream fight. When Strikeforce was purchased by Zuffa, this was the one fight I wanted to see most of all. Both Diaz and Condit have this extra "oomph" to their fighting style where they're not afraid to take risks to benefit from big rewards.
Quick, name me a Carlos Condit or Nick Diaz fight in the last 4 years that wasn't amazing. That's a trick question because neither guy knows what it's like to have a boring fight. Expect constant aggression from both men, big risks taken and huge rewards for the fans watching live and around the world. Something amazing is likely going to happen not just every round, but potentially every minute. I'd try to picture a way a fight could be boring to temper expectations, but that's impossible with two fighters like this finally meeting. I will eat my hat if this fight is boring. Expect greatness, expect one of the best fights of 2012, guaranteed.
Who will come out on top at UFC 143? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will be crowned the interim UFC welterweight champion when it is all said and done tomorrow night?
Nick Diaz
Carlos Condit
1 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143: Does Nick Diaz Feel Badly For Carlos Condit? And Will It Cost Him Inside The Octagon?
A lot of good stories on Nick Diaz have been written in the lead up to UFC 143, making it difficult to find an angle that hasn't been discussed. We've heard about his fitness regimen and the effects it has on his mental game. We've heard about the incredible ability of Diaz and his opponent Carlos Condit to pursue the fight despite the physical consequences. As far as his outside the cage exploits, we've had reaction to the UFC Primetime series featuring Diaz and Condit, both in the negative, in the positive (see the comments section of the aforementioned post) and in question form, (has Nick gotten to GSP?).
Something I haven't seen covered is the noticable lack of fire coming out of Nick Diaz towards Condit, at least as of yesterday evening. It is the second consecutive fight that Diaz has been respectful to his opponent in the lead up; against BJ Penn he said or did nothing that could be construed as disrespectful, instead leaving it to Penn to restore the natural order of a Diaz fight by instigating a tense staredown at the weigh-ins. You see, since starting up with Strikeforce, when Nick Diaz fights a big name, the fights have followed a pretty strict pattern:
1. The fight is annouced. Diaz insinuates that he's better than his scheduled opponent and should be fighting someone better, perhaps GSP or Anderson Silva.2. Opponent responds by saying that Nick is disrespectful, not as good as he thinks he is and they are going to prove it in the fight.3. The verbal jousting continues through fight week and comes to a head during the weigh-ins. Middle fingers or perhaps physical contact between the fighters sets the tone for the start of the fight.4. Diaz's opponent charges out of the gate, looking to make him pay for his ridiculous antics.5. Diaz eats whatever punches he has to and moves forward, eventually forcing his opponent's back onto the cage6. Diaz forces his opponent to cover up and unleashes flurry after flurry on them, alternating beautifully between the body and the head.7. The opponent begins to wilt, while Diaz seems to get stronger.8. Overwhelmed and gassed, the opponent succumbs to the onslaught, or does just enough to make it to the judges scorecards, where they lose by decision.
More on Nick's newer, calmer, fight week demeanor after the jump
We saw this exact pattern when Nick fought against Frank Shamrock, KJ Noons, Paul Daley and BJ Penn. It happened to a smaller degree against Zaromskis and Cyborg (not as much was said pre-fight but the fights themselves very much followed the pattern). It has become something of a calling card for Nick: Rile up the opponent and get him to fight at a higher pace than they would otherwise be comfortable with. I was quite frankly shocked to see BJ get his mean mug on at the weigh-ins after avoiding the "Diaz trap", as I call it, in the month leading up to the fight.
Nick has had so much success getting into his opponents head that it has lead some to theorize that it is an act. GSP called him "fake-crazy" during the second episode of Primetime. I myself have expressed my belief that his pre-fight persona is a creation, with the goal being to induce a brawl that largely favors Diaz and his excellent conditioning. Nick responded to these suggestions during his media scrum at the open workouts this week.
Nick Diaz: People tell me I'm crazy, or they say I act like I'm crazy, I think it's what a lot of people are saying. I'm not trying to put on no act, I'm just going out there trying to fight my fight, and try to win the fight. I'm not happy by the time I walk out to fight, you know? What do you want from me?
If this is the case and what you see is what you get from Nick Diaz, then what we are seeing and what we are getting from him this week is cause for concern, at least for those who are picking Diaz to win the fight tomorrow night. He has gone out of his way to be complimentary of Carlos Condit whenever he's been asked about him. He called Condit a more respectable martial artist than Georges St. Pierre. He told the press at the pre-fight press conference that the focus on GSP made him sick; for Condit.
Nick Diaz: It makes me sick. This is Carlos' time to be here and to be a part of this main event. Half of this show is built up around me fighting Georges St. Pierre but I'm fighting Carlos Condit.
And then, during the staredowns that follow each pre-fight press conference, the unthinkable happened:
via img.photobucket.com
After the pose-off, Condit extended his hand towards Nick, an offer to engage in a time honored display of respect: The handshake. It was the perfect chance for Nick to let everyone know that he wasn't playing. An opportunity to show that despite the niceities, he was still Nick Diaz, and Nick Diaz doesn't shake no hands before the fight. Instead, Nick Diaz looked down at the hand, hesitated briefly and then accepted Condit's invitation.
Maybe this is a new Nick Diaz we are watching, one who no longer feels the need to intimidate and threaten his opponent before the fight. This will be his 34th as a professional mixed martial artist. He is no longer the disrespected (in his eyes) and disrespectful (in most everyone else's eyes) "big fish in a small pond" that he was during his run in Strikeforce. Have the years of training as a triathalete given rise to a cool confidence that was never there before? It's entirely possible that the way he has approached both the media and his opponent during this fight week is a reflection of new found maturity, brought about by the serious endurance training.
Or perhaps Nick truly feels a little bad for his Condit. After all, the hype for a fight between Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz is over-shadowing this match. Here is a link to a media scrum that GSP did this week. I've already posted the one that Diaz participated in. I found no such video of Carlos Condit. In the biggest fight of his life, Carlos Condit has been an afterthought. It was sadly ironic that he was the only fighter at the pre-fight presser who had the class to put on a suit. So I guess I could understand if Nick felt a little bit sorry for him, especially since he fully plans on making Condit's week even worse on Saturday night.
Whatever the reason for Nick Diaz's kinder persona this week, Carlos Condit is not a man to give sympathy to. No matter how many miles you've ran, or biked, or swam, no matter how many hours you've spent in the gym, fighting Carlos Condit requires you to be at your cruelest and most merciless. He is the "natural born killer" for a reason. If Nick Diaz is not on point from the moment the fight starts to the final bell, he will find himself finished in brutal fashion.
Of course, the official weigh-ins are just about to get underway, so if Nick gets crazy, the concerns I've laid out here will be rendered all but moot. If he doesn't act up though, the question remains: Does Nick Diaz feel badly for Carlos Condit? And if he does, will his sympathy cost him on Saturday night?
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, opponent, condit
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendUFC 143 Preview: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
MMAFrenzy’s coverage of Saturday’s main card concludes with our preview of a welterweight battle between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. The showdown will be for the interim welterweight championship. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy throughout the weekend, as we post weigh-in results, along with results of Saturday’s event.
Keys for Nick Diaz (Bryan Robison)-
Throughout these past few weeks leading up to this fight, it is obvious that Nick Diaz respects Carlos Condit. That in itself could be considered a victory for the “Natural Born Killer”. That does not come often.
Matchups this seemingly even also do not come often, as Diaz and Condit bring two similar pedigrees and styles, with the victor earning the interim welterweight title. Unfortunately, the possible matchup of Diaz taking on champion Georges St. Pierre has been just as discussed as Saturday’s matchup.
That is insulting to a fighter of Condit’s talent, and makes it seem as if Diaz is looking past him. He cannot, and more than likely is not.
Regarding the fight, Diaz will look to put the pressure on, but will have to do so sooner than he usually does, as he is typically a slow starter. When Condit is pressured early, he can not effectively use his arsenal of striking. That is something Diaz always looks to do, as no one fights as effectively going backward as they do going forward.
With Diaz’s ability to take punishment, because Condit certainly inflicts plenty, he can implement his usual style of hitting in quantity instead of sheer quality. Condit more than likely will look to do the same, knowing Diaz is tough to finish. But for all the talk that Diaz is rarely finished, he still holds the more recent loss due to finish, when he lost to KJ Noons via doctor stoppage in November 2007. With both fighters having similar determination, it will come down to the fighter with the more consistent striking, something Diaz nearly always possesses.
Keys for Carlos Condit (Chris Leslie)-
Every time I write a gameplan for a Diaz fight it is almost always the same. The issue almost always becomes that fighters struggle with Diaz’s pace and aggressiveness. With Condit, you have fighter who is also in crazy shape and loves to be aggressive.
So in that respect, these fighters are very alike. Condit is also very good on the ground and should be able to neutralize Diaz’s BJJ advantage. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if Greg Jackson has thrown a few curveballs into the gameplan and we see some wrestling from Condit.
The most important aspect of this fight is the striking game. Condit has sneaky power that is tied to his counters. If Condit is smart, and he is, he has reviewed the Daley fight multiple times. Daley exploited Diaz’s aggressive style with sharp counters that dropped Diaz a few times. The mistake that Daley made was not following up to finish Diaz off (probably due to his memory of the Shields fight) and by getting drawn into the swing for the fences style of Diaz. Plainly put, matching Diaz punch for punch is a fool’s errand, you’ll only exhaust yourself.
So Condit has to counter and move the majority of the fight. Condit cannot allow himself to get caught in the corners of the cage, a mistake BJ Penn did in rounds 2 and 3 of his Diaz fight. If Condit can take control of the octagon from Diaz, counter accordingly, and not get overwhelmed, he could ruin GSP’s dream of fighting Diaz.
Make sure to read all other previews of the main card:
Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
UFC 143 Preliminary Card Things to Watch For
Posted in: fight, diaz, fighter, vs, condit
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 143: Georges St. Pierre doesn't want a post-fight confrontation with Nick Diaz
The winner of Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit, who fight for the Interim strap at UFC 143 tomorrow night (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, is expected to unify the division titles by taking on Georges St. Pierre later this year.
But they could be facing off much sooner than that.
You know the drill by now. A fighter wins and they bring his next opponent into the Octagon as part of the post-fight interview to create drama and tension for their pending showdown. Two recent examples of this are Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans and Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin.
It may be part of the job, but St. Pierre doesn't like it.
Probably because the one time he tried to play ball, he ended up forever associated with one of the more popular expressions in UFC history, after admitting he was "not impressed by Matt Hughes' performance."
And he may like it even less if Nick Diaz is the winner. "Rush" is already walking around "Sin City" with his fists clenched and looking over his shoulder.
GSP explains his position to Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press, after the jump.
"I think it's disrespectful (to get into the cage). When a guy wins, I think it's his moment of glory and I don't want to overshadow that. He wins, he deserves that moment. I don't like to be there. I don't like confrontation. But I know it's necessary for the promotion of the sports. The UFC, they force us to do it sometimes. They love it. I'll go with the flow."
If Condit emerges victorious on Saturday night, St. Pierre will likely exchange pleasantries with the soft-spoken "Natural Born Killer" and be on his merry way.
But if Diaz wins?
Well, their post-fight showdown might be worth the price of admission in and of itself.
More on the St. Pierre vs. Diaz saga right here.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, vs, pierre, st
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White finds Nick Diaz fascinating
Finally Dana, you get it. Now that you enlightened and understand the enigma that is Nick Diaz, we implore you to read fascinating articles about Nick Diaz. We're sure you'll enjoy fine reading such as The Top Ten Most Awkward Nick Diaz Interviews, The Top Ten Curiously Interesting Videos Nick Diaz Favorited On Youtube and of course, The Top Ten Nick Diaz Moments.
That's thirty great moments total. I was counting the entire time. Due to time constraints I'm not even going to list the countless great Photoshop job's of Nick Diaz like Homey Smacks™.
We're glad you get it now, Dana. You have joined our strange little club, and this video from MMAWeekly is evidence.
[Source]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, dana, photoshop jobs
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 143 Weigh-In Results: Diaz vs. Condit
All 22 fighters taking part in UFC 143 on Saturday night will first step on the scale at the UFC 143 weigh-ins on Friday, and we'll have the live video right here at MMAFighting.com.
In the main event, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz will square off against Carlos Condit for the UFC interim welterweight championship belt. In the co-main event, Roy Nelson will battle Fabricio Werdum in a heavyweight tilt. The other three fights on the UFC 143 pay-per-view card are Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce, Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen and Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks. The weigh-in, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., begins at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and the video is below.
More Coverage: UFC 143 Fight Card | UFC 143 ResultsWalkout Shirts: Nick Diaz | Carlos Condit | Roy Nelson
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, weighin
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Breakdown: The Main Event
It has been quite a roller coaster ride for UFC 143‘s main event participants. After being scheduled to take on champion Georges St. Pierre – on two separate occasions each — a plethora of unfortunate circumstances led to Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit squaring off for the UFC interim welterweight title. On the heels of an underwhelming year on PPV, St. Pierre’s injury is a major blow for Zuffa. With the retirement of Brock Lesnar, “Rush” becomes the company’s undisputed PPV king, and losing him for one of the biggest shows of the year is going to put a significant dent in its buy-rate. And yet, the popular Canadian’s injury has oddly led to a far more compelling main event; one with legitimate potential to go down as one of the most memorable tussles in MMA history.
Interim Welterweight Title Fight: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
If nothing else, Condit’s preparation will be rendered easier by the fact that he, along with everyone else, knows what Diaz will be looking to do in this fight. The far more complicated problem of course, is actually finding a way to counter it.
As ever, Diaz will move forward, throw his trademark “peppering punches”, put together plenty of combinations, and go to the body repeatedly. This is the way the older of the Diaz brothers has always fought, and he has done remarkably well to improve upon it in recent times. While his approach and strategy remain the same, his technique has gotten significantly better. That is not to say that Diaz will ever be mistaken for a technical striker, but he has displayed glaring improvement in his boxing — namely his ability to sit on his punches and produce extra power.
Many of Diaz’s opponents have found themselves helpless against the sheer volume with which he throws, and the Stockton native will look to overwhelm Condit the same way he did to many of his previous adversaries. He will try to take advantage of his reach by establishing his jab, get his lead right hook working, and follow it up with the left — most likely to the body. In fact, Diaz’s single most dangerous punch is his left hook to the liver, and if he is to have a real chance of stopping the otherwise extremely durable Condit, the left hook to the body is the shot he will bank on.
However, for all of Diaz’s offensive improvements, his defense has remained typically shaky. His flat-footed stance means he is always a still target, which, coupled with his lack of head movement, makes him extremely susceptible to getting lit up by a talented counter-puncher. Additionally, while Diaz does well to utilize his reach effectively, he is often all too content to stand inside the pocket and trade. This almost cost him dearly against Paul Daley, and had it not been for his otherworldly chin and recovery, Diaz would have likely been separated from consciousness.
Nevertheless, Diaz remains MMA’s embodiment of the old adage: “the best defense is a good offense.” Despite the aforementioned defensive flaws, his offense is often too overwhelming for that to matter. Because of his iron chin and unlimited gas tank, Diaz can afford to keep moving forward, throw with abnormal volume, while simultaneously absorbing shots that would have been enough to stop most humans. Bizarrely, those defensive holes can at times work in Diaz’s favor, as upon seeing how open he is, opponents are often all too tempted to engage in ill-advised fire fights with him, and pay a dear price in the process. Diaz simply has a way of forcing opponents to fight his fight.
Condit needs to avoid falling victim to that trap. “The Natural Born Killer” needs to use a lot of footwork, circle away, and crucially, stay away from being trapped with his back to the fence, where Diaz could unload on him with trademark combinations. Concurrently, Condit would be wise to throw kicks liberally. He will likely look to fight “long” by utilizing plenty of body kicks (namely push kicks) from the outside to keep his opponent at bay. Most importantly however, leg kicks should be the backbone of Condit’s offense, as Diaz’s stance and unwillingness — or inability — to check them make him particularly vulnerable to getting his legs chomped on, as witnessed in his bout with Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos.
Condit will have the luxury of being the more diverse striker, as in addition to his kicks and improved boxing, he possesses some lethal knees. If he is to put Diaz away, the latter is going to be the most likely method. As such, the clinch battle could prove vital, as Diaz is sneakily good at landing short punches from close-quarters, while Condit’s knees are not something the Cesar Gracie protege wants any part of.
Against Dan Hardy, Condit displayed a brand of crisp boxing on the inside that he seemed to lack prior to that. He was able to stand inside the pocket, beat “The Outlaw” to the punch, and land clean, powerful counters, the last of which being a left hook that turned the Brit’s lights out. Should he be able to replicate that sort of counter-punching against Diaz, the bout could be his for the taking. However, doing so while absorbing minimal damage will be substantial, as Condit will inevitably slow down if he is to take too many of Diaz’s shots to the body.
Diaz’s historically iffy takedown defense could result in Condit taking the fight to the ground at some point. Diaz is guilty of being too comfortable off of his back, as he isn’t urgent enough in his attempts to get back to his feet and instead relies on throwing submissions from the bottom. However, Diaz does make up for it with excellent scrambling. Condit’s top game is often too aggressive, and Diaz could well use that to his advantage if he finds himself on the bottom. As such, the Team Jackson product needs to be more methodical in his attempts to pass the guard — something he is unlikely to have too much success with against a grappler of Diaz’s caliber to begin with — and perhaps be a bit more content to stay tight, and land short elbows from inside the guard.
Diaz holds an edge in cardio over most fighters in the division, but Condit’s stamina has never been an issue, and he has repeatedly proven that he is more than able to go the distance, and at times get stronger as the fight progresses. That however, could change if his opponent is able to put it on him early, as Diaz’s style has a tendency to take a toll on his foes.
If Diaz is to win this fight, he needs to pile up the pressure, tag Condit continuously, avoid the incoming counters, and wear him out. On the other hand, Condit needs to take Diaz’s legs away early and take over the fight from there. Which is more likely to happen is anybody’s guess, but it is just difficult to pick against Nick Diaz at the moment, least of all in a five-round fight.
Official Prediction: Nick Diaz to defeat Carlos Condit by Decision
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, diaz, opponent, condit, body
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz's straightforward fight approach defies crazy portrayal (Yahoo! Sports)
Welterweight contender Nick Diaz doesn't follow the mold for MMA fighters, putting him in a class of his own.
Posted in: diaz, nick, mma fighters, nick diazs, fight approach
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsReminder: 'UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit' concludes tonight on FX
As a reminder, 'UFC Primetime' returns to FX tonight in anticipation of UFC 143's interim championship main event.
The well-received three-part series focuses on former Strikeforce champ
Nick Diaz and former WEC titleholder Carlos Condit, who headline Saturday's UFC 143 event.
The first two episodes provided insight into both fighter's lives, and
UFC president Dana White promises even more drama in the final episode,
including a series of missed flights by Diaz, as well as both
competitors tapping into their "dark side" as they get ready for the
fight.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, series, fighters lives
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Staff Predictions
Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit
Brent Brookhouse: I keep wanting to pick Condit here and then I think of all these reasons not to. Diaz has the relentless attack on the feet and solid grappling on the ground. But there's something that just keeps sticking out for me and that's that I really think Condit's wrestling is being overlooked here. I really do think he has it in him to score takedowns and do damage from the top while being cautious enough to not get caught in a submission. Diaz is going to have great moments and absolutely could (and probably even should) win the fight. That's not hedging my bet, it's just accepting reality. But in the end I think Condit can do enough to win a very close decision by working an underrated takedown/ground and pound attack. Carlos Condit by decision.
Leland Roling: After Nick Diaz completely destroyed B.J. Penn, it's difficult to see a path of victory for a fighter such as Carlos Condit. While he does possess solid wrestling, above average striking, adept grappling chops, and toughness, Diaz is a well-oiled machine that doesn't even stop when Paul Daley lands an atomic bomb on the chin. Lemme correct that. He stops for a split second, gets up, then continues wailing on his opponent. Unless Condit can smother Diaz with positional dominance for the entire fight, I see Diaz battering Condit to victory. Nick Diaz via TKO, Round 3.
Anton Tabuena: My prediction, the fans win regardless cause this will be a great bout no matter how it turns out... As for the fight itself, I think Condit will win the earlier moments, but Diaz will be able to take those shots, then overwhelm him when he gets to set his pace, and make it a Diaz-type of fight. Nick Diaz by late TKO.
Fraser Coffeen: Though I have tried, I just can't see a path to a Condit victory here. Diaz is very hard to KO and he's significantly better on the ground. That just leaves a decision, but I don't see Condit being able to withstand the Diaz barrage for 25 minutes, much less withstand it AND outpoint him at the same time. This should be a great fight, and Condit will make it fun, but I can't see any other outcome. Nick Diaz by TKO, round 4.
Tim Burke: I see two ways Condit wins. One is that bomb he dropped Hardy with, because as much as people point to Nick's stellar chin all the time, he does get dropped a fair amount. The other is something I hadn't thought about until a jiu-jitsu guy from Santa Cruz mentioned it - Condit could stop him via cuts. Both are pretty low-percentage though. I think Nick wears him down with his relentless attack, and Condit will try and tangle on the ground in the latter half of the fight due to losing the standup. And...Diaz will submit him. Yup, I said it. Nick Diaz by submission, round 4.
T.P. Grant: Both Condit and Diaz are great fighters, but at this point I feel Diaz is just better in most regards. Could Condit knock Diaz out? Certainly, Diaz's defensive fundamentals are not present at all and Condit has the killer instinct to be the first guy to finish Diaz. But to really hit Diaz, you have to find time in between punches to throw your own. I think Diaz digs to the body wears Condit down. Nick Diaz by TKO, Round 4.
Ben Thapa: In my head, this is the kind of fight that should be one of the first few videos people cue up to their friends and make new MMA fans. People should be proselytizing with Diaz and Condit fights to begin with, but this could be the modern equivalent of the Frank Shamrock/Tito Ortiz match that got me seriously into the sport. I spent quite a bit of time rambling about narratives and the one storyline I believe has the momentum and the power to continue on in victory is that of Nick Diaz. His boxing, his tenacity, the doubtful impact Condit's kicks are going to have and the pace should have his hand raised in victory. Nick Diaz, KO, Round 4.
David Castillo: As great as this fight is on paper, I'm having trouble really predicting how it'll actually play out. I suspect it won't be quite as chaotic as people think. Both guys, despite being in a lot of great fights are more calculated then they're given credit for, and a lot of those wars have come against fighters who caught them ala Condit/Ellenberger and Diaz/Daley. Still, I think Nick takes this fight. I would have picked Condit, but after watching Diaz beat Penn, I just don't see Carlos weathering the storm over the course of five rounds. And Nick has shown some newfound instincts in being interested in preventing the takedown, and getting right back up: even though Condit isn't a great wrestler to begin with. Even so, Nick is more polished on the ground. Nick keeps the fight standing, and Condit dies by the thousand cuts. Nick Diaz by decision.
Dallas Winston: There are so many weird parallels here to Nate's fight with Cerrone, and I envision the same outcome. Condit is an aggressive, slightly stronger (physically), Muay Thai technician with sick BJJ. I just see Nick trudging into phone-booth range with his incessant and off-tempo boxing and completely owning the rhythm. This match up features a scintillating medley of impenetrable chins, fluid BJJ, technical brawling and raw toughness; I give Nick a fraction of an edge in each category. Nick Diaz by decision.
Staff Picking Diaz: Fraser, Anton, Tim, Grant, Leland, Ben, David, DallasStaff Picking Condit: BrentStaff Picking the Fans: Roth, (And Anton)
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Roy Nelson vs Fabricio Werdum
Brent Brookhouse: I'd roll with picking Nelson if I trusted him to be able to fight at a high level for three full rounds. But I think we're to the point now where we need to start really treating the whole "looks are deceiving, Nelson has great cardio" talk as what it is. A myth. Nelson is fine when he's controlling the action, but Werdum was confident enough in his striking to have moments against Overeem, if he'd have not abandoned it for the butt scoot. The opening for a knockout is there for Roy, but it's a fast closing window as the fight wears on. Werdum can pick his way to an ugly decision win. Fabricio Werdum by decision.
Leland Roling: The argument against Werdum winning is rooted heavily on Junior dos Santos knocking him out of the UFC back at UFC 117. For some reason, Werdum's chin has been questionable ever since despite going 3-1 in his next 4 fights and going to decision with power puncher Alistair Overeem. Nelson has knockout power, but he's far from an elite striker. Werdum beats him wherever he wants, but I think it turns into a stand-up affair with Werdum edging Nelson the scorecards. Fabricio Werdum via decision
Anton Tabuena: Tough fight to pick, and I expect this to be a really close bout. Werdum has better BJJ, but I don't think he'll be able to keep Nelson down or submit him, and I don't think he can knock him out either. So I think his only path is to outpoint him, and while that can very well happen, I think it would be hard for him to spend 15 minutes trying to avoid that right hand. I'm going with the upset, Roy Nelson by KO.
Fraser Coffeen: This fight gives me troubles. On the one hand, I think Werdum is the superior striker, the superior grappler, and should take this. But he also isn't great about protecting his head, which is bad against a heavy one punch KO guy like Big Roy. He also has a habit of fighting off his back, which is frowned on by judges. So there are a lot of ways Roy can win, and I have a tough time picturing how Werdum wins. All that said, I think Werdum is faster and has more dimensions, so gets it done, but it's close. Fabricio Werdum by decision
Tim Burke: I don't really see this is a a close fight at all. Werdum is better everywhere. Yes, Werdum could get caught by the big right hand, but honestly, Werdum has a good chin despite his defensive woes. His standup still looks sloppy, but it's a lot more varied than Roy's. If Roy works a takedown and tries out his top game, he COULD ride out a decision. But I highly doubt that. It's not going to be a pretty fight, but it's Werdum's to lose. Fabricio Werdum by decision.
T.P. Grant: Werdum struggles with elite strikers who are difficult to take down and good enough on the ground to stand back up. That is not Roy Nelson. Big Country has passable striking, but nothing special and has good top control but he isn't going to stick Werdum in a crucifix position. I think if he tries to roll with Werdum on the mat Nelson will get tapped out. Fabricio Werdum by Submission, Round 3.
Ben Thapa: I believe Roy Nelson will come out and try to implement the same gameplan he had against Two Saints. It likely has a better chance of working too. Werdum is more vulnerable to the takedowns against the cage and Nelson certainly isn't going to get knocked out by Werdum's punches. That being said, I think Werdum fights off the takedowns and barely outpoints Nelson, who'll be hunting the big right hand while recuperating from the energy expended trying to drive Werdum down without giving any limbs up for grabs. It pains me to vote against the Battle Beard, but I'm picking the rangier guy with the better ground game here. Werdum, decision.
David Castillo: Werdum absolutely baffles me. One minute he's going toe to toe with Overeem (in whatever sense you want to interpret that), and the next minute he's getting picked apart by Gonzaga (2nd fight, before the TKO), and Silva (early). I think this is a pretty good matchup for Nelson. He can avoid being submitted, and he packs that raw power that should come in handy against the still awkward-on-the-feet looking Werdum. However, Werdum has a habit of simply getting it done. I have to think he'll get it done against Nelson, who to me didn't look all that great last time. Fabricio Werdum by decision.
Dallas Winston: Big Country is a high level grappler but a master of position rather than submissions. Werdum's credentials trump Nelson's, which only leaves Nelson with landing the overhand meathook, and Werdum compensates for a lack of power in his Muay Thai with excellent quickness for a heavy. Fabricio Werdum by decision.
Staff Picking Nelson: AntonStaff Picking Werdum: Fraser, Tim, Grant, Leland, Brookhouse, Ben, David, Roth, Dallas
Josh Koscheck vs Mike Pierce
Brent Brookhouse: I think Tim nails it a few picks down. While Pierce is good, Koscheck is better. If Pierce wins I think it's only if Koscheck gets stupid and I think this is the kind of fight Josh takes far more often than loses. Josh Koscheck by TKO, round 2.
Leland Roling: As far as underdog picks go, Mike Pierce is as legitimate as they come. And Matt Hughes was absolutely outstriking Josh Koscheck until the hammer landed. So, the possibility is there for Pierce to take advantage of Koscheck's obsession with landing the knockout blow. In this fight, Koscheck must wrestle to win. If he doesn't, we could be in for a shocker. Josh Koscheck via decision.
Anton Tabuena: Pierce always has a chance to upset anyone with his style of fighting, but Koscheck is just the better fighter overall. Josh Koscheck by Decision.
Fraser Coffeen: A part of me is still thinking about Fitch/Hendricks and wanting to pick Pierce for the upset, but no. Koscheck is just a lot better, that's all there is to it. Josh Koscheck by KO, round 1.
Tim Burke: Pierce is good. Koscheck is better. Kos is still lazy with his standup and could get caught Sam The Eagle-style again, but I don't see it happening here. Kos will get 15 minutes of cage time in and move onto bigger and better things (like Carlos Condit). Josh Koscheck by decision.
T.P. Grant: I want to pick Pierce. We didn't see Kos really get hit against Hughes, and his surgically repaired eye will be a target for Pierce. That said, Kos is just a better overall fighter, and while I think the fight is competitive, Kos comes out on top. Josh Koscheck by Decision.
Ben Thapa: Knocking out Matt Hughes is not meaningless. BJ Penn gave Diaz a heck of a fight for a while and lost to Diaz 29-28. At the same time, Pierce doesn't get knocked out. He gets outwrestled and outstruck. Koscheck is capable of both, but probably not at the same time. Given his recent pattern of fights, I think Koscheck looks to outstrike Pierce and drops a round while doing it. The upset is certainly possible for Pierce if he can put Koscheck down like St-Pierre did. Koscheck, decision.
David Castillo: Fools. All of you. Well, not really, but I think this is the easiest upset pick of all time. Mike Pierce gave Hendricks and Fitch all they could handle, except both are more durable than Koscheck and can take a much better punch than Koscheck, whose knockout losses to guys like Thiago, and what's-his-face from the TUF card way back when still linger. Pierce will get in his face, and land strikes on Koscheck, who will be rattled early and often. The fact that Kos will have a hard time getting the fight to the ground, and that he loves to indulge the same left jab-right hand combo means Pierce will get his chances. I'll look stupid when Pierce loses. But not this time. Mike Pierce by TKO, round 2.
Dallas Winston: I haven't been able to mull this fight over yet. It's not that I'm unimpressed with Koscheck's wins -- but AJ, Semtex and Hughes are his only of significance and he struggles against other elite fighters. I just don't know if Pierce is elite. He can't hang with Koscheck's wrestling, but should stuff his share of takedowns or nullify a few with escapes. Pierce isn't a big power striker but has a nice in-fighting arsena, good, quick elbows and he's never been finished. I'll make my official prediction in the upcoming Dissection but will go bold in the interim. Mike Pierce by TKO.
Staff Picking Koscheck: Fraser, Anton, Tim, Grant, Leland, Brookhouse, Ben, RothStaff Picking Pierce: David, Dallas*
Renan Barao vs Scott Jorgensen
Brent Brookhouse: This is a really great fight. Jorgensen is a really rugged guy who can go in there and mix it up in an exciting fight with anyone, but he's a flawed enough fighter that Barao's game can exploit some holes. He's much less of a defensive puzzle like Cruz, but more of an attacking force that I think Jorgensen can't withstand for three rounds. Renan Barao by submission, round 3.
Leland Roling: At a glance, I'd go with Jorgensen's experience and wrestling to work over Barao. But beating down Brad Pickett in impressive fashion is no small feat. Barao showed us improvements in that fight, and I think we'll see more against Jorgensen. Renan Barao via decision.
Anton Tabuena: Jorgensen is not good enough to beat Dominick Cruz, but he's still better than almost every single bantamweight out there, and I think that includes Barao. Scott Jorgensen by Decision.
Fraser Coffeen: Like Werdum/Nelson, this one is a tough pick. Jorgensen is really good, with great wrestling and ability to control the fight. He has the skills to grind Barao down here. But so did Pickett on paper, and he got smashed. Barao has the momentum, and I think that, plus his sub games, wins the day here. Renan Barao by submission, round 1.
Tim Burke: Again, I don't see this as all that close. While I've always really liked Jorgensen and root for him, he's in over his head here (literally). Barao's too athletic and Scotty's going have major trouble getting his hands on him. I really think Barao is the guy to give Dominick Cruz a real fight, and he'll prove it here by winning a handy decision over Jorg. Or He'll catch him in a leglock. I'll go with the more likely outcome. Renan Barao by decision.
T.P. Grant: Barao's win streak is amazing, but I'm thinking it ends here. Jorgensen is still a great fighter can beat any Bantamweight not named Dominick Cruz on any given night. Jorgensen is going to grind Barao in the clinch and from top position. Scott Jorgensen by Decision.
Ben Thapa: Jorgensen is going to come in with the intent to wrestle Barao into the ground and fully aware of the power of Barao's knees. If Barao's handlers are as smart as I think they are, they had him working with Grey Maynard when he was in town for Jose Aldo's training camp. Barao's coach, Jair Lourenco, must be a brilliant teacher because I've not seen someone skip steps and go right to the finish in striking or jiu jitsu so successfully before in MMA. As good as Jorgensen is, I don't think he can ward off Barao for a full three rounds. Something is going to slip through and when it does, Barao finishes. Barao, KO, Round 2.
David Castillo: Awesome fight. I'm tempted to pick Scott because I think he do to Barao what he did to Curran. It's easy to be mesmerized by Renao's win over Pickett, and pretend he's the better fighter just because he's the hotter fighter but...no wait, yea that win was damn amazing. Still, I think Jorgensen will fight the conservative fight, and that'll make it tough for Barao, but I think momentum is on his side, along with the fact that he continues to improve while Scott is more or less the same fighter he's been for the last year or two. Renan Barao by decision.
Dallas Winston: I would've liked to had the time to scrutinize Jorg's fight with Curran because I thought there was a legit case for "Big Frog" taking the decision. I thought he out-struck him in the second and third and forced Jorgensen to freeze from the top with dynamic guard activity. Barao might have not have the same level of takedown defense, but his offense is scintillating and Jorgensen's best way to win is least favored by fans. Renan Barao by decision.
Staff Picking Barao: Fraser, Tim, Leland, Brookhouse, Ben, David, Roth, DallasStaff Picking Jorgensen: Anton, Grant
Ed Herman vs Clifford Starks
Brent Brookhouse: I really find something neat about Ed Herman's UFC stint. He's been mostly forgettable as a "lost in the shuffle guy" or a "long injury layoff guy" but has finished five of his six UFC wins over some very tough names. Starks is going to get trashed. Ed Herman by TKO, round 1.
Leland Roling: Starks is a one-trick pony while Herman has consistently improved inside the Octagon. He has more tools, is more technical in both the stand-up and ground departments, and has fought better competition. No brainer. Ed Herman via submission.
Fraser Coffeen: As much as I'd like to see the newcomer get ahead of the veteran midcarder, I don't see it happening. Starks will want to use his wrestling to win, but Herman is too experienced, too wise to let that happen. Look for Herman to avoid the takedown, get back to his feet, and outstrike Starks over 3 rounds. Ed Herman by decision.
Tim Burke: Herman beasted Credeur and Noke, both solid fighters. As Fraser said, Starks will have to rely on his wrestling, and that's not easy against a (former) TQ guy. I like the new savage Herman, and it's going to continue Saturday night. Ed Herman by TKO, round 2.
T.P. Grant: Herman has been impressive of late and is riding some good momentum. Herman seems more well rounded than Starks. Herman may drop a round, but I think he wins at least two. Ed Herman by Decision.
Ben Thapa: Starks took that fight with Jacoby on short notice. We have not seen him at his best and he'll certainly come in this bout in better shape and with more energy than the grindfest we saw last time out. That being said, Herman has finally gotten over the knee injuries that kept him sidelined for so long and has put together some unusually good finishes. I'm hoping he can deal with the wrestling and get a leg like he did against Noke, but it may be trickier if Starks doesn't look to take many chances. I think Starks can pull off the UD and play it relatively safe. Herman won't be able to stand up or get a limb. Starks, decision.
David Castillo: Herman is the guy that manages to win when it seems like no one else is looking. No one will be looking at him or Starks. Herman is simply the better fighter, and I think he'll get it to the ground and score the submission. Ed Herman by submission, round 2.
Dallas Winston: All of Herman's UFC losses are extremely respectable. He's better everywhere but in pure wrestling and is quite dangerous from his guard. Ed Herman by submission.
Staff Picking Herman: Fraser, Anton, Tim, Grant, Leland, Brookhouse, David, Roth, DallasStaff Picking Starks: Ben
Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway
Brent Brookhouse: Takedown, violent ground and pound, game over. Dustin Poirier by TKO, round 1.
Leland Roling: Holloway is a fun fighter, full of energy and an insane pace. If Poirier tries to stand and bang with him, it might get risky for him. If he's smart, however, he'll recognize Holloway's weaknesses on the ground. Rooting for Holloway here, but Poirier has more experience and the means to exploit Holloway's weaknesses. Dustin Poirier via submission.
Tim Burke: Damn you, injuries. If Poirier vs. Erik Koch had actually happened, the main card would have been AMAZING. Unfortunately for both of them, Poirier is now on the undercard against a 20-year-old Hawaiian (the youngest fighter in the UFC) with just 4 fights of pro experience. He has some amateur experience, but still. Poirier is way too much, too soon for Holloway. Dustin Poirier by submission, round 1.
T.P. Grant: Holloway is a blitzing banger with out much ground work. He has great hand speed and good boxing, but he just doesn't have the ground skills to hang on this level. Poirier gets him down once, the fight is over. Dustin Poirier by Submission, Round 1.
Ben Thapa: Holloway is going to want to drive the pace in this fight through the stratosphere. Poirier should be able to recognize that and plant Holloway down to keep things more sedate and under control. As that happens again and again, Poirier should be able to get a submission finish on the frenetic Holloway. Poirier, submission, Round 2.
David Castillo: Poirier is part of a very small stable of contenders to Aldo's throne. While I don't think he's ready now, and probably not ever given how awesome Aldo has looked, he's still beyond most in the division, and it's simply criminal to expect Holloway, who is completely inexperienced, to be a proper opponent. The Kock fight would have been insane. Dustin Poirier by submission, round 1.
Dallas Winston: Holloway's insanely frenetic striking should make him a fan-fave. Still, this is a cat with four fights being thrust into the limelight against a top-ten featherweight. Also, Holloway goes by "Lil Evil" and that is borderline blasphemy. Some things are just sacred. Dustin Poirier by submission.
Staff Picking Poirier: Fraser, Anton, Tim, Grant, Leland, Ben, David, Roth, DallasStaff Picking Holloway:
Alex Caceres vs Edwin Figueroa
Brent Brookhouse: Yeah, I'm not believing in the Alex Caceres improved ground game thing off one fight. He's still weak there and he'll get finished. Edwin Figueroa by submission, round 1.
Leland Roling: Incredibly, Caceres made us all eat crow in his last outing against Cole Escovedo. But that doesn't change anything yet. He needs one more test, and Figueroa should provide that. I can't get on the Cacares bandwagon yet, but that could change if he beats Edwin. Edwin Figueroa via TKO.
Anton Tabuena: Yes I'm picking Bruce Leeroy. I know it's probably a stupid decision that will lower my prediction percentage, but Figueroa's lone UFC win was against Jason Reinhardt, and Caceres just beat Escovedo. I will probably regret this pick a few seconds after the fight starts, but I'm still picking Alex Caceres by Decision.
Tim Burke: Figueroa is a beast on the feet. He hung with Mayday for three rounds in a hell of a fight, and blasted Jason Reinhardt (not much of an accomplishment, I know). Well, Cacares is Reinhardt-level of opponent to me (ie. punching bag). Cacares is a much better standup fighter than ground fighter though, so at least he has that going for him. Still though. It's Alex Cacares. Figueroa drops him and submits him. Nighty night. Edwin Figueroa by submission, round 2.
T.P. Grant: Really? Alex Caceres? Really? No. Stop it. Edwin Figueroa by TKO, Round 2.
Ben Thapa: That MacDonald fight is why I'm picking Figueroa here. Lots of spirit, better technique and more savvy movement. Caceres has a charmed streak going here and it was more Escovedo being awful than Caceres being good in that match. Figueroa, KO, Round 1.
David Castillo: I'm not on the Caceres bandwagon like everybody else, but I can't deny the improvements in his game. Even though Escovedo was a zombie in that fight, I was still impressed with how he dominated Cole when it got there. Figueroa beating Reinhardt means a lot less than Cacares beating a foot in the coffin Escovedo. I wouldn't mind being wrong, but watching Edwin indulge with MacDonald makes me suspect he'll indulge with Cacares' silly parlor tricks. Alex Caceres by decision.
Dallas Winston: I just see Caceres as a diamond in the rough that is slowly being polished. He's tough as nails and has always shown great instincts for the game, and now his frame (5'9") and length (73" reach) is an advantage at bantamweight because he's still lightning quick. It could be uncharacteristic in retrospect, but I keep imagining the ghastly haymakers Figueroa was hurling in round one against McDonald, whose hands were too fast. The glow ... Alex Caceres by decision.
Staff Picking Caceres: Anton, David, DallasStaff Picking Figueroa: Fraser, Tim, Grant, Leland, Brookhouse, Ben, Roth
Matt Riddle vs Henry Martinez
Brent Brookhouse: I guess I'm picking Riddle, but good god...the horrors of his stand-up game. Matt Riddle by decision.
Tim Burke: Martinez is a natural lightweight out of Jackson's camp. Riddle is a large welterweight with good wrestling and bad standup. I'm just gonna go with the bigger man. Matt Riddle by decision.
T. P. Grant: Still waiting for Matt Riddle to do something with his physical abilities and I wonder about his maturity. He started out 5-1 in the UFC and looked to be a solid prospect but it has been a year and half since a win for him. Riddle may be fighting for his job for the first time and I think he may finally be fighting hungry again. Matt Riddle by TKO, Round 3.
Ben Thapa: The size differential is too big here. Riddle should hopefully not be fighting a hallucination of an opponent who stands three inches closer than his actual opponent this time and showcase his wrestling and standup. Riddle, decision.
David Castillo: What everyone else said. Riddle is the much bigger guy, and will be able to bully Martinez. Riddle is never a sure thing, especially with that Billy Blanks crap, but he doesn't need to be sharp to egt the victory in this one. Matt Riddle by decision.
Dallas Winston: MMAMania juggernaut "Ain't No Sunshine" threw me off when he said Martinez, a Greg Jackson product, had a pile of solid wrestling/grappling credentials and was a BJJ black belt. "This is our concern, dude." I give Riddle a little leeway for losing to two deceivingly game newcomers in Benoist and Pierson and respect his resilience for turning it around in the third against Benoist. By God, he will not abide another toe, sir. Matt Riddle by decision.
Staff Picking Riddle: Tim, Grant, Leland, Brookhouse, Ben, David, Roth, DallasStaff Picking Martinez: Fraser, Anton
Matt Brown vs Chris Cope
Brent Brookhouse: There are some really, truly bad fighters (from a "fighting in the UFC perspective") on this card. And Cope is probably the worst of them. Matt Brown by submission, round 2.
Leland Roling: Seriously.. Joe Silva must LOVE Matt Brown. Matt Brown via decision.
Tim Burke: U-G-L-Y, this fight ain't got no alibi. It's ugly. Cope has never shown a submission game. Brown's been submitted nine times. Guess that one's out. Brown likes to take guys down if he can. Cope's only real skill is takedown defense. Okay. So we're got a standnbang. Who wins? I'm not gonna go with the TKD guy, that's for sure. So...Matt Brown by decision.
T.P. Grant: Do I really have to pick between two TUF washouts? I'll go with Brown based purely on experience. Matt Brown by Decision.
Ben Thapa: I suspect if I pick against Brown, I may not come back from the PPV party I'm headed to on Saturday night. Jamey, this one's for keeping me safe in your house that night. Hopefully, Brown has wised up to his own atrocious submission defense and keeps this fight standing where he can let his natural craziness go and do something that leads to a win. Brown, sub, Round 3.
David Castillo: Matt Brown may be a journeyman but he's a journeyman technician, whereas Chris Cope is just a journeyman. From TUF. Matt Brown by submission, round 2.
Dallas Winston: Damn ... tough crowd. I will continue to call Matt Brown "The American Kazushi Sakuraba" even though it makes absolutely no sense. He's a killer on the feet, he roasted John Howard in the clinch (and hit a nice foot sweep on him), Hume has improved his offensive grappling but -- obviously -- his sub defense needs some work. Cope can't exploit that, but he kind of grew on me as a poor man's Chuck Liddell for his methodical sprawl-and-brawl. Plus, I respect the comments he gave on Brown leading up to this fight. Matt Brown. "Like water." Matt Brown by TKO.
Staff Picking Brown: Fraser, Anton, Tim, Grant, Leland, Brookhouse, Ben, David, Roth, DallasStaff Picking Cope:
Dan Stittgen vs Stephen Thompson
Brent Brookhouse: Drag that this one isn't going to be on the FX portion of the card. Stephen Thompson by TKO, round 2.
Leland Roling: Scouting Report, holla! Stephen Thompson via KO.
Tim Burke: Thompson has like 738 straight victories in kickboxing, and 5 in MMA. Great standup. Trains BJJ with Carlos Machado too. Stittgen is a grappler that trains with Clay Guida. How good is Stittgen's wrestling? Dunno. I'll go with Thompson though, since he isn't your average straight kickboxer. Stephen Thompson by TKO, round 1.
T.P. Grant: Most BE readers have heard about Thompson's kickboxing background. An elite striker who also is receiving top notch grappling coaching, Thompson is lethal when he finds his timing and range. Stittgen has a tendency to blitz opponents, but I doubt he can keep up that pace for three rounds or finish Thompson. I think Thompson survives early assault and then finishes after Stittgen slows down. Stephen Thompson by TKO, Round 2.
Ben Thapa: Like Grant says, Thompson has to get past the blitz and then settle into the groove. I think he can do it and we will see one of the better striking exhibitions for a round a half before Stittgen succumbs. Thompson, KO, Round 2.
David Castillo: Thankfully this fight will make the telecast because this fight will end early given the violence the two men's games allows. Stephen Thompson by TKO, round 1.
Dallas Winston: Odd that Thompson will get a clean sweep by the staff, because I think the match up favors Stittgen. Thompson's kickboxing is not the type that transfers well to MMA: it's an upright, hands-low, kicking-centric style that's deadly from the perimeter. Stittgen is a mean, stocky little bull with good boxing and power in tight quarters, plus he seems to be a savvy submission wrestler. I think he's the safer pick, but we all want to see "Wonderboy" go all John Makdessi in his debut. Stephen Thompson by TKO.
Staff Picking Stittgen:Staff Picking Thompson: Fraser, Anton, Tim, Grant, Leland, Brookhouse, David, Roth, Dallas
Rafael Natal vs Michael Kuiper
Leland Roling: I was ready to pick Kuiper, but then I remembered... he wasn't exactly our highest pick for the Scouting Report before he was signed, and that was mostly based on the fact that he's unproven against better competition. He's crushed every can in Western Europe, but can he blow away an improving Rafael Natal? I can't take a chance yet. Rafael Natal via decision.
Tim Burke: I've been high on Kuiper for a while now. Wow, that sentence sounded weird. Anyway, I used to think Natal was quite good, but he doesn't really fight up to his skill level. Kuiper's judo will either keep it standing or put him on top if he so chooses, and I think he can win the standup over a somewhat-sloppy Sapo. Say that three times fast. I'm calling the upset. Michael Kuiper by decision.
T.P. Grant: After watching Kuiper I was quite impressed at how well rounded his skills appear to be. I think Judo guys have a very tough transition to MMA between taking off the gi and the restrictive rules of modern Judo but Kuiper appears to have navigated it quite well. Natal presented the biggest challenge Kuiper has faced and on the ground I think Natal enjoys a sizable edge, if he can get to top position. I think Kuiper works a stand up fight, keeping things on the feet, but mixing in a few throws to keep Natal honest. Michael Kuiper by Decision.
Ben Thapa: Going with the Brazilian decision machine here. As long as he worked his wallwalking skills, Natal should take this easily from Kuiper. I do like Kuiper's long term potential (The kid's 22 years old!) and think that his attitude of focusing on his striking will help him progress faster than if he went the other route and tried to judo his way up the ladder. Too bad he has to run into Sapo this early. Natal, decision.
David Castillo: Natal has thankfully shored up what holes his game had. That doesn't make him a great fighter, but it does make him a deceptively well rounded fighter. He throws with authority on the feet, and is seasoned on the ground. Kuiper's no pushover, especially for a guy like Natal, but I think he'll pick up the competitive win in this one. Rafael Natal by decision.
Dallas Winston: Kuiper has big power on the feet but I'd say Natal, especially when restricting himself to short, controlled bursts, probably has the more polished striking. Kuiper also looks really smooth for a young purple belt and his newaza is strong, yet he was still taken down a few times fighting on the European circuit. The key for Natal is to refrain from dropping his hands when throwing those four and five-piece combos that get a little sloppy and respecting Kuiper's power. I think "Sapo" can latch a sub in a scramble. Rafael Natal by submission.
Staff Picking Natal: Fraser, Anton, Leland, Ben, David, Roth, DallasStaff Picking Kuiper: Tim, Grant, Brookhouse
Posted in: fight, diaz, round, decision, werdum
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThe MMA Tete-A-Tete: Predicting UFC 143 Buy Rates And Fight Outcomes
Luke Thomas and I have been doing these video chats for a couple of weeks over at MMA Nation and now I'm dragging them back to BE. We're calling them The MMA Tete-A-Tete: Coarsening the Discourse and you can see the whole collection on Luke's YouTube playlist.
In this installment we talk about the marketing of UFC 143 and make our predictions for Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
We also discuss:
What's going on with SBN MMA, ie Luke's move to MMA Fighting and what's happening to MMA Nation
The Fox/FX/Fuel TV deal so far
UFC 143 PPV prospects
The mis-marketing of Nate Diaz and Nate's idea for an NFL Films style of UFC documentary film-making.
Transcript of some of the better parts and part 2 of the video after the jump. Luke apologizes for messing up the dual screen and making my giant bollum head the focus of the video and my wife apologizes for trying to walk into the house while we're recording this. Yeah we're bloggers. Thanks to Brian Hemminger for transcribing.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Luke Thomas: Alright, so you were talking about Nick Diaz so before we get out of there, let's wrap up on that. The final thought, I made my case that, yeah, listen I understand why they're marketing him that way, but I'm not buying the angle. Your last take on it before we move on.
Nate Wilcox: Well, my last take on it is this. The UFC has a problem in that they overmarket the violence of their fights consistently. You know how everybody remixes CDs nowadays so that's it's always the loudest thing you've ever heard on your MP3 player? It used to be there was a lot of contrast in a CD mix where it would go from quiet to loud and now everything is loud all the time even if it's some twerp with a guitar, it comes on like louder than Slayer in your headphones and the UFC is at that same level. They're always at that high band wavelength like, "Gahhh! This is a crazy fight! Boom! Boom! Knockout! Limp Bizkit...blah!" and it's just, it just becomes white noise after a while. You could have the second coming of Mike Tyson in MMA and he could be grabbing people by the hair and slamming them into his knee and have these spectacular piledriver knockouts and they would only be able to market him as violent as they do Josh Koscheck right now because the way they sell the violence and so I think they need to tone it back a little bit and mix up their music and the frenetic pace of the editing when they sell. Show some Nick Diaz in a medium length shot beating the crap out of Frank Shamrock or B.J. Penn with just a sustained beating or the Paul Daley fight. Have no sound or just the sounds of the punches. Show that, the ballet of the fistic violence. Let's see that and let's see it in a way where it has some impact and not just a wash of overemphasized hype. Let's save the hype of the violence for the really spectacular moments. Luke Thomas: And I think the best way to tell somebody about something, at least about fighters is to show them through their fights. Have them explain themselves and what they were doing. I don't mean in a procedural way but, "He said something to you there. What did he say and how did that make you feel?" They do that sometimes on their countdown shows but they only allude to their moments. Boxing is so good with that, now boxing lends themselves more to it because boxing has 12 rounds and the rounds are shorter and there's these little dramatized moments but the drama unfolds like a new chapter every new round and okay, we've got a three round fight. It's a little harder to do but they last a long time and five round fights, it's definitely possible. Somebody should just do a book called ‘Fight Stories' and you take the better fighters like the Shogun-Henderson fight or the Couture-Rizzo fight and have somebody sit down with both those guys and have them walk through when they got kicked in the gut and how it shot pain through the arches of my feet and I looked at the clock and it said 2:27 and I thought, "Oh no!" talking about fear and trepidation. That's when guys, they may put on a poker face and when the UFC shows those clips of guys getting knocked out, that's spectacular to see Carlos Condit knock out Dong Hyun Kim but it's kabuki theater at the end of the day. I don't want to see kabuki theater in the highlight reels. I wanna hear about the drama of a bout and when you live it live, watching the Shogun-Henderson fight live was fucking thrilling. If you can recreate the feeling you had when you saw that fight, there's no better way to sell somebody. There's no better way to sell MMA and frankly, it doesn't just make it entertaining, it legitimizes the fighters, it humanizes the fighters because they're giving you the human element of it, even if they're human element is kind of crazy and it legitimizes the sport. I think a dramatic component missing and frankly, I keep coming back to it and you're gonna kick my ass for it but listen, to promote a fight, there's a lot of different ways to do it and that pro wrestling model of theatrics and this, that and the other, at the end of the day, it's unserious. And I'm not saying it has to be like we're discussing Plato. I don't mean chinscratching serious but I mean a little more thoughtful. When you get that kind of content, you get just enough. Not too far but just enough and I think that's a great, great, great way to sell sports fighters, UFC and the fights, themselves. Nate Wilcox: We were talking about this in a chat earlier this week between the two of us and I think it was the missing piece to me. People have complained for a long time about the UFC having an inability to create stars. They had the initial wave of the Chuck Liddells and the Randy Coutures that came out with The Ultimate Fighter, the only stars they really made were GSP and Brock Lesnar and Brock Lesnar came from the WWE fully made so really just GSP is the only star.Luke Thomas: [Jon] Jones is getting close. Jones is getting close.Nate Wilcox: Jones is on the verge but he isn't quite there yet. They have this inability and I realize when we were talking about the storytelling, I'm like, "They don't do enough to talk about the fights."When they do the countdowns, they do a lot of footage of the training camps and the back stories and lives of these guys but frankly, that's not what's interesting about these guys. What I would like to see is an NFL films style approach. Imagine if they had a documentary film crew at every event doing some behind the scenes and doing some new footage. That's the thing about NFL films that's so killer. You watch the game on ESPN or CBS or whatever and you see a lot of great live coverage but then when you see the NFL films version a week later, it's a whole new version shot on film. Different angles, different sounds. They really mic the field. Imagine if they were micing the Octagon, just the Octagon, tuning out the crowd and sometimes maybe even tuning in the crowd to give the impression of what the fighters hear when the crowd roars and they can't hear anything else but if you can hear every grunt, the kind of things these guys are saying to each other in the clinch, the bone-thudding impact of the punches, that would be tremendously dramatic. NFL Films is what made me a football fan as a kid. Those films every Saturday that would make the Oakland Raiders or the Dallas Cowboys into mythical figures. Randy White wasn't just a pretty good defensive tackle, he was a fucking force of nature that came roaring over the center in slow-motion and forearm-shivving the running back on every hit and they would talk to guys in the locker room like, "Oh Jesus, when I found out we were playing the Cowboys next Sunday I almost cried because I knew I was gonna spend 60 minutes of Randy White kicking my ass. If they had the fighters talking about that, back footage of the trainers going, "Ohhh, when my boy got hit with that right cross, I almost cried," that kind of stuff, if you found out more of the backstory of the actual fight and the actual drama and these guys talking about what was their perspective of going into that third round when they're hurt. Somebody breaks their hand and has to go back out there. What's what like? That would be I think something they could do that would really build these guys into legends more than just sort of interchangeable commodities. Luke Thomas: Two points to that. I could do that now. For example, I could talk to Urijah Faber and say, "Hey, when you broke your hand against Mike Brown or both your hands, what happened the next round?" but that's not the same as a documentary crew with an artistic eye retelling that story and putting footage in there and sitting down with Faber at length about one moment and getting more and more and more out of him. I've got a 15 minute window to ask him a bunch of shit. My question about his broken hand maybe in passing and people are like "Well MMA media asked that all the time," but MMA media can do that but they're sort of hamstrung. That's not what their role is. Their role is sort of informational. They're not selling you the moment in that way and beyond that, it's not even just the fight. Certainly the fight is great but if you look back at the Ali fights, it's back to them promoting the fights, like Joe Frazier talking about how he thought he was disrespected at press conferences and you can see the press conference footage and you can see Ali calling him an Uncle Tom and all this stuff. It's not just the moment when they're actually competing, you can sell the whole process.Nate Wilcox: The build.Luke Thomas: I think the next time the build comes around, you're more invested in it and you think about it more clearly.Nate Wilcox: I was thinking about Ali-Frazier earlier when you were talking about ways to build fights and there was a huge talk element to building those fights but then the fights delivered and built on the talk and the talk is just a prelude. The talk explains why Frazier hated Ali so much and why Frazier didn't want his corner to throw in the towel even though they thought Frazier was literally about to die and if you've seen the Thrilla in Manilla that's like two guys climbing Everest with no oxygen and trying to kill each other on the peak. There's nothing comparable to it and if you read the Norman Mailer account, the George Plimpton account, you see the documentary footage, it's just at a whole ‘nother level to where it's one of the great epic sports tales of our era and I think the UFC/MMA has the potential to match that but it hasn't come close yet.Luke Thomas: And another thing is when you have these fights all the time. For example, Mayweather is fighting Cotto. He announced it for May 5th. Today is February 1st. February, March, April, we have three whole months to think and digest and prepare and analyze and compare and contrast and anticipate. You can run through this huge gamut of emotions about heightening interest and you can have that moment. I actually think that's going to be a really good fight but that's neither here nor there. What I'm pointing out is, "Hey, we had Shogun-Henderson last month." I thought that fight was incredible but you didn't have a lot of time to really sink your teeth into it before you're moving on into the next one. We mentioned this last time. UFC 145, the Montreal show, got canceled and they moved it to Atlanta. That Atlanta show, I really hope Jones and Evans are healthy because you're gonna get time to sink your teeth into it a little bit and when it comes around, it's gonna fucking rule! It's gonna fucking rule! I really feel like that's missing. It's everything we're talking about here but if there's no time to digest then I just don't know. I just don't know. Nate Wilcox: And that's another reason why canceling the 145 in Montreal was so key. Now there's no major MMA after early March and we have this long lull. It's not just that we know about Jones-Evans in advance, there's no other competing UFCs for several weeks in front of that so we'll really be jonesing for a UFC. We won't be stumbling from one Saturday to Saturday, fight after fight after fight after fight. It's gonna be a big fucking deal. I'm pumped and I can't wait and god help us that they both stay healthy.Luke Thomas: Before we go, the last thing we'll do, predictions. Condit/Diaz, who do you like?Nate Wilcox: I have to go Diaz. It seems like he's more of a force of nature in a five round fight. Condit definitely can scrap and mix it up but I think that Condit relies on getting things into a clinch range to really get an advantage over Diaz and Diaz is very tough, too much to clinch with and he's gonna be working your body and everything and I think that boxing range or kickboxing range, Diaz is gonna control the initiative and light him up and wear him down but it should be a great fight.Luke Thomas: Do you expect Condit to land significant shots?Nate Wilcox: Oh yeah. Diaz always walks into some shots. Look what Paul Daley did and Condit definitely doesn't hit as hard as Daley but he hits hard. He hits really hard and he can mix it up like he showed with Dong Hyun Kim, he can mix it up and if he gets you stumbling or bent over, he'll throw a knee flying right into your face and that'll finish anybody. Luke Thomas: Yeah,I feel like what's great about this bout for the reasons I described. You can go check the piece on MMAFighting.com but also from a technical perspective, both guys are really coming into their own now. They both have their liabilities obviously, but I feel they're really like, they're getting good. They're getting really good. I like Diaz to win too. I wouldn't be surprised if Condit won but I definitely think Diaz is going to win. It'll be late. It'll be fourth or fifth round decision but as I mentioned today, he's gonna win I think Diaz, but he's gonna catch an ass-whooping along the way and watching that will be truly spectacular.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, way, that
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFriday Link Club: UFC 143 Preview
Gallery: 13 GIFs of Nick Diaz Being Totally Gangster | Cage Potato
UFC 143 Main Event Breakdown: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit | MMA Fighting
Behind the UFC 143 numbers: Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit fight complete statistical breakdown | MMA Mania
Nick is smiling because studies show that 15 out of 20 pros prefer a Diaz win at UFC 143 | MiddleEasy
UFC 143 Predictions: Which Fight Will Steal the Show? | Bleacher Report
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Fabricio Werdum: “I’m ready to strike the whole time if I need to.” | Five Ounces of Pain
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Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, nick
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143 'Primetime' episode three on FX discussion thread for 'Diaz vs Condit'
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Primetime" preview for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," a three-part series featuring a behind-the-scenes look as former Strikeforce welterweight Champion Nick Diaz prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the Interim title on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Episode three premieres TONIGHT (Fri., Feb. 3) at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel. If you missed the first and second installments, click here and here to watch them in their entirety.
"Diaz vs. Condit" was booked after UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre suffered a devastating knee injury, one that was severe enough to require surgery and several months of rehab.
His ACL tear marked the second time St. Pierre has been forced to withdraw from a headlining title defense against Diaz, which will no doubt do little to convince the fiery Stockton slugger that he ain't "scared."
"Rush" pulled out of their UFC 137 main event back in October after spraining his medial collateral ligament (MCL). It was not torn and St. Pierre was quickly re-booked to face Diaz, who bumped Carlos Condit from the number one contender spot after retiring B.J. Penn back on Oct. 29.
Now both Condit and Diaz get the opportunity they've wanted since day one: To fight for the UFC welterweight title. In fact, PPV buys notwithstanding, this 170-pound war could meet and perhaps even exceed the fireworks expected in the original billing.
Time will tell.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. See the current fight card and rumors here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, primetime preview
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCountdown to UFC 143 made available for online viewing
Life works in funny ways as evident in tomorrow night’s UFC 143 main event between welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. Both men were at one point scheduled to face champion Georges St. Pierre only to see the opportunity slip away for health-related reasons. Now Diaz-Condit will clash for an interim title and guaranteed crack at GSP once he recovers from recent knee surgery.
As is standard, the organization has released a detailed look at the camp’s and mindset of each man entering their Saturday scrap, as well as those related to fellow main card competitors Fabricio Werdum-Roy Nelson and Josh Koscheck-Mike Pierce, in a Countdown special attached to the event. The video has now been made available for public viewing in case fans weren’t able to catch it earlier this week on Fuel TV.
“I’m not the same guy as the other guys he’s been fighting,” Condit explained of Diaz in the episode. “I will defeat Nick Diaz. I will be the UFC welterweight champion.”
Diaz is then shown chuckling in response, saying, “It’s good to have that confidence/attitude for some people. It works for them.”
Enjoy the commercial-free version of Countdown to UFC 143 below:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, saturday scrap, camp ’s, healthrelated reasons
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit - Staff Predictions
Tomorrow night is the night where we finally see who will be crowned the Interim UFC Welterweight Champion. Nick Diaz will take on Carlos Condit in a fight that legitimately cannot disappoint. I have thought about this fight for months and have yet to think of a single way it could be bad or even average. These two guys are going to go in there and tear the house down, which will be something we have not seen in a VERY long time in a Welterweight title fight.
The co-main event of the evening is a Heavyweight collision between Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson. Add in some Bantamweight action with Renen Barao facing Scott Jorgensen, a clash of wrestlers with Josh Koscheck squaring off with Mike Pierce and Ed Herman looking to make it three straight wins since his return to the Octagon against main card newcomer Clifford Starks and you have got an exciting Super Bowl weekend card.
Predictions!
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit (Interim Welterweight Title)Earl - Diaz wins his fights through a systematic breaking down of his opponent’s bodies and wills. This leads me to believe that Carlos Condit’s main route to victory is by blasting Nick early. Condit might not hit harder than Paul Daley but he is far more versatile with his striking than Semtex is. I would not be shocked in the least with a late round TKO for Diaz, but I can’t get the Daley fight out of my head. Carlos puts one to his chin and finishes him for the belt. Carlos Condit, TKO, Round 1.Cory - Diaz is... worth a lot more than a paragraph. So is Condit. I really can see this fight ending a number of different ways. I can’t really think of an eloquent way to sum up my guesses on this fight, so I’ll just say that I think that Diaz gets a mid-round Luke - Everything has gone Condit’s way in the lead up to this fight. He got to see teammate Donald Cerrone fall prey to the Diaz mind games just over two months ago and lose control of the fight. The mania around GSP vs Diaz has made it easy for him to keep his head down and just prepared to play his game, not Nick’s. Unfortunately it’s "damned it you do, damned if you don’t" for Condit in this fight. You see, despite finishing his last two fights in the first round, Carlos has a nasty habit of starting fights slowly before picking things up in the later rounds. Against Nick Diaz, you can’t start slow or you’ll never catch up. Yet in a five round fight with him, you can’t really start fast either or you run a real risk of gassing out after three. I think Condit will take the former approach, work his way into this one and rely on the gameness Luke Thomas spoke of to get him through the championship rounds. It won’t. Nick Diaz, TKO, Round 4.Rainer - Ladies and germs, I present you with...my last contribution as an HKL staff member! Condit has so much going for him--varied striking game, excellent scrambles, and great submission acumen, all resulting in an almost unparalleled rate of finishing, with no less than 26 of 27 victories ending in TKO or submission (and with those 26 split down the middle, to boot). Unfortunately, against Diaz, I believe he’ll be running into someone who edges him out both in striking and grappling. Diaz, TKO, Round 5.
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio WerdumEarl - Fabricio was oddly winning the striking battle against Overeem but cost himself the fight with the flopping nonsense. Roy Nelson has a rock head and he withstood a devastating onsalught from Junior dos Santos so I doubt Werdum is going to be able to put Roy away. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em boys because we may be in for a long fight. Fabricio Werdum, Unanimous Decision.Cory - I keep picturing Roy landing an enormous overhand right that sends Werdum crumpling to the canvas with a goofy smile on his face. Make it happen, Roy. Nelson - KO.Luke - Earl, you don’t actually believe that Werdum was winning the striking battle with Overeem do you? He might have landed more blows but he never really committed to any of them and Overeem never looked hurt or even concerned. Fabricio was only interested in getting the fight to the ground. It’s funny that you mention it though, because Fabricio and his camp seem to think that if he had committed to the strikes with Overeem, he would have won that fight. He told Roy Nelson that he’d better keep his hands up for this one and it’s just terrible logic if Werdum thinks he can strike with anyone because of the Overeem fight. Nelson, TKO, Round 2.Rainer - This fight is, in a strange way, quite a bit like the main event, albeit, like, a million pounds heavier. Nelson has a well-developed, multi-faceted game, but I think Werdum overtakes him in every dimension. It’s tempting to weigh Werdum’s surprising KO loss to dos Santos in Nelson’s favor, but a closer look at the details--dos Santos’ subsequent UFC run and the fact that it’s Werdum’s only KO loss--kind of deflates its significance. Werdum, Unanimous Decision.Josh Koscheck vs. Mike PierceEarl - Mike Pierce nearly took out Jon Fitch a few fights ago and Kos was still very rattled about getting hit in the eye when fighting Matt Hughes. Koscheck is the favorite in this fight and after watching the Countdown show, I think he is a little too comfy going into this fight. I think we have an upset on our hands. Mike Pierce, Unanimous Decision.Cory - I think Sneaky Earl has a good point here. We haven’t seen Kos get outwrestled in ages, but I’m willing to bet nothing that it happens this weekend. Pierce - Decision.Luke - Koscheck is a fantastic wrestler. Since he was so badly outclassed by GSP on the feet, people seem to forget that not only did he take GSP down once, he got to his feet quickly when the champion put him on the mat. As Koscheck said at today’s press conference, with St. Pierre on the mend, the welterweight division is all of a sudden very interesting. There is no way he’s overlooking Pierce and on top of that, Pierce tends to lose to other good wrestlers. Koscheck, Unanimous Decision.Rainer - Tasty Earl makes some compelling points, but I can’t help but go with the more conventional choice. A Paulo Thiago-like upset is definitely in the wings, but I think Koscheck drops the curtain before Pierce can take center stage. Don’t tell me I bungled that theatre metaphor. The theatre metaphor was good.Renan Barao vs Scott JorgensenEarl - I am very happy this is getting on the main card because it should be a very dynamic fight. Jorgensen is looking to get closer to another crack at Dominick Cruz and Barao is looking to get his 17th consecutive victory. Renen looked fantastic against Brad Pickett and I expect that to continue here. Renen Barao, Submission, Round 2.Cory - The hype train ends at the speckled feet of the WEC/UFC veteran Young Gun. Jorgy - TKO.Luke - I think Renan Barao is the man to beat Dominick Cruz. Jorgensen is a tough guy and I think he’s going to prove it, but not in a winning effort. Barao, Unanimous Decision.Rainer - With superior speed and what I think is a more advanced offensive arsenal, Barao takes this fight. Barao, Unanimous Decision.Ed Herman vs. Clifford StarksEarl - Ed Herman has been on a tear since returning to the UFC and he should earn himself a step up in competition after this one. Ed Herman, Submission, Round 1.Cory - Starks hasn’t really shown me much that screams "I am a top-flight Mixed Martial Artist". To be fair, I can’t see Ed with 12 pounds of gold around his waist, either, but I think that he’s closer to the mountain than Cliffy. Herman - Decision.Luke - Starks is in over his head, I think. Herman, Submission, Round 1.Rainer - Starks will likely see his only recourse to be top control, but even there I doubt he’ll find much relief against the far more well-equipped Herman. Herman, Submission, Round 2.Dustin Poirier vs Max HollowayEarl - Max Holloway stole Jens Pulver’s nickname. He must be taken out. Dustin Poirier, TKO, Round 2.Cory - Poirier on the other hand looks like he might go places. Max is 4-0 against people I haven’t heard of. Poirier - TKO.Luke - Dustin Poirier is an excellent prospect. I don’t know too much about Holloway but I can’t imagine that he’ll have much to offer, especially because he the third guy the UFC wanted to put against Poirier. I really want to see the original fight, which was Poirier vs Erik Koch. Poirier, TKO, Round 1.Rainer - I think it’s worth mentioning that Dustin Poirier, in his first four fights, also fought guys who none of us had likely heard of. Having said that, it’s too much too soon for Holloway. Poirier, TKO, Round 1.Matt Riddle vs. Henry MartinezEarl - Riddle is just not a UFC caliber fighter. This is made even stranger by the fact that every fight in his career has been in the UFC. Martinez should put an end to that. Henry Martinez, Unanimous Decision.Cory - I can’t get the image of Matt Riddle shadowboxing his way to something like 30 missed punches in a row out of my head. I believe it was against Ross Pearson, and man, that was just embarrassing. Martinez - Decision.Luke - Seeing as Riddle is 5-3 in the UFC, he sure looks like a UFC caliber fighter to me. He might be a little basic, relying on the 1-2 and takedown attempts to sway the judges in his favor, but he has the heart of a lion and I can’t help but think that he’s eventually going to put it all together. What better time than now, against a UFC rookie? Riddle, TKO, Round 2.Rainer - I’m with Luke on this one. Riddle turned in a pretty ridiculous-looking performance against Pierson, but the idea that he’s a laughable competitor is a meme that’s run its course, I think. Going 5-1-0 in your first six pro fights is nothing to sneeze at, and doing it in the UFC is even more un-sneeze-able. Miller may come with the game plan to once again foil Riddle, but I think in this instance the TUF vet will put his raw power and size advantage to good use. Riddle, Unanimous Decision.Alex Caceres vs. Edwin FigueroaEarl - Caceres stunned everyone who had ever seen him fight by dominating Cole Escovedo in his Bantamweight debut. Figueroa ought to put a stop to that nonsense here. Edwin Figueroa, TKO, Round 3.Luke - I like Bruce Leroy. I don’t think he’s a very good fighter, and while it’s very possible that he turned a corner against Escovedo, the fact is that Escovedo has not been good for some time now. Figueroa will hurt him and finish with the choke. Figueroa, Submission, Round 2Rainer - I have to agree that people have made a bit too much of Caceres’ win over Escovedo who was, after all, 1-4 in his last five heading into that fight. On the other hand, Figueroa’s win over general hard-ass Johnny Bedford speaks pretty well of him. Figueroa, TKO, Round 2Matt Brown vs. Chris CopeEarl - Speaking of "how on earth are you still here?" this fight is happening. Matt Brown, TKO, Round 1.Luke - Matt Brown has had a bad run but he’s been up against better competition every time and he has never looked terrible. It appears that Cope doesn’t have a great chin and I think that Brown will be able to beat a fighter that he should beat in this one. Brown, TKO, Round 1Rainer - I’ll never understand the appeal of Matt Brown. The nickname, the overblown reputation for toughness, it just rubs me the wrong way. I guess, though, Brown himself isn’t as much to blame as, ahem, certain broadcast teams that want to bill him as some sort of Ultimate Foghorn Leghorn. That aside, Brown should have this wrapped up. Brown, TKO, Round 1.Dan Stittgen vs.Stephen ThompsonEarl - I’ll say Stephen Thompson, KO, Round 1Luke - I have to pick the guy who is 62-0 in kickboxing and MMA competition, since he started fighting at 15. Thompson, KO, Round 2Rainer - I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Stittgen fight a few times live and I have to say that, while his stand up is indeed a little rough, he has a real knack for creating scrambles and locking in the submission. I’ll look for Stittgen to do the same here. Stittgen, Submission, Round 1.Rafael Natal vs. Michael KuiperEarl - Boy, do I ever love me some judo in my MMA. Kuiper is undefeated and he is a finisher, too. Michael Kuiper, TKO, Round 1.Luke - I think judo will be the future of the takedown game. Another young guy with good judo who fought recently was Jimy Hettes, and he used it very well en route to a dominant decision victory over Nam Phan. Natal doesn’t stand a chance if he can’t get this fight into the position he needs it: On the ground, with him on top. Kuiper keeps his perfect streak alive with. Kuiper, TKO, Round 2Rainer - Kuiper’s record makes him a pretty attractive pick, but I think he has a couple things going against him. The first, of course, is the "Octagon jitters," which, while sometimes overstated, nevertheless seem to play a part. The second thing is that I’m not really convinced of the strength of the European circuit. I expect Natal to be a beast that Kuiper isn’t, in this instance, quite prepared for. Natal, Unanimous Decision.
Posted in: fight, diaz, round, tko, vs
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendWhat's at Stake? UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Edition
At UFC 143: Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz, more is on the line than a simple interim UFC welterweight title. Each fighter is at a different place in a different moment in their career. What's at stake for each surpasses a simple win or loss on their respective records. Each fight in the UFC is chance to write the future. Let's take a closer look at the match-ups to see the specific predicament tomorrow's competitors find themselves in - and where they hope to go.
Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz
It's obvious what's at stake here from a superficial level: an interim title and a chance to face reigning UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (GSP). But that's hardly the end of it. That's particularly true in the case of Condit. For all the well-deserved praise and accolades of 'The Natural Born Killer', he's yet to earn a true signature win in his MMA career. Diaz is, incontestably, the best and highest-ranked fighter he's faced to date. A win over Diaz gives Condit the type of legitimacy that none of his previous victories could hope to offer.
For Diaz, a win over Condit would mark the second time in as many fights he's bested a former champion of a Zuffa-owned organization. Should he defeat Condit and eventually GSP (a monumentally difficult task), that would make it three former champions from Zuffa organizations in three fights.
Diaz vs. GSP is also the fight fans prefer to see. It's the fight that's better for UFC's bottom line and would likely rally more casual fan interest. Perhaps most importantly, a win over Condit and eventual bout with GSP would be the defining, culminating moment of Diaz's undulating MMA journey. While not exactly nomadic, he's historically bounced around organizations, never quite on the linear path a typical, blue chip contender takes. With a win over Penn, Diaz set his career in motion to finally achieve the ultimate prize. Losing to Condit derails that in the most profound and devastating way. In a division as thick as welterweight, title opportunities are fleeting. If Diaz wants to make good on the promise of his career, a loss to Condit at this moment is simply not an option.
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
This is one of those bouts where there's as much to lose as there is to gain. Nelson enters this bout having lost two of his last three. He most recently bested Mirko Filipovic at UFC 137, but he's thus far come up short in his Zuffa career to establish himself as a true heavyweight contender. In fact, each time he's faced a top ten UFC heavyweight, he's failed. He typically makes a strong account of himself even in losing efforts, but if he really wants to run with the front of the division, a win over Werdum is frankly a must. Werdum is currently ranked fifth is the MMA Nation/USA TODAY Consensus Rankings. A win over the Brazilian could finally position Nelson in the top 10 and back on track as a true heavyweight contender.
Werdum is similarly looking to stay relevant, but has much more to lose. Werdum jumped to the top of the heavyweight division by submitting Fedor Emelianenko in June of 2010. He's only fought once since then, a loss to now number-one heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem. A loss to Roy Nelson (currently ranked #14) could very well bump Werdum out of the top 10. By contrast, a win over Nelson likely keeps Werdum where he's at and sets up a potential showdown with former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (he's ranked only one spot above Werdum at #4). The winner of that eventual bout would have a legitimate claim to face the winner of Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem. If not them, then who?
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Perennial welterweight contender Josh Koscheck is in an unenviable position. Like Jon Fitch (before being billy clubbed by Johny Hendricks at UFC 141), Koscheck is talented enough to beat most top welterweight contenders, but a fairly clear step below GSP. And having lost to St. Pierre twice, few wish to see a third dance between the two. Koscheck is in divisional limbo. He's got to beat Pierce to stay where he is, but where he is isn't exactly going anywhere (for the moment, anyway). The true litmus test will be to see if Koscheck can stay motivated for a predicament so suffocating and an opponent that doesn't truly move him from his Sisyphean position. That isn't to say Pierce isn't a challenge. He assuredly is. The question is whether Koscheck cares enough to continue marking time.
For Pierce, the bounty is easy to see. It's not the toughest test of his career (that distinction belongs to Jon Fitch), but it is the most high profile. He's on the main card of a pay-per-view and in the featured bout of the evening. He's never before received this kind of UFC push, this kind of media attention or this kind of opportunity to create visibility for himself (Pierce is not even ranked in the top 25 of all welterweights). Koscheck represents a huge scalp. If Pierce can collect it, he can begin to do wonders for his career.
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is tied up with Urijah Faber for the immediate future, but it's not as if he's got a ton of contenders lined up should he get past The California Kid. Barao isn't exactly a well-known commodity to the larger public, but what he lacks in popularity he more than makes up for in fighting acumen. Barao is undefeated in his four-fight Zuffa run, dating all the way back to June of 2010. Jorgensen is most certainly his toughest opponent (and is ranked higher), but Barao is riding a huge wave of fan interest and career momentum with the shellacking of Brad Pickett at UFC 138.
Jorgensen simply wants another crack at the champ. He lost handily to Cruz at WEC 53, but is on a two-fight win streak and most recently defeated Jeff Curran at UFC 137. This bout with the highly-regarded Barao - at a time when the division is short on contenders - is arguably about setting up a number-one contender to Cruz's (or perhaps soon Faber's) title. Jorgensen is 29, so even if he's derailed here he probably has time to put together another title run. But each time a fighter is stopped short on a title shot path, it's increasingly difficult to start all over again. Jorgensen has a serious opportunity in front of him and needs to strike while the iron is hot.
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Herman wants to prove he belongs and can still compete within the UFC middleweight division. A win over the talented if unheralded Starks proves he at least deserves to continue his last-chance ascension. Whether Herman can compete with the upper echelon of middleweights remains to be seen (and he had trouble doing so before his two-year hiatus), but a win over Starks at least affords the chance to try his hand at it one more time.
Starks, the wrestling standout from Arizona State University, faces a great moment to kick start his UFC career. Starks holds a win over Dustin Jacoby, one he earned at UFC 137. But Herman is more of a known commodity, a respected grappler and a good test for this juncture of Starks' career. Starks beating Herman fits the model of how prospects become contenders and eventually, how contenders become stars. The unknowns beat the knowns and the knowns beat the greats. Who knows what lies ahead for Starks? I'm not suggesting any future is predetermined. But if he wants to set out on that established journey, a win over Herman is a perfectly good way to start.
From the preliminary card:
Alex Caceres has the opportunity to build on his drop to bantamweight by besting Edwin Figueroa. After a rough start in the UFC featherweight division, Caceres looked improved at 135 pounds when he topped Cole Escovedo at UFC on Fox 1.
Dustin Poirier has got to be on the short list of rising contenders in the UFC featherweight division. A win over Max Holloway won't earn him a title shot against champion Jose Aldo, but it will likely get him the chance to face a marquee name.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, contender, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 predictions, preview and analysis
Don't make plans, homie.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) already has you booked for its UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" pay-per-view (PPV) event this Saturday night (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What makes this one special?
Well, for starters, it's going to finish the night with a 170-pound champion not named Georges St. Pierre, as Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit battle for the Interim belt in the Canadian's absence.
Also getting their groove back are a pair of grappling studs in the form of Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson. These two should neutralize each other on the ground, but after seeing what Frank Mir was able to do to fellow jiu-jitsu master Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, all bets are off when heavyweight grapplers end up on the mat.
If that doesn't do it for you, then be sure to stick around for the Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce match-up. There's only room for one trash-talking welterweight 'round these parts and one of these two rugged wrestlers gots ta' go.
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Feb. 4), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the preliminary card action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 p.m. ET.
We know who's fighting and we know when to tune in. But do we know who's going to win? Not yet. But that shouldn't stop us from taking our best guess.
See you after the jump.
170 lbs.: Nick Diaz (26-7) vs. Carlos Condit (27-5)
Nostradumbass predicts: In the interest of a fair and balanced breakdown, which is the staple of every Nostradumbass column (cough), I've been trying like hell to build a convincing case for Carlos Condit in his main event fight against Nick Diaz.
So far, I've got nothing.
Can "The Natural Born Killer" knock Diaz out? Paul Daley punched him in the face as hard as he could and still ended up losing the fight. Can Condit submit him? If 33 other people couldn't do it, I can't imagine he can, either. So if he can't knock him out and he can't submit him, then he has to win a decision.
Right.
This is a guy who threw 436 total strikes against B.J. Penn. Think about that for a second. Think of the volume of offense it takes to accomplish that in just three rounds. Beat this kid on the scorecards? Not if it's standing.
That leads me to the one weakness in the Diaz armor: The takedown.
In order to get Diaz to the floor and keep him there without getting strangled, you need to have good wrestling and a smothering top game. You can't just lay in guard and throw intermittent punches. That's why Georges St. Pierre had, in my opinion, such a distinct advantage over Diaz.
Not Condit.
He's excelled in this division and really, outside of a razor-thin loss to Martin Kampmann in his UFC debut, his record is impeccable.
He may not be inferior to Diaz talent-wise, but this just looks (on paper) to be a bad match-up. Condit is too tough to finish and he'll keep it competitive, but at the end of the day, Diaz just does too much, too often, to be denied by the judges and their scorecards.
Prediction: Diaz def. Condit via unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1) vs. Roy Nelson (16-6)
Nostradumbass predicts: Two veteran heavyweight fighters, each with an amazing ground game. What should we expect? Well, if history has taught us anything, probably three rounds of sloppy kickboxing.
Seriously, if all these guys do on Saturday night is try to bang it out and keep from gassing, I might have to give up on mixed martial arts (MMA) altogether.
I know some of you are thinking "Gee Nostradumbass, these guys kinda cancel each other out on the ground, so they will try to get an edge on the feet." My answer to that, Mr. know-it-all, is that they also cancel each other out on the feet, because they're both terrible boxers.
Roy Nelson has power, no question, he's put his fair share of guys on their butts. And Fabricio Werdum has serviceable Muay Thai that can usually do enough to win a fight when need be. But let's not kid ourselves, either one of these guys would get lit up in a K-1 or Muay Thai bout overseas, so let's just deal with it.
It's not outrageous, based on accolades alone, to call Werdum the superior grappler. But the gap between him and Nelson, if one exists, is not significant enough to give him any kind of advantage if they head south for the winter. I do hope it happens because a chess match on the ground sure beats the alternative.
I have concerns about conditioning for both fighters and if this plays out on the feet like I predict, I'm going to give it to "Vai Cavalo" for being the busier fighter. "Big Country" will probably waste too much time and eat too many punches (pun intended) looking for the knockout blow.
Prediction: Werdum def. Nelson via split decision
170 lbs.: Josh Koscheck (16-5) vs. Mike Pierce (13-4)
Nostradumbass predicts: This is Josh Koscheck's fight to lose. He's the more accomplished wrestler, has more experience on the big stage and has already faced the best the division has to offer.
Unfortunately, he can also be his own worst enemy.
You know, like heading into a fight against Paulo Thiago and not feeling the need to watch any film on his opponent. Or trying to see how many leg kicks he can absorb from Thiago Alves. If his ego doesn't get in the way, he probably wins this fight.
Probably.
One thing about Pierce, he's tough as nails. He had Jon Fitch in a world of trouble in the third round of their bout back at UFC 107 and Johny Hendricks barely squeaked past him with a split decision. He's strong, can take big shots and has no problem doing a busy three rounds.
"Kos" needs to be firing on all cylinders for this one, keeping the pressure on and not allowing Pierce to get any kind of reprieve. I believe his blase attitude heading into this fight is nothing more than a poker face -- and don't think for a second watching Fitch get pasted last month wasn't a wake up call.
There's some new blood in this division and they aren't going away quietly. Koscheck; however, plays the right notes on Saturday night and lives to fight another day.
For now.
Prediction: Koscheck def. Pierce via unanimous decision.
135 lbs.: Renan Barao (27-1) vs. Scott Jorgensen (13-4)
Nostradumbass predicts: Renan Pegado is 27-1. His only loss? A unanimous decision in his professional debut way back in 2005. That means he's won 27 straight fights across six-and-a-half years with 19 finishes.
There are two schools of thought here.
The first is "Well, it's easy to win 27 fights when you don't fight anyone good." The second is "It doesn't matter who you're fighting, in a sport as unpredictable as MMA, 27 wins in a row is impressive."
I'm leaning towards the latter, probably because his list of opponents is not populated with cans and dreamers. He's defeated some legitimately tough dudes. But I'm also not ready to anoint him the second coming despite what he did to Brad Pickett.
Enter Scott Jorgensen.
This is the kind of test that will prove whether or not he's the real deal. "Young Guns" has the level of wrestling that can derail any hype train and it was good enough to earn him a shot against Dominick Cruz for the Bantamweight title.
Can "Barao" stop the takedown and make mince meat out of Jorgy?
I believe he can. It's a tough sell pre-fight, but I'm on board with this kid. I think he's exceptionally talented and too well rounded to lose on Saturday night.
If he can stop the takedown and finish Jorgensen, who's never been knocked out and only has one submission loss (from way back in 2006), expect the upper echelon of this division to be looking over their shoulder.
Prediction: Pegado def. Jorgensen via submission
185 lbs.: Ed Herman (19-8) vs. Clifford Starks (8-0)
Nostradumbass predicts: Don't look now, but here comes Ed Herman.
A lot of people, present company included, had written this guy off after an abysmal 1-3 stretch that saw him end with a grisly knee injury that kept him riding the pine for almost two years.
Then he came back and beat the brakes off Tim Credeur.
It was a feel-good victory, coming off the injury, but then he let it be known he was here to stay with a highlight-reel submission over Kyle Noke, an inverted heel hook that would have made Rousimar Palhares proud.
What's he up against in "Sin City?"
Well, for starters, Starks is undefeated. I don't want to go crazy over not losing because in the grand scheme of things, it's only eight fights and a couple of his opponents only had one or two bouts to their name when they faced him.
His UFC debut was a unanimous decision win over Dustin Jacoby and while he's getting good press from those around him, it's hard to pick him against Herman, who has triple the experience and faced some of the division's best fighters.
Is "Short Fuse" a few wins away from being "in the mix?"
Probably not, but he's got the tools and the talent to get it done on fight night. His submissions are vastly underrated and I think he dazzles us again with a second round sleeper.
Prediction: Herman def. Starks via submission
That's a wrap, folks.
For previews and predictions on the preliminary card fights click here and here. To see all the odds and betting lines for UFC 143 click here and remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of "Diaz vs. Condit."
What do you think? Now it's your turn ... let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for tomorrow night's event.
Posted in: fight, diaz, vs, condit, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit UFC 143 Fight Video Simulation
With just over 24 hours to go before Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit clash in the UFC 143 main event for the interim welterweight title, UFC Undisputed 3 has released a simulation of the matchup that predicts Diaz will submit Condit in the second round.
Agree or disagree? Watch the simulation below and share your predictions in the comments:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, condit, simulation
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNick Diaz vs KJ Noons 2 - Out of Diaz's last 10 opponents, Noons's combination of technical striking and size bears arguably the closest resemblance to the skillset of Carlos Condit..
submitted by wrath_of_the_nunchuk [link] [6 comments]
Posted in: diaz, vs, carlos condit, carlo, wrathofthenunchuk
Read the full article at RedditUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Weigh-In Results
The UFC 143 weigh-ins go down on Friday at 7pm ET with title fight contenders Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit squaring off just 24-hours away from their main event bout.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, carlos condit, weighin
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNine Ways of Looking at UFC 143
UFC 143 is now just a day away, and while the Super Bowl weekend fight card might not yet be mainstream enough to spawn its own puppy equivalent, there are still no shortage of questions, concerns, and pithy comments to sort through before Saturday night’s event. Here are nine of them, in no particular order.I. Beware the ghost of Georges St-Pierre, for he haunts this fight card. And by ghost, I mean the actual living person. And by haunts, I mean shows up with a sad attempt at facial hair and gives interviews. The point is, he’s there and it’s impossible to forget that he’s there. Nick Diaz is right to complain about about GSP casting his long shadow over these proceedings, but it’s inevitable. No one -- not even B.J. Penn or Josh Koscheck, and certainly not Carlos Condit -- provokes as interesting a reaction from the normally robotic welterweight champ. For instance, check out what GSP had to say about Diaz, via UFC.com:
"I don't truly hate him as a person. I don't know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant toward me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy."Honestly, who but Diaz could accomplish this? Who else could make GSP feel like he needed to be ready to fight in a hotel lobby? Who could even get him to break out of his stoic superstar character long enough to admit it? Diaz might not like the fact that so many people are talking about and hoping for an eventual GSP-Diaz showdown, but he kind of has himself to blame. He’s the one who got under the champ’s skin, so now he’s got a whole new cheering section headed into the Condit bout.II. Nick Diaz is still not firmly planted in reality, but that doesn’t mean he’s not right about some stuff. That’s more or less the thesis of my Sports Illustrated column this week (be a pal and give it a click, won’t you?), and it’s one that I think is supported by the events of this week in particular. For instance, complaining about the UFC’s selective editing of pre-fight promo videos might not be the smartest thing for a fighter to do, but he’s got a point. All that obviously scripted hype we see in the opening seconds of each pay-per-view is pretty cringe-worthy. Can you imagine the Super Bowl opening with an image of Tom Brady delivering some stilted line about how he’s going to get his revenge on Eli Manning and the Giants? No way. At the same time, if there’s anyone in need of a script at times, it’s Diaz. I’ve personally done interviews with him where, once it’s over, he’s insisted that I delete it and do another one, all because he wasn’t happy with what he said. Then, when I agreed, he said almost exactly the same thing in the second interview as he did in the first. This is a guy who seems not totally in control of the things coming out of his mouth, and yet he's right about some of the UFC’s practices. It is ridiculous for a pro sports organization to literally script and edit this stuff into the kind of narrative it thinks it can sell. Diaz is somehow one of the only people reasonable and/or brave enough to point that out, even if he may be halfway out of his mind on a variety of other topics.III. Does Roy Nelson even know when he’s being ironic anymore? It started with the belly rubs, then the mullet, then what our own Shaun Al-Shatti dubbed the "dwarf beard." Now Nelson’s entire appearance seems devoted to making fun of itself. Don’t get me wrong, I love self-deprecation as much as the next guy who mostly hates himself and others, but you get to a point where a joke identity threatens to become your real identity. It’s like your friend who wears a pair of cut-off jean shorts to a party. You know, as a goof. Then everyone thinks it’s hilarious, so he does it again at the next party. And the next one. Pretty soon, he’s wearing cut-off jean shorts to the mall and being seen in public with him becomes problematic. That’s what happens when you start living your gimmick. Nelson probably does not think of himself as a gimmicky person. Not really. But when he gets up in the morning and stands in front of the mirror to brush out his mullet and clear the crumbs from his Lord of the Rings beard, what does he think? When it’s just him and the dude and the mirror who looks like a roadie for Foghat, what seems true then?IV. Heading into the fight with Mike Pierce, Josh Koscheck would be wise to consider the plight of his teammate, Jon Fitch. Like Koscheck, Fitch was also a considerable favorite to win his last fight. Most of us thought he’d wrestle his way to another plodding decision and that would be that. Then he got floored by Johny Hendricks’ left hand and suddenly he had a brand new set of problems. That can happen to anyone, but it seems more likely to happen if you go into a bout with Koscheck’s almost comically overblown hubris. In the TV drama version of life, nothing good happens to guys like that in the end. That might not matter when it comes to actual events that are dictated by people rather than screenplays, but maybe it affects how we interpret those events. When a guy like Fitch suffers an upset KO loss, it seems like bad luck. If it were to happen to Koscheck here, especially after his total dismissal of Pierce as an opponent, it might seem more like a comeuppance.V. Fun, mostly meaningless fact: when Fabricio Werdum debuted in the UFC on April 21, 2007, only one current UFC champion was then in the midst of an uninterrupted title reign. As you probably guessed, that champ is Anderson Silva, who claimed the UFC middleweight strap some six months prior and has held it ever since. GSP had dropped his welterweight belt to Matt Serra in a shocking upset just weeks earlier, and the other divisions were captained by guys like Randy Couture (heavyweight champ), Chuck Liddell (light heavyweight), and Sean Sherk (lightweight). Two of those guys are now officially retired, and the other might as well be. That tells you something about Silva’s dominance. He’s been champ long enough to see a guy like Werdum come and go and come again. The weather around it may change, but the mountaintop stays the mountaintop.VI. Matt Riddle explained his current losing streak by saying he doesn’t "do the point game," which is true. His fights tend to be exciting affairs, if only because he’s charging face-first into punches. Then again, that’s a convenient explanation when you’re losing decisions. When you’re winning them, it’s always because you’re the better, smarter fighter. That’s when you’ll hear guys talking up their own strategic brilliance, their ability to stick to a game plan, their savvy. But when the judges don’t see it their way? Ah, hell. It’s all a point game anyway. I guess fighters need to tell themselves something. It’s not like they can claim that the sun was in their eyes.VII. Could Carlos Condit be the perfect antidote to Nick Diaz’s style? If Diaz has one fatal weakness (other than his love of video blogging while driving, which is just a horrible idea), it’s that he tends to start slow. He tends to almost gleefully absorb punishment in the opening minutes of a fight, then crank up the heat until his opponent breaks. Condit, on the other hand, is a pretty fast starter. He stopped his last two opponents in the first round and, like Diaz, neither of them had ever been knocked out before Condit got after them. Diaz doesn’t seem to mind getting hit and his cardio is never an issue, so going after him early is certainly a risk. It also might be the best shot Condit has.VIII. Prelim fighter to keep an eye on: Michael Kuiper. The unbeaten Dutch middleweight is making his UFC debut against Brazilian Rafael Natal, and it should be interesting to see how he fares, for a couple reasons. Kuiper is a judo specialist who’s been knocking people out on the European scene lately, but he’s never fought a non-European opponent on non-European soil in his three-year MMA career. I’m not saying the competition is weak across the Atlantic, though we have to admit that Belgium isn’t exactly Brazil when it comes to exporting MMA talent. That’s what makes Kuiper such an interesting newcomer. It’s unfair to ask a guy to represent a continent’s worth of fighters, but if Kuiper can be anywhere near as successful here as he’s been back home, it might open the door for more European fighters. If he gets smashed by a middleweight also-ran, perhaps it’s a sign that European MMA is still lagging behind like American soccer.IX. Farewell, UFC Gladiator Man. We hardly knew ye. The UFC has put together a new intro, finally, and the early word is that it’s a) pretty sweet, and b) really expensive. Maybe the latter explains why Gladiator Man got to hang around for eight years before being sent to that great arena in the sky. Will there come a time when MMA fans attempt to big time each other on forums by insisting that they’ve been watching this sport since back in the Gladiator Man days? I kind of hope so, as stupid as that is.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, guy, hersquo, itrsquo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143: People are focusing on Georges St. Pierre, not Carlos Condit, and that makes Nick Diaz sick
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 143 is just around the corner, featuring a welterweight Interim title fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit this Saturday night (Feb. 4, 2012) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
So why is everyone talking about Georges St. Pierre?
Well, it was originally the Canadian's event to headline. That is, until he shredded his knee in training camp and had to withdraw in favor of surgery. It also has a lot to do with the well-documented bad blood between "Rush" and the fiery Stockton slugger, who share a professional disdain for one another that can only be settled inside the cage.
That's probably why St. Pierre played such a prominent role in hyping this 170-pound match-up, holding court during the UFC 143 media junkets and starring alongside Diaz and Condit in the "Primetime" television special.
There continues to be a lot of talk about a St. Pierre vs. Diaz superfight, while the pending bout against Condit has become something of an afterthought.
And it makes Diaz sick, according to comments he made at yesterday's UFC 143 pre-fight press conference.
"It makes me sick. This is Carlos' time to be here and be part of this main event. Half of this show is built up around me fighting Georges St. Pierre, but I'm fighting Carlos Condit. I don't like it. You're more in danger of losing a decision to Georges St. Pierre. I think you're more in danger of losing your teeth if you're fighting Condit."
To his credit, Condit has quietly kept on truckin' with nary a complaint, showing up when he's supposed to and answering his questions with succinct and diplomatic answers.
The good news is that Diaz doesn't appear to be overlooking him and recognizes he's not fighting anyone else in the UFC until he gets past Condit, a task that may be easier said that done.
Anyone think GSP, who gets the winner of this weekend's headliner, has been a distraction to this event? Or an important piece of the welterweight puzzle?
Thoughts?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, pierre, st, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGSP discusses UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
UFC champion Georges St-Pierre gives his latest thoughts on Saturday's UFC 143, where he is still hoping Diaz will emerge victorious.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, gsp, saturday, stpierre
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC 143 Main Event Breakdown: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
The UFC's annual Super Bowl weekend card has been noticeably short of buzz. Maybe that's because UFC 143 was originally supposed to feature welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre defending his belt, or maybe it's simply because the sports world is all aflutter with the New England Patriots vs. New York Giants matchup. Or maybe, increasingly sophisticated fans are underwhelmed by the injury-racked undercard.
Whatever the case, at least fans who pay big money to watch the event in person or plunk down $55 to view it at home have little chance of being let down by the main event. Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit are two of the more intense fighters in the division. They're also cut from the same cloth, action fighters who will savagely compete until the final horn. And that should make the interim title fight a sight to behold.
Diaz (26-7, 1 no contest) has seen his fame move to a new level over the last few months. Once cast as a malcontent, he's seen the increased interest in his career give him a new forum to express his views and beliefs. We may still not fully comprehend him, but at least there is an attempt to understand one of the sport's most intriguing personalities. A win over Condit will increase the spotlight substantially. Georges St-Pierre has repeatedly and passionately voiced a hope of facing Diaz, and the storyline between the two would make for an easy sell.But to get there, he's got to go through Condit (26-5), a tall and rangy 27-year-old who excels at finding a way to turn the fight's pace and tempo to his liking. Condit's best attribute is his willingness to be aggressive no matter the situation. Whether he's standing across from his opponent or flat on his back, he can almost always be found attacking. He may not fire off the punch output that Diaz does -- nobody does -- but he throws hard and often. That willingness to exchange has intensified in recent fights, as he's become more trusting of his own striking abilities. Condit's striking style is more of a kickboxing style than Diaz, who favors straight boxing. That could pay dividends in this fight, especially given Condit's two-inch reach advantage. If he can slow down Diaz's hands by broadening the distance between them with kicks, that will be a major accomplishment. One of the few fighters who slowed Diaz down was Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, who proactively used kicks for that very reason. Even though he ended up losing, Santos' strategy showed promise.Diaz doesn't have tremendous reach for his height -- 74 inches -- but he uses it well, especially his jab, which he often pistons out repeatedly. It works simultaneously as a range-finder and as a pressure tool. His opponent is often so busy trying to keep Diaz's hand out of his face that he goes long stretches without firing back anything of value. All the while, Diaz is racking up points and doing putting dents in his opponent's armor.His volume is easy to see by numbers. According to FightMetric, Diaz lands 6.22 strikes per minute, a number that would rank him in the top five in UFC history if he'd had the required number of fights. That said, he does get hit as well, taking 3.19 strikes per minute. Given Condit's newfound power, that could lead to some interesting moments, even though Diaz seemingly never gets hurt. Aside from a doctor stoppage due to cuts that was ruled a KO in 2007, he hasn't been truly KO'd since 2002 when he was 19 years old and in his fifth pro fight. When it comes to finishes, the numbers would suggest we may not see all five scheduled rounds. Condit has only been to a decision three times in 32 pro fights, and has finished 11 of his last 12 wins. Diaz has gone to decisions far more often, but that was before he came into his own and melded his volume and power. Since then, he's finished nine times during his 11-fight win streak.Then again, these guys are finished so infrequently -- it's been over four years for Diaz, and that came by the aforementioned doctor stoppage, and over five years for Condit -- that it's hard to imagine either will be put away with so much at stake.It's also worth noting their respective ground games. Diaz is a Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt and is thought to be the more advanced of the two, but it's interesting to note he has just eight of his 26 wins by tapout. By comparison, Condit has 13 of his 27 wins by tapout. Diaz is probably more technically proficient and positionally dominant while Condit has a more attack-oriented ground game. That may prove to be a moot point. Neither of the two are particularly big on taking the fight down to the ground. Diaz tries more often (1.62 attempts per 15 minute compared to Condits 1 attempt), but Condit is the better takedown artist of the two (58 percent accuracy compared to Diaz's 33 percent). I fully expect most of this fight to be fought near the middle of the cage, with spurts around the perimeter. Diaz does his best work when he's backing his opponents up, and Condit doesn't buckle under pressure. He may be willing to let Diaz fire off first and then counterstrike, but he's not going to be spending a lot of time backpedaling. This is a fight that will be won not by hands and feet, but by heart and conditioning. Diaz and Condit are fairly evenly matched everywhere, so what separates them? It's Diaz's conditioning. His relentless pace never wavers, and so far no one has been able to keep up with his volume. For judges, rounds where one fighter significantly out-lands another are easy to score. Diaz will be the one landing more often. Condit won't outstrike Diaz, so he'll have to finish him. And who finishes Nick Diaz nowadays? In a fight of the year candidate, Diaz out-points Condit for a unanimous decision, and the Georges St-Pierre watch begins yet again.
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, he, georges stpierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDave Camarillo sees Nick Diaz defeating Carlos Condit
Article Compiled with Assistance from Jeremy Lambert
Renowned trainer Dave Camarillo will be in Las Vegas this weekend to take in the sights and sounds of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit first-hand while providing support for American Kickboxing Academy fighter Josh Koscheck, also scheduled for action at Saturday night’s event. However, the appearance will be among the last of his career after amicably parting ways with AKA to focus on his own school, Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu Family Martial Arts and Fitness.
While it’s certainly a change from the more-glamorous grind of preparing Mixed Martial Artists for competition at the highest level, it’s one Camarillo welcomed with open arms after coming to grips with his diminished passion for coaching MMA. Camarillo took some time out of his schedule to talk with Five Ounces of Pain where he explained the decision to alter career paths despite his success at AKA and also offered up some insight on the UFC 143 headliner between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.
“You try to be everyone and to be honest I wasn’t giving the fighters and students what they needed because I couldn’t be two places at once,” explained Camarillo. “When I first came to AKA I was actually going to fight. I was a talented guy who studied martial arts early and I was fast and athletic and knew what I was doing, so there was some promise for me early on to fight but then I sat myself down and said, “I don’t want to fight. It’s not 100% in me.” I’m 0 or 100. That’s just my personality. If I have any doubts, I’m going to do something else, and so I decided to coach. And MMA coaching wasn’t 100% anymore in my mind.”
“It came back to being 5 or 6 with my dad and training judo and bowing in everyday and that’s what I want to do,” Camarillo replied, his genuine investment in the cause coming through. “That’s what’s most important to me. Changing lives like my life was changed through martial arts, there’s no better gift. So that 50 or 60%, I had to switch it. So now I’m 100% into my academy and my career. The focus is my gym and providing for my family and my students.”
While Camarillo’s primary attention is now on the next generation of martial artists he does still have personal ties to a few of his former students and current friends, one of whom is of course Koscheck.
“I will be in Josh Koscheck’s corner this weekend and I’ll finish out his and Jon Fitch’s career but I think that’s it,” said Camarillo of his future work with UFC athletes. “These guys are always open to come train with me but at this point, it’s on my terms because of my decision. You make the decision and stick with it. I’m working harder but my life is easier because I’m into it. You can’t lie to yourself and now that passion is back. “
As far as the main event determining both a top contender and a potential opponent down the road for Fitch or Koscheck, Camarillo sees the bout as being closely matched with either man at risk of defeat without a near-perfect performance.
“Carlos Condit is tough, long, and good everywhere. He’s no joke. Good jiu-jitsu, stand up is strong, and he’s not a bad wrestler,” evaluated Camarillo before turning to the fight’s favorite. “Nick Diaz is probably the best striker in the division and I think he’s the gutsiest as well. I think he’s just as well-rounded as Condit. Unless Diaz comes in aggressive and gets caught early on, I think he’s going to pressure him like he does everyone and give Condit that pressure that he just can’t handle.”
Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu has two locations in California with eyes on expansion in the future. Koscheck’s fight with Mike Pierce is set for the PPV portion of the event with the show starting at 7:00 PM EST on Facebook/FX before the featured fights begin at 10:00 PM EST.
PHOTO CREDIT – DAVECAMARILLO.COM
Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, condit, camarillo
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 143 weigh-in video results LIVE from Las Vegas for 'Diaz vs Condit'
The official weigh in event for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" is set to take place a little later today (Fri., Feb. 3, 2012) LIVE from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET.
As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the UFC 143 weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.
UFC 143 will be headlined by former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz battling ex-WEC 170-pound kingpin Carlos Condit for the right to wear the division's Interim strap with Georges St. Pierre on the sidelines recovering from knee surgery.
In the co-main event, former welterweight number one contender Josh Koscheck will try to keep his spot among the 170-pound elite by taking on the venerable Mike Pierce.
Here is the current "Diaz vs. Condit" fight card and line-up:
Main event:
170 lbs.: Nick Diaz ( ) vs. Carlos Condit ( )
Main card (Pay-per-view):
265 lbs.: Fabricio Werdum ( ) vs. Roy Nelson ( ) 170 lbs.: Josh Koscheck ( ) vs. Mike Pierce ( ) 135 lbs.: Renan Barao ( ) vs. Scott Jorgensen ( ) 185 lbs.: Ed Herman ( ) vs. Clifford Starks ( )
Preliminary card (FX):
145 lbs.: Dustin Poirier ( ) vs. Max Holloway ( ) 170 lbs.: Matt Riddle ( ) vs. Henry Martinez ( ) 135 lbs.: Alex Caceres ( ) vs. Edwin Figueroa ( ) 170 lbs.: Matt Brown ( ) vs. Chris Cope ( )
Preliminary card (Facebook):
170 lbs.: Dan Stittgen ( ) vs. Stephen Thompson ( ) 185 lbs.: Rafael Natal ( ) vs. Michael Kuiper ( )
***Live video feed available later today.
For those fortunate enough to be in "Sin City" today, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 4 p.m. ET. In addition, UFC Fight Club members will be able to attend a special Q&A session with none other than Georges St. Pierre at 1 p.m. local time.
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Feb. 4), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the preliminary card action will begin to flow earlier than that around 6 p.m. ET.
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 143 coverage you can handle.
For all the latest news and notes on "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, lb, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit LowKick.com Staff Predictions
LowKick.com Staff predict this weekend's Interim UFC Welterweight title clash between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, condit, lowkickcom
Read the full article at Low KickAt Long Last, Condit Gets His Shot
Saturday night can’t get here soon enough for Carlos Condit.After spending the final four months of 2011 in what felt like a constant state of limbo, the 27-year-old will finally get to switch from hitting mitts with coach Mike Winkeljohn to putting his considerable talents to work in the cage. In a fitting twist of fate, Condit will get to take out the frustrations he’s endured against the man who has been at the root of many of them.Rewind to September: Condit was slated to face UFC legend BJ. Penn in the co-main event of UFC 137, a bout that would be followed by Diaz challenging Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight title.But when Diaz missed a string of media obligations, UFC President Dana White made a change, demoting Diaz from the main event, and elevating Condit. The man known as “The Natural Born Killer” broke down in tears on the phone when White told him the news.Just 11 days before he was set to fight for the UFC welterweight title, Condit’s dream was put on hold. St-Pierre tweaked his knee in training; their bout was rescheduled for UFC 143, the annual Super Bowl weekend show. Diaz and Penn headlined UFC 137 instead, with Condit assured the outcome of the main event would not have an impact on his upcoming title fight.On October 29, Diaz battered Penn before throwing down the gauntlet for GSP, questioning the legitimacy of his injury, trying to talk his way back into the fight he lost a month early. By the time White took the podium for the post-fight press conference, Condit’s fight calendar needed adjusting once again.“There’s been a lot of ups and downs; a lot of excitement and disappointment,” admitted the former WEC welterweight champion. “It’s been crazy, as anybody looking from the outside can imagine. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of focusing on what I need to do — which is train and be prepared for whoever I end up fighting — and this time it ended up being Diaz.”After shuffling places twice in the last six months, Condit and Diaz will now pair off, a torn ACL sending St-Pierre to the sidelines and the surgical table. With the date of his return to the cage uncertain, the top two welterweight contenders will battle for an interim version of the 170-pound championship on Saturday night.It’s a fight that has been a long time coming for the 27-5 native of Albuquerque, New Mexico.“I’m stoked to be done with camp. I’m stoked to be finally stepping out there to do what I’ve been training to do for the last six months: to go out there and fight, compete to the best of my abilities.”While Diaz began his second stint in the UFC with much fanfare and an immediate shot at the welterweight title, Condit has quietly been working his way up the 170-pound ranks.The last welterweight champion in WEC history, he lost a razor-thin decision to Martin Kampmann in his debut, coming out on the right side of the verdict against Jake Ellenberger in his second Octagon appearance. A come-from-behind victory over Rory MacDonald at UFC 115 caused people to start taking notice, and a first-round knockout of Dan Hardy in his own backyard announced Condit as a potential contender, though he remained behind some of the more established names in the company.“It’s hard to get out from under the shadow of these guys like (Jon) Fitch, and (Josh) Koscheck, and maybe even Thiago Alves — guys that have been in the division for years and years and years, and all had great wins.”But now is Condit’s turn in the spotlight.His savage first round destruction of Dong Hyun Kim was his fourth consecutive victory, the second straight bout that he’s earned Knockout of the Night honors, and the third consecutive contest to produce a post-fight bonus. Though it looked like the gods were against him, Condit’s patience and perseverance has been rewarded, and he’s ready to make the most of it.“This is a fight I’ve wanted for a really long time, and the fact that it’s happening now, after all this turmoil and craziness with the change of opponents and everything, it really couldn’t have worked out better.“I think that styles make fights, and I think that this style match-up is going to be extremely exciting. It’s a very tough fight; Nick’s one of the best in the welterweight division. I think there are some guys stylistically that could probably beat him, but I think the matchup between us — we’re very evenly matched. We have similar skill sets, maybe a little bit different approach — different style — but it’s exciting.”The 28-year-old Diaz is on an 11-fight winning streak that includes nine stoppages, with victories over the likes of Frank Shamrock, KJ Noons, Paul Daley, and Penn. An enigma outside of the cage, Diaz is all business when the lights go up and the fight begins, blending tremendous boxing with a slick submission game.He’s also adept at shaking his opponents with a barrage of pre-fight banter, an ability and instinctual talent he’s passed on to his younger brother Nathan as well. Condit is prepared for it all — the boxing, the jiu-jitsu, and the verbal jabs.“Nick likes to get in your head, talk a lot of trash, so I need to stay composed, and step in with the attitude that I always do; just be about my business, and not get sucked into all that other stuff. I just have to fight my fight. No matter what an opponent says or how much trash they talk, I get the opportunity to go in there and beat him down. I can just hold my tongue and let it build, and as soon as the cage door closes, it’s game time.”Condit knows he’s in for a battle, but he’s ready, and confident that if he sticks to the game plan, he’ll emerge from Saturday’s headliner as the interim UFC welterweight champion.“Nick is probably the toughest guy I’ve ever fought. He’s an endurance athlete — he puts tons and tons of pressure on guys — and he’s got some really good skills with his hands; his jiu-jitsu’s great.“But I just really need to fight my fight. If I do that, I feel like I’m going to walk away with the belt.”
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, welterweight, condit
Read the full article at UFCNick Diaz - The Last Gunslinger
If you want to define the pure essence of the word “fighter,” odds are that eventually you will find yourself face to face with the story of Nick Diaz. In many ways, he’s been fighting since his days growing up in California, moving from school to school and always being the new kid. It’s a story shared by thousands, but few have taken it as far as Diaz has – to the main event of UFC 143 this Saturday and a shot at the interim welterweight title against fellow contender Carlos Condit.But for all the media attention and scrutiny around the 28-year old from Stockton since his return to the UFC late last year, all you really need to define who Diaz is would be a look at his second pro fight in July of 2002 against Chris Lytle. Yeah, that Chris Lytle, who at the time was already a seasoned vet of the sport. But when Lytle’s original foe, Jake Shields, was forced from the fight due to a staph infection, it was his 18-year old teammate, Diaz, who stepped in.“This guy had something like 20 fights,” said Diaz in an interview before his 2011 bout with BJ Penn. “Chris was fighting in Japan, he was ranked in Pancrase, he was way older than I was, and I was supposed to lose.”But he didn’t. Instead, Diaz pounded out a three round split decision that earned him his first title, the IFC welterweight belt, and truly started him on a career that he has had a love-hate relationship ever since. And though a lot of water has gone under the bridge since that day, he still has fond memories of his first big win.“I think I was a lot happier when I won back then,” he said. “It was more about proving myself. Back then I really had something to prove and I really needed to be more than what I was. After those fights, I felt established in all sorts of ways. It was good.” “When people would hear about who I was, they would pretty much think I was full of s**t,” he continues. “And even after these fights they would think the same thing, but at least I would know I’m not, and it was just enough for me to keep going.”A jiu-jitsu player since he was 15, and a pro MMA fighter from 18, Diaz has spent more than half his life in the sport that made him a worldwide star, one of the best welterweights on the planet, and perhaps the game’s most intriguing figure. It’s a trio of titles that Diaz could probably do without, well, at least two of the three, and when it comes to being the best in the world, Diaz would likely enjoy that title if he didn’t have to deal with all the miscellaneous distractions and requirements that come along with it, like media obligations, etc. But he has no apologies for who he is.“With me, you get the real me, real martial arts and a real warrior mentality,” he said at the media workouts for his fight with Condit. “I don't act friends with anyone I am going to fight. That's crazy, I don’t understand that. Some people aren’t mature enough to understand I don’t want to put on an act for the cameras. I’m real. I’m acting natural, I don’t want to be friends around a guy I am about to fight.”You could chalk up such comments to Diaz being a hard man in a hard sport, and his mean mugs, and trash talking and taunting during fights do little to dispel that image. But we may not be seeing the full picture of the enigmatic welterweight.“I don’t know how I come off, but I don’t like to hurt people, first off,” he said last year. “You get these guys like ‘I’m going through a lot and I’m real pissed off and I’m ready to fight and I just want to hurt somebody.’ I don’t say that and I don’t feel that. I don’t want to hurt anybody; I don’t want anybody to be hurt. I want to win, I want to come out on top, and I want to be in an exciting fight because I worked hard, but I don’t necessarily want anyone to hurt. That’s what I don’t like about fighting. I like the competition, I love it, but I don’t love fighting for money, because it hurts people.”It may be why Diaz has been fairly reclusive when it comes to the media, and why he wants to keep his day job and his personal life as two separate entities.“I’m trying to separate life and MMA fighting because they’re really two different things for me and that’s kinda rough for me to deal with and it’s probably been my biggest problem, more than the fights,” he said. “It’s my challenge to separate the two.”So when he falls short of succeeding in that challenge, he’s left with two things – training and fighting. And with 11 consecutive wins constituting an unbeaten streak that has lasted nearly four years, it’s obviously something that has worked for him professionally. Personally? That may be another tale to tell.“I don’t have any life, I don’t have anything else going on,” he said. “All these other people are like ‘oh, I have a wife and kids now.’ I don’t have any of that. I screwed all that potential stuff I had going for that up way back when I was too busy training to fight and acting crazy to train. Now I don’t really like the idea of changing what’s been working for me right now. So as long as I’m fighting, I don’t see things changing for me.”Especially not with an interim title shot and the prospect of fighting current champion Georges St-Pierre right at his doorstep. But first he has to get by Condit, an equally hungry contender who has earned Diaz’ respect.“He’s the next guy I need to prove myself against,” said Diaz. “We are both top level and we win by doing damage, not by trying to score points. He has a realistic fighting style like I do. Carlos is a very well rounded guy. He’s tough and it will be a fight.”If Diaz emerges victorious on Saturday night, he will once again be the center of attention, something that has seemingly plagued him for years, but never more than when he missed two press conferences for a proposed fight with St-Pierre last year and saw the fight scrapped. He was eventually brought back into the fold for his UFC 137 bout with Penn, which he won via unanimous decision, and is now slated for Saturday’s matchup with Condit, which was originally going to be the GSP fight until the champion injured his knee and was sent to the sidelines. But during all of this, Diaz became mixed martial arts’ anti-hero, the most interesting man in the world not appearing in beer commercials. It’s everything that he didn’t want, but with another stellar performance, the focus will be on his fighting and not everything else that he’s already put to the side to focus on his craft. On Saturday night, he could make his case for being the best welterweight in the MMA world, something that will only be proven as fact should he beat Condit AND St-Pierre. But he already has an endorsement from boxing’s best at 168 pounds, super middleweight champ Andre Ward.“I've worked (sparred) with Nick and his brother Nate in the past,” said Ward, who was recently named 2011 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America. “Both are extremely good boxers, and have a great feel for standup boxing. Nick specifically, is left handed, tough as nails and physically strong. That's why we work with him. I like Nick Diaz in an Octagon against anyone. I also feel he could compete in a boxing ring, if he so chooses.”That’s the kind of respect Diaz wants. He’s not interested in photo shoots, autograph signings, or the bright lights. This is a fight. And if everyone else hasn’t figured that out yet, that’s not his problem.“This isn't soccer, it’s fighting,” he said. “I've got no problem that this is a sporting event and being respectful, but it is a fight. It is what it is. It matters how I am seen by fans; sometimes I care, sometimes I don't, but when I think about it, I try to be real.”
Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, i ’m, year
Read the full article at UFCTweets of the Week 2/3
UFC 143: Diaz vs. ConditNick Diaz Works Out With His Brother Nate At UFC 143 http://fb.me/1jUgmzb1x (@DiazBrothers209) -Diaz BrothersJust picked up my crackin new custom suit from @D2Kill in downtown ABQ http://pic.twitter.com/wKEl223D (@CarlosCondit) -Carlos ConditI'm in Las Vegas for @UFC 143! So who do you think takes it: Condit or Diaz? (@GeorgesStPierre) -Georges St-PierrePR week almost over, and the fight actual starts tomorrow. Thanks for the supports. (@roynelsonmma) -Roy NelsonAll I have 2 say! Enjoy the show. Feb 4 PPV don't miss it #ufc http://instagr.am/p/mbndo/ (@JoshKoscheck) -Josh KoscheckKOS, I agree with you. You should start looking to beef up you're resume now. These guys can help: resumesplanet.com (@MikePierce170) -Mike PierceAlmost game time! (@cliffordstarks1) -Clifford StarksMake sure to Catch me on UFC 143 Prelims by watching it on Facebook! It's FREE and in the comfort of your own house...Time to Conquer (@dantheanvil) -Dan StittgenI find myself relating to Diaz after watching the Primetime special. (@KCBanditMMA) -Jason HighThat was a quick trip to LA, always get a bunch done here. Headed 2 Vegas @DiazBrothers209 & @CarlosCondit is gonna b epic! 2 bad dudes! (@UrijahFaber) -Urijah FaberLook What You Started, Pat Barry!@DustinPoirier hitting a PLANK on our way to cut weight at the Palms!! Rep ping that UFC Brand! #ufc143 http://pic.twitter.com/wb5KBGS2 (@TimCredeur) -Crazy Tim CredeurWWW.SkypeAMonkey.com I wish monkeys could Skype.... ... Maybe one day :-/ (@J_Brookins) -Jonathan BrookinsRight!so this guy tells @badboygarcia and I that he fought. I asked "how'd you do?" the guy said "medium, but I felt dirty afterward" ? Wtf right (@DUANEBANGCOM) -Duane LudwigWEC Never ForgetWe keep it #WECVintage over here, both tryin to do big thingsRT @Sholler_UFC: @jamievarner @SMOOTHone155 little WEC reunion over there?Nice! (@SMOOTHone155) -Benson HendersonGladiator Man Never ForgetLooking forward to seeing the new @ufc intro everyone is talking about!!! #RIPgladiatorman (@JoeB135) -Joseph BenavidezSmile. It Makes People Wonder What You’re Up To:) (@LouGaudinotUFC) -Louis Gaudinot:) (@DanaWhite) -Dana WhitePrank the FrankFrankie Edgar gets PRANKED! http://bit.ly/xF1pfT @FrankieEdgar @Almeidabjj @mmanytt @AliDominance @RenzoGracieBJJ @ufc (@AkiraCorassani) -Akira CorassaniEar-y TweetsI never seen cauliflower ear on a girl..@rondarousey What do u guys think hot or not? http://pic.twitter.com/XVGFJe79 (@SugaRashadEvans) -Rashad Evans@SugaRashadEvans thanks, it was nice meeting you ... Despite you making fun of my ears ;) (@RondaRousey) -Ronda RouseyWhenever someone starts to tell me something I always say "I'm all ears" even though I'm technically only 40% ears (@ForrestGriffin) -Forrest GriffinStylish Outcasts at the DogparkBeing anti social at the dog park ... We are the kids in the corner smoking cigarets http://pic.twitter.com/KGfhxUAT (@Unclecreepymma) -Ian McCallYou’re Not Alone, Bro.So I think @UFC_Undisputed 3 is gonna be my date for Valentines Day #imaNerd @ufc (@CubSwanson) -Cub SwansonShowtime Fired UpCan't sleep after watching UFC fights!!! Can't wait for Japan.... #fb (@Showtimepettis) -Anthony PettisCan’t Keep a Good Mexicutioner Down!Well when you fight the way I do stuff like that can happen. Props to @lavarjohnson for the win. Not sure what's next for me but I'll be ok. (@mexicutioner760) -Joey Beltran
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, guy, ear
Read the full article at UFCThe Downes Side: UFC 143 Predictions
It's been a good week for The Downes Side: I went 5-0 with my FOX picks bringing me to 9 wins in a row. My Chicago homecoming went off almost flawlessly (save a lowlight in which an entire family of four flipped me off on my way to the arena). That's my biggest victory streak since I won the Vocabulary Bee in Mrs. Florian’s 6th grade classroom 11 weeks in a row. I’ll get another shot at glory this week as the UFC rolls into Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay for UFC 143. The main event is my fellow wordsmith Nick Diaz facing Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight title.Ed Herman vs Clifford StarksEd "Short Fuse" Herman has looked great coming off a nearly two-year layoff from a knee injury with quick wins over Tim Credeur and Kyle Noke. Clifford Starks is another example of the old adage, “Only two things come from Arizona State: drunk college girls and UFC wrestlers.” He made his debut last October with a weigh-in wardrobe malfunction followed by a decision win.Prediction: Starks is a great wrestler, but Herman's superior striking and submission games will be too much for him. Starks has the potential to grind out a decision, but I’m sticking with the ginger. When you don’t have a soul, you have nothing to lose, and Herman takes this middleweight melee by 2nd round TKO.Renan Barao vs Scott JorgensonNext we have Renan Barao pitted against Scotty “Young Guns” Jorgensen to determine who'll be at the top of the bantamweight heap in the post-Cruz/Faber 3 universe. Jorgensen is searching for another shot while Barao wants to increase his unbeaten streak to 30 straight (showoff). Prediction: This is my favorite for Fight of the Night. While Barao has the speed advantage, Young Guns’ strength and wrestling can neutralize that. Expect a wild back-and-forth fight with Jorgensen’s grappling taking over as the fight progresses. Scotty will get his takedowns, ground and pound and put on the second best show of the weekend (the first obviously being Puppy Bowl VIII).Josh Koscheck vs Mike PierceIn the main card's first welterweight war, irrepressible instigator Josh Koscheck faces off against Mike Pierce, who got the fight by publicly calling out Kos. Both fighters are coming off recent wins and have solid wrestling backgrounds. Koscheck is looking to get back into the welterweight title talk while Pierce gets a taste of the spotlight with a high-profile opponent.Prediction: Despite being a former Division I wrestler, Pierce has struggled against other wrestlers whose first names start with J (see his fights against Jon Fitch and Johny Hendricks). Pierce has never been stopped, but that streak ends tonight. Koscheck will go for the takedown immediately, get position and go HAM. He’ll look great, then ruin all the goodwill he earned with a solid black-hat performance in the post-fight interview. Koscheck wins via first-round TKORoy Nelson vs Fabricio WerdumAfter his Strikeforce sojourn, Fedor-beater Fabricio Werdum returns to the UFC with a heavyweight showdown against Roy “Big Country” Nelson. As for Nelson, after two disappointing losses to Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir that made Big Country reexamine his lovable pudginess, he rebounded with a win against Mirko Cro Cop. Prediction: Big Country may not be as fat and lovable as he used to, but losing weight hasn’t
slowed down Seth Rogen’s career and it won’t hurt our favorite mulleted
heavyweight, either. Werdum wants this fight to go to the ground, but Roy has the striking ability to keep him on the outside. Big Country keeps the distance and nickel-and-dimes Werdum to a decision win. Nick Diaz vs Carlos ConditThe main event features everyone’s favorite anti-social fighter against a guy who's surprisingly mild-mannered for being a “Natural Born Killer.” Full disclosure: Nick Diaz is a friend of mine. And by friend, I mean that I once saw him in a Whole Foods in Las Vegas and talked to him for five minutes. But he didn’t call me a punk-ass bitch and we both use the same salad dressing so it’s clear that we’re very much alike.Prediction: Condit has the wrestling advantage, but I imagine these two will stand toe to toe with one another. Condit says that he plans on testing Diaz’ chin, and that’s usually a recipe for disaster (see Diaz vs. Daley, Diaz vs. Lawler, etc). The 209 will outwork the NBK - Diaz wins the decision after five rounds and becomes the number-one source of pride for Stockton. Take that, Asparagus Festival!Sadly, that brings an end to this edition of the Downes Side. If you can’t get enough of me, follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes and add some comments and I’ll respond. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go place my bets for the game. For what it’s worth, my money is on Leroy Brown.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, koscheck
Read the full article at UFC"Don't be scared homie" - The postfight interview that started the phrase and the Nick Diaz phenomenon - Diaz has not lost since..
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Posted in: diaz, nick, postfight interview, dont, wrathofthenunchuk
Read the full article at RedditBehind the UFC 143 numbers: Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit fight complete statistical breakdown
"The fight they weren't seeking -- just became the most important fight of their lives."
You've heard the promo spot for UFC 143 a hundred times, if you've been watching Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events during the last month.
Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit were both supposed to fight Georges St. Pierre for his title last year. However, because of injuries and unforeseen circumstances, neither of them got their wish. The consolation prize? They now get to fight each other for the interim belt at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, this weekend (Feb. 4, 2012) in "Sin City."
These two very dangerous welterweights will battle in what could likely be the "Fight of the Year," with the end result, most likely, being that the winner will face "Rush" upon his return.
Who will bring the statistical advantage into the cage when they do battle on Saturday night? Roll up your sleeves and whip out your calculators because it's time to crunch numbers.
Check out a complete statistical breakdown of the UFC 143 main event between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit after the jump:
The expert analysts at CompuStrike worked hard to help bring us an extra special edition of "Behind the Numbers" for this fantastic number one contender eliminator match. The numbers procured have been based on 14 fight averages for Nick Diaz and 10 fight averages for Carlos Condit.
First, let's analyze the overall striking game of both fighters:
Total Strikes:
Diaz -- 127 of 242Condit -- 50 of 99Percentage:
Diaz -- 53 percentCondit -- 51 percent
Total Power Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 95 Condit -- 22
Total Non-Power Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 32Condit -- 28
The accuracy is comparable, but Diaz throws a much larger volume of strikes and lands many more power strikes when he gets in the cage.
That's the overall striking picture. Here's what the arm strikes look like:
Total Arm Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 98 of 197Condit -- 7 of 24
Percentage of Arm Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 50 percentCondit -- 29 percent
Power Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 74Condit -- 4
Non-Power Strikes Landed
Diaz -- 24Condit -- 3
Wow. It's not a huge surprise that Diaz would hold the edge here, but this is a vast differential.
The leg strikes category does not fare a whole lot better for Condit:
Total Leg Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 16 of 23Condit -- 9 of 21Percentage of Leg Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 70 percentCondit -- 43 percentPower Leg Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 12Condit -- 4Non-Power Leg Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 4Condit -- 5
Everyone knows Nick Diaz is dangerous on the ground. His submission game is slick and deceptive. He generally prefers to stand and bang, but if things go south, he has no problem rolling with the best of them.
Just ask Takanori Gomi (about both Diaz brothers).
Here's what the ground game comparison looks like:
Ground Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 13 of 22Condit -- 34 of 54Percentage:
Diaz -- 59 percentCondit -- 63 percentPower Ground Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 9Condit -- 14
Non-Power Ground Strikes Landed:
Diaz -- 4Condit -- 20
Takedowns:
Diaz -- 9 of 32 (28 percent)Condit -- 5 of 8 (63 percent)Submission Attempts:
Diaz -- 10Condit -- 13Dominant Positions:
Diaz -- 17Condit -- 17
The statistics show Condit to shoot for a higher percentage of takedowns. His ground and pound also appears to have the advantage.
"The Natural Born Killer" has won 13 of his 27 fights via submission, so he's no beginner on the mat. Diaz has won eight fights by submission during his career, but again, he'd rather stand in the pocket and trade if it's up to him.
So, are these the findings you would have predicted? Or are you at all thrown for a loop? Does this sway you in your decision? Who ya got?
For everything else you need to know about the clash between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit, be sure to check out our complete fight archive right here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, ground, condit, strike
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHistory in the Making: Nick Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight kingpin
Every dog has its day.
For Nick Diaz, that day is Saturday (Feb. 4, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada when he main events UFC 143 against Carlos Condit. Over five years after walking away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the bad boy from Stockton gets a title shot -- albeit one for an interim strap -- and the opportunity to take on Georges St. Pierre sometime in the second half of 2012 when the French Canadian heals up from a knee injury.
While some would look at Diaz's performance at UFC 137 against B.J. Penn as the catalyst for this weekend's five-round fight, the genesis of this bout is rooted far deeper. Yes, the Hawaiian was given a beating unlike any in his career -- he left the Octagon a battered and swollen mess, speaking of retirement -- but the legwork Diaz put in to earn a shot at "Rush" and then Condit when St. Pierre bowed out due to aforementioned injury began in Miami with the Strikeforce promotion.
It was there he won the promotion's 170-pound title and he then spent the next year and a half knocking off each challenger Strikeforce put in front of him, one by one. Four title fight victories -- and a fifth non-title bout in Japan just for good measure -- has gotten Diaz where he is, on the cusp of UFC gold.
Let's take a look back at those fights.
Diaz stepped inside the Strikeforce cage at the beginning of 2010 in the port city of Miami to decide Strikeforce's first ever 170-pound champ. Standing opposite him was DREAM's welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis who was looking to add even more gold to his collection. Finding his range and surviving a knockdown, Diaz was able to pick "The Whitemare" apart before securing the stoppage victory late int the first round. After the fight, when asked if the win had emotional significance, the tunnel visioned Diaz said, "I'm just ready to go home and eat, you know what I'm saying?" The awkward silence that followed indicated Stephen Quadros did not, in fact, know what the newly crowned champ was saying. It was the beautifully uncomfortable post-fight interview Diaz would soon be synonymous with.
His next title defense -- after traveling to Japan to submit the legendary Hayato Sakurai -- came over seven months later against the last man to hold a victory over Diaz, K.J. Noons. When the Stockton native was flirting with a drop to 160-pounds, the mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter turned boxer turned back MMA fighter busted Diaz up badly enough to warrant a doctor stoppage. The rematch wouldn't go as smoothly for the Hawaiian as the Cesar Gracie student was able to outstrike Noons over the course of 25 minutes, leading to a one-sided unanimous decision. Diaz had avenged his last loss and also picked up a second successful title defense in one fell swoop.
At the turn of the new year, Diaz found himself inside the cage with Evangelista Santos. The tattooed Brazilian, better known for being married to Cristiane Santos, wasn't seen as much of a challenger beyond having a puncher's chance. He proved the doubters wrong, not by punching, but by kicking. The Brazilian absolutely brutalized the champion with leg kicks, making many wonder how Diaz was able to weather such punishment. The strategy worked well for the challenger until the end of the opening round when the Stockton native began to score with punches and opened the floodgates. Able to compose himself between rounds, "Cyborg" went back to the well upon the restart and the tide seemed to be turning his way. But an ill-advised takedown attempt led to a quick armbar submission for the champion who, in typical Nick Diaz fashion, began trash talking and cursing at some detractors in the audience.
And in his final defense as Strikeforce welterweight champion, Diaz took on UFC pariah Paul Daley. The Briton was banished from the Octagon after throwing a post-fight sucker punch at Josh Koscheck who had used his wrestling abilities to keep the knockout artist on his back for three rounds. "Kos" wanted no part of Daley's stand-up and took the most risk averse route to victory: getting "Semtex" off his feet and going from there. A similar gameplan was expected from the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt but what fans got was something else entirely. Opting to stand toe to toe with Daley, Diaz fought fire with fire and exchanged strikes with the knockout artist.
Rocked early into the fight, Diaz does what we've seen time after time and survives. Within two minutes, he has his opponent pinned against the chain-link while delivering lethal combinations, mixing up head strikes with body blows. Against the proverbial ropes, Daley is still dangerous and proves as such when a bomb connects nearly four minutes in. The champion flops to the mat but his challenger, perhaps leery of expending too much energy or not having the energy to spare due to the damage he's taken, doesn't hammer away with much speed. Had he simply went for broke, regardless of whether the strikes were doing much damage, the fight very likely could have been stopped. Instead, Diaz recovers and seconds later has Daley staggered and hurt. The champion's ground and pound lands more effectively and the fight is stopped.
Less than two months later, Diaz vacated his title to fight for another, one held by greats such as Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn and currently held by Georges St. Pierre. Since he left the Octagon in 2006, he has collected 13 wins -- no contest at Pride 33 aside -- while losing only once. Perceiving himself as underrated and underpaid, Diaz was finally on the cusp of achieving everything a fighter could hope for in the sport. But three months and two missed press conferences after his title shot was announced, the Stockton native was yanked from the UFC 137 main event to make way for a more reliable Carlos Condit.
Hours later, Diaz was re-booked against Penn and when "Rush" dropped out, his main event status was reinstated. The rest is brutal history. With the champion still injured, Diaz takes on Condit for an interim title in two days, the culmination of a decade-long journey that began while Diaz was still pondering who to ask to his senior prom. From the streets of Stockton to the bright lights of Las Vegas, it's been quite a ride for Diaz.
Will it pay off Saturday night?
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, champion
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz Says Carlos Condit More Dangerous Than GSP (Video)
Nick Diaz sees Carlos Condit as a more dangerous threat than Georges St-Pierre, especially in regards to his teeth.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, carlos condit, georges stpierre
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyCarlos Condit Plans to Spoil GSP vs. Diaz (Video)
MMAWeekly.com caught Carlos Condit at the UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference, where he said that he plans on playing spoiler to people hoping to see GSP vs. Nick Diaz
Posted in: diaz, vs, gsp, carlos condit, plan
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz 'Sick' of Georges St-Pierre Overshadowing Carlos Condit
One thing can be certain after Thursday afternoon's UFC 143 press conference: Nick Diaz has a great deal of respect for Carlos Condit. Breaking custom, he even shook Condit's hand after the two posed for photographers at the conclusion of the event, held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. It was a noticeable change for Diaz, who has flipped off, shoved and otherwise attempted to menace several prospective opponents in the days before a fight.But this Diaz was different: quiet, mellow and reserved. There were no outbursts or complaints about respect. There were no scathing criticisms of anything surrounding the sport. In fact, he saved his only prolonged oration to defend his opponent.Yes, Diaz came to the side of Condit, after being asked about Georges St-Pierre overshadowing Condit in the lead-up to UFC 143.
"Yeah, I think it makes me sick," he said. "This is Carlos’ time to be here, and to be a part of this main event. This is ... half of the show is built up around me fighting Georges St-Pierre. But that's not [right]. I’m fighting Carlos Condit. So, I don't like it."As Diaz observed, St-Pierre has been noticeably visible during event week, even holding court with reporters on Wednesday to offer a status update on his injured knee. Of course, he also spoke about the UFC 143 main event, saying that he "hopes and prays" Diaz wins, so that he eventually gets to fight him.Because of that, along with the contrasting archetypes the two represent, Condit has been something of an odd-man out, even though he has the chance to play spoiler to the story line and capture the interim welterweight title in the process.Diaz reiterated his belief that Condit is actually a more dangerous foe than St-Pierre is, meaning that quite literally. As in, Condit is much more likely to do physical harm in an octagon than St-Pierre is."You’re more in danger of losing a decision to Georges St-Pierre," he said. "I think you’re more in danger of losing your teeth if you're fighting Condit here."Aside from those two telling answers, Diaz seemed a bit unengaged in the proceedings, asking reporters to repeat questions on at least two occasions. Contrary to his normal, digressive speaking style, he was short and concise, rarely offering more than a one-sentence response. Of course, that's not that unusual for fighters who are making their final weight cut, but Diaz is facing a whole new level of scrutiny as he's ascended up the welterweight rankings and become seen as a real threat to St-Pierre.All of that buildup will essentially be wasted if Condit pulls the mild upset (Diaz is about a 2-to-1 favorite). Condit has won 12 of his last 13 fights, so the suggestion that the fight is a gimme for Diaz is a ridiculous assertion.Condit himself admitted that at times, it's felt that the St-Pierre vs. Diaz fight is being planned "before this one even happens," but likes his chances of playing spoiler. Regardless, he suggested that while fans may be clamoring for St-Pierre vs. Diaz, they may be missing a gem right under their noses."I expect a war," he said. "Honestly, Nick is probably the toughest dude I've ever fought. He's well-rounded, he has a pretty dynamic skill set. He's pretty similar to me. We both come to fight. No matter who wins, fans are going to win because it’s going to be a phenomenal fight."
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, georges stpierre, stpierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz vs Carlos Condit staredown pic from UFC 143 press conference
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 143 pre-fight press conference is in the books for the "Diaz vs. Condit" pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., Feb. 4, 2012.
With a name like that, it should come as no surprise that former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz is taking on ex WEC 170-pound titleholder Carlos Condit in the night's main event. As with every press conference, they face off at the end and try to psyche each other out.
Not sure anyone can out-mug Diaz, but "The Natural Born Killer" sure gives it his best shot.
Also squaring off were main card fighters Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce as well as Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum. Their staredown pics can be found after the jump.
Have a look.
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce.
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
For all the news and notes from today's UFC 143 pre-fight press conference click here.
Posted in: diaz, press conference, conference, vs, press
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz: “In my opinion, everyone else is crazy.”
If you’ve ever wondered why Nick Diaz strays from the norm when it comes to the way he treats opponents or even media duties he’ll have you know it’s based on authenticity in a world where fakeness is the norm. Diaz has no illusions of what his chosen profession entails – two individuals attempting to damage the other to the point of submission or separation from consciousness.
“Some people aren’t mature enough to handle it. This isn’t soccer. I have no problem being sportsmanlike about this whole thing. I understand it’s a sporting event. But to me this is a fight,” Diaz explained in an interview with MMAFighting. “I’m not going to let things change that to help this sport become what it is. I think this sport IS what it is. I don’t worry about looking good. I do what I’ve got to do to survive, to keep my teeth in my head, and my head on my shoulders. I apologize to whoever can’t put that together and understand that.”
“People try to say, ‘Nick Diaz, he’s crazy or not crazy or fake crazy’,” the outspoken welterweight continued. “I’m like, ‘Hey, bro, what you see is what you get.’ I’m not out here trying putting on an act like I’m crazy. In my opinion, everyone else is crazy. They’re the ones who put on an act for you, doing what they’re told in front of the camera…They turn these guys into robots. I’m just not going to be that guy. Don’t tell me I’m crazy. I’m out here acting natural. I’m the only one here being realistic out here about this sort of thing.”
Diaz also said his style of fighting reflects his opinion about keeping things real, opting to brawl against strikers instead of rely on his high-level grappling ability. It’s also a mindset he sees Carlos Condit possessing, who he faces this Saturday night in the main event at UFC 143, and an aspect of his opponent he genuinely appreciates.
Fans can see what Diaz does next, a prospect often as entertaining as his offerings inside the cage, when he collides with Condit. The show fires up at 7:00 PM EST on FX/Facebook before main card action starts at 10:00 PM EST on PPV.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, ’t, i ’m, ’m, opinion everyone
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChris Cope talks UFC 143 bout and Diaz vs. Condit “Diaz will win, he is firing on all cylinders”
By Dustin De La Torre Battling back from a tough loss, former Ultimate Fighter contestant Chris Cope (5-2) sits down with Fight Hub TV correspondent, Dustin De La Torre to discuss his upcoming fight at UFC 143 where he will be facing the always tough, Matt “The Immortal” Brown (12-11). Chris talks to us about [...]
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, chri, matt “
Read the full article at Fighthub TVUFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit Open Workout
LAS VEGAS -- The UFC 143 open workouts took place Wednesday afternoon at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Watch below as headliners Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz work out in front of fans and media.
Posted in: diaz, nick, las vegas, la, carlo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC® 143 DIAZ vs CONDIT Press Conference LIVE
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, vs, neahk
Read the full article at RedditUFC 143: By the Odds
The Super Bowl may offer more crazy betting opportunities for compulsive gamblers -- seriously, if you bet on the coin toss, check yourself into some sort of program immediately -- but UFC 143 has no shortage of juicy betting lines for the sporting man or woman. What do you say we examine a few and talk about how we’d spend someone else’s hypothetical money on them?Nick Diaz (-225) vs. Carlos Condit (+175)Personally, I’m a little disappointed at the general lack of Nick Diaz-related prop bets this week. Why should the Super Bowl get all the ridiculous betting fun? After all, betting on a Diaz fight is relatively boring when compared to betting on a Diaz press conference or weigh-in. For instance, odds Diaz will make it to today’s pre-fight presser: -160. Odds he’ll give at least one awkward, rambling answer that makes other fighters on the dais visibly uncomfortable: -500. Odds he’ll accidentally smile during any of his face-offs with Condit: +1200. Sadly, no one with the ability or willingness to actually take these bets is offering them, so we’ll have to settle for betting on what color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning Super Bowl coach (I got a sawbuck says it’s orange). As for the fight itself, is it really possible that Diaz is this much better than Condit?
The answer is: not really, but enough people seem to think so. Most of the lines for this fight started out in the -105 to -150 range, with at least one online bookmaker even pegging Condit an early favorite, if only just slightly. Then the money started coming in on Diaz, who has the more passionate, loyal fanbase, and things quickly got out of hand. What’s really working in Diaz’s favor here is the fact that the fight is a five-rounder. Everyone who’s ever fought or even sparred with him talks about his almost supernatural ability to wear you down through sheer pace and pressure. You can even win the first and second rounds as he walks into one punch after another, but his chin and his conditioning enable him to slowly turn up the heat over the course of a fight, and many opponents simply can’t cope. Can Condit? We’ve never seem him collapse in a fight, but we’ve also never seen him against an opponent like this one. That means there are at least some doubts, whereas with Diaz you always know exactly what you’re getting, for better or worse.My pick: Diaz. The odds are far too lopsided -- anything over 2-1 in favor of Diaz is a bad deal -- but I feel safe enough to include it in the parlay.Fabricio Werdum (-150) vs. Roy Nelson (+120)The Frank Mir fight taught us that Nelson can be out-wrestled. The Junior dos Santos fight showed he can be out-boxed. But can "Big Country" be out-jiu-jitsu’d? Maybe the better question is: if he can’t, what else does Werdum have to fall back on? The Brazilian has decent hands, which he demonstrated in brief spasms against Alistair Overeem between guard flops. But does he have what it takes to beat Nelson on the feet or put him in an uncomfortable position on the mat? I doubt it, just like I doubt that Werdum can take many of Nelson’s big right hands if the fight makes it into the later rounds. I don’t know if it’s his physique or just a couple of poor performances that has people undervaluing Nelson, but he’s better than he gets credit for. Werdum? Sorry, but I’m still not sold on him as a top heavyweight.My pick: Nelson. The slight underdog line is all I need to justify small action on the one and only IFL heavyweight champ. IFL. Never. Die.Josh Koscheck (-265) vs. Mike Pierce (+205)Ask yourself what Pierce does better than Koscheck. Go ahead...I’ll wait. If you came up with ‘nothing,’ congratulations. Pierce is like Koscheck, only smaller, less dynamic, and not as physically imposing. Like Koscheck, he also leans heavily on his wrestling ability, only not as successfully. He lacks Koscheck’s punching power and his experience in big fights. Pierce is jumping up to a whole new level of competition here, whereas Koscheck is in something of a holding pattern. In fact, the biggest threat to Koscheck here might be the very real possibility that he’ll take Pierce too lightly and get Paulo Thiago’d all over again. You’d like to think that that would only need to happen once for you to learn your lesson, but hey, no one ever accused Koscheck of being a quick study when it comes to lessons in humility.My pick: Koscheck. The line is probably just about right, but it’s also just about perfect for a parlay bet and nothing else.Renan Barao (-225) vs. Scott Jorgensen (+175)If Barao’s win over Brad Pickett didn’t make a believer out of you, it’s possible that you’re just being a stubborn jerk. This guy seems to be the real deal at 135 pounds, whereas Jorgensen seems to be one more wrestler among wrestlers. He has solid ground-and-pound, and he’s dangerous when he can get guys down and stay on top. Against Barao, I expect he’ll have trouble with both, which leaves him in a risky no-man’s land.My pick: Barao. Another one for the parlay, but I can’t talk myself into betting on Jorgensen’s takedowns against Barao’s all-around game.Ed Herman (-300) vs. Clifford Starks (+230)I suppose it’s possible that Starks is ready for a fight on this level. We don’t know, because we haven’t seen enough of him yet, which is kind of the problem. Starks has fewer than ten pro fights, and none against this caliber of opponent. Herman has nearly a decade in this sport, not to mention some sneaky submissions and deceptively heavy hands. I suppose you could talk yourself into believing that the unbeaten Starks has something in the tank that Herman isn’t ready for, but you’d be basing that bet on more hope than reality.My pick: Herman. Next stop: Parlaytown. Mayor Georges St-Pierre bids you welcome.Quick picks: - Matt Brown (-300) over Chris Cope (+230). This fight feels like a way to get rid of Cope and keep Brown. My guess is it’ll accomplish both within the first or second round.- Matt Riddle (-400) over Henry Martinez (+300). A guy who’s undersized for the division takes his first UFC fight on short notice? We’ve seen this movie before.The ‘For Entertainment Purposes Only’ Parlay: Diaz + Koscheck + Barao + Herman + Brown + Riddle. What it lacks in exciting underdogs it makes up for with sheer, overwhelming quantity.
Posted in: fight, diaz, koscheck, bet, itrsquo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseCarlos Condit on Nick Diaz: ‘It’s Going To Be A War’
“It’s going to be a war. But there’s different kinds of wars. Of course I don’t want to play into his game and sit there and have a face-punching competition with Nick Diaz, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get in there and throw down. He’s a great standup fighter, but I think there’s going to be some opportunities for me to take some advantage of some things I’ve seen… It’s not just another fight. Diaz is the toughest guy that I’ve ever fought. It’s the biggest fight of my life, the biggest fight of my career, but I feel good. Preparation for this fight went really well, and I’m just ready to go in there and fight to the best of my ability and hopefully walk away with the title belt.”
— Carlos Condit talking to MMA Junkie about his interim welterweight title fight against Nick Diaz this weekend
Well, one thing’s for sure, it’s definitely going to be a war. Diaz and Condit are true fighters who never disappoint and never give up. My gut says Diaz takes Condit into deep waters and eventually drowns him like he has with past opponents, but Condit’s certainly capable of landing a stinging blow that could turn the tide at any given moment.
I got Diaz via 4th round TKO. Who you got?
Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, condit, war
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick is smiling because studies show that 15 out of 20 pros prefer a Diaz win at UFC 143
From the looks of the picture above, Nick Diaz did not just get gypped by his local Wendy's Drive thru. I know this because no one smiles after driving down the road reaching into a bag of lunch on-the-run fried fast food goodness only to find out that your five piece spicy chicken nuggets are short a nugget. No, it's actually varying degrees of the complete opposite facial expression that overcome your face. It begins with a bewildered frown as you search the bag for a run away piece of smooshed chicken parts. It then progresses to a full on frown of disappointment and disgust when you realize you will only get to dip four nuggets into the complimentary container of creamy ranch dipping sauce.
Nick Diaz probably never has to deal with not getting all of his spicy nuggets though. As a matter of fact, Nick Diaz probably got extra nuggets in his bag. That's what happens when you are Nick Diaz. Sort of like when Sherdog.com conducts an unscientific study and 15 out of 20 of the pros they question pick Nick Diaz to win over Carlos Condit this weekend. Nick not only gets all the nuggets he also gets the picks. Check out the breakdown from Sherdog.com below:
Ricardo Liborio: Diaz by decision. Amazing matchup. Mike Ciesnolevicz: I am so much more excited about this fight than I was now that GSP is not included. I probably would not have watched if GSP was fighting. I don’t like to go to bed that early on the weekends, and he would surely put me to bed faster than if I chugged a bottle of Nyquil. I know this fight will be super exciting. It’s actually one of the best possible fights I can think of as a fight fan. As for the skill sets and strategy, I believe Diaz has the punching advantage and Condit is better with knees and kicks. I think neither guy has great wrestling, so that should cancel out. In the Brazilian jiu-jitsu department, Diaz has the advantage, although Condit is surely [at a] black belt level himself. Just like most of the Diaz fights I have seen of late, this will come down to pace and cardio and the relentless attack. I believe Condit is a beast and has excellent strength and conditioning, but Diaz will wear him out and take over as the fight progresses. I am calling Diaz by unanimous decision in a “Fight of the Year” candidate. Gabe Ruediger: It’s going to be a great fight. Both guys come in ready and just fight. I think Diaz has the hardest time with controlling wrestlers, which Condit is not. Diaz wins by late sub or TKO. Keith Berry: I really want Condit in this fight. I think the “Natural Born Killer” will rise to the occasion and get the decision. Bart Palaszewski: Personally, I’m pulling for Carlos. Mark Bocek: Diaz [wins], I think, but it’s a good fight, [with] high-volume punching from Nick. But Condit beat Ellenberger ... it’s a great fight. Whoever makes the first mistake will lose.
Jim Hettes: I gotta go with Diaz, not just because of his outstanding combination of jiu-jitsu and boxing, but [because] being employed by the UFC means I might actually come face-to-face with one of these fighters. I’m willing to bet Diaz will actually beat me up for picking against him (laughs), so let’s go Diaz. Shane Roller: Close fight -- leaning towards Condit. Travis Wiuff: Diaz is unbeatable right now. I don’t see anyone beating him, including GSP. Diaz wins by TKO in the third round after the ref stops the fight. Kyle Kingsbury: I got Diaz winning by chanting “209” until Condit taps. Javier Vazquez: These are two of my favorite fighters. I think it's going to be a great fight [and] it’s going to be a back-and-forth war. I think Diaz is going to set a crazy pace and try to take Condit into deep water. I think, eventually, Diaz will be too much for Condit and will either submit him in the fifth round or will stop him via TKO in the fifth. Nam Phan: Diaz all the way. Ben Askren: I think Diaz will win. His standup has continued to improve, [and] I think he will out-strike Condit. We already know Diaz has him if it goes to the ground, so I think, barring a KO, Diaz takes it. Johny Hendricks: Man, I am thinking that Carlos is going to win. He has heavy hands and good BJJ. I know Nick is the same type of fighter, which will [make for] a great fight to watch for the fans. I just think Carlos is going to win. Alan Belcher: Diaz all the way. I roll with the 209. Michael Guymon: Diaz-Condit is so evenly matched in my eyes. I just see Diaz winning this one with his constant pressure style. John Hackleman: I have Court McGee sitting right here next to me, and we both kind of agree. We both think Nick-Condit is going to be a lot like Nate [Diaz] and [Donald] Cerrone. Nick is a lot like Nate in style, and Cerrone’s style is a lot like Condit’s style. I think it’ll turn out the same. I think Condit will be sharper and land early. He might even cut Nick, heaven forbid. That’ll be a first (laughs). But I think Nick is going to weather an early storm, throw sharper techniques and he’s going to plow forward like he always does. I think he’s going to stop him in the third. So, yeah, the styles are the same, and it’s an interesting matchup because of that. Joe Duarte: I got Diaz. He is as tough as they come. He probably even mouthwashes with bleach. Condit is good, but this one is going to come down to who is tougher. Diaz takes it. Jeff Hougland: I can’t wait for this fight. I am a fan of both of these guys’ style. They are both well-rounded and don’t just fight to win; they fight to hurt their opponents. I think all the fans watching are in for an amazing fight. My pick is Diaz by third- or fourth-round TKO. I grew up in the 209, so I always root for the Diaz Brothers. [source]Benji Radach: This is going to be an awesome fight, but I gotta pull for Diaz. Both fighters are talented, but I think Diaz’s boxing is going to deliver the victory.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, condit, style
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 143: Picking Knockout, Submission And Fight Of The Night Bonuses
It's always interesting to look ahead at the next UFC card and try to pick who will take home the bonuses for the night's best knockout, submission and fight. UFC 143 features some heavy competition in each of those categories but there's always a surprise or two once the fights actually go down.
Here are my picks for the bonuses, hit up the comments to let me know where you agree and disagree.
Fight of the Night: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
I think it's hard to pick anything other than the main event for this one. Nick Diaz is simply one of the most exciting fighters on the planet and in Carlos Condit he faces a fellow fighter who "brings it" every time out. It's a battle of different kinds of aggression and violence but similarly hard to break wills (something along the lines of "gameness" that Luke Thomas talked about).
While I don't think this goes all five rounds, the action from bell to bell should be incredible and both men having the ability to fight on the feet or floor means there should be no real lulls in the action.
Second Choice: Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen - These bantamweights are going to bring some really solid action on the main card.
Follow after the jump for submission and knockout picks...
Knockout of the Night: Dustin Poirier
Poirier hasn't finished anyone since coming to the UFC but he has laid some beatings on people. The diverse attack that he showcased against Josh Grispi in a fight where Poirier was basically there to play "opponent" is hard to overlook. In Max Holloway, Poirier takes on a guy with four career professional fights coming in on fairly late notice. Maybe it's cheating to pick the big experience differential and late notice fight, but I have a feeling Poirier is going to finish Holloway in violent fashion.
Second Choice: Roy Nelson - I have a feeling that Werdum might get a little too cute and eat a big right hand from Nelson that ends his night.
Submission of the Night: Edwin Figueroa
Figueroa is set to face Alex Caceres on the FX portion of the undercard. The key here is that Caceres has lost four of his last six professional bouts by submission. Figueroa tends to finish fights with strikes more than submissions, but Caceres has such an easy to exploit game on the ground that I'm riding with Edwin to take a great submission in this one.
Second Choice: Nick Diaz - Strange gut feeling here that at some point Condit looks to get the fight to the floor after not liking the combinations of Diaz and ends up in a fight ending triangle choke.
So what do you think? Agree, disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Posted in: fight, night, diaz, submission, poirier
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz Isn’t Crazy, You’re Crazy
“People try to say, ‘Oh, Nick Diaz, you know, he’s crazy,’ or ‘He’s crazy’ or ‘He’s not crazy’ or ‘He’s fake crazy’ or whatever. I’m like, hey bro, what you see is what you get. I’m not out here trying to put on an act like I’m crazy. When you see me, what you see is what you get. And you get real martial arts; you get real fighting; you get a real warrior mentality. I’m sorry if people can’t handle it. Some people aren’t mature enough to handle it… In my opinion, everybody else is crazy out of their mind. They’re the ones putting on an act for you, doing what they’re told in front of the camera. The camera gives them a line and they say it 10 times over again, and then whoever goes back in the back and picks that out. They turn these guys into these robots. I’m just not going to be that guy. So don’t tell me I’m acting crazy. I’m out here acting natural. I’m the only one being realistic about this sort of thing.”
— Nick Diaz, via MMA Mania, telling reporters everyone else is crazy, not him
I don’t even bother trying to make sense of the things that Nick Diaz says anymore. He sees the world from a different lens than most of us and I’ve come to the conclusion that you just have to accept it and love/hate it for what it is.
What I love about it though is how Nick manages to draw people in much like Chael Sonnen, but unlike Sonnen’s schtick, it’s actually real. Sonnen has to constantly come up with new material to keep people’s attention whereas Nick just has to show up and be himself. As much as I enjoy watching Sonnen do his thing, there’s no replacement for genuine insanity.
That’s my take on it at least. Georges St. Pierre, on the hand, doesn’t buy that the Nick Diaz we see on camera is the real Nick Diaz.
“Nick is not crazy. Nick is a very, very smart guy. People are like, “Oh Nick is crazy,” that’s a persona he has to intimidate people. He’s like a bully at school who tries to make you believe he’s ready to kill people. That’s not true, he’s a very, very clever guy. He’s a very smart guy. He’s very smart at what he does. And one of the reasons he is where he is in life, why he’s successful, is because he’s very smart. So I don’t buy this thing that “Oh, he’s crazy,” I don’t buy it. He’s a very smart guy. The way he portrays himself sometimes isn’t the way he truly is.”
What do you think? Is Nick Diaz really “crazy” or a manipulative genius who has everyone fooled?
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, guy, nick, people
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGSP Explains Why He Wants To Fight Nick Diaz
Georges St. Pierre explains why he wants to fight Nick Diaz in this interview with reporters at UFC 143.
Video via MMA Fighting
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, gsp, reporter
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz fights Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Saturday for the UFC interim welterweight championship. Diaz is a favorite here at the Bloody Elbow Judo Chop headquarters both for his very technical Jiu-Jitsu and also for his unique "pitter shatter" approach to boxing for MMA.
Heading into UFC 143 we wanted to refresh everyone's appreciation for Diaz' technical acumen with a review of our past Judo Chops on the fighter. Enjoy these previous Judo Chops:
Nick Diaz's Ground Game by Ben Thapa
Nick Diaz Gogoplatas Takanori Gomi by Kid Nate
The Unconventional MMA Boxing of Nick Diaz by Kid Nate
I also wanted to highlight this comment from John Nash (formerly nottheface) regarding the provenance of Diaz' unusual approach to boxing in MMA:
Diaz' style of boxing resembls some of the techniques used in old London Prizefighting ("bareknuckle") matches. Now I doubt he and Gracie went out and studied old Jem Mace fights but because grappling played a part in those fights (clinching and throwing your opponent to the ground was a big part of the game, and many fighters depended more on a good wrestling game than their striking ability. If one looks at Ed James's 1878 The Science of Boxing half the techniques shown are headlocks, throws, and trips.) and Diaz doesn't have thunderous power they have stumbled into a style for him that greatly resembles the proven techniques of yore.
More from John Nash plus a bunch of animated gifs in the full entry.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
On the right is a nice gif that illustrates Diaz' approach to MMA striking in his October 2010 rematch with K.J. Noons. Note how Diaz rarely commits more force than necessary to his punches, generally throwing from the shoulders, but sometimes just throwing arm punches.
The important thing in Diaz' approach is volume, volume, volume. He pitters, batters and plain wears down his opponents with a variety of low energy punches from a number of different angles.
More from John Nash:
Jean Joseph-Renaud an amazing pioneer in martial arts and specifically Defense Dans La Rue at the beginning of the 20th century described what bareknuckle fighting entailed.
Formerly, in England, when fights took place without gloves, they lasted immensely longer. While the combatants employed wrestling techniques and threw each other to the ground with great force, perhaps five or six times each quarter of an hour, they were still at least as vigorous of those of today. They ought to have finished very quickly and yet their fights always lasted a long time; they most commonly ended because one of the adversaries was exhausted rather than beaten.
Prizefighters fought this way because they didn't have gloves to protect their hands and because the rules allowed for grappling and throwing each other to the ground, often incorporating Devonshire, Cumberland, and Westmorland style wrestling. A new round started any time a fighter was knocked down and went to his knee, he was then given a 50-count to get back up and begin again. Because there is a time limit in mma Diaz has sped up the pace.
Joseph-Renaud also described a type of fighter who stood outside and threw straights but without all his power so as to not to break his hand (even describing one type of punch as a "slap" and considering it effective), unlike the in-fighting that glove boxing developed. This slap fighter wouldn't lung so at to leave himself open to be grappled and would throw repetitive straights from the outside to the head and, more importantly, the body of his opponent. The goal with this style of scientific boxing was to wear down your opponent until they collapsed from cumulative damage and exhaustion. Sound familiar?
...And while I think Diaz fights a lot like Michael Nunn - and perhaps based his style on the same sources as Nunn - the modifications they've made to make it work in MMA have resulted in something that resembles something from old prizefighting: less upper body movement, less slipping and ducking, less lunging from the outside, less dancing. All the stuff that Nunn uses but could put you in a bad spot where grappling is allowed as it is in MMA - and London Prizefighting.
The following is some analysis from The Unconventional MMA Boxing of Nick Diaz:
On the right we've got the penultimate moments of Nick's 2009 early retirement party for Frank Shamrock. Note the way he sticks his left hand in Shamrock's face to bait Frank into putting up his guard. Once the ribs are unprotected Diaz actually winds up and unloads a vicious right hook to Shamrock's ribs.
Here's MMA Fighting talking about the CompuStrike record that Diaz set in that round:
Nick Diaz spent three minutes and 57 seconds swarming Frank Shamrock in the second round of their fight Saturday night before referee Big John McCarthy finally stopped it. If you watched the fight, you know that already. But you might not know that Diaz had what may have been the most active round in the history of MMA.
CompuStrike, which tabulates statistics from MMA fights, says that Diaz attempted 181 strikes in the second round, making it the most total strikes thrown in any round that CompuStrike has recorded. The previous record was held by Michael Bisping, who threw 141 strikes in the first round of his UFC 70 fight with Elvis Sinosic. Diaz breaking that record is even more impressive when you remember that Bisping didn't finish Sinosic in the first round, meaning he had a full five minutes to throw 141 strikes. Diaz shattered the record in less than four.
Of course, Diaz has never been the most accurate or powerful of punchers, and he only landed 79 of those 181 strikes. So Bisping still owns the record for strikes landed in a round.
And here's a little taste of his grappling acumen from Nick Diaz's Ground Game by Ben Thapa:
Gif via Grappo
In this gif, we see Diaz in a position where he could move into side control, as Shamrock’s left side is relatively undefended. However, Nick chooses to move his left knee to pin down Shamrock’s right thigh, while maintaining the underhook on Shamrock’s left arm/allowing Shamrock to keep the overhook. The resulting position contorts Shamrock into an awkward position where his head is twisting in the opposite direction from his legs and Nick’s good top pressure allows him to stay there. As the gif shows, Nick takes the opportunity to punch Frank a few times in the head before Frank later regains guard (not show in the gif).
Here's hoping we get to see more of Diaz great standing and ground technique against Condit who should be a stern test for the ex-Srikeforce champ in all ranges of fighting.
Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, nick, round
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Not Happy With UFC Editing
UFC 143 main eventer Nick Diaz was nice enough to give MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani a few minutes of his time, and the results were gold. Diaz has always been known as a unique interview, and he definitely lives up to it here. He starts off in a pretty good mood, discussing how watching the Primetime special helps to get him motivated, and he shares a couple of stories from back in the day about a teacher from the special.
His tone begins to change ever-so-slightly when he is asked about Georges St. Pierre though. He doesn't believe GSP is being genuine with his talk about rooting for Diaz because he wants to fight him:
"A lot of people are putting a lot of pressure on him to say these sorts of things, it's not really him."
After discussing the differences between Georges St. Pierre and Carlos Condit and referring to GSP repeatedly as a "strong guy", Diaz looked ready to head out. But Ariel had one more question, which took the interview from average Diaz interview to great Diaz interview in a matter of seconds. Helwani asked him if he's ever online, because he saw a video clip put out by the UFC and the first comment on the video was from "NickDiaz209" saying that was not what he said. Was that Nick? Yes it was. After thanking Ariel for bringing it up, Nick goes on a beautiful two minute rant about how the UFC edited the video, and even asked his brother Nate about they did it to him as well.
It's definitely worth a watch just for the rant. Check it out.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, video, interview
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowHuffPost Sports article on Nick Diaz
submitted by aKaBeasTTTTT [link] [comment]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, akabeasttttt link, huffpost
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz talks UFC 143, wants to see a proof of GSP's injury
This weekend, former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz will look to make another step towards capturing the UFC Welterweight title from the hands of Georges St. Pierre, facing Carlos Condit for the Interim belt in the main event of UFC 143. Diaz spoke about his upcoming match-up with "The Natural Born Killer" in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his expectations from a man who has a total of 26 finishes out of 27 career victories on his professional Mixed Martial Arts record. Nick Diaz also spoke about
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, carlos condit, gsps injury
Read the full article at Low KickStockton Chronicles: The Rise of Nick Diaz
The Nick Diaz story starts humbly in Stockton in 1983. Growing up without his biological father, as well as moving schools on a regular basis instillied an attitude in him that still baffles many in the sport today. A young Nick Diaz stumbled into BJJ at just 16, and took to grappling like a duck to water. Later years would see him bring his brother Nathan to the sport, intending to steer him clear of the gang culture notorious in the area. Training under Cesar Gracie, Diaz turned professional in
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, sport today, basis instillied
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143: Nick Diaz Details The Story Behind His Elite Level Conditioning
Nick Diaz and his trademark style of fighting will always be known for that high work-rate, volume punches, and unrelenting pace. He goes in there, he'll be taking punishment, but he will more-often than not, he will be able to sustain an incredible pace and will be able to outwork his opponent.
He's been doing that for years and will be riding an 11-fight winning streak heading to the weekend. One of the keys to that style has always been his elite level of conditioning, and Diaz says, that gives him the mental edge over his opponents:
"Fighters are afraid of conditioning, they are afraid of getting tired, but I don't want to have anxiety or be afraid of anything. I can go 100 percent out there and never have to worry about getting tired. Everybody says fighting is 90 percent mental, and it's true. Knowing you can go 15 minutes or 25 minutes without any problem can help you sustain that mental advantage over your opponent."
Unlike most fighters who go through all these insane conditioning workouts in camp to get them ready, Diaz says he does all of that and more during his "off season", leaving him more time to work on fine tuning his MMA game during the lead up to the event:
"I just like to race. It gives me something to build for. During the triathlon season, I'll probably race every two weeks. I get stronger and stronger when building up to the race. After a race, a lot of people will crash and take their foot off the gas, but I'll keep building and building until I have to fight. I have a reason not to crash, and I try to keep the ball rolling until fight night."
"Doing the races keeps me in shape. By the time a fight comes around, I'm already in shape and ready to go. I don't have to get in shape for fights. When I am in the gym, I train mixed martial arts, I don't need to train to get in shape. I am already in shape."
That doesn't mean that during camp he completely forgets about his triathlon workouts though.
"If I'm not running, I'm going to go for a swim or go on a bike ride. I don't like being stationary at any point during training."
Not really surprising, coming from a guy who has gone on record saying he'd actually leave MMA if he can get paid a lot for triathlons.
Diaz will be taking on Carlos Condit, and when both guys go toe-to-toe this weekend, their style of fighting pretty much guarantees to be one of the most entertaining bouts this year no matter who comes out victorious. Both guys have excellent conditioning, both are tough and gritty as hell, but if the 5-round affair gets decided on who has the deeper gas tank, don't expect Diaz to be the one who falters.
Posted in: diaz, shape, i dont, dont, conditioning
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Weigh-In Video and Results (Friday, 7PM EST)
Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit step on the scales at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of the official weigh-in procedure ahead of this Saturday's UFC 143 fight card. Diaz and Condit will fight five rounds (or not) for the Interim UFC Welterweight title, with sights on a shot at Georges St. Pierre's undisputed belt later this year.
UFC 143 will entertain with big name fghts such as Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum, and Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce. The event will start with Dave
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, vs, name fghts
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143 Pre-Fight Interviews: Diaz, Condit, Nelson, Werdum, Koscheck
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani caught up with Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Fabricio Werdum, Roy Nelson and Josh Koscheck to talk about their upcoming fights this weekend at UFC 143.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, josh koscheck, condit, werdum
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143's Nick Diaz is not crazy, everybody else is just out of their minds
We fear what we don't know and/or understand.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight contender Nick Diaz may be living proof of this theorem, as he is both feared and misunderstood, possibly more than any other athlete in mixed martial arts (MMA) today.
On Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, Diaz will throw hands (among other things) with Carlos Condit at UFC 143 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a 170-pound bout to determine who will become the promotion's interim welterweight champion.
Originally, the Stockton, Calif., slugger was supposed to fight current champion Georges St. Pierre, before a knee injury sidelined "Rush" until later this year. Meanwhile, Condit was previously set to take on Josh Koscheck on the same card, but was more than willing to be bumped up to the main event opposite Diaz.
It's a big fight, perhaps career-defining, with much on the line. Therefore, one would assume that Diaz would appreciate the magnitude of the moment.
Today (Wed., Feb. 1, 2012), at the UFC 143 open workouts, Diaz talked about the gravity of his upcoming fight against "The Natural Born Killer:"
"It's a little weird. It just feels like the next fight, really. For me, from one fight to the next, I don't (see) a big difference. I felt a lot more energy for this fight, but it wasn't nervous energy, so it was good. It was just healthy."
He just doesn't see it the same as the media and some other fighters do, unsurprisingly. That's because he doesn't see many things the same way as the general public.
"Different," he's okay with. It's when people start using the "C-word" (not the one you're thinking of) that he gets upset:
"People try to say, 'Oh, Nick Diaz, you know, he's crazy,' or 'He's crazy' or 'He's not crazy' or 'He's fake crazy' or whatever. I'm like, hey bro, what you see is what you get. I'm not out here trying to put on an act like I'm crazy. When you see me, what you see is what you get. And you get real martial arts; you get real fighting; you get a real warrior mentality. I'm sorry if people can't handle it. Some people aren't mature enough to handle it."
That's not all he had to say on the matter. If you ask Diaz, it's the other guys who have it wrong. He's just being natural. What you see is what you get:
"In my opinion, everybody else is crazy out of their mind. They're the ones putting on an act for you, doing what they're told in front of the camera. The camera gives them a line and they say it 10 times over again, and then whoever goes back in the back and picks that out. They turn these guys into these robots. I'm just not going to be that guy. So don't tell me I'm acting crazy. I'm out here acting natural. I'm the only one being realistic about this sort of thing."
Even though he's not out to kiss babies and win "Employee of the Month" awards, his public perception is more important than Diaz may let on. He just doesn't lose sleep over it:
"Sometimes, I don't care. A lot of times I'm not paying attention; I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about my performance and my day-to-day athleticism and my training. But, when I start to think about it and I start to get into that sort of thing, yeah. But I don't try to take a lot of time out of my day or out of my week to start to sound right or get right or explain to people. If I get a chance to say something for myself, like right now, then I'll do my best to try to straighten things out a little bit. But that's all I got."
Maybe he's crazy. Maybe he's the only sane one. Whatever the case may be, it's hard to debate that when Diaz has his mind right, he's a formidable and dangerous opponent.
A natural born killer in the cage.
Posted in: fight, diaz, people, he, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 open media workout photos gallery for 'Diaz vs Condit' in Las Vegas
Resident Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) photographer, Josh Hedges, was on the scene at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, today (Feb. 1, 2012) to shoot several of the notable fighters who will compete on the UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" pay-per-view (PPV) main card at the event's open media workouts.
Naturally, the two men who will compete for the interim welterweight title in the main event of the evening, Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit, were on the scene to promote their highly-anticipate 170-pound clash, as well as work up one of the last few real sweats prior to fight night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) in "Sin City."
So, too, was UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, who is recovering from recent knee surgery and will fight the winner of the Diaz-Condit match later this year.
Co-main event participants, Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce, were also in attendance prior to their 170-pound bout, along with the two men who will compete in the only heavyweight bout on the UFC 143 fight card, Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson.
Check out more great pics from the UFC 143 open media workout after the jump courtesy of UFC.com:
Carlos Condit
Nick Diaz, rolling with brother Nate Diaz
Georges St. Pierre
Fabricio Werdum
Roy Nelson
Josh Koscheck
Mike Pierce
To check out the complete UFC 143 open media workout photos gallery from Hedges, which includes many more fantastic images, click here.
Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 143, beginning with the "Prelims" bouts on Facebook/FX at 6 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the pay-per-view (PPV) main card action as it happens throughout the evening this upcoming weekend.
See you Saturday!
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, event, workout
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz UFC 143 Pre-Fight Interview
Nick Diaz’s Renewed Outlook Heading into UFC 143
Nick Diaz appears to have a new, mellower outlook on his public perception heading into his UFC 143 battle with Carlos Condit.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, mellower outlook, outlook
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyCarlos Condit Happy to Spoil Everyone's GSP vs. Diaz Party
LAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Carlos Condit discusses his upcoming fight against Nick Diaz, his thoughts on the Primetime experience, his thoughts on Georges St-Pierre rooting for Diaz to win, the way he expects the fight to play out and more.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, carlos condit, georges stpierre, primetime experience
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseFormer Strikeforce champ Diaz content with himself
As far as former Strikeforce welterweight Nick Diaz is concerned, he's the normal one, and his UFC brethren are the crazy ones.
Posted in: diaz, strikeforce, brethren, ufc brethren, content
Read the full article at sportsnet.caEx-Strikeforce champ Diaz content with himself
As far as former Strikeforce welterweight Nick Diaz is concerned, he's the normal one, and his UFC brethren are the crazy ones.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, strikeforce, brethren, ufc brethren
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNick Diaz: “What you see is what you get.”
The importance of selling oneself in MMA has become increasingly important as the sport has grown over the past several years. As a result, there are now numerous competitors who either so mindful of the public’s perception they opt to present a whitewashed version of their actual personality or amp things up in an over-the-top manner (see: Chael Sonnen).
UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has been accused of the latter by some, acting out in a controversial manner to foster attention. However, Diaz says the opposite is true, as his behavior reflects his genuine feelings and that more of his peers would probably be viewed in a similar light if they weren’t afraid of being themselves.
“What you see is what you get. You get real martial arts, you get real fighting, (and) you get a real warrior mentality,” explained Diaz in a conversation with MMAFighting while at the open workouts for his upcoming bout with Carlos Condit. “Some people aren’t mature enough to handle it. This isn’t soccer. I have no problem being sportsmanlike about this whole thing. I understand it’s a sporting event. But to me this is a fight. I’m not going to let things change that to help this sport become what it is. I think this sport IS what it is. I don’t worry about looking good. I do what I’ve got to do to survive, to keep my teeth in my head, and my head on my shoulders. I apologize to whoever can’t put that together and understand that.”
“People try to say, ‘Nick Diaz, he’s crazy or not crazy or fake crazy’. I’m like, ‘Hey, bro, what you see is what you get.’ I’m not out here trying putting on an act like I’m crazy. In my opinion, everyone else is crazy,” he continued. “They’re the ones who put on an act for you, doing what they’re told in front of the camera…They turn these guys into robots. I’m just not going to be that guy. Don’t tell me I’m crazy. I’m out here acting natural. I’m the only one here being realistic out here about this sort of thing.”
Diaz Thinks He’s MMA’s Most-Rounded Fighter
Fans can catch Diaz-Condit at UFC 143 when things begin on PPV at 10:00 PM EST. The main card will be preceded by undercard pairings on Facebook/FX starting three hours earlier.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Read the full article at Fighters.comNick Diaz UFC 141 Pre-Fight Interview
Ahead of UFC 143, Nick Diaz keeping it real in a world he considers crazy
LAS VEGAS - Be worried if Nick Diaz is anything other than sullen and nearly uncooperative on fight week.
He's got George St-Pierre's "dark place" right here: double-bird.
"I didn't really feel like there was anything emotional about (my last
performance)," Diaz said today. "The only thing I was emotional over was
whether or not they were going to rob me out of a decision or not."
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, thing i, performance diaz, place right
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Talks Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre
Former Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz faces former WEC welterweight champ Carlos Condit at Saturday's UFC 143 for the UFC interim title. Bloody Elbow's Matthew Roth was at today's press scrum after the open work outs and caught Diaz talking to the press. Part 1 is above. Parts 2 is after the jump.
"You see me. What you see is what you get," Diaz said. "You get real martial arts, you get real fighting, you get a real warrior mentality. Some people aren't mature enough to handle it. This isn't soccer. i have no problem being sportsmanlike about this whole thing. I understand it's a sporting event. But to me this is a fight. I'm not going to let things change that to help this sport become what it is. I think this sport is what it is. I don't worry about looking good. I do what I've got to do to survive, to keep my teeth in my head, and my head on my shoulders. I apologize to whoever can't put that together and understand that."
Quote transcribed by MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, things change, fight im
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz Discusses the Real Him, Says He Respects Carlos Condit's Style
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, mattyblayze, style
Read the full article at RedditUFC Undisputed 3 picks winner in Nick Diaz-Carlos Condit title-fight
THQ and the UFC have teamed up again to provide a pixilated look on how things may unfold in the main event of an upcoming show, this time turning their focus towards UFC 143’s headlining title-tilt between top welterweights Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. Using UFC Undisputed 3, the latest from the popular series of games, THQ simulated the scrap 25 times to determine the fighter who came out on top more often than not.
Without spoiling the result, some of the facts emerging from the simulation include Diaz defending against 40% of Condit’s takedown attempts, both men finishing each other with strikes, and Diaz getting the better of “The Natural Born Killer” in the submission department.
UFC Undisputed 3 has also predicted outcomes for a number of recent events with fairly solid success.
Check out the simulation of Diaz-Condit below:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, games thq, killer ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz Discusses the Real Him, Says He Respects Carlos Condit's Style
There may be no more polarizing figure in mixed martial arts than UFC welterweight contender Nick Diaz. Some fans adore him. Others can't stand him. And there are some who simply scratch their heads and throw their hands up, completely baffled by the things he says and does.Journalists have agonized over keyboards trying to explain his personality and motivations, to almost no avail. Diaz is a riddle. But to hear him tell it, it shouldn't be quite so difficult to understand him."You see me. What you see is what you get," he said during Wednesday's open workouts in Las Vegas. "You get real martial arts, you get real fighting, you get a real warrior mentality. Some people aren’t mature enough to handle it. This isn't soccer. i have no problem being sportsmanlike about this whole thing. I understand it’s a sporting event. But to me this is a fight. I’m not going to let things change that to help this sport become what it is. I think this sport is what it is. I don't worry about looking good. I do what I've got to do to survive, to keep my teeth in my head, and my head on my shoulders. I apologize to whoever can’t put that together and understand that."
That remarkably lucid description at least defines Nick Diaz, the fighter, which is perhaps all we can truly hope for. Diaz (26-7, 1 no contest), who faces Carlos Condit in an interim welterweight title fight at Saturday's UFC 143, was his usual self during the media scrum, sometimes mesmerizing, sometimes mystifying, and often, both. He spent time talking about his interest in triathlons, his disinterest in pandering to cameras, and of course, the fight.He voiced no disappointment that he wasn't facing welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who is currently on the mend after knee surgery, saying that his upcoming bout with Condit "just feels like the next fight," and nothing more.But he also praised Condit's fighting style. While he has criticized St-Pierre for trying to win on points rather than going for the finish, he offered up no such issues with Condit, an aggressive, well-rounded opponent who has won 12 of his last 13 fights, including 11 finishes.That type of style is remarkably similar to Diaz's, so it's no surprise he likes what he sees."I think the way I fight and the way my opponent fights, we're both two guys that are ranked top level, top 10 and we’re both looking to get ahead on damage more so than worried about going on top or bottom," he said. "We just want to win the fight and it’s pretty much more a realistic fighting style. And that’s what I’m about, is about being realistic."The winner takes the interim title and could set up a match with the returning St-Pierre later this year. St-Pierre has gone on the record saying he hopes that Diaz wins because he hopes to fight him down the line. The popular champion cited Diaz's "disrespect" towards him as motivation, calling him unprofessional and arrogant.But Diaz says he's just being who he is, not who anyone else wants him to be."People try to say, 'Nick Diaz, he’s crazy or not crazy or fake crazy,'" he said. "I’m like, 'Hey, bro, what you see is what you get.' I’m not out here trying putting on an act like I'm crazy. In my opinion, everyone else is crazy. They’re the ones who put on an act for you, doing what they're told in front of the camera. The camera gives them a line and they say it 10 times over again, and then whoever goes back and they can [edit] it out. They turn these guys into robots. I’m just not going to be that guy. Don't tell me I'm crazy. I'm out here acting natural. I'm the only one here being realistic out here about this sort of thing."
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, im, irsquom
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 Video: Georges St. Pierre Talks Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz And More
Matt Roth is covering UFC 143 live on site for Bloody Elbow this week and we'll be providing you with plenty of video and live impressions over the next few days. First up is video of Georges St. Pierre talking to the media about Saturday night's event. Included in the discussion is GSP giving his thoughts on the main event fighters Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz.
Condit and Diaz meet for the UFC interim welterweight title on Saturday night with the winner set to meet the injured St. Pierre when he returns to unify the titles.
Here's the video:
Stay tuned all week as we bring you much more on the UFC 143 card along with Matt's great on site work.
UFC 143 PPV Fight Card:
Interim Welterweight Title Bout: Carlos Condit vs. Nick DiazRoy Nelson vs. Fabricio WerdumJosh Koscheck vs. Mike PierceRenan Barao vs. Scott JorgensenEd Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Part 2 of the video (and soon part 3 as well) after the jump
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Part 2:
Part 3 coming shortly
Posted in: ufc, diaz, video, vs, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Defines 'Gameness'
Former Bloody Elbow editor-in-chief Luke Thomas makes his debut at MMA Fighting today with a fun piece about UFC 143's headliner Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit. Here's Luke explaining the concept and how it applies to this fight:
There are a number of ways to parse the merits fight or evaluate its worthiness, but it'd be criminal to not note just how much gameness defines this bout's character. Every fighter has biological limits, but Diaz and Condit are two fighters who are nearly peerless when it comes to competing up to the outer limit of those boundaries.
Numerous examples of their durability abound. Against Rory MacDonald, Condit was able to withstand a torrential downpour of ground and pound only to stop the rising prospect in the third round. Against Paul Daley, Diaz was floored on more than one occasion in a chaotic see-saw battle only to stop the Brit with strikes late in the first. Condit was floored with gargantuan punches early by Jake Ellenberger, but hung on and eventually took a decision. Diaz was getting drilled by hard punches from Takanori Gomi before driving the Japanese sensation back with strikes, ultimately submitting him with a spectacular gogo plata. The list of their gameness accolades is nearly endless....I don't want to suggest gameness is the only reason this fight is special. There's obviously more to the story. But the level of gameness both fighters exhibit is extraordinary because they also possess deep experience and technical acumen. Neither fighter is careless, but neither fighter lets caution lord over them. That's unique. Over time as fighters gain experience and add skills, you'll often see a trade off in ferocity. With Diaz and Condit, however, you just see the ferocity more expertly channeled.
Luke's dead right here. Diaz and Condit each possess levels of will and ferocity that almost no other active MMA fighters can match. I'll never forget watching Condit in his corner before the third round of his bout against Rory MacDonald. It was clear just from watching him that MacDonald was in deep trouble despite having won most of the first two rounds. Condit came out with a sense of purpose and a refusal to accept any outcome other than victory.
For his part Diaz is just as ferocious and indomitable. It's really too bad that this fight is being overlooked because welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre is injured and off the card. Of course, if GSP was healthy we'd be looking forward to GSP vs Diaz which isn't half the fight that Diaz vs. Condit promises to be.
Head on over to MMA Fighting and give Luke a warm welcome. Your BE membership will be portable now that Fighting is on the SBN platform.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: fight, diaz, fighter, condit, gamenes
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Predictions
Can Nick Diaz keep his winning streak going and make Carlos Condit his 12th consecutive victim? Or will Condit become the interim welterweight champion? Will Fabricio Werdum's return to the UFC be successful? Or is Roy Nelson ready to earn the biggest win of his MMA career? Is Mike Pierce ready to show he's one of the best welterweights in the world? Or is Josh Koscheck going to fulfill his gatekeeper role and keep Pierce out of title contention?I'll try to answer those questions and more as I pick the winners at UFC 143.What: UFC 143: Diaz vs. ConditWhen: Saturday, the FX preliminary card begins at 8 PM ET and the pay-per-view main card starts at 10.Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las VegasPredictions on the five pay-per-view fights below.Nick Diaz vs. Carlos ConditWith Georges St. Pierre rehabilitating an injured knee, Diaz and Condit are faced with a big opportunity in the biggest fight either one of them has ever had.Condit does everything right: He's proficient both standing and on the ground, he finishes almost everyone he faces, and he's a sportsman inside the cage and a gentleman outside of it. Diaz comes out like a guy looking for a street fight, dropping his hands and daring his opponent to take a swing, and he has cultivated a street fighter image outside the cage as well. It's only once the fight gets going that you realize just how technically good a fighter Diaz is.These guys are close enough that if they fought 10 times I imagine they'd each win five of them. But they'll only fight once, and I have to pick one winner, and I think Diaz's high-volume punching will frustrate Condit and wear him down, and that Diaz will come out on top after 25 minutes of action.Pick: DiazRoy Nelson vs. Fabricio WerdumNelson is a strong enough grappler that he may be able to avoid getting tapped by Werdum on the ground, and Nelson also packs a powerful enough punch that he could hurt Werdum standing up. That's what makes this fight interesting.But that's also looking at the fight from the best-case scenario for Nelson. The reality is that Werdum has performed a lot better against high-level opponents than Nelson has, and he has more ways to win a fight than Nelson does. Nelson will probably be cautious enough to avoid getting tapped by Werdum, but Werdum will take the decision.Pick: WerdumJosh Koscheck vs. Mike PiercePierce has built up a 5-2 record in the UFC, with the only losses coming against Jon Fitch and Johnny Hendricks, and if he were to beat Koscheck he'd have a good case that he deserves to be considered for title contention. But what Pierce does well, Koscheck does better. This fight is going to be an awfully tough one for Pierce to win, and I expect to see Koscheck take a unanimous decision.Pick: KoscheckRenan Barão vs. Scott JorgensenWhile bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and challengers Urijah Faber coach against each other on The Ultimate Fighter and prepare to fight for a third time, the UFC needs to build up some more bantamweight title contenders. This fight should go a long way toward doing that. Barao has a sensational 27-1 record, but Jorgensen has won seven of his last eight, with the only loss coming against Cruz. Jorgensen is Barao's toughest test to date, but I like Barao to pass this test and take another step on the path toward a shot at the champion.Pick: BaraoEd Herman vs. Clifford StarksStarks was a good college wrestler who now has an 8-0 professional MMA record, but I don't think he's quite ready for an opponent of Herman's accomplishments. Herman missed nearly two years with a knee injury, but he has won both of his fights since returning and appears to be all the way back, and I expect him to make it three in a row. Pick: Herman
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, werdum, nelson
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseCountdown to UFC 143 made available for online viewing
If you’re one of the countless MMA fans who lacks Fuel TV the UFC understands your plight and as such has provided another fix to hold you over until the network becomes readily available for all basic cable subscribers.
Last night the Countdown special for UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz made its debut and featured headliners Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz discussing their bout, as well as the players in the evening’s other featured fights between Fabricio Werdum-Roy Nelson and Mike Pierce-Josh Koscheck. The UFC has now released the video online, giving those who missed it a commercial-free chance to check things out.
“Everybody hits hard,” dismissed Diaz when asked about facing someone with Condit’s power. “If you’re gonna fight in the UFC you’re probably stronger than I am. You probably lift a lot more weights, push more weight….you probably hit harder, run faster. I just worked harder than a lot of these guys in training and they know it.”
Condit Discusses the Insanity of his Road to Diaz
Check out the entire Countdown below and make sure to tune into UFC 143 when the preliminary pairings start on Facebook/FX at 7:00 PM EST:
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, countdown, commercialfree chance, weight …you
Read the full article at Fighters.comCarlos Condit Plans to Spoil GSP’s Hopes of Facing Nick Diaz
Carlos Condit breaks the bad news to Georges St-Pierre that he won't get a chance to face Nick Diaz later this year.
Posted in: diaz, nick, condit, gsp ’s, georges stpierre
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGameness: The Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Story
What is gameness?
Author Sam Sheridan once defined it as pursuit of the fight despite the physical consequences. The term actually has roots in dog fighting. It's used to describe the eagerness of a dog to continue fighting through a grueling and injurious battle. The dog fighting atmospherics make the term somewhat unsavory to borrow for MMA purposes, but we're treading in metaphors, not literalism. As UFC 143's Carlos Condit himself states about his impending bout with Nick Diaz, "it's going to be a dog fight'.
There are a number of ways to parse the merits fight or evaluate it's worthiness, but it'd be criminal to not note just how much gameness defines this bout's character. Every fighter has biological limits, but Diaz and Condit are two fighters who are nearly peerless when it comes to competing up to the outer limit of those boundaries.
Numerous examples of their durability abound. Against Rory MacDonald, Condit was able to withstand a torrential downpour of ground and pound only to stop the rising prospect in the third round. Against Paul Daley, Diaz was floored on more than one occasion in a chaotic see-saw battle only to stop the Brit with strikes late in the first. Condit was floored with gargantuan punches early by Jake Ellenberger, but hung on and eventually took a decision. Diaz was getting drilled by hard punches from Takanori Gomi before driving the Japanese sensation back with strikes, ultimately submitting him with a spectacular gogo plata. The list of their gameness accolades is nearly endless.
That is precisely what makes gameness so pleasing: it's never weathered nor reduced. With limited and qualified exception, the damage Condit and Diaz have absorbed in the course of their fights never dampened their willingness or ability to strike back. When the tides turned, they flooded.
Gameness, though, shouldn't be crudely misinterpreted as solely the ability to take a shot. That's part of it, of course. But what it truly underscores is both ferocity and the enthusiastic participation for the scrap. Gameness, in other words, has both defensive and offensive components.
What unites Condit and Diaz - and what has made them fan favorites - is their willingness to engage risk as a means of winning a fight. As long as you're winning, being risk averse isn't generally the worst approach to fighting. However, it isn't particularly crowd pleasing and more importantly, it's an approach that flies in the face of what we understand as athletic bravery. What makes Diaz and Condit fairly unique is they've used this approach of accepting risk to reach some of the sport's loftiest positions. It's one thing for amateurs to brazenly throw caution to the wind to rile up the crowd in some sort of Pyrrhic victory. It's quite another for two of the sport's most successful welterweights to have reached these heights using a similar albeit more measured approach.
It's also historically accurate and demonstrably true wrestling has been used as a crutch for some fighters to coast through fatigue or rough patches during fights. The exhausted and less willed among the professional ranks have relied on it to hang on in precarious moments. Coincidentally or not, neither Diaz nor Condit is particularly proficient as a wrestler. Why is that important? No matter what direction the fight takes neither fighter will likely have the skills (and I suspect no inclination) to rely on wrestling as a means to slow down or stunt the action. This one won't be decided by one fighter more expertly exercising control to avoid risk.
I don't want to suggest gameness is the only reason this fight is special. There's obviously more to the story. But the level of gameness both fighters exhibit is extraordinary because they also possess deep experience and technical acumen. Neither fighter is careless, but neither fighter lets caution lord over them. That's unique. Over time as fighters gain experience and add skills, you'll often see a trade off in ferocity. With Diaz and Condit, however, you just see the ferocity more expertly channeled.
My early hunch is Nick Diaz will be able to outlast Carlos Condit en route to a decision victory. If that happens, he'll eventually face UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. But en route to that end, I'd bet my mortgage he's going to catch a noteworthy beating at the hands of Condit.
I hope I'm not jinxing the bout, but given the records and deserved reputations of both fighters, it's hard to see how either gets out of this one early. Or easily. They're game for the scrap, from bell to bell, no matter the cost of doing business in between. At this level of the game - and in a five-round, interim title bout - that's a reality that deserves a little extra recognition.
Posted in: fight, diaz, fighter, condit, gamenes
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseTHQ, makers of the UFC Undisputed 3 video game, have fun a handy simulation of the UFC 143...
THQ, makers of the UFC Undisputed 3 video game, have fun a handy simulation of the UFC 143 headliner: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title.
After 25 bouts here are some stats:
-- Diaz won by technical knockout with strikes to the body once
-- Diaz defended 40 percent of Condit's takedown attempts
-- Condit won by technical knockout with strikes to the leg once
-- Diaz and Condit threw a combined total of 6,675 punches
-- Condit shot for a takedown within the first round in all matches
-- Diaz won by submission in seven matches
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, thq makers, stats diaz
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCarlos Condit anxious to get in the ring with Nick Diaz (Yahoo! Sports)
Carlos Condit may not be as crazy as Nick Diaz, but UFC 143 will allow him to prove his mettle.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsGeorges St. Pierre no longer sees himself as champion
Georges St. Pierre is in the worst position of his career, as the Canadian must sit on the sidelines and watch two others fight for the UFC welterweight title. UFC 143 this Saturday night will feature a bout for the interim UFC 170-pound division’s title, as Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit collide.
St. Pierre, who has successfully defended the title since 2008, tore a ligament in his knee while training for the bout with Diaz and has since undergone successful surgery. The operation will keep him away from competition for several months, forcing the UFC’s hand in crowning a champion in his place.
While technically GSP will still be part owner of the title, he doesn’t feel that way at all.
“The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night,” St. Pierre said, in a recent interview with the UFC’s website. “I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured.”
St. Pierre added that he feels the winner of Diaz-Condit must beat him to call themselves the world champion, while he has to do the same to feel like the best in the world once again.
As for who St. Pierre wants to fight, that’s an easy one, as the soft-spoken fighter said, “I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees. I have never asked (UFC president) Dana White for anything, but I did ask to fight Nick Diaz.”
GSP’s timetable for a return continues to be a mystery, as he said he won’t be able to properly train until July, pushing him back to late in 2012 for an Octagon return.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, pierre, st
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainThe Hub: Coverage of UFC 143 Diaz vs. Condit
Keep it here all week as Sportsnet is your destination for the latest news, notes and quotes from UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in Las Vegas.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, news notes, hub coverage
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC 143: Georges St. Pierre Is Rooting For Nick Diaz Out Of 'Hate'
Injured UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre is making no bones about picking a fighter to root for to win the interim welterweight title at UFC 143 on Saturday. The champ wants Nick Diaz to beat Carlos Condit, but perhaps his mind is clouded by passion. Passionate disdain for Diaz that is. Here's GSP talking to UFC.com:
"I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won't be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. I feel bad, it is weird that I want (Condit) to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz. I don't truly hate him as a person. I don't know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me.
"During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy. I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents, Matt Serra did it, Dan Hardy did it, and Josh Koscheck did it, but with Diaz he has taken it to another level.
"He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect my accomplishments. All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous."
GSP was originally set to fight Diaz at UFC 143 but had to pull out in early December for reconstructive surgery to repair a torn right ACL. He had to miss a scheduled title fight with Condit at UFC 137 due to a strained right MCL. He is expected to return to face the interim champion in the summer or fall of 2012.
Transcribed by MMA Mania.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCondit: People Will Remember UFC 143 Fight With Diaz
Carlos Condit talked about his UFC 143 showdown against Nick Diaz with Sherdog.com’s Greg Savage.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, condit, condit people
Read the full article at SherdogCountdown to UFC 143 full video for 'Diaz vs Condit' on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) aired its traditional "Countdown" preview show for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" on Tuesday night, featuring a behind-the-scenes look as former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the Interim title on Saturday night (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Countdown to UFC 143" also featured a closer look at the 170-pound match up between former division number one contender Josh Koscheck and venerable up-and-comer Mike Pierce.
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Feb. 4), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the preliminary card action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 p.m. ET.
Props to Iron Forges Iron for the video. For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, card action
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGeorges St. Pierre talks rehab and why Nick Diaz is a very smart individual
Georges St. Pierre was present at the today’s UFC 143 open workouts and took some time to discuss a multitude of topics including where he stands in his rehab, the type of training that he is moving toward as he recovers from his ACL surgery, surgery that will prevent him from training until July.
St. Pierre also says that he will be rooting for Nick Diaz to defeat Carlos Condit this weekend as Diaz and his trainer, Cesar Gracie have give him motivation to fight him. St. Pierre also heaped a
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, pierre, st, st pierre
Read the full article at Low KickGeorges St-Pierre on UFC 143 Main Event: ‘I Want Nick Diaz To Win’
UFC welterweight champion has a lot vested in Saturday's UFC 143 main event between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. He'll fight the winner, and he hopes it's Diaz.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, event, georges stpierre
Read the full article at Heavy MMANick Diaz vs Carlos Condit will save us after UFC on FOX 2 dud
This past Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012), the world's largest fight promotion brought an event to the United Center that was long on talent but short on excitement. Indeed, all three fights broadcasted on the network went to decision, including the main event bout between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis that dragged on for 25 mostly painstaking minutes.
It's not necessarily that the fights were terrible so much as they simply failed to deliver decent spurts of satisfying commotion. There was far too much stop and start, swing and miss, shoot and reset.
Rashad Evans, Phil Davis, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, Chris Weidman and Demian Maia are all great fighters capable of incredible feats, as they've all shown in the past. But when paired off against each other, they made for television viewing that was monotonous to say the least.
Thank the MMA gods for UFC 143 and, more specifically, Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
This Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, two of the very best scrappers on Earth will get together inside the Octagon to exchange fists, knees, kicks, elbows, maybe even submissions but more than likely all of the above.
In short, they're going to fight and it's going to be freaking awesome.
That's what makes them so appealing. This bout has been sold as a match-up of polar opposite characters, Diaz being kind of a crazy thug from the mean streets of Stockton while Condit is the mild-mannered, blue collar hard worker type who just gets the job done. And hey, normally I'm totally on board with telling a compelling story and making fans care about the two men before they engage in combat, which is what UFC is currently doing with its Primetime series.
But you know what? Who gives a shit.
This is Nick Diaz, a guy who has never actually had a boring fight. Even the doctor was entertained when he was fighting to get out of his mother's womb to unleash his brand of violence on the world. The same can be said for Condit, who goes by the moniker "The Natural Born Killer" for a reason.
This one has all the makings of a classic, a battle for the ages. Ticket sales are still slow despite the event taking place in days and maybe the show does poor numbers at the box office but for once I'm finally going to kick back, relax and just enjoy the spectacle of two men who consistently bring that hot fire.
Will we see a knockout? Maybe. A submission? Possibly. A great fight between even better fighters?
Damn skippy.
Posted in: fight, diaz, event, condit, primetime series
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit UFC Undisputed 3 Fight Simulation
UFC Undisputed 3 predicts who will win when Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit clash this weekend at UFC 143.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertWhy Carlos Condit is Worthy
This weekend, welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre gets to pop Vicodin while hobbling to his kitchen to fetch another tub of poutine-flavored ice cream, all for the sake of his torn anterior cruciate ligament that is allegedly on the mend. Meanwhile, at UFC 143, Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will be stepping into the Octagon to duke it out for an interim welterweight belt. Now, no one dares suggest that Diaz isn’t a viable contender for the 170-pound title – the dude was a dominant champ in Strikeforce, and his return to the UFC had him reshaping BJ Penn’s mug like it was made of Play-Doh. But Condit… what has he done for us lately? What makes him worthy? Heh. Please allow me to drop some knowledge on you, “Natural Born Killer” style.
-Condit has only lost once in the UFC, and that was via a razor-thin split decision to Martin Kampmann at a UFC Fight Night back in 2009 – which was Condit’s UFC debut. Since then, he’s decisioned Jake Ellenberger, and put away the likes of Rory MacDonald, Dan Hardy and Dong Hyun Kim. All of those finishes were explosive, with two resulting in “Knockout of the Night” bonuses and one a “Fight of the Night” bonus. If the bosses throw you extra cheddar, you must be doing your job very right.
-Prior to his current run in the UFC, Condit was the lord and master of the WEC’s welterweight division. And his championship defenses weren’t really close. It took him four rounds to put away Hiromitsu Miura, but Carlo Prater and Brock Larson fell within the first round, while John Alessio tapped out in the second. That’s some dominance right there.
-Condit has been at the game since 2002, clocking in thirty-two bouts, with twenty-seven of them resulting in wins for him. He’s certainly got experience.
-Despite all sorts of King of the Cage and Pancrase experience, the first time Condit really made himself known as a high-level badass was when he competed in the Rumble on the Rock welterweight tournament, circa 2006. His quarterfinal opponent was Renato Verissimo, who was a UFC vet and the jiu-jitsu instructor of BJ Penn; Condit wrecked him in seventeen seconds, which was a huge shock. Then came his semifinal matchup against Frank Trigg, which, again, everyone expected Condit to lose. But after Condit subbed him in about a minute and a half, suddenly the lanky kid from Albuquerque was a force to be reckoned with. Condit went on to lose the decision to Jake Shields in the ROTR tournament finals, but he was for sure the man after that.
-What does Condit bring to the table in his bout against Diaz? Well, in my humble opinion, the odds favor the jiu-jitsu black belt with insane boxing skills who cleaned out Strikeforce. But Condit has the tools to beat him, he’s got the explosiveness, and he’s definitely got the mettle to eat plenty of Diaz jabs and keep coming. Most of all, though, is Condit can keep it exciting without getting killed. Yeah, he’s definitely worthy of a shot at the interim belt.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, welterweight, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz vs Carlos Condit UFC 143 fight video simulation
Want to know who wins the UFC 143 main event between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit, which is scheduled to take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vages, Nevada, on Feb. 4, 2012?
Look no further than the UFC Undisputed 3 video game.
The boys over at THQ put together this video simulation to promote the upcoming interim welterweight title fight that will determine the top dog in the division until reigning 170-pound champion Georges St. Pierre returns to mixed martial arts (MMA) action from recent knee surgery.
And if life imitates art, St. Pierre's wish to fight Diaz later this year will be granted.
That's because Diaz -- a talented Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who prefers to mix it up with his opponents in the striking department -- will get taken down in the second round, work for submissions off his back and ultimately tapout the "Natural Born Killer" with a triangle choke.
Here are a handful of notable stats from the above simulation, which is the culmination of 25 matches:
-- Diaz won by technical knockout with strikes to the body once-- Diaz defended 40 percent of Condit's takedown attempts-- Condit won by technical knockout with strikes to the leg once-- Diaz and Condit threw a combined total of 6,675 punches -- Condit shot for a takedown within the first round in all matches-- Diaz won by submission in seven matches
Anyone think these stats will come close to the real thing in "Sin City" this weekend? For more on the "Diaz vs. Condit" match up click here.
Posted in: diaz, vs, condit, fight diaz, round work
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCountdown To UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Live Discussion
The Countdown to UFC 143 show will be debuting tonight on Fuel at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. ET, and Bloody Elbow is the place to talk about it. It might be a tad underwhelming compared to your regular Countdown special due to the fact that the UFC has produced a Primetime series about the main event already, but that just gives them more time to focus on Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson and Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce.
For those that are wondering, the final Primetime episode will air on Friday night, and we'll do a live discussion for that too. Why? We're cool like that.
SBN Coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Main Card:
Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio WerdumJosh Koscheck vs. Mike PierceRenan Barao vs. Scott JorgensenEd Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Preliminary Card:
Max Holloway vs. Dustin PoirierHenry Martinez vs. Matt RiddleAlex Caceres vs. Edwin FigueroaMatt Brown vs. Chris CopeDan Stittgen vs. Stephen ThompsonRafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, countdown, sbn coverage
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGeorges St. Pierre: “The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night.”
A common criticism of “interim” champions is the belief those who wear the label are not actually in possession of a legitimate belt. However, in the case of this weekend’s UFC 143 headliner between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, injured title-holder Georges St. Pierre has a much different viewpoint on the matter. In his mind, the gold being handed to either Diaz or Condit at the end of their bout is very much real and will mark the end of his reign.
“The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight,” said St. Pierre in an interview with the UFC’s website. “You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new #1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again.”
St. Pierre Back in the Gym
“I like the format where the winner of this fight will have to fight me and I have to fight the winner to truly become the UFC champion,” GSP continued. “That is what the UFC is about…competition. This is fair to all of us, we have to beat each other to be the undisputed champion.”
St. Pierre will clearly be tuned in on Saturday night to see who wins though he admits he’s rooting for Diaz.
“I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win. It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees. I have never asked Dana White for anything, but I did ask to fight Nick Diaz. I was (crushed) when I had to pull out of this weekend’s fight hurt, but I am determined to get back to the Octagon as soon as possible to fight this guy. He needs to hold up his part and beat Carlos Condit on Saturday to make this fight happen.”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: fight, diaz, st, champion, winner
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC Undisputed 3 predicts Nick Diaz will submit Carlos Condit at the 4:20 mark, seriously we're not making this up
If time is money, then every stoner is a millionaire. On that same formula, the per capita income of Stockton, California makes it the richest city in the world. I guess Nick Diaz would be the mayor of this hypothetical version of the 209. LayzieTheSavage will be an honorary member of the political cabinet, and he'll raid it at night for sour cream and onion potato chips. A city run by Nick Diaz is change we can believe in -- then you can use the change to buy a pack of Ramen noodle and cook it with hot water from the coffee pot at your local 24-hour convenience store. So it's no surprise that a computer simulation run by Nick Diaz would undoubtedly be embedded with an unintentional marijuana reference. Check out this new UFC Undisputed 3 simulation of Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz, and notice the time at which the game predicts a victory by Nick Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, carlos condit, world i
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz doesn’t appreciate the UFC misquoting him in their UFC 143 promo
The day will come when Nick Diaz writes an autobiography and it’s published without the assistance of a copy-editor. That would be more effective in communicating message(s) he’s trying to send to fans and opponents alike. It also prevents the meaning of his words getting lost in translation from the 209 to whatever dialect of English they speak wherever it is you’re from. The book will probably sit atop the New York Times Bestseller’s list beside Forrest Griffin’s fourth installment about how vampires will conquer zombies in a post-apocalyptic Canadian frontier, but it’ll probably end up giving that book the finger and continue advancing to the top of reading charts nationwide. This is not a plug to pre-order a book that has yet to be written because we’re fans of Nick Diaz, instead, we’re merely trying to point out that trying to edit Nick Diaz will get you nowhere, even if you’re the UFC. Not only does Nick see everything, he’s not shy about correcting people when they’re wrong; like he did in the comments of this UFC uploaded video clip on Youtube. Props to IronForgesIron for the find.
Here's the UFC 143 promo Nick Diaz is referring to. Apparently it all goes down at the 1:09 mark.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, ’re
Read the full article at Middle EasyCountdown to UFC 143 on FUEL TV discussion thread for 'Diaz vs Condit'
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Countdown" preview show for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," featuring a behind-the-scenes look as former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the Interim title on Saturday night (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tune in TONIGHT (Tues., Jan. 31) at 9 p.m. ET on FUEL TV.
"Countdown to UFC 143" will also feature a closer look at the 170-pound match-up between former division number one contender Josh Koscheck and venerable up-and-comer Mike Pierce.
"Diaz vs. Condit" was booked after UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre suffered a devastating knee injury, one that was severe enough to require surgery and several months of rehab.
Alas, the show must go on.
Here is the current UFC 143 fight card and line-up:
Main event:
170 lbs.: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Main card (Pay-per-view):
265 lbs.: Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson 170 lbs.: Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce 135 lbs.: Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen 185 lbs.: Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Preliminary card (FX):
145 lbs.: Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway 170 lbs.: Matt Riddle vs. Henry Martinez 135 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa 170 lbs.: Matt Brown vs. Chris Cope
Preliminary card (Facebook):
170 lbs.: Dan Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson 185 lbs.: Rafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Feb. 4), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the preliminary card action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 p.m. ET.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, lb, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Extended Video Preview
Check out the UFC's video preview for UFC 143 pay-per-view in Las Vegas, featuring an interim welterweight title fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, video, las vegas
Read the full article at Heavy MMACarlos Condit: “The past couple of months have been without a doubt one of the craziest periods of my career.”
Few fighters can claim to have dealt with the wild ride Carlos Condit has been on since fall 2011. Originally scheduled to face B.J. Penn at UFC 137, Condit soon saw his co-headlining spot turn into a main event bout for the UFC welterweight title after Nick Diaz was pulled out of his scheduled bout champion Georges St. Pierre. Condit then stood helplessly by as he watched GSP withdraw due to injury, Diaz slide back into the top contender’s slot, and St. Pierre go down again for health-related reasons. As a result, the 27-year old is now poised to fight Diaz for the interim belt this weekend at UFC 143 instead of Josh Koscheck who he’d originally began preparing to face.
Condit opened up about the experience in an interview with the UFC promoting his fight with Diaz where he said, “I just had to kind of smile and shake my head. After everything that’s happened, all the ups and downs, honestly there wasn’t much else left to do but kind of laugh.”
“The past couple of months have been without a doubt one of the craziest periods of my career…definitely an emotional rollercoaster,” he concluded.
In terms of what he sees as being the biggest challenge he’ll face against Diaz, a former Strikeforce champ who is notoriously difficult to finish and is on an eleven-fight winning streak.
“Mostly I’m impressed by his toughness,” said Condit. “He’s got some great skills. Good boxing, good jiu-jitsu, but just his warrior spirit.”
Fans can catch the two of them tussle at 10:00 PM EST when the PPV starts with undercard action on FX/Facebook beginning at 7:00 PM EST.
Check out the complete interview below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, face, condit, craziest periods
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSt. Pierre pines for title shot against Diaz (Yahoo! Sports)
Nick Diaz must defeat Carlos Condit on Saturday in UFC 143 to set up a much-anticipated bout vs. Georges St. Pierre.
Posted in: title shot, diaz, pierre, st, carlos condit
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsGeorges St. Pierre: ‘I Am Not The Champion Anymore On Saturday Night’
“The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new No.1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again.”
— Georges St. Pierre, via UFC.com, proclaiming he’s not the best in the world until he successfully defends his title again
GSP makes no bones about it. He wants Nick Diaz to win Saturday night because he wants to fight him. He doesn’t “truly hate” Nick Diaz as a person, but he “hates” what Nick “brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does.” GSP even said that during UFC 137 fight week he felt like he had to be ready to fight at all times in case he ran into Diaz.
During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy.
While these may be some of the more pointed statements GSP has made recently, Nick Diaz has actually backed off of GSP a little since his “I don’t think Georges is hurt, I think he’s scared” post-fight comments at UFC 137. On the Hammerfisting MMA Podcast, Nick came around and basically said, yeah, GSP is legitimately injured. Transcription via Bleacher Report:
“I don’t think so. I think he’s hurt,” Diaz responded, when asked if he believed St-Pierre was using his injury as an excuse to duck fights. “I think he might’ve hurt himself. He shouldn’t have done that. If it hurts, don’t do it.”
“I had to go through a lot of fights like that. You know, there were things I couldn’t do, and I couldn’t come in at 100 percent. So basically, heal and worry about your weight cause that’s all you’re gonna be able to do is make the weight and go out there and fight. Sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some, sometimes you can’t be at 100 percent.”
St. Pierre adds that he’s targeting July to resume proper training. If that’s the case, we’re probably looking at him fighting in September-October at the earliest depending on how long of a training camp he needs.
Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: fight, world, diaz, nick, champion
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGeorges St. Pierre really wants Carlos Condit to lose, but is afraid he may win
I like Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit in much the same way I enjoy salsa verde and salsa roja. Both fighters and both condiments bring something unique to any given situation. I don’t want to pick only one because it’s better than the other, and I don’t want to live in a world where I can’t have both drizzled over my tacos. Together, they round everything out just right, and if you disagree, your opinion does absolutely nothing towards me altering how I enjoy my Mexican food. GSP has made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t want to fight Carlos Condit. There have even been rumors that he’ll move up in weight to avoid fighting a fellow Greg Jackson fighter (although they’re probably not true). No, GSP wants to fight Nick Diaz, and he has made it an obsession to rant about it in every press appearance since Cesar Gracie has suggested that Georges be stripped of his belt. Check out this quote from a recent interview on UFC.com.
“I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won’t be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz. I don’t truly hate him as a person. I don’t know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy. I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents, Matt Serra did it, Dan Hardy did it, and Josh Koscheck did it, but with Diaz he has taken it to another level. He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect my accomplishments. All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous.”
GSP will learn who he fights on Saturday night at UFC 143 at around midnight if you’re on the East Coast, 9:00 pm if you’re on the West coast, or sometime in the metaphysical unknown if you’re hanging out with Ricardo Arona at a surf resort halfway across the world. In a perfect world, the fight will end swiftly in Diaz’s favor so that the inevitable war of words can begin, but getting through Carlos Condit is likely to be a grueling job, and we’re glad we’re not in Nick Diaz’s position right about now. [Source]
Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, carlos condit, ’re
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 143 weigh-in results, information and details for 'Diaz vs Condit' on Feb. 3 in Las Vegas
The official weigh in event for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" is set to take place this Friday (Feb. 3, 2012) live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET.
As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the UFC 143 weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.
UFC 143 will be headlined by former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz battling ex-WEC 170-pound kingpin Carlos Condit for the right to wear the division's Interim strap with Georges St. Pierre on the sidelines recovering from knee surgery.
In the co-main event, former welterweight number one contender Josh Koscheck will try to keep his spot among the 170-pound elite by taking on the venerable Mike Pierce.
Here is the current "Diaz vs. Condit" fight card and line-up:
Main event:
170 lbs.: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Main card (Pay-per-view):
265 lbs.: Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson170 lbs.: Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce 135 lbs.: Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen185 lbs.: Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Preliminary card (FX):
145 lbs.: Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway170 lbs.: Matthew Riddle vs. Henry Martinez135 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa170 lbs.: Matt Brown vs. Chris Cope
Preliminary card (Facebook):
170 lbs.: Dan Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson185 lbs.: Rafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper
For those fortunate enough to be in "Sin City" this week, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 4 p.m. ET. In addition, UFC Fight Club members will be able to attend a special Q&A session with none other than Georges St. Pierre at 1 p.m. local time.
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Feb. 4), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the preliminary card action will begin to flow earlier than that around 6 p.m. ET.
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 143 coverage you can handle.
For all the latest news and notes on "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, lb, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGeorges St-Pierre: I’ve Never Wanted to Fight Anyone Like I Want to Fight Nick Diaz
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 143 event, where Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will square off for the interim welterweight title, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre spoke to the UFC about rooting for his rival Diaz so they can meet when he returns from knee surgery later this year:
CHEERING FOR THE ENEMY
“I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win. It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees. I have never asked (UFC President) Dana White for anything, but I did ask to fightNick Diaz. I was (crushed) when I had to pull out of this weekend’s fight hurt, but I am determined to get back to the Octagon as soon as possible to fightthis guy. He needs to hold up his part and beat Carlos Condit on Saturday to make this fight happen.
ON HIS FEARS CONDIT WILL WIN
“I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won’t be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. Carlos Condit is a very good fighter, he can strike, he is aggressive and he has submissions. He has been very impressive and is the type of fighter who gets better and better the more confident hegets.
I am not personal friends with him but I know him a little and he’s a great person. I know a lot of people who know him well because we train with the same people, but I have only spoken with him a few times. He is a true mixed martial artist. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz.”
ON DANA WHITE’S COMMENT THAT GSP ‘HATES’ DIAZ
“I don’t truly hate him as a person. I don’t know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy.
I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents, Matt Serra did it, Dan Hardy did it, and Josh Koscheck did it, but with Diaz he has taken it to another level. He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect myaccomplishments.
All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous.
Also, as champion, I believe Diaz deserves the fight for the title. Style-wise, he is a very tough match for me and the fans deserve to see the fight they really want to see.”
ON WHETHER THE ‘INTERIM’ CHAMP WILL BE THE REAL CHAMP
“The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. Youhave to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new No.1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again.
I like the format where the winner of this fight will have to fight me and I have to fight the winner to truly become the UFC champion. That is what the UFC is about,that is competition. This is fair to all of us, we have to beat each other to be the undisputed champion.”
ON DIAZ’S DOMINATING WIN OVER BJ PENN
“He was very impressive. Nick Diaz’s boxing is very strong; he could be the best boxer in the UFC. I don’t want to be seen to be advising any other fighter how to win a fight, but if Diaz does what he does best then he should win this fight on Saturday. It is a very close fight though.”
ON HIS RIGHT KNEE INJURY AND REHAB
“I am ahead of schedule. I can already train and even kick but I am remaining calm and not rushing. I won’t train properly until July, it is a matter of discipline not to force my knee to go harder than it can heal. No athlete wants to sit on thesidelines, especially when you are the champion and you must watch two others fight for the interim championship belt. I will watch on Saturday and go home very motivated to rehab on Monday morning but I must be disciplined and I must continue to rehab at the pace I am doing.”
For complete UFC 143 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, champion, saturday
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyCountdown to UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Premieres Tonight on Fuel TV
Can't get enough of this week's UFC 143 pay-per-view? You can catch "Countdown to UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" Tuesday night on Fuel TV.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, tv, countdown
Read the full article at Heavy MMAChamp Georges St-Pierre wants Nick Diaz fight as much as he wanted a title shot
UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre admits UFC 143 is going to be weird. After all, he'll be rooting for enemy Nick Diaz.
"I want this fight with Diaz so badly - as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees," St-Pierre today told the UFC.
That was seven years ago at UFC 56, when his career looked a whole lot different than it does today. Of all the punches he's slipped on his current path, this one has hit hardest.
Posted in: ufc, title shot, diaz, stpierre, punches hes
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 143: Georges St. Pierre explains his hatred for 'crazy' Nick Diaz
Angry champ is angry.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 170-pound kingpin Georges St. Pierre will be watching the UFC 143 welterweight Interim title fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit this weekend with vested interest.
And not just because he fights the winner later this year.
St. Pierre wants Diaz to win -- at any and all costs. That way, he can get payback for the months of torment the outspoken Stockton slugger has put him though since they were originally booked to throw hands at UFC 137 last October.
Hear "Rush" explain his "professional hatred" for Diaz after the jump.
"I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won't be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz. I don't truly hate him as a person. I don't know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy. I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents, Matt Serra did it, Dan Hardy did it, and Josh Koscheck did it, but with Diaz he has taken it to another level. He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect my accomplishments. All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous."
St. Pierre was paired off with Diaz on two separate occasions, but a myriad of shenanigans on the part of the 209 bad boy, coupled with the Canadian's brittle knees, forced both pay-per-view (PPV) headliners to be scrapped in favor of opposite bookings.
Now, with Diaz and Condit set to establish a true division number one contender at the Mandalay Bay Events Center this Saturday night (Feb. 4) for the UFC 143 supershow in Las Vegas, Nevada, St. Pierre can zero in on his next opponent.
But will fighting angry cost him against Diaz? Or not fighting angry enough put him at a disadvantage if he fights "The Natural Born Killer?" There is no question that Nick Diaz is inside GSP's head.
How will it affect him when he finally returns to the Octagon?
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, pierre, st
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit: Nick Diaz is tough, but I have more weapons in my arsenal
Top Welterweight contender Carlos Condit, who will square off with Nick Diaz for the interim title at UFC 143, discusses his opponent, as well as the "emotional roller-coaster" that he's been on over the past few months. Condit admits that he is impressed by Diaz's toughness, but insists that he is the more dynamic fighter and will leave Las Vegas as the new champion.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, condit, diazs toughness, months condit
Read the full article at Low KickGeorges St. Pierre offers his thoughts on Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will meet on Saturday night to determine who will wear the interim UFC Welterweight title. The current UFC Welterweight Champion, Georges St, Pierre is currently recovering from knee surgery and took some time out of his rehab and training to offer his thoughts on the upcoming bout.
CHEERING FOR THE ENEMY“I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win. It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly,
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, nick, carlos condit, carlo
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143: Nick Diaz Pre-Fight Interview
submitted by Kalamestari [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, interview, prefight
Read the full article at RedditUFC 143 Pre-Fight Interview: Nick Diaz
Carlos Condit takes on Nick Diaz for the UFC interim welterweight title this Saturday, Feb. 4 at UFC 143.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, welterweight title
Read the full article at MMA ConvertVideo: Carlos Condit impressed with Nick Diaz's toughness, predicts a win at UFC 143
"Nick Diaz is very good with his hands. He does what he does very, very well. It's not only that he does really well with his hands, but he sets a relentless pace and relentless cardio. Mostly, I'm impressed with his toughness. He's got some great skills: Good boxing, good jiu-jitsu, but just his warrior spirit. I feel I'm a more technical fighter than Diaz. I have more weapons in my arsenal -- I just bring different stuff to the table. I have good movement, use angles. Diaz, for the most part, just comes straightforward. I've been training for this fight since July, I've been putting in a lot of hard work, and I'm excited to go out and show the fans -- along with all the fighters in the division -- the new and improved Carlos Condit. I will defeat Nick Diaz and I will be the UFC welterweight champion."
Carlos Condit admits that he's had a roller coaster ride in recent months, enduring opponent switches, injuries and a whole host of issues outside of his control that have kept him out of the Octagon since a knockout finish of Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 132 back in July 2011. Good things apparently do come to those who wait -- Condit is set to tangle with Nick Diaz in the UFC 143 main event inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 4, 2012. The winner of the five-round welterweight fight will win the interim 170-pound title and the opportunity to challenge division champion Georges St. Pierre later this year to unify the belts. "Rush" is currently rehabilitating a knee injury and expects to return in Nov. 2012. If Condit intends to make good on his prediction, he'll have to go through the self-proclaimed "most well-rounded fighter in the world," who literally has the endurance to fight for 25 rounds if required. For "The Natural Born Killer," even though he admits to putting in a "lot of hard work" it might be all in vain if he can't keep pace with the Stockton, Calif., scrap machine. Ring rust is a serious concern ... can Condit it knock it off and go shot-for-shot, or will Diaz simply overwhelm him like he does to most others?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCesar Gracie Thinks Nick Diaz Should Wait For Georges St. Pierre If He Beats Carlos Condit
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a pretty big fight this weekend. Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will meet at UFC 143 for the interim welterweight title in what is all but guaranteed to be a fight full of fireworks.
What happens next isn’t so certain though. With Georges St. Pierre out of action until at least this summer, likely later this fall, the new interim champion could be faced with defending that title before GSP is ready to defend the real belt. If Diaz wins though, expect a little resistance from his camp to agree to another welterweight fight in the meantime because Cesar Gracie went on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani today and said he plans to advise Nick to wait for GSP.
“If we’re fortunate and we win this fight, I would advise Nick to not take another fight before the GSP fight unless it was in different weight class,” he said. “We want to wait for that 170-pound thing. The people I speak with, they want to see the GSP fight if Nick is able to defeat Condit. That’s where I’m at with it. I’d advise Nick to not take another fight.”
“There hasn’t been any hype in a GSP fight for a very long time to the point he cleaned out his division and they were talking about an Anderson Silva matchup just to get some kind of excitement,” he said. “Nick really brings that to table because he’s one of most gifted athletes in terms of technically sound fighters out there. And you saw GSP on primetime. [Nick] brings out the thing where GSP wants to fight. I think it would be an amazing fight. And so that’s the fight I would want.”
His reasoning makes sense, though not completely without risks (see Rashad Evans). GSP vs. Nick Diaz is a huge fight that’s been thwarted twice. People want to see it and Diaz would stand to make a great deal of money from that fight. Losing in the meantime would completely kill it though and there’s plenty of hungry challengers who would be salivating at the opportunity to take it from him. So yes, waiting is the safer bet to securing that fight.
Realistically though, St. Pierre probably isn’t going to be ready to return until late 2012 (he specifically mentioned November), so that would be an awfully long wait. Moreover, if Diaz wins this weekend, he’s going to be the interim champion and the UFC will surely want him to defend it this summer if GSP isn’t ready. Otherwise, what’s the point of creating the interim title?
So while I understand where Gracie’s coming from, I can’t imagine the UFC being cool with Nick Diaz waiting around for GSP to recover. They can’t force him to fight but if they piss Dana White off enough, they can certainly snatch his number one contender’s status away as we’ve seen in the past. In other words, the UFC has the leverage so if they want Nick to fight bad enough, they’ll surely find a way to get him to.
Of course, that’s all assuming Nick Diaz gets past Carlos Condit this weekend which is certainly not a given. First things first, as they say.
Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, gsp, carlos condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertCesar Gracie: “I would advise Nick to not take another fight before the GSP fight…”
With UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre out until late 2012 while rehabbing an injured knee a question has surfaced surrounding the future of the division’s interim belt, a prize being fought over this weekend at UFC 143 between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. Given the six-month minimum before St. Pierre is ready to train at full speed again, will Diaz-Condit defend the title before having a chance to claim undisputed status by facing GSP?
According to Diaz’s manager and head trainer, Cesar Gracie, the answer is “no”
Gracie, who was careful to speak in hypothetical terms rather than disrespect Condit by assuming Diaz would exit with a victory,
“If we’re fortunate and we win this fight, I would advise Nick to not take another fight before the GSP fight, unless it was maybe at a different weight class, because we wanna wait for (St. Pierre),” Gracie explained in an interview on The MMA Hour.
Diaz has fought at heavier and lighter weights than his current home as a 170 pounder. While far from anything resembling a certainty, if Diaz were to take a swim in a different divisional pool it would likely be as a middleweight given his size.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, diaz, carlos condit, gracie, ” gracie
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainTrainer: Nick Diaz will wait for Georges St. Pierre if he beats Carlos Condit -- or fight in another weight class
Nick Diaz at lightweight or middleweight?
That might happen if he defeats Carlos Condit at UFC 143 this weekend (Feb. 4, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The "Diaz vs. Condit" winner will be crowned the Interim Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Champion and is expected to take on current UFC 170-pound champion, Georges St. Pierre, once he is recuperated from recent surgery.
Cesar Gracie says that should his star pupil defeat Condit in "Sin City," they will sit back and wait for St. Pierre to return from the injured reserves and not take another fight in the interim. If the wait is longer than expected, they may seek a fight in another division.
Gracie lays out the teams plans on the The MMA Hour, after the jump:
"I'm probably going to get in trouble by saying this, but, we are not taking another fight. There is only one way if we take another fight, I'm not going to get ahead of myself because Nick has not won yet (against Condit). Hypothetically, if we're fortunate and win this fight, I would advise Nick to not take another fight before the GSP fight unless it is at a different weight class. We are going to wait for the Georges St. Pierre fight."
A few seconds after Gracie's segment was over, Carlos Condit's manager, Malki Kawa was not too pleased with the comments and called in to express his displeasure:
"They are thinking they already won over there. At the end of the day, if people are riding Carlos Condit off it is a big mistake. He is coming to fight. He has not stopped training. If Condit wins the belt, we are going to fight and we are not going to wait around for anyone, not even Georges St. Pierre."
Cesar Gracie was respectful and answered a question hypothetically, to which Kawa acknowledged, so what's the beef?
After the much anticipated welterweight showdown between Nick Diaz and Georges St. Pierre, arguably the two top 170-pound fighters in the world, was scrapped twice before (UFC 137 and UFC 143), the Diaz camp, apparently, wants to take all measures to prevent from losing out on the dream match-up between the two once again.
Of course, not putting the cart before the horse, Gracie knows that Diaz first has to defeat ‘The Natural Born Killer" before they can look ahead to a blockbuster matchup against "Rush."
Condit, on the other hand, who also had his title match against St. Pierre scrapped due to injury to the welterweight champion at UFC 137, has no plans on waiting for anyone, according to his manager.
What do you say Maniacs, wise planning on the Diaz camp to hold out for Georges St. Pierre, should he be successful this weekend? If he indeed does take a fight at 155 or 185, who would be a good match up for the Stockton slugger?
Posted in: fight, diaz, pierre, st, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWe need more hilarious UFC 143 Nick Diaz promos like this one
You remember how your friends told you they have a friend that knows a guy that can get marijuana? Nick Diaz probably knows that same guy. Diaz has tons of fans over in Singapore, but unfortunately he can not enjoy his appreciation of the sacred planet in that corner of the planet. In Singapore, if you test positive for marijuana you receive a mandatory prison sentence and if you're caught with a drug of any type, you will be hung. Yes folks, death is automatic if authorities find any amount of an illegal substance on you. Therefore, regardless of how amazing it would be for Nick Diaz to make a trip to Evolve MMA in Singapore, perhaps it's best that he stay in the 209.
In just a few days we'll see if Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz will actually go down, but in the meantime at least we have these clever UFC 143 promos to hold us over. Props to Stullo for the find.
Posted in: diaz, nick, singapore, guy diaz, folks death
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz, Carlos Condit Camps Differ on Defending Interim Belt While GSP Heals
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsLooming in the background of UFC 143's main event is the specter of UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who is potentially the real prize for Saturday night's winner. Either Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit will emerge with the interim title after the scheduled five-rounder, but a date with St-Pierre and a chance to win the linear title is ultimate reward.
Complicating matters is uncertainty about St-Pierre's return date. UFC president Dana White recently said that GSP may be back in the summertime, while St-Pierre himself suggested that November was a more likely time frame.
That leads to questions about how the division will move forward in his absence. And on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, Diaz's manager and trainer Cesar Gracie revealed that if Diaz wins, he'll urge his charge not to compete until St-Pierre is ready to face him.
"If we're fortunate and we win this fight, I would advise Nick to not take another fight before the GSP fight unless it was in different weight class," he said. "We want to wait for that 170-pound thing. The people I speak with, they want to see the GSP fight if Nick is able to defeat Condit. That's where I'm at with it. I'd advise Nick to not take another fight."
Depending on St-Pierre's recovery time, that could lead to a 10-month break between fights, a period that Gracie said could be broken up by a temporary move to middleweight.
Historically though, UFC has rarely allowed champions to move divisions to compete in non-title matches. The last to do it was middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva, who moved up to light-heavyweight to KO Forrest Griffin in August 2009.
Gracie's comment got under the skin of Condit's manager Malki Kawa, who wondered if the Diaz camp was looking past UFC 143 and into the future.
"At the end of the day, if people are writing Carlos Condit off, it's a big mistake," he said. "Carlos is coming to fight. The guy is in great shape. Remember, he was supposed to fight in October. He hasn't stopped training. He's coming to fight and this is going to be a real good fight. And if and when he wins this belt, if [the UFC] wants to put him back out to fight again, Carlos is going to fight again and defend his belt against anyone who challenges him. We're not going to sit around and wait for anyone, not Georges or anybody. If there's fights out there, Carlos wants them."
But Gracie said his comment was meant with no disrespect, and that he was simply offering his opinion on a hypothetical situation.
Gracie said that refusing another welterweight bout was simply a means of preserving a fight that has come to be anticipated by both fans and fighters since Diaz was originally matched up with GSP last year. As he noted, the fight itself is more important to Diaz than the actual hardware for beating him. And in his opinion, given St-Pierre's level of dominance, a fight against Diaz would be important for the sport.
"There hasn't been any hype in a GSP fight for a very long time to the point he cleaned out his division and they were talking about an Anderson Silva matchup just to get some kind of excitement," he said. "Nick really brings that to table because he's one of most gifted athletes in terms of technically sound fighters out there. And you saw GSP on primetime. [Nick] brings out the thing where GSP wants to fight. I think it would be an amazing fight. And so that's the fight I would want."
Gracie credited Condit's completeness as a fighter, saying he has an underrated ground game, dangerous striking and excellent stamina. But he also made it clear this fight has no personal significance for Diaz past the fact that Condit is going to be standing across from him on Saturday.
"Carlos is an enemy now," he said. "He's in the way and he must be taken care of."
Condit's manager disagreed with Gracie speaking about what Diaz might do after winning, but the two found common ground on the competitiveness of the fight itself.
"They're talking like they already won the fight," Kawa said. "I do that as well sometimes, but when I see someone do it to me, I have to turn around and say, 'Hey, don't write my guy off.' No one should. This is a better fight overall [than a GSP-Diaz fight]. No disrespect to Georges but we all know that these two guys will come to scrap."
With a rehabilitation time of between six and 10 months, St-Pierre has plenty of time to digest that. At least he has some idea of what might be coming his way. If Diaz wins, he'll be there waiting when GSP is ready, but Condit will defend the interim belt with no regard for St-Pierre's return date.
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Posted in: fight, diaz, gsp, condit, stpierre
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'Countdown to UFC 143' preview show debuts Tuesday on FUEL TV
While this weekend's "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" event is also getting
the full "UFC Primetime" treatment, that doesn't mean the typical
"Countdown" show has been nixed.
In anticipation of the night's key matchups, FUEL TV debuts "Countdown
to UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 9 p.m. ET.
Headliners Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, who meet with the UFC's interim welterweight title on the
line, are featured in the program, as are main-card fighters Josh
Koscheck and Mike Pierce.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, carlos condit, countdown, welterweight title
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit In-Depth Preview
A highly anticipated Welterweight showdown between "The Stockton Bad Boy" Nick Diaz and "The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit will headline the stacked UFC 143 fight card, set to take place February 4th from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also featured will be a Heavyweight clash pitting Roy Nelson against Fabricio Werdum, and former 170-pound title challenger, Josh Koscheck, takes on Mike Pierce.
Posted in: diaz, fabricio werdum, welterweight showdown, roy nelson, heavyweight clash
Read the full article at Low KickThe Blueprint - Diaz vs. Condit
Russell Crowe, in his career-defining role as Maximus in the box office bonanza “Gladiator,” made famous a line that has been uttered more than once to a crowd by UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer in the off-camera moments just before a pay-per-view broadcast kicks in.Are you not entertained?The question was yelled to a silent crowd following several minutes of gladiatorial battle.I guarantee that neither Buffer nor anyone else will be asking the crowd that question at the Mandalay Bay Events Center when Nick Diaz versus Carlos Condit finds its conclusion this Saturday night. G-U-A-R-A-N-T-E-E.This is an absolutely delicious matchup for fans who enjoy all-action bouts. It certainly may come to an abrupt end in the first few minutes. Any fight can end suddenly. But the matchup suggests otherwise. All signs point to a back-and-forth war, where both men enjoy moments of solid success, though both will likely get bruised and bloodied.Don’t get me wrong. I think there is a clear favorite, though it wouldn’t necessarily be an upset for either man to win. Yes, those are contradictory statements. I don’t care. They accurately describe the fight, in my opinion.Diaz is the man most expect to win. I agree with that notion. This guy is in the midst of one of the most impressive welterweight winning streaks since Jon Fitch ran off 16 in a row. Unlike during Fitch’s run, however, nobody is questioning Diaz’s finishing ability or his ability to thrill a crowd. The Stockton, California native fights with a full-throttle, unyielding style that is designed to break an opponent mentally and physically.It is a style that has overwhelmed everyone since the beginning of 2008, including all-time greats BJ Penn and Frank Shamrock. He mixes possibly the best boxing in the sport with a granite chin, an endless gas tank and high-level Gracie jiu-jitsu. Not a bad combination. But let’s not kid ourselves. Condit is the far more explosive fighter. If this fight ends by knockout in the first round, Condit is the one who will have his hand raised. Not Diaz. And while Condit isn’t riding an 11-fight winning streak, his recent run of success isn’t much less impressive than what Diaz has experienced.Condit has won 12 of his last 13 bouts. That lone loss, a split decision dropped to Martin Kampmann, was arguably a bad result. At the very least, it was highly controversial. In his last two bouts, he walked through Dong-Hyun Kim and Dan Hardy via first round knockouts. The former was undefeated at the time. The latter was just over six months removed from challenging for the world championship. The pair will meet on Saturday night for the interim UFC welterweight Championship, a secondary title that officially anoints a number one challenger to injured champion Georges St-Pierre. Better put, Saturday’s bout definitively answers the question as to who is the second best welterweight on the planet.When referee Steve Mazzagatti signals for the action to begin, Diaz will do what he does in every fight. The surly gladiator will aggressively take the center of the Octagon with his hands held unorthodoxly high, likely at eye level or higher, and begin his unrelenting attack. Diaz will work from the southpaw stance, focused on just touching his foe with his fists over and over again. He won’t load up on his strikes. That takes too long and increases the odds of missing the target. Instead, sharp right jabs, often mixed with pawing grabs at his opponent’s left hand, will establish the range. He will pump the jab again and again, bruising, bloodying and distracting his foe. The shots will come in short succession, like one-arm combinations. But he is far from a one-armed striker. Diaz will fire his straight left—a very straight left, as soon as his right foot establishes the proper position on the outside of Condit’s lead left foot. Sometimes he will throw the left in isolation following a jab. Often he will follow it up with a clean-up right hook. He will also mix in leading with both of those strikes. The point is to overwhelm and confuse his opponent, all the while chipping away at his strength and cardio from the constant bombardment of shots thrown at 70% of his maximum power.From time to time, Diaz will clean up his straight right with a right outside leg kick. He might even add a left or right high kick here or there. If Condit finds some success on the feet, Diaz may switch to an orthodox stance, fighting with the same fistic patters as when he attacks from his more traditional southpaw stance. His straight right is nowhere near as good as his straight left. By contrast, his left jab and left hook are close to, if not equal, to their southpaw counterparts.The one constant throughout the attack will be Diaz’s taunts. He will lean forward, sticking out his chin with his hands spread wide apart, as if he is giving an opponent a free shot. Diaz knows that he has amazing defensive skills, so the goal is to bait his opponent into missing so that Diaz can counter. If his foe hesitates, Diaz will fire slapping hooks from his widely spread fists. Those are calculated moves designed to show his foe that the former Strikeforce champion is the superior fighter. It’s as if he is screaming, there is nothing you can do to hurt me. I leaving myself wide open, and I’m still putting my stamp on you.Physical taunts aren’t the only mind games that Diaz plays with his foes. A big part of his game is using harsh words to both hype up himself and enrage his foe. The former often serves as a shot of adrenalin—or, more appropriately in Diaz’s case, a steady stream of adrenalin from bell to bell. The latter often leads to an opponent fighting with more recklessness or loading up more on strikes. Either of those mistakes makes Diaz’s tappy-tap attack more effective.Thus, venomous taunts will flow like water exiting a wide-open spigot. Personal insult after personal insult will bombard his foe second only to the nonstop barrage of punches. It is a demoralizing assault, one that only the mentally and physically toughest fighters can withstand. Diaz is counting on the fact that Condit is not among those. I’m quite sure Condit disagrees.Like Diaz, Condit is also a savagely aggressive fighter with an excellent chin, equal comfort on the feet or the ground, and a deep gas tank. Sounds like a carbon copy, doesn’t it? These two are actually as different as they are similar.Condit is the physically stronger fighter. He possesses a high percentage of fast-twitch muscle fiber in his body, which enables him to explode on foes in a way that leaves many other welters green with envy. Diaz generates knockouts from perfect timing and technique. Condit does it with explosive speed and power.Condit is also more of a go-for-broke attacker. He is willing to throw caution to the wind and attack in berserker style. All of Diaz’s attacks are calculated and controlled. He is never wild. He never forgets defense.Guess what? Both of those traits – tremendous explosiveness and a willingness attack, even in the face of guaranteed return fire – are exactly the recipe for defeating Nick Diaz on the feet, assuming, of course, that a fighter has the standup skills to execute during the attack.Carlos Condit and well-rounded go together like peanut butter and jelly.“The Natural Born Killer” is one of the most well rounded fighters in the sport. In 27 professional wins, he has 13 knockouts and 13 submissions on his resume. That is reminiscent of a prime Rich Franklin, before the former middleweight champ became obsessed with his standup game. Condit’s standup is pretty straightforward, though extremely effective. He fights with the squared orthodox stance of a Thai fighter. He is more versatile on the feet than Diaz, incorporating kicks, elbows and knees with his fists, as opposed to Diaz’s heavily boxing-focused attack. And he can end the fight with any of those strikes. Typically not in one-strike fashion. Condit is more of a combination striker, but he has the juice to score one-shot wins. Just ask Dan Hardy.On the ground, Condit is much craftier fighter than his Brazilian jiu-jitsu rank suggests. He doesn’t inspire fear in opponents from his guard. But he is a monster from the top position and a back expert. His ground acumen is irrelevant in this fight. He isn’t on the same planet in terms of BJJ skills, compared to Diaz. The only way Condit wins this fight by submission is if he first lands a consciousness-altering strike, leaving Diaz basically defenseless for a brief period.Condit doesn’t much care about that. He isn’t coming Las Vegas to submit Diaz. He is coming to knock him out, whether cold or by cuts. And I’m sure he believes he can do just that.Neither Diaz nor any other fighter is invincible. The big key to victory for Condit is to force Diaz to fight moving backwards. Condit must be the bully. He cannot sit back and counter. Otherwise, Diaz will overwhelm him with his volume punching, just like he did Penn. He might land a fight-ending counter. That can happen in any fight. It is just highly unlikely based on Diaz’s history facing even bigger, more explosive strikers, like Paul Daley, and smothering them with his whirlwind attack.On the other hand, if Condit comes out and fires first, he has a chance to do what only KJ Noons has done since mid-2006—defeat Nick Diaz. Noons beat Diaz by beating him to the punch. Noons, who doubles as a professional boxer, used good angles and always made sure he fired first with accurate, sharp punches. Diaz never got into a rhythm against in his first bout against Noons principally because he never had the opportunity to lead. In the rematch, Diaz undressed his former conqueror in typical Diaz fashion. He was the bully from bell to bell. Condit can’t let that happen on Saturday night.The second key to victory for Condit is to clinch with Diaz, force him up against the cage and use dirty boxing—elbows, forearms and slicing punches. Diaz has a history of easily cutting along his eyebrows. That is no big secret. He underwent surgery in 2008 to remove excess scar tissue and grind down his brow bones to help correct this problem. It certainly helped in subsequent fights, but his brow leaked against Penn, which suggests that scar tissue might be building back up. Condit should seek to find out.I truly believe that this fight will be an epic war. Will Condit be the one to survive the war? Is he the man to put an end to Diaz’s amazing 11-fight run? It doesn’t seem likely, in my opinion. A skilled, explosive and attacking striker is the best way to beat Diaz on the feet, but it is still a long-shot way of winning. The absolute best way of beating Diaz is to put him in the cage against a dominant wrestler with great submission defense who takes him down and holds him there. Condit isn’t that guy. So I’m going with Diaz, likely by decision but possibly by late-round stoppage. QUICK FACTSNick Diaz• 28 years old• 27-7, 1 NC• Finished 9 of last 11 opponents• 5-0 in last 5• 10-0 in last 10• 11-fight winning streak• 4-1 in title fights (4 in Strikeforce, 1 in Elite XC)• Has never been submitted• Former Strikeforce welterweight champion (never lost title; vacated it to return to the UFC)• Fight of the Night (UD3 over BJ Penn at UFC 137)• Current layoff is 98 days• Longest layoff of career is 315 daysCarlos Condit• 27 years old• 27-5• 4-1 in last5• 9-1 in last 10• 4-0 in major title fights (all in WEC)• Has never been knocked out• Has only gone the distance 3 times in 32 professional fights (1-2 in those bouts)• Fight Night award in last 3 fights• Knockout of the Night (KO1 over Dong-Hyun Kim at UFC 132)• Knockout of the Night (KO1 over Dan Hardy at UFC 120)• Fight of the Night (TKO3 over Rory MacDonald at UFC 115)• Current layoff is 217 days• Longest layoff of career is 269 days
Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, condit, •nbspnbsp
Read the full article at UFCGSP Talks UFC 143
Las Vegas, Nevada – On Saturday night, live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, elite welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will collide for the interim UFC 170lbs championship.UFC superstar Georges St-Pierre will be a very interested – and conflicted – ringside observer to the UFC 143 main event. ‘GSP’ has been the undisputed welterweight king since the spring of 2008, but knee injuries have forced him to withdraw from scheduled bouts with both Condit and Diaz and so he must sit on the sidelines while the pair stake a claim to his crown. Expected to return to the Octagon™ perhaps as early as the summer, St-Pierre had this to say:CHEERING FOR THE ENEMY “I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win. It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees. I have never asked (UFC President) Dana White for anything, but I did ask to fight Nick Diaz. I was (crushed) when I had to pull out of this weekend’s fight hurt, but I am determined to get back to the Octagon as soon as possible to fight this guy. He needs to hold up his part and beat Carlos Condit on Saturday to make this fight happen.ON HIS FEARS CONDIT WILL WIN“I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won’t be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. Carlos Condit is a very good fighter, he can strike, he is aggressive and he has submissions. He has been very impressive and is the type of fighter who gets better and better the more confident he gets.I am not personal friends with him but I know him a little and he’s a great person. I know a lot of people who know him well because we train with the same people, but I have only spoken with him a few times. He is a true mixed martial artist. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz.”ON DANA WHITE’S COMMENT THAT GSP ‘HATES’ DIAZ“I don’t truly hate him as a person. I don’t know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy.I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents, Matt Serra did it, Dan Hardy did it, and Josh Koscheck did it, but with Diaz he has taken it to another level. He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect my accomplishments. All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous. Also, as champion, I believe Diaz deserves the fight for the title. Style-wise, he is a very tough match for me and the fans deserve to see the fight they really want to see.” ON WHETHER THE ‘INTERIM’ CHAMP WILL BE THE REAL CHAMP“The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new No.1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again. I like the format where the winner of this fight will have to fight me and I have to fight the winner to truly become the UFC champion. That is what the UFC is about, that is competition. This is fair to all of us, we have to beat each other to be the undisputed champion.” ON DIAZ’S DOMINATING WIN OVER BJ PENN“He was very impressive. Nick Diaz’s boxing is very strong; he could be the best boxer in the UFC. I don’t want to be seen to be advising any other fighter how to win a fight, but if Diaz does what he does best then he should win this fight on Saturday. It is a very close fight though.”ON HIS RIGHT KNEE INJURY AND REHAB“I am ahead of schedule. I can already train and even kick but I am remaining calm and not rushing. I won’t train properly until July, it is a matter of discipline not to force my knee to go harder than it can heal. No athlete wants to sit on the sidelines, especially when you are the champion and you must watch two others fight for the interim championship belt. I will watch on Saturday and go home very motivated to rehab on Monday morning but I must be disciplined and I must continue to rehab at the pace I am doing.”Tickets for UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT, presented by BUD LIGHT®, are priced at $750, $500, $350, $225, $125 and $75 and are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino) or via Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 as well as at www.mandalaybay.com and www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, champion, condit
Read the full article at UFCUFC 143 Fight Card: Diaz Vs. Condit
There have been a few minor changes to the UFC 143 undercard over the last couple of weeks, but not nearly as many as the month prior to that. The main card looks exactly the same as it did on January 1st, which is a minor miracle at this point. Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will meet for the interim welterweight belt on February 4th in Las Vegas, and Josh Koscheck will face Mike Pierce. In addition to that, Fabricio Werdum returns to the UFC to face Roy Nelson, and Renan Barao and Scott Jorgensen will face to see who gets the next shot at the UFC bantamweight title after Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber 3. Most of the undercard will be shown on FX, though two bouts will still air on Facebook. Here's the current card (prelims after the jump):
Feb 4th, live on pay-per-view from Las Vegas, NV:
Main Card:
Nick Diaz (26-7, 1 NC) vs. Carlos Condit (27-5) [Interim WW Title]
Roy Nelson (16-6) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1)
Josh Koscheck (16-5) vs Mike Pierce (13-4)
Renan Barao (27-1, 1 NC) vs. Scott Jorgensen (13-4)
Ed Herman (19-7) vs. Clifford Starks (8-0)
More SBN coverage of UFC 143
Preliminary Card:
Dustin Poirier (11-1) vs. Max Holloway (4-0)
Alex Caceres (6-4) vs. Edwin Figueroa (8-1)
Matt Riddle (5-3) vs. Henry Martinez (8-1)
Matt Brown (12-11) vs. Chris Cope (5-2)
Dan Stittgen (7-1) vs. Stephen Thompson (5-0)
Rafael Natal (13-3-1) vs. Michael Kuiper (11-0)
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, card, carlos condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Primetime 2
FX aired the latest episode of the UFC's Primetime series for UFC 143. The show follows ex-Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz and former WEC welterweight champ Carlos Condit as they prepare for their interim title bout at UFC 143 on February 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
Diaz last fought at UFC 137 when he beat former light- and welterweight champ B.J. Penn by three round decision. Condit was supposed to fight Georges St. Pierre for the title at that same event but didn't get to fight at all when GSP dropped out with a strained knee.
Condit's title shot was to have passed to Diaz at UFC 143, but GSP tore the ACL on his other knee and Condit got called up for the interim title bout.
The third and final episode of UFC 143 Primetime airs on Feb. 3 on FX. In case you missed the first episode, that video is after the jump.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, condit, title bout
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz understands what it's like to be injured, doesn't believe Georges St. Pierre is scared
Top Welterweight contender Nick Diaz, who will go head to head with Carlos Condit for the interim Welterweight title in February, talks about training with Strikeforce women's competitor, Ronda Rousey, as well as the torn ACL sustained by reigning 170-pound champ Georges St. Pierre. Diaz acknowledges the high risk of injury that comes along with preparing for a fight, and says that he sympathizes with St. Pierre's high-pressure position as the title holder.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, carlos condit, welterweight title, february talks
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143 Diaz vs. Condit Extended Video Preview
Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit square off for the UFC interim welterweight title at UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit on Super Bowl weekend. Check out the extended video preview.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, video, condit, welterweight title
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143 'Primetime' video for 'Diaz vs Condit' (Episode 2)
In cased you missed any or all of it last night (Jan. 27, 2012), here is the second of three episodes of the "all access" behind-the-scenes look at the UFC 143 main event between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
To watch the first episode of UFC 143 "Primetime" click here.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and FX collaborated for the latest "Primetime" series, which follows former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz as he prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the interim title on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The third and final episode of UFC 143 "Primetime" is set to air on Feb. 3, also on FX. To get up to speed on the reaction to episode two of UFC 143 "Primetime" click here.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" fight card and rumors click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, episode, condit, primetime
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Quick Quote: Nick Diaz understands what Georges St. Pierre is going through with knee injury, says GSP isn't scared
"For me, I'm injured too, I understand. I'm like, 'Hey, I'm injured.' You know, I was injured all those fights, I wasn't 100-percent or anything, so I understand. People put a lot of pressure on him to come out and do better than he did the last time. It's hard enough to come out there and keep himself going the way he's doing. So I can understand what it must be like being injured for real and everybody's like, 'Oh, hey, you're scared.' It's not what it seems."
-- "Where you at, Georges? I don't think he's hurt, I think he's scared." We're a long ways away from the time Nick Diaz said those words in his post-fight interview after smashing B.J. Penn back at UFC 137 on Oct. 29, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now, an uncharacteristically jovial Diaz is telling Kayrn Bryant of MMA Heat that he totally understands what Georges St. Pierre is going through with his knee injury and he doesn't hold it against him. In fact, Diaz actually feels for "Rush's" plight, saying it must be tough to placate a fanbase that is always demanding more and more. It's quite the switch in attitudes for the Stockton slugger. Maybe Bryant just caught him on a good day. Indeed, Diaz was training with women's fighting sensation Ronda Rousey at the time. That would get anyone's spirits up, right? You can watch footage of the two rolling around on the mats after the jump.
Posted in: diaz, time, stockton slugger, knee injury, fact diaz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Primetime Episode 2 - Live Discussion
Join Bloody Elbow tonight for a LIVE discussion of the second episode of Primetime. It airs at 11:00 PM ET (dunno Pacific, you may get delayed) only on FX. If you miss the episode, there will be a replay next week on Fuel TV.
Though all the focus is being placed on UFC on Fox 2, there is a card next weekend headlined by a fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title. The story leading up is that both men were at one time slated to face Georges St. Pierre for his welterweight belt but due to unforeseen circumstances, neither fighter received their shot. For Diaz it was missing two major press obligations related to UFC 137. Diaz' loss was Condit's gain as he was placed in the main eventing role.
Unfortunately, St. Pierre went down with an injury and Condit was placed in a hold pattern. Due to Diaz' amazing showing at 137 he was again given a shot at St. Pierre's belt only to have it snatched away again when GSP suffered a major knee injury. Because they can't have the belt on hold for over a year, the UFC has decided to bring back the interim belt.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: ufc, diaz, belt, st, episode
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowReminder: 'UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit' returns tonight on FX
As a reminder, "UFC Primetime" returns tonight in anticipation of UFC 143's highly anticipated interim championship main event.
former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz and former WEC
titleholder Carlos Condit, who headline February's
UFC 143 event.
Episode No. 2 of the series debuts tonight at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on FX. The final episode airs next week.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, condit, episode airs
Read the full article at MMA JunkiePart 2 of ‘UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit’ Premieres Tonight on FX
Part 2 of "UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit" airs Friday night on FX at 11 p.m. Eastern and continues to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the fighters' camps.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, primetime
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 143 'Primetime' episode two on FX discussion thread for 'Diaz vs Condit'
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Primetime" preview for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," a three-part series featuring a behind-the-scenes look as former Strikeforce welterweight Champion Nick Diaz prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the Interim title on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Episode two premieres TONIGHT (Fri., Jan. 27) at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel. Episode three of "UFC Primetime" airs Feb. 3 and if you missed the first installment, click here to watch it in its entirety.
"Diaz vs. Condit" was booked after UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre suffered a devastating knee injury, one that was severe enough to require surgery and several months of rehab.
His ACL tear marked the second time St. Pierre has been forced to withdraw from a headlining title defense against Diaz, which will no doubt do little to convince the fiery Stockton slugger that he ain't "scared."
"Rush" pulled out of their UFC 137 main event back in October after spraining his medial collateral ligament (MCL). It was not torn and St. Pierre was quickly re-booked to face Diaz, who bumped Carlos Condit from the number one contender spot after retiring B.J. Penn back on Oct. 29.
Now both Condit and Diaz get the opportunity they've wanted since day one: To fight for the UFC welterweight title. In fact, PPV buys notwithstanding, this 170-pound war could meet and perhaps even exceed the fireworks expected in the original billing.
Time will tell.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. See the current fight card and rumors here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, knee injury
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRonda Rousey: Georges St. Pierre needs to step aside and let Nick Diaz kick his ass
I get the feeling Strikeforce female fighting sensation Ronda Rousey is a fan of the 209.
The "Rowdy" one, who battles Miesha Tate for the 135-pound title on March 3, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio, told the gang at Best of MMA in their Nov. 2011 interview (via MMA.tv) that winning is not enough, you also have to be entertaining.
You know, like Nick Diaz.
"It's not the Olympics. It's not about just coming home and bringing home a medal, and just having hardware and getting the win. It's about pulling more fans in, and being entertaining. I think that fighters that just try to win by points and come away with a win are actually bad for the sport. If you never saw MMA before, and you walked in and you saw GSP and Koscheck, and all this jabbing out the whole time, it looks like a boring boxing match. And I don't think you gain any fans with a fight like that. And so I really hope that Nick Diaz beats the crap out of him, because Nick Diaz is entertaining, and he's an entertaining character in general. He might not be popular but I mean I can't help but watch every video he puts out on YouTube. I think it's funny as hell. And every single one of his fights is a brawl. It's not like a pitter-pat match where afterwards he goes 'Were friends, were all friends, buy Gatorade and let's go home.' I think that's boring. GSP was good for the sport for a while. He brought in some big sponsors like Gatorade and UnderArmor. But I think he's done everything he can in a positive way and he needs to step aside and let Nick Diaz kick his ass."
St. Pierre is currently on the sidelines rehabbing a bum knee; however, he is expected to face the winner of Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit, who fight at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas for the Interim strap.
Hear more from Rousey after the jump.
GSP talk starts at the 3:45 mark.
How about it Maniacs, anyone think she makes a fair point?
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, gsp, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit: “I’m a more technical fighter than Diaz.”
While this weekend’s event on FOX is certainly deserving of attention, the reality is the match-up UFC fans are truly thirsting for will take place on Super Bowl Weekend when Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz duke it out at UFC 143 for the right to be called an interim champion. While the trash-talk has been minimal between the two welterweights during the build up to their bout based on mutual respect, that’s not to say each man isn’t supremely sure of himself when it comes to exiting the Octagon with a victory on February 4.
Diaz and Condit spoke about their upcoming fight in an extended preview for the PPV where the “Natural Born Killer” made it clear he feels he has an advantage over Diaz in all areas, especially when it comes to striking.
“I feel like I’m a more technical fighter than Diaz,” Condit explained when asked about how he compared to the former Strikeforce title-holder. “I have more weapons in my arsenal. I just bring some different stuff to the table.”
“He can take a good shot but can he take knees? Is he going to be able to take elbows? It’s a different when it’s a shin across your face,” he continued.
Getting word of Condit’s statements, Diaz replied, “That’s a nice thought, right? Go out there and throw some kicks and some elbows, some knees, and win the fight. Can you get that stuff off when you’re running backwards?”
While the outcome may be in question there’s no doubt Condit-Diaz should deliver a “Fight of the Year” candidate when they clash in the cage. Condit has finished 26 of the 27 opponents he’s beaten while Diaz has racked up stoppages in 21 of 26 total victories.
Check out the complete preview below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, “ i, condit, “ fight
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCheck out this Metal Mulisha Nick Diaz UFC 143 Training Video
[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div]
Following up on our first look at the Metal Mulisha Nick Diaz UFC 143 walkout shirt, here’s some behind the scenes footage of Diaz rocking his new signature tee during pre-fight training in the days leading up to his match against Carlos Condit. Step inside the gym with Nick and crew and get a good look at the new “Diaz Blades” T-shirt, while hearing what the Stockton, California fighter has to say about his upcoming interim UFC welterweight title match with Condit.
Read More and Watch the Video
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, diaz rocking, signature tee
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 143 ‘Diaz vs. Condit’ In-Depth Preview
UFC 143 “Diaz vs. Condit” takes place on Saturday, February 4, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live on pay-per-view at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The official UFC 143 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertLightweight Miller to face Nate Diaz on UFC on Fox
Lightweight Jim Miller, coming off a submission win over Melvin (The Young Assassin) Guillard, will face Nate Diaz next.
Posted in: diaz, miller, nate diaz, jim miller, assassin guillard
Read the full article at sportsnet.caJim Miller vs. Nate Diaz set for UFC on FOX 3 in May
UFC President Dana White has officially confirmed on Twitter that Jim Miller's next fight will take place on May 5th, against no other than Nate Diaz. The fight will be featured on the main card of UFC on FOX 3, which will take place at the IZOD Center, the very same arena that hosted Fedor Emelianenko's fight with Antonio Silva, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Diaz vs. Miller could easily serve as the #1 contender fight in the UFC Lightweight division, since both fighters are fresh off impressive
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nate diaz, jim millers
Read the full article at Low KickNate Diaz vs. Jim Miller matched at third UFC on FOX event
With UFC on FOX 2 this weekend, the organization felt now would be the perfect time to announce the third event on the network along with the first fight on the card. In what is sure to be a fan-pleasing scrap, lightweights Jim Miller and Nate Diaz are set to throw down on May 5 when the octagon invades the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The bout, along with the date and venue, were announced by UFC president Dana White on his Twitter account.
Miller was just in action this past Friday when he submitted Melvin Guillard in the main event of the first ever UFC on FX show. The win got Miller back on track after he dropped a unanimous decision to current top lightweight contender Ben Henderson last August. The New Jersey native has won eight of his last nine bouts, which includes victories over Charles Oliveira, Mark Bocek, Gleison Tibau, Josh Neer, and Mac Danzig. Miller has only lost three times in 24 professional bouts, all by way of decision.
After struggling in the UFC welterweight division, Diaz dropped back down to 155 this past September and turned in one of the best performances of his career, submitting Takanori Gomi in the first round of their UFC 135 contest. The younger Diaz brother followed that up with a unanimous decision win over Donald Cerrone in a war that earned the pair Fight of the Night honors, which was his eighth event bonus in 14 UFC bouts.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bout, event, miller
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNate Diaz draws Jim Miller in May at UFC on FOX 3
The ink has hardly dried on Jim Miller’s Submission of the Night check from last Friday night’s UFC on FX event and yet it appears the 28-year old already has his next opponent lined up in the form of Nate Diaz, himself no stranger to bringing home performance-based bonuses. The match-up was revealed by Dana White through Twitter where he also revealed Miller’s pot would be sweetened by the opportunity to compete in front of his hometown fans as part of a UFC on FOX 3 card set for May 5 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Miller, who choked out Melvin Guillard to earn his submission award, has won eight of his last nine fights with the only exception being a decision to current top contender Ben Henderson. Over that period the 21-3 grappler has racked up victories over a number of tough adversaries such as Mac Danzig, Gleison Tibau, and Duane Ludwig.
Triumphant Miller Reflects on Choking Out Guillard
However, Diaz will enter the Octagon with a ton of momentum after beating Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone in back-to-back bouts. He has also found success against a slew of savvy scrappers including Guillard, Kurt Pellegrino, and Josh Neer.
While the two are not expected to headline UFC on FOX 3 the result from their tilt could very well be the evening’s Fight of the Night given their respective skill-sets and overall toughness. Out of 46 combined contests, Diaz is the only one of the two to have ever been finished (a single time five years ago) while Miller-Diaz have dished out 28 finishes of their own.
More match-ups are expected to be revealed in the comings days/weeks.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, diaz, miller, nate diaz, night check
Read the full article at Fighters.com102 Days Out: Nathan Diaz Vs Jim Miller Booked For UFC On FOX 3
Dana White took to Twitter Tuesday evening to announce that a fight between lightweights Jim Miller and Nathan Diaz had been finalized for May 5th in New Jersey. The event will be the third UFC on FOX production. The fight between Diaz and Miller will not be the main event. Miller is 10-2 in the UFC while Diaz has a record of 8-3 at lightweight in the promotion.
The two men round out first ten picked to appear on Fox cards. They join:
Junior Dos SantosCain VelasquezRashad EvansPhil DavisChael SonnenMichael BispingDemian MaiaChris Weidman*
*injury replacement for Mark Munoz.
Nathan Diaz is the 13th ranked fighter in the division. He is a Graciefighter.Jim Miller is the seventh ranked fighter in the division. He fights for AMA fight club.
We will have more on the match up as it nears.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, fox, miller
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendNate Diaz vs. Jim Miller Set for UFC on Fox 3 on May 5
Filed under: UFCA lightweight fight that could earn the winner a shot at the championship has been added to the May 5 UFC on Fox event in New Jersey.
UFC President Dana White announced that Nate Diaz will fight Jim Miller on that fight card, making it the first fight announced for the main card to be shown on the Fox network.
Miller is coming off a very impressive first-round submission win over Melvin Guillard in the main event of Friday night's UFC on FX show. The UFC was clearly eager to get Miller back inside the Octagon quickly after that. Diaz is on a two-fight winning streak, having beaten Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone in back-to-back fights since moving back down to lightweight after previously fighting at welterweight.
The winner of the Diaz-Miller fight will have a very good case to make that he deserves to be the No. 1 contender in the lightweight division. Diaz and Miller are two of the best 155-pounders who haven't yet received a shot at the lightweight title.
UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will face Ben Henderson in February at UFC 144, but beyond that the UFC lightweight title picture is murky. None of the top lightweight title contenders are riding winning streaks of longer than a couple of fights, so whoever wins between Diaz and Miller may be next in line. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, miller
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143 video preview for 'Diaz vs Condit' on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas (Extended)
Here's the official extended video preview for the UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" event, which is set to take place on Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The annual Super Bowl Saturday fight card features a welterweight championship fight -- even if it's just an interim title -- pitting former Strikeforce king Nick Diaz against former WEC ruler Carlos Condit.
Winner gets a belt and a promise to unify it with the strap Georges St. Pierre is still carrying around. And if it's Diaz, the fight could happen as soon as this summer, according to UFC President Dana White. That flies in the face of "Rush's" November timeline but whatever.
Also on tap for Feb. 4 is a 170-pound bout between former title contender Josh Koscheck and rising prospect Mike Pierce.
For all the latest news and notes on UFC 143 click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, las vegas, video preview, feb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz Vs. Jim Miller Announced For UFC On Fox 3
UFC president Dana White tweeted tonight that lightweights Nate Diaz and Jim Miller will meet at the May 5th UFC on Fox 3 card at New Jersey's Izod Center. The fight will likely be a #1 contenders match for the UFC lightweight division.
Miller is coming off a big submission win over Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX this past Saturday. Diaz took a decision over Donald Cerrone at UFC 141.
@danawhiteDana White Our 3rd FOX fight May 5th at the IZOD Center in New Jersey will feature Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller!!! Nate = 3 sub and 5 FON Jim = 3 SON!! Jan 25 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
Jim Miller (21-3, 10-2 UFC)
W Melvin Guillard UFC on FX 1 SubmissionL Ben Henderson UFC on Versus 5 DecisionW Kamal Shalorus UFC 128 TKO
Nate Diaz (15-7, 10-5 UFC)W Donald Cerrone UFC 141 DecisionW Takanori Gomi UFC 135 SubmissionL Rory MacDonald UFC 129 Decision
Posted in: ufc, diaz, miller, nate, jim
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowHow to win against Nick Diaz
I know this might stir up a shitstorm but whatever. I was chatting with a friend earlier today what the best gameplan would be for Condit to beat Diaz. Not discounting Condit's natural talents at all, but trying to highlight Diaz's weaknesses, the fight plan went pretty much something like this: Leg kicks and more leg kicks, circle back and away, use jabs to keep distance and kick Nick's right leg (his lead leg) mercilessly whenever given the opportunity. Do not get sucked into his taunting and play his game. Circle back and away, then punish his legs whenever possible. If it goes to the ground and he ends up in Nick's guard, just defend until the ref stands you back up. Sorry, crowds hate this 'lay n pray' shit, but it's all about getting the W. Once Nick's leg is sufficiently pulverized after a few rounds, he won't have a strong base to throw punches from and though he doesn't really do it as often these days, he'll probably try to go for takedowns. Hopefully he'll be broken down enough that his takedowns can be stuffed. Then Condit can turn on the punches and start using his own solid talents however he sees fit. Hopefully Condit can maintain sufficient stamina for the late rounds to deliver some punishment, as Nick's triathlete stamina is off the charts. If you're Diego Sanchez of course you could do something more like this: http://www.mmavideofights.net/3505/nick-diaz-diego-sanchez-video-ultimate-fighter-2-finale/ Upvote/downvote/whatever... just curious to see what other redditors think are the biggest weaknesses in Diaz's fight game and how best to capitalize on them. I should say, I'm a big Diaz fan and want him to win so it'll be a direct path to a fight with GSP next fall when GSP is fully healed up. I'll fly to Vegas for that, was going to be in Vegas this Feb 4th until I heard GSP got injured. tl;dr -- Leg kicks. submitted by tritiumpie [link] [54 comments]
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, leg, condit
Read the full article at RedditUFC 143: Feel Sorry For Nick Diaz
In the lead up to the first episode of UFC Primetime, Dana White continuously referred to Nick Diaz as an "intriguing, mysterious character". This really had me wondering what the footage could be that would compel Dana to make such a statement. I had never found anything about Diaz to be particularly intriguing or mysterious so I was very curious to see what prompted such comments from the boss.
When I saw the episode, "intriguing and mysterious" were not the adjectives that came to my mind to describe Nick Diaz. The words I thought of were "petulant" and "immature".
He doesn't like the pretentiousness of what he has to do in the media and he would rather not do it.
- Cesar Gracie
This is absolute garbage. First off, you are a professional fighter who earns a hefty paycheck for your services and talents. Mixed Martial Arts is a sport but it is also a business. If you want to earn the money you say you deserve, then you have to play the game and part of the game is to talk to the media and sell yourself and the fight to the public. You cannot have it both ways. Not even the endlessly irritable and reclusive Brock Lesnar got to play that diva stuff and he was a bigger draw in this business than Nick Diaz has ever been and likely will ever be. Brock did the media he was required to do and therefore earned his paycheck by fulfilling his obligations.
Imagine what would happen to you if you walked into your place of employment and told your boss, "I don't want to have to perform these required tasks in my job because I find it to be beneath me. I just don't like it so I won't be doing it and if you force me to do it, I will conduct myself in an incredibly unprofessional manner." Rest assured that your tenure will be very short lived from that point forward. If Nick wants the paycheck, he needs to do the job. He is not entitled to anything that other top tier fighters don't get. He hasn't earned it and if he was a top tier professional, he wouldn't ask for it or expect it.
It's kinda hard to come off respectable when you are dealing with fighting.
- Nick Diaz
What a ridiculous cop out. The vast majority of mixed marital artists are incredibly respectful of the sport and their opponents. Respect is one of the major things that is learned from martial arts and if Nick cannot be respectful, he hasn't learned a damn thing from his training. That is, if things like respect and honor are being taught to him. To act like you can't be respectful of your opponent because you two are going to fight is so pathetic.
It was just no fittin in anywhere. What happened was you know, I'd end up in these confrontations all the time because I was gonna fight with this kid and all is his friends were all like, "hey, you're gonna fight with this guy, you know, you're gonna fight Justin" and I'd be like, "hey, f*** you!" you know what I mean? Cause they think it's funny or they're talking sh** or some of them will come up and be like, "hey you're gonna fight Justin he's gonna whoop your ass" and I'd be like "hey, f*** you I'm gonna whoop your ass"....................high school was, high school was hard times.
- Nick Diaz
Wow. Nothing more intriguing and mysterious than a grown man whining about how high school was difficult for him, amirite? I've got news for Nick Diaz. No one had an easy time growing up. Even in the most ideal of situations growing up is very difficult. Life throws a lot of tough questions, curveballs and situations your way and dealing with those and improving yourself as a person either through them or in spite of them is all part of growing up. This performance that Nick is putting on about how he conducts himself the way he does because his life was so allegedly difficult is incredibly hollow and really shows his immaturity. No one had an easy childhood. We all got picked on, in fights and harassed by our peers. Nothing about that makes you special and nothing about that is a viable excuse for the way you conduct yourself in your adult life. Maybe the problem is that Nick Diaz has never grown up. His second grade teacher even expressed how he was "exactly the same" now as he was then. That is an incredibly sad and damning statement about Nick. If someone says you are exactly the same at 28 that you were at 7, there are a lot of problems there.
There could be other contributing factors to the way Nick Diaz acts. Maybe it is the environment in which he trains and the people he surrounds himself with. Perhaps there is a mental disorder that needs to be diagnosed and treated. If the contributing factors, whatever they may be, are not addressed it could be a disaster for not only his career, but his life as well. He has already cost himself a huge payday and a shot at the most prestigious title in his potential fight against Georges St. Pierre by no-showing two consecutive media obligations. Hopefully for him, agreeing to do the Primetime show is a step in the right direction.
I know the past was tough and growing up was difficult. I know you think you are above respecting your opponents and fulfilling the obligations of your chosen profession but do us all a favor Nick Diaz and suck it up. The rest of us in the work world do it and there is no reason you can't either. You are not special and you are not entitled to any kind of preferential treatment or free ride through life. It's time to drop the excuses and facade and be a grown up.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, life
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendNick Diaz thinks he is the most well rounded fighter in the world, Carlos Condit is better than Georges St. Pierre (Video)
"I think I'm the most well rounded fighter in the world. I deserve a spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. And that's what I'm fighting for.... This is my lifestyle, this is what I do. I'm going to be ready to fight Carlos Condit -- he's the best fighter out there. He's winning his fights, he looks good. He's beat everybody, he fights better than everybody. In my eyes, he's better than Georges St. Pierre.... I respect his style of fighting.... I just try and keep it real -- I'm not going to put a fake on you, out on a show and pretend I'm someone I'm not. I have no idea when it comes anything else. I just fight."
UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" is the next major mixed martial arts (MMA) pay-per-view (PPV) event to be held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on Feb. 4, 2012 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
Georges St. Pierre was originally scheduled to defend his welterweight championship against Nick Diaz in the main event. However, on Dec. 7, 2011, it was revealed "Rush" had suffered an ACL injury that required surgery to repair, forcing him to withdraw from the bout.
Diaz will now face Carlos Condit with the winner receiving an interim title belt. It's a big time fight that Diaz declares is actually better than the original showdown with St. Pierre because, well, the "Natural Born Killer" is a better fighter.
Check out Diaz's full explanation, as well as his breakdown of Condit's strengths, in the video contained in the extended entry:
Anyone care to agree and/or disagree?
For everything you need to know about the fight between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit in the UFC 143 main event click here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, condit, he, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiego Sanchez on Nick Diaz: ‘If we ever fight again, I’d kick his ass again’
Back in 2005, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweights Diego Sanchez and Nick Diaz put on a memorable performance for the ages, headlining The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 2 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The two scrappy fighter's battled tooth-and-nail for three rounds, and in the end, the judges awarded Sanchez the unanimous decision victory, much to the disappointment of Diaz.
Diaz suffered back-to-back losses after that bout, but has since then gone a tear with a 15-1-1 record, solidifying himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division by capturing the 170-pound Strikeforce title before vacating it to rejoin the UFC ranks.
Sanchez, on the other hand, remained with the UFC, bouncing around the lightweight and welterweight divisions, picking up a few "Fight of the Night" honors and losing a lightweight championship match against then 155-pound kingpin B.J. Penn along the way.
Six years later, now that both are competing once again in the UFC's welterweight division, what would happen if the two were booked to rematch in the Octagon?
"The Dream" tells OpposingViews.com that history would simply repeat itself.
Check it out:
"Man, everybody out there, straight up, I don't like to hear this crap about Nick Diaz. I'm hearing this stuff on Sherdog, 'Oh Diego Sanchez and Nick Diaz...gotta pick Nick Diaz, that was a long time ago and he's gotten so much better.' You know what man, we've all gotten better. Styles make fights! I'm still a guy that's gonna take down Nick Diaz, I'm still a guy that's gonna push the pace on Nick Diaz, I'm still the guy that's tough enough to take Nick Diaz's little pitter-patter punches. Styles make fights. Nick Diaz has this grappling that's on point and so do I. We get back in there again, I'm going to kick his ass again."
Before the rematch ever even has the possibility of going down, both have dangerous upcoming opponents they have to worry about.
The Stockton slugger will headline UFC 143 on Super Bowl weekend (Feb. 5, 2012) opposite Sanchez's training partner, Carlos Condit, for the interim welterweight title, while Sanchez will face a "Juggernaut" in Jake Ellenberger at UFC on Fuel TV 1 just 10 days later.
A win for both Sanchez and Diaz could inch them closer to a possible rematch down the road. Then again, a loss for both could accomplish the same objective, too.
Now that's a real dream.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, sanchez, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143: Nick Diaz, epic background music and scary-looking tee shirts (Video)
In other words, just another day at the gym for Nick Diaz.
The fiery Stockton slugger will headline UFC 143 opposite Carlos Condit at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 4, 2012, with the winner earning the right to take on division kingpin, Georges St. Pierre, who is recovering from knee surgery, sometime in the near future.
Perhaps this summer?
Time will tell. In the meantime, you can get up to speed on all the news and notes for UFC 143 "Diaz vs. Condit" by checking out our extensive event archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, carlos condit, knee surgery
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz Highlight - "Hey Nick, Nice Shot..."
submitted by bluntmanchronic [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, shot, bluntmanchronic
Read the full article at RedditJosh Neer talks win over Duane Ludwig, training with the Diaz Brothers
One of the most underrated finishers in MMA is Josh Neer, a fan-favorite amongst the hardcore group of enthusiasts who picked up a win this past Friday night at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller after choking out Duane Ludwig in the opening round of their bout. The submission was the twelfth of the 33-10-1 Neer’s career. It was also the 29th time he’d finished a foe including his last nine wins.
Neer’s propensity for putting opponents away stems from his forward-first approach to fighting, an attitude kicked into high gear based on a sense of urgency after suffering a cut in the early stages of his match-up with Ludwig.
“I knew when I was on top and I’d seen the blood start to trickle down, I didn’t know how bad my cut was and I was just like, ‘Oh, I’ve gotta finish this quick,’ so he kind of scrambled, I saw his neck and just jumped to the Guillotine,” Neer explained to UFC cameras shortly after the win. “He’s definitely the hardest puncher I’ve ever fought.”
The 28-year old, currently on a six-fight winning streak, also provided a little insight on having spent some time with similarly-programmed fighters Nick Diaz and Nate Diaz while preparing for the bout.
Check out the video below:
Posted in: diaz, neer, ludwig, duane ludwig, bout check
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainIt's time to watch UFC Primetime: Diaz Vs. Condit
There is nothing I want to do more than watch Diaz Vs. Condit on Xbox Live. Fights like these only come around four, maybe five times a year. You know, fights that are 100% guaranteed to leave you satisfied and tired afterwords, throat burning from screaming at the TV. But I can't watch Diaz Vs. Condit on Xbox Live. You know why? My Xbox broke, and when I got my new unit I had to enter in my Windows Live ID, which I created 6 years ago and forgot about. Well, eventually I figured out my lost Windows email but then I forgot my ancient password. No biggie though right? I'll just reset my password and be on my way. Wrong. Dead wrong. Every time I try to reset my password I'm met with this: "There is a temporary problem with this service please try again later'. I've tried different browsers, computers, cleared my cache. I flew to San Francisco and tried to reset my password on a computer there. I even had Dave Walsh of LiverKick.com fame try to reset it for me in New Mexico to no avail. Nothing will ever get me my Xbox Gamertag back and all I want to do is play Halo and watch UFC. This has been going on for a month. Please, [insert religious figure/Obi Wan] help me. You're my only hope.
Now this UFC Primetime: Diaz Vs. Condit is out and it's so awesome that I feel mocked. Hopefully I can get this mess sorted out in the next few weeks or I don't know what I will do.
[Source]
Posted in: diaz, vs, condit, password, reset
Read the full article at Middle EasyDana White: Nick Diaz vs Georges St. Pierre could happen this summer
Embrace the hate, y'all.
Apparently that's what UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre has done while he's been on the sidelines rehabbing his torn up knee. And it's helping the process along nicely, according to UFC President Dana White.
If he keeps going like he's going, White believes it's entirely possible the 170-pound king can "Rush" back into action this summer, far sooner than the target return date of November St. Pierre pegged recently on an episode of Inside MMA.
As White explains to Ariel Helwani, the French-Canadian is motivated by the extreme hate he feels for Nick Diaz. And he's praying every night that he beats Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"GSP's rehab could not be going better. I kid you not, he texts me every day. Tonight during the fight, he was texting me pictures of him kicking, of him doing things. He says, 'I am praying every night when I go to bed that Nick Diaz wins this fight.' I have never seen Georges St. Pierre hate somebody. He hates Nick Diaz. I've never seen him hate somebody. I've never seen him so motivated to fight somebody and to beat somebody as he is Nick Diaz. He's ahead of schedule now, being the freak of nature that he is and the hard worker and dedicated athlete that he is, I think he's going to be back sooner than doctors anticipated. (Perhaps the summer time), yes."
So if everything works out over the winter, we could be looking at Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem for the heavyweight championship, Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva for the middleweight crown and Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre to unify the welterweight titles.
Let's not be hasty, though.
St. Pierre's knee injury was such that if he returns sooner than he should and something goes wrong, the results could be disastrous. Career-ending, even. Is that really worth the risk?
Then again, he really is a freak of nature and maybe it will all work out in the end. Or maybe Carlos Condit will defeat Diaz and none of this will matter come Feb. 5.
Stay tuned, Maniacs.
Posted in: diaz, nick, pierre, st, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 'Primetime' video for 'Diaz vs Condit' (Episode one)
In cased you missed any or all of it last night (Jan. 20, 2012), here is the first of three episodes of the "all access" behind-the-scenes look at the UFC 143 main event between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and FX collaborated for the latest "Primetime" series, which follows former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz as he prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the interim title on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Episodes two and three of UFC 143 "Primetime" air Jan. 27 and Feb. 3, respectively, also on FX. Get up to speed on the reaction to episode one of UFC 143 "Primetime" click here.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" fight card and rumors click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, primetime
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On FX Video: Dana White Talks Silva/Sonnen II, GSP Rehab, New Mecca Of MMA
Following UFC On FX, MMA Fighting reporter Ariel Helwani chatted with UFC President Dana White on a variety of topics including Jim Miller's title aspirations, the UFC On Fox changes, the rehab of Georges St. Pierre and more.
A few highlights:
White said he "couldn't be happier" with how things are going right now.
White wishes Melvin Guillard would "take things seriously".
White has a "100% guarantee" that if Sonnen wins, he will fight Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva this summer, likely in Brazil. Helwani asked White if a Bisping win might make him reconsider moving a Silva/Bisping battle to England.
White said that Brazil has surpassed Canada as the "new mecca of mixed martial arts."
He talked about why Phil Davis isn't necessarily the No. 1 contender to Jon Jones if he defeats Rashad Evans and who would get the shot if Evans wins but gets hurt.
White discussed UFC Primetime: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit and the "intriguing, mysterious" character that is Diaz.
White gave an update on St. Pierre's incredible rehab and his "hate" for Diaz.
He talked about his frustrations with coverage about the Montreal situation, including a bizarre comment about the event in Atlanta not being guaranteed either.
Watch the 10-minute video after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC on FX
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fx, rehab, brazil helwani
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White: GSP Hates Nick Diaz, Will Be Ready to Fight Him by Summer
Filed under: UFC, NewsNick Diaz will fight Carlos Condit for the UFC interim welterweight championship on February 4. But what happens to the interim champ after that? UFC President Dana White says he expects the interim champion to fight the reigning champion Georges St. Pierre sooner rather than later.
After UFC on FX 1 on Friday night, White told Ariel Helwani that St. Pierre is in better shape following surgery to repair a torn ACL than doctors expected, and that St. Pierre is already working out and getting himself prepared for a welterweight title unification fight in the summer. That's a more optimistic timeline than previously reported: St. Pierre had indicated he didn't think he'd be able to return to the Octagon until the fall.
"GSP's rehab could not be going better," White said. "He was texting me pictures of him kicking, doing everything. ... I think he's going to be back sooner than doctors anticipated."
So it sounds like the Condit-Diaz winner will take on St. Pierre next, rather than defend the interim title while St. Pierre continues to rehabilitate. And while St. Pierre has no control over which man he fights next, White said St. Pierre is hoping it's Diaz.
"He says, 'I am praying every night when I go to bed that Nick Diaz wins this fight,'" White said. "I have never seen Georges St. Pierre hate somebody. He hates Nick Diaz. I've never seen him so motivated to fight somebody and to beat somebody like Nick Diaz." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, pierre, st, st pierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on FX: What's Next For Jim Miller? Florian Touts Barboza; Is Nate Diaz A Better Match?
Jim Miller was on point tonight, displaying everything that we have come to expect from him: Chin, Heart and Jits. Joe Lauzon rocked Melvin Guillard before he choked him out; Jim Miller got rocked by Melvin, then choked him out. Ben Henderson or Frankie Edgar might be a task too tall for Miller but he is a perfect guardian to the door leading to the title.
Nathan Diaz was on point over the holidays, bringing the classic Diaz mind games to Donald Cerrone; enticing the Cowboy to play the roll of the bull, Diaz played the matador, sticking him relentlessly with 258 arm strikes. Since his return to the lightweight division, he has put together two wins and is the second highest ranked fighter currently on a win streak of two or more (Gleison Tibau has won 3 straight, but is a notch lower on the consensus rankings).
During the UFC post fight breakdown on FX, Kenny Florian & Jon Anik expressed a desire to see Jim Miller and Edson Barboza, with the reasoning being that the fight would be guaranteed excitement for the fans.
Jon Anik: Who would you like to see next for Jim Miller at a buck 55?Kenny Florian: I'd love to see him go against Edson Barboza. I think that's an exciting fight, between Edson Barboza, who really has catapulted himself especially with that amazing knockout win and Jim Miller, this just wasn't a win over a top guy in Melvin Guillard, it was a submission win, very impressive win that shows how tough this guy is and I think that'd be a great fight for the fans. Without a doubt.
I'm not so sure. Miller is easily the most adept wrestler Barboza will have ever faced. His last two fights were at home, in Brazil, against fighters who just aren't close to Miller's level. Barboza is a spectacular talent but then again so was Charles Oliveira, whom Miller kneebarred in under two minutes when they met at UFC 124. Tony Ferguson has three wins and is an Ultimate Fighter winner. Barboza can headline a Fuel show with him, build some recognition on American soil.
Miller deserves to fight a big time fighter, not an up and comer. Nate Diaz is exactly that. No one on the winning side of the ledger at lightweight is ranked higher than Nate Diaz and available to fight; Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon are fighting, Clay Guida, Cerrone and Gray Maynard are coming off losses and after tonight there is Miller, who just skipped over Nate as the highest ranked fighter coming off a win that is free.
I can't really see a reason why they wouldn't fight. Miller can't really get a title shot against Henderson and even Frankie Edgar has already beaten him so he's definitely out of the question to fight the champion next. Why not use him in a classic no lose situation: If Nathan can't beat Jim Miller, he won't have anything for either of the two men fighting for the title in Japan. On the other hand, if he does beat him in classic exciting Diaz fashion, the hype around Diaz as a legitimate title contender would only heighten.
For more on the fights, check out:
SBN coverage of UFC on FX
Posted in: fight, diaz, miller, jim, jim miller
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendNick Diaz has an important question for his iPhone 4s..
submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, question, tekprodfx
Read the full article at RedditUFC goes 3D for 143
The UFC announced that it will be showing UFC 143 in 3D in movie theatres. The main event Super Bowl Weekend has Nick Diaz battling Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight title.
Via UFC press release:
Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship®, in conjunction with Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. (NASDAQ: CIDM) and NCM Fathom, announced that tickets for the first-ever live, 3-D broadcast of a UFC® Pay-Per-View event on the Big Screen are on sale now. The championship fight card,UFC® 143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT, airs live and in 3-D in more than 100 theatres nationwide on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The night’s main event pits the fiery and unpredictable Nick Diaz against hard-hitting knockout artist Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title. An exciting co-main event features heavyweight Roy “Big Country” Nelson battling submission ace Fabricio Werdum.
Tickets for UFC® 143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT are available for purchase now at www.ufc.com/3D, as well as at theatre box offices across the country. Fans can visit the website for information on which theatres will be carrying the event in their respective regions.
“I know the fans love 3-D, so I’m happy to give them this championship fight live and in 3-D in theaters across the country,” UFC President Dana White said. “I cannot wait for this fight between Diaz and Condit to determine the interim UFC welterweight champion!”
Payout Perspective:
This will be an interesting experiment to see if the 3D concept will catch on with MMA. Last year, the UFC and Cindegim announced this partnership. The UFC first tried 3D with UFC on Versus 3. Depending on the price of the tickets, this could be a successful experiment and another option from having to pay $50 plus for a PPV. But, I don’t recall past attempts for movie theatre live events doing well. It would have been nice to have had bigger names on top of the card as this could draw more interested fans to this event.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, condit, theatre
Read the full article at MMA PayoutProgramming reminder: UFC 143 'Primetime' premiers TONIGHT (Jan. 20) on FX
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Primetime" preview for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," a three-part series featuring a behind-the-scenes look as former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the Interim title on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Episode one premieres TONIGHT (Fri., Jan. 20) at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel. Episodes two and three of "UFC Primetime" air Jan. 27 and Feb. 3, respectively.
"Diaz vs. Condit" was booked after UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre suffered a devastating knee injury, one that was severe enough to require surgery and several months of rehab.
His ACL tear marked the second time St. Pierre has been forced to withdraw from a headlining title defense against Diaz, which will no doubt do little to convince the fiery Stockton slugger that he ain't "scared."
"Rush" pulled out of their UFC 137 main event back in October after spraining his medial collateral ligament (MCL). It was not torn and St. Pierre was quickly re-booked to face Diaz, who bumped Carlos Condit from the number one contender spot after retiring B.J. Penn back on Oct. 29.
Now both Condit and Diaz get the opportunity they've wanted since day one: To fight for the UFC welterweight title. In fact, PPV buys notwithstanding, this 170-pound war could meet and perhaps even exceed the fireworks expected in the original billing.
Time will tell.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. See the current fight card and rumors here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, welterweight, condit, primetime preview
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz opens up
submitted by zxcvbn33 [link] [comment]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, zxcvbn
Read the full article at RedditUFC 143
UFC 143: Super Bowl Weekend - Diaz vs. Condit
Date: February 4, 2012
Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Articles
Video
Main Card (on Pay-Per-View):
-Nick Diaz (26-7; #3 Welterweight) vs. Carlos Condit (27-5; #4 Welterweight)
-Roy Nelson (16-6) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1; #7 Heavyweight)
-Josh Koscheck (16-5; #6 Welterweight) vs. Mike Pierce (13-4)
-Renan Barao (17-1) vs. Scott Jorgensen (13-4)
-Ed Herman [...]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, welterweight, condit
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 143 video trailer for 'Diaz vs Condit' on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas (Extended)
Here's the official extended video trailer for the UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" event, which is set to take place on Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring Nick Diaz taking on Carlos Condit.
And the marketing tactic used is a rather interesting one:
"For the first time in three years, the UFC welterweight division will have a new champion."
Kind of. Georges St. Pierre is still the champion but because he's laid up until later this year (maybe November), the UFC felt the need to create an interim title for Diaz and Condit to fight over.
So, technically, there will be a new champion in the welterweight division. But it's essentially a 12-pound piece of tin, like Chael Sonnen loves to say, because it wasn't earned by going through St. Pierre.
Nonetheless, we're just over two weeks away from the big show, Maniacs. For all the latest news and notes on UFC 143 click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, las vegas, condit, show maniacs
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 ‘Diaz vs. Condit’ Extended Trailer
UFC 143 “Diaz vs. Condit” takes place on Saturday, February 4, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live on pay-per-view at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The official UFC 143 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGeorges St. Pierre Would Rather Fight Nick Diaz Than Carlos Condit
Georges St. Pierre knows who he wants to win when Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit square off for the interim welterweight championship at UFC 143. On last night’s episode of Inside MMA, GSP told Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten that he likes Condit better as a person, but when it comes down to who he wants to steps in the cage with when he returns from knee surgery, he wants Diaz. The reason is simple: Diaz’s trash talking has him motivated and believes it will bring out the best in him.
As for his return, he’s hoping to start “hard training” in July to get ready for a fight in November.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, kenny rice, welterweight championship, mma gsp
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 143 Video: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Trailer
"For the first time in three years, the UFC welterweight division will have a new champion."
With long time champ, Georges St. Pierre sidelined by injury, that's the angle they used on the latest promotional video released for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit:
The interim UFC welterweight championship is on the line at UFC 143 in Las Vegas, as the pride of Stockton, California, Nick Diaz, brings an 11 fight undefeated streak, a win over BJ Penn, and an attitude and style like no other into the Octagon for a showdown with "The Natural Born Killer," former WEC champion and exciting finisher Carlos Condit.
Check out the complete fight card after the jump.
Feb 4th, live on pay-per-view from Las Vegas, NV:
Main Card:
Nick Diaz (26-7, 1 NC) vs. Carlos Condit (27-5) [Interim WW Title]
Roy Nelson (16-6) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1)
Mike Pierce (13-4) vs. Josh Koscheck (16-5)
Renan Barao (27-1, 1 NC) vs. Scott Jorgensen (13-4)
Ed Herman (19-7) vs. Clifford Starks (8-0)
Preliminary Card:
Max Holloway (4-0) vs. Dustin Poirier (11-1)
Edwin Figueroa (8-1) vs. Alex Caceres (6-4)
Jorge Lopez (11-2) vs. Matt Riddle (5-3)
Rafael Natal (13-3-1) vs. Michael Kuiper (11-0)
Justin Edwards (7-2) vs. Mike Stumpf (11-3)
Matt Brown (12-11) vs. Chris Cope (5-2)
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, card, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGeorges St-Pierre Targeting November UFC Return, Wants to Fight Nick Diaz
UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is targeting a November return to the Octagon after recovering from a knee injury and surgery and hopes to fight Nick Diaz in his first fight back.
“Hard training will be in July, and fighting again I would say beginning of November,” St-Pierre said Monday on Inside MMA on HDNet. “Of course [I hope to fight this year]. Late October or the beginning of November would be good.”
St-Pierre hopes Diaz wins his clash with Carlos Condit next month at UFC 143 for the interim welterweight title because it would set up a bigger fight for his return and a matchup that was previously scheduled twice.
“The reason why I wish Nick Diaz to win that fight is because I want to fight Nick Diaz. I don’t want to fight Carlos Condit, I want to fight Nick Diaz. I just hope the best man will win, but if the best man is Nick Diaz I will appreciate it more because it will be a better build up for a fight.”
A November return would be more than 18 months after St-Pierre outpointed Jake Shields in his most-recent fight at UFC 129 this past April in front of a record crowd in Toronto, Canada for his 10th-straight win.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, november, stpierre
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyGeorges St. Pierre doesn’t expect to be ready until late 2012
If all goes as planned, UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre is positive he’ll be back inside the Octagon before 2012 is over with…but barely.
St. Pierre, who was scheduled to meet Nick Diaz on February 4 to defend his title, underwent knee surgery roughly five weeks ago after tearing his ACL while preparing for Diaz.
The injury, which has been the most severe of the 30-year old’s career, was kind of a Catch-22 situation as the Canadian was putting more pressure on his right left after injuring his left in training for a bout with Carlos Condit late in 2011. Now, Diaz and Condit will meet for the interim UFC welterweight title with the winner likely facing off with GSP later in the year after an initial defense of the belt.
“Hard training will be in July, and I am looking to fight again, for the timing to be back, in November,” said St. Pierre while serving as a recent guest on Inside MMA . “Late October, early November would be good.”
“Rush” mentioned that he didn’t take enough time to rehab himself from the first injury, adding, “I tried to come back too fast and I was compensating with my other leg. That’s how I hurt myself.”
As for the upcoming Diaz-Condit bout that will crown a champion in his place, St. Pierre started out neutral before offering up his personal preference, saying, “I just hope the best man will win. But if the best man is Nick Diaz, I will appreciate it more, because it will be a better build up for a fight.”
When St. Pierre returns it will have been around 18 months since he last set foot in the Octagon, a concern for many who felt he would be back by late summer after news of his knee injury first broke.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: diaz, pierre, st, “ i, st pierre
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGSP says he wants Diaz to win interim title
Even though Georges St-Pierre doesn't like Nick Diaz, he wants him to beat Carlos Condit and win the UFC interim welterweight title.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, title, gsp, carlos condit
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNick Diaz fights a homie in his house.
submitted by KissMeBeard [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, house, homie
Read the full article at RedditGSP Prefers to Fight Nick Diaz Over Carlos Condit
Filed under: UFC, NewsUFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre could be considered a Nick Diaz fan, at least for the next several weeks.
St-Pierre, who is currently rehabbing his right knee, says he prefers to see Diaz capture the interim title against Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Feb. 4.
"The reason why I wish Nick Diaz to win that fight is because I want to fight Nick Diaz," St-Pierre said Monday during a live studio appearance on HDNet's Inside MMA. "I don't want to fight Carlos Condit. I want to fight Nick Diaz. But in another way, I just hope the best man will win. But if the best man is Nick Diaz I will appreciate it more because it would be a better build up for the fight."
St-Pierre's absolutely correct. From a marketing perspective, a St-Pierre showdown against Diaz would be an easy sell. First, there's the backstory of St-Pierre being the UFC champion and Diaz being the former Strikeforce welterweight titleholder. And there's even more anticipation now that the fight has fallen through twice.
"That's the fight that had to happen in the beginning. It didn't happen," St- Pierre said. "At first he didn't show up for the promotion and after I got hurt and this whole thing happened. That's really the fight that I want to do."
They've never trained together, but St-Pierre has closer ties to Condit, having called Greg Jackson's gym his team before making the full-time move to the TriStar gym. And although St-Pierre thinks highly of Condit, St-Pierre's preference to see Diaz emerge the victor is strictly professional.
"Even though I like Carlos Condit better as a person," St-Pierre says. "I would rather fight Nick Diaz."
St-Pierre also believes he'll be in exceptional form for a fight against the trash-talking Diaz.
"I'm at my best when there's pressure on my shoulders," St-Pierre said. "I'm at my best when someone is picking on me."
St-Pierre underwent successful knee surgery in December and said Monday he is planning to return to hard training in July. St-Pierre told Inside MMA he's eyeing late October, early November for his return. Or at least one fight by the end of the year.
"I hope so, please," said St-Pierre, holding his hands in a prayer position. "Give it to me." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, condit, stpierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 143: Georges St. Pierre pulling for Nick Diaz to beat Carlos Condit on Feb. 4
On Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, Stockton slugger Nick Diaz will take on Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to determine who will hold the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim welterweight title belt. Whoever emerges victorious will not only own a new shiny accessory for their waist, but will also have a ticket to be the first to fight Georges St. Pierre when he returns from his ACL injury.
"GSP" is currently on the shelf for an indefinite amount of time because of surgery on his right knee, which will take significant time and grueling rehabilitation to fully recover.
Regardless of who wins the interim title bout at UFC 143, it makes for an interesting match up. St. Pierre was supposed to fight both men on separate occasions, all within the span of a few days. However, because of some missed press conferences by Diaz, and then an injury suffered by St. Pierre, neither fight ended up going down.
Tonight (Jan. 16, 2012), St. Pierre appeared on HDNet's "Inside MMA" to discuss his injury, as well as his feelings about "Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit." According to "Rush," he'd like to see Diaz come out on top:
"I do actually care. There are two guys that are fighting, Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit -- Carlos Condit is a very nice guy. I never trained with him but I have trained in Albuquerque along with some of his teammates, and he's a very nice guy. I like him a lot. But, the reason why I wish Nick Diaz to win this fight is that I want to fight Nick Diaz. I don't wanna fight Carlos Condit. I wanna fight Nick Diaz. But, in another way, I just hope the best man will win. But if the best man is Nick Diaz, I will appreciate it more, because it will be a better build up for a fight."
Regarding his injury, St. Pierre said that he feels like it was his own fault for possibly not listening to his body when he suffered a less painful injury to his left knee, sometime last year:
"One of the reasons why I got that injury is that I didn't do that (take enough time rehabbing). I didn't listen to myself. I had a first injury to my left knee. I tried to come back too fast and I was compensating with my other leg. That's how I hurt myself."
No champion wants to have his belt tossed around or his legacy tarnished by someone else walking around with the "interim" tag. For "GSP," the belt is irrelevant. It's just about winning the next fight:
"For me, I try to not think about the belt. When I'm going into a fight, when I fight the winner of that fight, I'm not thinking 'I'm the champion.' I'm thinking I'm gonna fight for the title. Because, if you lose, you're gonna lose the title, even if you had it before or not. That won't matter."
St. Pierre also spent a few minutes discussing some of the criticism he's taken during his career. Criticism that has gone so far as to label him as a "boring" or "safe" fighter. He acknowledges the naysayers and had a bit to say about what it's been like to be a champion under the magnifying glass:
"The thing is, when you defend the title and do it a few times, there is a routine that comes with it and people expect you to win. And they not only expect you to win, they expect you to do great. Sometimes, it can play on your mind. That's a little bit of what happened to me. I felt like I lost a little bit of motivation. That's the danger that can happen with champions sometimes."
At the end of the segment, St. Pierre reiterated just how much he is hoping for a Nick Diaz win at UFC 143. He likes Carlos Condit. He thinks he's a nice guy. But Diaz is, by far, the fight he desires:
"That's really the fight that I wanted to have and the fight was going to happen in the beginning. And it didn't happen, because he (Diaz) didn't show up for the promotion. Then after I got hurt and this whole thing happened and -- that's really the fight that I wanted to have happen. Even though I like Carlos Condit better as a person, I would rather fight Nick Diaz."
What do you think, Maniacs? Will "GSP" get his wish? Or will he find himself face-to-face with "The Natural Born Killer" next time he enters the Octagon?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, pierre, carlo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaPreview for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit made available for viewing
Welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit have held significant championships in the past before but neither has managed to procure a UFC belt. For one man that will change on February 4 when the two face off over an interim strap while 170-pound king Georges St. Pierre recovers from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his knee. If GSP suffers any sort of significant setback it’s likely the winner of Condit-Diaz will lose to label of “interim” and become the division’s lone title-holder.
With their headlining bout only a few weeks away the UFC has released a preview for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit where the “Natural Born Killer” frankly states, “It’s gonna be a dog fight.”
Other match-ups scheduled for the Las Vegas event include Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgenson and Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson, as well as in-ring appearances from Dustin Poirier, Ed Herman, and Josh Koscheck.
Check out the video below:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, division ’s
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 143 ‘Diaz vs. Condit’ Trailer
UFC 143 “Diaz vs. Condit” takes place on Saturday, February 4, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live on pay-per-view at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The official UFC 143 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC releases preview for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
After a PPV stop in Rio de Janeiro for UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, the UFC will return home to Las Vegas in early February for their annual Super Bowl Weekend event and a card headlined by welterweights Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz duking it out for the interim title. The winner of the bout will move on to face linear champion Georges St. Pierre at some point in 2012 once he recovers fully from recent knee surgery.
The UFC has now released a preview for the February 4 show where Condit sums it up nicely, saying, “It’s gonna be a dog fight.”
Diaz Believes he is Better than Condit in Every Area
Diaz has won his last eleven fights including a triumphant return to the Octagon in October where he picked apart BJ Penn to earn a clear-cut Unanimous Decision victory. He holds an overall record of 26-7 with twenty-one finishes including thirteen via TKO.
Comparably, the 27-5 Condit has come out with his hand raised in four straight scraps with a recent win over Dong Hyun Kim in addition to those over Dan Hardy, Rory MacDonald, and Jake Ellenberger. Amazingly he has stopped all but one of the opponents he’s beaten.
Check out the preview below:
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, preview, condit
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Video Trailer
The interim title will be up for grabs when top Welterweight contenders Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit go head to head in the UFC 143 headlining bout, set for February 4th from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, head, carlos condit
Read the full article at Low KickWatch Nick Diaz and Ronda Rousey completely dominate LayzieTheSavage in every aspect of grappling
LayzieTheSavage eats like his life doesn't depend on it. Nick Diaz and I have tried to get him to a low-carb, gluten-free diet but the allure of hamburgers is entirely too much for him. Last weekend at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, I chose to dive into LayzieTheSavage's world of eating unhealthy by gobbling up ten Hooters wings at 1:30 am Sunday morning. It resulted in me praying to the porcelain god for nearly a half-hour the next day. I've never grappled with Layzie before, but judging from his claim that 'he's not going to get this' when Nick Diaz has the ability to arm bar Galactus, then it's pretty evident that LayzieTheSavage is living in a universe that stems from the illusion that he can actually grapple. Check out this clip of Nick Diaz manhandling Layzie, and then Ronda Rousey just using his body as a grappling dummy in this MiddleEasy/MMAHeat collaboration.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, ronda rousey, layziethesavage
Read the full article at Middle EasyWhich Diaz Brother Will Be the First to Wear UFC Gold?
Leading into 2012, both Nick and Nate Diaz have emerged as top contenders in their respective divisions. Recently, the Season 5 winner of The Ultimate Fighter topped the wily and rising Donald Cerrone just a few weeks ago. In the Fight of the Night performance, the younger Diaz showed his obvious boxing prowess, stifling Cerrone with his combinations and relentless pressure, a style which is mirrored by that of older brother Nick Diaz...
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, diaz brother, boxing prowess, night performance
Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz: GSP's training methods make him prone to injuries
Nick Diaz shared his thoughts about George St. Pierre's training methods, stating that the French-Canadian's training methods are too extreme. According to Diaz, St. Pierre's experimental workouts is what makes him prone to injuries, and are the main reason the UFC Welterweight division now has to crown an interim champion. Once again, Diaz bought his MMA record as an example, claiming that he has more fights than anyone in the UFC Welterweight division.
Quote via CagedInsider.com:
"I don’t think so.
Posted in: diaz, training, mma record, method, cagedinsidercom i
Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz: Georges St. Pierre's explosive exercise and training routines cause injuries
When Nick Diaz vacated his Strikeforce welterweight title to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Octagon, he did so with one fight in mind:
A title fight against the promotion's 170-pound champion, Georges St. Pierre.
After their much anticipated bout, which was scheduled for UFC 137 on Oct. 29, 2011, was scratched when Diaz was pulled from the fight by UFC President Dana White because of several no shows at required press conferences, "Rush" was then pegged to face Carlos Condit.
However, an injury to St. Pierre forced him out of the card altogether.
Soon After Diaz sent B.J. Penn into retirement after his win over "The Prodigy" at UFC 137, he then proceeded to call out the UFC welterweight kingpin in his post-fight victory speech. Once again, the powers to be at Zuffa re-booked the title fight for UFC 143 on SuperBowl weekend (Feb. 4, 2012).
However, the injury-bug reared its ugly head yet again when St. Pierre suffered yet another injury, which forced him out of the proposed title fight with the bad boy from Stockton.
Speaking to Vic Mysterio of Hammerfisting MMA Podcast (video below), a very laid back Diaz says that this time, the Canadian isn't ducking him, but the reason "Rush" is so prone to injuries is because of the types of exercises he does in training.
See for yourself after the jump:
"I don't think so. I think he's hurt. I think he might've hurt himself. He shouldn't have done that. If it hurts, don't do it. I had to go through a lot of fights like that. You know, there were things I couldn't do, and I couldn't come in at 100 percent. So basically, heal and worry about your weight cause that's all you're gonna be able to do is make the weight and go out there and fight. Sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some, and sometimes you can't be at 100 percent though. But, no, you know, he hurt himself, and you know, the type of exercises he does too, your injury prone. You're higher likely to hurt yourself doing explosive workout exercises. I have different type of workouts. I'm a different type of athlete, and I think that we get hurt less and we fight more. That's why I have more fights. I have twice as many fights as most of these guys out here."
That's a complete 180 degree spin from the opinion Diaz originally had on "Rush" after his first fight-cancelling injury, in which he claimed the UFC champion was faking an injury in order to get out of fighting him.
Aside from his extensive training camps, St. Pierre has been known to dabble in gymnastics, which much like regular vigorous MMA training, requires a lot of conditioning and can take quite a physical toll on the athletes body.
Due to the latest injury to "Rush," Diaz is now slated to face Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title at UFC 143 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 4, 2012.
Anyone here agree with Diaz' take that George St. Pierre puts his body through too much extensive training while preparing for a fight which ultimately leads to his injuries?
Video: Nick Diaz' assessment on why Georges St. Pierre is injury prone.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, st, injury
Read the full article at MMA ManiaB.J. Penn to Cesar Gracie: 'Next time I see you, you better not be scared homie'
Twitter me this, Twitter me that.
Apparently, the B.J. Penn vs. Cesar Gracie/Nick Diaz viral war of words has no end in sight after former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn responded to the Gracie camp response to his original rant aimed at Nick Diaz.
The dispute erupted when "The Prodigy" sent out this tweet to Nick Diaz:
@nickdiaz209 Look how much bigger you are in this pic..I thought you were gonna scrap from the beginning homie? What was that coward fence holding strategy to tire out the smaller man? Street fighter my ass! I made you fight like glass jaw @jonfitchdotnet poser! I'll be ready for that weak bs next time we fight!
The Gracie camp then fired back via its official website:
BJ Penn has apparently not come to terms with the beating he received at the hands of Nick Diaz. At some point it is up to those around you to protect you from yourself. To take you aside and let you know you are wrong and help save you from your folly. Unfortunately for Penn he is surrounded by 'Yes Men' that are unwilling to do that. The outcome will be predictable, resulting in a fighter that will never push himself to the fullest and will always have excuses for his losses.
Now, Penn has taken to his official Twitter account yet again, this time to call out Cesar Gracie himself.
Check it out:
@CesarGracieBJJ Excuses?? The whole world knows I lost the fight including myself. I'm tired of you talking down to me Cesar, I hope you're in training camp right now because the next time I see you, you better not be "scared homie!"
Apparently, we all just can't get along.
After calling out Diaz and now Gracie, it seems the "The Prodigy" is itching to get back into the fight game and ready to end his short-lived retirement plans.
Though a fight with Cesar, who has one professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fight to his credit (a loss to Frank Shamrock in Strikeforce on 2006) is highly unlikely, that didn't stop Penn from challenging the MMA trainer just a few months after Gracie invited Penn to train with him and the whole crew from Stockton, Calif., which inludes Jake Shields, Gilbert Melendez, Nick Diaz and Nate Diaz.
Furthermore, Scott Hernandez, manager at BJPENN.COM, posted this article today in order to educate the masses by outlining the series of events that led to Penn losing all respect for Diaz and that the illusion that they were friends was just a "picture painted by the media."
In what seems to be the beginning of a bitter rivalry, the Penn/Gracie/Diaz saga is getting more and more intense by the minute.
Your move Gracie camp.
Posted in: fight, diaz, penn, gracie, cesar
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiaz camp responds to Penn callout tweet
It didn’t take long for UFC welterweight Nick Diaz to respond to the trash talking of B.J. Penn. Or Diaz’s camp, anyway.
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, penn, camp, diaz camp
Read the full article at sportsnet.caCesar Gracie Responds To BJ Penn: ‘He’ll Always Have Excuses For His Losses’
“BJ Penn has apparently not come to terms with the beating he received at the hands of Nick Diaz… At some point it is up to those around you to protect you from yourself. To take you aside and let you know you are wrong and help save you from your folly. Unfortunately for Penn he is surrounded by “Yes Men” that are unwilling to do that. The outcome will be predictable, resulting in a fighter that will never push himself to the fullest and will always have excuses for his losses.”
— Cesar Gracie, via GracieFighter.com, responding to BJ Penn calling out Nick Diaz
BJ Penn definitely took what was pretty much a dead story into a completely unexpected direction. Before they fought last October, BJ was super cautious not to say anything that could be perceived as a slight against Nick Diaz because they used to train together and he had a great deal of respect for him. Diaz ruffled some feathers at the weigh-ins, but it seemed like everything was cool again after the fight. Cesar Gracie even extended an invitation to merge camps. Now all of a sudden, BJ’s calling him out like they’re mortal enemies. A little strange, but I’m curious to see how it unfolds.
There’s really no good reason to do a rematch, but as many have suggested, I think it would be a great idea to do a Nate Diaz vs. BJ Penn match-up at lightweight. Penn is much better suited for 155 than 170 and Nate has shown tremendous improvement as of late. It would be a hell of a fight if nothing else.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, penn, bj, cesar gracie
Read the full article at MMA ConvertCesar Gracie responds to BJ Penn calling out Nick Diaz on Twitter
If you ever want Nick Diaz to be more socially open to you, my suggestion would be to embrace a gluten-free, low-carb diet. If you passed Diaz's strict dietary regime, then you will need to sporadically work out with him at 2:15 am in the morning. The two activities will facilitate a stronger relationship with Nick Diaz. That's the best advice I can give to MMA journalists that have been struggling for years to get an interview with the former Strikeforce middleweight champion. However, if you seek to build a bond with Nick or even Cesar Gracie, try not to call him out on Twitter.
It's futile. Nick Diaz doesn't even read Twitter. He's responded to only one person on Twitter -- and it was me. However, Cesar Gracie does have a slight fetish with social media and he used GracieFighter.com to issue a response to BJ Penn after his short online tirade yesterday.
"BJ Penn has apparently not come to terms with the beating he received at the hands of Nick Diaz."
"At some point it is up to those around you to protect you from yourself. To take you aside and let you know you are wrong and help save you from your folly. Unfortunately for Penn he is surrounded by “Yes Men” that are unwilling to do that. The outcome will be predictable, resulting in a fighter that will never push himself to the fullest and will always have excuses for his losses."
I wrote this entire article sitting in my underwear in a casino in Las Vegas. Apparently I have not come to terms with putting on clothes. [Source]
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, nick, cesar gracie
Read the full article at Middle EasyCesar Gracie Responds to B.J. Penn's Angry Tweet
Yesterday, B.J. Penn decided to turn to twitter and vent a little. He sent a tweet to what he thought was former opponent Nick Diaz's twitter account, complaining about the way Diaz fought against him at UFC 137, and even took a shot at Jon Fitch in the process. Well, you can always count on Nick's manager Cesar Gracie for a quote, and it didn't take him long to respond to Penn's rant (via GracieFighter.com):
"BJ Penn has apparently not come to terms with the beating he received at the hands of Nick Diaz...."
"At some point it is up to those around you to protect you from yourself. To take you aside and let you know you are wrong and help save you from your folly. Unfortunately for Penn he is surrounded by "Yes Men" that are unwilling to do that. The outcome will be predictable, resulting in a fighter that will never push himself to the fullest and will always have excuses for his losses."
Gracie actually asked Penn if he wanted to merge camps a couple of months ago, but Penn refused, saying he had been a member of Nova Uniao for a long time and would stay that way. Cesar Gracie isn't exactly a bastion of honesty at times, but it's hard to argue with what he's saying here. It's the same thing that people have said for years about Penn. While it didn't stop Gracie from being one of the guys that profited from it before (he has sent the Diaz brothers over to Hawaii to help BJ train for fights in the past), he has at least been up front about his feelings for Penn in the aftermath of UFC 137.
Will we ever see this rematch? Will we ever even see Penn in the cage again? Diaz certainly has bigger fish to fry at the moment with an upcoming UFC 143 fight against Carlos Condit that will decide who gets the interim UFC welterweight championship. Perhaps someday all of this might mean something again. But it won't be anytime soon.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, penn, bj, gracie
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz camp responds to BJ Penn, who 'always has excuses' and 'hasn't come to terms with his beating'
Earlier this week, seemingly out of nowhere, former UFC welterweight champion B.J. Penn blew a gasket on his official Twitter account, unloading on UFC 137 opponent Nick Diaz, who, according to the outspoken Hawaiian, fought like a coward against a smaller man.
"Penn vs. Diaz" was the main event headliner back on October 29, 2011, at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The unanimous decision win for Diaz, which left Penn battered and bruised, sent him straight into an Interim title bout against Carlos Condit at UFC 143.
And sent "The Prodigy" straight into semi-retirement.
Now that Penn has opened some old wounds, the Gracie camp, which houses the Diaz brothers, among others, have responded in kind via their official website, telling B.J. it's time to "come to terms with his beating."
Check it out:
BJ Penn has apparently not come to terms with the beating he received at the hands of Nick Diaz. At some point it is up to those around you to protect you from yourself. To take you aside and let you know you are wrong and help save you from your folly. Unfortunately for Penn he is surrounded by 'Yes Men' that are unwilling to do that. The outcome will be predictable, resulting in a fighter that will never push himself to the fullest and will always have excuses for his losses.
Following the UFC 137 main event, Cesar Gracie, trainer and manager for Diaz, invited Penn to be a part of their camp in 2012. Penn promptly denied the offer and returned to Hawaii to do his own thing.
In the aftermath of Georges St. Pierre's knee injury, Condit and Diaz were paired off to find out who will rule the roost in his absence. As for Penn, well, that remains to be seen.
After hearing from both parties, whose side are you taking?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, penn, bj
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBJ Penn unretires, accuses Nick Diaz of cheating
“It’s a good thing I’m icing my balls right now, because all that fence grabbing got me HOT!”
BJ Penn has once again verified his BJ Penn-ness by confirming to us that he is in fact BJ Penn. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Penn is now claiming that Nick Diaz beat him not because he set the record for most significant strikes in a UFC fight, but because he cheated. From BJ’s twitter account:
@nickdiaz209 Look how much bigger you are in this pic..I thought you were gonna scrap from the beginning homie? What was that coward fence holding strategy to tire out the smaller man? Street fighter my ass! I made you fight like glass jaw @jonfitchdotnet poser! I'll be ready for that weak bs next time we fight!
BJPenn.com news director Pedro Carrasco also posted on the underground forum that BJ’s panties are in a serious bunch about what a coward Diaz is, and that Penn is officially unretired:
There is a reason why he posted it, He is fired up because now that the holidays are over and a lot of his post-fight distractions are behind him he has nothing to do but think about things and he is not happy with the way he performed in his last several fights.
I am not here to make excuses for him, but I am pretty sure people, at least with some sense of intelligence, can identify that the BJ that fought Edgar, Fitch and Diaz was not the same Penn that fought the Diego's and Florians of the world.
Things changed, but as it sits right now, he is back. That killer mentality and fire is back and it's been brewing for a while now and today's tweet is a result of it just boiling over. Expect more to come from Penn for sure!
The fact that he looks an awful lot like a Cabbage Patch Kid makes all of this crying from BJ Penn extremely endearing. Even though he will probably never win another title in the UFC, he is still the UFC acting-like-a-child champion, and he will reign for quite some time if Jacob Volkmann stops using jokes written by six year olds. Didn’t scrap... Coward fence holding strategy... I feel like my mind is being raped. At least when Apple uses its reality distortion field, we get some cool apps out of the deal. One can only hope that we will now be treated to another Steven Spielberg-directed video complete with a full orchestral score and six dozen dramatically slowed down angles of the one microsecond of the fight during which Diaz’ finger may have brushed against the fence. +100 additional points will also be awarded to Penn in the event that he sics his mommy (*dun dun dunnnnn*) on the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a serious dressing-down over the “fence grabbing incident”, plus an extra 5000 if it’s not just a verbal dressing-down.
Posted in: fight, diaz, penn, bj, fence
Read the full article at FightlinkerDiaz Brothers Highlights
submitted by ufcfan4893 [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: diaz, brother, diaz brothers, ufcfan
Read the full article at RedditCesar Gracie: B.J. Penn Surrounded by 'Yes Men'
Filed under: UFC, NewsCesar Gracie suggested on Friday that B.J. Penn should direct his anger towards his own camp for his recent troubles instead of Gracie Fighter member Nick Diaz.
"At some point it is up to those around you to protect you from yourself," Gracie said on his official website. "To take you aside and let you know you are wrong and help save you from your folly. Unfortunately for Penn he is surrounded by 'Yes Men' that are unwilling to do that. The outcome will be predictable, resulting in a fighter that will never push himself to the fullest and will always have excuses for his losses."
Penn sent a fierce message Thursday to Diaz on Twitter, questioning Diaz's approach two months ago at UFC 137.
"@nickdiaz209 Look how much bigger you are in this pic," Penn wrote, referring to this post-fight photo.
"You were gonna scrap from the beginning homie? What was that coward fence holding strategy to tire out the smaller man? Street fighter my ass! I made you fight like glass jaw @jonfitchdotnet poser! I'll be ready for that weak bs next time we fight!"
Diaz convincingly outpointed Penn through three rounds to eventually earn himself a shot at the UFC welterweight championship.
According to BJPenn.com Editor-in-chief Pedro Carrasco, the sudden Tweet came out of Penn's frustration with his recent performances. Penn holds one victory in his last five fights.
"... There is a reason why he posted it," Carrasco said on The Underground Forum. "He is fired up because now that the holidays are over and a lot of his post-fight distractions are behind him, he has nothing to do but think about things and he is not happy with the way he performed in his last several fights.
"I am not here to make excuses for him, but I am pretty sure people, at least with some sense of intelligence, can identify that the B.J. that fought Edgar, Fitch and Diaz was not the same Penn that fought the Diego's and Florians of the world. Things changed, but as it sits right now, he is back. That killer mentality and fire is back and it's been brewing for a while now and today's tweet is a result of it just boiling over!"
As of now, there is no official word on Penn's future in MMA. Following the loss to Diaz, Penn announced his retirement from MMA. Meanwhile, next for Diaz is a UFC interim title bout against Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Feb. 4. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, penn, gracie
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseAmazing Nick Diaz Highlight
submitted by BlueWg [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, bluewg
Read the full article at RedditBJ Penn Takes Random Shot At Nick Diaz, Representative Declares BJ’s Back
So the official BJPenn.com twitter account shot off this rather incendiary tweet at Nick Diaz today.
. http://yfrog.com/oc35195437j – @nickdiaz209 Look how much bigger you are in this pic..I thought you were gonna scrap from the beginning homie? What was that coward fence holding strategy to tire out the smaller man? Street fighter my ass! I made you fight like glass jaw @jonfitchdotnet poser!
I’ll be ready for that weak bs next time we fight!
I didn’t post it at first because quite honestly I didn’t think it was real for a number of reasons. 1) It came out of nowhere. 2) Maybe some of you can refresh my memory, but I don’t remember Diaz using a “coward fence holding strategy” to beat Penn. All I remember is Diaz punching Penn in the face… A LOT. 3) Penn has never shied away from trash-talking but that’s pretty harsh even for him. Sounds more like something Nick Diaz would say, minus the obligatory “F@*# your mother!” to round it out of course.
In case you didn’t know, Penn doesn’t actually run BJPenn.com himself. He has people that do it for him, so I figured someone gained unauthorized access to the account and sent out the tweet as a prank or something. Well, I was wrong. BJPenn.com’s Editor-in-Chief Pedro Carrasco went on the UG to confirm BJ sent the tweet and explain what it’s about.
Its definitely not a hack… I can confirm it, that came straight from the mind of BJ himself… and there is a reason why he posted it, He is fired up because now that the holidays are over and a lot of his post-fight distractions are behind him he has nothing to do but think about things and he is not happy with the way he performed in his last several fights.
I am not here to make excuses for him, but I am pretty sure people, at least with some sense of intelligence, can identify that the BJ that fought Edgar, Fitch and Diaz was not the same Penn that fought the Diego’s and Florians of the world -
Things changed, but as it sits right now, he is back. That killer mentality and fire is back and it’s been brewing for a while now and today’s tweet is a result of it just boiling over!
Expect more from Penn to come for sure!
Well, that’s one way to announce you’re not retiring. I suppose we shouldn’t be too surprised. Penn has been hot and cold in and out of the cage his entire career, so maybe this means he’s about to hit another hot streak. If that’s the case, I’m definitely down. The BJ Penn who talks trash, backs it up, then licks his opponent’s blood off his gloves after he destroys them is so much cooler than the apathetic BJ Penn who gets his butt whooped.
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, penn, bj, tweet
Read the full article at MMA ConvertPenn calls out Diaz, hints at possible comeback
B.J. Penn hinted at a possible comeback on Twitter when he lashed out at Nick Diaz and Jon Fitch on Thursday afternoon.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, jon fitch, diaz hints, comeback
Read the full article at sportsnet.caB.J. Penn says Nick Diaz the 'coward' fought like 'glass jaw Jon Fitch' at UFC 137
Apparently, no hatchet has been buried between B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz, at least not on "The Prodigy's" side, as it seems the Hawaiian is still a little bitter about his loss to the wily Stockton native.
After (temporarily?) retiring from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) following his unanimous decision loss to the former Strikeforce welterweight champion at UFC 137 back in October, Penn has seemingly changed his amiable tune and now has some choice words for Diaz.
Either that, or someone hacked his social media account.
"The Prodigy" took to his official Twitter account to call out the UFC 143 headliner and post the above photo of the two together after the fight, saying that Diaz used coward-like tactics to beat a smaller man.
Even Jon Fitch couldn't escape from being picked on by the Hawaiian.
Check it out:
@nickdiaz209 Look how much bigger you are in this pic..I thought you were gonna scrap from the beginning homie? What was that coward fence holding strategy to tire out the smaller man? Street fighter my ass! I made you fight like glass jaw @jonfitchdotnet poser! I'll be ready for that weak bs next time we fight!
Oh snaps!
A few weeks after their UFC 137 clash, Cesar Gracie, Nick's trainer, extended an open invitation out to "The Prodigy" in hopes that he would come down to the "209" and join forces with the Cesar Gracie fight team alongside Diaz. The former two division (155 -170) Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion wanted no part in joining forces with the crew from California.
Did Penn just fire the first bullet in his comeback trail? If so, he will have to wait in line if he hopes to rematch Diaz anytime soon.
That's because the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt has bigger fish to fry at the moment in the form of Carlos Condit as they are set to headline UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to crown the interim UFC welterweight champion in the wake of Georges St. Pierre's recent surgery that will have him sidelined for most of 2012.
What's your take on B.J.'s twitter rant, Maniacs? Could 'The Prodigy" be ready to step back into the Octagon, and if so, will a second fight between Diaz and Penn turn out differently than their first encounter?
Sound off!
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, bj penn, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBJ Penn Tweets Hard At Nick Diaz, Jon Fitch, Manager Says ' B.J.'s Back'
This afternoon, the official twitter of B.J. Penn sent out an incredibly bizarre tweet. Most immediately believed that the former lightweight champion's twitter was hacked and that it was the work of some deranged fan who decided to have a little fun on twitter. The tweet was an attack on Nick Diaz and Jon Fitch, two former Penn opponents. After the Diaz fight, BJ announced his retirement in the cage and was set to walk away from the sport of MMA. And since UFC 139, he's been extremely quiet and reclusive. It appears that Penn still has the itch to fight.
The tweet from BJ Penn:
@bjpenndotcomBJ PENN . http://t.co/QfA3igOI - @nickdiaz209 Look how much bigger you are in this pic..I thought you were gonna (cont) http://t.co/hsBMllc3Jan 05 via TwitLonger BetaFavoriteRetweetReply
Full text from the tweet:
. http://yfrog.com/oc35195437j - @nickdiaz209 Look how much bigger you are in this pic..I thought you were gonna scrap from the beginning homie? What was that coward fence holding strategy to tire out the smaller man? Street fighter my ass! I made you fight like glass jaw @jonfitchdotnet poser! I'll be ready for that weak bs next time we fight!
Pedro Carrasco, the MMA news director of BJPenn.com addressed the bizarre tweet on the MMA forum the UG:
"Pedro Carrasco - and there is a reason why he posted it, He is fired up because now that the holidays are over and a lot of his post-fight distractions are behind him he has nothing to do but think about things and he is not happy with the way he performed in his last several fights.
I am not here to make excuses for him, but I am pretty sure people, at least with some sense of intelligence, can identify that the BJ that fought Edgar, Fitch and Diaz was not the same Penn that fought the Diego's and Florians of the world
Things changed, but as it sits right now, he is back. That killer mentality and fire is back and it's been brewing for a while now and today's tweet is a result of it just boiling over!
Expect more from Penn to come for sure! "
I hope that Pedro Carrasco is right in his assessment of BJ Penn's current attitude regarding his career. The BJ Penn that ruled the lightweight division isn't the one who has shown up lately in the UFC. However, if BJ is using his News Director to plant a story in hopes of angling for another fight with Diaz, he could end up extremely injured. He needs to commit himself 100% to training and unless he does so, he'll just continue to tarnish his legacy.
Posted in: fight, diaz, penn, bj, tweet
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowShould Nate Diaz get the winner of Edgar/Benson or the winner of Pettis/Lauzon?
Helwani is calling for Nate Diaz to get winner of Lauzon/Pettis, but if that's the case, who's gets the next shot at the title and when? Is there anyone in lightweight that should get the shot before Diaz? I don't really think so. Diaz won't get a title shot until Oct-Dec if they make him go through the Lauzon/Pettis winner and that'll almost force the UFC to put the title up for grabs in the July-Sep timeframe (are you going to bench the champ for 9 months??) against someone who isn't Diaz/Lauzon/Pettis unless they give the shot to the winner of Lauzon/Pettis. What do you guys think? submitted by Phargo [link] [25 comments]
Posted in: diaz, winner, nate diaz, shot, pettislauzon helwani
Read the full article at RedditOctober 2011 MMA Recap: GSP Hurts Knee, Nick Diaz Beats Up B.J. Penn, Chael Sonnen Returns
As 2011 began to rumble toward its wintry end, one of the best fighters in the world and an all-time great was faced with a serious injury, a former champion was battered in what could be his last fight and the final part of a trilogy was as good as advertised.
October 2011: Of Knee-Jerk Reactions
After winning 30 straight rounds and eight straight going into his April 2011 title defense against Jake Shields, it turned out that Georges St. Pierre's toughest opponent was his body as he was pulled from his scheduled UFC 137 title defense against Carlos Condit with two weeks notice due to a knee injury.
Nick Diaz took full advantage of his main event opportunity, ripping apart B.J. Penn with strikes at UFC 137 and cutting an infamous post-fight speech that riled up GSP so much that he leapfrogged Condit to take back his title shot.
Diaz said St. Pierre wasn't hurt but was scared to face him and according to Dana White, GSP demanded he fight Diaz next. White said Condit was fine with it. Uh huh. Penn said he was retiring, but later explained he was going to take some time off instead.
****
UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard weren't mainstream sports sensations going into 2011, but did gain some praise among casual MMA fans for their January 1st Fight Of The Year candidate that ended in a draw. Injuries to both men delayed the third fight in their trilogy, but the UFC 136 main event was worth the wait. Edgar submitted Maynard in the fourth round in a battle that played out much like their second one did.Chael Sonnen returned to action for the first time in more than a year and ran through Brian Stann to seemingly earn an anticipated rematch with Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. He also cut a great post-fight promo (ala Diaz) where he challenged Silva to a bout where if Silva lost, he would leave the 185-pound division and if Sonnen lost, he'd "leave the UFC forever". Outlandish? Yes. Awesome? Double yes. Silva's people said that Sonnen didn't deserve another shot.
While a relatively small amount of people purchased the pay-per-view, it also featured a successful title defense by 145-pound champion Jose Aldo over Kenny Florian and a surprise submission victory by Joe Lauzon over top lightweight contender Melvin Guillard.
****
The quest of Rashad Evans to earn another 205-pound title shot suffered a setback as White booked UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida for December's UFC 140 despite rumors that Evans had got the nod. Jones said Evans was ducking him, but an Evans hand injury wouldn't be healed in time for a Toronto show that White desperately wanted a name-value main event for.
For the rest of the month that was October, join us after the jump.
Other Stuff That Happened
UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz defeated Demetrious Johnson in a fun, under-appreciated unanimous decision, the first free TV UFC title match in years...Dana White said that Gilbert Melendez was heading to the UFC (and so did Cesar Gracie) but he had to defend his title against Masvidal first. Melendez was excited to head over. Poor guy...Jon Anik did join the UFC, brought over from ESPN to head up the play-by-play on FX events.
Viacom purchased the majority stake in Bellator and announced plans to move the promotion to Spike TV in 2013. Eddie Alvarez said he was interesting in buying the promotion at one point...UFC PPVs moved back to 10 PM EST...Kimbo Slice had another quick boxing KO...The UFC decided not to use their return to Japan as a lead-in for a U.S. PPV...Mirko Cro Cop announced his retirement.
Fans had to prepare for the end of the UFC Gladiator Guy...Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort were rumored as coaches for the launch of TUF Brazil...Dana White said he would welcome a gay fighter in the UFC...Brett Rogers was arrested again...Kenny Florian said he was going to return to lightweight...Shane Carwin had back surgery and was out until mid-2012...Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler was rebooked for November.
Kurt Angle was justthisclose to being in the TUF 10 house but failed a physical...Brock Lesnar signed a deal to appear in a WWE video game...Tim Kennedy was rumored as heading to the UFC...Showtime Sports lead Ken Hershman left for HBO Sports, an important move toward Zuffa/Strikeforce negotiations...Antonio McKee said Dana White should be voted out of the UFC.
Full archive of October stories on Bloody Elbow
Past Monthly Recaps:
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, champion, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowHere's proof that Nate Diaz spent hours signing autographs for his fans after UFC 141
Alright, everyone raise your hand if you hung out with the Diaz brothers after UFC 141. If your hand is raised and your name isn't LayzieTheSavage or Zeus, then I can never believe anything you have to say for the rest of your life. A lot of people accuse MiddleEasy of granting the Diaz brothers more coverage than any other MMA site out there. Well, that's true. Nick and Nate Diaz has given us unprecedented access into their lives for the past year, access that every MMA site wishes they had. We're just utilizing our natural resources, so don't be scared to appreciate it, homie.
Check out this video LayzieTheSavage cut of Nate Diaz at an autograph signing just hours after his UFC 141 win over Cowboy Cerrone.
Posted in: diaz, nate, nate diaz, diaz brothers, mma site
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 143: Diaz vs Condit Poster
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, poster, mattyblayze
Read the full article at Reddit(Pic) New UFC 143 poster for "Diaz vs. Condit" at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Feb. 4, 2012,...
(Pic) New UFC 143 poster for "Diaz vs. Condit" at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada. What's at stake? Just the Interim 170-pound title and a promise to unify it against Georges St. Pierre just as soon as "Rush" gets healthy. Be sure to check out the complete UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" fight card and rumors right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, rumors right
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 141: Payout Perspective
Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This time we look at a special Friday night event from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada which featured Brock Lesnar versus Alistair Overeem.
Overeem kicks Lesnar into retirement
There’s a reason why Lesnar went off as the underdog in Vegas. It was uncertain how Lesnar would do considering he came back from diverticulitis once again. The fight was a no contest for Overeem as one kick to the gut and Lesnar was done for the night.
Classy speech by Lesnar at the end of the fight. It was the right thing to do as his last two fights have been very disappointing. For Overeem, JDS is next in what should be one of the bigger cards of 2012.
Diaz boxes out Cowboy
A lot of trash talk before made this co-main event something to watch. Indeed it was the most interesting match of the night. Diaz used the “stockton slap” as the Cowboy just stood in front of him in the first round. Cerrone used some leg sweeps to score some points but did little actual damage to Diaz.
An impressive outing for Diaz as he’s moving up in the lightweight division albeit he came in at 157 pounds.
Hendricks knocks out Fitch
Johnny Hendricks left hand was lethal as he flirted with the UFC’s fastest KO record with a knockout of Jon Fitch. A disappointing end for Fitch who was coming back from shoulder surgery. The stoppage was warranted as Fitch went limp and Hendricks was right on top to deliver more punishment if he the fight wasn’t stop.
Hendricks puts himself in line for a title shot. He’s not in the express line to a shot but is definitely someone that should be taking a step forward in the next year.
Attendance and Gate
MMA Junkie reports that UFC 141 drew a reported 12,158 fans for a reported $3.1 million gate. The figures, as custom, were given by Dana White at the post-fight press conference. The numbers fall well short of the top 5 draws in MGM Grand history but it did much better than last year’s UFC 125.
Bonuses
The bonuses were $75,000 each and went to Johnny Hendricks, Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone. Hendricks was the obvious choice for KO of the night while Diaz and Cerrone earned fight of the night honors. There were no submissions so no sub of the night.
Countdown to UFC 141 debuted on Fuel TV a week before the event and garnered a poor 15,000 viewers. Hopefully, the January 1st UFC marathon helped with marketing of the network as the new place for the UFC.
Salaries were released earlier than normal by the Nevada State Athletic Commission because lawyers for Golden Glory obtained an order to garnish the salary of Alistair Overeem. Of no surprise, Brock Lesnar topped the list. Overeem was set to earn $385K but was asked to garnish roughly 30%. However, it was revealed Monday that no bond was posted to garnish the salary as required by Nevada law. So, Overeem was able to receive all of his earnings. This will make the litigation between Overeem and Golden Glory much more contentious.
Sponsorships
Clothing brand RYU and wireless service provider MetroPCS became sponsors of the UFC this month. RYU was a sponsor to the “backstage camera” and MetroPCS had signage in the Octagon. RYU also sponsored Jon Fitch. Unfortunately for Fitch, the RYU walkout shirt was seen much more than on his shorts as the fight lasted just 12 seconds.
With the addition of MetroPCS and Gina Carano’s new movie, “Haywire,” the regular sponsors (SafeAuto, TapouT, Harley Davidson, Toyo Tires, Bud Light) were in the Octagon. Speaking of Haywire, Carano was in attendance and was interviewed about the movie.
Harley Davidson pumped up its Hometown Throwdown contest again.
MusclePharm had a special graphic shown during the tale of the tape before Overeem and Lesnar.
The Cowboy has used his hat to put sponsors on each side of the hat in the past and now he’s used under the brim. Way to use the real estate. Maybe that’s why he got so upset that Diaz flicked it off his head.
Jimy Hettes had sponsors AzadWatch.com and Palooka.com as sponsors. I noticed these two sponsors since they were on the back of his fight shorts and maintained dominant position on Nam Pham most of their match. Good placement for the two sponsors.
It was announced prior to UFC 141, that Lesnar signed an endorsement deal with Everlast. I wonder what impact his retirement will have on the deal?
Post-UFC 141 Headlines
Lesnar retires, what now?
With the retirement of Brock Lesnar, the UFC lost its top PPV draw. A Lesnar card meant 1 million PPV buys was a certainty. With his departure, and the absence of GSP for most of the year and Anderson Silva out until at least June, the UFC is in a precarious PPV position as its lost its top three stars for the first half of 2012. Jon Jones could be the next PPV breakout star.
But, perhaps as when teams go without its star, it makes the rest of the team stronger and better. This can be a time that the UFC can build up its existing stars (Jones, Edgar, Diaz). Of course, Rashad Evans is another top PPV draw but will be on the Fox broadcast on January 28th. His next fight (fingers crossed) will likely be the long-awaited bout with Jon Jones sometime this summer (maybe Memorial Day weekend). What will the PPV buys look like in the first half of the year?
Young fighters impress
Jimy Hettes and Alexander Gustafsson made statements in their fights on the main card of the PPV. Hettes was impressive in his fight with Nam Phan and Gustafsson took care of the Vladimir Matyushenko. Both of these guys look to be moving up the ranks of their respective divisions.
Odds and ends
-Why no Joe Rogan post-fight interview for Jimy Hettes? He deserved some mic time.
-After Diaz flipped Cerrone’s cowboy hat earlier in the week, Diaz gave Cerrone his beanie after their fight. It looked like Diaz wanted Cerrone to give him his cowboy hat kind of like an exchange of opponent jerseys in soccer.
-The last live event on Spike occurred with little or no mention that the UFC-Spike relationship was ending. Of course, if you are Spike, you are still showing the UFC library so why mention it.
-I was in Canada last week and noticed Rogers giving a top 5 of Lesnar’s greatest fights. It was interesting to me that the number 1 moment was his win over Frank Mir and they showed his infamous rant after the fight (“going to have a Coors Light because Bud doesn’t pay me” and “get on his wife” comments). That’s something they would not play in the US anymore.
PPV issues
This was the first time that XBox users could purchase a UFC events through its XBox Live platform. As a promotion for this, XBox gave away 30,000 free PPV passes to watch the event. Unfortunately, technical difficulties destroyed the opportunity for anyone to access the UFC on XBox. To make amends, the UFC promised all that purchased the event on XBox, it would be able to see another UFC event for free. The problem with this, is that consumers are now weary of this method of watching the PPV and less likely to use this platform. We see that there are some glitches in the system and the UFC must fix them, restore trust and address this PR problem as well.
In addition to the XBox problem, I received notice that Rogers in Ontario, Canada had technical difficulties as well. People that purchased the PPV were refunded money as the cable operator acknowledged the problems.
These problems do not bode well for the overall viewership of the PPV. Even with Lesnar at the top of the card, the final number could have been better but for these issues.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, ppv, lesnar
Read the full article at MMA PayoutReaction from the Action: “UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem”
Welp, it’s all over.(Trademarked by Mike Goldberg, but with less screaming)Yes, I am talking about 2011, but I am also talking about Brock Lesnar’s MMA career…maybe.2011 brought the UFC to the forefront of American television, with the company’s debut on network television in November. It also introduced us to the Zuffa-owned Strikeforce era, after the company was bought in March.Those two stories highlighted the year in mixed martial arts.However, another huge story that just barely slipped into 2011 was the return of Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, as he welcomed Alistair Overeem to the octagon for the first time.With the purchase of Strikeforce, Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta have been given free rein to do pretty much whatever they want with it. That included the acquisitions of former Strikeforce champions Nick Diaz and the aforementioned Overeem.In Overeem, they were bringing over arguably the best striker in the heavyweight division, and a literal larger than life character. We all know Dana loves those.Heck, he brought over one of those four years ago in Brock Lesnar, a fighter with just one fight to his name. But Lesnar also brought guaranteed pay-per-view buys with his WWE experience, as he was one of the most popular wrestlers to ever participate in that organization.Lesnar made his debut at UFC 81 in February 2008, taking on former champion Frank Mir in the co-main event. Ninety seconds later, Lesnar had his first career loss, and Dana had some explaining to do concerning his big acquisition.Just nine months (and one win) later, Dana had even more explaining to do, as Lesnar was set to take on Randy Couture for the Heavyweight Championship.As if it were not obvious before UFC 91, it was now, as Lesnar was the face of the UFC, at least in terms of dollar signs. While he certainly was not the best fighter in the organization, he garnered interest to a sport that was on the peak of breaking through to the mainstream of American sports.Much like David Beckham did for Major League Soccer, Lesnar had people talking about a sport they were never talking about before.Now just 47 months after his debut, Lesnar has graced the octagon for the final time.After two stints with diverticulitis, but more importantly, two defenses of the heavyweight title, Lesnar leaves the organization where he attempted to confirm his desire to prove he did belong with the elite mixed martial artists in the world.Did he?It all depends on what the criteria is.If the criteria is an overwhelming size and athleticism combo the UFC had never seen before? Then he absolutely did.However, even with an NCAA title in wrestling, Lesnar’s wrestling still left quite a bit to desire. He seemingly over relied on that athleticism and strength, which neutralized smaller opponents in Mir and Couture. But once he was put on his heels, instead of on his knees in the mount, he looked lost.In losses in the last two fights of his career against Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem, Lesnar’s defense was exposed, as he was put away easily in the first round in both fights.If Dana White was given the option to go through the process of signing Lesnar again, I am certain he would do the exact same thing, and he would be correct.Lesnar did as much for the sport outside of the octagon as Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre have done during their careers.Biggest winner: Nate Diaz The last few months have been very good for the Diaz brothers. In September, Nate easily demolished Takanori Gomi at UFC 135. The following month, his brother Nick dismantled BJ Penn, thus earning a welterweight title shot. Then on Friday, Nate had the most impressive win of his UFC career. Not only did we see the return of the ‘double birds’ from Diaz, but we saw his continually improving boxing as well. This boxing pressure overwhelmed Donald Cerrone, who was perhaps on the brink of a title shot. In returning to the lightweight division, Diaz certainly has a much better opportunity to contend for UFC gold.Biggest loser: Jon Fitch I would like to put Jacob Volkmann’s microphone skills, because, let’s be honest, that was beyond brutal. Never has a fighter brought such head-scratching performances inside the cage to his post-fight interviews, but Volkmann does it flawlessly with his lackluster humor and yawn-inducing fights. However, even with that awful joke, this has to be given to Fitch. It had been over nine years, or 3,304 days, since Fitch’s last loss to someone not named Georges St. Pierre. That all ended in 12 seconds, as Johny Hendricks ended Fitch’s 2011, and his hopes of garnering another title shot any time soon.Biggest question: How big was UFC 141 for the featherweight division? Both Jimy Hettes and Ross Pearson scored big wins on the night. While Hettes was much more impressive, Pearson is also a big contender in a division that lacks for depth. Going into Friday, Hettes had nine wins, all by submission. But he showed improved striking, and dominated Nam Phan throughout the entire fight. Meanwhile, Pearson took on a very competitive Junior Assuncao. The former Ulimate Fighter winner was making his featherweight debut, but he never showed the effects of the first time cut to 145 pounds.Future Matchups:Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem: This one was pre-determined, as the Lesnar/Overeem bout was a number one contender’s bout. This will pit the superb boxing of dos Santos against the outstanding kickboxing of Overeem. The only thing that needs to be determined is the date of the match, as dos Santos recently underwent knee surgery.Nate Diaz vs. Anthony Pettis/Joe Lauzon winner: This would more than likely be a number one contender’s bout for the lightweight title. Even if it is not, it is at least guaranteed to be one of the most entertaining bouts of the year, no matter who Diaz’ opponent turns out to be.Alexander Gustafsson vs. ‘Shogun’ Rua: This is a bout that has been rumored to become official in the coming days. No better way for ‘The Mauler’ to prove he belongs the elite of the light heavyweight division than taking on the former champion in ‘Shogun’.Johny Hendricks vs. Martin Kampmann/Thiago Alves winner: The scenario that likely occurs with the welterweight division is, if Jake Ellenberger defeats Diego Sanchez, he is likely to take on the winner of Carlos Condit/Nick Diaz. Seemingly, Hendricks is at least one, but likely two fights away from challenging for the title. Kampmann or Alves would be on a two fight win streak at the time of challenging Hendricks, who would serve well from a main event on an FX event.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, division, lesnar
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit gets UFC Primetime treatment
Zuffa has announced it will throw caution to the wind and attempt to capture ever-elusive species Nickicus Diazytis in its native habitat as part of a special three-part UFC Primetime series promoting UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit.
Kidding aside, the build towards the February 4 headliner between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will indeed be chronicled by the UFC Primetime crew with episodes slated for FX. Starting January 20, fans can tune in at 11:00 PM EST to see Diaz and Condit prepare in a relatively real-time format with subsequent episodes on January 27 and February 3. Additional replays will be shown on Fuel TV.
Diaz and Condit will clash over an interim belt while legitimate title-holder Georges St. Pierre heals up from major knee surgery. Both men had been previously linked to cracks at GSP with each match-up falling apart due to the champ’s health. Diaz has won his last eleven fights and is coming off a convincing decision over B.J. Penn, while Condit’s hand has been raised in four straight including a July TKO of Dong Hyun Kim.
On top of promoting the pairing the show should also provide an intriguing look into the typically private Diaz’s day-to-day life. During the weeks leading up to his bout(s) at UFC 137 the 26-7 Californian no-showed a pair of press conferences and was late to a conference call promoting the event.
Other past fights getting the Primetime rub include St. Pierre vs. Penn, Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez, and Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, primetime
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainLet's not forget this actually happened at UFC 141 during Diaz vs. Cerrone
Sure we saw the introduction of Alistair Overeem to the UFC and the retirement of Brock Lesnar from the sport of MMA. However, we must not forget that Nate Diaz gave Cowboy Cerrone a double middle finger just before the third round at UFC 141. Out performing Donald Cerrone by over 150 strikes was just not enough to fulfill whatever void resides deep within the Stockton native. It's the equivalent of dominating a six-pack of Heineken and then systematically breaking every bottle against a brick wall and igniting the remains as a sign of sheer disrespect. Press row was set up just behind Cerrone, but I managed to catch Nate Diaz initially give Cerrone the middle finger and then switch to a double middle finger solely because he didn't feel like one hand had the ability to express how much he loathed Cerrone. Just really think about that. The psychological process that went into that is phenomenally complex. The duration he held up both hands towards Cerrone was much longer than what you guys saw on the UFC 141 PPV. As you can see in this .gif by ZombieProphet, Nate Diaz gives Cowboy the finger and then the camera cuts to Cerrone acknowledging it. While Cerrone is nodding his head, Nate Diaz is still giving him the double finger and became nearly motionless at this point. The crowd inside the MGM Garden Arena exploded and then Herb Dean signaled for the start of the final round.
In our 2012 MiddleEasy Awards, we may have a category entitled 'The Most Gangsterish Moment of the Year' and this will undoubtedly be nominated. Amazing.
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, cerrone, finger, middle finger
Read the full article at Middle EasyProgramming alert: UFC 143 'Primetime' for 'Diaz vs Condit' premiers Jan. 20 on FX
Sometimes, a "Countdown" special just won't suffice.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Primetime" preview for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," a three-part series featuring a behind-the-scenes look as former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the Interim title on Feb. 4 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Episode one premieres on Fri., Jan. 20, 2012, at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel. Episodes two and three of "UFC Primetime" air Jan. 27 and Feb. 3, respectively.
"Diaz vs. Condit" was booked after UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre suffered a devastating knee injury, one that was severe enough to require surgery and several months of rehab.
His ACL tear marked the second time St. Pierre has been forced to withdraw from a headlining title defense against Diaz, which will no doubt do little to convince the fiery Stockton slugger that he ain't "scared."
"Rush" pulled out of their UFC 137 main event back in October after spraining his medial collateral ligament (MCL). It was not torn and St. Pierre was quickly re-booked to face Diaz, who bumped Carlos Condit from the number one contender spot after retiring B.J. Penn back on Oct. 29.
Now both Condit and Diaz get the opportunity they've wanted since day one: To fight for the UFC welterweight title. In fact, PPV buys notwithstanding, this 170-pound war could meet and perhaps even exceed the fireworks expected in the original billing.
Time will tell.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. See the current fight card and rumors here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, st, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSeptember 2011 MMA Recap: Nick Diaz Booted From Title Match, UFC On Fox Main Event Announced
The month of September belonged to a man from Stockton, CA, who made his disdain for press conferences well known and paid for it dearly. The UFC also made a big change in their pay-per-view (PPV) schedule to make a splash in their Fox debut and Jon Jones continued his year of dominance.
September 2011: Of Beauty Pageants, Ballsy Moves And Big Wins
After years of complaining about not making money and feeling disrespected by seemingly everyone involved in his MMA life, Nick Diaz finally had his big opportunity with a pay-per-view main event against UFC Welterweight Champion and top pound-for-pound fighter Georges St. Pierre. A single win would put Diaz in the elite class and make him a big time name in front of a huge audience.
But the thing with Diaz is that he doesn't like to do things the way he's told, especially with media obligations. He skipped out on a promotional trip to Toronto and then no-showed a presser in Las Vegas in the same week, enough for Dana White to do the unthinkable: pull him from his battle with St. Pierre and give Carlos Condit the title opportunity instead. It was a ballsy move and one that had plenty of people talking, including Diaz' manager Cesar Gracie.
In another bizarre twist, Diaz was booked in the co-main event position shortly thereafter against B.J. Penn, who was agitated that the UFC asked him to trash talk in some pre-fight interviews. That set off a bizarre exchange with White which was later settled but once again highlighted the fragile relationship the two share. Things would get stranger later on in the fall, but Diaz' failure to make the "beauty pageant" was the big story in September.
****
Speaking of ballsy moves, White made another one when he bumped up the UFC heavyweight championship clash between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos to the UFC on Fox debut instead of UFC 139. It showed that both the UFC and Fox knew the one-hour November debut was an important stage setter for the relationship and that potentially sacrificing PPV dollars for fresh eyes was a risk they were willing to take. Advertisers responded, buying up all the inventory available.
****
The question of who could challenge UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones continued to be left unanswered as the youngest champ in UFC history made a fourth round submission win over Quinton Jackson look easy at UFC 135. There was plenty who thought the former champ Jackson would give Jones his stiffest test, but that was far from the case, perhaps signaling the beginning of the end of Rampage's days as a top 205'er. Jones had to fend off two challengers as he booted Steven Seagal from his dressing room earlier in the night.
For the rest of a packed September that included a big year-end fight being booked, join us after the jump.
Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem was announced for December's UFC 141 as the Strikeforce champion came into the UFC fold. Amidst all this, Overeem left Golden Glory...Another Strikeforce champion came back to the UFC as Dan Henderson was signed and booked against fellow PRIDE veteran Mauricio Rua to fill the UFC 139 void...Anderson Silva said he was out until early 2012 with a shoulder injury...Wanderlei Silva got another shot at redemption against the UFC debuting Cung Le.
Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier advanced to the Strikeforce Grand Prix finals with quick wins...Fedor Emelianenko vs. Jeff Monson in Russia was announced for November...Brett Rogers denied a history of violence with his wife and said Dana White should man up and call him. He would make a plea agreement in the case against him...Luke Rockhold won the Strikeforce Middleweight title with a unanimous decision win over Jacare Souza...Cris "Cyborg" Santos' manager claimed she was the highest-paid female athlete in the world.
Josh Koscheck knocked out Matt Hughes in what could be Hughes' final match...Eddie Alvarez got hurt and had to postpone his Bellator title fight with Michael Chandler...Jake Ellenberger made quick work of Jake Shields...The UFC and the Culinary Union continued their battle...Rashad Evans said he'd never work with Greg Jackson again...Ben Askren vs. Jay Hieron was booked...Rich Franklin had shoulder surgery...Kurt Angle and Floyd Mayweather went a bit nutty...The UFC fights on Facebook era was announced as coming to a close.
Full archive of September stories on Bloody Elbow
Past Monthly Recaps:
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, september, fox debut
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Nate Diaz Being… Nate Diaz
Prior to round three of their co-main event showdown, Nate Diaz showed Donald Cerrone what he thought about Cowboy’s fight strategy:
Posted in: diaz, nate, nate diaz, donald cerrone, cowboy
Read the full article at MMA OpinionUFC 141 Results Recap: Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz
In the semi-main event of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem, Lightweights Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone faced off in a superb technical stand-up war. In the end, Diaz emerged victorious via unanimous decision. Diaz is now on a two fight undefeated streak since returning to Lightweight earlier this year, and is 15-7 overall. Cerrone suffers the first loss of his UFC career, dropping to 17-4, 1 NC.
Heading into this fight, I felt it would be a striking clash between the Diaz brothers' style of boxing and Cerrone's Muay Thai, and that is how it played out. But in this fight, it was Diaz's boxing that reigned supreme. Diaz simply outstruck Cerrone, setting a new record for accuracy of punches en route to the win. But it was still a great fight, as Cerrone attempted to utilize his own striking to counteract the Diaz onslaught. In the end, Diaz's pace was too much, and Cerrone fell.
What was the high spot of this fight?
The whole thing was excellent, but I was a particularly big fan of round 2, where Cerrone started to figure out Diaz and find some success with his leg kicks. And for non-fighting highlights, there's always the Nate Diaz double bird to start round 3.
Where do these guys go from here?
Tough call here. As said above, Diaz is only on a 2 fight win streak at Lightweight, but his high profile win here, plus his ability to sell a fight, could move him closer to contention. Lightweight is such a tough division where every time you think someone has momentum to be the next title challenger, they get taken out - we've seen it with Jim Miller, with Dennis Siver, with Melvin Guillard, and now with Cerrone. So I'd like Nate to next face the winner of Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon, with a title shot on the line, but the trouble is - who would the champ face in the meantime? Joe Silva has his work cut out for him here.
Cerrone has a huge list of possible opponents. I'd perhaps go with the loser of Guillard vs. Miller in a few weeks. But what I'd really like to see from these two is another fight, this time main eventing on TV for 5 rounds. Doesn't have to be their next fight, but I hope it happens.
Watch it now, later or never?
Now. This was Fight of the Night and honestly, one of my picks for fight of the year. Great stuff.
More SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 141 in the full entry.
UFC 141: Full Video of Post-Fight Press Conference - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 141 Results: Brock Lesnar's Performance 'Surprised' Champ Junior dos Santos - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 141 Results: Alistair Overeem Predicted Liver Kick Finish - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 141 Results: Does Brock Lesnar's Retirement Make Him 'The Ultimate Quitter'? - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 141 Lesnar vs Overeem Results: Winners, Losers, and Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Brock Lesnar Told Dana White He Might Have A Broken Rib - Anton Tabuena
UFC 141 Results Video: Nate Diaz Vs. Donald Cerrone Highlights - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results Video: Brock Lesnar Vs. Alistair Overeem Highlights - Matthew Roth
UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem Results and Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 141 Results: Brock Lesnar Officially Retires Follow Alistair Overeem Loss - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Alistair Overeem Retires Brock Lesnar In UFC Debut - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 117: UFC 141 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 141 Post-Fight Press Conference Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 141 Results: Nate Diaz Brutalizes Donald Cerrone To A Decision - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Johny Hendricks Knocks Out Jon Fitch In The First - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Alexander Gustafsson Knocks Out Vladimir Matyushenko In The First Round - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Jimy Hettes Dominates Nam Phan to a Unanimous Decision - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Ross Pearson Victorious Over Junior Assuncao In Featherweight Debut - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Danny Castillo Earns Split Decision Over Anthony Njokuani - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Dong Hyun Kim Defeats Sean Pierson by Unanimous Decision - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Jacob Volkmann Defeats Efrain Escudero by Unanimous Decision - Matthew Roth
UFC 141 Results: Diego Nunes Wins A Unanimous Decision Over Manny Gamburyan - Matthew Roth
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, matthew, roth
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 141: Nate Diaz rolls in 'style' with big win over Donald Cerrone in Las Vegas
Nate Diaz's performance Friday night (Dec. 30, 2011) at UFC 141 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a reminder of the reason(s) the Diaz brothers look often-beatable on paper, yet consistently deliver above expectations.
I'm firmly in the camp that while both of them can be decisioned, it's going to take one hell of a fighter to make either of them openly admit they flat-out lost.
And while Diaz' three-round, record-setting battering of Donald Cerrone doesn't erase the memories of fights he's lost because of better wrestlers, it's a reminder of how vexing and paralyzing the "Stockton Style" really is. I won't be surprised if Diaz is decisioned by the elite grapplers at lightweight, but even in the five UFC fights he's dropped -- all via decision -- a similar template was followed in three.
Nate was simply held down by Joe Stevenson, Clay Guida and Dong Hyun Kim.
Gray Maynard refused to even go the ground, opting to risk a razor-thin stand up match with little meaningful action. Rory MacDonald is the only guy who has risked himself enough to open up against Diaz. It speaks volumes about how stifling his game is that he can lose fights against this level of competition, while taking relatively little damage.
Simply put, along with brother Nick, the Diaz style of high-volume boxing and constant, accurate punching throws virtually every opponent into a kind of operational chaos.
Foes become transfixed, unable to get untracked, resembling a man trying to get out of a phone booth while being punched in the face. You know what a guy can do going into a bout against a Diaz, yet he is seemingly underwater and getting shots bounced off his head and midsection.
It will be fascinating to see how the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matches Nate next. Ideally, someone willing to strike -- say, the victor of Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon -- would make for a can't-miss match up.
Bring it.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate, chaos foes, highvolume boxing
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFalling Action: Best and Worst of UFC 141
Filed under: UFCWell, it's over. 2011 -- arguably the biggest year for MMA and the UFC -- has come and gone. UFC 141 gave us a night to remember on the way out, and now we charge boldly on into a new year with an even more frantic fight calendar. I hope you're taking this opportunity to rest up and prepare yourselves, people. Things are only going to get busier.
But before we completely turn our backs on the year that was, let us return one last time to Friday night's event for a look at the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between from UFC 141. It's the least we can do.
Biggest Winner: Alistair Overeem
He stood in the center of the Octagon when Lesnar entered, fixing him with a cold, dispassionate stare as the former champ jogged around the perimeter. When Lesnar passed by without so much as a glance in his direction, Overeem turned to his corner and nodded as if to say, Yeah, we got this one. As it turned out, he did. Overeem showed zero fear of Lesnar. He bullied him in the clinch and made him look not just mortal, but downright vulnerable. Was this the one true test of his skills that Overeem's detractors have been waiting for? Yes and no. He took Lesnar apart "piece by piece," just like he promised he would, but he also didn't face many serious takedown threats in the short bout. That might still leave some questions about his wrestling ability, but you can't doubt that he's an elite heavyweight who deserves a crack at the title. Not all his fights have been against top competition, but this one was and The Reem looked every bit as good as advertised. It's time to give this man his due. Hopefully he can get that lawsuit with Golden Glory squared away so he can get his money, too.
Biggest Loser: Brock Lesnar
If he really does call it quits now, MMA history may not be terribly kind to him. His last three fights go a long way toward supporting the theory that Lesnar was the classic bully who folded under attack, and people are more likely to remember the images of him skittering backwards and crumpling to the mat than they are to recall his struggle his diverticulitis and what it may have cost him career-wise. It's still remarkable to think of what he managed to do in such a short time and with so little prior fight experience. His presence and his success in the sport brought a new level of attention and awareness to the UFC, which is the kind of rising tide that lifts all ships. Even if we don't remember him as a great heavyweight, we'll have to recognize his status as one of the true superstars of this little era. It's just a shame he couldn't have packed more actual fighting into the few years he spent inside the cage, but if he feels like he wants to retire, then he absolutely should. I just wouldn't want to be a deer anywhere in North America now that that guy has a lot of free time on his hands.
Most Surprising: Johny Hendricks
Usually the phrase 'puncher's chance' is code for 'almost no chance at all,' but Hendricks reminded us that there's a reason for that particular combat sports cliche. He said afterward that he was motivated by all the people who forgot about the power in his left hand and wrote him off completely in this fight, and I'll admit I was one. At the same time, the look of elation on his face as he paraded around the Octagon following the TKO stoppage seemed to be mixed with at least a little bit of surprise. He can say he expected to win, but he's kidding himself if he says he expected to win just like that. Fitch is known as a guy who can take a shot, which is part of what makes Hendricks' win so impressive. As he was quick to point out, he did what both Georges St-Pierre and B.J. Penn were unable to do. Whether that necessarily puts him among the welterweight elite, we'll have to wait and see.
Most Impressive in Defeat: Anthony Njokuani
His striking is sharp, but if he can be that easily outwrestled then he might as well find out now. Just a couple more stuffed takedowns here or there and he probably would have beaten Danny Castillo -- maybe even finished him. He defended himself well once the fight got to the mat, but that's not enough in that division. Every potential opponent with a double-leg that's worth a damn will look at this film and see a blueprint for victory. Njokuani's job is to make sure that the next person to try and follow it is in for a painful surprise. If he can force people to stand in front of him and play his game, he'll be in business. If he can't, he'll end up as just another striker complaining about being surrounded by wrestlers.
Least Impressive in Victory: Jacob Volkmann
Rarely do you see a fighter whose personality so perfectly matches his fighting style. Both in the cage and in interviews, Volkmann comes off as awkwardly off-putting and the exact opposite of entertaining. The only exciting moments of his decision win over Efrain Escudero came when he nearly got choked out, and his post-fight interview was painfully uncomfortable. Bringing politics into the cage is a risky proposition to begin with, but doing so with a bad joke poorly delivered is the worst of all possible worlds. Watching Volkmann trying to tell a joke in the presence of actual comedian Joe Rogan was like watching Jerry Seinfeld hit mitts with Greg Jackson: it just feels wrong on every level. I'm not sure who is encouraging Volkmann to continue playing this political angle, but they're doing the man a disservice. He's got enough of an image problem with his fighting style. He doesn't need to make it worse by using every interview to demonstrate why comedy should be left to the professionals.
Baddest (Individual): Nate Diaz
Is there anything short of an unexpected drug screening that can make one of the Diaz boys take a step backwards? Just like his brother Nick, Nate Diaz showed why pace, pressure, and a willingness to take a few to give some back is a dangerous combination. He got right in Cerrone's face and never left, peppering him with blistering punch combos that seemed on the verge of giving "Cowboy" a bad case of whiplash. After the fight, according to Cerrone, Diaz came up and apologized for knocking his $1,000 cowboy hat to the floor at the press conference, telling him, "Here, take mine." Is it just me, or is Diaz become one of the UFC's most oddly compelling characters? Whatever the UFC decides to do with him next, the one thing you know is that you could stick him in the cage against Napoleon's army and he'd at least make a fight of it. The UFC will always have a use for guys like that.
Mr. Self-Awareness: Donald Cerrone
He came out flat-footed and never really got his offense working, and he was the first to admit it. He was also refreshingly candid in the post-fight press conference, admitting that Diaz took it to him and made him eat his words. In a world where excuses and regrets are the preferred armor of each night's losers, it's nice to see a guy who can provide such an honest assessment of his own failings. When Cerrone intends to smash your stupid face, he'll tell you. When he instead got his own face smashed, he'll tell you that too. He didn't quite have it against Diaz on Friday night, but he still made sure that fans got their money's worth, which is why he earned his fourth bonus in five fights. Maybe it wasn't a perfect year for the "Cowboy," but it was still a memorable and profitable one.
Best New Prospect: Jimy Hettes
Dana White admitted that he hadn't really paid much attention to Hettes prior to UFC 141, but the skinny grappler has his attention now. Nam Phan couldn't have been more outmatched if he was going up against a tag team, and the judges' scores reflected as much. I mean, 30-25, 30-26, and 30-26? At that point, the judges might as well stop tallying the numbers and just write 'BEATDOWN' across their scorecards. Hettes could obviously use a little more polish, and he's not ready to be thrown in with the big dogs just yet, but he is someone worth keeping an eye on. If he's indicative of the next generation of MMA fighters, you can't help but be very excited about this sport's future.
Hype Train with an Uncertain Destination: Alexander Gustafsson
Vladimir Matyushenko may be 41 years old, but all you need to do is look at the guy's record to know that beating him still puts you in pretty solid company. Gustafsson looked more comfortable than we've ever seen him in the Octagon, and right away you got the sense that it was only a matter of time until he found a way to end this one. Still, I'm not sure if it's his size or his youth that has some people whispering about how he'd do against Jon Jones, but those people need to slow their roll. Gustafsson is a talented young fighter, but he's still a work in progress. He needs to shore up his wrestling if he's going to jump up to that next level in the light heavyweight division, and that's not going to happen overnight. All his training partners rave about him, but what he needs right now is time to grow as a fighter. By the same token, he should see if he can't hurry it up a little. At the rate Jones is slicing through challengers, Gustafsson's number might come up sooner than he thinks. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, time, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWhy Nate Diaz Could Be Lightweight Champion in 2012
Arrogant, cocky, annoying, funny or downright mean. Those are the words often used in reference to the attitude of Nick Diaz. But most recently, it's his brother Nate who has stolen the show...
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, brother nate, nate, nate diaz
Read the full article at Low KickWhy Nate Diaz Could Be Lightweight Champion in 2012
Arrogant, cocky, annoying, funny or downright mean. Those are the words often used in reference to the attitude of Nick Diaz. But most recently, it's his brother Nate who has stolen the show...
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, brother nate, nate, nate diaz
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 141 Musings
OVEREEM PROVES HE IS THE REAL DEALConfession time. I thought Brock Lesnar was going to smash Alistair Overeem. That was probably all too obvious from reading my pre-fight breakdown. The reasons were three-fold. First, Overeem had never before faced a wrestler like Lesnar, and his lack of elite wrestling skills left me doubtful that he could keep the fight standing. Second, he looked remarkably human in his final three 205-lb fights before moving up to heavyweight. Third, his heavyweight accomplishments, while extremely impressive, didn’t exactly come against the MMA elite. There were lots of former UFC / PRIDE fighters on his list of heavyweight victims, but none of them were still at the peak of their career at the time they fell prey to “The Reem.”Whoops.Overeem looked tremendous against Lesnar. It was certainly his most impressive heavyweight performance to date, if not the best performance of his career. He did not rely solely on his fists, something he has done in recent bouts against dangerous ground fighters. Overeem instead masterfully mixed in his signature knee strikes and ultimately ended the bout with a perfectly placed shin to the body.It was the type of performance that should make his title challenge against Junior dos Santos a box office smash. I know that I’m certainly far more interested in the matchup after watching Overeem undress Lesnar at UFC 141. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see the oddsmakers label him the betting favorite in that bout as well. The champion can certainly stand and box with anyone. The question will be whether he can deal with Overeem’s knees and kicks. I don’t see either man bringing takedowns into the mix. Thus, fans of standup wars should be salivating with anticipation over the first heavyweight title bout of 2012.LESNAR CALLING IT QUITS AT THE PERFECT TIMEI will forever wonder whether Brock Lesnar knew the fate that awaited him at UFC 141. It was shocking to see him choose to stand and strike with Overeem in his MMA swan song. I kept waiting for a takedown attempt that never materialized. Haphazardly grabbing Overeem’s leg doesn’t count. I’m talking about changing levels and freight-training through an opponent like only Lesnar can do. Ok, Josh Koscheck and a few others can execute similarly explosive takedowns, but no other heavyweight has that ability. I digress.One has to believe that Lesnar’s two battles with diverticulitis, the second resulting in the removal of a 12-inch piece of his colon, sapped him of his trademark explosiveness. I cannot think of any other reason why Lesnar didn’t at least attempt to shoot in on Overeem. I simply refuse to believe that Lesnar, head trainer Marty Morgan, or anyone else devised a game plan that focused on standing with Overeem. Lesnar is famously stubborn and loves to prove people wrong, but such a game plan would fall far beyond the realm of insanity, if Lesnar still possessed the ability to explode into takedowns. Lesnar may be many things. Insane is not among them. My guess is that he no longer possesses the ability to explode into double-leg attempts like he did early in his career, thanks to his health issues combined with the fact that he is 34 years old. I’m convinced that is why he knew heading into the Overeem bout that if he lost, it would be his last in the sport. If I’m correct, then Lesnar’s retirement is coming at the perfect time. Leaving on the heels back-to-back losses to Cain Velasquez and Overeem is nothing to be ashamed of. And it certainly is nothing that overshadows, or in any way tarnishes, his brief, albeit wildly successful career. IS DIAZ THE MASTER OF MIND GAMES?Let’s not sugarcoat it. Nate Diaz does a great job of embracing the heel role. Not among fans. Diaz is just as fan friendly as anyone else in the UFC’s lightweight division. He embraces the heel role among his fellow fighters. Diaz makes no bones about the fact that he does not want to be cool with anyone “in his bracket,” as he likes to say. His attitude toward his opponents is the same heading into each and every fight. Diaz acts loathsome toward his foes. He mean-mugs them at every opportunity. He often taunts them during pre-fight staredowns. And he certainly trash talks during fights.Many think that is just part of his Stockton, California bravado. I think it is largely an act. One that is designed to both enrage his opponent and also put Diaz in the right mindset to enter a locked cage with a man who has trained for months to do nothing but hurt him.His antics may not impact every bout, but I firmly believe they impacted his fight with Donald Cerrone. “Cowboy” typically fights with the calm, calculating approach of an assassin. He fought Diaz with pure emotion, particularly in the opening moments of the first round. Cerrone lived up to his pre-fight promise and literally ran across the cage and tried to punch Diaz in the face. The Cesar Gracie standout responded by slipping the punch and countering with a sharp, pinpoint combination that forever changed the course of the fight.Cerrone was hurt with the very first salvo. He never fully recovered. Diaz, by contrast, used his success in the opening seconds as the foundation for a masterful standup performance, arguably the best of his career.By the time the first round was over, Cerrone was a beaten fighter. Don’t get me wrong. There is no quit in “Cowboy,” and he fought valiantly for the next two rounds. But the look on his face said it all. There was nothing he was going to do to derail the Diaz train on that night, and I think he knew it.Yet, once Cerrone stopped fighting from emotion and began just letting his game flow, he performed much better. He lost all three rounds on two of the scorecards, but it is undeniable that he was much more effective in rounds two and three.After the fight, Diaz wasted no time reaching out to congratulate his opponent for what turned out to be the “Fight of the Night” winner. He also repeatedly acknowledged Cerrone in a sportsmanlike manner to make clear that any venom existed before the fight was nothing more than Diaz just being Diaz. He had no personal beef with Cerrone. It was all mind games. Future opponents of a man who is rapidly becoming “Nate the Great” should keep that in mind. Fighting this guy from emotion is never a good idea. It takes a clear mind and sharp skills if to defeat Diaz. THE SILVER LINING IN FITCH’S DRAMATIC LOSSGetting knocked out in 12 seconds surely hurts the ego. Jon Fitch was widely regarded as one of the top two or three welterweights in the world heading into UFC 141. His stunning loss to Johny Hendricks certainly changes that. The question is how much.For my money, I think this was the best possible way for Fitch to lose. I know that may seem crazy, but follow along for a moment. There is no denying that Hendricks has dynamite in his left hand. The entire world knows that. He literally obliterated Fitch with a single, perfectly placed punch. The follow up shot was a glancing blow. Fitch was out before he hit the ground.MMA is not boxing. Four-ounce gloves mean that anyone with good power can stop just about anyone else with a single punch. Vladimir Matyushenko walked into a jab that crumbled him. That never happens in boxing because of the excessive amount of padding in the gloves. Anderson Silva did the same thing to Forrest Griffin a few years ago, and nobody is questioning the thickness of Forrest’s beard. As a result, knockouts are just a fact of MMA life. Since Fitch got hit with just one punch, we will never know who the better fighter at UFC 141 truly was. Twelve seconds isn’t long enough to answer that question. All we know is that Hendricks landed a perfect punch. If those two fought 100 times, I would bet every penny to my name that a 12-second knockout would not happen again. Hendricks may win some, most or even all of those bouts. I have no idea. I’m quite sure he would score other one-punch knockouts. But it wouldn’t happen in the first 12 seconds.Thus, the world is left wondering, as is Fitch. I think that leaves intact his standing as one of the division’s true elite, likely not dropping him below Hendricks in the rankings based on their respective bodies of work over the last couple of years.Now, imagine if Hendricks had completely dominated Fitch for several minutes, whether ultimately winning by knockout, submission or decision. Would there be any doubt as to who was the better fighter on that night? No. Taking a one-sided beating does more damage to someone’s standing in a division than a one-punch knockout or quick mistake submission loss.Similarly, what if the pair had fought to a split decision, with Hendricks edging out the win? Doubt may have existed over who was the better fighter that night. But there would have been no doubt that Hendricks was certainly Fitch’s peer.Now, let’s turn to a sudden come-from-behind win for Hendricks in a bout that Fitch was controlling. Again, that type of result, whether by knockout or submission, would draw into question Fitch’s lack of finishing ability. He is one of the most dominant welterweights of our day, but Fitch is anything but a finisher. A one-punch knockout loss in 12 seconds raises a lot of questions. Did Fitch warm up properly? Did he temporarily get distracted? Were the stars in perfect alignment? There are millions of questions as to why the result happened. What we don’t have are people talking about how Fitch could not take down Hendricks, how Fitch could not control Hendricks after a takedown, or how Fitch could not do anything on the feet against Hendricks. We also shouldn’t see informed writers questioning Fitch’s chin. It has been tested by guys with as much power as Hendricks, and he passed with flying colors. He got caught at UFC 141—pure and simple. Nothing more. Nothing less. That is why I think that, if Fitch had to lose, Team Fitch should be pleased that it happened this way.KUDOS TO HENDRICKSFor the record, I’m not in any way taking anything away from Hendricks’ win with the above thoughts on Fitch. It was one of the most spectacular efforts in recent memory, one that certainly earned him a marquee matchup against another division heavyweight, possibly in a main event or co-main event bout. It also makes him an instant title contender because he did something that nobody has ever done—annihilate Jon Fitch without so much as losing a drop of sweat. The sky may, indeed, be the limit for Hendricks. But I’m going to remain cautiously optimistic for now. The win erases the bad taste of the Rick Story loss, but Fitch is the first true contender that Hendricks has ever beaten. It takes more than one A-list win, in my opinion, particularly when it comes in only 12 seconds, to establish deep roots among the division’s Preferiti.
Posted in: diaz, overeem, lesnar, fitch, hendrick
Read the full article at UFCNate Diaz sets CompuStrike record for a 3-round MMA fight.
submitted by branmat14 [link] [comment]
Posted in: diaz, record, set, branmat, compustrike
Read the full article at RedditDiaz vs. Cerrone Official UFC Statistics
UFC 141 - Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, official, cerrone
Read the full article at Fight MetricUFC 141 results recap: What's next for Alistair Overeem and Nate Diaz?
The ribbon is wrapped around UFC 141 and a nice bow sits on top of the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" pay-per-view (PPV) event.
Last night's (Dec. 30, 2011) mixed martial arts (MMA) action was a huge hit for the fans fortunate enough to catch all all of it on Facebook, Spike TV and PPV, which took place LIVE from "Sin City," as well those who were in attendance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The main event featured a heavyweight mash-up between two giants as former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar welcomed former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem to the Octagon. In the co-main event, two top lightweight contenders threw down as Stockton slugger Nate Diaz came in looking to back up the smack talk he'd thrown at Donald Cerrone in the build up to their fight.
As usual, MMAmania.com is already moving forward and looking into the future.
Follow me after the jump as we take a look at what's next for Alistair Overeem and Nate Diaz:
The winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem was promised, in advance, a shot at Junior dos Santos and his newly acquired heavyweight championship belt.
For Overeem, last night's performance was the biggest of his MMA career. After winning the Strikeforce, K-1 and DREAM championship belts, the UFC was the final frontier left for "The Reem" to conquer.
Standing in his way was the self-proclaimed "Baddest Man on the Planet."
Everyone knew Overeem's striking would be key in how this fight went down. Lesnar would have to get the action to the mat if he had a chance. Unfortunately, Lesnar was never able to impose his will the way he planned. He was never able to get anything close to a takedown, and to no one's surprise, he was extremely overmatched in the stand up game.
A first-round body kick to the liver sent the former champion crumbling to the canvas, before referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the furious onslaught of punches and ended the fight.
For his efforts, Overeem will now get a crack at UFC gold in a bout that will pit quite possibly feature the two finest heavyweight strikers in all of MMA as he takes on "Cigano" sometime in early 2012.
It's another colossal heavyweight showdown that is very easy to get excited about.
When it was announced that Donald Cerrone would fight Nate Diaz, fans everywhere were thrilled. What more could you ask for -- two top-flight, 155-pound, trash-talking, packages of dynamite who are willing to compete anywhere the fight takes them?
Yes, please.
When it came down to it, Diaz's boxing was way too crisp and precise for "Cowboy" to keep up with. From the opening horn, Diaz picked Cerrone apart with well-placed punches and stellar stand-up.
To put it in perspective, CompuStrike reported Diaz outstriking Cerrone by a whopping 258 to 66.
Ridiculous.
Diaz proved that he is a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division and that we probably shouldn't expect to see him leaving the 155-pound weight class again. For his next fight, a rematch against Gray Maynard wouldn't look too shabby. Or maybe a re-match against Clay Guida, who is also currently without an opponent?
Diaz lost to both fighters in his first go-round, but he's a much better fighter these days. Personally, I'd pay to see either fight. The only problem: Both "The Bully" and "The Carpenter" are coming off recent losses.
Perhaps the winner of the fight between Jim Miller vs. Melvin Guillard next month in the UFC on FX 1 maine event is the most logical scenario.
Are you Maniacs pumped about the upcoming title fight between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem? Who do you think Diaz should fight next?
Sound off!
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, overeem, heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 141 Lesnar vs. Overeem by the numbers and inside the box score
-After posting a record of 5-5 in the years 2006-2007, Alistair Overeem has gone 10-0-1 since June 2008. -Nine of Overeem's last tens wins have come inside the first round-Overeem is now 3-3 in his career versus former UFC champions-Overeem has 15 (T) KO wins in his career, 19 via submission and only 2 by decision-All three of Brock Lesnar's career losses have come inside of the first round -Five of Lesnar's eieght career MMA bouts came versus former UFC champions. Six out of eight if you include Overeem's Strikeforce title-Lesnar has been booked as the main or co-main event in all eight of his MMA fights. Lesnar was the headliner in five of UFC fights-Per CompuStrike Overeem connected on 8 of 9 kicks in his 2:26 fight with Lesnar-Per FightMetric Overeem landed 20 of 25 strikes on Lesnar-The three round judge's decision for Nate Diaz was just the second of his career to go the distance. Diaz is now 2-6 in his career when the fight goes the distance-Diaz's fight of the night bonus was the fifth FON award of his UFC career-In his last six fights Diaz has won two in a row, lost two in a row and now won two in a row-The loss to Diaz snapped a six fight winning streak for Donald Cerrone. Cerrone's career long win streak is seven wins-Cerrone is 4-1 inside the UFC-The three round decision loss to Diaz was the first time Cerrone dropped a 15 minute decision. Cerrone previously lost to Ben Henderson in October 2009 in a five round 25 minute decision. -Per FightMetric Diaz threw a grand total of 391 strikes while Cerrone only uncorked 193 strikes - Per CompuStrike Diaz landed a CompuStrike record 82% of his total strikes for a 3 round fight.-Betting favorites went 3-7 at UFC 141. At +200 Johny Hendricks was the biggest underdog to pick up a win on the night-The UFC returned to Las Vegas's MGM Grand Garden Arena for the first time since UFC 132 in July 2011. UFC 132 was headlined by Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber. Below is a gate and attendance comparison for the two events.UFC 132Attendance: 13,109Gate: 2.3 million UFC 141Attendance: 12,158Gate: 3.1 million
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, overeem, career
Read the full article at UltMMANate Diaz sets CompuStrike striking record for three round MMA fight in win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 141
Nate Diaz put on quite possibly the best performance of his career last night (Dec. 30, 2011) at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem, defeating Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision after three rounds thanks to relentless, laser-like striking.
How precise? Accurate enough to set a CompuStrike record for a three round mixed martial arts (MMA) fight.
Diaz landed an astounding 82 percent of his strikes, connecting on 258 out of 314 punches. After plenty of pre-fight trash talk from both competitors, the fight, unsurprisingly, never hit the ground for the entire 15 minutes. On the contrary, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under Cesar Gracie -- who displayed improved boxing in his submission victory over Takanori Gomi at UFC 135 -- took his striking to a whole new level in his dominant UFC 141 win over "Cowboy."
He can likely thank striking coach Richard Perez, who is responsible for sharpening Nate's, along with the rest of the Cesar Gracie fight team's boxing skills, which also includes Nick Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields. Often criticized for not possessing knockout power, the Diaz brothers have proved once again that their "peppering" style of striking is more than enough to get the job done.
By contrast, Cerrone -- who is one of the better strikers in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight division and who possesses a kickboxing record of 28-0-1 -- only landed 33 percent of his strikes as he landed only 66 out of 200 attempted strikes.
That's how they roll in the 209, son. Recognize.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, donald cerrone, cesar gracie
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 141 Results: Donald Cerrone Talks Loss to 'Bigger, Badder Dog' Nate Diaz
Donald Cerrone is the kind of guy who rubs a lot of people the wrong way. I'd be lying if I said that I was the biggest fan of his personality, but he has proven to be an immensely entertaining fighter in the cage. In UFC 141 opponent Nate Diaz, Cerrone found himself against a similarly polarizing figure and both men engaged in a considerable amount of pre-fight trash talk.
Diaz got the better of Cerrone over the three round fight, battering him with a constant attack of punches.
To his credit, Cerrone owned the loss at the post-fight presser. Via ESPN:
"No, a lot of people were saying that, like I took too many fights -- no I didn't," he said at the postfight newser. "Sometimes you show up, sometimes you don't. I felt flatfooted -- I'm not making any excuses. [Diaz] went out there and was better than me, and that's all there is to it. I'll take 20 fights next year, I don't care. Some days you show up, some days you don't. And like I said, the dude's a warrior."
...
"I wanted to stand, I wanted to play," he said. "And I got outboxed. I talked a lot of s---, and the bigger, badder dog showed up tonight. My hat's off to [Diaz], and it was a good fight. And I'd do it again. That's the one promise I make every fight, [that I'll fight] to the end every time."
A pretty refreshing attitude, all things considered.
SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem
Posted in: fight, diaz, cerrone, postfight presser, warrior i
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNate Diaz punched Donald Cerrone over 250 times
Every time the Diaz brothers fight, the Compustrike machine has a mini-meltdown:
Diaz did indeed land 258 strikes, connecting with astounding 82 percent accuracy, a CompuStrike record for a three-rounder. Cerrone, meanwhile, managed to connect with just 66 strikes, at a not-good-enough rate of 33 percent.
Just to put that into perspective, that's MORE strikes that Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal landed in their five round fight ... added together.
(pic via Heavy's awesome UFC 141 gallery)
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, strike, perspective thats, notgoodenough rate
Read the full article at FightlinkerPic: Stockton's Nate Diaz celebrates "Jersey Shore"-style with Ronnie Magro at Gallery Nightclub in...
Pic: Stockton's Nate Diaz celebrates "Jersey Shore"-style with Ronnie Magro at Gallery Nightclub in Las Vegas, Nevada, after his big win over Donald Cerrone in the UFC 141 co-main event. "The group toasted to Diaz and celebrated with drinks of SIP Moscato as they embraced the last day of 2011 until the early morning hours," according to HauteLiving.com. Older brother Nick Diaz, Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez and Cesar Gracie-trained MMA wannabe, Jose Canseco, were also along for the ride.Ron Ron Juice, anyone?
Posted in: diaz, jersey shorestyle, gallery nightclub, ronnie magro, morning hours
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Quick Quote: Nate Diaz wants next lightweight title shot he deserves after Donald Cerrone win
"I felt alright. He knocked me down with some kicks and I felt that was kind of making me look bad, but I was just trying to go out there and fight, you know? Try to win wherever it went. I hope I'm like getting a number one contenders spot or a title shot because I ain't trying to play around with these funny fights no more. I've been fighting for too long and I want to fight the best guys, and you know, I think I deserve, I want to get what I deserve out of this."
-- Not wanting to waste anymore time with "funny fights," Nate Diaz made sure that his lightweight battle against Donald Cerrone last night (Dec. 30, 2011) at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem was no laughing matter. "The Kid" peppered "Cowboy" with his impressive and precise striking for 15 minutes, earning a unanimous decision victory and ending Cerrone's six-fight win streak in the process. Diaz tells UFC.com it's time that he gets his due. And his due, in his opinion, is either a title shot or a number one contender eliminator fight. Diaz, who made the jump back down to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 155-pound division after back-to-back losses at welterweight, has now reeled off two consecutive victories. However, there is a no shortage of worthy contenders in the talent-rich division to challenge UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. Ben Henderson will get the next crack at attempting to find an "Anser" for Edgar, but with a dominant win over a streaking Cerrone, how well did Diaz position himself atop the lightweight ranks? Was it enough in your eyes to warrant a title shot or even a number one contender's bout? Who is ahead of him?
Posted in: fight, title shot, diaz, shot, donald cerrone
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 141 Video: Nate Diaz, Forgives and Forgets
Following his near picture-perfect victory over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at UFC 141, Nate Diaz quickly squashed all the heat between himself and the Cowboy.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate, cowboy, pictureperfect victory
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 141 results recap: Nate Diaz vs Donald Cerrone fight review and analysis
Donald Cerrone entered the cage last night (Dec. 30, 2011) in the co-main event of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem against Nate Diaz, looking for his fifth UFC victory in 2011. "Cowboy" had been riding an incredible wave of momentum and was in talks as a potential title contender.
On paper, Cerrone had multiple advantages. He held a wrestling edge, utilized his kicks more, supposedly had better striking defense and was a more technical stand up fighter.
But that's the reason they actually hold the fight, folks.
Diaz came out a man possessed and lit Cerrone up worse than he'd ever been beat before in a tremendous display of boxing proficiency.
So what mistakes plagued Donald Cerrone? And what's next for both fighters?
Cerrone exploded out of his corner, meeting Diaz over three quarters of the way across the cage , but he was met with a series of combinations that had his head snapping backwards like a Pez dispenser.
Diaz absolutely lit Cerrone up in the first round, throwing a high volume of punches as has become custom and Cerrone had no answer. "Cowboy" didn't utilize much head movement, he didn't shoot for takedowns, and he hardly utilized his kicks in the first round. Instead, he was looking to counter but Diaz was throwing so much offense at him that he never found many openings.
He returned to his stool a battered man, but at least came out smarter in round two. Cerrone finally began throwing heavy leg kicks and repeatedly connected heavily, knocking Diaz off balance and even dropping him a few times. Diaz would repeatedly fall to his back and instead of diving into his guard, Cerrone turned his back on his vulnerable opponent and allowed him to get back to his feet.
Why he did this? That's a question you'll have to ask Donald Cerrone. He was clearly losing the stand-up portion, so why not attempt something on the ground? He's an experienced ground fighter and should't have been afraid of Diaz's guard.
In round three, Cerrone went away from the leg attacks again, the one strike that was actually working for him and he proceeded to eat a plethora of punches to the face. The Stockton native outstruck Cerrone badly, 260-104 over the course of three rounds and easily secured a unanimous decision victory to jump firmly into contention.
For Donald Cerrone, there are so many questions. Why didn't he utilize his head movement? Why didn't he keep kicking Diaz's legs? Why didn't he shoot for takedowns or at least dive into Diaz's guard when he was lying on his back in front of him? Did he somehow think he could turn the corner in the Striking department and win the fight? Perhaps his extremely active schedule finally caught up to him. He certainly looked a step slow last night.
For Cerrone's next fight, here's hoping he finally takes a nice, long break. I'd like to see three months minimum and hopefully a bit more. He's got to give his body an opportunity to heal after training camp after training camp after training camp. Once he's rested up, a bout with Jeremy Stephens would make sense, as would someone along the lines of Rafael dos Anjos or perhaps the loser of Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon. First thing's first, get this man some much deserved rest.
For Nate Diaz, he put on a terrific performance and laid the wood to Cerrone from start to finish. It didn't hurt that "Cowboy" played directly into his strengths but it was still a stellar showing for the Stockton native. His offensive output is getting better and better in the stand-up, but there are still plenty of questions Diaz needs to answer about his ability to handle the top wrestlers in the division. Hopefully he gets matched up with one next time around.
Possible next opponents for the Cesar Gracie trained fighter would be Jim Miller if he were to get by Melvin Guillard, the winner of the Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon fight or perhaps Sean Sherk if he ever returns to the Octagon. It's time to see if Diaz is ready to contend.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Did Diaz surprise you with his shellacking of Cerrone? Who would you match him up with next if you were Joe Silva?
Speak up!
For complete UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, cerrone, donald cerrone, didnt
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 141: The UFC Closes Out 2011 With Style
I love an event that truly reminds you why you're an MMA fan. From the first minute of the main card, I was in awe of what I was seeing, and it never slowed down.
Going into tonight, I didn't think Jim Hettes had what it took to take on an experienced fighter like Nam Phan. He was able to wrap up the wily Alex "Bruce Leroy" Caceres at UFC on Versus 5, but I didn't think it would be enough. Boy was I wrong, and totally happy about it. Hettes looked unstoppable from the opening bell. He punished Phan with brutal ground and pound from every position while simultaneously attacking with submissions. My hat is off to Phan for persevering through that beating where many fighters would have given up. But the Featherweight division picked up a contender tonight and his name is Jim "The Kid" Hettes.
Has there ever been a more apt nickname than Alexander Gustaffson's "The Mauler"? The way he controls distance with his footwork is absolutely amazing. Gustaffson absolutely impressed me with the way he completely dominated Matt Hamill at UFC 133 on a short notice fight and I expected him to do no less against Matyushenko with a full camp behind him. The Mauler did not disappoint and completely exceeded my expectation. He stayed far out of the reach of The Janitor waiting for his opportunity. When Vladimir tried to close the distance with a stepping jab, Gustaffson countered expertly with a straight lead left, that left Matyushenko seeing stars. If Phil Davis (the source of Gustaffson's only loss) can develop his defensive wrestling, The Mauler will become a serious force at the top of the Light heavyweight division.
UFC 141 will forever mark one of the most surprising fight outcomes I've ever seen. Jon Fitch has been the established #2 of the Welterweight division for as long as it matters. Many thought the only person who could beat him was pound for pound great Georges St. Pierre or maybe his teammate Josh Koscheck. All of them were proved wrong tonight, when Johny Hendricks through a huge, lunging left hook that left Fitch waking up in the guard of referee Steve Mazzagatti. Coming off a draw to BJ Penn and now a KO to Hendricks, this is devastating to Jon Fitch an enormous victory for Hendricks. With GSP out with an injury, and Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit fighting for the interim title in February, one more win could put Hendricks in position to fight for the title in a scenario nobody could have predicted.
I have never made it any secret that I've never been a fan of the Diaz brothers. But, both of them are doing their best to change my mind. Nick Diaz broke my heart when he defeated BJ Penn in a way no other fighter ever has. And Nate Diaz came out the same way tonight. Donald Cerrone came out exactly like he promised he would. He sprinted across the cage to engage his new-found nemesis. Diaz responded by wrapping The Cowboy up in a standing arm triangle attempt followed by a double-leg takedown attempt against the cage. I can't help but think this attack affected Cerrone's decisions later in the fight. From here on out the fight was all Diaz. He battered Donald with the "Stockton Slap" while mixing in power punches to the head and body. The Cowboy found mild success in the 2nd round with leg sweeps, but refused to follow the Cesar Gracie protege to the ground. Nate was unrelenting, cocky, and pure Diaz throughout the rest of the fight en route to a unanimous decision. I find it completely impossible not to support a fighter who always brings it the way Diaz does. I don't know if he'll be able to find success against the powerful wrestlers at the top of the division, but he's going to be a tough fight for any and everyone who steps in to The Octagon with him.
I've never been so conflictingly shocked and unsurprised at the same time as I was watching Alistair Overeem decimate Brock Lesnar. This was the epitome of a perfect style match up and when Brock first grabbed onto Overeem for an attempt at a single-leg takedown, I though he had the fight in the bag. But Ubereem recovered perfectly and completely dominated the rest of the short fight. He landed absolutely devastating knees to Lesnar's body from the Muay Thai Clinch and finished "The Baddest Man on the Planet" with a brutal liver kick and some rudimentary ground and pound.
It really doesn't matter whether or not you were a fan of Brock Lesnar; tonight MMA lost its biggest star. It's a bittersweet moment where we lose someone who has always given his all and been in nothing but exciting, high-profile fights, but we don't have to watch a legend devolve like so many of his predecessors. Here's to you Brock and everything you've done to help advance the UFC and MMA as a whole.
Poll
UFC 141 was the night of future contenders. Alistair Overeem will step up first to fight JDS. Who from tonights event will be the next to challenge for a belt?
Jim Hettes
Alexander Gustaffson
Johny Hendricks
Nate Diaz
0 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, hendrick, gustaffson
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendNate Diaz Batters Donald Cerrone en Route to Decision
Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone claimed the Fight of the Night bonuses after UFC 141, in an exciting fight that saw the younger Diaz brother batter his opponent over three rounds.
Here is how MMA Junkie summed up the fight:
After the fighters refused to touch gloves just prior to the bout, Cerrone rushed forward at the start of the fight. Diaz, though, got the better of the clinch work before each traded heavy punches. Once back in the center of the cage, Diaz unloaded a steady stream of punches, many of which landed flush. With
Cerrone pinned against the fence, Diaz unloaded more punches that landed. Cerrone finally slowed the attack with head and low kicks, but Diaz quickly returned to effective combinations that ended a dominant first round.
Cerrone worked low kicks in the second round, but it simply delayed the inevitable. Diaz quickly returned fire and picked away with punches that left Cerrone’s mouth oozing blood. Cerrone scored a knockdown with a head kick and again sent Diaz to the mat with a sweeping leg kick. Diaz lost a step, but his punches remained accurate, and Cerrone continued eating far too many of them as the round wore on.
Cerrone’s low kicks knocked Diaz to the mat a few times in the third round, but he didn’t get the stoppage he desperately needed. The WEC vet continued eating punches, and he was bleeding badly from his nose and mouth by the bout’s conclusion.
“I want to thank Donald Cerrone for the fight,” Diaz noted in the cage post-fight. “Sorry about all the s**t that went down.”
Leading up to the fight, both fighters exchanged trash talk — but all personal feelings and grudges were left behind post-fight.
Posted in: fight, diaz, round, punch, cerrone
Read the full article at MMA OpinionUFC 141 results recap from last night for 'Lesnar vs Overeem' in Las Vegas on Dec. 30
Talk about going out with a bang.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) concluded its 2011 fight season last night (Dec. 30) with perhaps the biggest main event ever (literally), with Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem combining for more than 530 pounds of heavyweight muscle.
Despite their enormous sizes, it was what happened after their number one contender eliminator match concluded that was truly gigantic:
Lesnar announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA).
It apparently wasn't because "Demolition Man" demolished him less than three minutes into the first round of a scheduled five frames. He had made up his mind, win or lose, that this -- or his next fight against division champion Junior dos Santos had he won this evening -- would be his last inside the Octagon.
Health issues and family appeared to be at the heart of his decision -- Lesnar returned to the eight-walled cage last night after undergoing surgery to remove a foot of his spoiled intestines. The same guts that Overeem blasted with K-1 kickboxing-level kicks and knees to secure the lopsided technical knockout win.
Indeed, Overeem "swept the leg" Karate Kid-style -- and whether it was by design or not -- targeted the surgically-repaired mid-section of the former champion with powerful precision. Lesnar simply could not withstand the abuse, doubling over alongside the cage unable to defend himself or even make it look like he wanted the fight to continue.
Overeem will now challenge "Cigano" in 2012, while Lesner retreats to his remote compound in the MInnesota wilderness to lick his wounds, farm some land, kill some animals and, most important, spend time with his family.
Enjoy it, champ. It's been a tough 34-year-long road.
Stockton slap boxer 1, Colorado Springs "Cowboy" 0.
Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone talked the talk prior to their lightweight showdown in the co main event of the evening. Last night, the 155-pound duo walked the walk for three straight rounds of non-stop, back-and-forth action.
Fists, and (middle) fingers, were flying from the second Diaz and Cerrone didn't touch gloves, enduring for 15 minutes until Diaz's hand was raised to the rafters in certain victory.
Diaz came out pumping the patented Diaz jab like a piston, painting Cerrone's face crimson after only a few of them found their marks early and often. The Cesar Gracie-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt was supposed to have the superior edge on the ground, but he demonstrated once again that he didn't even need to leverage his greatest strength because of his improving boxing.
In fact, sans for a few legs sweeps from "Cowboy," Diaz never hit the floor. He didn't even really have to try to because he was using Cerrone's head as a speed bag.
Cerrone, naturally, did fight back. He had some bright spots, but they were few and far between. It was clear from the outset that he wanted to prove a point with a dominant, aggressive performance; however, Diaz just beat him to the punch time and again, sapping any momentum immediately by continuing his annoying full-court press.
It's true, Donald: You don't have to be from Stockton to be tough, but perhaps they're just a little tougher.
Reality? Check.
Former number one welterweight number one contender, Jon Fitch -- widely regarded as the second best 170-pound fighter in the sport -- waited 10 long months to return to the Octagon after undergoing shoulder surgery and assume his position atop the division's elite.
Too bad it took Johny Hendricks only 12 seconds to dash those high hopes.
That's right, the durable, predictable and agonizingly efficient Fitch finally met his match, a "Big Rig" left hand from Hades that flattened him stiff just moments into their fight. Hendricks followed up with a punch to the chest, and another missile was cocked and ready to fire before the referee in charge of the action mercifully intervened.
Fitch was dazed and confused, lifelessly wrestling the referee to the mat thinking that he was still intelligently defending himself.
Not even close.
Hendricks scored a monster win for his rising career last night, elevating his status in a very crowded (and competitive) division, as well as notched another victory for the MMA fans who criticize Fitch's style who don't understand MMA.
Fitch came into this fight needing a finish to silence those critics, but their voices will now only grow louder after getting stopped for the first time ever inside the Octagon in 16 appearances.
Fear the beard.
What happens when long and lanky meets rigid and robotic?
Alexander Gustafsson registers his fourth consecutive finish, this time against MMA veteran, Vladimir Matyushenko, who he stopped (literally) dead in his tracks little more than two minutes into their 205-pound showdown.
That's what happens.
Gustafsson, 24, took his time, circling Matyushenko, 41, and looking for an opening to bust through and begin his assault. "The Mauler," however, didn't have to try too hard because "The Janitor" slipped on his mop while charging face-forward with a telegraphed strike right into the Swedes inbound fist.
The short left jab, which landed right on the button, crumpled Matyushenko to the mat and into immediate turtle mode. Gustafsson violently boxed the ears of his fallen opponent before the referee stepped in to call it off.
Gustafsson is among the hottest prospects going in the division right now, while Matyushenko -- if he doesn't intend to retire -- will be relegated to official light heavyweight gatekeeper status for as long as he sticks around.
Look out 205-pound contenders, Gustafsson is the Dark Horse heading into 2012. And if he can notch another spectacular, high-profile win in front of his hometown crowd in Stockholm, Sweden, on April 12, 2012, it will be time to "throw him into the mix" and see if he sinks or swims.
He's special.
Speaking about special, how about Jim Hettes, who completely outclassed Nam Phan in their featherweight fight, which kicked off the PPV extravaganza.
The Ricardo Almeida-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, 24, kept his perfect professional record intact (10-0) with an absolute blowout of a very talented veteran. It wasn't even close -- several judges even had multiple 10-8 rounds scored in favor of "The Kid" when the decision was read after three relentless rounds.
It was that lopsided.
Hettes clung to Phan like white on rice, taking him down, nailing him with punches and elbows on the ground, and then working for submissions every step along the way.
Phan -- who is known for his heart and determination -- had zero answers for Hettes' smothering attack. He simply could not find enough space to work his stand up or get off his back to avoid the constant punishment. Nam Phan is not a bad MMA fighter, but tonight, Jim Hettes made him look very, very ordinary.
Breakout performance, without question.
That's enough from us. Now it's your turn to discuss UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" in the comments section below. How can the promotion handle losing one of its biggest box office draws? Can Overeem outstrike dos Santos? Is Hendricks everyones hero? And how about Nate Diaz motherfuckers?!?!
Let's hear it, Maniacs.
Be sure to also check out our complete UFC 141 blow-by-blow coverage of the entire "Lesnar vs. Overeem" right here.
While you're at it, check out our fight-by-fight recaps and immediate reactions for the UFC 141 PPV and Spike TV action:
Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem:
UFC 141 results: Brock Lesnar loses to Alistair Overeem via technical knockout
Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone
UFC 141 results: Nate Diaz boxes his way past Donald Cerrone for decision win
Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks
UFC 141 results: Johny Hendricks knocks out Jon Fitch in 12 seconds
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
UFC 141 results: Alexander Gustafsson stops Vladimir Matyushenko in the first round
Jim Hettes vs. Nam Phan
UFC 141 results: Jim Hettes dominates Nam Phan en route to decision win (Article here)
Ross Pearson vs. Junior Assuncao
UFC 141 results recap: Ross Pearson decisions Junior Assuncao in last Spike TV bout ever (Article here)
Danny Castillo vs. Anthony Njokuani
UFC 141 results: Danny Castillo wins split decision over Anthony Njokuani on Spike TV (Article here)
Last, and certainly not least, check out our complete UFC 114 results recap of the Facebook "Prelims" right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, overeem, result, vs
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAfter Cerrone Win at UFC 141, Diaz Hopes for Title Run
Nate Diaz wants to fight the best, and few could argue with such a request after his performance at UFC 141 on Friday night.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, nate diaz, request
Read the full article at SherdogUFC 141 results: 'Report Card' for 'Lesnar vs Overeem' PPV event
With an impressive first-round stoppage of Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem secured a title shot in his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut last night (Dec. 30, 2011) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And given the heavy-handed fireworks "Demolition Man" and UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos are likely to spark, the sport -- and its fans -- have another huge superfight to look forward to in early 2012. In other UFC 141 mixed martial arts (MMA) action, Nate Diaz hammered out an impressive, hard-nosed decision win over Donald Cerrone, while Johny Hendricks' left hand finally revealed the answer on how to finish perennial welterweight contender, Jon Fitch.
That's not all.
The pay-per-view (PPV) main card featured 10 fighters, who aced, passed and/or failed their respective tests in "Sin City." Here's a closer look at each of them graded out with the UFC 141 "Report Card:"
Alistair Overeem -- AWith much-hyped credentials coming into the bout, the K-1/Dream/Strikeforce champion didn't disappoint, cooly analyzing angles and distance before peeling Lesnar like an onion. After the first aborted takedown attempt -- where Lesnar was unable to secure Overeem's leg -- you could sense the Dutchman's confidence surging.
And after some well-placed knees in close that preceded the fight-finishing liver kick, it seemed inevitable that Overeem was going to finish it.
Style-wise, Overeem's imposing stand up is a great riddle for dos Santos, who thus far hasn't been forced to take down opponents as a matter of tactical survival. Overeem has the firepower and tools to pose serious problems for the champ, but dos Santos' overlooked and outstanding ground game might be the swing factor. Either way, it's everything you want from a promotional perspective with two powerful heavyweights battling for a championship, and Overeem did his part to build toward it with a flawless victory tonight.Johny Hendricks -- AComing into his bout with Jon Fitch, Hendricks figured to have better wrestling credentials with a huge deficit in experience, especially against elite-level competition. But, with one dynamite left hand, he starched the eminently durable Fitch, whose last knockout loss was nine years and 25 fights ago. With the new guard emerging in the welterweight division, Hendricks' win was a huge boost for positioning him as a top contender. It's also a feather in his cap that few others can rival, because Fitch's track record makes him one of the toughest "outs" in the game.Nate Diaz -- A-Diaz slings leather like few others in a style that puts opponents in a defensive trance as he bounces shots off their heads. After an unsuccessful stint at welterweight, where he was decisioned by bigger guys who outwrestled him, Diaz's showdown with Cerrone figured to be a "Fight of the Night" candidate, and it was. But though Cerrone, on paper, brought the reach and stand up to conceivably give Diaz some problems standing, Diaz simply overwhelmed him with volume and consistency.In the stacked lightweight division, the elite talent is a murderer's row of talented fighters, virtually all of whom have excellent takedowns and wrestling. Diaz's weakest point has always been vulnerability to getting taken down, camped on, marked up a bit, and then decisioned in the kind of fight he doesn't want to have -- but can't prevent from -- happening. Ditto for brother Nick. It'll be interesting to see who the UFC matches him with next, as he's evolving into a veteran, mid-tier contender at lightweight. But tonight was a near-perfect performance, with his rock-solid chin carrying him through the few occasions when Cerrone could get off.Alexander Gustafsson -- B+He's not quite a top-10 light heavyweight yet, but Gustafsson did pretty much everything perfect in dispatching veteran Vladimir Matyushenko. The stoppage seemed a tad quick, albeit inevitable, as Matyushenko bumbled into a jab, collapsed, and turtled up. Gustafsson's lanky frame and decent striking are his key selling points as a viable future contender. However, wrestling and takedown defense remain question marks, so tonight's win over an aged former contender can't be taken as anything other than what it was.
Donald Cerrone -- C+A gutty showing in defeat for Cerrone, whose first-round drubbing by Diaz was one of the better arguments for a 10-8 round without a knockdown that you'll see. Rallying in the second, Cerrone couldn't sustain it, tiring in that stanza and then getting outpointed in the third. Interestingly, despite knocking Diaz' legs out from under him on several occasions, Cerrone declined to go to the ground, though at certain points if may have offered him an opening to keep it there and win the round. The former WEC star has had an excellent 2011, stringing together four wins prior to tonight's defeat. Tonight was the kind of wake-up call for a fighter to make adjustments in training and style, and Cerrone remains one of the more exciting guys on the roster.
Vladimir Matyushenko -- DVladdy's stand up has never been a strong point, despite the knockout win in his last outing against Jason Brilz. The gameplan going into the Gustafsson fight was obvious to anyone familiar with both men, but Matyushenko never got close. Turning 41 next week, the long-time veteran is now 4-2 in his latest run through the UFC, but age and stylistic limitations are obvious.
Brock Lesnar -- FIn his post-fight interview, Lesnar said he's retiring from MMA. And I believe him.The knock on Lesnar was harsh, but had credible evidence: He simply never seemed comfortable in the stand up phase of the game. When you're fighting heavyweights, it's an especially big problem.Unable to get close to a credible takedown attempt, and seemingly adrift in his 2:26 of Octagon time against Overeem, Lesnar's old wounds from the Cain Velasquez fight were seemingly re-opened once he started eating knees in the brief times the two huge heavies were in close. It wasn't as though Lesnar didn't show a little stand up improvement -- he threw a couple of leg kicks and shot out some hard-looking jabs that bloodied Overeem's eye. But the overall package was that of a supremely talented wrestler who's never really had the time to develop a comfort level with the game that he should.
And in Lesnar's defense, he's faced ridiculously tough competition in eight fights.Perhaps the larger indicator for the reason Lesnar lost is that he'd decided to retire if he fell short tonight. That's almost always the sign of someone with one foot out the door. UFC pay-per-view sales were phenomenal with Lesnar as a headliner, and his departure leaves something of a vacuum to be filled.F: Jon FitchA disastrous loss to Hendricks puts him in the same promotional doghouse as Jake Shields, as both former title challengers would be betting favorites over most top welters, yet are nowhere near getting a title shot precisely because a rematch with Georges St. Pierre would be unmarketable.
The UFC took a gamble tonight hoping to get Fitch knocked off, and it paid off huge.For the former title challenger, the loss should be put in perspective, as he simply got caught. It wasn't as though he were dominated or outmatched in a distance bout. There's a silver lining, however, the loss may incentivize Fitch to finish future opponents simply because he'll have to in order to create buzz for a title shot. That may not be the best tactical move for him, given his strengths, but that's the reality of the situation, especially after a loss like tonight. For what it's worth, I'd still pick Fitch in a rematch. But that doesn't change the fact that tonight was the worst of all possible worlds for him.
For complete UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, overeem, lesnar, cerrone
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz vs Donald Cerrone full fight video highlights from UFC 141
Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone full fight video highlights from UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem last night (Fri., Dec. 30, 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Diaz used the old Stockton strategy of simply overwhelming his opponent with punches in bunches. Cerrone was sweeping the leg all night but he was getting lit up in the process and by the time the three-round, 15-minute bout was over, "Cowboy's" face was a swollen, cut up mess. Diaz looked rough, too, but it was obvious at the final horn just exactly who the winner was. What's next for these two animals, Maniacs? For a more detailed recap on their contest, which earned the coveted "Fight of the Night" award, click here. For complete UFC 141 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, night, diaz, fight video
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThoughts on UFC 141: Lesnar no likey kicks either
It all makes sense now. Nam Phan vs Jimy Hettes was booked to open tonight's PPV broadcast as Hettes' coming out party. Joe Silva was like "Hey, here's a badass mofo at 145, let's have him smash someone to start the night off right!" And boy did he ever. Using amazing judo trips, takedowns and throws, Hettes dominated the entire fight. The only criticism I have is that Jimy wasn't able to finish things in the first three minutes when he had Phan in trouble. And his teeth. His terrible, terrible teeth.Poor Vladimir Matyushenko. Being the gatekeeper at 205 means he's had to take beatings from Jon Jones and now Alexander Gustafsson. We didn't really get to see Gusto get tested very much, but at least we now have confirmation that his KO power transitions up the food chain and we've got another man in the mix at 205. But please. Pale lanky Swedes weren't meant to wear skimpy tights.We'll have to wait at least a few more months to see if Jon Fitch's style has been figured out because Johny Hendricks didn't need to follow BJ Penn's blueprint to beat him. He just threw that left hand out and dropped Fitch like a sack of potatoes, finishing him in 12 seconds. The fight may have been stopped early, but all we missed was Jon getting punched in the face several more times. Which would have been okay by me, but wouldn't have made any difference in how the fight turned out. I've said it many many times: Nate Diaz is not his brother Nick. But now I might have to take that back because he put on a Nick Diaz performance tonight, boxing Donald Cerrone up and simply outclassing him on the feet. Why Donald didn't try to switch things up and engage after knocking Diaz on his ass we'll never know. Halfway through the first round it seemed like he knew he was in serious shit and had no idea how to get out of it. FOTN and amazingly enough some classy stuff from Nate after the fight. Now can he win enough in a row to get himself a title shot?Alistair Overeem literally kicked the shit out of Brock Lesnar tonight, taking the fight to him and finishing him off with a body kick straight to the poopgut. Brock revealed afterwards that he was planning his retirement out even if he'd won the fight, which makes me think his miraculous recovery from diverticulitis wasn't as thorough and complete as he'd made it out to be in the leadup to this match. With Lesnar walking away from the sport, I have to wonder if the UFC killed their golden goose by putting him back in against an opponent like Overeem. Ah well, I've got a feeling we might see him back in a year or two when he actually recovers properly.
(Pic via Esther Lin's UFC 141 gallery, which is growing larger as we speak!)
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, hette, swedes werent
Read the full article at FightlinkerUFC 141 Bonuses: Diaz, Cerrone, and Hendricks Earn $75,000 Awards
Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, and Johny Hendricks each earned $75,000 bonuses for their performances at UFC 141 on Friday night in Las Vegas.
Diaz and Cerrone earned “Fight of the Night” honors for the three-round battle between the lightweight rivals that Diaz easily won by unanimous decision, while Hendricks scored UFC 141′s “Knockout of the Night” with a 12-second KO of welterweight contender Jon Fitch.
No “Submission of the Night” bonus was awarded as UFC 141 featured no submissions. All five UFC 141 prelims went to decision along with two fights on the main card, while the only other finishes were Alistair Overeem’s first-round TKO of Brock Lesnar in the UFC 141 main event and Alexander Gustafsson’s first-round TKO of Vladimir Matyushenko.
To check out MMAFrenzy.com’s complete UFC 141 coverage, click here.
Pictured: Donald Cerrone (via UFC.com)
Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, cerrone, johny hendricks
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 141 Results Video: Nate Diaz Vs. Donald Cerrone Highlights
Nate Diaz defeated Donald Cerrone in a one sided affair at UFC 141. Cerrone and Diaz stood toe to toe for 15 minutes in what was clearly the fight of the night and arguably a fight of the year candidate. Donald Cerrone entered the fight 4-0 in the UFC and possibly was fighting for a shot at the winner of Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson.
For 15 minutes Nate Diaz put on the performance of his career landing a total of 258 strikes with 83% accuracy as per Compustrike. Cerrone was only successful on 33% of his strikes landing a total of 66. After the fight both Diaz and Cerrone squashed whatever beef they had entering the fight. It's what usually happens when two men pour their hearts and souls into on of the most exciting fights in MMA history. Diaz is now on a two fight winning streak and will probably be fast tracked in the lightweight division.
SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, cerrone, donald
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 141 Bonuses: Diaz, Cerrone, Hendricks Nab $75,000 Apiece
Welterweight upsetter Johny Hendricks and co-main eventers Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone walked away from UFC 141 with $75,000 post-fight bonuses on Saturday night.
Posted in: diaz, cerrone, bonus, donald cerrone, hendrick
Read the full article at SherdogNate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone lives up to hype as UFC 141 “Fight of the Night”
The bad blood between Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone existed for months and paid off in fifteen minutes after the two lightweights slugged it out in a highly-entertaining co-headliner at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem. The result saw Diaz walk away with a Unanimous Decision victory after dominating Cerrone with crisp boxing from the get go. Appropriately enough the bout was named “Fight of the Night” with each man winning an additional $75,000 on top of their regular salaries.
“Knockout of the Night” and the attached $75,000 were awarded to Johny Hendricks who became the first man to finish Jon Fitch in the Octagon. The bearded brawler laid Fitch out in twelve seconds with a perfectly timed punch that sent the AKA representative crashing backwards to the canvas.
No “Submission of the Night” honors were given as the card featured a complete lack of tap-outs.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, cerrone, night ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 141 Results: Nate Diaz Outpoints Donald Cerrone in Co-Main Event
Nate Diaz outstruck Donald Cerrone to score a unanimous decision victory in their lightweight showdown,which co-headlined UFC 141 on Friday night in Las Vegas.
Diaz battered Cerrone with combination after combination in a fast-paced opening round to put “The Cowboy” behind early. As the pace slowed in the following rounds, Cerrone tripped Diaz to the ground with kicks and scored some counters, but Diaz kept the pressure on as he continued to land punches and ultimate took the unanimous decision with 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 scored.
After the fight, Diaz and Cerrone put their rivalry to rest as they shook hands after the final round and applauded one another for putting on a “Fight of the Night” front-runner.
More UFC 141 coverage:
UFC 141 Results: Pearson, Castillo Win Preliminary Card Decisions
UFC 141 Results: Hendricks, Gustafsson, and Hettes Score Main Card Wins
Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone play-by-play:
Round 1 – Cerrone rushes to the center of the Octagon and both misses with wild punches. Diaz gets Cerrone under control and looks for a takedown, but Cerrone stays on his feet. Diaz knees the body before Cerrone lands a punch as he escapes. Cerrone shrugs off another arm triangle set up. Diaz’s punches are getting through early as Cerrone can’t find the mark with his won. Diaz snaps Cerrone’s head back as more punches get through. Cerrone sneaks in a head kick, but Diaz picks him apart with combinations for the rest of the round. MMAFrenzy.com scores the first for Diaz 10-9.
Round 2 – Diaz picks right back up with punches to start the second. Cerrone chops him down with a leg kick, but lets him back up. Diaz lands with more punches before Cerrone kicks his legs out again. Diaz briefly gets behind Cerrone, but they go back to trading punches. Diaz connects with more punches and Cerrone answers with a head kick, but slips and both fighters return to their feet. Cerrone counters Diaz’ combinations and finally connects with solid punches. Diaz stalks forward, but Cerrone doing a better job blocking them in this round. The pace slows with 90 seconds left as Cerrone trips Diaz again, but refuses to go to the ground. Cerrone slips as Diaz peppers him with more combinations in the final seconds. MMAFrenzy.com scores a closer second for Diaz again 10-9, putting him up 20-18.
Round 3 – Diaz flips off Cerrone before the start of the third. Diaz finds the mark with combinations early in the final round. Cerrone finds the mark with some counters, but Diaz continues to connect with combinations. Cerrone knees the body, weathers some more combos, then trips Diaz again but won’t follow him to the ground. Another knee by Cerrone, but Diaz pours on more punches. Cerrone kicks out the legs again, but Diaz goes back to work with combinations. Cerrone counters, but is clearly being outstruck. Cerrone misses with a flying knee with 45 seconds to go. Diaz pummels Cerrone with more punches. Cerrone misses with a head kick and Diaz finishes with another flurry of punches. Cerrone and Diaz shake hands after the fight ends. MMAFrenzy.com gives the third to Diaz 10-9, giving him the fight 30-27.
Nate Diaz def. Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Pictured: Nate Diaz
Posted in: diaz, round, punch, cerrone, combination
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 141 PPV Recap
Another maddening holiday season in the can, another end-of-the-year event from the UFC. The organization's had a rocky 2011, with triumphs like the purchase of Strikeforce offset by PR gaffes and injury-riddled fight cards. Did UFC 141 close out the year with a whimper or a bang?
Jimy Hettes def. Nam Phan by Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)
In the night's opening bout, a very serious prospect made a fabulous impression in his main-card debut. Hettes crushed Phan in every respect, including on the feet, where many (I included) figured Phan would have an advantage. It seems his string of submission victories belie some significant striking skills, as Hettes out-landed Phan an astounding 117-27. Hettes is one to watch in 2012.
Alexander Gustafsson def. Vladimir Matyushenko by TKO, Round 1
No surprises here. Heading into this fight I wasn't all that high on Gustafsson, but he looked sharp against Matyushenko, and I can't deny his emerging contender status. He used his reach advantage well and displayed excellent power against a surging veteran. Comparisons to Jon Jones are sure to abound, given Gustafsson's frame, concussive style, and the fact that he and the champ share two common, similarly hapless opponents in Matt Hamill and Matyushenko.
Johny Hendricks def. Jon Fitch by KO, Round 1
With news that Georges St. Pierre would sit out for most of 2012, the welterweight field opened up quite a bit, and Fitch seemed primed for another (very likely successful) shot at the title. Two big left hands later, Dana White and top-control-phobic MMA fans everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief. Hendricks's punching power served him well against the vaunted durability of Jon Fitch, making him the only man other than GSP to best Fitch in the last nine years. Hendricks has planted himself firmly among the topmost of welterweight contenders, but I can't help but wish that the fight had gone a little longer so that we could get a more thorough look at him.
Nate Diaz def. Donald Cerrone by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
The vintage Diaz style was on full display in this front-runner for Fight of the Night. There was a lot of buzz around Nate Diaz following his destruction of Takanori Gomi, but I was stuck wondering how much of that success had to do with Gomi's steep decline. However, against a highly motivated Donald Cerrone in the midst of his own undefeated UFC campaign, Diaz showed that he has indeed turned a corner in his career. Cerrone had his moments, landing a pair of staggering head kicks, but was out-gunned when it came to boxing, landing only 33% of total strikes compared to Diaz's prodigious 82%. Great showing from Diaz and a big step up the lightweight ladder.
Posted in: diaz, fitch, phan, donald cerrone, jon fitch
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendNate Diaz brings the 209 directly to Cowboy Cerrone’s face at UFC 141
Alright, before I get into this article let me point out a few observations I noticed from sitting in press row at UFC 141. Brittney Palmer was nervously holding her hands throughout the entire fight. Some of you may remember that she was dating Cowboy Cerrone until something happened. We're not sure what that was, and even if we did know we wouldn't tell you. Second, the moment Nick Diaz helped stepped in his brother's corner, he did not stop starring at Cowboy Cerrone. The guy was motionless. Also, I'm not sure if you witnessed it on television but just before the third round began, Nate Diaz gave Cerrone two healthy middle fingers for an extended duration. We're talking about the entire time Cowboy Cerrone was in his corner waiting to enter the third round.
Tonight, we witnessed Cesar Gracie trump over Greg Jackson. You too can learn the wonders of Nate Diaz by visiting 230 S School Street Lodi, CA 95240. That's where Cesar Gracie can teach you how to outstrike your opponent by what I'm assuming to be well over 150 punches. Congratulations Nate Diaz on your huge win, and I'm almost certain you will be spending the remainder of your night hanging out with MiddleEasy's LayzieTheSavage.
Posted in: diaz, nate, nate diaz, cerrone, cowboy
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 141 Results: Nate Diaz Brutalizes Donald Cerrone To A Decision
Nate Diaz defeats Donald Cerrone by Unanimous Decision. The judges scored the fight 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.
Donald Cerrone rushed forward looking to trade with Diaz but instead was clinched against the fence. Nate Diaz landed some punches in the clinch but ate a straight right on the exit. Nate threw punches in high volume while Donald Cerrone attempted to find his range. A straight left from Diaz landed to Cerrone's chin. Diaz' punches landed with incredible accuracy. Cerrone tried to slow Diaz with leg kicks. Diaz continued his relentless attack, walking through a Donald Cerrone head kick. Diaz' accuracy looked to be incredible as the round entered the final minute. Cerrone's mouth was wide open from the volume of punches. As the round came to a close Diaz landed punches from the clinch.
Donald Cerrone looked slow as the second round opened but he kicked Nate's legs out from under him. Nate Diaz picked up from where he was in the first round with incredible volume. Cerrome attempted to slow Nate down with leg kicks but Nate clinched up and threw several punches before pushing off. Huge uppercut from Nate Diaz snapped Donald Cerrone's head back. Head kick from Donald Cerrone dropped Nate Diaz but it appeared to be more of a stumble. Cerrone found success with his leg kicks but was unable to create any combinations off them. Diaz landed five unanswered jabs. Diaz was just relentless in his attacks. An uppercut from Nate Diaz rocked Donald Cerrone. The second round was more of Nate Diaz' incredible combinations.
The final round opened with Nate continuing his attack. Cerrone landed a left hand but didn't follow up with anything. Nate has possibly landed the most punches in fighting history in two and a half rounds. Nate started to taunt Cerrone at the three minute mark. Cerrone kicked Diaz' feet from under him but again failed to follow him to the ground. Huge knee from Cerrone but he again didn't follow up. Diaz continued to brutalize Cerrone even though he had the fight won. Cerrone's heart was commendable but Nate Diaz continued to batter him. They trade punches until the horn sounds.
Donald Cerrone entered the fight 4-0 in the UFC and 17-3 in his career. All four of his UFC victories came in 2011. Nate Diaz came in 9-5 in the UFC and an overall record of 14-7. This was the best fight of Nate Diaz' career. The sheer volume of strikes is amazing. The UFC may have a to put him on the fast track to a title shot after tonight's performance. Cerrone was a likely number one contender had he defeated Nate Diaz. He's now 4-1 in 2011. SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem
Posted in: diaz, nate, nate diaz, cerrone, donald
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 141 results: Nate Diaz boxes his way past Donald Cerrone for decision win
The co-main event of the UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" pay-per-view taking place tonight (Fri., Dec. 30, 2011) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, featured a highly anticipated match-up between two top lightweight contenders.
Highly anticipated because Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone created plenty of hype for the bout by getting into it with each other at both a UFC gym a few months ago and at the pre-fight press conference. This one felt personal heading in. But did it deliver inside the cage?
You bet your ass it did.
Diaz put in what was easily one of the best performances of his career, absolutely overwhelming "Cowboy" en route to a unanimous decision win. He might not be fighting for the title anytime soon but he certainly sent Cerrone to the back of the pack. In style.
You knew it was going to be intense when Cerrone kicked things off by flipping Diaz off at the staredown. True to his word, Cerrone went running across the cage as soon as Herb Dean told them to get busy. Both guys were swinging big punches but no one was landing.
A short clinch didn't lead to much and they disengaged before finally slowing down. It didn't last long, though, as Diaz employed the typical Diaz game plan of throwing punches in bunches. It was working, too, as "Cowboy" was just eating punch after punch.
Cerrone seemed content to land low leg kicks while Diaz simply kept the pressure on. By the time the first round was done, Greg Jackson was telling Cerrone in his corner that he was getting overwhelmed.
Talk about an understatement.
The second round featured a whole lot of Cerrone kicking Diaz's legs out from underneath, which made the crowd "oh" and "ah" but didn't exactly make for a sound strategy to win the fight.
A head kick finally landed clean about halfway through but as luck would have it, "Cowboy" fell down and was unable to capitalize on his short burst of effective offense.
It wasn't long after that Diaz went back to brutalizing him. By the time round two was over, Cerrone had clawed his way back into the bout but volume was clearly still on the Stockton slugger's side.
Cardiovascular conditioning could be the most underrated aspect of a fighter's game and in the third round, Diaz had it while Cerrone looked tired. Whether that was because his tank was simply running dry or he was punched so many times he was fading didn't quite matter.
Cerrone continued to sweep the leg in the final frame but as good as that looks and sounds on TV, it's not a winning fight strategy. Diaz kept up the pace and pressure that was winning him the fight in the first two rounds and while Cerrone kept it close, Diaz was simply too much.
All that aside, this was fun. Really fun.
Be sure to hit up MMAmania.com's for up to the minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of the rest of the night's action by clicking here.
Posted in: diaz, round, punch, cerrone, donald cerrone
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 141 results: Nate Diaz dominant in grudge match with Donald Cerrone
LAS VEGAS - Donald Cerrone fought Nate Diaz's fight, and it didn't end well for him.
After a heated rivalry intensified throughout fight week, Diaz got the
last word with a dominant unanimous-decision victory that saw Cerrone
eat countless shots during a constant barrage of punches.
The fight co-headlined the pay-per-view main card of UFC 141 and followed
prelims on Facebook and Spike TV. It took place at MGM Grand Garden
Arena in Las Vegas.
Posted in: fight, diaz, cerrone, didnt end, fight coheadlined
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 141 Bonuses: Diaz vs. Cerrone Earns Fight of Night Honors
Filed under: UFC, NewsNate Diaz, Donald Cerrone and Johny Hendricks each walked out of UFC 141 Saturday night in Las Vegas $75,000 richer.
In the Fight of the Night, Diaz outboxed Cerrone through three rounds for a convincing decision win (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). The fight was strictly a standup affair, with Diaz sticking to his rapid-fire boxing and Cerrone mixing in his Muay Thai kickboxing background.
While Diaz was the clear winner with his accurate punches, Cerrone drew excitement from the Vegas crowd every time he chopped Diaz to the floor with leg kicks.
More Coverage: UFC 141 Results | UFC 141 Fighter Salaries: Lesnar Makes $400K
Hendricks won Knockout of the Night with his 12-second finish over former title contender Fitch. Hendricks landed a big left hand to flatten Fitch and then followed with one more before referee Steve Mazzagatti stepped in.
There were no submission finishes on the card. In the 10 fights, seven went to decisions while three ended in (T)KOs. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, night, diaz, cerrone
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 141 fight card: Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone breakdown
Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone were probably thrilled to sign their respective contracts for this lightweight fight, which will serve as the UFC 141 co main event this evening (Dec. 30, 2011) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That's because there's no chance either one will look to pull out a lay-and-pray decision.
Diaz and Cerrone benefit from long frames for the 155-pound division, using stand up and excellent Brazilian jiu-jitsu to be successful. However, the adjustment factor for both will be critical here. Diaz's hands are sharp in some sequences, a bit lazy in others, as he'll slap with punches and dare opponents to try and counter him. Cerrone's sound kickboxing and solid kicks, meanwhile, might be more technical than Diaz has dealt with in several fights.
It's the kind of fight to sort out who can compete at the next level.
With Cerrone's four wins in the UFC since debuting for the promotion earlier this year, he's coming into the fight with considerable momentum, notching victories where he's shown improvement in every phase of his game. His wrestling has improved too.
Diaz, meanwhile, is back at 155 pounds after realizing welterweights were just too big for him at this point in his career. His guard remains of the game's better ones, along with exceptional conditioning and durability.
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 141 fight between Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone:
The Breakdown
Cerrone's striking poses problems for Diaz, who typically relies on a busy, pesky style of jolting opponents and slipping their shots, messing up with range and comfort levels. "The Cowboy" is also very good in clinches and at shooting knees at opponents who look to close the gap, which is something Diaz can be a little lazy with at times.
The Pick
On the mat, both are exceptionally good at jiu-jitsu and the intricate battles-within-the-battles to maintain or improve position. They probably cancel one another out if it hits the mat, but Cerrone figures to score more takedowns if it does go there, which gives him an edge with the judges.
Both also have stellar chins, so this one figures to go the distance.
Cerrone's better stand up and strength in tie-ups, however, should be just enough for him to earn a close decision in an exciting, back-and-forth battle.
Donald Cerrone via decision
Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 141 results of all the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" PPV action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, Spike TV "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Saturday morning.
See you then!
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, cerrone, donald
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz Beats Up Donald Cerrone at UFC 141
Filed under: UFCIn the grudge match in the co-main event of UFC 141, Nate Diaz whipped Donald Cerrone for 15 minutes, turning Cerrone's face into a bloody mess and easily winning a unanimous decision victory.
Cerrone and Diaz had been talking trash to each other in the run-up to the fight, had to be restrained from fighting each other at a pre-fight press conference this week, and declined to touch gloves before the fight, with Cerrone instead giving Diaz the finger. But once the opening bell rang, it was Diaz who did all the fighting.
In the first round Diaz brutalized Cerrone with high-volume punching, hitting Cerrone in the face again and again and again. By the middle of the round Cerrone's mouth was bleeding and he appeared to have trouble keeping it closed, as if he might have had a jaw injury. It was a dominant first round for Diaz.
More Coverage: UFC 141 Results | Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone Live Blog
Cerrone was better in the second round, changing up his approach to attack more with leg kicks and knocking Diaz off balance with trips and sweeps. However, Cerrone wasn't able to do much of anything when he succeeded in knocking Diaz down, and Cerrone still ate a lot of punches from Diaz. The second round was closer, but I still gave it to Diaz.
By the third round Diaz knew he was in command and was cruising with his high-volume punching, easily battering away at Cerrone and clinching the win. The only question in the final moments of the fight was whether there would be any type of ugly post-fight scene, but instead the men shook hands and hugged afterward, and shook hands again when the judges' scorecards were announced, with Diaz winning 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
The win improves Diaz's record to 15-7, and it was as good as he has looked in the Octagon, Cerrone, fighting for the fifth time in 2011, looked tired and worn down, and his record falls to 17-4. In the end, Diaz was classy as he walked out of the Octagon.
"I want to thank Donald Cerrone for the fight," Diaz said. "Sorry about all the s--t that went down."
%VIRTUAL-Gallery-142683% Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: diaz, round, cerrone, donald cerrone, donald
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNate Diaz vs Donald Cerrone fight video preview for UFC 141
You don't have to be from Stockton to be tough.
That's according to Donald Cerrone, who takes on the tough-talking Nate Diaz in the UFC 141 co main event tonight (Dec. 30, 2011) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Cowboy" and Diaz have had their fair share of well-documented dust ups and confrontations in the build up to their lightweight match up this evening in "Sin City," all of which you can get up to speed with right here and here.
The good news is that the time for talk is about to be over -- their fists will do the talking in just a few short hours when the pay-per-view (PPV) broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET.
Will Diaz talk the talk and walk the walk or will Cerrone put him in his place?
For everything you need to know about the bout between Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone check out our complete fight archive right here.
Posted in: diaz, sin city, cerrone, garden arena, donald cerrone
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 141: Nate Diaz Makes Weight
submitted by 2WAR [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate, war, weight
Read the full article at RedditRonda Rousey shows us exactly what Nick Diaz has been teaching her
Yesterday you watched Nick Diaz and Ronda Rousey head battle against the cage. You were fascinated, you were excited and hypothetical scenarios consisting of merging the Diaz and Rousey DNA were extrapolated upon in the comment sections. Now, the venerable LayzieTheSavage has exclusive footage of Ronda Rousey breaking down exactly what the sage Nick Diaz has taught her, and it's all for you guys. All of it. I suggest you follow Layzie on Twitter so you can thank him. And while you're at it you could follow his lady Jessica Dawn, who I hear has a pretty baller Team Stockton shirt signed by Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez that she just has to give away to someone...
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, ronda rousey, rousey, rousey dna
Read the full article at Middle EasyGrappling with Issues – 12/30/11
Is Alistair Overeem more/less likely than Brock Lesnar to beat Junior dos Santos? Will tonight’s UFC 141 main event last longer than a round? Should Donald Cerrone get a title-shot if he beats Nate Diaz? Is there a potential match-up in 2012 you’re looking forward to more than any other?
Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!
Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse Jeremy Lambert whose general contributions and “Scorecard” event-breakdowns can be regularly found on Five Ounces. As always, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t hesitate to offer your own take on the topics in the “Comments” section below.
Enjoy this weekend’s year-ending MMA action and have a safe, fun-filled New Year’s Eve!
Name a fighter you see as being poised for a huge year in 2012.
Lambert: Carlos Condit. I’m a big fan of Condit and everything is set up for him to have a big 2012 as long as he takes care of business in the cage. He’s already fighting for the interim welterweight title in February against Nick Diaz. Even though Diaz is as tough as they come, Condit is equally as tough and matches up pretty well with the former Strikeforce 170-pound champion. If he defeats Diaz, he’ll fight Georges St. Pierre, who will be coming off a very long lay-off and major knee surgery. If there’s ever a time for GSP to show a weakness, it’ll be in his return bout considering he could be very tentative and rusty, and Condit has the tools to capitalize on those openings and make GSP pay. Those two victories alone would make for a good 2012 for “The Natural Born Killer.”
Conlan: Though obviously this topic requires one to look into a proverbial crystal ball I can’t agree with Lambert’s pick because I’m far from confident in Condit’s ability to get by Diaz or GSP.
Rather, I’ll go with Jon Jones who would be hard-pressed to top these past twelve months but could certainly match the span by picking up wins over Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans, and possibly an undersized heavyweight like Cain Velasquez or even a certain middleweight champion (which I’ll talk about more in a different topic) while the 205-pound division sorts itself out. With Jones’ personality, professionalism, success, and skill-set, he could easily crossover into “mainstream star” territory in 2012 with a few more convincing victories. Sure, “Bones” is certain to face high-caliber opponents making another unbeaten year a difficult task but it is equally tough to pick against his ability to successfully do so given the dominance he’s displayed in his career.
TRUE/FALSE – Donald Cerrone will get a title-shot if he beats Nate Diaz at UFC 141.
Lambert: The only reason Cerrone wouldn’t get a title shot is if UFC feels there’s someone more deserving than him, but I can’t think of anyone who would be. The guys who were in line for a potential title shot all lost recently and the only upcoming lightweight fight between two guys who are near the top of the division is Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon, but I think Cerrone has better credentials than those two. With a victory over Diaz, “Cowboy” would be on a seven fight win streak with wins over some very good fighters. His only losses are to Jamie Varner (controversial and avenged) and Ben Henderson (twice), but if you don’t want to see Cerrone vs. Henderson 3 (pending Henderson beating Frankie Edgar) then stop reading, because their first fight was one of the best fights of 2009 and both guys have improved a ton since then.
The only way I don’t see Cerrone getting a title shot is if UFC smartens up and brings over Gilbert Melendez, in which case “Cowboy” would have to take the back saddle.
Conlan: I think I’ll take Jeremy’s lead and run with it!
“Cowboy” will almost certainly mosey on down to the ol’ contendership corral if he takes Diaz out in their duel. He’s tough as two-dollar leather, polished as a preacher’s cross, and reacts like a riled up rattlesnake. Cerrone is not one to strike first but disregard his warnings after coming across his path and you’re likely to get bit.
Beyond that, my pardner ‘round these parts has covered the rest of it as though he was the sun on a cloudless day shining down upon the Texas plains. I don’t see Melendez riding into town anytime soon and another showdown at high noon between Cerrone-Henderson, or a fresh rival in Edgar, would both be welcome viewing on the Conlan Ranch.
Who has a better chance against Junior dos Santos – Brock Lesnar or Alistair Overeem?
Lambert: Lesnar. I don’t really like either guy’s chances against JDS, but at least Lesnar has the wrestling credentials to worry the champion and, if he’s now 100% healthy, should be in great shape to test the cardio of Dos Santos. Overeem is a very accomplished striker, but I actually think JDS is a better boxer and if Overeem tries to employ leg kicks, he’ll leave himself open for counters, and JDS has great timing on countering kicks. Plus Overeem’s cardio and chin/heart are always a question. Lesnar might not react well to getting hit, but he has tremendous heart and has never been cleanly KO’d.
Conlan: I’m also going with Lesnar. I favor Dos Santos’ striking in comparison to Overeem’s based on precision/speed, while Lesnar’s wrestling could at least make it interesting. There’s always the chance Overeem could land a night-ending power punch (or kick) but I think that’s less likely than Lesnar getting a takedown, then pounding on the affable Brazilian until the referee jumps in.
OVER/UNDER – Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem will last seven minutes.
Conlan: UNDER (by about five minutes). I expect both men to come out and immediately implement their game-plans. Regardless of who is more successful, don’t trust Lesnar’s chin to absorb any of Overeem’s strikes nor do I believe Overeem can weather the storm if he ends up on his back. As such I see a quick finish in the fight’s future but a glorious one all the same.
Lambert: OVER, but just slightly. Even though I think the fight will be more or less decided in the first minute or so, I think it’ll be kind of a cautious first round. If Lesnar gets the takedown, I think he’ll take his time and not want to go all crazy with his strikes. If Lesnar doesn’t get the takedown, Overeem will likely stay patient on the feet because over-committing to his strikes could lead to a takedown. After the first round though, Overeem will either be so tired that Lesnar should be able to put him away on the ground or Lesnar will be so discouraged that Overeem will open up more, which should allow him to put Lesnar away.
Who will win the DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix on New Years Eve?
Conlan: Part of me wants to go with Rodolfo Marques Diaz because he has past wins over legends like Carlos Carlos and Ralph Lauren but I actually think his opponent, Bibiano Fernandes, has the best chance. He’s beaten some solid opposition in the past and won multiple fights in a single evening before. He also has an easier route to the final in Diaz than is the case between Masakazu Imanari-Antonio Banuelos so theoretically he’ll be dealing with less damage than whoever comes out of that clash.
Lambert: I have to echo Bren’s comment here. In these one night tournaments, it’s all about staying fresh after your first fight, and if things go the way we most people predict they will, Fernandes should have little trouble with Diniz while Banuelos vs. Imanari could very likely go to a decision given the grappling of both men. Even if it wasn’t a one night tournament though, I do believe that “Bibi” is the most talented bantamweight of the four.
What potential fight you’re most looking forward to in 2012?
Conlan: Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva. Hey, a boy can dream, right? If Jones and Silva pick up a pair of wins each in 2012 they could be in a position to face off in a legitimate “super-fight” on New Year’s Eve Weekend. Also, lately Dana White has been pushing more and more for the bout to eventually take place if both men keep going at their current pace, so that in itself is a good indicator of the match-up’s probability.
If forced to go with something a little more grounded in reality I’ll say St. Pierre vs. the winner of Condit-Diaz for obvious reasons.
Lambert: Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva 2. Like it or not, Sonnen has been Silva’s toughest opponent to date and really the only man who has made Silva look human for the majority of the fight. Sonnen looked very impressive in his victory over Brian Stann and if he’s able to out-wrestle a guy like Mark Munoz, it’ll give him more merit to a rematch. Plus Sonnen will continue to be a quote machine leading up to the fight in his efforts to get under the skin of Silva.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, diaz, overeem, lesnar, lambert
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 141: Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection
In a bout that has Fight of the Night written all over it, the ever-displeased Nate Diaz squares off with accelerating WEC crossover Donald Cerrone in the co-main event of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem.
The intriguing lightweight collision has captivated fans just as much (or more) than the evening's headliner, and understandably so. They're both consistent crowd-pleasers who are built for violence and extremely aggressive. They share the same type of long and lanky physique, their preferred weaponry is a smooth but vicious medley of striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and they're both exceptionally technical martial artists who apply their skills with the rugged mentality of a street fighter.
Big-picture similarities aside, it's the finite differences that will decide the outcome. Ironically, despite engaging his opponent ceaselessly and being fully capable wherever the fight goes, Nate -- like big brother Nick -- is notorious for performances that don't sit well with judges. Of his seven losses, six are by decision; the remainder was a 2006 submission to Hermes Franca when Nate was a wee 21-years-old.
This is a curious phenomenon, and I'm not exactly sure if the cause is a lack of top-shelf wrestling, physical strength or a strategy flaw that surrenders the influential element of control to his opponent. With Diaz, it seems to be all about finding his rhythm. He's typically a slow starter who is very hittable while he's gauging the pace and dialing in his striking range. Quick and assertive fighters have been able to jump on him from the get-go and never let him settle in, putting Diaz behind on the score cards early and into recovery-mode during the later rounds. Conversely, if he does get a comfortable grasp of distance and timing and starts working his hands, the tempo and angles of his unorthodox boxing are a nightmare to defend and can shift the momentum completely in his direction.
Cerrone is more explosive and straightforward. His boxing is tight and crisp, his low and high kicks are crippling, he's a decent wrestler and his submission grappling is voracious. Since coming to the UFC, he seems to have drastically matured. In the WEC, he was pleasingly reckless and succumbed to his raw instincts, but has harnessed his bloodlust into a more functional approach. Cerrone has found a nice balance by taming his fiery aggression and now battles with intelligence and a steely composure.
While Cesar Gracie is undoubtedly a premiere coach, there is none better than Greg Jackson when it comes to devising a concisely effective gameplan, and this along with Cerrone's recent evolution could be more of a factor than how their individual combat skills compare.
Match up analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem
Even though they're comparable in size, Diaz will enjoy a 3" reach advantage. He'll come out in a closed southpaw stance -- and one that's dangerously flat-footed with a lot of weight on his front leg -- and paw continuously with his lead hand while looking for holes to stuff counter punches through.
This "feel out" period will be crucial in assessing Cerrone's strategy and whether he's apt to shoot takedowns and lead the striking attacks or playing things more cautious and defensive. The element of surprise probably lies with Cerrone as Diaz's pace and intentions are much more predictable. In most cases, Diaz is content to walk his opponents down and throw his uniquely-angled punches from the perimeter or deep in the pocket. He will also clinch up on the fence to pressure with dirty boxing and knees to the thighs and body.
Cerrone will have more options. Shooting for takedowns, even if Diaz defends them or eventually escapes back to his feet, will be key in disrupting his rhythm and for scoring purposes. While Diaz's lanky counter punching will always be a concern, Cerrone's cleaving low kicks could materialize as a game-changer in open space, especially considering Diaz's slight reach advantage and skill from a distance. Connecting on a few Thai kicks to the lead leg will force Nate to disengage and reset or lure him into closer range.
Both are excellent BJJ players but I would give a distinct edge to Diaz in a straight grappling match. Since Nate is more of a volume puncher than a knockout artist, I think his proficiency in guard with sweeps and submission attempts is his most formidable asset and his best chance for a stoppage. His ground game is a seriously under-utilized tool that I don't think he exercises nearly enough, usually because he's happy to brawl on the feet. He has the type of dynamic creativity off his back that makes him very difficult to hold down and his busy hips almost always produce advantageous opportunities. His solid Judo game offers a sound avenue to ground the fight but he rarely imposes that strength and only implements it opportunistically.
Again, this plays into the perils of the Diaz style: unless he's able to finish on the ground or latch on a legitimately threatening submission, interactions where he can sweep or escape back to his feet are generally scored for his opponent. Cerrone is far from a pushover on the mat and will make Diaz work hard to secure a catch or he'll be able to initiate a scramble to break free.
Along with his more diverse kickboxing, Cerrone has better footwork, head movement and defense and should have the quicker hands as well. They both have rock-solid chins and are difficult to finish, so it's likely that this contest will go the distance.
Even though Cerrone has more options and a better chance of winning a decision, I had initially picked Diaz for the win here. However, after further scrutinizing the positives and negatives of this match up, I find myself inclined to change it up and go with Cerrone. I think his broader set of tools, footwork and hand speed will put him in the driver's seat early, his chin and ability to shoot takedowns are viable back-up options if he takes too much heat standing, he's likely to be on top in any grappling exchanges and his BJJ acumen should be savvy enough to stay out of submissions.
My Prediction: Donald Cerrone by decision.
Poll
Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone
Diaz
Cerrone
13 votes | Results
Posted in: diaz, submission, nate, cerrone, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 141: Nate Diaz defeats Donald Cerrone via Unanimous Decision
UFC veteran Nate Diaz proved he's one of the best Lightweights on the planet, after going to distance with Donald Cerrone in the co-main event of UFC 141 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Diaz looked at the peak of his MMA career, punishing Donald Cerrone throughout the fight with laser-sharp boxing combination. Despite not being at 100% of their power, Nate Diaz's punches put a crimson mask on Donald Cerrone face, as "The Cowboy" tried to find his way back into the fight. Cerrone responded with knees and leg kicks
Posted in: diaz, cerrone, donald cerrone, comain event, donald
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 141 Video: Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem Stare Down and Weigh-In Highlights
In case you missed the live feed of the weigh-ins, here's the highlight video which includes the intense stare down between Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar tipped the scales and cut weight to the 266 lb. limit. Overeem on the other hand, weighed in wearing his jeans at 263 lbs.
After the jump, check out full weigh-in results, including highlight videos and staredown for the co-main event bout between, Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz.
Full weigh-in results:
Main Card:Brock Lesnar (266) vs. Alistair Overeem (263)Donald Cerrone (156) vs. Nate Diaz (157*)Jon Fitch (171) vs. Johny Hendricks (170)Alexander Gustafsson (203) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (205)Jim Hettes (145) vs. Nam Phan (146)
Preliminary Card:Junior Assuncao (145) vs. Ross Pearson (145)Danny Castillo (156) vs. Anthony Njokuani (154)Dong Hyun Kim (171) vs. Sean Pierson (171)Efrain Escudero (155) vs. Jacob Volkmann (155)Luis Ramos (171) vs. Matt Riddle (170)Manny Gamburyan (146) vs. Diego Nunes (145)
*Diaz was one pound over, has one hour to drop the weight. Cerrone said he's fine with fighting at 157. Diaz dropped the pound and made 156.
Posted in: diaz, overeem, vs, lesnar, weighin
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 141 Main Card Results - Diaz Wins The War Over Cerrone
LAS VEGAS, December 30 - Certain fights ramp up the human adrenaline-meter and live up to the hype. Friday night’s UFC 141 co-main event between Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was one of them. But while Cerrone entered this contest red-hot and having plowed through his first four UFC foes, it was Diaz who turned the tables on the lightweight juggernaut, battering and bloodying Cerrone with pinpoint boxing combinations from start to finish. In a clash of two fighters who rarely take a step backwards, Diaz was the far more aggressive hunter, unleashing a ridiculous volume of punches while holding his hands low with little regard for Cerrone’s return fire. It seemed like every couple of seconds, the southpaw Diaz was landing a flush right to Cerrone’s chin or a 1-2-3 combo that snapped Cerrone’s head back. The first round was particularly one-sided as Cerrone, normally one to impose his will, seemed unusually hesitant to let his hands go under such heavy fire. “Listen, This kid is just trying to overwhelm you,” Greg Jackson counseled Cerrone in his corner after the first round. “This kid is overwhelming you.” Cerrone found a slight vulnerability in the second round, repeatedly kicking Diaz’s legs out from under him. Cerrone never opted to follow Diaz to the canvas to test his ground skills versus the Cesar Gracie BJJ brown belt. Diaz always popped to his feet and simply continued with his blistering fistic assault. “Thanks Donald Cerrone for the fight,” Diaz said to Joe Rogan afterward. “Sorry about all of the (stuff) that went down.” The all-out war was as predictable as rats at a landfill. Diaz (15-7) had shoved Cerrone and slapped the cowboy hat off the native Coloradan’s head during a pre-fight staredown. Both fighters eschewed the traditional touching of the gloves to commence the fight, which was made more comical by referee Herb Dean’s instructions to them. Said Dean to the fighters before the opening horn: “At this time you can touch gloves… (pregnant pause) … or not.” Just for good measure, Diaz flipped the bird to Cerrone right before the third round. But when it was all said and done – when judges’ scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 had been announced -- the ill will had been vented. Sportsmanship and an embrace ensued.“Man, he brought it,” Cerrone said. “Tough dude. Vegas, thank you. That was the best I could give you all.” JOHNY HENDRICKS VS. JON FITCHUp until tonight, despite amassing an 11-1 record against mostly high-level competition, Johny Hendricks had been something of an afterthought in the welterweight division. That perception changed in the blink of an eye as Hendricks uncorked a monster and nearly perfect overhand left – bringing all of his weight into the shot – that sent Jon Fitch falling to the canvas stiff as a statue.Another clean left hand prompted referee Steve Mazzagatti to rush to the rescue and, in just 12 seconds flat, Hendricks had toppled the man widely considered to be the No. 2-ranked welterweight in the world. “I feel awesome,” said the former two-time NCAA wrestling champion. “In every interview I said ‘I have a left hand.’ Everybody’s been counting me out. I knew if I hit him with it I could knock him out.” Leading up to the bout, Fitch had been marching toward a rematch with 170-pound champ Georges St-Pierre. The hard-nosed Purdue University grad had been unbeaten in his past six contests but was caught off-guard by the tremendous hand speed of Hendricks, who became the first fighter to finish Fitch over the past nine years. VLADIMIR MATYUSHENKO VS. ALEXANDER GUSTAFSSONIs Alexander Gustafsson a title contender at 205 pounds? He sure as heck looked like it Friday while TKO’ing the grizzled vet that is Vladimir Matyushenko. A stiff left jab by Gustafsson greeted Matyushenko as he charged in, sending the 40-year-old light heavy to the mat and covered up in the fetal position. A few punches later the referee halted the action and the 6-feet-4-inch Swede had pushed his record to 13-1, 5-1 in the UFC. With all but one of his wins coming via finish, Gustafsson’s only loss came to Phil Davis. Notably, Gustafsson teamed up with his conqueror for his most recent training camp, taking up residence in San Diego to train alongside Davis and under the direction of top trainer (Eric Del Fierro). “It was my day today,” Gustaffson said, praising Matyushenko as “someone I looked up to. “It was my dream to fight in Vegas. It’s the biggest win of my life.” JIMY HETTES VS. NAM PHANPerhaps taking a page from his stablemate, lightweight kingpin Frankie Edgar, Jimy Hettes set a furious pace and physically overwhelmed Nam Phan for almost all of their 15 minutes inside of the Octagon. To Phan’s credit, he refused to be finished, despite being on the receiving end of a vicious ground and pound assault in the first stanza. A bloodied Phan, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, also had to fight off an armbar attempt and arm triangle in the bout, which had some wondering how it is possible that Hettes (who trains under Ricardo Almeida) is still ranked as a BJJ purple belt. Also a brown belt in judo, Hettes repeatedly utilized foot trips in the clinch to put Phan on the deck and harass him at every turn. The unanimous decision nod kept Hettes unbeaten at 10-0. Phan fell to 17-11.
Posted in: diaz, cerrone, phan, hette, hendrick
Read the full article at UFCUFC 141: ‘Lesnar vs. Overeem’ Preview
Have you seen the weigh-in pics of UFC 141’s main event? If ever there was an example of two expertly-drawn comic book characters stepping off the pages and coming to life, it’s Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, who seem to have taken the words “monstrosity” and “man-mountain” to the extreme. Seriously, they look like photoshops that North Korea would use as propaganda (“See,” said the late Kim Jong-Il. “We make superheroes. America will fall!”). Their physiques are so improbable in human beings, steroids have tested positive for “Brock Lesnar” and “Alistair Overeem” and been faced with suspension. They’re so huge, if the Hulk were to tune into Saturday night’s pay-per-view and see the former UFC champ and former Strikeforce champ enter the cage, he’d say, “Wait, what?” That’s right, folks, for the last UFC event of the year, Zuffa has gone big (heh-heh). There’s a compelling undercard there, too, with studs like Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz set to battle it out while Johny Hendricks seeks to avoid getting engulfed in the living Slanket ™ known as Jon Fitch. But the world is tuning into to see two very, very large mixed martial artists do whatever it is they do in the Octagon. However, let’s preview it all, shall we?
-Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem – Over a year ago, Lesnar lost his belt in convincing fashion to Cain Velasquez when he realized he didn’t like the taste of Velasquez’s fists in his mouth. Since then, he’s been… I don’t know, illegally hunting in Canada and trying to keep his lower intestines from exploding? Dutch giant Overeem, meanwhile, turned in a lackluster performance against Fabricio Werdum in Strikeforce’s ill-fated heavyweight grand prix, and has had trouble urinating in a plastic cup in a timely fashion. What does that leave us for UFC 141’s main event? Either a thrilling – and short – bout consisting of Overeem laying Lesnar out with more violence than Velasquez could muster, or a painfully long example of one heavyweight laying on top of another for the duration. If I gambled, I’d place money on Lesnar winning by way of the latter method. Who knows, though. Overeem could catch him.
-Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz – The great thing about Nate Diaz is he’s almost like his older brother Nick in terms of skill and ability. The bad thing about Nate is that he’s not enough like his older brother Nick, which means the TUF winner is vulnerable to guys who are capable ass-kickers. You know what? Cerrone is a capable ass-kicker. Since tapping out to Ben Henderson back in April of 2010, Cerrone has beaten everyone he’s faced pretty badly. Will Diaz out-box him? Nope. Will Diaz out-jiu-jitsu him? No way. The “Cowboy” is way too well-rounded to fall for anything Diaz throws at him, and I see him taking the decision after three rounds of pure beatdown. It will be exciting, though.
-Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks – The last time Fitch was able to make someone tap out was 2007. Since then, he’s laid on just about everyone he’s faced with such force and determination, some states consider him legally married to those men. Will Hendricks be any different? Hell no. Hendricks couldn’t keep Rick Story from imposing his game upon him. As such, when Bruce Buffer announces the winner of the Fitch/Hendricks bout, he’s going to say, “…the winner, by unanimous decision, Jon Fitch! You may now kiss the bride!”
-Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Alexander Gustafsson – At some point, Matyushenko is going to have to call it quits. After all, he’s been in the game since 1997. To put things in perspective, Swede fighter Gustafsson was ten years old in 1997. This match-up isn’t about Matyushenko’s toughness and ability to wrestle and deliver a punch as much as it’s about HOLY CRAP THAT GUY IS GETTING OLD. Gustafsson is taking this one via youthful TKO.
-Nam Phan vs. Jim Hettes – Supposedly, Hettes is an ace grappler who’s “all that and a bag of chips” (are kids still saying that these days?). We all know Phan as a game TUF vet with black belt-level jiu-jitsu and fairly decent body blows. I guess the big question here is if Hettes can get Phan down, and if so, does he have the grappling chops to do something with him when he gets him there? I’m going to go out on a limb and say “no”, simply because Phan has had almost three times as many fights, and no one beats him by sub. No, Phan is taking the decision in this one.
Posted in: diaz, overeem, vs, lesnar, phan
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 141: Brock Lesnar Vs. Alistair Overeem Weigh Ins Gallery And Results
UFC 141 is less than 24 hours away headlined by Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. The two monstrous heavyweights will square off in what could be the most anticipated heavyweight clash of 2011. The co-main event of Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz is likely a lightweight title eliminator and a surefire Fight of the Night candidate. The talented Esther Lin of MMA Fighting has provided all the photos.
Official Weigh Ins Results
Main Card:Brock Lesnar (266) vs. Alistair Overeem (263)Donald Cerrone (156) vs. Nate Diaz (157*)Jon Fitch (171) vs. Johny Hendricks (170)Alexander Gustafsson (203) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (205)Jim Hettes (145) vs. Nam Phan (146)
Preliminary Card:Junior Assuncao (145) vs. Ross Pearson (145)Danny Castillo (156) vs. Anthony Njokuani (154)Dong Hyun Kim (171) vs. Sean Pierson (171)Efrain Escudero (155) vs. Jacob Volkmann (155)Luis Ramos (171) vs. Matt Riddle (170)Manny Gamburyan (146) vs. Diego Nunes (145)
*Diaz was one pound over, has one hour to drop the weight. Cerrone said he's fine with fighting at 157. Diaz dropped the pound and made 156.
Gallery after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem
Posted in: diaz, overeem, vs, lesnar, donald cerrone
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBrock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem staredown pic from UFC 141 weigh-ins
UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" is just around the corner, tomorrow night (Fri., Dec. 30, 2011), actually, emanating from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And that means all the pre-fight festivities, like press conferences (here), weigh-ins (here) and the obligatory staredown pictures that come with them.
Above we have the main event of the evening, featuring Brock Lesnar attempting to earn another crack at the heavyweight championship he once held against Octagon debutant Alistair Overeem.
The Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone staredown went off without a hitch, mostly because it appeared as though UFC President Dana White told everyone to stay cool. Diaz actually missed weight by one pound, but Cerrone was more than willing to waive it off to get inside the cage and tussle.
We'll let you know if Diaz drops the additional pound.
Cerrone vs. Diaz, as well as Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks, staredowns are after the jump. For complete UFC 141 weigh-in results click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, staredown, staredown pictures
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCerrone Says He’ll Sprint Out of Corner at Diaz
Donald Cerrone has a habit of starting slow.
Posted in: diaz, cerrone, donald, ’ll sprint, habit
Read the full article at SherdogDonald Cerrone on Nate Diaz: What's up now, tough guy?
By now, I would hope you know what happened at the UFC 141 pre-fight press conference yesterday. In case you don't, the short version is that Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone got into a minor altercation during their staredown.
They exchanged words of some sort and Diaz knocked Cerrone's hat off his head before shoving him. He did so because "he's no punk" and he didn't like how "Cowboy" was getting all up in his grill.
Now, Cerrone writes in his blog at MMAFighting.com that he is, in fact, punking Diaz out and he's inside the Stockton slugger's head:
"What yesterday showed was that the bully is getting bullied. The Diaz brothers are bullies, all that street-thug stuff gets inside opponent's heads. They are the guys who punk everyone out and get in everyone else's heads, but what's happened now, tough guy? Now the tables have been turned on you and you are getting punked out, you are the guy freaking out and looking uncomfortable and your delusions of being this intimidating bad ass aren't working no more. It feels good to turn the tables, to see this (individual) get punked out. I'm in his head now, he looked uncomfortable when I worked out in front of him, and he freaked out yesterday."
Maybe these two don't have the name value of the UFC 141 headliners, Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, but they've done as good a job as anyone of selling their co-main event bout, which takes place tomorrow night (Fri., Dec. 30, 2011) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hell, they've single-handedly sold the weigh-ins, which take place later tonight. What's the over/under on the number of security guards hanging around the stage when they square off for the staredown tonight?
Remember, MMAmania.com will have live coverage as it goes down, so stick around and we'll find out before long.
Stay tuned.
Posted in: diaz, guy, head, cerrone, donald cerrone
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz talks TUF
Nate Diaz talks to UFC.com about his early days of getting into training and eventually ending up on the Ultimate Fighter. Both events seem to have been spurred on by his brother Nick, which is kinda surprising since you'd think all the advice Nick gives out would lead to incarceration or an early grave, not wealth and success.
“We were sitting at home when they started The Ultimate Fighter, and we’re like ‘this s**t is ridiculous,’” said Nate. “We were just criticizing it horribly and we’re laughing at it, saying ‘hell no, I would never do that.’ And then they called him for The Ultimate Fighter, but Nick was like ‘I’m not doing that show.’”Nick refused a spot on season four of TUF, but when the call came in for season five, it was for Nate. The younger Diaz refused, even though Cesar Gracie believed he should do it. Then Nick entered the picture.“I think you should do it,” Nick told his brother.So he did, but as soon as taping began, he wanted out.“I said I’m getting out of here,” recalled Nate. “I don’t even know why I’m here.”But then his first fight against Rob Emerson was set.“At that point I couldn’t leave, because if I left, it would be like I didn’t want to fight somebody.”Diaz beat Emerson, and again, he would lie awake at night plotting for a way to leave. He didn’t do it though, and after beating Corey Hill, Gray Maynard, and Manny Gamburyan, he won the season title and a UFC contract.“It was a good thing I stayed because it was like a shortcut and it got me right into the UFC,” he said. “It was the best thing that could have happened. I had no money, I was broke, I was a kid, and I had no direction, and at that point it kinda gave me a direction.”
Nate's time on the Ultimate Fighter also solidified his reputation as 'the sane Diaz brother', with the one major spat on the show involving him being mostly Karo Parisyan's fault. Although to be fair to Karo, did Nate know who he was bro?
Posted in: diaz, nick, ’t, i ’m, nate
Read the full article at FightlinkerNate Diaz and Manny Gamburyan watch Nick Diaz and Ronda Rousey train in awe
Imagine the combination of Ronda Rousey, the Diaz bros and Manny Gamburyan as some sort of undercover crime fighting unit. You have the lovable but tough as nails Ronda constantly getting into trouble with the chief for her reckless behavior out in the field "Do you have any idea what the mayor is going to do to my ass!?" the chief will exclaim over Ronda's latest explosive outing.
The Diaz bros will would be on the other side of the war on drugs this time, and they would be willing to bend the rules to get their man. Think classsic buddy film/brothers working together scenario. Maybe a Lethal Weapon if Riggs and Murtaugh were on really strong pot brownies.
And then there would be the quick tempered Manny. Threatening to throw everyone who would dare get in his way. He would be the enforcer that would never give up. Together, they would be unstoppable.
The above scenario will never, ever happen. But we can get a tiny taste of what it would be like in this video of the four of them training brought to us by MMA HEAT.
[Source]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, manny gamburyan, ronda, diaz bros
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 141 Weigh-In Results
Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- The UFC 141 fighters hit the scales as planned at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, but not everything went exactly according to plan. Nate Diaz failed to hit the lightweight mark on his first try, coming in at 157 pounds -- one pound over the 156-pound limit. Although Donald Cerrone indicated he was perfectly willing to give his opponent the excess weight, the Nevada State Athletic Commission was not so quite so lax, giving Diaz one hour to remedy the situation.
In the main event, Dutch heavyweight Alistair Overeem weighed in at 263 pounds with his jeans on. His opponent, Brock Lesnar, first flexed himself into a frenzy, then stepped on the scales and hit the heavyweight limit at 266 pounds.
After making weight, Lesnar immediately turned and walked off the stage, leaving Overeem alone to share his thoughts with UFC color commentator Joe Rogan.The former Strikeforce and K-1 champion drew cheers when he said it felt "very good to finally be in the UFC," and predicted a "pretty short" night of work for himself, promising a first or second-round knockout.
Full weigh-in results are below.
Main card (pay-per-view)
Alistair Overeem (263) vs. Brock Lesnar (266)
Donald Cerrone (156) vs. Nate Diaz (157)*
Jon Fitch (171) vs. Johny Hendricks (170)
Alexander Gustafsson (203) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (205)
Nam Phan (146) vs. Jimy Hettes (145)
TV prelims (Spike TV)
Ross Pearson (145) vs. Junior Assuncao (145)
Danny Castillo (156) vs. Anthony Njokuani (154)
Prelims (Facebook)
Jacob Volkmann (155) vs. Efrain Escudero (155)
Matt Riddle (170) vs. Luis Ramos (171)
Manny Gamburyan (146) vs. Diego Nunes (145)
* Diaz weighed in at 156 pounds on his third try.
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Posted in: ufc, pound, diaz, vs, lesnar
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNate Diaz: “When I fight, I’m mad.”
If you think Nate Diaz‘s standard expression while fighting looks like a face of frustration, it’s because it actually is. The 26-year old who meets Donald Cerrone in the co-main event of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem on Friday night seems to always have a sadistic smile on his mug, possibly a little surprising from a fighter that has earned seven post-bout awards in his fourteen UFC fights, but according to the 155er there’s a good reason for it.
“When I fight, I’m mad. I’m starving, I had to make weight, I trained my ass off, and I’m there to entertain,” said Diaz, in a recent interview with UFC’s website. “I’m just trying to do what I gotta do. Some people are out there trying to be the nicest guy, but I feel like a lot of that is frontin’. When you see me on camera, I’ve got to fight another person, and I’m not gonna put on a front.”
Diaz, coming off a submission victory over Takanori Gomi earlier this year, will try to halt the runaway train that is Cerrone when the two square off tomorrow evening. The two have had some heated exchanges but, to Diaz, that’s all part of the process even if he actually respects his adversary.
For example, at yesterday’s pre-fight press conference, Diaz removed Cerrone’s trademark cowboy hat during a staredown between the two, yet in reference to his opponent Diaz explained, “He’s actually one of the guys who likes to fight in the UFC, compared to people who like to wrestle and jump around, point scoring and doing all that funny stuff.”
Catch Diaz-Cerrone as part of a card headlined by heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem when the PPV fires up at 10:00 PM EST. Other bouts scheduled for the lineup include Alexander Gustafsson-Vladimir Matyushenko and Jon Fitch-Johny Hendricks.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, i ’m, ’m
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainThe Diaz Brothers React To Donald Cerrone Hat Incident
Donald Cerrone “shouldn’t have put his stupid-ass cowboy hat all up on me,” says Nate Diaz when asked why he knocked his hat clear across the stage and shoved him back at the UFC 141 pre-fight press conference.
I haven’t seen any comments from Cerrone on the incident yet, but he did make some interesting comments about Nate in a blog post he wrote for MMA Fighting.
This guy thinks you’ve got to be dumb or come from Stockton, wherever that is, to be tough. But I’ve got the same ‘I don’t give a f**k’ gene he has, and I also got genes for better striking and better wrestling. He pissed me off, he lit my fire up and as soon as I beat Dennis Siver at UFC 137 I knew that I wanted to fight again before the end of the year, and I knew I wanted to fight Nate Diaz.
The weird thing is, I like the Diaz brothers. They come to fight. They are crazy. They bring it. Diaz is going to show up Friday night at UFC 141 and we will have a war. Do I respect him as a fighter? Yes I do. He comes to throw down. He comes and fights with everything he’s got. Is that enough to stop me from beating him up? No, it is not. Not anywhere near.
…
Yesterday we had the open workouts at the same TUF gym where Diaz slapped my hand away in October. I was in the locker room waiting for him to get done doing interviews with press, but then I decided to go out and give him something to worry about. I purposely went out there knowing he wasn’t done and started hitting pads. He kept turning around real skittish.
I got this. If he makes it to the second round, he’s had a lucky night.
One thing is for sure — it’s going to be a hell of a fight.
Posted in: fight, diaz, cerrone, diaz brothers, hat
Read the full article at MMA ConvertDonald Cerrone: "He ran his mouth too much this time, and now he’s going to be in trouble."
28-year old lightweight Donald Cerrone always stood out in WEC, just not in the 155-pound division. However, things have certainly changed in the past year, as the “Cowboy” has lassoed a quartet of victories in the UFC since coming on board in February including those over contenders like Charles Oliveira and most recently Dennis Siver.
With six straight wins behind him Cerrone enters the Octagon tomorrow night against perhaps his stiffest challenge to date, the traditionally tough and tremendously talented Nate Diaz. If Cerrone leaves with his hand raised he will find himself in discussion for a title-shot, if not he will head back to the end of the contendership line.
Diaz: “He Better Knock Me Out or Pull Out One of Those Funny Judges’ Decisions…”
Then again, that’s assuming Cerrone actually cares about rankings when it comes to his fight with Diaz or any other scrap for that matter.
“I could give a sh*t who’s over me,” the 17-3 Cerrone candidly replied in an interview with the UFC’s website when asked about where he’s perceived to stack up in his weight-class.
Rather, Cerrone is simply interested in the competition and attached paycheck, letting the rest of the stuff sort itself out rather than concern himself with factors outside of his control.
As far as his recent run in the ring, Cerrone responded modestly, crediting his mental acuity with a bit of timing for the success he’s experienced over the past eighteen months.
“I just feel like I’m hot,” Cerrone stated. “I don’t know, that’s just how life goes, in waves like that. You’ll be on top and then you’re at your lowest time. Right now, I feel good; everything seems to be going right.”
“I think I’ve always had it there — it’s just been getting my mind to tell my body what to do, getting my mind right,” he continued. “I’ve been figuring out what it takes for me to fight in the cage the way that I do in practice, you know?”
Regarding Diaz, Cerrone is certainly motivated to continue the trend, especially after some of his opponent’s pre-fight behavior, saying, “He’s game man, for sure. He talks a lot, and he gets in there and fights. I’m excited…Unfortunately, he ran his mouth too much this time, and now he’s going to be in trouble. I’m excited to fight him. Ring the bell. Let’s go!”
Fans can check out Diaz-Cerrone on the UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem PPV broadcast with things starting up at 10:00 PM EST. Preliminary pairings can also be watched through Facebook/Spike TV starting at 7:00 PM EST.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, cerrone, donald cerrone
Read the full article at Fighters.comNate Diaz breaks down the hat-flipping incident
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Posted in: diaz, break, pleasebequiet, incident, hatflipping incident
Read the full article at RedditUFC 141 predictions, preview and analysis
UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" is all set to blow the roof off the MGM Grand Garden Arena tomorrow night (Dec. 30, 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a colossal heavyweight showdown between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 141, beginning with the pay-per-view telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Dec. 30. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night.
The big story heading into tomorrow night's mixed martial arts (MMA) extravaganza surrounds the heavyweight headliner, which will undoubtedly have serious implications on the division's title picture.
Expect Junior dos Santos to be watching this one with vested interest.
Also getting their hands dirty in "Sin City" are Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone. If the "Cowboy" can wrangle his sixth straight win, it may be time to start discussing his place among the 155-pound title contenders.
But don't expect Diaz to make it easy for him.
The UFC claims Lesnar vs. Overeem "doesn't get any bigger than this," which in turn means my fair, balanced and always objective analysis will also be pretty big.
Follow me after the jump to have your feelings hurt (not kidding).
265 lbs.: Brock Lesnar (5-2) vs. Alistair Overeem (35-11)
Nostradumbass predicts: As a mixed martial arts fan, you should be embarrassed that this fight was ever made. In fact, if I wasn't so busy copying and pasting other people's news stories without their express written consent, I would be firing off a letter to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) lambasting them for ever sanctioning this freak-show fight.
In what universe is it okay to have a guy with seven pro fights, who hasn't competed in over a year AND recently underwent major intestinal surgery, face off against a three-time world champion with nearly 70 professional fights between MMA and K-1?
It's ludicrous.
Forget about Lesnar's 14-month layoff. Let's even forget about his major surgery. What happened in his last two fights? Your answer should be: "He got lit up like a Hasbro Lite-Brite by two guys with good stand-up." I know Brock's Jocks are quick to point out he won the fight against Shane Carwin, but that's because "The Engineer" was so utterly exhausted from pounding Lesnar's face in for five minutes he ended up with the guard of a DeathClutch grappling dummy.
And speaking of inanimate objects, Lesnar was so concerned with Overeem's striking, widely recognized as the best in the heavyweight division, he brought in a bunch of fat wrestlers to push around in his private compound in Minnesota.
No disrespect to Chris Tuschererererer and Cole Konrad, who could pin me like a poster in .0348 milliseconds, but why they are within 100 miles of his gym is a mystery to me. Where are the strikers?
Pat Barry? Really?
"Get Hype" should get lost, because Overeem is a foot taller than him, making "HD" a poor substitute for the towering Dutchman.
Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot about Tim Hague. They brought in Tim Hague to help Lesnar train. The same "Thrashing Machine" that went 1-4 inside the Octagon and got knocked out twice. I guess I should also mention that while he was there, they basically used him as chum.
Here's the bottom line: Brock Lesnar can't take a punch. That's not me acting like an Overeem fanboy, it's a proven fact. It's on film. He stays conscious because he's got a granite chin, no question, but the second you hit him, he crumbles like a stale Entenmann's coffee cake.
I'm supposed to pick this guy against the best striker in the business?
Well, Brock has the takedown. Yes, he most certainly does. And Overeem has 19 submission wins. C'mon folks, it's right there in black and white.
Lesnar doesn't have the experience, the skill set or the heart to win this fight. He's a big, strong bully who does very well when he gets his way. When he doesn't, that's when things begin to fall apart.
Overeem owns three world titles and a ten fight winning streak. If you're best argument against him revolves around a fight from the PRIDE days when he was young and starving himself to make 205, then boy, are you in trouble.
"Demolition Man" is destined to become the UFC heavyweight champion. His first round knockout of Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 will play out like a teaser trailer for his 2012 title win.
Prediction: Alistair Overeem def. Brock Lesnar via TKO
155 lbs.: Donald Cerrone (17-3) vs. Nate Diaz (14-7)
Nostradumbass predicts: For my money, Jon Jones has been the best fighter of 2011. But you could make a pretty convincing argument that Donald Cerrone is right up there as well and a finish over Nate Diaz might even make him number two.
What kills me about the "Cowboy" critics is how quickly they dismiss his ascent atop the 155-pound mountain because of a handful of losses under the WEC banner. It's almost as if some fans have resigned themselves to the fact that fighters never improve, learn from their mistakes or just get better after months and years of training.
It happens -- and it's time to give Cerrone his due.
Diaz is by no means a pushover and he'll make this thing a fight, no question, but he's kind of like Nick-lite. You see flashes of the Diaz greatness, but it just doesn't have the same flavor.
Part of his problem is he never seems to show any urgency when he competes and that can be the deciding factor in a three round fight. And his knick-knack-paddywhack-pass-your-brother-a-bone style of striking won't be enough to befuddle Cerrone -- and it certainly won't finish him.
The danger for Donald here is the ground game.
He's no slouch himself with 13 submission wins but it's just a dangerous place to be against any Cesar Gracie-trained fighter. The good news is I don't think either one of them is interested in taking it there.
There's been a lot of bravado heading into this lightweight affair: pushing, shoving, cursing, you know, all the standard activities that come with a Diaz fight (or family reunion), but when the cage door closes, it's going to be Cerrone by judge's nod.
He'll control the pace, the center of the Octagon, and ultimately, the decision.
Prediction: Donald Cerrone def. Nick Diaz via unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Jon Fitch (23-3-1) vs. Johny Hendricks (11-1)
Nostradumbass predicts: The fall of AKA continues in 2011 as Jon Fitch is going to be upset tomorrow night by the powerful punches of Johny Hendricks. Can't you just see it? Fitch spends a little too much time dicking around on his feet, gets tagged, clings to a leg instinctively and gets hammer-fisted until the ref intervenes. Then he gets up and protests vehemently while Hendricks runs around the cage screaming like a banshee.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
I mentioned earlier that most fighters who compete on a regular basis will improve and get better. It seems to me like Fitch is getting worse. His record states otherwise but man, I just haven't seen a fight from him in the past few years that tells me he's still top of the food chain and now he's coming off major surgery.
In short, Hendricks is in the right place at the right time.
Aside from nine straight fights without a finish, Fitch doesn't have the power to hurt Johny on the feet, so that makes his wrestling the primary weapon in this fight. Oh, by the way, Hendricks is two-time NCAA Division I national champion.
Doh!
The simplest way to put it is this: Hendricks is on his way up and Fitch is on his way down. The former has half the experience as the latter, but twice the momentum.
This one doesn't get out of the first round.
Final prediction: Johny Hendricks def. Jon Fitch via TKO
205 lbs.: Alexander Gustafsson (12-1) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (26-5)
Nostradumbass predicts: There's been a lot of talk about how Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone will take home "Fight of the Night," but I think a lot of mixed martial arts fans are giving the light heavyweight scrap between Alexander Gustafsson and Vladimir Matyushenko a second look.
It's fixin' to be a helluva fight.
"The Janitor" has done a pretty good job of cutting the legs out from under a couple of ladder climbers in the prospect-rich 205-pound division, namely Jason Brilz and Alexandre Ferreira. True, he was victimized by Jon Jones prior to that, but knocking a guy for losing to "Bones" is like making fun of the Bears for losing to the Packers.
Besides, it might have done him some good, because he's come back with a vengeance.
He'll need it against the Swede, who also suffered a setback after getting strangled by Phil Davis but bounced back to win three straight and beat the brakes off the tough-as-nails Matt Hamill last August.
This is gonna be a dogfight and closely contested through two-and-a-half rounds, but somewhere in the latter part of the final frame Gustafsson is going to pull ahead and finish the old dog with some of his new tricks.
Two great talents, one great fight. The fans are the real winners in this one.
Final prediction: Alexander Gustafsson def. Vladimir Matyushenko via TKO
145 lbs.: Jim Hettes (9-0) vs. Nam Phan (17-9)
Nostradumbass predicts: A lot of fight fans haven't had the pleasure of seeing Jim Hettes compete and come tomorrow night, they'll understand why he's being touted as the nest big thing at featherweight. Living on the East Coast, I was able to catch him at Cage Fight last year and let me tell you, "The Kid" is for real.
Nine wins, nine submissions.
His last one came at UFC on Versus 5 when he strangled Bruce Leroy into a second round tap and it wouldn't surprise me to see a repeat performance against Phan, who is best known for his pair of bouts against Leonard Garcia.
I know the former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 hopeful has kind of been everyone's 145-pound darling, but outside of some decent stand-up and a ton of heart, he's not exactly "in the mix" in his respective division.
Hettes will see to that.
Phan has a chance on the feet in any fight not involving Jose Aldo, but it's only a matter of time before Hettes gets this thing to the ground. Once he does, it's merely academic.
Final prediction: Jim Hettes def. Nam Phan via submission
That's a wrap, folks.
For previews and predictions on the preliminary card fights click here and here. To see all the odds and betting lines for UFC 141 click here and remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of "Lesnar vs. Overeem."
What do you think? Now it's your turn ... let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for tomorrow night's event.
Posted in: fight, diaz, overeem, lesnar, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz on Donald Cerrone hat and shoving incident: I'm no punk
The big story coming out of the UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" pre-fight press conference is the scuffle between co-main event participants Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone.
The short of it is that the two squared off for the customary staredown, Cerrone muttered a comment about getting at Diaz on Friday, and Nate knocked his cowboy hat off his head and shoved him.
Explanations, gentlemen, let's hear 'em. First, Diaz:
"He was trying to tip his hat into my face and I'm no punk who will take that. He was mumbling some stupid crap about me needing to bring it. He don't even believe what he's saying. He's trying to find confidence from somewhere. I will knock something else off his head Friday."
And your side, Mr. Cerrone:
"I'm not getting paid to fight today. I get paid on Friday when it counts. Let's see if he's brave enough to swat my hat off on Friday. Let's see if he even comes close. Today, I acted like a professional. Friday, I'm gonna make him pay."
Tsk, tsk.
Even though he tweeted a link to a video of the entire ordeal and boisterously pronounced how pumped he is for this fight, which takes place tomorrow night (Dec. 30, 2011) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, UFC President Dana White isn't very happy with how the whole thing played out (via MMAFighting.com):
"There's going to be times when heated stuff happens. I'm not happy that Nate slapped Cerrone's hat off today. I don't like the guys touching each other (before the fight). That's why I'm standing there. I'm not there to mug up into the camera. I'm there to make sure that sh*t doesn't happen. I didn't do my job today, apparently. Everybody knows how nasty the Diaz brothers are. But Donald Cerrone's not the nicest guy in the world either, you know what I mean?"
The beef between Diaz and Cerrone started a few months back with an incident at a UFC gym that saw Cerrone try to play nice and get slapped away when he went for a handshake.
Homie don't play friends with anyone in his "bracket," as Diaz calls his weight class.
That tipped Cerrone off and "fed his flames," making him "a better fire." If this all sounds silly to you, don't worry, they'll settle their differences inside the cage come tomorrow night in "Sin City."
When asked if he would try to shake Diaz's hand after it's all said and done, Cerrone simply replied, "no."
Don't miss out on the fun tomorrow night, Maniacs.
Posted in: diaz, cerrone, friday, im, hat
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 141 Blog: Donald Cerrone on Getting Snubbed by Nate Diaz
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsWhere I am from, if you are cool with someone, you are cool with their friends. If you are not cool with me, then don't go talking to my best friend when I am in the room unless you can be cool with me for a couple of seconds, too.
A couple of months ago at UFC 137, at the open workout at the TUF Gym in Vegas, Nate Diaz was in the room talking to my best friend, Leonard Garcia, so I went over to shake his hand. Nothing major just like, "Hey man, what's going on? Nice to meet you."
This was the first time I've ever met the dude and I was being polite. Y'know, because that what you do when you are in a room and your friend is talking to a dude right in front of you, you introduce yourself.
But Diaz slapped my hand away and called me a 'punk-ass b**ch' and walked off.
I was like, really?
Okay.
This guy thinks you've got to be dumb or come from Stockton, wherever that is, to be tough. But I've got the same 'I don't give a f**k' gene he has, and I also got genes for better striking and better wrestling. He pissed me off, he lit my fire up and as soon as I beat Dennis Siver at UFC 137 I knew that I wanted to fight again before the end of the year, and I knew I wanted to fight Nate Diaz.
More Coverage: UFC 141 Fight Card | UFC 141 Results
The weird thing is, I like the Diaz brothers. They come to fight. They are crazy. They bring it. Diaz is going to show up Friday night at UFC 141 and we will have a war. Do I respect him as a fighter? Yes I do. He comes to throw down. He comes and fights with everything he's got. Is that enough to stop me from beating him up? No, it is not. Not anywhere near.
If he wants to stand, let's stand. He won't last a round with that funny hands above his head like he's riding a Harley stance. And if he wants to take me down, first he has got to beat my wrestling, and he isn't good enough to do that. And I don't know if it is a good idea for him to even try to take me down. My BJJ isn't great, but it is as good as his.
Diaz doesn't make a whole lot of sense when he talks. He said if I don't knock him out or win a decision, I am in trouble. What does that mean? I know how to co-exist in this world, and part of that is to say 'Hi' and shake hands with people. Diaz can't do that. I guess he didn't go to school to learn how to shake hands... sorry, inside joke.
Yesterday we had the open workouts at the same TUF gym where Diaz slapped my hand away in October. I was in the locker room waiting for him to get done doing interviews with press, but then I decided to go out and give him something to worry about. I purposely went out there knowing he wasn't done and started hitting pads. He kept turning around real skittish.
I got this. If he makes it to the second round, he's had a lucky night.
Follow 'Cowboy' Cerrone on twitter @Cowboycerrone Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, hand, i dont
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseThe Diaz brothers explain the science behind flipping off Cerrone's cowboy hat
I'll be making the short trip to Las Vegas in a few hours for the UFC 141, and any reasonable person would be asleep by now. However, I simply can't get over the fact that Nick Diaz rocked a green MiddleEasy shirt this evening and took a picture of it. To everyone out there, don't be scared to visit WorldOverEasy and buy the shirt, homie. It's an expense that you can easily justify. Wearing a green MiddleEasy shirt will also enable you to break down exactly why Cowboy Cerrone's hat needed to be flipped off at the UFC 141 pre-fight press conference weigh-ins yesterday. It all makes sense, in a 209 type of way.
Check out this video the UFC just released moments ago with Nick and Nate Diaz talking about the incident from yesterday along with a little impromptu shadow boxing from Nate Diaz. [Source]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, shirt, middleeasy shirt
Read the full article at Middle EasyDonald Cerrone-Nate Diaz UFC 141 Face-Off Gets Heated
Nate Diaz swatted Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone's trademark Stetson off his head at the UFC 141 press conference and ignited their Friday co-main event.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, donald, comain
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 141 Prefight Press Video: Nate Diaz
After a brief run at welterweight, The Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner Nate Diaz is back at lightweight to try and derail the runaway train that is Donald Cerrone at UFC 141 on Friday night.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate, friday, donald cerrone
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyOh wow! Nate Diaz slapped off Donald Cerrone's cowboy hat at today's press conference
Isn't knocking off a guy's cowboy hat the equivalent of a Renaissance Frenchmen unsheathing his caliber in public? It's pretty clear that Nate Diaz watched our brief Cowboy Cerrone interview and listened to every ounce of smack-talk he threw towards him. See, we told you guys earlier today that any confrontation between these two fighters will be epic -- and we're taking full credit for it. Well, alright. Nate Diaz gets some of it. But that's it.
Check out what went down minutes ago at the UFC 141 pre-fight press conference, which is also host to a pre-fight pre-weigh-in weigh-in. Confusing, but I love typing words with hyphens -- so it's cool.
Posted in: diaz, nate, nate diaz, cowboy, renaissance frenchmen
Read the full article at Middle EasyNate Diaz Knocks Off Donald Cerrone’s Hat & Shoves Him at UFC 141 Pre-Fight Press Conference
I’ve watched plenty of westerns in my time and if I’ve learned one thing, it’s never to touch a man’s hat. Nate Diaz has apparently never seen a western.
Or maybe he has…
BTW, according to Dana White, the Cerrone-Diaz dust-up was started by Cerrone telling Diaz he was going to 'get in that ass.'6 minutes ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@benfowlkesMMABen Fowlkes
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, cerrone, hat, cerronediaz dustup
Read the full article at MMA ConvertAfter downplaying beef, Diaz's shove of Cerrone reignites tempers at UFC 141 presser
LAS VEGAS - Sitting at the podium for the UFC 141 pre-fight press conference, Nate Diaz insisted any drama between Donald Cerrone and him was manufactured.
"I think it was just made a little more than what it was," he said of a previous run-in with Cerrone that's turned UFC 141's co-main event into a mini-soap opera.
Then, Diaz created some real drama. Nose-to-nose for photographers, Diaz flipped off Cerrone's cowboy hat and shoved him.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, cerrone, beef diazs, cerrone thats
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDiaz and Cerrone get Physical at UFC 141 Pre Fight Press Conference
submitted by dromios [link] [8 comments]
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, conference, pre
Read the full article at RedditCerrone has chance to avenge slight from Diaz (Yahoo! Sports)
Nate Diaz insulted Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone the only time they ever met. Now it's "game on" Friday at UFC 141.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, cerrone, friday, cowboy
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsUFC 141 fight card: Donald Cerrone vs Nate Diaz preview
Two very dangerous lightweights will collide in a very important divisional showdown this Friday night (Dec. 30, 2011) as budding contender Donald Cerrone takes on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 winner, Nate Diaz, in the co-main event of UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem."
Cerrone has exploded onto the scene in 2011, going from World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) purgatory to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title hopeful after winning his first four fights inside the Octagon. He's coming off a tremendous showing, halting Dennis Siver's four-fight win streak in the division at UFC 137
And he's ready to keep the ball rolling with another significant victory heading into 2012.
Diaz had a seesaw run in the UFC welterweight division before dropping back down to 155 pounds seemingly for good. He made an immediate impact by destroying former Pride FC lightweight champion Takanori Gomi in his return this past September.
He's braced for contention, too, if he can knock "Cowboy" off his high horse.
Will the Cerrone freight train of momentum keep rolling against Diaz? Or will the Stockton native crush "Cowboy's" dreams like his brother did to B.J. Penn? What's the key to victory for each talented lightweight on Friday night?
Let's find out:
Donald CerroneRecord: 17-3 (1 No Contest) overall, 4-0 in the UFCKey Wins: Dennis Siver (UFC 137), Charles Oliveira (UFC on Versus 5), Danny Castillo (WEC 34)Key Losses: Ben Henderson (Twice: WEC 48, WEC 43)
How he got here: Cerrone, a former bull-rider, transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA) and got off to a very hot start. He was undefeated in his first 10 fights, working all the way up to a WEC title fight with then-champion Jamie Varner.
Cerrone would come up short via close split technical decision. Despite the setback, the Greg Jackson-trained fighter would go on to battle Ben Henderson for the interim title when Varner became injured. He would lose another close decision in what was deemed the 2009 "Fight of the Year." After again bouncing back, "Cowboy" would try (and fail) for a third time at WEC gold in a rematch with Henderson, but would at least get redemption against Varner in his next fight, soundly defeating the former champ via unanimous decision.
After defeating Chris Horodecki in the final WEC event ever, Cerrone made his UFC debut on the Spike TV "Prelims" of UFC 126 against Paul Kelly. "Cowboy" surprised many by working his ground game against the Brit and completely outclassed "Tellys," earning a submission victory by way of rear naked choke in the second round.
He would continue his torrid 2011 with victories over Vagner Rocha, his first knockout victory over Charles Oliveira and then he capped it off by destroying top contender Dennis Siver before the midway point of the first round. After his impressive showing against Siver, he called for one more fight in 2011 and he had his wish granted against Diaz.
How he gets it done: Both of these men are talented and well-rounded, but Cerrone has a few distinct advantages. The first is that he's much more likely to use kicks in the striking game. This should give him some bonus effectiveness from a distance that Diaz won't be able to cease. The other is his improvement in wrestling. He's been caught in a submission before, but "Cowboy" is very well-versed in that game so if he can take Diaz down and keep him there, he could present some problems or at least win the round from top position.
One thing Cerrone cannot do is allow Diaz to get comfortable and really start opening up with his volume strikes. Every time Diaz gets going, Cerrone needs to either separate and create distance to reset or he needs to close the gap and stifle his attack with the takedown or by initiating a clinch.
Cerrone is capable of being a technician in the stand up, so with that tremendous volume of strikes, there should be plenty of small openings for him to pounce. Diaz is not known for his striking defense. In fact, he's been caught or dropped in plenty of his fights before recovering. If "Cowboy" is comfortable in the pocket and doesn't wilt under the pressure of the volume punches, he should be able to counter with some big blows of his own.
Nate DiazRecord: 14-7 overall, 9-5 in the UFCKey Wins: Melvin Guillard (UFC Fight Night 25), Takanori Gomi (UFC 135), Marcus Davis (UFC 118)Key Losses: Rory MacDonald (UFC 129), Gray Maynard (UFC Fight Night 20),
How he got here: Diaz didn't take the easy road. He made his MMA debut in the WEC and by his seventh professional fight, he was fighting for the promotion's lightweight title against Hermes Franca at the Brazilian's peak, losing via submission in the second round.
Undeterred, Diaz tried out for TUF 5, the first season to showcase the lightweight division. The self-assured Stockton native was one of the season's stars, constantly arguing with castmates, guest coaches and the like. He defeated Rob Emerson, Corey Hill and most impressively Gray Maynard via submission to compete in the Finale where he would be gifted the show's championship after fellow finalist Manny Gamburyan separated his shoulder in the main event.
Diaz got off to a hot start, defeating his first five UFC opponents before being derailed by tough wrestlers Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson. After an impressive second round submission of Melvin Guillard, Diaz would lose a split decision to Maynard, which would fuel his decision to bump up a weight class.
At welterweight, Diaz stopped both Rory Markham and Marcus Davis in his first two fights. This would put him in a position against some of the toughest young 170 pounders. Diaz had trouble getting outmuscled by Dong Hyun Kim in a tightly contested match and would get tossed around the cage by Rory MacDonald in a bout where he was completely physically dominated.
This spurred the decision to return to lightweight, as suggested by his coach Cesar Gracie and Diaz was paired up against Gomi, a scrappy fighter with some serious history against his brother. The former TUF winner destroyed Gomi, crushing him in the stand up and then finishing it on the ground with a nifty armbar transition from a triangle choke. He proclaimed that he was ready for the elite 155 pounders afterward and they gave him one in Cerrone.
How he gets it done: Diaz is becoming more and more like his older brother, Nick, every time we see him in the Octagon. It appears that after starting out as more of a submission fighter earlier in his career, he wants to stand and bang now. As Nick has grown in his boxing, so has Nate. He showed remarkably similar tendencies in his striking during his last bout with Gomi: talking trash, taunting with both arms, throwing quick precision strikes and a high volume of them.
If he wants to beat Cerrone, he needs to keep the pressure on him in the stand-up. Cerrone has some great technique, but that starts to go out the window when someone is putting a severe amount of pressure and not giving him a moment to collect his thoughts. If "Cowboy" is forced to fight on pure instinct, he could be dragged into a brawl which is exactly what Diaz wants.
If the bout goes to the ground, it will likely be initiated by Cerrone, but don't discount Diaz and his judo techniques. He's got very underrated ability to use his opponent's momentum against them and if the Jackson-trained fighter gets reckless shooting in for a takedown, he could either find himself reversed onto his back, stuck in a guillotine choke or even Diaz's patented double middle finger triangle choke special.
Diaz will try to keep this fight standing as long as possible and really get in Cerrone's face. If he can force him to stray from his technique, he's got a great shot at winning.
Fight X-Factor: There are two major X-Factors for this fight in my opinion. The first is the extremely active fighting schedule of Cerrone. This will be his fifth fight in the UFC in less than 11 months. Considering that most fighters compete three times in a year, he's taking it to the next level. This allows him to remain in top shape, but it could also be taking a massive toll on his body. Most fighters don't compete that often because they need time to recover and Cerrone simply hasn't done that. By staying so active, he could be setting himself up for a tremendous fall. Will this be the fight where it happens?
We'll have to wait and see.
The other factor is that Cerrone is a very emotional fighter. How is he going to react when Diaz begins calling him a bitch in the cage and daring him to punch him in the face with his hands at his sides? If he allows any Diaz mind games to get to him, he could completely deviate from his technique and any semblance of a gameplan. How he reacts to the Diaz mind games could be a vital factor in this bout as well.
Bottom Line: With the way both of these men fight, never backing down or showing any signs of fear or respect to their opponents, this has all the makings of not only "Fight of the Night," but a late entrant in the "Fight of the Year" discussion. Don't expect either fighter to wilt unless they are forced to by physical means whether it's a submission or knockout. Both men have great gas tanks as well and they will go for the whole 15 minutes with a full head of steam if need be. If there's any fight where the saying "Get your popcorn ready" fits, this is it.
Enjoy it while it lasts, Maniacs.
Who will come out on top at UFC 141? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will score a major divisional victory in the co-main event of UFC 141 on Friday night?
Donald Cerrone
Nate Diaz
3 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, cerrone, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaPushing and Shoving – Diaz Doesn’t Take Kindly to Cerrone Staredown (Video)
Nate Diaz doesn't take too kindly to the people he's about to fight, and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is no exception, as he more than proved during their staredown on Wednesday.
Posted in: diaz, staredown, cerrone, exception, people hes
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyVideo: Nate Diaz shoves Donald Cerrone at UFC 141 pre-fight press conference
The UFC 141 pre-fight press conference took place today and featured all the stars of the show fielding questions from the media and fans in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That included Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone, who will square off in the co-main event of the evening this Fri., Dec. 30, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
As per usual, the two did their staredown but as always seems to be the case when a Diaz is involved, things got testy. For whatever reason, Nate knocked Cerrone's hat off his head before shoving him clear across the stage.
Here we go.
Check out the video of the incident after the jump. For the staredown pic click here and for the press conference newsa and notes click here.
Posted in: diaz, conference, press, cerrone, donald cerrone
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 141 Press Conference Highlights
With a little more than 48 hours remaining before Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem test the Octagon’s stability in their headlining clash at UFC 141, the two heavyweights, along with co-headliners Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone plus UFC President Dana White, got together on the stage in Las Vegas today to participate in a pre-fight press conference.
As you might expect the soundbytes were a-plenty and, as always, Five Ounces of Pain was tuned in throughout to pluck out the interesting nuggets of information
Read below to see what went down:
Brock Lesnar:
*”I really don’t know anybody who really enjoys getting hit in the face.” Says he’s worked on his stand up.
*His surgery was a success and he feels 100%. “I just want to fight.”
*”I’m the underdog with a big f*ckin bite.”
Alistair Overeem:
*Looking forward to the fight and feels good.
Donald Cerrone:
*Wasn’t mentally ready in his three losses, but is over that.
*Knows Diaz will come to fight and is excited to throw down.
Nate Diaz:
Dana White:
*Is excited for the lightweight co-main event. Says the winner is “up there” in terms of rankings.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, brock lesnar, donald cerrone, comain event
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 141 Video: Diaz vs. Cerrone Scuffle at Press Conference
Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS -- Things got heated between UFC 141 co-main eventers Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz following Wednesday's pre-fight press conference, which led to Diaz knocking off Cerrone's cowboy hat and shoving his opponent on Friday night. Watch the video below.
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate diaz, friday night, cerrone
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White Not Happy About Donald Cerrone-Nate Diaz Press Conference Scuffle
Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz were playing so nicely together for most of Wednesday's UFC 141 pre-fight press conference. Then they came face to face for the customary staredown photo op, and that's when it all fell apart.
While the two posed for the cameras in one another's personal space, Cerrone muttered something to Diaz that made the Stockton, Calif.-native slap Cerrone's trademark cowboy hat off his head and then back him up with a shove before the two were separated.
And really, UFC president Dana White should have seen this one coming, but he too was taken in by their amicable demeanors up until that point, he said.
"I was expecting it," said White, who chastised himself for being too slow to step in. "But they were being so cool today, I didn't see it coming."
According to White, "Cerrone said something like, 'I'm getting in that [expletive] tomorrow' or something. ...That's why [Diaz] did it." But of course, this feud has deeper roots, and both men know it.
The story goes that, well before this fight was signed, Cerrone tried to introduce himself to Diaz when he saw him talking to longtime friend and teammate Leonard Garcia. Diaz slapped his hand away and swore at him before walking off, which didn't exactly make Cerrone hesitant to accept a fight with Diaz when it was offered shortly thereafter, he told reporters at Tuesday's open workouts.
But at Wednesday's press conference, it seemed like even Cerrone had realized that, when it comes to one of the Diaz brothers, stuff like that isn't personal -- it's just how they operate.
"I never met the kid. I went up to shake his hand. I understand where he comes from. He doesn't want to be friends. He doesn't want any kind of interaction with any guys who he fights, and that's just how he approaches his fights. At the time, I didn't realize that. ...Words were exchanged. The fight's signed, and Friday we're going to dance."
Diaz remarked that the incident had been made "into more than it really was," and Cerrone seemed to accept that explanation, saying, "I didn't understand at first, but if that's the way he approaches it. ...If that's what he has to do to get ready to fight, hey, hate me, love me, I don't care. We're fighting."
Maybe they weren't quite on the path to becoming best friends, but at least it was something resembling professional courtesy. Then came the staredown, the muttered comment, and the hat slap. While it might seem like good pre-fight build-up, White is not a fan, he explained later.
"There's going to be times when heated stuff happens," he said. "I'm not happy that Nate slapped Cerrone's hat off today. I don't like the guys touching each other [before the fight]. That's why I'm standing there. I'm not there to mug up into the camera. I'm there to make sure that [expletive] doesn't happen. I didn't do my job today, apparently."
White said he wasn't "overly concerned about it," but the negative appearance created by two fighters laying hands on one another in public days before they're actually supposed to is still "something that I think about, no doubt about it," the UFC president remarked.
Fortunately, this incident amounted to little more than an exciting few seconds in the lobby of the MGM Grand. And after all, it's not like they won't get a chance to settle their differences very soon, White pointed out, and in a fashion they both understand.
"Everybody knows how nasty the Diaz brothers are," said White. "But Donald Cerrone's not the nicest guy in the world either, you know what I mean?" Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, cerrone, that, didnt
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDonald Cerrone Found Out The Hard Way That The Diaz Brothers Don’t Shake Hands
When Donald Cerrone steps into the Octagon with Nate Diaz this Friday night at UFC 141 it won’t be his first run-in with the Stockton lightweight.
Before their fight was even set, Cerrone says he found out the hard way that a Diaz brother doesn’t shake hands with his peers.
“Really the only interaction I’ve had with Nate is at the open workout prior to this fight. We don’t even know we’re fighting each other at this point. I walk over to be like, ‘hey man, what’s going on?’ Shake his hand… he slaps my hand away and calls me a punk ass (expletive) and walks off. And I was like, ‘what? Alright.’”
Yep, that sounds about right.
The was Nate sees it though, he doesn’t want to be friendly with anyone he might fight and god forbid actually start thinking they’re a nice guy.
“Let’s just say for a second you’re fighting some maniac from the street who’s killed 20 people and they’re just like crazy as hell, but you get a fair fight with him,” Diaz said on Tuesday. “And he’s just like, biting his arm off and talking crazy [expletive]. And then, you’re going to fight this nice guy who goes to church and comes up and [says], ‘Hey, nice to meet you, it’s going to be a good fight.’ Who are you going to feel more comfortable fighting?”
Cerrone doesn’t see it that way, but he says he understands where Diaz is coming from.
“Whatever he has to do in his mind to justify his fighting tactics, that’s what he does,” Cerrone said. “I don’t care. I could fight Leonard, you know. That’s my best friend, we’ll go in there and get paid. That’s what we do for a living. So what he has to do to get ready, whether that’s talk [expletive] or not [be] friends with people, I understand where he’s coming from.”
Bottom line: Some fighters approach the fight game as nothing more than a profession. They don’t have to see their opponent as the enemy to find the motivation to compete. Then there are others like the Diaz brothers who take it more personally and need to hate the person standing across the cage to perform at their best. We just saw it with Nick Diaz and BJ Penn. Nick kept saying he didn’t want to fight BJ because they trained together before and he respected him. Then the weigh-ins come around and Nick damn near tries to fight on him on stage to get himself amped up for the fight. I can’t really fault them for not wanting to be buddy-buddy with people they’ll eventually have to punch in the face. The Diaz brothers just happen to take it to the extreme.
Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: fight, diaz, cerrone, brother, diaz brothers
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 141 Breakdown: The Undercard
As 2011 draws to a close, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be looking to finish the year with a bang. For that, they have brought out the big guns, as former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar makes his long awaited Octagon return to take on former Strikeforce and K-1 Grand Prix champion Alistair Overeem in a title eliminator to determine the next challenger for Junior Dos Santos‘ title. Before the heavyweights lock horns however, two of the lightweight division’s finest square off as Donald Cerrone looks to cap off a truly sensational year in style when he faces off against the always game Nate Diaz. Also in action is the second best welterweight on the planet, Jon Fitch, who will be battling rising prospect Johny Hendricks.
Preliminary Predictions:
* Diego Nunes to defeat Manvel Gamburyan by TKO in Round 3
* Matt Riddle to defeat Luis Ramos by Decision
* Jacob Volkmann to defeat Efrain Escudero by Decision
* Dong Hyun Kim to defeat Sean Pierson by Decision
* Danny Castillo to defeat Anthony Njokuani by Decision
* Ross Pearson to defeat Junior Assuncao by Decision
Main Card Predictions:
Featherweight Fight: Nam Phan vs. Jimy Hettes
After gaining a measure of revenge against Leonard Garcia in his last fight, Phan returns to the cage to face off against Hettes in what is a stylistically tricky match-up for the Vietnamese-American. Phan will have a major advantage on the feet, as Hettes’ stand-up remains raw and unpolished. In fact, Hettes will often ignore any potential stand-up action and simply rush his opponent in an effort to get the clinch, where he could utilize his takedowns and judo throws.
That is not necessarily a bad strategy here, as Phan’s takedown defense isn’t his best asset, and despite being the better striker, he doesn’t quite control distance all that well, making it somewhat easier to close in on him and look for the takedown. More interesting is the fact that Phan is at his best on the inside, where Hettes will have the chance to clinch up, nullify his opponent’s stand-up, and look to plant him on his back. If he fails to do so however, Hettes could be in for a world of hurt, as while Phan’s striking is limited to some body kicks from the outside, he can seriously put a beating on his opponent from close-quarters.
Phan is quite the expert at putting combinations together, and he mixes his strikes up very well by throwing a ton of body shots. His left hook to the liver in particular, is something Hettes wouldn’t want to feel. More importantly, Phan uses said body strikes to set up the shots to the head, and he will often come back with a right hook to the jaw after punishing the body.
Phan does tend to get lazy however, and while Hettes doesn’t have the power to punish him for it, he could capitalize on any shaky moment to put him on his back. Whether he can outright polish him off with submission remains to be seen, as despite Hettes’ vast arsenal of submissions — both from the top and the bottom — Phan isn’t exactly a dummy when it comes to defending submission attempts. What he needs to worry about more is his knack of sometimes getting positionally dominated, though recent fights saw him improve his ability to wall-walk and scramble up to his feet.
While Hettes’ strength plays right into his opponent’s weakness, Phan should be able t overcome a few shaky moments, on his way to a decision victory.
Official Prediction: Nam Phan to defeat Jimy Hettes by Decision
Light Heavyweight Fight: Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Alexander Gustafsson
In the classic clash between seasoned veteran and rising prospect, Matyushenko will look to derail Gustafsson’s rise up the light heavyweight ranks. Matyushenko’s second UFC run has been far more successful than originally anticipated, but he has his hands full with the talented Gustafsson.
What Matyushenko brings to the table is well documented at this point, and Gustafsson will need to fend of “The Janitor’s” takedowns to emerge victorious. Despite his wrestling pedigree, at 40 years of age, Matyushenko’s shot is far from being unstoppable. In fact, even in his earlier years, his wrestling, while very solid, has never been super dynamic.
Gustafsson has displayed consistent improvement in his wrestling, both defensively and offensively. In fact, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Swede take his opponent down, where he could utilize his extremely underrated top game. His ground-and-pound, guard passing, and especially, back control can give Matyushenko fits. Moreover, Gustafsson will likely gain the upper hand in scrambles, and this could prove crucial, as we are likely in store for numerous half-finished takedowns and chain wrestling sequences.
To Matyushenko’s credit, his striking continues to improve, as evidenced in his last outing against Jason Brilz. His right uppercut and right hook are his most dangerous punches, and he possesses more power than given credit for; at least when it comes to his right hand. Nevertheless, Gustafsson remains the better and more versatile striker. He can fight from both stances, possesses serious power in his leg kicks, will alternate them with high kicks, and is especially lethal on the inside. The knock on Gustafsson has been that he is at times a slow starter and it takes him a while to get his striking going in full flow. However, once he does, he will prove too much for Matyushenko to handle.
Official Prediction: Alexander Gustafsson to defeat Vladimir Matyushenko by TKO in Round 2
Welterweight Fight: Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks
The second best welterweight in the world — and arguably one of the best fighters in the world — continues his quest of surviving tricky fights in which he has much to lose and little to gain, as Fitch returns after spending months on the sidelines to take on Hendricks.
Despite decent results, Hendricks’ actual progress in his skill set has been perhaps slower than most would have liked. His striking continues to be hit-and-miss while his wrestling hasn’t translated all that well to MMA. Nevertheless, he remains a very dangerous opponent for Fitch, as he possesses respectable power in both hands and a wrestling pedigree that should ostensibly allow him not get completely blown out of the water in that department.
Hendricks’ main issue with his striking is that he’s either too wild or too tentative and not dynamic enough, which makes for a frustrating problem. He is not particularly fluid or dynamic in his stand-up, and instead resorts to extremes: he either moves forward carelessly or simply sits back while failing produce much in terms of meaningful offense. He does possess a very solid left hook however, and his power could be a difference-maker in this fight as despite Fitch’s toughness and otherworldly recovery, he doesn’t exactly deflect punches with his chin, and he is prone to getting rocked, as witnessed in both the Georges St. Pierre and Mike Pierce fights.
Despite people’s fascination with the whole “Jon Fitch is a boring grinder who can do nothing but lay on people” concept, Fitch is quite a capable striker. In fact, he will be the more technically sound striker of the two. His jab, body shots, and right cross are much underrated, and he knows how to use them just enough to close the distance, clinch up, grab a single, and do what he does best.
However unappealing a clinch fest might sound, the possibility for this fight to turn into one is there, and that favors Fitch significantly. Hendricks’ shot is more effective from the outside, and he will struggle to deal with Fitch from close-quarters. The issue with Fitch is that he’s a slow starter, and at times looks quite flat in the early going, which makes his wrestling quite pedestrian. However, he will undoubtedly gain the upper hand as the fight progresses, and he will certainly have the better cardio.
A physically draining wrestling match will ultimately take its toll on Hendricks, as Fitch scores yet another uninspiring decision win that leaves the MMA world furious and sees Dana White go on a typically unjustified rant about the “boring” nature of Fitch’s style.
Official Prediction: Jon Fitch to defeat Johny Hendricks by Decision
Lightweight Fight: Donald Cerrone vs Nate Diaz
In an absolutely sensational lightweight match-up, Cerrone steps inside the Octagon for the fifth (!) time this year to face off against the resurgent Diaz.
The real question leading up to this fight is whether Diaz’s brilliant performance against Takanori Gomi was simply an odd occurrence that had much to do with Gomi’s regression as a fighter, or a sign of true progress and maturity in Diaz as a fighter. In reality, it is undeniable that Diaz’s boxing looked much improved in that bout. He made full use of his reach and was able to sit on his punches and produce uncharacteristic power, while simultaneously displaying remarkable accuracy.
Using his reach advantage will be key for Diaz, as Cerrone has been fighting “rangy” in his last few fights, and if Diaz is able to force a role reversal and keep him at bay, “Cowboy” will have to change strategies. However, much like his brother, despite the reach advantage, Nate Diaz prefers to stand in “mid-range” and pepper his opponent with combinations both to the head and body.
Therefore, it will be important for Cerrone to use his footwork, circle, and utilize his leg kicks liberally. Diaz’s southpaw stance means Cerrone will be throwing inside leg kicks for the most part, and will also have the benefit of not worrying about the counter right cross. Diaz’s flat-footed stance makes him especially prone to leg kicks, and he will need to check them if he is to have any chance in this one. Cerrone does a great job of setting up the high kick with leg kicks, especially off of his lead leg. However, he has a habit of coming out flat at times, and despite a fantastic chin, he can be quite hittable. On the other hand, his boxing — both offensively and defensively — has improved considerably in his last few fights, but kicks remain his main path to victory.
Another marked improvement in Cerrone’s game has been his wrestling, especially on the offensive front. Diaz’s takedown defense has never been the best. In fact, when his opponent clinches in an effort to get the takedown, Diaz often resorts to working for a standing kimura and simply concedes the takedown. Against a grappler like Cerrone, this isn’t going to cut it. While Diaz possesses a terrific guard, Cerrone’s top game should be equal to it. While the Team Jackson fighter will likely not have the easiest of times passing guard, he should be able to fend off Diaz’s submission attempts from the bottom.
The scrambles is where the fight could get interesting, as Diaz’s constant work from the bottom helps him create a ton of scrambles and use them to his advantage. Cerrone himself excels in the scrambles as well. And while he won’t have too much of an easy time using them to take the back for instance, he should be able to get the better of Diaz more often than not. What Cerrone needs to worry about however, is Diaz’s guillotine, especially if he finds himself in the front headlock position. Conversely, Diaz needs to stay clear of fruitless and positioning-costing leg locks, as Cerrone is too good a grappler to fall victim to such attempts.
An entertaining back-and-forth affair will see Cerrone emerge victorious with a competitive but clear-cut decision.
Official Prediction: Donald Cerrone to defeat Nate Diaz by Decision
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, diaz, fitch, cerrone, phan
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCowboy Cerrone effortlessly rips into Nate Diaz AND Cole Miller in this interview
Cowboy Cerrone has officially issued fighting word to Nate Diaz. Fortunately, they actually will be fighting at UFC 141 so it's highly appropriate. We already know that when Nate Diaz sees this video, it will consequently make for an interesting face-off between the two at the UFC 141 weigh-ins. We've done our part in bringing entertainment to your life. We should be rewarded, preferably by a sack full of Gummy Worms.
Towards the end of this interview, Cerrone decides to rip into Cole Miller for reasons that are entirely beyond us. Whatever beef they have, it seems to be very serious. Check out the interview conducted by LayzieTheSavage to find out.
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, cerrone, cole miller, interview cerrone
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 141 Video: Nate Diaz Explains Incident With Donald Cerrone
The UFC 141 bout between Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz may be the pre-event favorite to be the fight of the night, but the two men have already engaged in a little bit of a public relations battle. Earlier in the week, Cerrone told a story about Diaz cursing him out and slapping his hand away for attempting to shake his hand at the open workouts.
Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting caught up with Diaz to get his side of the story:
Quote:
He just tried to be my friend. Tried to come up and say hi, I just walked the other way. I wasn't trying to be a bully or anything. I think he's trying to push me in a bully's direction, making me the bad guy but I just walked the other way. I think he's just making it a little more than what it was.
For all the things about the Diaz brothers that I am not a fan of, it is refreshing to see more fighters who don't feel the need to be "buddies" with everyone they fight.
SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate diaz, cerrone, donald cerrone
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowApril 2011 MMA Recap: UFC 129 Draws Big, Randy Couture Retires, Nick Diaz's Boxing Tease
When the UFC went on sale with tickets for UFC 129 and sold out in several minutes, then did the same thing again when they released more tickets, people knew the Toronto debut was going to be big. We just didn't know how big. That, Randy Couture's final fight and Nick Diaz's love affair with boxing headlined the big stories in April.
April 2011 - 55,000 Of My Rowdy Friends
Finally cleared to run a major show in Toronto, Canada, the UFC achieved another major milestone with a UFC/North American record crowd of 55,000 people in Rogers Centre to watch UFC 129 and their countryman Georges St. Pierre in the main event. Action aside, the shots like you see above are pretty incredible. Dana White and company insisted on a top-flight fan experience inside the venue and by all accounts, their goals were achieved. The weekend featured a Fan Expo and everything was treated like a major happening. It was a nice dry run for the UFC if/when they run large-scale events in Dallas, TX, or outdoors in Brazil; a massive business achievement where the fighting wasn't too bad either.
St. Pierre looked human in a unanimous decision win over Jake Shields where the champion suffered a left eye injury and fought the majority of the bout with impaired vision. Shields couldn't take advantage, however, and kept the fight standing. It would turn out to be the only fight of the year for St. Pierre, while Shields is still looking for his first impressive outing in the Octagon.Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo made his UFC debut and fended off a tough challenge by local favorite Mark Hominick, while Lyoto Machida's crane kick of doom knocked out Randy Couture, powered by training with Steven Seagal (again, seriously!). Couture said before the event that he was retiring and he held to his word.
****
Chael Sonnen's issues continued as claims he had made about conversations with Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission were disputed by Kizer. He was attempting to be licensed by the NSAC to coach on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter but that was severely in doubt due to a myriad of issues. He was officially sentenced to probation and a fine in his federal money laundering case, but his NSAC hearing was postponed.
****
Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu reigned supreme as Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz beat Paul Daley in a great round of action while Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez dominated Tatsuya Kawajiri at a Strikeforce event. That only fueled the passion for those that wanted to see Diaz vs. St. Pierre and Melendez vs. UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar as the event came a month after the Zuffa purchase. At the time, Scott Coker was suggesting crossover fights could happen within 8-12 months and pay-per-view was being discussed for the summer. Seems like an eternity ago, no?
None of it stopped Diaz from threatening to go to boxing.
The rest of the month after the jump...
Other Stuff That Happened
Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones pulled out of his August title defense against Rashad Evans due to a hand injury and Phil Davis was tabbed to take Jones' place. The injury originally was going to require surgery and then didn't, which was a cause of much discussion...Anderson Silva celebrated his birthday, got a booking against Yushin Okami at UFC Rio and said he would never fight Jones.
Bellator got on the map with Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez defeating Pat Curran in a tough unanimous decision and Welterweight Champion Ben Askren having an easy time in a non-title win over Nick Thompson...Dana White defended the low TUF 13 ratings despite having Brock Lesnar on the show....the Strikeforce purchase ended the Dave Batista talks but Royce Gracie was still angling to get on the UFC Rio event.
Former NHL fighter Donald Brashear announced his MMA debut...Jason "Mayhem" Miller became the first big name from Strikeforce to sign with the UFC post-Zuffa sale...Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko talks heated up...Thiago Silva was suspended for one year due to a failed drug test...Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes was booked for the fall.
April's full archive of stories on Bloody Elbow
Past Monthly Recaps:
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, champion, april
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowHow Will Donald Cerrone Respond to 'Maniac' Nate Diaz? Even He Isn't Sure
Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- By now you've probably heard about the run-in Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone had well before their fight at UFC 141 was ever agreed to, but if you haven't, here's the short version: Cerrone saw Diaz talking with his best friend and training partner Leonard Garcia one day in the Ultimate Fighter gym, so he figured he'd go up and say hello.
"I see Leonard talking to him and I'm like, maybe he's a cool dude," Cerrone told reporters on Tuesday. "I never met him before."
Cerrone introduced himself and offered his hand, which Diaz slapped away with a muttering curse or two, then walked off. Again, both men agree they hadn't encountered one another before this moment, and neither had given the other a specific reason to dislike the other. So what gives?
Allow Diaz to explain it in the form of a helpful hypothetical.
"Let's just say for a second you're fighting some maniac from the street who's killed 20 people and they're just like crazy as hell, but you get a fair fight with him," Diaz said on Tuesday. "And he's just like, biting his arm off and talking crazy [expletive]. And then, you're going to fight this nice guy who goes to church and comes up and [says], 'Hey, nice to meet you, it's going to be a good fight.' Who are you going to feel more comfortable fighting?"
And before you ask, yes, Diaz does realize that, at least in this imagined scenario, he's the babbling, murderous maniac. But still, you have to admit that he kind of has a point.
For years Diaz has bristled at any attempt by the UFC, which he sees as intentional, to put him in contact with people he may fight at some point. From overlapping open workout schedules that force him to catch a glimpse of other fighters, to rides to and from the airport, everywhere Diaz looks he sees this subtle brand of sabotage. Why it seems to bother him so much more than other fighters is a question for another day, but you have to admit that he's come up with an effective way of shutting down any camaraderie before it starts.
By maintaining open hostility toward all potential opponents, Diaz said he prevents other fighters from feeling comfortable around him, which is true. From lightweights to welterweights (and probably a few guys both higher and lower on the scale), very few UFC fighters would tell you that being around either of the Diaz brothers is a comfortable experience.
The way Diaz sees it is pretty simple: "You stay on your side, I'll stay on my side."
Fortunately for him -- or perhaps unfortunately, depending on how you think about it -- Cerrone is just fine with that philosophy.
"Whatever he has to do in his mind to justify his fighting tactics, that's what he does," Cerrone said. "I don't care. I could fight Leonard, you know. That's my best friend, we'll go in there and get paid. That's what we do for a living. So what he has to do to get ready, whether that's talk [expletive] or not [be] friends with people, I understand where he's coming from."
The question for Cerrone is, what do you do with that? While "Cowboy" said he was expecting plenty of expletives and middle fingers when he gets in the cage with Diaz, he admitted he wasn't entirely sure how he'd react to it. After all, he's not exactly the wholesome choir boy from Diaz's hypothetical. Will it help him to give the vitriol right back to Diaz, or would that be playing right into his opponent's hands?
"And that is what I'm working on," Cerrone said. "I don't know. Do I get mad at him? Do I use what he's been doing all week, slapping my hand, against [him]? I've got to figure that out."
The failed introduction was still fresh in Cerrone's mind when he was offered a fight with Diaz, he said. He hadn't yet returned to his locker room when a UFC official mentioned Diaz's name as a possible next opponent, and his reaction was immediate: "Cool, let's go."
Only now that the simmering hostilities are about to give way to the sanctioned brutality they both get paid for, what is Cerrone supposed to do about Diaz's unique approach to relationships with colleagues? Even if you don't want to be the guy's friend, does that mean you have to give him what he wants and be his enemy? Is it smart? Is it helpful?
At that, even "Cowboy" shrugged.
"I do not have an answer for it yet," he said.
Maybe it's the kind of thing you have to find out for yourself on fight night. Maybe once it starts, how you react to it isn't even entirely up to you. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, fighter, cerrone, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseCerrone: The Diaz Brothers Come to Fight
Donald Cerrone talks about his clash with Nate Diaz at UFC 141.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate diaz, cerrone, diaz brothers
Read the full article at SherdogUFC 141: Nate Diaz explains gym incident with Donald Cerrone
Want to hear a cool story, bro?
Apparently Donald Cerrone met up with Nate Diaz at a UFC gym that was hosting an open workout during a previous event. This about two months ago, before they were matched up to fight this Fri., Dec. 30 at UFC 141. Being a fan of his style, Cerrone had the idea to introduce himself to Diaz. You know, just a friendly hello and a handshake. But it didn't go down that way.
Here's "Cowboy's" side of it:
"Really the only interaction I've had with Nate is at the open workout prior to this fight. We don't even know we're fighting each other at this point. I walk over to be like, 'hey man, what's going on?' Shake his hand... he slaps my hand away and calls me a punk ass (expletive) and walks off. And I was like, 'what? Alright.'"
Homie don't play that? Seems like an odd thing for Diaz to do, even if he is a tough guy from the mean streets of Stockton, California. His response:
"He shouldn't try to shake my hand. We're not cool like that. He fights in my bracket, man, he's in my weight class. I'm not trying to make something that it ain't, I'm not putting on a front for you, you know. I'll probably be fighting you next, so you go your way, I'll go mine."
Well, that kind of helps explain it. But not really. So, of course, Ariel Helwani got on the case and tracked Nate down to ask him outright what exactly happened and why it went down the way it did. Here's what he said:
"He just tried to be my friend. Tried to come up and say hi, I just walked the other way. I wasn't trying to be a bully or anything. I think he's trying to push me in a bully's direction, making me the bad guy but I just walked the other way. I think he's just making it a little more than what it was."
Indeed, Cerrone has used the slight as definite motivation and fuel for his fire so that he's an even more dangerous fighter come showtime this Friday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Diaz's point, essentially, is that he no longer wants to make friends with folks who fight in the same weight class he does, simply because he's probably going to end up fighting them somewhere down the line.
And why make it even a little awkward?
In fact, in the full video (see it here), Diaz details three separate incidents involving Josh Neer, Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson in which he became friends with all three and immediately after he did so, he got the call to fight them.
Joe Silva's been cramping Nate's style since 2008.
Diaz, of course, finally smartened up and is taking the proactive approach to the fight game. If you're a lightweight, don't try to make buddies with him. Not unless you've already thrown down with him and even then, approach at your own risk.
People get slapped.
Posted in: fight, diaz, way, nate, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz - The Creation Of A Fighter
Nate Diaz was a boy among men…literally. In a gym that housed not only Cesar Gracie, but UFC standouts David Terrell and Gil Castillo, Nate’s brother Nick, and up and comers Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez, every day was a fight for survival for the Stockton teenager.“It was really intimidating going down there,” said Diaz during an interview for the recent Countdown to UFC 141 show. “I went down to Cesar’s and it was Dave Terrell, Gil Castillo, Cesar, Nick and Jake, and Nick and Jake were just the young guys there too. Nick would be like ‘don’t get tapped out today.’ So I’d go in there with this competitive attitude and it was really hard to not get tapped out in that gym. Most likely it wasn’t gonna happen.”Yet Diaz kept showing up, which in his neighborhood was more than half the battle. His mother Melissa did her part, working long hours as a waitress while putting her two sons and their sister in various sports to keep them from straying to the streets. But there was always an imminent sense of danger.“Growing up here, there’s a lot of tension, a lot of gang activity, a lot of tough guys,” he said. “There’s just a lot going on. Like any city, it’s got good parts and bad parts, so you gotta watch out where you’re at. I wasn’t trying to be in no trouble, but it was definitely hard to stay out of trouble. But you just keep on the right path and stay going the way you need to go.”For Nate, that path was paved by his older brother, who had already started on his road into professional fighting, and one day Nick decided it was time for Nate to do the same.“As soon as I finished school, I’d be sitting around the house and I wasn’t doing much,” remembered Nate. “Nick said ‘What are you doing? Why don’t you come train with me?’ And he threw a pair of gi pants at me.”Right then and there, the die was cast, though as Nate recalls, “Back then fighting and training in jiu-jitsu wasn’t a trendy thing.”So the early days weren’t filled with interviews, photo shoots, and quick graduations to the UFC. Instead, it was a situation where a bunch of friends put that friendship aside for hours at a time in order to beat each other up and learn how to become fighters. Nate especially found a kindred spirit in future Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.“I remember having wars with him,” said Diaz, who would shake off any idea of skipping practice when he knew “El Nino” was showing up that day.“That was a rush just going down there. I’d tell Nick I’m gonna hang out a bit, and he’d say ‘Gilbert’s coming.’ All right, let’s go. (Laughs) It was really good because it was a competitive thing, and at the same time they were our friends.”Eventually, Nate would join his brother, Melendez, and Shields on the pro fighting circuit, mixing in MMA bouts with boxing smokers and Toughman contests. By 2006, he was a respected prospect, but after a WEC loss to Hermes Franca, he was at a crossroads at only 21 years old. Enter The Ultimate Fighter, an avenue into the UFC that neither Diaz brother wanted any part of.“We were sitting at home when they started The Ultimate Fighter, and we’re like ‘this s**t is ridiculous,’” said Nate. “We were just criticizing it horribly and we’re laughing at it, saying ‘hell no, I would never do that.’ And then they called him for The Ultimate Fighter, but Nick was like ‘I’m not doing that show.’”Nick refused a spot on season four of TUF, but when the call came in for season five, it was for Nate. The younger Diaz refused, even though Cesar Gracie believed he should do it. Then Nick entered the picture.“I think you should do it,” Nick told his brother. So he did, but as soon as taping began, he wanted out.“I said I’m getting out of here,” recalled Nate. “I don’t even know why I’m here.”But then his first fight against Rob Emerson was set.“At that point I couldn’t leave, because if I left, it would be like I didn’t want to fight somebody.”Diaz beat Emerson, and again, he would lie awake at night plotting for a way to leave. He didn’t do it though, and after beating Corey Hill, Gray Maynard, and Manny Gamburyan, he won the season title and a UFC contract.“It was a good thing I stayed because it was like a shortcut and it got me right into the UFC,” he said. “It was the best thing that could have happened. I had no money, I was broke, I was a kid, and I had no direction, and at that point it kinda gave me a direction.”He’s kept moving since then, racking up an 8-5 record in his post-Gamburyan UFC career, and on Friday, he moves up to a Pay-Per-View co-main event slot against streaking Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. In the lead-up to the bout, the phrase “Fight of the Night” is almost always attached to the matchup, and the way Diaz sees it, that’s with good reason.“He’s actually one of the guys who likes to fight in the UFC, compared to people who like to wrestle and jump around, point scoring and doing all that funny stuff,” said Diaz, 26, whose September submission of former PRIDE champion Takanori Gomi was his most impressive win to date, which is saying something when you’re talking about a fighter with seven post-fight awards in his 14 Octagon bouts.But Diaz isn’t about the awards or the acclaim; he’s all about the fight, an attitude some competitors lose along the way. And no matter how you feel about Diaz, you have to respect that he is always consistent and always looking to put on a show for the fans. More than a decade after he stepped into Cesar Gracie’s gym for the first time, that much will never change.“When I fight, I’m mad,” he said. “I’m starving, I had to make weight, I trained my ass off, and I’m there to entertain. I’m just trying to do what I gotta do. Some people are out there trying to be the nicest guy, but I feel like a lot of that is frontin’. I think the difference between me and other people is that they’re playing the nice guy role and they’re just really well-behaved on camera. I meet a lot of people and they’re like ‘you’re not such a bad guy.’ What does that mean? When you see me on camera I’ve got to fight another person, and I’m not gonna put on a front.”It’s a fight. Nate Diaz won’t let you forget it.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, ’t, nate
Read the full article at UFCVideo: UFC 141's Nate Diaz prepped to fight like a 'maniac from the street'
While this weekend's lightweight fight between Nate Diaz and Donald
Cerrone really didn't need much controversy behind it to pique fans'
interest, the already intriguing bout got even more hype when it was
revealed on the "Countdown to UFC 141" special that the two had engaged
in a standoff earlier this year.
But Diaz, who instigated the conflict by slapping away Cerrone's
outstretched hand, insists it's nothing personal. In fact, it's all
business.
The way Diaz sees it, his opponents are trying to get comfortable by
having a friendly encounter with their future foe. After all would you
rather fight a deranged lunatic or someone you consider an acquaintance?
Posted in: fight, diaz, nate diaz, fans interest, future foe
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNate Diaz Denies Altercation with Cowboy Cerrone Ever Happened
Nate Diaz says that there was never an altercation between him and Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone, he just walked past him and avoided him all together.
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, cowboy, cowboy cerrone, altercation
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNate Diaz: “He better knock me out or pull out one of those funny judges’ decisions…”
Heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem might be the stars of Friday night’s UFC 141 lineup but the co-headlining clash between Nate Diaz-Donald Cerrone has far more potential to entertain given the style and skill-set each lightweight possesses as well as their fearless approach to fighting.
Cerrone has already come out swinging at Diaz even though the two don’t actually face off for a few more days, expressing his rage over an encounter earlier this year and stating his belief he can out-strike Diaz come showtime. The Stockton scrapper has since had an opportunity to respond, welcoming Cerrone’s challenge in the recent UFC 141 Countdown special.
Cerrone Recalls Rude Run-In with Diaz
“He can build himself up and say whatever he wants, think what he wants, but I’m working hard too, man, and I’ve got good guys to train with,” began Diaz when asked to address Cerrone’s claims. “I don’t see him knocking out that many people. Dennis Siver is like 5’5”. What the hell?”
“I train enough everywhere to feel comfortable everywhere,” he continued. “I think I’m better than him everywhere, honestly…He better knock me out or pull out one of those funny judges’ decisions because if not he’s gonna be in trouble.”
The PPV portion of UFC 141 featuring Diaz-Cerrone starts at 10:00 PM EST with preliminary action on Spike TV/Facebook kicking off things a few hours earlier.
Check out the full Diaz vs. Cerrone portion of the Countdown below:
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, diaz, i ’m, cerrone, ppv portion
Read the full article at Fighters.comCountdown to UFC 141 Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem Full Video
UFC 141 is this Friday. The long awaited return of Brock Lesnar and the debuting Alistair Overeem headline the night. In the co-main event Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz will square off in what is likely to be a title eliminator for the lightweight division. If you didn't see the Countdown to UFC 141 episode don't feel too bad, there weren't a lot of people who know it was airing on Fuel TV. In fact the total viewership for the show was 15k. That's total. And not a typo. Luckily the UFC has uploaded the video to their youtube page.
While the majority of the show is dedicated to the matchup between the two heavyweights and the story between the two absolutely massive men who will throw down to close out 2011 for the UFC, the best segment is for the lightweights. It's no secret that both Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz are out of their minds. Recounting their first meeting is absolutely hilarious. The take away? Don't try and shake Nate Diaz's hand, he will slap it away and then call you some expletives.
Donald Cerrone vs Nate Diaz segment after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate, nate diaz, fuel tv
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCerrone vs Diaz
God damn, this fight on paper is ridiculous. I'm just as excited for the weigh ins. How do you guys see this fight going. My head says Cerrone, but my heart is with Diaz. submitted by PartyxAnimal [link] [15 comments]
Posted in: fight, diaz, head, cerrone, heart
Read the full article at Reddit“Countdown to UFC 141″ Video: Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz Preview
For complete coverage of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem, Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz, and the rest of UFC 141 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: diaz, vs, cerrone, donald, “ countdown
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 141's big talking Cerrone says Diaz is first in long line of potential opponents
Donald Cerrone hadn't even gotten to the dressing rooms of the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas when he agreed to fight Nate Diaz.
There was no need to reflect on how he had just mauled Dennis Siver at October's UFC 137 event. He knew what he wanted next.
At first, he couldn't even remember who he'd just fought at UFC 137 when asked about the root of his rift with Diaz. By in large, Cerrone is focused on what's directly in front of him.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, las vegas, cerrone, dressing rooms
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDonald Cerrone Admits He's a Fan of Diaz Brothers
Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Donald Cerrone talks about fighting Nate Diaz at UFC 141, why he likes the Diaz brothers, his impressive year, why he doesn't care if he fights for the title next and more.
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Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, diaz brothers, donald cerrone, doesnt care
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 141: Donald Cerrone 'is in trouble' if he fails to knockout Nate Diaz
Former UFC lightweight-turned-welterweight-turned-lightweight Nate Diaz is trying to recapture some of that momentum he had following his graduation from The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale back in June 2007.
Diaz won his first five fights inside the Octagon, but has since gone 4-5 while dabbling in the 170-pound weight class. After a three round beatdown at the hands of Rory Markham earlier this year, the temperamental slugger settled back into the lightweight division at UFC 135, punishing Takanori Gomi for his recent struggles.
Back, and as he claims (via ESPN), better than ever. But he'll have to prove it against Donald Cerrone at UFC 141 this Friday night (Dec. 30) in Las Vegas.
"I feel like I'm better than all the guys in my division. I don't see where any of them are better than me. He's definitely a guy that likes to fight and come forward. I think I'm better than him everywhere. On the feet, he better knock me out, if not, he's gonna be in trouble."
Cerrone's response? "Let's go motherf-----r."
"He's got good stand-up, if the fight goes to the ground he's his jiu-jitsu is very good. All that aside? That motherfucker is game. If we bumped into each other out in the parking lot and said what's up, we're throwing down. To me, I like that mentality. You can't teach that, they come to fight, and me too. You don't have to be from Stockton to be tough. Come fight night? Let's go motherfucker."
Cerrone was a member of the class of WEC lightweights that fans and pundits alike wrote off as easy pickins' once they were dumped in the admittedly deeper shark tank in the UFC.
Except he's been eating his competition alive, having won all four of his bouts inside the Octagon while claiming three separate bonus awards during that time.
Will he grab a fourth against Diaz in a bout most are expecting to be "Fight of the Night?"
UFC 141 will take place this Friday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a mega-fight pitting former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar taking on former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
Jon Fitch is also booked to return from shoulder surgery against budding welterweight contender Johny Hendricks.
For more on UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, night, diaz, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Top Ten Curiously Interesting Videos Nick Diaz has Favorited on YouTube
Whatever you think Nick Diaz is doing at this exact moment, he's not doing it. That's just using applied statistics. The probability of a person doing or thinking the same thing as you during the same moment is astronomically against you. The best anyone can do is cull historical data and use it to predict what a person is doing at any given time. That's basically we did in our new list of 'The Top Ten Curiously Interesting Videos Nick Diaz has Favorited on YouTube.' Nick Diaz hasn't exactly embraced social media with open arms. Not at all. It's more like he's been taunting social media and slapped it in its face a couple times. However, the 209er has been an active participant of YouTube for nearly five years. We decided to dive into the NickDiaz209 channel and see what we can truly find out about the former Strikeforce welterweight champion.
It's a shame that I have to explain the science of 'Blaster Master' to an entire generation of kids that's never stepped foot in an arcade or even methodically blew into a NES cartridge in hopes that it would work. Before Kinect, Xbox 360 and Runescape, there was Blaster Master. It was revolutionary simply because it provided the player an option to experience the game both within a vehicle and on foot. That's right, back in 1988 you didn't really have to do much to make our heads ignite in amazement.
Blaster Master follows the storyline of every young kid in the late-80s: Boy is in love with frog, frog escapes the oppressive glass container the boy put him in, frog jumps into a radioactive container conveniently placed in the boy's backyard, frog grows to mythic proportions and burrows deep within the earth, boy irresponsibly jumps in the hole only to find a fully equipped armored vehicle with a giant gun attached and armor in the driver seat. Granted it's no ordinary gun. Not at all. This one has the unique ability of 360 degree firing for the sake of conquering evil.
I've never finished the game. It still remains as an unwritten chapter in my life. What I remember is using an exploit where you shoot a grenade at the first boss, push pause, and while the game is frozen, the boss still takes damage and eventually dies. Perhaps Nick Diaz favorited this video in order to reacquaint himself with perhaps the greatest theme music that's ever been placed in an 8-bit game. That music is the stuff gods are made out of. That music will make you want to strap on a headband and climb a really tall tree.
This guy I know from the 209 named 'Brock' told me that at some point in their life, all 209ers will be handcuffed for a brief period of time. It must be one of those 'rites of passages' things that you see on the Discovery channel when tribes force kids to endure incredibly difficult tasks just to be considered a man. The art of escaping handcuffs is something that any reasonable citizen should learn. We're not saying Nick Diaz has been shackled before, but he's taking preventive measures -- and that should be admired. It's impossible to 'be scared, homie' when you're 'prepared, homie.'
Take note, and explore the techniques of escaping handcuffs. Nick Diaz has, and he's riding an 11-0 winning streak. Coincidence? I think not.
If you're not familiar with Alex Grey, then you've deprived yourself from staring at one of his psychedelic masterpieces while listening to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. If you've never done ayahuasca, then you've deprived yourself from actually visiting the dark side of the moon while being a psychedelic masterpiece. I'll try to write the rest of this without consulting Wikipedia or Erowid since I've spent the better part of my life listening to every Terence McKenna lecture that's been released on tape.
Back in the days before modern transportation and television, the shamans of South America used to keep busy by consuming massive amounts of hallucinogenics. These substances would transport the shamans to radically new planes of existence and when they finally 'return' back to earth, they will have extracted some sort of esoteric knowledge to bring back to their tribe. This could be anything from finding an apparent cure to an illness, or something as insignificant as recognizing that the back of one's hand looks mindblowing under the influence of psychedelics.
Through endlessly wandering through the Amazon rainforest, shamans found a vine that was incredibly dense in 5-MeO-Dimethyltryptamine (perhaps the strongest hallucinogenic ever discovered, a derivative of regular DMT which is actually found within your body). However, in order to experience the substance, one would need to combine the vine with an MAO inhibitor so that the psychedelic properties won't get destroyed in digestion. Somehow these shamans randomly found a leaf that serves as the perfect MAO inhibitor, which was naturally grown hundreds of miles away on the opposite end of the Amazon rainforest. Once both substances are combined, the result is called 'ayahuasca' and it will literally transport you to another time and place -- just ask Robin Quivers.
For Nick Diaz to favorite this video on YouTube, we're assuming he already knows the process of ayahuasca -- and that's amazing.
Stop for one second and imagine a thirteen-year-old Nick Diaz jamming out to Sneaker Pimps' debut album inside his room in Stockton, California. I share the same birthday with Diaz, so I was most likely be doing the same thing. While Portishead may have given birth to the trip-hop movement in the early 90s, Sneaker Pimps undoubtedly defined the genre for years to come. With Kelli Dayton's vampirish vocals and Liam Howe's electronica-inspired production, Sneaker Pimps' 'Becoming X' had six singles from the album rise to the top of US, UK and Australian dance charts. The album even went gold, and the video for '6 Underground' became a MTV staple in the mid/late 90s.
So what do you do when you have an incredibly successful album with a singer that every teenager in high-school crushed on? Well, you kick the singer out of the band on your sophomore album and replace her vocals with your androgynous guitar player.
There's nothing necessarily bad with 'Splinter,' Sneaker Pimps' second album. The video for 'Low Five' even starts off with a little slow-motion jiu-jitsu. However, everyone seems to overlook that it's an incredibly dick thing to kick out the lead singer of the band just because every photographer wanted to feature Kelli Dayton as the focus of every photo captured of Sneaker Pimps. She can't help it if she's uniquely attractive (and she still is). The band went on to create 'Bloodsport,' an album that is actually on par with Becoming X.
Since this is MiddleEasy and we have a strong fascination with going deep into details that some may deem insignificant, Sneaker Pimps eventually disbanded in 2005 and Chris Corner went on to create IAMX. The inspiration for IAMX's debut album seemed to be derived from an exploration in depression, promiscuous sexual practices, casual drug use, the death of religion and a strong questioning against authority. It's basically a manifesto for everyone in the 209.
Unfortunately, Nick Diaz's musical interests has never ventured to the many projects that spawned from Sneaker Pimps, including Kelli Dayton's 2008 album 'Rocking Horse' which is so far from the music she created on Becoming X. I'm assuming Nick Diaz favorited 'Six Underground' in hopes that the band will one day reunite and reignite trip-hop. Either that, or he's still obsessed with Kelli Dayton. Both explanations I can totally understand.
If Jon Bones Jones admits to learning moves from fight scenes he's watched on YouTube, the MMA world can only hope that for his next fight, Nick Diaz will rock a Jheri curl while simultaneously ripping off his shirt and screaming for no apparent reason.
This following fight scene is from a 1993 movie called 'Undefeatable' (yes, that's actually the name of the movie) and according to IMDB, the storyline is equally as complex.
"Kristi Jones (Cynthia Rothrock) avenges her sister's death at the hands of a crazed martial arts rapist."
As Miguel Torres and Forrest Griffin taught us, there's nothing funny with 'rape' and 'martial arts.' However, when you throw in two grunting men that would much rather prefer to lick knives and forcefully remove their shirts instead of actually fighting, then it's downright hilarious.
Check out the 'best fight scene of all time' from Undefeatable, a clip that Diaz has probably laughed at an innumerable amount of times.
Ayn Rand's theory of objectivism is so perfect of a philosophy, that it will never be widely accepted in Western culture. According to Rand, the acceptance of God gives humans the right to act irrationally and that by not believing in God, it forces humanity to follow an objective path of reason. I just granted every college student 6-9 credits towards their bachelors in philosophy with that explanation. Essentially, every question that could ever be asked regarding Ayn Rand is just another variation of the answer that I just provided. Don't believe me, go ahead and try.
Judging from other videos Nick Diaz favorited on YouTube, he appears to be an atheist on the constant exploration of disapproving his own belief. Ayn Rand would appreciate that, and so would every philosophy professor that gave me a 'C' at The University of Arizona. Check out this clip of the smartest woman who has ever lived going head-to-head with Phil Donahue in the early 80s.
When I was in after-school daycare, I would lug around a pirated tape of this movie and convince the supervisors to throw 'Bloodsport' in the VCR and let our entire class watch it. They didn't care about the gratuitous violence nor did they worry about the entire premise of the movie, which essentially involves a no-ruled fighting tournament in which the loser is executed by his opponent. The only thing they were concerned about was nudity within the film, and fortunately Bloodsport's only nude scene is a very brief portion where Jean-Claude Van Damme's rear-end shows as he pulls up his underwear. Granted, that's more of a miraculous moment in cinema history than it is 'nudity.'
Nick Diaz grew up with the same fascination of Frank Dux that everyone else had in our generation. The only thing is, he followed his dreams whereas everyone else settled for a second-rate existence trapped in a cubicle at some job they don't even like. It's safe to assume that if Nick Diaz had a theme song for every time he made a public appearance, 'Fight to Survive' would be playing in the background.
The fact that Nick Diaz sat in front of his computer and watched this mundane interview regarding antidepressant studies is so incredible -- that it's depressing in itself. Perhaps the greatest thing is if you look at the comment section on the YouTube page, it's filled with stuff like 'Stockton 209 bitches!' and 'Nick Diaz!' I'm sure this isn't what iHealthTube intended, but at the end of the day, if Nick Diaz didn't favorite this video, no one out there would even know it existed.
When I worked in the produce department of Albertsons just before college, my manager was a stout believer this planet has no core. He believed that it was actually hollow inside and one must enter the inside of earth from the North Pole. There's actually a name for it. It's called 'Hollow Earth Theory' and some people believe that explorers in the past have actually visited the 'inner earth' and discovered a race of giants that lived in lush gardens in very sustainable temperature.
Sure it's a theory that could be proven through rudimentary topographical data of the North Pole, however believers in the Hollow Earth Theory claim that no such evidence exists. The reason for the 'North Pole passage' is to 'neutralize the pressure' between the outer earth and the inner earth.
Look, I can't pretend like I understand any of this stuff. You should probably watch this video explaining the theory, something that Nick Diaz has watched one afternoon in Stockton, California.
100 years from now, Dan Quinn's Youtube clips will be studied by historians and they will all collectively agree that he was ahead of his time. Way ahead of his time. Dan Quinn claims that he's discovered an elixir for eternal youth which also doubles as a fuel source that can save the earth. It's all based on a cocktail of Stevia, marijuana and 'pure-h20'. Apparently this mixture has enabled Dan Quinn to have an MMA record of 5-6-1. Now the dude has aimed his bong inspired Youtube rants directly at Nick Diaz.
Originally, my plan was to present you guys with the completed 'The Saint of Stevia' film, something that we started on in November 2010. Around this time last year, we released a trailer with the promise that the feature documentary would soon follow. Well, a year later we're still not done with the project. It's coming, but so is a lot of other stuff at MiddleEasy. Hopefully this video of Dan Quinn directly addressing Nick Diaz will hold you over until then.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, time, nick, video
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz Is Poised to Become the Next Big Thing in MMA
Nick Diaz is set to face Carlos Condit in the main event at UFC 143. When that fight concludes, Diaz will either walk out of the Octagon as the UFC’s interim welterweight champion or he will leave the Mandalay Bay Events Center with his first loss in 12 fights...
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, event, ufc ’s, welterweight champion
Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz gives Cerrone the Diaz treatment
When the UFC announced Nick Diaz versus Donald Cerrone (aka "Battle of the Lanky Assholes") at UFC 141, you had to know these two would have some things to say about each other. Neither one comes across as the friendliest of folks, so it took a surprisingly long time for any gossip to get around about some kind of shit-talking between them.
Cowboy finally broke the silence on ESPN Radio yesterday, and CagePotato has the transcript:
”Leonard’s my best friend; he’s my brother and he was over there talkin’ to the dude — if someone doesn’t like you, you’re not gonna talk to their best friend, you know what I’m sayin’... you’re not gonna hang out with them — so Leonard’s over there talking with the dude, and I said, ‘Oh shit, I’ll go over there.’ They were laughing and joking around so when I go over and introduce myself and go, ‘What’s up Nate? I’m ‘Cowboy,’” Cerrone explained. “He fuckin’ slapped my hand away and called me a punk-ass motherfucker and told me to ‘get on.’ I was like, ‘Shit, alright.’ I don’t know what to say to the dude. I don’t know what his point... I guess he doesn’t want to be cordial. He just wanted to be a punk and... go ahead.”
“I was getting ready to fight Dennis Siver and then he walked away. He just took off after that. It kind of caught me by surprise. I don’t know anything about the guy. I just know that [he and Nick] just wake up pissed off all the time for no reason. It just seems like they’re always mad. Whatever he does to get his mind ready for the fight, it must be it.”
That's pretty much how I read the Brothers Diaz too... you get the impression they're not particularly affable under the best conditions, but it seems like they need to hate their opponent in order to work themselves up for the fight, so they just convince themselves to dislike the guy for no particular reason. And if even Cowboy Cerrone thinks you're a dick, then yeah, you're very likely a rather large dick... like John Holmes size.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, ’t, cerrone, ’re
Read the full article at FightlinkerNate Diaz gives Cerrone the Diaz treatment
When the UFC announced Nate Diaz versus Donald Cerrone (aka "Battle of the Lanky Assholes") at UFC 141, you had to know these two would have some things to say about each other. Neither one comes across as the friendliest of folks, so it took a surprisingly long time for any gossip to get around about some kind of shit-talking between them.
Cowboy finally broke the silence on ESPN Radio yesterday, and CagePotato has the transcript:
”Leonard’s my best friend; he’s my brother and he was over there talkin’ to the dude — if someone doesn’t like you, you’re not gonna talk to their best friend, you know what I’m sayin’... you’re not gonna hang out with them — so Leonard’s over there talking with the dude, and I said, ‘Oh shit, I’ll go over there.’ They were laughing and joking around so when I go over and introduce myself and go, ‘What’s up Nate? I’m ‘Cowboy,’” Cerrone explained. “He fuckin’ slapped my hand away and called me a punk-ass motherfucker and told me to ‘get on.’ I was like, ‘Shit, alright.’ I don’t know what to say to the dude. I don’t know what his point... I guess he doesn’t want to be cordial. He just wanted to be a punk and... go ahead.”
“I was getting ready to fight Dennis Siver and then he walked away. He just took off after that. It kind of caught me by surprise. I don’t know anything about the guy. I just know that [he and Nick] just wake up pissed off all the time for no reason. It just seems like they’re always mad. Whatever he does to get his mind ready for the fight, it must be it.”
That's pretty much how I read the Brothers Diaz too... you get the impression they're not particularly affable under the best conditions, but it seems like they need to hate their opponent in order to work themselves up for the fight, so they just convince themselves to dislike the guy for no particular reason. And if even Cowboy Cerrone thinks you're a dick, then yeah, you're very likely a rather large dick... like John Holmes size.
Posted in: diaz, ’t, nate, nate diaz, cerrone
Read the full article at FightlinkerUFC 143: Condit Opens as Slight Favorite Over Diaz, Early Money on Diaz
The opening line for the Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz battle at UFC 143 dropped last night, and frankly I was a little bit shocked at it. Condit opened as a very slight favorite at -125 to Nick's -105. As the title implies though, bettors know juicy lines when they see them and less that 24 hours later, the line now looks like this (courtesy of bodog.ca):
Nick Diaz -150Carlos Condit +120
I expect more money to come in on Diaz in the next few days, and wouldn't be surprised to see him swell up into the -180 range. Of course, the late money will probably come in on Condit and bring it back closer to even, so if you think there's money to be made on Condit, you'll want to watch the line very closely over the next few weeks and strike when the line settles down. And if you wanted to make serious money on Diaz...well, you missed the boat last night.
More SBN coverage of UFC 143
Posted in: diaz, nick, money, condit, line
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow"Fight to Finish" Nick Diaz (by LayzieTheSavage)
submitted by ekwenox [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, layziethesavage
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz: FIght to the Finish Line the latest highlight by LayzieTheSavage
Cesar Gracie had it all wrong. Nick Diaz isn't the Rosa Parks of MMA, he's the Ron Paul. Walk into any living room in the United States and ask the residents their opinion on either Nick Diaz or Ron Paul (or both) and the answers will be as varied as the people themselves. Sometimes they will gladly invite you inside to sit down and tell you about how much they love Nick Diaz's varied striking and lethal ground game as they fix you a warm mug of hot cocoa. Others will declare their backing of another candidate, slam the door in your face, then pull the shades aside and yell out the window about Nick not punching hard. Sometimes the things Nick and Ron say might sound 'crazy' and 'scary', but that's exactly what the truth is. Crazy and scary. LayzieTheSavage just dropped his latest quake inducing Nick Diaz highlight: Fight to the Finish Line. It's the spiritual sequel to Hey Nick, Nice Shot and it was a long time coming. Finally, it's here to reduce us to tears of rawesomeness.
[Source]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, ron paul, rosa parks
Read the full article at Middle EasyBest UFC/MMA fighter of 2011
Every year in the world of combat sports, there are a handful of fighters who either defy the odds or support them wholeheartedly, laying waste to all in their path in unexpected (or entirely expected) fashion.
Loved, loathed, or regarded with mild disinterest once their rampages get dull, these warriors command the attention of viewers through the universal language of violence.
As such, we’ve seen the meteoric rise (or surprising rebirth) of a select few over the past 12 months. But which combatant was the best of 2011 in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) overall?
Follow me after the jump for some of this year's top candidates and to cast your vote for 2011's "Fighter of the Year:"
(Insert Rocky and/or Hulk music here)
Jon Jones
Photo via Yahoo! Sports
Despite caving in Brandon Vera’s eye socket and unleashing a hailstorm of elbows on Vladimir Matyushenko’s face the previous year, Jones still had plenty of questions to answer as he entered 2011. Unfortunately for the rest of the light heavyweight division, he quickly proved himself up to the task, throttling Ryan Bader at UFC 126 before defeating Mauricio Rua for the 205-pound title on short notice and defending it in dominating fashion against former champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida. The young phenom is quickly running out of obstacles in the way of uncontested dominance of the division, and MMA fans await his 2012 campaign with bated breath.
Nick Diaz
Photo via UFC.com
Diaz has long been known for laying a physical and verbal smackdown on anyone unlucky enough to be on the opposite side of the cage, but his low level of competition left his status as a top welterweight up for debate. After submitting Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, however, Diaz took steps to correct that issue, becoming the first man to ever knock out Paul Daley before returning to the UFC and absolutely decimating former champion B.J. Penn. Now scheduled to face former WEC champion Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title while champion Georges St. Pierre recovers from knee surgury, Diaz has the chance to finally be recognized as the premiere welterweight in the world on Super Bowl weekend.
Donald Cerrone
Photo via UFC.com
WEC lightweights had a stigma attached to them of being second-rate, and the only thing that frustrated Donald Cerrone more than being disrespected was his apparent inability to win a title. After an illegal knee on his end forced an early end to his title fight with Jamie Varner, leading him to lose a technical decision, he took on Ben Henderson twice, falling both times. After getting revenge on Varner, though, "Cowboy" made his way to the UFC and commenced a thorough obliteration of everyone in his path. This year alone, he submitted Paul Kelly, battered Vagner Rocha, scored his first-ever (T)KO over Charles Oliveira, and pummeled Dennis Siver before choking him out. With his fifth fight of 2011, against Nate Diaz, scheduled for Dec. 30, Cerrone may be dangerously close to challenging for the title once again, only this time on the biggest stage there is.
Junior dos Santos
Photo via static.enlapelea.com
Junior dos Santos only fought twice in 2011, but he made up for lack of quantity with sheer brutality. After coaching in Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), "Cigano" was matched up against notorious knockout artist Shane Carwin, who was replacing the ailing Brock Lesnar. Dos Santos barely broke a sweat over the course of the fifteen-minute beatdown, crushing the American wrestler with brutally-precise punches. Impressive as this win was, his greatest highlight was yet to come; the hard-charging Brazilian got the opportunity of a lifetime this past November, headlining the UFC’s first show on FOX opposite heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. Stunningly, dos Santos flattened his foe in a grand total of sixty-four seconds despite a torn meniscus, becoming the first Brazilian heavyweight champion since his mentor, "Minotauro" Nogueira, who guillotined Tim Sylvia for the interim title. At only 27, the best is yet to come for dos Santos, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that’s a bloody scary thought.
Dan Henderson
Photo via mmaweekly.com
Dan Henderson has always had a right hand that he needed to register as a concealed weapon to wear a glove on, but in 2011, he truly, unequivocally mastered it. He started the year off by capturing yet another title, knocking out Strikeforce 205-pound champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante. He went on to score one of the biggest upsets of the year in late July, putting the legendary Fedor Emelianenko to sleep for the first time with a hard uppercut from behind. Not content with just making history, however, Henderson also won arguably the best fight of 2011, battering Mauricio Rua for three rounds and fending off a late rally from the deposed champ. On the cusp of a title shot and widely regarded as one of the best light heavyweights in the world, Henderson has defied age and expectations to establish himself as one of the finest fighters in the world.
That's a wrap.
Be sure to let us know if we missed anyone sufficiently awesome in the comments below and be sure to stop by tomorrow for the finale of our "Best of 2011" series, when we look for "Event of the Year."
To see our 2011 "Fight of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here.
To see our 2011 "Knockout of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here.
To see our 2011 "Submission of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here.
Poll
The best fighter of 2011 was:
Jon Jones
Nick Diaz
Donald Cerrone
Junior dos Santos
Dan Henderson
Someone else (see comments)
32 votes | Results
Posted in: diaz, title, henderson, champion, year
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit Opens As Favorite Over Nick Diaz at UFC 143
Filed under: UFC, NewsAs if Nick Diaz needs a reason to motivate himself for his upcoming UFC 143 main event matchup with Carlos Condit -- a bout that will determine a UFC interim welterweight champion -- Diaz can turn to the oddsmakers for some fuel.
Diaz has voiced a displeasure at a perceived lack of respect for his achievements, and despite winning 11 fights in a row and vacating the Strikeforce welterweight belt to fight in the UFC, that apparently wasn't quite enough for linesmakers, who installed Condit as the favorite at UFC 143.
Condit was only slightly favored in the opening line listed at several online sports books. He was listed at -125 while Diaz was -105.
Since then, however, bettors have already closed the gap, and the fight is now a pick 'em, with both fighters at -115.
At UFC 137, Diaz (26-7, 1 no contest) made his first start in the UFC since 2006 and romped in a unanimous decision win over BJ Penn. Afterward, he was bumped ahead of Condit and into a title fight with Georges St-Pierre, but a torn ACL sidelined the bout, paving the way for Diaz and Condit to collide.
Condit is also in the midst of a strong run, having won four in a row and 12 of his last 13 overall. He's finished each of his last three opponents -- Rory McDonald, Dan Hardy and Dong Hyun Kim -- by KO or TKO.
UFC 143 takes place on Feb. 4 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseGreg Jackson expects Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz to be "a huge five-round war" at UFC 143
Renowned mixed martial arts trainer, Greg Jackson, discusses the likelihood of Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre making a speedy return from injury, and shares his thoughts on the upcoming 170-pound interim title bout between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. Jackson insists that if anyone is capable of making an early return from an ACL injury, it would be GSP, and says he's expecting a "huge five-round war" between Condit and Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, jackson, condit, fiveround war, acl injury
Read the full article at Low KickHistory in the Making: Nate Diaz returns to lightweight and bulldozes Takanori Gomi
If success in mixed martial arts (MMA) was measured by the frequency and sternness of scowls, Nate Diaz would be the world's greatest fighter only behind his older brother Nick.
Thankfully, in addition to being able to mean mug with the best of them, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 winner is also one hell of a fighter. He steps inside the Octagon with the same ferocity that his brother does and has earned a legion of fans because of it.
He has a solid albeit unspectacular UFC record of 9-5 but two of those losses came at welterweight against men -- Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald -- whose only losses came at the hands of Carlos Condit who happens to be facing off against Nick Diaz in the main event of UFC 143.
What a tangle web we weave, indeed.
Fans who cheer Nate Diaz do so not only because of how he wins -- impressively and decisively -- but also how he comes up short. When he loses, he does so to some of the best and only by decision. He fought Clay Guida and Gray Maynard tooth and nail for 15 minutes and nearly pulled off the victory each time, losing to both men by split decision. He, like his brother, comes to fight. He doesn't step inside the cage for a sporting contest, he enters the Octagon much like he would a bar and fights his UFC opponents like he would a drunken patron during a brawl.
His next opponent is Donald Cerrone at UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem", a fight with the potential to be a last minute Fight of the Year candidate. It's also Diaz's second fight at lightweight since returning to the division in September. At UFC 135, he dropped back down to 155 pounds and took on Diaz family foe Takanori Gomi.
Let's dive right in.
The two meet in the center and begin pawing their jab out in an attempt to gauge the distance and find their range. Diaz snaps forward a quick jab that grazes Gomi who already is having trouble with the reach advantage his opponent has. Gomi has dealt with this before and more often than not, his opponent lay unconscious on the mat following an exchange.
A perfectly placed jab connects with Gomi's jaw as the former Pride Fighting Championships champion attempts a wild hook, dropping the Japanese fighter momentarily. He bounces right back up but has to deal with Diaz's newfound aggression. Back against the cage, Gomi is pressured relentlessly by Diaz. The Stockton fighter eats a solid punch to the body but it doesn't even seem to phase him. He continues the assault without pause, peppering Gomi with punch after punch.
Another body shot lands for Gomi but it seems to be the only offense he's able to mount. Midway through the round, Diaz has already started taunting the Japanese fighter like only a Diaz knows how. Hands down by his wait, chin sticking out, mouth spouting out who knows what. It's a scene that polarizes the MMA fanbase.
With a little over two minutes remaining, Diaz begins to connect with combinations rather than the single strikes he was serving up before. As the crowd begins to sound off, the TUF 5 winner throws a three-punch combo that drops Gomi before the third strike is even thrown.
The Japanese fighter is able to get back up but the barrage continues and Gomi is forced to revert to the early days of his career, dropping down for a takedown. Being the owner of a Cesar Gracie jiu-jitsu brown belt and having won six of his eight fights inside the Octagon by submission, Diaz is more than happy to oblige his opponent.
Seconds into the groundwork, the American takes Gomi's back and hooks his legs in. He's in there for the long haul. Realizing the danger he's in, the former champ gets back to his feet forcing Diaz to do the same. There, the momentary lapse in the stand-up affair is corrected and Diaz goes immediately back to punishing his opponent with impressive boxing skills.
Gomi is then able to shove Diaz down onto the mat and drops down into the American's guard. For a brief moment, it appears as if fans might see some ground and pound from "The Fireball Kid." That thought is dashed when Diaz throws his legs up and cinches up a triangle choke before transitioning into an armbar.
It was a fight that many thought Diaz would lose. Gomi gave Nick Diaz all he could handle and most agreed that the elder Diaz was the better of the two brothers. But Nate proved those people wrong by not only beating Gomi but by doing it in a much more dominant fashion than his brother did.
While Nick is challenging for welterweight gold, a win for Nate next Saturday would definitely steer him in the right direction in his quest to earn his own division's title.
But first he has a "Cowboy" to deal with.
Posted in: fight, diaz, fighter, opponent, gomi
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit vs Nick Diaz is 'going to be a big five-round war'
That's not my opinion, necessarily, though I don't exactly disagree. That's what mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer to the stars, Greg Jackson, told Inside MMA last night.
Jackson, who trains Carlos Condit and is getting him ready for his interim welterweight championship bout at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas, had this to say about the match-up:
"It really is (going to be an interesting fight). You know, Diaz is so tough, and he's really turned it on this last year or two. He's looked amazing. Carlos has too, so I think it's going to be a real barnburner with those two guys. They're both tough as nails and I'm expecting a huge five round war. I'd like it to go short in our favor but Nick's so tough, it's going to be a big five round war."
Not exactly going out on a limb with a prediction like that but what did we expect, right?
Really, Condit and Diaz will have reason to get inside the cage with an extra zest to tear the other's head off. That's because they've both been on a veritable rollercoaster these past few months, especially Condit.
They both had title shots against Georges St. Pierre ripped away, by insubordination and injury, and Diaz had to fight a friend (B.J. Penn) while "The Natural Born Killer" has been left sitting on the sidelines twiddling his thumbs.
Sounds like a recipe for a "big five-round war."
Hear more from Jackson in the full entry, including his thoughts on his stable of fighters, which includes such elite fighters as the previously mentioned St. Pierre, Condit and Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.
Posted in: diaz, jackson, condit, war, carlo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz says he is better than Donald Cerrone on every level
When Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone meet in the co-main event of UFC 141 next Friday night fans should expect nothing but fireworks after fireworks after fireworks followed by, you guessed it – fireworks.
Diaz, who has won just two of his last four fights, will be trying to slow down the freight-train that is the “Cowboy.” Cerrone is on a current six-fight win streak that includes three submission wins and a TKO.
As far as Diaz, a student under Cesar Gracie who trains with his talented brother, Nick Diaz, and former champion Jake Shields, none of that matters.
“I feel like I’m better than all the guys in my division (155 pounds),” said the younger Diaz in a UFC interview promoting the upcoming event. “He is definitely a guy that likes to fight, but I think I’m better than him everywhere, honestly.”
Diaz has been involved in four “Fight of the Nights” during his time in the UFC, while Cerrone has one under the UFC banner and five while competing in the WEC. Diaz won his last bout over Takanori Gomi in his return to lightweight after competing as a welterweight for several years.
The main event of UFC 141 will feature Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar in a five-round war to become the #1 contender in the UFC’s heavyweight ranks.
Watch Diaz/Cerrone talk about their bout in the UFC 141 Preview starting about six minutes into the video:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, i ’m, nate diaz, donald cerrone
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDonald Cerrone recalls rude run-in with Nate Diaz at media event
Christmas might be less than a week away but rest assured Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz won’t be exchanging any gifts for the holiday. Rather, they’re set to exchange strikes and submission attempts on December 30 as the co-headlining clash at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem. However, while some opponents find a way to remain civil in the weeks or months leading up to their bout, there is no love lost between Cerrone and Diaz even dating back to October before they had even been booked to fight.
Cerrone recently spoke about an exchange he had with Diaz at the open workouts before UFC 137 where he was scheduled to face Denis Siver and Diaz’s brother, Nick Diaz, was in attendance for a main event match-up with BJ Penn.
“Really the only personal interaction I’ve had with Nate is at the open workout prior to this fight. I walk over, just be like, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ and try to shake his hand. He slaps my hand away, called me a punk-ass, and walks off,” the 17-3 “Cowboy” revealed of the experience in a preview promoting their December 30 dance. “If you want to talk sh*t to me you’re just gonna enrage me and piss me off. So feed my f*cking flame. That’s what I say. Let’s go!”
Diaz also remembered the incident, explaining, “Yeah, he shouldn’t have done that. He’s in my bracket and we’re gonna fight each other. You go your way and I’ll go mine.”
Both lightweights are coming off impressive opening-round wins against Siver and Takanori Gomi respectively. Cerrone is also in position to cement his claim at a title-shot if he can get by Diaz, as it would be his seventh straight win and fifth of 2011.
Former LHW Champion Sees Gold in Cerrone’s Future
Check out the full video below with Diaz/Cerrone talking about their encounter at about the 6:30 mark:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, cerrone, donald cerrone, shouldn ’t
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 143 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Diaz vs Condit' on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is close to putting the finishing touches on its upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) fight card from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., Feb. 4, 2012.
UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" will be headlined by former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz battling ex-WEC 170-pound kingpin Carlos Condit for the right to wear the division's Interim strap with Georges St. Pierre on the sidelines recovering from knee surgery.
In addition, former welterweight number one contender Josh Koscheck will try to keep his spot among the 170-pound elite by taking on the venerable Mike Pierce.
That's not all.
Check out the current UFC 143 fight card and line up:
Main event:
170 lbs.: Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz
Main card (pay-per-view):
170 lbs.: Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce 155 lbs.: Erik Koch vs. Dustin Poirier265 lbs.: Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
Preliminary card (FUEL TV):
145 lbs.: Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen 170 lbs.: Amir Sadollah vs. Jorge Lopez 135 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa 185 lbs.: Rafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper
**Fight card and line up subject to change**
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 143, beginning with the PPV telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 4. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night.
We're still a few weeks away from showtime; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions for "Diaz vs. Condit" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event.
To get up to speed on all the news and notes for UFC 143 check out our extensive event archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Diaz vs Condit Trailer
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, condit, imag
Read the full article at RedditSubmission of the Week: Nate Diaz vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Get hyped for UFC 141 with Nate Diaz and his awesome submission over Kurt Pellegrino from 2008, complete with Stockton Salute.
Posted in: diaz, submission, nate diaz, pellegrino, kurt pellegrino
Read the full article at Heavy MMAThe Blueprint - Diaz vs. Cerrone
Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone are two of the most exciting young fighters in the lightweight division.Diaz is the younger brother (and virtual carbon copy) of former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and UFC veteran Nick Diaz and he is looking to build upon the tremendous momentum created with his Submission of the Night win over former PRIDE superstar Takanomi Gomi. This will be Diaz’s second 155-lb bout after spending a little over a year competing at 170. And a win over Cerrone will put Diaz right back into the division’s top 10.Cerrone probably has even more at stake. The New Mexico-based fighter is in the midst of a six-fight winning streak, making him one of the hottest commodities in the division. A win over Diaz will almost certainly earn Cerrone a matchup against one of the 155 lb Preferiti, possibly in a title elimination challenge.Battling to establish intra-division pecking order is great. But that isn’t why I’m waiting with baited breath for this matchup. Diaz and Cerrone both love nothing more than to throw down, phone-booth style. This isn’t about competition for them. It is about handing out a beat down. Not because there is some long animosity between the two. There isn’t, as far as I’m aware. It is because these guys are fighters deep down in their DNA. That is why 10 of their combined 18 UFC fights have resulted in “of the night” awards, whether fight, submission or knockout.I have a feeling that December 30 will be 11 out of 19.When the referee signals for the action to begin, Diaz will come looking to do what he always does – box from the southpaw stance. He paws at his opponent with his right hand, just like his brother Nick, in order to distract defending eyes. Diaz will pop crisp, straight left hands behind his pawing right. He will quickly snap off a right hook. And generally throw a variety of other shots from unconventional angles. Of course, that is not to suggest that Diaz’s game is devoid of a jab. It is not. He fires the jab in between groping paws. He also drops his hands to his waist and sticks out his chin in order to shoot a jab from his hip. It is a vintage Nick Diaz move, one that his younger brother has adopted as his own.If the entire fight unfolded on the feet, Diaz would be content. That is borne more out of necessity than preference. Despite the fact that Diaz has sick submission skills, he has below average takedowns. Thus, he struggles to get the fight to the floor at will. He must instead fight on the feet until there is a knockdown or his opponent takes him down.Diaz’s standup attack is really of hunt-and-peck nature. He is not a knockout artist. Not by a long shot. He has but a single knockout win over the past five years. It came against a much bigger, stronger fighter, Rory Markham. But that was Diaz showing the world that stinging, pinpoint shots can end fights just like explosive bombs. Maybe not in an instant, but certainly over the course of a few minutes. The younger Diaz won’t change up that approach for Cerrone. I don’t care if most believe that the “Cowboy” is superior on the feet. Diaz will throw hands with anyone, including Cerrone. The question, of course, is whether or not that is a good idea.Cerrone was a professional kickboxer before entering mixed martial arts. He has a couple dozen kickboxing bouts on his professional record without a single loss. Yet, he has only a single knockout win on his MMA resume.Odd, I know. But I think that says something about Cerrone’s kickboxing pedigree. It was not at a world class level. He wasn’t blasting people in K-1. He was dominating his local circuit. I’m fairly certain Diaz would have experienced similar success.Of course, that is not to suggest that Cerrone is a chump on the feet. Quite the opposite is true. He is a very good technical striker. He fights in the traditional Thai style with very square shoulders so that he can strike with all eight points of attack – fists, elbows, knees and shins. Squaring up like that certainly makes him more vulnerable to standup assaults from his opponents, but it also leaves him in perfect position to defend takedowns. It is the same style that UFC legend Chuck Liddell used to earn millions of dollars, in addition to a spot in the Hall of Fame and a stint as 205-lb champion. Cerrone isn’t a slugger like Liddell. He doesn’t detonate on foes. He instead chips away at them, just like Diaz. Not like Diaz stylistically. Like Diaz in terms of crisp, accurate, well executed strikes. He will look to utilize those skills against Diaz, just like he has in basically every other fight. Cerrone will come forward, with his hands held high, and will use his jab to set up two- and three-piece combinations. Unlike Diaz, though, he will also throw very effective kicks to the legs and body. And when faced with a clinch situation, he will fire knees and elbows as he likely dominates the position.Both guys prefer to stand and bang. All that is fine and good. But it isn’t the way that most of their fights ultimately end. Both men have won more than 70% of their career bouts by submission. Think about that for a moment. Neither man is an accomplished wrestler. Yet, each wins by submission far more often than not.Most of that is due to the fact that foes end up taking them down. Why? Simple. Opponents are sick of getting peppered in the face. I don’t see either Diaz or Cerrone spending much time trying to secure a takedown on December 30. If that happens, I like Diaz all day, every day to win by submission. His skills, refined under the ultra critical eye of Cesar Gracie, are among the very best in the division. Cerrone, who is coached by the highly respected Greg Jackson, is a solid submission guy. But there is a stark contrast between a solid Jackson submission guy and a Gracie expert. If Cerrone ends up on the ground, thanks to Diaz pulling guard, he will focus almost exclusively on implementing a ground-and-pound assault, rather than engaging in a transition jiu-jitsu contest. If the strikes sufficiently soften up Diaz, then Cerrone will look for a fight-ending choke. He won’t want to mess with Diaz’s grappling prowess in any other situation.If Cerrone finds himself fighting from his back, he will do whatever, at any cost, to get back to his feet. He wants no part of Diaz’s top game. None whatsoever. He won’t admit it. But I’m certain of it.Diaz, by contrast, will look to mix strikes and submission attempts, whether he is in the top or bottom position. He knows that he is the better submission artist. In fact, he probably hopes that his strikes force Cerrone to shoot for a takedown. My guess is Diaz won’t really try to defend the takedown attempt, if it comes. And if he finds himself on the short end of the standup exchanges, Diaz may very well pull guard. He won’t want to because he is a gladiator’s gladiator, but that would be a wise decision.So, who is going to win? Honestly, I don’t really know. I think the bout is a tossup on the feet. If they fight 10 times in a standup-only affair, the bout probably ends in 10 different ways. I think Diaz is much better on the ground, as written above. Yet, I’m not sure the fight will spend any significant time there, absent someone getting rocked on the feet first.I may not have a good feeling on who is going to win, but that really doesn’t bother me, either. For me, this fight isn’t about a winner or loser. Sure, he who is victorious will further cement his standing in the division. Nonetheless, I don’t see either man’s career getting derailed by a loss. Why? Because this is going to be a fun-filled, all-action, first-class scrap. It will be the sort of fight that will thrill the fans from beginning to end, no matter how long it lasts. It is a fight that should win an “of the night” award. And it is a fight that should leave fans clamoring for more from both men.That is why this one is must-see TV.QUICK FACTSNate Diaz• 26 years old• 6’0• 155 lbs• 76-inch reach• 14-7 overall• 3-2 in last 5• 5-5 in last 10• 50% of UFC fights resulted in post-fight award (Submission of the Night 3x, Fight of the Night 4x)• Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner• Current layoff is 97 days• Longest layoff of career is 310 daysDonald Cerrone• 28 years old• 6’0• 155 lbs• 73-inch reach• 17-3, 1 NC overall• Six-fight winning streak• 8-2 in last 10• 75% of UFC fights resulted in post-fight award (Fight of the Night, Submission of the Night, Knockout of the Night)• Current layoff is 62 days• Longest layoff of career is 270 days
Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, cerrone, •nbspnbsp
Read the full article at UFCUFC Submission of the Week: Diaz vs. Pellegrino
Nate Diaz locks in a killer triangle choke, then seals it with his signature Stockton salute.
Posted in: diaz, week, ufc submission, killer triangle, killer
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyWhy is loving (or hating) the Diaz brothers so much fun? MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden explains...
Why is loving (or hating) the Diaz brothers so much fun? MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden explains right here.
Posted in: diaz, nation, snowden, brother, diaz brothers
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiaz vs. Condit for Interim Belt - Tickets on Sale Friday
The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that two of the sport’s top welterweight contenders will vie for the interim 170-pound title. Nick Diaz, a fiery and unpredictable southpaw riding an 11-fight win streak, will battle the division’s most fearsome knockout artist, Carlos Condit, when the UFC returns to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 4.“With GSP out for 10 months, we are going to have Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit fight to crown an interim welterweight champion,” UFC President Dana White said. “I’ve had my differences with Nick, but he is a fighter through and through. The one thing I can guarantee is that come fight night, he is going to throw down. We all saw that in his last performance against BJ Penn. Carlos Condit is no different. He’s knocked out his last three opponents and believes he is the best fighter in the division. I get goose bumps just thinking about this fight!”Additional fights scheduled for this event include: welterweight bad boy Josh Koscheck vs. powerful wrestler Mike Pierce, as well as a pivotal featherweight bout pitting Erik “New Breed” Koch vs. Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier.Tickets for UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT, presented by BUD LIGHT®, go on sale TOMORROW, Friday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $750, $500, $350, $225, $125 and $75. Tickets will be available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.Official UFC VIP packages are also available at http://vip.ufc.com. These packages include tickets to UFC 143, official event merchandise, as well as special VIP experiences with backstage tours and meet and greets with top UFC stars. Get closer to the action than ever before with this unique UFC VIP opportunity.During his reign as STRIKEFORCE welterweight champion, Nick Diaz (fighting out of Stockton, Calif.) defeated archrival KJ Noons and finished both Evangelista Santos and Paul Daley en route to becoming the organization’s best 170-pound fighter. Returning to the UFC with his destruction of Penn last October, Diaz - whose brother Nate is also a UFC competitor – looks to knock off Condit and secure his first UFC world title.“I wanted to fight Georges St-Pierre and I still want that fight when Georges comes back,” Diaz, who owns a record of 27-7, 1 NC, said. “Right now, I’m focused on beating Carlos Condit. He’s tough and he’s knocked a lot of guys out, but that doesn’t concern me. I know I’m a better fighter in all areas. I’m gonna win that belt on February 4.”Nicknamed “The Natural Born Killer,” Carlos Condit (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) is a 27-year-old former WEC champion with four straight wins, three of which came by way of knockout. A pupil of renowned trainer Greg Jackson, Condit (27-5) now has the chance to fulfill a lifelong goal of winning the UFC welterweight title. He’s also motivated by the chance to fight one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound best.“Ever since I began my career in mixed martial arts, it has been my goal to be a UFC champion,” Condit said. “Upon hearing the news that I would be fighting for the interim welterweight title, I cannot begin to describe the mix of emotion that came over me. I am thankful to have such an opportunity. This will be the biggest fight of my career and I am ready to show that I am deserving of it.“Nick is a great fighter,” Condit added. “He’s also a hungry and motivated fighter. Both of us want to be the champion more than anyone could imagine. I look forward to training for the challenges that he will present in the Octagon. We both have aggressive styles, and that should provide for an entertaining fight for both the UFC and the fans.”An elite competitor who has fought some of the division’s toughest names, Josh Koscheck (fighting out of Fresno, Calif.) is fresh off a knockout victory over UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes in September. A member of the renowned American Kickboxing Academy and a former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler, “Kos” now turns his attention to ending the rise of Mike Pierce (fighting out of Vancouver, Wash.). Having won four of his last five fights, Pierce (13-4) is a hard-charging wrestler known for his ferocious ground and pound. He looks for the biggest win of his career when he meets Koscheck (18-5) on February 4.A pupil of renowned striking coach Duke Roufus, Erik Koch (fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) has made an immediate impact since joining the UFC earlier this year, knocking out Raphael Assuncao in March and besting The Ultimate Fighter® season 12 winner Jonathan Brookins in September. To earn a crack at the featherweight title, the 23-year-old Koch (13-1) must defeat another surging prospect in 22-year-old Dustin Poirier (fighting out of Lafayette, La.). With a perfect 3-0 mark since dropping to featherweight at the start of 2011, the gritty Poirier (11-1) has impressed many thanks to decision victories over Josh Grispi and Jason Young, as well as a dynamic submission win over Pablo Garza in November at UFC® on FOX. Eyeing his own shot at the 145-pound crown, Poirier is gearing up for what should be an incredible bout with Koch at Mandalay Bay.Additional bouts will be announced at UFC.com in the weeks to come. All bouts live and subject to change.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, fighter, condit
Read the full article at UFCUFC 143 ‘Diaz vs. Condit’ Tickets On Sale This Week
UFC 143 is official.
UFC 143 “Diaz vs. Condit” is scheduled to take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Feb. 4, and will air live on pay-per-view at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The card will be headlined by a interim welterweight title fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.
Ticket info below.
UFC Fight Club Presale: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 10am PT
UFC Newsletter Presale: Thursday, Dec. 15, 10am PT
Public On-Sale Date: Friday, Dec. 16, 10am PT
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster and Stubhub.
The latest UFC 143 fight card and event info can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, pt, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC Welterweight Division State of the Union
With so many fights coming up spread across seven different weight classes, it's easy to lose track of what's happening in every division. Here, we take a look at where a particular division stands right now, and where it's headed.
Last week, a bombshell piece of news hit the UFC Welterweight division: dominant champion Georges St. Pierre is injured and a new interim champion will be crowned. It's been nearly 4 years since anyone other than GSP held that belt, and now, some new names finally have a chance to get their foot in the door. Who will make the most of this opening, and who will be waiting for GSP when he returns? Let's see who has a shot.
Next in Line:
At UFC 143 it will be the #3 ranked Nick Diaz vs. #5 Carlos Condit for the Interim Welterweight title. Great fight there, and one that has come about in a very convoluted series of events. What started at GSP vs. Nick Diaz at UFC 137 evolved into GSP vs. Carlos Condit when Diaz famously no-showed his media obligations. Then GSP was hurt, leading to the Diaz vs. B.J. Penn main event. After Diaz won, Diaz vs. GSP was back on, only for it to be switched yet again, this time to today's Diaz vs. Condit. Will we see more switches before February 4? I hope not, as this is a fight that really interests me, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Key Match Ups:
Looking over the division, the loss of the champ actually comes at a rather opportune time. Often when I put these lists together, there are 2 or 3 big fights to highlight. Not so this time. Take a look at the ridiculous action the 170 pounders have in store for us in the coming months:
#2 Jon Fitch vs. #17 Johny Hendricks (UFC 141) - Jon Fitch may easily end up the big winner from this whole GSP situation. A Fitch vs. St. Pierre rematch seems more and more unlikely as time passes, but Fitch is beyond a doubt the dominant #2 in the division. If he can get past Hendricks (and I expect Hendricks won't be able to stop the Fitching), he could easily get a crack at the Diaz vs. Condit winner and find himself the interim champ awaiting GSP's return.
#24 Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Erick Silva (UFC 142) - Yes I know, these are two new fighters who are still a fair bit outside the top of the division, but I believe both of the chance to be serious long-term contenders. One will take a nice step up by winning on a PPV card.
#16 Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel Roberts (UFC on FX) - Brenneman made a name for himself beating Rick Story as a last minute replacement for Nate Marquardt this summer, but needs another win to remind fans of that one. Roberts is on a 2 fight losing streak, and a loss to Brenneman will likely mean his UFC career ends for now.
#6 Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce (UFC 143) - Koscheck is the big loser in the GSP/Condit/Diaz scenario as he was set to face Condit at this show. Now he's against Pierce in a fight that doesn't do much for Koscheck if he wins, but really sets him back if he loses.
#4 Jake Ellenberger vs. #11 Diego Sanchez (UFC on Fuel TV 1) - Ellenberger is on a great streak right now with his KO over Jake Shields capping a new rise up the ranks. Diego is only on a 2 fight win streak since his return to Welterweight, but he's a very established name with strong history in the UFC. Winner here is my pick for next challenger after Diaz vs. Condit.
#7 Jake Shields vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 144) - I've long felt a move to 170 would be good for Akiyama, and he's finally doing so at UFC 144. Unfortunately, he makes that move in a debut against the top ranked Shields. This is a weird fight where you have two highly skilled fighters who just have not gotten it together lately. Winner could be stepping closer to title contention - loser could be cut.
#9 Martin Kampmann vs. #12 Thiago Alves (UFC on FX 2) - I love this fight. Two entertaining fighters who are sure to go at it here. I don't see either man getting up to title contention soon, but it's still a very good fight that deserves a close look.
#13 Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills (UFC 145) - MacDonald returns to action here after being briefly sidelined. It's a shame he missed out on the planned fight with Ebersole, which would have been much more exciting. This fight feels like he is treading water for a bit, waiting for a bigger fight next time out.
In The Mix:
Just in case that wasn't enough, here is another handful of fighters who could make a big impact in their next fight:
#15 Rick Story - Poor Story has lost most of the momentum he had mid-year. After beating Thiago Alves and being scheduled to face Nate Marquardt, he looked on the verge of the top 5. He's now on a 2 fight losing streak, but definitely has the skill to get back in contention.
#21 Brian Ebersole - That UFC 140 win over Claude Patrick wasn't pretty, and it won't do his quest for a title shot any favors. But he is still a worthy contender, who should have a good fight next time out.
Others to Consider:
And finally, a few names that may not find themselves in the title picture any time soon, but should be mentioned:
#10 Anthony Johnson - He's facing Vitor Belfort at Middleweight at UFC 142, but has stated that he's still unsure if that is a permanent move up to 185 or just a one time thing. I think a move would be wise, but we'll see how that fight goes.
#8 B.J. Penn - Is he retired? Taking a break? It's unclear, but if the former champion returns, he'll absolutely be right back in the top of the division.
Matt Hughes -
Is he retired? Taking a break? It's unclear, but if the former champion returns, he... will get a notable fight, but won't be a relevant factor in the division. Sorry.
Carlos Eduardo Rocha - One of my favorite up and comers in the division to watch for. He's 9-1 with that only loss coming against Ellenberger in a fight where Rocha had some very good success.
#18 Tyron Woodley - Pretty much the entirety of the Strikeforce Welterweight division; he'll face Jordan Mein on January 7.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, division
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 143 tickets on sale soon for 'Diaz vs Condit' at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Feb. 4
Tickets for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," which was recently made official for the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, will go on sale to the general public on Fri., Dec. 16, 2011, at 10 a.m. PT.
UFC Fight Club members and UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption.
UFC 143 will be headlined by former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz battling ex-WEC 170-pound kingpin Carlos Condit for the right to wear the division's Interim strap with Georges St. Pierre on the sidelines recovering from knee surgery.
In the co-main event, former welterweight number one contender Josh Koscheck will try to keep his spot among the 170-pound elite by taking on the venerable Mike Pierce.
Here is the UFC 143 tickets sales schedule (All times PT):
UFC Fight Club presale: Weds., Dec. 14, at 10 a.m.
UFC Newsletter presale: Thurs., Dec. 15, at 10 a.m.
General tickets sale: Fri., Dec. 16, at 10 a.m.
UFC 143 tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. See the current fight card and rumors here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, ticket, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143's Carlos Condit: Georges St. Pierre will remain the true champion until beaten
No one has been on a crazier emotional roller-coaster ride as of late than Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight contender Carlos Condit.
"The Natural Born Killer" was supposed to fight B.J. Penn at UFC 137 back on Oct. 29, 2011. However, when Nick Diaz was pulled from the main event, Condit was granted the title shot against 170-pound champion Georges St. Pierre.
"Rush" then suffered an injury that would postpone the bout and keep Condit off of the Halloween-weekend card. The fight against St. Pierre was then rescheduled for UFC 143, but his shot was quickly taken away and given back to Nick Diaz after the Stockton scrapper called out the Canadian in the wake of his impressive win over "The Prodigy."
Condit was then offered (and accepted) a fight against the always dangerous Josh Koscheck, which was scheduled for the same Super Bowl weekend card on Feb. 4, 2012. Yet, because of another injury to Georges St. Pierre, Condit has once again been given a title shot.
Sorta.
This time, he is scheduled to face Diaz, in what will be billed as an interim UFC welterweight title fight scheduled for the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That's enough to drive a sane man crazy.
However, speaking to MMAFighting.com earlier today, Condit concedes that he just has to laugh at all the twists and turns that have been tossed his way, while also also talking about his upcoming title fight with Diaz.
Check it out:
"Seeing everything that's happened over the past couple months, I kind of just had to laugh. It's crazy, a lot of ups and downs but after all this turmoil and stuff, it ended up going my way. Whether it's an interim title or not, this is what the fans have been screaming for from the welterweight division. They're looking for exciting fighters, guys who go out and put it on the line and come too thrown down win, lose or draw. I think both Diaz and myself are those guys, but George St. Pierre is the champion and he will remain the champion until me or someone else beats him."
With Condit winning his last four in the Octagon, and winning 12 of his last 13 bouts dating back to the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) days, he is more than deserving of a title shot.
Standing in his way is another streaking welterweight in Diaz, who has won 11 in a row and was the last man to hold the Strikeforce welterweight title. Diaz was specifically brought over into the UFC ranks to face St. Pierre, but because of a bad case of the injury bug (and absence from promotional appearances) the fight has yet to come to fruition.
Diaz made his re-debut at UFC 137, defeating Penn in a three round rout that saw the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter batter the Hawaiian for three rounds of pure stand-up action, earning a unanimous decision victory. Now both Condit and Diaz will finally have a chance to claim UFC gold as they will battle for the interim UFC welterweight title until "Rush" is fit to return to action.
Did the promotion make the right choice to brand the fight between Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz an interim title fight, or should "Rush" fork over the strap and have the opportunity to fight to earn it back to make it official?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, condit
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit Is a Nick Diaz Fan, and Looking Forward to Matchup of Similar Styles
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsWhat a stretch it's been for Carlos Condit. First he was going to fight BJ Penn at 137, then he was going to fight Georges St-Pierre for the title. Then St-Pierre got injured and Condit got neither. Then, he was going to wait for his title shot with GSP, until he was moved aside in favor of Diaz. Then, Condit was going to fight Josh Koscheck at UFC 143, until a new St-Pierre injury occurred. And now, Condit is preparing for an interim welterweight title match against Nick Diaz.
Got all that? If not, the bottom line is Condit and Diaz are paired up in a bout that promises fireworks. And as far as Condit is concerned, that's just fine.
"Seeing everything that's happened over the past couple months, I kind of just had to laugh," he said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "It's crazy, a lots of ups and downs but after all this turmoil and stuff, it ended up going my way."
Condit (27-5) said that he is a fan of Diaz's fight style, likening it to his own aggressive approach that often leads to crowd-pleasing fights.
Because of their similar styles and go-for-broke mentalities, many believe that a Condit-Diaz bout will be more intriguing than one involving St-Pierre. Though he doesn't necessarily agree, Condit is convinced the duo will produce something special at UFC 143.
"Whether it's an interim title or not, this is what the fans have been screaming for from the welterweight division," he said. "They're looking for exciting fighters, guys who go out and put it on the line and come to thrown down win, lose or draw. I think both Diaz and myself are those guys."
The switch from Koscheck to Diaz was a major shift in opponent base. Given his NCAA wrestling pedigree, Koscheck brings with him the constant threat of the takedown. Diaz is nowhere near as accomplished in that area though he compensates well for it with his dangerous ground game.
Condit noted that he could be described in a similar way, and even though he believes he had the tools to overcome Koscheck, he likes the Diaz matchup.
"Nick is a physically tougher guy, but I think his style matches up better with me, he said. "We're both standup fighters and we both have a jiu-jitsu base. I think Nick's style is definitely a better matchup for me."
Condit said he still hopes to fight Koscheck at some point in the future, but his long-term hope is of course to fight St-Pierre, the longtime division champion who will be on the sidelines for possibly up to 10 months will recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee.
To do that, he'll have to get through one of the sport's most fierce competitors, a guy who he has come to enjoy watching.
"As a fighter, I am a fan," he said. "I think he's a great fighter. He's had an impressive run lately. He's top notch, one of the best in the world. I don't know the guy personally, so I can't really speak to whether I'm a fan of his personally. I think he's got a bad attitude, but you've got to be yourself, so that's just him doing him." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, koscheck, condit, stpierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNothing about this Nick Diaz parody video makes any sense
Quantum physics dictate that on a long enough time span, if you were to throw a dictionary in the air and blow it up with a shotgun, the words 'don't be scared homie' will eventually emerge from the charred remains in exactly that same order. While those chances may entirely too astronomic for human comprehension, the probability of it happening is greater than your chance of fully understanding this Nick Diaz parody video.
The clip comes from a guy that's notorious for stealing our videos and covering up our watermark -- something that we'll be contacting YouTube about later today. Nevertheless, this guy has made a rather intriguing Napoleon Dynamite inspired Nick Diaz video that is so senseless that we had to publish it on MiddleEasy.com. My suggestion is you better watch this video as soon as possible, before we have this guy's YouTube channel shutdown for copyright infringement. Props to Two Tree for the banner picture. Enjoy!
Posted in: diaz, guy, nick, video, watermark something
Read the full article at Middle EasyBloody Elbow Round Table: What Is GSP's Legacy If He Retires From Knee Injury?
Matthew Roth: There's a rumor out of TriStar going around right now that if the knee surgery doesn't go well, St. Pierre could retire. If Georges St. Pierre was to retire tonight, what is his legacy? Is he the best welterweight to ever live or does the fact that he never faced Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit open up the discussion that he was just a really good fighter that utilized wrestling to win rounds?
Fraser Coffeen: Diaz and Condit are the arguments against his legacy? No way. Those are fun potential match-ups, and I'll be sad if we never get GSP vs. Diaz, but St. Pierre has nothing to prove by beating them. Best Welterweight of all time? It's him or Hughes, undeniably. Do people think his failure to finish counts against him here?
Josh Nason: I think his legacy is one of the best fighters of the modern era (2005-on) and an interesting case for where he would fit in the Top 10 best of all-time. The Diaz fight would be a great topper and a bummer if it doesn't happen, but it's not a make-or-break for his career.
The one thing that may hurt his standing with some is the lack of finishes. He did put a hurting on a lot of guys in a row and didn't lose a round in years, which the educated understand. But he wasn't an overly violent guy in a violent sport (think Chuck Liddell highlight finishes), nor an outlandish personality. He'd be appreciated by the masses but not beloved to the point of Randy Couture...except in Canada, that is.
KJ Gould: I think if he's forced to retire, his legacy was never fully realised. He never took fights in other weight classes -- something both Silva and Penn have done -- and his inability to finish in his last string of fights has caused all sorts of criticism, particularly when some of his former opponents were finished handily the next time they stepped foot in the cage. The dynamic fighter that built his reputation and fanbase seemed absent in recent fights either due to a lack of refinement in technique, or a lack of urgency and willingness to take any risk in the process.
GSP is / was absolutely a very good fighter and the best of his division for the last few years, but in Boxing so was Joe Calzaghe -- and neither guy was able to set the world on fire. If GSP was Welsh he wouldn't be the draw that he is, even if everything else about him stayed the same. GSP will be surpassed in years to come by more dynamic, destructive fighters because that's what the majority of full contact combat sport fans look for and are drawn to.If GSP beat Diaz and Condit the same way he's been beating recent opponents, his legacy is unchanged because there'd be nothing remarkable about it.
Continued after the jump...
Fraser Coffeen: Josh's mention of Chuck made me think about one upside to his legacy should he retire now, which is that he won't linger past his prime. So many great champions have that awful losing streak to end their careers - Fedor, Chuck, Tito, Wanderlei, Hughes. We end up, to some degree, allowing those late career loses to influence our views of their entire career. Just look at this very question - Hughes should absolutely be considered alongside GSP, but it's kind of hard to forget the image of Alves crushing him, Penn KO'ing him, Hughes screaming as GSP hits the armbar. For now, those are more dominant images in some minds, when it should be Hughes choking out Trigg, crucifixing Newton...GSP retires now, and he avoids that and retires as the unbeaten champion, which is a big deal.
KJ Gould: I think GSP is at least couple of years away from being in a similar situation, and the real shame is a serious injury as sidelined him rather than taking too many in-bout beatings. I can fully appreciate a little bit of conservatism for pro fighters to lengthen their careers, I just think GSP has been too conservative in recent fights which end up lacking that WOW factor. I just wish when it became clear early in a fight that his opponent has nothing for him, then that would be the time for him to do something astonishing since he certainly has the skill and ability to do so. Fighters transcend when they rise to a challenge and overcome, but if a challenge isn't there then I feel a champion's supremacy needs to be punctuated with an exclaimation point, rather than just murmured. Instead GSP's legacy for me is marred by being risk averse and it comes down to the old adage, "No Guts, No Glory".
Josh Nason: I can't sign off on the 'no guts' for GSP remark. Last night, I thought about this subject more and wanted to mention that his competitive drive is something to be admired. He wasn't a wrestler and learned it so well there was the Canadian Olympic team rumors being thrown around. He cross-trains to a ridiculous end and he simply wants to win, win and win. That's something I've always loved about his approach. I did an interview with Phil Nurse a few months ago and he reiterated what a competitive guy GSP is, even from the day he first met him/ I think he'll be back at a high-level and will continue to be an upper echelon fighter for a few more years.
KJ Gould: I don't see hard work and dedication as the same thing as 'guts' when it comes to fighting. GSP absolutely is hard working and dedicated and constantly looking to improve. 'Guts' for me is a different character trait that relates to risk taking, killer instinct, gritty endurance and choosing Fight over Flight when in a survival situation. I think fighting with reckless abandon and throwing caution to the wind is a bad idea; I just think GSP has gone too far to the other end of the spectrum. Fighters with a good balance of skill and strategy coupled with that animalistic, mean streak is what interests me the most about fighting and GSP has just lacked that in recent fights. Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit possess this balance (though admittedly it might not be a completely equal balance), and as a result I'm far more interested in them fighting for the interim title than I would be with either against GSP. Since we're still talking about a fight at the end of the day, I do think it can impact that legacy far more than other, non-combative sports.
Ben Thapa: Are you people insane? Look at who Georges St-Pierre has beat in his career. He's already a legend in the sport and will go down as being better than Matt Hughes. In an era of beastly wrestleboxers, GSP has decisively beaten every challenger since the first bout with Matt Serra. GSP beat everyone put in front of him and a good chunk of them are better than Hughes ever was. If we magically could rewrite time without GSP, Jon Fitch would likely be ruling the division with an iron fist. Fitch is a truly diverse mixed martial artist who cannot be put away and has the chops to implement his will on just about everybody else at welterweight. In the real world, Fitch is looking on the outside while fresher talent bubbles up and hype gets built.
A mean streak is not necessary to great success in any sport. Marcelo Garcia is perhaps the nicest human being alive and he wins durn near every grappling tournament he enters. Kevin Durant is an all-world talent and his teammates and people in Oklahoma rave about his approachability and personality. A mean streak makes it easier to sell a person to the masses, but being vicious is not a surefire path to great success. There probably isn't a more vicious person in the ring or cage than Wanderlei Silva and he never quite lived up to his legend. To win, all GSP has to do is to be better than the other fighter within the rules of the fight. In the face of some stiff challenges, he's done that time and again. He's given of his time, body and spirit to put on amazing performances against some of the best mixed martial artists we've yet seen. Perhaps the bout with Anderson Silver never materializes, perhaps he retires in the next year a well-compensated, but hobbled fighter, but his legend is already secure as one of the best mixed martial artists and one of the most respected and loved combat sports athlete ever.
Matthew Roth: Ben you bring up his legend. But what exactly is his legend? A fighter who won one-sided dull decisions? A fighter who was once exciting until suffering the only knockout of his career? St. Pierre is a talented guy and has dominated everyone he's faced insofar as he has the ability to keep the fight on the ground. But even when he had Koscheck broken, he never went for the kill. He was content with riding out a decision. While fans may disagree, it's a bad look when Jake Ellenberger and Chris Lytle finish guys that GSP decisioned.
Back to the original point though. The lack of the Diaz and Condit fights will loom over his head. Fans truly believe without the UFC's marketing machine that Condit and Diaz could actually beat St. Pierre because they are dangerous on the feet and ground. They truly are well-rounded and have that mean streak to finish the fight when they have their opponent hurt.
Dallas Winston: Wow, it's crazy to think about him retiring at this point.
I've always liked and respected GSP, especially because he plays the "aw shucks", sheepish nice guy so well. When he trolled Koscheck on TUF into picking Marc Stevens first and whispered, "It's a strategy!" while trying to be all stealthy and inconspicuous -- I don't know why, but I burst into laughter and still do when I recall that. He almost seems to have the utterly disarming charm of a little kid with grown-ass man MMA skills.Anyway, I think being this close to fighting Diaz on two separate occasions will dull the luster a little on his legacy. Diaz represents so many things that GSP hasn't encountered and might struggle with: equal reach length, an impenetrable chin, an innate desire for a down and dirty brawl and elite submission skills. The last one might be the most salient. Hughes and Penn were the only apex submission fighters he faced, and Hughes caught him once and I think Diaz is significantly more proven and effective off his back than Penn.I really have no problem with GSP's lack of finishing though I understand why others do. I thought he started to really excel as a complete fighter and come into his own about the same time he went on the decision streak. His footwork, jab and overall kickboxing skills seemed to become just as formidable as his wrestling, which is the best in the world at 170. I suspect his offensive submission game is somewhat mediocre, as evinced against white-belt Dan Hardy, but that's another aspect I was looking forward to seeing more of and how he's developed it.
Dallas Winston: My opinion on Roth's question is that GSP's legacy was isolating himself as a rising phenom and handling Matt Hughes before getting caught in their first fight. Then, he established his freakish wrestling prowess by dominating Sherk, Trigg, Hughes twice (both finishes) and Koscheck.
That's what I'll always remember him for. However, I would never put GSP on the same level legacy-wise as someone like Anderson Silva, who has annihilated everyone in the UFC. GSP has two legit losses to Hughes and Serra -- the latter interrupting his surging momentum -- that elevate Anderson into a different category.
KJ Gould: Ben, guts and instinct aren't necessary for success. It just makes that success more poignant. Plus I don't find the Marcelo Garcia reference apt, because Garcia is a finisher even at the highest level. All but one match of his at this year's ADCC was finished, where as Pablo Popovitch took dull decision after dull decision. Garcia gutting out a guillotine from Kron Gracie isn't something that can be likened to GSP; Popovitch insta-tapping to Andre Galvao's toehold can be if you think about GSP tapping to strikes. These aren't perfect comparisons by any means, but more on point than your original reference in my opinion.
As I said, GSP's recent dominance is more of a murmur than an exclamation point. It's why I think he'll probably be the most successful Welterweight there's been, but he's not that deserving of any greater accolade. He is eclipsed by Anderson Silva, and I think Jon Jones from a purely fighting standpoint could be on his way to eclipse him if he continues to run through opponents in devastating fashion.
Posted in: fight, diaz, fighter, hughe, gsp
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCarlos Condit: Nick Diaz is like the Terminator, but I have more weapons at my disposal
He'll be He is back.
Carlos Condit has once again been named the UFC welterweight number one contender -- right alongside fellow 170-pounder Nick Diaz, which is why they'll hook 'em up in the main event of UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas for the Interim strap.
That's because reigning champion Georges St. Pierre got a little weak in the knees over this whole division title chase, one that saw a revolving door of contenders since he disposed of Jake Shields earlier this year.
St. Pierre won't be in any "Rush" to get back inside the Octagon, but that's not entirely his fault. The ruptured ACL in his right knee -- coming just a few weeks after spraining the MCL in his left -- will require surgery resulting in a minimum 10-month layoff.
Hasta la vista, Georgie.
Condit, who was yanked from his "Sin City" match-up against Josh Koscheck to give Diaz a date to the big dance, tells USA Today the Stockton slugger is "definitely a better stylistic match-up for him than Georges or Koscheck."
See for yourself:
"Nick is very, very tough. He's got a great skillset. He's tough as nails. The guy's like the Terminator -- no matter what you hit him with, he just keeps coming forward. But stylistically, it's definitely a better stylistic match-up for me than Georges or Koscheck. I think I have more tools when it comes to the striking aspect. I'm a more dynamic kickboxer. He's got great boxing and unorthodox style that works really well for him, but I feel like I have a lot more tools. I think that's really the main difference -- I have more weapons at my disposal. Diaz, for the most part, I would say, 90% of his strikes are punches. I like to mix it up, throw kicks, knees, elbows. I have a more versatile striking game. He's pretty predictable in the sense that he does the same thing: Comes forward, throws lots of punches; he's not afraid to take a punch at all. I like his striking style. He mixes it up. He throws great combinations. He keeps guys guessing. Some of the best guys in the sport have yet to figure out that puzzle."
What do you think, Maniacs? Do we have ourselves a fantastic main event? Or have you abandoned ship now that St. Pierre is riding the pine?
And will a win at UFC 143 produce a legitimate champion -- or just a commercial until the GSP show gets back on the air?
Get up to speed on the GSP/Diaz/Condit triangle here, here and here. For more UFC 143 news click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, knee, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo: Freddie Roach Calls Anderson Silva Best Boxer In MMA
MMA Nation Senior Editor Luke Thomas is in Washington, D.C. providing media coverage for this weekend's Amir Khan vs Lamont Peterson fight. He caught up with Khan's trainer Freddie Roach at Thursday's pre-fight press conference and spoke with the Hall of Fame trainer about a few different topics.
On Georges St. Pierre's injury:
He'll let that heal up and then get back at it. A year and a half of anyone's prime is worrisome and being laid of that long is worrisome because as fighters, activity is really good for them. But he's a very disciplined guy and mentally very strong. He'll come back I think.
The big thing is I'm sure we're inviting Nick Diaz to come out and box and give him a couple warm up fights of course. It's a shame that happened but it's part of life.
On Nick Diaz' Boxing:
We had a game plan. We were already working on this because the fight was supposed to happen once before so we were working on things. I was studying Diaz fights.
People tell me that Nick Diaz is a good boxer. I tell them no, he's not a good boxer, he's good with his hands. Boxers use footwork. Diaz doesn't use any whatsoever. He just fights in straight lines. He's very accurate with his punches so we had a good game plan. We were working on it in the gym for about two weeks and then the fight got cancelled because Diaz didn't show up to the press conferences. Dana got mad and put somebody else in there so we went and shifted gears. It was a fight I was looking forward to because I know Diaz is a big challenge and a great warrior. He's a very resilient guy. It's hard to get him down man, he's a tough guy.
On the best "Pure Boxer" in MMA:
Right now, Anderson Silva. He's had six pro fights in his home country. He knows how to measure distance and time really well. He's a little ahead of the guys on that. But sometimes he only fights to his ability, you know? Or he fights as hard as he has to so sometimes he doesn't take guys out when he probably can or should. He lets them last a little longer.
Video after the jump...
Posted in: fight, diaz, guy, boxer, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCarlos Condit: First Nick Diaz Then GSP
Carlos Condit is ready to face Nick Diaz for the UFC interim welterweight title in February, then he'll set his sights on Georges St-Pierre.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, carlos condit, welterweight title
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyFrank Shamrock thinks Nick Diaz will beat up GSP and kick Carlos Condit's ass
MMA is a lot like Highlander but with more blunt trauma and tap outs. We speak often about one fighter taking another fighter's soul, or the very real and scientific method of MMA Math, but none of that can compare to just talking to a guy who has seen it all. Like Frank Shamrock for example.
After countless hours of playing EA MMA and hearing Frank talk about his fight with Nick Diaz, we decided we had to get him on the horn and ask him what his thought's were on the latest welterweight shakeup between GSP, Carlos Condit and Mr 209. Luckily The Legend had some free time away from cornering Brian Ebersole and The Hairrow™ up in Toronto to answer our call.
So what do you think of GSP getting shelved for the year? Who do you have Diaz or Condit? Hoo, man. I think Nick's gonna beat him and I think Nick's gonna take the entire three way tournament there...
Do you think that because you personally fought Diaz? Hmmm, I don't know. Yeah...Yeah I think I do. I know through fighting him that he's gonna go and kick those guy's asses. Yeah. He's an unstoppable fighting machine with extreme cardio. I think he beats them up.
I wonder what Frank thinks about the future of that kid who single legged Phil Baroni.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, nick, condit
Read the full article at Middle EasyGSP Has Blown ACL, Out at Least 10 Months
UFC President Dana White shook the MMA world upside today after announcing welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre blew out his ACL and will be on the shelf for at least 10 months.
GSP was slated to fight Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz at UFC 143, but Diaz and Carlos Condit will instead fight for an interim title.
Besides GSP needing a lengthy recovery, this is absolutely horrible news for the UFC — GSP is a major superstar and pay-per-view draw. Diaz vs. Condit will be a fun brawl to watch unfold, the UFC should expect a significantly lower PPV buyrate in February 2012.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, gsp, mma world, fun brawl
Read the full article at MMA OpinionNick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: 5 Rounds of Aggression and Fury
As reported earlier today, Georges St. Pierre blew his knee out and has been forced to withdraw from his title fight with Nick Diaz @ UFC 143. Dana White announced that the new game plan for the Welterweight division is Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit for the interim title.
I feel terrible for Georges and of wish him all the best. I hope he gets his riddum back as soon as possible but, ladies and gentlemen......
WE HAVE A SERIOUS FIGHT ON OUR HANDS!
Carlos Condit will be getting his title shot back that was awarded to him after Nick Diaz went AWOL leading up to UFC 137. The same title shot that was taken from him after Georges withdrew from that fight and subsequently given back to Diaz after he steamrolled BJ Penn that same night. That performance by Diaz all but erased any harm done by him irresponsibly pissing away his shot at St. Pierre by no showing repeated media obligations. What a mad world this is.
Carlos Condit - The former WEC Welterweight Champion. The man who has 25 of his 26 career wins via submission or TKO. The man who ether'd Dan Hardy sending Robert Downey Jr. into orbit, flying kneed the previously unbeaten Dong Hyun Kim back to the prelims and mounted a huge comeback against Rory MacDonald beating him down in terrifying fashion with only seconds left in the bout.
Nick Diaz - The former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion. He has annihilated Marius Zaromskis and Paul Daley standing up, took home the arms of Evangelista Santos and Hayato Sakurai and methodically beat BJ Penn into retirement.
I'll tell you the truth for once. I am more thrilled at the prospect of this fight than I ever was for St. Pierre v. Diaz or St. Pierre v. Condit. Both of those fights had a very high likelihood of being 50-45 GSP across the cards. This fight for the interim title is straight up nasty. Two of the most aggressive men in the sport are going to go in the cage with the goal of destroying the man across from them beyond recognition. There will be no point fighting or takedowns to steal the round. This will be unharnessed violence. We are talking about unchecked aggression here, Dude. Putting these two men in the cage opposite each other should almost make Dana White and Joe Silva accomplices to a crime given the bad intentions that will be behind every punch, kick, knee and attempted submission. This is going to be an absolute barnburner and I for one cannot wait.
Poll
Who ya got?
Nick Diaz
Carlos Condit
68 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, diaz, title, nick, condit
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendCarlos Condit Reacts to Georges St. Pierre's Injury and Fighting for the Interim Title
Carlos Condit has had a roller coaster of an autumn with the UFC granting him a shot at Georges St. Pierre's belt after Nick Diaz failed to fulfill media obligations. St. Pierre then dropped off the UFC 137 card with a MCL injury to his left knee and Condit was pulled from the card. After Diaz' performance against B.J. Penn at UFC 137 Condit's shot was taken away and he was set to face Josh Koscheck at UFC 143. This morning the UFC formally announced that St. Pierre had injured his knee and that Condit would be facing Diaz for the interim UFC welterweight title.
Carlos and his management team remained silent for much of the day before posting a video on youtube with his quick reactions to the news.
So...another change of opponents. It's been kind of a crazy ride the last couple months but you know, just gotta kinda roll with it. The good thing is that I've been training and focusing on what I need to be doing to win a fight no matter who they put in front of me. I'm really excited. I've been wanting to step into the octagon with Nick Diaz for a really long time. Great fighter. Great skill set. I think that we're really going to put on a good show for the fans. I'm sure everybody's excited. Like I said, I'm stoked. I will be the UFC interim champion. And then when Georges gets better I will be the undisputed UFC champion.
Video after the jump...
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, pierre, condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCesar Gracie: The UFC should strip Georges St. Pierre of the welterweight title
Cesar Gracie, head trainer for top welterweight contender Nick Diaz, has commented on the news breaking earlier today that UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has suffered yet another knee injury; forcing him out of the much anticipated title fight against Diaz that was scheduled for UFC 143 over the Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This latest injury marks the second time their clash has been scratched.
Their initial encounter was set to go down at UFC 137 back on October 29, 2011; however, Diaz was pulled from the fight due to not participating in scheduled press conferences.
"Rush" was then pegged to face Carlos Condit in the main event, but an injury forced the UFC welterweight champion out of the event and sent "The Natural Born Killer" to the sidelines without an opponent. Diaz then re-earned his title shot against the Canadian by defeating B.J. Penn in a three round war in the UFC 137 main event.
So how is the Cesar Gracie fight team taking the news of yet another GSP injury?
Make the jump to find out:
Speaking to Middle Easy, Gracie had this to say about the unfortunate turn of events.
"It's disappointing, it's the fight we have been trying to get for the last two years you know, Nick vs. GSP. Now that Nick is in the UFC we figured that for sure it would happen and the last two times you know, this time and last time, GSP keeps getting injured and events keep happening and it's kind of a weird thing so, you know were disappointed by it but we have to turn the page and we have a different fight on our hands."
On Carlos Condit as a replacement:
"I think he has better stand up actually than Georges. He kicks better, he throws better punches, he is taller. From a fans perspective, and I am a fan myself, it's actually a more intriguing matchup, and I think it's a more exciting match up because we're going to see some people throwing down in this one. In the GSP fight, I don't think we were going to have any of that to be honest with you despite what GSP said about being better everywhere than Nick. I don't think he was going to stand with Nick for very long. I don't think Condit is going to be shooting for takedowns as much as GSP would have. I really think this is going to be a rock em' sock em' fight."
On whether Nick Diaz will wait for GSP should he come out victorious against Condit or take another fight:
"They are making this an interim fight and I think it should be the championship fight because since the Jake Shields fight, by the time GSP fights again it's going to be about two years. A champion being out for a couple years, my idea is that they should actually strip him. I know these things happen and I am sure it's not his fault but, it's kind of like, Nick deserves a championship fight, and with it being an interim title there is always going to be people saying you're not the real champion. "
Nick Diaz or Georges St. Pierre have yet to comment on the injury.
What's your take Gracie's comments? Should St. Pierre be stripped of his title for lack of competing -- and is Condit vs. Diaz a better fight from a fan's perspective?
For more on St. Pierre's injury click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, gsp
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit steps in for injured GSP at UFC 143 to fight Nick Diaz for interim belt
An all too familiar revolving door spun again today when it was announced UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre had torn his ACL and would be out for ten months while recovering. As a result, GSP will obviously no longer be able to compete at UFC 143 against Nick Diaz as originally scheduled based on the condition of his knee.
Stepping in for the fallen star will be Carlos Condit who himself was believed to be in line for the title-shot, even booked for it at UFC 137 until St. Pierre backed out with a separate injury, but watched Diaz snatch his spot with a dominating performance against BJ Penn at the same event. Condit was already in the midst of training for a fight at UFC 143 with Josh Koscheck and should be in solid condition already as a result.
Since St. Pierre’s last championship defense came in April an interim belt will be created for the purpose of Condit vs. Diaz.
Diaz Talks his Way Into Title-Shot
Both Condit and Diaz are on impressive winning streaks with Diaz’s dating back to 2007 and spanning eleven fights, while “The Natural Born Killer” has put together four victories in a row with success against Dong Hyun Kim, Dan Hardy, Rory MacDonald, and Jake Ellenberger. Each is also known for finishing opponents with Condit putting together 26 stoppages in 27 total wins and Diaz 21 of 26.
UFC 143 is also scheduled to feature Erik Koch vs. Dustin Poirier, as well as Amir Sadollah in action. It is not yet known if Koscheck will be given a new opponent at the event though it seems likely given the amount of time involved before the February 4 show.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, jake ellenberger, diaz, pierre, condit
Read the full article at Fighters.comGSP to undergo surgery, Diaz camp says Condit tougher in certain areas at UFC 143
Firas Zahabi said his toughest job coaching Georges St-Pierre over the years has been getting the fighter to slow down.
Now, St-Pierre has no choice.
"We're disappointed, but it could have been worse," Zahabi today told MMAjunkie.com following news that St-Pierre tore his ACL and can't fight Nick Diaz at UFC 143. "A lot of fighters have come back from that injury, so I expect Georges to make a full recovery and come back better than ever."
Posted in: ufc, diaz, george, stpierre, zahabi today
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGSP out of Diaz fight with knee injury
Dana White announced via twitter that Georges St. Pierre will be out for 10 months with a knee injury. As a result, Carlos Condit steps in to face Nick Diaz for the interim Welterweight title for the Super Bowl Weekend card February 4th.
Condit was slated to fight GSP at UFC 137 and then was bumped from the card when GSP went down with an injury. After Diaz defeated BJ Penn, Diaz was awarded the title shot at GSP instead of Condit.
Payout Perspective:
The injury is a tough blow for the UFC as the Super Bowl weekend show is a big draw due to the amount of traffic in Vegas for the weekend. Condit-Diaz is a tough main event to sell as many casual viewers do not know Condit and Diaz is not the best at selling a fight. The rest of the card for UFC 143 is devoid of major names which is a problem. A part of this is due to the second Fox card on January 28th. But, without one of the UFC’s biggest stars (GSP), the UFC will have to scramble to make this card appealing.
In addition, the GSP injury hurts his marketability as the UFC moves to Fox. Certainly GSP is one of the company’s top draws and it looks like he won’t see the Octagon until December 2012. Its definitely disappointing for GSP and puts the UFC in a position to market behind others in the Welterweight division.
The only bright spot here is that Condit gets his shot at the title. Hopefully, the UFC will give him a nice push in front of the February 5th card.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, gsp, card, condit
Read the full article at MMA PayoutGSP injured again, Condit vs. Diaz at UFC 143
submitted by trollfoot [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, gsp, trollfoot
Read the full article at RedditGeorges St. Pierre out for ten months with torn ACL
Though UFC star Georges St. Pierre may appear to be super-human in the ring it turns out he is very much a mortal man after all, as the popular welterweight champion has apparently torn his ACL while training for an upcoming title-bout on February 4 against Nick Diaz. The situation marks the second time “Rush” has been forced out of a championship defense due to a knee injury.
The unfortunate news was revealed earlier today by UFC President Dana White through his Twitter account. As a result Diaz will now face Carlos Condit on the same card – UFC 143 – with an interim belt at stake.
Condit was already scheduled to fight at the same event with Josh Koscheck as an opponent. He also saw Diaz slide into the contendership slot he’d already been promised after UFC 137, a fact likely adding a bit of incentive to shine against the controversial Californian when they meet inside the Octagon. Condit holds an overall record of 27-5 with twenty-six stoppages and is on a four-fight winning streak including victories over Dong Hyun Kim, Dan Hardy, Rory MacDonald, and Jake Ellenberger.
Diaz, a former Strikeforce champion, is coming off his finest performance to date when he dismantled BJ Penn in late October. The mean-mugged 28-year old hasn’t lost since 2007, picking up eleven straight wins in the period since.
No word has surfaced on what will be done with Koscheck.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, stake condit, diaz slide
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGeorges St. Pierre Has a Blown ACL, Condit vs Diaz for Interim Title at UFC 143
Dear. F'n Crimminy. This has been about the most bizarre couple of months inside and outside of the ring for the welterweight division I can remember in years. Not since Matt Serra bingo'd GSP has such bizarreness happened at 170 pounds.
From Dana White's Twitter:
@danawhiteDana White GSP blown acl will be out for 10 mos. Now Condit vs Diaz for the interim welterweight title on Feb 4th in Las Vegas!!
Carlos Condit, who has been bounced around like a pinball, and Nick Diaz, for all his craziness and foibles, have found themselves poised to ascend - at least temporarily - to the throne as the best welterweight in the world without having to dethrone one of the best pound-for-pound champions in the short history of this sport.
This is a huge opportunity for these men as well as a huge blow to the pockets of the UFC. St. Pierre was one of the few athletes on the roster capable of generating hundreds of thousands of PPV buys all on his lonesome. This comes on the heels of a terrible 2011 as far as buyrates go, and a still stagnant economy, so excluding 141 a few weeks from now with Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem, there's no big-name PPV to help the UFC's profit margins.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, welterweight, condit
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendSt-Pierre Injured; Diaz vs. Condit at UFC 143
Match-ups change on a dime in mixed martial arts, and the pairing of Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz has suffered its second blow.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, blow, georges stpierre, stpierre
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGSP is out, Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit for the UFC interim welterweight title
Less than eighteen hours ago, the Vancouver Sun published an interview with Georges St. Pierre in which he states he's 'ready for Nick Diaz.' Sure I could ask questions like 'Why would you give an interview to a massive media source to promote a fight with the knowledge that you are unable to compete?' but at the end of the day, we will never know.
Just minutes ago, Dana White broke everyone's heart when he announced that Georges St. Pierre is out of his bout with Nick Diaz, and instead we will see Carlos Condit take his place in a UFC welterweight interim title fight. That's ten months we won't see the UFC welterweight title contested. Folks, that's October 2012. Here's what Dana White tweeted just moments ago:
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, title, nick, carlos condit
Read the full article at Middle EasyGeorges St. Pierre Blows Out ACL, Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit For Interim WW Title at UFC 143
GSP blown acl will be out for 10 mos. Now Condit vs Diaz for the interim welterweight title on Feb 4th in Las Vegas!!15 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite@danawhiteDana White
It’s really beginning to look like Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz just isn’t meant to be.
As seen above, Dana White tweeted just moments ago that GSP has blown out his ACL and will be out of action for 10 months, so in the meantime they’ve decided to do an interim welterweight title fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit at UFC 143 instead. No word yet on what will happen with Condit’s original opponent, Josh Koscheck.
Major bummer, but at least they’re trying to make the best out of another shitty situation.
Posted in: diaz, vs, condit, carlos condit, welterweight title
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGSP injured; Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit set for UFC 143 Interim Title fight
Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre has been forced to withdraw from his February 4th title defense against Nick Diaz due to an injured ACL. Stepping in to replace the champ will be top contender Carlos Condit, who will now face Diaz in a 170-pound interim title fight.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, title, title defense, carlo
Read the full article at Low KickBreaking news: Georges St. Pierre injured, 'Condit vs. Diaz' for Interim title at UFC 143
Breaking news from the desk of UFC President Dana White -- and it's a doozy.
UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has suffered an knee injury (ACL) and will be out of action for 10 months, effectively ending his participation at the UFC 143 event on Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dana Tweets:
GSP blown acl will be out for 10 mos. Now Condit vs Diaz for the interim welterweight title on Feb 4th in Las Vegas!!
Nick Diaz will remain as headliner, but will now fight Carlos Condit for the promotion's Interim 170-pound title. That leaves "The Natural Born Killer's" original opponent, Josh Koscheck, without a date to the big dance.
For now.
More on this breaking news in just a bit, but for now, GSP is on the shelf (again) and we're going to have a new champ in early 2012. What are your initial reactions to this sudden turn of events?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, condit, news
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGeorges St. Pierre Out With Blown ACL, Condit vs Diaz for Interim Title
Georges St. Pierre was set to defend his welterweight belt against Nick Diaz at UFC 137 before Diaz missed a media obligation. He was then scheduled to face Carlos Condit on the same card in a title defense. Then the news broke that he suffered an injury to his knee in practice and would defend his belt against Diaz at UFC 143. It appears that the injury was much worse than originally suspected as St. Pierre will be out for more than 10 months. The UFC is now scheduling Condit vs Diaz for the interim welterweight title.
@danawhiteDana White GSP blown acl will be out for 10 mos. Now Condit vs Diaz for the interim welterweight title on Feb 4th in Las Vegas!!Dec 07 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply
This is terrible news for the UFC as St. Pierre is one of the few fighters on the roster that can carry a card at the box office on his own. The recovery time also suggests that he'll need a ton of rehab which could mean that when he returns, he could be with out some of that explosive movement. The Condit vs Diaz fight should be an early Fight of the Year candidate.
Bloody Elbow will have more analysis as news comes in about the extent injury in the coming days.
Posted in: diaz, vs, pierre, condit, st pierre
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGeorges St. Pierre talks Nick Diaz: 'I know I have his number ... I will beat him'
UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre is a better boxer than Nick Diaz. He's also better at jiu-jitsu. In fact, he's better than him "everywhere." But don't take my word for it. Just ask "Rush."
From the Montreal Gazette:
"I truly believe (Diaz) deserves the fight. He's a fight that I want and a fight that everybody wants to see. Let's do it. He's a very good boxer, probably one of the best in mixed martial arts. Also very good jiu-jitsu. But I believe I'm better than him everywhere. He's fought very well, but I know I have his number. I will beat him."
St. Pierre (22-2) will have to put his money where his mouth is at UFC 143 on Feb. 5, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he defends his 170-pound strap against the Stockton slugger and prove he's not scared.
Despite his welterweight dominance, the Canadian kingpin has recently been criticized for his inability to finish fights. His last four title defenses have come by way of unanimous decision, where he either out-wrestled the strikers or out-struck the wrestlers.
Diaz (26-7), who earned his crack at the crown with a three-round unanimous decision win over former division champion B.J. Penn back at UFC 137, may have the striking and grappling pedigree to make it a dangerous fight both on the feet and on the ground.
Unless he succumbs to the relentless takedowns and top control from GSP.
It was, after all, that exact style of offense that saw Diaz lose a unanimous decision to Diego Sanchez way back in 2005. A lot has changed since then and Diaz has evolved tremendously, but watching "The Prodigy" effortlessly drag him to the mat as recently as Oct. 29 has to raise a few red flags for Stockton fans.
Is that the "number" St. Pierre has?
Whaddaya say Maniacs, what's the gameplan for each fighter heading into this blockbuster pay-per-view?
Posted in: fight, diaz, st, he, number i
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGeorges St. Pierre: Nick Diaz has fought very well, but I know I have his number
Nick Diaz is great, but Georges St. Pierre is better. At least, that's according to the Welterweight champ, who says Diaz is deserving of a title shot, but will lose come Super Bowl weekend. Initially scheduled to meet in a "Champion vs. Champion" bout at UFC 137, the on-again, off-again showdown between St. Pierre and Diaz was eventually pushed back to February 4th...
Posted in: title shot, diaz, pierre, st, welterweight champ
Read the full article at Low KickWow awesome new Nick Diaz Highlight - Nick "Machine Gun" Diaz 2011 Highlight Reel
submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, tekprodfx, reel
Read the full article at RedditThe Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale: Nashville Brawl behind him, Jason Miller finally returns to the Octagon
"Sometimes these things happen in MMA."
Reading reactions on websites like MMAmania following that statement, you would have believed that Showtime announcer Gus Johnson might as well have taken the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) behind the barn and plugged one in the back of its head. The bubblegum-flavored lip balm aficionado, flustered for words, said that infamous statement following an all-out brawl, a fracas that has become synonymous with the Strikeforce: Nashville card from April 2010.
And smack dab in the middle of it was The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale headliner Jason Miller.
"Mayhem" had fought earlier in the night, earning a relatively easy win over Tim Stout. It put him back in the win column after he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Jake Shields, a bout that decided a new middleweight champion after Cung Le absconded to Hollywood to film Fighting 2: Electric Boogaloo.
Shields beat Miller, surviving a tight third round choke, and became the 185-pound champion. Five months later, he overcame yet another early scare in his bout with Dan Henderson and would go on to defend the title in a fashion similar to how he won it in the first place.
Celebrating his come from behind win over Henderson with his Cesar Gracie teammates in tow, while Johnson asked a litany of standard post-fight questions, Shields was taken by surprise by a familiar face who had unexpectedly dodged, ducked, dipped, dove and dodged his way inside the cage.
"What's up? Where's my rematch, buddy?" Miller said with the Cheshire Cat grin that is perpetually attached to his face.
That's when all hell broke loose.
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez was first to step up to plate. He tried to get an arm in between his training partner and Miller while Shields, nervous smile creeping across his face, gave his former foe a small shove to one shoulder. A stronger, two-handed shove was delivered from the middleweight champ immediately after and "Mayhem" -- still grinning like a madman -- fell back into Shields' sponsor banner.
But, by this point, Miller was no longer focused on the middleweight. Nick Diaz -- and this should come as a surprise to absolutely no one who knows even the slightest bit about the Stockton fighter -- had started throwing punches, apparently home sick the day in kindergarten where everyone is taught that differences are settled with words, not fists.
"Mayhem" was eventually wrestled to the ground where Diaz delivered a flurry of body shots to the kidneys -- even in a brawl, he remembers good technique! -- while younger brother Nate did his best Wanderlei Silva impersonation and tried to stomp away as the former "Bully Beatdown" host.
That was right about when Johnson said that infamous line and followed it with several, "Gentlemen! We are on national television!"s like an old schoolmaster at her wit's end, trying to control a classroom full of petulant children.
When the dust finally settled, there were fines levied against several of those involved, but no dollar amount could ever compare to the drama that followed the incident. Miller and Diaz engaged in an all-out war of words, bantering back and forth about catchweights and which of the two homies was, in fact, scared.
The fight never materialized. Diaz went on to defend his welterweight title three times before making the jump back to the Octagon and maybe/maybe not retiring B.J. Penn. Diaz's unwillingness to sign on the dotted line to face "Mayhem" caused some fans to cry foul.
But like just about anything in the world - and especially the fight game - there was more to the story. Miller was quietly "banned" from Strikeforce because of his involvement in the "Nashville Brawl" and had to sit out the remainder of his contract. He took a fight against Kazushi Sakuraba in DREAM but the decision to keep him outside a Strikeforce cage makes his bout with Michael Bisping his first in over a year.
A year is pretty much an eternity for a fighter. They can train day in and day out the entire time but without stepping inside the cage and putting those skills to test in an actual fight, there's no way to be sure whether any definable progress is being made.
Was the brawl worth sitting a talented, marketable fighter on the sidelines for that long? Absolutely not. Despite Johnson's poorly timed statement, these things DO happen in MMA. It happened in Pride Fighting Championships several times and hell, it even happened in Strikeforce once before when K.J. Noons and his daddy got into it with - you guessed it - Nick Diaz.
Sure, it gives ammunition for those who don't like the sport to load into their buzzword and rhetoric guns but the simple fact is, people love drama. The only thing better than something good is something good turning chaotic. That's the element that Miller brings every time he fights and now brings to the Octagon. He's not nearly clinically insane like "Krazy Horse" Charles Bennett but he's pretty damn close.
And that's the kind of a fighter people will pay money to see.
Posted in: fight, diaz, strikeforce, fighter, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz nominated for 2011 'Stocktonian of the Year'
And if there's any justice in this world, he'll win, if for no other reason than to hear his acceptance speech.
The last man to hold the Strikeforce welterweight title, Nick Diaz, is under consideration for 2011 'Stocktonian of the Year' following a write-in ballot to his hometown newspaper, The Record, in Stockton, California.
Says The Record:
This isn't about maturity or proper behavior and decision making. The Stockton mixed martial arts fighter has none of those. What he has is talent and presence and - if he can keep (or get) that head of his on his shoulders - the potential to be a Stockton athletic rallying cry, ala Dallas Braden. Perhaps this is a year early. If he can win a huge upcoming fight and learn to act like an adult, maybe we'll have another Yaqui Lopez on our hands.
The award, presented by the Central Valley Association of Realtors and the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, recognizes "people who have made a positive impact on [the] community, often over decades."
And if there is a fan among us who doesn't realize Diaz is from "The 209," then you just haven't been paying attention.
Diaz trains out of the famed Cesar Gracie Academy along with his brother Nick and made his successful return to the UFC back in October with a three round unanimous decision win over B.J. Penn.
That victory, coupled with his accomplishments in Strikeforce, earned him a 2012 title shot opposite Georges St. Pierre at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas.
Stocktonian of the Year in 2011, UFC welterweight champion in 2012?
What say you?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, year, stockton, stocktonian
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz On Tap, Donald Cerrone Eyes Title in 2012
Finally putting the pieces of his mental game together, Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone has big plans for Nate Diaz at UFC 141 and for himself in 2012.
Posted in: diaz, nate, nate diaz, cerrone, donald
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz Nominated as ‘Stocktonian of the Year’
Nick Diaz may soon be able to call himself UFC welterweight champion and Stockton, Calif. most recognized citizen of 2011.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, ‘ stocktonian, stockton calif
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGeorges St. Pierre says Nick Diaz's smack talk won't work on him because he can't even understand it
So I got this really nice crystal ball from the thrift store yesterday and I thought I would use it to foretell what Georges St. Pierre would say in his black/white pre-fight interview that airs just before the UFC 143 broadcast. I can guarantee you that GSP will mention something along the lines of 'I will be the best Georges St. Pierre that I've ever been and the worst Georges St. Pierre can beat the best Nick Diaz'. He will also use 'He can't handle my rhythm', then the gladiator will appear on-screen, the hard-metal will blast through your television set, and you will run around your living room like a lunatic. I tried using my thrift-store crystal ball to predict what would be the outcome for the main event of UFC 143, but my neighbor thought it was a giant Gobstopper and tried to eat it whole. He's dead, now. Death by crystal ball. He should have saw it coming.
Canada's 'Slam Sports' caught up with GSP to get his take on his upcoming bout with Nick Diaz, which is slated to go down at UFC 143 -- that is if Dana White doesn't pull Diaz from the main event, again. St. Pierre doesn't seem too stressed out by Nick Diaz's smack talk because he can't even understand it.
"I’ve seen it all from everyone before, if they’re trying to get into my head and make me fight a bad fight, it’s just mind games and it doesn’t work."
"I don’t even understand (or) speak English very well. I don’t understand most of the things that (Diaz) says when he trash talks. I don’t really care."
“I’m just going to focus on hurting him.”
In the infinite possibilities that can exist in this world, one of these is Georges St. Pierre being stalked by a UFOs and aliens are secretly controlling his actions. It's not my idea, nor could I even invent something so esoteric. It belongs to a guy named Jon Kelly and he so vehemently believes it to be true that he created a twenty-minute documentary where he breaks down phrases from GSP, plays them back, and finds hidden messages of his 'alien abduction'. Among these message is the absurd, 'I'm mad, molest the ass' which is apparently GSP's way of saying that he was violated by extraterrestrials. Too bad these alien intruders still can't convince Georges St. Pierre that he should not 'be scared, homie.' [Source]
Posted in: diaz, ’t, pierre, st, george
Read the full article at Middle EasyGSP is not impressed by Nick Diaz's trash talking performance
submitted by Like_Wild_Potato [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: diaz, nick, gsp, performance, likewildpotato
Read the full article at RedditGSP talks Diaz, Ellenberger and Rushfit
Welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre goes 1-on-1 with Showdown Joe, on Jake Ellenberger, Nick Diaz and Rushfit.
Posted in: diaz, ellenberger, gsp, showdown joe, rushfit
Read the full article at sportsnet.caKoscheck Cheering for Diaz, Expects GSP Win
UFC welterweight contender Josh Koscheck will be cheering for bad boy Nick Diaz when the Stockton native fights Georges St. Pierre for the championship.
Here is what Koscheck recently had to say about Diaz and his chances against GSP:
“I like the Diaz kid. He brings something similar to what I bring to the table. He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind,” Koscheck said at a recent question and answer session with fans. Realistically, I think GSP is a strategist and GSP is probably gonna come out with a great game plan. That’s where he can play it safe and get the victory,” Koscheck told fans, being realistic about Diaz’s chances against the No. 1 ranked welterweight fighter on the planet.”
Koscheck meets Carlos Condit in a welterweight showdown on Feb. 4, with the winner possibly meeting the welterweight champion.
Posted in: diaz, gsp, koscheck, welterweight, answer session
Read the full article at MMA OpinionGeorges St. Pierre not phased by Nick Diaz’s trash-talking
Moments after Nick Diaz defeated B.J. Penn at UFC 137 he made it a point to call welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre out, questioning whether or not his knee had actually been hurt to the point it prevented him from fighting on the same night. Within an hour of Diaz’s rant the UFC handed him a title-shot while citing St. Pierre’s anger at the comments.
However, to hear GSP tell his side of the story, it looks like Diaz’s challenge didn’t get under his skin at all and that he actually preferred to fight the former Strikeforce star all along.
“I’m very happy to fight him,” St. Pierre stated in an interview with QMI. “It’s always been the fight I’ve wanted to have. They only thing is he did not show up at the press conference…so the fight got cancelled – not because of me, but because of him and what he had done. But me, I wanted to fight him. He wanted to have a title fight and he got it. (Talking trash) the best way to do it and it’s not personal.”
Drawing criticism from his opponents whether directed at him as a person or fighter is nothing new to “Rush” who dealt with similar smack during the build for bouts against Matt Serra, Josh Koscheck, and a handful of other competitors the 22-2 St. Pierre went on to successfully defeat inside the Octagon.
“I’ve seen it all from everyone before. If they’re trying to get into my head and make me fight a bad fight, it’s just mind games and it doesn’t work,” St. Pierre explained before adding in that much of what people say to him gets lost in translation. “I don’t even understand (or) speak English very well. I don’t understand most of the things that (Diaz) says when he trash-talks. I don’t really care.”
In fact, St. Pierre says he has a far more worthwhile goal to direct his attention to rather than buy into Diaz’s hate.
“I’m just going to focus on hurting him,” the 30-year old concluded.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, pierre, st
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 143: Georges St. Pierre doesn't mind Nick Diaz trash talk because he doesn't understand English very well
What's that you s-eh?
After their first title fight, which was scheduled to headline UFC 137, was scratched after Nick Diaz was yanked from the fight for missing a pair of press conferences, Georges St. Pierre and the Stockton slugger will finally meet in the center of the Octagon.
The title fight will headline UFC 143 on Feb. 5, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to determine the number one mixed martial arts (MMA) welterweight fighter in the world.
In the roller-coaster ride that was UFC 137, Carlos Condit was pegged as Diaz's replacement against St. Pierre; however, an injury forced "Rush" out of the fight. Diaz was then bumped back into the main event slot opposite B.J. Penn while "The Natural Born Killer" was forced to hit the sidelines.
After Diaz forced Penn into retirement due to a three round beating, the bad boy from Stockton took to the mic in his post-fight speech to call out the UFC welterweight champion by claiming he was ducking him by faking the injury.
The speech was enough to force UFC President Dana White to make an executive decision and award Diaz the title fight against St. Pierre instead of Condit, who once again came up on the short end of the stick, missing out on his second title shot.The often humble and reserved St. Pierre doesn't seem to mind the trash talk though, because as he tells the QMI Agency (via Slam.canoe.ca) he doesn't really understand the trash talk of Diaz due to the fact that he does not speak or understand the English language very well:
"He did very well (against Penn.) He's the No. 1 contender and he deserves a shot. I'm very happy to fight him. It's always been the fight I've wanted to have. They only thing is he did not show up at the press conference ... so the fight got cancelled - not because of me, but because of him and what he had done. But me, I wanted to fight him. He wanted to have a title fight and he got it. (Calling me out is) the best way to do it and it's not personal. I've seen it all from everyone before. If they're trying to get into my head and make me fight a bad fight, it's just mind games and it doesn't work. I don't even understand (or) speak English very well. I don't understand most of the things that (Diaz) says when he trash talks. I don't really care. I'm just going to focus on hurting him. If I hit him well, he's going to fall. He's a human being. He's not different than anyone else. He's got good boxing and great at Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It's going to be a good fight."
St. Pierre also briefly talked about Carlos Condit's unfortunate situation of losing his title shot for a second time:
"I haven't spoken to Carlos, but he's going to have a title fight after Diaz. I know he's mad. If I were in that situation, I would have been mad as well. But in the first place it was always Diaz. He was supposed to have the shot."
It's a good thing St. Pierre doesn't mind the trash talk, because he can expect a heavier doseage from Diaz leading up to fight night, though he won't likely engage in a back and forth as he never has been known to be a trash talk specialist.
Instead, the UFC welterweight kingpin will have a chance to let his fists do the talking for him in a little over three months.
As for St. Pierre's training partner Condit, he won't have to ride the pine much longer as he is penciled in to co-headline the event opposite Josh Koscheck to determine who gets the next shot at the UFC welterweight title.
UFC 143 will have no shortage of fireworks as four of the top welterweights on the planet will be in action in the quest to determine the world's number one.
Until then, language barriers permitting, enjoy the trash talk that Nick Diaz is sure to deliver.
Are you buying Georges St. Pierre's claims that he doesn't understand his upcoming opponents trash talk due to the English language barrier?
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, pierre
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGeorges St. Pierre talks Nick Diaz and "the always improving" Jake Ellenberger
UFC Welterweight Champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre shared thoughts about his upcoming bout with Nick Diaz, and the decision to turn down the fight with Carlos Condit. Once again, St. Pierre stated that Nick Diaz is currently the #1 contender for the UFC Welterweight title, and a perfect match-up for an exciting fight for the fans. GSP also related to the recent comments from Jake Ellenberger, claiming that the Omaha, Nebraska native will have his chance for a shot at the title.
Further Reading: Nick Diaz
Posted in: jake ellenberger, diaz, nick diaz, nick, st
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 143: Josh Koscheck rooting for Nick Diaz to best Georges St. Pierre, eyes future title fight with Diaz
There's no Josh Koscheck vs. Georges St. Pierre trilogy in the former's immediate plans.
That's because the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) product wants Nick Diaz to pull out the victory over UFC welterweight champion when they meet at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in order to set up a big fight between the two.
Koscheck, who has already been defeated twice by the Canadian superstar -- first at UFC 74 back on Aug. 25, 2007, and most recently on Dec. 11, 2010, at UFC 124 -- doesn't seem too keen on facing St. Pierre a third time.
Instead, he wants to set up a fight against Diaz, a title fight he believes would do very well given the fact that both athletes have a knack for talking up quite a storm leading up to showtime.
Speaking at a recent UFC Fight Club Q&A, Koscheck tells fans he actually likes Diaz because he sees a lot of himself in the bad boy from Stockton:
"To be honest with you, I like the Diaz kid. I think that he brings something similar to what I bring to the table: he's not afraid to say what's on his mind. Realistically, I think GSP is a strategist and GSP is probably gonna come in with a good game plan, that's where he can play it safe and get the victory. But, I'd love to see Diaz win because when I beat Carlos Condit February 4, then that means me and Diaz for a title shot, and then that means it's a big fight because he talks really good, and I believe I can talk up a fight really good."
Koscheck is coming off of a first round shellacking of former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes at UFC 135 on Sept. 24, 2011.
The victory earned him a number one contender's fight against Carlos Condit, who was left without an opponent after he was pulled from his title fight against St. Pierre in favor of Diaz after Diaz' post fight speech following his victory over B.J. Penn at UFC 137 back on October 29, claiming the UFC welterweight champ was not really hurt, but simply avoiding a fight against him.
Koscheck is set to face "The Natural Born Killer" in the co-main event to Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre‘s title fight on Super Bowl weekend.
Should "Kos" gets past Condit, Diaz still has to defeat "Rush" in order to set up the "big" Koscheck vs. Diaz title fight.
What do you say, Maniacs? If Josh Koscheck gets his wish and all the stars align perfectly, who takes the battle of the welterweights in both the mixed martial arts and trash talk department?
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, koscheck
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit to Face Josh Koscheck at UFC 143
Filed under: UFC, NewsAs expected, Carlos Condit won't sit around and wait for Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz to decide the direction of the UFC welterweight division.
Instead, Condit will face former No. 1 contender Josh Koscheck at UFC 143.
Koscheck announced the fight on his own, and a source confirmed that Condit has at least verbally agreed to take the bout.
Condit has been one of the winningest welterweights in MMA for years, capturing 12 of his last 13 fights, losing only a close split-decision to Martin Kampmann during that time. Condit has won four in a row overall, including three straight knockouts.
Condit (27-5) was at one time pushed ahead of Diaz and into a title bout with St-Pierre, but after Diaz defeated BJ Penn at UFC 137, St-Pierre asked for and received a change, and will fight Diaz at UFC 143.
If Condit wins, he's likely to be named No. 1 contender.
Meanwhile, Koscheck (16-5) returned from his December 2010 loss at the hands of St-Pierre to knock out Matt Hughes in the first round of their UFC 135 fight.
UFC 143 takes place from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on February 4. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, diaz, koscheck, condit, stpierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMartin Kampmann: Carlos Condit 'got screwed' because of that 'punk' Nick Diaz
Stop this hype train, Marty wants to get off.
UFC welterweight stalwart Martin Kampmann is fighting Rick Story this Saturday night (Nov. 19, 2011) at UFC 139 from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
A win over the "Horror" and the "Hitman" may find himself back in the 170-pound title chase, which at some point in the very near future, could have him standing across the cage from Nick Diaz. The same Diaz who nearly retired B.J. Penn at UFC 137 last month for his eleventh straight win.
Kampmann was not impressed.
In fact, the Dane claims the Stockton slugger "isn't that good" in an interview with MMA Sucka and that the only thing Diaz excels at is "running his mouth" and "being a punk."
Check it out:
"I personally think Carlos Condit got screwed. Nick Diaz has been pretty good at hyping himself up. To be honest, I don’t think Diaz is that good. Anytime he has fought any good wrestlers he has had problems. I think he’s going to lose badly to GSP. Diaz is good at running his mouth and doing his thing … you know … being a punk. I would love to fight Nick Diaz sooner than later. I would absolutely love to fight him somewhere down the line."
Diaz will fight Georges St. Pierre at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012, in a bit of unfortunate matchmaking for Carlos Condit, who was oh-so-close to getting his hands on the gold before St. Pierre blew out his knee and had to postpone their pending dance.
Or as Kampmann says, "He got screwed."
That's because Diaz, who was the original number one contender for UFC 137 but was removed and re-inserted for reasons too convoluted to explain (click here if you must know), was sent to the front of the line after handling "The Prodigy" in "Sin City."
Whether or not Kampmann will ever get to fight Diaz remains to be seen. He's got a stiff test in San Jose and Diaz will be concentrating on "Rush" for the foreseeable future. After that, it's anyone's guess.
And speaking of guesses, who wants to take a stab at the winner of a "Kampmann vs. Diaz" bout?
Have at it.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, carlos condit, kampmann
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 143 Fight Card: GSP vs. Nick Diaz
Filed under: UFCGSP vs. Nick Diaz headlines the UFC 143 fight card in a UFC welterweight championship bout on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
This will be the promotion's second attempt at the matchup after Diaz was stripped of a title shot last October at UFC 137 for skipping out of his press conference commitments. Carlos Condit was then elevated to face St-Pierre. However, Diaz, who was later brought back on the UFC 137 card, defeated B.J. Penn and dramatically called out St-Pierre, prompting UFC president Dana White the same evening to announce St-Pierre vs. Diaz for SuperBowl weekend.
Check out the current lineup below.
Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz
Dustin Poirier vs. Erik Koch
Josh Koscheck vs. Carlos Condit*
*not yet officially announced Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, stpierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 139: Martin Kampmann Discusses Recent Losses, Fight With Rick Story
UFC welterweight Martin Kampmann has a vitally important fight with Rick Story coming up this weekend at UFC 139. Kampmann has dropped two bouts in a row and a third loss would be a huge setback in his quest for a title shot. He recently spoke with MMA Sucka about those two losses (to Jake Shields and Diego Sanchez), and about the matchup with Story in San Jose on Saturday. He even throws in a shot at Nick Diaz. First, it seems pretty obvious that he hasn't gotten over the very questionable loss to Sanchez at UFC on Versus 3:
"With the Diego fight I made mistakes, but I still beat him up. His face was a wreck afterwards and he still has the scars to prove it. I definitely believe I won that fight and I got the better of him. I would love to avenge any one of those two losses because I think I’m the better fighter and I can beat any of those guys."
Then he states he lost the Shields fight because he made a lot of mistakes, but Martin also has this to say:
"For the most part wrestlers take people down and lay on them. That is how I lost to Jake Shields. I was kneeing Jake in the face and in the body. I had a solid submission attempt with a choke. He landed one punch on me in that entire fight and he didn’t once try to submit me. He won the fight by getting on top of me and humping my leg. I think the current scoring system favors wrestlers too much. You can punch a guy ten times in the face, but if he takes you down and cuddles with you, they give the round to that guy. It is what it is."
Pretty candid from Kampmann there, which continues throughout other topics in the interview. He talks about his upcoming fight with Story in more measured terms:
"I’d love to make it a more technical striking match, but I don’t think that is what he is going to do. I think he is going to want to come in close. I think that is his strength; he’s a strong dude who wants to come in swinging. He might get clipped, but when he’s in the pocket like that he’s dangerous. From a distance though I will be able to pick him apart."
"He tries to take his opponents to the ground a lot. He is a wrestler by nature. I’m sure he is going to try and take the fight to the ground, but I’m prepared for that. I’m totally ready to counter or stuff the takedown. If it does go to the ground I’m very confident in my Jiu-jitsu skills too."
But he turnes the heat back up when talking about Nick Diaz and the whole Diaz/Condit/GSP saga:
"I personally think Carlos Condit got screwed. Nick Diaz has been pretty good at hyping himself up. To be honest, I don’t think Diaz is that good. Anytime he has fought any good wrestlers he has had problems. I think he’s going to lose badly to GSP. Diaz is good at running his mouth and doing his thing…you know…being a punk. I would love to fight Nick Diaz sooner than later. I would absolutely love to fight him somewhere down the line."
I've never heard Kampmann that fired up about anything before. He makes a lot of solid points, even about Diaz. Basically, Martin Kampmann is pissed off and that can't be a good thing for Rick Story going into UFC 139.
More SBN coverage of UFC 139
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick diaz, kampmann
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz tests negative for pot somehow
("Gee willikers, me smoke? That would not only be illegal but immoral!" Pic via Combat Lifestyle)
Dana White can breath a bit easier as one of the last potential impediments to making Georges St Pierre vs Nick Diaz has been removed. UFC 137 drug screening results are in and everyone tested negative. 17 of the 22 fighters on the card were checked but let's be real here ... Nick Diaz was the only one who would have elicited a "Yeah, not very surprising" response if his piss came back hot.Everyone knows about Nick Diaz's predilection for a certain leafy plant with interesting psychoactive effects. In the past, this fondness has resulted in victories being overturned or even entire fights being scrapped. And while we wouldn't put it past Nick to muck up his drug testing again in the week leading up to his big GSP title shot, at least he's shown he is capable of getting past this hurdle like everyone else does.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, everyone, drug testing
Read the full article at FightlinkerCarlos Condit talks GSP vs. Diaz, says his title shot is "Inevitable"
Top Welterweight contender Carlos Condit, who was bumped from the number-one contender slot following Nick Diaz's win over B.J. Penn, expresses his disappointment in losing the title shot and talks about his upcoming bout with Josh Koscheck. Condit admits that he had no say in "stepping aside" for Diaz to challenge GSP, but insists that the UFC is just "delaying the inevitable." Photo: Scott Hirano
Posted in: title shot, diaz, bj penn, condit, challenge gsp
Read the full article at Low KickCarlos Condit: The UFC is just delaying the inevitable, I'm going to get the title shot
Poor Carlos Condit. After working his way up through the ranks of the welterweight division, the Greg Jackson trained fighter was awarded a title shot against reigning division deity Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137.
Of course, that was only after Nick Diaz flaked on a few press conferences and was punished for insubordination. Still, if any fighter was worthy of taking his spot, it was "The Natural Born Killer."
Then the following sequence happened: Diaz was matched up against B.J. Penn, St. Pierre hurt his knee, the fight was postponed, Diaz vs. Penn was moved to the main event, Diaz smashed Penn, Diaz called out St. Pierre, "GSP" asked to fight him instead and Condit was pushed out.
Got all that?
Good. Reports quickly came out that Condit, nice guy that he is, had "stepped aside." This was not the case. Here's how he explains it:
"The thing about it is the decision was made before I was even contacted. It wasn't really... I didn't really... The decision wasn't mine. Things happen. This is a bump in the road but I'm excited for my next fight. It doesn't knock me too far down the ladder. ... It's just delaying the inevitable. I'm going to get the title shot."
The good news in all this? Condit was able to soak his tears in a large soda and an entire box of pizza before receiving a call about his next fight. Condit will now take on Josh Koscheck at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A win will mean he gets his shot once again. Assuming the powers that be don't find someone they feel is a better option at the last minute. Hear more from Condit about his rollercoaster ride after the jump.
Posted in: title shot, diaz, condit, carlos condit, shot
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC's Carlos Condit on "Stepping Aside" To Let Diaz Fight GSP
submitted by villagejester [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, gsp, villagejester
Read the full article at RedditGeorges St. Pierre says there will be a "different GSP" against Nick Diaz
Reigning Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, who will go head to head with Nick Diaz in February, discusses his opponent and provides an update on his knee injury. St. Pierre admits that he's found added motivation ahead of this fight, and says there will be a "different Georges St. Pierre" against Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, pierre, st, george
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137 drug test results come back clean for 'Penn vs Diaz' on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas
UFC 137 drug test results are in from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), who today confirmed that 17 fighters tested for illegal/banned substances after competing at UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" on Oct. 29 have all passed with flying colors.
Main event participants B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz as well as Cheick Kongo, Roy Nelson, Scott Jorgensen, Hatsu Hioki, Donald Cerrone, Eliot Marshall, Brandon Vera, Chris Camozzi, Francis Carmont, Ramsey Nijem, Danny Downes, Bart Palaszewski, Tyson Griffin, Dustin Jacoby and Clifford Starks were all screened for performance enhancers such as steroids and drugs of abuse like cocaine and marijuana, among others.
Results from these battery of tests all returned negative.
The fighters mentioned above were randomly selected. However, athletic commissions typically test the main event participants and fight night winners, as well as those who have failed drug tests in the past.
"Penn vs. Diaz" featured former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz staking his claim to a Super Bowl title shot against Georges St. Pierre by pounding on B.J. Penn for 15-minutes strong.
But that's not all.
Cheick Kongo maintained his status as the gatekeeper of the heavyweight division by outperforming Matt Mitrione in the co-main event of the evening.
Mirko Filipovic went out on a low note, retiring from active competition after getting clobbered by Roy Nelson while Scott Jorgensen stymied the return of Jeff Curran.
But don't take my word for it.
Complete UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" results, commentary and updates are all right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, test, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 gate totals $3,900,650 with 8,179 tickets sold for 'Penn vs Diaz' on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas
UFC 137 recorded a live gate of $3,900,650 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Oct. 29, 2011, according to official figures from the Nevada State Athletic Commission released earlier today.
The final attendance of 10,313 was a result of 8,179 tickets sold and 2,134 complimentary tickets while 409 tickets remained unsold.
In addition, the "Sin City" hotel also raked in $26,150 for the 523 patrons willing to pay for the closed-circuit viewing party, leaving 2,081 seats empty and 200 moochers there for free.
"Penn vs. Diaz" featured former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz staking his claim to a Super Bowl title shot against Georges St. Pierre by pounding on B.J. Penn for 15-minutes strong.
But that's not all.
Cheick Kongo maintained his status as the gatekeeper of the heavyweight division by outperforming Matt Mitrione in the co-main event of the evening.
Mirko Filipovic went out on a low note, retiring from active competition after getting clobbered by Roy Nelson while Scott Jorgensen stymied the return of Jeff Curran.
But don't take my word for it.
Complete UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" results, commentary and updates are all right here.
Posted in: diaz, vs, ticket, penn, nevada state
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz: If Georges St. Pierre would have asked to fight me, I wouldn't have had to call him out
A lot of mixed martial arts fans had a problem with the way Nick Diaz, egged on by his coach and manager Cesar Gracie, called out reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
Flashback to UFC 137 on Oct. 29, 2011, when Diaz secured a dominant three round unanimous decision win over former division champion B.J. Penn. In his post fight interview with color commentator Joe Rogan, a victorious Diaz declared, "He's scared."
Right after Gracie shouted "Call that (expletive) out!"
While the tried-and-true call-out is the quickest and easiest way to land a title shot (see Sonnen, Chael), it did nothing to help Diaz overcome the bad-boy reputation he's earned throughout his career.
But as the wily Stockton slugger explains to Fight Hype, he wouldn't have had to call St. Pierre out, if "Rush" would have simply asked for the fight.
"I had to come out and do what I had to do and fight, and come out all dramatic and act up, and next thing you know, I got a fight, so I'm sure he can't blame me for that. That fight is important anyway because that's the fight that people want to see because I beat all of these important people. I have three Strikeforce belts. If I was him, I would be asking to fight me. If he would have automatically asked for it, then we wouldn't be in this situation he's in where he's not saying nothing. He should have said, 'This is who I want to fight.' It's not about being a challenger; it's about who is champion at the weight. I'm holding three titles, you know? And I got that DREAM champion too, so you can make that four. It's just as important as anything else and I know I would want to fight another champion before I would want to fight a high contender. Even if I know that high contender is better than the champion, I would still want to fight the champion because he's considered the best guy. That's the route I would have took."
Diaz will get his shot at the 170-pound title when he locks up with St. Pierre at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Anyone have a problem with the way Diaz earned his crack at the crown? Was it St. Pierre's job to ask for this fight? Or Joe Silva's?
What say you?
Posted in: fight, diaz, pierre, st, champion
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz hints bad boy behavior may just be an act
Controversial welterweight Nick Diaz is rarely seen smiling, his expression often one of intense focus or set on mean-mugging an opponent. However, based on a recent interview with the UFC’s top contender to Georges St. Pierre’s championship, it sounds like Diaz is grinning from ear-to-ear behind the scenes based on both his success and the public’s reaction to his behavior.
When speaking on the subject of how he’s perceived by fans, the former Strikeforce champion implied his antics are a calculated strategy that’s paid off so far.
“It’s been embarrassing,” Diaz explained in the latest episode of Inside MMA. “You don’t always come off the way you want to or look the way you want to. I had to go out there and act up, become the evil villain…calling guys out and stuff…but it seems to have worked. I’m getting the fights I want. I can’t complain right now at this point.”
Diaz also discussed his upcoming fight with St. Pierre, expected to take place on February 4 over Super Bowl Weekend, making it clear he was ready for whatever the French-Canadian had to throw at him.
Diaz Says BJJ Gave Him Stability as a Youth
You can watch the entire video below:
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Read the full article at Fighters.comNick Diaz Inside MMA Video Clip
Controversial UFC welterweight Nick Diaz appeared on HDNet's Inside MMA last night and we've got some of the goods after the jump.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, nick, jump
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 143's Nick Diaz tells 'Inside MMA' villain role effective, not necessarily comfortable
Nick Diaz, PR genius?
The outspoken and sometimes controversial former Strikeforce champion has both delighted and baffled MMA fans
with his trashtalking and open challenges to MMA superstars such as UFC
champ Georges St-Pierre.
And while his rants often seem a bit random in their focus, Diaz on
Monday's new edition of HDNet's "Inside MMA" seemed to reveal that he's
been following a master plan all along: To the villain goes the spoils.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, master plan, mma superstars
Read the full article at MMA JunkieB.J. Penn discusses retirement, says Nick Diaz must "break" GSP to win
Former UFC Champion B.J. Penn, who announced his retirement from the sport following his loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137, discusses his post-fight remarks and shares his thoughts on the upcoming Welterweight title clash between Diaz and Georges St. Pierre. Penn doesn't rule out a future return, but says he "definitely needs some time away."
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, future return, postfight remarks
Read the full article at Low KickFull Nick Diaz video interview on HDNet's 'Inside MMA'
Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz was a recent guest on HDNet's "Inside MMA." And he wasn't mad. He wasn't calling anyone out or complaining about money either. In fact, he was calm, relaxed and surprisingly articulate during his televised segment.
On his upcoming fight against Georges St. Pierre:
"It's all about how you come out and fight. It can always go different, you know? I could go on the bottom a lot, but are you gonna be able to advance position? Are you gonna be able to do damage from there? Are you gonna stall? Are you gonna fight? There's a lot of different stuff that can happen. It's up to me to kinda make some stuff happen. Five rounds is a lot of time for me to work with in this one. I enjoy fighting five rounds. I work hard to be in good condition to fight for five rounds. It's important to plan for everything. That's what I'm good at. He's fighting somebody who's gonna do everything."
So what happened to the media monster we've been hearing about over the past few months? The one who caused a couple of roster changes at UFC 137? Was that simply "pre-fight" Diaz, who was in the zone for his headlining bout at UFC 137 opposite B.J. Penn? Diaz answers all those questions -- and more -- in the video above.
For a transcription of his comments click here.
Posted in: fight, diaz, round, fight theres, comments click
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz talks about being the 'bad guy' on Inside MMA
You remember how your friends told you they have a friend that knows a guy that can get marijuana? Nick Diaz probably knows that same guy. Diaz has tons of fans over in Singapore, but unfortunately he can not enjoy his appreciation of the sacred planet in that corner of the planet. In Singapore, if you test positive for marijuana you receive a mandatory prison sentence and if you're caught with a drug of any type, you will be hung. Yes folks, death is automatic if authorities find any amount of an illegal substance on you. Therefore, regardless of how amazing it would be for Nick Diaz to make a trip to Evolve MMA in Singapore, perhaps it's best that he stay in the 209.
Yesterday, Mike Kogan managed to track down Nick Diaz long enough get him on the live edition of Inside MMA to tell us he's almost forced to 'be the bad guy' in order to get the fights that he wants. [Source]
{iframe}http://blip.tv/play/h5R0gtz2HgI.html{/iframe}
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Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz had to Become the Evil Villain (video)
Nick Diaz was a guest on Monday's edition of "Inside MMA," where he talked about being the villain and possibly being in for a good "ass-whooping."
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, mondays edition, villain
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz: “You don’t always come off the way that you want to” #ufc @MMASupremacy @robnashville @genomrosko
Nick Diaz waxes poetic about his upcoming fight with Georges St. Pierre.
Posted in: diaz, nick, pierre, mmasupremacy, waxe
Read the full article at Fight OpinionVillainous Nick Diaz admits he deserves a good whoopin,' but Georges St. Pierre must be ready for everything
Nick Diaz is lined up (again) for a chance to claim Georges St. Pierre's welterweight belt as his own when the two square off inside the Octagon at UFC 143 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 4, 2012.
Most mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are aware of the circuitous and colorful journey that the Stockton slugger has had to take to get a date with the Canadian on SuperBowl weekend. Tonight (Mon., Nov. 7, 2011), Diaz joined Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten on HDNet's Inside MMA to discuss his recent rollercoaster ride, his upcoming bout with "Rush" and the way he's perceived in the media.
According to Diaz, he's just misunderstood:
"Well, you know, it's been embarrassing. You don't always come off the way you want to or look the way you want to. You go out there and act up and, you know, just become the evil villain and, you know, calling guys out and stuff, but -- it seemed to have worked. I'm getting the fights I want. So, yeah. I can't complain at this point."
After remaining somewhat silent for a large portion of the program, Diaz seemed to light up when the topic of St. Pierre came up. If Diaz is an evil villain, St. Pierre is his nemesis.
But, Diaz isn't buying "Rush" as the "hero" he is made out to be:
"I was here first. You know, I've been a UFC fighter for longer than St. Pierre has. Not a lot of people realize that. I've been fighting in the UFC before all them. I was here first. I have more fights and I've fought the bigger names. I don't have nothin' against Georges personally but for him not to want the harder fight and for him to think that Carlos Condit's a harder fight -- it may be the case, but not on paper. He's gotta recognize that."
Diaz spent a few minutes talking about his strategy for his upcoming championship bout and how he thinks it'll go down. He believes his jiu-jitsu and well-roundedness will be weapons that could give him the edge.
"Me and (Jake) Shields have got a lot of similarities. It's good to see what's what. I just fought a guy (B.J. Penn) that he's fought before, so I'm sure that's good for him to see what's what. It's all about how you come out and fight. It can always go different, you know? I could go on the bottom a lot, but are you gonna be able to advance position? Are you gonna be able to do damage from there? Are you gonna stall? Are you gonna fight? There's a lot of different stuff that can happen. It's up to me to kinda make some stuff happen. Five rounds is a lot of time for me to work with in this one. I enjoy fighting five rounds. I work hard to be in good condition to fight for five rounds. It's important to plan for everything. That's what I'm good at. He's fighting somebody who's gonna do everything."
Amusingly, Diaz admitted that he's been picking a fight and, if he loses in a one-sided fashion, he may deserve it:
"I'm the one that's in this division that's mouthin' off and talkin' the most, so if anybody's in for a good whoopin', I'm probably that guy, you know? And who better to do it than the UFC champion? I'm ready to get this show on the road. I'm not gettin' any younger. I'm ready to fight."
So what do you think, Maniacs? Is Nick Diaz an evil public relations genius or is he just being himself? Are you buying the hype that he can be the first guy in a long time to give St. Pierre a run for his money?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, diaz, pierre, he, im
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Dana: "What Diaz said is crazy"
UFC president Dana White did not look a happy man when he left the UFC 137 post-fight press conference last week. He, like the assembled media, had listened...
Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, dana, media
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyUFC eying Josh Koscheck vs. Carlos Condit in February
The last couple of months have been a roller-coaster ride for Carlos Condit. After initially being scheduled to fight B.J. Penn at this past month’s UFC 137, Condit was moved up the card to take on Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title after Nick Diaz no showed a press conference. When GSP pulled out due to injury, it was determined that Condit would wait for the champion to heal. However, yet another change of plans left the Team Jackson standout in limbo, as Diaz’s impressive victory in the show’s headliner pushed him back into the number one contender status.
Now, it appears Condit is destined for a date with former top contender Josh Koscheck at UFC 143 in February. The event should also feature St. Pierre’s title defense against Diaz. At last night’s UFC 138 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White had the following to say on the subject:
“Right now, Carlos Condit wants to fight,” the UFC President explained. “He wants to fight on the same card as GSP and Diaz, so we’ll see what happens….It could be with Koscheck. Condit wanted that fight.”
Koscheck is coming off a first round knockout victory over UFC legend Matt Hughes last September in a fight he took on short notice following an extended layoff due to the injury he sustained in his defeat to St. Pierre last year.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainThe Pugilist: Nick Diaz, Daniel Mendoza, and the Sweet Science of Bruising
There seems to be some confusion amongst fans as to how one should regard Nick Diaz’s "boxing". For many, it seems incongruent for him to be labeled the best boxer in MMA when so little of what he does in the cage can be qualified as being "good" boxing; leaning too far forward in his stance while leading with his face; keeping his hands far out in front of him where they can’t be used to protect the head; feet planted instead of light on the toes; very little movement of his head. Needless to say, none of what you’d expect from an elite boxer.
And yet, the results speak for themselves, with his most recent display of prowess coming at the expense of the previously labeled "best boxer in MMA", BJ Penn. How can Nick Diaz be the exemplifier of the "sweet science" when everything he does runs counter to what entails "good" boxing? The answer lies with the fact that everything he does is exactly what "good" boxing calls for, and the only reason we fans fail to acknowledge this is because we have narrowly focused on the sport as fought under the Marques of Queensbury rules, ignoring the lessons left to us by those who competed during the earlier reigns of London Prizefighting and Broughton’s rules. Fortunately, a few of them were thoughtful enough to write down what entailed good boxing for the "sweat science of bruising".
It is most likely that you never heard of Daniel Mendoza, which is of no surprise since his last public match took place in 1820, but if ever there was a kindred spirit to Diaz it was him. A descendent of Spanish Marronos, he was the father of scientific boxing, whose success helped elevate the position of jews in 18th and 19th century English society. And much like Diaz, he seemed incapable of understanding finances while also being notoriously quick tempered with a propensity to fight whenever he felt slighted in the least, having once famously gotten into three altercations while on his way to be a spectator for a match (the three reasons being that someone’s cart had cut him off in the street, he felt cheated by a shopkeeper, and he didn’t like how a man was looking at him). Most importantly he was an amazing boxer, the best of his era, being the 16th man to hold the English (World’s) heavyweight championship (possessing the title from 1792-1795), and the only middleweight to ever accomplish that feat.
The ruleset that Mendoza fought under during his time was the one divised by Jack Broughton in 1743, the very first codified set of rules in the history of the sport, which were fittingly named Broughton’s rules. They were very simple, numbering seven in total, dealing with such things as the size of the ring, the holding of the purse, and the choosing of umpires. Of the seven, only the last had anything to do with what tactics were allowed during competition.
VII. That no person is to hit his Adversary when he is down, or seize him by the ham, the breeches, or any part below the waist: a man on his knees to be reckoned down.
To elaborate: the only thing banned was the hitting of a downed opponent or any wrestling below the waist. Everything else – hair-pulling, grappling above the waist, wrestling or tripping your opponent to the ground, and, of course, striking with the bare fists – was allowed. And since no gloves nor hand wrappings were used, throwing with all one’s might or aiming blows to the head was naturally discouraged lest you break your hand. In fact, striking ability often rated below wrestling ability with regards to importance in gaining a victory, as seen by our three examples below with the the text being from the 1855 compilation Fights for the Championship; and Celebrated Prize Battles (the full title is much, much longer) and the images from Famous Fights: Past and Present, a boxing newspaper that ran from 1901 to 1904.
The Fight between Hammer Lane and Owen Swift
(1834)
Finally, in the 104th round, straining every fibre to the utmost, he fearlessly rushed to the climax, made one last daring attempt to turn the tide in his favour, but nature was exhausted, he was thrown heavily, and all was over.
Image from Famous Fights: Past and Present No. 52
Third Fight Between Bendigo and Caunt, for £200 a Side
(1845)
5. After some sparring, Caunt, who took a dislike to Bendigo’s system of popping and shifting, went in right and left, and at once closing, seized his man as if in a vice, holding him on the ropes till nearly strangled, amidst cries of ‘shame.’ After a violent struggle by Bendigo to get away, he was at last thrown, Caunt heavily on him.
Image from Famous Fights: Past and Present No. 39
Fight Between Tom Cribb and Bob Gregson
(1808)
23. Cribb, to the surprise of all, seemed strongest on setting-to, he contrived to put in two feeble hits and closed; in wrestling he had the good fortune to throw his antagonist, who fell with such uncommon force, he could not come to time.
Image from Famous Fight: Past and Present No. 53
Throws to the ground were something like the body-blows of their day, where damage would be accumulated over time with the goal being to eventually wear down your opponent from hard falls to the earth time and time again.
Another trick which has been used very successfully by some boxers when contesting under London prize ring rules is when wrestling with an opponent to make it a point to fall heavily on top of him, crushing the wind out of him as much as possible.
- BOXING AND HOW TO TRAIN, RICHARD K FOX Publishing Co. (1913)
Since Mr. Mendoza was often much smaller than his opponents, and excelled in the technical striking department, he developed a stance that allowed him to not only attack but also assisted in negating his opponents attempt's to grapple and throw him. Here is his description of how one should stand, which he labeled his second prinicple in "MENDOZA'S TREATISE, WITH HIS SIX LESSONS" taken from "The Modern Art of Boxing" (1789).
the position of the body, which should be an inclining posture, or diagonal line, so as to place the pit of the stomach out of your adversary's reach. The upper part of your arm must stop or parry the round blow at the head; the fore-arm, the blows at the face of stomach; and the elbows, those at the ribs: both knees must be bent, the left leg advanced, and the arms directly before your throat or chin.
This illustration of Mendoza facing off against his former trainer Richard Humphries should give us a pretty good idea of what he is trying to convey in the text above.
Mendoza is on the right, in his recommended stance (although often fighters would lean further forward then shown here, as if "into the wind" ) hands far in front, knees bent. By leaning forward and keeping his hands extended Mendoza made it very diffilcult for any opponent to get him to the ground. His legs were too far back from from his opponent to trip or kick, and if they attempted to rush in he was already braced to meet their charge, his hands extended to push back and keep them away from his body, his forward leaning posture to assist in countering their mass.
From this position he could also launch a wide variety of offensive maneuvers. He could strike with either hand (his first principle was equilibrium of the body, the ability to operate with either the right or left side) with the preferred targets being the face, stomach, and side. And if one wanted to be less than gentlemanly they could sneak in an elbow for good measure. The outstretched hands made it simple to sieze an opponent who entered into range, after which he could trip, throw, or fib (fibbing was the art of putting the opponent in a headlock and then punching away). If you click here you can see an example of initiating the clinch from standing from Ed Jame's 1878 manual "Boxing and Wrestling". And yes, this illustration is from the boxing portion of the book and not the wrestling.
Now, let us examine a gif of Nick Diaz in action against BJ Penn and lets see if we cannot find a resemblance.
While the resemblance is there, there is also one obvious difference between the two: the position of their hands. Mendoza's palms are turned inwards towards him him while his knuckles are facing his opponent, meanwhile Diaz either keeps his hands open with palms directed at Penn, or facing the ground when squeezed into a fist. The reason behind this difference is determined by one simple item: gloves.
In his 1910 self defense manual "Defense dans la Rue" Jean-Joseph Renaud explained the difference gloves made when boxing:
The inconvenience of punches is that in giving them, one risks injuring one’s hands. The hand is a grasping organ, made for holding and not for hitting. As a general rule, the metacarpal bones are too delicate to withstand the force that a very vigorous extension of the arm produces. Ah! If a fighting glove of 3 or 4 ounces protects the hand then it’s a different story; not only does one not injure oneself in striking, but the "knock out" becomes rather more easy to deliver! ... for example, with bare fists it’s difficult to put an opponent out of action by striking the angle of the neck, the jaw and the the ear, though with a glove one clearly fills this angle and it’s not even necessary to hit very hard.
When one realizes the ease with which a fist could be broken without a glove or hand-wrappings to protect it the positioning of the hands by Mendoza and other bare-kuckle fighters begin to make a lot more sense. By striking with a straight punch with either the knuckles pointed down or the fist perpendicular to the ground, they could guarantee that their knuckles lined up with their wrist, lessoning the chances of injury. And it was easier to deliver such a punch if the fist started in that position. Protecting their hands was also why most fighters limited themselves to straights and jabs to the head, staying away from hooks and overhands that could easily shatter against a hard skull. Hooks to the body were a different matter, with many fighters preferring to strike here than to the more risky head. The luxury of gloves means Diaz's options aren't so limited (although he hasn't abandoned targeting the body either).
Diaz's methods for evading his opponents attacks also mirror the advice given by Mendoza.
Parry the blows of your adversary's right hand with your left, and those of his left hand with your right
Since trying to cover up without the benefits of boxing mitts is a much more difilcult proposition, Mendoza suggested a strategy I'm familiar with from my days of studying Kra Maga. With hands extended, the defender parries the blows as they come towards him, deflecting before they reach the body. A good example of Diaz using this technique, redirecting his opponents strikes by slapping them away, was displayed in his fight against Scott Smith, starting at the 4:13 mark in the first round when he bats away a combo.
The other benefit that the outstretched arms give you is that anyone trying to strike at you is inevitabily forced to throw from further away - beyond the defensive arms - and most of these punches end up being channelled between the arms, making it easier to follow incoming blows. This also gives you another option to defend against the incoming fist:
It is always better to avoid a blow by throwing the head and body back, at the same time covering the pit of the stomach, than to attempt to parry it.
(Click the gif below to see this demonstrated by Diaz.)
[Jean-Joseph Renaud also detailed another common technique used by bare-knuckle prizefighters which Mendoza doesn’t touch upon:
One of their principle tactics consisted, instead of parrying or slipping, of receiving the blow on the bony part of the face, by which means their opponent would break his hands.
It should be noted that both Penn and KJ Noons, the only two fighters to go the distance with Diaz in his last 11 fights, both broke their hands during the contest]
The other great similarity between Diaz and his 19th century prizefighting predecessors is found in his movements. Since being thrown to the ground was of paramount concern, fighters did and could not use the same amount of bobbing, weaving, and dancing we've become accustomed to, and instead had to make sure they remain balanced, so as to not give their opponent the opportunity to put them on their backside. This desire to always remain on solid footing spilt over into how one advanced on their opponent. Here is how Mendoza recommended a person to advance:
Advancing,
Is practised by placing the right foot forward at the same distance from your left, as your left is from your right in the first attitude; you then throw your left foot forward so as to resume your original position, and thus keep gaining on your antagonist as he recedes.
What Mendoza is describing is often termed "square gating", or, when strikes are thrown, "shift punching". The technique was one that involved shifting the rear foot forward while simultaneously delivering a punch on the same side as the advancing leg, adding the boxer's mass to his strikes. An example of shift punching is provided by Bill Lang and can be seen in the video below starting at the 45 second mark (ironically, his victim, Bob Fitzsimmons, was famed for his deadly "Fitzsimmons shift" with which he defeated Jim Corbett)
The benefits of wearing gloves is is revealed by the number of times Lang throws angled blows at Fitzsimmons head.
And here, in the midst of this gif of highlights from the Diaz vs KJ Noons II fight, we get an overhead shot showing Diaz demonstrating some text book "shift punching". In concurrence with each step he throws a punch, alternating between the left and right. The lumbering steps mask several benefits offered by the technique: it allows the Diaz to advance and attack, step for step as his opponent retreats, adding his momentum and weight to each strike, and all in a controlled manner.
But perhaps the characteristic that Diaz and Mendoza have most in common, is their killer instincts.
If he gives way, or is staggered by a severe blow,
You should not be anxious to recover your guard and stand on the defensive, as this will only be giving him time to recollect himself, but take advantage of his momentary confusion and follow up the blow.
I can think of no better way Diaz exemplifies the spirit of Daniel Mendoza than in this.
Of course, I don't want to imply that Diaz's fighting is based exclusively on 19th century prizefighting techniques, nor that Nick DIaz and his coach, Richard Perez, have even intentionally set about to mine and recycle the methods used by past pugilists. But I do find it interesting, intentional or accidental, that in trying to adapt boxing to the cage, that we find many of the same tried and true methods of the past re-emerging. It leads me to wonder what more there is to learn from these past masters of an extinct sport.
Anyone interested in reading first hand accounts of Mendoza's battles, I highly recommend the first volume of Boxiana by Pierce Egan, coiner of the phrase "the sweat science of bruising", the first volume of Pugilistica by Henry Downes Miles, or Fistiana, published by Bell's Life.
And special thanks to glz500 who wrote an excellent post over at Bloody Elbow, from which I plundered most of the gifs seen here.
Posted in: diaz, boxing, opponent, hand, mendoza
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendJake Ellenberger Doesn’t Like Nick Diaz & His ‘Little Patty-Cake’ Striking Style
“[Nick Diaz] likes to run his mouth, I don’t get him. He just likes to talk and he is what he is… He’s gonna get his coming against GSP. GSP’s motivated, I don’t see what Nick’s going to bring to the table. Jake Shields was a more difficult fight for GSP… GSP’s a lot faster than Diaz, Diaz has no power, he’s not going to knock him out. He should have finished BJ and he couldn’t even do that… His slap-box game… I would like to fight Diaz. Ideally I’d love to fight Diaz, his little patty-cake game he plays, man if he played that with me I’d put him down for sure, 100 per cent. If you did that where I come from, you get your ass whooped… But GSP’s faster than him, he can take him down and he’s better than him everywhere. So I don’t see the point of that fight.”
— Jake Ellenberger telling ESPN UK he wants to fight Nick Diaz
Well, it looks like someone is trying to pick a fight with the sport’s hottest welterweight. I definitely wouldn’t characterize Nick Diaz’s style of striking as a “little game of patty-cake.” After all. he has battered, bloodied and bruised every man he’s fought in the last few years with his “slap-box” style, but if Jake Ellenberger wants to climb the ladder and make it to a title shot, picking a fight with Nick Diaz isn’t a bad place to start, especially if Nick ends up with the belt next year.
Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: fight, jake, diaz, nick, gsp
Read the full article at MMA ConvertCesar Gracie offers BJ Penn an invitation to unite fight camps
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
B.J. Penn shocked the mixed martial arts world last weekend at UFC 137 by announcing his retirement after losing to former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz. After having his right eye swollen shot by Diaz after three rounds of pure stand up action, Penn stated: "I'm done, I can't go home looking like this."
Fans and media alike were not ready to see the former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion hang up his gloves for good.
Among them ... Cesar Gracie, head trainer at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Speaking to Pedro Carrasco of BJPenn.com, Gracie talks about his history with Penn and officially makes an offer to unite Team Penn and Team Gracie into one powerful force.
"I'm watching this guys fight and I'm very impressed with his abilities, number one. Not a lot of guys can stand up like that with a Nick Diaz and not a lot of guys can win a round like that.I see the heart that BJ has but I see, well, wait a minute, how come a guy with this much heart with this much technique and natural god given ability, why isn't it happening for him now."
"What's wrong here is the stuff around him. I don't know his coaches or anything like that but for whatever reason it's not happening. This guy is coming into a fight and it's not that he is totally out of shape, but he is not in world class shape and that's what it takes these days to make it to the upper levels of fighting."
"I've had a relationship with BJ since he was 16 years old, so I obviously always like the kid, always knew of his talent. He's a genuine person; he's a guy that fights with his heart. He's not a steroid user like a lot of these guys he's not a cheater and you know there's respect for a guy like that."
"I think the joining of our camps, of our teams together, a sort of coalition would benefit him incredibly and it would benefit us too. Guys like BJ Penn, Reagan Penn, Nick and Nathan, you know, Gilbert Melendez all the guys on our team would benefit from having those guys around. He's got too much talent to quit right now and he needs to get with some world class athletes and this is the perfect opportunity, the time is ticking and it's time to do it."
"It's just a good fit, everyone is talking about BJ's cardio, Nick, Nathan and Gilbert, these guys are the kings of cardio, and they do not get tired. BJ has to change some things up, he's gotta change his diet up a little bit too. BJ has been running off talent and talent alone and that's not good enough to make it these days."
"BJ' best days are in front of him. This is a wonderful opportunity to turn the page and look towards the future. He can rewrite his whole future right now, he can do it. This a formal invitation. I talked to Nathan Diaz just a few minutes ago because he is one of the guys I haven't discussed this with yet and he said ‘absolutely!' Nick Diaz told BJ not to quit after the fight because BJ was talking about quitting and that really upset Nick because this guy just gave him a war and he's thinking the same thing I am thinking, No way don't quit."
"For the cause of saving MMA in the world these guys need to get together because people are inspired by that kind of fighting and if we keep having these other guys that just want to hold you and not fight it's going to destroy the sport that we love that we have been involved with our whole lives."
Cesar Gracie's camp is certainly one of the best in the nation, housing talent such as former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields and Nate Diaz, among others.
Would a change of scenery and an alliance between the two camps be enough to convince "The Prodigy" that indeed his best days are ahead of him -- and that he can still make a run in the UFC?
Time will tell.
Posted in: diaz, guy, nick, penn, bj
Read the full article at MMA ManiaJake Ellenberger says he's not impressed with Nick Diaz's "patty-cake game"
"He likes to run his mouth, I don't get him. He just likes to talk and he is what he is. He's gonna get his coming against GSP. GSP's motivated, I don't see what Nick's going to bring to the table. Jake Shields was a more difficult fight for GSP. GSP's a lot faster than Diaz, Diaz has no power, he's not going to knock him out. He should have finished BJ and he couldn't even do that.
His slap-box game... I would like to fight Diaz. Ideally I'd love to fight Diaz, his little patty-cake game he plays,
Posted in: diaz, gsp, fight diaz, gsp gsps, power hes
Read the full article at Low KickJake Ellenberger: Nick Diaz likes to run his mouth, play 'patty-cake'
Fast rising UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger has been on a tear as of late, coming off of his most impressive win to date against former number one division contender, Jake Shields.
"The Juggernaut" did what both UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and UFC and Pride legend Dan Henderson couldn't do in five rounds, which is finish the former Strikeforce middleweight champion. And Ellenberger did it in less than one minute.
After losing his Octagon debut to Carlos Condit, Ellenberger has reeled off five straight wins, inching his way closer to title contention. Now the rising star has another Cesar Gracie-trained fighter in his crosshairs, none other than the bad boy from Stockton himself, Nick Diaz.
Speaking to ESPN.co.uk, Ellenberger says that Diaz has what is coming to him from St. Pierre and that if Diaz plays the "patty-cake" game with him, should they ever meet in the octagon, he will "get his ass whooped."
Check it out:
"He likes to run his mouth, I don't get him. He just likes to talk and he is what he is. He's gonna get his coming against GSP. GSP's motivated, I don't see what Nick's going to bring to the table. Jake Shields was a more difficult fight for GSP. GSP is a lot faster than Diaz. Diaz has no power, so he's not going to knock him out. He should have finished BJ and he couldn't. His slap-box game... I would like to fight Diaz. Ideally I'd love to fight Diaz, his little patty-cake game he plays, man if he played that with me I'd put him down for sure, 100 percent. If you did that where I come from, Omaha Nebraska, you get your ass whooped."
Though not impressed with Diaz' striking game, his "patty-cake" style, as Ellenberger so eloquently puts it, has been good enough for Diaz to register 11 straight victories.
Not lacking confidence, Ellenberger will have to wait his turn if he wants a shot at Diaz because the former Strikeforce champ has a tough task at hand against "Rush" at UFC 143 in Las Vegas. Ellenberger, on the other hand, has been mentioned as a possible candidate to face top contender Carlos Condit in what would be his chance to avenge his only loss in the UFC.
And if the stars align perfectly, and the injury bug bites again, Ellenberger could get his chance at Diaz sooner rather than later. Much stranger things have happened. So, Ellenberger might might want to be careful for which he wishes.
Is the fast rising welterweight biting off more than he can chew in calling out Diaz, or does he have the bite to go along with his bark?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, ellenberger, gsp, fight diaz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaJake Ellenberger: 'I Would Like to Fight Nick Diaz'
Jake Ellenberger is coming off the biggest win of his career over Jake Shields, and Nick Diaz is coming off the biggest win of his career over B.J. Penn. While Diaz is locked into a February title shot with Georges St. Pierre, Ellenberger has expressed some interest in fighting Diaz down the line. In fact, he wasn't very complimentary towards Diaz at all when talking to ESPN UK. He thinks GSP is going to walk through the pride of Stockton:
"He likes to run his mouth, I don't get him. He just likes to talk and he is what he is," Ellenberger told ESPN.
"He's gonna get his coming against GSP. GSP's motivated, I don't see what Nick's going to bring to the table. Jake Shields was a more difficult fight for GSP.
"GSP's a lot faster than Diaz, Diaz has no power, he's not going to knock him out. He should have finished BJ and he couldn't even do that."
And he thinks he'd walk through Diaz too:
"His slap-box game... I would like to fight Diaz. Ideally I'd love to fight Diaz, his little patty-cake game he plays, man if he played that with me I'd put him down for sure, 100 per cent. If you did that where I come from, you get your ass whooped."
Tough talk from Ellenberger. It obviously won't happen any time soon, but a matchup between Ellenberger and Diaz would be pretty entertaining. For now though, Diaz has GSP in front of him and Ellenberger will be looking at fighting a different high-profile welterweight next.
Posted in: diaz, ellenberger, gsp, fight diaz, gsp gsps
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGrappling with Issues – 11/3/11
Is B.J. Penn retired for good or will he fight again? How likely is it Mark Munoz vs. Chris Leben will go a full five rounds? What is your take on this weekend’s lackluster UFC 138 lineup? Should Jay Hieron have to go through another tournament to earn a rematch with Ben Askren?
Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!
Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse Jeremy Lambert whose general contributions and “Scorecard” event-breakdowns can be regularly found on Five Ounces. As always, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t hesitate to offer your own take on the topics in the “Comments” section below.
True/False – B.J. Penn will fight in 2012.
Lambert: True. BJ is an emotional guy and after taking a beating at the hands of Nick Diaz, with his face all busted up, emotion got the better of him and he announced his retirement. He pretty much did the same thing after the Jon Fitch fight. Penn will fight again but it’s obvious that things have to change. It’s obvious that he’s better off at 155, but there’s more to it. He has to switch up his training camp, he has to bring in better sparring partners, and he has to correct his cardio. Unless he does that, it really doesn’t matter if he fights again in 2012 because we’re just going to see the same BJ who is great in the first round and then fades if his opponent remains in his face after that 5 minute period.
Conlan: Agreed on the “true” front. He’s already backed off his original comments about being “done” and plans to keep training. Hopefully the loss to Diaz reminded him that he’s a below average welterweight (1-4 in his last five at 170 pounds) but has unfinished business a division down where he most recently held the belt. He’s only 32 so he’s in his prime, at least from an age perspective, and could easily make a run at 155 highlighted by fights against the likes of Clay Guida, Ben Henderson, Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, or even Gilbert Melendez whenever he joins the UFC roster.
On a scale of 1-10 (bad/good), how would you rate the UFC’s handling of the title-triangle between Georges St. Pierre, Carlos Condit, and Nick Diaz?
Lambert: I guess I’ll go with a 3 because 13 is Taylor Swift‘s lucky number and I just subtracted 10 since UFC has handled this whole situation terribly. They should have never pulled Diaz from the title fight in the first place if they were just going to put him in the co-main event, Dana White should have never promised that Condit would stay as the #1 contender no matter what happened between Diaz and Penn, and St. Pierre should have never allowed himself to be trolled by Diaz. And that’s really just scratching the surface of everything. All that said, even though they’ve handled things very poorly, they’re going to end up making a lot of money in the end when Diaz and GSP eventually fight next year.
Conlan: True story – I spend time every day doing a little work with an after-school program. There is an eight-year old girl who recently went to a Taylor Swift concert and loved it so much she plans to be Swift next year for Halloween. On a side note, if you listen to the Sixth Ounce Podcast you know Jeremy too has dressed up as his favorite wavy-haired, guitar-wielding pop singer. Think on that and when you’re done I’ll be responding to the topic at hand.
I’ll go with an “8” because the UFC’s symphony of errors actually lead to an incredible fight between Diaz/Penn, created more hype for GSP/Diaz than was originally in place, and produced some animosity between GSP/Condit relating to St. Pierre’s decision to ask for Diaz after the “Natural Born Killer” had been promised a shot.
Should fans in the U.K. be offended by how the UFC has treated their market as of late?
Lambert: UFC has been pretty kind to the UK market over the years so they were pretty much due for a down year. But boy did they get screwed over this year. UFC is giving them one show, which is this Saturday for those that don’t know, and not only is it one of the worst cards ever, it happens to be in the middle of a run that features Penn/Diaz, Cain Velasquez/Junior dos Santos, and Mauricio Rua/Dan Henderson. Yet UK fans get Leben vs. Munoz who are two Americans that most of America doesn’t care about and Brad Pickett as their biggest local draw. UK fans should boycott this show.
Conlan: A little harsh on the assessment of Leben/Munoz but other than that Jeremy is spot on. No disrespect to the fighters, all of whom are talented in their own right, but from a marketing/promotional standpoint the card is a dud. It’s a Fight Night at best. The UFC needs to had back across the pond at some point in the first half of 2012 with a major event to make up for this weekend’s mess because if they don’t they’re going to lose some ground in the UK. You can’t neglect fans and expect them to keep paying.
Who looked better in defeat at UFC 137: Jeff Curran or George Roop?
Conlan: Roop, as he was facing perhaps the sport’s #2 featherweight in Hatsu Hioki and arguably won the fight even if his record reflects a Split Decision loss. I never thought Roop would amount to much after watching him on the Ultimate Fighter; that he was just a decent fighter with a good heart and a genuine desire to keep on improving. Turns out he’s done just that, picking up some big wins along the way and now going toe-to-toe with a guy like Hioki.
Lambert: I’ll go with Curran because I sort of expected Hioki to struggle a bit with Roop as he was making his UFC debut after spending his career in Japan, he doesn’t always fight smart, and Roop is a lot better than given credit for. Curran was a victim of the judges favoring takedowns over everything. Curran out-struck Scott Jorgensen and was busier of his back, but because he was on his back the majority of the fight, Jorgensen was given the victory. I thought Curran showed a lot more in that fight then Jorgensen but unfortunately walked away with the “L”.
Should Jay Hieron get an immediate rematch against Ben Askren?
Conlan: No, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him get a one-off against an apt adversary to maintain contendership and face the winner of Askren vs. Ben Saunders/Douglas Lima. I understand Bellator wants to maintain the tournament format when it comes to their contenders but it’s a flawed process forcing champions to compete in non-title fights while deserving challengers have to jump through the same hoops a newcomer does. There’s absolutely no reason Travis Wiuff should have to beat three more people to get a chance at defeating champ Christian M’Pumbu a second time, and, like Wiuff, Hieron should be fast-tracked to another shot at Askren after coming up short in a controversial decision. I’m not saying he shouldn’t have to prove his worth again, because a loss is a loss, but making him walk all the way back to the starting line after getting shafted by the judges.
Then again, he earned his title-shot as the result of poor scoring as well, so perhaps Saturday night was just the MMA gods’ way of course-correcting.
Lambert: No, only because Bellator will have a legit title contender for next season in the winner of Saunders vs. Lima. That said, I don’t think Hieron should have to go through the tournament again. Bellator has a couple of options here. They could do Askren vs. Saunders/Lima at the beginning of season six and then do the winner against Hieron at the end of the season or they could do Askren vs. Saunders/Lima in season six, have Hieron fight newcomer Brian Foster or the loser of Saunders/Lima if the fight ends in a close decision, and then the winners meet for the title in season seven. The latter option eliminates the stupid “non-title super-fight” as well, which is a huge plus.
Hopefully Bellator makes the right decision here and realizes that straying from the tournament format isn’t going to kill the company and could actually benefit them.
Will Chris Leben and Mark Munoz go all five rounds this weekend?
Conlan: That’s rich! Absolutely not. Leben and Munoz will both be looking for a knockout and each has the power to deliver one. I could see the fight going three rounds – maybe – based on Munoz’s wrestling but it’s highly unlikely Leben/Munoz will last an additional ten minutes on top of that.
Lambert: I’m giving it a higher chance than Bren appears to be. While I do believe that Leben will finish Munoz in the first couple of rounds, it wouldn’t shock me to see Munoz use his wrestling in order to try and grind out a decision. I don’t think he’ll be successful, but it’s very possible that he puts Leben against the cage and on his back for 25 minutes. I don’t think Munoz is dumb enough to get into a fire fight with Leben because he’ll lose that battle 10 times out of 10 with his suspect chin against Leben’s chin and power. So if Munoz fights to his strengths and fights a smart fight, this bout could definitely go five rounds.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, leben, munoz
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz: The Blueprint to Beating GSP?
Long time UFC welterweight king Georges St. Pierre is coming off of his sixth successful title defense against Jake Shields. He is one of only two men to defend their title more than five times in a row, the other of course being middleweight Anderson Silva, and has been widely regarded as the #2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, again behind Silva, meaning not many are daring enough to dispute that opinion.
However, GSP’s biggest problem in terms of marketing himself as a top P4P fighter is that he hasn’t finished a fight since winning the title back in April of 2008 against Matt Serra. And no, I’m not counting the corner stoppage over BJ Penn at UFC 94 since ‘Greasegate’ had one too many controversial moments for me. Since then, to paraphrase the French-Canadian’s run as champ, “I’m not impressed by your performance.”
GSP is now scheduled to face controversial ex-Strikeforce welterweight title-holder Nick Diaz as a result of Diaz beating down Penn this past weekend. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I see Diaz as the biggest threat GSP has ever faced. Diaz left the ring after his fight at UFC 137, shouting about St. Pierre, then coming out and accusing “Rush” of being scared to face him while adding his belief that he’s faking an injury to dodge fights.
Diaz Talks his Way into Championship Clash
If we look over GSP’s fights since he won the title, every fighter he has faced has had a big downfall. Starting with his first defense against Jon Fitch, the Purdue Boilermaker has an undeniably good ground game made up of excellent wrestling and good submission skills. As such, GSP was able to beat him largely by keeping the fight standing where Fitch has far fewer skills. Moving on to Penn, who I’d argue was the only fighter he has faced since winning the title who matched up with him well in pretty much every sense except for size, I’d say it’s pretty much a wash based on the controversy surrounding the result. Next up was hard-hitting BJJ blackbelt Thiago Alves in the one fight that I thought GSP had looked truly impressive. He managed to nullify Alves’ striking by using his hefty six-inch reach advantage to great effect, mixing up his striking and wrestling to dominate Alves the entire fight.
After that we had Dan Hardy, whom I like but who are we kidding? How many people saw it going the way it did? That’d be EVERYONE. You’re talking about an excellent wrestler with solid stand-up against a contender with equally good stand-up and zero ground game. What happens next? Complete domination is the answer. Clearly you don’t have to be a champion to dominate Hardy on the ground…hell, in all honesty, someone who had just gone on a weeklong wrestling crash-course might even be able to give him a good run for his money. Then St. Pierre more or less used the same game-plan two fights in a row, against Josh Koscheck and Shields, where he again had a significant reach advantage over both of them.
So, how does GSP beat people? He seems to employ one of two different game plans. Either the ‘take him down or keep him there’ plan or the ‘stay standing and jab him to death’ plan. So, will either of these plans work against Diaz?
Well, Diaz comes out of the famous and infamous Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu camp where they’re known as much for their Jiu-Jitsu as they are for their big mouths and close knit family. Diaz has a terrific Jiu-Jitsu game (especially off of his back) leading to numerous submission. But the biggest wrench that Diaz can throw into GSP’s plan is his size. GSP has enjoyed a sizeable reach advantage over most of his opponents, but against Diaz this will not be the case. Diaz also has some of the best boxing in MMA, proven by his picking apart of Penn which is no small feat.
In my humble opinion, Diaz will beat GSP standing though whether or not he will he beat GSP on the ground I don’t know. What I do know is that Diaz will be the biggest test of GSP’s skills in his career. This fight may well show exactly how good GSP actually is because he will need to bring with him a whole new game plan if he wants to win this fight, scheduled to take place Super Bowl Weekend in February of next year.
Your move Greg Jackson.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: fight, diaz, title, gsp, plan
Read the full article at Fighters.comHow do you see GSP vs Diaz going?
Who's your pick? Why and how? Personally I believe GSP has the upper hand if you look at the numbers, but I can't help but think that Diaz might be able to upset him. I say Diaz gets ground down and out-danced for 4 rounds, then drops GSP with a right hook and takes the back for a RNC, à la Lauzon. Your turn... submitted by VollTrottel [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: diaz, gsp, i cant, right hook, rnc à
Read the full article at RedditRashad Evans Chimes in on Carlos Condit's Lost Opportunity to Fight Georges St. Pierre
There may be no man on the current UFC roster more qualified to talk about losing title shots and missed opportunities than Rashad Evans. We've been watching Evans and multiple champions now deal with injuries and behind the scenes political issues that have delayed his title shot since it was announced he would receive a chance to win back the belt after UFC 114 on May 29, 2010.
So with Carlos Condit losing his shot at Georges St. Pierre's welterweight title to Nick Diaz, the man whose shot it was initially anyway, it only made sense to ask Rashad what he thought of the situation. That's exactly what ESPN did:
"You have to understand that the UFC is a business, and it is about putting together the fights people want to see. At the time it made sense for Carlos Condit to step up for the fight, but the reality of the situation was the real fight was Nick Diaz v Georges St-Pierre. So he can't be too upset about that.
"He was the first to be called [to replace Diaz] so he should know exactly where he is. So he should be thinking, 'OK, they thought enough of me to call me in that situation. If I win my next fight then I'll definitely be in that situation'."
If I haven't made it clear enough, I'm fully on the side of giving Diaz the title shot. It's the fight that was supposed to happen and it's a bigger fight. Condit got a lucky break being moved into the title shot and an unlucky break with St. Pierre getting injured. The universe balanced itself out and now all Carlos has to do is keep winning and he'll get his shot.
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
Posted in: fight, title shot, diaz, title, shot
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRashad Evans: The UFC is a business and Carlos Condit can't be too upset about losing his title shot
Nothing personal, just business.
If anyone understands what it means to fall by the wayside when it comes to UFC title shots, it's former 205-pound champion Rashad Evans.
That's because "Suga" missed his chance to challenge for the light heavyweight crown when Jon Jones squashed Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 back in March. "Bones" went on to defend against Quinton Jackson while Evans body-blew Tito Ortiz.
The promotion teased him with another title shot, but ultimately gave it to Lyoto Machida at UFC 140. Evans ain't even mad. In fact, he's grown accustomed to the UFC doing what's best for business, even it if stands in contrast to what's best for him.
Which is why he tells ESPN that Carlos Condit "can't be too upset" about getting bumped from a 2012 title fight against Georges St. Pierre:
"You have to understand that the UFC is a business, and it is about putting together the fights people want to see. At the time it made sense for Carlos Condit to step up for the fight, but the reality of the situation was the real fight was Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre. So he can't be too upset about that. He was the first to be called [to replace Diaz] so he should know exactly where he is. So he should be thinking, 'OK, they thought enough of me to call me in that situation. If I win my next fight then I'll definitely be in that situation.'"
Condit was expected to challenge St. Pierre at UFC 137 back on Oct. 29; however, "Rush" blew out his knee and was forced to put their fight on hold until early next year.
In the meantime, Nick Diaz pummeled former champion B.J. Penn at the same event, doing enough in the process to convince the UFC that the former Strikeforce 170-pound kingpin was the better, or at least more marketable, contender.
And it was a fight Diaz had already been assigned, until some media tomfoolery got him demoted.
In the end, all that matters is that Diaz and St. Pierre will be throwing down on Superbowl weekend. And "The Natural Born Killer" will need at least one more fight to get back to the mountaintop. Again.
Nothing personal, just business.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, business, title
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMMA Top 10 Welterweights: Nick Diaz Belongs at No. 2
Filed under: UFC, Rankings, WelterweightsNick Diaz is the top contender for Georges St. Pierre's UFC welterweight title, and he deserves to be.
The reason the UFC decided to reverse course and book Diaz vs. GSP is that it has all the makings of a pay-per-view blockbuster. But it was also the right decision from a competitive standpoint: After Diaz's UFC 137 victory over B.J. Penn, he's demonstrated that he deserves to be considered the No. 2 fighter in mixed martial arts at 170 pounds.
So as we rank the Top 10 welterweights in MMA, GSP stays on top with Diaz on his heels. Find out how we rate the rest of the division below.
Top 10 welterweights in MMA
(Editor's note: The individual fighter's ranking the last time we did welterweights is in parentheses.)
1. Georges St. Pierre (1): St. Pierre has really never been threatened since losing to Matt Serra in April of 2007; his current nine-fight winning streak consists of six unanimous decisions, two TKOs and one submission win without ever being in any trouble. I don't think St. Pierre is going to lose to Diaz, but I do think Diaz has the right style, both with his high-volume punching and his ability to submit people off his back, to challenge St. Pierre in a way he hasn't been challenged before.
2. Nick Diaz (4): As Diaz won 10 fights in a row over the last three years, a lot of skeptics raised questions about whether the guys he was beating were really all that good. No one can ask that about his 11th straight win: Penn is universally regarded as a Top 10 welterweight, and Diaz gave him a thorough pounding. Jon Fitch, who's No. 2 in most welterweight rankings, wasn't as successful against Penn as Diaz was. Diaz can compete with the elite, and he's earned his opportunity to fight the best of the best in St. Pierre.
3. Jon Fitch (2): After 11 months off following his draw with Penn, Fitch is slated to return against Johny Hendricks at UFC 141 on December 30. That's a fight that won't do much for Fitch in the welterweight division, but it should be a good opportunity for him to grab another unanimous decision victory.
4. Josh Koscheck (5): Koscheck looked great in his first-round knockout of Matt Hughes in September. Koscheck isn't ever going to beat St. Pierre, but it was good to see that Koscheck has recovered and is ready to resume his role as one of the welterweight division's elite fighters.
5. Carlos Condit (7): Condit has looked great on his current four-fight winning streak, but I see no reason he's more deserving of a title shot than Diaz. I'd like to see Condit win another fight against another Top 10 opponent before he becomes the top welterweight contender.
6. Jake Ellenberger (NR): Ellenberger enters the Top 10 on the strength of his 53-second knockout of Jake Shields. I'd love to see him rematch Condit, whom he lost to by split decision in 2009.
7. Rory MacDonald (9): The 22-year-old MacDonald is 12-1, with the only loss coming to Condit. There's little doubt that he'll be fighting for the UFC welterweight title some day, although he's in no rush to do that. He gets Brian Ebersole next at UFC 140.
8. B.J. Penn (6): Penn is 1-3-1 in his last five fights, but there's no shame in losing to Frankie Edgar and Nick Diaz, or drawing with Jon Fitch. No matter how discouraged he was after losing to Diaz, Penn shouldn't retire. He has a lot of big fights ahead of him.
9. Jake Shields (3): Shields is now on a two-fight losing streak after being decisioned by GSP and knocked out by Ellenberger. But look for him to bounce back in 2012. He has too much talent not to.
10. John Hathaway (10): A tough decision at No. 10, but I'll stick with Hathaway for now. An injury forced Hathaway to drop out of UFC 138, but he's a very promising 24-year-old with a 15-1 record. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, diaz, st, welterweight, penn
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Scorecards
Check out this MMAWeekly.com photo gallery with all of the UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz official scorecards.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, scorecard
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyCesar Gracie: Nick Diaz saved UFC 137 after 'little star guy' hurt his knee
If you're off to find the hero of the day, look no further than Nick Diaz.
That's according to longtime coach and manager Cesar Gracie, who reminds the haters who constantly bring up the Stockton slugger's missed media appearances that without Diaz, UFC 137 would have been doomed.
Probably because "little star guy," who mixed martial arts fans may recognize by his birth name, Georges St. Pierre, blew out his knee in training camp, forcing the cancellation of his Oct. 29 headliner against Carlos Condit in Las Vegas.
The promotion had little choice but to elevate "Penn vs. Diaz" to main event status after "Rush" found himself on the injured reserves until early 2012.
Gracie tells Sherdog's "Rewind Show"" that Diaz, once again, delivered:
"You can't pull a guy off a card and then bring him back on: ‘Oh, he's not good enough to fight. We pulled him out of the card. He can't be in the main event. Yeah, here you go. Oh, wait a minute, guess what happened? Our little star guy over here, his knee hurts. Oh my God, we need Nick Diaz. Let's put him back in the main event.' Everybody wants to see that fight. He delivers. Well, little star guy didn't fight and Nick Diaz did, but they pulled a lot of money from Nick's purse because it wasn't structured for him to make as much if it wasn't GSP, even though he was the main event now and put the people in the seats. Nick Diaz saved that card. OK? That's what people need to remember when they talk about responsibility, is that he showed up, hamstring injury, knee injury, whatever. He had the same thing. He's the guy that showed up. He's the guy that fought his heart out, him and B.J. Penn. They put on a show. They're two great warriors. They saved the UFC that night."
After a close first round, Diaz pulled away from the Hawaiian "Prodigy" in rounds two and three of the UFC 137 headliner, battering and bruising the former division champion and forcing a premature declaration of retirement.
The emphatic win, along with a little post-fight call out, convinced UFC President Dana White that Diaz had done enough to warrant bumping Condit from his GSP title shot and giving it back to Diaz, who actually had it earlier this year before media-gate.
Alright Maniacs, let's get your thoughts on this. After an abysmal co-main event between Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione, do you agree that Diaz saved the UFC 137 pay-per-view? Or did he just save his 170-pound title shot?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, guy, nick, star guy
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGracie: Diaz Saved UFC 137
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, mattyblayze, gracie, gracie diaz
Read the full article at RedditWhy are people acting like Diaz/Penn was a one-sized beatdown?
I thought round 1 was lopsided for Penn, round 2 was lopsided for Diaz, and round 3 was slightly for Diaz. Seems like all three judges agreed with me (29-28, 29-28, and 29-27), but Joe Rogan, the fans, and the talking heads are acting like Diaz murdered Penn and ate his soul. I thought round 1 clearly showed who was the more skilled fighter, and rounds 2 and 3 showed who had the better reach and cardio. submitted by ciscomd [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: diaz, round, penn, joe rogan, soul i
Read the full article at RedditUFC 137 Fallout: "It's Not Funny' Says Nick Diaz in So Many Words
For fans, Nick Diaz is an endless supply of entertainment. Either when he fights, or speaks, what he has to say is as exciting as how he speaks with his fists in the cage.
The critics are less forgiving. To them, Diaz is just a child. Not literally, but childish enough to look down on him in a "Stockton kids say the darndest things!" way. And when he fumbles the opportunities given to him, he has no one to blame but himself. Even moderate observers feel forced into having a strong opinion.
In case you missed the press conference following UFC 137, Nick Diaz was granted what he wanted: a title shot in the UFC. But when the news broke, he went on a lengthy rant. At this point, I don't consider Nick's rambling incoherent, or aimless. Nick's "polemic" is certainly structured that way. His points meander from location A to location B like billiard balls in the presence of a drunken 16 year old playing pool for the first time. But Nick's point is simple: it's not funny (as if having listened to a David Cross album).
By "it", I mean life. Well, I guess. I'm not sure, but in the interest of writing an article, I'm pretending to be sure. There's a moment during the press conference when Nick begins talking about what it's like to run from his house, presumably in a low income neighborhood, to the higher income section. To Nick, this is insulting. And what's worse, media members laugh at this anecdote (which Nick explicitly takes issue with).
Dana White actually takes Nick to task, and perhaps rightfully so. "Bro, you have enough money to move if you want to". Nick's jumbled response is to reference how unlike GSP, Nick trains all the time, and can't take time out of his fight schedule to move elsewhere. He can't just 'pull out with a fraudulent injury', like he believes GSP has done. On this point, Jordan Breen articulated this theme on Sherdog radio:
"Another factor there is that when Nick Diaz has a camera on him, it's the intersection point of a lot of things he doesn't like. He doesn't like a whole lot of people he doesn't know. He doesn't really like to have to talk and sell fights in that way, and to have to constantly explain himself and his thoughts. He doesn't like being looked at by an entire room of people who are inevitably judging him if not outright laughing at him due to some of the things that come out of his mouth. The situations that normally give rise to Nick Diaz' rants...comes from very muhc the same place. He's suddenly confronted with all of these thoughts where people are asking him about fighting for titles, and in his mind he knows he doesn't make as much as boxers he's seen on television. It becomes this volatile witches brew that seems to make him go positively ape and air his dirty laundry in a very visceral and public way."
Nick Diaz, and forgive me for stating the obvious, is an angry dude. Something Breen points out further along through the show, are the mental gymnastics required for Nick to perceive an opponent as an enemy. Nick's not just fighting GSP for the title. He's fighting GSP who faked an injury to pull out of their fight. Now scared, GSP is holding Nick back from making
more money while Nick must sacrifice everything, including the quality of life, just to get a shot. Amidst this self imposed turmoil, Nick's gotta be the bad guy for the media because that's how title shots happen (indicating that perhaps Nick has always known how to play the game).
It'd be easy to sit here and mock Nick's logic. Yes, it's ridiculous. But it's a familiar kind of ridiculous for boxing aficionados, who know their history all too well, and what it's like to encounter an athlete who must compete as much with his opponents as he does with himself. The MMA media just isn't used to "real fighters".
I'm quoting that because I don't consider Nick any different from anyone else. Nick Diaz is a dedicated fighter. So are plenty of other fighters, and I mean fighters who don't make 200 thousand in one fight (as Nick does), yet lead peaceful lives and don't bitch about life every press conference or youtube video.
But I can't help but feel if it wasn't for that angry spirit, he wouldn't fight the way he does. Russell Crowe once asked, "are you not entertained?!" Nick is asking the world the same question, with the exact same sneer. Nick is everything the critics say he is: spoiled, paranoid, selfish, bitter, and quixotic. These adjectives inform Nick's character. But that character, in turn, informs his performance. There is a sort of hypocrisy to exalting one side while condemning the other, and if so, consider me a hypocrite. I despise Nick's attitude. But Nick...please don't ever change.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, point, doesnt
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendCesar Gracie: Nick Diaz Saved UFC 137, Pay Cut ‘Patently Unfair’
“What happened is you can’t pull a guy off a card and then bring him back on: ‘Oh, he’s not good enough to fight. We pulled him out of the card. He can’t be in the main event. Yeah, here you go. Oh, wait a minute, guess what happened? Our little star guy over here, his knee hurts. Oh my God, we need Nick Diaz. Let’s put him back in the main event.’ Everybody wants to see that fight. He delivers. Well, little star guy didn’t fight and Nick Diaz did, but they pulled a lot of money from Nick’s purse because it wasn’t structured for him to make as much if it wasn’t GSP, even though he was the main event now and put the people in the seats… Nick Diaz saved that card. OK?. That’s what people need to remember when they talk about responsibility, is that he showed up, hamstring injury, knee injury, whatever. He had the same thing. He’s the guy that showed up. He’s the guy that fought his heart out, him and B.J. Penn. They put on a show. They’re two great warriors. They saved the UFC that night… [Nick’s pay cut] is a hard pill to swallow. I think it’s patently unfair. Myself, in my opinion, that’s unfair. I think Nick obviously knows it’s unfair, and these are talks we’re going to have with Dana White and with the UFC… We’ve had good negotiations with Dana before. We’re going to put everything on the table, and I’m confident that we’re going to be able to iron all of this out and that Dana will make it right.”
— Cesar Gracie telling Sherdog that Nick Diaz saved UFC 137
It’s not hard to read between the lines here. Nick Diaz reportedly lost out on a potential seven-figure payday when he lost the Georges St. Pierre fight and now that he has his title shot back, they want their big payday back too. I can’t say how it will turn out, but the Diaz camp does have a little bit of leverage here. It’s a fight the fans badly want and Dana White already announced it, presumably without a bout agreement signed. If Dana can’t get the fight done, he stands to lose a considerable amount of goodwill with fans — the same fans he takes pride in giving the fights they want to see.
In other words, Dana White has to get this fight signed, even if it means giving Nick Diaz his pay-per-view bonus back.
Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, dana
Read the full article at MMA ConvertCesar Gracie Thinks Nick Diaz Deserved More Pay for 'Saving UFC 137' After 'Little Star Guy' Injury
Nick Diaz and coach/manager Cesar Gracie are a treasure for the media. Any question addressed to either man might get a Quote of the Year level response. Money is always a topic that seems to get the pair going and it's no different in the wake of UFC 137. After beating B.J. Penn in a tremendous fight it was time for Diaz to complain that he doesn't make enough money despite making tens of thousands of dollars more than the median home price in Stockton for a single fight. It's simply tremendously entertaining stuff.
And now Gracie is taking his turn, this time talking to Sherdog's "Rewind" show:
"What happened," said Gracie, Diaz's longtime coach and manager, "is you can't pull a guy off a card and then bring him back on: ‘Oh, he's not good enough to fight. We pulled him out of the card. He can't be in the main event. Yeah, here you go. Oh, wait a minute, guess what happened? Our little star guy over here, his knee hurts. Oh my God, we need Nick Diaz. Let's put him back in the main event.' Everybody wants to see that fight. He delivers. Well, little star guy didn't fight and Nick Diaz did, but they pulled a lot of money from Nick's purse because it wasn't structured for him to make as much if it wasn't GSP, even though he was the main event now and put the people in the seats."
Personally, I'll always be conflicted on Diaz. In a perfect world every card would feature a Nick Diaz fight. But the constant whining and lack of he and his team owning up to their own behavior and it's repercussions is frustrating.
Diaz threw around Floyd Mayweather Jr. making $25 million for his last fight but Floyd is also undisputed as one of the two best in his sport and that fight sold close to a million more pay-per-view buys than 137 will. And Diaz was clearly rewarded for "saving the show" by the UFC going back on their word that Carlos Condit would get the title shot against Georges St. Pierre ("little star guy") and giving it to Diaz instead.
Seems fair enough to me.
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
Posted in: fight, diaz, guy, nick, star
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCesar Gracie feels Nick Diaz deserves compensation after stepping up at UFC 137
When Georges St. Pierre went down with injury a few weeks ago, forcing him out of a main event match-up with Carlos Condit at UFC 137, the UFC had a godsend in the form of another fan-friendly pairing on the card between popular welterweights BJ Penn and Nick Diaz. As expected, Diaz and Penn went to war in the show’s featured tilt and delivered one of 2011’s most memorable in-ring encounters.
Now Diaz’s manger, Cesar Gracie, believes his client deserves to be taken care of financially for the impact he had on helping dig UFC 137 out of the hole GSP’s withdrawal created.
“You can’t pull a guy off a card and then bring him back on,” Gracie began in an interview with Sherdog Radio before mimicking the UFC’s position, saying, “‘Oh, he’s not good enough to fight. We pulled him out of the card. He can’t be in the main event. Yeah, here you go. Oh, wait a minute, guess what happened? Our little star guy over here, his knee hurts. Oh my God, we need Nick Diaz. Let’s put him back in the main event.’”
“Everybody wants to see that fight,” Gracie continued on Diaz’s dance with Penn. “He delivers. Well, little star guy didn’t fight and Nick Diaz did, but they pulled a lot of money from Nick’s purse because it wasn’t structured for him to make as much if it wasn’t GSP, even though he was the main event now and put the people in the seats.”
“Nick Diaz saved that card. OK?” Gracie boldly stated. “That’s what people need to remember when they talk about responsibility, is that he showed up, hamstring injury, knee injury, whatever. He had the same thing. He’s the guy that showed up. He’s the guy that fought his heart out, him and BJ Penn. They put on a show. They’re two great warriors. They saved the UFC that night.”
Though some might argue Diaz leapfrogging Condit for a title-shot the “Natural Born Killer” had been promised prior to Saturday night’s show could be a reward in itself, it could also be argued that Gracie makes a fair point in terms of Diaz’s role as a headliner and the effect it had on buyrates/tickets.
Diaz vs. GSP Targeted for Super Bowl Weekend
In the end, the famed teacher and outspoken manager made his confidence clear regarding the parties’ ability to find a satisfactory resolution.
“We’re going to put everything on the table, and I’m confident that we’re going to be able to iron all of this out and that Dana (White) will make it right,” Gracie concluded.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, ’t, gracie
Read the full article at Fighters.comMatt Mitrione Wishes He Had Fought Like Nick Diaz at UFC 137
Filed under: UFC, NewsSporting a shiner from his UFC 137 loss to Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione visited The MMA Hour and said he wished his fight had looked more like the main event.
"It sucked. It was boring," Mitrione said of his unanimous decision loss to Kongo. "I want to put on exciting fights"
Mitrione said that immediately following his loss, he and his friend and training partner Chris Lytle went back to the locker room and watched the main event, Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn, on a backstage TV. Seeing the great showing Diaz put on in beating Penn by unanimous decision, Mitrione said he instantly recognized what he should have been doing.
"As soon as I watched it I thought, 'That was exactly how I should have fought Cheick.' Exactly how Nick Diaz fought B.J. is how I should have fought Cheick," Mitrione said. "Nick was aggressive and constantly threw punches at B.J. even if B.J. didn't want to commit."
Mitrione said he could hear the crowd booing during his fight with Kongo and realizes that he didn't make the fans happy.
"Both of our performances -- I think it was just a dull fight," Mitrione said. "It was just a lot of chasing him down."
The loss was the first of Mitrione's professional MMA career (he also lost a fight during his time on The Ultimate Fighter), and he said the lesson he learned from it is that if he's going to lose he'd rather go down with guns blazing.
"It was a learning experience but it sucks at the same time," Mitrione said. "I'd rather get my ass kicked in dramatic fashion than lose with the crowd booing."
Mitrione said he wants to spend some time in the gym getting better before he commits to another fight, but that when he does return to the Octagon (likely some time in the spring of 2012), he's either going to win or get knocked out trying.
"I can tell you it won't happen again," Mitrione said of the style of his loss to Kongo. "If I lose again it's going to be because I get my ass kicked in an ugly, ugly way." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, loss, mitrione
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone named as co-headliner at UFC 141
Two fearless fighters from the UFC’s lightweight division will meet in the Octagon on December 30 at UFC 141, both of whom are coming off “Submission of the Night” showings and in the hunt for a title-shot in 2012.
According to the UFC, Nate Diaz will look to build on his opening round finish of Takanori Gomi at UFC 135 when he faces streaking scrapper Donald Cerrone in co-headlining action at the New Year’s Eve Weekend event.
Diaz’s September success snapped a two-fight skid as a welterweight prompting his return to 155 pounds where he holds past victories over Kurt Pellegrino and Melvin Guillard. The 26-year old holds an overall record of 14-7 with thirteen finishes while only having himself been stopped a single time.
“Cowboy” should be ready to put that statistic to the test when they link up in Las Vegas with his ongoing six fight winning streak featuring three submissions and a TKO. Cerrone is coming off a Rear-Naked Choke of former contender Dennis Siver this past weekend. Equally impressive, Cerrone has already fought four times in 2011 meaning a win over Diaz would mark his fifth of the year.
UFC 141 is headlined by Brock Lesnar locking horns with K-1/Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem and will also feature Ross Pearson vs. Junior Assuncao, Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Alexander Gustafsson, and Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, cerrone, twofight skid
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainAgent: Carlos Condit did 'not step aside' for Nick Diaz's UFC title shot
Carlos Condit "didn't step aside" and relinquish his guaranteed title shot with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre so Nick Diaz could cut to the front of the line.
That's according to Condit's agent, Malki Kawa, who released a statement to HDNet's "Inside MMA" program on Monday.
The claim is contrary to what UFC president Dana White told MMAjunkie.com following Diaz's win over B.J. Penn this past weekend at UFC 137.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, condit, mma program
Read the full article at MMA JunkieThe Forward Roll: UFC 137 Edition
Filed under: UFCThe roller-coaster ride that was UFC 137 has come and gone. We had opponent switches, main-event changes, retirements and plenty more.
Now that we've had time to catch our breath and reflect on what we witnessed, let's take a lot at what's next for some of the particulars.
Nick Diaz
This should be an easy one, but what's easy when you're talking about Diaz? He's about as predictable as lottery numbers, which is why we love him. Barring any future faux pas, Diaz has been carefully penciled into a Super Bowl weekend title match with Georges St-Pierre. It should be noted that Diaz was a media superstar all week long. We even saw him smile a few times. After going through a rough week to re-gain what he once had, expect Diaz to be there when the bell rings at UFC 143.
Prediction: As stated by the promotion, Diaz vs. St-Pierre on February 4.
BJ Penn
The longtime veteran said he was done after taking a beating at Diaz's hands over the last two rounds of their main event. But on Monday, Penn softened his stance a bit, releasing a statement saying he was taking some time off to "enjoy life, train and teach," before adding that he'd keep us posted on his next move. So it sounds like his future is still up in the air. At 32 years old, it can't be the end, can it?
Prediction: Penn takes a few months off, then returns to the UFC as a lightweight near mid-2012.
Carlos Condit
Wait, what? Condit didn't fight on UFC 137, so why is he here? Well, Condit's name is as relevant as any other after being booted from a title bout in favor of Diaz, so we need to get the man some action. He's not going to sit around and wait for his opportunity, because that would mean he was on the sidelines for a year. His manager Malki Kawa yesterday told MMA Fighting that he only wanted a fight with a top five welterweight.
Prediction: Jon Fitch would have been the perfect opponent here, but he's already scheduled for a December 30 match with Johny Hendricks. I would reshuffle the duck and make Condit-Fitch, but since UFC doesn't like to do that sort of thing too often, I say he fights Josh Koscheck.
Cheick Kongo
Saturday wasn't Kongo's best performance but he got the job done in a unanimous decision over Matt Mitrione. Kongo is in a tricky spot in the division's depth chart. He's not high enough to be put into the title hunt, but he's also too good to match up with some of the fighters on the way up. That leaves him best suited for veterans in the same position. I've got just the guy.
Prediction: He faces Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson
Prediction: See above.
Matt Mitrione
A loss at this stage of Mitrione's career isn't the worst thing in the world. He needed a move up in opponent level to learn something, and he certainly walked away from the loss to Kongo with a few lessons. The first is he has to have the ability to make adjustments during the course of the fight. You can go in with a great game plan, but once your opponent renders it useless, you have to be able to go to plan B. The second is that his wrestling still needs work. Kongo sealed the victory with two takedowns in the third.
Prediction: He faces Dave Herman in the spring.
Hatsu Hioki
As possibly the last best hope for Japanese fighters to win a title in the UFC, Hioki faced big pressure and big expectations against George Roop, and he nearly got derailed, scraping by on a split-decision. It wasn't a spectacular performance, but since it was his octagon debut, maybe we should give him a pass. At any rate, we did learn that he was not quite yet ready for Jose Aldo. Not surprisingly, within a day of the win, the UFC announced that Chad Mendes would get Aldo next. It's just as well. Hioki needs to convince folks that he's a real threat to the crown, and that will require a more dominant win.
Prediction: Erik Koch sounds like a solid opponent.
Brandon Vera
It was a bit of an uneven fight for Vera, who narrowly edged out the first two rounds and then had to survive a third-round knockdown at the hands of Eliot Marshall, who has never been considered a big-time puncher. At any rate, it was a desperately needed win for Vera, who likely would have been bounced from the UFC again had he lost. Given Vera's cost (he made $120,000 total for the win), don't expect him to get anything easy next time around.
Prediction: He faces Bulgarian powerhouse Stanislav Nedkov.
Bart Palaszewski
He's been on a nice tear lately, winning five of six now after knocking out Tyson Griffin on the prelims. Though he seems like he's been around forever, Palaszewski is just 28 years old, and has to be considered an intriguing name in the featherweight division after dropping from lightweight.
Prediction: He faces the winner of UFC 141's Diego Nunes vs. Manny Gamburyan fight.
Donald Cerrone
We already know that Cerrone will take on Nate Diaz in the UFC 141 co-main event. It's simply worth noting that Cerrone can become the first UFC fighter to win five fights in a year since Roger Huerta did it in 2007. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, prediction, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseCarlos Condit can’t fight GSP & Nick Diaz can’t live in a good neighborhood #ufc @MMASupremacy @robnashville
Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz have some grievances they want to share with you.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at Fight OpinionGracie: Diaz Saved UFC 137
Cesar Gracie doesn’t believe the UFC compensated Nick Diaz fairly for his win Saturday over B.J. Penn in the UFC 137 main event.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, gracie diaz
Read the full article at SherdogGeorges St. Pierre Responds To Nick Diaz: ‘It’s A Fight That I Wanted Very Badly’
“You know, I’m the champion and the way that works is, I don’t pick my fights. They pick the opponents, and it’s my job to be ready to face whoever it is. But this guy, he said so many things, things that aren’t true. He said these personal things and the way he acted, I don’t like that. I don’t agree with that. I wanted this fight. It is the best thing for me to fight Nick Diaz. He wanted his opportunity, but you know, I wanted my opportunity to fight him, too… This is a fight I am looking forward to very much, and it’s a fight that I wanted very badly. This is a very important fight to me personally. I am glad that the UFC did it for us.”
— Georges St. Pierre telling Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole that he wants to fight Nick Diaz
With the way Dana White described Georges St. Pierre’s backstage reaction to Nick Diaz at UFC 137, I was hoping we might actually get some fiery quotes from the welterweight champ, but I guess that was wishful thinking. That’s okay though. I guess the hook works better if GSP upholds his squeaky clean, nice guy image while a deranged Nick Diaz polishes his bird flipping technique for the press conference he may or may not show up to.
The guy who is genuinely pissed about the whole situation though is Carlos Condit. Well, at least that’s what his manager, Malki Kawa, says. Speaking with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour today, Kawa explained that not only did Condit not “step aside” like Dana White suggested, he’s also pretty upset with GSP for asking to fight Nick Diaz.
“I could understand them coming to us like that,” Kawa said on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “The issue with the whole ‘he decided to step aside,’ obviously, that wasn’t the case. There was no just stepping aside. There was a little bit more than that. It’s going to take more than that. I think we’re way more upset with Georges and the way Georges handled it than we are with the way Dana presented it or anything like that.”
“[Carlos'] words were, ‘My heart hurts,’” he said.
“Are we pissed off about it? Absolutely,” he said. “But it’s not like I’ve never been on other end of stick where I put one of my fighters ahead of someone else and another guy got shafted or screwed over. It’s just business, it’s not personal. It’s nothing personal with Georges. Are we upset with him? Absolutely.”
I’m sure it sucks to finally get the title shot you’ve always wanted only to have it yanked right out from under you a few weeks later, but the reality of the situation is it was Nick Diaz’s title shot in the first place. We can argue till we’re blue in the face about who deserves it more, but Condit only got it because Diaz missed a pair of press conferences. As MMA Nation’s Jonathan Snowden put it earlier today, it was Nick’s shot. Condit was just keeping it warm.
Gif via MMA Mania
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, way, george
Read the full article at MMA Convert"Train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night!" - Nick Diaz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9R8BfMa08Y Awesome [6] submitted by xKrazExMNUx [link] [7 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick, xkrazexmnux, train, rogan
Read the full article at RedditUFC 137 Fight Photos: Penn vs. Diaz Main Card
Exclusive MMAWeekly.com fight photos from the UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz main card, featuring BJ Penn, Nick Diaz, Mirko Cro Cop, Cheick Kongo, and more.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, penn, photo
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz tops list UFC 137 paydays
Love him or hate him, it can rarely be said Nick Diaz doesn’t entertain the fans in some way with overall style and colorful antics. Those qualities were both put on display last Saturday night in the main event at UFC 137 and, perhaps rightfully so, it turns out Stockton’s favorite son earned the event’s highest salary with $200,000 (not to mention an addition $75,000 for his role in the show’s “Fight of the Night”).
Diaz’s opponent, iconic former champion B.J. Penn made $150,000 for his efforts as well as the extra $75k.
Both sums were listed in an official release from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Other fighters taking home six-figure paydays included Cheick Kongo who earned a shockingly high $140,000 for beating Matt Mitrione, Donald Cerrone who more-than doubling his contracted pay with a “Submission of the Night” bonus, Bart Palaszewski whose total was helped by not only “Knockout of the Night” honors but a fine related to adversary Tyson Griffin’s inability to make weight, and Brandon Vera with $120,000 in a job-saving outpointing of Eliot Marshall.
Here is the complete list of UFC 137 salary information including event-specific bonuses:
Clifford Starks: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Dustin Jacoby: $6,000
Francis Carmont: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Chris Camozzi: $8,000
Ramsey Nijem: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Danny Downes: $4,000
Brandon Vera: $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) def. Eliot Marshall: $15,000
Bart Palaszewski: $103,500 (includes $10,000 win bonus, $8,500 fine, and $75,000 KotN bonus) def. Tyson Griffin: $25,500 ($8,500 subtracted for missing weight)
Donald Cerrone: $129,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus, $75,000 SotN bonus) def. Dennis Siver: $27,000
Hatsu Hioki: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. George Roop: $8,000
Scott Jorgensen: $33,000 (includes $16,500 win bonus) def. Jeff Curran: $8,000
Roy Nelson: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Mirko Filipovic: $75,000
Cheick Kongo: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus) def. Matt Mitrione: $10,000
Nick Diaz: $275,000 (includes $75,000 FotN bonus, no win bonus) def. B.J. Penn: $225,000 (includes $75,000 FotN bonus)
Posted in: night, diaz, bonus, nevada state, eliot marshall
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 137 Penn vs. Diaz (Gracie Breakdown)
submitted by killzy707 [link] [comment]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, breakdown, killzy
Read the full article at RedditGSP on Nick Diaz: 'It's the fight I want'
UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre reiterated Monday that he wants a piece of Nick Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, monday, fight i
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC 137: Payout Perspective
Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This time we take a look at UFC 137 coming from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, Nick Diaz convincingly defeated BJ Penn affirming the need for a showdown with Georges St. Pierre.
Diaz retires Penn; GSP next
So now its obvious why Dana White kept Nick Diaz on the Zuffa roster despite no-showing press conference after press conference. Diaz showed his boxing skills as well as his jiu jitsu proficiency. For Penn, it sounded like he is eyeing retirement. At only 32, it seems like Penn could still make one last run at a title. But, if he were to end his career, he was one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC.
While it appeared Penn acted like it was his last match in the UFC, he may just take some time off and reassess. At 32, he is still fairly young, but his dominant reign in the UFC is over.
Kongo dominates Mitrione
In the “co-main event,” Cheick Kongo defeated Matt Mitrione in a less than exciting match. For as much a personality Mitrione is, he could not handle Kongo. This fight was a main event in name only as a result of GSP’s injury. While it is written that this puts Kongo’s name in the heavyweight title picture, it seems like Kongo may need one or two more fights before he goes up against JDS or Cain.
Nelson defeats Cro-Cop
Nelson’s fat suit at the weigh-ins was pretty funny considering the fact that it initially looked like him. Still Nelson looked sharp. For Cro-Cop, it was his last fight in the UFC ring. He has been on the decline for a while at he gave a very nice post-match interview.
Attendance and Gate
MMA Junkie reports that the attendance of the event was 10,313 for $3.9 million.
Bonuses
MMA Junkie also had the bonuses for UFC. The bonuses were $75K each and were as follows:
Fight of the Night: Diaz and Penn
Submission of the Night: Donald Cerrone
KO of the night: Bart Palaszewski
Cerrone and Palaszewski were featured on the Spike TV Prelims.
Salaries
Salaries were released (via MMA Fighting)
Nick Diaz: $200,000 (no win bonus) def. BJ Penn: $150,000
Cheick Kongo: $70,000 ($70,000 win bonus) def. Matt Mitrione: $10,000
Roy Nelson: $20,000 ($20,000 win bonus) def. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic: $75,000
Scott Jorgensen: $16,500 ($16,500 win bonus) def. Jeff Curran: $8,000
Hatsu Hioki: $15,000 ($15,000 win bonus) def. George Roop: $8,000
Donald Cerrone: $27,000 ($27,000 win bonus) def. Dennis Siver: $27,000
Bart Palaszewski: $18,500 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Tyson Griffin: $25,500*
Brandon Vera: $60,000 ($60,000 win bonus) def. Eliot Marshall: $15,000
Ramsey Nijem: $10,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Danny Downes: $4,000
Francis Carmont: $6,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Chris Carmozzi: $8,000
Clifford Starks: $6,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Dustin Jacoby: $6,000
* Griffin was scheduled to earn $34,000 for his fight against Palaszewski; Palaszewski was scheduled to make $10,000. Griffin missed weight, however, and was penalized 25 percent ($8,500) of his show money, which was added to Palaszewski’s show money total.
Diaz’s salary likely would have been the same if he had fought GSP. Also, I’m wondering how much of a locker room bonus BJ Penn received for fighting Diaz instead of Carlos Condit. Its also interesting that Brandon Vera made $120,000 despite having his fight on Facebook (and almost breaking his arm).
I am in favor of how the UFC penalizes those that don’t make weight. In the case of Tyson Griffin, who missed by 3 pounds, he forfeited his scheduled salary and that amount was given to Palaszewski. Also worked out for Palaszewski considering he picked up a KO bonus as well.
Pre-Fight Promotion
Initially a Primetime series was going to follow GSP and Nick Diaz for their showdown. However, with Diaz being reassigned, the Primetime series was scrapped. The UFC Countdown show for 137 was only 30 minutes as opposed to the normal hour edition. Still, I thought it did a good job in telling the Nick Diaz backstory as well as including his hobby of triathlons.
The re-revised promos for UFC 137 featured the infamous “Don’t be scared homie” quote. It’s weird to think that Bill Goldberg was the interviewer in the middle of Diaz and KJ Noons (the recipient of the Diaz trash talk).
Sponsorships
The UFC Octagon did not have any new sponsors with the exception of signage for UFC Undisputed 3 which was in the Octagon and had the checkpoint area.
When it was announced that Nick Diaz would be facing BJ Penn, Metal Mullisha announced its sponsorship deal with Diaz. Diaz has worn the brand in Strikeforce. In addition, Diaz was to have a sponsor for his walkout music.
The UFC announced that the BJ Penn-UFC branded Gym in Hawaii would be taking memberships about a week before 137.
Jaco ran a deal for Brandon Vera fans with a special coupon code on Vera’s fight gear. Vera also was sponsored by Toyo Tires for his Facebook fight.
Matt Mitrione sported new fight shirt company Traumma. Strikeforce heavyweight Daniel Cormier is also sponsored by the company as he wore the shirt on a recent episode of InsideMMA.
Mitrione also wore a Chris Lytle for Senate shirt at weigh-ins. Its the first political shirt of campaign season.
Donald Cerrone wore SafeAuto and Tapout stickers on his cowboy hat during his post-fight interview. Once again, a great use of the hat by the Cowboy.
Post UFC 137 storylines
GSP-Diaz next. Carlos Condit, meet Anthony Pettis. Although, Dana White stated Condit “stepped aside” for GSP-Diaz. Condit’s manager, Malki Kawa, states otherwise. It would be disappointing if Condit does not get a shot through no fault of his own. But, let’s face it. He will have another fight before his “promised” title shot against the GSP-Diaz winner. If he loses, its almost certain he loses his shot as well. Certainly, GSP-Diaz is the match everyone wants to see. In fact, I think they made it before.
Odds and ends
-Pink gloves by the refs. I understand the intent and the cause, but do we really need it in the octagon. The NFL has jumped on the branding for Breast Cancer Awareness month, but it seems like its overdone.
-Donald Cerrone. I believe “The Cowboy” is one of the best fighters coming out of the WEC merger. I like the personal branding. Wearing jeans, cowboy hat and cowboy boots at the weigh-ins distinguishing him from others. Plus, he’s a pretty good fighter. The Cowboy will be the co-main event on PPV for UFC 141.
-Speaking of personal branding, Ramsey Nijem embracing a Chippendale’s gimmick at weigh-ins with bow-tie and no-shirt. Did we not learn anything from Dennis Hallman?
-Brandon Vera arm was nearly broken by Eliot Marshall but he still won by unanimous decision.
-I really liked Hatsui Haoki’s Dethrone “bird” shirt. FighterxFashion has the rest of the walkout shirts.
-The UFC sent a press release of video of the Penn-Diaz weigh-in which it described as a “scuffle.” Not sure if its done this before or sent to hype the card due to concern about the drawing power.
-Alex Rodriguez was in attendance. Does this help or hurt the UFC’s popularity?
PPV Numbers
The top of this card was hurt first by Diaz’s no-shows, the card reshuffle and GSP’s injury. The UFC first touted UFC 137 as being Champion vs. Champion. Despite the removal of GSP from the main event, the UFC indicated that the show was a sell-out. After GSP’s injury, the card took a big star power hit despite BJ Penn in the main event. The co-main event featured mid-card level talent (Nelson, Mittrione, Kongo and Cro-Cop). Cro-Cop is past his prime while the other 3 are not top of the card caliber. It would be hard to foresee the buys for this card exceeding 350K.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, penn, bonus
Read the full article at MMA PayoutUFC 137 Salaries: Diaz Tops With 200k; Penn, Kongo, Vera All Above 100k
The Nevada State Athletic Commission released the info on fighter salaries for UFC 137 this morning. Nick Diaz was the top earner at the event, making $200,000. Nick's opponent B.J. Penn came in next at $150,000, while Cheick Kongo and Brandon Vera both collected healthy six-figure paydays as well. Here's the rundown of the whole card:
Nick Diaz: $200,000 (no win bonus) B.J. Penn: $150,000 Cheick Kongo: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus) Matt Mitrione: $10,000 Roy Nelson: $40,000 ($20,000 win bonus) Mirko Filipovic: $75,000 Scott Jorgensen: $33,000 ($16,500 win bonus) Jeff Curran: $8,000 Hatsu Hioki: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) George Roop: $8,000 Donald Cerrone: $54,000 ($27,000 win bonus) Dennis Siver: $27,000 Bart Palaszewski: $28,500 ($10,000 win bonus)* Tyson Griffin: $25,500* Brandon Vera: $120,000 ($60,000 win bonus) Eliot Marshall: $15,000 Ramsey Nijem: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) Danny Downes: $4,000 Francis Carmont: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) Chris Camozzi: $8,000 Clifford Starks: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) Dustin Jacoby: $6,000
*Griffin gave up 25% of his purse to Palaszewski for missing weight. There was no actual fine since the contract was re-drawn up before the fight.
This doesn't include the performance bonuses that were handed out after the card, in which Diaz and Penn won an additional 75k each for fight of the night, Donald Cerrone won 75k for submission of the night, and Bart Palaszewski won 75k for knockout of the night. Obviously these numbers don't include any other discretionary bonuses handed out by the promotion either.
Posted in: diaz, penn, bonus, bart palaszewski, numbers dont
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSubo Says: The UFC 137 Wrap-Up
(pic via the very awesome UFC 137 photo gallery at UFC.com)
At the very, very least, I need to commit to giving my Jackal brethren (yep, you're stuck with me again - deal with it) card wrap ups that they can bring up in 6 months to point out how wrong I was. So, without much further ado... the first installment of Subo Says.
-Carlos Condit becomes the most recent fighter to see his title shot derailed by one Nick Diaz. Nick's previous shafting of a fighter expecting a bout for the belt was more direct; whilst holding Strikeforce's trinket belt, Diaz skipped a pre-fight drug test ordered by the CSAC, killing Jay Hieron's title shot (upon which his signing with Strikeforce was predicated) and receiving neither sanction nor punishment from neither promoter nor commission.
This time, Diaz's admittedly impressive performance (and post-fight non-brawling) was enough to set GSP (and, by extension, Dana White) into a tizzy, and Condit has now been informed to skip that whole waiting-for-your-title-shot thing. I don't like it one bit. Now, Carlos Condit probably fights Jon Fitch (who would beat Nick Diaz like a drum), while Diaz is rewarded for failing to fulfill his contractually obligated media appearances with... another title shot. If I'm Jon Fitch, I'm starting I "don't be scared homie" campaign yesterday.
-Cheick Kongo gets to keep his job as official UFC HW gatekeeper, and Meathead goes back to the drawing board. I didn't think rounds 1 and 2 were written in stone as Kongo rounds, but I can't whine about the decision. Hopefully we get to see Kongo annihilated by the Overeem-Lesnar loser.
The rest after the jump!
read more
Posted in: ufc, diaz, carlos condit, kongo rounds, overeemlesnar loser
Read the full article at FightlinkerUFC 137 Medical Suspensions: Diaz and Penn Sidelined
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz took place Saturday in Las Vegas. B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz both ended up bloodied and bruised and on the UFC 137 medical suspension list.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, place saturday, penn
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyCowboy vs. Diaz Announced as Co-Main Event for UFC 141
Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone and Nate Diaz have not only agreed to meet at UFC 141, but they will garner co-main event status.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate diaz, cowboy, comain event
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137 salaries: Diaz ($200K), Penn ($150K) and Kongo ($140K) top fighter payroll (MMAJunkie.com)
Nick Diaz ($200,000), B.J. Penn ($150,000), Cheick Kongo ($140,000) and Brandon Vera ($120,000) were the top...
Posted in: diaz, kongo, penn, mmajunkiecom, brandon
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsDonald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz Agreed for UFC 141
It didn't take long for Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone to find another fight because he's already accepted a bout with Nate Diaz at UFC 141 in December.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate diaz, cowboy, donald
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137: Diaz, Penn Lead Salary List
Top welterweight contender Nick Diaz leads the list of earners from Saturday night's UFC 137 event in Las Vegas.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, list, salary, salary list
Read the full article at Heavy MMACarlos Condit’s camp says he didn’t willfully give up title-shot
There seems to be plenty of confusion from Carlos Condit and his camp in regards to the new planned fight between UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz.
For those out of the loops, Condit was originally scheduled to face GSP this past weekend at UFC 137 before the French-Canadian title-holder went down with a knee injury. Though told he would maintain his top contendership regardless of what unfolded between Diaz and opponent B.J. Penn at the same show, Diaz lit a fire under “Rush” by questioning his manhood and honesty about being hurt, thus earning the crack at St. Pierre’s belt and leaving Condit on the backburner.
Condit has yet to say anything to the public, but his manager, Malki Kawa, sent a message to MMAWeekly saying, “We didn’t step aside. That’s not what we do. GSP doesn’t want to fight Carlos.”
It would seem by those comments that Condit is trying to play the Diaz approach and show disrespect towards St-Pierre. However, it is too little, too late for anything to change – assuming Diaz plays the media darling the UFC wants in the lead-up to the title bout.
St-Pierre said before his fight with Condit was scrapped due to a knee injury that the two were not friends and that he would finish “The Natural Born Killer” when they locked up. GSP normally tends to be very respectful towards his opponents and not make comments like that, so there does seem to be some bad blood brewing there.
The UFC, though, cannot afford to miss out on the opportunity to put St-Pierre and Diaz in the Octagon together, especially after the war or words the two exchanged immediately following UFC 137. This is a super fight between two very different men and the UFC Primetime specials alone should be PPV worthy to hear what each has to say about his opponent.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, condit, knee injury
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 137 Reaction from the Action: Winners and Losers, Future Matchups, and More
While the headlines coming out of UFC 137 were all about Nick Diaz, both for his dominant win over BJ Penn and Dana White’s announcement that Diaz would challenge welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre instead of Carlos Confit, the biggest news should not have been about Diaz at all.
As great as Diaz’s performance was, the biggest news was the possible retirement of two MMA legends.
Firstly, an expected retirement occurred with Mirko Cro Cop. He looked okay at times, but mostly struggled with Roy Nelson. He was stopped with punches in the third round for the third fight in a row joining losses to Frank Mir and Brendan Schaub.
Cro Cop never made the transition to the UFC that was expected of him after signing with the organization in early 2007. He struggled to adapt to the cage, and was never even close to the legend he created in Japan. He won consecutive fights just once during his ten fight UFC career, and won via strikes just three times.
While it was nearly impossible for Cro Cop to surpass the expectations, or even come close to living up to them, his UFC career can be viewed as a supreme disappointment. He holds only two career wins against current UFC fighters, and one of those is against the struggling Pat Barry. The other occurred against a natural light heavyweight in Anthony Perosh.
Meanwhile, while Cro Cop’s retirement was expected, BJ Penn abruptly announced in the moments after losing to Nick Diaz that the main event would also be his last fight.
It does need to be mentioned that a fighter’s words following a loss should not be written in permanent ink. Luckily for me, this is only on the internet, so I can always go back and act like I never wrote this.
If Penn’s announcement holds true, the UFC is losing arguably the greatest fighter in the organization’s history. His accolades do not need to be listed in their entirety in order to fully grasp his legacy. With that said, I do feel the need to mention Penn winning both the lightweight and welterweight belts, only the second fighter to ever hold two different belts during his UFC career.
Penn’s kryptonite has really come to the forefront over the last two years. He was outpaced by Frankie Edgar in their two fights for the lightweight title. He lost his momentum and pace in the third round in a draw to Jon Fitch in February 2011. Lastly, he completely fell off the cliff following a strong first round against Nick Diaz on Saturday.
Some will question Penn’s desire and motivation during his career. It goes to note just how talented of a fighter Penn was to win two titles. It is not my position to criticize another person’s desire, but one can easily imagine what Penn could have done if he did have the kind of motivation to match his talent.
It seems ironic, but a comparison could be made between Penn and Fedor Emelianenko, neither of whom were ever knocked down during their career going into their last few fights, but were both easily battered and left the cage with similar looks in those final fights.
Biggest Winner: Nick Diaz
I have to mention Donald Cerrone and his fantastic performance against Dennis Siver. With a four fight win streak to begin his UFC career, 2012 could be even more special for Cowboy.
With that said, Deiaz took the show over in the main event against Penn. Diaz displayed his premier boxing against Penn. No one has ever dismantled Penn that much, bruising and battering Pnn throughout the final two rounds. Following the fight, Diaz called out champion Georges St. Pierre, and St. Pierre responded, demanding Dana White make the matchup with Diaz. That will now take place in February at the Super Bowl weekend UFC card.
Biggest Loser: Tyson Griffin
Griffin got off to a bad start this past weekend, failing to make weight for his second featherweight fight in the UFC. He weighed 149 pounds at weigh-ins, and he did not even attempt to cut the remaining three pounds in order to refrain from having some of his purse money taken away.
Then on Saturday, that failed weight cut was on display, as Griffin looked sluggish against Bart Palaszewski. He was knocked out just three minutes into the first round, which does not bode well for a fighter who is now 1-4 in his last five fights.
Biggest Question: What do we make of Hatsu Hioki’s debut?
Hioki looked uncomfortable at times against UFC and WEC veteran George Roop. Hioki is arguably the number two featherweight in the world, but he did not look like that against Roop on Saturday. At 5’11, Hioki rarely has a height and reach disadvantage, but he had that with the 6’1 Roop. While his grappling was as strong as ever, his striking looked pedestrian. That will not go over well in a matchup with champion Jose Aldo.
Hioki will more than likely have another fight before being matched up with Aldo, so he will get another opportunity to improve on his very close victory over Roop.
Future Matchups:
Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre: Dana White agrees with this one. While I do not agree with pushing Carlos Condit to the side, just weeks after criticizing Diaz and coming close to cutting him for his behavior, this is correct if you want people to believe in paying for a St. Pierre fight again. How does St. Pierre fight when he truly does not like an opponent? We have never seen that before. I am anxious to see how the two react to the upcoming months of banter.
Cheick Kongo vs. Mark Hunt: This one is like an old school PRIDE fight, and those are the ones I love to see. Both are sporting two fight win streaks, and at 36 and 37, are nearing the ends of their careers. Surprisingly, only Frank Mir has more career fights amongst active UFC heavyweights than Kongo. He never came close to a title shot, and probably never will. But he can still put on exciting fights, and Mark Hunt would most certainly help provide that.
Scott Jorgensen vs. Eddie Wineland: Jorgensen is arguably a top five bantamweight, and he deserves to face top competition at 135 pounds. If he does not make the move to the upcoming flyweight division, he will have to really impress in order to get another opportunity at fighting for the bantamweight belt. Wineland, while on a two fight losing streak, still provides the top notch competition Jorgensen desires.
Roy Nelson vs. Travis Browne: I do not expect Nelson’s request to fight the winner of Cain Velasquez/Junior Dos Santos to be granted. He states he is getting too old to wait around, but he isn’t leaving himself with many choices. He showed better conditioning, as evident with his slimmed down physique. Browne is coming off a less than impressive win over Rob Broughton at UFC 135.
Hatsu Hioki vs. Ross Pearson: As mentioned, Hioki did not look incredible against Roop. It is very rare for a Japanese fighter to look overly impressive in his UFC debut, so this was not out of the ordinary. Pearson announced a successful test cut to 145 pounds, so he seems ready to make his featherweight debut. While he is coming off of a loss, Pearson will definitely prove to be a force in the new division. This matchup would test Hioki’s striking, while he would challenge Pearson’s ground game in return.
Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz: This one seems to be on the brink of being announced. While the main event is Alistair Overeem taking on Brock Lesnar, this matchup could be the best one that takes place at UFC 141.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, career, penn
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyDiaz Banks Event-High $200,000 Paycheck at UFC 137
Nick Diaz took home $200,000 for his three-round, unanimous decision win over B.J. Penn, making the former Strikeforce welterweight champ the highest-paid fighter on Saturday’s UFC 137 card at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, highestpaid fighter, highestpaid
Read the full article at SherdogUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Fighter Salaries: Nick Diaz Got Paid
The NSAC has released the fighter salaries for UFC 137. Keep in mind, these figures represent the base contracted pay the fighter receives from the promotion. These figures do not include any additional undisclosed discretionary bonuses, pay-per-view revenue sharing bonuses or sponsorship money, which in many cases exceeds a fighter’s base pay. These numbers also do not account for taxes, insurance, and license fees.
For someone who cries poor so often, Nick Diaz sure makes a hell of a lot of money. Up from the $175,000 he made for his last fight in Strikeforce, Diaz pocketed a flat fee of $200,000 plus another $75,000 in Fight of the Night bonus money for his headlining fight against BJ Penn. It’s not the seven-figure payday he could have gotten if he had fought Georges St. Pierre, but I don’t think anyone is going to feel sorry for Nick making over a quarter million for one fight, especially not the other fighters who sat at the post-fight press conference and listened to him complain about money for the umpteenth time.
BJ Penn was right Nick with a grand total of $225,000 after his FOTN bonus. Next was Cheick Kongo who received $140,000 for beating up Matt Mitrione for one round.
Then came Donald Cerrone. With his Submission of the Night bonus, he made another six-figure payday, $129,000 to be exact. So far, Cerrone has made a whopping $389,000 in 2011 since joining the UFC, and he still has one more fight to go before the year is out. It’s probably safe to say no one is more happy about the UFC-WEC merger than Cowboy.
Brandon Vera continues to make big bucks off lackluster performances. That armbar Elliot Marshall nearly finished him with would have cost him a cool $60,000 had he tapped. Instead, Vera hung on, took the decision and pocketed $120,000.
And last but not least, Bart Palaszewski also broke the six-figure mark with a little help from his opponent Tyson Griffin. When Griffin missed weight he was forced to forfeit 25% of his $34,000 purse to Palaszewski. That put Palaszewski right over the edge with a $103,500 payday after his KO bonus.
Payouts
Courtesy of MMA Junkie:
Nick Diaz: $200,000
B.J. Penn: $150,000
Cheick Kongo: $140,000 ($70k + $70k)
Matt Mitrione: $10,000
Roy Nelson: $40,000 ($20k + $20k)
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic: $75,000
Scott Jorgensen: $33,000 ($16.5k + $16.5k)
Jeff Curran: $8,000
Hatsu Hioki: $30,000 ($15k + $15k)
George Roop: $8,000
Donald Cerrone: $54,000 ($27k + $27k)
Dennis Siver: $27,000
Bart Palaszewski: $28,500 ($10k + $10k + Griffin’s $8,500 weight fine)
Tyson Griffin: $25,500 ($34k – Griffin’s $8,500 weight fine)
Brandon Vera: $120,000 ($60k + $60k)
Eliot Marshall: $15,000
Ramsey Nijem: $20,000 ($10k + $10k)
Danny Downes: $5,000
Francis Carmont: $12,000 ($6k + $6k)
Chris Camozzi: $8,000
Clifford Starks: $12,000 ($6k + $6k)
Dustin Jacoby: $6,000
Bonuses
$75,000 bonus to each fighter.
Knockout of the Night – Bart Palaszewski
Submission of the Night – Donald Cerrone
Fight of the Night – Nick Diaz vs. BJ Penn
Total Payout
A disclosed total of $1,327,000, including all bonuses, was paid out to the fighters.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, fighter, bonus
Read the full article at MMA ConvertManager: Carlos Condit Mad at Georges St-Pierre, Not UFC, for Losing Title Fight
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsMalki Kawa had a bad feeling when he heard his phone ring and looked at the caller ID. It was then that he realized UFC president Dana White was on the other line. UFC 137 had just ended 30 minutes earlier, and it was already after midnight on the east coast. It was not a time for mindless chit-chat. It was a time for serious business.
As is his style, White cut to the chase. Georges St-Pierre no longer wanted to fight Kawa's client Carlos Condit next. Instead, the UFC welterweight champ wanted to fight Nick Diaz, the winner of UFC 137's main event. We all now know the outcome. St-Pierre got the fight he wanted, and he'll be fighting Diaz in early February. Condit? He wasn't too happy, and he didn't exactly "step aside" as White told the media at the post-fight press conference.
"I could understand them coming to us like that," Kawa said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "The issue with the whole 'he decided to step aside,' obviously, that wasn't the case. There was no just stepping aside. There was a little bit more than that. It's going to take more than that. I think we're way more upset with Georges and the way Georges handled it than we are with the way Dana presented it or anything like that."
Everything changed in the moments after UFC 137. Diaz got the ball rolling by saying St-Pierre was scared and by questioning his injury just after his main event win. According to White, St-Pierre then "flipped out" and demanded that he bypass Condit and face Diaz next.
But as Kawa pointed out, Diaz had previously called out St-Pierre after he was originally replaced with Condit, and St-Pierre never responded. In addition to that, St-Pierre had gone on record saying that believed Condit presented the tougher challenge.
"I don't know if the emotions of the moment got to him, and he just decided to do that," Kawa said. "It's kind of un-Georges-like."
Kawa said that he and Condit didn't step aside as graciously as it sounded, describing the ordeal as "gut-wrenching."
"[Carlos'] words were, 'My heart hurts,'" he said.
But ultimately, Kawa said that they are "company men" who made the move that the promotion wanted. He also suggested that there was some financial reward for bowing out.
"Dana always does the right thing and in this case, he'll do the right thing again," he said.
Kawa said he tried to keep things in perspective by noting that he originally got Condit moved into the title slot with some hustle of his own, and that sometimes, that sort of thing works against you. He even candidly admitted that if he was Diaz's manager, he would have lobbied for the fight, too.
"Are we pissed off about it? Absolutely," he said. "But it's not like I've never been on other end of stick where I put one of my fighters ahead of someone else and another guy got shafted or screwed over. It's just business, it's not personal. It's nothing personal with Georges. Are we upset with him? Absolutely."
Meanwhile, Condit has every intention of fighting again instead of waiting to take on the St-Pierre vs. Diaz winner. Kawa said the UFC has thrown out some possibilities, but that nothing has been decided upon. The biggest factor is that it has to be someone that Condit can gain something from in fighting, mentioning Josh Koscheck and Jake Ellenberger as possibilities.
"It's more about whoever brings the most to the table," he said. "We want to make it a big-money fight. Whoever that is. Make it a big-money fight. A No. 1 contender, possibly make it a five-rounder if we could. And somebody who win, lose, or draw, we can take something from it." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, diaz, condit, stpierre, kawa
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 Fighter Salaries: Nick Diaz, BJ Penn Top Payroll
UFC 137 headliners Nick Diaz ($200,000) and BJ Penn ($150,000) topped the $1 million-plus fighter payroll for Saturday’s UFC 137 event in Las Vegas, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced today.
Other top earners included Cheick Kongo ($140,000), Brandon Vera ($120,000), and Mirko Cro Cop ($75,000).
The official salaries for UFC 137, which don’t include bonuses, sponsorships, or expenses, were (via MMAjunkie):
Nick Diaz: $200,000 (no win bonus) def. B.J. Penn: $150,000
Cheick Kongo: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus) def. Matt Mitrione: $10,000
Roy Nelson: $40,000 ($20,000 win bonus) def. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic: $75,000
Scott Jorgensen: $33,000 ($16,500 win bonus) def. Jeff Curran: $8,000
Hatsu Hioki: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus) def. George Roop: $8,000
Donald Cerrone: $54,000 ($27,000 win bonus) def. Dennis Siver: $27,000
Bart Palaszewski: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Tyson Griffin: $34,000
Brandon Vera: $120,000 ($60,000 win bonus) def. Eliot Marshall: $15,000
Ramsey Nijem: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Danny Downes: $5,000
Francis Carmont: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Chris Camozzi: $8,000
Clifford Starks: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Dustin Jacoby: $6,000
To check out MMAFrenzy.com’s complete UFC 137 coverage, click here.
Pictured: Nick Diaz (via UFC.com)
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, bj, bonus
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 137 fighter payouts, salaries and earnings for 'Penn vs Diaz'
UFC 137 fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Penn vs. Diaz" pay-per-view event this past Saturday night (Oct. 29) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, were released earlier today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz was the top earner of the night, earning $200,000 for his main event win over Hawaiian "Prodigy" B.J. Penn, who collects $150,000 in defeat.
Second place went to heavyweight slugger Cheick Kongo. The Parisian wasn't exactly money in his win over Matt Mitrione, but he sure got paid like it, banking a staggering $140,000 for fifteen minutes of work.
"Meathead" leaves "Sin City" with just $10,000.
Here is the complete list of UFC 137 payouts:
Nick Diaz: $200,000 (no win bonus)B.J. Penn: $150,000
Cheick Kongo: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus)Matt Mitrione: $10,000
Roy Nelson: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus)Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic: $75,000
Scott Jorgensen: $33,000 (includes $16,500 win bonus)Jeff Curran: $8,000
Hatsu Hioki: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)George Roop: $8,000
Donald Cerrone: $54,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus)Dennis Siver: $27,000
Bart Palaszewski: $28,500 (includes $10,000 win bonus)def. Tyson Griffin: $25,500
Brandon Vera: $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus)Eliot Marshall: $15,000
Ramsey Nijem: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)Danny Downes: $5,000
Francis Carmont: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)Chris Camozzi: $8,000
Clifford Starks: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)Dustin Jacoby: $6,000
The total disclosed payroll for the UFC 137 was $1,026,000.
Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.
For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for UFC 137 go here.
For complete UFC 137 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.
Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, payout, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 salaries: Diaz ($200K), Penn ($150K) and Kongo ($140K) top fighter payroll
Nick Diaz ($200,000), B.J. Penn ($150,000), Cheick Kongo ($140,000) and Brandon Vera ($120,000) were the top earners at this past weekend's UFC 137 event.
Overall, the 22 fighters who competed on the card earned purses totaling $1,026,000.
MMAjunkie.com today requested and received the list of disclosed paydays from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, kongo, penn, nevada state
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDonald Cerrone vs Nate Diaz rumored for UFC 141
submitted by lumbugg [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, lumbugg, donald
Read the full article at RedditSt-Pierre, Diaz can't wait for February (Yahoo! Sports)
"Disrespected" Georges St-Pierre badly wants to fight Nick Diaz, who insinuated that St-Pierre ducked him this month.
Posted in: fight, diaz, month, february, stpierre
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBooking Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz Shows UFC Learned Lesson From Jones vs. Evans
It feels like ages ago that we were talking about a fight between Rashad Evans and Jon Jones the same way we talk about Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz. Both situations involved a title fight that people wanted to see but each situation had a much different outcome.
Jones may have just won the title, but the storyline that existed based on broken loyalties, betrayal and stolen title shots had a fight with Evans set to be a starmaking performance. Jones needed "that guy" to become something more than just an amazing talent in the cage, something that never has sold incredibly well on its own in the fight game, and he had it in Rashad.
A hand injury to Jones which initially was announced to need surgery and then was announced not to led to Evans fighting at UFC 133 against Tito Ortiz and Jones fighting at UFC 135 against Quinton Jackson, a little over one month separating the fights.
The interest in Evans vs. Jones is still there but it has cooled, and the UFC's unwillingness to shift things around to make the fight happen in September led to two lukewarm events instead of creating one major fight. Now it's Evans who is hurt and we will see Jones face Lyoto Machida in an interesting fight but one that will still fail to provide that huge fight for Jones.
It appears that the UFC has learned their lesson from missing a major opportunity with the GSP vs. Diaz situation. I didn't buy Diaz's ability to sell a fight with St. Pierre at UFC 137, thinking he didn't yet have the cache with UFC fans needed to make the event truly big. I think they received a major blessing when they were forced to shuffle Diaz in against Penn.
The performance Nick gave created an instant buzz and the in-cage call-out of St. Pierre and Georges' reaction to the situation provided solid gold for promoting a fight. Now you had an established UFC star with a huge win and plenty of buzz set to face your top PPV draw.
Alas, UFC president Dana White had guaranteed the media that it would be Carlos Condit still receiving his title shot at St. Pierre "no matter the outcome."
Taking a promoter at his word is a losing game though as Dana smartly realized what he had and the need to strike while the iron was hot. Condit can wait, the public wants to see Diaz vs. Penn.
Had they passed on making the fight they'd have had to have given Diaz another fight before his title shot, he couldn't have waited on the sidelines until the Summer. At that point there is a risk of him losing or either fighter getting hurt and blowing a big event.
It's okay to feel bad for Condit, but this is a business and he was the hardest product to sell in the situation. The UFC made the move they needed to make and that shows growth since the Jones/Evans situation only a few months earlier.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, jone, situation
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBack for More: Donald Cerrone-Nate Diaz Planned for UFC 141
Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS - Someone must have told Donald Cerrone when Chris Lytle retired, the UFC had a job opening for its Bonus King position.
The "Cowboy" will go after his fourth bonus of 2011 and will tie the UFC's record for most fights in one calendar year when he meets Nate Diaz at UFC 141. Multiple outlets have reported the two lightweights have agreed to meet on the UFC's year-end card in Las Vegas, and MMA Fighting on Monday morning confirmed with sources close to the fighters that the bout is being planned. MMA Junkie first reported the news Sunday night.
UFC 141 is expected for the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 30, a rare Friday pay-per-view for the UFC to avoid going head-to-head with the New Year's Eve holiday the following day. Scheduled to headline the card is a heavyweight contenders fight between former UFC champ Brock Lesnar and recent signee Alistair Overeem, the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion who was released from that promotion earlier this year only to sign with the UFC.
Cerrone on Saturday won his sixth straight fight and fourth in the UFC since merging over from the WEC when he submitted Dennis Siver in the first round at UFC 137. Of his four UFC fights so far in 2011, Cerrone has three post-fight bonus awards - one each for Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night, which came against Siver.
Diaz snapped a two-fight losing skid last month when he submitted Takanori Gomi in the first round at UFC 135, winning Submission of the Night. That came after back-to-back decision losses to Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 125 and Rory MacDonald at UFC 129. Diaz has been nearly as active as Cerrone - he will fight for the fourth time this year.
Cerrone's bonus money in 2011 totals $215,000. His show and win purse totals out to $174,000 this year. A win and another bonus against Diaz would put him over the half-million mark for the year - not bad for a fighter who last year at this time was winning $10,000 bonuses in the WEC. Diaz has won seven bonuses in his last 11 fights.
The UFC record for non-tournament fights in one calendar is five, currently shared by Roger Huerta in 2007, plus Chris Leben and Nate Diaz's brother Nick, both in 2006. Assuming no delays in Cerrone's fight with Nate Diaz in December, he'll join that small group.
After UFC 137 on Saturday, Diaz said he wanted to get back in the cage as soon as possible, and even mentioned he'd love to be on the UFC's December card.
"I want to keep fighting," Cerrone said at the post-fight press conference. "I don't want to sit and wait.
Cerrone even mentioned earlier in Fight Week that he was considering a move down to featherweight to fight Nam Phan, whom he believes disrespected his friend and teammate Leonard Garcia following his rematch win over him earlier this month. But that will get put on hold to stay at lightweight to fight Diaz. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, year, cerrone
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseCarlos Condit's team upset with St. Pierre, not the UFC
Following UFC 137, UFC President Dana White made the announcement that Georges St. Pierre was going to fight Nick Diaz and not Carlos Condit when he recovers from the injury that knocked him from the October 29 card.
St. Pierre, according to White, was incensed by Diaz’s actions after Diaz had defeated BJ Penn in the main event of UFC 137. According to White, Condit agreed to step aside so that the St. Pierre versus Diaz fight could take place.
Condit’s manager Malki Kawa appeared on
Posted in: ufc, diaz, pierre, condit, st pierre
Read the full article at Low KickReport: Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz Lined Up for UFC 141
Less than 24 hours removed from his dominant first-round victory over Dennis Siver, it looks like Donald Cerrone already has his next fight planned, and it will be no easy task as he's expected to face Nate Diaz at UFC 141 on December 30th, according to Heavy.com
HeavyMMA has confirmed that both fighters have verbal agreed to square off at at UFC 141 in December. MMAjunkie.com first reported the news on Sunday night.
Cerrone told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview on Saturday night, that he wanted to get another fight in before the end of the year, and it appears he'll get his wish. Riding a four-fight winning streak, with three of those coming via stoppage, Cerrone has proven to be one of the most promising lightweight prospects to emerge from the UFC-WEC merger. Diaz, on the other hand, has revitalized himself at lightweight after dropping consecutive fights at 170 lbs. Fresh off his own dominant performance against Takanori Gomi at UFC 135, Diaz brings a similarly well-rounded skill set to the cage as Cerrone, along with a similar propensity for finishing fights.
Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone (17-3)Win Dennis Siver (submission - rear naked choke) - UFC 137Win Charles Oliveira (TKO - punches) - UFC on Versus 5Win Vagner Rocha (unam. decision) - UFC 131
Nate Diaz (14-7)Win Takanori Gomi (submission - armbar) - UFC 135Loss Rory MacDonald (unam. decision) - UFC 129Loss Dong Hyun Kim (unam. decision) - UFC 125
UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem coverage
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nate, cerrone
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 Fighter Salaries: Nick Diaz, BJ Penn Lead $1 Million-Plus Payroll
Filed under: UFC, News, salariesLAS VEGAS - The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the salary figures for UFC 137, which took place Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, who vacated his belt in that promotion to rejoin the UFC to challenge for Georges St-Pierre's 170-pound title, led all fighters with a $200,000 payday. His opponent in the main event, former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn, earned $150,000 in the loss.
Following the fight, which Diaz won by unanimous decision, Penn told Joe Rogan his intention is to retire from the sport. Diaz, though, was given an immediate title shot against St-Pierre - a title shot he was scheduled to have at UFC 137 before UFC president Dana White pulled him from that fight after he missed two press conferences to promote the event.
Additionally, Diaz and Penn each earned another $75,000 for winning the Fight of the Night bonus award.
Co-main event heavyweight Cheick Kongo was the third highest paid fighter on the card. After his $70,000 win bonus, he made $140,000. And Brandon Vera, fighting for the first time since a January loss to Thiago Silva that was overturned to a no contest when Silva tested positive for banned substances, made $120,000 for his win over Eliot Marshall.
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic alluded all week that his fight against Roy Nelson may be his last one. And after his third-round TKO loss, Cro Cop told Rogan that would be his last fight. He earned $75,000 in the loss.
The complete purses (show money/win bonus) are listed below. They do not include post-fight bonus totals, non-disclosed "locker room" bonuses or any sponsorship monies.
Nick Diaz: $200,000 (no win bonus) def. BJ Penn: $150,000
Cheick Kongo: $70,000 ($70,000 win bonus) def. Matt Mitrione: $10,000
Roy Nelson: $20,000 ($20,000 win bonus) def. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic: $75,000
Scott Jorgensen: $16,500 ($16,500 win bonus) def. Jeff Curran: $8,000
Hatsu Hioki: $15,000 ($15,000 win bonus) def. George Roop: $8,000
Donald Cerrone: $27,000 ($27,000 win bonus) def. Dennis Siver: $27,000
Bart Palaszewski: $18,500 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Tyson Griffin: $25,500*
Brandon Vera: $60,000 ($60,000 win bonus) def. Eliot Marshall: $15,000
Ramsey Nijem: $10,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Danny Downes: $4,000
Francis Carmont: $6,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Chris Carmozzi: $8,000
Clifford Starks: $6,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Dustin Jacoby: $6,000
* Griffin was scheduled to earn $34,000 for his fight against Palaszewski; Palaszewski was scheduled to make $10,000. Griffin missed weight, however, and was penalized 25 percent ($8,500) of his show money, which was added to Palaszewski's show money total. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, penn, bonus
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNate Diaz agrees to fight Donald Cerrone at UFC 141
The UFC’s annual New Year’s Eve Weekend event appears to have had an instant “Fight of the Night” frontrunner added to its lineup in the form of Ultimate Fighter 5 winner Nate Diaz duking it out with the white hot, well-rounded Donald Cerrone.
Once officially signed, the match-up will add to a UFC 141 card headlined by former heavyweight champions Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem battling it out with the winner a likely candidate to face whomever holds the belt next month after Cain Velasquez defends his title against Junior dos Santos on FOX.
News Cerrone’s clash with Diaz, only verbally agreed to at this point apparently, was first reported by MMAJunkie who said several sources had confirmed the information.
Though Diaz is only 9-5 in the Octagon, he has faced some of the best and displayed noticeable improvement in his recent return to the lightweight division where he submitted Takanori Gomi last month in the opening round of their fight at UFC 135. He also holds past wins at 155 pounds over Kurt Pellegrino, Josh Neer, and Melvin Guillard.
Diaz Earns $75,000 Bonus for Finish of Japanese Star
Cerrone, who fought on the same UFC 137 card as Diaz’s older brother (Nick Diaz) over the weekend where he defeated Dennis Siver in the first frame, will be looking for a rare fifth straight win inside the Octagon during a single year, and fourth in the last six months, when he dances with Diaz on December 30.
UFC 141 is also expected to feature Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez.
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Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, takanori gomi, cerrone
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 137 results recap: Penn vs Diaz event wrap-up from Las Vegas
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to pay-per-view last Saturday night (Oct. 29, 2011) with UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz," featuring former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz staking his claim to the title shot that was always his by beating up B.J. Penn for 15-minutes strong.
But that's not all.
Cheick Kongo maintained his status as the gatekeeper of the heavyweight division by outperforming Matt Mitrione in the co-main event of the evening.
And what else is there to say about the final fight in the career of Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic?
In cased you missed any or all of it -- or just want to keep the discussion alive -- below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In we go.
UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz "
Results and live blow-by-blow
Recap and discussion
Post-fight press conference video
Bonuses and awards
Event photo gallery
B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz video highlights
Facebook "Prelims" results and recap
Fight recap: Nick Diaz overwhelms B.J. Penn in decision win
Fight recap: Cheick Kongo takes a decision from Matt Mitrione
Fight recap: Roy Nelson finishes Mirko Cro Cop
Fight recap: Scott Jorgensen gets it done against Jeff Curran
Fight recap: Hatsu Hioki wins a split decision over George Roop
Fight recap: Donald Cerrone chokes out Dennis Siver
Fight recap: Bart Palaszewski knocks out Tyson Griffin
Fight review and analysis: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
Fight review and analysis: Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Cro Cop
Fight review and analysis: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione
Fight review and analysis: B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
UFC 137 post-fight fallout
Big winners and lowly losers
B.J. Penn retires from MMA
B.J. Penn's coach says "The Prodigy" will be back
The Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn fight metric report shows a straight Stockton style beatdown
Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre re-booked for Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas
Cesar Gracie says Diaz vs. St. Pierre will be the biggest fight in UFC history
Nick Diaz thinks Georges St. Pierre is scared, homie
Georges St. Pierre calls Nick Diaz the most disrespectful human being he's ever met
Carlos Condit didn't step aside, GSP just really wants to smash Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz flips the bird to all the doubters by smashing B.J. Penn
B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz hug it out after duking it out
Saying goodbye to B.J. Penn, just in case he really leaves
Saying goodbye to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, who really is leaving
Mirko Cro Cop announces his retirement
Roy Nelson was happy to win but sad to see Cro Cop go
George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki fight metric report is rather interesting
At lightweight or not, Donald Cerrone just wants to fight
Donald Cerrone gets his wish to remain active, booked to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 141 on Dec. 30
That my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What gets your vote for the biggest story coming out of UFC 137?
Sound off, Maniacs.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, vs, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz delivers a Record Setting performance against BJ Penn
Nick Diaz and BJ Penn went toe to toe for most of their 15-minute fight on Saturday night. The two hit the ground for a brief period during the first round, but other than that, the UFC 137 main event was all stand up.
When the horn sounded at the end of the second round both fighters’ faces were marked up, which is not a rarity for Diaz, but for Penn, it’s not something fans are accustomed to seeing. Diaz had so dominated the second round that at the post-fight press conference UFC President
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, round, penn, fighters ’
Read the full article at Low KickThe MMA Wrap-Up: UFC 137 Edition
Filed under: UFCThe official word from Dana White was that welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre was enraged by Nick Diaz's post-fight comments at UFC 137, but could it be that GSP needs Diaz now even more than Diaz needs GSP? The MMA Wrap-Up examines the issue, and all it will cost you is several minutes of your life that you can never get back.
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, mma, mma wrapup, wrapup
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 Results Recap: B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
In the main event of UFC 137, Nick Diaz defeated B.J. Penn in an exciting and engaging battle. Diaz came in the underdog in the eyes of many fans, but after a tough first round, he began implementing his game, bloodying Penn up and easily winning the unanimous decision. For Penn, it was a tough loss - his 3rd in his last 5 fights - and in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, B.J. Penn retired from MMA.
After a rough night of boring fights, and a show that saw mega-star Georges St. Pierre drop out due to injury, this fight needed to deliver. And it did. There were some worries that these two friends would play too nicely, but once the fight started, it was clear that Diaz was not going to go easy on Penn. Diaz fought like a man possessed, with something to prove. He put on one of the best performances of his career, and capped the night off by calling out his original opponent, Georges St. Pierre. Post-show, Dana White confirmed that Diaz vs. St. Pierre would indeed be the next Welterweight title fight.
What was the high spot of this fight?
Mid-way through round 2, you saw Diaz begin to dial it up and start truly implementing his game. Then the taunting started, and you knew you were watching a classic Nick Diaz performance.
Where do these guys go from here?
Apologies to Carlos Condit, but booking Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz as the next Welterweight title fight is the correct move. Fans were excited about it before, but they will be more excited now. Diaz showed that he's not an overhyped name with a padded record - he is a serious threat to the division. That fight can't come soon enough.
Penn has been talking quietly about retirement since his losses to Frankie Edgar, and it wasn't a total shock to hear that from him last night. I'm still not totally convinced that we'll never see B.J. Penn fight again, but if we do, it won't be for awhile. And if we never do? Then UFC 137 will mark the end of the road for another MMA great.
Watch it now, later, or never?
Now. Drama, theatrics, an amazing performance, and the last fight in the career of B.J. Penn. How could you not want to watch this?
More BE coverage of UFC 137 in the full entry.
UFC 137 Results: Donald Cerrone's Destruction of Dennis Siver Vaults Him Into Relevancy - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Results: Mirko Cro Cop Retires, but What Is His Legacy? - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz Punches His Way to Momentous Opportunity - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Results: Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Fights To Make After The Card, Where Do We Go From Here? - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Biggest Winners, Losers, and Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Dana White Announces Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn Post-Fight Recap and Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Results: Mirko Cro Cop Announces Retirement After Loss - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz Starches BJ Penn To A Decision In A FOTY Candidate - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 93: UFC 137 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Results: B.J. Penn Retires After Loss to Nick Diaz - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Pay-Per-View Fights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Results: Cheick Kongo Decisions Matt Mitrione In A Lackluster Fight - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Roy Nelson Stops Mirko Cro Cop In The Third Round - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Scott Jorgensen Wins Unanimous Decision Over Jeff Curran - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Hatsu Hioki Wins Split Decision Over George Roop - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Donald Cerrone Forces Dennis Siver To Submit - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Spike TV Prelims - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Results: Bart Palaszewski Knocks Out Tyson Griffin In UFC Debut - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Brandon Vera Wins Close Decision Over Eliot Marshall - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Ramsey Nijem Dominates Danny Downes - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Facebook Prelims - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Francis Carmont Dominates Chris Camozzi In UFC Debut - Matthew Roth
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, penn, roth
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowReport: Donald Cerrone Gets December Fight Against Nate Diaz At UFC 141
Donald Cerrone asked for a fight in December and he got it.
He also got a heck of an opponent. MMA Junkie is reporting that Cerrone will take on the other Diaz brother, Nate Diaz, at UFC 141.
Multiple sources close to the event today informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Donald Cerrone (17-3 MMA 4-0 UFC) and Nate Diaz (14-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) have verbally agreed to meet at UFC 141.
Great fight. Both Cerrone and Diaz are riding a wave of momentum after dismantling their last opponents in short order. I’m not sure who will win, but it will definitely be a fight.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, cerrone
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 results recap: A look back on another action-packed weekend in Las Vegas
It's all over!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) just wrapped another successful weekend campaign as UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" came, saw and conquered the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This event seemed doomed from the start, as it was plagued by injuries, disappearing acts and enough fight card changes to make mixed martial arts (MMA) fans' heads spin.
Luckily, the details were eventually worked out and the pieces fell into place.
The show must go on. And what a show it was. Though things started slow and even seemed stagnant at points, the main event made it all worthwhile.
After the jump, MMAmania.com examines the highlights of UFC 137 -- the good, the bad and the ugly:
In the main event, we saw Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn put on a fireworks-filled, bloody match up between two welterweights who desperately wanted a crack at Georges St. Pierre and his 170-pound belt.
Prior to the fight, Diaz admitted he was battling nerves because of the fact that "The Prodigy" has always been one of his heroes. The first round revealed some of Diaz's nerves and, for a few minutes, it looked like the Hawaiian was going to make quick work of the man who once had his poster up on his wall.
Not so fast.
In the second round, Diaz came out like a man on a mission, using precision striking to bludgeon the face of a fighter we've rarely even seen cut in previous fights.
Read a full recap of the B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz fight at UFC here.
When it was all said and done, Penn, battered and bruised, told Joe Rogan that he had entered the Octagon as a fighter for the very last time.
Diaz got on the microphone and called out the champion, St. Pierre, going as far as to accuse him of faking an injury to avoid having to fight.
As a result of Diaz's strong performance (and possibly his strong words), UFC president Dana White went back on his original plan to have "GSP" defend his belt against Carlos Condit and have the champion fight Diaz instead. The bout is rumored to be going down on Super Bowl weekend.
Watch video highlights from B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz UFC 137 fight right here.
Penn wasn't the only fighter to hang up the gloves after his fight. After losing badly to fellow heavyweight Roy Nelson, renowned head kick specialist Mirko Filipovic announced that we had seen the last of "Cro Cop."
Matt Mitrione was unable to get past the heavyweight divisional gatekeeper as Cheick Kongo proved to be too seasoned and experienced for "Meathead" to overcome.
Donald Cerrone catapulted himself right into the lightweight division title mix by violently stopping Dennis Siver in a bout that left the German kickboxing specialist asking for the license plate of the truck that hit him.
Hatsu Hioki made a triumphant UFC debut with a very controversial decision win over George Roop. Afterward, he proclaimed that Japanese MMA is not dead. (Apparently, it was just taking a little nap.)
Enough from us. What was your favorite UFC 137 highlight, Maniacs?
For complete UFC 137 results and a detailed recap of all the action click here. To check out a recap of the UFC 137 fights that were streamed online via Facebook click here. Want to know what happened on the UFC 137 "Prelims" portion of the card? To read a full recap click here and here.
And just in case you want to get up to speed on the entire UFC 137 fight card from top to bottom click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, penn, recap
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz broke the record for most significant strikes landed in a UFC fight
As you may have noticed, there will be no Sunday Morning Rumor Mill today. There was only one significant thing that happened last week, and if you read the Nick Diaz article, then you already know it. Also, if you have access to a steamer and raw catfish, don't use the steamer to cook the raw cat fish. It will always be raw. There's nothing modern science can do to fix this problem. Nick Diaz could punch the raw catfish in the face for an entire evening, but unfortunately that won't result in it being cooked. Not at all. If Nick Diaz punched a raw catfish, then he must be expressing his disdain that 'catfish' can't pur. They aren't even cats at all, and that may make Nick Diaz a very angry person.
FightMetric broke down last night's UFC 137 main event and discovered that Nick Diaz now holds the record for the most significant strikes in a UFC fight. He managed to get 178 significant strikes on The Prodigy, enough punches to send a normal man into paralysis while flying head-first into the front door of another dimension. Check out the statistical breakdown below.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, ufc fight, catfish
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 137 Musings
WELCOME BACK, NICKNick Diaz certainly knows how to return to the limelight. His win over BJ Penn on Saturday night was the single most impressive performance of his career by leaps and bounds. Not only did he put his ethereal fighting skills on display in front of millions of fans, proving that he deserves to be regarded as one of the very best in the sport, pound for pound. He also showed tremendous heart and courage by surviving a very rocky first round, one that left him bloodied and swollen as he walked back to his corner regroup for the rest of the fight.I almost always watch the fights with my brother, Tony. I turned to him after the first round and remarked that Diaz was getting a rude reminder that the UFC is on a whole different level than any other mixed martial arts promotion in the world. His response surprised me a bit, but it was absolutely insightful. “Penn can’t keep this up for three rounds,” he said. “The pressure will get to him. Mark my words.” Bingo. Diaz didn’t really do anything differently in the second and third rounds, other than remind “The Prodigy” that he could keep up his pace of crisp, non-stop punching for as long as he wanted. The pressure of having to deal with a Diaz hammering away with an unyielding attack is both mentally and physically exhausting. Penn learned that the hard, painful way. Nobody, not even former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, has ever handed Penn a loss like that. He has never been dominated on his feet in his entire career. Machida outpointed him, but at no point in their fight did Penn seem out of his league. Frankie Edgar also outpointed him on the feet, but again, it wasn’t a brutal beating by any stretch of the imagination.Penn looked like he got jumped by half a dozen baseball bat-wielding gang members after the fight. That is what Diaz can do to a fighter with his two fists. Sure, he has knees, elbows and kicks in his arsenal, too, but Diaz overwhelmingly prefers to box, and he put on a virtuoso boxing performance against Penn on Saturday night, one that put the entire division on notice that Diaz is the real deal.This was the single most impressive return to the UFC since Penn returned to dethrone Matt Hughes for the 170-pound championship after his absence from the organization. Actually, I will take it one step further. Considering the hype and what was at stake, that was the best fight that I’ve seen this year—period. GSP-DIAZ IN FEBRUARY AN EVEN BIGGER EVENT NOWSay what you will about Diaz’s bad boy persona. Getting into Penn’s face during the weigh-ins. Yelling “I won that s**t” over and over again after pounding Penn into retirement. And proclaiming that Georges St-Pierre pulled out of his fight with Carlos Condit because he is scared, not injured. All those are polarizing moments for a fighter. I’m sure volumes of UFC fans, particularly those who follow the promotion, not necessarily the sport as a whole, and thus haven’t been watching Diaz over the past five years, developed a very real distaste for the Stockton native at UFC 137. Others probably grew to love the sport’s biggest rebel. But everyone now knows with absolute certainty that Diaz is one bad dude, and he has a very legitimate shot at dethroning GSP.GSP-Diaz was supposed to be the main event at UFC 137. But after Diaz’s amazing performance against Penn, as well as his venom-laden comments about GSP after the fight and the champion’s equal desire to face his toughest test, convinced UFC President Dana White to drop another surprise on the fans. White announced at the post-fight presser that Carlos Condit, the man who was supposed to take Diaz’s place as GSP’s next opponent, will step aside so that GSP and Diaz can settle their score on Super Bowl weekend.Mark my words. GSP-Diaz, the remix, will sell out in record time, and the hype surrounding the fight is so much greater now. The lore of Nick Diaz is far, far bigger. And GSP-Diaz just became a bigger, more intriguing fight. Period.MAKE ROOM IN THE HALL OF FAME, IF THIS IS TRULY THE ENDPenn announced to the world moments after his loss to Diaz that he was hanging up the gloves. The words weren’t a surprise. It is far more damaging to a fighter’s psyche to suffer a sustained, three-round beating than to lose by quick, brutal knockout. The latter can be explained by a mistake. The former makes one question whether he still belongs in the sport. I’m sure Penn’s words were largely driven by the emotion of the moment. He never dreamed the fight would unfold the way it did—more precisely, the way the second and third round went. Again, nobody has ever battered him like that. Still, Penn has often talked about retirement, causing critics to question if his heart is still in the game. It is a legitimate question. At 32, Penn is financially secure. Plus, his comment about not wanting to let his children see him on the wrong end of a beating strums the heartstrings of every father. It would not surprise me at all, if this truly is the end for Penn. For what it is worth, I think he should retire if he no longer has the fire burning white hot in his belly. But if that fire returns, Penn should return. He is, and will always be, one of the greatest fighters to ever step in the Octagon. It has been a privilege and an honor to watch him compete, since he debuted in the UFC back in 2001.I have not seen any deterioration in his skills. Fans must not forget that this is the same man who fought Jon Fitch to a draw back in February. I firmly believe that Penn deserved the nod that night. There was no way the third round was a 10-8 round. None whatsoever. I digress.Penn’s problem isn’t deteriorating skills. His size is his biggest enemy at 170 pounds. It is tough fighting bigger, stronger guys. I think he should return to action and drop back down to 155. Eliminate Edgar from the picture and Penn likely regains the title he held with such dominance.But again, if this is, indeed, the end, the world needs to take a moment to celebrate just how great BJ Penn is as a fighter. Remember that he is one of only two men (Randy Couture being the other) to win titles in two different UFC weight classes. He also did the perceived impossible when he moved up from lightweight to dethrone Matt Hughes, a man viewed at the time as being the single most unbeatable fighter in the UFC. He nearly beat Machida in a heavyweight bout. And he has two Gracies (Renzo and Rodrigo) on his list of victims.Baby Jay Penn is a surefire Hall of Famer. The only question is when will Dana White open up the books and straighten this guy out by adding his name alongside the other true legends of the sport. That was a Donnie Brasco reference, for those keeping score at home.UFC FANS WILL NEVER QUITE UNDERSTAND The majority of UFC fans probably never watched Pride Fighting Championships. Those fans will never fully understand the legend of Mirko Cro Cop. No chance. All they see is the fighter who entered the Octagon and had his aura of invincibility stripped thanks to a violent knockout loss to Gabriel Gonzaga in his second UFC bout. Cro Cop was never the same again. His loss to Roy Nelson on Saturday night highlights that fact.Today’s version of Cro Cop is hesitant to pull the trigger with his fists. And he simply refuses to throw kicks. I don’t know why. Nobody knows why. Cro Cop probably doesn’t even know why.None of that matters, though. Twenty years from now, nobody will care about Cro Cop’s UFC career, which has now come to an end, after three consecutive knockout losses. He will be remembered instead for his days in PRIDE, where he was the single-most feared striker in the history of the Japanese fighting promotion. Cro Cop might be the most fearsome striker in the history of mixed martial arts. That is how I will remember him.Cro Cop is a former K-1 star who scored wins over elite kickboxing greats like Jerome LeBanner, Mike Bernardo, Musashi, Peter Aerts, Mark Hunt, and Remy Bonjasky before transitioning to MMA. Over the next five years, Cro Cop developed a cult-like following due to his ability to seemingly beat opponents with little more than his left leg. Sure, he could knock out opponents with his straight left hand. Yes, he had a good right hook. And he certainly knew how to slam his right shin into his opponent’s legs and body. But it was his left leg that really struck fear in the hearts of opponents.Cro Cop had a famous saying. “Right leg hospital; left leg cemetery.” It was pretty accurate. Cro Cop scored highlight-reel knockout after highlight-reel knockout using his left leg. Most of the time, he destroyed an opponent’s head with it. Less often, he would hammer it into an opponent’s midsection. He regularly battered opponent’s legs with his left shin, too.Nobody really had an answer to his standup skills, until he ran into fellow future all-time great Fedor Emelianenko. Cro Cop was viewed as an apex predator on the feet, and he lived up to the hype by scoring brutal knockout wins over Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva, Hidehiko Yoshida, Mark Coleman, and Heath Herring, among others.The Croatian entered the UFC fresh off his PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix win. Everyone expected him to walk through the heavyweight division and destroy then-heavyweight champion Randy Couture. It wasn’t to be. Cro Cop faced Gonzaga in a title eliminator in his second UFC bout. Gonzaga scored a takedown by catching one of Cro Cop’s first kicks. The punishment he unloaded over the next couple of minutes on the ground forever changed Cro Cop as a fighter. It was as if he never wanted to be in that position again. Cro Cop experienced up-and-down success from that point forward, finishing his UFC career with a 4-6 record. But again, none of that matters. The guy is a legend in Japan for a reason. As we say goodbye to that legend, I encourage UFC fans to seek out his PRIDE fights in the UFC library or on DVD. Trust me, it will be a treat.BIGGEST COMPLIMENT I CAN POSSIBLY GIVE MITRIONEMatt Mitrione lost to Cheick Kongo. I get that. But he is far from a loser in my mind.Kongo is supposed to a top-of-the-food-chain striker. Yet, he wanted nothing to do with Mitrione on the feet. Nothing at all. Kongo will probably take umbrage with that statement, pointing to the fact that he was merely exploiting the weakest part of Mitrione’s game.Hogwash. He got hit a few times by the monstrous former NFL lineman and wanted nothing to do with those punches. Period.It was obvious midway through the first round that Kongo was facing a serious deficit in speed and athleticism against his bigger, stronger foe. Kongo kept waiting to counter what he thought would be wild strikes from the relative newcomer to the sport. Those openings really never materialized. Mitrione instead used excellent head movement and good combinations to score on the feet during most exchanges. All he needed to do was throw with more frequency, and I really believe that he would have gotten Kongo out of there. The problem, of course, is that he didn’t. He was himself a bit wary of Kongo’s power and reputation. Fair enough. This was the first time that Mitrione had ever faced a true A-list opponent. Freezing up a bit was understandable. His inactivity allowed Kongo to land good shots in the second round and ultimately take the fight to the floor in the third, sealing Mitrione’s fate.I fully believe that Mitrione will grow tremendously as a fighter from this loss. He definitely knows what he needs to work on more than anything else – getting up off his back when the fight hits the canvas. That is a glaring hole in his game, one that will prevent him from taking his career to the next level. With his amazing athleticism, I have a feeling that Mitrione will figure it out soon.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, penn, cop, cro
Read the full article at UFCNate Diaz and Donald Cerrone Agree to Matchup at UFC 141
A stellar lightweight matchup could be taking place at UFC 141, as MMAJunkie is reporting that Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz have agreed to square off at the year-end show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 30th.
Cerrone is coming off an outstanding performance against German kickboxer Dennis Siver, whom he defeated in the first round at UFC 137. The performance earned Cerrone “Submission of the Night”, his third bonus of the year. If Cerrone wins a bonus at UFC 141, Cerrone would be the first fighter in UFC history to win four bonuses in one year.
Cerrone has won his last six fights, four of them in the UFC. Following his victory against Siver, Cerrone mentioned his desire to fight once more in 2011, having already fought four times this year.
Diaz was also very impressive in his most recent bout, defeating Takanori Gomi in the first round at UFC 135. The bout was his return to the lightweight division, after Diaz had fought his previous four fights at welterweight, losing the last two.
Diaz dismantled Gomi with crisp boxing throughout the opening round, which led to Diaz submitting the Japanese star in the final minute.
With the trilogy between champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard finally complete, the lightweight division is open once again. A win for either Cerrone or Diaz would go a long way to determining the immediate future of the division, and possibly earn one of them a title shot in 2012.
UFC 141 is headlined by heavyweight superstar Brock Lesnar welcoming Alistair Overeem to the UFC. Other matchups include Jon Fitch taking on Johny Hendricks, and light heavyweights Alexander Gustafsson and Vladimir Matyushenko squaring off.
For complete coverage of UFC 141, stay tuned to mmafrenzy.com
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate diaz, cerrone, donald cerrone
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone Planned For UFC 141
An explosive lightweight bout between Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz is targeted for UFC 141 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nate diaz, donald cerrone, donald
Read the full article at Heavy MMADon't be scared, Georgie. (GIF) Nick Diaz calls out Georges St. Pierre in his post-fight interview...
Don't be scared, Georgie. (GIF) Nick Diaz calls out Georges St. Pierre in his post-fight interview after dominating B.J. Penn at UFC 137 last night (Oct. 29, 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada. It worked, too. UFC President Dana White announced at the post-fight press conference that these two will fight over the Super Bowl weekend early next year because St. Pierre wants to give Diaz the worst beating of his life, mainly because of what you see above. Are you ready to accept Nick Diaz are your (potential) welterweight champion?
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, st, postfight, bowl weekend
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 results: Big winners and lowly losers from PPV event on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas
The fights are done. The dust has settled. The drama has been resolved inside the Octagon.
Like so many times before, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) successfully rolled through Las Vegas, Nevada, last night (Oct. 29, 2011) and put on a very exciting event (for the most part) and then called it a day, leaving many new storylines in its wake.
If you're interested in merely knowing who the winners and losers of record were for each fight on the UFC 137 line up, that's simple -- just click HERE and read the "Quick Results."
However, "a win is a win" is not always an accurate statement. Some wins are massive, catapulting men into "hero" status. Likewise, not all losses have the same effect on a fighter's career.
Sometimes the wins and losses don't even happen inside the cage.
Take a look at UFC 137's biggest winners and lowliest losers were, after the jump:
BIG WINNERS
Nick Diaz -- Love or hate him, this guy wins big fights and wins them convincingly. He went from fighting Georges St. Pierre for the championship belt in the main event to fighting B.J. Penn in the co-main event to still fighting Penn in the actual main event. Granted, he did it to himself with some silly antics, but not a lot of fighters would be able to ride that roller coaster all the way in, while staying focused enough to put on the kind of display that he did on Saturday night. It wasn't B.J. Penn in his prime. No one is saying it was. Either way, Diaz took the best shot from one of the best mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters of all time, weathered the storm, recovered and then beat him violently. It looks as though he will now get his title shot against "GSP" on Super Bowl Weekend. If he can just stay out of trouble until then.
Donald Cerrone -- "Cowboy" has now won six fights in a row. He's not beating stiffs, either. Each win has been against formidable opposition. Coming into UFC 137, not many were giving Cerrone a lot of credit or much of a chance to beat Dennis Siver, for that matter. You may not appreciate his smack talk, but listen, he backs it up. Every word of it. Cerrone took this fight as somewhat of a short notice replacement, but Siver ended up looking like the fighter who hadn't had a proper opportunity to prepare. In any other division, Cerrone would be getting a title shot. Unfortunately for Cerrone, he happens to be fighting in possibly the toughest combat division in the entire world. For now, he'll have to bide his time, keep training hard and partying with equal intensity until he gets the call from the bosses.
B.J. Penn and Mirko Filipovic -- I know, I know. Both of these fighters lost and lost badly. That's a given. However, two careers came to a close. Two careers that deserve to be celebrated. B.J. Penn and Mirko Filipovic have served the MMA community well and thrilled fans for more than a decade. It would have been nice to see them both go out with a win, but the losses shouldn't tarnish the legacies they are leaving behind. Two classy guys. Two great fighters who always brought it.
Ramsey Nijem -- This guy just looks better every time we see him. He's gone from the "class clown" on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 13 to being a very well-rounded fighter that UFC lightweights should get to know. It would have been nice if he could have gotten the finish against Danny Downes, but that's one tough kid. Anyone else probably would have tapped. Nijem has a tremendous upside and it will be exciting to see how he continues to mature.
LOWLY LOSERS
Carlos Condit -- What's that you say? Condit didn't even fight on this card? I know. That may be where he began to lose. Look, I'm not gonna hate on the guy. He gets punched in the face for the living. I'm just a keyboard warrior. I admit that freely. That aside, by sitting out, "The Natural Born Killer" may very well have cost himself a title shot. Maybe he's better than Diaz. Maybe he deserves it more. Hard to say. Fans saw Diaz put on a fantastic show on Saturday at Mandalay Bay. History has proven that waiting for your title shot hasn't worked out. Just ask Rashad Evans. Condit is a very good fighter. He'll get his name back in the mix, but fighters don't get to perform their trade forever. Bodies breakdown. Windows of opportunities close. Here's to hoping that he'll get another shot at the belt eventually.
Cesar Gracie -- We all make mistakes. We all say stupid things. In the heat of the moment, sometimes we just see red and respond to adrenaline. You can make that argument for Nick Diaz. He had just spent 15 minutes in an absolute war with his MMA hero. He used some language, called out a champion and flipped off some people in the crowd. Pretty standard for Diaz, really. But Cesar Gracie should know better. He's supposed to be the steadying force in the life of a guy who, let's face it, is generally anything but steady. Instead, he gets in Diaz's ear the first chance he gets and starts yelling, "Find that mother f---- St. Pierre! Call that mother f----- out!" Really? After everything Diaz had to overcome (mostly self-imposed) to get to that point, Gracie would choose to try and instigate and push the buttons of a guy who could go off and destroy his own career, on a whim? It just looks "bush league." Let the fighters do the trash talking. You keep teaching them how to throw up armbars and make sure they get to press conferences. Cool?
Tyson Griffin -- You gotta know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Griffin is 27 years old, but he could pass for a man much older these days. After losing three fights in a row in the lightweight division, Griffin made the strategic move to 145 pounds, hoping to avoid being cut from the Zuffa roster. He was re-inventing himself. It was a whole new Tyson Griffin. Only, it wasn't. In his first fight at featherweight, Griffin won a very uninspired (and almost unwatchable) decision victory over Manvel Gamburyan. It certainly wasn't the jump start his career sorely needed. Saturday night, Griffin came in overweight, out of shape and was completely outclassed by Bart Palaszewski. It may be time to take a break. Maybe do some traveling. Fight a few fights on some smaller regional shows. Do a gut check. After his performance at UFC 137, the decision may no longer be up to him.
So that's it. What did we miss? Fill up the comment section with your suggestions, arguments and words of fond flattery! To check out complete UFC 137 results and detailed blow-by-blow coverage click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, guy, fighter
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz sets new UFC record
Nick Diaz set a new record at UFC 137.According to FightMetric, the official statistics gathering site of the UFC, Diaz now holds the record for ‘Most...
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, record, ufc diaz
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyUFC 137 Medical Suspensions
Nick Diaz and BJ Penn are among ten fighters issued medical suspensions following UFC 137 at the weekend. The Nevada State Athletic Commission oversaw...
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, suspension, nevada state
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyObservations from My Couch: UFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’
A few observations from UFC 137: “Penn vs. Diaz”:
-Bart Palaszewski’s destruction of Tyson Griffin wasn’t just a win for himself, it was a win for the Illinois Woodchucks. Because, you know, the IFL. Heh.
-Don Cerrone dominated Dennis Siver so badly, Siver must now act as Cerrone’s manservant, and do things like fetch him his pipe and slippers after dinner.
-Remember when Brandon Vera was a heavyweight knockout machine and complete badass? Yeah, me neither.
-In the grand tradition of his countrymen, Shooto and Sengoku champ Hatsu Hioki came to the UFC, went to war, and failed to impress. But hey, he didn’t lose. That’s something, right?
-Color me surprised, but Jeff Curran actually did pretty well. His jiu-jitsu was crafty as hell, especially from the bottom, and when he stood and threw leather, he did it with confidence.
-Please, Mirko CroCop. Be retired. You’ve had a great career, and nowadays it just hurts to see you fight.
-It was gratifying to see Cheick Kongo blast Matt Mitrione. Too bad it was for only one round, and the two prior rounds were sucky.
-*Said in my best Morpheus voice* “He’s stood in front of everyone from KJ Noons to Paul Daley to BJ Penn, and out-struck them all. Now do you believe he’s the One, Trinity?” Yeah, Nick Diaz is the One.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, penn, jeff curran, illinois woodchucks
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 Results Recap: Francis Carmont vs. Chris Camozzi
Tri-Star product Francis Carmont made his UFC debut in style with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Chris Camozzi in a middleweight bout. With UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre in his corner, Carmont showed a balanced game by complimenting his striking with takedowns early. He never gave Camozzi much of a chance to get anything going despite constant pressure.
After a tepid first that Carmont won with a couple of takedowns, it was all Carmont from then on. He dropped Camozzi at the end of the second in what was probably a 10-8 round, and won the third with a takedown and some crisp strinking. And some taunting too. The final scores were 30-26, 30-27, 30-27. The middleweight bout was the second fight on the UFC 137 preliminary card, and aired live on Facebook.
What was the high spot of this fight?
Near the end of the second round, Carmont landed an impressive slam and when Camozzi got up, he was immediately put right back down with a nice combination.
Where do these guys go from here?
I'm not gonna lie, I didn't think Carmont would do very well in this fight and I was wrong. He looked better than I've ever seen him before, and while I still think there are holes in his game and he won't be a force at middleweight, it's very tough to hate on him for that performance. With the combination of flashiness, personality, and GSP by his side, he'll probably get a much more high-profile fight next time out.
Camozzi just got his job back and despite being dominated, he never quit and was constantly coming forward, looking for anything possible. I believe he'll get one more fight, and a bout with Dustin Jacoby could make sense.
Watch it now, later, or never?
Now. I was leaning towards later, but there are a few other bouts on this card that aren't worth your time and this was pretty entertaining overall, especially the last two rounds.
More BE coverage of UFC 137 in the full entry.
UFC 137 Results: Donald Cerrone's Destruction of Dennis Siver Vaults Him Into Relevancy - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Results: Mirko Cro Cop Retires, but What Is His Legacy? - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz Punches His Way to Momentous Opportunity - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Results: Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Fights To Make After The Card, Where Do We Go From Here? - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Biggest Winners, Losers, and Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Dana White Announces Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn Post-Fight Recap and Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Results: Mirko Cro Cop Announces Retirement After Loss - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz Starches BJ Penn To A Decision In A FOTY Candidate - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 93: UFC 137 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Results: B.J. Penn Retires After Loss to Nick Diaz - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Pay-Per-View Fights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Results: Cheick Kongo Decisions Matt Mitrione In A Lackluster Fight - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Roy Nelson Stops Mirko Cro Cop In The Third Round - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Scott Jorgensen Wins Unanimous Decision Over Jeff Curran - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Hatsu Hioki Wins Split Decision Over George Roop - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Donald Cerrone Forces Dennis Siver To Submit - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Spike TV Prelims - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Results: Bart Palaszewski Knocks Out Tyson Griffin In UFC Debut - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Brandon Vera Wins Close Decision Over Eliot Marshall - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Ramsey Nijem Dominates Danny Downes - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Facebook Prelims - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Francis Carmont Dominates Chris Camozzi In UFC Debut - Matthew Roth
Posted in: ufc, diaz, result, matthew, roth
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCesar Gracie: Nick Diaz vs Georges St. Pierre will be the biggest fight in the history of the UFC (Video)
"It's five rounds with Nick Diaz. That's a long time to have that guy in the cage with you. Three rounds is long enough, five rounds is very tough. I know GSP is a great athlete, he's a great black belt but Nick Diaz is an animal. I think that's going to be the biggest fight in the history of the UFC, I really do."
Whether or not you think Nick Diaz never even should have been removed from his UFC 137 main event title shot against Georges St. Pierre to begin with, the two are set to scrap once again on Feb. 4, 2012. That's Super Bowl weekend and thanks to some well-timed trash talk from Diaz that has St. Pierre as animated as he's ever been, Cesar Gracie believes this will be the biggest fight in UFC history. Agree or disagree? For more on St. Pierre vs. Diaz click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, pierre
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC offers detailed look at Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn in moments leading up to last night’s classic
UFC 137 will be remembered by fans for numerous reasons but none more prevalent than the all-out war between headliners Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn. From the moment the main event match-up was made it had the makings of one of 2011’s top tussles and delivered in full with both welterweights leaving it all inside the Octagon, Diaz’s fluidity on his feet ultimately making the difference in earning the judges’ favor.
The bout was also marked by the possible retirement of former double-divisional champion Penn who said he was focusing on his family in the future after being shown he can’t compete at the highest level. However, the proud Hawaiian is known for being emotional and nearly called it quits after his fight with Jon Fitch earlier this year.
Were that not enough, Diaz’s profanity-laden rant after having his hand raised was enough to light a fire under Georges St. Pierre’s typically cool exterior to the point the Canadian urged his superiors to book the two of them in a bout as had originally been planned for last night’s event and they obliged.
Now the UFC has offered a look at the moments leading up to their classic clash including access to Diaz and Penn before the pre-event press conference, as well as during and after their shoving contest at the weigh-ins.
“B.J. kinda came up a little hard, was looking and trying to get in the soul of Nick, and one thing I’ve learned (is) you don’t out-crazy Nick,” Cesar Gracie explained of his prize pupil before pointing to the fact Diaz, like Penn, is a fighter at his core and it boiled over for both of them in that moment.
Diaz is also seen discussing his return to the UFC, saying, “I expected to be back here in the UFC fighting. I expected to come back and fight for the title. I don’t like to come out and say I’m the baddest…I’m the best. I try to train hard so people will try to recognize that sort of thing but nobody understands when you do that. If I’m not hitting a tire or pushing a car or something crazy it’s not the same to people.”
Another highlight involves Diaz’s sarcastic reply to Dana White after the UFC President kids him about making a media-related event.
Check out the entire video below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, penn, moment
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 137 results: B.J. Penn vs Nick Diaz event photos gallery from Oct. 29
UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" took place last night (Sat., Oct. 29, 2011) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring Stockton's own Nick Diaz representing the 209 by putting a beaten on the pride of Hilo, Hawaii, B.J. Penn, in a three-round, 15-minute war.
For his efforts -- and his mouth -- Diaz has been re-inserted into a welterweight title fight against Georges St. Pierre over the Super Bowl weekend early next year.
Matt Mitrione's rise through the heavyweight ranks ran into a brick wall named Cheick Kongo, as he was neutralized for the better party of three rounds en route to a decision loss.
In other action, Roy Nelson sent Mirko Filipovic off to retirement with a third round technical knockout loss. Hatsu Hioki was successful in his UFC debut with a split decision win over George Roop, while Scott Jorgensen took care of business against Jeff Curran.
A photo gallery (via UFC.com) is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump.
Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn
Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo
Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Filipovic
Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver
Bart Palaszewski vs. Tyson Griffin
Posted in: diaz, nick, vs, penn, george
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCarlos Condit steps aside
Looks like I was totally 100% mega wrong when I said Carlos Condit was smart for sitting UFC 137 out and waiting for Georges St Pierre. Nick Diaz punched BJ Penn in the face a thousand times and without an equally impressive Carlos Condit asswhuppin, the Diaz hype train pulled so far ahead that it made this all but inevitable:
According to White, St-Pierre approached him backstage and said he felt disrespected by Diaz. In White's words, the normally composed GSP "flipped out." He wanted Diaz, and soon. So White audibled, contacting Carlos Condit and asking him to step aside.Condit, stuck in a terrible situation, agreed, and White had his matchup.
Poor Carlos Condit. I feel really bad for him. Not that I would have kept him on deck for GSP. Fuck that. But I'll take a few seconds and feel bad for a guy who now owns the title of Most Jerked Around Dude in the history of the UFC. Okay, now that that's out of the way, we can move on to being excited about Georges vs Diaz!
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, condit, carlos condit, carlo
Read the full article at FightlinkerUFC 137 Results Recap: Clifford Starks vs. Dustin Jacoby
Clifford Starks picked up a win in his UFC debut with a workmanlike unanimous decision victory over Dustin Jacoby, who was also making his debut in the organization. It wasn't pretty, as Starks generally used takedowns and some rather dull ground and pound to take all three rounds, but a win is a win. This was actually Starks' second win in the last 14 days, as he was brought in on short notice after a win on a Shark Fights card two weeks ago.
Starks was winning the standup in the first round, getting inside on Jacoby with the right hand and not letting Dustin establish his jab. Jacoby adjusted in the second and was using his standup more effectively, but Starks changed it up when he saw that he wasn't getting anything done and got the takedown. The third round was more of the same. The final scores were 30-27, 30-27, 30-27. The middleweight bout was the first fight on the UFC 137 preliminary card, and aired live on Facebook.
What was the high spot of this fight?
To be perfectly honest, it was probably the final bell. There wasn't a lot of action in this fight.
Where do these guys go from here?
While it wasn't a particularly eye-grabbing win, Starks showed that he can hang in the middle of the middleweight division with his versatility and wrestling. He'll get a tougher test next time out, but it would be interesting to see him face someone that could defend the takedown a little better. The dearth of wrestlers at 185 could benefit him.
Jacoby will get another fight in the UFC, but his weaknesses are pretty clear now. He's only 23, so there is plenty of time to work on them. A bout with fellow UFC 137 runner-up Chris Camozzi sounds like a logical matchup.
Watch it now, later, or never?
Never. Most cards start with a bang, this one started with a whimper. The pace was very slow and there wasn't much urgency from either fighter. You can definitely skip this one.
More BE coverage of UFC 137 in the full entry.
UFC 137 Results: Donald Cerrone's Destruction of Dennis Siver Vaults Him Into Relevancy - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Results: Mirko Cro Cop Retires, but What Is His Legacy? - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz Punches His Way to Momentous Opportunity - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Results: Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Fights To Make After The Card, Where Do We Go From Here? - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Biggest Winners, Losers, and Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Dana White Announces Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn Post-Fight Recap and Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Results: Mirko Cro Cop Announces Retirement After Loss - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz Starches BJ Penn To A Decision In A FOTY Candidate - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 93: UFC 137 Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Results: B.J. Penn Retires After Loss to Nick Diaz - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Pay-Per-View Fights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Results: Cheick Kongo Decisions Matt Mitrione In A Lackluster Fight - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Roy Nelson Stops Mirko Cro Cop In The Third Round - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Scott Jorgensen Wins Unanimous Decision Over Jeff Curran - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Hatsu Hioki Wins Split Decision Over George Roop - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Donald Cerrone Forces Dennis Siver To Submit - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Spike TV Prelims - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Results: Bart Palaszewski Knocks Out Tyson Griffin In UFC Debut - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Brandon Vera Wins Close Decision Over Eliot Marshall - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Results: Ramsey Nijem Dominates Danny Downes - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Facebook Prelims - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Francis Carmont Dominates Chris Camozzi In UFC Debut - Matthew Roth
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Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137: Behind the Scenes with Penn and Diaz
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Read the full article at RedditUFC 137 Results: Carlos Condit Got Jobbed Out Of His Title Shot
"(Carlos) Condit's in. He's sitting and waiting." -- UFC President Dana White this past Tuesday on whether the outcome of B.J. Penn/Nick Diaz would affect Condit's impending title shot.How quickly a decision can change, huh?After Diaz' stirring victory over Penn to close out UFC 137, the question was not if, but when he would get his shot at Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre and atone for his previous anti-press conference sins.But according to White, Diaz would have to wait. The shot had been given to Condit after Diaz' wacky no-show antics and if not for a knee injury to St. Pierre, that title fight would have happened last night. Unless there was a draw, we would have had a nice clean road to another good championship clash next year with deserving competitors.What's that saying about the best laid plains? They didn't just go astray last night. They went off the road into the abyss.At the post-event press conference, White said he had a big announcement and was going to wait for Diaz to appear before he said it. At that point, everyone knew what was up. It was just a question of him saying it. Then he did."Georges St. Pierre flipped out tonight after Nick Diaz was in the ring. 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," White told the media.
The light that started burning the fuse was Diaz' post-fight comments about how St. Pierre (sitting cageside) wasn't injured but he was scared to face him. According to White, he has never seen St. Pierre that upset and had to put together the fight. Amazingly by pure coincidence, the battle for the belt will take place in February during Super Bowl weekend -- generally one of the UFC's biggest PPV weekends of the year.But according to Condit's manager Malki Kawa, Condit didn't step aside at all and that St. Pierre "is choosing to fight Nick", adding the following on Twitter:
@malkikawamalki kawa last I checked "carlos is the harder fight." So I guess now he'll fight nick. Wasn't our choice and def not happy about it, BUTOct 30 via UberSocial for BlackBerryFavoriteRetweetReply
Kawa followed up by saying the situation is what it is and that he was sure White would "make it worth his while" for Condit to not take the fight. But if he doesn't. what is Condit's recourse? He has no leverage.
But fear not! Condit will get a fight on that Super Bowl card against that "next guy". If he wins, he gets the next shot…unless someone else irritates St. Pierre and leapfrogs him again, I guess. At this point, I would assume Fitch or Jake Ellenberger would be Condit's opponent.Real TalkListen, we all know what the deal is here. For a promotion that is being heavily questioned about its dropping pay-per-view buy rates, they need heavy hitters on the docket. St. Pierre vs. Diaz does just that. St. Pierre vs. Condit doesn't. So if you're White, simply say that.
Explain how even though it's sport, the game is still show business and you have to give the people what they want first while always keeping competitive fights in mind. But don't come out and say that Condit stepped aside and that GSP demanded Diaz instead. Condit is a competitor that got a crack at the biggest prize in his division. Remember the story of when Condit broke down in tears upon being told about being given the title opportunity? I do. You're telling me he simply said, "Sure…give Diaz a shot."? Hell, no. He was told, not given an option. To think otherwise is lunacy.
And If you're in the camp of thinking Condit didn't earn this shot to begin with, you're crazy. Aside from Jon Fitch, take Diaz out of this equation and there was no one else you could justify getting a crack at GSP. Food for thought: if Fitch had finished or decisioned Penn in a rematch Saturday, would he have leapfrogged Condit as well? Perhaps he just needed to call St. Pierre scared all along?
White needs to be careful about promising things, supporting those promises and then changing his mind. There are times I wish he would simply say that title shots are given on a 'what do we need' basis. It's been that way for a while, we all know it and have benefited from that attitude. Drop the pretense of rankings or that shots are earned. They are given and can be taken away based on simple business needs.The fight promotion has been a shady place since the first time someone knew they could make money off it. Perhaps I'm too idealistic to think that word is bond these days, but myself and others took White at his word and you can see where that got us. It's not the first time it's happened and unfortunately, it probably won't be the last.
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
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Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 results: Nick Diaz flips off his doubters in impressive fashion
"He's got great hands." Yeah, but B.J. Penn's striking is almost mythical in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world.
"He's got a hell of a chin." So does "The Prodigy."
"He's never been knocked out, not even close." A 10-fight win streak is nothing to sneeze at. Do you really think wins against Octagon castoffs like Paul Daley and 36-year old Frank Shamrock even begin to compare to the cream of the welterweight crop that the UFC offers?
"His Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) credentials are mighty impressive." Are you kidding me? Penn won the Mundials after earning his black belt in only three years time.
Nick Diaz seemingly had no avenue to win his main event fight last night (Oct. 29, 2011) at UFC 137. Almost everything he excelled at, Penn was simply better.
In a fight he had no business winning, Diaz put in his most impressive performance against a future UFC Hall of Famer. The former lightweight and welterweight champion was supposed to be too good, too talented for Diaz to overcome.
But after 15 minutes, the bad boy from Stockton had his arm raised after he had pummeled his opponent for the better part of rounds two and three.
Diaz came out and -- if Penn is to be believed -- retired an opponent he shouldn't have even beaten.
In typical 209 fashion, Diaz flipped off all his doubters.
In the 25 fights leading up to UFC 137's headliner, Penn had only been beaten by five men. The first loss of his career came at the hands of Jens Pulver, a defeat he would later avenge. Following that, he came up short against Lyoto Machida in a bout he weighed in at 191 pounds for. Matt Hughes took the second fight in his trilogy with "The Prodigy" but a submission win and a brutal 21-second knockout proved that the Hawaiian had the wrestler's number.
A pair of losses to both Georges St. Pierre and Frankie Edgar round out the blemishes on his record and as they do, a common thread begins to appear. Every man Penn has fallen short in front of has been recognized as the champion of the world, as the best in their weight class.
Penn just doesn't lose to any Tom, Dick, or Harry that steps inside the Octagon.
You can go ahead and add Diaz to that list. And while the BJJ player can claim a pre-Zuffa World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and a Strikeforce title on his resume, the UFC's 170-pound division has always been considered the best and deepest in the sport.
After a near-five year sabbatical from the Octagon, Diaz made his return to the shark-infested waters that is the welterweight division and made it to shore with the most impressive win of his career.
Once criticized for his "pitter patter" style of boxing that seemed to be more of quantity over quality, the 209 representative absolutely shredded Penn's face throughout their 15-minute fight. "The Prodigy" left the Octagon bloody, bruised, and swollen and claimed to be retiring.
HIs face a mangled mess, Penn didn't look or act like the fighter that choked out Matt Hughes or ran roughshod through the lightweight division. Diaz took it to the Hawaiian like no one else ever had, plain and simple. In a sport where fighters like Wanderlei Silva and Fedor Emelianenko bleed if breathed on too heavily, "The Prodigy" used to be touted as one of those guys who didn't really cut, didn't really bruise.
Diaz proved that line of thinking dead wrong last night. Penn's left eye was swollen nearly completely shut as he wore the effect of over a hundred punches on his face.
Many said the former Strikeforce champion didn't deserve an immediate title shot when fighters like Jon Fitch, Carlos Condit, and Penn had already spent years in the cut-throat world of the UFC. He needed to earn the shot was their rationale.
And when he skipped a press conference to hype the event, he was booted out of the main event and Condit took his place. He was then booked in a bout with the Hawaiian essentially swapping places with "The Natural Born Killer." A blessing in disguise, perhaps, for both Diaz and his doubters. Penn would be no easy task to overcome but if Diaz was able to defeat "The Prodigy," he would have more than enough ammunition to quiet his doubters who claimed he was nowhere near deserving of a title shot.
He got that ammo, enough to fully arm an entire militia and his sights are dead set on "Rush" and his welterweight title.
Not deserving? Diaz doesn't want to hear it.
Take a look at Penn's face if that's what you think.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, penn, prodigy
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz: Unveiled
Nick Diaz, in a raw, emotionally charged press conference, gave everyone an unveiled look into his complex character that broils inside of him.
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Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Post-Fight News & Notes: Nick Diaz Assumes Role Of The Bad Guy
A rundown post-fight news and notes from UFC 137…
— 10,313 people attended UFC 137 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas for a $3.9 million live gate.
— No surprises with the bonuses. Nick Diaz and BJ Penn took home Fight of the Night honors for their epic fight in the main event. Donald Cerrone earned Submission of the Night for battering Dennis Siver and choking him out. Bart Palaszewski earned Knockout of the Night for annihilating Tyson Griffin against the cage. Each bonus was worth $75,000.
— Nick Diaz may have beat BJ Penn in thrilling fashion last night, but you wouldn’t have known it by the way he talked at the press conference. Instead of realizing what he had accomplished, Nick criticized his performance up and down.
“I’m not happy with my performance at all,” Diaz said of his win over Penn, which served as the main event of Saturday’s UFC 137 event in Las Vegas. “I wasn’t 100 percent today. I felt good, but just leading up to this fight, I went through a lot of hard times.”
“I can look a lot better than that,” Diaz said. “I can do a lot better than that, and that’s what I would like to do.
“I didn’t have any sort of workouts like I have had in the past. I would have come out 10 times better than I look tonight, that’s for sure. I don’t take punches like that when I’m working out with guys like Andre Ward and the guys even that are working out with Andre Ward. If I could have got any of the sparring that I’ve had in the past, I would have been a lot more confident just having known that I worked out with some of these guys that are at that top level.”
As he touched on at the end of that quote, Diaz blamed his performance on a lack of quality sparring partners and training.
“There’s not enough money in this sport,” Diaz told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “You’ve got Floyd Mayweather making $25 million. He can’t stop a double-leg. I had to go to school to learn how to do that [expletive]. I had to work hard, and I had to study every aspect. That’s what we’re doing out here. I think that if I was making a tiny piece of that that everybody I know would be compensated – everybody I know, including my family.
“They’re not taking care of me because they’re not compensated. My team needs to be compensated, and the people around me, they’re not getting nothing out of it. They’re not getting airtime. They’re not getting paid like they should. My sparring partners, they’re not getting paid like they should. That’s why nobody wants any part of this. Nobody wants to help me train if they’re not getting anything out of it, and I don’t blame them.
“It’s hard to find sparring these days. Nobody’s ready, or they have to be in the best condition before they want to come in and work out with me now because everybody is intimidated or their trainer tells them, ‘No, you can’t go. It ain’t good for you to go spar with that guy.’ People aren’t going to do this stuff. I’m not going to get the training I need unless these people are compensated for their efforts and what they’re doing to help me.”
Cesar Gracie later explained that getting boxers to come spar with Nick is becoming increasingly more difficult because they don’t want a MMA fighter making them look bad. And if they are willing to do it, they’re charging their camp twice as much as they charge others.
— Despite the setbacks in training, Diaz made it a point to let everyone know he still showed up to fight with the same problems and injuries GSP backed out with and a tougher life back home to boot.
“I’ve never backed out of a fight in my life,” Diaz said angrily. “You show me someone else who hasn’t done that, pulled some [expletive] about an injury. I’ve been injured all these last fights, even this one. I didn’t pull out, you know? I had no reason to fight. I’m depressed about this whole not fighting [St. Pierre], not getting paid what I wanted to get paid. I could have pulled out with any of these injuries. My knee hurts. Oh, my hamstring. My hamstring … I’ve got the same issues, man. I go running all the time out of my neighborhood, out of the bad neighborhood into the good neighborhood where I like to run. I run by hundreds of these nice huge houses with these big yards, and fountains everywhere. They have their picnic-patio little side yards with a pool. All this stuff, right?
“Then I take a little circle around and go back into my neighborhood, where my car gets robbed, there’s a dude out in front of my house looking for cigarette butts, hoping some friend might have left some. It’s ridiculous.”
— You would think Diaz would have cheered up when Dana White announced that he would fight Georges St. Pierre next, but this is Nick Diaz. Standard logic doesn’t apply. Instead, Nick started complaining about how he has to be the bad guy to get the fight he wants.
“See how I gotta come off just to get a fight. I gotta come off like that just to get a fight. I gotta be the bad guy. You gotta point the finger, make me the bad guy, I’m the bad guy, now I get a fight.”
Dana’s reaction? “It worked.” That it did.
— BJ Penn didn’t show up to the post-fight press conference or talk to reporters after the show. As of now, the last thing we heard from BJ Penn was his psuedo-retirement speech right after the fight.
“Hats off to Nick Diaz, he’s the man. It’s probably the last time you’ll ever see me in here. I want to perform at the top level. This is the end. You know what, I’ve got another daughter on the way, I don’t want to go home looking like this.”
Like many, including myself, Dana White was skeptical after the fight that this is the last we’ve seen of BJ Penn.
“B.J. is a warrior,” White said. “What happened to him tonight has never happened to him in his entire career. What he’s thinking tonight he might not think eight weeks from now.”
“They took B.J. right to the hospital,” White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “Who knows. It might be or it might not be (Penn’s last fight). That’s up to him. I don’t know.”
While Penn can certainly compete at the top level of the welterweight division, he really belongs in the lightweight division. I’d like to see him give 155 another shot, but the question is whether Penn has the motivation to do it. Right this minute, probably not, but hopefully that will change in time.
— Roy Nelson didn’t show up looking like he was sculpted out of clay like Cheick Kongo does, but he definitely lost some belly fat and gained a little muscle mass. When asked about the weight loss after the fight, Nelson jokingly explained why he wore the fat suit to the weigh-ins.
“I wasn’t really trying to keep it a secret,” Nelson said. “I think the biggest thing … was that the porn industry is kind of going down. If you want to see a half-naked man, you’re going to pay for it.”
How did you lose the weight?
“Secret ninja training,” he said.
When the jokes stopped, Nelson added that he’s still the same fighter with or without the belly.
“I’m the same Roy Nelson – just trying to be more active, trying to be a more complete martial artist by adding takedowns with the kicks,” he said. “I’m still 100 percent in the UFC with kicks. But it’s just one of those things – trying to be a complete martial artist and keep on adding to the repertoire and more tools to the belt.
“I’ve been doing kung fu and martial arts all my life. I was just trying to change it up a little bit – just being a complete martial artist. You saw a lot of striking, a lot of groundwork today. I’m just trying to add more to the repertoire so that whoever I fight next gets to see two different looks.”
In addition to the belly, Nelson also lost the beard. He shaved it after the fight and told reporters he did it to give them something to talk about on a slow news day.
— It definitely seemed like we had seen the last of Mirko Cro Cop after his loss to Roy Nelson last night, but Dana White didn’t sound so sure.
“Cro Cop has been a good guy since the day we signed him,” said White. “The guy’s a guy a warrior, a legend, has done tons of good things in the sport. I know he’s disappointed with his run in the UFC. I’m 42; at 38 [actually 37] to still be fighter, fighting younger, faster, more explosive guys … He came out and said, ‘I’m going to give you guys a fight; it won’t be a boring fight like with Frank Mir.’ He said he wants to retire. We’ll see how that plays out.”
While it remains to be seen if Mirko calls it a career, we won’t see him back in the UFC. This was the last fight on his contract and there’s little to no reason to re-sign him. If Mirko wants to continue fighting though, I’m sure there’s an organization or two that would give him that opportunity. ProElite and M-1 Global (Fedor rematch) come to mind.
— Donald Cerrone surprised a lot of people last night when he basically outclassed Dennis Siver on the feet. Perhaps the only person who wasn’t surprised though was Donald Cerrone.
“I wasn’t impressed with his striking,” Cerrone told MMAjunkie.com. “I wanted to show the world what real kickboxing looks like. I was glad to go out there and be kind of technical.
“I don’t want to overlook anyone, but I felt like my striking was better than his striking. He’s really flashy and did a lot of spinning and karate-type kicks. I didn’t want to say I didn’t respect his striking. I just thought mine was better.”
With many of the top lightweight contenders losing recently, Cerrone may find himself in the title picture sooner than later if he keeps it up. Cerrone isn’t thinking about that now though. He just wants to fight ” anybody, anywhere, anytime,” in both the lightweight and featherweight divisions. It’s a noble approach, but now might be the time to choose his fights carefully. A couple wins over the right opponents and a little luck could land him a title shot in the next 12 months.
Image via Twitter.com/LorenzoFertitta
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Read the full article at MMA ConvertFight Day: The Best of Nick Diaz At The Post-Fight Press Conference
Nick Diaz was in rare Nick Diaz form after his big win over B.J. Penn on Saturday night. You don't want to miss this video.
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, nick diaz, nick, fight day
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz vs. BJ Penn Highlights
ESPN has video highlights from the UFC 137 main event, which saw welterweight contender Nick Diaz return to the Octagon with a unanimous decision over BJ Penn. The win pushed Diaz ahead of Carlos Condit for the next shot at welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and sent Penn into an abrupt retirement.
Highlights from Diaz vs. Penn at UFC 137 are below:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, penn, carlos condit
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz Punches His Way to Momentous Opportunity
Nick Diaz may not show competence when it comes to his obligations to hype a fight. In fact, it has become an assumption that Diaz will either show up late, or not show up at all to conference calls or press conferences without someone holding his hand. When it comes to stepping into the cage, however, there is no doubt in Diaz's resolve.
The former Strikeforce welterweight champion proved once again that he always shows up to fight, bombarding the defenses of UFC legend B.J. Penn from the second round on to win by unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Penn was supposed to provide a technically superior striking game to thwart Diaz's stubborn, aggressive stand-up game, and in the first round -- Penn was proving his superiority.
By the second round, however, the dominance we've come to expect from Diaz began to show. Penn's shots from range couldn't counter the constant pressure from Diaz, and it became more apparent as seconds ticked off the clock that Penn's conditioning was faltering in the face of adversity. The third round was more of the same, and the only consolation that Penn could extract from the loss is that he survived to the final bell.
Surprisingly, very few people predicted that Diaz could walk through a legend like B.J. Penn similarly to how he defeated Paul Daley, Evangelista Santos, and KJ Noons. Those fighters don't possess the offensive prowess of Penn, yet Diaz made it look easy, barreling through Penn's power without taking a step back or slowing his output.
The question that arises from such a dominant win is whether Diaz can compete with an overpowering champion like Georges St. Pierre. Most fans gave Diaz slim chances against the wrestling-centric champion when they were previously matched against each other as the UFC 137 headliner. Strangely, the circumstances that led to Diaz being pulled from the main event gave him the opportunity to prove he's more dangerous than people believed.
UFC President Dana White seems to agree, pushing Carlos Condit aside and pitting Diaz against St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title. After Diaz's win at UFC 137, the intrigue in a title showdown is even higher. Despite the lessened pay-per-view presence UFC 137 will have due to the absence of St. Pierre, Diaz has undoubtedly created a buzz around himself that we've never seen before. The event's main event shake-up, in all its confusion and disappointment, has put Diaz in a better position.
Diaz punched his ticket to the opportunity of a lifetime on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Not only does he have the chance to solve his perceived financial problems, there is evidence to suggest Diaz could become a household name among the UFC's casual fanbase. Diaz has been away from the UFC for roughly six years, yet he became somewhat of a phenomenon that fans went out of their way to watch when he fought under the Strikeforce banner. Those fans have long been staples of the UFC's fanbase, perhaps more of a hardcore base than casual.
With the UFC's marketing behind Diaz and performances like the one he put together against Penn, who's to say Diaz, despite his strive for obscurity, can't reach the newer generation of fans? The Nick Diaz who failed against Sean Sherk, Joe Riggs, and Diego Sanchez isn't the Nick Diaz of today. Will the more matured skills of Nick Diaz finally help him achieve the moniker of undisputed world champion? We can't look past the possibility now.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz next in line for title-shot after GSP asks for fight
UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre has a reputation for being one of the most polite, even-keeled individuals in Mixed Martial Arts. However, after the curtain closed on UFC 137, it appears “Rush” was ready to rumble with Nick Diaz based on the Stockton scrapper’s in-ring interview after beating BJ Penn where the former Strikeforce star insinuated St. Pierre was not actually hurt – simply scared to fight him.
Based on the fire Diaz lit last night in Las Vegas, St. Pierre has since asked for the Graciefighter as his next match-up rather than face Carlos Condit who had been told he would maintain the title-shot he’d received prior to GSP going down with a knee injury.
“This is what I wanted since the beginning,” said St-Pierre at the post-event press conference where he also addressed UFC President Dana White‘s mention of the bout taking place in February. “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.”
Condit is also expected to compete on the same card meaning a victory will earn him top contender’s status and a guaranteed crack at the welterweight championship.
Not one to typically talk trash, St. Pierre strayed from the norm, stating, “He’s the most disrespectful human being I’ve ever met, and I’m gonna put the worst beating you’ve ever seen on him in the UFC.”
Diaz Calls GSP a “Bitch” After Title-Fight Cancelled
White was even taken back by the French-Canadian’s demeanor, explaining, “I’ve known Georges St-Pierre since 2004, and he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, and he’s exactly the same no matter what the situation is or 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.”
Diaz even acknowledged the reaction, echoing one of Al Pacino’s classic scenes in Scarface.
“You gotta come off like that just to get a fight. I gotta be the bad guy. You point your finger and make me the bad guy. I’m the bad guy now, and now I get a fight.”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 137 post-fight press conference video for 'Penn vs Diaz' on Oct. 29
UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, is in the books after a fantastic night of fights on Oct. 29, 2011. As usual, the stars of the show -- and by stars I mean star and by star I mean Nick Diaz -- joined UFC President Dana White to discuss all the goings on from the event. You see White announce the Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre fight on Feb. 4, 2012, as well as Diaz going off on another rant about his "situation." To check out blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight UFC 137 results click here. To watch UFC 137 video highlights for the fight between Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn click here. For our complete UFC 137 event archive click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, star, stars i
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Post-Fight Press Conference Highlights: The Nick Diaz Show
Video highlights of the UFC 137 post-fight press conference via MMA Fighting. Other fighters were there, but it was definitely the Nick Diaz show.
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Read the full article at MMA ConvertCesar Gracie: Nick Diaz vs. GSP is going to be the biggest fight in UFC history
Nick Diaz's coach and mentor, Cesar Gracie, shared thoughts about his product's performance against BJ Penn in the last night's main event of UFC 137. According to Gracie, the upcoming bout between the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz is going to be the biggest in UFC history, and a must-watch for every MMA fan out there. Gracie also spoke about Diaz's preparations for the fight with Penn, and the obstacles en route to UFC 137 triumph.
Further Reading: UFC 137
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Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137 Results: Post-Fight Press Conference Video
The fine folks at MMA Fighting put together the highlights from last night's post-fight press conference for us since the UFC did not stream them live. UFC 137 was Nick Diaz' coming out party for many UFC fans who have never seen the kid from Stockton fight. His utter dominance of B.J. Penn is the biggest story coming out of this weekend.
Nick Diaz was late to the presser because he was unable to urinate for his post-fight drug test even after drinking 10 bottles of water.
Nick wasn't 100% for the fight. He had some issues and he isn't happy with his performance.
Nick still believes that Georges St. Pierre is trying to avoid the fight with him. Not having that fight was mentally draining and difficult to find motivation.
Dana White announces that Nick Diaz will receive the next shot at Georges St. Pierre. Dana expects Diaz to be elated. Diaz goes off on a rant about how he has to be the villain to get the fight. He claims that he's only getting it because fans want to see him get beat up. He sounds angry about getting the fight.
Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside to let Diaz fight GSP first. He'll also fight on the Superbowl weekend card.
Diaz claims there's not enough money in the sport. Floyd Mayweather made $25million and can't stop the double leg.
Dana finally gets frustrated at Nick's ranting and starts going off about how the night could have been better if he didn't screw Diaz out of his title shot.
It's a great post fight presser and shows why Nick Diaz is one of the most loved fighters in the sport. Highlight is Diaz making the crowd of media laugh and then claiming his toils aren't funny.
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz, not Carlos Condit, will face Georges St. Pierre next
The crazy ride that is Nick Diaz‘ return to the UFC continues. Originally scheduled to face welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre for the title at UFC 137, Diaz was pulled from the fight and put in the co-main event against BJ Penn after missing some media appearances. His title shot was given to Carlos Condit. When St. Pierre pulled out of the event with an injury, Diaz vs. Penn was bumped up to the main event while Condit would have to wait for his title shot.
At UFC 137, Diaz dominated Penn, winning a clear unanimous decision and retiring the Hawaiian legend. Following his victory, Diaz called out St. Pierre saying that the UFC welterweight king was “scared to fight him” and that claimed that he was faking an injury.
The comments upset St. Pierre and had him begging to fight Diaz. UFC president Dana White, who was adamant that Condit would get the next title shot no matter what happened at UFC 137, granted GSP’s request. Condit has agreed to step aside for Diaz, although his manager Malki Kawa states, “St. Pierre chose to fight Nick instead of Carlos.”
While no date has been announced for St. Pierre vs. Diaz, UFC is hoping to have the fight headline their Super Bowl weekend event.
*PHOTO CREDIT – UFC*
Posted in: ufc, diaz, pierre, st, st pierre
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNick Diaz finds no joy in defeating BJ Penn
Nick Diaz had a good night on Saturday. He left his opponent, BJ Penn, bruised, bloodied and announcing that he was most likely retiring after the fight. He then found out that he was going to move past Carlos Condit and get a shot at UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre and then, to top it off, the fight is most likely going to occur on Super Bowl Sunday. Oh, and he also picked up $75,000 extra for “Fight of the Night.”
Most people would be happy with a night like that, but Diaz, was
Posted in: fight, night, diaz, nick diaz, bowl sunday
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137 Results: Biggest Winners, Losers, and Other Thoughts
UFC 137 is in the books. Some fans feel cheated as they never got to see the Georges St. Pierre vs Carlos Condit fight at the top of the card. Others held the belief that Nick Diaz vs B.J. Penn was the true main event anyways so the card was essentially what they were going to pay for in the first place. While doing media both Penn and Diaz were respectful of one another and it appeared that this fight would not be the typical Nick Diaz "mean muggathon". Also in the lead up, Mirko Filipovic hinted that his fight with Roy Nelson would be the last fight in his career. Without any further ado let's take a look at the winners and losers of the card as well as other thoughts in the aftermath.
Winners
Nick Diaz: Diaz is the biggest winner not just at UFC 137 but also of the year. He had his title shot revoked after missing out on his media obligations, being replaced by Carlos Condit. He fought a top 10 welterweight and finally proved his doubters wrong after dominating Penn for the final 10 minutes. However, the biggest news for Diaz is that he's leap frogging Condit to get the first crack at St. Pierre's title.
Donald Cerrone: There was concern that Cerrone had peaked in the WEC and would never find success in the UFC's lightweight division. He's now 4-0 in the UFC and about to break into the top 10 of the division thanks to his big win over Dennis Siver. Not too bad for a guy that never won a title in the weaker WEC division.
Bart Palaszewski: Big win for Bartimus who made his featherweight debut against Tyson Griffin. His size advantage was apparent as was his punching power. He's now the second person to ever finish Griffin, doing so in devastating fashion. Who knows where his ceiling is at 145 but he definitely showed that he's got the potential to be a major player.
Georges St. Pierre: GSP now gets a hugely marketable fight against Nick Diaz in his return to the octagon once he heals up his knee. It'll be an easier sell and fans will have more time to see how angry and annoyed GSP will actually get from Diaz' trash talk.
Losers and additional thoughts after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
Losers
Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo: In a performance like that, neither walks away looking particularly strong. Kongo didn't want to engage until the final round and Mitrione failed to cut off the octagon in the first and second round. The fight promised fireworks and did not deliver.
Dennis Siver: Talk abut blowing a major opportunity. With Melvin Guillard losing his shot at the lightweight belt at UFC 136, SIver was possibly one fight away from a fight against Frankie Edgar. He is now the fourth lightweight to lose out on a title fight. Expect the Henderson/Guida bout to be for number one contender.
Tyson Griffin: Coming in three pounds over and being unable to cut the additional weight is embarrassing. Losing the way he did makes it worse. The UFC has cut fighters in the past over missing weight and he could be on his way out.
Brandon Vera: We got to see the "old Brandon Vera" last night. He moved slowly and was almost knocked out twice in the final round. He also just barely survived an arm bar that may have broken his arm. It's time to hang it up and start a life on the seminar circuit.
Fans who bought the card: This was probably the worst card in recent history before the Penn/Diaz fight filled with lackluster performances. Hatsu Hioki vs George Roop was an absolute snoozer as was Kongo/Mitrione. The main event was obviously fantastic but it didn't make up for the rest of the night in my opinion.
Additional Thoughts
B.J. Penn is an absolutely warrior and he has had a fantastic career that will be rivaled by few. However, last night was the very first time in career that someone was able to make him look old. I commend his decision to walk away and prioritize family over fighting, I just wish that he went out on a win.
On the flip side, Mirko Cro Cop's retirement came later than expected. He's never looked like the killer he was in Pride and since suffering the knockout loss against Gabriel Gonzaga. He's a legend in the sport and accomplished a lot in his tenure, so it's a shame to see him go out after suffering another TKO stoppage defeat.
What was with the judging last night? Score cards were all over the place with multiple 10-8 rounds being given. There was no consistency at all and that hurts more in my mind than a controversial decision.
Speaking of controversial decisions, what was with Roop vs Hioki? Hioki looked like he was competing in the ADCC. Roop won that fight in my eyes even after rewatching it in the morning. I don't know what the judges were watching.
Anyone else still believe that Hatsu Hioki offers up any sort of a challenge to Jose Aldo?
Finally, good for Roy Nelson to recognize that he needs to lose weight. He didn't look small by any means but he looked in better shape than he ever has and no longer has the moon for a belly.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, card, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 results recap: Nick Diaz vs B.J. Penn fight review and analysis
For one round, it looked like everyone that thought B.J. Penn was too much for Nick Diaz appeared to be correct.
For one round, B.J. Penn showed terrific movement, offensive grappling and crisp boxing.
Unfortunately for "The Prodigy" last night (October 29, 2011) in the main event of UFC 137, the fight was for three full rounds.
In those final two rounds, the former Strikeforce welterweight champion Diaz picked the Hawaiian apart with his patented volume punching and crazy offensive onslaught, an attack so brutal that fans were shocked to hear the announcement of Penn's retirement after the bout was over.
So what was the key factor that allowed Nick Diaz pull off the minor upset? And what's next for both fighters? (You should probably know this one already.)
B.J. Penn got off to a strong start. He hung out in the pocket, darted in and out and landed his strong punches against Diaz's defensive liabilities in the stand-up. He ducked down with a beautiful takedown and nearly took Diaz's back during a scramble.
Penn ducked down with a beautiful takedown, grabbing a leg and swiftly taking Diaz to the canvas. Diaz attempted to defend with a guillotine choke but Penn rolled through it and nearly took Diaz's back during the resulting scramble.
Notice how as Penn attempts to get his second hook in, Diaz swiftly pushes it off with both hands and forces Penn to have to work from his back with just the one hook. This would allow Diaz to escape the dangerous position moments later. It was some very clever defense from the Cesar Gracie trained black belt
Once back to the feet, Penn initiated a clinch and simply never allowed the Stockton native to put much offense together.
Round two, on the other hand, was the turning point of the bout. Diaz appeared to have let his Octagon jitters subside and he began to really go to work with his patented taunting and trash talk. "The Prodigy" found himself pinned against the fence in the clinch, but that's not a place to relax against Nick Diaz. Instead, Diaz pounded on Penn with some dirty boxing and short, swift knees. He really knows how to put some offense together from that position.
After stuffing a takedown attempt from Penn, Diaz unloaded with a combination to the body that appears to take some of the fight out of the multi-divisional champion. Some tremendous footwork allowed Diaz to get Penn right where he wanted him, with his back against the fence and in perfect range to be on the end of his full offensive onslaught of punches.
At this point, Nick Diaz simply began to just beat B.J. Penn up. Penn was stuck on the outside with no escape routes. Every time he tried to move to the side, Diaz cut him off and began unloading on him with his patented "Stockton slaps" as Mike Goldberg calls them.
Watch how Diaz is simply able to overwhelm Penn with sheer offense. He's not showcasing any defense but Penn does not have the time to counter. He was in pure survival mode for the final two minutes of the second round. Diaz also drops to the body just long enough to keep Penn honest with his defense.
It truly was a thing of beauty to witness live, seeing Diaz work against a very high level opponent like that.
Penn showed true heart in round three, refusing to wilt under the pressure of Diaz's offense, even backing the Team Cesar Gracie fighter up at times, but he simply couldn't keep up with the pace that the occasional triathlete was able to set. The third round was closer than the second, as Penn did get some offense off, but the ridiculous volume of Diaz's attack made up for anything that "The Prodigy" was able to muster.
In the end, the judges decided unanimously in Nick Diaz's favor, all three giving him the final two rounds, with one even giving Diaz a 10-8 score in round two. It was the prototypical Nick Diaz performance. The key factors in the victory for the pride of Stockton were:
a.) Body punches - Diaz really began to work the body of B.J. Penn early in round two and it really began to play a factor as the Hawaiian faded badly in the final two minutes. You could tell that his lateral quickness had been affected as well as his endurance. I believe the body punches of Nick Diaz were the most important factor in his victory as they laid the groundwork for his offensive onslaught in the later rounds.
b.) Range - Nick Diaz found his range in the second round. From about the four minute mark on until the remainder of the fight, he was able to connect on Penn with nearly every strike he threw while the former two-time UFC champ routinely came up short with his counter strikes.
c.) Footwork - The last place you would ever want to be against Nick Diaz is with your back pinned against the fence while he's in perfect range to keep you on the end of his punches, yet B.J. Penn found himself there routinely in the final two rounds of the fight. Credit this to Nick Diaz's excellent use of footwork which enabled him to maneuver Penn into the fence. He also cut Penn off every time he tried to escape the position, trapping him along the fence time and time again.
d.) Endurance - The Cesar Gracie black belt has some of the best cardio in MMA, bar none. He overwhelmed Penn in round two, connected with over 100 punches and he didn't even look like he was breathing hard in between rounds. The fact that he's able to push that sort of pace and not get tired was huge.
e.) Volume - Once Diaz got going after his typical slow start, Penn got overwhelmed by the pure volume of strikes being thrown in his his direction. Even though Diaz wasn't using great defensive boxing, Penn was never able to capitalize on an opening because he was constantly on the defensive.
For B.J. Penn, he put up one great round against Diaz, but his inability to score a takedown or put his opponent in the clinch in the beginning of the second round was his downfall. He allowed Diaz to get comfortable, which is the last thing in the world you want to do. He announced his retirement after the fight, but Penn is also incredibly emotional after his fights. He may stick with it, and with an 0-2 record against both champions at lightweight and welterweight, this may be a legitimate retirement. If he doesn't call it quits, though, don't be surprised to see Penn return to lightweight and face someone like Gray Maynard or Melvin Guillard.
For Nick Diaz, this was his true coming out party to UFC fans around the world. Everyone got a taste of what the Stockton bad boy brings to the table and they loved every second of it. Dana White announced during the post-fight press conference that Diaz, not Carlos Condit, would be getting the next title shot against Georges St. Pierre, and quite a bit of it had to do with Diaz calling out GSP in his post-fight speech, claiming he was faking an injury to duck him. This has the potential to be a huge pay-per-view for the UFC if they market it correctly, as it will go down on Super Bowl weekend.
So what do you think Maniacs?
Were you shocked by what Nick Diaz was able to do last night to one of the UFC's all-time greats? Do you think Penn's retirement will stick?
Sound off!
For complete UFC 137 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, round, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiaz unhappy with performance, training, finances
submitted by Antroh [link] [6 comments]
Posted in: diaz, training, performance, antroh, finance
Read the full article at RedditCesar Gracie Dishes on St-Pierre & Diaz (video)
There are numerous opinions flying around regarding the Nick Diaz and Georges St-Pierre saga. Diaz trainer Cesar Gracie has several strong opinions himself.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, stpierre, cesar, opinion
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGeorges St. Pierre: Nick Diaz is the most disrespectful human being I've ever met and I'm going to put the worst beating on him
Believe it or not, those are the words of soft spoken UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre.
The French-Canadian king of the 170-pound mountain will put up with quite a bit without losing his cool but apparently being called out by Nick Diaz in the center of the Octagon was enough to send him over the edge.
Enough so, in fact, that St. Pierre "rushed" to find UFC President Dana White to tell him to put Carlos Condit on hold, he wants Diaz and he wants him now.
Here's how White described it at the UFC 137 post-fight press conference:
"I've known Georges St. Pierre since 2004. 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. (St. Pierre) said, and I quote -- you're going to think I'm full of sh*t 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.'"
Following his incredible win over B.J. Penn in the main event of UFC 137 last night (Oct. 29, 2011), Diaz went after St. Pierre, who was ringside, in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
"I don't think St. Pierre's injured, I think he's scared."
"GSP" wants to prove he ain't scared, homie, by locking horns with the California native sooner rather than later. In fact, the champ released an official statement declaring his intentions:
"This is what I wanted since the beginning. 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."
An unfortunate casualty in all this is Carlos Condit, who's gone through an absolute roller coaster ride that just didn't stop.
He was originally scheduled to fight B.J. Penn in the co-main event of UFC 137 until Diaz squandered his title shot and Condit was asked to move up to the headlining slot opposite St. Pierre. Then the champion went down with a knee injury, so "The Natural Born Killer" decided to wait and was taken off the card altogether.
Now, he's been pushed to the side for Diaz. While White claimed he did so willingly, apparently that's not the case. Either way, he's been promised a number one contender bout on the same Super Bowl weekend fight card the St. Pierre vs. Diaz bout will take place on.
And the fact is, you'd be hard pressed to find a large contingent of fans that feel bad for Condit. It's not often Georges St. Pierre shows any emotion other than happiness.
Nick Diaz lit a fire under his ass and the world wants to watch it burn until we see if he can extinguish it on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It's early and emotions are still high, Maniacs, but what do you think of the new, pissed off version of St. Pierre?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, pierre, st, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWhy St-Pierre vs. Diaz? ‘GSP Flipped Out’ (video)
Despite stating that, regardless of the outcome between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit would still get the next shot at Georges St-Pierre, Dana White flipped the switch. Why?
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, shot, stpierre, ’ video
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137 Morning After: Nick Diaz Shows He's the Man to Take on GSP
Filed under: UFCThe UFC made the right call: Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre needs to happen. Right away.
Diaz showed in beating B.J. Penn on Saturday night at UFC 137 that he's the best man to fight St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title, and there's no reason for the UFC to wait to book that fight. Sorry, Carlos Condit, but Diaz vs. GSP is the fight to make.
Obviously, the UFC knows that, because UFC President Dana White announced after UFC 137 that Diaz-GSP is happening next. This is a great development for those of us who think GSP has grown too comfortable over the last couple of years. Stylistically, Diaz is the welterweight who can give St. Pierre the most problems: Diaz's high-volume striking style could frustrate St. Pierre in much the same way it frustrated Penn on Saturday night, and Diaz is good enough off his back that St. Pierre won't be able to simply take him down and dominate him on the ground.
More Coverage: UFC 137 Results | UFC 137 Post-Fight Press Conference
Diaz was smart to call out St. Pierre immediately following the fight, accusing St. Pierre of being scared to fight him. The reality, of course, is that St. Pierre is a tremendous fighter who wouldn't be afraid of anyone, but it worked: UFC announcer Joe Rogan reported that St. Pierre was begging White after the fight to let him get a shot at Diaz, and before the night was over White made the call that Diaz would get the title shot.
The only reason not to book GSP vs. Diaz right now is that it would be unfair to Condit, who had been promised the next shot at the welterweight belt. White said Condit "agreed to step aside," although I'm guessing White didn't give Condit much choice. Condit has been nothing but a great fighter in the cage and a classy guy outside the cage, and it's a shame that giving Diaz the next fight essentially means punishing Condit even though Condit did nothing wrong.
But those are the breaks of the fight game. The UFC needs to make the best fights, and right now the best welterweight fight it can make is Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz.
UFC 137 Notes
-- Two legends of the sport, Mirko Cro Cop and B.J. Penn, said after their UFC 137 losses that they're going to retire. For Cro Cop, I think that's entirely appropriate: He's 37 years old and hasn't had a really big win since he beat Josh Barnett in the Pride Open Weight Grand Prix more than five years ago. For Penn, I think he'll reconsider: He's only 32 and can still compete with the best in the world at both lightweight and welterweight.
-- Brandon Vera probably saved his job in the UFC by refusing to tap out to Eliot Marshall's arm bar in the closing seconds of their preliminary fight. If Vera had lost to Marshall, he almost certainly would have been cut, but his unanimous decision victory will earn him another fight inside the Octagon. Vera suffered a serious enough arm injury that he wasn't able to have his hand raised, but he gutted out a tough win.
-- Good for UFC announcer Joe Rogan for mentioning Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren, who was in the corner of Scott Jorgensen, and good for the UFC's production people for showing Warren talking to Jorgensen between rounds. The easier thing for the UFC to do would simply be to pretend that Bellator doesn't exist, but it's to the UFC's credit that they're willing to mention fighters from other promotions.
UFC 137 Quotes
-- "Oh, my God, it's a dream come true. ... I think I broke both my hands, but it was so worth it." -- Bart Palaszewski after knocking out Tyson Griffin.
-- "Even though we are in a tough situation, Japanese MMA is not dead." -- Hatsu Hioki after his split-decision win over George Roop.
Good Call
-- I love that one judge gave Ramsey Nijem a 30-25 scorecard in his unanimous decision victory over Danny Downes. Nijem completely dominated the fight, and Downes did next to nothing, and giving Nijem a couple of 10-8 rounds was completely appropriate. We don't see 10-8 rounds as often as we should, and we hardly ever see 30-25 scorecards at all. Kudos to the judge (whose name wasn't read) who recognized how thoroughly Nijem had whipped Downes.
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Bad Call
-- In hindsight, the decision to get the card started with Dustin Jacoby vs. Clifford Starks was a mistake: The two fighters were making their UFC debuts, both men looked nervous and tentative, and it turned out to be a thoroughly dull 15-minute affair. Starks won 30-27 on all three judges' cards and did just enough to earn another UFC fight, while Jacoby will surely be cut. This was not a good fight at all, and it got the night off to a terribly slow start.
Stock Up
-- Donald Cerrone is now 4-0 in the UFC in 2011, and he said after beating Dennis Siver that he's hoping to get a fight in December. If he gets that fight and wins it, a 5-0 calendar year would be a truly extraordinary achievement -- that hardly ever happens in the modern UFC.
Stock Down
-- Tyson Griffin is a fan favorite who's won the Fight of the Night award five times in his UFC career, but he probably doesn't have a place on the UFC roster after his knockout loss to Bart Palaszewski. Griffin moved down to featherweight because he lost three in a row at lightweight. Now he has a loss at featherweight -- and he failed to make weight for this one. He'd be a natural fit for Bellator.
Fight I Want To See Next
Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre. Dana White made the right decision to make it happen. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, pierre, st
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDespite lopsided UFC 137 win, Diaz unhappy with performance, training, finances
LAS VEGAS - While former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz certainly didn't
have the best first round of his professional career on Saturday night,
he rebounded over the final 10 minutes in an epic beatdown of MMA legend
B.J. Penn.
UFC president Dana White called the performance "awesome," and labeled both Diaz and Penn "warriors."
It's everything Diaz could have hoped for in his octagon return and yet
it sounds as if it was nothing that he wanted. In fact, at Saturday
night's post-event press conference, Diaz admitted he simply wasn't
happy - about just about anything, really.
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, epic beatdown, everything diaz, penn warriors
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNick Diaz Not Happy with Performance (UFC 137 video)
Nick Diaz's bloodying of BJ Penn at UFC 137 earned him a unanimous decision and sent Penn into retirement talk, but Diaz was not pleased.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, nick
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyEveryone Boards the Nick Diaz Bandwagon, Including Champ Georges St-Pierre
Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- It doesn't matter what Nick Diaz says, you want to hear it. It doesn't matter who he fights, you want to see it. It doesn't if you want him to win or lose, you have a strong opinion either way. In a matter of weeks, he has become the most riveting, polarizing man in MMA.
Soon, he might become its biggest star.
That may sound a bit illogical right now, but excuse me, I've spent the whole week absorbing the philosophies of the 209's most famous export, and I'm sold. Illogical is the new normal.
There are obviously several stars in the UFC sky that eclipse Diaz in the popularity department, from Brock Lesnar to Anderson Silva to Georges St-Pierre. But that could change.
More Coverage: UFC 137 Results | UFC 137 Post-Fight Press Conference
Diaz's allure is two-fold. In the cage, he's a tremendously skilled athlete with unshakeable belief in his skills and unbreakable stamina. Outside of it, he is a fascinating subject with a unique world view and an inability to hold back from saying what is truly on his mind.
In the past, the only thing holding him back from real stardom was a lack of visibility. After Diaz left the UFC in 2006 -- after two straight wins, by the way -- he began an odyssey of fights around the world, in promotions from PRIDE to EliteXC to DREAM to Strikeforce.
No matter how well he fought -- and he went 11-1 with 1 no contest since the start of 2007 -- the perception existed that he was cleaning up in the B leagues. Now back in the UFC, that argument is no longer valid.
Just a few months ago, Penn was fighting top welterweight contender Jon Fitch to a draw. On Saturday, Penn, could do little with Diaz, especially after the first round. According to FightMetric, Diaz out-struck Penn by an overwhelming total of 218-58 in the last two rounds. He also bloodied and bruised him in a way we've rarely seen.
Diaz also may benefit from his own counter-culture behavior. Polarizing is always good. Many sports superstars are loved and hated in equal measures, including LeBron James and Tiger Woods. Diaz isn't a bad guy, he's just a different breed. Like all great athletes, he is intensely driven. He doesn't have a chip on his shoulder; he has a boulder.
But he does make us scratch our heads. As you're probably aware, he missed two press conferences leading up to UFC 137 that cost him a title match and led to a matchup with Penn that he didn't especially want. The switch angered Diaz, but it also helped raise his profile. People who supported him rallied around him. And those who didn't know much about him invariably spent time trying to to learn more about him and whether he was self-destructing or simply didn't play by anyone else's rules.
By the time the UFC 137 conference call came about, and Diaz was late, he had become such a story that he was a worldwide trending topic on Twitter. And by the time his fight with Penn came about, certainly nearly anyone with any hint of interest in MMA had his interest piqued.
"He blew up out of nowhere," UFC president Dana White said. "Part of it is his attitude, but I think people love a real fighter. He's definitely a real fighter."
Diaz's words and actions are so magnetic that it appears there's no one he can't pull into his forcefield. After beating Penn, he hung out bait for welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre.
"I don't think Georges was hurt," Diaz said. "I think he was scared."
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St-Pierre, who was sitting cageside, smiled and pretended his hands were shaking. But the UFC machine was already in hyperdrive.
According to White, St-Pierre approached him backstage and said he felt disrespected by Diaz. In White's words, the normally composed GSP "flipped out." He wanted Diaz, and soon. So White audibled, contacting Carlos Condit and asking him to step aside.
Condit, stuck in a terrible situation, agreed, and White had his matchup.
To Diaz, that was hardly a reward. Even though he'd won, even though he'd been granted a title fight and a big paycheck, he seemed torn up by everything that had come before it. He characterized his own performance as "poor" and "stupid," bemoaned fighting while injured, and as has become the norm, complained about money.
If you didn't know any better, you would have thought he lost the fight.
I asked him if he took any joy in what he'd just accomplished, and he said no. I asked him if moving into a title shot and getting a big payday would make him feel any better. No, he said again. Because in his eyes, he had already earned those things. In Diaz's mind, he had to be the bad guy to get what had already been promised to him.
"The only reason I'm getting this fight is because people want to see me take an ass-whipping right about now," he said. "So, alright, great. I worked for it. I'll take my ass-whipping, I'll take my money, and I'll go home."
That may not be so true though. While Penn was the crowd favorite on Saturday, Diaz heard his fair share of cheers coming in, and he certainly got a star-like reaction upon winning. Then, he moved on to the press conference. He joined it in progress, and from the moment he walked on stage until the moment it was over 30 minutes later, not a single question was directed to any of the other five fighters on the stage.
On a night when BJ Penn and Mirko Cro Cop both said they were done fighting forever, all of the buzz was about Nick Diaz. He managed to steal headlines. He managed to steal back his title shot, too.
UFC 137 was supposed to be about Diaz vs. GSP, and it was. Just not in the way we thought. Instead of the culmination, it was just a masterful setup. Should Diaz win, stardom beckons. Because now, everyone knows who Diaz is, and everyone knows how he can fight. Whatever he says, we'll be listening. Whatever he does, we'll be watching. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, penn, stpierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 results: Nick Diaz and BJ Penn after the war (Pic)
UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta tweeted this picture shortly following the conclusion of the UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" pay-per-view event last night (Oct. 29, 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As you can see, Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn, who had spent 15 minutes kicking the ever loving crap out of one another just minutes prior, renew their friendship backstage at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Both men sport black eyes, Penn's being completely swollen shut, but the respect for each other shines through.
In many ways, this can be considered a veritable passing of the torch. "The Prodigy" retired after the beating he received, while Diaz will move on to fight Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight title over the Super Bowl weekend in what should prove to be one of the biggest fights of 2012.
Will Penn's retirement stick? Maybe, maybe not. But this is the natural order of things, in sport just as much as life. Diaz got past his first major test in his return to the UFC. Can he make it past the next?
For a complete breakdown of Penn vs. Diaz click here. For the fight metric report click here. To watch highlights of the bout click here and to see complete UFC 137 results click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, click, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGSP on Nick Diaz: ‘I’ve Always Wanted This Fight, Now I Want It Even More’
Georges St-Pierre is more motivated than ever to face Nick Diaz and responds to the former Strikeforce champion following UFC 137.
Posted in: diaz, nick, gsp, champion, strikeforce champion
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyRed-hot Diaz ready for St. Pierre (Yahoo! Sports)
Whether you love Nick Diaz or hate him, the man is suddenly one of MMA’s hottest properties.
Posted in: diaz, nick, mma ’s, redhot diaz, property
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsUFC 137 Video Highlights: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
UFC 137 BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz video highlights via ESPN.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, bj
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC Quick Quote: Carlos Condit didn't step aside, Georges St. Pierre wants Nick Diaz fight
"Carlos Condit didn't just step aside. GSP is choosing to fight Nick. Last I checked 'Carlos is the harder fight.' So I guess now he'll fight Nick. Wasn't our choice and (we're definitely) not happy about it, BUT it is what it is, and we'll figure some things out. In the meantime, I'm sure Dana White is going to make it worth his while."
-- Following the main event of UFC 137 last night (Oct. 29, 2011), which saw Nick Diaz blast his way past B.J. Penn, UFC President Dana White announced at the post-fight press conference that Carlos Condit had agreed to step down in favor of Diaz getting an immediate title shot against Georges St. Pierre over the Super Bowl weekend early next year. Well, Condit's manager, Malki Kawa, wants to make it clear (via Twitter) that this is not the case ... at all. "The Natural Born Killer" didn't agree to just step aside, he simply had no choice but to move out of the way. St. Pierre was reportedly so upset at being called out by Diaz during his post-fight interview that he wants to give the bad boy from Stockton his comeuppance sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, that means Condit has to once again take a back seat. He has been promised a spot on the very same card in what will be a guaranteed number one contender bout to the winner of St. Pierre vs. Diaz. Anyone feeling bad for Condit right now? Or is this just the way it had to be after the events of UFC 137? Opinions, please.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, pierre, condit, carlo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White: Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz Planned For Super Bowl Weekend UFC Event
If you haven't heard Carlos has agreed to step aside to let GSP fight Diaz! GSP flipped out after what Diaz said and wants him next.about 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite@danawhiteDana White
Dana’s tweet says it all.
Nick Diaz, not Carlos Condit, will challenge Georges St. Pierre for his title next. As Dana told it, GSP didn’t like how Diaz said he was scared, not hurt, in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan following his win over BJ Penn tonight at UFC 136, and flipped out, asking for the fight with Diaz.
“I’ve known GSP since 2004, he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. GSP flipped out tonight when Nick was in the ring. Nick needs motivation, he’s got it. He’s gonna fight GSP,” White stated.
“I’m going to give him an ass whooping like no one’s ever seen,” St-Pierre conveyed through UFC President Dana White.
According to Dana, Carlos Condit agreed to step aside to let the fight happen, however Condit’s manager, Malki Kawa, claims that’s not how it went down.
“We didn’t step aside. That’s not what we do,” Kawa wrote in a text message to MMAWeekly.com. “GSP doesn’t want to fight Carlos.”
Whatever the case may be, Condit is going step aside and GSP vs. Nick Diaz is going to happen, likely at the Super Bowl weekend card. Dana says Condit will also compete on that card, and if he wins, he’ll get the GSP-Diaz winner.
I’m sure some people will bitch about it not being fair to Condit, but I think GSP-Diaz is the right fight to make. Coming from Strikeforce, many people doubted if Nick Diaz was good enough to compete against the tougher competition in the UFC, let alone if he was worthy of fighting for the title. Diaz answered that question tonight with a record 178 significant strikes landed against BJ Penn. There’s no denying now that Diaz is an elite welterweight and after his performance tonight, during and after the fight, there’s no better time to make St. Pierre vs. Diaz happen. Dana White and the UFC would be stupid not to.
Posted in: fight, diaz, gsp, dana, condit
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 Results: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz Fight Video Highlights
In case you missed it live, or just want to relive the action from the UFC 137 main event, here's a quick highlight video from ESPN on the thrilling bout between Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn.
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
Here's the complete play-by-play of the bout from our live blog:
B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz - Round 1 - Penn with a punch to the body early and Diaz pushes him into the cage. They're working against the cage. Diaz lands a few punches, BJ lands one on the way out. BJ landing solid jabs here. Overhand right by Diaz and another very quick one. Hard left hand by Penn. Penn takedown, odd scramble and now Penn has the back. B.J. landing punches and he turns to side control. Penn stands up and Diaz manages to get back to his feet. Diaz looking for a single leg and Penn landing punches. Diaz goes to the body. Right hand by Penn lands solidly. B.J. witha nice counter and a solid uppercut. Diaz tries coming in with a right hand and Penn lands a few in return. 10-9 Penn.
Round 2 - Diaz talks and Penn hits him with two punches. Leg kick by Diaz and throws a right hand that misses. Diaz pushes him into the cage and throws some punches to the body. Diaz doing decent work against the cage here. Diaz getting warned for grabbing the cage. Penn ducks down looking for a single leg and Nick defends. Nice combination by Diaz. Diaz is starting to connect a little better now. Very nice combination by Diaz. Diaz is coming on now. Diaz drops down for a takedown and can't get it. Left hand lands hard for Diaz. Big combo now and he has taken the fight over. Penn is in serious trouble. Penn needs to find a takedown or something. Penn is getting tagged. Diaz just took over the second half of that round. 10-9 Diaz.
Round 3 - They touch gloves and immediately start throwing. Penn lands to the body, Diaz throwing a good amount of punches already. Penn looked for a takedown and Diaz defended. Two left hands get through for Diaz and a right hand. Penn is not going to win this fight without a takedown. Great job going to the body and then they head by Diaz. Penn still throwing back but he's getting beat up here. Penn with a big right hand. Another big right by Penn. Diaz with another flurry against the cage. B.J. is trying to walk forward and keep throwing but he has to do something really impressive to take this round back in the last 90 seconds. Penn landing now and Diaz answers back. Penn lands a right, Diaz lands a left. Left hand gets through for Diaz. Both men land as the fight ends. 10-9 Diaz on my card gives him a 29-28 win.
Official Scorecards: 29-28, 29-27, 29-28 all for Nick Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, right, penn, hand, land
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDiaz Trainer ‘Can’t Wait’ for GSP Matchup
Richard Perez, boxing trainer of Nick Diaz, discussed the welterweight’s performance against B.J. Penn at UFC 137.
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, trainer, perez
Read the full article at SherdogDiaz Trainer ‘Can’t Wait’ for GSP Matchup
Richard Perez, boxing trainer of Nick Diaz, discussed the welterweight’s performance against B.J. Penn at UFC 137.
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, trainer, perez
Read the full article at SherdogUFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz defeats BJ Penn, next up Georges St. Pierre
In the days leading up to the main event at UFC 137 it looked like Nick Diaz was going to have a tough time getting motivated to fight BJ Penn, a fighter that he had trained with in the past. Diaz seemed to find the motivation he needed during the weigh-ins on Friday when he and Penn went head to head and had to be separated by, among others, UFC President Dana White.
It was clear that both fighters, as well as the UFC, recalled Friday’s run in as the fighters were not permitted to get to
Posted in: ufc, diaz, fighter, penn, friday ’s
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137 results: B.J. Penn vs Nick Diaz fight metric report
It's no secret what Nick Diaz's game plan is when he steps inside the cage but the fact that he was able to land 257 strikes against B.J. Penn, one of the better boxers in MMA, is astounding. On top of that, he landed 178 significant strikes, which, according to Fight Metric, is the most of any UFC fight ever.
Talk about taking volume to a whole new level.
Diaz simply overwhelmed Penn in the main event of UFC 137 last night (Sat., Oct. 29, 2011) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The Prodigy" faded in the later rounds and as soon as Diaz noticed the Hawaiian slowing down, he put his foot on the gas.
The result is impossible to argue against.
The grappling report (which is admittedly light) and performance ratings (which is definitely not) are after the jump.
As you can see, there wasn't a lot of grappling to go around. Penn was credited with just one takedown on four attempts, which he earned in the first round. That's the round he had the most success in, as he also took Diaz's back and briefly threatened from there.
In the end, though, that only seemed to hurt Penn's cause. Fatigue quickly set in upon and that's when Diaz took over.
That's an unbelievable effectiveness score and and this is easily the biggest victory of Diaz's entire career. Up next is Georges St. Pierre and while he's not likely to break any records for strikes in that fight, fans most definitely have to take note of just how dangerous he can be, no matter the opponent.
For a complete breakdown of Penn vs. Diaz click here. To watch highlights of the bout click here and to see complete UFC 137 results click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, click, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz Faces GSP On Super Bowl Weekend
Mercurial former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz will get his crack at Georges St-Pierre after all.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, bowl weekend, georges stpierre
Read the full article at Heavy MMAWith UFC champ St-Pierre livid, Condit gives way to Diaz for Super Bowl weekend fight
LAS VEGAS - Once again, Nick Diaz 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 faked an injury in order to
avoid a fight.
The move earned St-Pierre's attention, and UFC president Dana White said
Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside in order to make the fight it
seems everyone now wants to see.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, event, stpierre
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNick Diaz Gets The Next Shot at GSP; Carlos Condit Steps Aside
Nick Diaz will get his shot to face Georges St-Pierre after all.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, gsp, shot
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137 Results: Dana White Announces Georges St. Pierre vs Nick Diaz
Dana White hinted at the start of the UFC 137 post-fight press conference that he had a big announcement that he was waiting to make once Nick Diaz was able to take his seat on the podium. It was possibly the best fight of Nick's career, working B.J. Penn over with punches to the head and body. Penn ultimately retired.
@ufcUFC Dana has never seen gsp the way he was tonight - nick will fight gsp - condit has agreed to waitOct 30 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply
@ufcUFC Dana has never seen gsp the way he was tonight - nick will fight gsp - condit has agreed to waitOct 30 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply
@ufcUFC Gsp has called nick the most disrespectful person I have ever met and plans to beat him.Oct 30 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply
@ufcUFC Nick will fight gsp super bowl weekend - Diaz says he has to play the bad guy to get a fight, people want to see him get his ass whoopedOct 30 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply
Dana has made GSP vs Nick Diaz official. It is rumored that St. Pierre begged the UFC President for the fight following Nick's antics after the fight. In the post fight speech Diaz had some choice words for the UFC welterweight champion. The fight is official for the Superbowl Weekend card.
Bloody Elbow will have more in the coming days on what this fight means for the UFC and the welterweight division.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, gsp
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz Next in Line For Georges St-Pierre, Not Carlos Condit
After his win at UFC 137, Nick Diaz will be next in line to fight UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. UFC president Dana White announced the news during the post-fight press conference.
Georges St-Pierre apparently “flipped out” with White after hearing Diaz in the octagon after his win. The fight is likely to happen Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas.
St-Pierre was orignally supposed to face Carlos Condit this weekend before suffering an MCL sprain. Condit has agreed to give up his current shot so the Diaz vs. St-Pierre fight can happen.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bowl weekend, georges stpierre, stpierre
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNick Diaz vs Georges St. Pierre title fight re-booked for Super Bowl weekend, Carlos Condit agrees to wait
Blow your chance at a title shot by no-showing a pair of press conferences? Check. Find yourself back on the card in a potentially more dangerous fight? Check. Kick absolute ass to the point you're reinserted into the title shot you initially blew? Mate.
That's the rare feat Nick Diaz managed to pull off last night (Oct. 29, 2011) at UFC 137 in Las Vegas. He blew past B.J. Penn, beating the Hawaiian so badly he retired immediately after the bout, and was put back in the front of the 170-pound line for his efforts.
That means it's Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight title all over again, as announced by UFC President Dana White at the post-fight press conference. The fight is tentatively scheduled for to take place on the Super Bowl weekend fight card.
Sorry, Carlos Condit, this match-up is just a bit more important than yours.
"The Natural Born Killer," ever the class act, has apparently agreed to wait and will likely also get a spot on the event against whoever is determined to be "next in line," as White put it.
Who thinks this match-up looks even better now that Diaz has a high profile UFC victory under his belt and had the chance to call the champion out in the center of the Octagon?
Posted in: fight, title shot, diaz, title, mate thats
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDiaz Gets GSP in February - Post-Fight Press Conference Fallout
LAS VEGAS – If you thought that the reality of Nick Diaz being back in the UFC meant that his career would soon settle into some form of normalcy after his UFC 137 fight of the night win over BJ Penn, think again, as UFC President Dana White announced that Diaz will now face the man he was originally supposed to meet in his return to the Octagon – UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre – in a Super Bowl weekend bout in February of 2012.“This is what I wanted since the beginning,” said St-Pierre. “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.”The bizarre set of circumstances surrounding St-Pierre vs. Diaz began when Diaz missed two fight announcement press conferences in Toronto and Las Vegas, prompting the UFC to pull Diaz from the bout and insert Carlos Condit into the UFC 137 main event. Penn, who was originally scheduled to face Condit, was without an opponent, so Diaz was then inserted into the co-main event slot. When St-Pierre injured his knee, the GSP-Condit bout was pulled, and Diaz and Penn put on a main event to remember Saturday night, with Diaz rebounding from a slow start to pound out an impressive three round unanimous decision win. Well, impressive to everyone except Diaz.“I thought I put on a poor performance and I didn’t fight a smart fight,” said the Stockton native. “I’m not happy with my performance at all.”St-Pierre wasn’t too pleased either when it came to Diaz’ post-fight comment that “I don’t think Georges is hurt, I think he’s scared.”White spoke to the champion, who was in Vegas cornering victorious middleweight Francis Carmont.“I’ve known Georges St-Pierre since 2004, and he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, and he’s exactly the same no matter what the situation is or 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. Nick needs motivation – he’s got it. He’s gonna fight Georges St-Pierre. ‘He’s the most disrespectful human being I’ve ever met, and I’m gonna put the worst beating you’ve ever seen on him in the UFC,’ that’s what Georges St-Pierre said.”Condit will step aside, allowing GSP vs. Diaz to take place, and the Albuquerque contender will likely fight on the same card and get the winner of the title fight should he emerge victorious.“You gotta come off like that just to get a fight,” said Diaz. “I gotta be the bad guy. You point your finger and make me the bad guy. I’m the bad guy now, and now I get a fight.”It’s going to be a long wait ‘til February.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, george, stpierre
Read the full article at UFCUFC 137 results: B.J. Penn vs Nick Diaz fight video highlights
Nick Diaz overwhelms B.J. Penn in the main event of UFC 137 tonight (Oct. 29, 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada, to earn a hard-fought, bloody unanimous decision victory. The Stockton slugger used his superior cardiovascular conditioning and never-say-die attitude to blast his way past "The Prodigy," who was undoubtedly the toughest match-up to date for Diaz. After the victory, he called out Georges St. Pierre. Anyone think Carlos Condit needs to take a backseat to let the original two handle their business? To check out MMAmania.com's LIVE UFC 137 results post, which includes up-to-the-minute, blow-by-blow coverage of EVERY fight click here.
B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Round one: Nice left from Penn to start. Body shot from BJ. Now their tied up against the cage. Short uppercuts from Penn and knees from Diaz. Good knees from Penn. Both men trading punches. Penn lands a right on the break. Jab from Penn. Jab from Diaz. Right form Diaz. Hard right from Diaz. Good hard combo from Penn. Short uppercut from Penn. Jab from Penn. Left hook from BJ. Single leg take down from Penn and DIaz tries to roll him over. Now BJ has the back!! Good punches from behind by BJ. Left from Penn who is in side control. Short punches from BJ. Diaz works his way to the feet and has a hold of a single leg. Diaz with knees to the thigh. Body punches from Diaz against the cage. Good knee and punch from Penn. Nice left from Penn. Right from Diaz. Hard right from Penn and then a good uppercut. Jab from Diaz. Right from Diaz. Jab from Penn. Left from Penn. Jab from Penn. Hard right then left from Penn. DIaz with a good right. That is the bell and BJ Penn looked amazing on the feet. 10-9 Penn.
Round two: Jab from Penn. Jab from Diaz. Hard combo from Penn. Leg kick from Diaz. Nice jab and uppercut from Penn. Now their tied up against the cage as Diaz lands some body shots. Short punches from Diaz. Jab from Diaz. Both of Diaz's eyes are swelling up now. BJ goes for a single and is stuffed and DIaz lands some knees to the body. Good body shot and right hook combo from Diaz. Jab from Diaz. Good right from Diaz. Left from Penn. Good right and left from Diaz. Good body shots from Diaz. Nice left hook from Penn. Good hook to the body from Diaz. Great combo finished with a body shot from Diaz. BJ now ties things up and Diaz going for a double leg take down but is stuffed. Short punches from Diaz. Hard left from Diaz and Penn is hurt!! Diaz with a big combo and now is going to the body and the head. Hard left from Diaz. Body and head hook from Diaz. Penn is hurt. Jab from Penn. Body shots and hook from Diaz. Diaz unloading with bdoy shots and hooks. Big right from Diaz. Diaz now lands a flurry and BJ with a good counter right and left. Right hook from Diaz lands hard and more body shots and now Penn is bloody. Short punches form Diaz against the cage. That is the bell and that round was all Diaz. 10-9 Diaz.
Round three: Hard body shot from BJ. Jab from Penn. Jab from Diaz. Penn shoots and is stuffed by Diaz now their tied up against the cage. Great double left hook from Diaz and now a right. Jab from Diaz and then a right. Nice right from Diaz. Body shot and double hook from Diaz. Short uppercuts from Diaz in the clinch. Great body shot hook combo from Diaz. Both men trade rights. One two combo from Diaz and a big right from Penn. HARD right from Penn. Uppercut from Penn. Both men trading hooks and good body shots from Diaz. Right from Diaz and a big left. Jab from Diaz. Big left from Diaz. Now their tied up against the cage. Good right from Penn and more body shots from Diaz. Hard right from Penn. Jab from Diaz. Right and left from Penn. Right from Diaz. Jab from Penn. Good right from Diaz and now their tied up against the cage. Good combo from Diaz and left from Penn. Penn lands a hard left and right. Uppercut from Penn. Good right from Penn. Right left from Diaz. Head kick from Diaz. Left hook from Penn. Combo from Diaz. Right hook from Diaz and now Penn with a big flurry and a huge left hook. Wow that was an awesome fight but Diaz took it. 10-9 Diaz.
Final result: Nick Diaz defeats B.J. Penn via Unanimous Decision
Posted in: diaz, right, body, penn, jab
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn Post-Fight Recap and Analysis
The late money was coming in on Nick Diaz, moving him to a favorite at many sportsbooks by the time his UFC 137 main event with B.J. Penn started. That combined with Penn appearing to be in tears gave the fight a strange feeling before it even got underway.
The opening frame went how many fans and media expected it to go as Diaz got countered by Penn's sharper boxing and B.J. even scored a takedown and got a little work done on the ground, setting himself up well for the fight ahead. Unfortunately for Penn, Diaz and his unrelenting cardio were just too much and wilted B.J. in the second round. For the majority of the second frame it was Diaz trapping Penn against the cage and opening up with the trademark Diaz flurries. Penn came back in the third to go out swinging, throwing his hands even in a losing effort.
Penn lost on the scorecards but put on a fun and exciting fight that should have fans remembering him the right way after he announced his retirement following the loss.
For Diaz, he put on the kind of performance that has many insisting that the UFC should abandon the idea of giving Carlos Condit the title shot against Georges St. Pierre. Diaz claimed after the fight that GSP wasn't really hurt, he was just scared. UFC president Dana White was saying that the outcome of this fight would have no impact on Condit's title shot as recently as this weekend but one has to wonder if that will hold up.
As of the time of this article it's sounding like Diaz may be told that he earned a title shot as soon as the post-fight press conference.
Before I get to some of the other fights on this somewhat lackluster card I have to say one thing about the broadcast. There seems to have been way more production problems than normal. A lot of missed shots, bad camera angles and other very unusual things for the normally very crisp UFC product. They don't seem fully confident in the new wirecams yet which is probably a part of it.
Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo wasn't exactly a thriller but Kongo was able to hand Mitrione his first career loss. Given that this was a heavyweight fight most felt would deliver some action, it was a little disconcerting to see the fighters spend several minutes at a time not throwing strikes. In the end it was Kongo's ability to muscle some takedowns in the third round that took the fight away from Mitrione.
Mirko Filipovic joined the retirement parade tonight, seeming to hang up the gloves after a TKO loss to Roy Nelson. Mirko simply spends too much time circling and not throwing strikes. He landed on Nelson several times, most notably in the second round when he had Roy hurt and pinned against the fence unloading with strikes. But once he couldn't get the finish he went back to being overly cautious and appeared to quit on the fight. Nelson just finished the fight off at that point to get a big win, but one that is hard to appropriately gauge given Mirko's recent performances.
Hatsu Hioki was given a split decision win over George Roop in a rather uninspiring UFC debut. I scored the fight for Roop as did Fight Metric as I thought he won rounds one and three. Even the round Hioki clearly won was not exactly much in terms of damage or anything beyond positional dominance. It's simply not the kind of fight that is going to get a fighter the vast majority of UFC fans have heard of a title shot, unless it's on a show in Japan and done to try to sell the event to the locals.
I feel like I'm being too negative, so let's talk about Donald Cerrone. I may not care for the guy's personality, but he is a straight killer in the cage. His performance since coming to the UFC is so far beyond what he showed in the WEC that it's actually stunning. The way he laid waste to Dennis Siver tonight was very impressive and the kind of showing that proved that he's "in the mix" for a title shot.
The "old Brandon Vera" is back. And by that, I mean the Brandon Vera who we've seen the most. There simply is no reason that Vera shouldn't have run through Eliot Marshall, but instead he was hurt multiple times and almost finished twice in the third round. That he escaped with a win instead of a draw is a statement on the flawed state of MMA judging more than anything. Good on Marshall for coming in and fighting like a guy who actually wanted to win and not just be an opponent.
The night belongs to Diaz and Cerrone as they were far and away the highlights of an otherwise disappointing card. We're heading into a big November for the UFC though
Photo of the Night:
via Ben Fowlkes Twitter
The two main event fighters, both showing the marks of their battle.
Bloody Elbow Fight of the Night
Via Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
I can't change from Diaz vs. Penn. It was the one fight that was truly good start to finish on the card and that we'll still be talking about weeks from now.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, time, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDiaz calls out GSP after dismantling Penn
Nick Diaz didn't want to talk about pulling off the biggest win of his UFC career Saturday night. He wanted to call out Georges St-Pierre.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, gsp, career, stpierre
Read the full article at sportsnet.caDiaz dismantles Penn, will fight GSP next
Nick Diaz irked Georges St-Pierre so much after winning a decision over B.J. Penn Saturday that the two will meet Super Bowl weekend.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, gsp, penn, georges stpierre
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC 137 Results: Diaz Wins with Punishing Performance, Penn Calls it a Career
Nick Diaz proved he belongs with the best in the world after punishing his way to a win at UFC 137 and when it was over BJ Penn says that he's done fighting.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, penn, performance penn
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyCesar Gracie Thinks GSP vs. Diaz Will Be Biggest Fight in UFC History
Filed under: UFC, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Nick Diaz's manager and trainer Cesar Gracie talked to the press following Saturday night's UFC 137 event about Diaz's win, his new fight against GSP, Diaz's complaint about not getting good enough sparring partners and more.
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, ufc history, cesar gracie, cesar
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 bonuses and awards for 'Penn vs Diaz' on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas
UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, has officially wrapped, which means it's time for those select fighters who went above and beyond in their respective fights to get a little extra grease for their efforts.
To the tune of $75,000 each.
The promotion dished out its standard post-fight monetary bonuses to four out of the 22 fighters on the card, and it's probably no surprise who's leaving "Sin City" with a second sack of simoleons.
On a night that featured just one victory by way of tapout, Donald Cerrone's rear naked choke of Dennis Siver earned "Submission of the Night" honors thanks to a lack of options. Let's not sell "Cowboy" short, though. He roped in the German dynamite stick and absolutely owned him.
Who's next?
Also hauling in a wheelbarrow full of cash is Bart Palaszewski, who brought home his extra bacon by earning "Knockout of the Night" via flying flurry against the fence that Tyson Griffin had no answer for. You know, other than to fold up like a cheap lawn chair.
Finally, B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz took home "Fight of the Night" honors after their thrilling back-and-forth, war of attrition that saw the Strikeforce welterweight champion earn the biggest win of his career. Was it enough to move him back to the front of the 170-pound line, Carlos Condit be damned?
Stay tuned.
Here are the special fight bonuses for UFC 137:
Submission of the Night -- Donald Cerrone
Knockout of the Night -- Bart Palaszewski
Fight of the Night -- B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Again, each fighter received $75,000 extra for their performances in addition to their respective base salaries, which we will pass along as soon as possible.
For complete UFC 137 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, night, diaz, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaB.J. Penn earns Fight of the Night honors in final performance
Saturday night marked a bittersweet evening for MMA fans who watched two legends of the sport, B.J. Penn and Mirko Filipovic, walk away from competition after being handed defeats in their respective bouts at UFC 137.
However, at least one saving grace was involved as Penn’s pairing with Nick Diaz was named “Fight of the Night” with each man taking home $75,000 as a result. Penn and Diaz duked it out for fifteen minutes with the outspoken Diaz ultimately earning the victory in large part due to his superior stand-up.
“Submission of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night” were both fairly obvious choices with Donald Cerrone and Bart Palaszewski doing the prelims proud by earning the awards. Cerrone’s distinction came after outclassing opponent Dennis Siver in the striking department, then maneuvering onto the injured German’s back to procure a Rear-Naked Choke. Comparably, Palaszewski rendered Tyson Griffin into a puddle of goo with a series of powerful, precise punches. Like Diaz and Penn, each man earned an extra $75,000 for their showings.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: night, diaz, penn, night ”, “ submission
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 137 Bonuses: Diaz, Penn, Cerrone, ‘Bartimus’ Bank $75K
Four men walked away from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas with an extra $75,000 on Saturday night, as Nick Diaz, B.J. Penn, Bart Palaszewski and Donald Cerrone all took home UFC 137 bonuses.
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, las vegas, cerrone, donald cerrone
Read the full article at SherdogUFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz Starches BJ Penn To A Decision In A FOTY Candidate
This was the fight that everyone wanted to see. The fight that was hyped as the real main event prior to Georges St. Pierre dropping off the card due to a knee injury. In the lead up both fighters were incredibly respectful of the other's skills and never committed to the usual trash talk. It was only at the weigh ins that they showed even the slightest hint of animosity with Diaz and Penn going nose to nose on stage before Dana White jumped in to split them apart.
The fight was everything the fans hoped it would be, with both fighters coming forward in the first round looking to put the most hurt on the other. The clear aggressor was Penn who found his range early and head hunted Diaz the first five minutes. In the second round Diaz took over, forcing Penn against the cage and just battering him with punches in bunches. Penn's face showed the cumulative damage going into the final round and he was unable to keep up with the pace that Diaz set. There were times when Penn was landing well, he just wasn't able land with the same pop that he had in the first.
The judges scored the fight for Diaz who celebrated by calling out Georges St. Pierre making the claim that the champion wasn't actually hurt and was instead ducking everyone. To his credit St. Pierre didn't let the trash talk get to him.
This was the first time in his career that a fighter made B.J. Penn look old. He retired in the post fight and if this truly was the last time that fans will see the Hawaiian, he went out on his shield. He never backed down and stayed in the fight all the way to the final bell.
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
Posted in: fight, diaz, fighter, st, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowHeadliners BJ Penn and Nick Diaz deliver with Fight of the Night performance at UFC 137
Surprising no one, the headliner between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz was named “Fight of the Night” after the two former champions went toe-to-toe with Diaz’s boxing coming through after a tough opening round. Diaz took home the decision win and in a fitting conclusion to an otherwise brilliant career, their collective efforts earned the event’s premier award plus $75,000 a piece.
“Submission of the Night” plus the money were awarded to Donald Cerrone. “Cowboy” caught opponent Dennis Siver with a solid high kick early on, then damaged him with a punch shortly thereafter and sprung on the German’s back where he locked in a fight-ending Rear-Naked Choke.
Meanwhile, “Knockout of the Night” and the attached cash went to Bart Palaszewski who dropped Tyson Griffin in the opening round of their bout after a well-placed punch sapped Griffin of his equilibrium before a series of follow-up strikes sealed the deal.
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Posted in: night, diaz, nick diaz, opening round, night ”
Read the full article at Fighters.comSpectacular Diaz Batters Penn at UFC 137
Nick Diaz took out B.J. Penn and took aim at welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, pierre, penn
Read the full article at SherdogUFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz Beats BJ Penn, Penn Retires
Nick Diaz successfully made his return to the Octagon with a unanimous decision over BJ Penn in Saturday’s UFC 137 main event in Las Vegas, battering the former welterweight and lightweight champion with his patented striking over the later rounds to earn a 29-27 and two 29-28 scores from the judges.
After the fight, Diaz said he believed Georges St-Pierre wasn’t injured and that the UFC welterweight champion was scared to fight him, while Penn vowed to retire after falling to 1-3-1 in his last five fights.
Stay tuned for a more detailed recap in the coming minutes…
The complete UFC 137 results were:
MAIN CARD (PPV)
Nick Diaz def. BJ Penn via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
Cheick Kongo def. Matt Mitrione via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-28, 29-28)
Roy Nelson def. Mirko Cro Cop via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:30
Scott Jorgensen def. Jeff Curran via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Hatsu Hioki def. George Roop via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Donald Cerrone def. Dennis Siver via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 2:22
Bart Palaszewski def. Tyson Griffin via KO (punches) – Round 1, 2:45
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Brandon Vera def. Eliot Marshall via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ramsey Nijem def. Danny Downes via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-27)
Francis Carmont def. Chris Camozzi via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Clifford Starks def. Dustin Jacoby via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,30-27)
Posted in: ufc, diaz, round, decision, penn
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyDiaz vs. Penn Official UFC Statistics
UFC 137 - Nick Diaz vs. BJ Penn
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, official
Read the full article at Fight MetricUFC 137 Results: B.J. Penn Retires After Loss to Nick Diaz
B.J. Penn is one of the best fighters the UFC has ever seen and after his UFC 137 loss to Nick Diaz it appears that we will never see him compete again. Penn looked very good in the opening round against Diaz but faded as Nick turned up the pressure in the second and third round.
In the post fight interview with Joe Rogan, Penn said that he is ready to retire. Penn told Rogan "Hats off to Nick Diaz. He's the man. Joe, this was probably the last time you'll see me in here. I can't keep performing at the top level. That's it Joe. I got a daughter and another daughter on the way, I don't want to go home looking like this. I'm done."
Penn remains one of only two men, along with Randy Couture, to win UFC titles in multiple weight classes. Penn made his professional MMA debut at UFC 31 and became one of the sport's biggest stars, capturing the welterweight title from Matt Hughes in a shocking fight at UFC 46. He would never actually lose that title, instead leaving the UFC for two years. At UFC 80 he captured the UFC lightweight title with a win over Joe Stevenson, a title he would defend three times before losing it to Frankie Edgar.
After tonight, Penn had only won one of his previous five bouts and decided it was time to step away from the sport.
Bloody Elbow will have much more on the card and the great career of B.J. Pen in the coming days.
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, joe, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 results: BJ Penn retires from MMA after loss to Nick Diaz
After his beatdown in the main event of UFC 137 tonight (Oct. 29) at the hands of Nick Diaz, B.J. Penn says that he is retiring from mixed martial arts.
In the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Penn kept it short and sweet:
"I've got a daughter. I've got another on the way. I don't want to go home looking like this again. I'm done."
So it would appear that not only did Diaz make the best case possible for a title shot against Georges St. Pierre with his performance inside the Octagon, he also retired one of the greatest fighters that ever lived.
Anyone think Penn is just running on emotion right now and needs some time to think it through before making a huge decision like this? Or have we truly seen the final fight of "The Prodigy's" career?
Sound off, Maniacs.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, penn, postfight interview, emotion right
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 results: Nick Diaz overwhelms BJ Penn for decision win
The main event of UFC 137 tonight (Sat., Oct. 29, 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada, although re-worked a million times, settled on a welterweight war pitting two of the greatest mixed martial artists in recent memory, as B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz took it to the cage to slug it out.
They were friends before stepping inside the Octagon but became enemies just as soon as the horn sounded. The staredown at the weigh-in promised us fireworks tonight. Did it deliver?
It sure did. Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight champion, showed exactly why he deserves all the accolades he's received for the past few years, as he blew right past "The Prodigy" in a three round slugfest.
There was no finish, but this one lived up to the carnage it promised. Georges St. Pierre, were you watching?
Penn came out aggressive, throwing punches early and looking to engage his pugilistic foe. Diaz responded with a clinch and some knees but they quickly disengaged and went back to slinging leather.
Once it went to the floor, "The Prodigy" looked to take the advantage by taking Diaz's back but he was defended expertly by the Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt.
The remained of the round featured Penn using Diaz's own strategy against him, peppering him with punches to close out the first five minutes.
Round two saw the kid from Stockton act accordingly, as he taunted the pride of Hilo, Hawaii, by launching his own head into Penn's many jabs. It was clear, though, that B.J. had the edge standing up.
Midway through the frame the blood was in the water ... and it was Penn's. He was tired and Diaz, a world class triathlete, smelled it and started taking advantage. Those peppering shots didn't feel so light anymore.
Diaz put Penn against the fence and just started unloading. "The Prodigy" backed away but couldn't run far enough to get away from the onslaught. Stockton's own walked the Hawaiian down and just unloaded.
Punch after punch after punch after punch against the cage. Somehow, someway, Penn made it to the third and final frame while the crowd chanted Diaz's name.
Out early in the third and Penn came swinging. It didn't matter, though, because Diaz kept the pressure on. The only option for B.J. was to shoot for a takedown, which he did ... but he couldn't get it.
These two literally threw the kitchen sink at each other, trying to do whatever they could to finish the fight. Ultimately, it was Diaz who walked away with the unanimous decision win after three hard-fought round.
Title shot?
To check out MMAmania.com's LIVE UFC 137 results post, which includes up-to-the-minute, blow-by-blow coverage of EVERY fight click here.
Posted in: diaz, round, punch, penn, bj
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz just beat BJ Penn, the 209 prevails over the 808
Alright, there's a little secret that I need to share with you. In fact, I've been keeping it the entire week but now seems like the perfect moment to share it with you. Hmph, well let's just say I would be lying if I told you Nick Diaz and Georges St. Pierre didn't 'confront' each other in a Las Vegas hallway this week.
That's all I'm saying.
Tonight, TUF n00bs were introduced to Nick Diaz. Congratulations on your discovery, you guys are modern day Christopher Columbuses. Now you may past 'Go' on the great board game of MMA fandom. You guys saw what happened tonight. I'm not going to play-by-play it for you. If you missed this fight, then you're just a silly human being, not even worthy of reading MiddleEasy.
Props to Nick Diaz on an amazing win and for some reason I sincerely believe this will not be the last we will see of BJ Penn. To the 209ers out there, we will rage in the party bus by the end of the year.
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, nick, fact ive
Read the full article at Middle EasyGSP vs. Diaz Back On, Likely for UFC's Super Bowl Card
Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS - The welterweight showdown between Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz that was supposed to headline UFC 137 on Saturday needed all of about 90 minutes after the card to be back on.
UFC president Dana White said at Saturday's post-fight press conference that Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside from his pending title fight with welterweight champ St-Pierre - so Diaz could move in for the title shot. The planned headliner is expected to take place as the main event of the UFC's pay-per-view on Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, White said.
Diaz, who vacated his Strikeforce welterweight title to come to the UFC, was originally scheduled to fight St-Pierre but was removed from the bout when he failed to show for a pair of press conferences earlier this fall. In his place, White gave Condit the title shot and put Diaz against BJ Penn, a fight he dominated on Saturday in Las Vegas. But St-Pierre was injured earlier this month.
The potentially complicated waiting game, however, was made a lot simpler when White said St-Pierre "flipped out" over Diaz's post-fight comments in the cage. White made a call to Condit, Condit agreed to put his title shot on hold, and the St-Pierre vs. Diaz welterweight title fight is a reality much quicker than anyone could have expected before Saturday night.
After beating Penn - and potentially sending him into retirement - Diaz told Joe Rogan he believed St-Pierre was not truly injured. "I don't think Georges is hurt. I think he's scared," Diaz said.
White said he saw a side of his welterweight champion after the event that he hadn't seen before.
"Let me put it to you this way," White said. "I've known Georges St-Pierre since 2004 and he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met. He's 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. Nick needs motivation, he's got it - he's going to fight Georges St-Pierre Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside and fight the next guy."
"This is what I wanted since the beginning," St-Pierre said in a statement. "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."
White added that St-Pierre was adamant about how he wants his next title defense to go down.
"(St-Pierre) said, and 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.
Diaz stole the press conference on a night that saw the likely retirements of legendary fighters Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Penn, oftentimes nearly rambling about everything from the houses in his neighborhood to why no one wants to help him prepare for fights. He said being the villain is what works to get him fights.
"You've got to come off like that just to get a fight," Diaz said. "Know what I'm saying? I've got to be the bad guy. You point the finger, make me the bad guy, and now I get to fight."
As for Condit, he goes from a title shot against St-Pierre to a top contender's fight, expected for the same card on Feb. 4. White did not reveal who that opponent will be, but possible candidates would likely include Jon Fitch and Jake Ellenberger, who just upset Diaz's training partner Jake Shields last month. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, stpierre
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseEmotional BJ Penn Calls It Quits After UFC 137 Loss to Nick Diaz
Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS -- BJ Penn walked into the octagon with emotion in his eyes, and walked away leaving some of his fans with tears in theirs. The longtime MMA legend, just 32 years old, dropped a unanimous decision in a spirited scrap with Nick Diaz, and then shocked the sold-out crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center with the surprising announcement that he had just fought for the last time.
Penn won the first round on all three judges scorecards before Diaz seized momentum in the second with his unrelenting pace and punishing body shots. Penn appeared to be on wobbly legs for the second half of the round and Diaz went for the finish, but Penn's chin and heart kept him on his feet. Overall in the round, Diaz landed 115 strikes, according to Compustrike.
Though Penn survived the assault, he had little left to combat Diaz's attack. The Stockton, California native was unrelenting in attacking the Hawaiian, frequently switching stances and landing at a high rate. Though he couldn't finish him, the outcome was obvious even before cage announcer Bruce Buffer read off the judges' scores, which were 29-28, 29-27, 29-28.
By the end, Penn's face was bloodied and battered.
"That's probably the last time you're ever going to see me," Penn said afterward. "I can't keep doing this."
Penn didn't attend the post-fight press conference, with his injuries requiring a trip to the hospital.
Diaz, known for his high-pressure pace, out-landed Penn 239 to 76, according to Compustrike.
"In the 10 years we've seen BJ perform, we've never seen him busted up like that," UFC president Dana White said. "Even on bottom getting smashed by [Matt] Hughes and Georges St-Pierre. He doesn't cut, he doesn't bleed, he doesn't swell up. It's like he's got leather skin. He got busted up tonight. Nick Diaz is the real deal."
If it is the end for Penn, he leaves as one of the most respected mixed martial artists in history, with a career that spanned a decade and bridged eras from the dark days of the sport to the current boom. He arrived on the scene as "the Prodigy" with a first-round knockout over Joey Gilbert at UFC 31, and became one of only two fighters in UFC history to win championships in multiple divisions, joining Randy Couture.
Penn is held in the highest regard by fighters for his willingness to fight at any weight class, and despite being just 5-foot-9 and around 180 pounds at his natural weight, he fought from lightweight all the way up to heavyweight.
Penn's signature win may be his UFC 46 welterweight championship victory over Matt Hughes, who had been considered an unbeatable champion after five successful title defense over a two-year span. But after that win, he left the UFC in a contract dispute, only returning two years later. By then, the promotion had begun to gain momentum with The Ultimate Fighter's success, and Penn's return soon jump-started the lightweight division when he captured the belt in 2008. He defended it three times before losing to Frankie Edgar in April 2010.
Penn would win only one more time in his career, knocking out old rival Hughes in just 21 seconds last November. In his last five fights, he was 1-3-1, though the draw came against Jon Fitch, who was considered by most to be the No. 2 welterweight in the world, and two of the losses came to current champ Edgar.
Of course, given his snap decision and relatively young age, many believe Penn will find his way back to the cage one more time.
Given the beating he took, the UFC will likely give him some time to spend with his family before checking his future status.
"BJ's a warrior, man" White said. "Like I said, what happened to him tonight, it's never happened to him in his entire career. What he's thinking tonight, he might not think eight weeks from now. Who knows? It might be or it might not be. That's up to him." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, time, penn
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 Bonuses: Nick Diaz, BJ Penn Lead $75,000 Awards
Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS - It was one of the most bizarre back stories in UFC history, and on Saturday night Nick Diaz and BJ Penn were rewarded for making the fight live up to the hype.
Diaz and Penn were given Fight of the Night honors at UFC 137 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for their three-round slugfest in the main event. Diaz and Penn each got bonus checks for $75,000 for their performances in the fight, which Diaz dominated in the standup game for a unanimous decision win - and prompting Penn to announce his retirement.
Also picking up bonus checks for their performances were Donald Cerrone for Submission of the Night and Bart Palaszewski for Knockout of the Night. Cerrone's submission was the only one on the 11-fight card.
Penn was the clear fan favorite early in the fight, but as Diaz continued to pepper him with shots to the face, the crowd seemed to turn in favor of Diaz - or at least in favor of hoping to see an exciting finish after seeing seven decisions leading up to the main event.
Though Diaz couldn't finish the two-time UFC champ, he left his face battered and bloodied. After the fight, Penn said the fight would be his last.
"It's probably the last time you're ever going to see me in here," Penn told Joe Rogan. "That's it. I've got another daughter on the way - I don't want to go home looking like this."
Diaz, who was supposed to face Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight title on the card until he was removed from the fight for missing two press conferences, now is back in line to likely face the winner of St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit. That fight won't take place until St-Pierre recovers from a knee injury suffered in training earlier this month.
Cerrone continued his blitz up the UFC's lightweight ladder, submitting Dennis Siver with a first-round rear naked choke. That win gave Cerrone six straight and four straight in the UFC - all in 2011 after moving over from the WEC. Siver's four-fight winning streak was snapped with the loss.
Palazewski was the card's biggest underdog winner. Fighting in the UFC for the first time, and back in action for the first time in 10 months, Palaszewski stunned Tyson Griffin with a hook, then battered him with lefts and rights until one big right put Griffin on the canvas.
After the fight, Palaszewski, a former WEC and IFL standout, said he believes he broke both of his hands landing the shots that ended the fight. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, penn, bonus checks
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137: Live Blog, Recap & Results
Join HeavyMMA.com for complete coverage of tonight's UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz pay per view event from Las Vegas.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, la, tonight, view event
Read the full article at Heavy MMANick Diaz Beats B.J. Penn, Who Says 'I'm Done' at UFC 137
Filed under: UFCNick Diaz has made his triumphant return to the UFC. And B.J. Penn may have fought for the last time.
Diaz, the former Strikeforce welterweight champion who hadn't fought in the UFC since 2006, battered Penn for 15 minutes on Saturday night at UFC 137, winning a unanimous decision. The judges scored it 29-28, 29-28 and 29-27 for Diaz.
It was a great showing by Diaz, whose high-volume punching turned Penn's face into a bruised, bloody mess. Penn also marked up Diaz's face, but Diaz seemed to shake off all of Penn's punches, while Penn looked worn down by Diaz's punches.
It was the 11th straight victory for Diaz, who is now expected to be the No. 1 contender in the UFC welterweight division. Diaz called out UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre after the fight, accusing St. Pierre of being scared to fight him.
A Diaz-St. Pierre fight would be a huge one, which the UFC knows -- it originally booked St. Pierre vs. Diaz before Diaz's refusal to show up for press conferences promoting the fight got that bout scrapped. It seems just a matter of time before St. Pierre and Diaz settle it inside the Octagon.
But the shocking news came after the fight, when Penn said he doesn't want to fight anymore.
"This is probably the last time you're going to see me here," Penn said. "I've got a daughter, another daughter on the way. I don't want to go home looking like this. I'm done."
Whether Penn is really done we likely won't know for a long time: Plenty of fighters have announced their retirement only to change their minds later. But Penn has seemed recently like his heart wasn't really in MMA anymore. Diaz may have taken away Penn's will to keep fighting.
And now Diaz will set his sights on St. Pierre. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, st, penn
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 Live Blog: B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz Round-by-Round Updates
Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- This is the UFC 137 live blog for B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, a welterweight bout and is the main event of tonight's UFC pay-per-view card from the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Penn (16-7-2), a former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, in February fought Jon Fitch to a majority draw at UFC 127. Diaz (25-7) is returning to the UFC and riding a 10-fight win streak. He vacated the Strikeforce belt for a title opportunity with the UFC, but was later removed from a fight against Georges St-Pierre for missing press conferences.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: UFC 137 Results | Latest UFC 137 News
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, blog, penn, welterweight champion
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Pay-Per-View Fights
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz. Our live coverage will start with the beginning of the Facebook prelim stream (6:15 p.m. ET), continuing through the Spike TV prelim broadcast (8 p.m. ET) and finally through the pay-per-view broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
This post will cover live results and thoughts on the pay-per-view broadcast.
The solid night of action is headlined by a welterweight bout between B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz. Two heavyweight fights are on the main card as Cheick Kongo faces Matt Mitrione and Mirko Filipovic squares off with Roy Nelson. Bantamweights Scott Jorgensen and Jeff Curran and featherweights Hatsu Hioki and George Roop round out the card.
Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.
Posted in: diaz, result, pm, event, heavyweight fights
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow“UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz” Live Results and Coverage
It’s been a couple of weeks but the octagon is back on television. Kicking off a string of four straight events, from the fight capital of the world in Las Vegas, it’s UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz. As always Five Ounces of Pain will provide complete results including a round by round recap of all the live televised action.
The action kicks off at 6:15PM EST with the preliminary fights on Facebook. Then at 8PM EST there are two more prelim fights on SpikeTV. Finally, the main card goes live at 9PM EST on PPV.
UFC 137 is headlined by a welterweight showdown between former two division UFC champion BJ Penn scrapping against former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz. The co-main event features heavyweight KO artists Cheick Kongo battling Matt Mitrione. Also on the card is another heavyweight showdown between MMA legend Mirko Filipovic and Roy Nelson along with the UFC debut of top featherweight Hatsu Hioki against George Roop.
PRELIMINARY CARD (FACEBOOK)
Francis Carmont vs. Chris Camozzi
Dustin Jacoby vs. Clifford Starks
Brandon Vera vs. Eliot Marshall
Daniel Downes vs. Ramsey Nijem
PRELIMINARY CARD (SPIKETV)
Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone
Bart Paleszewski vs. Tyson Griffin
MAIN CARD
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Cro Cop
Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, card, penn
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 137 ‘The Hangover’ Trailer Featuring Nick Diaz
UFC 137 fight card: BJ Penn vs Nick Diaz -- WAR!
For all its technique, all its nuances and details, fighting is about as simple as it gets. In the now immortal words of UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta:
WAR!
That's what fight fans can expect tonight (Sat., Oct. 29, 2011) when two bad boys, B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz, meet in the center of the Octagon to do battle against one another in the main event of UFC 137 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It's been a rocky road to get to the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Penn was originally scheduled to square off against Carlos Condit while Diaz had a date with welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
Thanks to a few press conference no-shows and a late knee injury, all that remained was "The Prodigy" and the Stockton slugger. Truth be told, they represented the best match-up anyway. Friends or not, they were destined to lock horns inside a cage.
Penn was driven out of the lightweight division by Frankie Edgar, who dealt him consecutive losses at UFC 112 and UFC 118, respectively. He made his return to 170-pounds a memorable one by knocking out an old enemy in Matt Hughes in just 23 seconds.
A uneven performance against Jon Fitch earlier this year raised a few more doubts as to whether or not he can still be a force in MMA. After all, if he can't do it at welterweight, there really isn't anywhere left for him to go, at least not as long as Edgar is ruling the roost at 155-pounds.
Diaz, meanwhile, has seen nothing but success since leaving the UFC back in 2006. He's won 11 of 13 fights, with his lone loss coming by way of cut. The other bout was a spectacular gogoplata submission win over Takanori Gomi that was later overturned due to a failed drug test.
The California native tore through DREAM, EliteXC and Strikeforce on his way back to the world's largest fight promotion. 10 wins in a row is difficult under any circumstances, perceived lack of competition or not.
And while he's not getting the shot against St. Pierre that he wanted, this match-up against Penn is just as dangerous if not even more so.
That's because, as Diaz himself admits, Penn comes from the same school he does. These two came up the hard way, fighting anyone and everyone with reckless abandon. There's no lay-n-pray round these parts, folks.
Diaz and Penn are laid back outside the cage but quickly turn into animals just as soon as the prospect of fighting inside it becomes evident. Look no further than the altercation between the two at the weigh-ins just yesterday (Oct. 28).
It's time, folks. Time for WAR!
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, way, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
In an intriguing UFC vs. Strikeforce battle, former UFC Welterweight and Lightweight champion B.J. Penn (16-7-2; 12-6-2 UFC) faces former Strikeforce Welterweight champion Nick Diaz (25-7, 1 NC; 6-4 UFC) at UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz. This Welterweight fight is the main event of the PPV. Penn is currently ranked #7 in the Welterweight USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, with Diaz a few spots above him at #4. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
It's been a wild ride to the UFC 137 main event. After Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields at UFC 129 drew some negative reactions, the UFC opted for a GSP vs. Nick Diaz champion vs. champion fight, hoping the unpredictable Diaz would create some fireworks. Trouble is, he proved to be a bit too unpredictable, and after missing press conferences, he was sacked from the card with Carlos Condit taking his place. Of course, that left Condit's former opponent B.J. Penn alone, so he was given... Nick Diaz. When St. Pierre went down to injury, this former semi-main event was bumped up to the main event slot, putting Diaz back in the main, and leaving poor Condit off the card entirely.
How do these two stack up?
Penn: 32 years old | 5'9" | 70" reachDiaz: 28 years old | 6'1" | 74" reach
What have these two done recently?
Penn: D - Jon Fitch (Majority Draw) | W - Matt Hughes (KO) | L - Frankie Edgar (UD)Diaz: W - Paul Daley (TKO) | W - Evangelista Santos (Sub) | W - K.J. Noons (UD)
How did these two get here?
After an inconsistent return to the UFC in 2006, B.J. Penn looked to bring all his skills together and realize his great potential with a dominant Lightweight title run in 2008-2009. But a pair of losses to Frankie Edgar left Penn, and some analysts, questioning his spot in the sport. He decided to abandon Lightweight and head back up to Welterweight, knocking out Matt Hughes, and battling Jon Fitch to a draw. Penn is often held up as a great Welterweight, but that is almost solely based on his 2004 title win over Hughes. That was indeed impressive, but it was also nearly 8 years ago. His UFC record at Welterweight stands at just 2-3-1, though every one of those fights has come against a world class Welterweight. Could he be moving into position for Georges St. Pierre vs. B.J. Penn III?
Nick Diaz left the UFC in 2006, and has gone on an incredible 11-1 run since. That run includes winning the Strikeforce title, which he vacated in order to move to the UFC. The Cesar Gracie black belt has a great jiu jitsu game, though he is much more known for his unique high-volume punching style these days. His combination of unique style, exciting fights, and huge personality has made him a massive cult favorite amongst hardcore fans, though it's not yet known how much of a draw he is to the casual fanbase. Despite his impressive run in recent years, many still have questions about where he stands in the division, as he has not faced many ranked fighters during this time. Diaz has a lot to prove in this fight.
Why should you care?
It won't have the title drama of St. Pierre vs. Diaz, but it's still a great fight. Diaz almost never has a boring outing, and Penn tends to bring the excitement as well. This will also be a fascinating stylistic battle, with both men comfortable on the ground and on the feet. Add in the future title fight implications and the notoriously wild Diaz and you have a fight to watch.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 videos: 'The Hangover' featuring Nick Diaz
The UFC once again gets viral with its latest online effort to promote tonight's (Oct. 29, 2011) UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" pay-per-view event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What do you think of this one, Maniacs? The best yet?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, event, tonight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo
In a Heavyweight showdown, Matt Mitrione (5-0; 5-0 UFC) meets Cheick Kongo (16-6-2; 9-4-1 UFC) at UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz. This is the co-main event of the evening. The USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings currently has Kongo ranked at #13 in the Heavyweight division and Mitrione at #18. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
This is the kind of fight Kongo has been in before. He's the gatekeeper to the upper ranks of the UFC Heavyweight division, while Mitrione looks to get past him. Fighters who beat Kongo have moved into the title picture, such as Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez. But those who lose (Paul Buentello, Pat Barry) see their runs to the top halted, possibly permanently. This is a big test for Mitrione, and one he needs to pass to keep his fast rise moving.
How do these two stack up?
Mitrione: 33 years old | 6'3" | 82" reachKongo: 36 years old | 6'4" | 82" reach
What have these two done recently?
Mitrione: W - Christian Morecraft (KO) | W - Tim Hague (TKO) | W - Joey Beltran (UD)Kongo: W - Pat Barry (KO) | D - Travis Browne (Draw) | W - Paul Buentello (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Matt Mitrione is an unlikely Ultimate Fighter success story. During season 10, he didn't show much beyond a personality that rubbed many the wrong way. But since the show, he has gone undefeated, taking out an increasingly difficult level of opponent. He's in the rare position of having fought every professional fight in the UFC, and for him to have a perfect 5-0 record in that situation is impressive. Still, Kongo is his toughest opponent to date by far. A win here will put Mitrione into a major fight next time out.
Cheick Kongo has been just outside the very top of the division for almost the entirety of his 5 year UFC run. He's long settled into his spot as the gatekeeper to the top. Kongo brings in a strong kickboxing background, but also has added good ground skills to round out his game. Against strikers, Kongo is happy to drag the fight to the ground and make his opponent uncomfortable. He's also coming off a spectacular KO victory over Mitrione's good friend Pat Barry - a fight that is sure to play heavily on both men's minds leading into this encounter.
Why should you care?
This is the moment to find out if Mitrione is for real. Is he a future title challenger, or has he reached the limit of his skills? I honestly don't know the answer, but this fight will go a long way towards figuring it out.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, mitrione, vs, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Cro Cop
In the first of two big main card Heavyweight fights, Roy Nelson (15-6; 2-2 UFC) meets Mirko Filipovic (27-9-2, 1 NC; 4-5 UFC) at UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz. This is the third fight on the PPV portion of the show. Roy Nelson is currently ranked #15 in the Heavyweight USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, and Cro Cop is ranked #25. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
This is a battle between two Heavyweights with real knockout power. CroCop's ability to knock his opponents out is the stuff of legend, though it's been quite some time since we have seen his full destructive power. Nelson started as a grappler, but in his UFC run has become more of a one punch KO fighter who looks to connect a right hand to end the fight. Nelson has options here, but this may be decided by who can land that KO shot first.
How do these two stack up?
Nelson: 35 years old | 6'0" | 73" reachCro Cop: 37 years old | 6'2" | 73" reach
What have these two done recently?
Nelson: L - Frank Mir (UD) | L - Junior dos Santos (UD) | W - Stefan Struve (KO)Cro Cop: L - Brendan Schaub (KO) | L - Frank Mir (KO) | W - Pat Barry (Sub)
How did these two get here?
Mirko CroCop was, at one time, one of the most feared men in the sport. His highlight reel is non-stop brutality. But his near 5 year run in the UFC has been a disappointment for fans of the K-1 and Pride veteran. He's just 4-5 in the UFC, with those losses looking increasingly brutal. He comes into this fight off back to back nasty KO losses. It's tempting to say that with a loss here he is done, but I feel like we've been saying that pretty much since the moment Gonzaga head kicked him back at UFC 70. And yet here we are, 70 UFC's later and it's CroCop still fighting on the main card while Gonzaga has left the company. But truly, how many more fighters moving up the ranks can make their name off of a CroCop KO?
Roy Nelson is the season 10 winner of The Ultimate Fighter, although he came into the show with significantly more experience than most fighters in recent seasons. He started his UFC career with two good KO wins, but then ran into a brick wall against Junior dos Santos. Nelson showed a lot of heart and a powerful chin there, despite the loss. He comes in here off another loss, this time to Frank Mir. Nelson has built a fanbase partly around his girth, but is he really in the shape that will give him the best success as a fighter? He desperately needs a win here to prove he is a relevant contender, not a sideshow.
Why should you care?
It's either a miraculous Cro Cop win, or Nelson reestablishing himself as an upper level name, likely via big KO. The first option would be incredible, the second depressing for many fans, but both merit viewing.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, nelson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
In a Bantamweight fight, Scott Jorgensen (12-4; 1-0 UFC) faces Jeff Curran (33-13-1; 0-1 UFC) at UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz. This is the second bout of the PPV portion of the show. Jorgensen is currently ranked #6 at Bantamweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Curran is unranked. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
The Bantamweight division is in a bit of a corner right now. Dominick Cruz is dangerously close to having cleaned out the division, and the UFC has not yet built any new challengers for him. This fight has earned a main card slot partly by default after the St. Pierre vs. Condit cancellation, but it is a real opportunity for both men and the division. A big, exciting fight will add some esteem to the 135 pounders, and possibly propel the winner into quick title contention.
How do these two stack up?
Jorgensen: 29 years old | 5'4" | 66" reachCurran: 34 years old | 5'6" | 69" reach
What have these two done recently?
Jorgensen: W - Ken Stone (KO) | L - Dominick Cruz (UD) | W - Brad Pickett (UD)Curran: W - Billy Vaughn (UD) | W - David Love (UD) | L - Bryan Goldsby (UD)
How did these two get here?
Jorgensen has the distinction of being the last man to challenge for the WEC Bantamweight title before it was absorbed into the UFC. That fight was a typical Cruz victory, with the champion doing his thing and earning a decision over Jorgensen. Although he lost to Cruz, Jorgensen is still a highly regarded BW on a 6-1 run. Over the past two years, he's really found his groove and is performing excellently every time out. The former NCAA Division I wrestler holds wins over some top fighters in the division, but the fact that he is so recently removed from the Cruz loss makes a title shot for him a tough sell.
Jeff "Big Frog" Curran is a near 14 year veteran of the sport, with roughly 50 pro fights to his name. The popular Midwest fighter has competed all over. UFC, Strikeforce, Pride, Bellator, WEC, IFL... all have played home to Curran at one time. His highest profile run came in the WEC in 2007-2009 when he challenged Urijah Faber for the Featherweight title. He dropped down to Bantamweight and dropped 4 in a row before leaving the WEC, and has gone 4-1 since. Curran is the kind of veteran that always poses a challenge, but at 34 years old and 14 years into his career, this run may be coming too late. A win over Jorgensen would be huge for him and would be his biggest win since at least 2006.
Why should you care?
Even if you don't know either man well, the Bantamweights always deliver. This is a definite front-runner for Fight of the Night, and a welcome chance to see the Bantamweights on the main card.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
In a fight with major ranking implications, Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2; UFC Debut) faces George Roop (12-7-1; 2-3 UFC) at UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz. This Featherweight contest is the opening bout of the PPV portion of the show. Hioki is currently the world's #2 Featherweight according to the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Roop is unranked. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Dana White's mantra on the UFC has always been that he brings the best fighters in the world together. That has quite happened yet in the fledgling Featherweight and Bantamweight divisions, but the arrival of Hatsu Hioki is a positive step, on paper at least. The big question here will be - is Hioki for real, or is he another Japanese ace doomed to failure in the US? We've seen men like Shinya Aoki and Marlon Sandro come over with big hype, only to lose. Hioki is, rightly, being touted as perhaps the best of the bunch. If he loses here, it's more fuel on the "Japan is overrated" fire.
How do these two stack up?
Hioki: 28 years old | 5'11"Roop: 29 years old | 6'1"
What have these two done recently?
Hioki: W - Donald Sanchez (Sub) | W - Marlon Sandro (UD) | W - Jeff Lawson (Sub)Roop: W - Josh Grispi (KO) | L - Mark Hominick (TKO) | W - Chan Sung Jung (KO)
How did these two get here?
As I said, Hatsu Hioki comes in incredibly hyped. The former Sengoku World Victory Road Featherweight champion is ranked #2 in the world at 145, behind only Jose Aldo. He's only lost once in his last 14 fights, and that loss was a very controversial decision against Michihiro Omigawa. He holds wins over Marlon Sandro, Jeff Curran, and former #1 contender Mark Hominick. That Sandro win was particularly impressive, as Hioki became the first man to definitively defeat the tough Brazilian. Some are already penciling in a Hioki vs. Aldo showdown, and that road starts here.
George Roop is ready to be the spoiler. The former Ultimate Fighter contender went 1-2 as a Lightweight in the UFC before moving down to Featherweight and the WEC. There, he scored a career highlight KO over The Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung before coming back to the UFC after the closing of the WEC. He's 1-1 since, and coming off of a solid win over Josh Grispi. He definitely has his work cut out for him here, but if he wins, it will be a huge feather in his cap.
Why should you care?
Sorry Roop, but this one is all about Hioki. Is he legit, or will Japan fall again? Time to find out.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, hioki
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver
The Spike TV prelims show already has a solid featherweight bout to start with, and this lightweight bout just puts it over the top as one of the best prelims shows of 2011. Fireworks are sure to erupt on the feet when these two meet in the center of the cage. Donald Cerrone (16-3, 1 NC, 3-0 UFC) meets Dennis Siver (19-7, 8-4 UFC) in a lightweight bout at UFC 137.
Cerrone is currently ranked at number 13 at lightweight on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Silver is holding down the 10 spot. A win by other fighter would likely cement a top 10 ranking and leave the guy a couple of fights from a title shot. This lightweight UFC 137 fight will be on the televised portion of the preliminary card, and will air live on Spike TV. The Spike broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Cerrone: 28 years old | 6'0" | 73" reachSiver: 32 years old | 5'7" | 70" reach
What have these two done recently?
Cerrone: W - Charles Oliveira (TKO) | W - Vagner Rocha (UD) | L - Paul Kelly SUB)Siver: W - Matt Wiman (UD) | W - George Sotiropoulos (UD) | W - Andre Winner (SUB)
How did these two get here?
Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is a former kickboxer than made the transition to MMA in 2006. It was his ground game that got him noticed in MMA though, ratting off seven straight submission wins to earn a shot in the WEC. After a failed drug test caused a no contest in his first WEC bout, he picked up two wins (including one over Razor Rob McCullough that was one of the most exciting fights ever) to earn a lightweight title shot against Jamie Varner. The bout ended controversially in the 5th round when Varner landed an unintentional illegal knee and the bout went to the scorecards. He rebounded and was fighting for the title again 10 months later, this time against Ben Henderson. He lost a very close decision in what turned out to be the fight of the year for 2009. He later dropped another title fight to Henderson before picking up a win over Varner. Then it was off to the UFC, where he has rattled off three straight wins, including a knockout of the night performance against Charles Oliveira in his last bout at UFC on Versus 5.
Dennis Siver is a Russian-born fighter who moved to Germany when he was 17. He is a former kickboxer as well, and switched over to MMA back in 2004. A 10-3 run in Europe earned Siver a shot on the UFC's first UK card, but he was quickly submitted by Jess Llaudin. Additional losses to Melvin Guillard and Gray Maynard sent him packing, but just one win outside the promotion was enough to get him back in and he's been excellent ever since, going 7-1 and picking up four bonuses in the process. His biggest win probably came over George Sotiropoulos at UFC 127. He'll inch closer to title shot contention with a win over Cerrone.
Why should you care?
This is going to be a barnburner. They have nine performance bonuses between them in the UFC and WEC. What's not to like?
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Results & Recap
UFC 137 takes place later tonight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event airs live on pay-per-view at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The pay-per-view broadcast will be preceded by prelim specials on Facebook at 6pm ET/3pm PT and Spike TV at 8pm ET/5pm PT.
In the main event, Nick Diaz returns to the UFC to take on BJ Penn.
Matt Mitrione takes a step up in competition in a heavyweight bout against Cheick Kongo.
Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson potentially fight for their UFC careers.
Hatsu Hioki makes his UFC debut against George Roop.
Jeff Curran returns to the UFC to take on Scott Jorgensen.
Results, recap and bonuses after the jump.
Results
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
Jeff Curran vs. Scott Jorgensen
Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver
Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski
Eliot Marshall vs. Brandon Vera
Danny Downes vs. Ramsey Nijem
Chris Camozzi vs. Francis Carmont
Dustin Jacoby vs. Clifford Starks
Recap & Thoughts
Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski:
Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver:
Jeff Curran vs. Scott Jorgensen:
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop:
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson:
Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione:
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz:
Bonuses $???
Submission of the Night:
Knockout of the Night:
Fight of the Night:
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, roy nelson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 fight card: Previews, predictions and a complete guide to 'Penn vs Diaz'
For fans of mixed martial arts, this past week has been a slow crawl of steadily rising anticipation for tonight's "Penn vs. Diaz" event, going down at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC 137 will feature a re-re-worked main event pitting a pair of bad boys against each other as B.J. Penn squares off against Nick Diaz.
The co-main event of the night is a heavyweight double feature with Matt Mitrione taking on Cheick Kongo while Mirko Filipovic says goodbye against Roy Nelson.
It's been a flurry of non-stop news, analysis, quotes, predictions and previews for the past week and it's certainly understandable if you missed out on a few stories.
But don't worry, Maniacs, we've got you covered.
In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines heading into tonight's broadcast.
In we go:
UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz"
Fight card and line-up
Results and live fight coverage
UFC 137 predictions and previews:
Predictions from the man himself, Nostradumbass
Spike TV Prelims preview and predictions
Facebook Prelims preview and predictions
Fight preview: B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Fight preview: Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo
Fight preview: Mirko Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson
Fight preview: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki
Fight preview: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
UFC 137 press conferences:
Pre-fight press conference
Press conference staredown pics
Press conference video
UFC 137 weigh-ins:
Weigh-in results
Weigh-in photos gallery
Weigh-in staredown pics
Weigh-in staredown videos
Weigh-in video
UFC 137 odds:
B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo
Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Filipovic
Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
Complete odds and betting guide
UFC 137 news:
Event poster
How to watch the event online
Conference call live blog
Nick Diaz conference call audio highlights
Open workouts photo gallery
Anatomy of another cursed fight card
Behind the numbers: Complete statistical breakdown of "Penn vs. Diaz"
Behind the numbers: Complete statistical breakdown of "Mitrione vs. Kongo"
Behind the numbers: Complete statistical breakdown of "Cro Cop vs. Nelson"
Exclusive interview with Roy Nelson
Exclusive interview with Brandon Vera
Exclusive interview with Dustin Jacoby
Exclusive interview with George Roop
Exclusive interview with George Roop part deux
Roy Nelson slims down for Mirko Cro Cop fight
UFC 137 editorials:
History in the Making: B.J. Penn becomes the undisputed lightweight king at UFC 84
History in the Making: B.J. Penn shocks the world by choking out Matt Hughes at UFC 46
History in the Making: Nick Diaz comes up short against Karo Parisyan at UFC 49
Nick Diaz will slap you if you ask him stupid questions
B.J. Penn is a much more dangerous fighter than Georges St. Pierre
If Nick Diaz finishes B.J. Penn, Cesar Gracie will ask for GSP next
B.J. Penn is too old to talk smack, doesn't need to prove anything anymore
Georges St. Pierre: If he uses all his skills, B.J. Penn will beat Nick Diaz
Dana White sweetened the pot for a hoodwinked B.J. Penn
Matt Mitrione -- from zero to hero
Matt Mitrione feels like a baby in mixed martial arts
Matt Mitrione is a very, very dangerous human being right now
Mirko Cro Cop: A big part of me will die when I stop fighting
Pride never die: Mirko Filipovic wants to prove that he's still Cro Cop
Roy Nelson prepares for Mirko Cro Cops left head kick by training at the cemetary
George Roop is going to get his respect with Shawn Tompkins as the angel on his shoulder
Donald Cerrone plans to get in the cage and whoop Dennis Siver's ass
UFC 137 videos:
Dana White video blog episode one
Dana White video blog episode two
Countdown to UFC 137
Event trailer
Main card preview
Chael Sonnen predicts "Penn vs. Diaz"
The pros pick "Penn vs. Diaz"
"Diaz vs. Penn" breakdown from Cesar Gracie
B.J. Penn road to Nick Diaz episode one
B.J. Penn road to Nick Diaz episode two
B.J. Penn is a real American, brother
Dana White gives B.J. Penn title shots easier than everyone else
Nick Diaz calls B.J. Penn his favorite fighter
Nick Diaz: This could be my last fight
Nick Diaz: I can't beat B.J. Penn unless I overcome my own personal faith in him
Matt Mitrione willing to stand and bang with Cheick Kongo
Cheick Kongo is not worried about Matt Mitrione's punching power
That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being.
What has been the biggest story heading into this event? Nick Diaz's tomfoolery? B.J. Penn claiming the UFC is trying to force him to say things? Something else?
Sound off, Maniacs.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, bj
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski
There is a glaring lack of contenders for Jose Aldo's UFC featherweight championship right now, something that many lightweights are keenly aware of. It's not surprising that former lightweight stalwarts are dropping to 145 to try and cash in, and two of them are facing off in the first fight on Spike TV. Tyson Griffin (15-5, 8-5 UFC) meets Bart Palaszewski (34-14, 0-0 UFC) in a featherweight bout at UFC 137.
Griffin is currently ranked at number 9 at featherweight on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Palaszewski is currently unranked. Griffin has just one UFC fight at featherweight, but his reputation as a lightweight and a lack of contenders at FW pushed him up the rankings quickly. Bartimus would definitely earn a ranking if he could knock off Griffin. This featherweight UFC 137 fight will be on the televised portion of the preliminary card, and will air live on Spike TV. The Spike broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Griffin: 27 years old | 5'6" | 68" reachPalaszewski: 28 years old | 5'9" | 70" reach
What have these two done recently?
Griffin: W - Manny Gamburyan (MD) | L Nik Lentz (SD) | L - Takanori Gomi (KO)Palaszewski: L - Kamal Shalorus (SD) | W - Zach Micklewright (KO) | W - Karen Darabedyan (SUB)
How did these two get here?
Tyson Griffin won seven straight fights to earn his way into the UFC in 2006 as a lightweight. Despite an early loss to current LW champ Frankie Edgar, Griffin made his way into the upper echelon of the 155 pound division with wins over the likes of Clay Guida and Gleison Tibau, before running into Sean Sherk and dropping a decision. Two more wins kept him near the top, but the wheels fell off for Griffin in 2010 with three straight losses. That forced a drop to featherweight, where he beat former title contender Manny Gamburyan in his 145 pound UFC debut (he fought at FW early in his career as well) at UFC on Versus 4. Griffin has won five fight of the night bonuses in his career.
Bart "Bartimus" Palaszewski has been competing in MMA for almost 10 years now, and has fought all over the place. After a long run in the IFL he was brought into the WEC, where he went a respectable 4-3. His UFC debut was supposed to come back at UFC 130 but he was forced off the card with an injury. This will be the first featherweight fight of his career.
Why should you care?
This should be a fast-paced matchup between two well-rounded guys. There's almost no way it will be boring.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, griffin
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Brandon Vera vs. Eliot Marshall
The Truth vs. The Fire. Both men earned reprieves from the organization in different ways, and the loser of this bout will probably be out of the organization again. So there's a lot on the line when former top contender Brandon Vera (11-5, 1 NC, 7-5 UFC) meet TUF 8 veteran Eliot Marshall (10-3, 3-2 UFC) in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 137.
Vera is currently ranked at number 25 at light heavyweight on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Marshall is currently unranked. Vera has steadily slipped down the chart over the last couple of years, but a win would at least keep him in the top 25. A Marshall win would go a long way towards earning some ranking points for him. This light heavyweight UFC 137 fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be streamed live on Facebook. The Facebook stream begins at approximately 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Vera: 34 years old | 6'3" | 78" reachMarshall: 31 years old | 6'3" | 77" reach
What have these two done recently?
Vera: Thiago Silva (NC) | L -Jon Jones (TKO) | L - Randy Couture (UD)Marshall: L - Luiz Cane (TKO) | W - Chris McNally (SUB) | W - Adriano Camolese (UD)
How did these two get here?
Brandon "The Truth" Vera debuted in the UFC waaay back in 2005 as a heavyweight, bragging about being the first guy to win the title at both HW and LHW. Four straight wins, including a 69-second TKO stoppage of Frank Mir, earned him a shot against former champ Tim Sylvia. Vera broke his hand early and dropped a decision, and a weird stoppage win by Fabricio Werdum chased Vera to light heavyweight. He won 3 of his first 4, only losing a razor-thin split decision to Keith Jardine. He then fought Randy Couture, and was quite frankly robbed when Couture won a decision. He was then destroyed by a fast-rising Jon Jones and dismantled by Thiago Silva, which was enough to earn his walking papers from the UFC. A positive drug test from Silva earned him one more shot though.
Eliot "The Fire" Marshall was a contestant on TUF 8 that actually lose his prelim fight, but earned his way into the house anyway due to an injury. He was eliminated in his second fight by eventual winner Ryan Bader. He actually fared quite well in the UFC, picking up three straight wins. None of them were very exciting though, and when he lost a split decision to Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC on Versus 1, he was unceremoniously dumped by the promotion. Three straight regional wins earned him a last-minute replacement spot against Luiz Cane, but Banha finished him via TKO in just over two minutes. Marshall is undoubtedly fighting to stay in the promotion tonight.
Why should you care?
Loser leaves the UFC. Frankly, this has all the makings of an ugly fight but the implied stipulation at least adds a little bit of drama.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, tim
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWatch Nick Diaz get mobbed by fans in the Mandalay Bay after the UFC 137 weigh-ins
If I only told you half of what has happened since our videographer, LayzieTheSavage, picked up Nick Diaz from the airport earlier this week then your mind would have a quiet nuclear meltdown inside your brain, liquifying your skull and spinal cord in the process. You don't want that, and surely I don't want to be responsible for the death of thousands across the world. Let's just say that I had to make the editorial decision to reject a few clips that were filmed since Nick Diaz arrived in Las Vegas. Don't worry, at least you guys have this exclusive video of Nick Diaz being absolutely mobbed by fans in the Mandalay Bay shortly after the UFC 137 weigh-in.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, mandalay bay, brain liquifying
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Ramsey Nijem vs. Danny Downes
In what could be a loser-leaves-town match, a TUF 13 veteran will face off with a prospect from the WEC that hasn't impressed in the UFC so far. These guys are two of the tallest lightweights on the roster, and both will be looking for their first win in the organization. Ramsey Nijem (4-2, 0-1 UFC) will face Danny Downes (8-2, 0-1 UFC) in a lightweight bout at UFC 137.
Neither fighter is currently ranked at lightweight on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, and it's going to take a few wins for either to get a sniff at them. Both are pretty young though, so anything is possible. This lightweight UFC 137 fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be streamed live on Facebook. The Facebook stream begins at approximately 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Nijem: 23 years old | 5'11" | 74" reachDownes: 25 years old | 5'11" | 72" reach
What have these two done recently?
Nijem: L - Tony Ferguson (KO) | W - Scott Casey (SUB) | W - Eric Uresk (TKO)Downes: L - Jeremy Stephens (UD) | W - Taurean Bogguess (SUB) | W - Tiequan Zhang (UD)
How did these two get here?
Ramsey Nijem attended Utah Valley university where he was an NCAA Division 1 wrestler. He was chosen to compete on The Ultimate Fighter 13, where he made it all the way to the finals. Unfortunately he was knocked out by Tony Ferguson in under four minutes. This is his first bout since he competed on the show, and the second lightweight fight of his career.
Danny Downes was considered a solid prospect when he was signed by the WEC in mid-2010. He was 6-0 with five finishes, and was matched up with former IFL lightweight champion Chris Horodecki. Unfortunately for Downes, he was dominated and eventually finished in the third round. He rebounded with a solid win over Tiequan Zhang. After the merger, he took a fight outside the UFC since they hadn't booked him, and survived an early scare to pick up the W. His UFC debut was a lopsided loss to Jeremy Stephens, but he showed a ton of heart by fighting off a brutal kimura and staying in the fight despite taking a hellacious beating. He'll need a win here to stay in the organization though.
Why should you care?
To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure. Downes has a ton of heart and usually gives it his all. And I guess if you liked TUF 13 you might like Nijem. That's about the best I can do.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137: B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz Dissection
Why is the UFC 137 main event between B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz such a timeless and monumental match up? For me, it's because fighters like Penn and Diaz are why I'll always be more of a fan than a journalist.
Trumpeted as the first non-Brazilian to win a BJJ world championship in the black belt category, the scrawny Hawaiian kid that meekly made his way into the cage looked commonplace and far from menacing. He seemed like just another fighter in just another fight.
This was during an era where most submission specialists were flailing punches like school girls or butt flopping uncontrollably like a dog with the runs dragging himself across the carpet. Instead, Penn erupted into a violent storm of strikes and left his first three opponents broken and asleep on the canvas before screaming something about Hilo and rappelling up into the arena rafters, exiting with a "WTF just happened?"sort of panache like Batman.
The same went for Diaz. The intro was "blah, blah, Cesar Gracie black belt" but it was "bam, bam, god damn!" and Robbie Lawler, who was actually being likened to Roy Jones Jr. at the time, was knocked the f**k out. Not immediately christened a god like Penn was, Diaz's path was more circuitous after three consecutive losses in a division dominated by wrestlers, but he still foreshadowed his individuality with the urban legend of handling round four with Joe Riggs at the hospital after the fight.
The mystique continued to grow and, though not a staple in the UFC, Diaz refused to go away. The hype heightened even further with a gogoplata finish of Pride champ Takanori Gomi in a mesmerizing war. The clamor crescendoed when the career-defining win was overturned for his habit of toking grass, etching his exultation so thoroughly that even legions of bong-toting stoners with a five-minute memory billed the fight as unforgettable.
Love 'em or hate 'em, win or lose, Penn and Diaz have chiseled their legacies into the annals of MMA. The defiant Nick Diaz will greet Frank Shamrock's handshake with his signature middle finger at the press conference, but help him up and raise his hand in respect after beating the braces off of him. The polarizing B.J. Penn will credit Edgar and his team after losing his lightweight belt, move up in weight, crush Matt Hughes and head to Subway on the back of his Harley a few months later, then take down the number-two wrestler and welterweight in a rousing fight dampened by a draw.
And what I love the most about these two is that they have an unparalleled natural talent and martial arts diversity, yet tear into their opponents like brawling but technical street fighters, unafraid to take risks and leave it all in the cage.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
There is simply not enough available internet bandwidth to share my complete thoughts on this dynamic match up, so let me start with some bullet points of the popular strengths, weaknesses and perceived advantages for both fighters.
Penn -- Strengths
Punching power
Crisp, tight, and straight-thrown boxing
Under-rated wrestling abilities
Unreal takedown defense
Insane flexibility
Elite grappling, excellent scrambling, though more power- and position-based
Bulletproof chin and difficult to finish
Diaz -- Strengths
Pissed off
Unorthodox boxing
Long reach, odd angles and off-beat timing
Under-rated clinch and Judo skills
Sick scrambling and sweeps; virtually impossible to hold down
Elite level, liquid-like guard game
Bulletproof chin and difficult to finish
Cardio for days
Penn -- Weaknesses
Cardio and heart, especially in later rounds
Dedication and motivation
Dealing with unyielding pressure
Predictable
Defending high caliber boxing in the pocket
Diaz -- Weaknesses
Wrestling and takedown defense
Footwork and head movement
Easy to hit
Predictable
Willing to fight anywhere, often resulting in a perceived lack of cage control
A pivotal aspect is whether one of them will change up their typical routines.
In both Edgar fights, Penn was stuck in the same gear and content to shuffle forward, throwing almost nothing but the jab, cross and left hook; consistently stringing those same three punches together in heated exchanges.
To the right, Penn's follow up to the one-two is a quick level drop, getting deep and clasping his hands around the waist while Fitch goes for the Thai plum.
Considering Diaz's static stance and stationary footwork, it makes sense that this has become a popular suggestion for Penn.
We can't forget, however, that Fitch turned the sequence to his advantage and that Diaz has busier hips and is better with sweeps than Fitch.
With two gifted and high level grapplers like this, I have no clue what will happen when the fight hits the ground. History is our only evidence and Diaz has never been contained on his back and Penn has never enforced the strategy against a slippery guard player like Diaz.
Since Diaz does things like dropping both hands down to waist when cornered by one of the most devastating strikers in MMA, the next logical guess is that Penn's heavy and knifing punches will do the same.
Of course, the kicker is that Diaz quickly recovered, used more head movement on all fours in the turtle position than he normally does standing, got back to his feet and went on to disarm Semtex with a classic pitter-patter TKO.
With Fort Knox level chins, I have a tough time believing either one will fall to anything other than a gradual accumulation of earth-leveling strikes.
That's where Diaz's relentlessly pressuring, preying mantis tactics of volume punching comes into play, along with the varied arsenal of strikes he throws in undetectable rhythms.
Blasting the bread basket is now a staple in his onslaught and he's at his best when he can find his groove with opponents who stand in front of him.
Penn is pretty straightforward in the stand up as well, generally moving in one direction at one speed and welcoming an in-your-face range to trade strikes.
When pressed, he hasn't demonstrated the knack to cut angles or circle out into open space, which is how most of the welterweight wrestlers (GSP, Hughes, Fitch) ushered him to the fence to complete takedowns.
Diaz will do the same but while seeking to shut the door to escape routes and brawl at close quarters.
Penn also struggled with the variety of angles of Edgar's distinct boxing behavior, and I think Diaz will present the same problems, but do so with upper-body movement, indecipherable rhythm and crazy punching trajectories rather than speed and in-and-out footwork.
Diaz has not typically been shellacked with the straight punches that Penn tends to throw. For those, he takes the risky approach of ducking and countering, palm blocking or retracting his head to move back from the blow.
Wide hooks were how Zaromskis and Daley caught him, while Gomi's Hadouken Punch was a sloppy hail mary of an overhand.
Penn is excellent in cracking a hard left hook through after his standard one-two -- which I think is the strike most likely to rock Diaz -- but that also means Penn is the ideal spot for a counter, and his defense isn't impenetrable either.
While I agree Penn is the better wrestler and there's a better chance of him taking Diaz down, I wouldn't rule out Diaz landing a takedown.
Penn isn't a better wrestler than Fitch, yet his quickness, timing and intelligence made it possible. Diaz could do the same and is just as crafty and domineering from the top (maybe more?) than Penn is.
Penn, though unquestionably an exorbitant grappler, has not demonstrated his guard playing acumen as well as Diaz and could be subject to the same perils of fending off a world class tactician from his back.
Though I believe that Penn's MMA performances haven't elevated his guard prowess as much as Diaz ... c'mon, it's still B.J. Penn.
Here from the Octopus Guard versus Hughes, Penn has exquisite scrambling and grappling transitions, it's just that most of his submissions were basic and facilitated by his thunderous striking.
Still, you can never fault Penn for blasting people on the feet and then pounding them into a vulnerable position to snare a choke. He definitely has intricate skill everywhere on the ground and it's a toss up with what will happen against Diaz.
So, you're wondering who I'm picking to win by now, and my answer is this: how the hell would I know? How could anyone?
In addition to being a drooling fanboy of both fighters and not wanting to see either lose, a logical case can be made for either to end up with their hands raised. I would wager that we'd see a wide range of different outcomes if these two fought twenty times, meaning I don't think whatever happens tonight will decide who is better and three rounds won't be satisfying enough.
This should be a frenetically paced barn-burner between two predatory and opportunistic killers that's decided by inches. One split-second decision could turn the tide or end the fight. On paper, there may be a viable list of pros and cons, but I envision the match up like mixing two volatile and unknown elements in a test tube and estimating the explosive reaction when you shake it up.
Penn is the narrow favorite on the betting lines which his superior level of overall competition justifies alone. My intent is to analyze rather than predict, so with a gun to my head I would hesitantly guess that Diaz might take a decision. His length, chin and awkward stand up matched with his nonpareil gameness has me leaning his way, especially in a stand up fight.
Penn's under-rated wrestling could over-ride everything if Diaz doesn't move his feet, but the way the Stockton scrapper has conducted himself from his back along with his chin, cardio and relentless tenacity gets him my vote.
My Prediction: Nick Diaz by decision
Suggested Reading Material
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn Takes Matt Hughes' Back with Octopus Guard
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game
Judo Chop: The Unconventional MMA Boxing of Nick and Nate Diaz
Judo Chop: The Boxing and Jiu Jitsu of Nick Diaz
Penn x Hughes gif via Grappo
Diaz x Zaromskis gifs via Sherdog Forums
All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Poll
B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
B.J. Penn
Nick Diaz
58 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, penn, bj
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWatch UFC 137 online tonight! 'Penn vs Diaz' live video stream/PPV details for Oct. 29
Expect the unexpected.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will once again air an entire fight card TONIGHT (Oct. 29, 2011), this time it's UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz," which will begin around 6:30 p.m. ET with a live video stream on Facebook. Once the Facebook stream ends, two additional bouts from the undercard -- Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver and Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski -- will air live on Spike TV at 8 p.m. ET.
There are tons of ways to watch the pay-per-view (PPV) main card tonight, which will begin at 9 p.m. ET sharp, featuring the unlikely, but volatile, 170-pound pairing of B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, in the marquee fight of the night.
You can call up Comcast or your local cable and/or satellite provider and order the PPV on your television. For the Internet folks among us, you can also stream the event on your computers using UFC.TV, Yahoo! Sports or UStream, among others.
And if you're really in a pinch, you can watch UFC 137 on your mobile phone via the Android Market or even now on YouTube.com. Remember, too, that there is a special UFC 137 closed-circuit show available if you are fortunate enough to be in and around "Sin City" this weekend.
However, if you need your UFC 137 results as soon as possible, for free, MMAmania.com will have complete results and live fight coverage, including round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of all the UFC 137 action before, during and after the event right here.
More details on the UFC 137 fight card, who is fighting who, as well as how to keep yourself updated, after the jump:
Main event:
170 lbs.: B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Main card (Pay-per-view):
265 lbs.: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione 265 lbs.: Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Filipovic
145 lbs.: Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
135 lbs.: Jeff Curran vs. Scott Jorgensen
Spike TV "Prelims:"
155 lbs.: Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver
145 lbs.: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski
Preliminary card (Facebook stream):
205 lbs.: Brandon Vera vs. Eliot Marshall
170 lbs.: Danny Downes vs Ramsey Nijem
185 lbs.: Chris Camozzi vs Francis Carmont
To watch the UFC 137 "Prelims" on Facebook, (if you have a Facebook profile) simply "Like" the UFC Facebook page and check out the "UFC Live Streams" tab on the left-side menu.
Again, remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 137, beginning with the Facebook prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET TONIGHT (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011). In addition, we will be your one-stop-shop for all the post-event coverage and highlights immediately following the show.
To get up to speed on all the news and notes for UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz," be sure to hit up our event archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, facebook, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Chris Camozzi vs. Francis Carmont
A TUF 11 veteran will be returning to the promotion after defeating a respected veteran (barely) in a regional bout. He will meet a French fighter who has looked quite impressive since he returned from a year out of the sport. Chris Camozzi (15-4, 2-1 UFC) will meet Francis Carmont (16-7, 0-0 UFC) in a middleweight bout at UFC 137.
Neither fighter is currently ranked at middleweight on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. It would take a nice run of wins before either would even be considered for the list, to be honest. This middleweight UFC 137 fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be streamed live on Facebook. The Facebook stream begins at approximately 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Camozzi: 24 years old | 6'3" | 75.5" reachCarmont: 30 years old | 6'3" | Unknown reach
What have these two done recently?
Camozzi: W - Joey Villasenor (SD) | L - Kyle Noke (SUB) | W - Dongi Yang (SD)Carmont: W - Jason Day (TKO) | W - Kelly Anundson (SUB) | W - Simon Carlsen (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Chris "Kamikaze" Camozzi had 15 pro fights, including a stint in the MFC, before he was selected for season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter. He won his prelim fight, but had his jaw broken in the process and that saw him leave the show early. He picked up a win at the TUF 11 Finale, then defeated Dongi Yang by super-close split decision at UFC 121. He was then submitted quickly by Kyle Noke at UFC 127, and inexplicably released from the promotion. He earned his way back in with a split-decision win over Joey Villasenor at Shark Fights 15 that was initially ruled a draw, but the scores were read wrong. He'll look to stay with the promotion for a longer stint this time by defeating Carmont.
Francis "Limitless" Carmont is a native of France that made his name in Europe as a talented-but-inconsistent light-heavyweight. He trains at Tri-Star Gym and is a teammate of UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. He is currently on a five-fight winning streak, and finished all five of those opponents. In fact, he's finished 14 of his 16 victories. This will be his middleweight debut.
Why should you care?
Both of these guys are surprisingly well-rounded, but I expect a slugfest on the feet here. Both are very tough to finish with strikes, so it could be quite the battle.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, vs, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowB.J. Penn says Nick Diaz fight was "probably" his last
One of the greatest fighters of all time, "The Prodigy" B.J. Penn has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts.In what was the 26th fight of his professional career, Penn went head to head with former Strikeforce Champion Nick Diaz in the UFC 137 main event.In nothing short of in all out war, Penn and Diaz exchanged strikes for much of their fifteen-minute clash. Though the Hawaiian appeared to have the edge in the opening-round, Diaz came out for the following two like a madman, pushing the pace
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, penn, openinground diaz, career penn
Read the full article at Low KickUFC Results: Nick Diaz defeats BJ Penn, accuses GSP of faking an injury
Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz made a successful, and a convincing Ultimate Fighting Championship return with a victory over BJ Penn in the main event of UFC 137.
Penn started the fight aggressively, connecting with a lot of striking combinations that started to paint a crimson mask on Nick Diaz's face. Penn also executed a takedown followed by a submission attempt, but Nick Diaz managed to defend well as the fight continued. Second by second, Diaz took control of the fight, as BJ Penn started
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick, penn, submission attempt
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137 Fight Card Primer: Dustin Jacoby vs. Clifford Starks
A boatload of injuries has turned a proposed Brad Tavares vs. Tim Credeur bout into a bout between two debuting 185 lb. fighters. One of the guys has known he was climbing into the octagon for a while, and was even on the main card for a couple of days. The other guy just fought (and won) less than two weeks ago. Dustin Jacoby (6-0, 0-0 UFC) will face Clifford Starks (7-0, 0-0 UFC) in a middleweight bout at UFC 137.
Obviously, neither fighter is currently ranked at middleweight on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. Hardly surprising since they only have 13 fights between them and neither has fought on a big stage before. This middleweight UFC 137 fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be streamed live on Facebook. The Facebook stream begins at approximately 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Jacoby: 23 years old | 6'4" | Unknown reachStarks: 30 years old | 5'10" | Unknown reach
What have these two done recently?
Jacoby: W - Billy Horne (TKO) | W - Ryan Sturdy (TKO) | W - Oscar Glover (TKO)Starks: W - Artenas Young (UD) | W - Rudy Aguilar (TKO) | W - Roe Harris (KO)
How did these two get here?
Dustin Jacoby was a college football player at Quincy University, and started training at what used to be Matt Hughes' H.I.T. Squad gym after he graduated from college. He went 9-1 as an amateur and picked up three titles, all at light-heavyweight, before turning pro. He has picked up five of his six pro wins by TKO. He hasn't faced much stiff competition so far, but his 6'4 frame will be a big advantage over his 5'10 opponent.
Clifford Starks was an NCAA division 1 wrestler at Arizona State University and was a teammate of UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. He fights out of Arizona Combat Sports. He made his pro debut in late 2009 and mostly fought for the Rage in the Cage promotion before getting a shot in the main event of Shark Fights 20 just under two weeks ago. He picked up a decision in an uneventful fight, mostly due to his opponent refusing to engage. Wrestling is his biggest strength in the cage and he'll look to ground Jacoby as soon as possible.
Why should you care?
It will probably be tough to have much of an emotional investment in a bout featuring two unknown, debuting fighters. They're both undefeated though, and someone's 0 has got to go! Wow, that was lame.
More UFC 137 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows - Matthew Roth
UFC 137: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
UFC 137 Weigh-In Video and Results - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Dissection - Dallas Winston
Judo Chop: B.J. Penn's Back Control - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 2 - Matthew Roth
Judo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game - Ben Thapa
UFC 137: George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137 Striking Breakdown: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137 Press Conference Recap: Jon Anik to Broadcast Booth, UFC on Fox Undercard on Facebook and Fox.com - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Roy Nelson 'I'd Have to Cut Off A Leg To Make 205' - Matthew Roth
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 92: UFC 137 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting - Tim Burke
UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions - Matthew Roth
UFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Talks Fighting Nick Diaz and Future Title Shots - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: George Roop Discusses Bout With Hatsu Hioki, Death of Shawn Tompkins - Tim Burke
UFC 137 Video: Danny Downes Fighter Diary In Preparation for Ramsey Nijem - Anton Tabuena
UFC 137: Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Matt Mitrione's Rapid Rise the Exception, Not the Rule - Leland Roling
UFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
UFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Breaking Down the Striking of Matt Mitrione - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 137: B.J. Penn Not Offended By Nick Diaz At All - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz - Best Bets for Fight of the Night - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 137: Donald Cerrone's Unlikely Run May Land Him in Title Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 137: Facebook Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 137: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke
UFC 137: Cesar Gracie - If Nick Diaz Finishes B.J. Penn, He Should Get GSP Next - Tim Burke
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, tim
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowB.J. Penn sees some of himself in Nick Diaz
B.J. Penn had no plans to fight Nick Diaz inside the Octagon anytime soon, if ever. However, after several problems arose in trying to put together Saturday’s UFC 137 card, the two former training partners were paired up and will face off across from each other in just a few short hours.
UFC 137 is set for tonight from Las Vegas, Nevada’s Mandalay Bay Events Center with the PPV also featuring Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo in the co-main event.
Penn, who originally was scheduled to meet Carlos Condit, has remained a follower of Diaz for quite some time. In fact, he sees quite a bit of himself in Diaz.
“I’ve kept a close eye on Nick Diaz’ career. He’s one of my favorite fighters that I love to watch out there and I think right now, he’s probably the best boxer in mixed martial arts today,” said Penn, in a recent conference call with media. “He spars with Andre Ward, he was signed to fight Jeff Lacy, he was considered to fight Roy Jones Jr., and with accolades like that and with the performances that he puts on in the right, with a high volume of punches and all those things, I definitely think that he’s probably the best boxer in the sport today.”
Penn has held the UFC title before, while Diaz was the Strikeforce champion when he signed with the company. The two have stepped inside the cage countless times against some of the best fighters in the world.
“We’re similar in a lot of the same ways. With the boxing, with the jiu-jitsu and with the way our careers have gone,” Penn said. “Once in a while we end up clashing with the powers that be, and it just ends up going that way for some reason. There are a lot of similarities between me and that guy (Diaz).”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, penn, andre ward
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainPick a Card: UFC 137 (MAIN CARD)
Welcome back fight fans. Yesterday, we looked at the preliminary card for UFC 137 where I predicted wins for (amongst others) newcomer Dustin Jacoby and Donald Cerrone.
Speaking of “Cowboy” Cerrone, don’t forget to enter yourself in our first giveaway done completely over Twitter. Anytime leading up to the start of the main event, Tweet me your fighter picks for the main card, and how you believe BJ Penn / Nick Diaz will end. If your picks beat mine, you’ll win the Cerrone autograph. In the event of more than one winner, the tiebreaker will be your main event end pick. If there’s still a tie, all eligible entrants go into an online randomizer where the winner will be picked.
A Breakdown of the UFC 137 Prelims
Let’s get going to fairly explosive main event, which could bring a lot of fans to their feet, and provide some headaches along the way. It’s not often you see two debuts on the main card but as luck (and injuries) would have it, it’s happening.
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
Hioki has long been considered one of the best featherweights in the world, and since the announcement of his signing to the UFC, fans and analysts the world over have been salivating at the thought of Hioki running roughshod over the Featherweight division. Standing his path is a man who defeated one of the best up and coming featherweights to get here: Roop. Roop was a heavy underdog going into his fight against Josh Grispi, but delivered one of the most wince inducing body shots in UFC history to bring that fight to a sudden halt. Former TUF participant Roop is a bit of an MMA chameleon, having fought in 3 different weight classes in his career.
Hioki’s wins read like a Featherweight list of stars of yesterday and today: Rumina Sato, Mark Hominick twice, Jeff Curran and Ronnie Mann among them. His most recent high profile victory was over Bellator tournament finalist Marlon Sandro. In fact, his only loss in the last four years was to current UFC vet Michihiro Omigawa.
Roop’s treaded a more treacherous path to this fight. His devastating loss to Hominick in January resulted in him becoming just another name floating through the division, and may have resulted in the loss his title chances as well. Defeating an undoubted top 5 Featherweight in the world would get him back on the right track, and he does bring in the advantage of fighting a Japanese UFC rookie, and the odd sense of immediate cage rust they seem to bring with them. Hioki’s biggest downfall will be this psychological edge Roop brings in, however, his training here in North America should have conditioned him to be ready for the confines and restriction of the cage, and it shouldn’t be an issue come fight night.
Expect Roop to try to keep this standing, and expect him to try to throw his usual brand of head and body punches and kicks. Hioki is best not to get drawn into this, and to take this immediately to the ground. Hioki has plenty of experiencing submitting some of the best fighters at 145, and he’s fought and easily blown through fighters that are better on the ground than Roop. If Hioki keeps his nerves in check, and doesn’t fall prey to the Japanese curse, this should be a pretty easy night for him enroute to a shot at Aldo.
Prediction: Hatsu Hioki def. Geroge Roop via Submission
Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
MMA’s “Big Frog”, Curran, makes his return to the UFC after seven years away, and immediately draws one of the division’s finest in Jorgensen. They find themselves on the main card after a bit of reshuffling, and the loss of the Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit main event. Jorgensen is one of the hidden assets of the UFC Bantamweight division, holding wins over the likes of Brad Pickett, Antonio Banuelos, and Takeya Mizugaki en route to Curran. His explosive knockout victory over Ken Stone was one of the highlights of the Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale, and served the division notice that he was going to be fighting a different fight going forward. In that fight, he displayed many striking characteristics uncommon to his usual style, and caught Stone, and many viewers offguard.
You should see Jorgensen return to his roots, however. Curran is an experienced BJJ fighter, and will look to quickly turn this into a wrestling vs. jiu jitsu match. He’s won four of five to bring him back to the UFC, however, lacks that one signature victory over a top tiered opponent in recent years. His biggest “name” win in the last four years is likely a 2009 win over Dustin Neace, and he had a fairly disastrous run through the WEC in 2009, going 1-4 before being shown the door. To be fair, all of his fights were against the division’s top opponents, and he was only stopped by Urijah Faber. Curran has said that could be his last hurrah, as he teased retirement if he finds he cannot compete at a level with the top bantamweights.
Jorgensen has the hot hand coming into this fight, but he’ll be giving up a slight height and reach disadvantage to Curran. He always wins when he needs to. It may not be a pretty win, but he always looks good doing it. Jorgensen is savvy enough to control Curran from the top, and keep from getting caught in his sweeps and submission attempts. Standing, you’ve got to give Jorgensen a slight striking edge. Curran’s never really been a power puncher, and his record shows, with 1 KO stoppage in 47 fights spanning nearly fourteen years. On a different night, this could easily be the fight of the night, and send submission fans into a frenzy, but with so many power punches and exciting fighters on the card, this will have to try hard to compete.
Both Team Curran MMA guys are probably the underdogs coming into their fights, but unlike Palaszewski, who I believe can pull off the upset against Griffin, this may be too tall a task for Curran. However, I don’t believe this will be the end of him. He’s too skilled, and too talented to hang his gloves up. Hopefully he’ll be back to fight another day.
Prediction: Scott Jorgensen def. Jeff Curran via Unanimous Decision
Mirko Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson
This is a tale of two fighters headed down the same path, both for different reasons. “Cro Cop”, one of the world’s most beloved mixed martial arts fighters of all time, has been an out and out disaster since coming to North America to continue his MMA career. Once one of the most feared strikers in the world, Filipovic has suffered one loss after another, while his erratic behavior toward MMA outside of his fights has led many to ask whether his heart is simply dwindling for the sport. Nelson’s heart, on the other hand, has never come into question. Never one to back down from a fight, Nelson’s conditioning has let him down, while his chin has kept him in all of his fights.
For different reasons, both men are standing at the exit door to the UFC, and one may be shown it at the end of the night.
Following two quick knockouts of Brendan Schaub and Stefan Struve, Nelson has lost his last two (four of six overall) while taking ghastly amounts of punishment from Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir. The JDS fight was one of the most awkward beatings in recent memory, as JDS threw every tool in his arsenal at the advancing Nelson, but could not knock him out, almost to the point of throwing him off his game. Nelson faced a similar fate against Frank Mir. Mir threw everything he had at him, but Nelson refused to give up. In both fights, Nelson showed the true heart and spirit of a fighter, but the cardio of a 90 year old smoker, coming under major scrutiny. This time around, armed with a different training regimen, and enduring six months of new fat jokes from pal Dan Hardy, Nelson enters with a different outlook.
“Cro Cop” is one of MMA’s great enigmas. He defies all the rules of usual MMA fighters. No sponsorship, no wild outward personality and nothing flashy. Just a stoic attitude and a pair of Croatian flag shorts. His walkout shirts have no major sponsorship, just a yellow fonted “CRO COP TEAM” across the front. His previous handiwork speaks for itself. Victories over a venerable encyclopedia of MMA’s who’s who. Leg kicks so devastating they render opponents unconscious. Duran Duran song “Wild Boys” wasn’t nearly as fear-inducing until “Cro Cop” got a hold of it. But he’s not the same “wild boy” of old.
This is the fight that everybody’s looking forward to, but nobody’s looking forward to. Two of MMA’s favorite people meet, and it’s likely one will leave the UFC, possibly forever. Filipovic has stated on more than one occasion that he believes he’d be better off fishing. Nelson’s always wanted to fight, and that has never come into question. At this point, you’d have to give the edge to Nelson, whose underdog heart and ability to absorb copious amount of punishment are his biggest strengths coming into this fight. “Cro Cop” may be best to try and push Nelson into tiring himself out, and capitalize from there. Nelson’s hands have a history of staying too low when he’s tired, and that’s when “Cro Cop” can unleash his left kick. Filpovic would be best to utilize his reach advantage as well, since Nelson’s power in close is capable of knocking anybody out. Nelson’s boxing combos are his
As a long time “Cro Cop” fan, it pains me to say that I believe this is his last ride, win or lose. At this point, he cannot compete with the division’s elite, and has even shown trouble keeping pace with the lower tiered heavyweights. It might be time to walk into the Octagon one last time, fight once more, and call it a day.
Prediction: Roy Nelson def. Mirko Filipovic via Unanimous Decision
Matt Mitrione vs. Chieck Kongo
Mitrione is one of the most blessed fighters in the UFC. Not many MMA fighters out there get the pleasure of fighting a co-main event in only their 6th fight. Of course, a lot happened for “Meathead” to make it here, but here he is.
Kongo is one of the luckiest fighters in the UFC. His comeback against Pat Barry stands as one of the most unlikely in UFC history, as he was arguably out on his feet more than once, but was punched into conciousness and hit a Hail Mary hook to win and bring him to this fight.
With four knockouts and a Fight of the Night performance under his belt, chances are Mitrione won’t start a wrestling match with Kongo – At least not until he’s rocked a couple of times. Kongo hasn’t won by anything other than knockout in over four years, and though he’s well versed on the ground in a couple different disciplines, the man with the freakiest physique in the UFC (called “comical” once by Joe Rogan) will probably stand and strike with “Meathead”. Forget gameplans. Both fighters have little discipline when perturbed, and it will only take one hard punch for this to turn into a Joey Beltran-esque slobberknocker. This should be a matchup of raw power and nothing but. Neither fighter has expressed interest in technical fighting, featuring fantastic takedown defense, and great groundwork if the other is game to stand and strike. You’ll probably see the fight go to fence pretty often, where Kongo can often be susceptible to panicked defense. Mitrione may be able to get a bit of momentum when Kongo goes into panic mode, as he’s been known to hold the fence and hold shorts in those moments of lapsed judgement. Mitrione’s best shot would be to rattle Kongo early, and distract his discipline right away. That’s going to be his key to victory. If he can rattle Kongo’s cage without getting too antsy for a finish like Barry did, you could see Meathead possibly taking this, and starting to step up into the division’s elite. If Kongo relaxes, and fights the game that brought him those gusty victories against the likes of “Cro Cop”, Antoni Hardonk, and even the Dan Evensen fight, this bout should be his. The UFC is taking a huge risk on TUF veteran Mitrione, pitting him against someone of Kongo’s stature, and hoping it pays off. Schaub was in a similar situation against a (seemingly) aging Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria and couldn’t pull the victory off.
To be quite honest, this was the hardest fight to pick out of all of them. Break this fight in half, really. Mitrione has the skills to beat Kongo in the first seven and a half minutes, but after that, Kongo’s experience edge and gritty takedown style will start to kick into overdrive. If that happens, Mitrione needs to ensure he’s won the first two rounds, because Kongo will surely take the third. Give “Meathead” the benefit of the doubt here. His hands are heavy, and his head is, well, meat.
Prediction: Matt Mitrione def. Cheick Kongo via TKO
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Now…the main event everybody wanted to see, yet nobody wanted to see. There’s no middle ground it seems. Either you’re interested in this main event, or you’re not. I personally veer to the latter. I’ve never been a Penn fan, yet I’d rather see him succeed more than Diaz. Diaz had a somewhat heartwrenching piece in Fight! Magazine approximately a year ago, outlining his upbringing, and how much good in his life was done by turning himself and Nate to MMA. A great piece that gave a bit of perspective into Diaz’s mind, and the way he operates. A small glimpse of that was available in Jack Burton‘s article here yesterday.
Diaz is a vastly different fighter than the one the UFC released years ago. He kept up that same level of maturity, but became a much better fighter. Diaz is one of the best pure boxers in MMA, so much so that he was considering leaving MMA to start a career there before Dana White convinced him to come back to face the welterweight elite.
Penn, however, is someone who is consistent to a fault. Fortunately, every time you see Penn, you know exactly what you’re going to get. Unfortunately, the same applies. With the exception of the Matt Hughes fight, Penn fight formula is simple: Overwhelm and out-power your opponent, then go in for the kill. Few in the business do it as well as Penn. His ability to make the most difficult victory easy has been one of his biggest strengths. That was as a lightweight, however. As a welterweight, he’s always looked a bit beatable. He gives up such a large size range that he comes off as a mere mortal in a division full of some of the most eclectic fighters in the world.
Diaz is one of those ecclectic fighters. His ability to do whatever it takes to win at all costs has made him an exciting fighter to watch (and one of the most conceited.) In fact, he has yet to taste clean defeat since his loss to Sean Sherk at UFC 59. His only loss in his last 16 fights is a doctor’s stoppage to KJ Noons, whom he easily defeated in a rematch. Nearly all of those wins have come by TKO or submission. He’s preferred to stand and strike his last few North American outings, and his victories against Evangelista Santos and Paul Daley showed he can quickly turn a fight in his favor and win from any possible position.
Diaz’s weakness, however, could be Penn’s key to victory. Penn has an eagle’s eye when it comes to finding the smallest opening to take advantage of, and counterpunches with the best of them. Diaz gets very sloppy when momentum shifts in his favor, and can start punching with his hands down. His chin was tested frequently by Paul Daley, and he was stunned a couple times, but powered through.
The difference in this fight probably won’t be who gets the last punch in, but who can grapple the best on the ground. With a larger target than Frankie Edgar to work with, Penn can put his ground game to work on Diaz. However, Diaz is like a sleeping cat on the ground. His ability to spring into a dangerous position from nothing immediately was shown at no better than against Santos, where he turned being taken down into an armbar victory in 20 seconds. Diaz’s awareness of his surroundings and his smarts in tight situations will be what ultimately powers him to a victory. As much as I hate to say it, I’m going to take Diaz with an armbar or rear naked in the late stages of the fight.
Prediction: Nick Diaz def. BJ Penn via submission (with Penn making excuses the following week)
As always, thanks for joining me for UFC 137 as I see it. Despite the loss of a few familiar names, it should be a good night of fights, and hopefully at this time next week, we can look back and take solace in the fact that it was a decent card after all.
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway. We’re hoping to make this a regular thing if it’s a success. See you cageside!
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Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 137 Results and Play-by-Play for “Penn vs. Diaz”
UFC 137 goes down tonight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas featuring a main event showdown between welterweight contenders BJ Penn and Nick Diaz.
The UFC 137 also includes heavyweights Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo and Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Cro Cop among its 11 bouts.
MMAFrenzy.com will have live results snf play-by-play for UFC 137 starting at 6pm ET tonight, but while you wait check out our UFC 137 previews, UFC 137 weigh-in highlights, and UFC 137 walkout shirts.
MAIN CARD (PPV)
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson
Jeff Curran vs. Scott Jorgensen
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone
Bart Palaszewski vs. Tyson Griffin
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Brandon Vera vs. Eliot Marshall
Ramsey Nijem vs. Danny Downes
Francis Carmont vs. Chris Camozzi
Dustin Jacoby vs. Clifford Starks
Pictured: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz
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Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Weigh-In Video Highlights
Highlights from the UFC 137 weigh-ins via MMA Fighting.
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Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 Main Event Results - Diaz Tops Penn, Calls for GSP; “The Prodigy” Says This Is It
LAS VEGAS, October 29 – 15 compelling minutes with BJ Penn made it clear - it’s been too long since we’ve seen Nick Diaz in the Octagon. But in defeating “The Prodigy” via unanimous decision in the UFC 137 main event Saturday night, Diaz’ first UFC bout since 2006 sent shockwaves through not only the Mandalay Bay Events Center, but through the MMA world, as he apparently retired Penn and put himself squarely in line for a shot at Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight title.“I don’t think Georges is hurt, I think he’s scared,” said Diaz, who was originally scheduled to face St-Pierre on this card before he was pulled from the bout after no-showing two press conferences to promote the fight. St-Pierre was then slated to face Carlos Condit before injuring his knee and withdrawing, pushing Diaz-Penn into the main event slot.And while seeing the surging Diaz score the win over Penn wasn’t a shocker, Penn’s sudden retirement in the Octagon after the bout was.“Hats off to Nick Diaz,” said Penn. “This is the last time you’ll see me in here. I want to perform at the top level. I’ve got a daughter and another one on the way. I don’t want to go home looking like this.”Scores were 29-28 twice and 29-27 for the former Strikeforce welterweight champion, who shook off Penn’s strong first round to dominate the next two framesThe in-arena anticipation for the bout was like that for a world title fight, and Penn came out firing to start the bout, landing a couple good shots before Diaz wrapped him up against the fence. Penn broke loose fairly quickly, again working his striking game and reddening Diaz’ face. After a miss by Diaz, Penn scored a takedown, taking Diaz’ back in an ensuing scramble before settling in the top position. Diaz stayed busy with strikes from his back, and with a little over two minutes left he found his way back to his feet. Pinning Penn to the fence, Diaz’ tried to get his offense in gear, but Penn got away with a quick elbow and continued to impress with his standup. Diaz fired back with his usual busy attack, as well as some taunts, but Penn kept his cool.A fired up Diaz slapped away Penn’s punches and stuck his chin out as round two began, but again, Penn’s cool served him well as he got in some quick shots before the two tied up. After breaking, the two exchanged at close quarters, but after stuffing a takedown attempt, Diaz was able to mark up Penn’s face with some knees. After that sequence, Diaz began to open up as Penn stood with his back to the fence, and the Stockton native’s body attack appeared to do the most damage. With 1:40 left, Diaz hurt Penn with a left to the head and he opened up with both hands, putting the former two division UFC champ in serious trouble. With less than 20 seconds remaining, Penn finally got a brief respite as the two locked up, but as the bell sounded, Diaz was clearly in control of the fight.Barely able to contain themselves at the bell to start the final round, Penn tried to lock up with Diaz to get the fight to the ground, but the tireless Diaz wasn’t having it. Penn did use the time to get back to the middle of the Octagon for a moment, a key to him getting back in the fight. Diaz’ relentless attack wasn’t allowing for too many moments of daylight, but Penn did get his shots in, with the evidence showing on Diaz’ face. Diaz was doing the lion’s share of the scoring though, with Penn’s amazing chin on display for all to see. With under two minutes left, Penn surged with a series of hard shots, not ready to give in. A brief tie-up against the fence wasn’t a break, it was just an opportunity for the two to recharge for one last assault, and that’s just what they gave each other, drawing an appreciative roar from the crowd for a final blast of toe-to-toe slugging.With the win, Diaz improves to 27-7 with 1 NC; Penn falls to 16-8-2.
Posted in: diaz, ’t, face, penn, penn ’s
Read the full article at UFCUFC Quick Quote: Nick Diaz will slap you if you ask him stupid questions
"The thing with Nick Diaz is that he has a different mentality and believe me, I have known a lot of Nick Diaz's in my life and they come from a different place than me and you do, man. Nick Diaz is one of those guys that will get up and walk over there and slap you. He is one of those guys. So trying to contain Nick Diaz and trying to get him to hang out here in a press conference situation when you got somebody over there saying stupid sh*t to him... He's here today, he's here to fight, ask him questions about the fight. If you want him at the next press conference, don't start saying stupid sh*t to him."
-- Don't get slapped, homie. That's what UFC President Dana White told MMA Heat's Karyn Bryant yesterday after the UFC 137 press conference. The bossman has always been adamant about never wanting to change a fighter's personality, and Nick Diaz is no different. White was referring to a question asked by a reporter during yesterday pre-fight press conference in which he jokingly asked Diaz if he had to be locked in his room to keep from skipping town. Diaz jokingly played it off by saying he wasn't locked in, but rather brought down from his room an hour early. According to the UFC President, questions like that could result in a slap from the bad boy from Stockton. You've been warned! But will Diaz do some slapping tomorrow night (Oct. 29) when he squares off against B.J. Penn in the main event of UFC 137 in Las Vegas? Stay tuned!
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, conference
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 Weigh-In Highlights Videos: BJ Penn, Nick Diaz Scuffle
The UFC 137 fight card hit the scale on Friday to make their fights official for tomorrow’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas. Headliners BJ Penn and Nick Diaz scuffled after hitting the scale, while heavyweights Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo made weight for the co-main event.
Highlights of the UFC 137 weigh-ins are below:
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz:
Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo:
MORE: UFC 137 Weigh-In Results: BJ Penn, Nick Diaz Scuffle After Making Weight
Stop back to MMAFrenzy.com tomorrow for live UFC 137 results and complete UFC 137 coverage.
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Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Finally Mean Mugs BJ Penn
Remember that line that your mom or grandmother would say whenever you made a funny face or crossed your eyes? "If you don't know that off it will stay like that!" or some similar variant? Nobody really believed it, but doubt no more. Nick Diaz is proof that it's possible as he cannot help busting out his mad-dog against BJ Penn, a man he claims he doesn't want to fight.
Who needs enemies when you've got friends like these?
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, penn, morenbspnick diaz, variant nobody
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendUFC 137 Weigh In Video: BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Almost Come To Blows
So here's the amazing stare down video between B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz. There were concerns that they were being too cordial with each other during media calls leading up the fight and that there was absolutely zero animosity between them. Well, this video proves that even if Nick Diaz respects you, he'll still mad dog you at the weigh ins. Both Penn and Diaz made weight making the fight official.
Following the scuffle Nick Diaz walked off the stage, opting to not take part in the post-weigh in interview with Joe Rogan. Is this the kind of thing that the UFC is prepared for should Diaz get past Penn and somehow become the welterweight champion after Georges St. Pierre finally defends his belt against Carlos Condit? I don't think it matters at this point. Diaz is the anti-hero and has a massive fan base that loves his attitude.
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, penn, joe rogan
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 weigh-in photos: An MMAjunkie.com image gallery
LAS VEGAS - MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today's official "UFC 137: Penn vs.
Diaz" weigh-ins, where out of the 22 competitors, Tyson Griffin was the
only fighter who did not successfully make
weight.
Today's entertaining festivities, which featured a brief dust-up between
main event competitors B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz, took place at the
Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The same venue hosts Saturday's
pay-per-view event.
Check out images of all the fighters, including Penn, Diaz and the largest Roy Nelson ever seen on the scales.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, event, las vegas, roy nelson
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 137 Weigh-in Video: Penn & Diaz Scuffle
Considering their respect for each other and past relationship, no one expected the explosion of emotions from BJ Penn and Nick Diaz at the UFC 137 weigh-ins.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, penn
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Weigh-in Photos
MMAWeekly.com's exclusive UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz weigh-in photo gallery.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, photo
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Weigh In/Full Results
The full weigh-in results included: Main Card Nick Diaz (170) vs. B.J. Penn (169) Cheick Kongo (234) vs. Matt Mitrione (255) Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (235) vs. Roy Nelson (252) Jeff Curran (134) vs. Scott Jorgensen (135) Hatsu Hioki (145) vs. George Roop (145) Prelims: Donald Cerrone (156) vs. Dennis Siver (155) Tyson Griffin (149)* [...]
Posted in: diaz, result, vs, weighin results, infull results
Read the full article at Fighthub TVPenn, Diaz off to quick start at UFC 137 weigh-ins
It didn't take long for B.J. Benn and Nick Diaz to get in each other's faces at the UFC 137 weigh-ins on Friday.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, penn diaz, bj benn
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNick Diaz discusses the differences in fighting BJ Penn and GSP
One of the most controversial fighters in MMA, Nick Diaz is eagerly awaiting his return to the UFC which will take place in a little over 24 hours. Tomorrow night at UFC 137 in Las Vegas, he will face BJJ ace and former double-division UFC champion, BJ Penn. He comes into this fight after having his opponent changed in the last month or so from the long-time welterweight king Georges St. Pierre to the popular Hawaiian after he failed to make a pair of press conferences meant to pump up the pay-per-view.
Known for his private personal life and close knit camp, Diaz is not into ‘playing the game’ as Dana White would say. However, over the last few days, Diaz has been quoted talking about his training and his mental state coming into the fight.
“I’ve just done my best to try not to focus on what’s going on and just try to live every day like it’s not a really a big deal because I don’t know what’s going to happen with me. But it’s not going to make a difference whether or not I whine or cry about it or panic to get things done; I’m just going to do what I always do and train and when it’s time to fight I go fight and that really depends on whether or not I’m ready,” Diaz explained during a conference call with media. “And that’s really about me, it’s not about whatever’s going on in the world or whatever, who I’m fighting, who I’m not fighting. I’m not really going to have a choice on that, my job is to fight, so I have to fight when I’m told to fight and that’s why I do what I do, and that’s what I do well.”
Diaz also compared his past and present opponents, explaining what he sees as the difference between the two fighters.
“This fight is a completely different fight (than the GSP one). And I think BJ’s a lot better fighter to be honest with you. On the technical standpoint, he’s got much better jiu-jitsu, boxing, and even on a technical level, I wouldn’t count him out.”
The outspoken Californian made sure to comment on the fact that he is training hard for his long-awaited return to the UFC ranks, saying, “I’ve been there putting in 100%. I always said that’s what’s important. You’ve got people that want to see fights, they want to see good fights, they want to see a good fighter and that’s what I’m trying to bring to the table.”
BJJ Gave Diaz Stability he Thirsted for as a Youth
Diaz will hope to have a successful first outing in the main event of UFC 137 on Saturday night, in Las Vegas, and will hope to get back into the title hunt by beating Penn.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 137 Penn vs Diaz: Staff Predictions
B.J. Penn vs Nick DiazLeland Roling - I've bounced back and forth on the logic in picking Nick Diaz in this fight, but at the end of the day -- it's difficult to look past what Penn can do to opponents with porous defenses. Diaz, while possessing an insane offensive output, is one of the worst defensive fighters standing, mainly because he's throwing leather rather than defending. Noons took advantage of that in both fights, and Penn, who's far more accurate and powerful with straight punches, will too. I wouldn't put it past Penn to take down Diaz and smother him from the top either. B.J. Penn via decision.Anton Tabuena - Tough fight to pick and I've been going back and forth in my head about the reasons why either guy would win. Both have good chins, good boxing, good jiujitsu. Penn is better with wrestling, while Diaz wins the cardio battle by a mile. It would be funny if Penn tries to ‘Fitch' Diaz, because he can, although I don't think that's going to happen. On a stand up battle, Penn is much more technical, but if Diaz can use his reach and push his pace, and land constantly to the body, he could win this. It could go either way, but I'm going for the upset though. Nick Diaz via Decision.Tim Burke - I just don't see many ways Diaz can win this fight. It's not a good style matchup for him and I don't think he's as good as his Strikeforce run made him out to be. Dare I say it, BJ might be the better boxer. And that's Nick's only chance, so I'm gonna go with B.J. Penn by dominant decision.Fraser Coffeen - I admit it right off the bat, this might be bias talking, because I really am not a big fan of B.J. Penn. But I honestly think Diaz takes this. Penn has never been as much a force at Welterweight, but more than that, all that I've read from him just seems to show that his head is not in the best place. And he's a fighter that desperately needs focus and drive to perform to his best. I don't think we see the best B.J. Penn here, and I think Diaz's pace and high output of punches is enough to outlast that version of Penn. Nick Diaz by decisionKJ Gould - I think there's only one reason for Penn to have spent time training with Matt Hughes in Iowa: get some wrestling in with similar weight fighters you won't be facing down the road. With that in mind logically Penn will use his jab but if he feels Diaz crowding him trying punches in bunches, Penn will take him down and it'll be his top game versus Diaz's guard game. Plus this is the first fight in a long time Diaz will have been in a fight that allows elbows on the ground and he's shown to cut up easily in previous fights. I think he might hang in there and not be finished and all it takes from Diaz is one well placed bodyshot to turn the fight in his favour. Penn seems the sensible choice. BJ Penn by Bloody Elbows.Matt Roth - It's crazy that even after all the baloney, Diaz still finds himself in the main event role. He's definitely good and has a ridiculous chin and cardio. I just don't think he beats BJ. And if he does? Power to him, I'll eat crow and put him in the top 3 of the division. I just don't see it happening. To me the fight really is a case of "anything you can do I can do better". BJ Penn by Bloodier Elbows than what KJ was talking about. Staff Picking Penn: Tim, Leland, KJ, RothStaff Picking Diaz: Anton, FraserCheick Kongo vs Matt MitrioneLeland Roling - Where exactly is the intersection between Mitrione's rise and Kongo's fall? That's the question to answer. One would surmise Kongo still has the skills to beat a guy as green as Mitrione, but it's difficult to say that considering his last two performances and Mitrione's development under Duke Roufus. In my mind, it's a toss-up, and when in doubt -- always bet on Roufus. Matt Mitrione via TKO.Anton Tabuena - Mitrione can use his size to muscle Kongo to the fence and wear him out a bit, to get a better shot at winning... But if this becomes purely a stand up battle, which I think it will, then Kongo takes it. Mitrione has shown huge improvement in his game, but I'm not sure if it will be enough to win a stand up war against a guy like Kongo. Cheick Kongo by DecisionTim Burke - I'm really not sure what to think of this fight. Kongo has very good striking but he's somewhat predictable. Mitrione has looked good so far in his career but there's something about his striking that bugs me and I can't put my finger on it. I'm going to go with Kongo just because he's willing to change up his game if he's losing at one particular aspect. Cheick Kongo by decisionFraser Coffeen - Kongo's predictability has made me overlook the fact that he is slipping a bit. He didn't do well against Browne, and I can't forget him getting tagged by both Pat Barry and Frank Mir. A few years ago, he could have outstruck Mitrione or taken him down. But I think time has caught up to him, and he's not the same gatekeeper anymore. This is a really close one though. Matt Mitrione by KOKJ Gould - Never in the deepest, darkest recesses of my mind did I ever think I'd enjoy watching Meathead fight in the UFC, nor expect him to be as successful as he has been since The Ulitmate Fighter. Kongo's chin is questionable but it's offset by fast recovery, and I still think it'd be a bad idea of Mitrione to headhunt as Kongo can land with precision while under fire. Mitrione training with Randy Couture and Neil Melanson intrigues me to see what part of the clinch and ground game they're able to impart on him and Kongo's biggest challenges have often been on the ground if you can get him there. Mitrione is deffinitely athletic enough to power Kongo to the mat even if he resorts to a good ol' fashined Football tackle. I just think as dangerous as Kongo can be, Mitrione has more upside and continues to evolve. Matt Mitrione by TKO (Ground'n'Pound)Matt Roth - It was almost two years ago following the season 10 Ultimate Finale that I proclaimed that Matt Mitrione was a future top 10 heavyweight. Most of you laughed at me. Some of you even thought I was crazy. Well here we are, Mitrione is about to break into the top 15 with a win over Kongo with his next bout lining him up for the top 10. How you like me now? I like Mitrione and I've made no secret that he's one of my favorite fighters in the heavyweigh division. He wins tomorrow night with punching power and athleticism. Matt Mitrione by TKO.Staff Picking Kongo: Tim, AntonStaff Picking Mitrione: Fraser, Leland, KJ, RothMirko Filipovic vs Roy NelsonLeland Roling - I can't believe my eyes. Fans don't believe Mirko is back? Shame on you. In all seriousness, Nelson should win. Pick Nelson if you want a safe bet. When it comes to Pride legends on their last leg, screw it. Let's have some fun. Mirko ‘Cro Cop' via decision.Anton Tabuena - As with all Cro Cop fights, (and a bit of Wand's lately), I keep hoping he will win, but my mind says otherwise. Mirko will probably have his moments, as he did during the bouts against Schaub and Mir, but it's just a matter of time. His opponent will eventually find his aging chin that will end the night, leaving the few remaining PRIDE fans sad. Roy Nelson by KO.Tim Burke - We've been hearing about the rebirth of Mirko's intensity for like seven fights now. I don't think Roy Nelson is the guy to wake him up. Nelson is the kind of guy that Cro Cop would pick apart back in the day - a slow, plodding striker who usually looks for a home run shot. But this isn't the same Mirko, and Roy should be able to knock him out late in the fight. I'm still hoping for a Cro Cop renaissance though. Throw those kicks, dammit! Roy Nelson by TKO.Fraser Coffeen - Cro Cop is prone to being hit by an overhand punch. Cro Cop is easy to KO. Nelson has a powerful overhand punch with KO power. What more need be said? Roy Nelson by KOKJ Gould - I think Nelson wants to be taken seriously more than Filopovic wants to fight. This new introspective Mirko doesn't fill me with confidence his head is in the right place when it comes to in-fight mentality. Nelson has power, he also has grappling and Cro Cop isn't as much of a physical roadblock was Frank Mir or Junior Dos Santos. I just can't see how Nelson loses this unless he decides he wants to hug mid-fight and join Mirko in a duet while on a road trip somewhere down the line. Nelson by KOMatt Roth - Roy looks like an english lit teacher. He also looks to be in the best shape of his career. Cro Cop has talked about how this is likely the final fight of his career. I think that means either Cro Cop has mentally checked out or he wants to go out in a blaze of glory. I'm hoping it means going out swinging but I doubt it. Nelson by KO. Staff Picking Filipovic: LelandStaff Picking Nelson: Tim, Anton, Fraser, KJ, RothScott Jorgensen vs Jeff CurranLeland Roling - Jorgensen's wrestling is good enough to keep this standing where Curran always has problems. Unless Jeff brings this to the ground and smothers Jorgensen in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he's in for a long night. Scott Jorgensen via decision.Anton Tabuena - I'm still pissed they were thinking of putting whatshisname on the main card over a Jorgensen fight. Scott Jorgensen by TKO.Tim Burke - I respect the hell out of Jeff Curran, and every guy that fights below 155 should too. But the reality is that Curran can't hang with the best guys at 145, and Scotty is one of the best. I'm extremely happy this made it onto PPV, even if it took like seven tries. But this will be Jeff Curran's swan song in MMA, I believe. He will retire when Jorgensen gets his hand raised. Scott Jorgensen by decision.Fraser Coffeen - Hometown pride and a love for the sport's veterans will have me rooting for Curran, but this is an insane welcome back fight for him. At this stage in his career, he's just not up to the challenge of a top 5 fighter like Jorgensen. Sorry Big Frog. Scott Jorgensen by DecisionKJ Gould - Jorgensen is younger, stronger and a wrestler. I just can't see Curran being able to overcome this since Jorgensen isn't a rookie, either. Jorgensen dictates where the fight goes and I can see it stay standing until he floors Curran and finishes. Jorgensen by TKO.Matt Roth - Scott Jorgensen is just better at this point. Curran was good but that was age ago and the Big Frog just ain't that guy any more. Scotty by his signature guillotine. Staff Picking Jorgensen: Tim, Anton, Fraser, Leland, Roth, KJStaff Picking Curran: Hatsu Hioki vs George RoopLeland Roling - For the love of God, Hioki.. don't try to convince everyone you can strike. That's all I ask. If you do that, you're dead to me. Dead. Hatsu Hioki via submission.Anton Tabuena - Hioki is not the Korean Zombie. Hatsu Hioki by Submission.Tim Burke - I always believed that the only thing holding Hioki back from being a superstar is his mental game. He doesn't always show up 100% mentally for fights, and it costs him dearly. He should have no problem focusing on this fight though, and Roop is a good style matchup for him. There is going to be a ton of pressure on him and I don't think he'll live up to people's lofty expectations in his first bout, but he'll get the W. Hatsu Hioki by decisionKJ Gould - I never thought much of Roop from The Ultimate Fighter, and while I think a bit better of him as a Bantamweight since rebuilding in the WEC Hioki does have a level of submission grappling we haven't generally seen at Featherweight in the UFC thus far. He also has a good chin, taking some hard shots from the likes of Marlon Sandro and still going on to win the fight. Hopefully Hioki shows he's still in his prime and injury free and doesn't fallen victim to the UFC Japanese Curse that has struck down many of his comrades. Hioki by Submission.Matt Roth - I love me some Hioki. I really do. I just don't think this is a good fight for him. Yes, he has cage experience. Yes, he's run through absolutely everyone in the past couple of years. But, I just think Roop is a tough fight for him. He's made a ton of improvements and I think has the tools to beat Hioki. George Roop by TKO. Staff Picking Hioki: Tim, Anton, Fraser, Leland, KJStaff Picking Roop: Roth
SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz
Dennis Siver vs Donald CerroneLeland Roling - I'm torn. I like how Cerrone has matured, and I'd love to see him win this match-up. I have this odd feeling that Siver's chaotic flurries of power punches and kicks will light up Cerrone at some point. Cerrone isn't exactly terrible at using his range, but he isn't great either. I'll take Cerrone, but Siver is a 2-to-1 underdog. I think you know what that means. Donald Cerrone via decision.Anton Tabuena - This will be a very interesting bout and another toss up. Cerrone has a better ground game, but I doubt that would come into play here. Both guys are pretty talented standing up, with Siver probably being a bit better. I want Cerrone to win, and he can definitely do so if he uses his length and his kicks properly, but I think Siver takes this. Dennis Siver via DecisionTim Burke - I'm a big fan of Cowboy, but I think this is where he gets derailed in the UFC. I don't think he can win a kickboxing battle with Siver and I'm pretty sure he won't be able to take him down. That spells trouble. Dennis Siver by decisionFraser Coffeen - Another super close and hard to call fight here. On the one hand, I think Cerrone can push the pace and land a higher volume of strikes, so that if they go the distance, his output will tip the cards in his favor. On the other hand, I don't think he can really hurt Siver, whereas Siver has the power to drop Cerrone and take the rounds based on damage. In the end, I think those big shots will add up, but I wouldn't be shocked for Cerrone to get the decision win, whether he deserves it or not. Dennis Siver by decisionKJ Gould - We're long overdue another Spinning Siver Sidekick Stoppage, but I'm not sure if this is the fight we'll see it re-emerge in. Cerrone has looked solid against Paul Kelly and Charles Oliveira and this fight with Siver is the right step up in competition in the UFC Lightweight division he needs to establish himself as a possible title threat. I expect the winner of Ben Henderson and Clay Guida to be next in line for a shot at Frankie Edgar and with a win for Cerrone I can't see him being too far behind in line. Cerrone's experience and all around game should be enough to beat the German based striker who apparently has some Judo in his background though we've rarely seen it. Cerrone by decision.Matt Roth - This should be an obvious pick for me. Cerrone has skills and has been killing dudes lately. I just don't like that he's so open about how often he drinks. That's not something an athlete should be doing. He also has been talking about matches beyond Siver. I'm picking him but man I don't like that pick. Cerrone by Submission.Staff Picking Siver: Tim, FraserStaff Picking Cerrone: Leland, KJ, Roth
Tyson Griffin vs Bart PalaszewskiAnton Tabuena - I just hope he can make it exciting. Tyson Griffin by Decision.Tim Burke - I think Bart's going to have trouble with the cut to 145, and it's going to sap his cardio. Griffin can outwrestle him and outwork him, and Bart will fold late. Griffin by dominant decisionKJ Gould - I still can't get over how far Griffin has fallen. When he was making waves at Lightweight, even in a hard fought loss to a debuting Frankie Edgar, everything about him said ‘future lightweight champion'. Featherweight is a weaker but developing division and while Griffin got a decision over Manny Gamburyan I think he really needs to impress against Palaszewski for people to take notice of him again. Palaszewski hasn't fought in nearly a year and while I don't think Griffin's wrestling is as good as Kamal Shalorus' it should be enough to stifle the Polish-American in a similar fashion. Tyson Griffin by decision.Staff Picking Griffin: Tim, Anton, Fraser, Leland, KJ, RothStaff Picking Palaszewski: Brandon Vera vs Elliot MarshallLeland Roling - Vera makes me want to hate him when he speaks. I can't help it. If he actually believes PED's are what made him get absolutely owned on the ground against Thiago Silva, he's delusional. Silva still out maneuvered him in that fight, and that's a technique issue. Anyways, I'll buy into Vera's return being a bit more exciting. Brandon Vera via TKO.Anton Tabuena - Getting embarrassed on the ground against Thiago Silva made people forget that for the first time in several fights, Vera actually came out aggressive standing up, and he actually won all the striking exchanges on that bout. If this gets decided by a stand up battle, which Vera should be able to do being the superior wrestler, he's going to run through Marshall. Brandon Vera by TKO.Tim Burke - This could be the most boring fight ever. Marshall's not likely to give Vera the room to strike, and it's probably going to turn into an ugly clinch battle. I'll take Vera via superior wrestling, but I hope it's a lot better than I think it's gonna be. Brandon Vera by decisionKJ Gould - I think the UFC must really like Vera. I'm wondering how much of this is out of sympathy considering he had his face caved in by Jon Jones, and his nose imploded by a drugged up Thiago Silva. Silva was so high he started playing Vera like a bongo when they fought. Stylistically everything about this match up suggests ‘Bounce-Back Fight' for Vera. He just should not lose to Elliot Marshall who I could have swore retired not that long ago. He may well do again after Vera's finished with him. Brandon Vera by TKO.Staff Picking Vera: Tim, Fraser, Anton, Leland, KJ, RothStaff Picking Mashall: Ramsey Nijem vs Danny DownesAnton Tabuena - Here are Downes' advantages in the fight: He's definitely one of the scariest and most intimidating dude in the sport. He also has better striking, and a lot of heart. So while he can be smothered by Nijem's wrestling, I think Downes will find a way to win this. Danny Downes by Decision.Tim Burke - Despite the loss to Jeremy Stephens, I think Downes has a bright future just because of his heart, but there are a lot of holes in his game. He won't have the height advantage he usually has against Nijem, and Nijem's wrestling will likely be the difference. I like Downes and I want him to win, but logic says Ramsey Nijem by decision.KJ Gould - Nijem has solid wrestling and a good submission game, and while Downes has shown he can submit off of his back it was against a relative unknown at a regional show. While I've underestimated WEC guys going over to the UFC at Lightweight and below Downes only fought twice for WEC going 1-1. He won't be able to out-muscle Nijem like Tony Ferguson did and doesn't have the grappling to give him any problems either. Nijem lives to fight another day and should get a comfortable decision if not a submission. Nijem by decisionStaff Picking Nijem: Tim, Fraser, Leland, KJStaff Picking Downes: Anton, RothChris Camozzi vs Francis CarmontLeland Roling - I'm not a huge fan of Chris Camozzi, but he can use his reach effectively. Unfortunately, Carmont can match his size, and this drop to 185 lbs. for the French-fighter who trains at Tristar was a genius move. I think both men stack up well, so it's a toss-up in my mind. Francis Carmont via TKO.Tim Burke - Most people don't know who Carmont is, and that's with good reason. I'm honestly shocked he got a UFC contract, because I've never thought he was all that good. I guess being GSP's friend worked out well for him. Camozzi's no superstar either, but I think he has enough skill to keep Carmont at bay. A finish is unlikely. Chris Camozzi by decision.Staff Picking Camozzi: Tim, Anton, Fraser, KJStaff Picking Carmont: Leland, RothDustin Jacoby vs Clifford StarksLeland Roling - I'm a huge fan of hating on guys from my own area, mainly because Illinois MMA is lacking any real competition for legitimate talent coming out of the region. Case in point is Carson Beebe. But Jacoby trains at H.I.T. Squad, and he's 6'3". Big obstacles for Starks to face on short notice. Dustin Jacoby via TKO.Tim Burke - My guess is that Leland is the only one who of us who has even seen these two guys fight. I honestly haven't done enough research to adequately break this down, so I'll go with the guy who didn't fight two weeks ago. Dustin Jacoby by TKO.KJ Gould - Peer pressure. I can't handle it. I'll trust our resident prospects expert fully on this as I have no idea who either guy is.Staff Picking Jacoby: Tim, Anton, Fraser, Leland, KJ, RothStaff Picking Starks:
Posted in: fight, diaz, mitrione, penn, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 fight card: B.J. Penn vs Nick Diaz preview
Two of the most talented welterweights in the world will make battle tomorrow night (October 29, 2011) as former multi-divisional champion B.J. Penn takes on former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz in the main event of UFC 137.
B.J. Penn is stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment. He's currently 0-2 against both the UFC lightweight champion (Frankie Edgar) and welterweight champion (Georges St. Pierre). As he waits for one of those champs to drop the title, he just needs to keep racking up wins against everyone else and that includes Nick Diaz.
Nick Diaz was supposed to be main eventing this pay-per-view already, although it was originally against Georges St. Pierre with the title on the line. A couple missed press conferences and flights and he was demoted to the co-main event against Penn. Fortunately for him, and unfortunately for GSP, the champ went down with an injury and now Diaz is again in the main event. He's looking for a career-defining victory against Penn tomorrow night.
Will "The Prodigy" put away the Stockton bad boy? Can Diaz score a significant victory against a top level UFC opponent? What does each top shelf welterweight need to do to secure a victory tomorrow night in the UFC 137 main event?
Let's find out:
B.J. Penn
Record: 16-7-2 overall, 13-6-2 in the UFC
Key Wins: Matt Hughes 2x (UFC 123, UFC 46), Diego Sanchez (UFC 107), Kenny Florian (UFC 101)
Key Losses: Frankie Edgar 2x (UFC 118, UFC 113), Georges St. Pierre 2x (UFC 94, UFC 58)
How he got here: B.J. Penn was a legend before he ever even entered the UFC, having been the first American Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt to win the gold medal in the World Jiu-Jitsu championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Penn shocked the world when he blasted them top ranked lightweight Caol Uno in 11 seconds at UFC 34 but would come up short against champion Jens Pulver just two months later.
When Pulver relinquished the title to compete overseas, Penn fought Uno in a rematch to a draw that was so lukewarm that the UFC eliminated the entire lightweight division. One year later, upon his return to the UFC, he was awarded a welterweight title shot against then considered unbeatable champion Matt Hughes but "The Prodigy" took Hughes' back and choked him out in the first round to win the UFC title.
Instead of defending his belt, the Hawaiian left the UFC and his weight ballooned, even fighting future UFC champion Lyoto Machida at heavyweight. When he returned, he lost a hotly contested decision to Georges St. Pierre in a number one contender match but was granted the title shot when GSP couldn't make the date due to an injury.
This time around, Penn would get worn down by Hughes and an exhausted "Prodigy" would fade under Hughes' attack late in the third round. The Hawaiian took a year off, filmed season five of The Ultimate Fighter as a coach against Jens Pulver and then avenged his loss to "Little Evil" on the finale.
The newly motivated B.J. Penn would win the vacant UFC lightweight championship against Joe Stevenson and would defend it three times to soar up the pound-for-pound rankings. He would lose a welterweight title shot to Georges St. Pierre in the process and then would also lose consecutive decisions to current champion Frankie Edgar to surrender his lightweight title last year. Since then, Penn has moved to welterweight where he destroyed Hughes in a trilogy match and drew with consensus number two welterweight Jon Fitch earlier this year.
Penn is in limbo at the moment and a big showing against Nick Diaz could help him find his place.
How he gets it done: B.J. Penn is an incredible Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and his boxing is very crisp. That's not his path to victory, however. The biggest thing that separates Penn and Diaz is Penn's offensive wrestling. "The Prodigy" displayed terrific takedown skills against Jon Fitch earlier this year. Fitch is one of the best MMA wrestlers on the planet and Penn manhandled him in the first 1 1/2 rounds.
If he could do that to Fitch, he can definitely do it to Nick Diaz. Penn also has likely been working those muscles for longer periods of time so he won't get as exhausted this time around either.
When he's not working for takedowns and trying to advance position on the the ground or dish out ground and pound, Penn should be patient in his stand-up. Nick Diaz wants to lure him into a brawl, but instead, Penn should sit back and wait for openings. Nick Diaz does not have great defensive boxing and he gets caught or dropped in nearly all of his recent fights.
At some point, Diaz will likely leave himself open and Penn could hurt him badly if he can take advantage.
Nick Diaz
Record: 25-7 (1 No Contest) overall, 6-4 in the UFC
Key Wins: Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley), Frank Shamrock (Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz), Robbie Lawler (UFC 47)
Key Losses: Sean Sherk (UFC 59), Diego Sanchez (Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale), Karo Parisyan (UFC 49)
How he got here: Nick Diaz has been fighting tough challengers since he was 17 years old. He battled Chris Lytle to a unanimous decision victory in just his second professional bout. Diaz was the inaugural WEC welterweight champion and burst onto the scene in the UFC when he knocked out Robbie Lawler, a fighter the promotion had been grooming to be a potential future champion.
Diaz had a 6-4 run in the UFC, but could never quite get over the hump. He left the promotion in early 2007 and defeated Takanori Gomi via gogoplata in one of the most exciting bouts in MMA history although the result was overturned with a positive test for marijauna. Diaz would lose a match to K.J. Noons for the EliteXC lightweight title before heading to Strikeforce and winning the inaugural welterweight championship there.
Diaz is in the midst of a 10 fight winning streak that includes victories against the likes of Paul Daley, Evangelista Santos, Hatato Sakurai as well as avenging his loss to Noons. He's looking for validation with a victory against B.J. Penn on Saturday night.
How he gets it done: Nick Diaz is longer than B.J. Penn and that could be the key to victory for him. He's got a crazy offensive attack in his striking that consists of pure volume strikes, mixing in so many blows that the opponent gets confused and doesn't see the heavy shots coming.
Diaz also likes to talk trash, leave his arms up, get his opponent flustered. If he can get Penn angry, perhaps draw him into a brawl, that's the type of fight he loves and that's the type of fight he can win. If Penn loses his composure in the fight, he could make a mistake that the Stockton native could capitalize on.
Lastly, if Diaz can push a crazy pace, he could tire Penn out. The key will be to get in Penn's face and get him to be really active. Penn gassed out late against Jon Fitch in his last fight and conditioning is never a problem for Diaz so perhaps that could be his path to victory as well.
Fight "X-Factor:" The X-Factor for this fight is, with how much respect Nick Diaz has for B.J. Penn, will he be willing to fight his normal style, which is, taunting, trash talking, motioning his opponent and forcing them to scrap with him instead of sticking with their gameplan.
If Diaz has too much respect for Penn to do that, he could wind up fighting Penn's fight, which could be really bad for him. Penn will likely either want to take Diaz to the ground or be patient standing and counter Diaz's volume strikes when he sees an opening so if Diaz doesn't get in his head, he could be in for a world of hurt.
Bottom Line: This is a battle of two very evenly-matched opponents. If B.J. Penn doesn't utilize his wrestling advantage, it could literally be either man's fight. Nick Diaz has more to prove and more to lose with this bout than Penn does as he was originally slated to fight for the UFC welterweight title and would likely be right in contention again if he were to win. Both of these fighters bring it every time and put on a "Fight of the Night" worthy performance or a knockout or submission of the night. Expect fireworks.
Who will come out on top at UFC 137? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will win the main event of UFC 137 tomorrow night?
B.J. Penn
Nick Diaz
2 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHere’s the scuffle between Bj Penn and Nick Diaz at the UFC 137 weigh-in that you NEED to see
Nick Diaz stepped on the scale for his first UFC weigh-in since 2006 at exactly 4:20 pm. Before today, BJ Penn made some 'not-so-nice' statements towards Cesar Gracie and even challenged him to a fight in an interview this week. Of course, Diaz being the 209er that he is, heard this statement and immediately internalized it as a personal insult towards himself. That's why at today's UFC 137 weigh-ins that just went down minutes ago, Diaz got directly into BJ's face and even threw a punch at Penn if you look at the footage closely. Props to ZombieProphet for ripping this video from UFC.
Go to the 8:10 mark for the physical staredown between the two fighters.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, penn, bj
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Weigh-In Results
The UFC 137 weigh-ins took place earlier this evening at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It was definitely an interesting weigh-in. First, Tyson Griffin, who was making his first cut to featherweight, missed weight by three pounds. He was given an hour to drop the weight, but didn’t look too excited about it. That far off, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t even try.
Then Roy Nelson comes out… in a fat suit! No sneak peak at Nelson’s physique today, but the numbers don’t lie. Nelson came in eight pounds lighter than he did at UFC 130 in May.
And last but not least, BJ Penn and Nick Diaz damn near went at it right on stage. Diaz, like he does with every opponent, got up in Penn’s face and the next thing you know they’re butting heads and Dana White is jumping in to break them up. Not sure if something happened behind the scenes beforehand, but given the mutual respect they seemed to have for each other leading up to the fight, no one was expecting a hostile stare down.
The weigh-in results:
BJ Penn (169) vs. Nick Diaz (170)
Cheick Kongo (234) vs. Matt Mitrione (255)
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (235) vs. Roy Nelson (252)
George Roop (145) vs. Hatsu Hioki (145)
Jeff Curran (134) vs. Scott Jorgensen (135)
Donald Cerrone (156) vs. Dennis Siver (155)
Tyson Griffin (149) vs. Bart Palaszewski (146)
Eliot Marshall (204) vs. Brandon Vera (205)
Danny Downes (155) vs. Ramsey Nijem (155)
Chris Camozzi (185) vs. Francis Carmont (185)
Dustin Jacoby (185) vs. Clifford Starks (186)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
UFC 137 “Penn vs. Diaz” will take place tomorrow, Oct. 29, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live on pay-per-view at 9pm ET/6pm PT.
More UFC 137 weigh-in pics at CombatLifestyle.com.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, weighin
Read the full article at MMA ConvertPenn, Diaz Get UFC 137 Green Light
When a knee injury forced welterweight king Georges St. Pierre to withdraw from the UFC 137 main event against Carlos Condit, he left a significant void behind. Enter former two-division champion B.J. Penn and onetime Strikeforce titleholder Nick Diaz. Problem solved.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, carlos condit, knee injury, penn diaz
Read the full article at SherdogUFC 137: ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Preview – The ‘Don’t Be Scared, Homie’ Edition
First, it was supposed to be all about Georges St. Pierre defending his crown against perhaps one of the best Strikeforce champions to ever flee that fading organization. But then challenger Nick Diaz bailed on a press conference, so it was going to be about St. Pierre taking on Carlos Condit, while BJ Penn faced Diaz. An injury to the UFC welterweight champ waylaid those plans, which put Condit on ice and turned the spotlight back on Diaz, who will now headline with the legendary Hawaiian. Afraid that this incarnation of UFC 137 is going to fall apart, or – Heaven forbid – suck? Don’t be scared, homie. Given St. Pierre’s penchant for not finishing anymore, and Diaz and Penn’s capacity for delivering excitement, this permutation is the best possible outcome in terms of match-ups. After all, what would you rather watch: the Canadian lying on top of Diaz or Condit for five rounds, or Diaz and Penn hurting each other with such ferocity their corner men die? I’ll take some of the latter, thank you very much (sorry Nate Diaz and Reagan Penn). So let’s break down Saturday night’s UFC installment, and discuss how the main event, as well as the rest of the somewhat interesting bouts on the card, will go.
-Nick Diaz vs. BJ Penn – Whatever qualities epitomizes the best spokesperson for the sport, Diaz doesn’t possess them. Sure, he can fight at an elite level – his boxing (both offensive and defensive) is way beyond anything his peers can muster, his jiu-jitsu is of the black belt variety, and his cardio is endless. But if you need someone to work a press junket or give decent interviews, forget about it. Diaz is not your man in that regard. Conversely, Penn is very capable and willing when it comes to dealing with reporters and having cameras stuck in his face, and we all know his boxing is stellar, his jiu-jitsu is aces, and at times the former UFC lightweight- and welterweight champ can be explosive as hell. Okay, that’s their stats laid out in Dungeons & Dragons character sheet form; now for the harsh truth of reality. Penn is going to get killed. Just as we’ve seen with pretty much everyone he’s faced in the last three years, Diaz is going to taunt him, step in close, and hit Penn with no less than a thousand punches of varying wattage. And the accumulation is going to make the Hawaiian keel over. It’s as simple as that.
-Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo – How’s your physics? Good? Okay, then write this down: The trajectory of a TUF veteran on his way up, sporting striking skills that improve dramatically every time we see him, divided by the trajectory of a heavyweight who’s won only two of his last fights in the Octagon (and the last one, just barely). Now calculate how fast Mitrione is going to knock Kongo out. The correct answer is “Geez, I just got up to get a beer. Why is that man dead?” You know, once upon a time Kongo was a monster when it came to kickboxing. But somewhere along the way he focused too much on wrestling (which was for sure a weak spot), and his dangerousness left him. Mitrione has been given fights against incrementally tougher competition and he’s dispatched just about all of them. Kongo is doomed.
-Mirko “CroCop” Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson – It’s no fun watching CroCop fight anymore. You want him to show at least just a little bit of that superstar that ruled the roost in PRIDE, and when he gets clobbered, it’s just all sadness and disappointment and more talk from him about retirement. TUF 10 winner Nelson doesn’t evoke those same kinds of emotions when he loses, but maybe that’s because we don’t expect as much from him. Yes, he’s got good hands and a black belt in jiu-jitsu. However, he’s got a gut that makes it appear as if he spent his training camp on the couch, and how can anyone be anything other than pleasantly surprised when he smokes the likes of Brendan Schaub and Stefan Struve? Anyway, Nelson is coming off convincing losses to Frank Mir and Junior dos Santos, while CroCop fell to Schaub and Mir. Expect Nelson to bonk the Croatian fighter on the head hard enough to make him sleep, and then there will be sadness mixed with “Oh, hey, look what that chubby guy did.”
-Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran – Jorgensen is one of the best bantamweights in the world. Too bad champ Dominic Cruz exists in that world, too, as that means Jorgensen – who lost to Cruz in incontrovertible fashion back at WEC 53 – will never get the belt. But he can still hit hard and wrestle even harder, which will make for a rough night for opponent Curran. Curran is a complete old schooler who saw action at UFC 46, and his jiu-jitsu is solid. It won’t save him. Jorgensen is going to get him down, get on top, and pound away.
-George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki – There was a time when being a champ in Japan meant you’d be a killer when you came to the States. Now, not so much. Which isn’t to say that Shooto and Sengoku champ Hioki is going to be a pushover for opponent Roop. With his skillful grappling and competent stand-up, he could very well trounce the TUF castoff. But given how bad his Japanese brethren have performed in the Octagon, you just never know how Hioki will do. Can he dance in and out of Roop’s excessive reach to pick him apart, and tie the American in knots on the ground? Yes, he can. He can also totally bomb. For Japanese MMA’s sake, let’s hope he doesn’t.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, ’t, vs, penn
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBJ Penn doesn't feel his fulfilled his potential yet
In less than 36 hours, future potential UFC Hall of Fame fighter BJ Penn is scheduled to square off against former training partner Nick Diaz. However, even with two titles in two different weight classes “the prodigy” thinks his best is yet to come.
The popular Hawaiian recently spoke about his past success and how far he feels he can still go, making it appear as though he plans to keep on competing and improving over the coming years.
“I’ve never really reached my peak and I’ve never really reached my potential, I’m going to fight until I get to that point,” Penn said in an interview on the UFC’s website.
If the 32-year old does come closer to reaching that level, it won’t be a walk in the park with just a few buddies.
“(Diaz) does a lot of things very well…we just gotta do everything he can do, but we do it faster, and stronger, and harder, and first”, Penn continued. As for the crowd, Penn vs Diaz is now the main event after a string of incidents taking him from an undercard fight against Carlos Condit to the spotlight with Diaz.
Penn Excited About Welcoming Diaz Back to the UFC
But Baby Jay is no stranger to the center stage, he has fought for twelve UFC titles against some of the biggest names in the business like Georges St. Pierre, Frankie Edgar and Matt Hughes.
After a long and storied 25-fight MMA career, Penn has the confidence and experience to be the victor.
“I want to just put on the performance of my life, I want to come out there with my hand raised…on October 29th I will defeat Nick Diaz.”
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, ufc hall, penn, diaz penn
Read the full article at Fighters.comMMA Link Club: The even steven #UFC 137 bout between BJ Penn & Nick Diaz @MMASupremacy @FightOdds @LucaFury
BJ Penn and Nick Diaz is an even fight in the minds of many MMA fans. What side do you fall on?
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, penn, mma fans
Read the full article at Fight OpinionUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Weigh-In Results
The UFC 137 weigh-ins go down on Friday with main event fighters B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz hitting the scales starting at 7pm ET.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, penn, weighin
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137 Pre-Fight Press Conference Photos
Exclusive UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz pre-fight press conference photo gallery featuring BJ Penn, Nick Diaz, Mirko Cro Cop, Dana White, and more.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, photo, prefight
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyNick Diaz, B.J. Penn Have Intense Staredown at UFC 137 Weigh-Ins
Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, VideosNick Diaz and B.J. Penn have one of the more memorable showdowns at the UFC 137 weigh-ins with both fighters having to be separated by Dana White. Check out the video below.
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, video, bj
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 Breakdown: The Main Event
B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz‘s mutual respect and admiration may have rendered them unusually subdued coming into their upcoming bout, but the moment these two step inside the Octagon at UFC 137, there will be guaranteed violence. The Zuffa brass may not exactly feel “fortunate” following all the main event turmoil leading up to this Saturday, but surely they will admit that having such a strong co-main event ultimately saved this card from sinking completely. And while Georges St. Pierre‘s injury will leave a sour taste in people’s mouths, the fact remains, a fight pitting Penn against Diaz would have been considered a mouth-watering main event under normal circumstances.
Welterweight Fight: B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
What Nick Diaz will attempt to do is far from a mystery. He will move forward, throw his “peppering punches”, throw plenty of combinations, and go to the body repeatedly. This is the way Diaz has always fought, but he has made some tremendous improvements in actually improving upon it in recent times. While his approach and strategy remain the same, his technique has gotten significantly better. That is not to say that Diaz will ever be mistaken for a technical striker, but there can’t be any doubts as to his efficiency.
Many of Diaz’s opponents have fallen victim to the sheer volume with which he throws, and Diaz will look to overwhelm Penn the same way he did to his previous adversaries. He will look to take advantage of his reach by establishing his jab, continuously look for his lead right hook, and follow it up with the left; most likely to the body. Perhaps the most glaring aspect of the improvement in Diaz’s boxing has been his increased power. While the Stockton native isn’t a heavy hitter by any means, he has learned to sit on his punches in order to put more weight behind them. And while volume remains his main asset, he has proven that he can hurt his foes when he connects cleanly. Diaz’s single most dangerous punch is his left hook to the liver, and if he is to have any chance of stopping the otherwise iron-chinned Penn, then the left hook to the body is the punch he will have to bank on.
However, for all of Diaz’s offensive improvements, his defense has remained typically shaky. His flat-footed stance continues to make him a still target, which, coupled with his lack of head movement, makes him extremely susceptible to getting lit up by a talented counter-puncher. Additionally, while Diaz does a good job at utilizing his reach effectively, he is all too content to stand inside the pocket. This almost cost him dearly against Paul Daley, and had it not been for Diaz’s otherworldly chin and recovery, he likely would have been separated from consciousness in that bout.
This plays right into BJ Penn’s hands, as the Hawaiian is a superior technical boxer with great counter-punching ability. On paper, Penn could have a hard time getting past Diaz’s reach and get his jab going, but his superior footwork and hand speed will likely compensate. In addition to his laser-like jab and his lead left hook, Penn’s single most lethal strike is by far his counter right hook. And this is where things get tricky for Diaz, as unlike many of his previous opponents, he will not simply be able to cut off the cage, pressure Penn into backpedaling, and start unloading with combinations. Instead, “The Prodigy” will step inside and stop Diaz in his tracks with accurate counter-striking. Penn would be smart to look to counter with a straight right as well, as Diaz’s southpaw stance makes him particularly vulnerable to that shot.
For Penn, efficient and clean counter-punching will be key to his success. He can’t afford to allow Diaz to settle into a rhythm and get his usual offense going, as this will almost assuredly tire the former multi-divisional champion out. Instead, his superior speed and especially, fire power, should be able to stop Diaz from throwing with the same volume and with his usual comfort level.
Crucially, it is Penn who possesses a second path to victory. If Diaz gets the better of the stand-up exchanges, Penn should be smart enough to take the fight to the ground. Penn’s wrestling ability, particularly his double leg takedown, has long been severely underrated. Given Diaz’s historically iffy takedown defense, Penn — who out-wrestled Jon Fitch earlier this year — shouldn’t have too much trouble planting his opponent on his back.
Diaz is guilty of being too comfortable off of his back, as he rarely attempts to scramble back to his feet and instead relies on throwing submissions from the bottom. Against a grappler of Penn’s caliber, this will prove to be a lost cause. In fact, going for triangles from the bottom will provide Penn with some guard passing opportunities. Penn’s fantastic guard passing is made easier by some vicious ground and pound. In particular, Penn’s elbows are something Diaz need to be wary off, especially given his history of marking up and cutting too easily. Diaz might be one of only a handful of fighters who can survive with BJ Penn on their back, but it is nevertheless a position the Cesar Gracie product should desperately avoid.
Diaz will hold a strong edge in cardio, as Penn has a history of fading when things don’t go his way, and Diaz’s frantic pace is too much for most fighters to handle. However, Penn’s conditioning has never reared its ugly head in fights where he has been in control. It is only when he gets beaten up that he starts to slow down. As long as he is dictating the action, Penn should be fine.
If Diaz is to win, he needs to use his reach to frustrate Penn, pile up the pressure, tag him continuously while avoiding the incoming counters, and wear him out. In reality however, the match-up is just too difficult for Diaz to overcome. Penn’s head movement and chin — which might be even better than Diaz’s — mean that Nick will have a hard time landing at will or hurting him. Furthermore, Penn’s counter-punching will prove problematic for the defensively deficient Diaz. On the ground, Penn possesses one of the best top games in MMA and happens to be one of the few fighters in the division with overall better grappling than Diaz. Nick’s toughness makes him incredibly hard to finish (though it isn’t completely off the cards), but Penn should walk away with a comfortable decision.
Official Prediction: BJ Penn to defeat Nick Diaz by Decision
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Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 137 Weigh-In Results
Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS -- There may be no championship fight, but that hardly dimmed the spirits of a huge crowd that turned out to watch the UFC 137 weigh-ins at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. It appeared that every available seat was filled to watch top welterweights BJ Penn and Nick Diaz step on the scale and make their main event bout official.
The two didn't disappoint, with UFC officials having to separate them after things nearly got physical during their staredown.
Diaz weighed in first, coming in at 170 pounds, and Penn followed at 169. That's when the show began. Penn walked up to Diaz, the crown of his head just under Diaz's nose. Diaz then appeared to burrow his head forward, making contact with Penn. The two then shoved each other before being quickly separated.
It was the first and only sign of animosity between the two during fight week in what has been mostly been a quiet, respectful back and forth.
After the push-apart, Diaz immediately walked off the stage and to the back.
"He's a good opponent," Penn said. "It's time to fight."
Diaz is making his return to the UFC after vacating the Strikeforce championship. He's riding a 10-fight win streak, and he has cited Penn as one of his early influences. The two have also worked together in the past, but Friday's actions showed the two won't have a problem putting the past behind them and getting down to fight.
In the co-main event, Matt Mitrione will take a 21-pound advantage into his heavyweight bout with Cheick Kongo. For Mitrione, it is his biggest jump in opponent level after taking out Christian Morecraft in his last bout. Mitrione weighed 255 to Kongo's 234.
In what may be his last bout as a fighter, Mirko Cro Cop weighed in at a trim 235 pounds for his bout with Roy Nelson. In the leadup to the fight, there has been talk about Nelson's new conditioning program and the effects it may have on his body, but he didn't tip his hand at weigh-ins, wearing a fat suit on the scale while registering 252 pounds. By comparison, in his last fight at UFC 130, Nelson weighed 260 pounds.
The only fighter to miss weight was Tyson Griffin, who was well off the mark, checking in at 146, three pounds over the featherweight limit. He has one hour to attempt to lose the three pounds.
Main Card
Nick Diaz (170) vs. B.J. Penn (169)
Cheick Kongo (234) vs. Matt Mitrione (255)
Mirko Cro Cop (235) vs. Roy Nelson (252)
Hatsu Hioki (145) vs. George Roop (145)
Scott Jorgensen (135) vs. Jeff Curran (134)
Preliminary Card
Donald Cerrone (156) vs. Dennis Siver (155)
Tyson Griffin (149) vs. Bart Palaszewski (146)
Eliot Marshall (204) vs. Brandon Vera (205)
Danny Downes (155) vs. Ramsey Nijem (155)
Chris Camozzi (185) vs. Francis Carmont (185)
Dustin Jacoby (185) vs. Clifford Starks (186) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, pound, diaz, vs, penn
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Weigh-Ins Stream Live at 7pm ET
The UFC 137 “Penn vs. Diaz” weigh-ins will stream live in the video player above at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
Weigh-in results will follow on a separate post.
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Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Pre-Fight Interviews: The Undercard
UFC 137 “Penn vs. Diaz” takes place on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live on pay-per-view at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The official UFC 137 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, mandalay bay
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGil Martinez Blog: A Busy Weekend Ahead
It’s a busy week here at Xtreme Couture with Tyson Griffin and Jay Hieron both scheduled to fight on Saturday night. Both have been looking sharp and should be ready to bring home the win in their respective bouts.
With Jay, we know what Ben Askren is good at and if we allow him to get the fight to the ground then it could be one-sided. In fact, I’m actually going to agree with Ben and say that the fight WILL be one-sided, but not how he sees things. We know that he doesn’t have the stand-up to hang with Jay. We trained hard to not let him just lay on top of Jay and I’m pretty sure he’s going to be very surprised. When he is I’ll have a perfect view of the look on his face since I will be in Jay’s corner for the fight.
Tyson has been working hard in the gym this week for his fight against Bart Palaszewski at UFC 137. One of the things that he’s done well for this fight is keeping his weight a lot lower. He’s maintaining a healthy weight, training his butt off, and sparring hard. His last fight was his typical performance and I think maybe in the back of his mind he was looking to avoid another loss. This time it will be different.
Unfortunately, I’m going to miss out on UFC 137 which sucks because it’s here in Vegas and I would have loved to have gone to it. I think BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz is going to be a good fight and I’m leaning towards Diaz. They’re both good on the ground but even if BJ gets Diaz on the ground, Diaz is very tough to submit and he’s very good at jiu-jitsu, so I’m not sure if BJ wants to go there with him. I think Diaz is going to use his reach and pick him apart from the outside. He has a way of slowing things down to his pace and I think he’ll win the fight.
Brandon Vera has been at Xtreme Couture these last few days and he’s looking good. Matt Mitrione has also been in the gym for some last minute preparations. I actually think that Cheick Kongo is going to take that fight though. Matt is quick and agile for a big guy but Cheick is too skilled on his feet to fail.
Roy Nelson is tough. He has good cardio and can take a punch. He’s in your face the entire fight as well. Of course, “Cro Cop” is in a position that he needs a win and an exciting victory, so that could be enough for Mirko Filipovic to come out and fight his best fight.
Finally, just because I’ll be at Bellator 56 cornering Jay doesn’t mean we’ll miss out on Halloween. We’re getting back from his fight on Sunday so we’ll probably go out in Vegas to some Halloween parties…celebrate not only Halloween but Jay being champion too! We’re gonna let Vegas know that we’re back and cause some trouble. My favorite costume as a kid was Michael Myers from the Halloween movies. I liked to dress up as him and scare the girls. Good times!
That’s it for this week. Until then, make sure to catch Jay and Tyson’s fights this weekend, and keep up with me on Twitter (@mastermitter)
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Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 137 Preview: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
MMAFrenzy’s coverage of UFC 137 continues as we continue our preview of Saturday’s main card with our main event of the evening, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz versus former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion BJ Penn.
Be sure to stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for complete coverage of UFC 137, including results, previews, and the MMAFrenzy podcast.
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Keys for Penn (CL) - In many ways, these two fighters are just altered versions of each other. Both have a boxing and BJJ base and both have had a plethora of issues dealing with authority. Penn trained with Cesar Gracie years ago and still rolls in some times before fights. With that said, do not expect these two to not get after it Saturday.
A lot has been made about Diaz’s boxing and how it sets him apart from most fighters. The truth is that, in many ways, Diaz’s technical boxing has regressed as his aggression has increased. Diaz routinely does not protect his chin in an effort to overwhelm his opponents with volume rather than power and that can get you in trouble if you are not careful. I look back at the Paul Daley fight and it truly is shocking to me how poorly Daley utilized this. Rather than using crisp counters to Diaz, Daley loaded up and telegraphed his shots. Which played right into Diaz’s style with his quick hands. While Daley got his shots in and dropped Diaz a few times, his fear of being submitted kept him from following up too much. If I were Penn, I would have replayed that 5 minutes so many times that I would have it memorized.
Penn has strong boxing of his own and that will be a huge factor here. While Diaz is volume and reckless aggression, Penn utilizes a more surgical and powerful boxing attack that takes advantages of his opponents mistakes. A key for Penn is to protect yourself when Diaz swarms and then counter accordingly. The one thing Penn cannot do is just cover up, try to load up a power shot, and swing for the fences. That’s the mistake Daley made and Penn would be wise not repeat it. Too often people believe that you have to throw power shots to stifle an onslaught but the reality is that when a fighter is attacking you by swarming they are usually not protecting their chin. So a quick jab can disrupt their rhythm, which that is time you can fire that power shot. If Penn does this, his chances of winning increase exponentially.
On the ground, Penn is the more decorated BJJ fighter but with Diaz’s BJJ proficiency, that often leads to stalemates and fewer finishes (See Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago). That’s not to say that the ground game will not be a factor though. Penn’s former nemesis Frankie Edgar demonstrated in his fight with Gray Maynard that taking shots after a combination can be enough to get your opponent looking the wrong direction before you eventually feint the shot and attack with strikes instead. I think Penn could utilize this here against Diaz. Penn has shocked Jon Fitch when Penn went after takedowns on the former Boilermaker. While I do not think Penn will turn into GSP out there, a good double or single could be the difference in a fight this close on paper.
Finally, the last thing to address is that Penn has been fighting a much higher level of competition than Diaz for years now. Which can be a double-edged sword if Penn relies on that as an advantage. Diaz is always dangerous but everyone will learn how much of his recent success has been favorable matchmaking as opposed to increased skill.
Keys for Diaz (Bryan Robison) - All the strange and awkward pre-fight activities are over. The fight is finally here. After weeks of confusion, whether it be Georges St. Pierre fighting Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit, whether Diaz would be on this card or not, or whether Diaz and Penn would end up being five rounds, it is finally over. Now we can focus on what we always want to focus on, the fight.
However, that is seemingly as confusing as the pre-fight activity. This fight is a very tough puzzle to figure out. Penn trained with Cesar Gracie years ago, and Diaz has always admired him for that and for his style. Now the two must clash in the octagon, even though it is obvious these two never had plans on meeting inside the cage.
With Diaz, you have a premier boxer. While Penn’s boxing is certainly not a weakness, few can match up with Diaz in that department. He’s also a well established Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. But hey, Penn is great at that as well.
Well, then we get to wrestling, something Diaz has never looked highly upon. He’s criticized St. Pierre for years for his style, and it is obvious he will never want to get into that kind of fight but Penn certainly does not mind if that happens. In his last fight, Penn surprised Fitch with multiple takedown attempts, and it worked. He can do the same with Diaz here.
With that strategy, Diaz is going to have to be on the lookout for Penn’s grappling. Diaz has a reach advantage, and he always uses that well.
As stated, Diaz’ boxing is now his forte, and that should be put to good use with Penn. Keeping him on the outside, and using his stunning combinations will be the key for Diaz. While it may not seem that Diaz has the quickest hands, he throws his punches in threes and fours, as opposed to ones and twos.
If it does go to the ground, both of them have excellent submission defense, but neither has utilized it in their last few fights. That pattern may continue on Saturday.
UFC 137 Previews:
Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo
Roy Nelson vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver
Posted in: fight, diaz, vs, penn, shot
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 137: The Sober Reality of Nick Diaz's Continued Presence in MMA
It's difficult to reminisce about Nick Diaz's career without taking a journey down a dilapidated road of memories. Youthful and imperfect, Diaz waged war on anything that stood in his path, creating animosity between himself and his opponents that could only be described as borderline insane. One extreme example was the fight that broke out between Diaz and Joe Riggs at a hospital after Riggs won a punishing unanimous decision at UFC 57 back in 2006. Not surprisingly, there's more.
Diaz's involvement in a post-fight brawl after his teammate Jake Shields won the vacant Strikeforce middleweight crown in November of 2009 wasn't a surprise to most fans either. The famous image of both Shields and Diaz cocking back their fists to hit Jason 'Mayhem' Miller exudes Nick's persona in many ways. Some might describe him as a thug, others as a loyal friend. In either case, the image shows a Nick Diaz we have grown accustomed to over the years.
Like a fine wine, Diaz has begun to mature with age however. In more recent interviews, we've been humbled by a more mellow Nick Diaz. A man who talks deeply about family and friends, wants to make sure his mother is taken care of, and sings the praises of his younger brother Nate. Those thoughts don't subdue his opinions on the fight game or who's to blame for his irregular attendance at media functions however.
Those opinions have become more attached to thoughts on his continued presence in the sport. In the last couple of years, Diaz has went public with the fact that he isn't fighting because he has the competitive fire to compete. He's fighting for the money. He's a prizefighter, not a man bound to the sport by a cosmic force telling him that this was what he was born to do. He reiterated that opinion on Thursday in a candid twenty-five minute interview with Ariel Helwani.
When pressed by Helwani about why he continues to fight, Diaz succumbed to his natural abilities. He's great at fighting, and despite the fact that he doesn't like beating on someone's face -- it's what he's good at. Many fans can probably relate to that logic. After all, how many of us hate our jobs, yet are very good at what we do?
The prolonged presence of Diaz's dislike for the sport and all the intricacies that come along with being a top fighter creates an aura of uneasiness for some fans. B.J. Penn may be his opponent on Saturday night at UFC 137, but the reality is that Diaz may be on the brink of leaving the sport before the age of 30.
That story, when it finally comes down the news wire, will create conflicting opinions, likely heavily laced with fans selfishly spouting off about how they are somehow owed greatness from a warrior they grew up adoring. "He's only 30!", "Why the hell would he retire now! He's awesome!" are lines we'll see incessantly fill the conversation.
The reality is that Diaz's drive isn't as ingrained in him as it is for other fighters. Those fighters who are pushing themselves way past their prime are more willing to do what they need to do to continue fighting than a fighter like Diaz. For Diaz, his final moments in the cage won't be similar to that of Chris Lytle. He won't be fighting off the tears because he's leaving a sport he dearly loves. He'll be glad it's over. No cameras, press, or expectations.
If money is his motivation, who knows exactly when he'll say enough is enough? He's only 28 years old, and he is at the prime of his career. He could make a lot of money if he continues winning. I get the sense, however, that Diaz may be the next fighter who truly walks off into the sunset at the top of his game, not because he's worried about his health or wants to spend more time with family. Because he wants to walk away from something he hates to do. Conventional wisdom suggests that Diaz won't take that step, but when has Diaz followed the accepted norm?
Posted in: diaz, nick, fighter, sport, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFriday Link Club: Chael Sonnen Previews UFC 137 BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Chael Sonnen previews UFC 137 BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz with Tom Atencio
UFC 137 Main Event Breakdown: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz | MMA Fighting
What was once Nick Diaz’s can be his again. The chance to fight for the UFC welterweight championship is likely just one win away, and standing between him and that goal is BJ Penn. Oh, it’s only a legend and Diaz’s first MMA hero. Even if you’re not a fan of subtext, the significance of that one final obstacle hard to miss.
UFC 137: Predictions and Betting Odds for Saturday’s Fights | Bleacher Report
Both like to box and rarely strike with anything other than their hands. This is where most of this fight is going to play out, and it’s going to come down to whose skin holds up better to the punches. Both have the chins to withstand each other’s power, but Diaz’s skin cuts easy, and Penn should be able to bust him up even if the exchanges are relatively equal.
UFC 137 Breakdown: The Undercard | Five Ounces of Pain
If Matt Mitrione is ever going to become a contender in the heavyweight division, he needs to emerge victorious in this one. For all the grief he received following his stint on season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter, Mitrione has turned into quite a serviceable — and even likeable — heavyweight. His professional Football background is a testament to his athleticism, which is a rarity in the division. However, whether his cardio has improved or not remains to be seen.
BJ Penn and Nick Diaz Head to Head: Who will win at UFC 137 | LowKick
BJ Penn and Nick Diaz will meet this weekend at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two will face off in the main event of UFC 137. The winner in this fight could very well find themselves on the short list for consideration for a potential title fight in the not too distant future.
Penn is mighty, but what’s the point? | NBC Sports
No matter what BJ Penn does in his UFC 137 main event match with Nick Diaz, it’s not likely to help him get another title shot.
Verafied: UFC 137′s Brandon Vera doesn’t want to be a cautionary tale | MMA Mania
“If I saw [Thiago Silva] right now I would kick him in the nuts for sure.”
Dana White: Carlos Condit Guaranteed Next Shot at Georges St-Pierre | 5thRound
“No, Condit’s in,” White emphatically stated. “Condit’s sitting and waiting. [Georges St-Pierre] should be [out] six to eight weeks. He’s just gotta have some rehab on his knee. Hopefully it doesn’t lead to surgery.”
Video Timeline: MMA’s Greatest Techniques of the Year, 1993-2011 | Cage Potato
Over the last two decades, MMA has evolved so consistently that fighters are still finding new and unexpected ways to destroy their opponents — while causing fans to spit their beers in shock. We decided to take a lil’ spin through MMA history and identify the single most awe-inspiring technique from each year since the sport’s modern inception.
Dave Meltzer: Piracy is a major factor in why UFC PPV buy rates are declining | Fight Opinion
With the estimated PPV buy rate numbers for UFC 136 (Houston) coming in at around 250,000 PPV buys, there is concern about the short-term and long-term future of UFC’s PPV business model. It’s only going to get tougher with increased sports & entertainment events happening on Saturday nights.
Injuries & too many shows are the main reasons why UFC PPV buys are down this year. Those underlying causes are the reason for a reported spike in piracy of UFC PPV events being streamed online. Dave elaborated on this conundrum for the UFC during his interview with Jack.
If you think you can out swim Nick Diaz, you’re clearly delusional | MiddleEasy
Our videographer, LayzieTheSavage, was under the belief that he ‘almost’ beat Nick Diaz in a pool race the night he arrived in Las Vegas for UFC 137. Granted everyone’s definition of ‘almost’ varies, but fortunately we have documentation of this swimming contest. If almost means he didn’t even finish the second lap, then sure, LayzieTheSavage ‘almost’ beat Nick Diaz. By that logic, Kristin Kreuk almost knows that I exist and we almost started dating nearly three years ago. Check out this video to clearly see Layzie’s definition of what ‘almost’ really is.
Din Thomas updates us on his health after car accident
| TheFightNerd
“I might be the first person in history to get into a car accident on his way to the fight. It’s still kind of hard for me to talk about since this was something I really looked forward to… The thing for me was that i was at the weigh-ins, so I was debating on whether I wanted to stay in Ft. Lauderdale or go home… so we decided to just come back… I ended up going back home and I was feeling good… The car in front of me was a white truck… I was going about 50, not excessively fast… it started to lose control and hydro-planing… so I pulled off to the side and ended up hitting a light pole.” – Din Thomas
Payout Blue Book Update | MMA Payout
The MMAPayout.com Pay-Per-View, Television, and Live Gate & Attendance sections of the Blue Book have been updated to include all events in 2011.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, penn, bj
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 predictions, preview and analysis
UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" is all set to go down tomorrow night (Oct. 29, 2011) live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE updates with blow-by-blow, round-by-round commentary of the main card action on fight night, which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on pay-per-view (with Facebook and Spike TV "Prelim" fights beginning at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. ET, respectively).
In the headlining bout, B.J. Penn welcomes Nick Diaz back to the Octagon in what is widely considered a title contender's elimination bout. Which one of these two gladiators will earn the right to face the winner of Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit in 2012?
Our co-main event pits Matt Mitrione, in what is clearly his stiffest test to date, against the technical striking of French kickboxer Cheick Kongo. Does a win for "Meathead" put him into the 265-pound title hunt?
There will certainly be a lot to talk about on Sunday morning.
I've also included the current betting lines for each fight so you can get a feel for what the money has to say about the chances of each combatant.
Now, enough with the formalities ... let's get cracking:
170 lbs.: B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn (16-7-2) vs. Nick Diaz (25-7)
Nostradumbass predicts: I have no problem calling B.J. Penn the second best fighter in his entire weight class. Unfortunately that weight class is 155-pounds. Why does this man compete as a welterweight? Because it's both convenient and comfortable, even if it robs the fans of seeing what a truly special fighter he is at 155.
I'll be the first guy to tell you the Hawaiian is good enough to compete in any division he wants, but can you show me a welterweight fight since his UFC return in 2006 where he doesn't run out of gas? Okay, great, he mummified Matt Hughes at the 21 second mark of their rubber match. That doesn't really do anything except prove that Hughes is aging like he drank from the false grail.
Over his last ten fights, Diaz is 10-0 with nine finishes. He could fight 15 rounds if you asked him to. Unfortunately the only time Penn has cardio is when he fights as a lightweight, simply because he has to get in shape to hit the 155-pound limit.
In tomorrow's headliner he'll be trying to win on skill alone, which means from a conditioning standpoint, he's got one round to finish it -- against a fighter who survived a direct hit from Paul Daley.
Overall, both Penn and Diaz are pretty evenly matched. Good strikers, great grapplers, chins of steel. But we already know how the fight unfolds: Penn comes out and dominates the first round. He answers the bell for the second stanza, can't catch his breath and gives away rounds two and three to what has to be the busiest puncher in all of mixed martial arts.
Betting lines (as of Oct. 29): Penn (-130) vs. Diaz (+100)
Prediction: Diaz via unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Matt "Meathead" Mitrione (5-0) vs. Cheick Kongo (16-6-2)
Nostradumbass predicts: This fight reminds me of the Cheick Kongo vs. Heath Herring fight way back at UFC 82. The same outcome wouldn't surprise me, either. That's because Kongo is the same fighter he's always been and I don't envision that changing much in the foreseeable future.
The easiest opponent to prepare for is the one who wears his gameplan on his sleeve. You know what to expect and can spend your entire training camp working on the solution to overcoming it. That's one of the things that makes Jon Jones so difficult to prepare for: The unknown.
It's also why I give Mitrione a slight edge here as well.
My biggest gripe is that yes, he's looked good and yes, he's steadily improved, but he really hasn't beaten anybody. I don't mean that as a sign of disrespect to guys like Joey Beltran, but Brendan Schaub, another big, athletic heavyweight with good hands, found out the grass is always redder on the other side.
Cheick Kongo is the 265-pound equator. There's equal talent on either side, as in equally good or equally bad. We'll find out tomorrow night what side of the line "Meathead" lands on. I'm picking former, as I expect him to be busier, faster and more athletic than the Parisian, who will land a few stunners but fail to do enough to convince the judges he was the better man.
Betting lines (as of Oct. 29): Mitrione (-150) vs. Kongo (+120)
Prediction: Mitrione via unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Roy "Big Country" Nelson (15-6) vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (27-9-2)
Nostradumbass predicts: Every time I watch a pre-fight interview and see Cro Cop talking the talk, I think "Yeah! He's back!" Then he gets laced in his fight and I feel like a fool for letting him dupe me, yet again.
Not this time, Mirky.
My love affair with his body of work in PRIDE has led me afoul one too many times and even now as I write this, I think "Man, the way Nelson lumbers in, he's prime meat for that left leg." Then I get off the bus to Fantasy Island and realize that this is not the Croatian Cop who was electric in Japan. This is a broken down athlete who gets paid big dollars to show up in checkered shorts.
I know Nelson's stock plummeted after his last fight against Mir, where he huffed and puffed his way to a unanimous decision loss, but "Big Country" had the flu or was sick or his cat died, I dunno, somethin' was bugging him. I also don't care if he was pinata'd by Junior dos Santos because let's be honest, who wasn't?
At this point in their respective careers, Nelson has a chin and Croppy doesn't. Filipovic has never looked comfortable inside the cage and Nelson's a master at using his grappling to stymie long-range offenses and work for the sub.
He won't need it in this fight, as the Croat will try to show us why he was so great in 2006 -- only to get KTFO in the process.
Betting lines (as of Oct. 29): Nelson (-240) vs. Filipovic (+190)
Prediction: Nelson via technical knockout
145 lbs.: Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) vs. George Roop (12-7-1)
Nostradumbass predicts: One guy is great at submissions and one guy has some long-ass limbs. I think you know where I'm going with this. Hioki via submission? Duh.
At featherweight, Roop can be a dangerous fighter. If you thought his head shot on the "Korean Zombie" was just a "Fluke," he proved otherwise by crumpling Josh Grispi. But his fight against Mark Hominick proved that he still plays to his opponent's strengths, which is why he loses to Hioki.
Historically it's been hard to get excited about Japanese imports because they fall flat inside the Las Vegas cage; however, Hioki hasn't been crushing tuna cans over the past ten years, he's been beating up world class talent and has wins over Marlon Sandro, Mark Hominick and Jeff Curran.
In 28 fights he's never been knocked out or submitted and three of his four decision losses have been splits.
Roop is a tough guy with a ton of heart, but he's simply outclassed here. Hioki is going to do enough on the feet to get himself in good position so that he can get this thing to the ground.
From there, it's academic.
Betting lines (as of Oct. 29): Hioki (-400) vs. Roop (+300)
Prediction: Hioki via submission
135 lbs.: Scott "Young Guns" Jorgensen (12-4) vs. Jeff "The Big Frog" Curran (33-13-1)
Nostradumbass predicts: When did Scott Jorgensen become Anderson Silva? I understand he's probably at a better place in his career than Jeff Curran is at this particular point in time but -450? Whateva...
In fact, that irritates me so much I'm picking "The Big Frog."
Jorgy has serviceable hands but his real strength lies in his wrestling. I expect Curran to spend a lot of time on his back, but he's not going to be Ken Stone'd or beaten bloody, he's got too much experience and is too crafty a veteran for that.
He also hasn't been knocked out in ten years and while his WEC exit was a tough pill to swallow, he was faced with the top of the food chain in both divisions including Urijah Faber, Mike Brown and Dominick Cruz. That's a pretty tall order for any fighter.
And heart? Curran broke his arm against David Love last December and still hung on to win the fight.
Jorgensen is going to have his way with Frogger for most of the first two rounds, which may lead to him getting a little too comfortable in guard as the clock ticks away in the final frame. That's when he gets triangled and tapped before he even realizes he's in trouble.
Betting lines (as of Oct. 29): Jorgensen (-450) vs. Curran (+325)
Prediction: Curran via submission
That's a wrap, folks.
Remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz."
What do you think? Now it's your turn ... let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for tomorrow night's event.
Posted in: fight, diaz, vs, penn, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMMA Link Parade
- If You Think You Can Out-Swim Nick Diaz, You're Delusional. [Middle Easy]
- UFC Japan Goes PPV, Double-Header Plans Scrapped. [Cage Potato]
- Viewer's Guide to UFC 137. [Sports Illustrated]
- Hatsu Hioki Ready to Wow American Fans. [Five Ounces of Pain]
- Nick Diaz: Fight with BJ Penn Could Be my Last. [LowKick]
- Penn is Mighty, But What's the Point? [NBC Sports]
- Nick Diaz Regrets Choosing The UFC Over Boxing [MMAConvert]
- Dana White: Carlos Condit Guaranteed Next Shot at Georges St-Pierre. [5th Round]
- Career-Defining Moment for Every UFC 137 Fighter. [Bleacher Report]
- Expert Predictions for UFC 137. [Sports Illustrated]
- Bellator 56 Invades KC's Memorial Hall Saturday Night. [The Fight Nerd]
- Dana White: If There Was a Gay Fighter in UFC, I Wish He'd Come Out. [MMA Mania]
- Bellator 55: 168,000 Viewers. [MMA Payout] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, diaz, mma, sport, ufc i
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White reaffirms that Carlos Condit is next in line for welterweight title shot
Chael Sonnen thinks the winner of B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas is getting the next 170-pound title shot against Georges St. Pierre.
Cesar Gracie agrees and wants Diaz to fight St. Pierre next if the former Strikeforce welterweight champion can finish "The Prodigy" this weekend in "Sin City."
Unfortunately for them (and fortunately for Carlos Condit), that decision is up to Dana White, who told reporters yesterday at the UFC 137 press conference (via 5th Round) that no matter the outcome on Saturday night, "The Natural Born Killer" is still next in line.
"No, Condit’s in. Condit’s sitting and waiting. [Georges St-Pierre] should be [out] six to eight weeks. He’s just gotta have some rehab on his knee. Hopefully it doesn’t lead to surgery."
St. Pierre was forced to withdraw from the UFC 137 headliner after injuring his knee in training camp. Condit opted to preserve his 170-pound title shot, which he absconded from Diaz after the Stockton slugger failed to play by the rules.
Now Diaz has a chance to make a convincing argument that he is indeed the second best welterweight on the planet, if he can somehow find a way to overcome the dangerous Hawaiian.
Even if he does, he may need to take another fight while he waits for St. Pierre and Condit to settle their differences. As of now, the only forecast we've heard for the champ's return is "early 2012."
Any fight fans out there want to see the winner of Penn vs. Diaz get the next title shot? Or does it belong to Carlos Condit, for better or for worse?
Thoughts?
Posted in: diaz, title, condit, carlos condit, shot
Read the full article at MMA ManiaJudo Chop: Nick Diaz's Ground Game
Nick Diaz will forever be a love ‘im/hate ‘im fighter due to his stunning combination of skills, bad boy persona, exciting fights and the unpredictable and often violent moments of surrealism that seem to follow him around.
To show our appreciation for highly entertaining fighters with highly developed skills, I present to you a Judo Chop that focuses on Nick Diaz’s ground game. Below the jump, we'll see a few Judo Chops from the archives on Nick Diaz and some of his favorite tactics from his fights and as seen through the fights of his brother, Nate Diaz. We also break down Nick's submissions of Josh Neer and Cyborg Evangelista, while showing some unorthodox tactics he chose to employ against Frank Shamrock.
Being a Cesar Gracie black belt means quite a bit, even in the relatively undiluted world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as names like David Terrell and Jake Shields are on that short list of Cesar black belts. Nick too has some serious ground game, despite being known primarily for his stand-up battles.
via assets.sbnation.com
Nick’s finest grappling moment on the MMA stage is likely his amazing gogoplata on Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 in 2007. Despite the victory being overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for Diaz’s post-fight positive drug test, the unusual submission capped off a barnburner of a fight and entered into the record books as the second ever gogoplata we saw in high level mixed martial arts. KJ Gould and Patrick Tenney analyzed the Gomi gogoplata in this lovely Judo Chop from earlier this year.
The Diaz brothers train in the same gym and have developed similar strategies and tactics. One of their favorite things to do in a fight – particularly against an opponent seeking to take them down – is to work for the kimura while the opponent works the takedown. This tactic often leads to a situation where Nate will offer his back and then launch into a diving roll forwards to better isolate a trapped arm for a potential fight-ending kimura. If the kimura fails, it often leaves the opponent unwilling to stay tight and allows space for the scrambles that serve the Diaz brothers well. That tactic did not serve Nate so well against Joe Daddy Stevenson, but as we see in the Ishida/Wilcox Judo Chop, the kimura roll can be brutally effective.
Another particular favorite of Nick is to hunt for a figure four armlock or kimura from side control. In quite a few fights, you’ll see him set up position in a way that leaves the armlock at least as a contingency and sometimes, he gets it like he did against Josh Neer at UFC 62.
via Grappo.
Here you see Diaz isolate Neer’s left arm from side control, keep top pressure on so that Neer cannot bring any other limbs to bear, pin the arm down in preparation for a kimura and then step over Neer’s head to finish the kimura. This is one of many examples that show Nick’s surprising top pressure and control – many kimura attempts end up with the opponent powering their way out, but Neer goes nowhere.
Nick’s unorthodox striking, with its pawing, unusual angles, rib roasters and gaping defensive holes, has been a subject of much discussion and study. It seems to work for him and he’s delivered some spectacular knock-outs of fighters like Mariusz Zaromskis, Paul Daley and Frank Shamrock. In the latter fight, Diaz displayed some unusual ground tactics as well.
via Grappo
In this gif, we see Diaz in a position where he could move into side control, as Shamrock’s left side is relatively undefended. However, Nick chooses to move his left knee to pin down Shamrock’s right thigh, while maintaining the underhook on Shamrock’s left arm/allowing Shamrock to keep the overhook. The resulting position contorts Shamrock into an awkward position where his head is twisting in the opposite direction from his legs and Nick’s good top pressure allows him to stay there. As the gif shows, Nick takes the opportunity to punch Frank a few times in the head before Frank later regains guard (not show in the gif).
via Grappo.
In the same fight, Nick displayed a rare takedown. As Shamrock came in looking for a few good strikes, Diaz baited him into throwing a body kick and once it was in the air, Nick was ready to catch it and launch into a low single-ish takedown. As Diaz drives forwards and slightly to the left, he keeps the leg just high enough to prevent Shamrock from hopping backwards and successfully regaining his balance. Once they hit the ground, Nick quickly withdraws his arms to a safe place in preparation to throw some more leather. It’s unorthodox, but it worked then. If the unthinkable happens and B.J. comes out with a kick-heavy gameplan, this shows that Nick may have the right instincts to make something happen through countering the aggression.
And now for Nick’s most recent MMA submission – the Cyborg Evangelista armbar. Thanks to Grappo’s brilliant gifs, I can break this down for you in three parts.
via Grappo.
After a leg trip takedown by Cyborg after Diaz was aggressively coming forwards with strikes, Cyborg is on top in guard and looking to do damage to Diaz. To alleviate the forearm pressure, Nick turns his head towards the elbow of Cyborg’s arm (wonder if it was bloody…). Cyborg is in a strange middle ground in terms of posture: neither low and tight nor upright and far away. Evangelista goes to hammerfist Diaz in the face and leaves his right arm in a place that most grapplers will recognize as armbar territory. It is possible that Cyborg knew this and was trying to bait Diaz into swiveling his hips up, diving the right arm underneath Cyborg’s left leg and going for the armbar. The idea of the baiting attempt is to shuck the arm free just before the armbar becomes truly dangerous and to take advantage of that to move into side control or control a turtled-up opponent. That potential bait opportunity disappears because Cyborg reacts a beat too late in his pull-out attempt and Nick traps Cyborg’s arm unusually well. Towards the end of this gif, we see Cyborg realize that his arm is stuck in there and both fighters scrabble for better control of the trapped arm.
via Grappo.
With the arm trapped, Diaz wants to extend it to complete the submission. Because Cyborg has him sort of stacked up, Diaz’s best option is to roll over his right shoulder, while rotating into Cyborg, and flip him over to the classic top-side armbar position (or posish). Cyborg resists this and tries to shift his balance, but Diaz picks up Cyborg’s right foot and brings it to the other side. With so much of his body on the other side, Cyborg has no choice but to follow and Diaz has kept his forearm in the crook of Cyborg’s right arm the entire time. That arm has never left Nick’s control. As they roll over, Nick comes to a sitting position, his feet are almost crossed and the back of his left thigh is firmly on top of Cyborg’s face. Cyborg is going nowhere soon.
via Grappo.
The arm is trapped, the legs are controlling Cyborg’s upper body, Diaz is sitting up and all that is left is the extension of the arm. Cyborg is holding onto his trapped arm with his other hand and Diaz must break the grip to extend the arm. Diaz bops Cyborg in the stomach to distract him briefly and takes advantage of that momentary lapse in defense to rip the arm out from the grip. His strength is augmented by his core, as he hugs the arm to his stomach, lies back and elevates his hips to hyperextend the elbow. Unlike Vinicus Magalhaes against Fabricio Werdum, Cyborg has to tap. All in all, it was a beautiful armbar finish and Cyborg’s exhaustion only detracts slightly from it.
Going into UFC 137, the betting lines are close and the questions are looming large. Will we see this fight play out on the ground, where both have highly polished skills honed with years of sweat, blood and tears? Does one of these two fighters have the grappling chops submit the other? Or will we see this battle be decided on the feet? What do you readers think?
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, arm, cyborg
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMMA Salary Cap Challenge Advice - Pick Nick, Pick Penn, or Pick Both?
There's a new event to play at MMA Salary Cap Challenge, with some new advice on the blog:Nick Diaz $16 - Diaz is going to take the fight to Penn tomorrow night, and, win or lose, he should rack up a ton of striking points just through the sheer volume he is known to throw. In his last three fights, his lowest striking point total came against K.J. Noons (10.4) in a fight that went the full 25-minute championship distance.Check out the whole column for more tips and strategy at UFC 137.
Posted in: fight, diaz, advice, penn, point
Read the full article at Fight MetricUFC 137 Weigh-In Results for “Penn vs. Diaz”
Weigh-ins for tomorrow’s “UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz” event take place today at 7pm ET in Las Vegas as headliners BJ Penn and Nick Diaz, co-headliners Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo, and the rest of the card weigh in to make their fights official.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for live UFC 137 weigh-in results and video starting at 7pm ET.
MAIN CARD (PPV)
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
Jeff Curran vs. Scott Jorgensen
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone
Bart Palaszewski vs. Tyson Griffin
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Brandon Vera vs. Eliot Marshall
Ramsey Nijem vs. Danny Downes
Francis Carmont vs. Chris Camozzi
Dustin Jacoby vs. Clifford Starks
Posted in: diaz, vs, card, penn, weighin
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNine Ways of Looking at UFC 137
Filed under: UFCQuestions, concerns, comments, and even a little statistical analysis, sort of: UFC 137 gives us a chance to sort through it all, in no particular order. I don't know about you, but to me it sounds like a perfect way to while away the hours on a Friday.
I. Has Nick Diaz ever been happy or content with any situation, ever? I don't want to call the guy a complainer, but...no, he's a complainer. It's always something with Diaz. Either he's not making enough money or he's being forced into a fight he doesn't want or he wishes he'd taken that boxing contract instead. It makes you wonder, has he ever felt like he got what he wanted in this business -- in this life! -- even once? Most fighters I know go to great lengths to avoid negative thinking, but Diaz seems to thrive on it. It's almost as if the thing motivating him to work so hard in the gym is his belief that the deck is stacked against him. As if he has to be better than everyone else, because the world wants to see him fail. In reality, it's the other way around. Plenty of people want to see Diaz succeed. That's why they keep giving him one opportunity after another, even when he torches olive branches as quickly as they are extended. But hey, whatever works. If, in order to succeed, Diaz needs to feel like he is constantly mired in misery thanks to a universe looking to cheat and crush him at every turn, then so be it. You'd just like to see the guy enjoying the ride a little more while he's on it, because it won't last forever.
II. Age difference, in months, between Mirko Filipovic and Roy Nelson: 27. Believe it or not, "Cro Cop" is just a shade over two years older than Nelson, though you'd swear he had a decade on him. In fighter years, maybe he does. In addition to his kickboxing career, Filipovic is a veteran of nearly 40 pro MMA bouts, while Nelson has about half that many. Nelson also benefitted from fighting the Bo Cantrells and Vince Luceros of the world early in his career, while Cro Cop came up in the Pride heavyweight division back when it was stocked with household names. Still, when you think about this fight it seems like a contest between the old school and the (at least somewhat) new. It doesn't seem like a fight between two dudes who could have, theoretically at least, played on the same high school basketball team.
More Coverage: Watch UFC 137 Live Online | UFC 137 Fight Card | UFC 137 Results
III. How much did his knockout of Pat Barry really help Cheick Kongo's confidence? Without a doubt, it was one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history, but did you see his face afterward? He looked like a man who had just woken up from a terrible nightmare, and while relieved to find out it wasn't real, was still not totally convinced that there were no monsters under the bed. That's as close as you can come to getting knocked out and still win. It makes for an exciting finish, but it's the kind of excitement most fighters would like to avoid. When you get close enough to the edge to feel your wheels slipping, the temptation to slow down and play it safe after that can sometimes be overwhelming.
IV. Maybe, whether he knows it or not, Nick Diaz is exactly what B.J. Penn needs right now. The last time we saw a truly terrifying Penn was when he got into the cage against Matt Hughes for the third time, muttering to himself like a crazy man at the bus stop. Jon Fitch failed to elicit such a reaction in him (or in UFC fans generally), but how about Diaz, who usually has some choice words for his opponent's mother once the fight gets started? At this point in his career, maybe Penn needs an opponent who will throw his hands in the air like he just doesn't care and taunt his family like they're from separate clans of feuding hill people. If that doesn't help Penn find the old fire, nothing will.
V. Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone could be the best Spike TV prelim fight in ages, and just when the UFC needs it the most. The Pettis-Stephens and Maia-Santiago bouts on the UFC 136 prelims probably didn't sell many pay-per-views. In fact, they might have even convinced some fans to turn off the TV and go see a movie instead. But the Siver-Cerrone fight looks like a can't-miss scrap, at least on paper, and this card could sure use the boost. Siver's won four straight, while Cerrone's notched five in a row. They both like to stand and mix it up, and Siver's Russo-German stoicism is perhaps the best counterweight to Cerrone's swaggering redneck routine. If this fight turns out to be even half as good as I'm expecting, it won't even matter that the night's other televised prelim -- Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski -- seems like the perfect opportunity to get up and prepare some snacks.
VI. Combined record of UFC 137's curtain-jerking newcomers: 13-0. Neither Dustin Jacoby nor Clifford Starks has lost a professional MMA bout as of yet. Just be advised that, when it comes to guys coming up off local shows, not all undefeated records are created equally.
VII. Now that Jeff Curran is finally here, where can he go? It took a long time for the "Big Frog" to finally make his UFC debut. But look around at the UFC's bantamweight division right now and you'll see a list of guys who already hold wins over him. Joe Benavidez, Takeya Mizugaki, Urijah Faber, "Kid" Yamamoto -- it's almost as if beating Curran is a condition of getting your UFC bantamweight merit badge. I don't mean to be hard on Curran, who's a great guy and a legend of the sport, but it does make me think that maybe this chance has come too late in his career. Going up against a grinder like Scott Jorgensen, that doesn't help matters much.
VIII. It's not hard to see what the UFC brass is thinking with the Brandon Vera-Eliot Marshall match-up. Vera they cut and more or less had to bring back when it was revealed that the last man to beat him was, in Vera's words, a "juice monkey." Marshall they cut and then brought back when they needed a warm body to throw in against Luiz Cane on short notice, and his willingness to be that body earned him the tiniest bit of slack, resulting in this fight. The UFC doesn't seem interested in keeping both of them around for long, so why not make them fight each other for the last spot on the lifeboat? The winner gets to stick around and survive on rain water and fish guts, hoping for an unlikely rescue. The loser gets thrown overboard, but at least he knows where he stands...or doesn't. You have to admit, there's a certain cruel, yet satisfying economy to it all.
IX. Can Hatsu Hioki avoid the fate of other Japanese transplants to the UFC? One after another, they've come on a wave of hype only to dissipate quickly on rocky shores. From Takanori Gomi to "Kid" Yamamoto, several Japanese fighters have arrived only to appear as if they were much better when we were viewing them from across the Pacific. The big difference is that Hioki seems much closer to his prime, and sure, a UFC debut against George Roop isn't exactly the same as one against Kenny Florian. It's a slightly gentler introduction to life in the UFC than the one some of his countrymen have received. If Hioki can't make the most of it, things aren't likely to get much easier from here on out. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, guy, doesnt
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse"UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz" live and official weigh-in results
LAS VEGAS - MMAjunkie.com is on scene and reporting
live from today's official UFC 137 fighter weigh-ins, where all 22
competitors will look to make weight for their respective contests.
Today's festivities take place at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center, which also hosts Saturday's pay-per-view event.
Among those weighing in are main-event competitors B.J. Penn and Nick
Diaz, as well as co-feature fighters Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, event, la, competitor
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 137: Preview & Predictions
We take an analytical look at the line-up for UFC 137, from the first fight of the night through to the main event match-up between Nick Diaz and BJ Penn.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, lineup, event matchup
Read the full article at Heavy MMANick Diaz: On His Best Behavior (UFC 137 video)
UFC president Dana White has long said that he would love to have Nick Diaz in the UFC if he would just play the promotional game just a little bit. Lesson learned.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, bit lesson
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137 Main Event Breakdown: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- What was once Nick Diaz's can be his again.
The chance to fight for the UFC welterweight championship is likely just one win away, and standing between him and that goal is BJ Penn. Oh, it's only a legend and Diaz's first MMA hero. Even if you're not a fan of subtext, the significance of that one final obstacle hard to miss.
At 32 years old and over a decade into the game, Penn is still no easy out. Earlier this year, he faced Jon Fitch, who is considered by many to be the No. 2 welterweight in the world, and fought him to a draw. So a win by Diaz over Penn may serve to increase his name value among those who didn't follow him in his Elite XC and Strikeforce days. It would nearly certainly increase interest in a potential Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre welterweight title fight.
When you look at Penn and Diaz, the first thing you notice is the size differential. This isn't unusual for Penn when he competes as a welterweight, but it's nonetheless important. Diaz is naturally heavier, taller and has greater reach. That's a lot to overcome in a fight that is likely to be heavy on standup.
Historically, Penn (16-7-2) makes it up with his fearlessness and accuracy. Penn has been lauded as possibly the best boxer in MMA, and his history of success is strong evidence that statement has some substance behind it. According to FightMetric.com, Penn's landed 52 percent of his thrown strikes, while being hit by just 40 percent of his opponents'.
Diaz, though, poses some unique problems that none of Penn's recent opponents have. He's a southpaw. He has a four-inch reach advantage. He is one of the highest-volume punchers in MMA history. He has unending stamina. And he's not scared, homie. Add that all together and you have one unique set of skills and confidence.
Diaz (25-7, 1 no contest) works his entire offense off his jab. It is usually a pawing punch that he flicks out repeatedly, and often with no sting behind it. Because of that, Diaz is often mischaracterized as having a "pitter-patter" style. But the jab is actually multi-functional in its use. First, it allows Diaz to control the range. That tends to make him the aggressor and makes him offensive and his opponent reactionary. Second, it forces his opponent off his game. When you're constantly reacting instead of acting, you're not the one creating angles, and success is harder to come by. Third, it sets up what is to come. Diaz doesn't get credit for his power, but he's consistently hurt bigtime strikers who finally tire of working over his jab and wade in too close, too quickly.
What has made Diaz murderous for most of the rest of the world's welterweights is that although he's quite skilled on his feet, the alternative is hardly a better option. If you decide to put Diaz on his back, it's quite possible you'll end up tied in a knot, forced to tap out to the Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt.
Given Penn's background and pedigree, that would be an unlikely and even shocking finish. Penn has never been forced to tap in his lengthy MMA career, and given his proficiency in jiu-jitsu, he probably never will.
There is only one area of this fight where one man has a sizable edge on the other, and that's wrestling. Penn has historically done well in the department, successfully landing 59 percent of his takedown tries while defending on 77 percent of tries against him.
Meanwhile, Diaz is successful on only 33 percent of takedown tries, and defends 63 percent of tries against him.
Given that disparity, it will be interesting to see if Penn decides to employ wrestling in his game plan. In the past, it's been a bit hit-or-miss for him in that part of the game. Against Fitch, for example, he hit on two of three takedowns. But go back just a few fights into his recent history, for example his first fight with Frankie Edgar, and he didn't try a single takedown in a 25-minute fight. It's an edge worth exploiting, but Penn wouldn't tip his hand on whether it's one he planned to use.
If Penn decides to mix it up with his wrestling, it could even benefit him in the standup department, because it will give Diaz something else to look for. But if he decides to stand in the cage and strike with Diaz, it allows Diaz the chance to set the pace that favors him.
Especially in a fight where a finish seems unlikely, you have to think about who's more likely to win rounds. Penn might have superior hand speed, but Diaz's volume scores consistent points. I think Penn might sprinkle in a takedown or two, but he's not likely to do it enough to disrupt Diaz's offensive volume.
The other thing is Penn will have to keep with Diaz for 15 minutes. Penn might very well win the first round, but Diaz pushes fighters like no one else. He stays fresher longer than anyone else. So for Penn, it will be harder to win the second, and even harder to win the third.
I think Penn takes round one but Diaz rallies back and takes the final two on points. Nick Diaz wants his shot at the belt. A win over Penn will set him up for a big money match against the champ. Diaz by decision. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, welterweight, penn, percent
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137: Dana White Talks Diaz vs. Penn and Much More
Dana White discusses Nick Diaz's recent comments about going into boxing, B.J. Penn, Matt Mitrione's improvement and more in our exclusive interview.
Posted in: diaz, dana, matt, penn, nick diazs
Read the full article at Heavy MMAB.J. Penn vs Nick Diaz fight prediction for UFC 137 with Chael Sonnen (Video)
Chael Sonnen, former number one middleweight contender and self-proclaimed "Peoples Champion," breaks down the UFC 137 main event between B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, which will take place this Saturday night (Oct. 29, 2011) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sonnen likes the 170-pound showdown a lot, even though he thinks it won't be "overly exciting." In the end, he predicts Penn to earn the victory, saying that his ground game, combined with Diaz's lack of recent top-level competition, will be the key difference makers.
Affliction's Tom Atencio, meanwhile, sides with Diaz. Whose side are you on?
Posted in: diaz, penn, sonnen, middleweight contender, ground game
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWhite excited for UFC 137 main event
White expects fans will not be disappointed when Diaz and Penn finally do square off on Saturday night.
Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, saturday, square
Read the full article at sportsnet.caDiaz passes pre-event drug test
Given that Nick Diaz is a self-professed fan of marijuana, it is hardly surprising he was selected for a pre-event drug test ahead of this weekend’s...
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, test, drug, selfprofessed fan
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyDefiant Diaz finds way to main event (Yahoo! Sports)
The mercurial Nick Diaz will headline UFC 137 against B.J. Penn on Saturday night, whether he wants to or not.
Posted in: night, saturday night, diaz, bj penn, nick diaz
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsIf you think you can out swim Nick Diaz, you're clearly delusional
Our videographer, LayzieTheSavage, was under the belief that he 'almost' beat Nick Diaz in a pool race the night he arrived in Las Vegas for UFC 137. Granted everyone's definition of 'almost' varies, but fortunately we have documentation of this swimming contest. If almost means he didn't even finish the second lap, then sure, LayzieTheSavage 'almost' beat Nick Diaz. By that logic, Kristin Kreuk almost knows that I exist and we almost started dating nearly three years ago. Check out this video to clearly see Layzie's definition of what 'almost' really is.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, videographer layziethesavage, everyones definition
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 137 Video: B.J. Penn Challenges Cesar Gracie, Admits to Being 'Hookwinked' By Him
B.J. Penn is an mature adult now and doesn't want to talk smack. That's fine, and I applaud that decision. Penn is usually a pretty honest guy though, and in an interview with Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting, he aims his honesty in the direction of a guy that he thinks might have 'hoodwinked' him - Cesar Gracie, manager of Nick Diaz and a guy B.J. has trained with in the past. He even offers to go five rounds with him. Here's the telling quote:
"Dana called us...it's a funny story actually. Dana called us and said 'Cesar just called me and said they would love that they would love to fight Nick Diaz. I mean, that him and Nick Diaz would love to fight you, and that's the fight they want. So I texted Cesar. I said 'Dana just said you would love to fight us, and this and that's the fight you want'. And I guess, I don't know, maybe Cesar didn't wanna say that he said that. He texted me back and said 'Laugh out loud, Dana just told us the same thing'. So I ended up thinking Dana's trying to set me up and make it into a personal thing, but it was really Cesar. Cesar was...Cesar hoodwinked me, I guess."
He goes onto explain that he talked it out with Dana and White made it clear that it was Cesar's idea. This stuff with Cesar and Dana actually led to the drama surrounding Penn's comments about White during the whole Countdown fiasco last month. But as B.J puts it, "it was Cesar all along". He also responded to Gracie's talk about wanting a five round fight between Penn and Diaz:
"If Cesar wants the five rounds so bad, me and Cesar can do a five round fight. Any time, anywhere, whenever he feels like it."
Penn goes on to discuss why he likes watching Nick Diaz, the possibility of going back to 155, and even admits he's a huge Hulk Hogan fan and sings some of his theme song. You can check the video after the jump.
More SBN coverage of UFC 137
Posted in: fight, diaz, dana, penn, cesar
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 Real Time Press Conference Highlights
Though Halloween is less than a week away, MMA fans will receive a handful of treats a few days early when UFC 137 unfolds live from Las Vegas on October 29. Headlined by former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz battling it out with UFC icon B.J. Penn, the fistic festivities also include a quartet of notable heavyweights and more than one fight with impact on the related division’s contendership picture.
Before the competitors take to the Octagon they’ll head to the stage later this afternoon for a press conference relating to Saturday night’s show. On hand will be Diaz, Penn, Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione, and Dana White who will all field questions from fans/media.
Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in and delivering highlights back to readers as they unfold in real time when the presser starts at 4:00 PM EST.
Read below to check out all the interesting nuggets of information and scintillating soundbytes pulled from the proceedings:
Nick Diaz:
B.J. Penn:
Matt Mitrione:
Cheick Kongo:
Dana White:
Posted in: diaz, press conference, las vegas, field questions, ’ll head
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBJ Penn Wants To Stay Away From Hype The Rest Of His Career
In addition to being one of the sport’s great fighters, BJ Penn has also been one of it’s great hype men. He understands the art of promoting a fight, and when he wants to he’s one of the best at it.
Penn hasn’t been as vocal leading in to his most recent fights as he has in the past though. That’s especially true of his fight against Nick Diaz this weekend at UFC 137. In fact, it almost feels like he’s gone out of his way to make sure he doesn’t say anything that could be taken out of context and used to upset Diaz.
As Penn explained in a blog post he penned for Yahoo! Sports, the shift in pre-fight attitude really comes down to the respect he has for Diaz and his own maturation as an adult.
[Nick Diaz's] a great fighter who I respect and I like… That’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed away from the hype for this fight, but not the only reason. I’ve not even read part 1 of this Yahoo! blog, I sent it over via email and I haven’t seen it published on the site and I won’t read this one either once I am done doing it.
I was told today that Yahoo! called the blog “The Penn is Mightier,” which is pretty funny and a good title. But I won’t read anything, no interviews or previews. I won’t watch the Countdown TV preview show, nothing, because I want to stay away from the hype for the rest of my career.
There’s nothing wrong with talking smack and backing it up. Muhammad Ali did it and I did it in my career, but honestly I feel like I am too old now for that. As you get older, have a family of your own, talking about opponents stops being something you want to do or be part of.
I am still very passionate about MMA and my career. I love fighting but I want to save that passion for the fights and the training.
Penn adds that he still wants to win big fights and hopefully another title. Just don’t expect him to put the same kind of energy into hyping those fights like he has in the past.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: fight, diaz, career, penn, hype
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 Video: Nick Diaz Goes In-Depth About Press Conference Fiasco, Not Loving Fighting
UFC 137 main event combatant Nick Diaz gave a wide-ranging 25 minute interview to Ariel Helwani last night that covers a lot of new ground about why Diaz missed the press conferences last month that led to his removal from a title fight with Georges St. Pierre. He also goes into great detail about how he doesn't love fighting and doesn't understand fighters that enjoy hurting other people, and much, much more. This is the most in-depth interview that Nick has ever done, and he covers a lot of issues about his personal life in addition to his fighting life. Anyone who wants more insight into what makes Diaz tick needs to watch this. The two most telling quotes are the two shortest ones in the interview:
"I can't say that I love doing this."
"I just keep it real."
Nick, of course, will be facing B.J. Penn in the main event at UFC 137 this Saturday. Check out the interview below.
More SBN coverage of UFC 137
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, interview, saturday check
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions
When I joined Bloody Elbow as a full time staff member, I said that UFC 133 would be the last card of the year to do mediocre buys. I looked at the rest of the year and the fights that were booked and expected everything from UFC 134 on to do at least 400k on PPV. It was a fair statement, the cards were stacked and after such a long drought of "can miss" events, it was logical to think that fans would flock to these incredibly deep PPVs. Alas, that is not the case. The rumored buy rates for UFC 134, 135, and 136 all remained sub 500k, with only UFC 135 breaking the 400,000 mark. These numbers are disappointing to say the very least and have caused many to question if the UFC had in fact peaked and was on the decline.
UFC 137 was the guaranteed big money draw for the UFC. The return of Georges St. Pierre and the money match up with Nick Diaz. Then Diaz blew off two media appearances and the fight was off. Diaz claimed that he didn't know about them and that if he knew they were important, he'd have been there. Rumors swirled that he had been advised by those close to him to blow it off and let the presser come to him. This turned out to be terrible advice and fans know what happened next. Diaz was replaced by Carlos Condit and was matched up with B.J. Penn.
The Condit/St. Pierre fight would essentially bring the same amount of attention as St. Pierre is the reason for anyone to purchase tickets or the pay per view. At this point in his career GSP could in fact "fight a broomstick" as KJ Gould so aptly stated, and people would buy the card. Fans felt the Condit fight would be more of a test for Georges, thinking that he would push the action and force the champion to fight. Others felt cheated out of the Condit/Penn fight that promised to be a fight of the year candidate. None of these discussions mattered in the end, when St. Pierre was forced to pull out of defending his title due to a knee injury.
Nick Diaz again finds himself in the main event and again has displayed either an inability or a lack of desire to play the game. The very game that Dana White has been on record as the only thing preventing Diaz from crossing over into the main stream. Diaz missed the first thirty minutes of the UFC 137 media call, saying that not only was he unaware of the call, but that his phone was dead. He actually explained that he only found out about it 10 minutes before calling in. Fans know that once he enters the cage, he'll be the exciting fighter that we all enjoy watching. However, his total disregard for any media responsibilities is troubling. He feels that the rules don't apply to him and he's been coddled by people who are willing to feed into that mindset.
This will be Nick's chance to prove to his doubters that he can sell a UFC pay per view on his own. People have criticized him believing that while there's interest on twitter, it doesn't necessarily mean that people will buy a card based on Diaz as the draw. He has the support of B.J. Penn as his opponent but the rest of the card is weak by casual fan standards. Most people are unaware who Hatsu Hioki is and Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo is one of the weaker co-main events in PPV history. This just proves how important St. Pierre was to this card. Losing one man has turned this from a "gotta buy" to a card where people have returned tickets for a refund. To provide perspective, prior to St. Pierre dropping off, the card was sold out. At this very moment you can purchase tickets on TicketMaster for face value.
The UFC's PPV buy rates are down this year for a bunch of different reasons. From injuries to weak cards to just too much of an active schedule which caused fans to pick and choose which cards they were going to purchase. Since August, the UFC has promoted five PPVs. That's $275 to ask fans to pony up in a 90 day period. Add in the Mayweather vs. Ortiz PPV and the $70 price tag and fans were left with choices. A card like UFC 136, which sporting two title defense was passed over, with many fans planning on buying UFC 137. Now with UFC 137 not having a true headliner, the UFC may have back to back cards with sub-300k buy rates.
Allow that to settle in for a moment. At the very height of UFC popularity in 2009, the UFC was regularly pulling 500k for PPVs. Many believed that 300k was the benchmark for what fans will buy based on UFC branding. Now two years later, the UFC's branding has either become weaker within a year or the schedule is causing fans to wait for big cards, only to not purchase them due to an injury at the top of the card. This weekend will probably be a great event, but with the loss of Georges St. Pierre, there will be a huge portion of fans that will never see it. And that's something that Zuffa will need to work through in 2012, a year that Dana White has stated will be a make or break year for the company.
SBN coverage of UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz
Posted in: ufc, diaz, year, fan, card
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137: B.J. Penn Explains Lack of Hype for Nick Diaz Fight
Many people, myself included, thought that UFC 136 suffered because the most outspoken "promoter" of his own fights on the card, Chael Sonnen, was relegated to a middle of the card position which the UFC did not hype. It didn't help that Chael was extremely complimentary about opponent Brian Stann and the juice simply wasn't there.
Now we're headed into UFC 137 and a main event between B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz, two of the most outspoken fighters in MMA, and we're simply getting no hype for the fight. Penn has talked about respecting Diaz, Diaz has called Penn his favorite fighter. If you'd have told me a year ago that I'd see this fight and get no trash talking, I'd have called you crazy.
Yet, here we are. The biggest storylines for this fight have been Nick talking about the fight he didn't get because of his own actions (vs. Georges St. Pierre), wishing he'd stuck to boxing and Penn causing a stir early on by saying the UFC attempted to "force" him into talking trash about Diaz.
Make no mistake, in a down year for UFC pay-per-view buys and a card that lost Georges St. Pierre, this is a nightmare for the UFC. UFC 137 was immediately less appealing once St. Pierre suffered an injury, the card needed to save some of the lost buys and it wasn't unreasonable to think that Diaz and Penn would give them an endless string of soundbites with which to promote.
In his second blog for Yahoo! Sports, Penn discusses why he isn't interested in promoting the fight:
He's a great fighter who I respect and I like. Nick and his brother Nate actually came out to help me train for my UFC 101 match against Kenny Florian. We're not close friends, but both of the Diaz brothers have really helped me out in the past and we have hung out. This isn't a fight either of us would have asked for, but we are both at the top of the division and there's no one else for us to fight.
Nick's very dangerous with his punches; we'd have a great boxing match, and he's got some of the purest jiu-jitsu in MMA.
...
I was told today that Yahoo! called the blog "The Penn is Mightier," which is pretty funny and a good title. But I won't read anything, no interviews or previews. I won't watch the Countdown TV preview show, nothing, because I want to stay away from the hype for the rest of my career.
You can't force guys to promote fights, and this isn't pro wrestling. But the lack of hype has me lowering my expectations for PPV buys for this show from 400k to thinking it'll clock in around 300k.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137: Nick Diaz Explains a Brief History of Weed and the Science Behind the Politics
It isn't difficult to identify what particular quirk of Nick Diaz' personality makes him so beloved. Yes, he's a rogue, and people love his "don't give a f--k" attitude. Fans enjoy a loveable, irreverent rebel who kicks ass with the best of them. But let's face it. People love Nick Diaz because people love weed.
Marijuana: the iconic symbol of counterculture. You can't really blame his fans though. Even I laughed, and practically cheered his audacity, when, upon being asked if marijuana had gotten in the way of his fight career (Nick famously had a win over Takanori Gomi overturned for testing positive for marijuana afterword), replied:
"Actually, on the contrary, my fight career has gotten in the way of my marijuana smoking"
Which is vintage Nick Diaz. But it'd be foolish to bottle the importance of weed to hippies, philosophy majors, and FOX news pundits. After all, the history of weed has been written in doublespeak, with US flip flopping its position. First it was legal in the 1600's, then the Revolution of 1910 led to 29 states outlawing marijuana. Something about Mexican immigrants and "superhuman strength" (perhaps where Keith Kizer got his memo on what makes marijuana "performance enhancing").
So you had the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 which criminalized it. The 1960's roll around, and research begins to challenge the dogma of weed as an "assassin of youth". In comes Nixon with his Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse, who he hires to confirm his assumptions that weed is dangerous not just because it inspires a desire to raid the fridge, but because it's bad for you. Said Commission defends decriminalization, causing Nixon to reflect on whether or not the very Commission he appointed to research the drug was part of some Jewish hexagonal plot.
Eleven states containing a third of the US population subsequently decriminalize the drug thanks in part to the efforts of the American Medical Association, and the American Bar Association. But we're back to square one in 1984 thanks to Ronald Reagan and the Crime Control Act of 1984 which was one among a number of laws recriminalizing marijuana.
If nothing else, the bizarre journey of the plant they call "ganja" (I'm a complete square, so I apologize in advance if I use less-than-hip terms) illustrates how political, rather than scientific the discussion surrounding the popular drug has been. Currently, 16 states consider it a medicine, but the federal climate remains fractured. And so do the prices. Wired magazine recently compiled the numbers with the average price per ounce ranging from $97 to $500+. The latter number comes from the upper midwest, so if you're looking to buy weed, don't go to North or South Dakota (as if you would anyway).
In sports, it hasn't been all that different either. When Nick Diaz had his win over Takanori Gomi overturned, the Commission's logic was that marijuana was a performance enhancer. Which begs the question: if that were truly the basis for overturning the decision, why have decisions involving the use of steroids not been overturned? Even so, Diego Sanchez famously tested positive for marijuana following his win over Joe Riggs. What the hell happened there? Dave Herman also had to recently pull out of an event due to a positive marijuana test. Despite claims disputing marijuana use, it's be difficult to look at any given Herman fight (or the picture of him in the cagepotato link) and conclude the guy doesn't get blazed on a regular basis.
So what's the deal? Is cannabis good or bad for you? You probably already know the basics. Glaucoma, in which increased pressure damages the neural layer of the eye, is helped by marijuana, which causes a decrease in the eye pressure that hurts retinal cells. It's good for chemo patients in order to reduce nausea, and for AIDS patients, it can act as an appetite stimulant (the so called "munchies"). But perhaps the most interesting recent study, was one conducted by University College in London, which found that marijuana improves upon something called semantic priming. What exactly is that?
"This occurs when the activation of one word allows us to react more quickly to related words. For instance, the word "dog" might lead to decreased reaction times for "cat," "pet" and "Lassie," but won’t alter how quickly we react to "chair."
Interestingly, the scientists found that marijuana seems to induce a state of hyper-priming, in which the reach of semantic priming extends to distantly related concepts. As a result, we hear "dog" and think of nouns that, in more sober circumstances, would seem rather disconnected, such as "leash" or "hair." This state of hyper-priming helps explain why cannabis has been so often used as a creative fuel, as it seems to make the brain better at detecting those remote associations that lead to radically new ideas.
Why does marijuana increase access to far reaching intellectual connections? One possibility is that the beneficial effect of the drug is mediated by mood. Marijuana, after all, has long been used to quiet anxious nerves — big pharma is currently exploring targeted versions of THC as a next generation anxiolytic — as only a few puffs seem to dramatically increase feelings of relaxation and euphoria. (The technical term for this, of course, is getting stoned.) Furthermore, recent research has suggested that performance on various tests of remote associations and divergent thinking — a hallmark of creativity — are dramatically enhanced by such positive moods." You can read the rest of Jonah Lehrer's always fantastic work here.
The studies on remote associations are especially intriguing because they emphasize the role of mood in the process of learning. Nick clearly loves his weed, but when he claims his marijuana use is due in part to his anxiety problems, it's hard to be skeptical. But then Nick is hardly a role model of civilized behavior. And so it's worth noting that Jack Herer is perhaps not the final word on marijuana. From a study done in the Netherlands:
Long-term study Over a five-year period, data were collected from 428 families and their two adolescent children. Each year the children answered questions on topics such as their behaviour and depressive symptoms. The variant of the serontonin gene (5-HTT) responsible for increased vulnerability to developing depression was also determined. In young people with a special variant of the gene, cannabis use led to an increase of depressive symptoms.
The study seems relatively inconclusive, and Lehrer's article does a good job cutting through the bullshit on similar studies linking marijuana with psychosis in his article mentioned earlier. But that genes may play a role is unsurprising. As I've talked about in the past, genetics even plays a role in the concussion crisis, as a specific gene shows up in the majority of the brains afflicted with CTE. That a gene may predispose some to deleterious effects of marijuana use is hardly the silver bullet its critics would want, but it's enough to provoke caution.
Just as with the steroid debate, the marijuana issue is the kind of thing that will look incredibly stupid ten years from now. Especially with support for marijuana legalization at an all time high (pun intended?). And then Nick Diaz won't ever have to apologize for smoking weed in front of a misguided athletic commission. Not that he would...
Posted in: diaz, nick, marijuana, weed, study
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendWatch Nick Diaz explore the wonderful world of iPhone 4s
It would be pretty ironic if this video of Nick Diaz exploring his iPhone 4s was not iPhone compatible. Maybe 'ironic' is just one of those overused terms that people drop in articles to make them feel slightly educated. If this video was not iPhone compatible, then it would be dumb. There, that's a word that people use to make other people feel safe about their personal lexicon. I don't want my vocabulary to threaten you. My words are here to inspire the world. My words have the ability to convince another person to make me a grilled cheese sandwich. Nick Diaz's words can be understood by super intelligent computers, as seen by this video of Nick Diaz having fun with his iPhone 4s, filmed by LayzieTheSavage. Props to Tracy Lee for the picture.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, word, iphone
Read the full article at Middle EasyBJ Penn: Strikeforce Welterweight title is cool, but Nick Diaz can keep it to himself
Former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion BJ "The Prodigy" Penn discussed his upcoming bout with Nick Diaz, and the question whether Diaz improved as a fighter since his first run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. According to Penn, today's Nick Diaz is a much better Mixed Martial Artist and a all-new version of a fighter who lost to Joe Riggs, Diego Sanchez and Sean Sherk back in the day. Penn also stated that "it would be cool to be the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion", however,
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, penn, day penn, allnew version
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137: Nick Diaz Wishes He'd Stuck to Boxing Plans
Nick Diaz's chance to come to the UFC was a move made seemingly as much to provide Georges St. Pierre with a new, marketable challenger as it was to prevent him from following through on his Strikeforce contract which allowed him to take a pro boxing match. Diaz had a deal worked out with the well faded (and frankly never all that good) Jeff Lacy which was being shopped to different pay-per-view distributors but the UFC brought him in and gave him the shot at GSP's title.
Diaz no-showed press events and got bumped down to the co-main event to fight B.J. Penn.
Nick is now telling MMA Fighting that he regrets his decision to skip out on his boxing opportunity:
"I would have gone back to boxing," Diaz said. "If I had my chance to do it over again, I would go back to the boxing contract. It would have paid me more money, and I would have took my punches win or lose, and just do my job, fight and get paid."
...
"Later on, I'm sure they would have me back here or somewhere...I don't think about it till it's all over with but I would have made plenty of money in boxing and would have made plenty of money later coming back so it definitely would have worked out if I had done what I set out to do and gone to pro boxing for a while."
Back in May, when the Diaz vs. Lacy bout was being put together I talked to people involved in putting the fight together and was told that Diaz would only be making a very small percentage more than Lacy's $150,000 purse.
Diaz can still have a seven figure payday against St. Pierre if he can get by Penn. That's just money beyond what he could have ever realistically gotten in boxing. Honestly, with sponsorships this Penn fight probably nets Diaz more money than he'd have gotten in boxing unless he somehow racked up several wins in a row.
This sounds to me like just another case of Diaz having cost himself and now wishing he'd handled things differently while still avoiding coming to terms with his own mistake.
Posted in: fight, diaz, boxing, money, penn thats
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137 Press Conference Video
Filed under: UFCThe UFC 137 press conference will feature UFC President Dana White, B.J. Penn, Nick Diaz, Matt Mitrione, Cheick Kongo, Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson on Thursday. We'll have the live video right here at MMAFighting.com.
Diaz will be the marquee attraction because of his hatred for press events. Diaz was initially pulled from a UFC 137 title fight with Georges St. Pierre because he no-showed for press conferences, and now with St. Pierre injured and off the card, Diaz is back in the main event.
The press conference begins at 4 PM ET on Thursday and the video is below (click the UFC Live bar).
More Coverage: Watch UFC 137 Live Online | UFC 137 Fight Card | UFC 137 Results
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, press, marquee attraction
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 The Face-Off: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Heavy MMA writers Duane Finley and Spencer Kyte go head-to-head in their analysis of the UFC 137 main event.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, spencer kyte, spencer
Read the full article at Heavy MMAAs Fight Nears, Boxing Big Topic of Diaz-Penn UFC 137 Matchup
Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS -- The many elements of the sport are what make it so unpredictable. When a fighter can chain together combinations like a punch into a takedown into side control, that's what separates the elite from the masses. But it's hard to digest a fight that way. Like looking at the stars in the sky, it's too infinite. Too many possibilities. Instead, we tend to focus on a few key elements.
And in Saturday's UFC 137 main event, all the fight talk seems to center around the participants' boxing. For years, BJ Penn has been considered to have some of the best hands in MMA. And his opponent Nick Diaz recently made waves after nearly turning his back on the sport to try his hands in the squared circle. Given their pedigrees, contrasting styles and differing body types, the standup figures to produce compelling, unpredictable action.
Even to the learned eye of Penn's boxing coach Jason Parillo, who was undefeated in an eight-fight pro boxing career, it's a hard one to analyze. As Parillo noted in an interview with MMA Fighting, the many options a fighter has at his disposal make it hard to determine how a fight will develop.
"You've got a guy who loves to box and wants to fight Roy Jones, Jr, and you've got another guy who's been recognized as one of the best boxers in the MMA game," he said. "You've got two high-voltage submission guys. Realistically, I think Nick's going to try to keep BJ in a boxing match. I believe he feels he's got something to prove with his boxing ability. He loves boxing and I think he wants to prove something using BJ to show he's the best boxer in the MMA game. This fight can go anywhere. It really can. It's tough to predict MMA fights in general, but this one can go in so many ways."
On their feet, their styles are very different. Penn relies on speed, accuracy and power with crisp combinations. But the rangy Diaz uses his length and non-stop volume to keep opponents at distance and to set up his occasional power strikes.
Given the way their styles and bodies match up (Diaz has a four-inch reach advantage), Penn said getting inside might prove to be the biggest challenge for him.
"That's huge, that's huge," he told MMA Fighting. "You've got to get in on Nick Diaz. He's got that reach, and not only does he have that reach, he knows how to put you in the perfect spot. He's not really a big footwork guy but if you come forward he'll take one step back and just keep you on the end the whole time. We're going to have to -- without giving anything away -- use a lot of smarts and technique to get in there, get after him and attack him."
Penn made some headlines recently when he called Diaz the best boxer in MMA. Diaz was flattered to hear the comments but believes he might have put in more time training with high-level boxers than anyone in the UFC.
And regardless of the compliment, Diaz isn't letting it go to his head.
"This is MMA too, so regardless of how you win a fight, whether standup, winning on punches, I don't think it has anything to do with boxing," he said. "Just throwing more martial arts in than boxing, when it's MMA, everything changes. Stance is different, you have to defend the takedown, you have to defend the leg kick. You can't really say or judge."
That's true, of course. If a fighter gets too reliant on his hands and having success with it, his opponent can always change levels and go for the takedown. Penn has that in his arsenal, though it's a weapon he only occasionally decides to use. In his last five fights, he has four takedowns in just six tries. But for Diaz, it's not his strongest weapon. In his last five fights, he has completed just two takedowns in 10 tries.
Given their usual reluctance to use wrestling, it's not a stretch to think that collectively, the two might shun it altogether and decide things on their feet. So will Diaz's constant activity and volume overwhelm Penn, or will the former two-division champion find a way to get inside of his opponent?
"Nick's got a lot of confidence to use that style," Parillo said. "He's not the most devastating, heavy puncher, but he knows how to set up the big shot, for sure. And he understands boxing. BJ's got speed, and he's cleaner and sharper. I feel the fire more from him than I have in the last couple fights. He wants to show he can beat guys at the top tier. If he makes a decision to be there and has the hunger to win, he's going to do it." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, boxing, penn
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseTrending Topics: Nick Diaz and UFC 137
It’s been a crazy ride for Nick Diaz these past couple of months.
Originally scheduled to face Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 137, Diaz was removed from the card entirely after missing a couple of media appearances. After releasing a YouTube video, filmed in his car, that is more famous for his comments towards another drivers mother than it is for his remorse.
UFC president Dana White was so upset at Diaz for his actions that he added the former Strikeforce champion back to the UFC 137 card to face B.J. Penn in the co-main event.
A few weeks later, St. Pierre had to pull out of his new fight against Carlos Condit, bumping Diaz vs. Penn into the main event slot. The next day, Diaz was late to a media call, which apparently was the fault of the UFC staff and not Nick’s, and when he finally got on the line he was very candid with his responses to questions.
In every situation, “Nick Diaz” was a trending topic on twitter, leading certain members of the MMA media to believe that this would be a good sign for UFC 137. I beg to differ. What’s trending on twitter means absolutely nothing. Every time WWE runs a PPV, the wrestlers/matches currently going on end up trending on twitter. These PPVs barely do 150,000 domestic buys.
You know what was trending on Twitter the same time as Diaz the other week? “Lindsey Lohan” For those that don’t see why that’s a big deal, the correct spelling of Ms. Lohan’s first name is “Lindsay” not “Lindsey”.
I love Twitter, but I also acknowledge that it’s a very flawed media device and shouldn’t be used to gauge interest in a product. Here’s the thing people don’t seem to realize about twitter: it’s used by young, tech savvy people, who are also sheep. You may think everyone on twitter is a moron, and there are a lot of them out there, but there does take a certain level of internet smarts to send out a tweet.
The young and tech savvy people that use twitter and help certain topics reach a level to where their trending are the same young people who don’t have enough money to actually buy the products that are trending and are the same tech savy people who can get these products through illegal means.
Diaz has always been a polarizing character, sometimes controversial, figure. There’s a saying that “controversy creates cash” but so far in his MMA career, thanks in large part to being part of the Strikeforce organization, Diaz hasn’t drawn a ton of cash. He’s drawn ratings for the organization but when you really look at, he’s been the face of two organizations with the other being EliteXC. One went out of business and the other is on the verge of doing so.
Also, just because you’re able to draw TV ratings, doesn’t mean you’ll draw PPV buys. The biggest problem there is that once fans see you on TV, they don’t feel like paying for your fight. The best example of this is Kimbo Slice. He was a huge TV draw. Every time he fought on television, he set a new record. Then, when he was finally put on PPV at UFC 113, he added almost nothing to the buyrate.
Don’t get me wrong, if the UFC 137 buyrate does bad, I won’t put the blame on Diaz and I’m not saying that he doesn’t have the potential to draw, but to say that his “controversial” actions, the fact that he trended on twitter, and the fact that he brought viewership to Strikeforce means he’s this superstar in MMA or that the UFC 137 buyrate is going to be huge is just wrong.
There are very few superstars in MMA. St. Pierre and Brock Lesnar are about the only superstars in the sport. There are guys who are on the verge of stardom and guys who can draw with the right opponents, but Diaz has never proven that he can sell a PPV.
However, Penn, Diaz’ opponent this Saturday, has proven to be a consistent draw in the sport and whatever the UFC 137 buyrate ends up being, the credit (or blame) will likely fall on the shoulders of Penn and not Diaz.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, diaz, ’t, people, twitter
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainJiu-Jitsu gave Nick Diaz necessary stability as a youth
When people discuss Nick Diaz’s actions outside of the ring the focus tends to be on his occasionally bizarre behavior rather than the roots of it. Though Diaz is an extremely private person, the 28-year old recently opened up to shed a little light on his formative years in California during the UFC 137 Countdown special and made it a little easier to understand where his anti-social behavior comes from.
“My parents moved around a lot when I was a kid. I just ended up getting taken out of schools and, you know, I didn’t like going into a new classroom,” Diaz revealed. “It was rough. I was hanging out with the wrong crowds and stuff because they were pretty much the only ones who were going to accept me when I was that age. I was just not doing well in high school.”
On certain occasions when he was sent home for fighting Diaz would spend time with his grandfather, a track coach, who made him run and ultimately helped inspire Diaz’s hobby of competing in triathlons. However, it was his introduction to Jiu-Jitsu that changed the former Strikeforce champion’s life forever.
“I found Jiu-Jitsu when I was 15…sophomore year in high school. As soon as I found some real direction I went really far with it and I could tell where it was coming from right away,” Diaz said of the martial art. “My idea was I was just gonna train harder than (the) top guys because I knew I could do that. It wasn’t long before they started putting me in fights.”
Ten years later Diaz is still trucking, his next fight coming this weekend at UFC 137 in a headliner against popular Hawaiian BJ Penn.
Diaz Wants Title-Shot with Win Over Penn
Other bouts on the PPV include Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo, Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop, and Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Filipovic.
You can watch the entire segment from UFC 137 surrounding Diaz and Penn below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 137: By the Odds
Filed under: UFCUFC 137 is one of those events where you really wish oddsmakers would offer some fun prop bets. For example, odds that B.J. Penn will lick someone's blood off his gloves? (+375). Odds Roy Nelson will smack his somewhat diminished belly on camera? (+125). Odds Nick Diaz will insist on wearing jeans and work boots to the weigh-ins, and make us all wait as he puts them back on before the staredown? (-700).
Alas, we'll just have to make do with the odds on the fights themselves. Fortunately, there's plenty of material here to sort through.
B.J. Penn (-125) vs. Nick Diaz (-105)
It was a borderline brilliant move by Cesar Gracie to try and get this changed to a five-round fight. As we've seen in the past, Penn is not always the same person at the end of round three that he is in the beginning of round one, and an extra two frames to take advantage of that would have helped the tireless Diaz immensely. But Penn's no dummy. He played that attempt off with all the veteran savvy you'd expect, and his chances of winning went up in the process. That is, if the right B.J. Penn shows up, and if Diaz consents to let him have the kind of fight he wants.
Therein lies the problem for both those guys. Penn is inconsistent, while Diaz is almost comically hard-headed. Penn might, at any given point, look up at the clock and sigh like a teenager waiting out the last few minutes of Geometry class. Diaz might be able to take advantage of that if he were Jon Fitch of Georges St-Pierre, but he's not. He just wants to scrap, and he'll do so wherever Penn decides to take the fight. If Penn wants to box, they'll box. If he wants to grapple, that's fine too. It's hard to wear a guy out when you let him decide where and how to fight. And if you can't tire Penn out, you're giving up the most reliable way of beating him. That could still work...if you're the better all-around fighter. And if three rounds is enough time for you to prove it.
My pick: Diaz. The odds here don't give us much of a push in either direction. With Penn, you wonder how hard he's trained and how much he wants it. With Diaz, you never do. In a fight this close, that's enough for me.
Cheick Kongo (+120) vs. Matt Mitrione (-150)
If this were a Rick Rude-style posedown, Mitrione would be in big trouble. Kongo looks the part of a terrifying heavyweight, and if you didn't know better you might be forgiven for assuming that he was the superior athlete in this match-up. Big mistake. Don't get me wrong, Kongo can do a few things well. He just can't do enough things and he can't do them well enough. Mitrione, on the other hand, is an agile, athletic big man who improves so much between each fight that it's almost not worth watching film of his last few bouts to prepare for his next one. On paper, this should be Mitrione's fight all the way. Instead of betting on who will win, a more interesting wager might be how many times Kongo will manage to knee him in the groin. I'll set the over/under at two, and let you go from there.
My pick: Mitrione. At these odds I'll toss it straight into the parlay bin and leave it there, but at least it's one I can feel reasonably confident in.
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (+190) vs. Roy Nelson (-240)
Here's where, before doing anything, you need to check your emotions at the door. Don't let sentimentality make you a poor man just because you wanted to believe that Cro Cop had one more headkick KO left in him. Would that be an awesome finish to his UFC career? Sure it would. Is it likely to happen? Nope. Not only can Nelson take it, he can dish it out. There was a time when we could say the same about Cro Cop, but the years and the physical damage have piled up on him now, and he goes down easier and easier. Nelson is a slugger on the feet who could probably also beat Cro Cop on the ground if he wanted to. Cro Cop is still a legend of the sport, but he's also a shadow of his former self. Don't let it get you down, but don't bet on a miraculous resurrection either. Those days are gone, my friend. At least the two of you will always have Tokyo.
My pick: Nelson. It's another one for the parlay, and another meager gain that breaks my heart just a little more than it's worth.
Scott Jorgensen (-450) vs. Jeff Curran (+325)
While Curran is a likable guy and a real student of the game, if we're being honest we also have to admit that he's the MMA equivalent of an old car that's held together by bailing wire and hope. He's been beat up and broken down over the years, and has hung together reasonably well, all things considered. Still, when you look at his career record you see a man who's been beaten by nearly every high-level opponent he's faced. Jorgensen might be inexperienced by comparison, but not so much that he's likely to get caught in a dumb submission or try to get too far away from his strengths. He'll show up looking to ground-and-pound Curran into a bloody mess, and he'll probably succeed.
My pick: Jorgensen. The odds are a bit more lopsided than I expected, but they favor the right man.
Hatsu Hioki (-350) vs. George Roop (+250)
Regular readers of this column will know that I simply must find at least one crazy underdog on every fight card, and when no obvious choice presents itself I am not above talking myself into one. So here goes: on paper, Hioki is the better fighter with the more established resume. He's also spent almost his entire career fighting in Japan, and the UFC's Octagon has not proved to be a very welcoming environment for many of his countrymen. Roop is a bigger fighter who is at home in the cage, and who, here and there, has shown flashes of real ability. He's not championship material and probably never will be, but does he have what it takes to shock Hioki in his UFC debut in front of the friendly Las Vegas crowd? I think just maybe he does.
My pick: Roop. It's a tasty line that I just can't resist under these circumstances. Some oddsmakers even have him as high as +325, so look around for a bargain if you feel like taking the leap with me.
Quick picks:
- Dennis Siver (+215) over Donald Cerrone (-275). Cerrone is tough, but Siver is a different class of opponent than what he's been up against lately. In a pick-em I'd take "Cowboy," but at these odds Siver is worth a small risk.
- Danny Downes (+155) over Ramsey Nijem (-185). You won't get rich off it, but Downes is the smart play against a guy who's probably not quite at this level just yet.
The 'For Entertainment Purposes Only' Parlay: Matt Mitrione + Roy Nelson + Scott Jorgensen + Brandon Vera Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
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Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 press conference LIVE updates today (Oct. 27) for 'Penn vs Diaz' in Las Vegas
Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Oct. 27, 2011) to promote this weekend's UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz event, which is scheduled for Oct. 29, 2011.
The conference will begin at 4 p.m. ET live from The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the home city of the event.
Scheduled to attend will be UFC president Dana White, as well as the headlining fighters of the evening, B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz.
B.J Penn is one of only two multi-divisional champions in UFC history, having captured both the welterweight and lightweight titles in his time with the promotion. He's currently embarking on a career renaissance at welterweight, having won his trilogy with Matt Hughes and drew with number two ranked Jon Fitch earlier this year.
On the opposite side of the podium will be Nick Diaz, the former Strikeforce welterweight champion who vacated his belt to sign with the UFC and challenge Georges St. Pierre. The GSP fight was scrapped but Diaz is currently riding a 10-fight win streak, which includes three successful title defenses in Strikeforce. He wants to impress the UFC brass and earn a shot at UFC gold..
New co-main eventers Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione will also be in attendance . Kongo is coming off one of the craziest comebacks of 2011 against Pat Barry at UFC on Versus 4 earlier this summer while Mitrione has continued his undefeated streak, moving to 5-0 in the UFC with a recent second round knockout of Christian Morecraft at the same event.
We'll have complete updates of the UFC 137 press conference after the jump:
Brian Hemminger here. The conference is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. eastern time. The big question is, will Nick Diaz show up this time?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, event, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 Pros Pick: Penn vs. Diaz
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, mattyblayze, pro
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz: 'If I could do it over again, I would have gone back to the boxing contract'
Money makes the world go.
There is, perhaps, no mixed martial artist on the planet that knows this -- and understands it -- better than Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz.
The Stockton native would be the first one to tell you, he's not in this sport to make friends or get famous; he just wants to get paid.
That's why he contemplated a switch to professional boxing, where the payouts are far more lucrative at the top of the card then they are fighting in MMA, even if it's with the largest organization in the world, the UFC.
In fact, Diaz had a deal in place for a boxing match that would have earned him a handsome penny. But he ultimately turned it down for an exclusive eight-fight UFC contract and an immediate title shot against Georges St. Pierre.
But then it all went south.
After agreeing to the contract and getting a main event pay-per-view slot opposite one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters on Earth, Diaz went awol.
He retreated into the deep recesses of Stockton, California to train his mind and body for the challenge that was to come. It's what he does, after all. Train, eat, sleep; train, eat, sleep.
But when it came time to do some promoting and show up to a pair of press conferences in Canada and Las Vegas, he failed to show up. This so angered UFC President Dana White that the decision was made to take Diaz out of his title shot and off the card altogether.
There were even a few hints that he would be cut from the promotion altogether.
That quickly went to the wayside, however, when Diaz found himself staring at a contract to fight B.J. Penn, who had also just lost his opponent, Carlos Condit, thanks to Diaz. Both men signed on the dotted line and here we are.
Now, after all that, regret is rearing its ugly head.
As Diaz explained at the open media workouts (via USA Today), if he could take it all back now, he would stick with boxing and leave MMA behind ... for the time being:
"If I had my chance to do it over again, I would have gone back to the boxing contract. It would have paid me more money. ... Later on, I'm sure they would have had me back here."
Indeed, speculation has Diaz losing out on at least six -- and maybe seven -- figures for missing out on fighting St. Pierre in the main event of a major pay-per-view over the Halloween weekend.
That's quite a bit of coin, folks.
When it comes to Diaz, it's always about how he can get the most buck for his bang. The how, the where and the who are nearly irrelevant.
He's in a tough situation now, though. If he loses to Penn on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, he'll be multiple fights away from regaining a title shot and there's nothing to say St. Pierre will remain champion during that time.
In short, a lot more potential cash will disappear once again.
On top of that, his contract with UFC is exclusive, unlike the deal he had in place with Strikeforce. Even if he wants to go to boxing now to augment is Octagon salary, it's no longer an option.
Maybe that's not such a bad thing. Maybe that very fact will provide all the motivation he needs to emerge victorious when he gets down and dirty inside the cage with "The Prodigy."
Cash is king.
Posted in: ufc, title shot, diaz, boxing, contract
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz: “This Could Be My Last Fight” (UFC 137 video)
Nick Diaz met with the UFC 137 media on Wednesday. He was introspective, talking about his feelings on fighting BJ Penn and how he approaches the fight as if it could be his last.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, bj penn, nick
Read the full article at MMA Weekly25 Minutes With Nick Diaz
submitted by killzy707 [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, killzy, minute
Read the full article at RedditBehind the UFC 137 numbers: Complete statistical breakdown for B.J. Penn vs Nick Diaz fight
Two top-level welterweights will collide at full speed when former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn takes on former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz at UFC 137 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Oct. 29, 2011.
Originally, the main event was set to feature a championship bout between UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz before the fiery fighter from Stockton, Calif., pulled a now infamous disappearing act, no showing two very important press conferences.
But then after St. Pierre sustained a knee injury in training less than two weeks ago, along with weeks of additional UFC 137 fight card musical chairs, Diaz has made his way into the main event once again. Now he will be forced to trade blows with a man who he admits is among his few his heroes in this sport.
MMAmania.com, along with support from the fantastic number-crunching fellows at CompuStrike, will take you behind the numbers that make up this complex match up of mixed martial arts (MMA) masters in the extended entry below.
Ready to geek out? Let's do this:
We're going to look at the different aspects of each fighters respective game. We'll see who holds the advantages and where. The following information is based on a 13-fight average.
First off, let's examine the striking game. Overall, Penn holds a slight advantage in accuracy, but it should be noted that Diaz throws a much larger volume of strikes in his fights. Here's the big picture:
Total Strikes:
Penn - 70 of 130Diaz - 119 of 231
Percentage:
Penn - 54%Diaz - 52%
Total Power Strikes Landed:
Penn - 45Diaz - 91
Total Non-Power Strikes Landed:Penn - 25 Diaz - 28
As you can see, Penn appears to be more crisp with his stand up skills, but the numbers seem to say that Diaz does more damage. It's also worth noting that Diaz has almost double the amount of knockouts in his career than does Penn. (Diaz has 13 [technical] knockouts to Penn's seven).
With that out of the way, we know that this is mixed martial arts, not boxing. Let's breakdown the disparity between punches and kicks.
Total Arm Strikes Landed:Penn - 42 of 94 Diaz - 89 of 185Percentage of Arm Strikes Landed:Penn - 45% Diaz - 48%Power Strikes Landed:Penn - 27 Diaz - 69Non-Power Strikes LandedPenn - 15Diaz - 20
So far, you'd have to give a decided stand up advantage to the slugger from Stockton, particularly when hands are being thrown.
For "kicks," let's check out who has a leg up on the competition when the lower extremities start to get involved:
Total Leg Strikes Landed:Penn - 7 of 8 Diaz - 16 of 23Percentage of Leg Strikes Landed:Penn - 88% Diaz - 70%Power Leg Strikes Landed:Penn - 4 Diaz - 13Non-Power Leg Strikes Landed:Penn - 3 Diaz - 3
Again, Penn looks to be more accurate, but Diaz is doing more damage.
Finally, let's talk ground game. Both fighters are seasoned veterans of the canvas and very, very high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners. In Penn's career, he has finished opponents by submission six times. Meanwhile, Diaz has done the same on eight occasions.
Here are the detailed statistics relating to what happens when these guys hit the mat:
Ground Strikes Landed:Penn - 21 of 28 Diaz - 14 of 23Percentage:Penn - 75% Diaz - 61%Power Ground Strikes Landed:Penn - 14Diaz - 9Non-Power Ground Strikes Landed:Penn - 7 Diaz - 5Takedowns:Penn - 9 of 13 for 69% Diaz - 9 of 32 for 28%Submission Attempts:Penn - 8Diaz - 10Dominant Positions:
Penn - 18Diaz - 17
It's also important to point out that Penn has stuffed 43 of his opponents' 58 takedown attempts (74 percent).
So that's the whole picture. It would certainly appear that if things stay standing, Diaz should be favored. If the action goes to the floor, Penn holds the statistical advantage.
Overall, Saturday's match up at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, looks like it should be a close and very exciting bout. At least on paper.
How's our "MMA math?" Were you surprised by any of the results? Do these figures make any of you Maniacs want to change your minds about any sig bets?
Posted in: diaz, leg, penn, strike, landedpenn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFight Day: Nick Diaz UFC 137 Pre-Fight Interview
Top 10 welterweight Nick Diaz talks to the media prior to his main event fight with MMA legend BJ Penn at UFC 137.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, event fight
Read the full article at Heavy MMADiaz shows up, plays nice for UFC 137 media
Known for missing media availability, Nick Diaz shows up early to the UFC 137 presser.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, media, presser
Read the full article at sportsnet.caNick Diaz "This could be my last fight"
submitted by mc-obscene [link] [13 comments]
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick, mcobscene
Read the full article at Reddit25 Minutes With Nick Diaz
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting spoke to Nick Diaz on Wednesday about whether he enjoyed the road to UFC 137, why he expected something bad to happen to him prior to the Georges St-Pierre fight, why he didn't show up to the pre-fight press conference, his newfound fame and much more.
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Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, ufc mma, didnt show
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz Regrets Choosing The UFC Over Boxing
“I would have gone back to boxing. If I had my chance to do it over again, I would go back to the boxing contract. It would have paid me more money, and I would have took my punches win or lose, and just do my job, fight and get paid… Later on, I’m sure they would have me back here or somewhere. You want to see a pro boxer fight MMA? Now you have yourself a high-level pro boxer. In my opinion, I don’t know, I don’t think about it till it’s all over with but I would have made plenty of money in boxing and would have made plenty of money later coming back so it definitely would have worked out if I had done what I set out to do and gone to pro boxing for a while.”
— Nick Diaz telling reporters that he regrets choosing the UFC over boxing
*Sigh* … I guess we shouldn’t be surprised since the reason he chose the UFC over boxing in the first place was to fight Georges St. Pierre in a big money main event. When he lost that seven-figure payday, I guess boxing started looking pretty good again.
I really don’t know enough about the offers he had to know if Diaz would have made more money for a pro boxing bout than he will against BJ Penn this weekend, but Nick still has a golden opportunity ahead of him in the UFC if he applies himself enough to capitalize on it.
Love or hate him, Diaz is a polarizing figure who draws tons of attention (even when he does nothing at all) and that’s not something you can say about the majority of fighters in the UFC. Only a select few like Chuck Liddell, Georges St. Pierre and Brock Lesnar have truly captivated audiences on a mass scale and as a result made the biggest paydays the sport has ever seen. Diaz isn’t there yet, but if he keeps winning like he has, keeps being himself and shows up to enough media obligations to keep the UFC happy, I definitely think he has the potential to make the kind of money those guys have.
If he ever reaches that level, maybe then he’ll realize that boxing wasn’t the best idea after all. Well, come to think of it, this is Nick Diaz we’re talking about, so maybe not.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, boxing, money
Read the full article at MMA ConvertDiaz still not happy, wishes he had gone boxing
It took the UFC some effort to get Nick Diaz to talk to the press. Now that he is, the promotion might wish it hadn’t bothered.That’s because...
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, boxing, hadnrsquot botheredthatrsquos
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyDiaz not a fan of B-level blogs
Nick Diaz has a reputation as someone who is not a fan of the press.Actually, according to the man himself, he is just not a fan of the second-tier press....
Posted in: diaz, fan, blog, someone, pressactually
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBJ Penn: “Me and Nick Diaz was Always a Main Event Fight” (UFC 137 video)
BJ Penn didn't really want to step into the Octagon with Nick Diaz at UFC 137, but when it was inked, he always knew this was a main-event-level fight.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, bj
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyWith UFC 137 main event looming, Nick Diaz laments choice not to box
LAS VEGAS - Nick Diaz now says he regrets his decision to pass up a boxing contract for a return to the UFC.
Three days before his UFC 137 headliner opposite B.J. Penn, Diaz said a trip to the square circle would have benefitted
him more in the long term than the continuation of his MMA career.
"If I had my chance to do it over again, I would have gone back to the
boxing contract," the former Strikeforce champion said today.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, boxing contract, square circle
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGSP Predicts Diaz vs Penn
submitted by killzy707 [link] [12 comments]
Posted in: diaz, vs, gsp, killzy, penn
Read the full article at RedditUltimate Submissions: Breaking down the grappling of BJ Penn and Nick Diaz
On October 29, 2011, the UFC will be flying its banner once again inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the injury and drama struck UFC 137 will leave the MMA world abuzz for the highly anticipated showdown between top contenders Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn.
In the months leading up to the event we saw the main event match-up featuring UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre and Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Diaz scrapped after the latter was a no show for the promotions pre-event press conference. The lack of professionalism and loss in trust forced the powers that be to call an audible and insert perennial contender Carlos Condit into the evening’s main event.
Condit, originally slated to be the co-main event, was scheduled to square off with Penn. "The Prodigy," now left without an opponent, was paired with the now former number one contender, Diaz. St. Pierre would go down with an injury weeks prior to the event and the Penn vs. Diaz match-up would be bumped to the headlining slot.
What a complete mess.
UFC 137 will now offer two former friends and teammates meeting up in what many believe to be a number one contender fight for the 170-pound title. What's still a mystery is whether Condit will get the next shot or if the winner of this fight leapfrogs into that position.
Either way, Saturday night we have quite a match-up for our viewing pleasure. Let's take a look at how the two stack up on the ground after the jump.
Both Diaz and Penn are Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts with elite level skills on the ground. Coming from Gracie jiu-jitsu backgrounds, they are two of the more talented and heralded grapplers in the entire sport.
Diaz, a black belt under Cesar Gracie, has competed in Gi and No-Gi competitions and has shown his grappling translates to mixed martial arts as evidenced by the fact that he hasn't been submitted in over 30 professional fights.
Penn, initially studying under Ralph Gracie, would receive his black belt from fifth-degree black belt André Pederneiras. Recognized as being the first non-Brazilian to win the World Championships, Penn’s ji-jitsu has always been held in high regard as being among the greatest in the world. He's never been submitted in his career.
So who has the advantage?
The Guard:
Both fighters have very good guards but for different reasons. While Penn uses his flexibility to help him get back to the feet where he often holds an advantage in the striking, Diaz uses his closed guard to attack with submissions.
Let’s take a look at some gifs.
Penn isn’t a strictly traditional guard type of grappler. We often here criticism of Penn by fans asking when the last time is that Penn has submitted anyone from his back. Well, the truth is his bottom game focuses much more around escapes and scrambles and less on submissions.
Recognized as one of the more flexible fighters in the world, Penn often uses his dexterity to improve position or escape. In this clip, you can see Penn with one of the more grinding wrestlers in the game on top of him. Jon Fitch has taken Penn down and is ready to unleash the smothering and frustrating style of fighting that so many have succumbed to prior.
Instead, Penn uses his left leg to plant in the hip crevice on the left side of Fitch to keep him from being completely on top. While that leg keeps the space and weight off, Penn sneaks his right leg up and pushes into the opposite hip of Fitch causing Fitch to fall backwards and Penn to escape to his feet.
Aside from the rubber guard, Penn’s biggest strength from his back is his ability to use his legs in ways most grapplers simply can not. He is so flexible and quick with his lower half that it is almost as if he has two extra arms. Penn will want to use his escapes and sweeps such as his signature jailbreak and octopus sweep to gain top or standing position.
For More on Penn's jiu-jitsu skill, read my fanposts on his career grappling highlights here, here and here.
Sitting inside the closed guard, Diaz has "Cyborg" Santos broken down and keeping him from sitting up to drop bombs. Santos has his hands very high. Diaz shifts his hips and goes to a very high guard.
Diaz smartly reaches beneath the left leg/knee of Santos and hooks it. This keeps Santos from passing or rolling out of the arm bar attempt that is about to come. Nick throws the leg high while isolating the arm completes the attempt by putting the leg over the face and now he starts to fight with the wrist. He uses his hips and lower strength to throw Santos over capitalizing on the lack of base and balance finally prying the arm free and getting the submission.
The hips and lower body strength of Diaz are greatly undervalued. The argument that he has yet to defeat a wrestler is valid; however, there is no takeaway in how good Diaz's guard is. He's also very flexible which was seen when he Gogoplata’d Takanori Gomi very quickly.
The advantage here sways to Diaz. He has shown his ability to escape and submit from his back and his long legs present opportunities for arm bars, triangle chokes, omoplatas and gogoplatas alike and having more tools in the tool kit will often mean there are more ways to succeed.
The Top Game:
Diaz has never been much of a top game grappler and I was unable to really locate a time when Diaz used superb top game grappling in his mixed martial arts career. If anyone has any further insight as to when he has or show us some examples, that would be great.
Penn, on the other hand, is one of the best guard passing grapplers in the entire sport, period. Every fighter he has taken down he has passed their guard and in most cases, earned the most dominant position in grappling by taking their back.
Simply stated, Penn has one of the most vicious and slick top games out there. Passing the guard of Renzo Gracie was just one of many highlight reel passes and displays of top game Penn has to his name.
From my fanpost on passing the guard:
Speaking of passing the guard, B.J. Penn shows one of the most impressive guard passes I personally have ever seen when he passes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu legend Renzo Gracie’s guard in their middleweight bout.
With seconds left in a bout that was favoring Penn, sitting in side control after a trip takedown, the smaller Penn decided it was not enough to ride out position. With little time left meant little risk to be swept and reversed.
Penn would underhook the right leg of the planted Gracie. Controlling that leg meant Gracie would have less to defend with if Penn were to pass, then Penn would snake his right leg through the slot made by his arm and Gracie’s leg. Flexibility played a huge part in the pass as well as the vast arsenal of grappling technique that Penn enjoys.
As he passes, Renzo bucks but with that leg controlled it makes it easier for Penn to sit down and get his weight planted to control Renzo. He completes the pass into mount and the round ends soon after.
Penn took the fight to Jon Fitch. Being the only person to really find success grappling against Fitch besides division king Georges St. Pierre, Penn took Fitch down and passed his guard all the way into back mount.
In the clip above you see Penn slip a punch and dive down for a double leg. Penn has always had great explosion both in his grappling and striking. He sinks down for the double leg and when he gets Fitch down he immediately sucks up Fitch’s legs between his own to trap them and limit mobility.
From there he waits and makes a swift movement to take Fitch’s back. He almost succeeds in using his flexible legs to trap the left arm which would have all but secured the rear naked choke victory. Penn traps Fitch with a body triangle and follows him as he attempts to roll out of the position.
Fitch would later escape, but the skill and execution shown exhibits just how great Penn can be in the top game department. He has better takedowns then Diaz and he is a deadly guard passer. Mix that in with his heavy hands, not to mention his ground and pound, and you have an absolute beast to deal with.
Look for Diaz to avoid being on the bottom too often and look for Penn to feel comfortable taking down the Gracie black belt to claim Diaz as another victim in Penn’s amazing list of guards he has passed.
What do you think, Maniacs? Do you agree that Penn has the better top game while Diaz has the more efficient guard? And who do you think wins if this fight hits the mats?
Posted in: diaz, leg, guard, penn, fitch
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBJ Penn looking forward to welcoming Nick Diaz back to the UFC
Ever since BJ Penn returned to the UFC welterweight division, fans around the world have wondered how the former double division champion will readjust to 170 pounds. Their questions were put to rest last November when, at UFC 123, Penn knocked out multiple time 170lb champ Matt Hughes in just 21 seconds. He followed this up with a controversial draw over title contender Jon Fitch in February.
Most recently, the popular Hawiian has been promoted to the main event of UFC 137 on Saturday to face ex-Strikeforce welterweight king, Nick Diaz, after welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre was forced from his fight with Carlos Condit due to a knee injury.
In his recent blog with Yahoo Sports, the former double-divisional champ discussed the situation with GSP. “When it comes to GSP, we have had our problems. I said what I said about him in the past, but if he felt like he had to pull out of the fight that’s what it is.”
Penn also talked about a slew of news from last week, saying “It (was) a crazy week. I found out about Georges St. Pierre’s knee injury keeping him and Condit off the UFC 137 card, and me and Diaz being the new main event when I saw it on BJPenn.com. Then (the other day) we had a crazy press conference call where Nick Diaz wasn’t on until 40 minutes into it.”
On whether or not he found the behavior insulting, Penn explained, “I didn’t find it disrespectful; I think it is Nick being Nick, and he’s not gonna change. He’s going to do what he’s going to do, and not do what he’s not going to do. That is cool. I know he will show up for the fight and it will be a great fight in the new UFC 137 main event.”
Penn Heads Home to Hawaii for Final Training Before Diaz Fight
BJ also discussed the possibility of getting a title shot if he beats Diaz come Saturday night, writing, “The funny thing is that title shots – and who gets title shots – are all about timing. If I had beaten Jon Fitch in Sydney in February and not had a draw, I would have gotten a title shot. But now, even if I beat Nick Diaz, I may not get a title shot.” He continued to say. “I realize now it is all about timing, and the timing may not work out for me to get the right title shot unless GSP heals fast and fights Carlos in the next couple of months.”
But he was keen to say that he was not looking past Diaz, saying, “But beating Nick Diaz, title fight or no title fight, is a big deal. He’s a great fighter and dangerous anywhere. I won’t disrespect him, the fans or myself by not concentrating 100 percent on this fight at UFC 137.”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, nick
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Countdown Video
For those of you that missed it Monday night, here's the full and complete video(s) for the Countdown to UFC 137 show. It's only 30 minutes long this time due to all the hoopla surrounding the removal of the Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit fight. The first part covers the main event fight between friends B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz, and part two covers the two heavyweight bouts on the main card, Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione and Roy Nelson vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. It comes off as a bit rushed, but that is to be expected in this case. Part one is below, and part two is after the jump.
More SBN coverage of UFC 137
Main CardNick Diaz vs. B.J. PennCheick Kongo vs. Matt MitrioneMirko Filipovic vs. Roy NelsonHatsu Hioki vs. George RoopJeff Curran vs. Scott JorgensenSpike TV CardDonald Cerrone vs. Dennis SiverTyson Griffin vs. Bart PalaszewskiPreliminary CardEliot Marshall vs. Brandon VeraDanny Downes vs. Ramsey NijemChris Camozzi vs. Francis CarmontDustin Jacoby vs. Clifford Starks
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, part, case part
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCountdown to UFC 137 Full Video Preview for “Penn vs. Diaz”
Countdown to UFC 137, the official preview show for Saturday’s “UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz” event, debuted this week on Spike TV and the full video is now available online. Welterweight contenders BJ Penn and Nick Diaz clash in the UFC 137 main event, while the Oct. 29 card in Las Vegas also features heavyweights Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo and Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Cro Cop.
Watch the full “Countdown to UFC 137″ video below:
For UFC 137 results and complete UFC 137 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, spike tv, video preview
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNick Diaz Facing A Must Win Situation At UFC 137
Having been moved to the top of the list of welterweight contenders, there is no room for error on Saturday night for Nick Diaz.
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, nick diaz, nick, welterweight contenders
Read the full article at Heavy MMAVideo: The Countdown To UFC 137
Watch the entire UFC 137 preview show, featuring B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, right here on HeavyMMA.com.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, show, right, heavymmacom
Read the full article at Heavy MMANick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning
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Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, bj, gameplanning
Read the full article at RedditDays Before UFC 137 Fight, Nick Diaz Regrets Passing Up Boxing Opportunity
Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS -- Nick Diaz is here.
After no-showing two UFC 137 press events, getting removed from a championship fight, then being reinserted into the event as against his early MMA hero, MMA's bad boy is in Sin City, ready to fight BJ Penn.
In fact, Diaz was bright and early for his media responsibilities on Wednesday, arriving a full half-hour before his scheduled arrival time. But Diaz always manages to capture attention one way or another, and this time it was with his words.
Just days before stepping into his fight with Penn, Diaz was asked about the whirlwind journey that's corresponded with his return to the UFC. He gave up a potentially lucrative boxing opportunity to accept a chance at a big bucks matchup with champion Georges St-Pierre, but now that fight will have to wait. Because of that, he said knowing what he knows now, he would have done things a little bit differently.
"I would have gone back to boxing," Diaz said. "If I had my chance to do it over again, I would go back to the boxing contract. It would have paid me more money, and I would have took my punches win or lose, and just do my job, fight and get paid."
Diaz's comments weren't said with any malice towards the opportunity he's given, explaining it as a business decision that would have paid dividends in both the boxing and MMA realms.
"Later on, I'm sure they would have me back here or somewhere," he said. "You want to see a pro boxer fight MMA? Now you have yourself a high-level pro boxer. In my opinion, I don't know, I don't think about it till it's all over with but I would have made plenty of money in boxing and would have made plenty of money later coming back so it definitely would have worked out if I had done what I set out to do and gone to pro boxing for a while."
Diaz will still get his chance at a lucrative payday. If he beats Penn, he's a virtual lock to face the winner of the upcoming title fight between Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, boxing
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 Roundtable: Analyzing Nick Diaz's Chances Against B.J. Penn
Brent Brookhouse: When I look at the odds for UFC 137, I keep getting hung up on the fact that Nick Diaz is only a slight underdog to B.J. Penn. Since the fight was announced it seemed to me that this was a very, very good fight for Penn. While it should be exciting, I just don't like Diaz's chances to win.
Without dipping into the always annoying "but anything can happen in MMA" cliche, what am I missing? Where are Diaz's chances to win so great that he should only be a slight dog in this fight?
Tim Burke: Well, I think B.J. wins rather handily, so it'd be a devil's advocate approach, but here goes -
Penn has had trouble getting inside on boxers with a long reach before. Nick doesn't throw many kicks, but he could keep BJ at bay with his boxing. He could outwrestle hi...wait, no. There's always the threat of a submiss...wait, that's out too.
Okay, I give up. Diaz is getting trucked.
KJ Gould: Bodyshots. I remember in GSP's post fight appearance for ESPN's MMA Live after beating BJ Penn that it was believed because of Penn's great flexibility in his torso, that sometimes means you can have a weak thoracic cavity. The strategy was to wear him out and beat on this area to further diminish his cardio-vascular system and tire him out quicker.
Penn's not been in there with a guy that works the body with punches that Diaz does plus Penn seems to be a head hunter even if he does use his jab really well to set up his boxing.
Diaz is tough and recovers well, he was still in the fight against Daley after being dropped and it's hard to convince me Penn can hit as hard as Daley. Of course is Penn drops Diaz he'll be on his back looking for a choke pronto.
I think Diaz has a chance to work over Penn's body, take his lungs and take out his will to win the fight.
Fraser Coffeen: OK, how's this - Penn's status at Welterweight is almost entirely based on a single win from 8 years ago. In the UFC, he has never defeated anyone at WW aside from Matt Hughes. He's not nearly as explosive at the weight, and when taken down, he has a tougher time escaping. Now, Diaz is not much of a top wrestler, so that last point may not matter much, but the first definitely does. Aside from a fast KO of Hughes, Penn has looked slowed down in every fight since the Sanchez win at 107 - and that includes a pair of fights at Lightweight. If he is slow against Diaz, those patented Diaz punches will accumulate.
And finally - Penn has been very quiet about this fight. He talked about considering retirement if he lost against Fitch. He's talked about how he's getting older. He's not really in the title hunt. He's fighting a friend. There is a danger that he is not super trained and focused for this one. And an unmotivated B.J. Penn is not the same fighter you are thinking of when you run through his highlight reel in your head.
Follow after the jump for more discussion of the UFC 137 main event clash between Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn.
Leland Roling: I think KJ's point about rib roasting Penn is a solid argument to how Diaz can attain what he ultimately needs to do in this fight. He needs to press Penn hard from the start and tire him out. Everyone talks about how there aren't any weaknesses for Penn against Diaz in a three-round fight, but when was the last time Penn had to deal with a pace that Diaz can push relentlessly and endlessly? I suppose a case can be made for GSP.
Diaz's output could spell disaster for Penn, and those thinking Penn will somehow KO Diaz because he stands dead still in the pocket -- I can relate to the concern. At least I did until Paul Daley lamped Diaz, Diaz fell to his face, then quickly got back to his feet as if nothing happened.
Diaz has a decent shot, but Penn's accuracy and quickness could spell disaster. Oh yeah, and Penn might actually take down Diaz and Fitch him.
Tim Burke: Well, Fitch pushes the same pace as Diaz, just in a different manner. And Penn neutralized it for the first half of the fight against a much better grappler. Like Leland said, I'm not sure what's stopping Penn from just planting Diaz on his back and riding it out, other than his pride. Which means it probably won't happen.
Fraser Coffeen: But Diaz is far superior off his back in comparison to Fitch. He's not going to sub Penn, but can he create a scramble and escape? I think so, especially as the fight progresses.
KJ Gould: Fitch is a more well rounded grappler than Diaz, but Diaz does excel of his back and with guard work. I'm not sure how he'd do with BJ Penn who has a great top game. It'd certainly be intriguing in that area. But then who does Penn train with Jiu Jitsu wise? At least Diaz has Nate, Jake Shields and Melendez to keep him sharp.
Chris Barton: It's been covered but that really is the only way Nick can win. Relentless pace with body work. Nick won't get tired and with his volume of punches he can really take the wind and fight out of BJ in under one round. Add to that, if BJ is not in top form as Fraser said Diaz will make it a very long night for Penn. I think Fraser makes a very good point that many people forgot, BJ was talking about quitting not very long ago. His heart hasn't seemed to be into fighting much anymore.
Saying all that, BJ is a much better fighter and I don't have any faith that Diaz wins this fight. I honestly think Penn will finish him.
Dallas Winston: When comparing skills, Diaz's known weakness is the one trait Penn doesn't specifically excel in, which is wrestling. That isn't meant to imply that B.J. is a poor wrestler either, but obviously his takedown skills aren't on the same level as his BJJ and striking. Conversely, Penn's best weapon, which is his pure punching power, is something that Diaz has consistently proven the ability to withstand.
I also feel that too many consider their ground games equal because of Penn's exemplary accomplishments in the gi, where Diaz has been significantly more effective off his back and in creating opportunities to scramble through sweeps and submission attempts. All but one of Penn's legit career submissions are rear-naked chokes that came from the top after he softened his opponent up with sharp ground-and-pound and sick guard passing. Counter to his traditional BJJ accumen, Penn almost grapples more like a catch wrestler with power-transitions, tremendous striking and subs from the top, where Diaz embodies the smoother, gentler approach of methodically blending sub attempts and slithering to a better position with a wider range of technique and only sparse striking.
Just as Penn's basic boxing style and hard, straight punches is ideal to penetrate Diaz's wide and fairly flat-footed style, the cryptic tempo and abstract trajectories of Diaz's unorthodox stand up could easily wreak the same havoc on Penn that Edgar did from a rhythm and volume standpoint.
Chris Barton: I'm not sure I am with you on Nicks ability to withstand punching power in a way that benefits him against BJ. While Nick can take shots and recover, typically people that floor him allow him that time since they are so afraid to go to the ground with him, which isn't something Penn will do. If BJ knocks Nick down he will pounce and finish.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, penn, bj
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCountdown to UFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Full Video
Here’s the Countdown to UFC 137 “Penn vs. Diaz” if you missed it on TV.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, countdown
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz Shows In Vegas For UFC 137
Hey, check out who showed in Vegas for his fight this weekend — Nick Diaz with a big fat grin on the face!
The UFC tweeted out the picture last night along with this message.
Don’t look surprised, you know he always shows up to fight
I’m well aware of the reasons, but it is kinda funny how it all worked out. After the UFC hastily pulled Nick Diaz out of the original main event because they were afraid he wouldn’t show up for the fight, it’s Diaz, not Georges St. Pierre, who made it to Vegas for UFC 137.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick diaz, nick
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNick Diaz says his "biggest obstacle" on Saturday will be overcoming his faith in B.J. Penn
Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz, who will go head to head with B.J. Penn in the UFC 137 headlining bout, discusses his opponent and expresses disappointment in losing his title shot against Georges St. Pierre. Diaz feels that fighting GSP would have been an easier task and explains that his own respect for Penn will likely be his biggest obstacle to overcome on Saturday night. Photo: MMAWeekly.com
Posted in: title shot, diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, penn
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Open Workout Photos
A Welterweight showdown between "The Prodigy" B.J. Penn and former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz will headline the stacked UFC 137 fight card, set to take place this Saturday night from the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Also featured will be a pair of Heavyweight bouts, one of which pits Cheick Kongo against rising contender Matt Mitrione, while the other will see the legendary veteran Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic taking on Roy "Big Country" Nelson.
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, welterweight showdown, workout photos, heavyweight bouts
Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz claims BJ Penn fight is not a normal fight for him
Nick Diaz is set to face BJ Penn in the main event of UFC 137 this Saturday. The promotion held open workouts on Wednesday after which the fighters were made available for interviews. Diaz took 20 minutes out of his day to answer questions from the press.
The interesting video covers a lot of ground, including MMA as a job, BJ Penn, his team, his brother, his reluctance to face a fighter he knows and perhaps most tellingly, he ends the interview saying, “This isn’t like a normal fight for
Posted in: fight, diaz, penn, bj, isn ’t
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137: Nick Diaz Discusses Looking Up to B.J. Penn, Gameplanning
Inside MMA managed to get an interview with the always-fascinating Nick Diaz and they were nice enough to share it with us here at Bloody Elbow. This interview is particularly compelling because Nick opens up about his admiration for the guy he's meeting in the main event at UFC 137, B.J. Penn. He also talks about how Penn is tougher to gameplan for than Georges St. Pierre would be, and what he thinks Penn's gameplan is going to be against him. He even opens up about the missed press conferences. It's one of the better Diaz interviews I've ever seen so you should definitely check it out. Here's HDNet's description of it and for those that can't watch it for whatever reason, there are some choice quotes from the interview after the jump.
"Just days before his return to the UFC, Nick Diaz sits down with Inside MMA to discuss his upcoming fight and long relationship with BJ Penn. Plus Diaz tells us why Penn is more of a threat than GSP, what really happened that day at the press conference, and why his heart may not totally be in this fight. A must see interview from start to finish!"
"My biggest obstacle for this fight is overcoming my personal faith in B.J. Penn because, you know, pretty much...I don't look up to a lot of guys but I've looked up to B.J. Penn for a long time. You know he came from my school, you gotta understand he came from my academy. You know, whether he says he does or he doesn't, that's where he came from and where he started learning jiu-jitsu. I actually had his first mixed martial arts fight on video, I'm not even sure if he's seen it."
"He knows me, I know him. You know, I wouldn't have picked this fight by choice, that's for sure."
"I think he'll probably try to slip the jab, throw the overhand right, you know. Make a bodylock or single leg takedown. Maybe push me against the fence."
"It's like everyone who fights in the the UFC, they're like, on the same team or something. And they fight each other. I don't agree with that. I don't think that' s good for fighting."
"I was supposed to be fighting for the title. It wasn't me that went back on that, it wasn't me, you know? They went back on that. People want to blame me for spoiling that deal but they spoiled that deal for the the fans, it wasn't that I spoiled that deal. You know, you tell me what to do and I'll do it. Nobody's saying 'show up for the press conference or you're not fighting'. Yeah right, like I'm not gonna show up and people are gonna know I don't wanna fight. I do wanna fight."
Posted in: fight, diaz, interview, penn, bj
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137's Nick Diaz was watching B.J. Penn before it was cool
Is Nick Diaz a hipster?
When it comes to MMA, he may very well be.
After all, Diaz, who headlines Saturday's UFC 137 event, recently told
HDNet's "Inside MMA" program that he was watching a VHS copy of opponent
B.J. Penn's first MMA fight before anyone really knew who the Hawaiian
MMA prodigy was.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, mma fight, mma program
Read the full article at MMA JunkiePenn vs. Diaz - UFC 137 Preview: The Main Card
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link
Read the full article at RedditBJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz: Countdown to UFC 137
Nick Diaz and BJ Penn, the fighters that will face off on Saturday, October 29 in the main event at UFC 137 have been fairly quiet during the lead up to the fight. That quiet is most likely due to the mutual respect that is shared between the two. Both fighters have acknowledged that they are on friendly terms and have gone so far as to say that they are not happy to have to meet each other in the Octagon. However, both fighters know what their job is; so don’t expect any punches to be pulled
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick, fighter, penn
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137 Preview: How Much Has Nick Diaz Improved Since His Last UFC Run?
When Nick Diaz steps into the Octagon to fight at UFC 137, it will be for the first time since November of
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, octagon
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137 Predictions
Filed under: UFCCan Nick Diaz make a triumphant return to the UFC and beat B.J. Penn? Can Matt Mitrione stay undefeated and beat Cheick Kongo? Will Mirko Cro Cop show he still has something left against Roy Nelson? Is there any reason to buy this pay-per-view now that Georges St. Pierre is off the card? We'll answer those questions and more as we predict the winners of Saturday night's UFC 137.
What: UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz
Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas
When: Saturday, the preliminary fights on Facebook begin at 6 PM ET, the Spike fights begin at 8 and the pay-per-view begins at 9.
Predictions on the five pay-per-view fights below.
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Diaz is on a 10-fight winning streak, but some critics contend that he's built up his record against weak opponents and wouldn't be able to handle the best of the best in the UFC. The fight with Penn should tell us a lot about Diaz: Can he use his high-volume but sometimes sloppy punching against a good boxer? Can he get the better of an excellent jiu jitsu player on the ground?
I've always enjoyed watching Diaz and was hoping to see him fight St. Pierre for the welterweight title, but my money is on Diaz falling short against Penn. I think Penn can jab Diaz effectively all night if the fight stays standing, and I think Penn is too sophisticated a grappler for Diaz to get him in trouble on the ground. This is not a good stylistic matchup for Diaz, and I see Penn winning by unanimous decision.
Pick: Penn
More Coverage: Watch UFC 137 Live Online | UFC 137 Fight Card | UFC 137 Results
Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione
Mitrione was a former NFL defensive lineman who had little MMA experience when he was invited to join the cast of The Ultimate Fighter, but he has developed into a credible heavyweight. Kongo is a great striker and a lot of fun to watch, but he struggles against bigger, stronger opponents who can take him down, and I think that's exactly what Mitrione is going to do. I like Mitrione to win a decision and improve to 6-0.
Pick: Mitrione
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson
Both of these guys are on two-fight losing streaks and have looked very unimpressive lately, but the difference is that in Nelson's two losses he was simply beaten by better opponents. In Cro Cop's two losses he was not only beaten but looked like he didn't even particularly want to fight. It's sad to say but I just don't think Cro Cop has anything left at all. Look for Nelson to win, and for UFC President Dana White to face questions about whether Cro Cop is done in the UFC.
Pick: Nelson
Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
The one good thing you can say about all the injuries that affected UFC 137 is that they created space for Jorgensen vs. Curran on the main card. This fight should be a lot of fun, featuring one of the best bantamweights in the world in Jorgensen, against one of the pioneers of the lower weight classes in Curran. I'd love to see Curran go on a run in the UFC, but he's 34 years old and has been fighting for 13 years and I think he's slowed down considerably. I think Jorgensen wins this one handily.
Pick: Jorgensen
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
Hioki has been the best featherweight in Japan the last few years and is an exciting addition to the UFC's featherweight division. He has great reach and knows how to take advantage of it on his feet, and he's very aggressive off his back on the ground. And yet ... after seeing so many fighters have success in Japan only to struggle when they move to the Octagon, I'm having a hard time seeing Hioki beating a solid UFC veteran like Roop. I think this fight goes the distance and Roop takes the decision.
Pick: Roop Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, penn
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz: BJ Penn is a much more dangerous fighter than Georges St. Pierre
Oh how quickly things can change.
In early September the UFC was gearing up for what promised to be a battle for the ages. The good guy champion, Georges St. Pierre, against the bad guy challenger, Nick Diaz, over the Halloween weekend.
"Rush" was respectful throughout the build to the match-up, always considerate of his opponent. The Stockton slugger, though, held no such compunction. He had respect for his foe's skill-set, sure, he just despised the way he utilized his talents.
Lay-n-pray, anyone?
Whether or not that's true is irrelevant. That's the angle Diaz took then and it's the angle he maintains to this very day, despite the fact that he's now squaring off against B.J. Penn at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas and St. Pierre is no longer on the card, out until early next year with a knee injury.
It's certainly not Diaz's job to put over "The Prodigy," but his obvious admiration for the Hawaiian's abilities coupled with his dislike for the French Canadian's style of fighting, has led him to dish out quite the complement:
"B.J. Penn is a much more dangerous fighter than Georges St. Pierre. If I lose a fight to Georges, it's him holding me and not fighting the whole time. If I lose to B.J. Penn, he's probably going to take me out with a right hand or he's going to get on top someway and end up in position, probably get mount, take the back, put on a choke and finish the fight, you know? Georges is just going to look to do enough to win the fight. Every fight that he does. I doubt that would have worked out with me the same way that it does with a lot of the other fighters. I think I have the tools to do what it takes to make something happen in those five rounds."
That chip Diaz carries around has clearly remain nestled right there on his shoulder, again, despite the fact that he's no longer fighting an enemy.
Now he's fighting a friend.
That's likely why he's heaping such praise on Penn. When the two step inside the Octagon with each other there will be a mutual understanding that whoever walks out the victor will have earned it the hard way.
No lay-n-pray here, folks.
That's good news for fans and even better news for business. But let's be real, Maniacs. Is B.J. Penn a more dangerous fighter to Nick Diaz than Georges St. Pierre would have been?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: diaz, pierre, penn, george, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCountdown to UFC 137 – Penn vs. Diaz (video)
Check out Countdown to UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz featuring BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz. Full video.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, video, vs, penn
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyExclusive Nick Diaz Interview - Inside MMA
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Posted in: diaz, nick, interview, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz says the UFC spoiled his fight against GSP
We're just days away from Nick Diaz's return to the UFC and surprisingly the MMA media has been devoid of 'Don't be scared homie' jokes. Great. That stuff was cool back in the day, but let's face it, now it's just an annoying cliche. It's MMA's version of 'I'm Rick James, bitch,' and as we all know, that saying killed Rick James. If you participated in that social meme, then you did your part in murdering the planet's last Superfreak. How do you feel about yourself -- and your senseless killing? Let's do our best not to kill Nick Diaz before UFC 137.
HDNet caught up with Nick Diaz this week in order to get him to open up on topics like, GSP, BJ Penn and people not calling him up for interviews.
Check out this video of Nick Diaz talking about his upcoming UFC 137 bout and that he believes the UFC spoiled his fight against Georges St. Pierre. [Source]
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, rick james
Read the full article at Middle EasyB.J. Penn vs Nick Diaz UFC 137 fight video breakdown with Cesar Gracie
Cesar Gracie, head trainer of the enigmatic Nick Diaz, was a recent guest on HDNet's "Inside MMA," breaking down his fighter's upcoming clash with B.J. Penn in the UFC 137 main event.
Gracie goes into deep detail about Diaz's respect for the "Prodigy," even mentioning that he hopes it doesn't have an impact on the outcome of the 170-pound bout because the Stockton, Calif.,-bred brawler typically performs best against enemies (See Frank Shamrock).
The video ends with Gracie saying that Diaz and Penn will likely put all their happy history behind them for 15 minutes and go after each other on the ground, as well as on their feet, as if they were sworn enemies.
Anyone else concerned? Or, will their similar styles and "fighter mentalities" translate into an action-packed, instant classic?
Posted in: diaz, penn, gracie, enemies anyone, actionpacked instant
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCesar Gracie offers his thoughts on BJ Penn vs Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz and BJ Penn are set to face off in the main event at UFC 137. The fight will take place Saturday, October 29 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV.
Inside MMA recently sat down with Diaz’s trainer, Cesar Gracie to discuss the Penn fight. Hosts Bas Rutten and Kenny Rice also spoke to Gracie about Diaz’s mindset heading into the fight as well as Nick being pulled from his originally scheduled bout against Georges St.
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Read the full article at Low KickNick Diaz Wants Next Shot at Georges St-Pierre If He Finishes BJ Penn at UFC 137
If Nick Diaz beats BJ Penn in impressive fashion in Saturday’s UFC 137 main event, his trainer and manager, Cesar Gracie, will ask UFC President Dana White to give Diaz the next shot at welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre over Carlos Condit.
“This is the UFC so there’s always that chance,” Gracie recently said on The MMA Hour. “There’s no question about it that I will ask for that if Nick has a tremendous performance and he can finish BJ, I would ask for that. But the biggest thing is if the fans want it. If the fans all ask for that, Dana [White] is a smart guy. He knows the sport is about the fans. So who knows?”
Diaz was originally scheduled to fight St-Pierre in the UFC 137 headliner, but the UFC replaced him with Condit after he failed to appear for a pair of press conferences. St-Pierre was then forced off the card last week with a knee injury that will sideline him until early next year, and Condit decided to wait for St-Pierre’s return rather than risk his title shot.
Unless Condit suffers an injury of his own, it is unlikely that the UFC would pull him from a promised title shot against St-Pierre, leaving Diaz to likely wait for the winner if he beats Penn at UFC 137.
For UFC 137 results and complete UFC 137 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Nick Diaz
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Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 137 Debatable: Did Nick Diaz Deserve A UFC Title Shot?
The former Strikeforce champion was supposed to battle Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight title this weekend. Duane Finley and Spencer Kyte debate whether Diaz was deserving of the opportunity in...
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Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Results and Play-by-Play
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz live results and play-by-play on Saturday, Oct. 29, in Las Vegas. The main event features BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz.
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Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Quick Results
UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz quick results on Saturday, Oct. 29, in Las Vegas. The main event features BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz.
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Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137 Play-by-Play: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
UFC 137 play-by-play of BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz on Saturday, Oct. 29, in Las Vegas.
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Read the full article at MMA WeeklyPenn not expecting title shot if he beats Diaz
BJ Penn isn’t expecting to be handed a title shot if he beats Nick Diaz this weekend.The former lightweight and welterweight champion was originally...
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Read the full article at Fighters OnlyIs Nick Diaz good enough to beat B.J. Penn? MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden looks at five key areas...
Is Nick Diaz good enough to beat B.J. Penn? MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden looks at five key areas where these two welterweight warriors match-up. Who gets the advantage heading into UFC 137 on Oct. 29? Find out here.
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Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Final Video Trailer
Check out the final trailer for "UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz" and then get ready for all of the action coming your way during fight week!
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Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 137 Roundtable: How Should the UFC Have Handled Nick Diaz?
Mike Fagan: It wasn't that people expected Nick Diaz to seriously challenge Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137. Diaz has garnered a reputation as a FIGHTER, though, and after a string of "boring" title defenses, fans salivated at the idea of Diaz forcing St. Pierre into a fight. Instead, Diaz skipped two press conferences last month, forcing UFC President Dana White to pull him from the fight and replace him with Carlos Condit. Diaz, with the spectre of a pink slip looming, was inserted into the co-main with B.J. Penn.
The point is near moot because St. Pierre ended up pulling out of the fight with a knee injury, but did the UFC handle Diaz correctly? Should they have left him in the main event? Should he have been rebooked on the card against Penn?
Fraser Coffeen: They blew it. This was a classic case of making a decision based on emotion and feeling personally slighted, not on what is the best business decision. Yes, Diaz blew off those events, and yes, that is frustrating. But that is also exactly the reason people wanted this fight to happen. Diaz is a loose cannon - an unpredictable whirlwind who can knock anyone out, but also seemingly crash and burn at any time. In short, he's the perfect foil to Georges St. Pierre's supremely unflappable and professional air. That clash of styles makes this fight great, especially for the growing number of fans who are weary of the GSP show. So of course Diaz blew that off - that's what he does, and that's why people love him. But taking him out of the main event for it is shooting yourself in the foot, and it's pointless. You're telling me the UFC production crew couldn't take footage of the Diaz-less press conference, add some footage of Dana or whoever on the phone trying to track him down, and make that into a compelling countdown show? It's the ultimate battle of professionalism vs. irresponsibility, and it's a great hook to sell a fight.
Matt Roth: Short answer? Put him on a leash. Long answer? They knew this was what they were getting into when they signed him. Short of picking him up in the jet and flying him everywhere, they are relying on Cesar Gracie who apparently can't ever ensure that he'll fulfill media obligations. Should he beat Penn on Saturday, he'll be rewarded for this behavior with a title shot once GSP and Condit fight. That actually brings up a whole separate issue which is: If Diaz beats BJ Penn, does the UFC take Condit's shot away and just do Diaz vs GSP?
Fraser Coffeen: I am a Carlos Condit fan, but if Diaz wins, I think they should, and I think they will.
Mike Fagan: I thought Dana already said they were waiting on GSP and Condit?
Roth: They have done this in the past though. Remember Karo? He lost his shot and never got it again. I hope they do Condit vs GSP because it sounds like an extremely fun fight to me. But I wouldn't be surprised if they just do Diaz vs GSP.
Tim Burke: Nick Diaz should have been removed from the card entirely, and likely would have been if they had another opponent ready for Penn. They did look into that, but they couldn't come up with anything credible so they were stuck. I've always hated the "you know what you're getting into when you sign Nick Diaz" spiel. Nick Diaz signed a contract, and his contract entailed him showing up to the things he blew off. He promised to play ball, and he lied. But once again, Diaz was enabled and given another spot on the card, because he's still someone the UFC can make money off of. I like Nick Diaz, but he should be sitting on the sidelines right now, hoping the UFC will give him another chance. Not getting another shot at a main event.
SBN coverage of UFC 137: St. Pierre vs. Condit
Matt Roth: The craziest thing about this is that Diaz was what? 30 minutes late to the conference call? He said he didn't know about the call and that he phone was dead. And then he told everyone that he pays someone 100k to make sure he's doing his media. If that's Cesar Gracie, he's doing a terrible job. Seriously, at some point I'm gonna start believing he just has crappy advisors because though he's coughing a ton and apparently trying to clear his throat, his manager should be making sure he's on calls. Not saying "I'm trying to locate him." Nick should be at Cesar's house on a speaker phone. That's what EVERY OTHER MANAGER DOES.
Fraser Coffeen: Good point. Marketing 1001 tells you that saying "I'm trying to locate him" is a terrible idea. Come up with some sort of lie to stall. How about "He's on his way"? Or, "He's cooling down after a training session and will be on in a moment"? Is that so tough?
Matt Roth: It's not even marketing 101. It's the fact that you have a client who hates the media and doing media. If you know he has a history of this kinda thing, you take it upon yourself. Not "oh I'm trying to get a hold of him". You go to his house and put him on the phone. You pull him into your office. You don't just let him blow off obligations.Anyway, circling back. It seems that the UFC is rewarding Diaz. I hate saying that Burke has a good point but I guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while, so I'll give him props when he does. He was put in a co-main spot. Then the main spot. Why are you allowing this behavior? It's like giving a dog a treat for pooping on the floor. You just don't do that.
Fraser Coffeen: You do if you bought a dog who was sold to you based on his ability to poop on the floor. I can't believe I just wrote that...
Tim Burke: No, no you don't. Nick Diaz came into the UFC based on his ability to fight, not his commitment to being an anti-hero.
Brent Brookhouse: This was the situation to get Diaz to understand that playing the game matters in the UFC. There really was not going to be that much more casual interest in a Diaz fight over a Condit fight. I see the traffic numbers, I see Diaz's numbers on Strikeforce shows and I don't buy this idea that people are in love with him beyond pretty hardcore MMA fans. He's great to watch and everything, but GSP was always the selling point of the show.
They could swap out Diaz and Condit and take a very minor hit to buys while securing their future with Diaz long term. You use GSP's drawing power now to buy time against Condit and the Diaz fight is there down the road still. If Diaz comes out and beats Penn now the bout against GSP is bigger and Diaz learns that he doesn't get to do whatever he wants. People also forget that the UFC was putting him in a title shot and should he have beaten GSP, the media appearance demands for the champion are much higher. It wasn't just about promoting this fight, it was about not risking having a guy as a focal point of your promotion that you can't count on to do the things necessary of a champion.
If you're going to try to put him in line you do it now before it's too damaging once he's too big of a part of your brand.
Matt Roth: The final word? I think it comes down to the fact that Diaz is surrounded by enablers. They enable his usage of marijuana and they enable his weird behavior. I'm specifically speaking about Cesar Gracie. I believe he's an enabler and this behavior would get worse should Diaz win a title. It's absurd that Diaz believes people should travel to him. That's insane. Yet, Gracie hasn't told him that isn't how the world works. Instead, he allows Diaz to continue to be the guy you can't depend on.
Tim Burke: For the first time in the history of the world, Matt Roth makes complete sense. Is this real life?
KJ Gould: The UFC could sell a fight with Georges St. Pierre versus a broomstick at this point. At a recent media scrum at I believe the UFC on Versus show in Washington, D.C., Dana White said that GSP was by far the biggest draw for them even when Brock Lesnar's name was brought up in conversation. Even if that's just a little promoter hype because of the unknown long-term career plans of Lesnar, it's not hard to believe GSP is at least their second biggest draw. Diaz wasn't needed for the pre-fight press conference.
Diaz not making the press conference isn't as big a deal as people are making it out to be. When Dana White says it's never happened in the history of him promoting over 1000 fights, he must be suffering from a Cro Cop shaped blind-spot. The Croatian was notorious for missing pre and post fight press conferences even back in his Pride days. He was never pulled from a fight in the UFC, even his first two fights in the UFC where he co-headlined against Eddie Sanchez and headlined against Gabriel Gonzaga.
Dropping Diaz from the main event was nothing more than an ego move. It was Dana White's or Zuffa's way of marking their territory, throwing their weight around and posturing. They wanted to make an example out of Diaz to serve as a lesson for other fighters, instead of doing what was best for business. The fight game is full of lunatics but they're lunatics that are allowed to fight and not straight-jacketed and put in solitary confinement when they act up. Having Diaz vs Penn as the new main event seems almost karmic now.
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Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCesar Gracie: If Nick Diaz Finishes BJ Penn, We'll Ask for Georges St-Pierre First
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting ExclusiveNick Diaz and Georges St-Pierre can't seem to get everything lined up to face each other. The two were going to fight later this month at UFC 137 until Diaz missed two press conferences in two days and was removed from the fight. As it turns out, the bout wouldn't have happened anyway after St-Pierre injured his knee and withdrew from the event altogether.
On Saturday, Diaz has a chance to make his case as the true No. 1 welterweight contender when he faces BJ Penn. And according to his trainer and manager Cesar Gracie, if Diaz decisively wins the bout that night, they'll ask to bypass Carlos Condit and get bumped back into his original position as GSP's next challenger.
"This is the UFC so there's always that chance," Gracie said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "There's no question about it that I will ask for that if Nick has a tremendous performance and he can finish BJ, I would ask for that. But the biggest thing is if the fans want it. If the fans all ask for that, Dana [White] is a smart guy. He knows the sport is about the fans. So who knows?"
Of course, much is dependent on Diaz winning.
It was a fight that neither side wanted, stemming from Penn's longstanding relationship with the camp. In fact, years ago, he fought for the first time ever while under the Team Cesar Gracie banner.
Because of that, it took some convincing to pull the two particulars together as both were initially resistant to the bout. Gracie eventually spoke to BJ Penn's brother JD and the two sides came to the realization that the fight was inevitable.
"We said, 'Hey, you know what? These guys are going to have to fight in the future, at some point in their lives. So let's just get it over with,'" Gracie said.
Gracie described the entire UFC 137 ordeal as an "emotional rollercoaster" and added that he's confident that there will be no problems during fight week. As he noted, Gracie been involved in several main events while in Strikeforce, and was also in the main card of a CBS-televised EliteXC show, so he does have experience going through periods of heavy media attention.
Gracie, who has been in Diaz's corner since the beginning of his fight career, said there was never any point where things got too strained between them, saying that like any family-type relationship, they might get mad at each other but their deep ties will always pull them back together.
"Nick doesn't have to fight at all, in my eyes, ever again, and it's not going to put our relationship to an end, because he's one of the black belts of this school," he said. "He's helped us out tremendously. He's put a lot attention on our academy. He's fought the good fight, and he's done everything I could imagine a guy can do. I don't have any expectations of what he owes me or owes my school or anything like that. If he quit fighting tomorrow, his accomplishments are still impressive. He's got nothing to prove to me. I was obviously disappointed and pissed off about certain things as I'm sure he gets disappointed and pissed off at me and other people at my school, but you just get over that. It's part of that family thing."
The silver lining to the issue that cost Diaz his title shot was increased attention, and now Diaz may have more eyeballs on him, so if he wins convincingly, there may be an uproar to face St-Pierre sooner rather than later.
Gracie said he believes the key to beating Penn is to win exchanges on the feet and scrambles on the ground. He acknowledged that Penn has the advantage in wrestling, but thinks that Diaz's skill set has some wrinkles that could give Penn problems. One advantage is likely conditioning, and Gracie noted that is why he asked for a five-round fight, a request that was turned down.
Either way, at least he'll be fighting on Saturday, which wouldn't have happened if his original match had never been switched. Now he gets the chance to increase his credibility in the eyes of some skeptics, make a statement, and maybe even demand the match that was originally his to begin with.
"In some strange way, it worked out," Gracie said. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
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Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBJ Penn vs Nick Diaz odds for UFC 137 fight on Oct. 29
Well, we know who Georges St. Pierre is picking in the main event of UFC 137.
Former division champion B.J. Penn will welcome former Strikeforce 170-pound kingpin Nick Diaz back to the Octagon this Saturday night (Oct. 29) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Chael Sonnen's conspiracy theory notwithstanding, it's widely believed the winner of this weekend's headliner will be next in line for a shot at the winner of St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit, who throw down for the UFC welterweight title in early 2012.
But let's not put the cart before the horse.
We still have a fantastic match up in "Sin City" first, between two foes who are very closely matched in most of their offensive and defensive skill sets. So who do the bookies like at the end of the night?
Let's take a look.
Our capital comrades over at Odds Shark have pegged "The Prodigy" as a slight favorite over Diaz at -130, leaving the Stockton slugger as the +100 underdog.
Surprised?
Diaz is on a ten-fight winning streak with nine finishes. Penn is 6-3-1 (across his last ten) and his only win over the last two years was a 21-second stiffening of fading legend Matt Hughes.
Fans of the Hawaiian will argue he's faced better competition. Detractors will call his body of work as a 170-pounder underwhelming, at best.
Who makes a better case for UFC 137? And more importantly, do these odds and betting lines compel you to plunk down some coin?
See more of the "Penn vs. Diaz" odds here.
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Read the full article at MMA ManiaSplit Decision Poll: What will be outcome of UFC 137 main event between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz?
BJ Penn heads home to Hawaii for final stages of training
Few fighters display their heritage as proudly as BJ Penn, a Mixed Martial Artist whose name has become as synonymous with his home of Hawaii as pineapples and hula dancing. From his trademark entrance song to his weigh-in pose to his overall warrior spirit, Hilo is rarely far from his heart, one of the many reasons Penn has now returned to his familiar stomping grounds for the last leg of training before facing Nick Diaz this Saturday night at UFC 137.
Penn recently spoke about what Hawaii means to him, as well as his respect for Diaz as an opponent based some personal experiences with the former Strikeforce champion, in both instances showing he is in a good place with only a week to go before one of the biggest fights of his career.
“I came back to Hawaii for three weeks ground myself over here, mentally and emotionally. This is where I’m from. This is where my strength is. This is where my manna is. It’s been great for me,” Penn explained in his latest video blog from sponsor RVCA, later visiting some of the island’s scenic landmarks with friends and family.
Penn’s “Road to UFC 137″ Part I
The serenity of his surroundings appears to have carried over into his life, a point the surefire Hall of Fame welterweight drove home saying he was “too old to talk sh*t.” Of course, even the Penn from a few years ago would have likely bitten his tongue in terms of his current match-up.
“Nick Diaz, I’m not gonna lie – I’ve known him for a long time, I’ve seen him around…he actually came out and helped me train for the Kenny Florian fight,” Penn explained. “Him and his brother Nate (Diaz) are real good guys. They came and helped me at a time when I really needed help…and I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys.”
The 32-year old no doubt respects Diaz’s skills as well given the Stockton native’s success as of late, and, with Penn in a particularly good place both literally and figuratively, he’ll be looking to bring a victory back to Hawaii as beautiful as the sunsets so often associated with the island paradise.
You can watch the entire Penn video below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Read the full article at Fighters.comNick Diaz says B.J. Penn is "a lot better fighter" than Georges St. Pierre
After failing to appear for multiple media commitments, former Strikeforce Welterweight champ Nick Diaz was abruptly yanked from his UFC 137 title fight with Georges St. Pierre and relocated to the co-main event opposite B.J. Penn. As a result, Diaz has not only lost his crack at UFC gold, but according the "The Stockton Bad Boy" he'll now face "a lot better fighter" in "The Prodigy."
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Read the full article at Low KickUFC 137 Video: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz Pro Picks
After all the changes to the main event, B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz will now be headlining UFC 137 this weekend. While the odds have it almost dead even (Penn -110, Diaz Ev), a bunch of professionals seem to have favored Penn to win. Here's a video from MMAInterviews.tv where they have guys like Stephan Bonnar, Wanderlei Silva, Phil Baroni, Manny Gamburyan and others giving their picks.
If you can't watch the video, or if you're just too lazy to do so, you can still check after the jump for a quick summary of their picks.
SBN coverage of UFC 137: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Pros who picked Nick Diaz: 1 - Stephan Bonnar
Pros who picked BJ Penn: 4 - Manny Gamburyan, Duane Ludwig, Rafael Cordeiro, Anthony Njokuani
Pros who were undecided: 3 - Wanderlei Silva, Tyson Griffin, Phil Baroni
HT: BE Reader R.T. -- Odds via Best Fight Odds
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, penn, bj
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThe Blueprint - Penn vs. Diaz
UFC President Dana White doesn’t play. Not when it comes to promoting UFC events. Certainly not when it comes to making sure fans receive tremendous value for their pay-per-view dollar.Nick Diaz failed to show up to back-to-back press conferences to hype up his then-scheduled title challenge against welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre. Not sure whether the enigmatic fighter would actually show up for the bout, the boss pulled Diaz from the main event. Believe me. White could have done worse, like terminate Diaz’s fight contract. He didn’t. The question remained, though, when would the Strikeforce champion make his first return to the Octagon since 2006. The solution was brilliant. Diaz would indeed be granted his UFC return at UFC 137. Not against GSP. He would instead face BJ Penn, one of only two men to win championships in two different UFC weight classes and a fighter who will go down in the annals of history as one of the best ever, pound for pound.Yet in a strange twist of events, GSP ended up injuring his knee during training, forcing him out of his title defense against Carlos Condit. This elevated Penn-Diaz to the main event, the spot originally pegged for the maligned Stockton native. And for my money, Penn-Diaz is a more intriguing, more fan friendly matchup than Diaz-GSP. Probably sounds a bit like blasphemy to some. I don’t care. I’m a firm believer in that statement. Think about it for a moment. Have you ever witnessed Diaz or Penn in a boring fight when it didn’t involve an elite wrestler holding them on the ground for the length of the bout? Enough said.Neither Diaz nor Penn is a dominant wrestler, so a lay-and-pray strategy isn’t in the cards for either man. Instead, we will see two of the best fighters in the world, pound for pound, go head-to-head in what will likely unfold as a back-and-forth barnburner for as long as it lasts. That makes for must-see TV.So, what will happen once the action gets under way?Let’s dismiss with the obvious first. This fight will not be decided on the ground.Diaz and Penn are the two best submission artists in the division, bar none. Penn is the more decorated of the two, holding the amazing distinction of being the first non-Brazilian to win the black belt division of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. He did that after only three years of BJJ training.Diaz is not a decorated submission grappler, like his opponent. But he doesn’t take a back seat to anyone, including Penn. That is especially true when it comes to his offensive guard. The Cesar Gracie black belt might even hold the edge over Penn, in terms of the lethal nature of his guard.None of that will be overly relevant on October 29. This fight won’t be decided by either man’s BJJ skills. Neither Diaz nor Penn are particularly effective at taking the fight to the ground, and neither of these guys wants to pull guard against the other. It may end in a submission. That is a very real possibility, though a knockdown, not a takedown or someone pulling guard, is the likely prelude to a submission.This bout will be decided in pugilistic fashion. These guys are coming to throw hands, first and foremost. And they will keep throwing hands, mixed with the occasional kick, knee and elbow, until someone falls down or the final bell sounds. That is crux of each of their game plans. Trust me on that one.Diaz will come out looking to slap box. He will paw with his right hand, while he looks for openings for quick right hooks and sharp straight rights down the middle. His mouth will be running the entire time, taunting Penn with venomous comments about any and everything.Back to the slap boxing part. Diaz will be doing anything but slapping his foe. He will appear to be throwing pitter-patter punches. Yet, he throws with such great technique and overwhelming volume that the accumulation of damage from his blows is very real. And it compounds quickly.Diaz will look to overwhelm his foe with activity, just like he did Frank Shamrock, Paul Daley and the eight other opponents he has faced since the calendar flipped to 2008. They say speed kills. Well, so does overwhelming activity and pressure, and that is what Diaz does better than anyone else.Penn does not want a fire fight. The conventional wisdom is that the best way to beat the Hawaiian superstar, other than a lay-and-pray strategy, is to smother him with pressure. That is a risky proposition, though, because the former lightweight and welterweight champion is probably the best pure boxer in the division, and he loves to counter.“The Prodigy” has the second best jab in the division, and that is the key to his standup offense. Much like a traditional boxer, Penn stands with his weight cheating toward the front and heavy hips. That allows him to throw with maximum force at any moment. Diaz has below average takedowns, so Penn won’t alter his normal stance, other than possibly sitting down just a bit more to generate even more power.Penn can counter with the best of them. But he doesn’t stick and move on his counters. He plants and bombs. What that means is Diaz will have ample opportunity to return fire, assuming a Penn counter doesn’t turn the lights out. With Diaz’s sturdy chin, that is a safe bet. Once on the inside, the fight should be all Diaz. Penn needs space to do real damage on the inside, particularly against a taller opponent. Diaz does not. He might be the sport’s single-most prolific puncher in a phone booth.That is what Diaz wants. He wants this to be a fight in the phone booth. He wants to be trapped in the trenches with Penn. He wants to overwhelm Penn with activity, forcing the former two-division champion to defend, rather than attack.By contrast, Penn wants space to maneuver. He wants time to set up his shots. And he wants the ability to land one or two fight-altering shots.On paper, Penn is the more skilled fighter. He is also the more accomplished champion. But this fight has Nick Diaz written all over it. Diaz is the second hottest welterweight over the last couple of years, second only to GSP. Penn has largely been an average welterweight in the UFC. His record stands at an average 2-3-1. Both wins were against Matt Hughes.Something tells me that win number three won’t be against Diaz. QUICK FACTSBJ Penn• 32 years old• 5’9, 165 lbs• 70-inch reach• 16-7-2 overall (12-6-2 UFC)• 13 of 20 UFC fights have ended inside the distance (11-2 in those fights)• Two losses to Edgar were his first losses by unanimous decision in his UFC career• 2-3-1 in UFC welterweight division• 2-2-1 in his last 5• 6-3-1 in his last 10• 6-7 overall against current or former UFC/PRIDE champions• Penn has never been submitted• Second fighter in history to win championships in two UFC weight classes (lightweight and welterweight)• Has competed in 4 weight classes (155 lbs, 170 lbs, 185 lbs and HW)• First non-Brazilian to win gold in the black belt division of the Mundial World Championship (BJJ)• Three UFC post-fight awards: Submission of the Night (2), Knockout of the Night• Current layoff is 244 days • Longest layoff of UFC career is 273 days (excluding the 3-year period when Penn was absent from the UFC and competing actively elsewhere)Nick Diaz• 28 years old• 6’1, 170 lbs• 74-inch reach• 26-7, 1 NC• Finished 9 out last 10 opponents• 5-0 in last 5• 10-0 in last 10• Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion (never lost the title; vacated it to return to the UFC for the first time since November 18, 2006)• Current layoff is 203 days• Longest layoff of career is 315 days
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Read the full article at UFCNick Diaz UFC 137 Prefight Video Interview – “I Gotta Win”
Former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz returns to the Octagon with one mission in mind - "I gotta win these fights."
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Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGeorges St. Pierre believes BJ Penn will beat Nick Diaz as long as he's prepared properly
Up until seven days ago, UFC President Dana White slept soundly thinking that his problems relating to UFC 137 were over. Oh how wrong he was..
Last week welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre was forced to pull out of a headlining title-fight with Carlos Condit because of a knee injury he sustained during a sparring session. GSP had originally been slated to fight former Strikeforce welterweight king Nick Diaz, but Diaz was pulled from the bout after missing several press conferences to pump up the event, Diaz was then place in a fight with former double-divisional champion BJ Penn.
Having already fought and beaten Penn twice, and having spent the last few months training for Diaz, GSP weighed in on their bout his comments on the clash, making his pick with a stipulation regarding Penn’s preparation.
“I think BJ Penn will win the fight because I believe he has more skills. If he uses all his set of skills, then BJ Penn will win,” the popular French-Canadian explained to SportsNet.
Penn Gives Look Behind the Scenes at UFC 137 Camp
GSP also delved further into the fight to assess the Hawaiian’s state of mind coming into the fight.
“The thing with Penn is sometimes you don’t know what Penn will show up to the fight. If he’s well prepared or injured – I don’t know. Sometimes, I saw him perform very well at the best of his ability (and that’s when) he’s the best guy. But when he doesn’t perform at the best of his ability he can be beat. Diaz is very consistent, he has a similar style of fighting all the time. But, I believe if the right Penn shows up, he’ll win the fight.”
Penn and Diaz will collide next Saturday night in Las Vegas. Condit has vowed to wait for GSP to return to health and remain #1 contender. No date has been set for St. Pierre’s return.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Read the full article at Fighters.comGeorges St. Pierre: If he uses all his skills, BJ Penn will beat Nick Diaz at UFC 137
We're now less than one week away from UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" in which former welterweight champion B.J. Penn will do battle against Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz.
It's an interesting clash of styles. Both men are highly competent boxers with equally dangerous jiu-jitsu skills. They're grapplers without being wrestlers, often eschewing that particular martial art in favor of more exciting fighting styles.
But who's better all around?
Some would say it's Penn, who famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach once called the very best boxer in all of MMA. Others would say Diaz, the foul-mouthed bad boy from Stockton who speaks softly and carries a big stick.
The person of the most interest, perhaps, believes that all things being equal, "The Prodigy" will get the job done -- as long as he comes at his best.
Here's more from current welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (via Sportsnet.ca):
"I think BJ Penn will win the fight because I believe he has more skills. If he uses all his set of skills, then BJ Penn will win. But, the thing with BJ Penn is sometimes you don't know what BJ Penn will show up to the fight. If he's well prepared or injured - I don't know. Sometimes, I saw him perform very well at the best of his ability he's the best guy. But when he doesn't perform at the best of his ability he can be beat. Nick Diaz is very consistent, he has a similar style of fighting all the time. But, I believe if the right BJ Penn shows up, he'll win the fight."
Penn is coming off a majority draw with Jon Fitch back at UFC 127 in February. Despite the many pundits predicting his victory, he's just 1-2-1 in his last four fights.
Hardly impressive.
Diaz, meanwhile, hasn't lost since 2007 and is currently riding a 10-fight win streak. That's about as impressive as it gets, even if the competition hasn't exactly been top of the line.
The winner of this match-up could potentially slide into Carlos Condit's slot as number one contender, at least if we're to believe Chael Sonnen.
So who takes it, Maniacs? Penn or Diaz?
Posted in: fight, diaz, bj penn, penn, bj
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz Says B.J. Penn is Better than Georges St-Pierre
Nick Diaz was originally scheduled to face Georges St-Pierre at UFC 137, but was pulled from the main event after missing two media obligations. He now faces B.J. Penn, who Diaz says is a better fighter than St-Pierre.
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, stpierre, media obligations
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137 Penn vs Diaz Picks by Wanderlei, Bonnar, etc.
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, bonnar, wanderlei bonnar
Read the full article at RedditZuffa releases updated trailer for UFC 137
Nick Diaz’s infamous line, “Don’t be scared, homie,” has now infiltrated the UFC marketing machine with the oft-used remark making the cut in the organization’s latest trailer for next weekend’s battle between Diaz and former double-divisional champion B.J. Penn.
The video marks the third attempt at producing an appropriate bunch of highlights and quotes to push UFC 137 after Diaz was removed from a main event match-up with welterweight title-holder Georges St. Pierre only for the promotion to see GSP duck out last week due to a knee injury.
Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo, now co-headliners at the October 29 event, are also featured in the thirty-second clip.
You can watch the latest preview for UFC 137 below:
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, diaz, cheick kongo, zuffa releases, event matchup
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUpdated preview issued for UFC 137
The production team at Zuffa has been working overtime as of late after having released a series of videos promoting UFC 137 only to watch Georges St. Pierre pull out due to injury, thus resulting in their collective efforts being rendered meaningless.
Similarly, any materials created for St. Pierre’s original scrap with Nick Diaz were also thrown into the trashcan prior to GSP’s withdrawal after Diaz was removed from the match-up for not fulfilling a few media-related obligations.
Hopefully, at least where their sanity is concerned, the third time will indeed be a charm.
The UFC has distributed a new preview for the October 29 event featuring freshly-named headliners Diaz and BJ Penn as well as a look at Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo.
A Rundown of UFC 137 Conference Call Highlights
You can watch the video below:
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, production team
Read the full article at Fighters.comDon’t Be Scared to Watch the UFC 137 Penn vs. Diaz Trailer, Homie!
Check out the new UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz video trailer... Don't be scared to watch, homie!
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, homie
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMMAterial Facts (10/21/11) : UFC and the Fox Era, Nick Diaz Phenomenom, & UFC in 3D
Welcome to this edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community.
***
This week’s MMAterial Facts:
- The Nick Diaz Phenomenon (MMA Fighting)
“In 15 minutes, Diaz did more to shift the narrative of UFC 137 storylines than Penn, Mitrione and Kongo did in the preceding 40. That’s just the way it is when he speaks.
…
And isn’t that the point of conference calls and press conferences? When it comes to those, Diaz says more with less than anyone in MMA. If he was as verbose and microphone friendly as say, Chael Sonnen, it wouldn’t quite be the same. Diaz shows up when he wants, wedges open a window into his mind, and lets you in look in just long enough to find yourself fascinated and wanting more.”
- Opinion: Dana White is not the right man to lead the UFC during their era on Fox (Fight Opinion)
“Dana White has been the catalyst for the UFC’s growth from 2005 to present day. He is the most influential man in the sport and transformed UFC into an MMA empire. He avoided the kinds of pitfalls that doomed promotions like the WFA, the IFL, Affliction, PRIDE, DREAM, and Strikeforce. Thanks to Zuffa’s connections with Ari Emanuel, the promotion was able to bank a seven year, $700 million USD contract with Fox Sports to air UFC content on various Fox-related platforms.”
- Interview with UFC 137′s Roy Nelson as he prepares for Mirko Filipovic (MMA Mania)
“I feel standing, like I think I’ve stood up with some of the best heavyweights in the world. I stood up with Junior [dos Santos] so like, I think I might regress for this fight and go back to my roots, go back to my first five or six wins were all submissions. Maybe I’ll regress in the chain of being an MMA fighter.”
- The Lost Victims of the Injury Bug (MMA Convert)
“Everyone groans and exclaims when the big names get injured – there’s still weeping to be heard over Georges St. Pierre’s forced exit from UFC 137, and sobs can be heard all around the world over the news that Shane Carwin and Rich Franklin are both on ice over back- and shoulder injuries. But the Dreaded Injury Bug has bitten others, too. And while they may be lesser-known victims, sidelined from their participation in organizations that receive only a modicum of exposure and don’t employ an Octagon as a field of battle, these injured fighters’ absences from promised competition are woes that do still reverberate, albeit on a much smaller scale. So let us acknowledge them, here and now, and recognize that their loss to their respective organizations’ rosters does have an impact on us. They are the lost victims of the injury bug.”
- Get the popcorn ready, UFC is coming to your nearest theater…in 3D (MiddleEasy)
“According to Variety Magazine, the UFC has signed a contract with Cinedigm to offer UFC events that will be shown in movie theaters in illustrious 3D. “
- More surgery for Shane Carwin (NBC Sports MMA)
“Former UFC No. 1 heavyweight contender Shane Carwin will be forced to undergo a second round of surgical procedures to address issues related to neck and back problems. Carwin had surgery last November, and returned to fight against Junior dos Santos before being sidelined by these more recent issues.”
- Chris Leben: The Career Retrospective Interview (Cage Potato)
“[On "sending Anderson Silva back to Japan":] “Here’s the deal: When you sit down with the UFC and give them a pre-fight interview, what are you supposed to say? I’m not going to say they tell you what to say [during the interviews], but it’s certainly coached, and they want you to be a tough guy. So I couldn’t say, ‘Hey I didn’t want to take this fight, I didn’t think I was ready for it, but I’m taking it anyway because the UFC told me I had to.’ I asked not to take the fight. I thought it was a bad idea, plain and simple.”
- Anderson Silva’s retirement closer than fans may think (Five Ounces of Pain)
“Ed Soares has done a lot of the speaking for UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva. That trend continued recently when Soares disclosed that “The Spider” has only a few fights left in his stellar career before he rides off into the sunset.”
- M-1 Global: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Jeff Monson” Video Promo (5thRound)
“Up until the release of Friday’s video promo, it was unknown how M-1 Global was planning on making the show available for viewing. Many thought Showtime might host the shindig, but it seems the premium cable network will stand clear.”
- We have a pretty interesting interview with Alexander Shlemenko (LowKick)
“How important for you is the potential rematch with Hector Lombard? Do you consider it as your main priority?
Yes, definitely. I’m absolutely sure that when we meet again, the fight will play by a totally different scenario. I’m working very hard on my takedown defense and overall physical condition. Hector Lombard will not be able to take me down and play the clock on the ground. I could beat him up and then win via KO standing.”
- Interview with Dan “Punkass” Caldwell from the Tapout Crew at NYCC 2011 (TheFightNerd)
“I think Kenny [Florian] is a really exciting fighter in his past matches, he just needs to fight the right people… me personally, I think the 155 lb. division looks a little more inviting again. I think he should go back to 155 and try his hand there. Some of those guys would match up better with his style.”
- Matt Lindland Interview: Chael Will Finish Silva Before the End of the Third Round (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
“I think the rematch would look just like the first one, except I’ve got a game plan for Chael to finish him before the end of the third round. So, yeah it’ll look similar to their first encounter, but with some additional techniques and strategy, it won’t make it to the championship rounds.”
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, interview
Read the full article at MMA PayoutUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Trailer
UFC 137 “Penn vs. Diaz” takes place on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live on pay-per-view at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The official UFC 137 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, vs, mandalay bay
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 Video: New Trailer for BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz on Oct. 29
For UFC 137 results and complete UFC 137 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, bj, mmafrenzycom
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyHeavyMMA Podcast Episode 60: Diaz Craziness, Silva vs. Sonnen, UFC on Fox
We send you home on Friday with discussion of Nick Diaz, Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva, the awesomeness of Matt Mitrione and much more.
Posted in: diaz, vs, silva, matt mitrione, sonnen
Read the full article at Heavy MMAFriday Link Club: Mirko Cro Cop & Pat Barry In The Greatest Video Ever
I think my smile was as big as Pat Barry’s as I watched this…
A Review of Jim Genia’s “Raw Combat: The Underground World of Mixed Martial Arts” | Five Ounces of Pain
If you want to dive deeper into MMA and read the stories of fighters starting at the bottom level and working their way up, then read Raw Combat. You won’t find a better book out there that covers the sport from where it begins, underground and local fights, and not from where it is now, national TV and PPV.
Opinion: Dana White is not the right man to lead the UFC during their era on Fox | Fight Opinion
Dana White has been the catalyst for the UFC’s growth from 2005 to present day. He is the most influential man in the sport and transformed UFC into an MMA empire. He avoided the kinds of pitfalls that doomed promotions like the WFA, the IFL, Affliction, PRIDE, DREAM, and Strikeforce. Thanks to Zuffa’s connections with Ari Emanuel, the promotion was able to bank a seven year, $700 million USD contract with Fox Sports to air UFC content on various Fox-related platforms.
Dana White was the right man at the right time to get the UFC to this business point. However, he is not the right man moving forward.
The Nick Diaz Phenomenon | MMA Fighting
For years, Nick Diaz has been an enigma to many on the outside looking in. His friends and teammates say he is fiercely loyal, hard-working and yes, even kind-hearted. But we rarely see that side of him. The public face of Diaz is usually scowling, irritable and contemptuous.
That duality may well be an accurate portrayal of Diaz in his private and public settings, and it may not be a bad thing. Because Diaz’s personality perfectly fits into a sport like MMA. To his fans, he’s an ass-kicking, counterculture anti-hero. To his detractors, he’s an overrated, irascible ingrate. Whatever the case, he’s undeniably a one-man MMA phenomenon.
Roy Nelson enlisted Frank Mir to help him train for Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 137 | NBC Sports
Big Country has enlisted the help of Frank Mir, the man who most recently defeated Nelson at UFC 130, to help prepare him for his UFC 137 fight against Mirko Cro Cop.
Hot Potato: 18 Photos of ProElite Ring Girl Jennifer Swift (aka ‘Ms. Tapout’) | Cage Potato
Jennifer Swift is a model and writer for TapouT Magazine and co-host on B-Real TV who was recently hired as a ring girl for ProElite. She can throw ‘bows with the best of them, and apparently those things are real. Check out some of our favorite Jennifer Swift photos in the gallery above, follow Ms. Tapout on Facebook and Twitter, and look out for her during the HDNet broadcast of “Big Guns” on November 5th.
Is UFC 137 Still Worth the Money Without Georges St-Pierre? | Bleacher Report
Each person will have to make his or her own choice when it comes to buying this and any UFC event, but before you decide to say “no” to this one, please take the time to check out the top five reasons why you should be rushing to your cable box to order UFC 137.
Paul Daley Hopeful for return to UFC | LowKick
“I can be an asset to the UFC. There’s a big opportunity for me to come back to the UFC, established fighters always find their way back. There’s loads of interesting match-ups. There’s the Nick Diaz rematch, which would be a nice opportunity if he lost to BJ Penn. There’s Anthony Johnson, even though me and him get on well, then you’ve got Rory MacDonald, who’s a good up-and-coming fighter. “
Live 3D UFC Pay-Per-Views Coming to a Theater Near You | 5thRound
“By partnering with Cinedigm, we’re taking the UFC viewing experience to a whole new level,” said UFC president Dana White. “For the first time ever, fight fans can watch a UFC pay-per-view card in 3D at theaters across the country.
“We want UFC fans to have the best viewing experience possible and now they get a chance to experience major UFC pay-per-views in 3D.”
Watch Bas Rutten fight a crew of zombie puppets | MiddleEasy
If civilization was forced to restart due to some cataclysmic event (like a zombie apocalypse) experts believe Bas Rutten will not be the person to lead humanity back to normality. ‘Experts’ being my friends who sincerely believe zombies taking over the city of Los Angeles is a plausible scenario. In fact one of my friends is so adamant about this seemingly improbable event that he has moved from Los Angeles to a mountain in Colorado and has set up hidden provision stations near his house just in case he finds himself away from his residence at the exact time when the undead began to rise and take over the planet.
TUF Enough: MMAmania interview exclusive with UFC 137′s Roy Nelson | MMA Mania
“I feel standing, like I think I’ve stood up with some of the best heavyweights in the world. I stood up with Junior [dos Santos] so like, I think I might regress for this fight and go back to my roots, go back to my first five or six wins were all submissions. Maybe I’ll regress in the chain of being an MMA fighter.”
Dan “Punkass” Caldwell from The TapouT Crew at NYCC 2011
| TheFightNerd
“I think Kenny [Florian] is a really exciting fighter in his past matches, he just needs to fight the right people… me personally, I think the 155 lb. division looks a little more inviting again. I think he should go back to 155 and try his hand there. Some of those guys would match up better with his style.”
ProElite Signs Multi-Year TV Deal With HDNet | MMA Payout
ProElite announced a new multi-fight, multi-year TV deal with HDNet last night during Inside MMA’s live broadcast debut on the network. The first ProElite televised event on HDNet will be “HDNet Fights: ProElite – Big Guns”, taking place at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL on November 5th.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, proelite
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137 Roundtable: How Will Georges St. Pierre's Injury Affect the PPV Buyrate?
The Bloody Elbow staff discusses the impact of Georges St. Pierre's knee injury on the UFC 137 PPV buyrate.
Mike Fagan: I think we all had the same thought when we read Dana White's tweet announcing Georges St. Pierre's knee injury. The UFC had a horrific summer at the box office, and the early numbers for UFC 136 -- Dave Meltzer is reporting 250k buys -- are down from even the most pessimistic predictions. (I predicted 300k prior to the event and was told I was short selling things.) The last time St. Pierre drew under 500k buys was back at UFC 69 in his first fight with Matt Serra, and he's averaged over 800k buys in his last three fights against Shields, Koscheck, and Hardy.
Penn and Diaz is a great fight with an interesting backstory, but it doesn't seem like it can carry a card -- especially one with Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo in the co-headliner -- on its own. I think it was safe to pencil 137 in for 700-800k with GSP, but what's a realistic number without him?
Leland Roling: I still think it draws 500k buys. While B.J. Penn isn't a massive draw by any stretch, he should bring in a decent number alongside Nick Diaz, who has seen a growth in interest over the last couple of months. I wouldn't normally predicate a number on a social abnormality, but I know many casual fans who don't keep up religiously with news. I imagine some fans will buy the card not knowing GSP is off it, and the consistent run of UFC 137 ads featuring GSP vs. Condit during The Ultimate Fighter will prolong that confusion. We've also had a break in pay-per-views, which could equal some added business from fans replenishing their pockets.
Somebody bring me back to reality.
Chris Barton: The fact is GSP is the only PPV star in the UFC that fights on a consistent basis. His presence adds at least 300k buys and, really, I believe that's a very low estimate at this point.
Penn used to pull good PPV numbers but I don't think that's the case since he lost his LW title. Short of him making another title run, which would of course include GSP, I don't see him being able to personally account for large buys but he might still be worth a little boost. Nick Diaz is a PPV non-entity.
Fraser Coffeen: Leland, I got your reality: 250k. Is that a low-ball number? Hell yes, it is. But it's in line with the last time Penn headlined at UFC 127. Diaz is an exciting name to hardcore fans, but I don't think he's a casual draw yet. Add in the short time to promote this as the main, the juggling at the top of the card, the lack of any strong undercard,and the swamped schedule these few months and you have a low number coming.
Tim Burke: UFC 127 was in Australia, it had Jon Fitch in the main event, and the card was Aussie-heavy and had nothing resembling a solid fight on it below the main event.
I believe it will do in the 400-450k range. Despite all the hoopla surrounding Nick Diaz, the average casual UFC fan might not be aware of his exploits in Strikeforce and there's no way to tell what kind of drawing card he is yet in terms of PPV. B.J. can carry a card to a degree, but I think the lack of GSP is going to ruin this card's buyrate. Especially since BJ and Diaz are friends and neither are talking poopy.
The Bloody Elbow staff discusses the impact of Georges St. Pierre's knee injury on the UFC 137 PPV buyrate.
Mike Fagan: I think we all had the same thought when we read Dana White's tweet announcing Georges St. Pierre's knee injury. The UFC had a horrific summer at the box office, and the early numbers for UFC 136 -- Dave Meltzer is reporting 250k buys -- are down from even the most pessimistic predictions. (I predicted 300k prior to the event and was told I was short selling things.) The last time St. Pierre drew under 500k buys was back at UFC 69 in his first fight with Matt Serra, and he's averaged over 800k buys in his last three fights against Shields, Koscheck, and Hardy.
Penn and Diaz is a great fight with an interesting backstory, but it doesn't seem like it can carry a card -- especially one with Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo in the co-headliner -- on its own. I think it was safe to pencil 137 in for 700-800k with GSP, but what's a realistic number without him?
Leland Roling: I still think it draws 500k buys. While B.J. Penn isn't a massive draw by any stretch, he should bring in a decent number alongside Nick Diaz, who has seen a growth in interest over the last couple of months. I wouldn't normally predicate a number on a social abnormality, but I know many casual fans who don't keep up religiously with news. I imagine some fans will buy the card not knowing GSP is off it, and the consistent run of UFC 137 ads featuring GSP vs. Condit during The Ultimate Fighter will prolong that confusion. We've also had a break in pay-per-views, which could equal some added business from fans replenishing their pockets.
Somebody bring me back to reality.
Chris Barton: The fact is GSP is the only PPV star in the UFC that fights on a consistent basis. His presence adds at least 300k buys and, really, I believe that's a very low estimate at this point.
Penn used to pull good PPV numbers but I don't think that's the case since he lost his LW title. Short of him making another title run, which would of course include GSP, I don't see him being able to personally account for large buys but he might still be worth a little boost. Nick Diaz is a PPV non-entity.
Fraser Coffeen: Leland, I got your reality: 250k. Is that a low-ball number? Hell yes, it is. But it's in line with the last time Penn headlined at UFC 127. Diaz is an exciting name to hardcore fans, but I don't think he's a casual draw yet. Add in the short time to promote this as the main, the juggling at the top of the card, the lack of any strong undercard,and the swamped schedule these few months and you have a low number coming.
Tim Burke: UFC 127 was in Australia, it had Jon Fitch in the main event, and the card was Aussie-heavy and had nothing resembling a solid fight on it below the main event.
I believe it will do in the 400-450k range. Despite all the hoopla surrounding Nick Diaz, the average casual UFC fan might not be aware of his exploits in Strikeforce and there's no way to tell what kind of drawing card he is yet in terms of PPV. B.J. can carry a card to a degree, but I think the lack of GSP is going to ruin this card's buyrate. Especially since BJ and Diaz are friends and neither are talking poopy.
Mike Fagan: I saw a couple tweets this week about people who said they skipped the last couple PPVs so they could buy this one. With the next PPV not coming until November, I'm curious if those people throw down anyway.
Leland Roling: I find it difficult to believe Penn vs. Diaz draws the same number as Cruz vs. Johnson, especially since B.J. is a well-known fighter and Diaz, at the very least, has increased interest in himself and has a fanbase from ages ago still around supporting him.
Tim Burke: I can't wait till Roth jumps in on this - "So, is Nam Phan on this card? He totally should be, and he should be getting a title shot!"
Matt Roth: See here's the thing. As far as this card goes, it's not casual friendly. Sure, B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz is a fun fight, but it's not one that draws any better than Rampage vs. Jones. In fact, it probably does somewhere around 350k total. Outside of the main event, it's a deep card as far as hardcore fans are concerned, but a casual fan is gonna say "who the hell is Hatsu Hioki?" Mitrione is beginning to break through and Cro Cop still has a bit of a name, but no one really matters at the box office. The fact that people are even expecting at least 400k is hilarious. The only thing this card has going for it is that it doesn't compete against the World Series.
Tim Burke: People care about the World Series? It's baseball though.
Brent Brookhouse: It all comes down to how many people realize GSP isn't on the card. His name has been closely tied to the event for long enough now, and the ads still show him vs. Condit as the headliner so there will still be people who buy the event to see that fight. Although if they start catching countdown shows and doing pre-event searches they may decide against it.
Penn has never been a major draw but he's a well known enough name that I don't think this has any danger of being sub-300k in the buys. There's a really strange idea that Diaz is some sort of draw though. He wasn't Strikeforce's biggest draw and he never showed steady improvement in viewer interest. The rematch against Noons did 350,000 viewers, Cyborg fight did 561,000 (with help from Herschel Walker) and the Daley fight did 528,000 viewers. Those aren't bad numbers, but they're not the numbers of a guy who is a big draw. And I don't fully understand the idea that he's bringing extra attention by skipping calls and whatnot. No one is suddenly going to decide to buy a show because a guy is missing some calls.
Mike Fagan: But Brent, HE WAS TRENDING ON TWITTER.
Let's wrap this up with some final predictions. I'll say 350k buys.
Tim Burke: 425k
Leland Roling: Compelling arguments. I'll dumb mine down to 450k.
Chris Barton: 375k
Fraser Coffeen: 300k
Matt Roth: Tops at 350k, and that's being crazy. Probably closer to 300k.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, card, number
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMMA Link Club: The growing Nick Diaz betting bandwagon
Nick Diaz is growing fans in spades and they are willing to back him up with their cash.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, fan, bandwagon
Read the full article at Fight OpinionNick Diaz: B.J. Penn is good because he came from my school
Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz, who will go head to head with B.J. Penn in the UFC 137 headlining bout, discusses his opponent, as well as his expectations for the bout. Diaz says Penn is his favorite fighter and believes that the "Prodigy" is where he's at because they come from the same school.
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick, penn, bout diaz
Read the full article at Low Kick(Pic) New UFC 137 poster for "Penn vs. Diaz" on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Halloween weekend...
(Pic) New UFC 137 poster for "Penn vs. Diaz" on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Halloween weekend event has been cursed from the get-go, starting as "St. Pierre vs. Diaz" before moving to "St. Pierre vs. Condit" and eventually settling on "Penn vs. Diaz." With any luck, the promotion will make it to next Saturday night without a hitch. For the complete updated UFC 137 fight card and line-up click here.
Posted in: ufc, saturday night, diaz, vs, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 Fight Card Updated for “Penn vs. Diaz” on Oct. 29
With welterweight contenders BJ Penn and Nick Diaz now headlining next Saturday’s UFC 137 event following an injury to welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and a middleweight scrap between Brad Tavares and Dustin Jacoby jumping to the pay-per-view card, here’s what the UFC 137 fight card now looks like:
MAIN CARD (PPV)
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson
Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
Brad Tavares vs. Dustin Jacoby
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone
Bart Palaszewski vs. Tyson Griffin
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Jeff Curran vs. Scott Jorgensen
Brandon Vera vs. Eliot Marshall
Ramsey Nijem vs. Danny Downes
Francis Carmont vs. Chris Camozzi
For UFC 137 results and complete UFC 137 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: BJ Penn
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, card, penn
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 137's Nick Diaz: B.J. Penn is my favorite fighter (Video)
"He's my favorite fighter. I know where he came from, he came from my school. As far as I'm concerned he came from where I came from, that's why he's good. MMA fans, in general, are looking forward to this fight. I think that we have some of the same style, therefore we have some of the same fans and I respect his style of fighting."
Sacrebleu! He speaks! Former Strikeforce welterweight champion and notoriously camera-shy Nick Diaz gives high praise to his UFC 137 opponent, former division titleholder B.J. Penn. "The Prodigy" was also trained by the Gracie family, earning his purple belt under Ralph Gracie in the late nineties. To Diaz (trained under Cesar Gracie), that means they came from the same "school" and have some of the same style. So what happens when they collide on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas? Too early to tell, but don't let that stop you from taking your best guess in the comments section below.
Posted in: diaz, las vegas, gracie, style, gracie family
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Pre-Fight Interview: Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz returns to the UFC to take on BJ Penn on Saturday, Oct. 29, at UFC 137.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, nick, penn
Read the full article at MMA ConvertWhy did Nick Diaz miss the UFC 137 press conference?
Because the guy that gets paid "100 grand" to tell him what to do wasn't standing around telling him "hey, you can't miss this press conference." Sounds like money well spent. Poor kid got robbed, I would have done it for 10.
Diaz elaborates (via MMA Weekly):
"Of course I have regret. I have people that are supposed to take care of stuff, like I got a lawyer or something right, that’s supposed to get paid 100 grand, a ridiculous amount of money. I’ve been living the same since I started since I was 17. I lived down the street from my parents, who I used to live in the same house with, now I live with my brother. I’ve got all these people, business people, and big money people around me trying to make deals. I don’t know anything about that. All I know, somebody’s getting paid over 100 grand just to tell me what I’m supposed to do and what I’m not supposed to do. I think for that much money I think I could have had somebody standing around telling me ‘hey, you can’t miss this press conference.’"
Diaz will square off against B.J. Penn in the main event of UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada. His headlining bout with the Hawaiian "Prodigy" was announced in the wake of Georges St. Pierre's knee injury, which prompted a quick re-shuffling of the "Sin City" fight card.
Because the guy that gets paid "100 grand" to tell him what to do wasn't standing around telling him "hey, you can't miss this press conference." Sounds like money well spent. Poor kid got robbed, I would have done it for 10.
Diaz elaborates (via MMA Weekly):
"Of course I have regret. I have people that are supposed to take care of stuff, like I got a lawyer or something right, that’s supposed to get paid 100 grand, a ridiculous amount of money. I’ve been living the same since I started since I was 17. I lived down the street from my parents, who I used to live in the same house with, now I live with my brother. I’ve got all these people, business people, and big money people around me trying to make deals. I don’t know anything about that. All I know, somebody’s getting paid over 100 grand just to tell me what I’m supposed to do and what I’m not supposed to do. I think for that much money I think I could have had somebody standing around telling me ‘hey, you can’t miss this press conference.’"
Diaz will square off against B.J. Penn in the main event of UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada. His headlining bout with the Hawaiian "Prodigy" was announced in the wake of Georges St. Pierre's knee injury, which prompted a quick re-shuffling of the "Sin City" fight card.
The Stockton slugger's press conference snafu made headlines because it got him booted from his title fight against the Canadian earlier this month. Carlos Condit took his place against "Rush" but fate being what it is, Diaz has returned to the main event.
And based on his past behavior, which can be described as erratic at best, it could be his last one if he's defeated by Penn at the Mandalay Bay Events Center a week from Saturday.
Anyone think he's a victim of poor management?
Or is it time for him to put his checkbook away and take responsibility for his own career? Any fight fans support Diaz through this ordeal? Why or why not?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: diaz, money, press, people, brother irsquove
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz: “I’m just gonna do what I always do…”
Former Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz better get used to all these press conferences, conference calls, and other media appearances if he is going to be a successful fighter in the UFC.
After having a title shot with Georges St-Pierre taken away from him for missing several of those media events, Diaz showed up late to Wednesday’s conference call for UFC 137, an event he is now headlining alongside opponent B.J. Penn.
“Hey, how’s it going,” Diaz casually asked nearly 45 minutes after the call had started.
The Californian plead he case, stating he didn’t know that he was still needed for the promotional obligation due to St-Pierre being forced out of his fight with Carlos Condit just a day earlier due to a knee injury, mentioning he hadn’t been given any information from the UFC to suggest otherwise.
“”All I know is that somebody’s getting paid over a hundred grand just to tell me what I’m supposed to do and what I’m not supposed to do. And I’m like, for that much money, I think I could have had somebody standing around telling me, ‘Hey, you can’t miss this press conference. That kind of voids the whole contract, and then you’re out, and you get (screwed)…You make no money. So you have to be at this thing.’,” Diaz explained.
“I’m just gonna do what I always do and train, and when it’s time to fight, I go fight,” he continued. “And it’s really about me, it’s not about whatever’s going on in the world or who I’m fighting or who I’m not fighting. I’m not gonna really have a choice on that. My job is to fight, so I have to fight when I’m told to fight, and that’s what I do well.”
In Penn, Diaz will be facing a former training partner and someone he really didn’t want to meet inside the Octagon. “The Prodigy,” who has dealt with the wrath of UFC President Dana White himself, said he embraces the good and bad of Diaz.
“Nick is Nick, he’s gonna do what he does,” Penn said. “I enjoy watching the stuff that Diaz does. He doesn’t change, he’s always himself and that has nothing to do with me.”
Whether or not Penn will enjoy what he sees from Diaz on October 29 will be a completely different story and one appearance the outspoken Graciefighter will absolutely be showing up for.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, conference, penn
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBJ Penn is "more than willing" to go five-rounds with Nick Diaz
Following news that Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre had been forced out of his UFC 137 title defense against Carlos Condit, the co-main event, pitting Penn against former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz, was promptly promoted to the card's headlining bout. However, because the match-up was originally scheduled for three-rounds, UFC President Dana White felt it was unfair to ask either competitor to take a 25-minute fight on just a week's notice. But, according to Cesar Gracie, Diaz's manager...
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, carlos condit, weeks notice
Read the full article at Low KickHistory in the Making: Nick Diaz comes up short against Karo Parisyan at UFC 49
Of the four losses Nick Diaz has suffered inside the Octagon, one was handed to him by a future champion and two came from emerging title contenders. And each time he came up short, not once did the fight end within the distance.
During his initial stint in the UFC -- when Diaz wasn't knocking his opponents out or submitting them -- he proved impossible to finish, going toe to toe with his opponents from bell to bell. Fights with Sean Sherk, Diego Sanchez, and Joe Riggs all went to the judges as each of those opponents figured out how to earn a win against the Stockton native but couldn't solve the riddle of how to beat him.
Another such bout was against vaunted judoka Karo Parisyan. "The Heat" has fallen on hard times as of late but during the mid-2000s, the Armenian was an impressive force in the promotion's welterweight division. He was even set to challenge Matt Hughes for the 170-pound title but suffered an injury in training camp.
Pariysan and Diaz's bout at UFC 49 wasn't even booked for the main card but the two still managed to tear the house down and at the end of 15 minutes, Parisyan was able to score a split decision over his opponent.
Over half a decade later, a Georges St. Pierre knee injury has placed Diaz in the main event of next week's (Oct. 29) UFC 137 event so in honor of his bout with B.J. Penn, we'll take a look at Diaz's 2004 classic.
Don't be scared, homie.
Of the four losses Nick Diaz has suffered inside the Octagon, one was handed to him by a future champion and two came from emerging title contenders. And each time he came up short, not once did the fight end within the distance.
During his initial stint in the UFC -- when Diaz wasn't knocking his opponents out or submitting them -- he proved impossible to finish, going toe to toe with his opponents from bell to bell. Fights with Sean Sherk, Diego Sanchez, and Joe Riggs all went to the judges as each of those opponents figured out how to earn a win against the Stockton native but couldn't solve the riddle of how to beat him.
Another such bout was against vaunted judoka Karo Parisyan. "The Heat" has fallen on hard times as of late but during the mid-2000s, the Armenian was an impressive force in the promotion's welterweight division. He was even set to challenge Matt Hughes for the 170-pound title but suffered an injury in training camp.
Pariysan and Diaz's bout at UFC 49 wasn't even booked for the main card but the two still managed to tear the house down and at the end of 15 minutes, Parisyan was able to score a split decision over his opponent.
Over half a decade later, a Georges St. Pierre knee injury has placed Diaz in the main event of next week's (Oct. 29) UFC 137 event so in honor of his bout with B.J. Penn, we'll take a look at Diaz's 2004 classic.
Don't be scared, homie.
Going into the bout, Diaz had a flawless Octagon record at two wins and no losses. The completion of his regional scene trilogy with Jeremy Jackson earned him the first victory and his amazing knockout over Robbie Lawler scored him the second. In a time before the 170-pound division was considered "GSPLand," three wins in the division could equal a title shot.
On the opposite side of the cage, "The Heat" had split his first two fights in the UFC. He won his debut but lost his next tilt to a another debuting fighter, a hip hop-loving French-Canadian you may or may not have heard of.
That late summer evening in Las Vegas, the Armenian was looking to get back to his winning ways while the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) player was dead set on getting his third straight Octagon victory.
Let's dive right on in.
"The Heat" immediately takes the center of the cage and clinches with his opponent. Seconds later, the judoka is able to slam Diaz to the mat. No stranger to grappling himself, the Cesar Gracie product gets right back to his feet.
Pressed up against the cage by his Armenian opponent, Diaz searches for a kimura which he soon finds. To defend, Parisyan straightens his arm out and drops his opponent to the mat. He keeps his composure and is able to free himself from the submission before ending up on his feet, trying to avoid upkicks from Diaz.
"The Heat" wades in with ground and pound a couple of times and ends up in his opponent's half-guard. As Diaz jockeys Parisyan back to full guard, the Armenian drops elbows across the Stockton native's jaw. They get back to their feet and Diaz flips the script on Parisyan, dropping him to the mat.
Like a skipping record, they once again end up on their feet but are almost immediately back to the mat courtesy of a Parisyan takedown. The judoka is able to nullify his opponent's guard for a while and lands effective ground and pound.
Back to their feet, Diaz begins to take control. His boxing is crisper, more refined. He is able to score with two nice knees from a Thai clinch before the round expires.
"The Heat" starts the second with a takedown but is quickly swept by the BJJ player. Diaz is able to take his opponent's back but Parisyan locks on a kimura during a scramble. The Stockton fighter drops to the mat and once again takes the judoka's back before Parisyan is able to slide him off and get to his feet, landing a solid knee in the process.
We're one minute in.
They clinch up against the cage with Diaz landing good punches and knees to the body. They break apart and Diaz begins to push the pace. He stalks his opponent and opens up with his hands, perhaps sensing fatigue sweeping over Parisyan.
Takedown attempt after attempt are shrugged off by the Cesar Gracie fighter as he punishes the judoka with his striking, busting his nose up. To give the Armenian credit, he's busted Diaz open as well. Parisyan is finally able to get his opponent to the mat but with only seconds remaining.
The final round opens up and the two begin swinging like wild men. Cooler heads -- at least on Parisyan's side -- prevail and "The Heat" secures a takedown early. Diaz nearly locks on a triangle a couple of times and even another kimura but Parisyan's submission defense combined with sweat and fatigue help the Armenian survive.
The fighters are stood up as Parisyan's mouthpiece needed to be rinsed off and upon the restart, Diaz immediately finds himself once again on his back. He attempts to scramble, throw up submission, anything he can but Parisyan proves to be too much.
Two judges shared scorecards that read 29-28 although each had a different fighter coming out ahead. The third judge scored each round for "The Heat," which earned him the split decision.
Since then Parisyan has slowly and painfully fallen out of relevance while Diaz has found himself nearly atop the 170-pound world. He's a polarizing figure in mixed martial arts (MMA) circles due to his actions -- inside and outside the cage -- and how others quantify what he does.
He is either "the greatest man to ever live" -- as MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden once opined -- or an over-ranked fighter with next to no takedown defense who has been fed a steady stream of mid-tier opposition.
At UFC 137 -- against future Hall of Famer B.J. Penn -- we'll find out which on which side of the fence he ends up landing.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, opponent, heat, parisyan
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137: B.J. Penn Will Go Five Rounds if Paid by UFC or Cesar Gracie
With the injury to Georges St. Pierre forcing B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz into the main event slot at UFC 137, there was some curiosity from fans wondering if Penn vs. Diaz would now be a five round fight. UFC president Dana White was quick to say that the fight would remain a three rounder.
For me, that was a shame. In my mind one of the UFC's most accomplished champions and the current Strikeforce champion should not be fighting a three round fight.
Diaz's manager, Cesar Gracie, was quick to start goading Penn into turning it into a five rounder. This was a smart move on his part as the one place where Diaz has the edge is in his endurance.
Penn has now responded, and he's open to the late notice change. But he wants to get paid for it (via MMA Weekly):
"I want to be compensated accordingly and that's it. I'm more than willing to do a five-round fight," Penn told MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday. "If Dana wants a five-round fight, just give me a call and we can put it together right now.
"Or if Cesar wants to make it a five-round fight and he wants to compensate me personally, he can put his money where his mouth is, it's that easy. I've been training to fight. I'm ready to fight."
I can't blame B.J. for wanting to get paid to take such a big change on short notice. It's just a shame that this wasn't five rounds to begin with.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, round, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Media Conference Call (audio)
Listen to the full audio from the UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz media conference call, which included BJ Penn, Matt Mitrione, Cheick Kongo, and yes, even Nick Diaz.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, media, penn
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 137 Conference Call Full Audio: The One Where Nick Diaz Shows Up 45 Mins Late
Here’s the full audio from yesterday’s UFC 137 conference call via BJPenn.com. Nick Diaz comes on around the 37:45 mark if that’s what you’re looking for.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, conference
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBetter Late than Never, Diaz Arrives to Discuss UFC 137
“Hey, how’s it going?”With that greeting, welterweight contender Nick Diaz arrived for the UFC 137 media teleconference Wednesday afternoon. Keeping in line with his reputation, he was 45 minutes late to the call, which also saw his October 29th opponent, BJ Penn, and co-main event combatants Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo speaking with the media, but in a twist, he actually showed up, which wasn’t the case when he no-showed two press conferences to promote a main event bout between himself and UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.Those misses cost him a shot at the belt in his first UFC bout since 2006, elevating Carlos Condit – who was scheduled to fight Penn – to the championship fight. Diaz landed on his feet and into the Penn fight, but when St-Pierre injured his knee and withdrew from the Condit fight earlier this week, it was Diaz vs. Penn moving into the headline slot.Confusing? Crazy? Welcome to the world of Nick Diaz, whose every move has been watched since it was announced earlier this year that he was vacating his Strikeforce welterweight title and returning to the Octagon. And if most fighters get their share of media ink by actually talking to the media, the strategy of “Nick being Nick” has made the Stockton, California native the talk of the MMA world without him uttering a word.But he was talking on Wednesday, seemingly calm in the eye of the storm swirling around him over the last couple months.“I just try my best to not focus on what’s going on and try to live every day like it’s really not a big deal,” said Diaz. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen with me, but it’s not gonna make a difference whether I whine or cry about it or panic to get things done. I’m just gonna do what I always do and train, and when it’s time to fight, I go fight. And it’s really about me, it’s not about whatever’s going on in the world or who I’m fighting or who I’m not fighting. I’m not gonna really have a choice on that. My job is to fight, so I have to fight when I’m told to fight, and that’s what I do well. Everything else is just gonna be a whole other task.”How he deals with “everything else” leading up to the bout a week from Saturday will be telling, yet strangely enough, it was Penn – who has dealt with his own share of media controversy over the years – sitting in the pole position as the seasoned vet, the man who has been there and done that, kind of just overlooking the whole situation with bemusement.“Nick is Nick, he’s gonna do what he does,” said Penn. “I enjoy watching the stuff that Nick Diaz does. He doesn’t change, he’s always himself and that has nothing to do with me. He always shows up to the fight and fights, so I don’t think we need to worry about that stuff.”So is it much ado about nothing, or is Diaz’ apparent lack of comfort with the media and what he has called the "beauty pageant" of promoting his own fight going to stress him out to the point where he doesn’t perform up to his world-class level on October 29th? If you’ve watched him over the years, you know the answer to that question. Diaz is going to show up in Las Vegas, make that walk to the Octagon, and he’s going to fight Penn in one of the most intriguing bouts of the year.So whether good or bad, like Penn said, “Nick is Nick.” And after seeing his name trending on Twitter Wednesday and hearing the growing buzz about the fight, walking to the beat of his own drummer seems to fit him just fine.“People want to see good fights and good fighters, and that’s what I’m trying to bring to the table,” said Diaz.
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick, i ’m, penn
Read the full article at UFCCheck out the new Nick Diaz UFC 137 Walkout Shirt by Metal Mulisha
[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div]
Along with Nick Diaz’s main event scrap versus BJ Penn comes the former Strikeforce welterweight champ’s new UFC 137 walkout shirt by Metal Mulisha. Having sponsored Diaz in the past during his Strikeforce days, Metal Mulisha has now stepped into the UFC as the Stockton, California fighter’s official walkout tee sponsor with the “Diaz Battery” T-shirt. The new signature style combines a pair of spiked bats on both sides, with a tough looking design that’s officially anti-everything.
See the shirt...
Posted in: ufc, diaz, middleeasy networkdiv, metal, event scrap
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 137 Fight Card: Penn vs. Diaz
Has the UFC ever seen this much drama before a card? Between Nick Diaz making every press event a circus and Georges St. Pierre hurting his knee, it's certainly been an eventful last six weeks. Where does it stand now? Well, there's no title fight on top but it's hard to argue with the allure of the new main event. And it's still one of the deeper PPV cards of the year even without GSP and Carlos Condit. Hatsu Hioki will make his UFC debut, and two heavyweight battles are likely to be crowd pleasers too. Here's the whole card (the preliminary card is after the jump):
Oct 29th, live on Pay-per-view from Las Vegas, NV:
B.J. Penn (16-7-2) vs. Nick Diaz (25-7, 1 NC)
Cheick Kongo (16-6-2) vs. Matt Mitrione (5-0)
Mirko Filipovic (27-9-2) vs. Roy Nelson (15-6)
Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) vs. George Roop (12-7-1)
Brad Tavares (7-1) vs. Dustin Jacoby (6-0)
Has the UFC ever seen this much drama before a card? Between Nick Diaz making every press event a circus and Georges St. Pierre hurting his knee, it's certainly been an eventful last six weeks. Where does it stand now? Well, there's no title fight on top but it's hard to argue with the allure of the new main event. And it's still one of the deeper PPV cards of the year even without GSP and Carlos Condit. Hatsu Hioki will make his UFC debut, and two heavyweight battles are likely to be crowd pleasers too. Here's the whole card (the preliminary card is after the jump):
Oct 29th, live on Pay-per-view from Las Vegas, NV:
B.J. Penn (16-7-2) vs. Nick Diaz (25-7, 1 NC)
Cheick Kongo (16-6-2) vs. Matt Mitrione (5-0)
Mirko Filipovic (27-9-2) vs. Roy Nelson (15-6)
Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) vs. George Roop (12-7-1)
Brad Tavares (7-1) vs. Dustin Jacoby (6-0)
Spike TV card:
Dennis Siver (19-7) vs. Donald Cerrone (16-3, 1 NC)
Tyson Griffin (15-5) vs. Bart Palaszewski (35-14)
Facebook card:
Brandon Vera (11-5, 1 NC) vs. Eliot Marshall (10-3)
Scott Jorgensen (12-4) vs. Jeff Curran (33-13-1)
Ramsey Nijem (4-2) vs. Danny Downes (8-2)
Chris Camozzi (15-4) vs. Francis Carmont (16-7)
Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, card, hatsu
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 137's B.J. Penn responds to Cesar Gracie: 'Put your money where your mouth is'
B.J. Penn isn't scared, homie.
The former champion today responded to the 25-minute gauntlet that Cesar Gracie, the trainer responsible for Nick Diaz, laid down yesterday when news broke that Georges St. Pierre injured his knee and was forced out of his UFC 137 main event fight against Carlos Condit.
Penn vs. Diaz, which was scheduled to serve as the co main event, was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. And to make the situation more interesting, Gracie immediately upped the ante, urging "The Prodigy" to agree to a five-round, non-title fight.
Diaz was on board. So, too, was White, according to Gracie. All Penn had to do was follow suit and they would "make it happen."
Check out Penn's response to the challenge after the jump:
B.J. Penn isn't scared, homie.
The former champion today responded to the 25-minute gauntlet that Cesar Gracie, the trainer responsible for Nick Diaz, laid down yesterday when news broke that Georges St. Pierre injured his knee and was forced out of his UFC 137 main event fight against Carlos Condit.
Penn vs. Diaz, which was scheduled to serve as the co main event, was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. And to make the situation more interesting, Gracie immediately upped the ante, urging "The Prodigy" to agree to a five-round, non-title fight.
Diaz was on board. So, too, was White, according to Gracie. All Penn had to do was follow suit and they would "make it happen."
Check out Penn's response to the challenge after the jump:
"I want to be compensated accordingly. That's it. I'm more than willing to do a five-round fight. If Dana wants a five-round fight, just give me a call and we can put it together right now. Or if Cesar wants to make it a five-round fight and he wants to compensate me personally, he can put his money where his mouth is, it's that easy. I've been training to fight. I'm ready to fight."
White, who was not on the UFC 137 conference call today immediately take up Penn on his offer, previously indicated that he wasn't going to force the issue because both fighters trained to fight for three rounds.
And with the pay-per-view (PPV) event, which will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, less than two weeks away, it wasn't reasonable to ask them to fight any longer than the 15 minutes to which they both agreed six weeks ago.
Makes perfect sense.
However, considering the extenuating circumstances, as well as Diaz and Penn willing to raise the stakes for a little extra scratch, White might want to consider making the Hawaiian another offer he can't refuse.
It worked the first time. Chances are it will work again ... if the price is right.
Posted in: fight, diaz, event, penn, gracie
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 137 Conference Call Recap: The Nick Diaz Circus Continues
It was another wild and wacky day in the world of Nick Diaz. After famously being removed from the UFC 137 main event last month for no-showing two press conferences, many people were making jokes about Diaz not being on the line for today's conference call. And guess what? When it started, it was announced that Nick Diaz wasn't on the conference call and everyone was looking for him. It was a ludicrous beginning but it got very interesting later on because...he actually called in. And said no one had told him about the call until right then. Seriously.
Before Nick actually called in, it was just B.J. Penn and Matt Mitrione answering questions. Penn said he didn't mind Nick's antics and what matters is that he always shows up to fight. Mitrione said he's played football in front of 110,000 fans so co-main-eventing wasn't a big deal. No one even asked Cheick Kongo a question (poor Cheick). Then, the moment of glory - Nick Diaz called in. And his explanation for his tardiness was awesome (transcribed by MMA Nation):
"I didn't even know about a call," he said. "I woke up, my phone was dead and my brother told me that I was supposed to be on the call. I didn't get any notice. I didn't hear anything about it until about fifteen minutes ago.
"When should I have known about this press conference? Somebody should have gave me a call. I don't know who's talking to who. I didn't hear about it. Just like anything, I don't hear about this (expletive) until way late. I'm not sitting here on my thumbs waiting for a call, I'm waiting for training. I'm training hard, harder than these guys and that's why. That's what takes up all my time, training, becoming the best in the world."
Cesar Gracie, who knew about the call yesterday, said that he hadn't spoken to Nick since he found out. Apparently Nick's phone was dead and his brother Nate Diaz had to inform him that he was supposed to be on the phone. It seemed that the UFC might not have informed Nick directly, and Dana White at least corroborated some of that by tweeting "'I'm hearing UFC dropped the ball on the Nick Diaz no show today!! SUCKS" shortly before he called in. But Dave Sholler, UFC Director of Communications, says he had talked to Cesar Gracie about it. As usual when it comes to Nick Diaz, it was a weird and convoluted situation.
Once he was finally on the call he quickly went on a classic Diaz rant, and he also discussed his regrets for missing the September press conferences that cost him a title shot, while B.J Penn continued to say it was all amusing. You can catch that and more after the jump.
It was another wild and wacky day in the world of Nick Diaz. After famously being removed from the UFC 137 main event last month for no-showing two press conferences, many people were making jokes about Diaz not being on the line for today's conference call. And guess what? When it started, it was announced that Nick Diaz wasn't on the conference call and everyone was looking for him. It was a ludicrous beginning but it got very interesting later on because...he actually called in. And said no one had told him about the call until right then. Seriously.
Before Nick actually called in, it was just B.J. Penn and Matt Mitrione answering questions. Penn said he didn't mind Nick's antics and what matters is that he always shows up to fight. Mitrione said he's played football in front of 110,000 fans so co-main-eventing wasn't a big deal. No one even asked Cheick Kongo a question (poor Cheick). Then, the moment of glory - Nick Diaz called in. And his explanation for his tardiness was awesome (transcribed by MMA Nation):
"I didn't even know about a call," he said. "I woke up, my phone was dead and my brother told me that I was supposed to be on the call. I didn't get any notice. I didn't hear anything about it until about fifteen minutes ago.
"When should I have known about this press conference? Somebody should have gave me a call. I don't know who's talking to who. I didn't hear about it. Just like anything, I don't hear about this (expletive) until way late. I'm not sitting here on my thumbs waiting for a call, I'm waiting for training. I'm training hard, harder than these guys and that's why. That's what takes up all my time, training, becoming the best in the world."
Cesar Gracie, who knew about the call yesterday, said that he hadn't spoken to Nick since he found out. Apparently Nick's phone was dead and his brother Nate Diaz had to inform him that he was supposed to be on the phone. It seemed that the UFC might not have informed Nick directly, and Dana White at least corroborated some of that by tweeting "'I'm hearing UFC dropped the ball on the Nick Diaz no show today!! SUCKS" shortly before he called in. But Dave Sholler, UFC Director of Communications, says he had talked to Cesar Gracie about it. As usual when it comes to Nick Diaz, it was a weird and convoluted situation.
Once he was finally on the call he quickly went on a classic Diaz rant, and he also discussed his regrets for missing the September press conferences that cost him a title shot, while B.J Penn continued to say it was all amusing. You can catch that and more after the jump.
Here's Nick talking about regrets... or something:
"Of course I have regret," he shot back. "I regret I have people who are supposed to take care of stuff. I have a lawyer or whatever, people get paid something like 100 grand -- I don't know -- a ridiculous amount of money."
"I've got all these business people and big money people around me trying to make deals, and I don't know anything about that. All I know is that somebody is getting paid over 100 grand just to tell me what I'm supposed to do and not supposed to do, and I'm thinking for that much money, I could have had somebody standing around telling me, 'Hey, you can't miss this press conference. That voids the whole contract, and then you're out. You ain't gettin' (expletive). You ain't fighting' (expletive). You ain't makin' no money, so you have to be at this thing. It's simple."
On facing B.J. Penn:
No, I'm not happy about it at all. I'm fighting this guy who was my friend. I was supposed to fighting this other guy. That's kind of just how I feel.
On the highly-prized Strikeforce belt he currently owns:
I don't care about the Strikeforce belt. I never even put it on. B.J. can have it.
And on the push for a five-round fight that his manager was touting yesterday:
It's whatever. It's really not up to me. Either way is fine.
Posted in: diaz, nick, conference, im, didnt
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz Nearly No Shows, Talks UFC 137 Main Event with BJ Penn
One day after moving back into the UFC 137 main event against BJ Penn following an injury to welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, Nick Diaz nearly no showed another media event on Wednesday, the same reason he was pulled from the headliner against St-Pierre in September.
This time, however, it may have been the UFC’s fault that Diaz joined the press conference call nearly 45 minutes late.
“I’m hearing UFC dropped the ball on the Nick Diaz no show today!! SUCKS,” UFC President Dana White wrote on Twitter.
“Nobody called me in the last week, or couple of days or anything, and said there was a call,” Diaz explained. After training last night, Diaz went to sleep then “woke up, my phone was dead, and then my brother’s telling me I’m supposed to be on a call. I didn’t know anything about it.”
While the UFC may not appreciate Diaz missing his media obligations, they don’t worry Penn because the former Strikeforce champion always shows up to fight.
“Nick is Nick,” Penn said. “That’s just what he does. I enjoy watching the stuff Nick Diaz does. He doesn’t change; He’s always himself. He always shows up to the fight so I don’t think we have to worry about that.”
Despite some regrets over being pulled from his fight with St-Pierre, Diaz said he remains focused on training to fight who he considers a better technical opponent in Penn.
“I’m not sitting here waiting for a call,” Diaz said. “I’m waiting for training. I’m training hard. I train harder than there guys and fight harder than there guys and that’s why. That’s what takes up all my time, training to become the best in the world.”
For UFC 137 results and complete UFC 137 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, penn, training
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyThe Best of Nick Diaz From The UFC 137 Conference Call
Even when he wasn't on the line, Diaz was the center of attention. Here's what the controversial welterweight had to say once he made it onto the phone.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, conference, attention heres, line diaz
Read the full article at Heavy MMANo-show road show almost continues, but Nick Diaz finally dishes on UFC 137 headliner
For about 45 minutes or so, it looked like a classic Nick Diaz performance.
That is, if you count Diaz's out-of-the-cage behavior as part of his fighting signature, and chances are, you do.
Diaz was trending nationwide on Twitter not long after he apparently no-showed a media call in support of the pay-per-view event he's now headlining opposite B.J. Penn, UFC 137.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, show, nick
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNick Diaz Nearly No-Showed Today’s UFC 137 Conference Call
With Nick Diaz back in the UFC 137 main event, everyone on today’s UFC 137 conference call was holding their breath, anxiously waiting to see if Diaz would blow off his media obligations once again.
And he nearly did.
For the first 45 minutes of the call, Diaz was nowhere to be found while BJ Penn, Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo all took turn answering reporters’ questions. But unlike last time when Dana White booted him out of his title fight with Georges St. Pierre, Dana blamed the UFC for the no-show.
I’m hearing UFC dropped the ball on the Nick Diaz no show today!! SUCKS
In a surprising turn of events though, Diaz did eventually find his way onto the call. When asked why he was late, Diaz claimed he knew nothing about it before going into a rant about how someone is getting paid $100,000 to tell him what to do, but he never hears about “sh*t until way late.”
When he actually got to the topic of fighting BJ Penn, Diaz said wasn’t happy about it and would prefer to fight Georges St. Pierre. Unlike his manager Cesar Gracie who was pretty enthusiastic about turning Penn-Diaz into a five-rounder, Diaz said he doesn’t really care either way, he just wants to fight and get paid. Penn on the other hand wants more money if he has to go two extra rounds.
“I want to be compensated accordingly and that’s it. I’m more than willing to do a five-round fight,” Penn told MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday. “If Dana wants a five-round fight, just give me a call and we can put it together right now.
“Or if Cesar wants to make it a five-round fight and he wants to compensate me personally, he can put his money where his mouth is, it’s that easy. I’ve been training to fight. I’m ready to fight.”
When asked about his Strikeforce belt and if it should be on the line next Saturday, Diaz said he really doesn’t care about the SF belt and BJ Penn can have it.
For Nick Diaz, it’s as simple as training, fighting and getting paid. He really doesn’t care about anything else, especially not press conferences.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick diaz, penn
Read the full article at MMA ConvertDiaz late for UFC 137 call, claims ignorance
Nick Diaz was a late arrival on a UFC 137 media conference call Wednesday but UFC president Dana White didn't put all the blame on him.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, media, claim, arrival
Read the full article at sportsnet.caThe Nick Diaz Phenomenon
Filed under: UFCThe new UFC 137 event poster features the tagline "Expect the Unexpected." It is fitting given that there have been multiple main event switches leading up to the October 29 date, but it could just as easily be referring solely to one of the men gracing the artwork.
For years, Nick Diaz has been an enigma to many on the outside looking in. His friends and teammates say he is fiercely loyal, hard-working and yes, even kind-hearted. But we rarely see that side of him. The public face of Diaz is usually scowling, irritable and contemptuous.
That duality may well be an accurate portrayal of Diaz in his private and public settings, and it may not be a bad thing. Because Diaz's personality perfectly fits into a sport like MMA. To his fans, he's an ass-kicking, counterculture anti-hero. To his detractors, he's an irascible ingrate. Whatever it is, he's a one-man phenomenon.
On Wednesday, Diaz was scheduled to be one of four participants in a media teleconference, along with his opponent BJ Penn as well as heavyweights Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo. But when the call began, Diaz was nowhere to be found.
The UFC had been in constant communication with Diaz's manager Cesar Gracie, a company spokesperson said, and they were still searching for him as the call began. Through Twitter, UFC president Dana White put the blame on his staff, saying they "dropped the ball on the Nick Diaz no-show." But Diaz did show up, just not on time, dialing in 40 minutes late and saying that no one had told him it was going on until that moment.
Whether you believe that or not is of course, up to you. But it must be noted that Mitrione and Kongo were invited to the call on Tuesday, and they were around at the appointed time.
In the grand scheme of things, it wouldn't be a big deal, but based on Diaz missing two previous press conferences that cost him a title fight, it became a story. But that quickly changed. When he arrived late, it became only part of the story. And when he started talking, it became moot. Better late than never, after all.
He said that he regretted the actions (or inactions) that led to his removal from the St-Pierre fight. That he wasn't happy about fighting Penn. That he believes Penn to be a better all-around fighter than GSP. That someone in his camp was getting paid way too much and not doing their job of handling his schedule. That the Strikeforce belt never meant much to him.
In 15 minutes, Diaz did more to shift the narrative of UFC 137 storylines than Penn, Mitrione and Kongo did in the preceding 40. That's just the way it is when he speaks.
And isn't that the point of conference calls and press conferences? When it comes to those, Diaz says more with less than anyone in MMA. If he was as verbose and microphone friendly as say, Chael Sonnen, it wouldn't quite be the same. Diaz shows up when he wants, wedges open a window into his mind, and lets you in look in just long enough to find yourself fascinated and wanting more.
That's true for the fans, it's true for the media, it's even true for the fighters. Just ask Penn, who called Diaz "a great character of the sport."
"I think there's nothing wrong with the media focusing on that stuff," he said. "It's something to talk about. It's a story. I don't want to say it's good for the sport, the guy not showing up for the press conference, but it is another character in the sport, you know?"
That Penn ended his answer with a question seemed perfectly fitting, too. Sometimes Diaz leaves you with an uneasy feeling, like you're not sure if you're in the midst of watching someone unravel, or you're just watching someone who's conflicted.
Hopefully it's the latter, because Diaz's talents deserve a worthy showcase of invested fans. And in some ways, this whole bizarre UFC 137 scenario may end up benefitting all the parties involved. Diaz was very well known by MMA fans prior to this, but an untold number of others are getting a taste of his brilliance or madness before a possible showdown with St-Pierre. If Diaz can walk away with a win over Penn, and St-Pierre eventually beats Carlos Condit, the Diaz-GSP fight becomes exponentially bigger than it would have been.
In the end though, no one summarized Diaz better than he did himself. He seems to be able to compartmentalize his life into its various parts. The fighter is different from the person. The problems are put away into their own corner to be ignored. Each moment belongs in its own box.
"I don't know what's going to happen with me, but it's not going to make a difference whether or not I whine or cry about it or panic," he said. "I'm just going to do what I always do: train. And when it's time to fight, I go fight."
Outside of the cage, we never quite know what to expect of Diaz. He is wildly unpredictable and generally ducks attention, but he when speaks, he says exactly what's on his mind, consequences be damned. And inside the cage, we know exactly what to expect. Win or lose, he will force his opponent into a pitched battle. He will attempt to break your will, consequences be damned. You may like him or you may not, but it's hard to deny that in a sport full of singular personalities, he's one of the most intriguing ones MMA has ever seen. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, sport, penn
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNick Diaz shows up 45 minutes late to UFC 137 conference call
File this one under "least surprising thing to happen today."
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today held a conference call for the media to promote its upcoming UFC 137 event that will take place on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Thanks to a knee injury suffered by Georges St. Pierre, the B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz fight was bumped up to the main event, which, naturally, means Diaz will have to fulfill a few more promotional duties.
The first of which was today's call but, surprise surprise, the Stockton slugger was nowhere to be found.
When asked, UFC Director of Communications Dave Sholler confirmed that Diaz was, in fact, supposed to be on the call and that steps were being taken to find out where he is.
Finally, 45 minutes into the call, Diaz was located and joined the call. And immediately he claimed he had no idea about a call taking place today:
"I didn't even know there was a call. I was sleeping then my brother tells me there's a call so here I am."
UFC President Dana White expressed his frustration at the situation on Twitter by saying, "I'm hearing UFC dropped the ball on the Nick Diaz no show today!! SUCKS."
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Diaz's opponent, B.J. Penn, actually bothered to show up for the call on time and of course he was asked what his thoughts are on Diaz's disappearing act. Here was his response:
"Nick is Nick. That has nothing to do with me. He does always show up for the fight."
Thankfully, this means everything will go ahead as planned, which is good because this card could not have handled another high profile fight dropping out.
Especially this one.
"All's well that ends well," said Sholler about Diaz waiting so long to join the call.
Diaz maintains that he does what his manager tells him, nothing more, nothing less. He just wants to train and fight and that's all there is to it.
If only that were so, right?
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, today
Read the full article at MMA ManiaB.J. Penn 'Happy to Do a Five-Round Fight' with Nick Diaz...For a Price
Filed under: UFCLet the record reflect that, when it comes to Cesar Gracie's request for a five-round fight between Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn at UFC 137, Penn isn't scared, homie.
On Wednesday's pre-fight media call Penn responded to questions about Gracie's comments to MMA Fighting by saying he was "happy to do a five-round fight" with Diaz on October 29, as long as his paycheck increases along with the bout duration.
As for who might be responsible for coming up with the extra cash, Penn's open to suggestions there.
Initially, Penn said that while he'd gladly up the bout from three rounds to five to reflect its main event status, "this is a job and I want to be compensated accordingly."
If UFC president Dana White wants to alter the bout agreement, Penn said, "he can give me a call and he can compensate me right now."
On the other hand, since it was Gracie, Diaz's manager, who first asked for a five-rounder when talking with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani on Tuesday, Penn suggested that maybe he should be the one to come up with the extra cash to make it worth his while.
"Cesar's a strange guy. I don't know why he did that in the first place," said Penn. "I think Cesar should have to be the guy to compensate me to take it, not Dana. But at the end of day, no, I don't mind. I'd love to do a five-round fight. If I'm compensated, this is a job...there's nothing wrong with a main event being five rounds."
Though White has made no public remarks about the possibility of upping the bout to five rounds, Gracie insisted on Tuesday that the UFC boss was "good with it." As for Diaz, he seemed unconcerned about the bout length, regardless of what his own manager would like to see happen.
"It's whatever, you know," Diaz said. "It's really not up to me. Either way I guess is fine. It's going to be okay for me." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: diaz, bout, penn, gracie, fiveround fight
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137: Five Questions to Ask Following Georges St. Pierre's Injury
Without a doubt, this has been one of Zuffa's worst years on record. Low pay-per-view numbers have been connected to everything from oversaturation of the market, low quality main events, and a lack of stars, but the most visible reason has been the bevy of injuries that have sunk a few potentially high revenue events.
Most notably, a planned UFC 133 main event between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans, a fight fueled with a mutual dislike between the two fighters, was canceled due to an injury to Jones' hand. NCAA champion wrestler Phil Davis stepped in to take on Evans, only to suffer an injury himself. He was replaced by Tito Ortiz, and the event only pulled in an estimated 310,000 buys.
A heavyweight title showdown between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos at UFC 131 in June suffered a similar fate. Velasquez suffered a torn rotator cuff, excluding him from the event and allowing Brock Lesnar to fill his role. Lesnar's placement on the card made it a sure-fire million buy show until he was removed due to the reemergence of his diverticulitis. Shane Carwin stepped in, sinking the expectations greatly for the show's success. It only drew 325,000 buys.
The business end of the sport has been the main focal point of the analysis surrounding yesterday's news, but it isn't the only pertinent question to ask in the aftermath. Here are five questions to consider:
What can we expect from UFC 137 following the loss of the headlining fight ten days from the event? Lower buys. Obviously, Georges St. Pierre is one of the UFC's biggest draws in the sport, and his absence from the card is going to turn off some fans. B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz is far from a terrible replacement however, so I don't anticipate a steep decline in the expectations for this card. Some analysts predicted buyrates north of 800,000, possibly 1,000,000. That's obviously not going to happen unless fans are completely ignorant to the news. I still think the card can do numbers greater than 650,000 buys, and that's a very successful card despite being well below the expected number with Georges St. Pierre headlining
Will Nick Diaz be available for media appearances now that he's in the main event?Unless you've been living under a rock, most fans know that Diaz was booted from the UFC 137 main event with Georges St. Pierre for not showing up to two consecutive press conferences. He has historically hated doing press for events, so it was no surprise that he didn't show up in Vegas after ditching out on a Canadian appearance because he lost his passport. White responded by giving him the boot and awarding Carlos Condit the job. Now that Diaz is back in the main event role on the event he was previously booted from, will Dana expect him to do press to pump up the card? I'm not holding my breath. The UFC has only ten days to drum up more interest in their new main event, and spending a ton of money attempting to push Diaz isn't going to affect the interest all that much. Diaz's challenge to B.J. Penn to make this fight five rounds may be the only thing that can stir up some beef between the two men, and it's too late for that sort of beef to get the spotlight it needs to fuel interest. That leads me to my next question.More questions after the fold...
Will B.J. Penn accept the five-round challenge from Nick Diaz, and does it add any intrigue?Five rounds has been a tough proposition for B.J. Penn in the past. Historically, he's faded in the late rounds against opponents who can press him, and Diaz fits the mold of a fighter who could survive Penn's early onslaught and maintain the pressure to win in the late rounds. It certainly adds a layer of intrigue for the hardcore fans who know how these two stack up stylistically.
Will Carlos Condit suffer the same fate as Rashad Evans by waiting?Remember when Evans decided to wait for his title shot when Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua pulled out of their scheduled UFC 128 showdown? It didn't work out so well as Evans got injured himself, allowing Jon Jones, his former training partner, to swoop in and take the title. Jones won the title, then Rashad got his chance once again... only to have Jones suffer a hand injury in the lead-up to the fight. The entire fiasco sidelined Evans for 15 months.From all indications, Georges St. Pierre's injury should only require a month or two off before he can return to training and get back into shape for an early 2012 showdown with Condit. That is, unless, something dramatic happens in the meantime. What happens if Nick Diaz pummels B.J. Penn in incredible fashion? Will he get his second chance? What if Georges St. Pierre suffers a setback, or Condit gets hurt? Rumors were swirling that both Josh Koscheck and Anthony Johnson were options for Condit on one-week notice. Time will tell whether this was a good decision or not.
Why was Brad Tavares vs. Dustin Jacoby promoted to the main card over Siver vs. Cerrone?The strangest decision the UFC made yesterday was the promotion of Brad Tavares vs. Dustin Jacoby to the main card of the UFC 137. The fight has zero interest among fans, and the only logical explanation is that the UFC wants to give fans not tuning into the pay-per-view a treat with Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone. Perhaps it's a move to create some hype around Cerrone. If he can win in impressive fashion, that's possible.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, card, evan
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBetter Late Than Never, Nick Diaz Makes UFC 137 Call a Memorable One
Filed under: UFCFor the first half-hour or so of Wednesday's UFC 137 pre-fight media call it was déjà vu all over again. He may have had a different opponent this time, but once again former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz was no-showing a UFC media event, and one couldn't help but get the sense that this wouldn't end well for the enigmatic brawler.
Not that Diaz's opponent, B.J. Penn, minded all that much. Penn seemed almost amused by Diaz's absence, telling reporters that he's always enjoyed "watching his antics," and has been a Diaz fan for years in spite of or maybe even somewhat because of them.
"Nick is Nick," Penn said. "He's going to do what he does. For me, it's just that's what he does. ...I enjoy watching the stuff that Nick Diaz does. He doesn't change. He's just always himself."
And then, roughly 40 minutes into the call, Diaz showed up on the line. That's when things got really interesting.
To hear Diaz tell it, he had no idea that there was a conference call scheduled for Wednesday. No one at the UFC had bothered to tell him, he insisted.
"Nobody called me in the last week or couple days or anything and said there was a call," he said, adding that he'd had a hard night of training, gone to sleep, then "woke up, my phone was dead, and my brother's telling me I'm supposed to be on a call. I don't know anything about it. It's as simple as that."
If this sounds familiar, it's because Diaz offered a similar explanation for why he didn't show up to the initial UFC 137 press conferences back when he was supposed to face Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight title.
That mistake resulted in UFC president Dana White pulling him from the main event altogether, but this time White seems a bit more inclined to give Diaz the benefit of the doubt, judging by his reaction to Diaz's tardiness via Twitter.
"I'm hearing UFC dropped the ball on the Nick Diaz no show today!! SUCKS" White tweeted shortly after news of Diaz's initial no-show spread.
Penn also indicated he'd suffered from a lack of communication with UFC officials lately, saying he heard only through his own website that his bout with Diaz had been elevated to the main event at UFC 137.
"Actually, I have not gotten a call from the UFC or Dana or anyone since...I heard all this news," Penn said. "I found out from BJPenn.com just like everyone else did, that I'm the main event. I haven't talked to anyone. I'm just sitting here and I know the same amount of information that you know."
Of all the people on the call, Penn seemed the least bothered by any of the day's events. Diaz's difficulties attending to his PR responsibilities might give the media "something to talk about," he said, but they didn't annoy him in the least, even when he's left alone to answer all the questions.
"It's no problem, none of this," Penn said. "The only thing that's going to be bothering me is when Nick Diaz is probably punching me in the middle of the Octagon. That's the only time he's going to be bothering me."
Diaz, on the other hand, sounded wholly disinterested one minute and then passionately engaged another. For instance, after initially "plead[ing] the fifth" to a question about whether he had any regrets about his earlier actions, just a few minutes later he offered a different answer to an almost identical question.
"Well yeah, of course I have regret," he said, explaining that he had a lawyer who he believed was making in excess of $100,000 who was somehow to blame for him missing the initial press conferences.
"I've got all these people, business people and big money people around me trying to make deals," Diaz said. "I don't know anything about that. All I know is somebody's getting paid like over a hundred grand just to tell me what I'm supposed to do and what I'm not supposed to do. I'm like, for that much money I think I could have had somebody standing around and telling me, 'Hey, you can't miss this press conference. That voids the whole contract and then you're out. You're not making [expletive]. You're not fighting [expletive]. You ain't making no money. So you have to be at this thing.' It's simple.
Diaz seemed to suggest that the lack of a support system had cost him that time, saying "If I didn't feel like I had that, I would have probably read that [expletive] myself and dealt with things myself and been a little more cautious and then I probably would have showed up at that press conference."
As for this conference call, well, at least he made it eventually. While Penn said it wasn't a significant chunk out of his day since "I was just going to take a 30-minute jog today anyway," Diaz obviously had a different take.
"You've got to know I'm not sitting here with my phone, waiting for a call," he said. "I'm waiting for some training. I'm trying to get some relax time before I have to go back for another four hours of training. I'm training hard. I train harder than these guys, I fight harder than these guys, I look better than these guys, and that's why. I don't get no help and I don't worry about no help. That's what takes up all my time, training and trying to become the best in the world here. And that's the best in the world! That's what you're dealing with here. This is a whole world out there and ain't nobody can beat me? That's pretty bad."
Maybe it just goes to show that whether Diaz shows up to talk to the media or avoids it altogether, there's a story in it either way. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, diaz, penn, im, that
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137 Conference Call Live Coverage
The UFC has a scheduled conference call at 2 p.m. ET today to promote UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz. Headliners B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz are listed as particpiants in the UFC's press release, and new co-main eventers Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione have been confirmed for the call too. UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and challenger Carlos Condit were supposed to participate as well, but an injury to St. Pierre's knee has forced him out of the bout and, probably, out of the conference call. The news may force UFC President Dana White, who tweeted that he was in New York City yesterday, to call in as well.
Follow Mike Fagan on Twitter for live updates. Check back to this post at 3 p.m. ET for a full recap of the proceedings.
UFC 137 has already gone through its share of turbulence. Diaz was St. Pierre's originally scheduled opponent, only to find himself removed from the main event after no-showing back-to-back press conferences in Toronto and Las Vegas. Condit was pulled from his co-featured bout with Penn to step into the main event. That left Penn without an opponent. The UFC decided not to release Diaz for his transgressions, and instead slotted him in against Penn in an attempt to ease him into the UFC's PR machine.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, pierre, penn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNick Diaz’s camp wants to make UFC 137 a five-round fight
“Don’t be scared, homie.”
While former Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz may have originated the above phrase and Jason Miller may have popularized it, Cesar Gracie has seemingly perfected it as evident in a recent conversation on the topic of Diaz’s upcoming fight with BJ Penn.
With their bout at UFC 137 now serving as main event due to yesterday’s unfortunate news surrounding Georges St. Pierre’s health, Diaz’s camp in California has publicly expressed an interest in making the headliner a five-round affair. However, Penn’s team has shied away from the notion, saying he needed to gauge his fighter’s fitness first before committing to potentially going twenty-five minutes on October 29.
Gracie, Diaz’s head trainer and manager, has since upped the stakes a notch by calling into question Penn’s “warrior” mentality.
“Dana is good with it. We’ve agreed to it. If BJ agrees to it, we’ll make it happen,” Gracie explained in an exchange with MMAFighting. “BJ has always said he’s a warrior. … The old school days of MMA, back when it was (No Holds Barred), they fought forever.”
Penn Gives Look Inside his Camp for UFC 137
“Don’t be scared, homie. Let’s make it five rounds,” Gracie playfully suggested referring to the line made famous by his enigmatic pupil.
While the loss of St. Pierre’s title-fight against Carlos Condit was certainly a blow to UFC 137, in addition to Penn vs. Diaz the lineup also features Mirko Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson, Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver, Bart Palaszewski vs. Tyson Griffin, and Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, vs, penn, gracie
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 137 conference call updates and LIVE blog today (Oct. 19)
Just 10 days out from a pay-per-view event, The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be holding a media conference call to build up next Saturday's (October 29, 2011) UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" event today, (October 19, 2011).
Scheduled to attend will be the headlining fighters of the evening: B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz.
B.J. Penn is the former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion. Since dropping his lightweight title in back-to-back bouts to current champ Frankie Edgar, he's gone 1-0-1 in a return to the welterweight division, destroying former champion Matt Hughes and drawing with conventional number two welterweight Jon Fitch earlier this year.
His opponent will be none other than Nick Diaz, who left Strikeforce as the promotion's welterweight champion and is currently riding a 10 fight winning streak. Diaz was originally offered a title shot but had it taken away after failure to show up at back to back press conferences. That original disappointment turned out to be a benefit when champion Georges St. Pierre suffered a training injury yesterday and pulled out of the UFC 137 main event. Diaz is now back into the spotlight.
We'll see how he handles the pressure.
We'll have complete updates of the UFC 137 media conference call after the jump.
Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, welterweight, champion
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWith GSP vs. Carlos Condit postponed, a second look at BJ Penn/Nick Diaz #ufc @MMASupremacy
Now that GSP vs. Carlos Condit has been postponed, it's time for a renewed focus on BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz.
Posted in: diaz, vs, gsp, condit, bj
Read the full article at Fight OpinionCesar Gracie on Diaz vs. Penn: ‘If You Can’t Do 5 Rounds, You’re Not Ready To Be a Champion’
Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn are now set as the main event for UFC 137, but the Diaz camp is hopeful to make it a five round fight within the next 24 hours.
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, round fight, cesar gracie, diaz camp
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyPenn open to five-round fight with Diaz
BJ Penn is happy for his UFC 137 meeting with Nick Diaz to be a five-round fight - as long as there is extra money on the table.The former champion is...
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, fiveround fight, fiveround
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyNick Diaz camp issues five-round UFC 137 main event challenge to B.J. Penn
Nick Diaz is right back where he started ... in the UFC 137 main event.
Sure, the opponent, B.J. Penn, isn't the same as Georges St. Pierre. And the former Strikeforce welterweight champion won't attempt to unify the two belts. But one thing the Stockton, Calif.,-bred fighter wants to remain the same is the duration of the fight.
With news breaking today that St. Pierre was forced out of the pay-per-view (PPV) event with a knee injury, and that Carlos Condit -- who was inserted into the top slot after Diaz flaked several times on his promotional obligations -- will wait for "Rush" to recover, Cesar Gracie has a bright idea that could help soften the massive blow to the fight card:
Make the new main event, B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, a five-round fight.
In fact, Gracie, who is Diaz's long time trainer and mentor, has already informed UFC President Dana White that his boy is down to bang for 25 minutes. In addition, he encourages "The Prodigy" to do the same, telling him, "Don't be scared, homie. Let's make it five rounds."
More from Gracie (via MMAFighting.com) after the jump:
"If they can't fight five rounds against each other, how are they going to fight five rounds against GSP?... Dana is good with it. We've agreed to it. If BJ agrees to it, we'll make it happen.... These guys have to prove they are ready. These guys are fighters. BJ has always said he's a warrior. ... The old school days of MMA, back when it was NHB, they fought forever."
No word yet on whether or not Penn, a former two-division champion who has prepared for several five-round fights throughout his illustrious career, has and/or will accept the challenge.
White, for his part, is not pushing the issue with UFC 137, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, less than two weeks away (Oct. 29, 2011). He is quoted as saying the neither man should be forced two fight for potentially 10 extra minutes because, "they haven't trained for five rounds."
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this developing story.
Posted in: fight, diaz, round, event, bj
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz camp stumps for five-rounder against B.J. Penn in new UFC 137 headliner
The most disappointed MMA executive in the business, UFC president Dana White, said UFC 137's new main event, Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn, will be a three-round fight.
But not so fast, said Diaz manager Cesar Gracie, who today told MMAjunkie.com that the fight can be a five-rounder - if one B.J. Penn accepts.
"We kind of want to make it a five-rounder," Gracie said.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, penn, fiverounder gracie
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDiaz vs. Penn Now Main Event @ 137; Condit Will Wait For GSP
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Posted in: diaz, vs, gsp, condit, yarpyarp
Read the full article at RedditNick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn Officially New Main Event for UFC 137, Condit Still Gets GSP Next
Well Nick Diaz may not be fighting for the UFC welterweight title any longer, but he will still get his chance to be the main event for UFC 137.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, event
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGeorges St-Pierre Out of UFC 137 Main Event, BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz Now Headlines
A knee injury has forced UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre out of next Saturday’s UFC 137 main event against Carlos Condit, UFC President Dana White announced today.
A welterweight matchup between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz, previously scheduled for the co-main event, will now headline the Oct. 29 card in Las Vegas, but will remain a three-round fight.
Condit will wait to challenge St-Pierre, who is expected to be ready to fight in a “couple months”.
The moves put Diaz back into the UFC 137 main event just over a month after the UFC swapped him and Condit when he failed to appear for a pair of press conferences. White initially suggested that Diaz could be cut, but quickly booked him to fight Penn instead and recently said he could still earn a shot at the title with a win.
Diaz (25-7) scored a first-round TKO of UFC veteran Paul Daley in April to defend his Strikeforce title and earn another shot in the UFC with his 10th-straight win, while Penn (16-7-2) returned to 170-pounds following a pair of losses to Frankie Edgar with a 21-second KO of Matt Hughes in November before fighting Jon Fitch to a draw in February.
For UFC 137 results and complete UFC 137 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Georges St-Pierre
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, penn, stpierre
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyGeorges St-Pierre Out of UFC 137 Main Event, BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz Now Headlines
A knee injury has forced UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre out of next Saturday’s UFC 137 main event against Carlos Condit, UFC President Dana White announced today on Twitter.
A welterweight matchup between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz, previously scheduled for the co-main event, will now headline the Oct. 29 card in Las Vegas, but will remain a three-round fight.
According to White, St-Pierre is currently expected to be out only a “couple of months” and Condit will wait for his title shot, but GSP will apparently see a doctor soon that should confirm the timeline for his return barring any setbacks.
The moves put Diaz back into the UFC 137 main event just over a month after the UFC swapped him and Condit when he failed to appear for a pair of press conferences. White initially suggested that Diaz could be cut, but quickly booked him to fight Penn instead and recently said he could still earn a shot at the title with a win.
Diaz (25-7) scored a first-round TKO of UFC veteran Paul Daley in April to defend his Strikeforce title and earn another shot in the UFC with his 10th-straight win, while Penn (16-7-2) returned to 170-pounds following a pair of losses to Frankie Edgar with a 21-second KO of Matt Hughes in November before fighting Jon Fitch to a draw in February.
For UFC 137 results and complete UFC 137 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Georges St-Pierre
Posted in: ufc, diaz, event, penn, stpierre
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyCesar Gracie to BJ Penn: 'Don't Be Scared, Homie. Let's Make it Five Rounds'
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsUFC president Dana White has already stated that the new UFC 137 main event between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz will not be a five-round fight because, as he put it, "they haven't trained for five rounds."
However, Diaz's manager and trainer wants the world to know that Diaz is ready and willing to go five rounds with "The Prodigy" on Oct. 29.
"If they can't fight five rounds against each other, how are they going to fight five rounds against GSP?," Gracie said to MMAFighting.com on Tuesday.
Gracie said he told White that Diaz wanted to change the fight to a five-rounder but had yet to hear back from Penn's camp. After speaking to Gracie, both White and Penn could not be immediately reached for comment.
"Dana is good with it," he said. "We've agreed to it. If BJ agrees to it, we'll make it happen."
Gracie added that there was no hesitation on Diaz's part to agree to a five-round fight after hearing the news of GSP's injury and subsequent removal from the card.
"These guys have to prove they are ready. These guys are fighters. BJ has always said he's a warrior. ... The old school days of MMA, back when it was NHB, they fought forever.
"Don't be scared, homie. Let's make it five rounds." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, round, gracie, fiveround fight
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137: Will Nick Diaz ask BJ Penn to stop being a sissy and fight?
Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz loves to fight (duh).
It should come as no surprise then, that anytime he's inside the cage you can expect a litany of taunts, including his patented celestial bench-press (two arms up and down towards the sky) or a garbled mess of muffled shit-talking.
Whatever it takes, he just wants you to engage.
That's according to friend and teammate Gilbert Melendez, who shares the Cesar Gracie training academy with the hostile hospital heavy as he prepares for a UFC 137 mash-up opposite B.J. Penn on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas.
"El Nino" talks to UFC.com:
"Every time you watch Nick Diaz, you're about to see a fight and you can't guarantee that with all these matches. A lot of people treat this as a sparring session or they could be a little boring, but when you see Nick Diaz, he's there to fight and you're gonna see a full-on exciting fight. The guy comes at you to fight; not to win on the scorecards and not to win the points, but to come out and finish the fight. He'll test your heart, he'll test your chin, and he'll test everything about you. If you try to stall him out, he'll talk you into a fight. He'll tell you ‘stop being a sissy, fight me.'"
Come at him, bro.
Diaz was originally booked to fight Georges St. Pierre for the 170-pound title, but after blowing off consecutive media junkets, White yanked him from the "Sin City" main event in favor of Carlos Condit, who was originally set to challenge "The Prodigy."
After pasting Matt Hughes at UFC 123 back in Nov. 2010, Penn battled Jon Fitch to a disappointing draw at UFC 127 earlier this year. The Hawaiian grappler, who has some of the best hands in the business, has been criticized for many things throughout his illustrious career.
Being a sissy isn't one of them.
What say you, Maniacs? How well do these two match-up? Jiu-jitsu, chin, hands, who gets the advantage in these departments and why?
Sound off!
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, hell
Read the full article at MMA ManiaB.J. Penn says fight with Nick Diaz is the real Main Event at UFC 137
Former UFC Champion B.J. Penn, who will welcome Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz back to the octagon at UFC 137, discusses his opponent, as well as his strategy for the bout. Penn acknowledges the versatility Diaz presents, but says he plans to do everything faster, stronger, and harder than "The Stockton Bad Boy."
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, penn, versatility diaz
Read the full article at Low KickDiaz
You’ll never forget your first Nick Diaz interview, or your second, or third, and you get the picture. For pure stream of consciousness insights from a pure fighter, Diaz never disappoints. And as he’s gone from Stockton, California to the UFC, to PRIDE, to Elite XC and Strikeforce and back again to the UFC, he has never wavered in who he is and has never subscribed to the professional athlete’s handbook of clichés.That could get you in trouble at times, but Diaz has never shown any desire to follow a particular path in his professional career. Yeah, he wants to make money just like the next guy, but he’s been willing to shoot himself in the foot, if only to prove that what really matters at the end of the day is your performance. And whether you stand for or against mixed martial arts’ version of antihero, you will agree that he always performs when the lights hit him in the Octagon.“Every time you watch Nick Diaz, you’re about to see a fight and you can’t guarantee that with all these matches,” said Diaz’ friend and longtime training partner Gilbert Melendez, the current Strikeforce lightweight champion. “A lot of people treat this as a sparring session or they could be a little boring, but when you see Nick Diaz, he’s there to fight and you’re gonna see a full-on exciting fight. The guy comes at you to fight; not to win on the scorecards and not to win the points, but to come out and finish the fight. He’ll test your heart, he’ll test your chin, and he’ll test everything about you. If you try to stall him out, he’ll talk you into a fight. He’ll tell you ‘stop being a sissy, fight me.’ I think the other thing about Nick Diaz is that he’s very bold and blunt, and he’s consistent. A lot of people get frustrated with a lot of the things he says, but most people wish they had the guts to be as honest as he is.”Honesty is a dirty word to most professional athletes, and at times you can understand why. You’ve got teammates and coaching staffs to worry about, image issues to protect, and endorsement deals to keep intact. In an individual sport like MMA, there is a bit more in the way of “real talk,” but no one has taken it to the level of Diaz. Yet the best part of this aspect of his personality is that this is who he is. He’s not playing a character for the cameras. The first time I spoke to him was in 2005, shortly before his fight with then-unbeaten Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Sanchez at the TUF2 finale in Las Vegas. At the time, Diaz was 4-1 in the UFC, with finishes of Jeremy Jackson, Robbie Lawler, Drew Fickett, and Koji Oishi sandwiching a lone split decision loss to Karo Parisyan. Diaz, looking to close in on a shot at Matt Hughes’ welterweight title, didn’t think a victory over the upstart Sanchez would move him any closer to that goal, but with it being a nationally televised bout on Spike TV, he took the fight. Then again, he took every fight because that’s what he did. And despite the athletic gifts that were made evident over the years, he never saw himself as being like his peers when it came to natural talent. He was a fighter, not an athlete.“My best way to say it is that most good athletes are just that – good athletes,” he explained back in 2005. “They were brought up being athletes; they had somebody pushing them, encouraging them, taking them to practice – whether they were playing football, doing swimming, boxing or wrestling. That takes a lot of money and positive encouragement. That’s stuff people like me don’t get. It doesn’t work like that.”“All the athleticism that I have, it’s because of me,” Diaz continued. “I didn’t even have a dad around. I didn’t have a dad to put me in some wrestling camp, and I didn’t have aunts and uncles coming around to help me out. My mom, she’s been working at Lyon’s restaurant in Lodi for like 25 years. She took me to swimming practice when I was younger. For some reason she stuck me in swimming, and I’d be trying to run off and cut practice, and she’d drag me back to practice just so I did something.” Eventually, Diaz would find jiu-jitsu, and then mixed martial arts. He turned pro in August of 2001 with a first round submission of Mike Wick, and two years later he was in the UFC. By late-2005, Sanchez was the only obstacle standing between him and the next level in the organization, and with so much on the line, Diaz’ usual intensity ramped up ten-fold. Backstage at the Hard Rock that night, with only a black curtain separating the two camps, Diaz and Sanchez began jawing at each other, with the fight almost kicking off before fans even got a glimpse of the two combatants. Consider that in 2005, many veterans of the sport believed that anyone coming off the new Spike TV reality show weren’t “real” fighters, so to Diaz, Sanchez represented everything he was fighting against.“It wasn’t so easy, especially starting out,” Diaz admitted back then. “I fought all hard guys and I didn’t have ten people coaching, training, and feeding me. I had to start out learning how to eat right, all by myself with nobody telling me how or by reading any books. I learned just by training so hard and feeling like garbage when you do the wrong thing.” “This is me and this is what I do,” he continued. “I don’t have any fallback plans like the rest of these people. If Diego Sanchez starts doing real bad at this, and he goes ahead and quits, he’s gonna have something else he’s doing. He’ll go back to school or do something. Let me tell you, I ain’t going back to school.”When the dust settled, Sanchez won the fight against Diaz that night via unanimous decision. But in a year of memorable battles (including the first bout between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar and the rematch between Matt Hughes and Frank Trigg), Sanchez-Diaz earned its place among the best of 2005. As I wrote in a year-end piece on the best fights of that 12 month period, “After (Rashad) Evans - (Brad) Imes and (Joe) Stevenson - (Luke) Cummo, Diego Sanchez and Nick Diaz had a pair of tough acts to follow, but they delivered with a connoisseur’s treat – a battle of bad blood and jiu-jitsu that saw Sanchez prove that he belongs among the contenders at 170 pounds, while Diaz showed MMA fans that you don’t need to be on top to have an effective ground attack. And though the judges’ scores of 30-27 would make observers think this match was a blowout, it was anything but that.”Diaz stumbled after the loss, losing consecutive bouts to Joe Riggs and Sean Sherk before a win outside the Octagon against Ray Steinbeiss put him back on track to finish out his UFC stint with wins over Josh Neer and Gleison Tibau. So as 2007 dawned, the scouting report on Diaz was that he was talented, but flawed; good, but not good enough to win at the next level. Yet the world would get to know a new Nick Diaz over the ensuing four years, one who kept true to himself outside of competition, but who went to the woodshed and elevated his game inside of it.The first revelation was his win over Takanori Gomi in a 2007 PRIDE battle in Las Vegas. The result was later overturned to a no contest when Diaz tested positive for marijuana after the fight, but anyone who saw the fight knew who the winner was and whose stock rose significantly, and it wasn’t Gomi.After an EliteXC win over Mike Aina and a cut-induced TKO loss to KJ Noons, Diaz went on a tear that hasn’t subsided yet. He’s won 10 in a row, earned the Strikeforce welterweight title, and has defeated Noons, Paul Daley, Frank Shamrock, Scott Smith, “Mach” Sakurai, and Evangelista Santos along the way. Nine of those 10 wins were finished before the final bell, and with his busy striking attack, Cesar Gracie black belt level submission game, and undeniable toughness, Diaz went from solid B-level fighter to one of the best in the game. As Melendez points out, his friend’s improvement may be pegged to a long adjustment to the intricacies of the professional fight game.“Obviously his boxing game has just become phenomenal,” explains Melendez. “He used to know how to throw a lot of strikes, but now he knows how to slip punches better, and he’s so much better tactically. He knows how to block in the pocket, he can fight outside the pocket, he can make you feel anxiety and he can come at you, and his jiu-jitsu game has just evolved even more. He stays on top of his game the whole time and I think the main thing about him now is that he fights his fight. Before, he would fight to try to play the game with the scorecards or try to figure it out because these fights have time limits. He’s the type of the guy that if it was a fight to the death, Nick or (brother) Nate Diaz would win every time, but it’s not to the death, it’s to the scorecards, so I think he had a lot of time to adjust to winning a fight in 15 minutes, and now he’s adjusted. He’s putting people away in one round because he knows how to take them to that place they don’t want to go. And he’s willing to go there.”What Diaz hasn’t been willing to do is change, and when he lost a lucrative and perhaps life-altering title shot against UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 137 later this month after no-showing press conferences in Toronto and Las Vegas, he hurt himself on the business front yet again. By the same token, his stance may have earned him even more fans as the rebel who is willing to take a proverbial bullet to stick to his guns.“Sometimes it can get a negative reaction, but in the long run, just being consistent and real a hundred percent, at the end of the day if you can keep that track record, there’s no better compliment you can get from someone than saying ‘hey man, this guy’s for real.’ And that’s what Nick is,” said Melendez. “At times it might give him a little bump in the road, like this time with the miscommunication and everything, but for me, as a friend, I think that if he continues to keep it real one hundred percent, it will be a positive in the future.”Diaz would lose in a lot of ways, financially and otherwise, when he was dropped from the St-Pierre fight, but he also found a way to land on his feet when he was put into the UFC 137 main event slot against former two division world champion BJ Penn. Why, you may ask, after all the UFC’s plans for a GSP-Diaz bout went up in smoke? Well, it may have to do with the fact that for whatever quirks Diaz has in terms of showing up to media events on time, or at all, or his lack of accessibility at times (well, most of the time), once you do catch him, he’s not at all what you would expect from the reputation he’s had all these years. Is he like most of his peers? No. But he doesn’t hide from who he is either. Nick Diaz is true to himself, and if he simply wants to let his fighting speak for itself, so be it, because you can’t help but appreciate the fact that, for him, this isn’t a sport, and from the first time I spoke to him nearly six years ago, he made that clear. This is war.“I just think in my head that the guy that I’m fighting had it easy,” said Diaz in 2005. “They haven’t been where I’ve been and they’re not as crazy as I am and that’s the way it is. You’re just not. I know you’re not. I know it. That’s the way I think. I know you’re not trying to get up out of this hell hole. You’re just trying to be the best that you can be. I’m gonna come out of my hell hole and I’m gonna beat you.”
Posted in: fight, diaz, time, ’t, sanchez
Read the full article at UFCAn 18 year old Nick Diaz vs Chris Lytle
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Posted in: diaz, nick, tekprodfx, vs, lytle
Read the full article at RedditHistory in the Making: Jiu-Jitsu? At UFC 47, Nick Diaz didn't need no stinkin' jiu-jitsu!
Who doesn't like a great surprise?
Whether it be something as small as finding a five-spot in an old pair of jeans or having your friends and family hide in a darkened apartment on your birthday, getting something you didn't expect is one of life's simplest joys. It puts a smile on your face as unexpected as the surprise itself.
That's exactly how mixed martial arts (MMA) fans across the globe felt when they saw Nick Diaz take on Robbie Lawler at UFC 47. Diaz entered the bout as a highly-touted Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) purple belt who had won half his bouts -- including his Octagon debut -- by submission. Lawler had the reputation of being the kind of guy who would put his opponent to sleep if they were brave -- or dumb -- enough to trade with him.
Diaz should have tried to take Lawler down immediately. He should have started working towards a submission as quickly as possible. He should have avoided exchanging with his headhunting opponent entirely. The problem was no one mentioned any of this to Diaz.
The bad boy from Stockton steps inside the Octagon next Saturday (Oct. 29) opposite B.J. Penn in the co-main event of UFC 137. It's a fight that could determine if the former Strikeforce champ regains the welterweight title shot he lost for skipping out on a press conference when booked against Georges St. Pierre. But before he clashes with "The Prodigy," let's take a look back at Diaz's surprising victory against Lawler back in 2004.
Let's go!
The main event of the card was the long awaited bout between Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. While that fight didn't disappoint by any means, it was the the undercard scrap between Diaz and Lawler that was the most impressive.
This was the first glimpse of the fighter that Diaz would eventually grow into. On full display was the middle of the fight taunting, the trash talk, and the pitter patter boxing that seemingly doesn't inflict any damage but puts opponents on the mat time after time.
Even more impressive than the performance itself is the fact that Diaz was only 20-years old when he faced off against Lawler.
Let's take a closer look.
Immediately, Diaz begins the verbal assault. He takes the center of the Octagon and pressures Lawler into circling around, something the young striker isn't used to. Diaz sticks his chin out and his arms up, taunting "Ruthless" and perhaps baiting him into entering an exchange Diaz knows he will win.
A punch from Lawler misses and gets countered before the two begin to trade punchs. Neither fighter is landing flush, though. Diaz is hesitant to commit himself completely knowing full well the power at Lawler's disposal. Lawler seems hesitant simply because he -- along with everyone else watching -- is completely caught off-guard by Diaz's strategy. All the takedown defense training "Ruthless" did to prepare for his bout with the BJJ wiz suddenly seemed pointless.
Midway through the first, Diaz attempts a half-hearted shoot that Lawler easily stuffs it and the two begin to grind against the cage. Diaz hits "Ruthless" with a few shoulder shots before breaking apart with 90 seconds remaining in the opening round. It was the first -- and only -- inkling of grappling in the bout.
Again, immediately upon the break, Diaz continues the mental warfare he's been waging since the opening bell.
Lawler finally makes his play and connects with a solid right hook that likely sent shockwaves through Diaz's body. A flying knee from the Miletich Fighting Systems product cracks Diaz in the sternum. Having weathered the storm, the BJJ player continues to keep the pressure up. Considering the blows he just took, it's incredible to see Diaz not backing off one bit.
The second round opens up almost exactly like the first did. Diaz pushes the pace, takes the center of the cage, and verbally taunts his opponent. For a minute and a half, the Stockton-native does this, never once hinting at a takedown attempt.
Then, Lawler wades in with a combination that Diaz mostly blocks. His head down but his eyes up, Diaz shoots a counter right hook that pops "Ruthless" right on the chin. He stiffens up before crashing down like a redwood Diaz's homestate are known for.
Tumbling around on the mat before getting to his feet and staggering backwards, "Ruthless" was the victim of a picture perfect counter. To this day, it remains Lawler's only knockout loss.
Lawler is visibly disappointed in the result while the Cesar Gracie fighter gets lifted by his corner which included a baby-faced Nate Diaz.
It was the biggest victory in the young welterweight's career up to that point and arguably remains his biggest inside the Octagon.
Will that change next Saturday?
Posted in: diaz, bout, opponent, lawler, bjj player
Read the full article at MMA ManiaB.J. Penn says Nick Diaz fight was news to him, tried to get different opponent
When the UFC yanked Nick Diaz from the main event from UFC 137, replaced him with Carlos Condit, and then inserted the former Strikeforce welterweight champ into Condit’s place against B.J. Penn, the news caught a number of people off-guard including Penn himself.
The popular Hawaiian recently opened up about the situation in a video series through sponsor RVCA where he explained he was far from the first to know he was being slotted against Diaz.
“I’m in the middle of training camp,” Penn recalled thinking. “I’m up here in California training for the last 45 days, preparing for the fight, and they pulled a switch on me without even letting me know.”
After checking his bout agreement to make sure it was even legal to do, Penn said he spoke to Dana White and hammered out the specifics. However, that didn’t prevent the UFC icon from speaking with Diaz’s camp to see if there were any alternatives.
“We tried to get different fights, because I’ve trained with Nick Diaz – I’ve used him as a training partner before – and he’s a good buddy. We actually talk on the phone and hang out when we see each other,” Penn explained.
With Condit and Georges St. Pierre already locked up, and Jon Fitch’s health still uncertain, the two colorful competitors agreed it made sense for them to face off based on the divisional importance.
“We talked about it and we tried to find different opponents (but) at the end of the day there (aren’t) too many guys out there.”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick, penn
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainClassic Fight: Nick Diaz vs Robbie Lawler
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Posted in: diaz, nick, vs, lawler, robbie
Read the full article at RedditZuffa releases extended preview for UFC 137
Four of the best welterweights in the world will collide at UFC 137, as champion Georges St-Pierre defends his title against Carlos Condit, and B.J. Penn welcomes former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz back to the Octagon.
This card has been through several changes, as GSP was originally slated to meet Diaz. But, Diaz was removed after no-showing several press conferences and replaced by Condit. The UFC went ahead and placed Diaz against Penn, who was slated to face Condit.
For Condit, he had no hesitation in accepting the change in opponent, especially with a shot at St-Pierre and the UFC gold on the line.
“This is my dream. This is what I’ve wanted to do since I was a little kid,” Condit said. “I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
St-Pierre has done everything asked of him since claiming the title, and says he will, “dictate the pace of the fight. We will fight my fight and I will take him out.”
Heavyweights Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione will also meet on the pay-per-view main card, which takes place October 29 from Las Vegas, Nevada’s Mandalay Bay Center. Mirko Filipovic and Roy Nelson, along with Hatsu Hioki and George Roop, round out the main card.
Check out an extended preview of UFC 137 below:<
Posted in: ufc, diaz, “ i, condit, roy nelson
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 137: B.J. Penn Pre-Fight Interview
"The Prodigy" discusses his UFC 137 bout with former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, champion, prodigy
Read the full article at Heavy MMAB.J. Penn: 'On October 29, I will defeat Nick Diaz' at UFC 137
The controversial video clip of B.J. Penn reluctantly predicting the outcome of his welterweight fight against Nick Diaz at UFC 137 surfaces with highlights.
Penn, who was originally slated to collide with Carlos Condit in the co main event of the evening at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Oct. 29, 2011, has "a lot of respect" for the Stockton slugger. In fact, if he had his druthers, he probably would never step inside the cage with Diaz, who he has invited to training camps in the past to help him prepare for other opponents.
Accordingly, when the camera crew showed up to film the UFV 137 promotional video, Penn revealed that he was forced to say that he would "beat Nick Diaz." That revelation irked UFC President Dana White, who released a video of his own, explaining his side of the story to demonstrate that Penn wasn't being completely genuine.
Will Penn and Diaz put aside their mutual respect on Halloween weekend for 15 minutes and put on an exciting show or with the pair fail to live up to expectations?
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, penn, nbsp ;the, video clip
Read the full article at MMA ManiaTwitter Mailbag: Jon Jones' Next Challenge, Hall of Fame Issues, and More
Filed under: UFCIt's time again to sort through the old Twitter mailbag, pausing every so often to separate out hate mail and letters to Santa, then dig right in to all those thoughtful questions of yours.
In this edition, we examine rankings, Hall of Fame status, and what the weight classes of the future could look like. And don't worry, we also find time to talk TRT and suggestions for getting your significant other to watch MMA with you. If you want to ask your own question or just look at cell phone pictures of my dog, find me on Twitter @BenFowlkesMMA.
@mma_fan1 twitter mailbag: who do you think poses more of a threat to Jones, Machida or Evans?
They're two very different threats, obviously, but I think Evans has the potential to be more problematic. Machida's style, while it can be confusing and frustrating for a lot of fighters, doesn't seem like it will be quite as effective against a guy with Jones' reach and quickness. Evans' wrestling ability gives him a better chance to nullify Jones' length, plus he's sparred with the guy and knows at least a little something about what it's like to mix it up with him. Then again, Evans has been known to get a little too emotionally jacked up in fights, and it's hard to imagine any fight being more emotional for either of them than a final Jones-Evans showdown.
Mostly though, I think that fight has to happen so we can stop talking about it (and so the UFC can stop shoving Evans in the cage after every fight Jones wins). The Machida bout feels more like a placeholder than a legitimate title fight to me, but that also has something to do with the fact that Machida is 1-2 in his last three fights. Call me crazy, but don't most guys have to do a little better than that to get a title shot? I guess not if they have the sense to wait around and let the other fighters hurt themselves. Another brilliant tactical move by that elusive Machida.
@TheMayoGuard how far away is nate diaz from a lightweight shot considering all the guys that are top 5 he beat or wrecked
I realize rankings are a funny thing, and your top five might not be the same as mine, but I really can't name too many top lightweights who have been beaten and/or wrecked by Diaz. He submitted Guillard a couple years ago, sure. And yes, Takanori Gomi did seem thoroughly wrecked after his loss to Diaz at UFC 135. Then again, Guillard wasn't top five when Diaz beat him and neither was Gomi. Other top lightweights like Gray Maynard and Clay Guida both own narrow decision victories over Diaz, so I'm not sure where that puts him. If the 155-pound division wasn't so stacked, two or three wins would probably be enough to earn him a shot. But with the way it's looking now, he's going to have to stack up the victories and wait his turn.
@keenanpress Time yet for a cruiserweight division in the UFC, especially if you tack on the strikeforce heavyweights?
You know what the best argument against adding a cruiserweight division is? Well, probably the proliferation of the lighter weight classes, which already strain the average fan's ability to keep them all straight. But you know what the second best argument against the cruiserweight division is? Cain Velasquez.
The current UFC heavyweight champ falls in the 240-pound range, and he doesn't seem to have too much trouble against the big boys. If you established a cruiserweight class at 230 or 235 pounds, Velasquez could easily cut down and fight there too, and what would be the point of that?
As for the Strikeforce heavies, I say bring them on. The UFC could certainly use guys like Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett right about now, and it wouldn't need to create a new weight class just to make room for them.
@dannyrube If GSP beats Condit & Nick Diaz beats Penn, does Dana White take the risk of making GSP/Diaz again? If so, does it headline?
This is exactly the thought process White should have gone through back when he decided on how he was going to shuffle things around in the first place. And who knows? Maybe he did. Maybe he realized right away that he was putting himself in a position to quite possibly end up with the exact same fight he'd started with, but he figured that by then maybe Diaz would have learned his lesson about the importance of press conferences.
But yes, if GSP and Diaz both win, then the UFC pretty much has to match them up again. It's still the fight that fans want to see at welterweight, and it will only gain momentum if they both win and look good at UFC 137. That's the good news. The bad news is, what happens if GSP and Penn both win? Then White will really wish he'd thought it through a little more carefully.
@MaxWdeVries if Chael does beat Silva, what is left for him to say?
Probably something along the lines of how he's the best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be. And this time people might actually believe it.
@jclamarca Since the series is 1-1-1, is it a bit premature to say Maynard/Edgar is over? What about a 4th fight 'rubber' match?
Have you lost your mind? They finally settled that issue, allowing the UFC's most talent-rich division to move on for the first time in nearly a year, and you want to see it again?! Why...that's just...gah! Where are my pills?
@BigNate870 what will become of MMA if TRT isn't prohibited?
Not much. Just testosterone being wildly and flagrantly abused as a performance-enhancing substance among fighters. Oh, I'm sorry. You wanted to know what will happen, not what is already happening due to hazy athletic commission standards and a hands-off approach by the UFC.
As it stands right now, there are an awful lot of 20 and early 30-something professional fighters out there who bizarrely have low testosterone levels. So they go get a doctor's note, take it to the relevant athletic commission (many of whom hide behind medical privacy laws when asked about it), and then they've got the green light to artificially increase their levels of a powerful hormone. Sure, they have to stay within a certain range (or at least test within it), but that's not so difficult if you know what you're doing. And maybe it means they fight with something close to normal levels in their system, but it also means they got a little artificial help throughout their training camp. Is that fair?
Personally, I think you ought to fight with the hormone levels you have and not the hormone levels you want. I don't care if your levels are low because you abused steroids or if it's just a consequence of aging. If we don't allow steroids, even for fighters who are getting older and weaker, why do we allow testosterone for anyone who can produce a doctor's note? Maybe because no one -- not athletic commissions and not the UFC -- wants to be the first to put their foot down.
@AiricReed Is there anybody tougher to get more then one word answers from then Grey Maynard in MMA?
Yes.
KevinMarshall How does the sharp increase in UFC events impact journalists (esp freelancers)? More events means more coverage. Are media outlets prepared to invest more time, space and money into it?
It's a double-edged sword. As long as there are events almost every weekend, there's no shortage of things to write about. When there's a lull, well, then you have to do stuff like mailbag columns just to create content.
I'm more curious how it impacts the ability of fans to follow the sport. I get paid to either attend these events live or else stay home on a Saturday night and work from my couch. Either way, I've got nothing to complain about. But the average fan might not want to invest all that money and prime social time (more on that here). If the UFC isn't happy with trends in pay-per-view sales, it might want to look at its own frantic calendar. Every market has a saturation point, and the UFC may have found it.
@jmhawkins You wrote last week that you watched UFC 125 with your wife. How'd you do it? I can't even get my wife to watch Sexyama fight.
Maybe the problem is your approach. Instead of trying to convince her to watch some people she doesn't care about bash one another's faces in, try instead to get her to watch something like The Smashing Machine -- the 2002 documentary about Mark Kerr. It's a well made film, but more importantly it's a film about the personal side of this sport, which can be hard to appreciate for some people if all they see at first is blood and mohawks. Kerr's story of struggling with addiction in an unforgiving world worked to get my wife hooked on the sport. Then again, she's been known to watch almost any documentary, so maybe that helped.
@JulianPaz7 Do u think everybody is sleeping on Jorge Masvidal, I mean this should be a great fight between him n gil.
People are absolutely sleeping on Masvidal, just like they slept on him against K.J. Noons. When he brings his best stuff, he's a nightmare for just about anybody. And you're right, it will be a tough fight. But, even fully awake and with my eyes wide open to Masvidal's ability, I still give the slight edge to Gilbert Melendez. He just can't approach it like it's his last day of work before getting promoted to the UFC.
@SlyBoston Ben Saunder's guard looked unstoppable Sat. Do you see a time where a deadly guard like that will nullify the elite wrestler?
First of all, it's a pet peeve of mine when people refer to various aspects of a fighter's game as 'deadly.' Maybe it's because, due to the nature of fighting, it actually could be deadly. I realize that's not the way it's intended, which somehow seems worse to me. It's not quite figurative, and yet not meant literally. And yeah, I realize I'm overthinking this. But if you're ever watching fights with me and you notice me cringing when Mike Goldberg refers to someone as a "lethal striker," at least you'll know why.
But back to your question. The use of the guard in MMA has changed tremendously over the last fifteen years or so, and I don't see why that won't continue, albeit at a slower pace. For a while it was a great offensive weapon, then the magic began to wear off as submission defense improved across the board.
No matter how good your guard is though, it's dangerous to rely on it too much. Judges still see the fighter on top as the fighter who's winning, even if you're trying every submission and sweep you can think of from your back. All an elite wrestler has to do is score one takedown after another, stay out of trouble as time ticks down, and let his opponent on bottom take all the risks. It's a good way to win decisions, even if it's fatal for his popularity. Ah, see? Now you've got me doing it.
@TheHarrison101 The Flyweights are rumored to be on the way. With the 135/145 divisions still developing, could they be lost in the shuffle?
Not if the UFC debuts the 125-pound division with a Grand Prix tournament to determine its first champion. Who wouldn't love to see that? It'd be like that tournament at the end of The Karate Kid, only the fighters are half the size and sporting slightly fewer '80s haircuts.
@michaelbond89 will Kenny Florian be in the UFC hall of fame one day for his long lasting impact to help the sport grow??
Maybe the better question is, how much does it matter whether the UFC puts him in its Hall of Fame? As of right now, those decisions are made by the UFC and the UFC alone. Florian's been a real company man over the years, so maybe he gets in based more on that than on his fighting ability. Or maybe he does something to upset the UFC brass and he never even gets close, whether he deserves such an honor or not.
See what I'm getting at? MMA needs its own independent Hall of Fame, where induction is a more transparent process. The UFC can still have its own version and it can still put whoever it wants in there, but the sport as a whole needs to have a way of honoring the greats that isn't dependent on company politics. As long as being disliked by Dana White is enough to keep a fighter out, no matter what the fans and his peers think of him, it will never be a true Hall of Fame that's really worth caring about. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, time, fighter
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 137: Diaz Doesn't Deserve a Title Shot
As Castillo posted yesterday, it appears Nick Diaz will finally get his shot at UFC gold. That’s right, after being removed from his original fight with GSP for carelessly missing two press conferences, the UFC has decided to give him another chance if he can defeat BJ Penn at UFC 137.
This decision absolutely boggles the mind. Why did they even bother pulling Diaz from the first fight if they were simply going to give him the next shot? It’s not like his irresponsible behavior will have changed in a matter of months. Diaz will be Diaz, and as he’s shown in the past, nothing is going to change that.
I understand this is one of the biggest match ups to be made for the UFC, but this makes them appear foolish in my opinion. They’ve made no effort to distance themselves from the incident and Diaz will be only one fight removed from the whole debacle. What kind of punishment is this? He’s given a fight more suited to his own style with a true legend of the sport, and his following fight could be for the title again?
This decision doesn’t sit well with me at all but as a fan, I couldn’t be more excited. Nick Diaz might be the only true challenge left for GSP at welterweight, but he’s also proven to be incredibly unreliable. Being a UFC champion is not the easy job most assume it is and Diaz would have a great deal more responsibilities if he managed to defeat the champion.
It seemed part of the problem with Diaz and missing press conferences was the added pressure of being in the limelight and I highly doubt that’s changed. He needs to prove that he can handle all this added attention and until he does, he shouldn’t be fighting for the title any time soon.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, nick diaz, &rsquo
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendDana White: Nick Diaz Will Get a Title Shot if He Beats B.J. Penn at UFC 137
Maybe we'll get to see Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre after all.
Dana White confirmed to MMA Weekly that, should Diaz defeat B.J. Penn at UFC 137, he will indeed get a shot at the Welterweight title against the winner of Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit.
Diaz was of course originally set to face St. Pierre in the main event of UFC 137, but after repeatedly no showing press conferences, White pulled him from the match, giving the title shot to Condit instead. Days later, Diaz was back in for the show, but this time facing B.J. Penn in the semi-main event.
For Diaz, this is a huge break, but still a tough challenge. Penn is a former Welterweight champion who is currently ranked #7 in the division in the USA Today / SB Nation Consensus Rankings. He's 1-0-1 at 170 since his return to the division, and is always a threat to anyone in the division. Diaz is currently ranked at #4, and is undefeated since 2007. But Penn represents a real step up from the competition former Strikeforce champion Diaz has faced as of late.
Fans were excited about St. Pierre vs. Diaz when it was first announced. If both men win later this month and find themselves on a collision course once again, that excitement will only increase after recent events. In the end, we may not only get the match we want, but with even more fuel behind it.
Or B.J. Penn could spoil it all (or, to be fair, Carlos Condit). We'll see at UFC 137.
Video of Dana White discussing Diaz's shot after the jump.
Posted in: title shot, diaz, georges st, penn, pierre vs
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowIssues with Diaz resolved, according to Dana
Nick Diaz’s press conference phobia issues are resolved, according to UFC president Dana White.And that means he could get a title shot if he beats...
Posted in: title shot, diaz, conference, dana, issue
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyUFC 137: Nick Diaz Back in the Contender Saddle Again with a Win in Vegas?
That seems to be the story according to Dana White in his recent interview with MMA Weekly. Which makes sense in a way. A win over B.J. Penn is as good a win at WW as you can have before challenging for the belt. But will it be Georges. St. Pierre or Carlos Condit?
Nick's actions caused quite a twist in the card. First we thought we had Penn vs. Condit (awesome promo inside), and GSP vs. Diaz. That everything has been switched because Nick deftly escaped the back door of his coach's house is fine by me. Nick simply never deserved the title shot out the gate. Sure his fights were exciting, but his competition was lacking. And a fight with Penn promises to be highly compelling. Plus Nick can now prove he deserves a shot.
But what guarantees Nick doesn't show up for another press conference? Pretty much nothing. But Dana White is confidant it won't happen again, and points out that both are on good terms.
What are the chances Diaz wins though? Nick has faced a lot of opponents who were all too willing to trade with him inside. Nick excels in a firefight, but for all of his vaunted boxing skills (which I don't question), how will he handle a measured counter puncher like Penn? It's a fascinating matchup, even if it goes to the ground.
If Nick Diaz Wins at UFC 137, Dana White Prepared to Give Him a Title Shot (via MMAWeeklyVideos)
Poll
Does Nick get a title shot?
Yes. Because he beats Penn with better boxing.
No. Because Penn wins. In fact, Penn wins 9 times out of 10. Plus he's always liable to test positive for weed and have his win overturned.
0 votes | Results
Posted in: title shot, diaz, nick, penn, shot
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendUFC 137: Beating BJ Penn puts Nick Diaz back into a title shot
That's according to UFC President Dana White, who told MMA Weekly that he's prepared to go all Timmy T on this kid and give him "one more try."
All he has to do is defeat former division champion B.J. Penn at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas. But what about his history of no-showing press conferences and other media obligations?
"I don't see that happening again. He knows, we've talked. Seriously, I would be shocked if he didn't show up at another press conference and if he does, I don't even know what to say. I guess that would be the end of it. He doesn't have to answer one question if he doesn't want to. I just want him to sit there and then get up and do the [face off]. I don’t want him to not be Nick Diaz. I just need him to show up to stuff like that."
Diaz was originally booked to fight Georges St. Pierre for the 170-pound title, but after blowing off consecutive media junkets, White yanked him from the "Sin City" main event in favor of Carlos Condit, who was originally set to challenge "The Prodigy."
Hear more from White on the future of Diaz, after the jump.
Anyone think history will repeat itself? Or will Penn defeat the former Strikeforce champion and save him from the rigors of his media duties?
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, media, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Diaz choking Gray Maynard Gif TUF5
submitted by MIstryMachine [link] [comment]
Posted in: diaz, nate, nate diaz, gif, maynard
Read the full article at RedditFrankie Edgar becomes the only person to defeat Gray Maynard, well besides Nate Diaz
Frankie Edgar is your new hero, and unfortunately you probably didn't even know until tonight. Judging from Frankie Edgar's last TKO (over four years ago), you assumed that he was just a tiny little guy that squeaked out decisions and continued to improve his ridiculous winning streak. Well, for those people -- how silly do you feel now?
Edgar becomes the only human being on the face of the earth to ever stop Gray Maynard in an MMA bout. Well, that's if you disregard Nate Diaz's gully choke over The Bully in The Ultimate Fighter Season Five. It's ashame those matches don't count because Nate Diaz would have derailed the Maynard Frate Trane back in 2007. However, I think we should all take off our hats to Frankie Edgar for shutting up a large portion of people on The Underground and the Sherdog forums. If you don't have a hat, just pretend like you have one and then take it off. Your friends may think you're peeling out imaginary hair from your head, but you know what's going down -- and that's all that matters.
Tonight, Frankie Edgar weathered through a hurricane -- but can he make it through an El Nino? Now excuse my while I dust my shoulders off, because that's probably the smoothest ending to any UFC 136 article that will be composed this weekend.
Posted in: diaz, nate diaz, edgar, frankie edgar, frankie
Read the full article at Middle EasyNick Diaz vs Strikeforce 2011
submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: diaz, strikeforce, nick, tekprodfx, vs
Read the full article at RedditCredeur Injured, Tavares Takes on Jacoby Oct. 29
The UFC 137 fight card has undergone yet one more revision with Tim Credeur being forced to withdraw due to injury, UFC president Dana White announced today. His opponent Brad Tavares will instead face UFC newcomer Dustin Jacoby, a 6-0 middleweight out of Springfield, Illinois. Camozzi Returns to the UFC Against Francis Carmont updated September 12A UFC newcomer faces a returning veteran as Francis "Limitless" Carmont and TUF alumni Chris Camozzi will go to war at UFC 137. Carmont, a French striker who trains with event headliner Georges St-Pierre in Montreal, has long fought at light heavyweight but will make his promotional debut at 185 pounds against the TUF alumnus.Musical Chairs at UFC 137 - Diaz vs. Penn Set for Vegas updated September 8If UFC fans didn't get enough blockbuster news this week, company President Dana White delivered some more Thursday evening with the announcement that Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz is not only remaining in the UFC fold after being pulled from his UFC 137 title bout with Georges St-Pierre (due to missing two pre-fight press conferences this week) but that he will still be fighting on October 29th. The opponent for the Stockton native's first Octagon bout since 2006? Former two division world champion BJ Penn. The bout came to fruition after Penn's original foe for the UFC 137 event in Las Vegas, Carlos Condit, was moved up to replace Diaz against GSP. And by popular demand, White made the new bout happen, tweeting "This is crazy but here we go again! You wanted it so you got it. Penn vs Diaz Oct 29th in Vegas."Diaz Out, Condit in to Face GSPA wild week for the Ultimate Fighting Championship just got wilder on
Wednesday afternoon, as UFC President Dana White revealed in a Las Vegas
press conference that the man challenging for UFC welterweight champion
Georges St-Pierre’s title on October 29th in Las Vegas won’t be
Strikeforce 170-pound king Nick Diaz, but “The Natural Born Killer,”
Carlos Condit.
The shocking news came after Diaz no-showed a press conference in
Toronto Tuesday and did the same thing in Vegas. And after not returning
phone calls, White decided to pull the Stockton, California native from
the main event of UFC 137.Cowboy in for Stout, Faces Siver at UFC 137 updated August 29After the Monday removal of Sam Stout from his UFC 137 bout with Dennis Siver, rising lightweight star Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone has stepped up to the plate yet again, verbally agreeing to take on the streaking contender from Germany in the October 29th bout in Las Vegas. Cerrone is currently riding a five fight winning streak that includes three UFC victories and two post-fight awards for KO of the Night and Fight of the Night. Siver has notched four straight wins, and is coming off back-to-back victories over George Sotiropoulos and Matt Wiman.Curran's Back, Meets "Young Guns" at UFC 137
After a seven year absence, veteran Jeff Curran will return to the Octagon on October 29th in Las Vegas to take on bantamweight contender Scott "Young Guns" Jorgensen at UFC 137. Curran, whose last UFC appearance was a decision loss to Matt Serra at UFC 46, has since gone 19-6 and is remembered for a five fight WEC stint in 2007-09. The "Big Frog" has won four of his last five, but will be tested by former WEC title challenger Jorgensen, who is fresh from a first round knockout of Ken Stone in June.Fan Faves Danny Boy and Stripper Ramsey to Fight
A lightweight match between the tough-as-nails Daniel "Danny Boy" Downes and TUF 13 runner-up Ramsey Nijem has been verbally agreed to for the UFC 137 fight card, UFC president Dana White confirmed today.Crazy Tim to Face Tavares at 137 July 21Verbal agreements are in for a middleweight bout between "Crazy" Tim Credeur vs. Brad Tavares at UFC 137, Dana White confirmed.Credeur — Louisiana’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt — hit the public eye as a member of the TUF 7 house; Hawaiian Tavares was a season 11 standout. At that same event, two longtime veterans will look to establish themselves in the ever-deepening featherweight division as Bart Palaszewski and Tyson Griffin have verbally agreed to meet.Siver vs. Stout, Fire vs. Truth at UFC 137 updated July 16UFC president Dana White today confirmed a hotly-speculated-about lightweight bout to take place at UFC 137. “A potential Fight of the Year candidate has been verbally agreed to between hard-hitting Dennis Siver and Sam "Hands of Stone" Stout," he said. Also at UFC 137, a light heavyweight matchup has been verbally agreed to as Eliot "The Fire" Marshall will welcome Brandon "The Truth" Vera back to the Octagon.Condit vs. Penn Added to UFC 137 updated July 15The title fight between GSP and Nick Diaz won't be the only showcase for elite 170-pounders this fall in Las Vegas. A match between two of the best welterweights in the world has been set as "Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit will take on BJ "The Prodigy" Penn at UFC 137.The two hinted at the matchup on Twitter this last week. Condit, who is coming off a first-round KO of the Night victory over the previously-undefeated Dong Hyun Kim, tweeted to Penn on Monday that "The people have spoken @bjpenndotcom, they want to see us scrap, let's give em what they asked for."Penn - who had previously been exchanging barbs with Jon Fitch about a possible rematch of their UFC 127 main event draw, responded with: "@CarlosCondit Yup. Let's do it! October 29th." Dana White confirmed today that both men have verbally accepted the bout.Cro Cop/Big Country, Kongo/Mitrione This Oct. updated July 14Roy "Big Country" Nelson and Mirko Cro Cop, fan favorites for both their in-cage performances and their out-of-ring personas, have agreed a Las Vegas battle this fall. UFC president Dana White confirmed today that PRIDE legend Cro Cop and TUF winner Nelson have verbally agreed to a heavyweight matchup at UFC 137 on October 29.Those aren't the only star heavyweights on the UFC 137 roster - White also confirmed today that Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione have agreed to a bout on the same card. "Both men are coming off big knockout wins at UFC Live in June," he said.Roop to Welcome Hioki to Octagon at 137 updated June 1Highly regarded featherweight phenom Hatsu Hioki lands in the Octagon on October 29th to begin his quest for the title. Welcoming him to UFC and looking to take out another top contender will be the always dangerous George Roop. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the UFC 137 bout.GSP vs. Diaz Superfight set for October updated June 1UFC President Dana White’s tweet Wednesday afternoon was short and sweet – “U wanted it! U GOT IT!!!” What the fans wanted was a showdown between UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and the STRIKEFORCE welterweight title holder, Nick Diaz. So on October 29 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, the UFC 137 Superfight becomes a reality. Unbeaten since 2007, St-Pierre has taken on and beaten all comers, barely losing a round in the process. Since regaining his title from Matt Serra in 2008, he has turned back the challenges of Jon Fitch, BJ Penn, Thiago Alves, Dan Hardy, Josh Koscheck, and Jake Shields. But this fall, he will face off against the man many believe has the style to dethrone him, Shields’ longtime training partner Diaz. A proud native of Stockton, California, Diaz, like GSP, has not lost since 2007. Along the way, the UFC vet has defeated Frank Shamrock, Scott Smith, Mach Sakurai, KJ Noons, and Paul Daley, and with his world-class striking skills and jiu-jitsu game improving with each fight, he is on track to shock the world on October 29th.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, dana, vega, october
Read the full article at UFCGeorges St. Pierre says Nick Diaz fight was hype, Carlos Condit is true #1 Contender
Reigning Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, who will look to make his seventh consecutive title defense when he meets Carlos Condit at UFC 137, discusses his opponent, as well as Nick Diaz's withdraw from the fight. St. Pierre says that while he was looking forward to facing Diaz, he believes that his new opponent, Condit, is the true number-one contender.
Posted in: diaz, pierre, st, condit, carlos condit
Read the full article at Low KickUltimate Submissions presents 'chain grappling' featuring Nate Diaz and TJ Waldburger
As all fans of mixed martial arts know, sometimes the way to end a fight comes as easy as a tapout. However, achieving that tapout can be very difficult and when at the sport's highest level -- especially within the UFC ranks -- it becomes even more of an arduous task to gain submission victories.
Submissions can come from a variety of disciplines stemming from the most feared Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), to the under-appreciated Judo and even the often forgotten arts like Krav Maga and Aikido. Regardless of how you learn them, they are equally difficult in pulling off without proper set up and technique.
Submitting people from your back is often considered much more beneficial in the mixed martial arts world since it is a counter to the influx of smothering top game wrestlers. Being well versed from your back makes it uncomfortable for opponents to attempt to fight on the ground.
As we get into more detail in the art of submissions we come across a similarity in wrestling. That similarity is "chaining." I am sure we have all heard chain wrestling but how about chain submissions or chain grappling? It works the exact same way: it is basically throwing combinations (like in striking) except on the ground.
When you set up the overhand right with a 1-2, jab and cross combo, it is much like using full guard and an arm trap to set up a triangle. Then when you use that triangle to finish with an arm bar, you have just chain submitted your opponent.
For more in depth breakdowns, follow me after the jump.
At UFC 135, Nate Diaz would look to defeat Japanese MMA legend Takanori Gomi. Diaz would be fighting him years after his brother submitted Gomi with a gogoplata following an all-out war between the two. Despite the bout being overturned, the Diaz rivalry would be rekindled as Nate would look to put Cesar Gracie’s Stockton boys 2-0 against "The Fireball Kid."
Before we start, let me first give a thank you to Zombie Prophet for the .gifs. Check out his site (Ironforgesiron.com) -- he has .gifs and videos of fights up faster than anyone else on the 'net.
With under a minute left in a fight that saw Diaz absolutely train wreck Gomi with crisp and powerful boxing, we find ourselves watching Diaz trapping Gomi within a triangle choke. Diaz grabs an under hook on the untrapped arm of Gomi and uses that to swivel his hips to cut the angle causing the choke to be tighter. Gomi is working hard to defend. (For a breakdown on how this triangle works click here)
Gomi stacks Diaz and lifts up for a slam, the slam is an attempt to looses the legs of Diaz and even cause them to separate however Diaz has this one way too tight. Diaz has it very deep and the choke causes Gomi to roll over in defeat. As he does he leaves his trapped arm within the wrist control of Diaz, the angle of the submission allows Diaz to fluidly throw the right leg over the head/face of Gomi transitioning into a beautiful arm bar causing the submission to go from choke to joint pain which causes Gomi to tap almost immediately.
Chain submission victory from the Cesar Gracie disciple.
Just a few weeks earlier relative unknown T.J. Waldburger would also put on his own display of chain grappling. An undercarder who had an average record, would put on a second fight that would feature highlight reel finishes.
Fasten your seatbelts for this one Maniacs.
Mike Stumpf was thoroughly in for a ride when Waldburger began chaining his grappling together. With Waldburger in top control almost in a north-south position it appears that he is attacking with a kimura while over Stumpf, however he extends that arm out and immediately transitions into an arm bar. As he sits back on it Stumpf defends and doesn’t allow both legs to be placed in prime position, still Waldburger works for it.
While still pulling back on the arm and fighting to get his leg up and over, Waldbruger gets the arm bar and forces Stumpf who is now attempting to roll to go belly down. As Stumpf rolls he does help his cause, he rolls and pushes the leg over his face and keeps his arm out of danger escaping an arm bar or a triangle.
However, Waldburger remains in control of the trapped arm with his right arm and with his left hand he pushes Stumpf away creating enough distance to thread the leg over the shoulder once more trapping Stumpf in a triangle choke. Remember, in most submission posts, I always remind that distance and spacing is everything and this proves it yet again.
With the choke in place Waldburger pulls the head down and earns the tap out, adding to his already impressive grappling highlight reel.
Two fighters, two different submissions with the exact opposite set ups resulting in the same conclusion. Both Diaz and Waldburger show that the set up to the submission is just as dangerous and important as the execution of the submission itself.
Posted in: diaz, submission, nbsp, gomi, arm
Read the full article at MMA ManiaReaction from the Action: “UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage”
UFC 135 saw the UFC finally return to where it all began. The UFC has grown leaps and bounds since the first UFC event in Denver back in November of 1993. There were probably as many UFC employees and media covering UFC 135 as there were in total attendance for UFC 1.
But not only has the popularity of the sport grown immensely, the talent is just as noticeable of a change. That was no more obvious than the main event, as Jon Jones defended his Light Heavyweight Championship against Rampage Jackson.
Few athletes define a generation, and Jones is doing just that as I type this. With just four years of mixed martial arts training, Jones has reached the pinnacle of his craft. What takes other fighters years and years of work, he has achieved in months. Eight months ago, Jones was not even the number one contender in his weight class. Three fights later, he is seen as one of the top fighters in the world, regardless of weight class.
To put it simply, he outclassed Jackson in every facet of the fight. No, it was not as physically dominant of a performance as his championship winning performance against Shogun Rua in March at UFC 128. But Jones did not have to be as dominant. He knew going in he held every advantage over Rampage. Most specifically, an enormous 11.5 inch reach advantage. That negated Rampage’s one glaring strength over Jones, his boxing.
From the opening bell, Jones looked calm and confident, as if he knew the outcome of the fight before he even stepped into the octagon.
That is not to take anything away from Rampage. His defense was the best it has ever been since joining the UFC. He moved very well, and defended nearly all of Jones’ unpredictable strikes and positions. He was even able to reverse Jones while he was in full mount.
Yet even with the months of training and, according to Rampage himself, the “best Rampage we’ve ever seen”, it was still not enough.
Much like Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre and their dominance in their respective weight classes, the question that will be asked most frequently will be who CAN, not who will defeat Jones. This has been a question that has never been uttered before at the most competitive division in UFC history.
Biggest Winner: Nate Diaz
Yes, I know winning his first title defense is huge for Jones. But don’t let that take anything away from Diaz and his dominating performance against Takanori Gomi in his return to the lightweight division. The welterweight division contains guys that are much bigger than Diaz. That much was obvious in bouts against Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald. But Diaz can hold his own against anyone that is willing to stand with him. Even if it is taken to the ground, Diaz has a strong submission game that is always a threat. He holds wins over top contenders at 155, including Melvin Guillard. He also defeated Gray Maynard while on The Ultimate Fighter season five, and it could be argued he defeated Maynard in their rematch in January 2010. Diaz’ striking accuracy against Gomi was one of the best performances of the year.
Biggest Loser: Ben Rothwell
Wow, that was ugly. No, I’m not talking about the cut on Rothwell’s forehead. I understand it his first fight in over a year, but Rothwell looked dead after the second round. He had to be carried to his corner by his cornermen. That is never a good sign after the end of the third round, let alone a fight that isn’t even finished.
Rothwell held a distinct advantage over Mark Hunt on the ground, yet he never threatened him there. In fact, it was Hunt that was doing the most damage there, attempting an armbar at the end of the first round. Some of the fatigue can be attributed to the attitude of Denver, along with his long layoff, but those excuses will not be valid in consecutive fights.
Biggest Question: Will Matt Hughes Retire?
The answer to this should be yes. Yes to will he, and yes to should he. Hughes is a legend of the sport; a two time welterweight champion holding wins over both Georges St. Pierre and BJ Penn (both finishes), and he is a UFC Hall of Fame inductee.
With that, at 37 years old, there just is not much left for Hughes to do. It is obvious he still enjoys the build up to the fight, the training, and the fight itself. But there is a point where you have to say enough is enough. Can he still fight? Absolutely. He displayed crisp striking against Koscheck for the better part of the first round. But he is nowhere near an opportunity for the title, and he is now on a two fight loss streak.
Continuing a distinguished career at his age, especially with his wife admitting she no longer wants him to continue, does not seem to be the best option for him and his family.
Future Matchups:
Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans: Perhaps we will actually see this one take place. We have gone through the drama of both training at Jackson’s camp in New Mexico. We have gone through the drama of whether Jones lied about a hand injury that forced him to withdraw from a bout that had not yet been scheduled. Now hopefully we can get on to what is important. Ya know, the fight.
Rampage Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin II: UFC 86 brought us one of the best fights in UFC history, as Griffin narrowly outpointed Jackson to become the Light Heavyweight Champion. Jackson hated the decision then and he hates the decision now. Both are coming off a loss, and are nearing the end of their esteemed careers. Jackson mentioned a rematch with Shogun Rua when the UFC returns to Japan in February. However, Rua has a scheduled fight with Dan Henderson in November at UFC 139. That bout is currently scheduled as a number one contender bout. Jackson is best served by getting back into training as soon as he can, as opposed to long layoffs like he endured prior to fighting Rashad Evans and Forrest Griffin
Josh Koscheck vs. Jake Ellenberger: Ellenberger looked great in the brief time he was in the octagon against Jake Shields earlier this month. He is arguably one or two fights away from an opportunity to fight for the title. Koscheck will not get another chance against Georges St. Pierre as long as he holds the title. He’s hinted at fighting at 185, but that does not seem to be the right move there, since he would be too small for the bigger middleweights. Koscheck can still prove as a test for the true contenders at 170, and he can still get plenty of big name fights at welterweight.
Mark Hunt vs. Brendan Schaub: Hunt was quite impressive against Rothwell, even though he was not able to knock out the exhausted Wisconsin native. Dana White praised Hunt multiple times after the performance. He clearly wants to continue fighting, and always shows up with a great chance to win with power he possesses. Schaub is coming off a loss to Minotauro Nogueira at UFC 134. He still has time to return to a top prospect, and Hunt would be more than willing to test Schaub, and continue Schaub’s Legends tour, having already fought Mirko Cro Cop, Gabriel Gonzaga, and Nogueira.
Nate Diaz vs. Anthony Pettis/Jeremy Stephens winner: Diaz can feasibly contend at lightweight. It seems as long as he stays away from wrestlers, he has enough tools to defeat anyone who is put in front of him. Well, there is a problem with that. The division is dominated by top wrestlers like Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. But at 155, he certainly holds a better chance at contending than at 170. Both Pettis and Stephens would provide the aggression and entertainment that Diaz always wants in an opponent.
Check out MMAFrenzy’s complete coverage of UFC 135 by clicking here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, jone, jackson
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 135 bonuses: Koscheck, Diaz, Jones and Jackson earn $75K fighter awards (MMAJunkie.com)
DENVER – Josh Koscheck, Nate Diaz, Jon Jones and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson each earned $75,000...
Posted in: diaz, jone, jackson, jon jones, nate diaz
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsUFC 135 Results Recap: Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
In the PPV opener at UFC 135: Jones vs. Ramapage, Nate Diaz defeated Takanori Gomi via armbar towards the end of round 1. This was Diaz's first fight back at Lightweight after a stay in the Welterweight division. Gomi now falls to 1-3 in the UFC and is on a 2 fight losing streak.
In the post-fight interview, Joe Rogan called this the best Nate Diaz we've seen yet in the UFC. And he was right to do so. Diaz looked extremely impressive throughout the fight, using excellent boxing to hurt Gomi early. Towards the end of the round, the fight went to the floor and Diaz chained together submissions before finally securing the armbar tapout for the win. Post-fight, Diaz gave a shout-out to his brother Nick Diaz, who he called the best fighter in the world. Nick faced Gomi in a fantastic Pride fight in 2006 that Nick won via gogoplata, only to have the fight ruled a No Contest when he later tested positive for marijuana.
What was the high spot of this fight?
That chain of submission attempts at the end was a beautiful thing, with Nate transitioning from the triangle to armbar to get the win. The Diaz brothers don't always use their Cesar Gracie black belt jiu jitsu as much as you might expect, but in moments like these, you are reminded how dangerous they are on the ground.
Where do these guys go from here?
I have to say, I did not expect Diaz's return to 155 to go so smoothly. But he looked great, and he's ready for a real challenge next. I'd love to see him against Edson Barboza, who is coming off a win over Ross Pearson at UFC 134.
For Gomi, with a 1-3 UFC record, I fear this may be the end of the line in his US run. He's a legend of the Lightweight division, and was at one time the best 155 pound fighter in the world, but his UFC run just came too late. He'll probably be kept around for one last UFC fight on next year's Japan show, but after that I think it may be permanently back to Japan for The Fireball Kid, where organizations like Dream will be a fine fit.
Watch it now, later, or never?
Now. A very impressive performance by Diaz, a highlight reel ending, and possibly the last US fight of Takanori Gomi - all things worth a look.
More BE coverage of UFC 135 in the full entry.
UFC 135 Results: Time to Embrace Underutilized Lighter Weight Classes - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 135 Results: Will Rashad Evans Spoil the Jon Jones Era? - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 135 Results: Dana White Expects Matt Hughes to Retire - Mike Fagan
UFC 135 Results: Two Heavyweight Fights On PPV A Big Mistake - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 135 Results: Jon Jones Says Rashad Evans Doesn't Have His Number - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 135 Results: Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva Isn't Happening - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 135 Results: Jon Jones vs. Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson Post-Fight Recap and Analysis - Mike Fagan
UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage Results - Event Doesn't Provide Enough Bang for the Buck - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 135 Results: Jon Jones vs. Rampage Jackson Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 135 Results: Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC 135 Post-Fight Press Conference Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 135 Results: Jon Jones Limping Backstage After Dominating Rampage Jackson - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 135 Results: Jon Jones Forces Rampage Jackson to Tap Out - Matthew Roth
UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Main Card - Bloody Elbow
UFC 135 Results: Josh Koscheck Knocks Out Matt Hughes, Doesn't Retire Him - Matthew Roth
UFC 135 Results: Mark Hunt Picks Up A Decision In A Grueling Fight - Matthew Roth
UFC 135 Results: Travis Browne Defeats Rob Broughton by Unanimous Decision - Matthew Roth
UFC 135 Results: Nate Diaz Forces Takanori Gomi to Tap By Armbar - Matthew Roth
UFC 135 Results: Tony Ferguson Breaks Aaron Riley's Jaw In The First - Matthew Roth
UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Spike TV Prelims - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 135 Results: Tim Boetsch Gives Nick Ring His First Career Loss - Matthew Roth
UFC 135 Results: Junior Assuncao Fails to Impress with Win Over Eddie Yagin - Matthew Roth
UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Facebook Prelims - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 135 Results: Takeya Mizugaki Ends Cole Escovedo With A Knockout - Matthew Roth
UFC 135 Results: James Te Huna Ends Ricardo Romero's Night By KO - Matthew Roth
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, jone, result
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 135: Nate Diaz just happy to pick up win over 'scary' Takanori Gomi (Video)
As Nate Diaz explains, he wasn't actually too keen on fighting Takanori Gomi at first because "The Fireball Kid" was a sort of hero of his and he has so much respect for the former Pride champion. They did fight him, though, and Diaz absolutely dominated him, utilizing a strong boxing game and slick jiu-jitsu to submit him inside the first round. For a more detailed look at their fight click here and for complete UFC 135: "Jones vs. Rampage" results and coverage click here and here.
Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, nate diaz, fireball kid, boxing game
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 135 results recap: Nate Diaz vs Takanori Gomi fight review and analysis
Takanori Gomi was once the most feared lightweight on the planet.
That didn't seem to bother Ultimate Fighter season five winner Nate Diaz one bit last night (September 24, 2011) in the opening bout of the UFC 135 main card.
Diaz put on a striking clinic against "The Fireball Kid," pounding him with swift straight punches and repeatedly hurting the heavy-handed Japanese lightweight.
When Gomi had had enough of the stand-up, Diaz outclassed him on the ground as well, tangling the former Pride champion in his web and finishing the bout via first round armbar.
So how did Diaz dominate so handily? And what's next for both fighters?
Diaz set the tone for the fight very early, dropping Gomi with the first significant strike he threw.
Notice how Gomi puts his entire body into that big right hand which leaves him wide open to big straight left from Diaz.
Diaz's reach is also a key factor here.
Notice how the Stockton native is able to send Gomi to the canvas while barely having to move out of the way of "The Fireball Kid's" wild right hook. At no point was he even in danger of getting tagged.
From this point on, Diaz had tremendous confidence in his strikes. He would continue to pepper his Japanese foe's face with right and left hands, using a style eerily similar to his brother, Nick. The pride of the 209 began to clown Gomi, all-the-while finding a home for repeated 1-2 combinations.
As Gomi began to wilt under the repeated blows of his American opponent, he resorted to his wrestling roots, anything to stop getting punched in the face, but this may have been an even worse decision.
Once Gomi took Diaz down, the Cesar Gracie fighter immediately began attacking from his guard, eventually locking in a triangle choke. Gomi tried to slam out of it to no avail.
Instead, he left his arm isolated, which Diaz immediately straightened out and transitioned for an armbar. Unlike Mark Hunt, he quickly puts his right leg directly over Gomi's face to create the best leverage and then pushes up with his hips to put a ton of pressure on Gomi's exposed arm.
Gomi is forced to either tap or have his arm snapped.
For Takanori Gomi, this was the perfect example of everything he's done wrong in the last few years of his mixed martial arts career. He used to be much more well-rounded but ever since he discovered that knockout power, he's really lost much of his technique. He throws his whole body into his punches which not only telegraphs them, but leaves him wide open for counters. This is also the third time he's been submitted in his four UFC appearances.
With a 1-3 record in the UFC, Gomi is almost certainly a goner. The only reason the promotion would keep him around is to parade him around for the upcoming event in Japan in February of 2012. Even then, Gomi's skills have degraded to the point where there aren't many UFC caliber fighters he could even have a chance of beating.
For Nate Diaz, he's got to be happy after dropping back down to 155. He got manhandled by two of the strongest welterweights in his last two fights but that won't be happening at lightweight. This was the best performance of his career. He dominated every aspect of this fight, even when Gomi took him down he wasn't at a disadvantage because he was immediately in attack mode. About the only opportunity his opponent had to feel comfortable when he was in the Octagon was the pre-fight introduction.
Expect Diaz to immediately be thrown into the mix of top 25 lightweights. It would be interesting to see him against someone like Evan Dunham. Another interesting opponent would be the winner of the upcoming Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig fight. Sean Sherk is apparently looking for an opponent as well and that could be a terrific test to see how he would fare against the top wrestlers of the division.
Regardless of who he faces next, Nate Diaz has found a new home in the lightweight division.
So what do you think Maniacs?
Can a now more experienced Nate Diaz make a big splash in the crowded 155-pound division? Is Takanori Gomi done in the UFC?
Sound off!
For complete UFC 135 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event, click here and here
All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, takanori gomi, gomi, nate diaz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFollowing scintillating return to 155 pounds, Nate Diaz done with welterweight - for now
DENVER - UFC lightweight contender Nate Diaz's 170-pound experiment is over, at least for now.
It's not that his two recent losses in the division have discouraged him
from giving it another shot. It's not even that he was influenced by an
incredible UFC 135 win over Japanese legend Takanori Gomi.
No, the truth is Diaz (14-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) feels like he has a duty to
stay at lightweight for now. A quick survey of the division's landscape,
and Diaz realized he belongs among the sport's best 155-pounders.
Posted in: ufc, pound, diaz, nate, nate diaz
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNate Diaz discusses his victory over Takanori Gomi, says GSP "dodged a bullet"
Lightweight contender Nate Diaz, who secured a first-round submission victory over Takanori Gomi at UFC 135, expresses his admiration for "The Fireball Kid," and talks about transitioning between 155 and 170-pounds. Also a topic of discussion for Diaz is Welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre, who he says "dodged a bullet" by not having to fight his brother, Nick.
Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, nate diaz, takanori, fireball kid
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 135 Bonuses: Jones, Jackson, Koschek, and Diaz all earn $75,000
UFC President Dana White announced UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Josh Koschek, and Nate Diaz have all earned $75,000 for their respective performances tonight at UFC 135.
Jon Jones and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson earned “fight of the night” for their UFC light heavyweight championship bout. Jones controlled the majority of the fight with his range before sinking in a rear naked choke finish in the fourth round.
Josh Koschek (pictured courtesy of UFC.com) picked up “knockout of the night” for his knockout of Matt Hughes. Koschek and Hughes fought a fast paced fight before Hughes was rocked by Kos and finished on the ground. While an emotional Hughes said he would not retire after the fight, his request to be “put on the shelf” could mean the same in the end.
Nate Diaz picked up submission of the night for his armbar win over Takanori Gomi. Diaz dominated the fight before Gomi took him down in the final minute. Diaz quickly locked in a triangle choke and transitioned beautifully into an armbar on the quickly fading Gomi.
For complete coverage of UFC 135 including live results, recaps, and more, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, hughe, koschek
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyFight Day: Nate Diaz Post-Fight Interview
Megan Olivi catches up with Nate Diaz to discuss the best performance of his career in his win over Takanori Gomi.
Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, nate diaz, fight day, megan olivi
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 135 Results: Nate Diaz Submits Gomi, Says He Wants a Top Four Opponent Next
If there's a third Diaz brother somewhere out there, chances are Takanori Gomi wants no part of him.
Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, gomi, nate diaz, diaz brother
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 135 Results: Nate Diaz Submits Takanori Gomi in First Round
Nate Diaz dominated Takanori Gomi from the opening bell to start UFC 135′s pay-per-view main card before finishing the former PRIDE champion with an armbar late in the opening round to highlight his return to the lightweight division.
MMAFrenzy.com’s play-by-play of Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi is below:
Round 1- Fighters both take time to feel each other out before Diaz catches Gomi but Gomi recovers. Neither fighter is cutting the ring. Gomi lands a tough body shot but Diaz retaliates with a nice right hook. Diaz is getting confident and begins to taunt the more tentative Gomi. Diaz rocks Gomi but Gomi recovers. Gomi shoots but Diaz reverses and takes Gomi’s back. Fighters work back to their feet and Diaz begins to tee off before Gomi takes him down with a body lock. Diaz sinks in a deep triangle and as Gomi is going out he switches to an armbar for a quick tap at 4:27. Best performance of Nate’s career by far.
Nate Diaz def. Takanori Gomi via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:27
MORE: UFC 135 Results and Play-by-Play for “Jones vs. Rampage”
Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, gomi, nate, nate diaz
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyNate Diaz Picks Apart Takanori Gomi
Four years after his brother defeated "The Fireball Kid," Nate Diaz did the same to kick off the UFC 135 main card.
Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, nate, nate diaz, fireball kid
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 135 Results: Nate Diaz Forces Takanori Gomi to Tap By Armbar
Nate came out early pawing his jab to find his range. A jab-cross landed and momentarily dropped Gomi. Big haymaker landed for Gomi to Diaz's ribs that backs the 209 fighter back. Jab-cross again landed for Diaz and Gomi is just looking for the singular knockout punch. Another combination dropped Gomi. Gomi took Nate down but almost immediately fell into a triangle choke and then an armbar. Diaz chained his submissions together and finally forced the Fireball Kid to tap with a straight arm bar. That's BJJ 101.
Nate Diaz makes a great return to the lightweight division with a decisive win over one of the greatest 155 pounders of all time. This win reestablishes him in the division and creates some interesting match ups going forward. Nate Diaz is now 9-5 in the UFC and 14-7 overall. For Gomi, this loss will get added to what is quickly becoming a a tarnished legacy. Years ago, Gomi would have run through Nate Diaz. Tonight, he look uninspired and a shell of his former self. Gomi drops to 1-3 in the UFC and his overall record is now 32-7-1. Kid Nate is running his own analysis of the fight over at MMANation, go see what he had to say about the fight.
SBN coverage of UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage
Posted in: ufc, diaz, gomi, nate, nate diaz
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 135 results: Nate Diaz submits Takanori Gomi with first round armbar
The UFC 135: "Jones vs. Rampage" pay-per-view broadcast kicked off tonight (Sept. 24, 2011) with a grudge match pitting Nate Diaz against the man his brother submitted with a gogoplata four years ago, Takanori Gomi.
Lightning hardly ever strikes in the same place twice but the Pepsi Center was a good a candidate as any.
Diaz finished what his brother started in Las Vegas by submitting Gomi with an armbar in the very first round. Simply put, this looked and felt like a mismatch from jump street.
Joe Rogan called this the best performance of Diaz's young career in his return to the 155-pound division. You'll find no argument here.
The fight opened the way one would assume a fight between these two striking specialists would. Both men were winging heavy punches with big power and bad intentions.
Diaz peppered Gomi throughout, while "The Fireball Kid" did what he could to find his range against the lanky slugger from Stockton. Diaz's reach was simply too much to overcome.
The only other option was to take the fight to the mat and even that didn't work out for the former Pride champion.
Once Diaz was taken down, he went to work with the same jiu-jitsu chops his brother used to submit Gomi four years ago.
Let's hope this one doesn't get overturned.
For more UFC 135 results and instant analysis live from Denver click here. To check out MMAmania.com's LIVE UFC 135 results post, which includes up-to-the-minute, blow-by-blow coverage of EVERY fight click here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, takanori gomi, gomi, nate diaz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate DIaz dominates The Fireball Kid
Diaz bros-2 Gomi-0. Nate Diaz just put on what Joe Rogan called the performance of his career, dominating the former Pride champion Takanori Gomi all over the Octagon and submitting The Fireball Kid in the first round. Now I think MMA-Japan's Michael Hackler has to do some sort of demeaning act for LayzietheSavage, I'm not sure what, but there was a bet floating around out there, that much I do know.
From the outset Nate boxed up Gomi in typical 209 fashion: stiff jabs with high volume and devastating accuracy. Gomi couldn't get anything going at all, constantly being forced to the outside with Diaz's sharp and quick strikes. Gomi attempted to do what he does best and land that one big strike but he whiffs on multiple occasions. Diaz continues to pick The Fireball Kid apart and it goes to the ground where Nate attempts a triangle (he totally had the opportunity to sink in the gogo) then he switches over to the armbar and Gomi taps quickly.
Posted in: diaz, gomi, nate, kid, fireball kid
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 135 review: Nate Diaz vs Takanori Gomi
The Diaz brothers are often criticised for their unwillingness to play the media game and talk to the press, but to be honest, they don’t really...
Posted in: diaz, gomi, media game, diaz brothers, unwillingness
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyUFC 135: Nate Diaz Submits Takanori Gomi
Filed under: UFCIn a 2007 Pride fight, Nick Diaz established himself as one of the rising stars in mixed martial arts by beating the great lightweight champion Takanori Gomi. On Saturday night in Denver, it was Nick's little brother Nate Diaz who put on a great performance against Gomi, winning a first-round submission at UFC 135.
The Gomi of today isn't the same fighter as the Gomi of 2007, and so Nate Diaz's victory on Saturday isn't as significant as Nick Diaz's victory of the Pride days. But Nate Diaz looked as good as he's ever looked on Saturday night.
"I'm happy to get the win," Diaz said afterward. "He's dangerous. Takanori Gomi was a Pride champion for years and years -- he was one of my favorite fighters forever, and still is."
The victory improved Diaz's record to 14-7, and he showed after struggling in his last couple of fights at welterweight that he's a real force at lightweight.
As for Gomi, he was a legend of the Pride days, but he doesn't have a whole lot left. Gomi is 32-8 in his MMA career, but he's just 1-3 since signing with the UFC. His best days are behind him, while Diaz's best days are ahead of him. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: saturday night, diaz, day, takanori gomi, gomi
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 135 Fight Card Primer: Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
In an interesting battle at UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage, Ultimate Fighter winner Nate Diaz (13-7; 8-5 UFC) will take on former Pride champion "The Fireball Kid" Takanori Gomi (32-7, 1 NC; 1-1 UFC). This is a Lightweight bout, and is the second fight on the PPV portion of the card. The USA TODAY / MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings currently has Gomi at #19 at Lightweight, and Diaz unranked.
If you're a fan of the stories behind MMA fights, then this one has quite the history. For years, Gomi was viewed as the consensus #1 Lightweight in the world as he dominated the Japanese scene in Pride. In 2007, at one of the final Pride shows, he faced Nick Diaz, who at the time was something of a UFC washout. Gomi was the favorite, but Diaz pulled off the win using a rarely seen gogoplata submission. It was a huge victory, but was short-lived. Post-fight, Diaz tested positive for marijuana, and the bout was ruled a No Contest. Many fans still view it as a Diaz victory, but the official No Contest ruling stands. Here, Nate will look to vindicate his brother's win, while Gomi looks to gain redemption. Add hot-tempered brother Nick in Nate's corner, and you've got an interesting situation.
How do these two stack up?
Diaz: 26 years old | 6'0" | 76" reachGomi: 32 years old | 5'8" | 70" reach
What have these two done recently?
Diaz: L - Rory MacDonald (UD) | L - Dong Hyun Kim (UD) | W - Marcus Davis (Sub)Gomi: L - Clay Guida (Sub) | W - Tyson Griffin (KO) | L - Kenny Florian (Sub)
How did these two get here?
Diaz started his UFC career as a Lightweight after winning the 5th season of The Ultimate Fighter. After a 1-3 run in 2009/2010, Diaz decided to move up to Welterweight. There, he made a quick splash with two impressive wins, only to then drop back to back fights against Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald. He's now back at 155 for the first time since January 2010. Like big brother Nick, Nate Diaz uses a combination of Cesar Gracie black belt jiu jitsu and the Diaz trademark style of punches, though he has yet to find the consistent success of Nick.
There's no denying that Gomi is an all time great at 155. But you also can't deny that his UFC run has come far past his prime. Really, that Nick Diaz fight and the subsequent closing of Pride was the end of the road for the dominant Gomi. Since then, he's 5-4, with wins over mostly lesser fighters in Japan. He did breath some life into his career with a shock KO of Tyson Griffin at UFC on Versus 2, but even his pedigree may not be enough to save his UFC career if he loses here and drops to 1-3.
Why should you care?
If you have any question, re-read that 2nd paragraph above. This one has the potential to be all fireworks, and even though Gomi is down, he showed against Griffin that he's still one punch away from victory. And for all my fellow Pride fans, the chances to see these guys dwindle away every card. Enjoy it while we can.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, gomi, pride, nate
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNate Diaz Happy After Submitting Gomi
Japanese superstar Takanori Gomi was forced to tap via armbar during the first round of a main card fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 135.
“I’m happy to get the win,” Diaz said after his submission win. “He’s dangerous. Takanori Gomi was a Pride champion for years and years — he was one of my favorite fighters forever, and still is.”
On the feet — where Gomi once was one of the fiercest competitors — it was the younger Diaz brother able to control the fight and pepper Gomi.
Nick Diaz, Nate’s older brother and training partner, submitted Gomi via gogoplata in 2007 during a PRIDE matchup. However, the decision was overturned when the Stockton fighter tested positive for THC during a post-fight drug test in Las Vegas.
Posted in: diaz, gomi, nate, nate diaz, diaz brother
Read the full article at MMA OpinionUFC 135 fight card: Nick Diaz's brother, Nate, gets his shot at Takanori Gomi
Sometimes these storylines just write themselves.
When Nate Diaz and Takanori Gomi lock up later on this evening (Sept. 24, 2011) at the UFC 135: "Jones vs. Rampage" event at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, it will be the second time Gomi has went head on with a member of the Diaz family.
The first time he did so produced explosive results.
It was 2007 and the fall of Pride was just around the corner. The promotion held an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, and booked Gomi, who was the lightweight champion, to throw leather with controversial bad boy Nick Diaz.
Despite a size advantage, "The Fireball Kid" blasted his counterpart with power shots that rocked and knocked down his foe. But he failed to finish the job and only seemed to fade as Diaz regained his footing and came storming back.
This all occurred in the first round, mind you.
To buy time and attempt to even things up again, Gomi took Diaz down early in the second frame, a fateful mistake that proved to be his undoing. Indeed, Diaz locked in the rarely seen gogoplata submission and quickly forced a tap.
That wasn't the end of the story, however.
After the bout, Diaz tested positive for marijuana and the Nevada State Athletic Commission overturned the result of the fight to a no contest. It was an unfortunate ending to an incredible battle waged by two elite fighters at the top of their games.
And it left an air of unfinished business, despite the incredible result.
The likelihood that Nick would ever get another shot at Takanori was slim to none and they would go their separate ways, leaving their classic battle to the history books.
Once Gomi signed with the UFC, though, there was an outside chance that he could meet up with Nick's brother, Nate, at some point down the road.
As luck and good timing would have it, both men have dropped two of their last three fights. After a four-fight stint in the welterweight division, where he struggled mightily, it made entirely too much sense for Diaz to come back down to the land of the lightweights to renew an old rivalry with a common family enemy.
Let's hope these two wage war with the same fervor as Gomi and Nick did back in 2007. If the staredown at the weigh-ins is any indication, we're in for a doozy.
Posted in: diaz, nick, takanori gomi, gomi, nate
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 135 Results: Nate Diaz finishes Takanori Gomi in Round 1
Nate Diaz made a bold statement for the UFC Lightweight title shot contendership, with an impressive victory over the veteran Takanori Gomi at UFC 135 main card opener.
Diaz controlled the action from the very first seconds of the fight, punishing Gomi with razor-sharp jabs. The Fireball Kid tried to respond with a wild overhand right, but got punished by Diaz each and every time. Nate Diaz continued to drop bombs on Takanori Gomi, who I have to admit showed an amazing survival skills in this fight, looked
Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, gomi, nate diaz, drop bombs
Read the full article at Low KickFighter vs. Writer: UFC 135 Picks With Michael Bisping
Filed under: UFCFighter vs. Writer has been on a bit of a hiatus, which is what happens when you go from a country where you don't speak the language and your cell phone doesn't work to a Strikeforce event where the only fighters around are the ones on the card, but you don't want to hear my excuses, do you?
All that matters is that we're back this week with UFC middleweight and TUF 14 coach Michael Bisping, who graciously took time away from bickering with opposing coach 'Mayhem' Miller to go head to head with yours truly over the UFC 135 main card.
And so, without further delay...
Jon Jones vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Bisping: Jackson via TKO. "Jon Jones is unbelievable and an incredible athlete and an incredible champ. He's forging a fantastic career and he's got what it takes to be a legend one day. That said, he's fighting Rampage and this is going to be the best Rampage you've seen in a long time."
Fowlkes: Jones via TKO. With Jackson's punching power, you can't ever count him out. And yes, I think this is the most motivated and in-shape Rampage we've seen in a long while. But I still don't think it'll be enough. Jones is too quick, too long, and too dynamic. Jackson won't get close enough to hurt him, and Jones will chop him down.
Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck
Bisping: Koscheck via decision. Matt Hughes has been a great champion in the past and a great ambassador for the sport, but he's coming to the end of his career. He hasn't looked too great lately. He hasn't looked like the Matt Hughes of old, and it pains me to say that because he's a Hall of Famer. But I've got to go with Koscheck being younger, faster, stronger -- probably a better wrestler as well."
Fowlkes: Koscheck via TKO. Honestly, I don't see a single area where Hughes holds the advantage. Experience, maybe? But even there, Koscheck has enough that he's not going to be beaten on sheer veteran savvy alone. I think he out-strikes, out-wrestles, and overpowers Hughes.
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
Bisping: Diaz via submission. "That's a tough one. It could go a lot like the Nick Diaz-Gomi fight. I've got to go with Nate."
Fowlkes: Diaz via submission. I'd feel better about it if I didn't think Diaz was inclined to stand and trade, thus giving Gomi more of a chance than he needs to. Even so, I think it eventually winds up on the floor, where Diaz is superior.
Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton
Bisping: Broughton via TKO. "He's one of the toughest human beings walking this planet. He's big, strong, and you wouldn't know it from the look of him because he carries a little extra weight, but he's a cardio machine. I see him wearing [Browne] down and finishing him in the later rounds."
Fowlkes: Browne via TKO. Every Englishman I've talked to this week (and between Bisping and Telegraph writer Gareth Davies, I've talked to two) tells me what a tough guy Broughton is. I don't doubt them, but Browne is just so big and so powerful. I think he'll keep Broughton at a distance and smash him.
Mark Hunt vs. Ben Rothwell
Bisping: Hunt via KO. "I'm going with Mark Hunt because I know him. I don't know too much about Ben Rothwell, but I know he's had mixed results. I like Mark Hunt. I'm a big fan of his Pride days and K-1, so I'm rooting for him."
Fowlkes: Rothwell via submission. If Bisping can pick based purely on personal feelings, then so can I. I got to know Rothwell when we were both working for the IFL, and he's one of the truly good people in this business. If he's smart, he gets Hunt to the ground and takes advantage of his weak submissions defense.
Bisping picks: Jackson, Koscheck, Diaz, Broughton, Hunt
Fowlkes picks: Jones, Koscheck, Diaz, Browne, Rothwell Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: hunt, diaz, vs, koscheck, bisping
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 135: ‘Jones vs. Rampage’ Preview – “Violent Crime Edition”
We’ve got a full weekend of MMA ahead of us, what with Bellator, Strikeforce Challengers and DREAM all poised and ready to go with a bit of the old ultra-violence. But there’s no doubt what the main course will be: UFC 135 on Saturday night, which will have light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones defending his belt against Quinton Jackson in what promises to be either something thrillingly competitive or just a straight-up murder. Ah, who am I kidding? Did you see the way Jones beat Shogun into putty? Rampage is going to wind up a statistic on an FBI violent crime analysis chart. Anyway, there are some other interesting pairings at UFC 135, including what may be the last hurrah of a welterweight legend and a fallen Japanese superstar’s shot of redemption (sort of). So. Preview. Check it out.
Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson – Jones’ meteoric rise to the top is marked by “Holy crap! Did you see that?” moves and utter destruction visited upon whoever has stood in his way. In the last two years, Rampage has either been squeaking by opponents with decisions or losing via those same means. Now, sure, Jackson’s still got a dangerous hook that can put people away, but Jones has been in there with some knockout strikers (Mauricio Rua, Ryan Bader, Brandon Vera) and no one even came close. The bottom line is the champ is going to have to slip on an awful lot of banana peels – plus stumble on an oil slick and choke on a handful of half-chewed olives – before Rampage can touch him. Yup, this one is going to be ugly. Like, “Godzilla stomping Tokyo into rubble” ugly.
Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck – This is the last fight on Hughes’ contract, and his wife has stated “No mas, mister”, so when the former champ steps into the cage against TUF 1 veteran Koscheck on Saturday, we might be seeing the finale of the great Matt Hughes. In terms of comparing their skills and abilities, both men are proven wrestlers with competent stand-up – maybe Hughes hits a little harder and has the edge in experience, maybe Koscheck will have the edge in youthful vitality (he’s about four years younger). But you know what? When someone like Hughes says he’s on the verge of hanging up his gloves, you just have to root for him. Chris Lytle went out with a win; hopefully, Hughes can do the same.
Rob Broughton vs. Travis Browne – Broughton is a big Brit whose most notable win was over Neil Grove a few years ago; Browne went the distance with Cheick Kongo and knocked out Stefan Struve easily. Can you guess which one of these guys has a future in the Octagon and which one will be back fighting in the UK circuit soon?
Takanori Gomi vs. Nate Diaz – Once upon a time Gomi was one of the best fighters coming out of Japan, and his explosiveness saw him putting away a lot of people. But back in 2007, Nick Diaz tapped him out with a gogoplata, and things sort of went downhill from there. Nate Diaz, on the other hand, peaked right around when he won TUF 7, and has since amassed a mottled record in the UFC (in other words, he isn’t his older brother Nick). Can Gomi get some modicum of revenge by defeating the sibling of the man who submitted him back in the day? Or will Nate catch him like an errant trout and make him gasp for air? If I bet, it would be on Gomi punching Diaz. Real hard.
Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt – Rothwell is an interesting guy. He’s had about a million fights outside of the UFC, sometimes against less-than-stellar competition, sometimes against some solid guys, and his losses have only come to the best (a prime Andrei Arlovski, Cain Velasquez). But all those fights wear on you, and for the past year he’s been sidelined with a torn ACL. Does he have any “umph” left in him? It might not matter, as his UFC 135 opponent is Hunt, a New Zealander with world-class kickboxing (circa 2002) who’s aged about as well as a carton of milk left on the side of a desert highway. All Rothwell needs to do is avoid Hunt’s striking, get him to the ground, and whisper sweet-nothings in his ear. The only question mark is the American’s knee and if it will hold up.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, jone, hughe, vs
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 137: Dana White ready to work with Nick Diaz again (take two)
Time heals all wounds -- even if it's just a couple of weeks.
UFC President Dana White is ready to work with Nick Diaz again, only this time he undertsands that he has to "handle him different than every other guy in the UFC."
The former Strikeforce welterweight champion, who was pulled from his main event fight opposite Georges St. Pierre earlier this month, has been re-inserted into the UFC 137 line up to take on B.J. Penn at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Oct. 29, 2011.
Diaz no-showed several mandatory press events to promote his former clash with the Canadian. His absence, as well as inability to communicate his whereabouts -- even to his right-hand man and trusted trainer, Cesar Gracie -- compelled White to switch gears.
Just 24 hours removed from his public spanking, Diaz was "punished" with a co main event slot against "The Prodigy," sending Carlos Condit into the headliner. It was certainly a far cry from being released, which was an option that White had to consider based on Diaz's bizarre behavior.
Now White (via ESPN.com) has come to the conclusion that they can "work together," he just has to find a different way to do it.
"I believe, and maybe I'm a little goofy, that I have a good rapport with this kid and we can work together. Here's the thing about Nick Diaz -- he's just a different guy. I'm going to have to handle him different than I do every other guy in the UFC. But that's cool. I can do that. I can figure this out where I can work with Nick and we can make this happen. It's very clear why he missed (the news conferences). He didn't want to go. He's fought in smaller organizations where the inmates run the asylum. When you come over here, it's a whole other ballgame. You don't run the show. I do."
Perhaps Diaz got the message, grew up or offered another sideways apology. On the other hand, perhaps White feels he may have overreacted after finally speaking with the Stockton slugger.
Time will tell.
UFC 137 features a re-worked main event between St. Pierre and Condit. In addition to the Penn-Diaz co-featured fight of the night, two heavyweight clashes -- Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Filipovic and Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione -- are also scheduled for the main card pay-per-view (PPV).
For the latest UFC 137 news, notes and rumors check out our comprehensive archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, event
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 135 Breakdown: The Undercard
The UFC hasn’t enjoyed the smoothest of years when it comes to PPV’s thus far. Multiple injuries to some key figures led to fights falling apart at an alarming rate, and the PPV buy-rates have suffered as a result. Despite the successes of UFC 126 – headlined by Anderson Silva against Vitor Belfort – and UFC 129, which marked the company’s first venture to Toronto, fan interest has been on somewhat of a decline. While this hardly means panic is setting inside Zuffa offices, the UFC needs the upcoming PPV’s to deliver big (buy-rate wise). However, with a string of huge match-ups on the horizon, it looks as though the world’s leading MMA promotion will finish the year on a high note. Their late surge for a strong finish begins this weekend, when light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones enters the Octagon for his first title defense to take on a man who is no stranger to title bouts, former champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. But before the light heavyweight duo slug it out, the likes of Josh Koscheck, Matt Hughes, Nate Diaz, and Takanori Gomi will take center stage.
Note: If you’re wondering about the lack of Taylor Swift or Brittney Palmer mentions, you need to be informed that I am in fact not Jeremy Lambert. Jeremy was kind enough to allow me to take over the event previews. I am Samer Kadi and I hope I will be able to live up to the lofty standards set by my predecessor.
Preliminary Predictions
* James Te Huna to defeat Ricardo Romero by Decision
* Takeya Mizugaki to defeat Cole Escovedo by Decision
* Junior Assuncao to defeat Eddie Yagin by Submission in Round One
* Tim Boetsch to defeat Nick Ring by Decision
* Tony Ferguson to defeat Aaron Riley by TKO in Round Two
Heavyweight Fight: Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt
Heavyweights are always going to get preferential treatment when it comes to making it to the main card, and this fight is a prime example. While Takeya Mizugaki and Cole Escovedo are stuck on the prelims, Rothwell and Hunt square off in a battle for relevance. Rothwell has been nursing injuries for the better part of a year, and hasn’t competed since taking an uninspiring decision over Gilbert Yvel. And yet, as long as he doesn’t come out too rusty, this is his fight to lose.
While Rothwell’s lack of athleticism will always prove a major hindrance against the top tier heavyweights, he should be able to get away with it here. Hunt might be the better technical striker and will certainly hold the edge in power, but Rothwell has historically proven to have a durable chin. Hunt’s striking is limited to his boxing nowadays, but he is still capable of putting together a decent combination, or land a well-timed counter. Rothwell’s lack of speed means exchanging with Hunt will prove risky, and he will be better served to take the safest and clearest path to victory by putting Hunt on his back.
Rothwell’s offensive wrestling could be the difference maker, as despite not being an elite wrestler by any means, he is more than capable of taking Hunt down. This will likely spell the beginning of the end for “The Super Samoan”, as he has struggled mightily any time he finds himself on the bottom with a semi decent grappler on top of him. Rothwell is hardly known for his top game, as evidenced by his last fight against Yvel (where Yvel actually managed to sweep him from the bottom), but Hunt’s grappling deficiencies are so severe that the American should be able to capitalize. Hunt has historically shown an inability to hip escape, regain guard if his opponent passes, or scramble up to his feet. Moreover, his submission defense is shaky to say the very least. If Rothwell has watched any tape on his opponent, he would be smart to go for any Keylock variation. Expect Rothwell to take Hunt down, pass to half guard, isolate an arm, and start working on a submission. Whether he gets it or not remains to be seen, but even if he doesn’t, he should be able to repeat the process for three rounds to get the victory.
Official Prediction: Ben Rothwell to defeat Mark Hunt by submission in the Second Round
Lightweight Fight: Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
In 2007, Gomi and Nick Diaz engaged in one of the greatest battles in MMA history. A little over four years later, and Gomi is squarring off against Nick’s younger brother, Nate Diaz, under much different circumstances. No longer one of the top lightweights in the world, Gomi’s UFC run has been disappointing so far. A vintage knockout of Tyson Griffin was sandwiched between two submission losses to Kenny Florian and Clay Guida. For his part, after an initially promising move up in weight that saw him triumph in his first two bouts in impressive fashion, back-to-back losses have forced Diaz to return to the lightweight division.
Despite obvious similarities in their styles, Nate Diaz is not his brother. His striking isn’t as good, and his grappling isn’t as good. Like his brother, Nate’s flat-footed stance and lack of footwork makes him quite hittable. Offensively, Diaz’s boxing is reminiscent of his brother, but he lacks the same kind of accuracy. While he will throw those famous Diaz Brothers “peppering punches”, he lacks his brother’s main weapon: the body shots. The most worrying aspect of Nate’s boxing is that it leaves him quite prone to counter shots, and his lack of head movement makes him even more suspect to a potentially fight-ending strike.
Few fighters can afford to taste Gomi’s power, even one with Diaz’s chin. Gomi packs up serious power in both hands, and is in fact more than comfortable in fighting with both the southpaw and orthodox stances. Speaking of chins, Gomi possesses one of MMA’s all-time best chins, and in a potential slugfest, this could prove crucial. His chin and power mean Gomi will have the option of standing in the pocket and throwing, and his trademark body shots could well soften up Diaz and set him up for the big haymaker.
If Diaz wants to take the fight to the ground, he will likely try to do so from the clinch, as he doesn’t possess much of a solid shot from the outside. His best bet would be to close distance, clinch up and attempt to use some sort of throw or trip takedown to put the Japanese star on his back. On the other hand, Gomi is a solid wrestler with a good base. He tends to get taken down by fighters who mix things up well and surprise him with sudden level changes; something that Diaz does not have in his arsenal. However, with Gomi’s shaky cardio, Diaz would be smart to attempt a takedown late in the contest should the fight head into deep waters.
On the ground, Diaz best excels from the bottom, where his active guard and sneaky submissions are quite tricky to handle. However, he is equally good in the scrambles, and Gomi can often get careless and give up position in an effort to escape. A fatal flaw in Gomi’s game from the bottom is that he tends to rotate the wrong way and plays right into his opponent’s hands. For instance, Gomi’s mistake made Marcus Aurelio’s life much easier, and the arm triangle came in accordingly. Likewise, Gomi gave up his back to Florian and spun right into the choke, Against someone as crafty as Diaz on the ground, Gomi can ill-afford to give up position or leave his neck exposed, as Nate will be quick to capitalize, be it by moving to mount, taking the back, or locking up a guillotine in a scramble.
It is a tough fight to pick as Gomi is capable of ending it early the same way as Diaz is capable of overwhelming him late and potentially tap him out. That being said, I believe the former is more likely to happen.
Official Prediction: Takanori Gomi to defeat Nate Diaz by TKO in the First Round
Heavyweight Fight: Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton
Browne returns to the cage following his spectacular knockout of Stefan Struve. Awaiting him is former Cage Rage heavyweight champion, Broughton.
Despite an impressive submission over an ostensibly superior grappler, Broughton’s overall performance in his only UFC fight to date against Vinicius Queiroz was somewhat underwhelming. When he was taken down early on, his work off of his back was pretty poor, as he gave up position far too easily and looked quite helpless when attempting to get back to his feet. To his credit, Broughton survived, persevered, and made some nice adjustments on the feet. Most noticeably, he started firing with a nice jab/right hook combo that found its mark over and over throughout the duration of the fight. Furthermore, his offensive grappling looked a few notches above his defensive grappling, as he did a good job of submitting his – admittedly fatigued – opponent.
Browne’s striking is more oriented towards landing a power shot than anything else, as his boxing in particular is wild and at times, quite sloppy. However, when he moves forward, he throws with purpose. In fact, after connecting on Cheick Kongo a few times, the Frenchman became quite tentative in engaging with Browne. However, this approach means that Browne will tire rather quickly, where his punches will become slower and much more telegraphed. Browne’s bread and butter is a lopping overhand right. Broughton should be particularly wary of that punch, and needs to make Browne miss in an effort to tire him out. Cheick Kongo was able to further wear Browne out in the clinch before taking him to the mat, and should Broughton notice any signs of fatigue, he should be quick to follow the same approach.
For our sake, let’s pray this fight ends early, as watching two heavyweights fighting fatigue makes for some putrid viewing.
Official Prediction: Travis Browne to defeat Rob Broughton by TKO in the Second Round
Welterweight Fight: Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck
In the co-main event of the evening, former longtime welterweight kingpin Hughes returns to the Octagon for the first time since his KO loss to B.J. Penn. Taking the fight on short notice is his opponent, Koscheck, who is operating as a more-than-worthy late replacement for Hughes’ originally scheduled opponent, Diego Sanchez. This is unfortunate for Hughes, as while he would have been the underdog just the same, the Sanchez fight was more winnable on paper.
Koscheck simply offers a nightmare match-up for Hughes, especially at this stage of the latter’s career. Hughes has made a career out of using his wrestling and strength to take opponents to the mat, where his underrated top game gave fighters fits. However, there just doesn’t seem to be a realistic way for Hughes to employ that strategy against the better, younger, and more athletically gifted wrestler. While the short notice nature of the fight might affect Koscheck’s preparation, his superior wrestling and punching power should see him through regardless.
Koscheck’s double leg is good enough to drive through most fighters in the division. In fact, in his one-sided beat-down at the hands of Georges St-Pierre, Koscheck was still able to take down the best wrestler in the division. More impressively, he was able to immediately regain his feet every time St-Pierre took him down. If Hughes shoots for a single, or closes distance and gets double underhooks, he will have a hard time putting Koscheck on his back, and an ever harder time keeping him on the canvas.
Ironically, and as surreal as it is to type, Hughes’ only chance will be to catch Koscheck with something standing. Hughes has improved his boxing, as evidenced by his bout with Ricardo Almeida, and Koscheck has a nasty habit of dropping his guard and getting lazy on the feet while throwing telegraphed overhand rights from halfway across the Octagon. The likelihood of Hughes landing something that significant however, is pretty slim. And as long as Koscheck doesn’t get too trigger happy with his right hand, he’s the one who’s more likely to end things on the feet.
Koscheck sets up his overhand right with a jab that he throws with no real conviction, and merely uses it as set-up. What really troubles Hughes on the feet is straight punches, as he doesn’t have great head movement and instead looks to parry with both hands in what can only be described as an odd manner. This allowed St-Pierre to take the title away from him in their rematch back in 2006, the same way it allowed BJ Penn to knock him out in twenty seconds last year. Koscheck doesn’t have the technical boxing that the aforementioned pair possesses, and as mentioned, his punches are loopier, but he would be wise to try to straighten them up.
Despite Hughes being the overall superior grappler, if Koscheck decides to take it to the ground, he likely will be able to put Hughes on his back with little trouble. However, the AKA standout’s top game isn’t dynamic enough to really polish Hughes off with a submission. Instead, he will rely on short elbows to cut him up and hope to open up guard-passing opportunities.
Whatever approach Koscheck employs, this is a pretty favorable match-up for him. Unfortunately for Hughes, this could fight could mark the end of a legendary career…unless he pulls a Tito Ortiz that is.
Official Prediction: Josh Koscheck to defeat Matt Hughes by TKO in Round One
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: fight, diaz, hughe, koscheck, gomi
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 135: Head to Head Preview
Tomorrow night the UFC returns to its birthplace of Denver, CO for UFC 135. The card will be headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between UFC champion Jon Jones and former champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. UFC 135 will kick off with a three fight card broadcast live on Facebook, followed by a one-hour card on Spike TV, with the main card starting at 9PM ET on pay-per-view.
MMAFrenzy kicks off our coverage of UFC 135 with a head to head preview of Satuday’s PPV main card. These are not picks, but analysis of what each fighter needs to do to come out on top of their respective fight.
Jon Jones-(CL) To this point in his career, most of Jones detractors have typically relied on “what-if” analysis that always reminds me of the great philosopher Yogi Berra saying “You wouldn’t have won if we’d beaten you.” We have heard the “not tested” line in regards to every facet of Jones game and in this fight the focus has been on his mentality and his chin. Sure, we have not seen him “tested,” but in reality that has a lot to do with his level of skill, game planning, natural gifts, and just simply not allowing his opponents to get going.
In Rampage, Jones faces a fighter who has gradually shifted away from his wrestling background to the point that I am pretty sure Rampage could fight with Mike Tyson and we would never have to wonder about Tyson’s ground game being able to stop a more powerful bomb than the Hangover 2. Rampage is, for better or worse, a boxer now. He fights smarter than he used to, and looks to counter more so than turn into the destroyer that made him famous in Japan. In this fight, Rampage will have to get inside the pocket with Jones in order cause the damage needed to drop him.
If there is a parallel for this fight-wise, it is the Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis fight. While some argue that reach does not matter in MMA, when one of the fighters is a boxer it does. Like Tyson, Rampage has to get inside the ridiculous 84.5” reach (6’11” Stefan Struve’s reach is 83” by comparison) in order to cause damage to Jones. In the Lewis fight, Tyson’s best work came in the first, where he was able to get inside and batter Lewis’s ribs and land power shots to Lewis’s jaw. If Rampage gets in the pocket and is able to fire shots on Jones, Jones is in trouble. Lewis adjusted for this by clinching with Tyson when he got in tight, utilizing his reach, and working a vicious jab with long strikes. While this is boxing, there are applications to MMA.
The advantage that Jones has is that he can not only clinch but since this is MMA, he can use his wrestling too. Jones can keep Rampage at length with his kicks and long strikes but if Rampage can get inside, Jones can unleash his nasty arsenal of elbows and wrestling. So by mixing the martial arts and keeping up his controlled aggression, Jones should pick up the win.
Rampage-(Bryan Robison) If it weren’t for that darn spygate, I would have suspected Rampage was working on his submission offense. There is no way Jones would have suspected a flying armbar. But alas, since Rampage suspected a spy from Jones’ camp was there, that idea had to be shut down. Oh well, I guess Rampage can fall back on his backup, his boxing.
With that boxing, Rampage holds his most distinct advantage. He is at a reach disadvantage, so he’ll have to be more creative than simple ’1-2′ combos to take out Jones.
He has no choice but to get inside the pocket of Jones in order to put glove to face. He will do that, not only because he has to, but because he wants to. Rampage is too stubborn to sit back against Jones and let Jones go Michael Jordan in Space Jam on him and reach around from the other side of the cage in order to punch him.
Rampage will look for chances to test the untested chin of Jones. That is not an easy feat, and something Rampage will have to be patient with.
Josh Koschek versus Matt Hughes
Koschek-(CL) Kos loves taking fights on short notice, though in this case he has at least had a long layoff since losing to GSP. Kos’s style is in many ways Hughes 2.0. While most fighters would love to enjoy the success Hughes had, Hughes career is in its twilight. The reality of the situation is that Rashad Evans pointed out what many analysts and fighters have picked up on when he said (via twitter) a year ago: “[Hughes] changes his stance based on how he plans [to] fight.. That’s not high level. I think Hughes is a legend & a great fighter but I still think he regressed as a fighter. He gives away his game plan at the start of every fight. If he wants [to] wrestle he goes southpaw if he wants [to] stand up he goes conventional stance, when [you] do that [you] limit what [you] can do & your opponent knows how [you] plan on attacking. The name of the game is deception, but Hughes is a legend if I do half of what he has accomplished I will be happy, but he is not above being analyzed sorry Hughes fans it’s part of the game.”
I have to agree with everything Evans said, and if you do not believe me check out old fights.
Hughes-(BR) This fight is rather strange. Not because of the names or because Hughes has a third nipple or anything. But rather because it’s almost a “mirror fight”. Koshceck and Hughes are very similar; Strong collegiate wrestlers (although Koscheck had more success in college), limited standup, and an underrated submission game.
Hughes, at 37, is obviously not going to be around much longer, with this fight being the last on his current contract. His best hope is to use Koscheck’s layoff against him. While Hughes hasn’t fought since last November, he has at least known that he’ll be on this card for a few months. Koscheck was just notified of this fight less than 3 weeks ago. Plus, he was hoping to move up to middleweight for his next fight.
Hughes won’t necessarily outgrapple Koscheck, but he can drag out a 3 round fight in his favor, besting him on his feet when he has to, and taking two of the three rounds.
Rob Broughton versus Travis Browne
Broughton-(CL) Rob Broughton made the best of an opportunity when he upset a former prospect at UFC 120 and now he gets another shot to prove his worth. This fight reminds me a lot of the old days before many of the UFC heavyweights learned how to wrestle and just brawled… so 2008… Broughton brings serviceable striking but often pins his opponents to the cage and wears them out. Expect Broughton to try to utilize this game plan against the taller Browne. I hope that Broughton has improved his takedown defense because it has been non-existent in every fight I have seen him in. Broughton is a long shot here, but his best bet to try to grind down the bigger, stronger, and more athletic Browne.
Browne-(BR) Travis Browne is tall. This seems obvious, but will become even more obvious when standing next to Rob Broughton, who is 6’3. Browne was not able to use his length against the taller Stefan Struve at UFC 130. Regardless, Browne was able to out power the Dutchman.
With Broughton, Browne will have to worry about being out-grappled by the Brit. That is why it is expected Browne will look to remain on his feet for as long as he can.
While Broughton has never been knocked out, he will still be at a significant disadvantage compared to Browne.
Nate Diaz versus Takanori Gomi
Diaz-(CL) The more compliant and smaller Diaz will take on an opponent his brother fought in one of the best fights I have ever seen. Sadly… this fight is but a shadow of that legendary battle but it does not mean the fight will not be a war. I expect a slugfest here with Diaz going for volume over power. Diaz, like his brother, uses this amateur boxing strategy to overwhelm opponents but it can get in him in trouble by over exposing his chin to a powerful striker. Diaz is also a strong grappler, like his brother, but he does not have the killer instinct his older brother does. The big issue is Diaz’s weight, he is returning to 155 after a unsuccessful stint at 170 and 155 has always been a hard cut for him. If there was ever the case for a 165 class, Diaz would be it. The longer this fight goes, the less technical it will be.
Gomi- (BR) A Diaz vs. Gomi matchup. Seems like déjà vu, doesn’t it? This time around, Gomi is facing Nick’s brother, Nate. Gomi will be able to win the striking battle against the younger Diaz. While Nick can certainly hold his own with his boxing, Nate seems to be a few levels behind.
That is where Gomi will want to exploit Nate. If Gomi is taken to the ground, that’s where things will get dicey. Not only is Nate superior to Gomi in that department, Gomi has struggled with his submission defense, with his last 3 losses coming via submission.
Ben Rothwell versus Mark Hunt
Rothwell- (BR) This seems to be an obvious one, much like Gomi, but the opposite. Ben is going to want to get this one to the ground. He will be able to do that whenever he wants, given Hunt’s lack of takedown defense and even worse submission defense. Rothwell holds 10 submission victories during his career.
Hunt has a few big wins on his resume, but he has never beaten a true heavyweight. He does hold wins over Wanderlei Silva and Mirko Cro Cop, but he’s never defeated anyone taller than 6’2 (Cro Cop). Rothwell is 6’5 and will have a 6 inch reach advantage over Hunt. That will allow Rothwell to stay outside of the pocket and away from Hunt’s comfort zone.
He may not want to be too patient, though. Hunt has won every single match of his career that has lasted past the first round. With that come seven losses, all within the first round.
Mark Hunt- (CL) It is quite simple… DO NOT GO TO THE GROUND!!!! That is really it… and even if he does not, it is not a guarantee he will win. This is a fight to fulfill a previous deal, nothing more.
Posted in: fight, diaz, rampage, jone, hughe
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBas Rutten 'Really Disturbed' by Nick Diaz
Filed under: UFC, NewsFormer UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten says he's sick and tired of the antics of Nick Diaz, whose failure to comply with the UFC's promotional requirements got him pulled out of a welterweight title fight with Georges St. Pierre.
In an appearance on The MMA Hour, Rutten called himself a Diaz fan, but he said Diaz needs to shape up and start acting like a professional and stop doing things like blowing off appearances.
"I was really disturbed by that," Rutten said. "It got to me. I literally had to tell myself, 'OK, let it go.' Because this is a guy with so much talent -- I'm a big Nick Diaz fan also -- and I thought, 'OK, now I'm going to see a fight against Georges, it's going to be great.'"
Rutten noted that Diaz has said several times that he's underpaid, and that now his failure to make the St. Pierre fight is going to cost him the biggest payday of his career.
"He's always complaining about not having money enough, and he does a thing like this? It really was upsetting to me. I had to step away from it because I don't like it," Rutten said. "He wants to keep complaining about money? It's his own fault."
Although Diaz has been pulled from the St. Pierre fight, he has been given a fight with former champion B.J. Penn, and if Diaz wins that fight he's expected to get the next crack at the welterweight title. Rutten said that for as frustrated as he gets seeing the way Diaz acts, he'll be excited for the opportunity to see Diaz fight for a welterweight belt.
"Hopefully, he's going to be smart and show up for the press conference," Rutten said. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, diaz, nick diaz, rutten, pierre fight
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage - Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi Dissection
Another salivating by-product of UFC matchmaker Joe Silva's seething cauldron is the UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage lightweight match up of Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi.
Diaz seems happy to cast aside his silky grappling in order to be aligned with a fellow gunslinger willing to stand up with him and empty the six-shooters until someone falls over. His wish is granted with Takanori Gomi.
Shattering the Japanese stereotype, Gomi is a thunderous boxer with sound wrestling skills and arguably the heaviest handed lightweight in MMA history. After the UFC shut down their 155-pound division and the talent migrated overseas, "The Fireball Kid" emerged as the sport's elite lightweight after a storybook series of knockouts in Pride Fighting Championships.
After a crippling defeat to B.J. Penn in Hawaii, "The Prodigy" proceeded to gallivant around in higher weight classes, abandoning the lightweight throne where Takanori Gomi would eventually take a seat. Setting up shop in the then-soaring Pride organization, Gomi drilled through ten consecutive adversaries with highlight reel panache to assume the mantle.
Gomi finished eight of those ten opponents in the first round (six knockouts and two submissions), isolating himself atop the heap by crushing the number two and three world ranked lightweights in Tatsuya Kawajiri (rear-naked choke) and Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (KO) along with former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver (KO).
His susceptibility to submissions was initially cloaked by his searing wrestle-boxing style, but later came to the forefront in a big way. The first sign was an arm-triangle loss to black belt Marcus Aurelio that snapped his win-streak, but the malady was somewhat salved in his following wins over Aurelio in the rematch, David Baron (eleven career sub-wins including Sakurai and Dan Hardy) and dominant wrestler Mitsuhiro Ishida.
Gomi's turbulent downfall was triggered by his upset loss to Nate Diaz's older brother, Nick, in an epic and mutual massacre. Then, Pride was sold, Gomi went two and two in Sengoku and faded into obscurity. Saturday marks the prime opportunity for a reappearance of "the old Gomi" against Nate Diaz.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
Just as we were penciling Gomi in as another incomplete and over-hyped Pride fighter, he brought the apocalypse.
Carelessly hanging out in the slugger's wheelhouse, Tyson Griffin was reminded of the one-shot power that put Gomi on the map.
Though he's struggled with footwork and distance, Gomi proved his devastating presence inside the pocket was still afire.
His overhand left is one of the best in the business, but his favorite follow up -- the right hook -- was what vanquished Griffin.
Exhibiting behavior typically associated with uncoordinated teenage dancing at an all night rave, Clay Guida shucked and jived while assaulting Gomi from all angles with strikes and takedown attempts.
Hitting a nice sprawl early, Gomi seemed unfazed by the whirling spectacle of curly locks and leather, but couldn't get out of defensive mode and eventually succumbed to a guillotine choke.
Gomi's sprawl, (flying) knees and uppercuts have been proven takedown repellants.
He uses his short, upward knee to the right when Guida charges in with his head down, but the result shows exactly why that choice is such a high-risk maneuver.
This type of knee was, however, the way Gomi earned Pride FC's record for fastest knockout with a six-second snuffing of the aggressively shooting Ralph Gracie.
Against the lanky Nate Diaz, Gomi will be tasked with deflecting an absurd amount of unorthodox strikes to assume his preferred range in the pocket.
Despite spending most of the fight getting his head bounced back by long, stiff jabs, Gomi had a small assortment of encouraging sequences against Kenny Florian.
Again, we see the distance factor here, as Gomi was a stationary target from outside but transferred his massive power well at close range.
With his right hook, which is almost like a shovel punch here, Gomi adjusts for the distance by unrolling it from his waist and extending it outward. Gomi had a well earned reputation for going to the body and this was his preferred weapon to do so.
Gomi's left hand lands almost immediately after his right connects. Take a second to time how quickly the left makes contact -- with plenty of heft -- after the right connects on Florian.
For Nate Diaz, this fight has two divergent angles: the obvious sizzle of replicating his brother's historic clash with Gomi, yet Nate is also coming off the most convincing, one-sided defeat of his UFC career to Rory MacDonald.
The sport vs. entertainment debacle rears its ugly head as Diaz's unquestionable advantage lies on the ground, but avoiding a standing brawl is just very un-Diaz.
Marcus Davis, a brick-fisted southpaw boxer just like Gomi, is a nice frame of reference.
Capitalizing on his condor-like wingspan was critical against Davis just as it will be versus Gomi.
In the later rounds, Diaz found his range and pinged telephone-pole punches through Davis' defense. Timing his footwork and head movement to penetrate inside and pepper with strikes was what propelled Diaz to victory.
In the animations above and to the left, Diaz is liquid-like in slipping punches while pelting with his high volume boxing.
Things get interesting when we recall the trouble that Davis presented with his jabs and overhand left early in the fight.
The pivotal change was that Diaz began by marching straight ahead while looping wide hooks -- which Davis neatly countered with tight, on-balance combinations -- but adjusted to setting up his advances with baiting punches.
Once Diaz got Davis in motion, he was able to create angles and target openings with a very deliberate in and out strategy. Whenever Diaz took the primitive approach of walking forward and swinging, he was tagged consistently by Davis' textbook boxing.
In these last two examples, we see Davis emulating what Takanori Gomi specializes in.
He lays back, poised and ready to spring, countering Diaz's first strike with his overhand left and right jabs and hooks.
If you were to create the perfect opponent for Gomi, that's what he would do.
The downfall of the unusual striking of the Diaz brothers is that they have a tendency to plant their feet and absorb wayward blows in the pocket while volume-punching.
Regardless if he's old, decrepit, or even past his prime, Takanori Gomi will still prey on that mentality. It's the same scenario from which he clocked Nick Diaz with the infamous Hadouken Punch in Pride (right).
I'm guessing, with his back against the wall and fresh off a humiliating defeat, Nate Diaz will be too smart.
In modern day MMA, it's just too hard for a limited fighter to survive at the top level.
I didn't even take the time to discuss Nate's highly under-rated Judo in the clinch or his ultra-technical grappling game.
Even if a significant portion of Nate Diaz's style plays into Gomi's hands, his chin is as solid as they come and there's an entire universe of alternatives he can exercise beyond trading on the feet.
I really don't want to see either of these exciting fighters lose. Normally I would pick either by sheer fanboy default. The hard steer for Diaz on the betting lines is pretty accurate, as Gomi's chances boil down to that of a puncher ... but even in that facet, he hasn't looked the sharpest.
Throwing all logic and reason aside, I have to throw out a prayer for Takanori Gomi to overcome the odds and actualize the impossible. I'm not ready to let go. As a highly revered wise man once said: "It's still real to me, dammit!"
My Prediction: Takanori Gomi by TKO
Guida vs. Gomi gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Davis vs. Diaz gifs via Chris Nelson for BloodyElbow.com
Poll
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
Nate Diaz
Takanori Gomi
3 votes | Results
Posted in: diaz, takanori gomi, gomi, nate, takanori
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFences Mended, Nick Diaz Could Still Earn a Shot at GSP With a Win at UFC 137
While there are still many roads to cross before UFC 137 comes to pass, it appears some of the fences have been mended between the UFC and welterweight Nick Diaz.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, nick, fence
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC President Dana White Says He'll Handle Nick Diaz Differently
Nick Diaz solidified his place as the MMA counterpart to the NFL's Ricky Williams and MLB's Manny Ramirez. Williams, the pot-smoking holistic healer and yoga instructor whose social anxiety has seen him give post-game interviews with his helmet on, not to mention leave and return to the NFL on more than one occasion. Ramirez became known for his "Manny being Manny" shtick, which ranges anywhere from throwing balls into the stands with less than two outs to wandering into Fenway Park's Green Monster during a pitching change.
Diaz's career is littered with similar tales. He attacked Joe Riggs in a hospital building after UFC 57. The Nevada State Athletic Commission overturned his victory over Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 after testing positive for testing well more than positive for THC. After a doctor stopped his bout with K.J. Noons due to facial lacerations, Diaz left the arena immediately, flipping off the crowd and cameras in the process. He engaged in two separate post-fight brawls altercations, the first with Noons and his father, the second as part of a gang attack on Jason Miller in Strikeforce.
The latest addition to Diaz's "legend" took place two weeks ago, when he skipped two separate press conference to hype his UFC 137 title fight against Georges St. Pierre. He lost that title shot to Carlos Condit, but the UFC decided against cutting him, instead inserting him in the co-main event against Condit's original opponent, B.J. Penn.
Dana White spoke with the media about handling Diaz (transcription from ESPN.com):
I believe, and maybe I'm a little goofy, that I have a good rapport with this kid and we can work together....Here's the thing about Nick Diaz -- he's just a different guy. I'm going to have to handle him different than I do every other guy in the UFC. But that's cool. I can do that. I can figure this out where I can work with Nick and we can make this happen. ...I told him, listen, you have to show up. If people ask you questions, don't answer them if you don't want to. But you have to show up.
This is refreshing. In the past, the UFC and Dana White would have no problems tossing a guy like Diaz away, simply because he didn't fit into the UFC mold. And, to be fair, the UFC had every right to cut Diaz for his behavior. It's nice, however, to see that the UFC can step back, take a deep breath, and figure out the optimal course of action instead of making a reactive decision in the heat of the moment.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, guy, nick
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White opens up on Nick Diaz’s future in the UFC
With the air still rank with the stench of disappointment, it seems Nick Diaz’s removal from a main event match-up with welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137 may actually come with a positive in terms of long-term prospects.
UFC President Dana White recently spoke about the situation and mentioned that he’d come around to seeing Diaz’s point of view to an extent and believed the same was true in return regarding the controversial Californian’s respect for media obligations.
Carlos Condit Replaces Diaz in UFC 137 Title-Fight
“When you’ve got a guy that’s funny like (Quinton Jackson), who speaks as nice as Jon Jones does…the list goes on and on,” White explained in a conversation with MMAJunkie. “But at the end of the day, Diaz isn’t showing up to give some big speeches, and he’s not performing in front of (the press). He’s coming to fight, and that kid shows up to fight.”
“I told him, ‘Listen. You have to show up for the press conference,” White continued. “’You can sit there and (not) say a word. People can ask you questions. Don’t even answer them if you don’t want to. You have to show up. You have to be there.’ We’ll see what happens.”
White also stated that he felt it was his job to manage fighters’ personalities rather than sacrificing the ability to deliver the match-ups fans want to see, as well as credited Diaz’s behavior leading up to UFC 137 as being in previous situations where the “inmates run the asylum”.
“If he’s fighting in Strikeforce before we owned it and doesn’t show up for a press conference, what’s Scott Coker going to do? Cancel the main event? Hell no. That would never happen in a million years,” White elaborated.
Whether White’s optimism pays off down the road remains to be seen but something unquestionably true is his commitment to making things work.
Diaz will face BJ Penn at UFC 137 on October 29 in hopes of winning his eleventh consecutive clash. The outspoken former Strikeforce champion is 25-7 in his career with past victories over Frank Shamrock, Robbie Lawler, KJ Noons, and Paul Daley.
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, years ,”, paul daley
Read the full article at Fighters.comDana has 'rapport' with Diaz, title shot still possible
Nick Diaz’s removal from the UFC 137 title fight with Georges St. Pierre was entirely without prejudice to his future title shot hopes, according...
Posted in: title shot, diaz, title, georges st, shot
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyUFC boss warming to Nick Diaz, won't rule out title fight with UFC 137 win
DENVER - Apparently, Dana White is learning to play Nick Diaz's game as much as Diaz is learning White's.
White's outlook on Diaz has brightened considerably since the former
Strikeforce champion no-showed the UFC 137 press conference and got
docked a main event fight against welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre.
Now fighting B.J. Penn at the Oct. 29 pay-per-view event, White said if
Diaz is victorious - and there's no more drama along the way - he could
be back in line for a title shot.
Posted in: ufc, title shot, diaz, nick diaz, event fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDana White Optimistic About Nick Diaz's Future in UFC
Filed under: UFC, VideosDENVER -- Dana White spoke to the media following Wednesday's UFC 135 press conference about his recent dealings with Nick Diaz, why he's optimistic they can work together, how he will treat Diaz and what a win over BJ Penn will mean for the native of Stockton, Calif.
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Posted in: ufc, diaz, bj penn, nick diaz, nbsp ;permalink
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNate Diaz vs Takanori Gomi odds for UFC 135 fight on Sept. 24
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is giving Japanese striking sensation Takanori Gomi a chance to exact revenge on Nick Diaz for his weedoplata at PRIDE 33 back in 2007.
Well, sort of.
Gomi will square off against little brother Nate at the upcoming UFC 135: "Jones vs. Rampage" event this Saturday night (Sept. 24) in Denver, Colorado, exactly four years and seven months to the day that he got inside the ring and went toe-to-toe against the elder Diaz.
And the oddsmakers don't like his chances.
"The Fireball Kid" is a +190 underdog heading into "Mile High City," while Diaz enjoys a -250 betting line, the first time he's been the odds-on pick to win since UFC 118 back in Auagust 2010.
Diaz is making his return to the land of the lightweights after finding moderate success at 170-pounds. The lean and lanky boxer found it difficult to compete with the grappling beats patrolling the welterweight waters.
Ironically enough, it was that exact reason he initially made the jump up in weight, as he had lost three of his last four contests at 155-pounds.
Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson and Gray Maynard all largely had their way with him.
Of course, Diaz is always good for an interesting style match-up and that's exactly what Gomi represents. And with the bad blood between both camps, we may very well be in for a good old-fashioned passionate ass-whooping.
But who will be on the receiving end of it? Anyone like Gomi in the upset? Or is he too submission prone?
Let's hear your play.
For more UFC 135 odds and betting lines check out odds aggregate Odds Shark by clicking here.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, gomi, odd, lines check
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Blueprint - Diaz vs. Gomi
February 24, 2007.That was the night that Nick Diaz transformed into the underground icon that he is today. He did it by engaging in one of the most entertaining fights of the year with Japanese superstar Takanori Gomi. Diaz won the bout with one of the most improbable submission holds in the sport. A gogoplata is a move where a fighter uses his shin to choke out his foe from the guard. The move itself is a thing of lore, a move often practiced in the gym, particularly at Eddie Bravo’s Tenth Planet Jiu-Jitsu. But it is a move that is exceedingly difficult to pull off in competition. Diaz did it while getting punched in the face by his foe.Despite the fact that the fight result was later switched to a no contest, Diaz officially came into his own as a professional fighter on that night, racking up an 11-1 record in his next 12 fights en route to winning and defending the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship.Nick’s little brother Nate hopes to follow in his footsteps on Saturday night, when he gets his own crack at Gomi. For the younger Diaz, the fight has major career implications. He is riding a two-fight losing streak. Three in a row sometimes results in a trip to the unemployment line, so one could say that Diaz is fighting for his short-term future.Gomi also has something to prove. The former PRIDE Lightweight Champion was once the biggest name in the sport among 155-pounders. But he is only 1-2 in his three-fight UFC career. A win over Diaz on Saturday night instantly reestablishes his relevance in the lightweight division. There is no doubt how Diaz will approach the fight. He is a carbon copy of his brother. He looks to box from a southpaw stance with pawing hands disguising crisp, short punches from unorthodox angles. He drops his hands time and time again, seemingly sticking out his chin in taunting fashion, only to land a jab from his waist or a left hand thrown from the same position. Diaz does not have knockout power. Not at all. He has only a single knockout on his resume over the last five-plus years. Granted, that one knockout was a jaw-dropping display of precision striking against the bigger Rory Markham. But that isn’t his forte. He instead uses his boxing to dare an opponent to take him down, so he can utilize his brown belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.Make no mistake about it: Diaz would be a black belt under just about any other BJJ master. Cesar Gracie gives out black belts like the IRS does tax exemptions. He has sick submission skills. Seriously sick. Very few fighters want to test his guard game. Diaz will pound away at Gomi on the feet, hoping to either get taken down or find an opening for an easy takedown. He knows that on the ground, he will hold a major advantage in this fight.That is not likely the case on while the fight is on the feet. Unlike Diaz, who boxes with “chip away at the mountain until it crumbles” style, Gomi is a home run hitter. He has no interest in the feeling out process. He is all about firing punches with bad intentions. Those who have long been watching the Japanese slugger know that he is the holder of the fastest knockout in PRIDE history—a six-second obliteration of Ralph Gracie in 2004.Gomi mixes his boxing with good, solid wrestling skills. He isn’t a slick submission guy. Instead, his ground game focuses on ground and pound. And he fires his strikes on the ground with the same ferocity that he does on the feet, which is why there are a string of opponents he left lying on the canvas in an unconscious heap during his PRIDE fighting career.Because of that, he won’t have any qualms taking down the younger Diaz brother on Saturday night. Gomi will be in major trouble if he tries to play the jits game with Diaz. He will be just fine if he keeps Diaz busy defending punches, rather than moving through his submission transitions. If Gomi has a weakness on the feet, it is the fact that he tends to drop his head and loop his right hand when he really wants to load up, which is pretty often. Diaz can take advantage of that by identifying the strike, stepping to his left and firing a right uppercut. That sounds counterintuitive, but by stepping to his left, he can avoid the looping right while still keeping himself in good position to effectively counter with his right hand. Diaz shouldn’t expect to score a knockout with his punches. As mentioned, he is not a true power puncher, and Gomi has a very good chin. Sure, he has been hurt several times during fights. But nobody has knocked him out in 40 professional fights, and it is unlikely that Diaz will be the first to do so on Saturday.Instead, if Diaz can land a good right uppercut, he can clean it up with a left hand down the pipe. Those shots in combination should leave Gomi either wobbly and wide open for a takedown or desperate to score a takedown of his own. Either way, Diaz should then be able to take the fight to the ground, where he can utilize his biggest strength against Gomi’s biggest weakness.Despite the fact that Gomi is a good wrestler with solid ground-and-pound game, his submission defense is less than stellar. Six of his eight professional losses (or five of seven, if you exclude Nick’s no contest) occurred by submission. That is a big hole in his game, one that Diaz can exploit.Gomi’s game plan should be to avoid fighting in a phone booth with Diaz. Even though he is the bigger puncher, his foe will be the one who is much more comfortable fighting in close quarters. Diaz trains constantly with one of the best in-fighters in the sport—his brother. Gomi needs space to land his long, looping bombs. Plus, he needs space to avoid getting overwhelmed with Diaz’s swarming, pawing, non-stop punches.Establishing space means using good lateral movement. Since Gomi is fighting a southpaw, he should circle to his own left behind the jab. The key is to position his lead left foot outside of Diaz’s lead right foot. By doing that, he creates a perfect throwing lane for his overhand right. He can lead with the punch, when the opportunity presents itself, since Diaz will have his hands at his sides most of the time.That is the fight in a nutshell. I have no idea who is going to win this one. Gomi will have tremendous motivation to try and avenge his former loss to the Diaz family. Nate will have equal motivation to follow in his brother’s footsteps. Whoever wins, this fight has “Fight of the Night” written all over it.
Posted in: fight, diaz, right, gomi, hand
Read the full article at UFCUFC 135 fight card: Nate Diaz vs Takanori Gomi preview
Two of the sports most exciting lightweights will wage war this Saturday night (September 24, 2011) on the UFC 125 main card as The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five winner, Nate Diaz, takes on "The Fireball Kid" Takanori Gomi.
After getting tossed around in his last fight, Diaz is dropping back down to 155 pounds, a weight class in which he's balanced great success with frustration against the top wrestlers in the division. He couldn't have asked for a more ideal opponent in Takanori Gomi.
Gomi's reputation as the most dangerous lightweight in the world has faded, but he sticks packs a wallop in his fists as evidenced by his incredible knockout of Tyson Griffin last year. Gomi was completely baffled by Clay Guida's funky movement in his last fight bu the shouldn't have any problems finding his opponent's head this time around.
This bout also has added significance as Gomi competed against Nate Diaz's older brother Nick at Pride 33 in one of MMA's most entertaining fights of all time. Gomi would lose via gogoplata (although the result would be overturned after Diaz tested positive for marijauna.) Gomi would love an opportunity to take some vengeance out on Diaz's baby brother.
Can Nate Diaz douse "The Fireball Kid" with a healthy dose of volume punches and submissions? Will Gomi be able to connect with the sledgehammers he calls fists and stop Diaz via strikes for the first time? Which lightweight will get back on track in the crowded 155 pound division?
Nate Diaz
Record: 13-7 overall, 8-5 in the UFC
Key Wins: Melvin Guillard (UFC Fight Night 19), Marcus Davis (UFC 118), Kurt Pellegrino (UFC Fight Night 13)
Key Losses: Rory MacDonald (UFC 129), Dong Hyun Kim (UFC 125), Gray Maynard (UFC Fight Night 20)
How he got here: Nate Diaz didn't take the easy road. He made his MMA debut in the WEC and by his seventh professional fight, he was fighting for the promotion's lightweight title against Hermes Franca at the Brazilian's peak, losing via submission in the second round.
Undeterred, Diaz tried out for season five of The Ultimate Fighter, the first season to showcase the lightweight division. The self-assured Stockton native was one of the season's stars, constantly arguing with castmates, guest coaches and the like. He defeated Rob Emerson, Corey Hill and most impressively Gray Maynard via submission to compete in the finale where he would be gifted the show's championship after fellow finalist Manny Gamburyan separated his shoulder in the main event.
Diaz got off to a hot start, defeating his first five UFC opponents before being derailed by tough wrestlers Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson. After an impressive second round submission of Melvin Guillard, Diaz would lose a split decision to Gray Maynard which would fuel his decision to bump up a weight class.
At welterweight, Diaz again was off to a terrific start, stopping both Rory Markham and Marcus Davis in his first two fights. This would put him in a position against some of the toughest young 170 pounders. Diaz had trouble getting outmuscled by Dong Hyun Kim in a tightly contested match and would get tossed around the cage by Rory MacDonald in a bout where he was completely physically dominated.
This spurred the decision to return to lightweight, as suggested by his coach Cesar Gracie and Diaz was paired up against Takanori Gomi, a scrappy fighter with some serious history against his brother.
How he gets it done: In the stand-up department, expect Diaz to probe with his jabs, pitter-pattering Gomi with volume punches in a style very similar to his brother. Nate Diaz does not have the power of his older sibling, but he possesses similar endurance and can throw just as many strikes. As evidenced by his fights against Rory Markham and Marcus Davis, he can still do some serious damage with his punches.
Another key element in Diaz's attack is his use of judo techniques while scrambling in the clinch. The Cesar Gracie fighter has some fantastic trips at his disposal as well as perfectly timed throws if he ever notices that his opponent is off balance.
On the ground, the TUF season five winner has some nasty submissions in his arsenal. He's just as capable of finishing a fight from his back as on top, if not moreso. He finished fighters like Kurt Pellegrino and Melvin Guillard after being put on his back and Gomi fell into a similar trap against his brother.
Diaz loves to bang but by keeping the fight standing, he's risking getting "Tyson Griffon'd" by Gomi's power. He'll be the more accurate striker, but there will be a huge risk of that flash knockout. The best plan of action would be to close the distance, work a trip takedown or even pull guard and then go to work with his lethal submission. If Diaz can get this fight to the ground, he's over halfway to victory already.
Takanori Gomi
Record: 32-7 (1 No Contest) overall, 1-2 in the UFC
Key Wins: Tyson Griffin (UFC on Versus 2), Jens Pulver (Pride Shockwave 2004), Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pride Bushido 9)
Key Losses: Clay Guida (UFC 125), Kenny Florian (UFC Fight Night 21), B.J. Penn (Rumble on the Rock 4)
How he got here: At one point, Takanori Gomi was the most feared lightweight on the planet. He began his career 14-0 and primarily as a freestyle and catch wrestler. Despite his current reputation as an incredibly powerful striker, "The Fireball Kid" only scored two knockouts in his first 14 fights.
He ran into his first roadblock with consecutive losses to Joachim Hansen and B.J. Penn in late 2003 but would bounce back in impressive fashion, famously winning 10 straight in Pride including first round stoppage victories over Jens Pulver, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Hayato Sakurai. He would also win and defend the Pride lightweight championship during this period.
The heavy-handed Japanese striker would famously compete in one of MMA's most legendary fights, brawling with Nick Diaz at Pride 33 and nearly knocking out the elder Diaz brother before gassing out and getting caught in a slick gogoplata. His loss to Diaz was overturned, but the memory of that fight is forever burned into the minds of hardcore fans everywhere.
Gomi has gone 5-4 since the Diaz fight including a 1-2 stint in the UFC in which he was dominated by both Kenny Florian and Clay Guida but managed a knockout of the year candidate against Tyson Griffin. He could be fighting for his promotional future on Saturday night.
How he gets it done: Gomi has become so obsessed with his knockout power that he's allowed his wrestling and grappling skills to deteriorate. He's no longer a threat to take Nate Diaz down and either pound on him or soften him up for submissions, that would only open up opportunities for his opponent to latch on a submission hold.
Instead, Gomi needs to probe with his jab, use his footwork to cut off escape attempts and look for that knockout blow with his killer fists. Expect to see Gomi really work on finding his range before exploding with a power strike.
Nate Diaz isn't exactly known for his striking defense. He gets bloodied up or knocked down in a majority of his fights and that's something to be concerned about. Gomi has the power to not only knock Diaz down but put his lights out long enough to score a TKO victory or worse.
"The Fireball Kid" is known for his wild style and his reckless attacks in the stand-up realm. If Diaz wants a stand-up brawl, Gomi should accept the challenge and go for the knockout because at this point in his career, that's what he does best.
Fight "X-Factor:" The biggest X-Factor for this fight will be the battle between Takanori Gomi's fists and Nate Diaz's chin. We all know Diaz can take a shot and keep coming, but that doesn't mean he's impossible to knock out. Diaz has a knack for getting cracked early in a fight and that's the big opportunity that Gomi needs to seize.
What happens if Gomi connects early could be the deciding factor in this bout. Diaz usually recovers very quickly and not only survives, but bounces back to win the fight. He did so against both Melvin Guillard and Marcus Davis and he's capable of doing it again.
If Gomi does hurt Diaz early, he absolutely needs to rush him and try desperately for the finish because he will lose ground with every second that ticks off the clock while Diaz becomes stronger.
Bottom Line: When Gomi fought Nick Diaz, it was one of the greatest fights in MMA history. While expectations are high for this bout, it won't live up to that legendary tilt, nor should we expect it to. What fans should expect is an exciting stand-up brawl with the possibilities of becoming a ground battle if Diaz sees an opportunity or begins to lose the striking exchanges. While standing, this has the potential to be as fun to watch as any fight on the card. This is my pick for "Fight of the Night" so don't miss out.
Who will come out on top at UFC 135? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Which lightweight will prevail on Saturday night in the second bout of the UFC 135 main card?
Nate Diaz
Takanori Gomi
165 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, gomi, nate
Read the full article at MMA ManiaIs Diaz really trapped in a prison?
submitted by MothaFcknZargon [link] [8 comments]
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Read the full article at RedditThe Cut List: Who's in Desperate Need of a Win at UFC 135?
Filed under: UFCUFC 135 in Denver may feature a title fight at the top of the card, but it also includes its share of fighters who are struggling just to get back in the win column. Some get more second chances than others to turn a losing skid around, but there are at least a couple who could be looking at a win-or-go-home scenario.
Who are they, and what are their chances to stay employed after Saturday night? For answers and analysis, we turn to The Cut List.
Nate Diaz (13-7, 8-5 UFC)
Who he's facing: Takanori Gomi
Why he's in danger: Don't look now, but the younger Diaz brother has lost two straight in the UFC after being outgrappled by both Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald. There's no shame in losing to either of those beasts, but three in a row is still a dangerous place to be, so he needs this one against Gomi. What complicates matters is Nick Diaz's suddenly shaky footing with the UFC, though I'm not sure if it helps or hurts Nate in the end. With Nick around, you get a real appreciation for how reasonable and easy to work with Nate is. Plus, just how much would the already paranoid, conspiracy theory-prone Nick freak out if the UFC cut his brother so shortly after his own troubles with the Zuffa overlords? I don't know, and I'm not sure I want to find out. The best thing for all non-Gomi parties would be for Nate to win this fight and save his bosses the trouble of making those decisions. Still, you can bet that Gomi still remembers what happened in his infamous Pride bout with Nick and is eager for a little revenge against Stockton's first family of fisticuffs.
Odds of getting cut: 4-1. This is a fight Diaz should win, since Gomi will likely be content to keep it on the feet, where Diaz's height and reach should give him problems. Even if he loses, he's still an exciting enough fighter to warrant one more chance. The only thing he really can't do is follow in his brother's footsteps and fail the drug test.
Matt Hughes (45-8, 18-6 UFC)
Who he's facing: Josh Koscheck
Why he's in danger: Okay, so Hughes isn't really looking at a potential cut per se, but rather a contract that might not be renewed once this final fight is in the books. And honestly? That's not such a bad thing. Hughes will be 38 in October, and the welterweight division of today is not the same one he dominated half a decade ago. If he sticks around he's probably looking at an increasingly depressing game of diminishing returns, and for what? He doesn't need the money and he's got nothing left to prove in this sport. In fact, the worst-case scenario might be that he upsets Josh Koscheck and decides that Matt Hughes is back, baby! Then he might actually get a new contract, and before you know it he's the 40-year-old ex-champion getting thumped by Seth Baczynski in a co-co-main event. The best thing might be for him to ride off into the sunset here, which seems a lot more likely to happen if he ends up taking the beating that oddsmakers are forecasting. Koscheck is like a younger, more powerful, and slightly more abrasive version of Hughes. In a bizarre way, it could be the perfect passing of the torch.
Odds of getting cut not retained: Even. I think Hughes is in for a rough night against Koscheck, and I expect that will only make it easier for him to decide that he'd rather be at home in Hillsboro. It's the right call and the right time for it.
Takanori Gomi (32-7-1 NC, 1-2 UFC)
Who he's facing: Nate Diaz
Why he's in danger: Gomi managed to sandwich a knockout win over Tyson Griffin in between losses to Kenny Florian and Clay Guida, so it's not as if he's been fighting chumps since coming to the UFC. At the same time, winning more fights than you lose is the best way to ensure job security. A loss to Diaz and Gomi falls to 1-3 in the Octagon, and right after his 33rd birthday. That might make the Japanese lightweight seem like a bad bet to the UFC brass, especially when you look at the uninspired last few years of his career. He can be an exciting slugger when he gets the chance to fight his fight, but he also seems to lack the overall game necessary to ever become a serious contender in a division full of bull-headed wrestlers.
Odds of getting cut: 5-1. Unless he loses very, very badly, "The Fireball Kid" is probably sticking around at least until the UFC's Japanese invasion in 2012.
Takeya Mizugaki (14-6-2, 1-1 UFC)
Who he's facing: Cole Escovedo
Why he's in danger: Right off I'll just say it -- Mizugaki should consider himself lucky to have made the cut when the UFC absorbed the WEC. He was up and down for his entire stay in the WEC, winning the easier ones and losing the tough ones. Not that defeats to guys like Urijah Faber and Miguel Torres are signs that you suck, but let's be honest and admit that the current lack of depth in the bantamweight division hasn't hurt Mizugaki any. This prelim bout against Cole Escovedo is a little like the scene in Dark Knight where The Joker drops a broken pool cue in the middle of some faceless henchmen for "tryouts." The loser here faces an uncertain future with the UFC.
Odds of getting cut: 2-1. This is a very winnable fight for Mizugaki, who can take a beating with the best of them. If he's smart, he'll approach it as a must-win and behave accordingly.
Cole Escovedo (17-7, 0-1 UFC)
Who he's facing: Takeya Mizugaki
Why he's in danger: Escovedo's career has been a rollercoaster ride in more ways than one. He's been up and down in weight, while also following impressive winning streaks with strings of losses. He's 1-3 in his last four, and that one wasn't against a particularly impressive opponent. In his lone UFC bout to date he lost a unanimous decision to Nova Uniao standout Renan Barao. He and Mizugaki are fairly evenly matched, so there's no better time to show the brass that he can be something other than an opponent. But with the way he's been going lately, he probably won't get too many more chances to do it.
Odds of getting cut: 3-1. I give Mizugaki the slight edge in this one. If Escovedo can't pull it out, there won't be many reasons for the UFC to keep him around. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, gomi, mizugaki
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseTWIQ: MMA Quotes for the Week of September 11 - 17
HOW TO LOSE A MILLION DOLLARS IN 24 HOURS
"I'm not trying to make all these little excuses." - Nick Diaz, on the UFC pulling him from the UFC 137 main event for skipping back-to-back press conference. Excuses follow. (MMA Junkie)
"If I'd have known the fight was going to be off, I would have [expletive] gone to the press conference, or I would have told somebody, 'Hey, if I don't make it to this stupid [expletive], I'm not fighting.' I think that people would have gotten me there. I think people would have come and gave two [expletive] and gotten me to that press conference.'" - Diaz. It's not my fault because no one told the fight would be off.
"I didn't even know there was a press conference. I thought it was some PR thing. ... People were trying to tell me, 'You're going to do this skit' and that I was going to be a part of some PR skit where I had this part where I was walking through a hall, kind of like that scene Jake Shields did. I was like, 'What the [expletive]? Are you kidding?'" - Diaz. It's not my fault because no one told me it was actually a press conference.
"I just don't think it's that big of a deal. ... It's not like there's people banging on my door trying to get an interview or something - snap pictures of me. Nobody gives a [expletive]." - Diaz. It's not my fault because no one cares.
"The bottom line is Georges is being a little bitch. He didn't step up and say anything when the UFC pulled me out of this fight. I understand sometimes you have to do what you're told, but why wouldn't you tell the media you still want to fight me?" - Diaz. It's not my fault that Georges St. Pierre is a coward.
"If I was Georges, I would want to fight the best. I would have asked for the Anderson Silva fight. I would have asked to fight the Strikeforce champ." - Diaz, who vacated the Strikeforce title.
"But he sits there like a robot and doesn't say anything at all, just like he's not going to say anything about me calling him a bitch now. If I saw B.J. Penn walking down the street and called him a bitch, we would be fighting right there on the spot." - Diaz
"The truth is Georges doesn't want to fight me in the street or in a cage. He knows who I am, and he knows where I came from." - Diaz, says the guy who got himself pulled from the fight.
YOU GOTTA SAY NICK DIAZ'S NAME NOW
"And they forced me to say at the of the whole thing, they forced me to say-- You gotta say Nick Diaz's name now. You gotta say his name. ... They're like, 'Say you're gonna beat Nick Diaz. Say you're gonna beat Nick Diaz.'" - B.J. Penn, on shooting new footage for the UFC 137 Countdown show. UFC President Dana White responded with two minutes of "raw and uncut" footage disproving Penn's claim. Penn responded with another video clip of his own, this one from before his fight with Kenny Florian. (BJPenn.com)
"I have no idea how this UFC interviewer situation got this big. I never wanted to attack the UFC, people were calling and telling me Diaz wasn't going to sign and I got paranoid thinking they were going to use that clip to get him to sign the contract, my bad." - Penn, somehow clueless at how a situation his own website distributed blew up in the echo chamber. (BJPenn.com)
NIKOLAI VALUEV IS STILL SEARCHING FOR HIS YETI
"I wasn't underestimating him, but after he punched me I couldn't see a thing, I wasn't controlling my body anymore. I was doing things automatically, I could only see shadows." - Antonio Silva, who was knocked out in the first round by Daniel Cormier. (Tatame)
"I was well prepared, but he punched me." - Silva. Truer words...
"That's the only chance Cormier has got, his punch. He isn't any good on the ground to fight Josh there. He knows wrestling, but... I guess Josh Barnett will win, he's more complete." - Silva
DON'T SAY THAT, RAMPAGE
"He can have a live feed on me. 'Bones' can watch me brush my teeth in the morning and see what toothpaste I used, who I am training with and how hard I am working, and he can see which hand I wipe my ass with for all I care." - Quinton Jackson. For the record, he uses the right hand of Tiki Ghosn. (Yahoo! Sports)
WHITE NOISE
"We have all kinds of stuff going and I didn't need this in my life." - UFC President Dana White, on the Red Sox lead in the AL Wild Card race falling to two games. Go, Rays, go! (Yahoo! Sports)
PARTING SHOTS
"I (had) thought Strikeforce was a cancer patient. Man, it's a damn AIDS patient instead – with Dr. Jack Kevorkian in the background ready to pull the plug." - Muhammed Lawal. Kevorkian, for the record, never pulled the plug. (MMA Junkie)
"I do get frustrated when I hear people say that Anderson Silva's wiped out the middleweight division. He hasn't wiped out the middleweight division: He's got to fight me yet." - Michael Bisping. Anderson's got to fight Alessio Sakara, too. (MMA Mania)
"Who cares? We're free on Spike. Are you kidding me? Mayweather ... who's Mayweather?" - Jake Ellenberger, who didn't make $30 million this weekend. (Fight Hub TV)
"It is funny how the real guy, the guy with the money, the real boss behind the scenes, is the coolest guy and the front man can be a bit of a problem." - Paul Daley. I don't know, Paul. Avon Barksdale is a bit of a problem. (Five Knuckles)
"Vitor is very dangerous, but I'm very dangerous too. We have two dangerous guys in the ring and we are going to see which one of us is more dangerous." - Cung Le. After the fight, Le will party in dangerous San Jose, partaking in some dangerous liquor. In the morning, his dangerous wife will wake him up to eat a dangerous breakfast of eggs and bacon with a dangerous glass of orange juice. He will read the dangerous newspaper, while his dangerous kids run around playing dangerous games like tag. He will invite his dangerous friends over to sit down on his dangerous couch to watch some dangerous football on a dangerous Sunday afternoon. They will eat dangerous chili and drink dangerous beer and talk about dangerous things. Someone will ask Le a dangerous question, and Le will respond, "Vitor Belfort is the more dangerous man." (Heavy MMA)
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, ." , press conference
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDiaz payday 'would have been $1.4m'
Last week, a report regarding Nick Diaz’s removal from the title fight with Georges St. Pierre claimed that the former Strikeforce champion was losing...
Posted in: diaz, strikeforce champion, georges st, diaz payday, title fight
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyDiaz reportedly losing seven figures due to no-shows
Dave Metzler’s Wrestling Observer (subscription required) reported this week that the rebooking of Nick Diaz out of the main event at UFC 137 likely cost the ex-Strikeforce champ to lose at least six figures due to the loss of his PPV cut.
The Wrestling Observer states that Diaz would have been paid seven figures regardless of the outcome of his fight with GSP. Now, he’s likely going to make “very slightly more” than what he would have made if he defended his Strikeforce belt against Tyron Woodley. Diaz made $175,000 in his last title defense against Paul Daley. So, he may be making somewhere around that figure against BJ Penn.
Payout Perspective:
The report is that Diaz didn’t have his passport for the Canadian press conference and didn’t realize the Las Vegas meetup was a press conference but merely a photoshoot. Regardless, these are things that a professional knows and attends. Its inexplicable. The fact that Diaz is going to fight for less on the same card has to be downright painful: emotionally and financially. Yet, it seems like these are the types of situations Diaz wants to find himself in: the establishment holding him down and preventing him from getting a huge payday.
Its still interesting that the UFC pulled the switch on the card. If the UFC wanted to punish Diaz, it could have just withheld his PPV cut and still had the match-up. The two people the rebooking helped were likely Carlos Condit (not clear if he gets a PPV cut) and BJ Penn (who likely was given a bump in pay for the switch of fights).
Posted in: diaz, bj penn, figure, nick diaz, situations diaz
Read the full article at MMA PayoutMMA Link Club: Nick Diaz talk 24/7… is he the industry’s most interesting man?
Nick Diaz is off the UFC 137 main event and, yet, nobody can stop talking about him... for better or for worse.
Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, industry ’s, nick, nobody
Read the full article at Fight OpinionNick Diaz out vs. GSP at UFC 137
Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz missed two scheduled press conferences and will not fight Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137. UFC President Dana White was quick to crackdown against the frequent rule breaker, while also setting an example for other fighters unwilling to go along with the Zuffa empire.
Even longtime coach and mentor, Cesar Gracie, believes Diaz “got what he deserved” for skipping the scheduled press conferences in Toronto and Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Carlos Condit
Diaz is a long-time rule breaker, but most within the MMA community assumed he would go along with things enough to earn himself the UFC welterweight title shot. It’s foolish to believe White and the UFC brass thought Diaz, even with the
possibility of a big payday and title shot would suddenly “play the game.”
Ironically, a simple conference call — which Diaz has routinely skipped in the past — would have helped hype the fight without forcing the fighters to travel so much prior to the fight. Either way, Diaz should have realized there would be severe consequences for missing the press conference, and we’ll see what develops from here.
It’ll be interesting to see if the UFC releases Diaz altogether, or if they will give him another shot in the No. 1 MMA organization. Diaz has good boxing, tireless cardio, and solid BJJ skills that will pose instant problems for most welterweights (both inside and out of the UFC octagon).
Posted in: ufc, diaz, rule breaker, conference, press conferences
Read the full article at MMA Opinion
Opportunity Knocks for Carlos Condit
By Darnell Myrick
Today at the special press conference in Las Vegas, Dana White announced that will not be headlining the card next month against Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship. Georges St. Pierre will now defend his Welterweight Championship against former WEC Welterweight Champion, Carlos Condit.
The news broke after Nick Diaz failed to appear at two press conferences to promote . The press conferences were held in Toronto and the host city for UFC 137, Las Vegas. Diaz reportedly missed a flight to Toronto and asked to be booked on another flight. Diaz missed the second flight and asked for a third flight and missed that one, which cost him his shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship. Diaz has not returned any of Dana White’s calls. Dana has also called Nick’s friends and his brother, Nate, and they do not what Nick is doing. Cesar Gracie, Diaz’s manager, called Dana White at the press conference and apologized on Nick’s behalf and he agreed with the decision that Dana made to replace Nick.
was already training for a fight at UFC 137. He was supposed to face BJ Penn on the same card in the co-main event, in a fight that would have made him the number one contender for the Welterweight Championship if he would have beaten BJ Penn. Condit currently is riding a four fight winning streak against Jake Ellenberger, Rory MacDonald, Dan Hardy, and Dong Hyun Kim, three of the wins have come by KO/TKO (MacDonald, Hardy, Kim). Dana White believes that Condit deserves a crack at the UFC Welterweight Championship and he was the only person that the UFC considered for replacing Nick Diaz. Dana White said that when Condit was offered the fight, he started crying as he was excited about the chance to face GSP for the title.
It is unknown what they will do now with Nick Diaz and BJ Penn. watch?v=dTtfhYvQBUI&feature=channel_video_title
Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, dana, welterweight
Read the full article at Octagon Mania