Carlos Condit recently captured the always-maligned “interim” belt by edging out Nick Diaz at UFC 143 while Jake Ellenberger survived the third round of his fight with Diego Sanchez to remain a contender.
Those two fought a little over a year and a half ago in a closely contested three-round war of attrition with Condit winning by split decision. They are the top two combatants in the welterweight division outside of current champ Georges St-Pierre, who has not seen the inside of the Octagon in almost a year.
And neither man has a chance of beating GSP upon his return—well, maybe a punchers chance. No, the only one who can beat the French Canadian is himself. Either due to the injury that may keep him from returning to his former self—although his recovery is supposedly going great—or by way of any mental lapses.
Condit and Ellenberger are both very well rounded fighters—so saying they only have a puncher’s chance is not meant as an insult to either—St-Pierre is merely a better stand up fighter and wrestler than both. He can keep the fight upright and pick either apart or, if need be, take things to the ground and grind them out.
(Granted, Ellenberger is a great wrestler and would be much harder to take down, but if Sanchez can get “The Juggernaut” to the ground and beat on him, imagine what the champ could do.)
GSP is quite simply the most well-rounded fighter in the sport. His only real flaw is that he fights “safe” due to possibly still being scarred from the brutal beating he took from Matt Serra back at UFC 69.
So if you are optimistic that someone will give GSP a run for his money, don’t be. He is unstoppable unless he gets in his own way—or if Condit is able to “Dan Hardy” him or Ellenberger is able to “Jake Shields” him.
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