The new UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit has taken the offensive by saying he doesn’t care about Nick Diaz failing his drug test. “I don’t care,” Condit said. “The thing about it is, it’s something …
The new UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit has taken the offensive by saying he doesn’t care about Nick Diaz failing his drug test.
“I don’t care,” 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,” Condit told SI.com.
At UFC 143, Condit and Diaz locked horns for the aforementioned title, with the winner guaranteed a shot at the division’s perennial titlist Georges St-Pierre.
Diaz, who thought he’d done enough to capture the belt, felt hard done by, when a unanimous verdict was read out by the judges, a decision that prompted the Stockton native to take drastic measures—his retirement from MMA (Mixed Martial Arts).
If that wasn’t a bitter enough pill to swallow, he was then informed that he’d tested positive for marijuana metabolites, a banned substance that more or less will culminate in a fine and ban by the (NSAC) Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Although Condit won the bout, there were those who felt the fight was too close to call in favor of the latter and thus a rematch was bandied about.
And with UFC President Dana White‘s sign of approval, a rematch was set in motion, until news of the Californian’s positive drug test threw a spanner in the works.
The controversial decision, the rematch cancellation and Diaz’s failed drug test has in no small part taken the shine off Condit’s moment of glory, and he isn’t too chuffed about it.
“Honestly, I don’t,” he said. “It was not as satisfying as it should be, with all this stuff that went on afterward.”
That said, “The Natural Born Killer” is still looking forward to his date with destiny and the contentment that will follow if he can usurp St-Pierre as the 170-lb kingpin.
“Ultimately, I see Georges St-Pierre as the champion,” Condit said. “I’m not satisfied until I fight and beat the champion and I’m the undisputed welterweight champion. That’s when I’ll be satisfied.”
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According to Cesar Gracie on The MMA Hour, his charge Nick Diaz was highly surprised that he tested positive for marijuana following his defeat to Carlos Condit at UFC 143: He was surprised he tested positive. He does the same ritual every fight for th…
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.
It’s more than likely that Diaz will receive a hefty fine and a lengthy ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) as a result of his drug infraction.
This is the second time Diaz has tested positive for marijuana, the first happening five years ago after his submission win over Takanori Gomi at Pride 33 in Japan. The test was taken prior to the fight, and the fight’s result was overturned to a no-contest. He was banned for six months and fined $3000.
Though the drug was used for medicinal purposes, the Commission still saw fit to pull the Stocktonian up on the violation, something that hasn’t sat to well with Gracie.
“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.”
It’s now common knowledge that the Stockton native subsequently retired from MMA following the judge’s decision to award Condit the win and, with it, the interim welterweight title.
And if the Commission decides to go ahead with its punitive measures, Diaz may hold firm with his retirement plans.
However, Gracie believes time away from the sport could force Diaz to reconsider, thus eventuating in his return to MMA:
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.
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.
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Though the opportunity to find out who is the more consummate combatant has gone awry due to Nick Diaz testing positive to marijuana, welterweight king Georges St-Pierre still believes that he’s the better fighter of the two. “As far as Dia…
Though the opportunity to find out who is the more consummate combatant has gone awry due to Nick Diaz testing positive to marijuana, welterweight king Georges St-Pierre still believes that he’s the better fighter of the two.
Following his unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, a disgruntled Diaz decided to call time on his career, a decision that hasn’t sat too well with St-Pierre apropos what the Stocktonian could earn in future bouts, as well as the sacrifices that he has made en route to where he’s at now.
[…] “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.”
Despite the fact that he would love to throw down with Diaz, St-Pierre is now focusing on the task at hand, which is an eventual title defense against the new interim 170-pound champion Condit.
“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.”
“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.”
St-Pierre did say that a matchup with the Cesar Gracie fighter was not out of the question, as he believes Diaz would bring out the best in him if they were ever to lock horns. However, that is dependent on whether Diaz does a U-turn on his retirement plans.
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Moving up or down a weight class can present a fighter with both an added advantage in the combative realm as well as an opportunity to contest for several or more honors. If a fighter is having trouble cutting weight, then the best option should be to…
Moving up or down a weight class can present a fighter with both an added advantage in the combative realm as well as an opportunity to contest for several or more honors.
If a fighter is having trouble cutting weight, then the best option should be to move up a division, and if said fighter isn’t best suited to his assemblage; i.e., to small, then a drop in weight class could make all the difference.
The aforementioned also applies to fighters who feel they could compete in other weight categories other than their own.
For any fighter plying their trade in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, being victorious isn’t just a need, it’s a prerequisite. As the UFC is resident to over 300 active fighters and is expanding all the time, no one combatant is guarant…
For any fighter plying their trade in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, being victorious isn’t just a need, it’s a prerequisite.
As the UFC is resident to over 300 active fighters and is expanding all the time, no one combatant is guaranteed permanent residency there—unless, of course, they’re successful on a regularly basis, which is a hard feat to achieve given the company’s talent pool of fighters.
Once a fighter loses twice in a row, it’s more or less the UFC’s status quo that a third defeat is tantamount to the fighter in question being given his marching orders.
However, that hasn’t always been the case, as certain fighters who have lost consecutive bouts still end up with their jobs intact, whilst some have been released after just one defeat.
Here we’ll take a look at the fighters who are in dire need of a victory.
Ricky Goodall is one of those rare breed of fighters who views the sport of MMA as not only a means of putting food on the table, but also as an inherent part of his overall make-up, and one of the reasons why he’ll be throwing down in the main e…
Ricky Goodall is one of those rare breed of fighters who views the sport of MMA as not only a means of putting food on the table, but also as an inherent part of his overall make-up, and one of the reasons why he’ll be throwing down in the main event at Aggression AMMA 9 this Saturday weekend.
Following an injury sustained to Tyson Steele, Goodall was ushered in to fill the void, albeit at short notice (less than two weeks) and is now slated to lock horns with Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford.
The aforementioned situation is akin to Michael Bisping supplanting Mark Munoz in the co-main event at UFC on Fox 2. However, according to Goodall, it’s just another day at the office.
“I stay in shape and take my training very seriously; I would be ready to go at a moment’s notice,” Goodall told Bleacher Report.
This won’t be the first time that the Canadian denizen has had to compete in an event following an opponent pulling out due to an injury.
Back in May of 2011, Goodall, promoting his second MMA event under his company name East Coast Fight Productions, stepped in as a replacement when the main attraction of ECFP ll: Resurgence, Jaret MacIntosh was dropped from the card due to illness.
He went on to win the bout, defeating MacIntosh’s original opponent, Lenny Wheeler via first-round TKO. Goodall (9-4-1NC) accomplished that feat with less than two weeks preparation.
“I have fought twice in the last three months and have sustained no injuries, my store is located inside my MMA club so I eat, sleep and breathe this sport.”
So what is the motivation behind his frame of mind?
“I love the sport, inside and out. I’m lucky enough to have a disconnection to it emotionally in any way that hinders me and a strong emotional connection in all the ways that help me.”
Whilst Goodall has three apiece with regards to TKO’s, submissions and decisions in his win column, his opponent, fellow Canadian Ford, holds a record of 16-4 (eight stoppages and seven submissions), nevertheless, that has done nothing to deter or cause him any anxiety whatsoever.
“He’s human like anyone else.”
Though, that said, Goodall doesn’t even have a game plan heading into the bout, except for doing what his métier suggests—fight.
“I expect the bell to ring, the fight to start and two guys going to work until the jobs done. I’ve seen most of Ryan’s fights as I’m sure he’s seen mine, the game plan is to fight.”
If the fight goes in Goodall’s favor, he has two potential fights in the offing.
“I have a title fight with Extreme Cage Combat in Halifax in April and am signed for one more fight with Instinct MMA.”
As earlier mentioned, Goodall owns ECFP, but he also owns a relatively new combat sports store, called Collision Sports which is also his other pursuit.
“My store is my passion outside of fighting.”
So the 170-pounder is a fighter, promoter and entrepreneur all in one, something that most would find an arduous task, but that isn’t the case with Goodall when asked how he manages to juggle all three.
“The same way fighters with full time jobs and families do it; a passionate, make-no-excuses attitude. If you love it, it’s never work.”
Goodall continues “Fighting pays my bills.”
It’s highly admirably the way he goes about his life and business with a fervent viewpoint, something akin to “no mountain is insurmountable” and a “life is what you make it” outlook.
It shows he’s made of sterner stuff—he knows where he’s going and knows what he wants.
Though at present, Goodall, who turned 28 just yesterday would like two things—to promote shows in his hometown of Halifax as well as the promotion of one of his training partners at Titans MMA.
“I like having the small shows in my home town to bring MMA to smaller areas where it wouldn’t otherwise reach.”
“Gavin Tucker, one of my teammates is by far one of the most entertaining, high energy, focused fighters I have ever had the pleasure of meeting or training with. You’ll see his name in lights one day.”
Goodall, who began his professional mixed martial arts career in September of 2007, is currently riding a three-fight win streak; a win on Saturday could garner him interest from other organizations as was the case with Sean Pierson who defeated Goodall back in 2010—the UFC came calling.
Goodall also harbors ambitions of one day making it big in the MMA world, and he isn’t fussy about which organization he’s signed to in order to realize that dream, however, his answer was an affirmative “Yes” when the subject of crossing to the UFC was mentioned.
“My plan is to be at the top of any organization I fight for and to one day live financially free.”
Whenever a debate arises surrounding who the pound-for-pound king of the MMA realm is, two names are most likely to crop up—Anderson “The Spider” Silva and Georges “Rush” St-Pierre.
Goodall’s take on the matter is somewhat different.
“I think that’s hard to peg, I’m not so sure records prove who the best is, but Jon Jones is definitely at the top.”
That said, Jones ranks alongside Wanderlei Silva, Nate Marquardt and Matt Hughes as Goodall’s favorite fighters.
During a fighter’s career, some fights are both won and loss, however, the defeats are sometimes the hardest to swallow, especially when the combatant in question feels he was cheated out of a victory or at worst a draw.
That happened to Goodall when he faced off against Travis Briere at Unified MMA 5, losing via unanimous decision, a result that hasn’t sat too well with the Canadian; to such a degree that if there was one fighter he’d loved to throw down with, it would have to be Briere.
“We fought 5 rounds, with him being deemed the winner by one point, and he’s avoided the rematch ever since.”
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The new UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit has taken the offensive by saying he doesn’t care about Nick Diaz failing his drug test.