Genuine animosity between opponents typically creates a captivating and enthralling fight.
But when hostility boils over between a pair of polarizing figures like Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz, the notion of settling the score becomes downright tantalizing.
The former Strikeforce champ began his verbal crusade against “GSP” after pummeling B.J. Penn to win his 11th straight fight at UFC 137. There, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Diaz used his linguistic talents to not only embarrass the longtime welterweight champion, but to bait St-Pierre into eventually accepting the most significant fight of his career.
The ploy worked marvelously for Diaz, and following GSP’s win over Carlos Condit at UFC 154, “Rush” announced his desire to put “The Stockton Bad Boy” in his place.
When the dust settled, both fighters were granted their respective wishes. And although Diaz certainly appears more than willing to talk a strong game, it seems like a long shot that he possesses the ingredients to knock off GSP, a man who hasn’t tasted defeat since being finished by Matt Serra at UFC 69 in 2007.
Here’s a look at three reasons St-Pierre, deemed a 5-to-1 favorite (-500) by Bodog.net, will defeat Diaz to defend his welterweight strap for the ninth straight time.