UFC’s second batch of fights on FOX may not have delivered on the level that fans wanted, but the promotion has barely any off time, with UFC 143 set for Feb. 4,.
This time, the main event is fan-friendly, with Nick Diaz taking on Carlos Condit. Both many are superior strikers, with each man being known for either submitting their opponents or knocking them out.
Neither man is known for going the distance or making boring fights, with Diaz winning Fight of the Night in his promotional debut, and his only fight so far with the company, and Condit winning Knockout of the Night twice and Fight of the Night once.
Both men are savants when it comes to fighting with Condit, having been given the nickname “Natural-Born Killer” for his talents at dispatching opponents at a young age.
Diaz is almost facing a mirror image of himself in many ways, albeit one that is a bit more polite.
Nick Diaz is just as talented, having fought in Pride and the original WEC before it was purchased by the UFC, but having just turned 28. Until recently, he was the Strikeforce welterweight champion and tried calling out UFC champion Georges St-Pierre.
It didn’t seem like the bout was going to happen, but then, the UFC bought out its competitor and put the fight together. The only problem is that Diaz no-showed for the press conferences, and a match was made between St-Pierre and Condit.
Then, both St-Pierre and Condit got injured, and BJ Penn and Diaz were forced to headline the card. Diaz still wanted a shot at the champion. Unfortunately, St-Pierre is going to be out for most of 2012, so Diaz will have to take the fight with Condit for the interim title and win it if he still wants the match.
And the biggest threat for Diaz in this match is letting himself take risks he can’t afford. For as talented as BJ Penn is, he has never been the greatest striker, but he chose to stand with Diaz anyway. Diaz obliged him and won.
But Diaz has been willing to stand and trade with fighters who excel at striking as well. In Strikeforce, he faced Paul “Semtex” Daley, a fighter known for his power punches, and almost got taken out because of it. He may have won in the end, but it was a gamble that he didn’t have to take.
Daley is weak against grappling and wrestling, and Diaz could have won if he had just put the fight on the ground, but that confidence in his abilities is what makes Diaz so great.
And against Condit, it will be his biggest weakness. Condit has more precise stand up than many of the other fighters Diaz has faced off with and could find a way to get through the former champion’s rangey boxing.
If Condit does find an opening, he might end the fight, as he has shown in both the Dan Hardy and Rory McDonald fights that he can make opponents pay for giving him openings and turn around any fight for a win.
And if Diaz gives him the chance, he may just do that at UFC 143.
Then, Diaz will have to wait even longer for a shot at the championship and the big-money fight that comes with it. Then, he might be too late.
Matthew Hemphill writes for the MMA and professional wrestling portion of Bleacher Report. He also hosts a blog elbaexiled.blogspot.com, which focuses on books, music, comic books, video games, film and generally anything that could be related to the realms of nerdom.
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