It has now been more than four years since the UFC welterweight champion tasted shocking defeat from the hands of Matt Serra at UFC 69. The top-ranked 170-pounder has since established himself thoroughly as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. No one has really even challenged him since that fateful night in April 2007.
But now a new challenger has risen. Well, technically he might be considered an old challenger now, but it appears as if we’re finally going to see the long-awaited fight between Georges St-Pierre and former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz.
UFC 137 was originally set to be the host for this monumental bout, but complications with Diaz and his refusal to “play the game” cost him what was set to be his shot at the UFC welterweight championship.
Carlos Condit replaced Diaz as the scheduled opponent for GSP in the main event, while Diaz was pushed down the card to fight in the semi-main event against former champion BJ Penn.
However, an injury to St-Pierre resulted in the UFC completely scrapping the headline fight between GSP and Condit, thus pushing Diaz-Penn into the main event. Diaz crushed Penn that night, which eventually resulted in UFC president Dana White announcing him as the new No. 1 contender for the title at the UFC 137 post-fight press conference.
With the Diaz-GSP fight now back on, there is growing concern the UFC welterweight champion’s days on top may be numbered—and rightfully so.
Here are the top eight reasons why Nick Diaz, as crazy as he may be at times, is the biggest threat St-Pierre has ever faced as champion.