There have been a plethora of great UFC title fights in 2012, but none have been quite as intriguing as Georges St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 154.
St-Pierre, who is recognized as the biggest pay-per-view draw in the UFC, returned to the Octagon after nearly a two-year hiatus to defend his welterweight title.
Leading up to the bout, fans got an inside look at the training camps of both fighters on the UFC’s “Primetime” show, which provided a nice contrast in journeys.
St-Pierre was returning from a torn ACL, an injury that has ruined the careers of a multitude of professional athletes. His segment represented a return to form. Could he still be that same dominant fighter that has ruled over the welterweight division for several years?
For Condit, it was all about achieving a lifelong goal of being a world champion.
Many saw the fight as another easy decision victory for St-Pierre, but fans were treated with a back-and-forth grueling battle of wills determined to hoist the undisputed UFC title.
The climatic portion of the fight occurred in the third round, when Condit dropped the champion with a left high kick. For years, people have questioned St-Pierre’s heart and ability to persevere.
After getting dropped, St-Pierre weathered the storm and found a way to overcome adversity.
In the end, St-Pierre was the one with his hand raised, but both fighters left the Octagon bloodied and bruised.
There are other bouts that should get consideration as top UFC title bouts in 2012.
Benson Henderson and Frankie Edgar had a couple of exciting lightweight title scraps that both ended in controversial decisions. Vitor Belfort’s near armbar on Jon Jones helped create plenty of drama at UFC 152.
This fight actually wasn’t that competitive, but Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen made UFC 148 the biggest fight card in UFC history.
Still, St-Pierre vs. Condit leaves a lasting all-around impression that exceeds every title bout so far this year.
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