They say “a picture tells a thousand words” and I can’t think of a better photo to describe the Mixed Martial Arts sport than the one [above] here. Thanks Cesar Gracie for posting it.
There were many tense moments leading up to this unforgettable night at UFC 137. It started with the main event change up from Nick Diaz getting a shot at the title against Georges St. Pierre to Dana White revoking the shot as punishment when Diaz cost him six flights he never made. White told the media in an unusual press conference in Las Vegas where he stood at a podium next to a seated GSP and an empty chair that he couldn’t trust Diaz to show up on fight night if Diaz wasn’t even willing to show up at a press event to promote it. He said, Carlos Condit will get the title-shot instead. When Condit received the call, he told us he couldn’t even speak to White, because he was so gratefully choked up. He called White back about 15 minutes later. Then he called his father.
But as it sometimes feels, that good guys finish last, Condit would not get to fulfill his title dreams just yet. GSP was injured in training and pulled out of the fight. White had already booked Diaz vs. BJ Penn to replace Condit in that co-main event, and Condit didn’t want to look for a replacement to fight as he felt he should wait for GSP to heal and keep his title-shot. So UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz was born with the tagline: “Expect the Unexpected”.
The card was filled with spectacular match-ups and hiccups throughout. Brad Tavares was injured, as well and pulled out, promoting Scott Jorgenson vs. Jeff Curran to the main card. On the day of weigh-ins, Tyson Griffin failed to make his 145 pound weight and opponent Bart Palaszewski agreed to a catchweight at 148. Griffin was knocked out by Palaszewski in the first round. Hatsu Hioki made his UFC debut and came out victorious amidst the crowd booing for what seemed a controversial split decision against George Roop. Roy Nelson retired Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic by TKO in the third round.
We learned from Cro Cop in the pre-fight press conference that he planned on this fight, (win or lose) to be his last. He came across very accepting and good with this decision, but in the post fight press conference, we were told by Dana White that Cro Cop would not be speaking with us, as he was very upset and had left the grounds immediately. Another fighter we would learn had become emotionally charged from his Unanimous Decision loss was a battered BJ Penn who unexpectedly announced his retirement when speaking to Joe Rogan. White told us in the press conference, he hadn’t heard about the announcement and would wait for BJ to take some time and let him know his plans.
Nick Diaz was suffering some medical issues of his own when he was finally able to join us in the post fight presser. He came out with a swollen eye and very somber over his win. He explained to us that he was not happy with the win and that he faced many challenges training for this fight. He let his disappointment over losing the title-shot get the better of him. He couldn’t afford to compensate training partners who no longer can offer their services for free or little money. He made mistakes and took punches on purpose. Then it was announced by Dana White that Diaz would receive the next title-shot. Condit had agreed to step aside after White had spoken with an extremely irate GSP who wants to fight Diaz for being so disrespectful. The event will happen over Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas and Condit wants to fight on the card. White assured that Condit will get the next shot after Diaz. Someone asked, what if Condit loses? White replied, “Oh Shit.”
Diaz wasn’t any happier with the news of his title-shot. He felt he had to come across as a villain in order to receive the shot and he is getting it, because now he called out GSP and everyone wants to see him get his ass kicked. Diaz doesn’t seem to reason, that most fans of the sport enjoy watching him fight and we want to see the match-up simply for this reason. But then, I think…here’s nice guy Condit, who in essence is [willingly] forced to step aside…hmm…maybe Diaz has a point.
Nick Diaz makes a few good points, though. He’s very misunderstood by some members of the press, as well as fans of the sport. And yet, he misunderstands the press and fans, in return. For example Diaz discussed his financial issues with us in lengthy description of how he takes long runs in beautiful neighborhoods with sprawling homes and returns to his seedy neighborhood where his car gets busted into and junkies are picking up cigarette butts around his house. We laughed at what Diaz described because his delivery was charming and honest. We got it. There are so many of us out there who could relate to him in this economy and often there is a need to inject humor about it. He didn’t understand it was a case of laughing with him. He mistook us for laughing at him. And it clicks that Nick Diaz isn’t a villain. He just doesn’t understand our motivations, as we don’t always understand his.
The basic reason for a person to choose the career path of professional fighting is the need for proving this talent. I think that’s what they all want. Even though Cro Cop planned to retire and has enriched both his fans and the new breed of fighters with his performances, he was upset because he had something to prove, even if it was just to himself. BJ took every shot like a warrior in his fight with Nick, because he had something to prove. And Nick follows in that similar mentality. Only there are two things Nick should know that he doesn’t have to prove… He is not a bad guy and he is a brilliant fighter.