(Video courtesy of BlipTV/InsideMMA)
If you thought something smelled fishy when Carlos Condit simply stepped aside from his title shot with Georges St. Pierre for Nick Diaz, then perhaps it’s time you used that nose to fight crime. On a very special Halloween episode of Inside MMA, it was revealed by “The Natural Born Killer’s” agent and President of First Round Management, Malki Kawa, that Condit was not given an option to back out of his welterweight championship bout, saying:
“Contrary to what has been stated, Carlos did not step aside and allow this to happen, and would not just hand over an opportunity for him to achieve his greatest career goal, one that he has earned through his strong performances in the octagon. No option was given to him.”
And once again, Dana White has left us standing in the road with our underpants pulled over our head, breathing in the dust trail of his BMW as he and all our friends laugh their way to Spring Break in Cancun. Though most of you probably knew this was the case, as the UFC has become known for its “bullshittery,” its contradicts DW’s own statements at the UFC 137 post fight press conference that Carlos had agreed to become the welterweight Rashad Evans for the time being.
And I gotta say, besides being a dick move, taking away Condit’s shot and handing it to Nick Diaz, WHO ALREADY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND SQUANDERED IT, only adheres to the growing belief that the UFC would rather promote WWE style grudge matches than legitimate contender fights.
Does Diaz deserve a title shot after his dismanlting of Penn? Sure, but simply pushing aside a legit contender in Condit, who originally took the fight to save the UFC’s ass as a result of Diaz’s actions, doesn’t exactly put forth the sentiment that putting your head down and working hard will get you far in the sport’s highest promotion. Instead, it sends the message that forming coherent sentences during post fight interviews not involving f-bombs and simply allowing Joe Silva to do his job will get you jack squat. If you want a title shot, try bad mouthing the champ, the promotion that is paying you, and throw in some bitching about your current living situation and inability to buy a home for fair measure. Makes sense, right?
Now, before you lash out with cries of “It was Diaz’s title shot to begin with,” ask yourself this: Is this really the direction you want to see the UFC heading in? Maybe the words of Triple H are having a more resounding impact that we could have ever imagined.
-Danga