Let me preface this by saying that there is no way I believe that Nick Diaz retired from the UFC after losing to Carlos Condit in a fight that was unbelievably close.
Diaz is just being dramatic…again. When he realizes the kind of fight he lost, there is no doubt that this fight will have a rematch and quite possibly a third and deciding bout.
It would be MMA’s Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier.
Diaz said at the post-fight press conference:
“I’m not going to accept this as a loss. I think I’m done with this MMA stuff, I don’t think they can pay me enough to do this again.”
Nope. I don’t believe him.
Besides the usual trash talking during the fight, Condit and Diaz put on the show of the night. While there was no knockout and this won’t win fight of the year, this is the game film to show younger fighters just how important preparation is.
Condit vs. Diaz was the kind of MMA fight that true fans of the sport love. It also didn’t hurt that both men were giving all they had and more with the Interim Welterweight Title on the line.
It didn’t take long for the fans at home to realize what the game plan for Condit was coming into this fight. With Condit’s high altitude training, he was determined to keep Diaz moving for 25 minutes and never attack Diaz head on.
Diaz likes to corner fighters against the fence and unload with a series of punches. In five full rounds, Diaz cornered Condit one time and got a series of good shots off before Condit kneed Diaz and move off the fence.
Condit told the media after his win on Saturday:
“Nick’s pace is second to none. Chopping down his legs and slowing his pace was definitely a part of the game plan. In other fights, I’ve come on strong in the later rounds and that’s what I felt would happen tonight. My endurance has always been a strong point of mine. … I think that has helped me in my fights.”
Condit wanted the fight in the center of the octagon and that’s where it was all night. The judges gave Diaz his points for pushing the tempo of the whole fight, but Condit didn’t tire and kept on sticking-and-moving to keep Diaz at distance.
With this fight ending in a unanimous decision after going five hard-fought rounds, it leaves the door wide open for interpretation and even future trash talk. This feud is not over.
Diaz will wake up in a few weeks and realize that he wants Condit again. For all we know, Condit may defend his title against Diaz before he gets to face Georges St-Pierre, the way GSP is always injured.
Either way, this fight will not be these two fighter’s last bout against the other.
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