UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre will defend his title against the always-outspoken Nick Diaz on March 16th at UFC 158. The fight will mark St-Pierre’s second bout in four months, while Diaz will be returning from a forced hiatus of approximately 11 months.
Diaz was offered the pairing after St-Pierre expressed serious interest in the fight, which prompted Dana White to make the longtime fantasy matchup a reality.
While many feel that Johny Hendricks deserves a shot at St-Pierre after three consecutive wins against top-10 opponents—including two memorable knockouts—Diaz is arguably the more appealing name from a business standpoint.
Diaz has a more well-known career, and his “bad boy” antics and defensive, almost pitiable (I don’t mean that as an insult in the slightest) mindset have rendered him a polarizing figure.
Diaz brings a rugged in-your-face style that relies on forward movement and volume punching, with heavy emphasis on body shots. If he can put St-Pierre against the cage and uncork a few savage combinations, the champ could find himself in some deep waters.
So how does St-Pierre ensure he keeps his shiny belt?