It may be sad to say, but it’s true, UFC main events are better when the two combatants have a disdain for one another. This is certainly the case for UFC 158 as welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and challenger Nick Diaz will have no problem finding their game faces on Saturday night.
In a conference call conducted to hype the main event, the two fighters had quite the exchange. Though the entire conference call was quite edgy, this particular segment began when a reporter asked GSP if he was pampered.
Here is the excerpt per Sherdog.
Diaz interrupted with this profane bark:
I hope so, motherf—–. If I had that much money, I’d be pampering myself up and having mother—–s pampering my s— left and right. Every hour, there’d be [someone] showing up to pamper me. That would be that.
GSP responded with:
Let me tell you something, uneducated fool. Listen to me. I have not always been rich. I started from the bottom. I made myself and worked very hard to be where I am right now.
I know you don’t believe this, because you didn’t succeed yet, and maybe you will never succeed in your life because I don’t think you’re smart enough to understand how you should [act] to reach that point.
You don’t know anything about me, man. You have no idea where I come from. You’re not the only jealous guy.
Both men are extremely well-rounded, skilled and respected fighters, but the intrigue for the fight is only augmented by the bad blood. Add this clash to your list of must-see bouts, because it’s going to be electric.
In case you want to watch, here’s how you can catch UFC 158.
When: Saturday, March 16
Where: Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
UFC 158 Start Times
Preliminary Bouts on Facebook: 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT
Preliminary Bouts on FX: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Main Card on Pay-Per-View: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Complete Fight Card
Pay-Per-View
- Georges St-Pierre (23-2) vs. Nick Diaz (26-8)
- Carlos Condit (28-6) vs. Johny Hendricks (14-1)
- Jake Ellenberger (28-6) vs. Nate Marquardt (32-11)
- Nick Ring (13-1) vs. Chris Camozzi (18-5)
- Mike Ricci (7-3) vs. Colin Fletcher (8-2)
Preliminary Bouts (on FX)
- Patrick Cote (18-8) vs. Bobby Voelker (24-8)
- Antonio Carvalho (15-5) vs. Darren Elkins (15-2)
- Dan Miller (14-6) vs. Jordan Mein (26-8)
- John Makdessi (10-2) vs. Daron Cruickshank (12-2)
Preliminary Bouts (on Facebook)
- Rick Story (14-6) vs. Quinn Mulhern (18-2)
- T.J. Dillashaw (7-1) vs. Issei Tamura (7-3)
- George Roop (12-9-1) vs. Reuben Duran (8-4-1)
Predictions for Fight Night Bonuses
Submission of the Night – Mike Ricci over Colin Fletcher
Both men are solid submission fighters, but in this matchup, I see Fletcher’s length working against him.
He is 6’2″, and at 155 pounds, he normally has a big height advantage, but that won’t be the case against Ricci who is six-feet tall. Fletcher will have a hard time keeping distance.
Once Ricci gets inside, he’ll take his lanky opponent down. Ultimately, I see Fletcher giving up his back from fatigue, and Ricci gets the submission victory via rear-naked choke, or having this position transition rolled into a triangle, or kimura.
In an event that doesn’t figure to have a ton of submission finishes, this rather pedestrian tap out may be the only choice.
KO of the Night – Johny Hendricks over Carlos Condit
Condit is an amazing all-around fighter, but Hendricks is on a mission. Saturday night is the night he makes it painfully obvious that Dana White can no longer overlook him.
Hendricks has scored impressive KOs over Martin Kampmann, Jon Fitch and Charlie Brenneman, but he’ll add an even bigger name to that list at UFC 158. When he lands the heavy artillery on opponents in stand up, they got to sleep.
Condit has a good chin and very good striking, which will make this KO all the more impressive. This will be Hendricks’ biggest victory and should undoubtedly set him up for the winner of GSP-Diaz.
Fight of the Night – Jake Ellenberger defeats Nate Marquadt
Both men are very good wrestlers with KO power, and I expect to see a mixture of both skills in this one. It is a fairly evenly matched fight of veterans, and we may see both men rocked or staggered at some point in this fight.
Marquadt is tough as nails, but his striking defense has always been a little weak.
Against a big puncher like Ellenberger, that will be an issue. Marquadt’s wrestling ability is on par with Ellenberger’s, but the power difference will lead to a late KO win for the Juggernaut.
Marquadt will have his moments, and that will make the fight the best of the event, but Ellenberger will prevail.
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