Tag: UFC 137

Carlos Condit Has Every Right To Be Pissed Off at Georges St-Pierre

Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit was pissed off at having to step aside and allow Nick Diaz to take his place in an eventual fight with UFC welterweight king Georges St-Pierre on Super Bowl weekend. Personally, I don’t think an…

Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit was pissed off at having to step aside and allow Nick Diaz to take his place in an eventual fight with UFC welterweight king Georges St-Pierre on Super Bowl weekend.

Personally, I don’t think anyone will blame Condit in the slightest for his ire at having been shelved to make way for Diaz.

Even though most know the details by now, here goes.

First there was the St-Pierre vs. Diaz clash scheduled for UFC 137 that was upended when the latter failed to turn up for several press junkets.

Dana White then relegated Diaz to the co-main event with B.J. Penn as his new opponent.

Condit was then installed as a worthy adversary for St-Pierre.

The winner of the Diaz vs. Penn bout was more or less guaranteed a shot at the winner of St-Pierre vs. Condit.

As fate would have it, a spanner was thrown in the works—St-Pierre (22-2 MMA, 16-2 UFC) suffered a knee injury during training, and Condit’s proposed bout with the former went up in smoke.

Condit (27-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) sat back and willingly bided his time for the opportunity to finally throw down with St-Pierre once he’d recuperated—that would’ve been on Super Bowl weekend.

UFC 137 came, and Diaz (26-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who many thought hadn’t a cat in hell’s chance against Penn, proved them wrong in their ensuing battle and viciously upended the Prodigy.

 

Everything was running smoothly after that, then hey presto! Diaz takes to the mic and issues a challenge to St-Pierre, who was in attendance that night.

St-Pierre, incensed and somewhat emotional at the time, accepted the challenge.

St-Pierre went even further, having a one-to-one with White.

This is what White said after UFC 137, “[St-Pierre] said, and I quote – you’re going to think I’m full of [expletive], but this is the truth – I quote, ‘He’s the most disrespectful human being I’ve ever met, and I’m going to put the worst beating you’ve ever seen on him in the UFC.'”

Regardless of St-Pierre venting his indignation, White had two options—accept or decline.

White chose the former. On White’s part, it was good business and a great financial move for the UFC hierarchy to boot.

For Condit, it was a stake through the heart.

What Condit said on hearing the news: 

“My heart hurts.” 

Condit has now been shafted twice, none of his own doing.

The catalyst to Condit being made the pasty is a result of three individuals, but most of the blame falls on White and St-Pierre.

On the one hand, you have the UFC boss, whose mantra I assume is “It’s not personal; it’s just business.”

This is understandable but in some regards, immensely flawed—White reneged on his promise to Condit.

On the other hand, there’s St-Pierre, who knew he had obligations to fight Condit.

He also knew how much the fight meant to him, but in the heat of the moment he let his anger, emotions and his ego get the better of him.

Condit has begrudgingly stepped aside.

Underneath, however, I would imagine that Condit is seething with rage at White’s shenanigans, but his most venomous fury ultimately lies at the feet of St-Pierre for denying him a shot at UFC glory.

Condit mightn’t have openly voiced his feelings, but believe me, deep down he is one pissed off fighter.

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BJ Penn: Reflecting on a Legend’s Career

After a rich and storied career, which was contested in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions, BJ Penn has solidified himself as one of the true legends of the sport.The Hawaiian was recently bested in a dominant performance turned in by the …

After a rich and storied career, which was contested in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions, BJ Penn has solidified himself as one of the true legends of the sport.

The Hawaiian was recently bested in a dominant performance turned in by the surging Nick Diaz, and a frustrated Penn afterwards announced his retirement.

Whether or not Penn chooses to remain on the sidelines, at this point in his career, he has left behind a legacy that speaks for itself. 

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Cesar Gracie: Nick Diaz Was Told to Call out Georges St-Pierre

Although he was preparing to face BJ Penn last weekend at UFC 137, the only opponent who Nick Diaz was focused on was Georges St-Pierre. During his post-fight interview, Diaz proceeded to call out the UFC welterweight champion. It turns out, Diaz …

Although he was preparing to face BJ Penn last weekend at UFC 137, the only opponent who Nick Diaz was focused on was Georges St-Pierre. 

During his post-fight interview, Diaz proceeded to call out the UFC welterweight champion. It turns out, Diaz had every intention of doing so. 

Diaz’s manager, Cesar Gracie, was a special guest on “The MMA Show” with Mauro Ranallo, and he revealed that both him and his client were instructed by UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to call out the champion. 

“Before the fight, after the weigh-ins, we were told by Joe Silva, ‘If you guys want it, you guys call people out. That’s how the fights get done,'” Gracie said. 

Diaz claimed that St-Pierre was faking his injury to purposely pull out of his bout with Carlos Condit, who was favoured over Diaz after he failed to appear at some media tours to promote the event. Shortly after, St-Pierre would opt to face Diaz instead of Condit, personally requesting a title bout to UFC President Dana White. 

Gracie said he wanted to make sure Diaz was comfortable calling out St-Pierre. 

“When I speak to Nick, I have to speak in ‘209ese’ and that’s the language he understands,” he said. “That was directed at him, I didn’t think he was going to hear it obviously.” 

With Diaz’s title shot secure, it is expected his bout against St-Pierre will be scheduled for Super Bowl weekend on February 4th. 

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Dana White: Are Fans Being Hypocrites in GSP, Diaz and Condit Situation?

The month of October was a roller-coaster ride for an unsuspecting passenger in Carlos Condit.His opportunity to achieve a lifelong goal of being a UFC champion was taken away twice in the same month.It’s almost like fate has some twisted agenda of toy…

The month of October was a roller-coaster ride for an unsuspecting passenger in Carlos Condit.

His opportunity to achieve a lifelong goal of being a UFC champion was taken away twice in the same month.

It’s almost like fate has some twisted agenda of toying with Condit’s emotions and throwing them back in his face.

Condit first emerged into the welterweight title picture when former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz lost his opportunity to challenge Georges St-Pierre, after missing two scheduled pre-fight press conferences for UFC 137.

With Diaz out of the championship bout, UFC President Dana White appointed Condit, who was coming off impressive performances over tough opposition, as the new No. 1 contender for the UFC title.

“Um, I was blown away [that I got the shot], I got pretty emotional. I started to tear up, which was pretty awesome because I was in public. I had to try to compose myself thinking of all the hard work that got me to this point,” Condit reminisced in an exclusive interview with Buddhasport.

Unfortunately, the excitement didn’t last long. An injury sustained in training forced St-Pierre to withdraw from the card a couple of weeks leading up to the fight.

While this was devastating news to Condit, Diaz’s camp saw a golden opportunity to leap frog back into the contender’s seat. After being yanked from the main event, Diaz would still be competing on the UFC 137 fight card, but instead of St-Pierre, he would face another MMA legend in B.J. Penn.

With St-Pierre out and the main event scrapped, the Diaz-Penn bout was bumped from co-main event to headliner of the entire fight card.

If Diaz impressed in his performance against a fighter of Penn’s caliber, he could present a strong case to bypass Condit and get a crack at the world title.

Still, White pretty much assured the MMA world that Condit would still be the top contender regardless of the outcome of the Diaz and Penn bout.

“Condit’s in,” White told MMAJunkie. “Condit is sitting and waiting.”

It’s amazing how quickly things can turn around in the sport.

Diaz impressed in his performance against Penn, picking the legendary fighter apart in the second and third rounds en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Even though Diaz put on a tremendous performance, it was his words after the fight that put the final nail in the coffin of Condit’s world title aspirations.

“Where you at Georges? Where you at mother (expletive)?” yelled Diaz. “I don’t think Georges is hurt, I think he’s scared. I think he’s scared to fight everybody right now.”

The entire MMA world looked on as St-Pierre fumed at Diaz’s taunts and accusations. Condit was quickly slipping from the title picture, and in a matter of seconds, the world was now consumed with the infatuation of a potential grudge match between St-Pierre and Diaz.

In other words, Diaz proposed a fight that both the UFC and fans couldn’t resist.

“Nick needs motivation. He’s got it. He’s going to fight Georges St-Pierre,” White said at the UFC 137 post-fight press conference.

“Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside and get the next guy. [St-Pierre] said, I quote, ‘[Diaz] is the most disrespectful human being I’ve ever met, and I’m going to put the worst beating you’ve ever seen on him in the UFC.'”

While the world rejoiced at the announcement of a St-Pierre and Diaz superfight, Condit sat quietly in disbelief.

Who steps aside and turns down an opportunity to fight for the UFC title?

Not Carlos Condit, according to his manager Malki Kawa.

“Contrary to what has been stated, Carlos did not step aside to 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 strong performances in the Octagon. No option was given to him,” Kawa said in a statement issued to Inside MMA.

On the outside, it’s easy to point fingers at White for going back on his word and giving Diaz the title shot. The UFC is a business, and its job is to put on the fights fans want to see.

The interesting fact is that the vast majority of fans pointing fingers want to see St-Pierre face Diaz over Condit.

This is a tough break for Condit, who is well-worthy of a UFC title shot. In such an unpredictable sport, these kind of opportunities are lucky to be seen once in a lifetime.

Still, there is no right or wrong in this situation. Condit was promised a shot at the title, and he has every right to be upset. The UFC’s motto is putting on the big fights fans want to see, and it’s hard to argue against the blockbuster possibilities of a St-Pierre and Diaz showdown.

As for Condit, he can take positives away from this unfortunate situation. This will give him even more time to polish his skills and take his fight game to another level.

It isn’t the belt that makes the legend. Some fighters have held the coveted UFC title in their days, and only a few fans can recall their careers. It’s all about the matchups, which Condit should have no problem finding in the incredibly-stacked welterweight division.

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7 Reasons Why Carlos Condit vs. Jake Ellenberger II Needs to Happen

UFC welterweight contender Carlos Condit has about the same luck as Rashad Evans and Anthony Pettis when it comes to title shots. Like Pettis and Evans, Condit had a promised title shot taken away from him. Although Josh Koscheck is always wi…

UFC welterweight contender Carlos Condit has about the same luck as Rashad Evans and Anthony Pettis when it comes to title shots. 

Like Pettis and Evans, Condit had a promised title shot taken away from him. 

Although Josh Koscheck is always willing to step in and fight Condit instead, the man Condit should be thinking about is Jake Ellenberger. 

Ellenberger and Condit have been on big winning streaks since they last fought. With both men available, a fight between the two could determine the next number one contender. 

Here are the reasons why this needs to happen. 

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Does Nick Diaz Deserve a Title Shot Over Condit?

Calling out Georges St-Pierre might of been the smartest move Nick Diaz has made in his mixed martial arts career. Fans watched Diaz pull off an impressive victory over BJ Penn at UFC 137, and shortly after, he accused the UFC welterweight champio…

Calling out Georges St-Pierre might of been the smartest move Nick Diaz has made in his mixed martial arts career. 

Fans watched Diaz pull off an impressive victory over BJ Penn at UFC 137, and shortly after, he accused the UFC welterweight champion of faking his injury to pull of their original bout. Diaz’s comments instantly brought the crowd into a frenzy as they chanted for the Canadian star.

The UFC immediately found their new villain to market in Diaz, and set up a potential title bout between the former Strikeforce welterweight champion and St-Pierre. 

Ultimately, it turns out the title shot promised to Carlos Condit was never meant to be, at least for now. UFC President Dana White announced that Diaz would be favoured over Condit to face the champion, and from a business perspective, he rightfully should be. 

Although Condit is more of a legitimate threat to St-Pierre’s title reign than Diaz, the Stockton native possesses the skills and personality to make it a more lucrative bout.

Diaz might not be as versatile Condit, but he certainly has the boxing skills and aggression to force the champion into a back-and forth battle that fans haven’t seen out of St-Pierre in quite some time.

Not to mention, St-Pierre was so infuriated with Diaz’s remarks that he personally asked White to schedule a title bout between them. Therefore, it’s fair to assume that he will be holding a personal grudge against his opponent. 

The magnitude of this title bout has excited fans and it has become one of the most anticipated fights in recent memory.

Alas, Condit was sidetracked on his route to a title shot and Diaz just happened to sell himself better to make the audience invest more attention and interest in him. Part of what sells fights is a fighter’s personality, and unfortunately, Condit does not have the personality that fans want to see. 

Diaz represents a different kind of a fighter, one who carries certain traits that an average fan can either loathe or relate to. And while some fans may not agree with White’s choosing of Diaz over Condit, it is the right decision.

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