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UFC 158 Results: What Will Nick Diaz’s Legacy Be After Losing to GSP?

Nick Diaz showed up to the biggest fight of his life flat and uninspired. If you do not put welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre on his heels and take him out of his game, you’re gonna have a bad time. Diaz learned this at UFC 158, and now…

Nick Diaz showed up to the biggest fight of his life flat and uninspired.

If you do not put welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre on his heels and take him out of his game, you’re gonna have a bad time.

Diaz learned this at UFC 158, and now his future is in limbo.

Immediately after the fight, Diaz hinted at retirement, but just hours later told Ariel Helwani that he wanted a rematch with GSP.

This type of contradictory activity defines Diaz outside the cage, and I believe it will also define his legacy.

For all of Diaz‘s skills—don’t kid yourself, he is one of the most skilled welterweights in the history of the sport—he will always be remembered more for his brash personality, his failed drug tests and his overall confusing demeanor.

A former IFC, Strikeforce and WEC champion, Diaz excelled at the highest level over the course of his 12-year career, but without the UFC strap on his mantel, it is hard to think of him alongside guys like Matt Hughes and GSP.

Because of this, his negative image will override his considerable accomplishments in the long run. It is simply more fun to talk about Diaz‘s crazy side than an IFC championship belt.

Making matters worse, his highest-profile fights were not exactly legendary.

Against Carlos Condit at UFC 143, Diaz was frustrated by Condit‘s constant movement and technical striking, and he could mount little offense during the 25-minute affair.

His UFC 158 tilt against GSP was even worse.

GSP planted Diaz on his back time and time again, refusing to allow Diaz the opportunity to mount any offense.

Again, Diaz‘s post-fight speeches and antics were more memorable than the fight itself, and this represents a fair summary of Diaz‘s career as a whole.

I personally like Diaz as a fighter. The man is incredibly exciting, he’s virtually impossible to finish and he seems to legitimately enjoy the thrill of the scrap.

That said, it is hard to deny that he will eventually be remembered more for his negative image and his abrasive personality.

His resume does not boast a signature, timeless win to speak of, and he was never the champion at the highest level.

Because of this, he will be remembered more for the “puff, puff” than the “punch, punch,” I’m afraid.

It’s a shame, because Diaz is truly a remarkable talent.

For fans of MMA, heavy metal or general absurdity, Follow @HunterAHomistek

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After Winning Fifth-Straight Fight at UFC 158, Darren Elkins Makes Quick Turnaround to Face Chad Mendes at UFC on FOX 7

(“…and verily, Carvalho did’st invoke the accursed ‘What the fucketh is thy problem, good sir?‘ rule, but forsooth, it was all for naught.” / Photo via Getty Images)

When Clay Guida dropped out of UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez due to injury last week, it looked like Chad Mendes might be forced to beat up another outmatched palooka just to stay busy at the April 20th event in San Jose. (Such is his life — just body-shottin’ dudes who don’t deserve to be there, and collecting paychecks. It’s sad, really.) But Mendes’s latest replacement opponent could be an even tougher test than Guida was.

MMAJunkie reports that Darren Elkins — who just scored a first-round TKO over Antonio Carvalho during the UFC 158 prelims over the weekend — has gotten the call to step in against Mendes at UFC on FOX 7. Elkins’s latest victory increased his current win streak to 5-0 since dropping to featherweight in 2011, including previous wins over tough competitors like Diego Brandao and Michihiro Omigawa. If his name still isn’t ringing a bell, it’s probably because every single one of Elkins’s UFC fights have been relegated to the prelims; when somebody says that a fighter has “quietly amassed an impressive win streak,” this is exactly the kind of thing they’re talking about.

Unfortunately, Elkins’s match against Mendes likely won’t make the UFC on FOX 7 main card either — but a dominant win over a former title contender could change his fortunes significantly. Making that happen on a five-week layoff is easier said than done, of course. Your predictions?

(“…and verily, Carvalho did’st invoke the accursed ‘What the fucketh is thy problem, good sir?‘ rule, but forsooth, it was all for naught.” / Photo via Getty Images)

Grading the Fighters That Made Their UFC Debut at UFC 158

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Octagon represents the pinnacle of mixed martial arts for aspiring fighters. Much like the NFL or the NBA, the UFC represents the ultimate achievement for its fighters. It announces a fighter’s arrival on the g…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Octagon represents the pinnacle of mixed martial arts for aspiring fighters.

Much like the NFL or the NBA, the UFC represents the ultimate achievement for its fighters. It announces a fighter’s arrival on the grandest stage, and it showcases his or her talents for the largest audience available.

At UFC 158, three fighters—all welterweights—stepped foot into this venerable cage for the first time with mixed results.

Who seized the moment and used the stage to showcase his talents to the world?

Who faltered under the bright lights?

Start the slideshow to find out.

Begin Slideshow

Nick Diaz Retirement? Why the Show Needs to End One Way or Another

After losing to welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre via unanimous decision at UFC 158, Nick Diaz told Joe Rogan he was considering retirement for the second time after as many fights. There were not many who took this claim seriously, and rightly s…

Not long after stating he may retire, Diaz was back to his pre-fight, trash-talking self. During an interview with journalist Ariel Helwani on Fuel TV, the former Strikeforce welterweight champion said he wanted a rematch and claimed GSP punches like a girl.

Diaz is one of the best trash talkers in the game, but reaction to these latest claims of retirement and jibes toward GSP indicate the show is getting old, fast.

What we may have seen from Diaz was someone coping badly with losing the biggest fight of his career, something which cannot be ruled out.

He said he did not want to make excuses but this was often followed by excuses, which during the post-fight press conference reached a point of blaming poor preparations and some indirect criticism of his own team.

Nick Diaz said: “I felt like everybody knew I had it (the title fight with St-Pierre) coming. Cesar knew I had it coming, everybody knew I had it coming and then as soon as I had it coming, nobody was around to help me.”

In the press conference, which he was 30 minutes late for, he told St-Pierre in person he thinks he can beat him and wants a rematch, plus reiterated the champion hits like a girl. A statement many at the press conference laughed at, but also confused media and fans alike seeing as only a short time ago he was embracing GSP and raising his hand.

It is this hypocrisy, among other things, which is changing Diaz from the fighter people love to hate, to the one they just hate. His pre-fight talk and his taunts during fights have entertained a lot of fans, but during this GSP-Diaz saga, it went a bit too far.

The turning point was the end of Round 3, when Diaz, from his back, hit the dominant St-Pierre after the round had clearly ended. He was not penalised, but UFC president Dana White stated post-fight he feels Diaz should have been deducted a point.

This action angered those who had previously been on the fence regarding Diaz, and when you add his post-fight comments and his desperate attempts to make headlines, it was a bad night for his image, even for Nick Diaz.

The show now needs to end. Whether it is through retirement, or an adjustment to how he represents himself, the current Nick Diaz act is on a path of self-destruction.

Diaz is undoubtedly one of the most exciting fighters when in the cage and is currently a big draw for the UFC, but how long can this last? Fans and media are seeing the cracks as the this veteran of the sport displays signs of insanity in repeating previous call-outs and insults over and over.

Fans, media, and even Dana White do not want him to retire, but may be this is what Nick Diaz needs rather than wants.

During the entertaining post-fight press conference Nick Diaz claimed he has never paid his taxes, something which trainer Cesar Gracie denied on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. Gracie did say, however, Diaz needs to get his stuff in order. A theme which also cropped up in Dana White’s media scrum.

This need to get his personal matters in order is why retirement, at least as a temporary option, could be what Diaz needs.

A potential of three fights a year, plus all the media demands, is a dominating distraction. A break from the sport would provide Diaz with a chance to effectively organise his life. Once he has done this, we could see Diaz return with the same no-nonsense attitude, but without the added insanity.

If retirement is not the road taken, then it is a matter of holding back on some of the trash talk and concentrate on entertaining fans in the cage like he has done for so many years and working toward more success.

Easier said than done when years of media attention and pressure has taken its toll on a fighter who is renowned for being camera shy.

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St. Pierre vs. Hendricks Could Look Like Condit vs. Hendricks Minus Takedowns

UFC 158: St. Pierre vs. Diaz became the stepping stone to one of the most intriguing title fights in UFC history when the Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre successfully defended his title, and top contender Johnny Hendricks defeated Carlos Condi…

After the victory of both fighters, it was announced that the next challenger for St. Pierre will be no other than Hendricks.

But as much as most pundits think that the new challenger has the Champ’s number, I would not want to jump this early on the bandwagon.

Many say that Hendricks’ wrestling and powerful striking will present great trouble for St. Pierre. But for me, this actually should work the other way around.

Striking

The challenger surely can hit hard, but the Champion has proven several times that he can make a fight a technical boxing match, wherein he can utilize his jabs and angles to avoid being hit by a powerful knockout punch. One instance of this is during his fight with Josh Koscheck, wherein the fight remained on the feet, working well to St. Pierre’s advantage.

If the Champ can make his matchup with Hendricks a technical boxing match and avoid the latter’s powerful left hand, I believe he can neutralize the challenger’s strength in the last rounds.

During Condit vs. Hendricks, the striking advantage swings to the “Natural Born Killer” at Round 3. If the fight has two more rounds, Condit may have gotten the decision for the fight.

Predictability is the key. St. Pierre’s striking is more diverse than Hendricks’. If the Champ can get accustomed to the challenger’s striking rhythm, he can use his angles to avoid hard shots and land his own strikes.

Wrestling

In my opinion, wrestling will be neutralized in this fight, given that both fighters are highly skilled in this aspect.

This would actually favor St. Pierre. When the fight turns out to be a striking match, Hendricks has the tendency to go for takedowns when he is being outstroked. The Champ should use wrestling in reverse to avoid being taken down.

Meanwhile, if Hendricks gains success in his takedowns, St. Pierre will not be in trouble as the former’s ground striking can be neutralized with excellent jiu-jitsu techniques (see Hendricks vs. Condit). The Champ can also easily work his way up, given his tremendous upper body strength.

Conclusion

Hendricks is not the fighter who could dethrone St. Pierre. The Champ should be able to defend his title by another unanimous decision.

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UFC 158: Where Did the Fight Rank Among Canadian Events?

The war of words that unfolded between welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz before and after UFC 158 nearly overshadowed the action that ensued inside the Octagon on Saturday. When the dust settled, however, the UFC’s makes…

The war of words that unfolded between welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz before and after UFC 158 nearly overshadowed the action that ensued inside the Octagon on Saturday.

When the dust settled, however, the UFC’s makeshift welterweight tournament produced several captivating bouts. This included a pair of tooth-and-nail clashes between Johny Hendricks and Carlos Condit in the co-main event and “GSP” and Diaz in the main event.

But where does UFC 158 rank among other prominent Canadian events?

Because of the bulky nature of typical UFC cards, the most effective way to compare UFC 158 to Canadian classics like UFC 154 and UFC 129 is to examine each contest’s co-main and main events.

Although Hendricks and St-Pierre each won via decision, each fight generated enthralling action from bell to bell.

Hendricks got outstruck 94-69 against Condit, including 42-30 in the significant strikes department. But “Bigg Rigg“, a southpaw, not only scored 12 takedowns, he also tried valiantly to become the first man to KO Condit—despite injuring his left hand early in the fight.

Like the scrap between GSP and Condit at UFC 154, Hendricks and “The Natural Born Killer” garnered “Fight of the Night” honors because of the stark contrast in their styles. Hendricks’ wrestling dexterity and punching power pitted against Condit‘s pinpoint technical striking and dangerous submission aptitude was a recipe for an action-packed brawl.

Strikes got thrown at a much higher volume in the bout between GSP and Condit at UFC 154. The Natural Born Killer outstruck GSP 190-172, although St-Pierre fired the more significant shots, outlanding Condit 71-36.

Condit nearly ended the fight when he landed a high kick flush on GSP‘s temple in the third round.

St-Pierre cleared the cobwebs and bounced back brilliantly, finishing the fight with seven takedowns and eight guard passes.

Although it took less than a minute, Hendricks made the co-main event at UFC 154 a memorable one by putting perennial contender Martin Kampmann to sleep with a lethal left straight.

But regardless of the excitement it generated, a 46-second knockout just can’t give fans the brand of satisfaction a five-round war offers. Therefore, Hendricks vs. Condit was a more aesthetically pleasing bout than Hendricks vs. Kampmann.

In his win over Diaz at UFC 158, “Rush” employed a similar game plan en route to another conservative win.

St-Pierre utilized his Muay Thai prowess to keep Diaz at bay and make his venomous boxing game seem rudimentary. Rush landed 105 significant strikes and outstruck Diaz 210-80.

In the grappling category, GSP scored on nine of 16 takedown attempts and passed Diaz‘s guard twice.

Granted, GSP put on a solid show by physically demoralizing Diaz for the better part of 25 minutes. However, Condit landed 110 more strikes against GSP, a fact that made their fight infinitely more interesting.

At the historic UFC 129, in which 55,724 fans packed into the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Jose Aldo defended his featherweight title against a game Mark Hominick in the night’s co-main event. Hominick outstruck Aldo 147-131, but only landed 71 significant strikes to Aldo’s 94. Hominick also scored just one takedown and surrendered five.

In the main event, GSP did just enough to nip Diaz‘s teammate, Jake Shields, in a back-and-forth affair.

Shields took a round from GSP and outstruck Rush 96-92. But St-Pierre not only landed 85 significant strikes to Shields’ 78, he also scored two takedowns and allowed none.

Hominick and Shields undoubtedly forced Aldo and GSP to work diligently to defend their respective belts. However, the co-main and main event fights at UFC 158 both offered more in terms of entertainment value to the fans.

After all, it was awfully fun to watch Hendricks brawl with a hungry Condit for his long overdue title shot, and to see GSP silence a chatterbox like Diaz.

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