UFC 143 was supposed to be the domination of Nick Diaz at the hands of Canada’s pride and joy, George St. Pierre. But plans went awry with GSP ‘s injury and the fight that everyone wanted to see was temporarily put on hold. Instead we witnessed Carols Condit use a well-strategized stick-and-move system to score a controversial decision win against Nick Diaz. He is now on top of the world as interim welterweight champion, as he awaits the return George St. Pierre.
I can tell you right now with the utmost confidence, that GSP is still the unified champion and everyone knows that. Saturday night only confirmed our suspicions after watching Condit struggle to finish the fight. I have no doubt in my mind that GSP will pick apart Condit and reclaim what’s rightfully his. He is clearly in a class of his own in the Welterweight division.
With this loss Diaz is now on the back burner with the focus now on GSP v.s. Condit to determine a unified champion. The UFC should hold off the welterweight unification match and give us fans the fight we want to see; GSP vs. Diaz. People will still have interest in this match due to our love for GSP combined with the irritating trash-talking Nick Diaz had done in preparation for the GSP fight.
The welterweight championship is highly prestigious and I can’t imagine the feeling of being recognized as the greatest fighter in your weight class. But what I can say is that there is something that is worth more than a title and that’s PRIDE. GSP told Dana White that for the first time in his career he was taking a fight versus Diaz personally. When one of your star athletes makes this kind of request, it is only logical to get on board.
I have no issues with Condit defending the belt against another opponent afterward. If anything, it gives him the chance to get some more credibility with a title defense. The winner then can enter the octagon with GSP, after he shuts Diaz’s mouth, to set-up the unification match. It really doesn’t matter who is holding the welterweight belt because GSP is just going to win it back.
…and that’s the last word.
