THOSE OF YOU dining out on American sports this weekend can have an interim title matchup as hors d’oeuvres, as Carlos Condit finally gets his shot at the welterweight belt at UFC 143.
He faces the former Strikeforce champ, Nick Diaz in the main event of the evening with the winner getting hold of GSP’s much coveted belt, even if it is only until he regains full fitness.
Another former Strikeforce employee, Fabricio Werdum, looks to get on the UFC title-hunt with a tough matchup against Roy Nelson, while Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce also face off.
Renan Barao versus Scott Jorgensen and Ed Herman and Clifford Starks make up the main card.
Fourth-time lucky for Condit?
Carlos Condit has been shaken about more times than a Las Vegas Craps table dice since last July and he has finally landed on the Nick Diaz square. He still isn’t sure if he is a winner or a loser.
Originally scheduled to fight BJ Penn last year, he was then tossed between GSP and Josh Koscheck before finally getting his interim title shot without fighting any of them.
In Nick Diaz he faces arguably the toughest of his previously proposed opponents, but their styles make for a nailed-on explosive matchup. The relentless Stockton native will no doubt push the pace and will take shots trying to impose his will, like he does in most of his fights. Diaz has faced and beaten better strikers than “The Natural Born Killer”, (Paul Daley and BJ Penn) and although it is a very tough fight for him, Diaz can extend his winning streak to twelve here, and get that fight with St. Pierre he so desperately wants.
YouTube credit: remaaaahcable.
Back to the big time for Werdum
Fabricio Werdum returns to the UFC after a three year absence as he takes on Roy Nelson in an interesting heavyweight battle.
Werdum famously ended the unbeaten run of Fedor Emelianenko in 2010, but got his tactics wrong against Alistair Overeem last time out and lost a unanimous decision. “Big Country” knocked out a Mirko Cro Cop who was at the end of his career in his last fight and will have to continue his steady progression if he is to stand any chance against Werdum.
The odds are in favour of a Brazilian win, and with something to prove in his UFC comeback, he will look to his better cardio to try and tire Nelson before going for a submission in the latter rounds.
YouTube credit: LayzieTheSavage
Best of the rest
When Josh Koscheck found out Mike Pierce had called him out on a radio show, his first thought was “who?”
Or at least that’s what he told everybody.
It’s typical of the man to start the trash-talking and mind games before the fight was even signed. “Kos” is the man everyone loves to hate in the UFC and his KO of Hall of Famer Matt Hughes virtually sending him into retirement, only cemented his place at the top of most hated fighter polls.
All his talking usually distracts everyone form his high level wrestling skill-set and an ever improving stand-up game means he is still a top contender.
Pierce has had steady progress throughout his UFC career, but he won’t be able to bully Koscheck like Kenny Robertson and this step-up in class will prove too much too soon for the Oregon native.
