The Ultimate Fighting Championship continues their Superbowl weekend tradition to provide MMA fans with a memorable encounter. Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz will unquestionably set the Mandalay Bay Event Center on fire with action and excitement as the sport’s top welterweight fighters will go to war at UFC 143. It’s a tale of two fighters who couldn’t be more different outside the cage and harness the same killer instinct inside the cage. Nick Diaz perfectly put this fight into perspective when he stated “You’re more in danger of losing a decision to St-Pierre; you’re more in danger of losing your teeth to Condit”
The Story:
If styles make fights, then this is a tremendous match up on every level because their fighting style and personality are a unique blend of orthodox and unorthodox. Nick Diaz’s thug mentality instigates raw hatred from his opponents and captivates millions of fans all over the world. The same can’t be said for Carlos Condit as his mild mannered personality has earned the respect of his peers and the admiration of the sport’s most devoted followers. The Stockton California native decimated his last eleven opponents with BJ Penn as the crown jewel of his resume. “The Natural Born Killer” is riding a four fight win streak and his last victory over Dong Hyun Kim exhibited an aerial assault via the flying knee express and a bombardment of punches that put everyone on notice. Prior to arriving in the UFC, both fighters earned a reputation as the divisions best unsigned combatants. Diaz captured Strikeforce gold while Condit made waves as the WEC titleholder. The Cesar Gracie prodigy made his second foray into the octagon without skipping a beat with his win over Penn while New Mexico native’s debut resulted in a split decision loss to Martian Kampmann. Condit bounced back with victories over Jake Ellenberger, Rory MacDonald and delivered a highlight reel knockout over Dan Hardy. It is a fight people never thought about but destined to transpire as it was Nick Diaz who was originally given the title shot shot against GSP until press conference shenanigans stripped him of the opportunity. Condit was awarded the shot but GSP withdrew due to a knee injury. GSP vs. Diaz was set again until GSP further injured his knee and enter Carlos Condit.
The Fight:
The five round nature of this bout gives Diaz the advantage due to his unlimited cardio. He is a slow starter which is the best case scenario for Condit since he comes guns a blazing right out of the gate. Diaz finds his range faster than any fighter in the world and even though his punches don’t look like they have much power behind them, he outlands fighters 5-1. Condit has more weapons in his striking arsenal which he needs to use in order to prevent Diaz from finding his comfort zone. Takedowns are the Achilles heel of the Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt but no one in his last eleven fights has tried to take him down since it is very likely he will submit you off his back. Condit is the most intelligent fighter Diaz has ever faced and will use every tool in the shed instead of trying to prove some meaningless point of being the better striker.
The Pick:
What separates Nick Diaz from most fighters is that the idea of wining a decision doesn’t exist. Finishing his adversary is the only objective. Carlos Condit fights with the same motive which means Diaz, for the first time, will be looking in the mirror from an opponent perspective. While Carlos is not afraid to step into the pocket, Diaz’s boxing equates to a Venus flytrap, preventing foes from escape. Condit needs to keep Diaz uncomfortable for the entire 25 minuets. In the end, I don’t see Condit being able to withstand the onslaught on accurate punches Diaz will use with his ungodly reach to finish him late in the evening. Condit could prove me wrong because he is that good of a fighter as it will be passion and aggression that fuels the fire for this battle.
Nick Diaz wins via TKO Stoppage in the 4th Round.
Ringside Logic 