Issue 084

January 2012

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: I absolutely cannot wait to see UFC welterweight champion Georges St Pierre defend his belt against his new nemesis, Nick Diaz. I’m practically salivating at the thought of Diaz standing in front of the Canadian superstar, middle fingers fully extended, barking out obscenities that might just see the well-mannered St Pierre blush in the center of the Octagon. And the theatrics that await us all during the pre-event build-up (you know, assuming Diaz decides to attend) – come on. These stories just write themselves.

But I’m also having a hard time not feeling bad for Carlos Condit.

The 27-year-old has been an unwitting passenger on the St Pierre-Diaz rollercoaster, and he’s unquestionably getting the raw end of the constantly developing deal. Condit was originally scheduled for a potentially career-defining bout with MMA legend BJ Penn at October’s UFC 137 event. After Diaz no-showed a pair of pre-fight press conferences designed to promote the event, the former Strikeforce champ was pulled from the card, and Condit was granted a championship fight with St Pierre. Oh, happy days.

But less than two weeks before the fight was to take place, a pair of strained knee ligaments forced St Pierre to withdraw, and Condit’s title shot was delayed. Part of the game, right? Injuries happen all the time. If only it was that simple.

Diaz, who had been re-booked in the evening’s main event against Penn, turned in a scintillating performance against the MMA legend. But Nick Diaz ain’t no – well, let’s just say he doesn’t easily deal with perceived snubs. And when UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan put the microphone in front of the fiery Californian’s face, Diaz did what does Diaz does best, stirring the pot like some deranged master chef by accusing St Pierre of faking his injuries in order to avoid a potential confrontation.

The comments riled GSP up so much, that the usually stoic champ begged UFC president Dana White to send Condit to the sidelines in favor of a chance to silence Diaz.

“[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,’” White explained at the evening’s post-event press conference. And just like that, Condit’s title shot was gone.

White insists he didn’t require Condit to withdraw, classifying the post-UFC 137 phone call as a “good conversation.” But honestly, what choice did Condit really have? White and the UFC do an outstanding job of taking care of those athletes who remain in their good graces, but ask Jon Fitch what happens when you decide to go against the grain. Condit will presumably be financially compensated for his willingness to take one for the team, and White said a win in his next outing will guarantee Condit a title shot. But if he should somehow lose?

“That would suck,” White said.

Diaz’s pointed outbursts essentially saved him a half-year of waiting on a crack at the belt. And somewhere, UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen probably smiled. After all, the outspoken (and seeming stand-up comedian) used his mouth as much as his wrestling prowess to earn a championship fight with middleweight title holder Anderson Silva at 2010’s UFC 117 event. And despite testing positive for increased levels of testosterone, being accused of lying to the California State Athletic Commission and finding himself embroiled in a money laundering scam, Sonnen needed just one win over Brian Stann to earn a second crack at ‘The Spider.’

And you know what? I can’t wait to see that fight either.

Diaz and Sonnen certainly aren’t the first fighters to use their mouth to complement their fighting skills. Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock had a legendary feud in the early days of the UFC boom. Phil Baroni has long been a master of swagger-filled bravado. And let’s not even talk about Brazilian bad boy Wallid Ismail. But is it the best way to operate as MMA continues to grow? In a sport that has no official ranking system, no regular-season standings, no play-off bracket, is it always as simple as awarding the shot to the dog with the loudest bark?

The UFC is a business, plain and simple. And as mixed martial arts has developed over the past 20 years, it’s become increasingly evident that the lines between sport and entertainment often become more than a little blurred. Diaz and Sonnen have mastered the art of succeeding in both fight promotion and fight performance, and each will be handsomely rewarded for their boisterous claims. 

But what about Condit? He has 12 wins in his last 13 fights. He was willing to step up when the company needed him. Willing to step aside when the company needs him. And yet he’s the one sitting on the sidelines while the man responsible for so much UFC 137 disturbance steps into the spotlight. Does Condit now have to accuse St Pierre of ducking him? I sure hope not. The pro-wrestling theatrics are interesting in limited doses, but pure winning has to count for something.

By John Morgan, Former World MMA Awards ‘Journalist of the Year’