UFC 143: Condit wins unanimous decision
Photo courtesy of UFC.com
The UFC welterweight interim title fight between Stockton resident Nick Diaz (27-8-1) and Albuquerque native Carlos ‘The Natural Born Killer’ Condit (28-5), did not disappoint in its drama, even if the fight went the distance. Carlos Condit came away with the decision, after following a carefully contrived and necessary game plan against Diaz. Fans at the Mandalay Bay Events center were oddly mixed in their reaction to the announcement.
Diaz’s stellar boxing is rooted in his constant forward movement, which in turn is enabled by his ability to take and give punches in the pocket and his skill at pinning opponents to the cage, where they are forced to absorb his physical and verbal abuse. Early on, it was evident that Condit’s trainer, Greg Jackson, would have his fighter slip under Diaz’s arm, circle, and reengage center Octagon, thereby staying out of the heat.
This tactic is easier said than done. It’s like telling a running back to take the ball and score a touchdown: you have to have the skills to implement the intent. And you have to have the stamina against Diaz, an accomplished triathlete.
Condit had difficulty and looked awkward early on, but he scored almost as often as Diaz. Diaz’s scoring was predominantly with fists, whereas Condit was scoring with nifty leg kicks and combinations. Condit’s trademark spinning back fists and flying knees were not cutting it against the wily fighter from Stockton, however.
Condit’s comfort level rose as the rounds passed, and even though Diaz continued his pressure, Condit found his form and his target, more than Diaz did anyway. Both fighters attempted take downs, but the only one came late in the fifth, with Diaz pulling to Condit’s back and attempting a choke, perhaps a desperate attempt to save the fight. Condit reversed the position before the final bell, though, and looked much more confident than Diaz’s battered face as the winner was being announced.
In defense of Diaz’s bad boy rep, he admitted his discomfort with attention and the press, and says that’s why he comes off as rude and obnoxious. He’s not a showman, he’s a simple fighter at heart, and that’s a compliment. His speech afterwards was respectful this time. But even if Diaz had won, the question most fight fans had asked was answered: “Could the winner beat Georges St. Pierre?”
Had Diaz overwhelmed Condit, or had Condit knocked out Diaz, GSP and his fans might feel a legit threat. And while two excellent fighters can make each other look ordinary, that’s not the case here. GSP---who also fights under Jackson---simply has too much wrestling ability to be threatened by either, and his advanced striking will ensure he’ll get Condit to the mat when they inevitably meet for the title.
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