Georges St. Pierre Hoping For a Diaz Victory, But Why?
When former Strikeforce, Nick Diaz, failed to show up for not one, but two pre-fight press conferences leading up to his UFC title fight against welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, he was promptly pulled from the event and replaced by former WEC champion, Carlos Condit. I for one, was excited for the match-up and felt he posed a better threat to St. Pierre than Diaz did. Although he won't directly admit it, but I believe the champion feels the same.
“I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night," said St. Pierre, "and that I won’t be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. Carlos Condit is a very good fighter, he can strike, he is aggressive and he has submissions. He has been very impressive and is the type of fighter who gets better and better the more confident he gets."
Carlos Condit was slated to fight Nick Diaz after St. Pierre pulled out of the UFC 143 match-up with an injury. Condit and Diaz will square off this Saturday night for the welterweight interim title and the chance to fight for the true championship once the champion returns to full health. St. Pierre mentioned his fear of Condit winning only involves wanting to fight Diaz, but he did suggest hints at Condit's heightened game. Regardless of his motives, St. Pierre has made it loud and clear who he prefers to be the victor this Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win," stated St. Pierre. "It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees. I have never asked (UFC President) Dana White for anything, but I did ask to fight Nick Diaz. I was (crushed) when I had to pull out of this weekend’s fight hurt, but I am determined to get back to the Octagon as soon as possible to fight this guy. He needs to hold up his part and beat Carlos Condit on Saturday to make this fight happen."
Of course, it may be that St. Pierre is fearful of Condit, or it may be that Condit is too nice of a guy, and he'd rather battle the publicly perceived enemy.
"I am not personal friends with him but I know him a little and he’s a great person," St. Pierre said of Carlos Condit. "I know a lot of people who know him well because we train with the same people, but I have only spoken with him a few times. He is a true mixed martial artist. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz.”
His thoughts on Diaz? Not so positive.
“I don’t truly hate him as a person," said St. Pierre. "I don’t know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy.
"I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents...but with Diaz he has taken it to another level. He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect my accomplishments.
"All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous."
Though his feelings towards Diaz are not as positive, St. Pierre did offer some praise.
"Also, as champion, I believe Diaz deserves the fight for the title. Style-wise, he is a very tough match for me and the fans deserve to see the fight they really want to see.”
Although I tend to disagree, I'll be excited to see either Diaz or Condit take on the champion. In fact, this whole thing might have worked out better than originally planned out with both of the top contenders competing for that one title opportunity, rather than musical chairs in the contender seat with one man outside looking in, ultimately cheated out of his spot. The clear winner of Saturday night's fight is truly deserving, and no one can argue otherwise.
