St. Pierre, Diaz can’t wait for February

[zoogor]

Two months ago, a welterweight title match between Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz would have been just another of the many big fights that the UFC promotes each year.

But after a dramatic and turbulent 60-day period, St. Pierre and Diaz are set to meet on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas in what could become the biggest fight in UFC history.

Diaz has become the mixed martial arts version of Mike Tyson. He’s a highly entertaining fighter and fierce warrior whose unpredictable behavior and willingness to challenge the establishment has captivated the UFC’s fan base.
Moments after Diaz battered B.J. Penn in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 137 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Diaz shouted at St. Pierre, the UFC welterweight champion, who was seated ringside.

And not long after that, St. Pierre marched over to UFC president Dana White to demand he face Diaz next. White said Saturday that St. Pierre “flipped out” and added that “I’ve never seen him like he was tonight.”

St. Pierre didn’t have the edge in his voice on Sunday after a long day of flying that he did when he spoke to White late Saturday, but he told Yahoo! Sports he is highly motivated to fight after listening to Diaz and manager Cesar Gracie repeatedly insult him.

“You know, I’m the champion and the way that works is, I don’t pick my fights,” St. Pierre said. “They pick the opponents, and it’s my job to be ready to face whoever it is. But this guy, he said so many things, things that aren’t true. He said these personal things and the way he acted, I don’t like that. I don’t agree with that.

[zoogor]

“I wanted this fight. It is the best thing for me to fight Nick Diaz. He wanted his opportunity, but you know, I wanted my opportunity to fight him, too.”

Diaz and St. Pierre were signed to be the main event at UFC 137 before a bizarre sequence of events scuttled the fight. The UFC scheduled promotional news conferences in Toronto on Sept. 6 and in Las Vegas on Sept. 7.

Diaz missed both news conferences. At the Las Vegas news conference, White announced that Diaz was being pulled from the card and being replaced by Carlos Condit, who had been slated to fight Penn in the co-main event.

That left Penn without an opponent. Late on Sept. 8, White decided to put Diaz back on the card, against Penn, in the co-main event. That bout then became the main event when St. Pierre injured a knee and later aggravated a hamstring while training on Oct. 18.

Diaz openly questioned whether St. Pierre was hurt. Gracie wouldn’t go that far, but he noted the irony in the fact that Diaz skipped the news conferences but made the fight, and that St. Pierre made the news conferences but missed the fight.

“The guy who went to the press conference didn’t fight,” Gracie said. “That’s all I’ve got to say about it. Nick, yeah, he got kicked out, ‘Oh, he’s the bad guy.’ Look, he didn’t go to what Nick called the beauty pageant, but come fight night, you guys saw what he’s made of. He showed up. He did everything asked of him. And the guys who made the press conference, they weren’t here tonight.”

[zoogor]

St. Pierre said he strained the medial collateral ligament in his knee. He said he is feeling better and expects to be 100 percent in two to three weeks. He said the fact that the injury came so close to the fight is what prevented it from happening.

He said he was impressed by Diaz on Saturday and said he always has considered Diaz a formidable opponent.

“My view hasn’t changed,” St. Pierre said. “He did a great job, but I’m not surprised. I knew he was very good. He did very well. He fought very well and did great. He proved he’s on top of the game right now.”

Diaz wasn’t happy with his performance, though, and said he can be far better. He attributed his problems to a lack of quality sparring, which led to a rant about compensation for his sparring partners.

Most observers thought he looked sensational against Penn, whom many believed had the best boxing skills in the sport. Penn boxed superbly in the first round, but Diaz picked up the pace in the second and Penn couldn’t withstand Diaz’s withering assault.

But Diaz didn’t think it was his performance that got him the fight with St. Pierre. He said he had to play the role of villain in order to get it, and that clearly displeased him.

“The only reason I’m getting this fight is because people want to see me take an ass-whipping,” he said. “So, all right, great. I worked for it. I’ll take my ass-whipping, I’ll take my money, and I’ll go home.”

St. Pierre said he respects Diaz’s talent and won’t underestimate him. White said at Saturday’s post-fight news conference that St. Pierre told him Diaz “is 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.”

St. Pierre wouldn’t go nearly so far while speaking to Yahoo! Sports, but he sounded as if he were counting the days until Feb. 4.

“This is a fight I am looking forward to very much, and it’s a fight that I wanted very badly,” he said. “This is a very important fight to me personally. I am glad that the UFC did it for us.”

[zoogor]

oh man, if GSP is pissed, this fight ain't gonna take long. diaz is gonna get hurt.

[clarkie]

No one pissed him off more than Koschuk.. and loko what happened to him.. a ass kicking in the first degree

[KIDWCKED]

This will be an awsome fight!!Me thinks GSP will win,but at the same time it should be a really good show.

[Shakman]

Diaz looked good against BJ, Bj is a one dimensional fighter, he never changes his levels........... as much I love Diaz, I feel sorry for him, as he will get the worst ASS kicking of his life, as an elite MMA practioner, GSP at another level, he won't stand still against his petting/tapping punches, he will move site ways, and will whup his ass -:)

[hoopty]

i like them both. but i see diaz submitting him in later round with choke or armbar. diaz is much better at the ground. jmo.

[kenkell1]

i like them both. but i see diaz submitting him in later round with choke or armbar. diaz is much better at the ground. jmo.

lmao, not even close. If GSP gets Diaz on the ground it will be over and over very fast.

[Condor]

I hate to say this but my "compadre" Diaz looks like he is out there somewhere... Like on Shrooms or something...lol......have you noticed he cant even communicate his points across...Hehehee.....I hope GSP puts a whooping on him like he did to Penn...

[hoopty]

thats what chael sonnen thought also when he got submitted by anderson late 5th round.

[dac1]

oh man, if GSP is pissed, this fight ain't gonna take long. diaz is gonna get hurt.
Are U so sure? GSP's chin has not been tested the way Diaz will lay hands on him.

[hoopty]

gsp will take him to the ground sooner or later. he cant stand with diaz, like i said i like them both but diaz by submission. i hope diaz wins. jmo.

[zoogor]

have you guys seen GSP fight??? holy crap, no way diaz can win unless GSP is sick or on his death bed.

[hoopty]

i have seen gsp fight many fights but i just cant see him beating diaz. diaz has gotten great. everyone thought diaz would lose against paul daley also and he made a fool out of him. daley isnt the same caliber as gsp but i just dont see it. jmo.

[zoogor]

i have seen gsp fight many fights but i just cant see him beating diaz. diaz has gotten great. everyone thought diaz would lose against paul daley also and he made a fool out of him. daley isnt the same caliber as gsp but i just dont see it. jmo.

i guess we're all entitled to our opinion and thats what this thread is for but i honestly dont think GSP is gonna lose. i know for every great athlete there is a better one or at least a bad night for "the best" but i really don't think GSP can be beat by any equal matched fighter.

[hoopty]

could be right . either way i think it will be one hell of a fight. always good chatting with you zoogor. got to head out. have a great one.

[zoogor]

always a pleasure hoopty. have a great day.
and it will be a great fight either way.

[clarkie]

Just to add to this thread, no one, i mean NO ONE has a jab like GSP.. its the best in the UFC, period....IMO..lol, but can u c a Diaz win and the pay day for Dana White and his money monkeys. for a rematch.. its all about money folks, the fighters get **** and the UFC gets it all

[zoogor]

i agree its all about money but i dont think GSP will lay down for anyone.

[hoopty]

i dont think he would either.

[whiplash]

I just wanted to put my nickles worth in. Diaz looked great against BJ. However BJ is not the same guy he used to be. That being said GSP is gonna whup that a$$. Diaz is a bully and a punk and they always meet their comeuppence

[shrady]

No matter what the outcome, it should be one hell of a fight. Been a while since dana brought us one hell of a fight.

[jriver309]

BJ fought a good fight he just wasnt big enough size wise compared to Diaz and he just didnt have the KO power he needed to keep Diaz off or was he able to deal with his reach advantage. He did a good number on his eye for sure and big difference GSP is a big guy with lots of good striking power just look at Koscheck. Sure like any fighter GSP can fall like he did before but he don't like Diaz and like Koscheck he will be up on his game, will definately be a no love lost fight with blood flowing and no matter how good Diaz comes prepared and lets hope his does bring A plus game it won't be enough cause GSP will elevate his. Just my two cents which still don't buy coffee.

[TLG]

h**p://sports.yahoo.com/elite-athlete-workouts/georges-st-pierre?vid=26492560

one thing about GSP is that he is a dedicated fighter to his sport
no way will he ever drop for $$ for a re-match ... he wants to be
the best fighter to ever fight in the UFC .....

I think he has come up at the right place at the right time ...
there simply isn't any other fighter in the walter weight division
conditioned enough to challange him ..

<div><iframe frameborder="0" width="576" height="324" src="http://d.yimg.com/nl/cbe/dodge/player.html#startScreenCarouselUI=hide&vid=26492560&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Felite-athlete-workouts%2Fgeorges-st-pierre%3Fvid%3D26492560"></iframe></div>

[vyger]

BJ fought a good fight he just wasnt big enough size wise compared to Diaz and he just didnt have the KO power he needed to keep Diaz off or was he able to deal with his reach advantage. He did a good number on his eye for sure and big difference GSP is a big guy with lots of good striking power just look at Koscheck. Sure like any fighter GSP can fall like he did before but he don't like Diaz and like Koscheck he will be up on his game, will definately be a no love lost fight with blood flowing and no matter how good Diaz comes prepared and lets hope his does bring A plus game it won't be enough cause GSP will elevate his. Just my two cents which still don't buy coffee.

very well said.............if that's all Diaz has is what he gave Penn (hit Penn a ton but could not knock him down) then GSP will have a filed day.

[ft@t@lk™]

GSP vs Diaz....for some reason not sounding as entertaining as the Cain Velazquez vs JDS fight coming up this Saturday for free on Fox

IMO, this should be a hella fight :thumbsup:

[miketv]

OK here's my thoughts on the Diaz vs Penn, first off i think with BJ playing around in 2 wieght class's didnt do him any favours, maybe some years ago it did but not today, too much talent in both devisions, franky Edger took it too Penn badly, put on a clinic according to Joe Rogen, not only once but twice!..so maybe droping down a wieght class wasnt such a good idea, why not just stay in welterwieght and fight guys like Matt Hughs, who also cannot seriously fight for the belt but could still put on exciting fights, personly i think some one earlier said it when they said its about the money, not really a belt,..we all know that Matt and BJ will always have a special place in Dana whites heart and he will let them fight no matter what! frankly I'm glad BJ is hanging it up, getting a little tired of watching him get his ass handed to him, dont get me wrong I love the guy but theres a time when you just have to tap out for good, rite CHUCK ! lol, ok nuff said there, now GSP and Diaz on the other hand is another story, yes Diaz has improved greatly but is he ready for GSP, hmm.. I think not!, but he sure does get the green light to fight him, sure why not, who else is there bessides Carlos Condit,..as we all know Josh Kostiak has one of the biggest and badest attitudes in the UFC and is a great fighter but however is no match for GSP to date, he has the worse case of diarhea mouth any one has ever seen, and even all that bad hipe got him nothing more than a tittle fight and may never get another chance to fight GSP just because of his huge mouth,..so not sure what Diaz is thinking shooting his mouth off the way, why does he think its going to be any differant for him, lets face it, Georges never talks trash outside or inside the ring, he is a true embassador to the sport and is certainly working his way to being one of the most successful fighter in UFC history,..yep I'm looking forward to the fights, my money is on GSP... good luck everone!

[dslchome]

have you guys seen GSP fight??? holy crap, no way diaz can win unless GSP is sick or on his death bed.

True, but GSP fights always go 5 rounds. Why dont he stop people like he used to?

They used to be called * RUSH * b.c he would stop people so fast and was in such a rush to kick ass.

now he is ,, Dont get me wrong is he smart and is 1 of the top P4P, but the guy never takes a chance.

All fighters much take some changes in there just to show what they are made of.

Even Anderson Silva does.

[jriver309]

GSP has become very careful in his prepartions for fights especially after what Matt Serra did to him, an having two ACL operations myself I know how hard it is to just work let alone exercise normal so GSP has his hands full. I been reading if he gets by Condit he would face Silva at a catchweight 180lbs since Silva and Jon Jones won't face each other at 204, that is the fight I wanna see. But I hope George fights Diaz and they really get it on since neither likes each other at all or who knows maybe Diaz will get a shot at Silva.

[LuckyLarry]

Truthfully:I would like GSP to have a tune-up fight to get it all back in order,but I'm still confident he will handle Diaz.Too many sides to GSPs' game.He does lack one thing:meaness.If he had Wanderlei Silvas mean streak,he would have it all.

[jriver309]

Dana White has a track record of feeding the wounded to the wolves just look at Brock, no matter what you think of him to be off after such a serious illness and operations to be thrown in with Overeem an no tuneup just like when he fed him to Mir in their first fight. With White it is SOS sink or swim.