Image via Esther Lin of MMA Fighting
In the main event of UFC 143, Carlos Condit stuck to a very intelligent gameplan and picked up the UFC interim welterweight title by defeating Nick Diaz by unanimous decision. The scores were 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. The bout was closer than the scores made it appear, with Diaz having a case for winning three of the five rounds. Fans have been bitterly divided over the opinion of Condit's gameplan, which involved him landing strikes and circling away from being cornered by an oncoming Diaz. Either way, it's impossible to deny that the gameplan was effective.
The first two rounds were close, with Diaz coming forward and landing strikes while Condit threw leg kicks and avoided damage. Condit seemed to pull ahead in the third and particularly the fourth, while a visibly frustrated Diaz started throwing less strikes. Condit was controlling the fifth as well until late in the round when Diaz managed to get his back, lock up a body triangle, and attempted to submit Condit. "The Natural Born Killer" held Diaz off until the final bell though, and claimed the decision
What was the high spot of this fight?
Probably either Diaz trash-talking Condit in round two, or Nick's back control and attempted subs in the final stanza.
Where do these guys go from here?
Whether you were a fan of his style or not, Condit is now the UFC interim welterweight champion. He has two choices - he can wait until Georges St. Pierre is healthy (likely in the fall) and unify the titles in a bout with the current champion. Or, he can choose to defend his interim title in the meantime. A rematch with Diaz would be a possibility, along with bouts with Josh Koscheck or the winner of Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez.
Diaz announced his retirement after the bout, believing he had won decisively and showing his disgust with the final scores. Whether Diaz goes through with that remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem likely. A rematch with Condit is a possibility, as is a next bout with Josh Koscheck or a whole host of top contenders. Will we see Diaz in the octagon again? My guess would be a definitive yes.
Watch it now, later or never?
Now. While it wasn't even close to what people expected excitement-wise, watching Condit implement his gameplan and frustrate Diaz has to be seen to be believed. Plus, you can decide for yourself whether Diaz has a legitimate gripe regarding the scoring or not.
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit in the full entry.
- UFC 143 Results: Dana White Talks Carlos Condit's Next Fight, Nick Diaz' Retirement - Josh Nason
- UFC 143 Results: Mike Pierce Tolls A Warning Bell For Josh Koscheck Like He Did For Jon Fitch - Kid Nate
- UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz Vs. Carlos Condit Event Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
- UFC 143 Results: The Career Of UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit - Fraser Coffeen
- UFC 143 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant
- UFC 143 Results: Does Fabricio Werdum's Mauling Of Roy Nelson Mean He's Ready To Contend In The UFC? - Kid Nate
- UFC 143 Results Video: Dana White Talks Condit Vs. Diaz, Koscheck Vs. Fitch, More At Post-Fight Scrum - Kid Nate
- UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit, Gameplanning And The MMA Fan - Brent Brookhouse
- UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit And Greg Jackson Solved Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
- UFC 143 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth
- UFC 143 Results: Thompson, Poirier, Werdum And Nelson Take Home $65,000 Fight Night Bonuses - Kid Nate
- UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz Full Fight Video Highlights - Brent Brookhouse
- UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
- UFC 143 Results: Judges' Score Cards From Carlos Condit Vs. Nick Diaz - Kid Nate
- Nick Diaz: 'I'm Outta This S**t', Retires From MMA After UFC 143 Loss To Carlos Condit - Kid Nate
- UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Wins Interim Welterweight Title Over Nick Diaz In Thrilling Affair - Tim Burke
- Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 132: UFC 143 Results Review - Matt Bishop
- UFC 143 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Fabricio Werdum Beats Up Roy Nelson, Takes Unanimous Decision - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Renan Barao Takes Unanimous Decision Over Scott Jorgensen - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Ed Herman Submits Clifford Starks In Round Two - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Submits Max Holloway - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Edwin Figueroa Beats Alex Cacares By Split Decision In Weird Fight - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Matt Brown Stops Chris Cope In The Second Round - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Matt Riddle Picks Up Split Decision Victory Over Henry Martinez - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Rafael Natal Wins Unanimous Decision Over Michael Kuiper - Tim Burke
- UFC 143 Results: Stephen Thompson Knocks Out Dan Stittgen With Deadly Head Kick - Tim Burke
- UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
- UFC 143: Diaz Vs. Condit - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Fights - Brent Brookhouse
I wonder
How many of those crying about the decision in this fight were crying when Sanchez got the decision over Kampmann? Role reversal! Similar scenario IMO.
You can’t win a fight just coming forward when the other guy outstrikes you.
It’s effective striking, grappling and octagon control in that order.
taptomyarmbar - February 6, 2012
Agree.
And even the octagon control part begs defining. Does it mean coming forward and taking center octagon or using the space most effective to dictate the fight? If it’s the latter than Condit had it won since he was able to dictate how the fight played out.
doomrider7 - February 6, 2012
lol
the difference being of course that once Kampmann felt he was ahead, he totally stopped his aggressive attack and let Diego beat him up
in only 1 round did Condit land more significant strikes than Diaz that werent leg kicks
utterly poopy
Taylor Tolliver - February 6, 2012
So
Leg kicks don’t count now? :-S
taptomyarmbar - February 6, 2012
Not if you're a Diaz fan
who can’t think clearly due to bias.
UncleMax - February 6, 2012
THIS!
taptomyarmbar - February 6, 2012
Nobody said they don't count
But they do count less, and rightfully so. Everyone can take an order of magnitude or two more power strikes to the leg than to the face before losing a fight.
However, Diaz didn’t do more damage to the face either, so that argument doesn’t work here.
paythefighters - February 6, 2012
Faber for one would disagree with you after his Aldo fight.
krste - February 6, 2012
And there's a difference...
between leg kicks and “leg jabs” (as fightmetric calls them). That’s where all of Condits volume lay.
People are pulling out Aldo and Shogun as examples of the power of leg kicks in fights, but those fighters throw a lot of power kicks, and historically those tend to score heavily only when they’re having an obvious impact on the fight…
Bloody L - February 6, 2012
Ummm if you ever trained with good kick boxers that statment is completly untrue but yes fighters at this level can take more punishment to the legs but not just anybody can take a soild leg kick. I agree that strikes to the face are more effective and that’s obvious but like you said diaz didn’t do that this fight.
youfailme91 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
uhhh i never said that
but anyway when you get hit with a higher number of significant strikes to the head and body than you delivered and end up winning while running away, something is obviously up
Taylor Tolliver - February 6, 2012
'Running away'? LOL
<——— Toughman contests are that way
taptomyarmbar - February 6, 2012
thats not listed in any particular order
It is simply a list of judging criteria. Otherwise, it would state somewhere that they are listed in order of importance. It states nowhere that striking is more important than grappling…etc. you’re making a false assumption. All three are weighted equally.
tha dude - February 6, 2012 via mobile
dana saying this fight was like hagler-leonard is spot on
the fights are similiar in that they are impossible to score, and they split fans because of the styles involved. its a tought situation to score when one guy is clearly avoiding trading but all the while outstriking his opponent by using good movement and never standig in front of them or getting caught on the ropes or cage. but the thing is even though condit was clearly outlanding diaz it seemed lie diaz was unfazed and never really hurt other than i believe maybe once in the 3rd or 4th. (im not sayig condits kicks were soft or just used to score points bc those kicks are brutal and hurt like fuck but somehow diaz seemed completely unfazed and kep coming forward0 the punches diaz did land though i thought were absolutely brutal and carlos condit is a savage for eating them like he did. The other weird similiarity between the two fights is that both hagler and diaz both retired bc of disgust of the decision. i hope diaz comes back because diaz in alot of ways in my opinion looked like he was really entering his prime last night, his grappling has looked amazing and his boxing looked really really sharp last night. his accuracy and ability to land a 1-2 straight on a guys chin who is backpedalling like its absolutely effortless is amazing. he has never looked this good in my opinion.
bert44 - February 6, 2012
:)
its easy to keep your cardio up when you point fight
Taylor Tolliver - February 6, 2012
And let me add something to that. This is the only time condit has ever been called a point fighter. Was I the only one impressed with his striking I mean seriously. What did you all want condit to fall right into diaz gameplan. Not me. I for one am glad diaz got notched down a level. Diaz had all the hype going into this fight and all the butthurt diaz fans came out there troll cave because condit was the smarter fighter. It’s simple get over it. Diaz will be back and I hope he does he’s a amazing fighter regardless of his personality
youfailme91 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Sooo
If DIAZ had won this fight, would you consider the type of fight he fought as point fighting??? He didn’t knock out Condit either and was only content to trapping him. He did no clinch nor did he try to grab Condit as he tried to circle-exit out of that failed (repeat) trap.
friendlyfoe - February 6, 2012
His footwork looked pretty bad though.
He was chasing Condit and wasn’t ever able to cut him off. That lost him the fight IMO, that’s something he’ll have to work on if he doesn’t retire because that’s a gameplan he’s likely to encounter a lot now if he keeps fighting.
Sweet Scientist - February 6, 2012
Yeah, the footwork issue is the critical one in my opinion
If Nick’s main boxing offense is based off of catching an opponent on the cage and forcing him to shell up, then going forward he will really need to learn to cut off the cage more effectively. We saw the fruits of improved footwork in the Rampage/Machida fight and Diaz seems dedicated enough to actually improve his to that level and beyond, but the main question now is whether he would have the discipline and patience to work that kind of game.
Enmascarado - February 6, 2012
Diaz was not unfazed.
While he got off a couple flurries against Condit, it was Condit who was consistently landing better punches to the face. Some these were hard to see live, because he was so quick to move away and not get caught in a firefight. I would say he landed the better body shots as well, including a brutal knee as Diaz was coming forward. I felt that although Diaz was visibly slowing in the later rounds, he was hurting more than he let on, and could have been more aggressively attacked. If you’re not going to lay on top of him and look for GNP while avoiding submissions for five rounds, than Condit’s approach is the wise one. I do think he should have gone for it more in the 4th and 5th, but he was just too hard-wired to the game-plan to take that risk. I admit to mild disappointment, because it’s just not what you expect from Condit, and it’s why I would like to see a rematch. Condit has unfinished business here.
Charlie Custer - February 6, 2012
Condit's cardio was the biggest factor
Diaz is so used to being able to wear guys down, but Condit never gassed out getting off the cage or exchanging. Nick landed some beautiful combos (those four or five punches in a flurry against Condit’s body were painful to watch), but Condit just straight outworked him. Definitely not the advertised barn burner and yet both guys showed up to fight, gave it their all and fought like champs.
Diaz CLEARLY was getting mad that he couldn’t straight up bully Condit. His jawing is usually a sign of dominance, but seeing his opponent getting away from him was breaking him. The back mount was a great showing in the fifth, but Condit’s escape in the closing seconds was masterful. It was funny to see Diaz rant that he was never hurt, even though his face looked beaten up after. “Retiring” was the biggest hissy fit ever.
Neither guy showed they have what it takes to handle GSP’s “riddum” but Condit definitely beat Diaz last night.
ihateemo - February 6, 2012
BONUS QUESTION: what was Diaz saying to Lorenzo?
They were clearly having a loud, animated chat after the fight and Diaz was sounding all kinds of pissy.
ihateemo - February 6, 2012
I'm Guessing
He was telling Mr. Lorenzo that he won that shit. How can he be fighting me and running back the whole fight? This is for the Championship? I’m gonna retire this is retarded.
FYI:I think Diaz won…that shit!?!
Newblood - February 6, 2012
Condit clearly won
Some people in the MMA community need to understand that this is a sport with clearly defined rules. If you want to see two idiots with little or no skill swing wildly at each other go to a bar on a weekend night and wait or watch a Leonard Garcia fight.
MattParker117 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
So...
you’re saying that the fighters who disagree with you are people who just want to see unskilled idiots bang, and that they just don’t “understand” the sport?
‘Cause I’d pay good money to watch someone say that to Dan Hendersons face… I think it’d be good for a laugh.
Bloody L - February 6, 2012
Not what I meant, I’ve been in transit the last few days and have been extremly disconnected, tired and pissed off. Now that I’ve had some food and sleep I’d like to retract these comments and apologize to anyone I’ve offended.
MattParker117 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
I can only speak for myself, but no sweat dude, I wasn’t offended :)
Bloody L - February 6, 2012
well, sort of, yes.
There was some disagreement among those pros as to who won, as one would expect – none of them are judges and none of them really knows how judging goes down, just as we don’t.
i think that pro fighters obviously have a better understanding than us. But at the end of the day they’re also fans who primarily understand fighting, not necessarily how to judge a fight.
Also, i wouldn’t necessarily argue and press this point in Dan Henderson’s face because there’s a high probability that he’d Hendo-bomb me. That just means that I’m afraid of losing limbs and having my jaw turned into a trampoline.
It doesn’t mean that what i have to say is any less true.
oxala75 - February 6, 2012
sorry, youfailme91
i know you are referring to MattParker’s second post – didn’t mean to obscure that.
oxala75 - February 6, 2012
Thank you. This ^
youfailme91 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
I love hearing all the Diaz fans cry, I can read this all day :)
Blow to the back of the head - February 6, 2012
I'm a Diaz fan, but...
…I think he lost that fight. Carlos used an effective game plan—it wasn’t pretty—but it worked. I was very frustrated with his hit-and-run approach to this fight but honestly why would Carlos want to fight Nick’s fight—that would be stupid. IMO this fight demonstrated a hole in Nick’s game—He couldn’t cut off the cage. I think if he learn how to cut that cage off when opponents are trying to be evasive he will be more effective in a fight like this. Props to Carlos even though I didn’t much like that fight oeverall.
SammyBeez - February 6, 2012
Sorry 'bout the typos
SammyBeez - February 6, 2012
i totally agree
especially about the “if he had made this one adjustment, things would have been different” bit – because it’s true. If Diaz had just decided to do in the 3rd what he managed to do in the 5th, this fight would likely have gone no longer than round 4. But he didn’t, so it went to decision.
oxala75 - February 6, 2012
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