Cesar Gracie Ashamed of Nick Diaz: "I Can't Stick Up for Nick on This One"

It was announced today by Dana White that after the no-showing of Nick Diaz in his second straight press conference, Diaz's position as top challenger for Georges St-Pierre's UFC welterweight championship belt had been usurped by a fierce, well-rounded and aggressive top-level fighter in Carlos Condit.

Originally planned for a co-main event bout against BJ Penn, the 27-year-old Condit will now get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight for the UFC welterweight championship.

After placing calls to his trainers and brother Nate, Dana was finally contacted during the press conference this afternoon by Cesar Gracie, Nick Diaz's instructor.

"I can't stick up for Nick on this one," Gracie said, who was thoroughly embarrassed by his star pupil's actions and apologized for them.

"I've stuck up for Nick, even when he was wrong before," he said. "But he's let a lot of people down. He's let his team down. We all bought plane tickets to Vegas. We got hotel rooms booked, paid for. We've got all that, and Nick just decided not to go to something he's supposed to. They're paying him a lot of money, and in this economy where people don't have money, he's blessed. He should be thanking God every night how blessed he is."

Whatever the reason that Nick Diaz wants to use for his absence, he just burned the bridge with Dana White on it. And Dana is not a tripwire you want to stumble over.

In an incredibly opposite show of professionalism and desire, White stated Carlos Condit was overwhelmed to tears when presented with the opportunity and immediately got on a plane to Las Vegas.

Regardless of this evening's events, fans now have a much more exciting fight to look forward to come October 29th, and a much more worthy challenger of St-Pierre's title.