Why Nick Diaz Will Be Wearing UFC Gold in 2012

Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz is supposedly two fights away from UFC gold. The first hurdle presents itself in the guise of Carlos Condit. After that is MMA pound-for-pound great Georges St. Pierre.

I say supposedly because anything could happen between now and then. St. Pierre might not be ready, which means Diaz could easily end up fighting Jon Fitch or Jake Ellenberger, or whomsoever is lying in the upper half of the welterweight division.

Initially, the Stockton native had the opportunity to challenge for the welterweight gold, but that all went up in smoke as he was bounced from the main event due to failing to attend several press junkets preceding his proposed matchup with St. Pierre at UFC 137.

Still, after St. Pierre was sidelined with an injury, the 209 son didn’t disappoint as one part of the headline act at UFC 137—he systematically upended B.J. “The Prodigy” Penn to earn himself yet again another tilt at UFC glory.

Even though Condit and St. Pierre were the original cast members to headline the UFC 143 card on Super Bowl weekend, Diaz, after the Penn matchup, verbally questioned the heart of St. Pierre, enough for the welterweight king to take the bait and accept his challenge.

As fate would have it, St. Pierre succumbed to the same injury once again, thus leaving Diaz without a title to vie for.

The former Strikeforce welterweight champion is now set to risk it all against “The Natural Born Killer” Condit at UFC 143.

Condit has the knockout power and the submission skills to trouble any fighter in the welterweight assemblage.

Against Diaz, however, will have his work cut out for him, as the Cesar Gracie fighter excels him in both skill sets.

The time for Condit to contest for the welterweight crown will come, but not whilst Diaz is in the title hunt as well.

Once St. Pierre has convalesced and is ready to throw down, Diaz will be that little bit closer to the welterweight Holy Grail.

St. Pierre’s all-around capabilities (core strength, etc.) are what make him one of the most feared fighters in MMA today.

Be that as it may, he’ll be coming off a succession of injuries.

Add the long layoff to the equation, the more Diaz is favored in this matchup.

Most wrote off Diaz’s chances against Penn, but he proved them wrong.

He’ll be written off even more so against St. Pierre when they hopefully meet sometime in 2012.

Still, whatever “Rush” brings to the table come fight night, Diaz will counter it; he’s possess some serious jiu-jitsu on the ground (as does St. Pierre), and in the stand up he’ll give St. Pierre more than he can handle and then some.

The 209 son, jumped ship to the Ultimate Fighting Championship for one reason, and one reason only, to acquire St. Pierre’s coveted welterweight crown.

In 2012, it’s a surefire bet that Nick Diaz will be wearing that UFC gold around his waist.

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