UFC 143: Is Nick Diaz Tailor-Made for GSP?

Georges St. Pierre must be chomping at the bit.

Two men who have never been in a UFC title bout are fighting to see who gets to claim the throne until GSP has rehabilitated his knee. With the title comes the limelight and a myriad of questions, mostly pertaining to how the winner stacks up to the Canadian champion.

In truth, more often than not, the interim champion is more like a steward of the title—only the king until the real king returns.

If Carlos Condit should win, Georges St. Pierre will wind up facing him. Condit is a respectable and humble man who, on paper, is a much more difficult match for him than Diaz.

If Diaz wins, St. Pierre will have to bide his time and wait while Diaz throws pies at his face and attempts to blemish his reputation.

GSP is not much of a trash talker, but Diaz has no qualms about disparaging the character of his opponent, no matter who he may be.

But in the end, none of that matters; it’s the fight that everyone will remember.

And that is why GSP is hoping for a Diaz victory, as Condit would be a much harder fight. Condit has a wide open style that matches his high skill set, and that makes him capable and very unpredictable.

The adage “styles make fights” has always been a fundamental truth in the fight game, and it remains as such when you consider a bout between Diaz and St. Pierre.

Simply put, St. Pierre―if he keeps his head about him and does not respond to the goading Diaz will do in and out of the cage―should defeat Diaz, convincingly.

Of course, his fans will cry foul at such a declaration, but that is when they usually make my point.

They'll cry: “If GSP was a real fighter, he’d fight Nick on the feet.”

This sentiment in this kind of reverse psychology is not wholly unfounded. If you look at the career of Diaz, you can see that he has lost most of his fights to good wrestlers with smooth takedown skills and a strong top game.

Diaz is an exciting and dangerous fighter who always fights to finish, thrills the fans and never stops to second-guess himself. But every fighter has an Achilles heel. For Diaz, that is wrestling and dealing with someone who can maintain the top position for extended periods of time.

After Diaz left the UFC in 2006, he compiled an impressive record, including his current 11-match win streak, but none of his opponents have been what would be considered a good wrestler.

In GSP, Diaz will be fighting the best wrestler and takedown artist in the division.

GSP will, in all likelihood, be able to take Diaz down anytime he wants, and control him from there, either winning a lopsided unanimous decision or perhaps a TKO stoppage.

It’s no wonder that GSP is hoping for a fight with Diaz. Stylistically, it’s as good as money in the bank.