UFC 143 Results: What's Next for Nick Diaz?

One career reached new heights and another one ended at UFC 143 on Saturday night.

Former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit claimed the interim UFC welterweight title after upsetting Nick Diaz in a technical five-round battle.

Diaz threw everything but the kitchen sink at Condit, but he was never able to settle into a rhythm and implement his usual game plan of backing opponents up and trapping them against the fence with his world-class boxing.

Condit executed his game plan to perfection. He got the better of the open standup exchanges and scrambled away from the cage when Diaz tried to close the distance.

"It's pretty surreal," Condit told UFC commentator Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview. "I couldn't have done it without my coaches and teammates. They prepared me for this fight. I did what they told me to do, and I walked away with the victory."

As usual, Diaz leaned on his trash talk and hand gestures to force exchanges in the pocket, but unlike so many others before him, Condit never took the bait and stuck to his game plan throughout the entire fight.

"In a lot of my other fights, I've come on strong in the later rounds, and when it went to the later rounds, I started to find my flow," said Condit. "Hats off to Nick Diaz, he's a warrior. Nothing but admiration and respect for how he fights."

As for Diaz, he vehemently shook his head in disbelief after Bruce Buffer read the verdict. While Condit landed more strikes, Diaz was the obvious aggressor throughout the bout.

When the Stockton native grabbed the microphone, fans were prepared for an unending rant about undercover screw jobs, minimal paydays and other conspiracy theories, but no one could've prepared for one of the best fighters in the sport calling it quits.

"I'm not going to accept the fact that this was a loss. That ain't right. I pushed him back the whole fight, I walked him down, I got the takedown, I won on top," argued Diaz.

"Carlos is a great guy. I'm happy for him and his family. I think I'm done with this MMA. It's been great out here. I've had a good career. You guys pay me way too much, but I don't think I'm going to keep going in this. It's been a good time. Good job, Carlos; you're the man, bro."

Condit's victory snapped an 11-fight win streak for Diaz, who was clearly speaking with emotion after the fight. It's tough to envision Diaz retiring from the sport. Throughout his career, he has complained about a lacking payday and quality opposition.

Why quit now?

Diaz is rumored to have made a million dollars on Saturday night, and at only 28 years of age, he is currently in the prime of his career.

It's likely that cooler heads will prevail, and fans will see him in the octagon again sometime this year. With that said, Diaz is one of the most unpredictable personalities in MMA.

"I don't need this [expletive]. I pushed the guy backwards the whole time. He ran from me the whole fight. I landed the harder shots. He ran the whole time. He kicked me in my leg with little baby leg kicks the whole fight," said Diaz. "That's the way they understand how to win here. I don't want to play this game no more."