UFC 143 results recap from last night for 'Diaz vs Condit' in Las Vegas on Feb. 4
by Thomas Myers on Feb 5, 2012 9:00 AM EST
in UFC Results
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The sun has set on yet another Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pay-per-view (PPV) event from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. And for the first time since April 2008, the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion has a new (interim) welterweight champion not named Georges St. Pierre.
His name? None other than Carlos Condit. However, it very well could have been -- and in some eyes should have been -- Nick Diaz.
Condit squeaked by the Stockton, Calif., slugger in the UFC 143 main event, backpedaling for essentially five rounds and playing a strategic -- and apparently very effective -- game of keep-away for five full rounds. The "Natural Born 'Kicker'" slipped punches, circled and countered with effective strikes and kicks, while keeping his distance and refusing at all costs to get trapped along the fence.
Diaz was, unsurprisingly, the aggressor throughout the entire interim welterweight title fight. He walked down Condit and attempted to corner him up against the cage, or at the very least, get him to exchange in the center of the Octagon. He soon began to talk trash, throw up his hands and bait Condit into fighting his fight.
Condit never bit. Not even a nibble.
On the contrary, Condit was remarkably disciplined and stuck to his gameplan. And midway through the third round he appeared to find his groove, loosening up and starting to score points with the judges. He found a home for his leg kicks, as well as another for his shin on Diaz's grill more than a few times.
Mix in some nice, creative strikes in short bursts, and it was a recipe for success.
Condit got himself in some trouble in the final minute of the fight, getting tripped and letting Diaz -- a very dangerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt -- take his back and work for a fight-ending submission. Condit defended the choke well, and then the following arm lock, to seal his split decision victory and earn an invitation to unify the belt against St. Pierre later this year once "Rush" is fully recovered from recent knee surgery.
Party pooper.
Diaz, meanwhile, was so upset with the decision that he declared that he was "done with MMA." It was clearly an emotionally-charged statement and one that he will likely revise in the days, weeks and months ahead as the bitter taste of controversial defeat begins to wane.
Maybe.
In the co main event, heavyweights Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson collided in what turned out to be an exciting, back-and-forth slugfest that ended with the Brazilian's hand raised in victory after 15 minutes of action.
It would have ended sooner if Nelson's chin wasn't made out of otherworldly, indestructible material, but alas, "Big Country" can take one hell of a punch ... and crushing knees, too. Werdum connected kneecap-to-nose on more than one painful occasion, even making it squirt blood all over Nelson's big belly.
Yet somehow, someway, Nelson remained upright and kept trudging forward, looking to land one big shot and rip a Hail Mary victory from the clutches of defeat. It never came.
Werdum -- who hadn't seen the inside of the UFC's Octagon since Oct. 2008 -- went on to earn a unanimous decision, but it certainly wasn't without a fair share of shaky moments. Nelson rocked him with a few good 'ole fashion haymakers, but he managed to recover quick and notch a very important victory that will get him on the heavyweight contender radar.
And if we're lucky, maybe Frank Mir's radar, too.
Before their welterweight showdown, Josh Koscheck promised to be the first man to finish the resilient Mike Pierce. He didn't honor that promise last night. Not even close. In fact, he's fortunate that he left "Sin City" with a win.
Pierce essentially fought his fight, closing the distance and boxing up "Kos" in the clinch, as well as alongside the cage. He even pumped the jab, finding a home for it early and often right on the face of the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA)-trained fighter.
Koscheck appeared puzzled, uncomfortable and unsure of how to go about putting points on the judges scorecards. He eventually came to his senses and resorted to his bread and butter, high-level wrestling, to land several very important takedowns, which if he didn't land, more than likely would have cost him the fight.
Even though Koscheck didn't really do much with the takedowns, they were a critical component of his split decision victory. One that will keep him on the up-and-up in the welterweight division, whether MMA fans like it -- or agree with this evening's decision -- or not.
It wasn't pretty, and it certainly wasn't as easy as he predicted, but he got the job done. Someone get Johny Hendricks on the horn immediately: That's a match to make, all things (Jon Fitch) considered.
Renan Barao doesn't just look like a complete psychopath, but he kind of fights like one, too. The Nova Uniao-trained fighter lost his first-ever MMA fight way back in 2005 and hasn't looked back since, reeling off a ridiculous 27 consecutive victories.
Make that 28.
Barao stormed past Scott Jorgensen, a former number one bantamweight contender, in a very fast-paced, exciting fight that went the distance despite the Brazilian's best efforts to end it sooner. He drilled "Young Guns" with several blistering strikes, but Jorgensen was just too durable to go home early.
Jorgensen appeared to abandon his biggest strength (wrestling) early, opting instead to sling leather with his much more accomplished striking counterpart. Either that, or he determined that Barao's takedown defense was just too good to continue testing.
Regardless, Barao punched, kneed and kicked himself to a another solid victory. In the process, he clearly established himself as perhaps the most serious threat to Dominick Cruz's 135-pound world title. He wants a chance to fight for it, shrieking in Portuguese after his win, "I WANT THE BELT!" but he'll have to take a spot behind Urijah Faber.
After that It would most likely be wise to do what the man says and give it to him. Immediately. Before someone gets hurt (again). He's scary.
After suffering a terrible in-cage knee injury during a fight against Aaron Simpson more than two years ago, it appeared that the MMA career of Ed Herman was on the fritz. "Short Fuse" had dropped three of four bouts and it didn't appear that The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 alum would be able to make a significant contribution to the 185-pound division moving forward.
Mindless mularkey, Maniacs.
Herman, riding a two-fight win streak, strutted into the Octagon last night to battle Clifford Starks, a strong, undefeated wrestling-minded fighter who would certainly test the tension of his surgically-repaired knee ligaments with takedown attempts and scrambles.
However, Herman beat him to it, securing two takedowns after the pair traded leather throughout most of the first rounds, the second of which led to a rear naked choke submission finish. In fact, Starks seemed content to stand and trade with Herman, landing several hard shots that probably would have dropped lesser competition.
It was certainly a much different, and much improved, performance from Starks in the striking department since his unanimous decision win over Dustin Jacoby in Oct. 2011. But, unlike that fight, it didn't get the job done against a dangerous, well-rounded fighter like Herman.
Stick with what works. Herman did and now he's back in the thick of things, most likely earning another televised fight in a future against a notable opponent. His hard work to turn his career around is paying off.
And it could not have come at a better time with the middleweight division in need of a talent injection.
That's enough from us. Now it's your turn to discuss UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" in the comments section below.
Do you agree with the Diaz-Condit decision? Is Diaz really done with MMA? Does Werdum have what it takes to make a run at the title? Who should "Contender Killer" Koscheck fight next? Is Barao a future champion in the making? Let's hear it, Maniacs.
Be sure to also check out our complete UFC 143 blow-by-blow coverage of the entire "Diaz vs. Condit" event right here.
While you're at it, check out our fight-by-fight recaps, video highlights and immediate reactions for UFC 143:
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
- UFC 143 results: Carlos Condit wins controversial decision over Nick Diaz to win interim welterweight title
- Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit full fight video highlights from UFC 143
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Last, and certainly not least, check out our complete UFC 143 results recap of the Facebook/FX "Prelims" right here.
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they got it wrong.
Looking at the fact that Diaz was able to literally walk (and talk!) right through each and every one of those 68 Leg Strikes (including the headkick, and all 50 “leg jabs”), I don’t think you can say accurately that Condit was the more effective striker. Diaz, meanwhile, actually was able to establish his striking in a way that FORCED Condit to backpedal (FOR THE ENTIRE FIGHT). It was Carlos’ head that was snapping back along the cage. It was Carlos that got dirty boxed along the cage. It was Carlos that was timid in rounds one and two (and 3 minutes of round three!). All that being said, if you watched the fight, you would know that Diaz was the more EFFECTIVE STRIKER.
Evans will dethrone Bones.
Sonnen will smother Silva.
Diaz got robbed.
That is all.
Also,
Diaz got the ONLY takedown (he was 1 for 3). He got the fights ONLY truly dominant position (and held it for over a minute, in the last round). Effective grappling goes to Diaz.
Evans will dethrone Bones.
Sonnen will smother Silva.
Diaz got robbed.
That is all.
Lastly,
Whether or not you rooted for Diaz or Condit, one guy was walking forward, stalking the entire fight. The other would back up, hit the cage, eat some strikes, then circle around. and then repeat. Effective octagon control? DIAZ. Diaz looses rounds 4 (the flurry at the end of round 3 was not enough to sway me in favor of Condit) on his way to a Decision Victory, 49-46…IF the judges could pull their heads out of their asses. (although I can def. see the argument for all the way up to a 48-47 for diaz)
Evans will dethrone Bones.
Sonnen will smother Silva.
Diaz got robbed.
That is all.
exactly how can say it is "effective" striking
if it isnt even making ur opponent back up or cover up which is essentially what diaz striking was doing.Judges are killing mma man
"ever heard of a tune up? tee hee hee hee
"ah hee hee hee ever heard of a ritual killing? tee hee hee hee"
"i dont get it"
"you gnaw on her face in public like that again and you'll be one tee hee hee hee"
Condit landed more effective strikes
No one is saying Roy beat werdum bc werdum was backpedaling the whole time Roy walked him down the whole fight atleast tds 2 & 3. Nick lost nick couldn’t keep Carlos backed to the cage to imply is body body head body combo Condit showed he was the more technical more disciplined fighter. So nick walked forward landed less strikes and caused less damage what universe does that win fights ??? Clearly condit won I had him winning first 4 and personally the last minute of the 5th wasn’t enough to take that round IMO even if it was it’d still be 4-1 in my eyes in favor of condit
2 week sig and pic bet with Kalejohncox Condit over Diaz
by TheDragon on Feb 5, 2012 10:05 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Werdum kicked roys ass
did more damage landed those knees. and engaged in a back and forth with roy. its one thing to be a fan of condit, but if your going to let that cloud your judgement then damn thats weak. I like Condit. Just as much as Diaz (and still do!) but I just have to call it like I see it.
Evans will dethrone Bones.
Sonnen will smother Silva.
Diaz got robbed.
That is all.
Then u should be saying
Condit clearly won. Ur argument is Diaz walked forward. Condit countered and even attacked throughout the fight condit executed and landed more strikes he outworked nick plain and simple. Your right werdum did beat Roy up but by ur logic of walking forward wins fights then Roy should have won rds 2-3 and the fight Do u get it now? U say nick walked forward and landed less strikes caused less damage and won so how can Roy walk forward land less strike cause less damage and lose??
2 week sig and pic bet with Kalejohncox Condit over Diaz
by TheDragon on Feb 5, 2012 10:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
LOL
Wow this is fantastic! You used JA’s argument against him and crushed it. Wow. So simple and elegant.
by el chupa nibre on Feb 5, 2012 5:53 PM EST up reply actions
Ugh...this fight was ugly
And Carlos should have his nickname revoked.
My daddy didn't come to my play in 2nd grade so now I do MMA.
by RandyCouture'sDivorceLawyer on Feb 5, 2012 9:23 AM EST via mobile reply actions
DISAPPOINTMENT
I told my friends this would be the best UFC fight of all time. It obviously wasn’t even close. I would probably give the win to Diaz because he pushed forward and grabbed the back. Carlos didn’t really do anything effective.
Just Do It
-Nike
I had Diaz the first time I watched this fight, but not the second ...
I didn’t know who was going to win when I watched live, I looked at my girlfriend and said I think Diaz has it in the bag … I’m a Diaz fan; the first time I gave Diaz rounds 1/2/3, but after all the crazy and mostly biased hate I read everywhere as well as some pretty stupid comments from the media during the post fight press conference I had to give it another go ….
→ then I gave Condit the fight = 1/4/5.
>> Round one was very close – I watched it 3 times. But in the end it was the combination of kicks and shots from the outside that convinced me Condit won the round with his effective striking. Let me be clear that Diaz did get the better of the exchanges but Condit did land several wicked leg kicks all the while attempting spinning backfirst/elbows, throwing knees and more high kicks. But almost every kick from Diaz missed, was blocked or checked.
> Diaz did press forward but Condit circled out of the way. Diaz also ate a lot of kicks on his second and third steps after they reset in the middle … maybe always pressing forward was not such a good idea – [ see the end of the fight were Diaz takes his back and the top of his right thigh is dark red ]. Thus Octagon control goes to Condit as he kept Diaz on the outside and land more shots.
- Instead of just cutting off or walking straight toward Condit, why didn’t he wait in the middle and make Condit come to him? I found myself wondering that in the 4th, but by the end of it and into the 5th – it was clear that Condit could do much more damage if Diaz stood still … his only option was move forward hoping to tire Condit or clinch him … both of which failed.
> Here are some interesting points about Martial Arts for the crying babies who let themselves be fan boys and not fight fans:
- Condit was the first capable striker with the same reach Diaz as every fought. So having the advantage of space was no longer Diaz’s he couldn’t adjust to firing from the outside as well as Condit. Looks at the height and reach of Penn, Noons, Daley, Gomi – not so even …
- This was a Kickboxer /vs/ Boxer match up – So here is a little bit of history:
Rampage [boxer] KO’d a circling Chuck [kickboxer]
Hendo [boxer] KO’d a circling Bisbing [kickboxer]
Diaz [boxer] couldn’t hit a circling Condit [kickboxer]
Now all the immature and intellectually impotent fans can spam that circling is not the same as running or moving backwards bellow …
sorry - didn't preview
end of the fight where
same reach as Diaz
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