"This is just another step toward my ultimate goal of being among the best mixed martial artists in the world. [Nick Diaz] was talking, I was landing punches, you know? I think I was winning. No matter how much he talked, I was hitting him hard, I was hitting him solid. That's what I came here to do: I didn't come here to talk. From the very beginning, I broke that leg down. I chopped his leg, chopped his leg, chopped his leg, so even if he had the cardio, he didn't have the wheels. I've got a lot of work to do, and a lot more improvements to be made. Georges St. Pierre is a true champion, he's the best in the world. It's huge."
Newly-minted UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit had a gameplan to defeat Nick Diaz in the UFC 143 main event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and he was sticking to it no matter what the fiery Stockton, Calif., slugger said inside the cage during their five-round battle. It was clear that Diaz was growing impatient with Condit's wise strategy, which comprised circling away from Diaz, countering and refusing to get backed into a corner and beaten up. In fact, Condit's feet barely stopped moving all night (Feb. 4, 2012), turning in a very disciplined performance even when Diaz threw up his hands, stuck out his chin and dared the "Natural Born Killer" to get down and dirty. He remained focused and resolute even when the fans in attendance began to grow a little restless. His defensive offense, however, eventually won them over, as well as the judges sitting ringside, who awarded him a controversial unanimous decision that -- at least on paper -- appeared to be accurate. With the win, Condit sets up a future date with reigning division champion Georges St. Pierre later this year to unify the belts. One that will take a similar effort of remaining upright and off his back if he intends on achieving his ultimate goal. Easier said than done, but he'll have more than enough time to work up yet another effective gameplan.
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