UFC 158's Nick Diaz doesn't understand George St. Pierre's sudden 'dark side mode,' says he should just be himself

There is no question that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre is one of the true gentlemen in mixed martial arts (MMA) today.

He is, after all, a well-spoken fighter with "GQ" style and looks that have made him a model citizen outside of the cage, earning him the adoration of millions of fight fans worldwide. It helps to be one of the promotional "faces" of the Las Vegas-based promotion.

But, don't confuse his kindness for a weakness, because once he steps inside the Octagon, the soft-spoken French-Canadian turns into a killer, dominating his opponents in the 170-pound weight class night after night for the past six years.

Though he can be nicest guy around, St. Pierre admits he has a dark side, revealing that his upcoming opponent at UFC 158, Nick Diaz, has no idea just how dark he can truly get in his head at times.

The Stockton slugger, however, scoffs at St. Pierre's claims, saying he doesn't understand the reason "Rush" is suddenly in "dark side mode," telling the 170-pound kingpin he should just be himself and quit trying to dredge up some "bullshit" to get people excited.

Simply put, just keep it real ... like he does.

He said as much at the recent rough and rowdy UFC 158 profanity-laced media conference call:

"I don't know why he's acting up. I don't know, I think he should just be himself and do his thing, you know? He wants to come all from the dark side on this one. I don't understand it, I really don't. I don't care. I'm not told about how they are going to portray me or him. They don't give me any like ideas or plans of how they are going to do some sort of a build up or a 'Primetime' or if they're going to do it or not. I'm not sitting around planning how I am going to act or come off like, ‘oh, I better say something intimidating,‘ or, ‘I better talk this shit or that shit.' I just gotta do what I gotta do. So, I don't know what he's going through with the whole dark side or where he comes from or whatever. I know where the fuck I come from. I don't have to dredge up some bullshit to get everybody excited, but whatever; you gotta do what you gotta do. I mean, they want to tell you you're exciting or you're not exciting. You're important or not important. You wonder too, if you're not in the media circle, you wonder what the fuck is going on. I'm sure you worry about it. I mean you have to wonder how you are coming off if you're not paying what the fuck is on the Internet. Now your over here doing a ‘I'm from the dark side mode?' I don't know, I'm ready to do my job. I got a fight. I'll keep it real."

Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

The outspoken Stockton slugger took "Rush" to task during the call, labeling him a "pampered" fighter who has people "powdering his nose" for him. The usually reserved St. Pierre didn't sit there with his arms crossed, though, labeling Diaz an "unsuccessful" and "uneducated fool" who cant' seem to speak a lick of intelligible English.

How's that for "dark?"

Nevertheless, the top two welterweights in the sport will let their fists and kicks do the talking when they finally mix it up at UFC 158 on March 16, 2013 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Are you ready?