GSP vs Diaz - UFC 158

Raekwon

Main Card

Georges St-Pierre vs Nick Diaz

Rory MacDonald vs Carlos Condit

Johny Hendricks vs Jake Ellenberger

Alessio Sakara vs Patrick Cote


You've got to feel sorry for Hendricks here as he has done everything to deserve a title shot but I guess Diaz is deemed a bigger draw by the UFC. I cannot see Diaz winning but it is a fight that I wanted to see so I'm happy that it finally got made (third time lucky?).

MacDonald vs Condit II is a fascinating match up. McDonald has improved immensely since he suffered his only loss to Condit so no doubt he'll be looking revenge. I'd still give Condit a slight edge though.

Ellenberger is a very good fighter but I fully expect Hendricks to dismantle him and hopefully get his title shot late in 2013.

singlesnights

Nick will find some way to make the fight not happen.

I bet it'll be scrapped and Hendricks will get his deserved shot at the title.

El Guapo!

I hope the fight doesn't happen. It really doesn't interest me at all. The only reason I'd want to watch it is to see GSP dominate him and shut him up.
I really don't see what Diaz has done to deserve a shot at GSP. Hendricks deserves it way more than Diaz. Who has Diaz even beaten?! Apart from a washed up BJ Penn he's done nothing to deserve this fight. In fact he's done everything NOT to deserve this fight.

adamski8

hendricks should have gotten condit or macdonald and not jake. although i do want to see that rematch

mailburner

tough on hendricks in fairness but i do want to see gsp
put a beating in diaz
poor ol fitch wiped out most of the division and still got
passed over time and time again

hendricks won't have too many problems with jake imo
i'd say a ko myself and it's one i'll be betting on

I think rory will get his revenge on condit but i'll be shouting for carlos
i wonder how the bookies will price this one myself?
my own guess would be 5/6 each

fantastic card, what i wouldnt give to be there

Easy Rod

Very confident Ellenberger will beat Hendricks.

stealinhorses

Very disrespectful of the UFC to shove Diaz ahead of Hendricks in the queue considering how Diaz is coming off a loss and suspension, while Hendricks is on an absolute streak and, as Dana said himself, people skid across the Octagon when he knocks them out.

I know GSP asked to fight Diaz and they gave it to him, but somehow I think GSP knows Hendricks is dangerous and wants to stay away from him until he's gotten some cage time under his belt coming off a long lay-off.

The card looks mouth-watering to say the least. Primetime should be good for this too.

p to the e

Hendricks is not a seller. End of. No one outside of MMA and, then again, even some people who dip in and out of MMA have never heard of Hendricks. This card will sell big time based on this one fight and that's what the whole business of UFC is about. Making money.

Here's a good article I read a while back which outlines how people think they can influence what fights are made in the UFC when really Dana White couldn't give two ****s about what the fans think as long as it makes money.

http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/11/28/3702974/ufc-president-dana-white-is-not-your-friend

PauloConn

GSP is going to take an easier fight in Diaz than in Hendricks but it was set up before, there's a buzz about it and they can market it better. Hendricks should be fighting and knowing Diaz will more than likely get that shot when something happens so wouldn't worry too much. But will be interesting to see if Diaz is as strong on the ground with his BJJ against GSP's wrestling. Can't see it being an issue and short of giving george the finger in between hammerfists, i reckon GSP gets the stoppage here.
Still think Ellenberger is a bit of a challenge for him and shouldn't be overlooked yet. But it does look like a Top 10 WW night of action.
And Carlos to beat McDonald again and keep him relevant in the division.
But defo looking forward to it. Let's hope 2013 isn't the injury mess 2012 was.

adamski8

I must say nearly all of the proposed cards next year look great.

Be like Nutella

Condit v Rory 'what a sad attempt to be a Heel' McDonald is such an amazing match up now. I hope Condit savages him early and sets him back a step... maybe I'm just sore over embarrassing BJ, maybe I learned to love Condit since he showed how tough he is v GSP.. I don't care I just want to see this fight so bad!! More than the GSP Diaz fight.

Ellenberger was my hot tip way back and proved to be somewhat a load of balls... whatever... I see him training his arse off for this fight with Big Rig. He could cause a major upset. He's been given an opportunity here, even if it is somewhat dissin Big Rig - great match up - IMO Ellenberger is a more sophisticated MMA fighter whatever that means but NOBODY swings like Johny Big Rig Hendricks. Can't call that fight, Ellenberger is tough stuff too.

Can't believe Dana promised the GSP v Silva fight so confidently. Imagine the money that would've been in play for that one. I wonder how that played out behind the scenes. Clearly Georges doesn't want it, right now (if at all). I do see him in with a chance in that fight... but it becomes increasingly irrelevant within 18 months I think.

MrStuffins

This is shaping up to be a great card already.

WHo cares about Hendricks? GSP v Hendricks is a sh*t match up anyway! GSP destroys him easily in every possible dimension. GSP just keeps out of the way of his power shot and gives him a beating.

GSP v Diaz is a much more interesting fight IMP simply because Diaz is a nutter and there will be plenty of antics coming up to it.

GSP v Diaz will be rather like Henderson v Diaz though. Complete domination!

adamski8

Antics stuffins? That seems unlike you! Im not pushed over seeing hendricks or diaz fight gsp. Hendricks v diaz might have been a better pairing

El Guapo!

MrStuffins wrote: »

This is shaping up to be a great card already.

WHo cares about Hendricks? GSP v Hendricks is a sh*t match up anyway! GSP destroys him easily in every possible dimension. GSP just keeps out of the way of his power shot and gives him a beating.

GSP v Diaz is a much more interesting fight IMP simply because Diaz is a nutter and there will be plenty of antics coming up to it.

GSP v Diaz will be rather like Henderson v Diaz though. Complete domination!

But I reckon GSP v Hendricks is a much more competitive match up.
The antics before the fight shouldn't really be what people want to see.
GSP will dominate Diaz. I have no doubt he'll beat Hendricks too but I think it'd be a closer fight and more entertaining to watch.

MrStuffins

adamski8 wrote: »

Antics stuffins? That seems unlike you! Im not pushed over seeing hendricks or diaz fight gsp. Hendricks v diaz might have been a better pairing

Dean09 wrote: »

The antics before the fight shouldn't really be what people want to see..

Antics SHOULDN'T matter, but they really do.

Don't tell me you guys weren't interested to see Sonnen v Silva beforehand due to all of the build up? If it wasn't for the build up, that fight was a scratch.

I like getting caught up in the build up to a fight and get excited to see it. And there's no way i'd be getting excited about GSP v Hendricks. It's not a fight anyone wants to see!

adamski8

Eh the build up for me was just centered on the fact sonnen nearly beat him the first time and yes that had me excited a little but chaels months of trash talk while sometimes entertaining at times in its own right didnt make me anticipate the fight anymore!

The fact diaz comes off a loss and hasnt been fighting for about a year does nothing to excite me about this fight, that and i expect a comfortable win for gsp. No amount of diaz pre fight bs will hype me up for it. Much more excited to see condit v macdonald!

MrStuffins

adamski8 wrote: »

Eh the build up for me was just centered on the fact sonnen nearly beat him the first time and yes that had me excited a little but chaels months of trash talk while sometimes entertaining at times in its own right didnt make me anticipate the fight anymore!

I was talking about the first time!

Be like Nutella

IF Big Rig keeps mini-H bombing mfs outa the park it'll build excitement for the GSP fight... some people (not me) seem to think that GSP has a weak chin if he gets tagged ever since that amazingly genius fighter whatshisname....eh....eh.... Gnat Serra or something TKO'd him with that beautifully timed totally not lucky punch. But seriously Big Rig could put him down with one shot and that's probably more than can be said for pRick Diaz.

Question is... when does the window open for the next GSP/Silva debate ?
Silva v Bisping... if all goes to plan in what... May?.... and then GSP v Hendricks in late summer, say July/Aug? and then we're back to Silva v GSP? or Jones v GSP? whats the opinions?

And what about Weidman? He's going to bomb the UFC if he doesn't get a bite at Silva at some point...

Raekwon

Not that it really matters, but the rematch between Alessio Sakara and Patrick Cote has been pull from this card according to MMA Junkie.

adamski8

MrStuffins wrote: »

I was talking about the first time!

Was there much hype about that fight? I cant quite remember but i thought people were just laughing off chaels ramblings.

Anyway i have no problem with the fight being made, just doesnt interest me so much. Dollars does equal to what people want to see so dana is making fights people want to see.

Contenders know the deal at this stage so they should quit wining ala weinman, hendricks, nelson, bisping although that is a way for them to make the fans wanting to see then fight.

wining equates to nearly the same as chael type talking your way to the belt in my book too!

MrStuffins

adamski8 wrote: »

Was there much hype about that fight? I cant quite remember but i thought people were just laughing off chaels ramblings.

Anyway i have no problem with the fight being made, just doesnt interest me so much. Dollars does equal to what people want to see so dana is making fights people want to see.

Contenders know the deal at this stage so they should quit wining ala weinman, hendricks, nelson, bisping although that is a way for them to make the fans wanting to see then fight.

wining equates to nearly the same as chael type talking your way to the belt in my book too!

There's always a balancing act!

You have to win AND be exciting! It's a fight game but it's also a business.

Can you imagine Jon Fitch selling PPVs? Not a hope.

I didn't like the fact that Fitch was overlooked for his second chance but I completely understand why he was!

GSP is the biggest PPV draw UFC have. Would I be right in guessing that if you put together GSP's PPV buy-rates he's out at the top?

They need to capitalise on this with fights people want to see. More people will want to see GSP v Diaz!

ASJ112

Am looking forward to GSP vs Diaz, but GSP is just going to do a more effective game plan of what Henderson did to Nate Diaz.

GSP vs Hendricks is going to be a squash match. Hendricks has nothing from his back, and GSP is going to put him there, for 5 rounds.

Can you imagine Jon Fitch selling PPVs? Not a hope.

Fitch's last fight was amazing, am very curious where he would be in his career from a headlining/money/fame perspective if he had fought his last 8 fights like how he did vs Silva.

SDTimeout

People give Jon Fitch way to hard a deal. 4 finishes in his first 8 ufc fights and 4 decisions 1 of them against Sanchez I think.

Interestingly that he's said he was considering retiring if he lost the Silva fight. His last win bonus would have been 2010 and he drew with BJ and then lost to Hendricks so he said he was going to take up a full time job to help support his family.

The guy deserves his second shot, I think the Maia fight is a big one in the WW division. How much better does Maia look at WW ?

peteeeed

i think GSP didn'y fancy a fight with Hendricks. diaz has good stand up and excellent ju jitsu but he's coming off a ban and lost his last fight. very harsh on Hendricks , might be tough to motivate himself for the next fight

adamski8

peteeeed wrote: »

i think GSP didn'y fancy a fight with Hendricks. diaz has good stand up and excellent ju jitsu but he's coming off a ban and lost his last fight. very harsh on Hendricks , might be tough to motivate himself for the next fight

Thats probably why gsp asked for diaz, easy motivation.

Now that sakara is out they should make it an all ww card, koscheck v kampman maybe?

PauloConn

GSP is going to take a shortcut through an over-rated Diaz.
Then he's going to have a better fight against Hendricks although i still reckon GSP buts him down and keeps him there and wins.
Then he fights Silva.....

MrStuffins

SDTimeout wrote: »

People give Jon Fitch way to hard a deal. 4 finishes in his first 8 ufc fights and 4 decisions 1 of them against Sanchez I think.

Interestingly that he's said he was considering retiring if he lost the Silva fight. His last win bonus would have been 2010 and he drew with BJ and then lost to Hendricks so he said he was going to take up a full time job to help support his family.

The guy deserves his second shot, I think the Maia fight is a big one in the WW division. How much better does Maia look at WW ?

For the record, I 100% agree that Fitch deserved a second title shot before he lost to Hendricks.

But I could understand why it didn't happen.

Patrick Quinn

MrStuffins wrote: »

For the record, I 100% agree that Fitch deserved a second title shot before he lost to Hendricks.

But I could understand why it didn't happen.

As said gsp is the biggest seller in ufc so why not give hendricks his title shot people will pay to see gsp allday, but i do want see gsp beat diaz still won't shut him up

Raekwon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzIc7L8CeTQ

Jimmy Bottlehead

Raekwon wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzIc7L8CeTQ

Piss-poor promo to be honest, but the fight should make up for it.

This gets my blood pumping though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPK58ZxJybw

Mervin J Minky

Does anyone give Diaz a chance against St-Pierre?

Technically Diaz is a good striker so St-Pierre is obviously going to want to take this to the ground but Diaz is very good off his back also so its not a clear cut as most people think.

The gogoplata that he submitted Gomi with at Pride 33 was amazing for example and showed just what he is capable of from guard.

Be like Nutella

Great BJJ can be neutralized by good defensive wrestling power I've always thought that. GSP knows how to use his physical strength from the top better than anyone in the history of the sport. He will stack Diaz with such heavy hips so as to not allow Diaz to sell any fakes and set up triangles let alone anything remotely as fancy as a gogo. If Diaz scoots out, or around, or throws legs up high he'll leave himself open to being passed and once that happens you'll see a lot of damage by GSP from the side or from half guard. GSP can generate twice the explosive power Diaz can with strikes on the ground. He only needs to land 4 or 5 good elbows and he'll begin to break Diaz down. Diaz will then expend so much energy from the bottom trying to pointlessly strike back and work hard (mainly for the judges) that he'll lose his gas thus making the next TD even easier. Once that pattern gets started Diaz will only have a lucky head kick or big knee to stop GSP who will just gain more and more confidence from each successful take down and gradually bit by bit take Nick apart... Georges striking skill level is constantly under rated - I bet he breaks Diaz spirit and then lands a KO or TKO finish round 4 or 5.

MrStuffins

Mervin J Minky wrote: »

Does anyone give Diaz a chance against St-Pierre?

Technically Diaz is a good striker so St-Pierre is obviously going to want to take this to the ground but Diaz is very good off his back also so its not a clear cut as most people think.

The gogoplata that he submitted Gomi with at Pride 33 was amazing for example and showed just what he is capable of from guard.

Diaz DEFINITELY has a chance. In fact, of any of his last few opponents, Diaz probably has the best skill-set to go against GSP. He's a better BJJ practitioner and (possibly) a better striker, even if his striking IS unorthodox.

His last few opponents, GSP has been a class above them in their respective strong suits!


Having said all that, will Diaz win? Not in my opinion, Georges is just way too smart and way too good!

Mervin J Minky

Yeah I'd tend to agree. Interestingly Carlos Condit shares the same opinion on this fight as most people and he'd probably know best after fighting them both back to back in his last two fights.

Carlos Condit wrote:

“It’s an interesting match-up. Their styles are really different. I think Nick can pose some problems for Georges, but ultimately I see Georges coming out on top.”