Instantly creating one of the year's biggest headlines in the world of mixed martial arts, Wednesday evening UFC president Dana White announced via his official twitter account that reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (22-2-0) will defend his place atop the 170lbs division against UFC veteran and Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz (25-7-0). The bout will be contested at UFC 137, which is slated to take place October 29, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada."U wanted it! U GOT IT!!! GSP vs DIAZ Oct 29th UFC 137 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas." stated White, who recently shot down a series of rumors that the highly anticipated bout would take place this coming December at UFC 140 in Montreal, Quebec.
This certainly is the fight fans have been calling for, particularly since the Zuffa acquisition of the Strikeforce brand. Although White initially declared that cross-promotional champion vs. champion super-fights were out of the question, it appears as though the company's upper brass has softened to the idea; and why not? Nick Diaz is a fan favorite from coast to coast, and is especially popular in the West where he wears his Stockton colors on his sleeve.
The outspoken Cesar Gracie disciple has posted ten consecutive victories with only one bout going to the judges cards during that time. He owns thirteen of his twenty-six career wins by way of [T]KO and has endeared himself to fans by way of his trash talking, 'punches in bunches' style that has stifled opponent after opponent for three years running. Recently, Diaz's boxing aspirations appeared to be taking priority in his professional life, but after Zuffa presented their offer, it's understandable that those same aspirations will see their way to the back-burner once more. The Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt had asked for this fight after teammate and friend Jake Shields saw his streak snapped at the hands of the champion on April 29, at UFC 129, in Toronto, Canada; now he will get his crack without running the gauntlet that is the UFC welterweight division, and you can be sure he'll make the most of it.
Georges St. Pierre has simply been dominate since picking up the UFC welterweight championship for a second time. He is a winner in nine straight appearances, and has successfully defended his title six times while unanimously winning thirty-three consecutive rounds in that span. Taking out top-ten names like Fitch, Penn, Alves, Hardy, Koscheck, and Jake Shields, the level of competition these warriors have faced in the last five years is hardly comparable. That isn't to say that Diaz is not a dangerous match-up... St. Pierre has already proven he can out-grapple even the strongest wrestler in MMA competition, but Diaz presents an opponent that offers a furious number of combinations standing, while owning one of the better BJJ games in the sport without being hampered by a limited gas tank.
We can however, be mindful that Diaz has not faced an opponent with a strong wrestling base for nearly half a decade (Gleison Tibau being the last), and has dropped three of four bouts against such competition if you start with Diego Sanchez in 2005. Here lies the key to the match; can Nick Diaz develop his traditionally weak take-down-defense enough in the coming months to keep this fight standing?
Be sure to check back with MMA Combat for all the updates on UFC 137; with only one fight booked for the card at present, it already promises to be a great one!
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