UFC 143: Carlos Condit on Nick Diaz – “I have a technical approach and feel like I can win this fight on the feet”

by Will Gray

Interim titles always bring about a debate among Mixed martial Arts fans. Some see them as an excuse for runner ups to get a title and then a chance to unify against the reigning champ at a later date; others see it as a legitimate opportunity to weed out competition and set up true championship bouts. UFC 143 is this Saturday night and will feature the main event of former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz (26-7) against former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit (27-5) for the interim UFC welterweight title.

Hosted inside the MGM Grand Garden arena, these two will meet center cage for not just a title to wear on their waist, but a desired fight with current welterweight king Georges St. Pierre (22-2). Before the Canadian can be baited into the cage, Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will need to settle their own scores and have personal tools that could lead either man to victory.

Fight Hub TV spoke with Carlos Condit before UFC 137, prior to his match with GSP being pulled from action and the “Natural Born Killer” is calm with the task at hand, this stage in his career. “I am ready for a championship, the UFC title is my goal and I can achieve that. I respect Georges and any opponent in front of me, where are in our respectful spots for reasons and anything can happen in a fight.”

Finishing thirteen of his professional bouts by KO/TKO and the other thirteen by submission, Condit can dictate the pace and set up a win in multiple ways, not playing into Nick Diaz’s strength of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. “I have a technical approach and feel like I can win this fight on the feet; I am ready for wherever it goes and I am not intimidated by any man I enter that cage to fight.”

Where the Jackson’s MMA fighter is confident that he can win in any situation, credit and respect must be given to Nick Diaz, an equally dedicated martial artist who is focused and driven to win every fight and has done so consecutively since May 2008. A protégé of Cesar Gracie, the Stockton native has consistently grown in each outing and let his striking gain him more victories than submissions he is just as skilled with. Technical and professional level boxing has puzzled men and left them bloody, beaten and retired after fifteen minutes with Diaz.

Going into Las Vegas, these two carry the moniker of former champion, one will leave the UFC interim champion and pave the way for a showdown en route to the world title later in 2012 (hopefully). The fight could be a quick, flash knockout from Condit or a tactical, striking display for five round by Diaz. UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit possesses everything to keep the momentum of Zuffa going strong into February and kick off a great Super Bowl weekend.

UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit is live from MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas, NV this Saturday night, February 4, 2012 and will be broadcast on PPV at 10:00om EST/ 7:00pm PST. Check local listing and cable providers for channel information.