Georges St. Pierre hasn't lost a fight -- and really hasn't even been tested -- in four years. That's about to change.
Carlos Condit, who won the UFC interim welterweight title by beating Nick Diaz on Saturday night at UFC 143, is going to test St. Pierre in a way he hasn't been tested in years. The next time GSP steps into the Octagon, he'll be stepping into the Octagon with the best opponent he's faced.
We knew heading into Saturday night how physically tough Condit was. You don't win 27 professional MMA fights and win four in a row in the UFC, as Condit already had heading into Saturday night, without a whole lot of toughness.
What Condit showed against Diaz is how mentally tough he is. Condit survived 25 minutes against one of the best welterweights in the world and never wilted. Condit didn't change his game plan in the second round when Diaz started to get the better of the striking exchanges and began openly taunting Condit, as Diaz so often has to his opponents. And Condit didn't panic and didn't give in during the final minute of the fight, when Diaz took him down and took his back. A lot of men -- even a lot of great fighters -- would have been ready to break by that point. Condit couldn't be broken.
So is Condit good enough to beat GSP? As a striker, I believe he's already better than GSP. And he has a more diverse array of submissions than GSP as well. The big question is whether Condit's wrestling and takedown defense will prove to be good enough that he can stay off his back against St. Pierre. That's a tall order, but I like Condit's chances.
St. Pierre is also, of course, coming off a serious knee injury -- the kind of injury that some athletes never fully recover from. And St. Pierre will be battling ring rust when he fights Condit: By the time he's ready to step into the Octagon in November, he'll have been off for a year and a half. St. Pierre is also three years older than Condit. Those are all factors that favor Condit.
GSP will be the betting favorite heading into that fight, but Condit has a very good chance to win it. When Condit beat Diaz on Saturday night, we may have seen the man who has what it takes to beat GSP.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit kicks Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Nick Diaz makes his entrance at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Nick Diaz is introduced at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit enters the cage at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit fights off Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit throws a spinning strike against Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit knees Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit walks back to his corner at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Nick Diaz is ready for the next round at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit throws a spinning backfist at Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit knees Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Nick Diaz attacks the body of Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit kicks Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz collide at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Arianny Celeste holds up the round four sign at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit punches Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Nick Diaz wants Carlos Condit to come forward at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit punches Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Nick Diaz kicks Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit punches Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit lands a spinning elbow on Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Nick Diaz tries to submit Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit wins the unanimous decision against Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Carlos Condit talks to Joe Rogan after his win at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Nick Diaz shows his disappointment with his loss at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Nick Diaz walks to the locker rooms after his loss at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
UFC 143 took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum knees Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum knees Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Roy Nelson looks at the big screen at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum tries to submit Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum kicks Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum kicks Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum punches Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum knees Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum celebrates at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum shows his respect towards Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum shows his respect towards Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Fabricio Werdum def. Roy Nelson via unanimous decision at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Josh Koscheck at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Josh Koscheck punches Mike Pierce at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Mike Pierce grapples with Josh Koscheck at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Josh Koscheck punches Mike Pierce at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UC 143 Fight Night Photos
Josh Koscheck punches Mike Pierce at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Josh Koscheck takes a punch from Mike Pierce at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Josh Koscheck looks at Mike Pierce at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Josh Koscheck def. Mike Pierce via unanimous decision at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Scott Jorgensen charges Renan Barao at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Renan Barao charges into Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Renan Barao kicks Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Renan Barao punches Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Renan Barao throws a kick at Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Renan Barao punches Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Renan Barao punches Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Scott Jorgensen kicks Renan Barao at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Renan Barao def. Scott Jorgensen via unanimous decision at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Clifford Starks punches Ed Herman at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Clifford Starks punches Ed Herman at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Ed Herman submits Clifford Starks at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Ed Herman beats Clifford Starks at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Dustin Poirier punches Max Holloway at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Dustin Poirier receives a flying knee from Max Holloway at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Dustin Poirier pushes away Max Holloway at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Dustin Poirier attempts an armbar on Max Holloway at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Dustin Poirier submits Max Holloway at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Dustin Poirier beats Max Holloway at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Chris Cope punches Matt Brown at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Brown knees Chris Cope at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Brown punches Chris Cope at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Brown knocks out Chris Cope at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Brown def. Chris Cope via second-round TKO at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Brown def. Chris Cope via second-round TKO at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Brown def. Chris Cope via second-round TKO at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Henry Martinez punches Matt Riddle at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Riddle kicks Henry Martinez at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Riddle runs into Henry Martinez at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Riddle punches Henry Martinez at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Henry Martinez punches Matt Riddle at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Henry Martinez punches Matt Riddle at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Henry Martinez punches Matt Riddle at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Henry Martinez punches Matt Riddle at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Matt Riddle def. Henry Martinez at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Alex Caceres kicks Edwin Figueroa at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Alex Caceres ducks under a punch from Edwin Figueroa at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Edwin Figueroa is kicked low at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Alex Caceres kicks Edwin Figueroa at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Alex Caceres gets hit with a punch by Edwin Figueroa at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Alex Caceres kicks up against Edwin Figueroa at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Alex Caceres walks to his corner at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Alex Caceres tries to choke Edwin Figueroa at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Alex Caceres tries to choke Edwin Figueroa at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Alex Caceres kicks Edwin Figueroa at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Rafael Natal punches Michael Kuiper at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Rafael Natal takes down Michael Kuiper
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Rafael Natal wins at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Stephen Thompson knocks out Dan Stittgen with a head kick at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Stephen Thompson knocks out Dan Stittgen with a head kick at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Stephen Thompson kneels after beating Dan Stittgen with a head kick at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Fight Night Photos
Stephen Thompson def. Dan Stittgen via first-round KO at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
UFC 143 Notes
-- Fabricio Werdum showed off some great muay Thai in his victory over Roy Nelson. Werdum's stand-up has looked ugly in a couple of bad losses to the two best heavyweights in the world, Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem, but make no mistake: He's a very good striker in addition to being the best heavyweight grappler in all of MMA.
-- Matt Riddle's split decision victory over Henry Martinez gives him a respectable UFC record of 6-3, but let's be honest: Riddle is not a very good fighter. He barely got by Martinez, an undersized opponent who took the fight on short notice, and Riddle's other UFC wins are over DeMarques Johnson, Greg Soto, Dan Cramer, Steve Bruno and Dante Rivera. Not exactly a murderer's row.
-- When the 20-year-old Max Holloway stepped into the Octagon with the 23-year-old Dustin Poirier, we got a great look at the future of the featherweight division. Poirier put on a tremendous display on the ground in forcing Holloway to tap out to an arm bar from a mounted triangle, but give Holloway credit for the way he tested Poirier on the feet at the start of the fight. Poirier is a future featherweight title contender, and with work on his ground game Holloway could be too.
-- The UFC's new pay-per-view opening is an improvement over the old gladiator opening, but I still think there should be a fresh new opening with each show and the focus should immediately be on that night's main event fighters.
UFC 143 Quotes
"I know I'm the most hated man in MMA." -- Josh Koscheck, egging on the fans after they booed him following his split decision win over Mike Pierce.
"Don't fall for it when he's talking to you."--Greg Jackson telling Carlos Condit not to get sucked into Nick Diaz's style of fight. Jackson's advice was wise; it came after the second round, when Diaz was taunting Condit and trying to bait him into a brawl, but from the third round on Condit seemed comfortable and ready to fight his fight.
"Those lead leg round kicks -- we work them a lot in karate -- people don't see them." -- Stephen Thompson, after knocking out Dan Stittgen on the first fight of the night. Thompson was right: Stittgen certainly didn't see that kick coming. Thompson is an exciting new fighter for the UFC.
Good Call
Referee Kim Winslow stepped in at just the right time to stop the fight in Matt Brown's technical knockout victory over Chris Cope. After Brown knocked Cope down, Winslow gave Cope a chance to protect himself on the ground before stepping in to stop the fight when Brown landed two more punches that Cope couldn't answer. Stopping the fight immediately when Brown knocked Cope down would have been too quick because Cope was still conscious and trying to get into a better position. Stopping it any later would have subjected Cope to too much punishment. Winslow's stoppage was perfect.
Bad Call
I disagreed with referee Herb Dean taking two points away from Alex "Bruce Leroy" Caceres after his second low blow of the fight. Warning Caceres for the first low blow was the right call, but the second low blow should have only resulted in one point being deducted, not two. A two-point deduction would have been appropriate for an intentional low blow, but both of Caceres's kicks appeared to be accidental low blows. The judges gave the fight to Edwin Figueroa by split decision, 28-27, 28-27 and 27-28, which means that if Dean had only deducted one point instead of two, it would have been a majority draw.
Later in the same card, Dean again faced a situation where he warned a fighter about a foul and then that fighter committed the very same foul he had been warned about: Dean warned Josh Koscheck to keep his fingers away from Mike Pierce's eyes, and then Koscheck poked Pierce in the eye after that warning. But this time Dean only warned Koscheck again instead of taking even one point away, let alone deducting two points.
Stock Up
When Ed Herman lost three of four fights in 2008 and 2009 and then missed nearly two years with a knee injury, it was reasonable to wonder if his career might be coming to an end. Instead, Herman's stock has shot up with three straight wins since returning from that knee injury, and he looked great on Saturday night. Herman is fighting as well as he ever has.
Stock Down
Michael Kuiper entered UFC 143 as a well-regarded prospect with an 11-0 record, but he wasn't ready for an opponent on the level of Rafael Natal, who beat him by unanimous decision. Kuiper is only 22 years old and may have a good future in the UFC, but he's not there yet.