Debate rages on after Condit slips past Diaz at UFC 143

Now interim welterweight champion, Condit has choices to make regarding the rest of his year

Feb 5, 2012 (1:30 a.m.)

By Case Keefer

Carlos Condit walked to the center of the octagon after UFC 143 with no apprehension regarding the judges’ scores he was about to hear. Condit thought he beat up Nick Diaz for 25 minutes in Saturday night’s main event and couldn’t imagine the scorecards reading any other way.

• 

  Young standouts Dustin Poirier, Renan Barao move closer to title shots at UFC 143

  February 5, 2012

  By Case Keefer

  If developing new stars for the two weight classes the UFC added a year ago remains a priority, the promotion may have taken two giant steps forward Saturday night at UFC 143. Two fighters under the age of 25 confirmed their places among the top five in the world in their respective weight classes at the Mandalay Bay Events Center’s annual Super Bowl weekend card.

• Photogallery

  UFC 143 Werdum vs. Nelson
• 

  UFC 143 blog: Carlos Condit wins close decision over Nick Diaz

  February 4, 2012

  By Case Keefer

  The judges sided with Carlos Condit. In a main event that will be long-debated in the mixed martial arts world, Condit eked out a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) over Nick Diaz at UFC 143. As many as four of the five rounds in the interim welterweight championship bout had no clear victor.

• Photogallery

  UFC 143 Weigh In
• 

  UFC 143 weigh-in: Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit keep their cool

  February 3, 2012

  By Case Keefer

  For the first time in recent memory, a weigh-in featuring Nick Diaz passed without incident. Diaz and opponent Carlos Condit both came in at 169 pounds at the Mandalay Events Center before Saturday’s interim welterweight championship bout at UFC 143. Diaz and Condit stayed far apart while posing for their stare down photo.

• 

  Tension brewing between Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce

  February 3, 2012

  By Case Keefer

  Josh Koscheck had never heard of Mike Pierce. The veteran welterweight said he had to look up Pierce’s name when offered a fight against him on Saturday’s UFC 143 pay-per-view card a couple months ago. “He’s lying,” Pierce said of Koscheck’s claim. “I fought his teammate like two years ago. Either he’s lying or he’s dumb, one of the two.”

• 

  Renan Barao among the UFC’s most promising up-and-coming fighters

  February 3, 2012

  By Case Keefer

  Asked last week which fighters he saw as future challengers to his belt, the first name out of UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz’s mouth was Renan Barao. UFC President Dana White has also taken a liking to the 25-year old Brazilian. White has raved about Barao ever since he knocked down Brad Pickett with a flying knee and submitted the veteran with a rear-naked choke in the first round of the UFC 138 co-main event four months ago. Barao has everyone’s attention in mixed martial arts.

• Photogallery

  UFC 143 Workouts
• 

  Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit promise a war at UFC 143

  February 1, 2012

  By Case Keefer

  The posters lining the Mandalay Bay hallways to promote the annual UFC Super Bowl weekend card usually feature as many as six fighters to highlight three different bouts. Heading into UFC 143, the only faces gracing the advertisements belong to Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. Other worthwhile fights will take place Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, but none have close to the anticipation of the main event for the interim welterweight title.

• 

  UFC 143 breakdown, betting odds and picks

  February 2, 2012

  By Case Keefer

  The cycle repeats for another week. The betting line for the UFC 143 main event and its movement is eerily reminiscent of what happened before last week’s UFC on FOX card. The interim welterweight championship bout between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit opened as a pick’em months ago in sports books.

• With lineup taking shape, UFC 143 tickets on sale this week

  December 14, 2011

  By Case Keefer

  Tickets for UFC 143, which is slated for Feb. 3 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, go on sale this week. Members of the promotion’s Fight Club can purchase tickets Wednesday, while anyone registered for the UFC.com newsletter can buy them Thursday. Sales to the general public begin at 10 Friday through Ticketmaster.

• 

  Knee injury takes Georges St. Pierre off of UFC 143 in Las Vegas

  December 7, 2011

  By Case Keefer

  An injury has forced UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre out of another bout. UFC President Dana White announced through his twitter account Wednesday morning that St. Pierre tore his ACL and would miss his scheduled UFC 143 championship defense against Nick Diaz. Carlos Condit (25-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Diaz (26-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will now headline Las Vegas’ annual Super Bowl weekend card.