MMA Nation - Nick Diaz Dropped From UFC 137, Condit In Against GSPhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/33343/mma-icon.png2011-10-15T10:46:27-07:00http://mma.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21748802011-10-15T10:46:27-07:002011-10-15T10:46:27-07:00Video UFC 137's Carlos Condit: I've Never Been So Motivated
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<p>Former WEC champion <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122573/carlos-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">Carlos Condit</a> gets his shot at UFC gold against welterweight champion <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122591/georges-st-pierre" class="sbn-auto-link">Georges St. Pierre</a> at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/79709/ufc-137-st-pierre-vs-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 137</a> on October 29 in Las Vegas. The UFC's newest promo video features Condit talking about his fighting style and his attitude going into the biggest fight of his life.</p>
<p>Condit, of course, is a consolation prize for fans. He only got the title shot after the UFC was forced to pull ex-<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/promotion/strikeforce" class="sbn-auto-link">Strikeforce</a> champ <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122575/nick-diaz" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick Diaz</a> out of the fight due to Diaz' failure to appear at multiple press events to promote the card. </p>
<p>Ultimately, Diaz got demoted to fighting <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122540/b-j-penn" class="sbn-auto-link">B.J. Penn</a> in the co-main event and Condit got the opportunity of a lifetime. Condit (27-5, 4-1 UFC) came to the UFC in early 2009 after a 5-0 run in the WEC. He got off to a rocky start with a pair of split decisions (losing to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122581/martin-kampmann" class="sbn-auto-link">Martin Kampmann</a> and getting the nod over <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129201/jake-ellenberger" class="sbn-auto-link">Jake Ellenberger</a>) but he's reeled off three straight KO/TKO victories over <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122584/rory-macdonald" class="sbn-auto-link">Rory MacDonald</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122578/dan-hardy" class="sbn-auto-link">Dan Hardy</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128664/dong-hyun-kim" class="sbn-auto-link">Dong Hyun Kim</a>.</p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/10/15/2492134/ufc-137-video-carlos-condit-ive-never-been-so-motivatedNate Wilcox2011-09-08T13:13:55-07:002011-09-08T13:13:55-07:00UFC 137: B.J. Penn 'Offered A Deal [He] Can't Refuse,' Reportedly Staying On October Card
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<p>After a flurry of match-up shifts stemming from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122575/nick-diaz" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick Diaz</a>'s removal from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/79709/ufc-137-st-pierre-vs-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 137</a>, the odd-man out appeared to be <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122540/b-j-penn" class="sbn-auto-link">B.J. Penn</a>. With no scheduled opponent and a potential rematch with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122576/jon-fitch" class="sbn-auto-link">Jon Fitch</a> publicly <a target="_blank" href="http://mma.sbnation.com/2011/9/7/2411652/ufc-137-dana-white-jon-fitch-b-j-penn-mma-news/in/2174880">shot down</a>, many wondered whether the former lightweight champion would even remain on the October card.</p>
<p>Well the answer may have just arrived. According to a <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/bjpenndotcom/status/111886524290838529">tweet</a> Penn sent out Thursday afternoon, it looks like the 32-year-old has been given some mighty fine incentive to stay on the card.</p>
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<p class="bbpTweet">Dana just offered me a deal I can't refuse.pretty sure I'm still fighting on Oct. 29th.<span class="timestamp"><a title="Thu Sep 08 19:40:00 +0000 2011" href="http://twitter.com/#!/bjpenndotcom/status/111886524290838529">less than a minute ago</a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/download/iphone" rel="nofollow">Twitter for iPhone</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=111886524290838529"><img src="http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png"> Favorite</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=111886524290838529"><img src="http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png"> Retweet</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=111886524290838529"><img src="http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png"> Reply</a></span><span class="metadata"><span class="author"><a href="http://twitter.com/bjpenndotcom"><img src="http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/783566139/tw_normal.jpg"></a><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/bjpenndotcom">BJ PENN</a></strong><br>bjpenndotcom</span></span></p>
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<p>Wednesday night UFC President Dana White suggested that Penn's next opponent could be someone completely unexpected. "If I told you what I want to do with that fight you guys would flip out, so we'll see what happens," he told <a target="_blank" href="http://mmajunkie.com/news/25133/whos-going-to-fight-b-j-penn-at-ufc-137-dana-white-hints-at-crazy-option.mma">MMAJunkie.com</a>. "I'll tell you if I can get it done."</p>
<p><a href="http://mma.sbnation.com/http://mma.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">MMA Nation</a> will bring you more on this story as it develops.</p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/9/8/2413114/ufc-137-b-j-penn-dana-white-jon-fitch-condit-mma-newsShaun Al-Shatti2011-09-08T08:40:02-07:002011-09-08T08:40:02-07:00UFC 137: Greg Jackson Refuses To Train St. Pierre And Condit For Championship Bout
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<p>With the addition of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122573/carlos-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">Carlos Condit</a> to the main event of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/79709/ufc-137-st-pierre-vs-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 137</a> against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122591/georges-st-pierre" class="sbn-auto-link">Georges St. Pierre</a>, a new set of problems has arisen for both fighters. In a situation similar to the recent scuffle between <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122510/rashad-evans" class="sbn-auto-link">Rashad Evans</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122514/jon-jones" class="sbn-auto-link">Jon Jones</a>, both Condit and St. Pierre currently train under the tutelage of renowned mixed martial arts trainer Greg Jackson. Thus, to avoid an incident like the one that messily ended with Evans leaving his camp earlier this year, Jackson has instituted a new policy to deal with the situation.</p>
<p>In an interview with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/09/07/greg-jackson-wont-train-with-either-gsp-or-condit-in-preparatio/">MMA Fighting</a>, Jackson explained that he has decided to sit this one out.</p>
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<p>Teammate protocols are pretty clear in this situation so everybody knows what happening. I step out, the other coaches -- John [Danaher], Phil [Nurse] and Firas [Zahabi] -- will take care of GSP and probably [Mike] Winkeljohn and some of the other guys here will take care of Carlos. But I step out of it, so I won't be cornering either guy.</p>
<p>I am just not going to do game plans and private lessons and everything that I normally do for the guys because usually it's a pretty intense process -- I give them private lessons all the time -- heavy on the game planning, heavy on the personal growth plan, and for this, I'll just let the other coaches do that for both Georges and Carlos.</p>
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https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/9/8/2412499/ufc-137-greg-jackson-georges-st-pierre-carlos-condit-mma-newsShaun Al-Shatti2011-09-07T19:19:52-07:002011-09-07T19:19:52-07:00VIDEO: Nick Diaz Breaks His Silence, Calls UFC 137 Removal 'Ridiculous'
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<p>Former <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/promotion/strikeforce" class="sbn-auto-link">Strikeforce</a> welterweight champion <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122575/nick-diaz" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick Diaz</a> has been found.</p>
<p>The Cesar Gracie-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt went AWOL earlier this afternoon, missing a mandatory press conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, to promote his upcoming <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/79709/ufc-137-st-pierre-vs-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 137</a> main event fight opposite 170-pound champion <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122591/georges-st-pierre" class="sbn-auto-link">Georges St. Pierre</a>.</p>
<p>Diaz' absence -- his second consecutive such transgression in as many days (he also missed a similar event in Toronto, Canada, yesterday) -- as well as his inability to communicate his whereabouts, forced UFC President Dana White to remove him from the Oct. 29, 2011, pay-per-view (PPV) event.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122573/carlos-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">Carlos Condit</a> was plugged in as a replacement.</p>
<p>In the video below Diaz, who is driving back to Stockton, Calif., supposedly on his way back from the airport in San Francisco where he missed two flights to "Sin City," calls White's decision "ridiculous." He also says that despite the switch, he's still willing and able to fight whoever, whenever.</p>
<p>Diaz reminds his fans that he has never backed out of a fight and apologizes for missing "the beauty pageant" earlier this afternoon. See it for yourself:</p>
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<p>Here's a transcript of Diaz' comments in the video (via <a href="http://www.fightopinion.com/2011/09/07/nick-diaz-ufc-car-video/" target="_blank">Fight Opinion</a>):</p>
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<p>"Trying to get back to Stockton here, I was in San Francisco at the last minute trying to get on a airplane this morning to go to a press conference for the UFC... wanted me to fight for the title against Georges St. Pierre and now they're telling me that they're going to give the fight to Carlos Condit... which I think is ridiculous and Georges thinks its a great idea because Carlos Condit poses an even greater threat, so... I guess that just leaves me out... fighting one second I'm, um... I'm about to come into some money doing a little bit of boxing, you know... f***ing probably lose some teeth but I'm ready to get paid, you know... so I'll fight whoever and whatever and anything, you know, I'd definitely rather fight GSP of course, but... I was ready to do some boxing and they didn't like that so they got me OUT of that and they got me into a fight with GSP for, you know, same money or more money or whatever but now it looks like they get to save money and I don't get paid and locked in a new contract, all these dealmakers making deals, you know... all I know is I'm ready to fight, so... you know, I'm sorry I didn't make it to the beauty pageant but, you know, I've never not showed up to a fight and, um... I've never backed out of a fight in my life, that's not what I do, so I just wanted to throw all of that out there and... I don't know... you know, I'm ready to fight and I think that, uh... this is pretty much done here... so, peace out."</p>
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https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/9/7/2411662/video-nick-diaz-breaks-his-silence-calls-ufc-137-removal-ridiculousThomas Myers2011-09-07T19:09:44-07:002011-09-07T19:09:44-07:00UFC 137: Jon Fitch Not Being Considered For Rematch Against B.J. Penn
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<p>In an interview with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.heavy.com/mma/mma-videos/ufc-videos/2011/09/dana-white-talks-diaz-fiasco-fox-fights-and-more/">Heavy MMA</a> late Wednesday, UFC President Dana White confirmed that welterweight contender <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122576/jon-fitch" class="sbn-auto-link">Jon Fitch</a> is not being considered as an option to step in and fight <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122540/b-j-penn" class="sbn-auto-link">B.J. Penn</a> on the co-headlining bout of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/79709/ufc-137-st-pierre-vs-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 137</a>. Said White:</p>
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<p>No, Fitch wouldn't be ready for that fight. Because we were going to do Fitch vs. [Matt] Hughes when Diego [Sanchez] fell out, but Fitch isn't ready.</p>
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<p>The spot has been vacated after Penn's intended opponent, former WEC welterweight champion <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122573/carlos-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">Carlos Condit</a>, was shifted onto the card's main event against current titleholder <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122591/georges-st-pierre" class="sbn-auto-link">Georges St. Pierre</a>. Earlier Wednesday afternoon Fitch <a target="_blank" href="http://mma.sbnation.com/2011/9/7/2411294/ufc-137-jon-fitch-fight-b-j-penn-nick-diaz-mma-news/in/2174880">told MMA Nation's Thomas Myers</a>, "We told the UFC that I'll be ready and willing to fight either B.J. Penn or <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122575/nick-diaz" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick Diaz</a>."</p>
<p>White refused to reveal who he has targeted as a potential opponent for Penn at this point, though he did suggest that it was someone unexpected.</p>
<p>"If I told you what I want to do with that fight you guys would flip out, so we'll see what happens," he told <a href="http://mmajunkie.com/news/25133/whos-going-to-fight-b-j-penn-at-ufc-137-dana-white-hints-at-crazy-option.mma" target="_blank">MMAJunkie.com</a>. "I'll tell you if I can get it done."</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mma.sbnation.com/http://mma.sbnation.com/">MMA Nation</a> will bring you more on this story as it develops.</p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/9/7/2411652/ufc-137-dana-white-jon-fitch-b-j-penn-mma-newsShaun Al-Shatti2011-09-07T15:57:26-07:002011-09-07T15:57:26-07:00UFC 137: Jon Fitch Ready To Fight B.J. Penn Or Nick Diaz
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<p>Tommy Myers of <a href="http://mma.sbnation.com/">MMA Nation</a> reached out to UFC welterweight <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122576/jon-fitch" class="sbn-auto-link">Jon Fitch</a> for his take on the removal of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122575/nick-diaz" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick Diaz</a> from the main event at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/79709/ufc-137-st-pierre-vs-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 137</a>. Specifically, would he be ready or even willing to face <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122540/b-j-penn" class="sbn-auto-link">B.J. Penn</a> now that the Hawaiian lacked an opponent. The answer was an emphatic yes.</p>
<p>'<b>We told the UFC that I'll be ready and willing to fight either B.J.<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>Penn or Nick Diaz</b>,' Fitch told <a href="http://mma.sbnation.com/" style="text-decoration: underline;">MMA Nation</a> tonight.</p>
<p>Fitch first fought Penn at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/71048/ufc-127-penn-vs-fitch" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 127</a> in Australia, but the fight ended in a draw. He was then scheduled to rematch Penn at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/74404/ufc-132-cruz-vs-faber-2" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 132</a>, but was forced to withdraw due to shoulder injury and subsequent surgery. He recently was <a target="_blank" href="http://mma.sbnation.com/2011/8/16/2367013/jon-fitch-cleared-injury-fight-ufc-139-mma-news">cleared to begin training again</a> after shoulder surgery and openly eyed a slot on the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/82269/ufc-139" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 139</a> card. </p>
<p><span style="line-height: 16px;">Penn has remained quiet on Twitter, simply Tweeting news but not offering any commentary about potential opposition.</span></p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/9/7/2411294/ufc-137-jon-fitch-fight-b-j-penn-nick-diaz-mma-newsLuke Thomas2011-09-07T14:29:29-07:002011-09-07T14:29:29-07:00UFC 137: Cesar Gracie Says Nick Diaz 'Got What He Deserved'
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<p>Cesar Gracie, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122575/nick-diaz" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick Diaz</a>'s manager and head of the Cesar Gracie team, spoke out today about the news his star pupil had been removed from his fight with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122591/georges-st-pierre" class="sbn-auto-link">Georges St. Pierre</a> at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/79709/ufc-137-st-pierre-vs-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 137</a>. MMA Junkie has the full list of quotes, but here is the <a target="_blank" href="http://mmajunkie.com/news/25128/nick-diaz-trainer-cesar-gracie-on-ufc-137-removal-he-got-what-he-deserved.mma">essential component</a>:</p>
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<p>"I've stuck up for Nick, even when he was wrong before," Gracie said. "But he's let a lot of people down. He's let his team down. We all bought plane tickets to Vegas. We got hotel rooms booked, paid for. We've got all that, and Nick just decided not to go to something he's supposed to. They're paying him a lot of money, and in this economy where people don't have money, he's blessed. He should be thanking God every night how blessed he is. <br> <br> "And instead, he's not getting on a plane to go to Vegas. I'm extremely disappointed. He's done a lot of stuff, but this is the worst of it. If I were him, I would be begging Dana White to get my job back and work your way up to a title shot at some point." <br> <br>...<br> <br> "I'm not a psychologist," he said. "I personally think there's some kind of social anxiety happening here with Nick. Dana said, 'You've got to play the game this much.' And this isn't even playing the game. This is about being a man and being responsible. And Nick has done neither in this situation. </p>
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<p>Gracie also states he made multiple offers and attempts to get Diaz to the airport or to go with him on his trip, but was rebuffed at every turn. Gracie did not speculate as to whether the UFC would cut Diaz or how this episode would affect his relationship with Diaz going forward.</p>
<p>More on this story as it develops.</p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/9/7/2411116/ufc-137-cesar-gracie-nick-diaz-got-he-deserved-mma-newsLuke Thomas2011-09-07T13:50:00-07:002011-09-07T13:50:00-07:00UFC 137: Carlos Condit's Management Comment On GSP Title Shot Opportunity
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<p>First Round Management, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122573/carlos-condit">Carlos Condit</a>'s management company, issued a press release following the news their fighter would be facing UFC welterweight champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122591/georges-st-pierre">Georges St. Pierre</a> as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122575/nick-diaz">Nick Diaz</a> has been removed from the fight.<br><br>"The timing was perfect for this to all come together," Condit stated via press release. "First I want to thank the UFC for allowing me this opportunity and also my agent Malki Kawa who saw an opening and took advantage of it. With me already fighting on that card, I will need to make some adjustments to get ready for a new opponent, but my actual training is still right on schedule."<br> <br>"It's an honor to be able to fight for the championship, especially against one of the legends of our sport in Georges St-Pierre," said Condit. "I've been fighting for nearly a decade and there has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears that has gone into that. A lot of sacrifices have been made both personally and professionally, and I'm looking forward to showing the UFC that I am deserving of this opportunity."<br> <br>"Carlos Condit deserves this title shot. It is something he has worked hard for his entire career. The stars were aligned for this to happen for him, and I know he's going to bring a lot of excitement to this fight," said Malki Kawa, Condit's manager. </p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/9/7/2411066/ufc-137-carlos-condit-management-gsp-title-shot-mma-newsLuke Thomas