In about two months the MMA world will be treated to a match-up between two tremendous talents who happen to be polar opposites of each other personality-wise and are entering the bout looking to settle a longtime score. The clash in question is, of course, the headlining tilt at UFC 158 between welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and rival Nick Diaz.
While the match-up is being billed as a super-fight of sorts, many fans aren’t giving Diaz much of a chance at dethroning St-Pierre, and rightfully so considering the mountain Diaz has to climb when the cage door closes. He’s been out of action for more than a year due to a drug-related suspension, has struggled against superior wrestlers, and is facing one of the top fighters to have ever graced the Octagon.
However, a fight is a fight, and through strategy along with a little luck there’s no reason Diaz can’t actually emerge with his hand raised rather than a middle-finger in the direction of the judging panel. Below are three keys Diaz should consider if hoping to unlock the seemingly invincible armor of GSP in hopes of leaving the Montreal crowd silent at the conclusion of the March 16 event…
Don’t Engage in Trash Talk
To say Diaz dislikes St-Pierre would be an understatement along the lines of labeling Anderson Silva a decent striker. Diaz absolutely loathes GSP, calling him a variety of expletives on a handful of past occasions including some unintentionally entertaining rants while driving. That being said, the time to put his nose to the grindstone instead of get caught up talking trash about St-Pierre is now. “Rush” is notorious for finding motivation in malcontents. There’s no doubt he’ll train tremendously hard for the fight no matter what but why throw gas on a fire you hope to extinguish? In fact, respectful silence might even irk St-Pierre to a certain extent if he’s expecting an all out onslaught of smack.
Train Extensively from His Back
St-Pierre’s takedowns are among the best in MMA if not tops altogether. He’s highly effective and is excellent at controlling his foes from above. Diaz needs to be ready for such and train to find openings from the bottom rather than pretend he won’t end up on his backside for at least half of the bout. Fortunately, teammate Gilbert Melendez recently implied Diaz would be working on just that area so it sounds like the former Strikeforce champion should be ready to throw up submissions, strikes, sweeps, and the kitchen sink if necessary when it comes to attacking from his back.
Elbows, Elbows, Elbows
Diaz has a few reputations including that of a bleeder. He used to cut so easily in the past he actually got surgery to fix some scar tissue issues. While St-Pierre is nowhere near that level thanks to his semi-safe style, he is starting to show some wear and tear including in his recent clash with Carlos Condit. If Diaz can use his elbows, and knees for that matter, he may be able to open up a few cuts either swinging momentum, get a doctor to intervene, or at least leave GSP so bloodied officials have to consider scoring things in Diaz’s favor.
PHOTO CREDIT: UFC
Jon Fitch Doesn’t See Nick Diaz Beating Georges St-Pierre
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I just laugh at all the non Diaz nuthuggers now, ever since his little brother got tooled at the hands of benson, where we used to see every Compton “thug” writing such badass posts about how their boy was going to destroy everyone, you see nothing. I laughed so hard watching little Diaz get mauled because Big Diaz is going to get a worse beating, GSP wrecked Koscheks face for what 8 months, he couldnt even ride a stationary bike for that long due to all the surgeries because of his eye being so messed up, and we all know Diaz has talked 10 x’s the amount of BS, I cant wait to once and for all put the stake into the hearts of every “COMPTON FOR LIFE” whine bag, after watching GSP pound Nicks face into hamburger, I cant wait. Cya in march, ..IF HE SHOWS UP.
compton?
Are you tarded?
Because even if you are,
you’re still an important person.
Shut up, you dumb cunt. You obviously don’t know shit about MMA, fagboy.
Dang Dempsey, tell us how you REALLY feel. lol
I know alot a people disagree with Nick’s antics inside and out of the cage, but come on the guy is a warrior, he constantly comes foward trying to finish oppents. The only finishes gsp has is putting fans to sleep.
“The only finishes gsp has is putting fans to sleep.”
Maybe you’d enjoy backyard rasslin much better.
Probably so, considering “backyard rasslin” (as stupid as it is) is still more entertaining than GSP’s boring ass safe style.
Diaz is a talented fighter, but he’s also a douche bag. GSP is a very talented fighter, and conducts himself with honor and respect–exactly the kind of guy a champion should be. If Diaz were to become the UFC welterweight champ it would bring dishonor and shame to the sport, even more so than he and his brother already bring. They are both talented guys, but both are about as disrespectful and dishonorable as any human can be. Neither should ever wear a UFC championship belt.
He’s not that big of a douchbag.
Just aggresive.
Its not like he ducks contenders, hires his opponents himself and then sucker punches them on a break.
THATS douchebag sh!t.
Yea right… even if guys like Rory & GSP can beat guys like Penn & Diaz – guys like Penn & Diaz are the real champions. They have a champion’s mentality: fight anybody, anywhere, at any weight. I don’t see safe fighting gameplanning pussies like Rory & GSP going up to fight 205+ pounders like Machida. Guys like Diaz & BJ will always be the true champions, while guys like GSP & Bendo are just big pussies who overpower the smaller opponent & stall to a decision.
#TRUTH
Nick Diaz isn’t even a douche watch him out the cage he’s one of the mellowest fighters out there. He has explained why he acts like that he said hes not going to respect someone who going try to take him out.