UFC 158 Recap GSP vs. DIAZ & Press Conference
UFC 158 POST PRESS CONFERENCE
DANA WHITE UFC POST FIGHT SCRUM
By: Jon Hunsicker
Montreal, Canada (March 17, 2013)– The rivalry between the champ George St. Pierre and number one contender Nick Diaz finally comes to an end in a five round, GSP dominated fight.
The Bell Center in Montreal was sold out with fans awaiting the return of GSP defending his title for the first time this year. His last successful defense was against Carlos Condit in a five round battle, November of last year.
The Facebook prelims started out with the unanimous decision win of George Roop over Reuben Duran. Then T.J. Dillashaw with a beautiful KO victory 26 seconds into the second round over Issei Tamura, and ended with a TKO victory for Rick Story over Quinn Mulhern.
The Live on FX prelims started with TUF contestant Daron Cruickshank against the Canadian John Makdessi. The two fighters had a similar Tae Kwon Do background, which made for a reluctant first round for both fighters, trying to find range and feel each other out. The second round, Makdessi got off some nice body shots and flashy axe kicks, with Cruickshank struggling to find his rhythm. The third was more of the same, Makdessi simply out-striking Daron , who seemed more interested in putting more flash in his fight than effectiveness. Makdessi ended up with the unanimous decision win.
The second bout of the prelim card was former Strikeforce fighter, and Canadian Jordan Mein against UFC veteran Dan Miller. Miller opened with a nice takedown that ended with a very impressive arm bar escape from Mein. Mein continued to control the fight until his very nice TKO stoppage 4:42 into the first round.
Up next we have featherweights Darren Elkins and Antonio Carvalho. Elkins lays into Carvalho and noticeably rocks him. Surprisingly referee Yves Lavigne calls a stop to the fight as Caravlho pops right back up. This does not set will with the crowd as the string of boo’s lasts until after the winners’ announcement.
To wrap it up, Patrick Cote makes his debut as a welterweight against another former Strikeforce veteran Bobby Voelker. Cote picked up a close decision win after proving his legitimacy at his new weight class. It was a close fight with Cote showing some threats from the ground and Voelker landing some nice lefts that rocked Cote. Ultimately it was Cote’s takedowns and submission attempts that scored him the win.
Starting of the PPV was former TUF contestant Mike Ricci against TUF Smashes finalist Colin “Freakshow” Fletcher. Ricci starts off threating with some nice high head kicks which Colin answers with strong leg and body kicks of his own. Ricci sneaks in a few nice combos that seem to tag Fletcher nicely, while Fletcher attempts some flashy spin attacks, which are ultimately unsuccessful. We end the round in the clench from a single attempt from Fletcher.
Second round, Fletcher presses fast and ends up getting taken down. Ricci defends nicely against a heel hook attempt; they work their way up and split with a nice right from Fletcher. The rest of the round is a series of small exchanges with no significant damage.
The third starts with ice on the floor spilled by a corner man that ref John Goddard has to kick off the mat after the round begins. Fletcher shoots in to start and Ricci defends well and ends up with Ricci getting Fletcher to the ground. Mike displays some nice ground and pound, transitions to a Rear Naked Choke, when unsuccessful, transitions to an arm bar which Colin defends as well. In the end, Ricci earns a 30-27 unanimous decision.
Next we have Middleweights Nick Ring and Chris Camozzi. Ring starts off the round with nice leg shots and his hands down. Camozzi works his jab and has a few good charges, but nothing damaging so far.
Ring starts the second round off immediately with leg shots, which Camozzi responds with a nice jab followed with a knee. Camozzi manages to sting Ring decently and attempts a flying knee. Ring continues to taunt Camozzi with his hands down chin out approach, while throwing constant right hooks. This round ends with Camozzi bloodied up pretty well.
The third is mostly Ring point striking, and Camozzi showing more aggressiveness with his left jab and counter attacks. The fight ends with Camozzi winning by split decision, mainly because of his
The well anticipated Welterweight fight between Jake Ellenberger and Nate “The Great” Marquardt starts with Marquardt starting the action with a leg shot. After a period of feel and feint, Nate stuns Jake and swarms immediately, but ends up with Ellenberger taking his back and separating. Nate throws a few more leg shots until Jake throws a huge left right combo that collapses Marquardt, and then throws a few more in for good measure until the ref pulls him off. Jake earns his 9th win in the UFC by impressive KO.
Next we have another Welterweight bout that will determine the next number one contender. Carlos Condit, coming off a loss to GSP, and powerhouse Johnny Hendrix, who is on a 5 fight win streak. The stare down from these two is intense and foretelling of the battle ahead. Hendrix opens the round with a nice combo that rocks Condit, who recovers quickly and counters with a great knee followed with a head kick that drops Hendrix. Once up, Hendrix shoots and gets the takedown. Condit defends well from the bottom while Hendrix lands a few short shots. Hendrix backs off and lets Carlos up. Johnny shoots again and Carlos defends until Johnny eventually drags him to the ground, but Condit doesn’t stay down long. Once back up Condit gets off a nice flying knee and Hendrix answers back with a nice combos, and the round ends with both swinging.
The second starts with Condit firing off the flying knee again and Hendrix making him pay with a few hard shots and a drive into the cage that ends with Condit being dragged down again. Carlos pops back up and Hendrix lays into him, tagging him all the way across the cage for another takedown. Back up, Condit attempts a flying knee again that Hendrix catches and uses for a nice slam. Johnny lands some nice short elbows, and they get back to their feet. Condit turns up the heat but gets taken down again.
Start of the third, both come out hard, and Hendrix gets the takedown again. Condit gets up and they engage in a hard exchange. Hendrix gets the takedown again, but they are right back up, just to have Johnny get a nice double leg takedown, but again, Condit is back up. Carlos starts stalking Hendrix and stings him a few times with nice combos, but, gets taken down again briefly. Back up, Condit throws a flurry at Hendrix that ends in another takedown. Condit escapes and the fight ends with both in a Thai clench still going at it full force. Hendrix’s takedowns and aggressiveness earn him the29-28 decision over Condit.
The hyped and anticipated main event begins as you would expect, Diaz is booed during his walk to the cage and shouts taunts to the champ as he approaches. The two stare each other down, GSP with his calm collected attitude and Diaz with his signature scowl. To no one’s surprise they do not touch gloves as they return to their corners. The round starts with GSP leading with a leg kick and then a takedown. He throws a few nice short elbows and strikes from the top, spins to take Diaz’s back, then to north-south, and returns to Diaz’s back. Diaz attempts to sweep, but the champ smothers his attempts. He lands a few more short elbows and Nick crawls his way to the cage to climb back to his feet. GSP takes him right back down stays on top and lands some nice ground and pound. Nick crawls back up the cage only to be slammed right back down, and the round ends with St. Pierre on top.
The second starts out with a leg kick exchange and the champ keeping Diaz at bay with his jab. GSP gets another takedown, and is able to posture up and get a few good shots in before he transitions to side control and lands a nice knee to Diaz’s body. A few more small head shots from GSP and Diaz tries to get back up to no avail. GSP lands a few more short elbows, takes Diaz’s back, and they both get back up and end the round with some small exchanges.
Third round, Diaz tries to taunt GSP but gets more of the same, takedowns, GSP’s jab, and a few exchanges. The round ends with Nick on his back and taking a swing at GSP after the bell.
Fourth round starts with jab exchanges, and Diaz stuffing a few takedowns. Diaz has his hands down taunting the champ again. GSP gets more takedowns, Diaz attempts a kimura at one point, but the round still ends with GSP on top.
Fifth and final round, Diaz mixes up a few kicks that land on GSP’s legs and body. Diaz stuffs another takedown attempt, attempts a high head kick, only to have GSP kick his leg out from under him. The champ gets in a few knees, initiates the clench, and they swap a good few shots. GSP gets the takedown from the inside and ends the fight with a few good shots, ending with another five round decision win for the champ. Diaz just couldn’t regain control on the ground, stop the takedowns, or stop the movement of the champ. Although, in the post-fight conference, Diaz stated he could beat him in a rematch, and that George had no punching power. We will see Nick, until then Johnny Hendrix gets to test his ability against the champ next. Looking forward to seeing these two well qualified, confident, humble warriors compete to see who is the best in the welterweight division.
Complete UFC 158 results
- Georges St-Pierre def. Nick Diaz via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) – retains UFC welterweight title
- Johny Hendricks def. Carlos Condit via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jake Ellenberger def. Nate Marquardt via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:00
- Chris Camozzi def. Nick Ring via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Mike Ricci def. Colin Fletcher via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Patrick Cote def. Bobby Voelker via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Darren Elkins def. Antonio Carvalho via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:06
- Jordan Mein def. Dan Miller via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:42
- John Makdessi def. Daron Cruickshank via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Rick Story def. Quinn Mulhern via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:05
- T.J. Dillashaw def. Issei Tamura via KO (knee and punches) –
- Round 2, 0:26George Roop def. Reuben Duran via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
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