By MATT MOLGAARD
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer

Is a rematch between newly crowned interim welterweight title holder Carlos Condit and Stockton bad boy, Nick Diaz truly a bout that needs to happen? As a longtime Diaz fan, it hurt me a bit to score the pairs initial encounter last weekend at UFC 143 in favor of Carlos Condit. I’ve been chomping at the bit for a collision between Diaz and sidelined champion, Georges St. Pierre for ages, and over the course of 25 minutes, that fantasy collision remained just that, a fantasy.

For the better portion of five rounds Carlos Condit moved in reverse, while Diaz stalked forward, constantly walking down his foe. It was the moments in which the two would engage that would negate Nick’s unrelenting pressure, as Condit, time and again managed to pepper Diaz with an assortment of punches, kicks, elbows and the occasional knee before sliding out of harms range, and keeping his back off the cage. “The Natural Born Killers’” lateral movement also proved detrimental to Diaz’s onslaught. With the exception of one tremendous flurry from Nick, and a fifth round takedown, followed by secured back control, Condit kept himself out of harm’s way while unleashing enough counter attacks to convince the cageside judges that he was indeed the more effective of the two.

Credit is certainly owed Diaz, who clearly believed that the pressure he’d been applying would see him earn the victory. I don’t particularly recall the advice Nick was given between rounds, but it doesn’t seem as though his corner alerted him of the urgency he faced heading into the bouts fourth frame. Diaz continued to march forward, absorbing some flashy strikes and one particularly powerful kick to the face; he was, unsurprisingly unfazed, but it sure didn’t do him any favors in regards to points. In a last ditch effort, Diaz came out strong in the fifth round. Despite absorbing a few flush strikes, Diaz bombarded Condit with plenty of kicks, and closed the round out by taking Carlos down, seizing back control, and working for a rear naked choke, and subsequently an armbar. It was a fine way to cap off the fifth frame, but by most critical eyes, it was just too little, too late.

In the end, the judges agreed, awarding Carlos Condit the unanimous decision victor with scores of 49-46 (twice) and 48-47. It may not have been the outcome so many had predicted, but there is certainly evidence to back up a win that many are now discrediting. According to Fight Metric, Carlos Condit out landed Nick Diaz: 159 total strikes to 117. In regards to significant strikes, The Natural Born Killer held a significant edge with 151 strikes landed against Diaz’s 105. While, visually the fight appeared to be quite close, the fact remains that Condit, despite moving in reverse for the majority of the bout, consistently out struck Diaz, and delivered the most damage inside the allotted championship time frame.

Immediately following the bout both men took to the microphone to speak with Joe Rogan. Condit presented himself in professional fashion, praising his foe, acknowledging the dangers he presented, and in general, spoke quite fondly of both Diaz and current champion, Georges St. Pierre. Diaz also issued respect to Condit, but his emotions soon got the better of him, as he derided the judges for what he perceived a terrible decision. He also went on to express the fact that he’s, “done with this sh*t”. That’s right: a highly emotional Diaz announced his retirement. Given the warrior spirit that thrives inside of Diaz, I don’t expect the rash decision to stand long, this man is still just a fight or two away from a collision with his nemesis, Georges St. Pierre.