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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Georges St-Pierre's desire to fight Nick Diaz has meant hoping for Carlos Condit to lose on Saturday night at UFC 143. The two fighters have never been training partners together, but they share an affiliation through Greg Jackson's camp and have shared many training partners in the past.
St-Pierre said this week that he really wants Diaz to win the bout on Saturday night in Las Vegas, but that he's fearful Condit will win the fight and keep him from getting his shot at defeating Diaz himself.
"I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win," St-Pierre said. "It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees... I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won’t be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer.
"I am not personal friends with him but I know him a little and he's a great person. I know a lot of people who know him well because we train with the same people, but I have only spoken with him a few times. He is a true mixed martial artist. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz."
The Champ's comments haven't offended Condit to this point, but Condit did get a chance to respond via satellite to St-Pierre himself during Tuesday's "UFC Tonight" program on Fuel TV. St-Pierre was an in studio guest, and Condit had to let him know that he's just not going to get his wish.
"Well, Georges I hate to say it, but I'm looking to spoil your party, man," Condit said. "I'm looking to take it to Diaz, and [earn] the Interim belt."
For his part, St-Pierre responded well, and made it clear it's nothing personal against Condit himself, who he likes much better than Diaz in general.
"I wish you the best of luck, Carlos," St-Pierre said. "As a competitor, as a human being, I like you much more than Nick Diaz. But, it's the fighting game, and I just hope that the best man will win."
Should Condit be that man, the two will square off later in the year to unify the Interim title with St-Pierre's Championship to determine the Undisputed Champion at welterweight.
Penick's Analysis: I'm sure if Condit was fighting anyone other than Diaz, St-Pierre would openly pull for him to win a number one contender fight. Seeing as Diaz has gotten under St-Pierre's skin, it's not a surprise at all that he'd want Diaz to win. That means - at least for Condit - that he just needs to go out there and do what he has to do regardless of what anyone thinks. St-Pierre isn't being disrespectful to Condit in saying he wants Diaz to win; he's simply being honest about who he wants to fight next. But Condit very well may throw a wrench in those plans on Saturday in the biggest fight of his own career.
[Carlos Condit art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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