Five years ago this week, these four stories were in the news on MMATorch.com…
Georges St-Pierre not bothered by Nick Diaz’s trash talk into UFC 143 showdown in February
Though it was mostly trash talk that managed to goad Georges St-Pierre into wanting a fight with Nick Diaz this February, the UFC Welterweight Champion now says the talk itself doesn’t concern him, and isn’t going to affect his performance against Diaz at UFC 143. In an interview with QMI Agency, St-Pierre explained: “I’ve seen it all from everyone before. If they’re trying to get into my head and make me fight a bad fight, it’s just mind games and it doesn’t work. I don’t even understand [or] speak English very well. I don’t understand most of the things that [Diaz] says when he trash talks. I don’t really care. I’m just going to focus on hurting him.”
Dana White compares epic UFC 139 Henderson-Rua bout to Bonnar-Griffin 1
“Bonnar-Griffin was three rounds between two guys who were trying to get into the UFC. Bonnar-Griffin is an amazing fight and an important fight for us at that point in time to get into the UFC. That fight I think for the mainstream people that tuned in for the first time on Spike, there was a lot of stand-up and back and forth and display of heart and will and then both guys get the contract… If this was the WWE, we couldn’t have scripted that thing better than the way that it went for us that night. But when you look at the level that (Henderson and Shogun) are at and the big fights that these two have had, and what was on the line, and going five rounds, and the way this fight went. It was one of the sickest fights I’ve ever seen.”
-Dana White compares UFC 139’s epic Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua bout with the Ultimate Fighter Finale bout between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar that the UFC has held as their “top fight of all time” via MMAWeekly.
Penick’s Analysis: Bonnar-Griffin I was huge for the UFC because it literally was a game-changer for the organization. That fight was a brawl, and it was hugely entertaining, bringing in more viewers the longer it went on and instantly converting new fans to the sport. But Henderson-Rua was at a higher level than that fight, with two longtime top fighters still vying for contention and featuring even more drama in a five round fight. It really will go down as one of the best fights in UFC history.
UFC 143’s Josh Koscheck a Nick Diaz fan into Super Bowl weekend event
Josh Koscheck’s got a big fight on his hands on February 4, as he looks to knock Carlos Condit out of title contention at UFC 143. Considering he’s only one fight removed from a dominating loss to Georges St-Pierre, a win won’t get him another shot at GSP. In an interview with MMAWeekly.com, Koscheck says that those circumstances, among other things, have made him a Nick Diaz fan into the fight card on Super Bowl weekend:
“I like the Diaz kid. He brings something similar to what I bring to the table. He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind… Realistically, I think GSP is a strategist and GSP is probably gonna come out with a great game plan. That’s where he can play it safe and get the victory… I’d love to see Diaz win because when I beat Carlos Condit Feb. 4. That means me and Diaz is for a title shot. And that means it’s a big fight because he talks really good, and I believe I can talk up the fight really good.”
UFC Champ Jon Jones spars with female boxer Holly Holm
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is busy training for his fight with Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 next month, but he’s also always helping teammates prepare as well. One such teammate is top women’s boxer Holly Holm, and Jones and Holm took part in a sparring session this past week that was posted online. Check it out HERE.
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