5. Where’s Georges?
Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn
UFC 137 “Penn vs. Diaz”
Oct. 29, 2011 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas
For three rounds, Diaz battered Penn with his trademark high-volume boxing, leaving the Hawaiian’s face a swollen and bloody mess at the conclusion of the contest. Then, the Cesar Gracie protégé launched a verbal assault in the direction of sidelined 170-pound kingpin Georges St. Pierre, who had to withdraw from UFC 137 due to a knee injury.
“I don’t think Georges is hurt,” Diaz said. “I think he’s scared to fight everybody right now. What’s up! Where you at Georges?”
St. Pierre was sitting just a few feet away, smiling and feigning fear from his cageside seat. The champion’s expression belied his true feelings, however. Although “Rush” was supposed to face Carlos Condit upon returning to full health, Diaz’s remarks upset St. Pierre so much that he requested an immediate matchup with Diaz. Hoping to take advantage of the drama that had recently transpired in the Octagon, UFC President Dana White complied.
Of course, everyone knows by now how this story goes: St. Pierre tore his ACL and is not scheduled to come back until November. In the meantime, Condit defeated Diaz for the interim title at UFC 143. Diaz announced his retirement in the Octagon and later failed a post-fight drug screen for marijuana, which ultimately resulted in a year-long suspension for the former Strikeforce titlist.
Through it all, it is easy to get the sense that St. Pierre -- despite a pending clash with Condit – would not mind meeting up with Diaz at some point. Disrespect can be a powerful source of motivation.
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