MMA Weekly reports that a Champion versus Champion match is in the works featuring Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz. The match-up may be announced as soon as next week.
The fight was rumored as soon as GSP dispatched Jake Shields at UFC 129. Talks likely accelerated when Jeff Lacy announced that he had signed on to fight Nick Diaz later this year. In order to appease Diaz, the UFC likely had to set up this fight so that Diaz would not go through with the boxing match.
Via MMA Weekly:
Nick Diaz is likely to face St-Pierre for his next UFC welterweight title defense in 2011, with all signs pointing towards a December showdown in Montreal.
Payout Perspective:
This potential match-up has huge implications in and out of the Octagon. Even without knowing the rest of the card, the event would do great business in Montreal. With the potential of fighting in front of his hometown crowd for the second year in a row, Diaz will be another heel to oppose GSP. Unlike Josh Koscheck, Diaz poses more of a danger with his BJJ skills. Of course, this could have been said of Jake Shields. Yet, it is still a compelling match-up.
If this fight happens, will this equate to a unification of the titles? Does a cross-promotional fight open the door for more fights featuring UFC vs. Strikeforce. Moreover, does this mean the beginning of the end for Strikeforce?
Unlike Jake Shields, Diaz will try and sell the fight, and won’t come in with a bizarre gameplan. It will be interesting to see how aware of Diaz casual fans are, if/when this bout is indeed made.
I’m sure Strikeforce will be folded once there are no contractual obligations to Showtime (I remember reading they had 16 more events at the time of the sale, and two have been completed so 14 to go?). It just doesn’t make sense to dedicate resources to a less powerful brand.
First time poster, long time reader 🙂
As exciting as this fight sounds, GSP will easily defeat Diaz. Shields is without a doubt a better fight for GSP and he could not get the job done. The fight has nothing to do with competition as Fitch is the true #1 contender. Good money to be made on this fight but no amount of promotion could convince me that Diaz has even a small chance.
BTW, latest estimates for UFC 129 are 800k PPV buys.