UFC 143 Results & Analysis

UFC 143 crowned Carlos Condit the new Interim Welterweight Champion with a unanimous decision victory against Nick Diaz (48–47, 49–46, 49–46).  Condit perfectly executed trainers Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn's game plan, where by, avoiding Diaz's clinical striking when pressured up against the cage and using a mixed variety of striking techniques to counter Diaz's constant forward moving attack became the key to victory.

Unable to exert the same pressure as showcased in recent bouts to the likes of B.J Penn and Donald Cerrone, Diaz became increasingly frustrated and began taunting the well disciplined Condit with signature acts such as, crossing his arms, hands down to his waist and trash talking. In the post-fight press conference, Condit referenced the Diaz's trash talking, "I threw a spinning back-fist or something and he (Diaz) told me, we're throwing spinning sh*t now?"

The championship rounds saw similar action to previous rounds, where Diaz would press Condit to the cage with body strikes for a brief moment and Condit would then duck-under to escape to the centre of the octogon and evade playing Diaz's game; the cardio of both fighters were not in question, as the constant movement did not appear to affect the fighters during the five round bout.

During the fourth round, Diaz attempted a clinch to single-leg takedown attempt but was unable to complete to the credit of Condit's well prepared takedown defence, however, Diaz did manage to keep hold onto a leg kick for several seconds, but to the amusement of Condit this occurred after the round had ended.

The signal for round five led to "The Natural Born Killer" turning the pressure up with technical striking such as switch kicks, elbows, leg kicks etc. However, Diaz took the back of Condit late in the final round and managed to drag him to the canvas and transitioned to a body triangle, appearing to look for a rear naked choke but the submission defence of Condit managed to hold on to the final remaining seconds of the fight; the victory sets up the future bout against currently injured George Saint Pierre to crown the Undisputed Welterweight Champion.

Main card:

• Middleweight bout:  Ed Herman vs.  Clifford Starks

Herman defeated Starks via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:43 of round 2.

• Bantamweight bout:  Renan Barão vs.  Scott Jorgensen

Barão defeated Jorgensen via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

• Welterweight bout:  Josh Koscheck vs.  Mike Pierce

Koscheck defeated Pierce via split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28).

• Heavyweight bout:  Roy Nelson vs.  Fabricio Werdum

Werdum defeated Nelson via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

• Interim Welterweight Championship bout:  Nick Diaz vs.  Carlos Condit

Condit defeated Diaz via unanimous decision (48–47, 49–46, 49–46)

Preliminary card:

• Welterweight bout:  Dan Stittgen vs.  Stephen Thompson

Thompson defeated Stittgen via KO (round kick) at 4:13 of round 1.

• Middleweight bout:  Rafael Natal vs.  Michael Kuiper

Natal defeated Kuiper via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28).

• Welterweight bout:  Matthew Riddle vs.  Henry Martinez

Riddle defeated Martinez via split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28).

• Welterweight bout:  Matt Brown vs.  Chris Cope

Brown defeated Cope via TKO (punches) at 1:19 of round 2.

• Bantamweight bout:  Alex Caceres vs.  Edwin Figueroa

Figueroa defeated Caceres via split decision (28–27, 27–28, 28–27).

• Featherweight bout:  Dustin Poirier vs.  Max Holloway

Poirier defeated Holloway via submission (mounted triangle armbar) at 3:23 of round 1.