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Many fans and experts have predicted that Saturday night’s main event winner, whether it be BJ Penn or Nick Diaz, would get the next shot at the welterweight strap that is currently held by the injured Georges St. Pierre. However, today UFC president Dana White made it clear that Carlos Condit will remain the number one contender regardless of the outcome between Penn vs. Diaz on Saturday night. White’s exact words were, “Condit’s in.”
UFC 137 has been a crazy shuffle filled with replacements, swaps, and injuries. Diaz was originally set to fight GSP on Saturday but was demoted when he missed a mandatory presser for the fight. He was then paired up with Penn while Penn’s original opponent in Carlos Condit was moved up to fight St. Pierre for the belt. Then St. Pierre injured his knee while training for UFC 137 and was forced to withdraw from the card. Condit immediately decided to sit out and wait for GSP to mend and return to the cage.
That’s when the talks of a new number one contender emerged. However, those rumors were squashed today by White who made it very clear that Condit is indeed the next contender to fight for the welterweight strap.
White also explained that St. Pierre’s injury doesn’t seem to be too extreme and projected the Champion’s return to come sometime in February with a “six to eight week” rehabilitation time-table. And waiting for him when he returns will be “The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit.
Still, even with Condit getting the next shot at GSP’s crown, Saturday night’s main event fight between Penn and Diaz will be one that has a heavy impact on the welterweight division. The winner will likely seat themselves at the top of the division with a title shot looming in the near distance. But regardless of all the implications that “might” come out of this fight I feel it is necessary to clear all of this talk out of the air so that we can enjoy Saturday night’s main event for what it is truly going to be: two former champions and legendary warriors of the sport doing battle in Las Vegas in front of a sold out crowd and millions watching from home. UFC 137 is now only three days away. Fight fans, it’s time to get excited!
UFC 137 has been a crazy shuffle filled with replacements, swaps, and injuries. Diaz was originally set to fight GSP on Saturday but was demoted when he missed a mandatory presser for the fight. He was then paired up with Penn while Penn’s original opponent in Carlos Condit was moved up to fight St. Pierre for the belt. Then St. Pierre injured his knee while training for UFC 137 and was forced to withdraw from the card. Condit immediately decided to sit out and wait for GSP to mend and return to the cage.
That’s when the talks of a new number one contender emerged. However, those rumors were squashed today by White who made it very clear that Condit is indeed the next contender to fight for the welterweight strap.
White also explained that St. Pierre’s injury doesn’t seem to be too extreme and projected the Champion’s return to come sometime in February with a “six to eight week” rehabilitation time-table. And waiting for him when he returns will be “The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit.
Still, even with Condit getting the next shot at GSP’s crown, Saturday night’s main event fight between Penn and Diaz will be one that has a heavy impact on the welterweight division. The winner will likely seat themselves at the top of the division with a title shot looming in the near distance. But regardless of all the implications that “might” come out of this fight I feel it is necessary to clear all of this talk out of the air so that we can enjoy Saturday night’s main event for what it is truly going to be: two former champions and legendary warriors of the sport doing battle in Las Vegas in front of a sold out crowd and millions watching from home. UFC 137 is now only three days away. Fight fans, it’s time to get excited!
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