UFC 137: Nick Diaz versus GSP back on again; BJ Penn and Mirko Cro Cop retire

Newslines from UFC 137:

Carlos Condit steps side for GSP to defend welterweight title against Nick Diaz next

Beaten BJ Penn retires; defeated Mirko Cro Cop announces it is all over for him

Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo both call for heavyweight title shot

Donald Cerrone enhances his credentials for a lightweight title shot

Nick Diaz will face Georges St Pierre for the UFC welterweight title next up, in the wake of his victory at UFC 137 over BJ Penn. Diaz told a Mandalay Bay Events Center crowd he thinks UFC champion Georges St-Pierre faked an injury in order to avoid the fight. "He's not really injured; he's scared," said Diaz.

The move earned St-Pierre's attention, and UFC president Dana White confirmed at a news conference an hour later that Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside in order to make the fight. St Pierre said: "This is what I wanted since the beginning. Let's do what was supposed to be done originally. I've always wanted this fight — now I want it even more. I can't wait for Superbowl weekend."

White said: "Condit has agreed that he will fight on the same event. We spoke about it and if he wins, he will fight the winner of Diaz and GSP."

White announced the change with Diaz in attendance at press conference. Diaz then complained his preparation for the Penn fight and the lead up to the card. Diaz and his camp appear to believe that the fighter should not have been withdrawn from the original main event against St-Pierre. His manager Cesar Gracie echoed similar views after the news conference. But now it's game on.

UFC legends BJ Penn and Mirko Cr Cop retired in the Octagon in Las Vegas after their respective contests. Cro Cop was stopped by Roy Nelson; Penn decided to call it a day after a mainly stand-up war with Nick Diaz in which the ramparts were slowly taken apart for the Hawaiian. It was one-sided in the last two rounds, as Diaz set about Penn's body and head with a relish. The onslaught in the second round all but did for Penn. All but did… yet the hugely popular mixed martial artist came forward himself in the third, but his tired arms would not allow him much success against the relentlessness, and spite, of Diaz. Some will call it a war. But it was one-sided in many ways.

Diaz was marginal favourite coming in with the bookmakers. Penn looked tense. There were great exchanges in the stand up in the early seconds. Both had success. Penn with the right; Diaz with a right left. They then went to the ground, they rolled. Penn got the better of it, taking dominant position. It was Penn's round. But the second saw a dramatic shift. Diaz punished Penn for almost three and a half minutes. They may become known as the 200 seconds which heralded Penn's retirement call. If this is to be his swan song, it was a great way to go out. But who knows.. ? Although Penn left no caveat, minds can change when spirits repair.

For the record, it was 29-28, 29-28, 29-27 in Penn's favour. Diaz was his inimitable self straightaway after the contest. He was asked about fighting GSP. "I don’t think he's hurt. He’s scared." 'GSP, GSP' they crowd in the events center chanted. Penn had kind words for Diaz, who had admitted in the lead up to this contest that Penn had been his first MMA idol. "It sucked when I learnt I'd be fighting him," said Diaz. Most likely felt something similar to that for Penn to lose to a protegee. Always gracious Penn said: "Hats off to Nick Diaz, he was the man in there tonight. But it's time for me to call it a day. I have a daughter, another on the way, and i don't want to go home looking like this."

Time will tell.

Dana White said afterwards: "Diaz can fight. Penn got busted up tonight. Nick Diaz is the real deal. And what a warrior BJ Penn, there were moments in that third round even when he was exhausted he was firing back…"

Frenchman Cheick Kongo emerged victorious against Matt Mitrione. Kongo did just enough to take the first round against Mitrione and completely outstruck the American in the second. He then slammed his opponent to the ground twice in round 3. The canvas vibrated with the combined weight of the two big men thumping onto the surface. From the top, he threw strikes and elbows. I had it 30-27.

Roy Nelson ended the career of the ever popular Mirko Cro Cop. “I’m getting too old for this s***. I want to fight for the heavyweight championship. I want the winner of [Junior] Dos Santos and [Cain] Velasquez,” said Nelson.

Kongo also stated afterwards that he wants a re-match with Velasquez, to whom he lost in their first meeting, and a shot at the heavyweight title belt. The contenders are stacking up.

Nelson had Cro Cop onto the ground in the opening round, having taken the famed left leg strike of the Croatian and a left upper cut. Nelson appeared to rock Cro Cop with a right hand early in the second round, then slipped. Cro Cop, seizing his moment, let fly with a welt of left hands, as Nelson covered up. The American recovered to get a takedown. Nelson had Cro Cop in crucifix for the final minute, pounding his opponent from above. After a quiet start to third, Nelson unleashed a big straight right, Cro Cop fell flat, and ‘Big Country’ pounced, pounding at the fallen Croatian. It brought him a TKO victory.

Donald Cerrone bulls Dennis Siver in another impressive display

Donald Cerrone against Dennis Siver was always destined for something special.

They stood, they threw, Cerrone conquered. Siver’s world was rocked by a heavy left leg kick from ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, leaving his legs jiggly, although the German scrambled to recover his feet and land with a left-right combination.

Seconds later, Siver was off balance again, stumbling out of contact, and to the ground. Cerrone galloped after his foe. Flattening Siver out, the submission by rear naked choke was inevitable. As Siver reddened, the canvas got thumped by the flat of the German’s hand. It took Cerrone 2 minutes 22 seconds to complete the rout. Title shot ? Maybe not for two fights, but certainly Cerrone is now heading that way.

Bart Palaszewski reckons he broke both hands KO-ing Tyson Griffin

Bart Palaszewski knocked out Tyson Griffin with a barrage of punches in the opening round of their 148lb fight after Griffin weighed in at 149 yesterday. The veteran of 48 fights, making his UFC debut, rocked Griffin with two left hands, and as his opponent covered up, he let fly like a threshing machine. He cut Griffin to the floor, his legs crumpling like a loose shirt. Dramatic finish.

Brandon Vera lost soul of the light-heavyweights

Strange to see Brandon Vera not even headlining the prelims. Time was when he was talked about in the same buffed terms as Jon Bones Jones is today. The world was Vera's oyster. He was the next best thing. He defeated Frank Mir. Would he go on to be a double divisional champion. Vera defeated Eliot Marshall, winning the first two rounds, but was dangerously rocked in the third. But the bigger picture is that the enigmatic fighter now resides in the wilderness of the roster. So much talent. Such a waste.

FULL RESULTS from UFC 137:

Preliminary card (Facebook)

Middleweight bout: United States Dustin Jacoby vs. United States Clifford Starks

Starks defeated Jacoby via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

Middleweight bout: United States Chris Camozzi vs. France Francis Carmont

Carmont defeated Camozzi via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).

Lightweight bout: United States Ramsey Nijem vs. United States Danny Downes

Nijem defeated Downes via unanimous decision (30–25, 30–26, 30–27).

Light Heavyweight bout: United States Brandon Vera vs. United States Eliot Marshall

Vera defeated Marshall via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). This fight aired on the Preliminary card after the Siver / Cerrone fight.

Preliminary card (Spike TV)

Catchweight (148 lb) bout: United States Tyson Griffin vs. Poland Bart Palaszewski

Palaszewski defeated Griffin via KO (punches) at 2:45 of round 1.

Lightweight Bout: Germany Dennis Siver vs. United States Donald Cerrone

Cerrone defeated Siver via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:22 of round 1.

Main card

Featherweight bout: Japan Hatsu Hioki vs. United States George Roop

Hioki defeated Roop via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).

Bantamweight bout: United States Scott Jorgensen vs. United States Jeff Curran

Jorgensen defeated Curran via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 30–27).

Heavyweight bout: Croatia Mirko Filipović vs. United States Roy Nelson

Nelson defeated Filipović via TKO (punches) at 1:30 of round 3.

Heavyweight bout: France Cheick Kongo vs. United States Matt Mitrione

Kongo defeated Mitrione via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–27, 29–28).

Welterweight bout: United States BJ Penn vs. United States Nick Diaz

Diaz defeated Penn via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28).

UFC 137: Legends BJ Penn and Mirko Cro Cop retire in Octagon after defeats

UFC legends BJ Penn and Mirko Cr Cop retired in the Octagon tonight on Las Vegas after their respective contests. Cro Cop was stopped by Roy Nelson; Penn decided to call it a day after a mainly stand-up war with Nick Diaz in which the ramparts were slowly taken apart.

UFC 137: Telegraph Video Dana White on the BJ Penn – Nick Diaz main event

UFC 137: Nick Diaz admits "it sucks to fight BJ Penn, my first idol in MMA"

Nick Diaz has admitted that BJ Penn was his "first idol in MMA" and "it sucks that I have to fight him". Yet he knows to progress, he must beat the best. The UFC 137 main event has split the MMA world.

At UFC 137, Diaz meets the Hawaiian who has a very similar blend of boxing and BJJ.

Diaz said: “BJ Penn was my first idol in MMA. I got into this when I was 16, I bought a magazine with him in there and I pulled out the pictures of him and put them on my wall. It kinda sucks we are fighting but if you want to be the best you have to fight the best and it is what it is.”

Of course, Diaz was due to fight Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight title before the well-documented change in opponent. The Stockton brawler, though, believes he will prove himself the best fighter in the world at 170lbs. He said: “If I have a good night, I can beat anybody. I can beat anybody in the world. My thing is I know I can train harder than anyone else. I know I can do that. And I know I can fight hard.”

Penn said: “I feel the best is still inside me. Early in my career I was so focused on getting the belt, or being the pound-for-pound No1 or talking smack about this guy or that guy… I changed as I got older. Right now, I feel I got a clean slate in the sport. I am happy with my career, winning two titles and beating some great fighters, but I also feel I have more to do, I have to get better and I have to show I am as good as people have said I am. Iʼm getting older, and this is a career to me but fighting is what I live for.

“As far as this thing as I have to hate everyone I fight, or proving I can outbox a boxer or tapout the best BJJ guy, I donʼt need to prove that anymore. What I want to do is fight hard, win some big fights, and see what happens. Iʼd like to win the title but I donʼt think about that. Getting a title shot is about timing. If Iʼd have got the decision against Jon Fitch, Iʼd have got a title shot already. But even though Nick Diaz is a top guy, beating him may not get me a title shot because the timing may not work out.

“But thatʼs cool. I am fighting for victory, to beat the best guys out there. And fighting Nick allows me to do that.”

KEYS TO THE CONTEST: While some were surprised by Pennʼs bold strategy of attempting out-wrestling NCAA Division 1 standout Jon Fitch, in his most recent bout at UFC 127 in February, and forcing a draw, BJʼs career stats show his wrestling is heavily underrated.

While Penn is highly-regarded for his boxing skills – his tally of 746 power-punches is the third best in the UFC– Pennʼs wrestling stats also make for impressive reading. The Prodigy scores with 64% of his takedowns, placing him tenth in UFC history in terms of offensive grappling.

His defensive wrestling is even more impressive; Penn stuffs 77% of all opponentʼs attempts to take him down. And considering Penn has once again brought in former nemesis turned BFF Matt Hughes as a wrestling coach for this camp, expect Pennʼs wrestling to be razor sharp at UFC 137.

(Stats courtesy of UFC media pack).

UFC 137: Mix and match and third time lucky for enigma Nick Diaz against BJ Penn

UFC legend BJ Penn and Nick Diaz meet in what is the third choice as the main event for UFC 137. The re-shuffle has the MMA world intrigued. The re-jigging has gone from Georges St-Pierre vs Diaz, to St-Pierre vs Carlos Condit – after Diaz was expelled for missing multiple news conferences – and then, due to a GSP knee injury, Penn vs Diaz as the main attraction.

Diaz has earned his place here, returning to the UFC after a career-defining 10 straight victories. He vacated his Strikeforce welterweight title when he expected to face St-Pierre for the UFC belt. In a previous run in the UFC, he was 6 wins, 4 losses, between 2003 and 2006, but this is the enigmatic character's time to shine.

Penn comes in, arguably, as the underdog. He drew against Jon Fitch in a title eliminator in February in Sydney, and has a record of 2-3-1 as a UFC welterweight, with both victories against fellow legend Matt Hughes.

Tale of the Tape

Penn Diaz

W-L-D 16-7-2 25-7, 1 NC

Age 32 28

Height 5’9” 6’1

Reach 70” 74”

Strength BJJ, Boxing BJJ, Boxing

On the main card, Cheick Kongo moves up to chief support, and seeks to become the fourth heavyweight with 10 wins in UFC history. The others are Frank Mir, Andre Arlovski, and Randy Couture, all with 10 apiece. No heavyweight has more wins than Kongo since his debut at UFC 61. Pedro Rizzo and Tim Sylvia also stand at 9 heavyweight victories in the UFC.

Similarly, no heavyweight has more wins than Matt Mitrione since his debut at the TUF 10 finale. The former Giants and Vikings practice squad member is unbeaten in five MMA bouts with four wins by knockout, but this will provide a major test for whether the loveable character has what takes in the heavy division. After losing back-to-back bouts against Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir in 2009, Kongo got back on track with a submission victory over Paul Buentello and a spectacular first-round knockout of Pat Barry in June. He also drew with Travis Browne after having a point deducted for grabbing the fence.

The ever-popular Mirko 'Cro Cop', the 2006 Pride Grand Prix winner, has lost back-to-back fights, each by knockout, and tries to avoid dropping three in a row for the first time. Nelson also enters on a two-fight losing streak for the second time and has never lost three in a row. The TUF 10 winner and former IFL heavyweight champion is just 2-4 in his last six bouts but each of his last six wins have been by knockout.

Scott Jorgensen vs Jeff Curran (bantamweight) was promoted to the main card after St-Pierre vs Condit and Brad Tavares against Dustin Jacoby were both shelved due to injuries. Curran returns to the UFC for the first time since 2004 when he lost a lightweight bout to Matt Serra – his only previous UFC contests. He also lost his last four WEC bouts from 2007-09. However, has won two straight and four of his last five overall and seeks his first three-fight winning streak since winning six in a row from 2006-07. Jorgensen has won six of his last seven with the only loss in that stretch coming to bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.

At featherweight, Hatsu Hioki makes his featherweight debut against George Roop. Hioki has won four straight and is 12-1-1 in his last 14 bouts. Considered a top featherweight in the world, Hioki has won the Shooto lightweight and Sengoku featherweight titles. Roop comes off upsetting Josh Grispi by TKO in June.

The PRELIMINARY CARD has one contest which has fight of the night written all over it: Dennis Siver vs Donald Cerrone. Both teak-tough, seemingly impregnable fighters. It should be a fan pleaser. From this seat, I can't wait for the Cowboy v the Caveman.

Elsewhere on the prelimary card:

Tyson Griffin vs Bart Palaszewski

Brandon Vera vs Eliot Marshall

Ramsey Nijem vs Danny Downes

Chris Camozzi vs Francis Carmont

Dustin Jacoby vs Clifford Starks

UFC 137: GSP out with knee injury, Carlos Condit philosophical

Georges St Pierre has been forced to withdraw from defending his title at UFC 137 after sustaining a knee injury in training, leaving Carlos Condit the welterweight title challenger, in limbo.

UFC President Dana White put out a disappointed message on social networking site twitter that the leading welterweight in the world – GSP – removed himself from the UFC 137 main event.

As a result, it is ironic that Nick Diaz, initially scheduled to face GSP, now steps into the main event against BJ Penn. The rescheduled main event is likely to affect the ppv figures.

Condit has removed himself from the card altogether as he wishes to wait for a title shot against GSP. It is understood that Condit will be the first opponent for GSP when he is fit again.

Condit said: "I have trained for over a decade in mixed martial arts with the clear goal of becoming the best fighter in the world at my weight class. I have worked this long to become the UFC Welterweight Champion. I will work a little longer."

“I am greatly disappointed, for both myself and UFC fans, that I will no longer be fighting for the Welterweight title at UFC 137, but I also understand that injuries are a part of this business.

"As a professional fighter, it is my job to be prepared for any and all circumstances, positive and negative, that come my way during training and the actual fight. Georges is a great competitor and I know that he will want to return to 100 percent health as soon as possible so that this fight can be rescheduled.

This is the best training camp I have ever had, and I look forward to carrying over the growth that I’ve experienced in this camp to my next one."

Malki Kawa, Condit’s agent, claimed GSP against Condit "is the best match-up at this weight class".

"Carlos is hungry for the title shot and when this fight is rescheduled, he will be ready to show the world what made him the top contender,” said Kawa.



White tweet: I just landed in New York City, and what do I always say? I have to deal with bad [stuff] every day. GSP is out with an injury!!!”

There have been numerous injuries to top level fighters this year. Losing GSP will definitely hurt the PPV buy rate for 137. With the UFC planning 34 events in 2012, alongside its new 7-year television partnership with Fox, this is a stark reminder that events can be hugely affected by the twist of an ankle, or in some cases a cut.

Injuries to leading lights this year, who have had to pull out: Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, Jon Jones, Rashad Evans, and now GSP.

UFC 136: Frankie Edgar – Gray Maynard threw the kitchen sink at me and could not put me away – he fears that

Frankie Edgar spoke to Telegraph Sport ahead of his defence of the UFC lightweight title against Gray Maynard in Houston, Texas, on Saturday night, the headline event at UFC 136.

Frankie, how does it feel facing Gray Maynard for a third time and twice in a title fight?

It’s quite strange. We’ve been in there so many rounds with each other we now know each other’s moves pretty well. But I still have to prepare in the same environment but a different camp, a different style and, strangely, they know a bit more about you and you know more about them. It equals things out but the bottom line is that a training camp is still the same thing and you push yourself to the limit.

Maynard almost had you knocked out in the first round in the last fight, have you watched the fight back?

Yes, I wasn’t aware in that first round. I was in survival mode…I don’t remember much of it but I was proud of the way I was able to bounce back. You don’t want to have too many of those rounds in your career. I looked at the tape and I studied what I did wrong in that first round and what he did well and I will try to negate it this time.

What did the corner do between rounds to get you back and focused?

There was no voodoo (laughs). They made sure they caught my eye and made sure I was listening to them and then calmed me down to get me through it.

In those moments, as in the first round, pretty much you don’t remember very much at all and you don’t really remember much of it afterwards.

Will this mean a change of strategy this time, a game of chess between you and Maynard?

Yes, I definitely think it will be more strategic given that we have been there so often against each other but the baseline for me is that I’ve got to sort all my skills. The best things I can do in a fight. I don’t know what plan he’s going to come in with. So the best way for me to prepare is to have the me in every facet of the game. If I can do that, I’ve prepared properly.

The second time you defeated BJ Penn defending the lightweight title, you were more dominant over him. What do you put that down to?

More than strategy it was my confidence going into that fight. The first time against BJ – you are in there against this great champion who has this presence. There is an aura there. Once I knew I could beat him, the second time I faced him I felt that I had a presence. That last fight with Gray, to get through it and show my toughness has only helped my confidence that much more.

Aren’t you talking about the heart and mentality of a champion?

Absolutely. Sometimes champions just wipe through everybody but don’t get to show it [their toughness and resilience]. I got to show it. In that way I was very fortunate.

If you beat Gray Maynard this time would you consider doing what Randy Couture and BJ have done and go for holding two belts in different weight divisions? Does that interest you?

It’s intriguing to me. As a competitor who doesn’t want to test themselves in every which way possible. To go up to 170lbs might be a bit tough. I’m already a small 155lbs fighter so 145 is definitely an option for me. I’d like to play it out against all the best 155 fighters first and see how that goes but you know if the UFC approached me, I’d be into it [against Jose Aldo].

Can you make the weight easily at 145?

I wrestled at 141 in college five or six years ago and I’m not bigger than I was then so I don’t think it would be a problem for me.

A fight between yourself and Aldo [or Kenny Florian] is one the fans would be fascinated by especially as you and Aldo are highly ranked in the pound-for-pound list. What do you think?

Look, obviously I cannot look past Gray Maynard because if you take your eyes off your next opponent you can lose the belt that quickly.

Why is Gray Maynard talking a bigger fight this time?



He was this close [puts thumb and forefinger an inch apart] to being a champion the last time we fought so he really needs to talk himself into it this time. He didn’t get there – I didn’t let him. I was about as close as I could be to being put away. He threw everything and the kitchen sink at me, and he didn’t put me away. I don’t know if that scares him or what, but that’s why he is pumping himself up.

Has life changed a lot for you since becoming the lightweight champion? Are you still working with your father in his plumbing firm?

You know – I don’t anymore. I’m so busy with my MMA career, and I don’t plan to go back up on the roofs or under sinks plumbing. I plan to do something in the fight world for the rest of my working life. My life hasn’t really changed a lot in the last 18 months, I hang out with the same kids I hung out with at high school and when I’m not fighting or in training camp I’m at home where I have two young sons.

Finally, Frankie, would you be pushing to be on the card when MMA is finally sanctioned in New York for an event at Madison Square Garden?

Of course that would be massive for me. I grew up in New Jersey and I’ve been going to the city all my life. I train in the city two to three times a week and New York City is like a second home to me. Madison Square Garden is known as one of the world’s most famous arenas for fights and has all that mystique going right back to the likes of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fighting there. It would be an amazing experience to be involved in such an event.