On February 4, 2011, part of Super Bowl weekend, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will present an event that will be headlined by one of the most anticipated Welterweight bouts in the year when they present UFC 143: Diaz vs Condit. The main event will be contested for the Welterweight division's Interim title between two former champions who always put on a show of skill that makes the fans love them even more when Nick Diaz meets Carlos Condit. The co-main event will be a meeting of two elite Heavyweight grapplers when returning Fabricio Werdum takes on fan favorite Roy Nelson. The midway bout on the card will be a meeting of two former collegiate wrestlers when former #1 contender Josh Koscheck takes on the aggressive Mike Pierce. The second bout on the card will be clash of two aggressive and powerful bantamweights when former WEC #1 contender Scott Jorgensen takes on the surging Renan Barao. And the opening bout on the main card will be a meeting of Middleweights when skilled submission grappler Ed Herman takes on former collegiate wrestler Clifford Starks. Though the average fight fan will not be familiar with some of the names on this main card, the match ups call for attention from hardcore fans. With a main event between two diverse fighters that never disappoint, a co-main event pitting a world class grappler against another grappler that can put away an opponent with one punch, a midway bout that could either propel one contender back into the title mix or see the challenger steal his position in the ranks, a Bantamweight bout that could propel the winner within range to challenge for the division title, and the opening bout on the card will be a chance for both fighters to prove themselves front-&-center on PPV television where a victory will earn them recognition from both the fans and UFC brass. Being part of Super Bowl weekend, UFC 143 will be a part of one of the biggest sports weekends in the year of 2012.
Main Card Bouts:
Main Event/Welterweight Interim Title Bout: Nick Diaz (26-7-0(1)) vs "The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit (27-5-0)
Co-Main Event: Roy "Big Country" Nelson (16-6-0) vs Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum (14-5-1)
Josh "Kos" Koscheck (16-5-0) vs Mike Pierce (13-4-0)
Scott "Young Guns" Jorgensen (13-4-0) vs Renan Barao (27-1-0(1))
Ed "Short Fuse" Herman (19-8-0) vs Clifford Starks (8-0-0)
*Herman vs Starks will not be previewed on this post.
Main Event/Welterweight Interim Title Bout: Diaz vs Condit
The main event will be a highly anticipated meeting between two entertaining Welterweights vying for the chance to reach the top of the heap, when former inaugural WEC and Strikeforce Welterweight champion Nick Diaz takes on former/final WEC Welterweight champion Carlos Condit. This bout will be contested for the division's Interim title, with the winner expected to face reigning official champion Georges St. Pierre later in the year after he is completely healed from surgery to repair a torn ACL. Diaz will come into this bout riding an eleven fight win streak, with the last six including winning the inaugural Strikeforce Welterweight championship with a Rnd1 TKO over dangerous striker and Dream Welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis, a non-title bout on the side in Dream earning a Rnd1 Submission over veteran Hayato Sakurai, his first title defense with a Unanimous Decision out-boxing a pro-boxer in K.J. Noons that avenged his last loss, his second title defense with a Rnd2 Submission over veteran Evangelista Santos, his final defense with a Rnd1 TKO bettering dangerous striker Paul Daley outworking him in the stand-up, and his long awaited return to the UFC with a Unanimous Decision battering former UFC Lightweight/Welterweight champion B.J. Penn at UFC 137: Penn vs Diaz that earned Fight of the Night honors. Condit will come into this bout riding a four fight win streak, which includes a Split Decision (his only victory via decision) over heavy-hitting wrestler and rising contender Jake Ellenberger, a come from behind Rnd3 TKO finishing rising prospect and then undefeated Rory MacDonald with only seven-seconds left in the bout that earned both of them Fight of the Night honors, a Rnd1 KO over former title challenger Dan Hardy becoming the first to knock him out and earning KO of the Night, and a Rnd1 KO over then undefeated Judo specialist Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 132: Cruz vs Faber II that also earned KO of the Night honors.
Striking/Grappling Comparison: For many fans and analysts, this will be a match-up that pits two fighters who are truly well-rounded veterans that can finish a fight either while striking or grappling. For the advantage in the stand-up, deciding who holds the advantage decisively will involve comparing the preferred striking styles and habits of the two fighters. While for Diaz he possesses one of the most technical and aggressive boxing skill-sets both in the division and in the sport entirely, Condit possesses one of the more aggressive and technical kickboxing/Muay Thai skill-sets in the division that emphasizes accuracy and placement. Looking at Diaz's boxing style, he emphasizes "punches-in-bunches" as he stays in the pocket mixing his punches going both to the body and head. Looking at Condit's diverse kickboxing style, he emphasizes diversity in his striking and utilizes it to set up accurate single shot strikes that have proven his finishing power in his recent bouts. Though Diaz's striking does not look like much power is delivered in every punch, his style involves punching in high quantities, landing soft combinations that at some point includes powerful shots alternating to both the body and head as to make his opponents have to alternate guarding both areas and open up at some points. Comparing Condit's striking output, he is usually one to pick his opportunities for combinations more carefully, looking for the perfect chance to do so. Between many analysts and fans, picking a favorite in the stand-up will go back-&-forth, but for his great skill-set as a boxer in MMA, Diaz will be a favorite for some in the striking aspect of this fight. For the advantage when grappling, Diaz will be a big favorite for many fans and analysts. Celebrated as one of the most dangerous BJJ Black Belts under Cesar Gracie, a direct descendant of the family that founded the martial art Brazilian/Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Diaz is one of the most aggressive submission grapplers in the Welterweight division, as seen when he immediately starts locking on or attempting a submission even in the process of being taken down by his opponents. Even champion Georges St. Pierre (top Welterweight wrestler) and former Lightweight/Welterweight champion B.J. Penn (decorated BJJ ace) have even referred to the style of Diaz's BJJ game as a sort of "pure" Jiu-Jitsu style, one that relies more on the discipline of BJJ alone, and not include much wrestling technique like many other practitioners in MMA. Though some fans and analysts will assume Condit is the superior grappler simply for the fact that he owns more victories via submission than Diaz, others will look at the way many of Diaz's opponents chose to take him on in the stand-up rather than engage him on the ground. With many BJJ practitioners taking Diaz as the superior submission grappler on the ground, Diaz will be a slight favorite over Condit for many analysts.
Strategies: For strategies, it will be no surprise that either competitor will see themselves as the superior fighter both when striking and grappling. For Diaz, the strategy when striking will be to stay in the pocket and utilize his usual style of striking in high quantities, mixing his strikes both targeting the body and head. In the clinch, Diaz can show his improved capability training in Sambo and Judo over the last few years, and with a dirty-boxing game that has broken many opponents before. If/when the fight goes to the ground, Diaz will be quick to tie up Condit being aggressive, and will anticipate mistakes and openings when looking for submissions. For Condit, the strategy when striking may be to target Diaz's legs with kicks to slow him down, something that Evangelista Santos did against Diaz and showed that he does not check leg kicks as much as he should. Head movement will be vital to Condit's defensive game when striking with Diaz, needing to be able to outmaneuver him when in the pocket and accurately aim the powerful shots he is known for delivering. When in the clinch, taking Diaz down could have mixed results, and will be a risky move for Condit, as well as remaining in the clinch. On the ground, Condit's experience at Jackson's Submission Fighting could be one of his greatest assets, staying calm and collected as to not to leave any openings or make any mistakes. His training at Jackson's having included working on his wrestling game could be a key tool as well, being that Diaz's submission game relies on his opponents leaving openings when trying transition or escape, something that wrestlers sometimes are able to nullify. With the both competitors being dangerous adversaries in multiple aspects of the fight both standing and grappling, picking a clear favorite in this fight is still tough to do, and is shows in the betting odds between the two if them being almost dead even Though the match-up seems even in multiple ways, Diaz's win streak and improvements over the years will make him a slight favorite in this bout.
X-Factor: An added factor that may come into play could be cardio and endurance. With this bout being scheduled for five rounds as a title bout, the ability to maintain a sustainable pace will be something that both fighters may have to endure. This is a factor that many analysts will see in favor of Diaz. For much of his career, high endurance cardio training has played a key role in Diaz's capability to maintain an aggressive pace and amazing amount of output when fighting, and the fact that he does activities such as high altitude mountain biking and triathlons on his own free time for fun ant to stay active supports this even more. Though Condit has shown an amazing capability of finishing all but one of his opponents in previous victories, his ability to maintain the same level of output comparable to Diaz is questioned by some analysts. With the likelihood of this bout going into the championship rounds, Diaz will be a big favorite the longer the bout goes on.
Favor: Diaz
Co-Main Event: Nelson vs Werdum
The co-main event will be a meeting of two well known Heavyweight grapplers when TUF10 winner and former IFL Heavyweight champion Roy Nelson takes on 2x ADCC champion and PrideFC veteran Fabricio Werdum. Nelson will come into this bout following a Rnd3 TKO over former PrideFC 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix champion Mirko Cro-Cop that snapped a two fight losing streak at UFC 137: Penn vs Diaz. Werdum will come into this bout making his return to the octagon after going 3-1 in Strikeforce immediately after being released from the UFC, with his most recent bout being a Unanimous Decision loss to Strikeforce Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the quarter-finals of their Heavyweight Grand Prix at Strikeforce 34: Overeem vs Werdum II.
Striking/Grappling Comparison: Though both competitors are well known for their credentials as submission grapplers, this bout will be viewed by many analysts and fans as a striker vs grappler match up. For the advantage in the stand-up, Nelson will be favored in this aspect of the fight, though Werdum has shown that he is not somebody to be looked past completely. Though Nelson does not have the best technique when striking, his resilience and endurance when being struck while closing the distance to the point that he can land a single powerful punch. It is this resilience and power that has earned Nelson great respect among fans, being able to take an incredible amount of punishment and still have a "puncher's chance" to finish an opponent at any point. Though Werdum has been mainly a BJJ fighter, he will come into this bout with a 5" reach advantage and having trained over the past few years solely on his Muay Thai game with top Brazilian trainer Rafael Cordeiro, who has trained Middleweight champion Anderson Silva, former PrideFC star and former Light Heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua, and former PrideFC Middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva. As seen in his most recent bout against Overeem, Werdum even landed more strikes in the stand-up against an opponent who was coming off winning the K-1 World Heavyweight Grand Prix . Some analysts may go back-&-forth deciding who has the advantage in the stand-up, Nelson's chin and one punch knockout power vs the technique and mobility of Werdum, though Nelson will be seen as the favorite in the stand-up. For the advantage when grappling, though both are well known grapplers, Werdum will be seen as a big favorite the moment the fight goes to the ground. With a wealth of experience competing in submission grappling events and taking first-place in eight international grappling competitions, and holding the rank of Black Belt in Judo and second-degree Black Belt in BJJ, Werdum is widely considered even by fellow fighters to be one of or the best BJJ practitioners in the sport. Though Nelson has competed in grappling competitions himself, being a Quarterfinalist in the 2003 ADCC Submission Wrestling Championships and being the 2003 Grapplers Quest Superfight champion, Nelson is not considered anywhere near the level of Werdum on the ground. Hands down, Werdum will be the overwhelming favorite in the grappling aspect of this bout.
Strategies: For strategies, even with credentials that label these competitors as strong grapplers, they could come in with differing game plans. For Nelson, he could look to keep this bout standing, where his endurance can take on almost any damage Werdum could throw, he could look to time his power shots to catch Werdum. Since Nelson has begun to cut down on his weight, something that has helped him when taking opponents down and controlling them under his weight, and taking on an opponent who is used to grappling with large competitors, he could look to refrain from trying his chances on the ground. For Werdum, the strategy when standing could be to look for more quantity than quality with his striking to push the pace as to not allow Nelson to plant himself to throw the powerful shots he is known for. Being the bigger competitor in the cage, Werdum could look to impose the clinch on Nelson against the cage where he can land peppering shots more precisely and instigate the takedown more easily. With his best chances for victory involving taking the fight to the ground, Werdum will likely look to do just that where he can outmaneuver Nelson and undoubtedly control the fight while it remains on the ground. Though some analysts could look at this fight as even between the two competitors, Werdum will be the overall favorite in this bout mostly based on the advantage he will have when grappling.
Favor: Werdum
Koscheck vs Pierce
The midway bout on the card will be a meeting of two hard hitting former collegiate wrestlers when former Edinboro University 4x NCAA1 All-American and TUF1 alumni Josh Koscheck takes on former Portland State University NCAA1 wrestler Mike Pierce. Koscheck comes into this bout following a Rnd1 KO over former Welterweight champion Matt Hughes at UFC 135: Jones vs Rampage that also earned KO of the Night honors, and was also his first fight in nine months since having surgery to repair a broken orbital bone suffered in his failed attempt to capture the division title against champion Georges St. Pierre. Pierce will come into this bout following a Split Decision win over Paul Bradley at UFC On FOX 1: Velasquez vs Dos Santos; his second victory over Bradley in his professional career. Originally this bout was to pit Koscheck against Carlos Condit, but Pierce stepped up asking for this bout after Condit was moved to the main event.
Striking/Grappling Comparison: Even with both fighters having strong one punch finishing power, the striking advantage will go the way of Koscheck. Though Koscheck has been seen at times to rely on his powerful right hand, he has a very skilled kickboxing game and hones that skill-set training with other strong strikers like former Strikeforce Middleweight champion Cung Le, former Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, fellow Welterweight Mike Swick, Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Mike Kyle, and multi-promotion veteran Phil Baroni. Though Pierce does pack some serious power of his own, his striking technique lacks in comparison to Koscheck, though his strategy usually involves moving past any reach advantage or disadvantage to push the attack up close. Overall Koscheck will be the heavy favorite in the stand-up. When it comes to the advantage when grappling, Koscheck will again be the heavy favorite in this aspect of the fight. With a credentialed collegiate wrestling background that is honed by training with powerful wrestlers like 2x Olympian Daniel Cormier, "King Mo" Lawal, and 2x NCAA1 All-American Cain Velasquez, and combined with a threatening submission game, Koscheck is seen as one of the best overall grapplers in the Welterweight division. Though he does not possess a credentialed collegiate wrestling background to match that of Koscheck's, Pierce does come from a renowned camp that some of the sport's best wrestlers still call home with decorated MMA veteran and former 2x Olympian Dan Henderson, elite Middleweight wrestler and contender Chael Sonnen, and former Olympian and decorated grappler Matt Lindland. Though both competitors come from camps where wrestling is a strong base in training, Koscheck is seen as the overall better and stronger grappler.
Strategies: For strategies, both fighters could come in with opposing strategies. For Koscheck, he could look to keep Pierce at the end of his strikes and look to sprawl-&-brawl in this bout. Koscheck could look to refrain from clinching with Pierce as to avoid allowing him to close the distance where he can land his most powerful shots up close. For Pierce, he could look to close the distance fast and be within clinch range, where he is able to land his most powerful shots. With a likely disadvantage in the stand-up, Pierce could look to take the fight to the ground where he would look to remain atop and nullify that disadvantage. Overall with the greater striking technique and credentialed wrestling background, Koscheck will be the heavy favorite in this bout.
Favor: Koscheck
Barao vs Jorgensen
The second bout on the card will be a meeting of two young well rounded Bantamweights, when rising Brazilian contender Renan Barao takes on heavy hitting former WEC title challenger Scott Jorgensen. Barao will come into this bout riding a twenty-eight fight unbeaten streak, with the last four including his WEC debut with a Rnd3 Submission over Anthony Leone, a Rnd1 Submission over Chris Cariaso, his UFC debut with a Unanimous Decision over former WEC Featherweight champion Cole Escovedo, and a Rnd1 Submission over Brad Pickett at UFC 138: Leben vs Munoz that earned Fight of the Night honors. Jorgensen will come into this bout riding a two fight win streak, that includes his UFC debut with a Rnd1 KO over Ken Stone delivering a single punch while in guard that amazed everybody and a Unanimous Decision over veteran Jeff Curran at UFC 137: Penn vs Diaz. With Barao riding an enormous win streak and Jorgensen building a streak to get back to another title shot, the winner will likely be one or two fights away from a shot at the title. For the advantage when striking, it will be an interesting match up.
Striking/Grappling Comparison: Comparing the striking styles of the two fighters, Barao is a disciplined Muay Thai practitioner, while Jorgensen is a heavy handed boxer. Barao will be a favorite among many fans when it comes to the stand-up aspect of the fight with a more diverse arsenal of strikes and willing to get into a brawl, especially when he is coming from a strong camp training with Featherweight champion Jose Aldo and former Sengoku Featherweight champion Marlon Sandro. Though Jorgensen does utilize kicks in his striking game at times, he relies mostly on the power of his hands and sticks to boxing when striking with opponents. With an aggressive striking game and more a diverse arsenal of strikes, Barao will be the favorite in the stand-up. For the advantage when grappling, it could turn into an interesting match there as well. Comparing the two fighters in their backgrounds when grappling, Barao comes from a BJJ background with a Black Belt to show for it, while Jorgensen comes from a wrestling background that is mixed with a good BJJ game both for attacking and avoiding submissions. With a slick BJJ game that is proven with thirteen victories coming by way of submission, and training with the likes of training partners Thales Leites and Wagnney Fabiano, Barao will be a tough task to go against on the ground. With a wrestling game that is combined well with a BJJ game, Jorgensen is no easy fighter to go against on the ground either. With a lot of strength to get the fight to the ground and control an opponent like he did in his previous victory, and an awareness that helps him avoid submissions, Jorgensen will likely be the favorite when the fight hits the ground.
Strategies: For strategies, they could differ on where either fighter wants the fight to go or stay. With a more diverse striking game and a 4" reach advantage, Barao could look to keep the fight standing and push forward to keep Jorgensen from getting off his own strikes and keep him at the end of his longer reach. With a submission game to fall back on, Barao will likely feel comfortable looking for submissions. Jorgensen on the other hand could look to power through the stand-up when striking, possibly looking to land an over-hand punch, but will likely look to take the fight to the ground where he can control Barao from atop and avoid submission attempts. Overall with the apparent advantage in the stand-up and a strong submission game, Barao will be a big favorite to earn the victory and move closer towards a potential title shot possibly before the end of the year.
Favor: Barao
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