Media fantasy camp: Where fans get to experience Nick being Nick

LAS VEGAS -- He's the most bizarre interview in the sport. Even the most savvy media member can't really crack the conundrum that is Nick Diaz.

So when some fans took their swings at Diaz following the UFC 143 press conference, they found out quickly even the best questions will probably illicit an answer that leaves you chuckling or scratching your head.

The first fan got up and asked Diaz what it would mean to him if there was a day when both he and his brother, Nate, were UFC champions. Diaz slowly grabbed the microphone and then had Dana White repeat the question. Great question, right? The answer was pretty straight forward.

"Yeah, that's what we're working towards. That's the idea," said Diaz (9:15 mark).

[ Related: Nick Diaz's straightforward fight approach defies crazy rep ]

Fan No. 2 took his shot and asked about Diaz's "Primetime" quotes, where he said to be a successful fighter, you have to love the sport so much that you have to hate it.

Diaz paused for nine seconds and let out a deep sigh before producing this doozy.

"That pretty much says it, what I said. That's what I meant. That's what that means," Diaz said.

White said Diaz is simply fascinating.

"He's knows the answer, 'but [expletive] you.' And that's a fan! '[Expletive] you, I'm not going to tell you the answer to that," laughed White. "You what I mean? 'I don't give a [expletive] what you think. I'm here to fight and I don't care if you people like me or you hate me.'"

That uncomfortable feeling isn't reserved just for the MMA media or inquisitive fans. Even White feels awkward around Diaz.

"It's almost like he hates us. What the [expletive] did we do? It's crazy. He's a fascinating human being."

White has no issues this time around with Diaz, saying the fighter has done everything the promotion has asked him to. Although he did mention it took Diaz missing three flights before he eventually arrived in Las Vegas from Northern California.

You can watch UFC 143 right here on Yahoo! Sports

Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
? UFC honors MMA legends, current champs with pay-per-view tribute video
? Arian Foster among NFL stars to try British accent in interview
? Passan: Josh Hamilton's latest relapse restarts quest for sobriety

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/media-fantasy-camp-even-fans-gets-experience-nick-070136844.html

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague

Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans Official for UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former title-holder Rashad Evans will finally square off in the main event of UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta. The former teammates turned heated rivals formally agreed to the matchup on Monday after Evans had a sore hand cleared by doctors following his win over Phil Davis at UFC on Fox 2 on January 28.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27513/jon-jones-vs-rashad-evans-official-for-ufc-145-on-april-21-in-atlanta/

Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

Dustin Poirier schools young Max Holloway with wicked submission at UFC 143

LAS VEGAS -- Dustin Poirier dealt with Max Holloway's standing onslaught for close to two minutes. That's when he had enough. Time for Plan B.

Poirier took the fight to the ground and taught the 20-year-old a lesson. He mounted him, tried an armbar, switched it to a triangle and then wound up getting the submission finish with a nifty armbar from a topside triangle at 3:23 of the first round at UFC 143.

Give Holloway some credit. He took the fight on less than a month's notice against a guy who's one of the brightest prospects in the division. Poirier's finish is currently the lead candidate for Submission of the Night. That could be good for $65,000.

UPDATE: Poirier got the nod for Sub of the Night and the $65,000.

"I never underestimated Max. I was in his shoes before.  He's a tough fighter and good kickboxer.  He was quicker than I expected though and hit me with a few shots," Poirier said. "I came here to get a win, and I got the finish.  I'm one step closer to being a champion."

Holloway's standup attack was pretty slick.

Working behind both hands, some flying knees and plenty of kicks, he had Poirier on his heels. Poirier went for his first takedown with 3:06 left. He got it easily and lifted the slim Holloway into the air before slamming him to the floor. He moved to mount immediately. Poirier simply overpowered Holloway on the ground pinning his arms down on several occasions.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/poirier-schools-young-holloway-wicked-submission-ufc-143-024356569.html

Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo 

UFC 143 weigh-in: The new Nick Diaz avoids drama, main eventers hit the mark

LAS VEGAS -- UFC 143 has brought us a new Nick Diaz.

That's probably not the case, but the Stockton terror showed some self-control this week at the prefight press conference and again at Friday's weigh-in. No pushing, no shoving. The main event is a go. Both main event fighters checked in at 169 pounds.

Some in the media thought Condit looked a bit drawn and may have had a tough weight cut.

Over the years, Diaz has consistently gotten a little close to his opponent during photo opportunities at pressers and weigh-ins. Frank Shamrock got the finger. He got up close and personal with Evangelista Santos. He got even closer with B.J. Penn. He almost got into it with Paul Daley. Diaz has two postfight dust ups. Once following a KJ Noons victory and the other after his teammate Jake Shields won and was approached in the cage by Jason Miller.

There was a bit of shock in seeing a thinner Roy Nelson. The former 265-pounder, once labeled a bloated truck driver by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, slimmed down to 246.

UFC 143 weigh-in (courtesy MMAjunkie)

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)

  • Carlos Condit (169) vs. Nick Diaz (169)
  • Roy Nelson (246) vs. Fabricio Werdum (246)
  • Josh Koscheck (170) vs. Mike Pierce (170)
  • Renan Barao (136) vs. Scott Jorgensen (135)
  • Ed Herman (185) vs. Clifford Starks (185)

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)

  • Max Holloway (144) vs. Dustin Poirier (146)
  • Alex Caceres (136) vs. Edwin Figueroa (135)
  • Matt Brown (171) vs. Chris Cope (171)
  • Jorge Lopez (169) vs. Matt Riddle (170)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)

  • Rafael Natal (186) vs. Michael Kuiper (183)
  • Dan Stittgen (170) vs. Stephen Thompson (171)

You can watch UFC 143 right here on Yahoo! Sports

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-143-weigh-nick-diaz-avoids-drama-main-013133057.html

Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè 

Georges St-Pierre focused on Nick Diaz and nothing else

LAS VEGAS -- Think Georges St-Pierre isn't obsessed with Nick Diaz? Consider this: The UFC welterweight champion didn't know who is playing in Sunday's Super Bowl.

When the Montreal native was asked if he'd be rooting for the New England Patriots against the New York Giants during a media availability at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, St-Pierre replied "Are the Patriots playing? I don't even know who's in the [game]. I think New York is in it. New York is closer to Montreal, so I hope New York will win."

One would think St-Pierre would have plenty of time to keep up with the rest of the sports world, since he's been on the sidelines in Los Angeles, rehabbing from his December surgery to repair his torn left ACL.

But it's clear he's fixated on Diaz, the one fighter who has proven his ability to get under his skin.

"I can be a little, what do you call it? OCD. Obsessive-compulsive," said St-Pierre.

Diaz, who fights Condit for the interim welterweight title in the main event of UFC 143 on Saturday night, is the current object of GSP's self-described OCD. While St-Pierre has all the respect in the world for Condit, the champion is openly rooting for a rematch with St-Pierre, who he feels has openly disrespected him.

"I'm thinking about him right now, said St-Pierre. "I don't try to think too much about him. I hope he wins the fight Saturday night. I hope he does, I pray he does. Maybe he won't, but I hope he does."

"I want Nick Diaz to win for two reasons," said St-Pierre. "First, it is the fight everyone wants to see, he was the champion of Strikeforce and I was the champion of the UFC. What lights the fire in me is challenges. When I don't have a challenge, I feel dead. Also, a lot of the things he has said, he has questioned me and my integrity. I have never cheated in my life. It is one thing when you something to promote the fight but it is another when you attack someone personally. It is what it is and that's why I have my motivation to fight him.

St-Pierre said he won't be able to train all-out until July, which makes November the earliest target date for an Octagon return when you factor in a full training camp if all goes well. His last fight was his April 30, 2011, win over Jake Shields, so a November return would mean a year and a half away from the cage.

But St-Pierre's laser focus is aimed at Diaz, so the champ shook off questions of Octagon rust and dismissed the notion of taking a tune-up fight before facing Diaz.

"In mixed martial arts, there's no such thing as a tune-up fight. There's not guy out there who I can say, oh, I can take him. Who knows, that guy might kick my ass. There is no such thing as tune-up fights. In boxing, they can have optional title fights. I truly believe it's ridiculous. You're champion, you should fight the main guy."

So GSP has made it clear Diaz is the man he wants to fight, preferably as soon as November.

"I want him to wait for me. I want him to go on vacation and relax a bit and wait for me, because I'll be back soon."

Just don't ask him about the NBA Finals or the World Series between now and then.

Follow Dave Doyle on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/georges-st-pierre-focused-nick-diaz-nothing-else-014029383.html

Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen 

Ed Herman continues win streak with UFC 143 win

LAS VEGAS -- If there was ever any doubt that Ed "Short Fuse" Herman was back, he likely erased them with his victory over Clifford Starks at UFC 143 on Saturday night.

Herman missed all of 2010 after a knee injury. But he won both of his bouts in 2011 and looks ready for a step up in competition in the middleweight division after finishing Starks.

Herman (20-8) absorbed several big right hands from Starks in a first round that was mostly a tight positional battle. But in the second round, "Short Fuse" found his opening, scoring a trip and using textbook positioning to get Starks' back and sink in a rear-naked choke. Starks tried to roll out of it, but Herman tightened his grip and Josh Rosenthal called off the fight at 1:42.

"You know, he was landing some good right hands on me," said Herman. "Luckily, I've got a strong chin. I pulled it off."

Follow Dave Doyle on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/davedoylemma

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ed-herman-continues-win-streak-ufc-143-win-034423563.html

John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago AlvesÂ