UFC 143: Condit Outpoints Diaz for Interim Welterweight Gold
UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit took place on February 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Carlos Condit defeated Nick Diaz by unanimous decision to win the interim UFC welterweight championship while Georges St-Pierre recovered from a torn ACL. Fabricio Werdum returned to the UFC with a decision over Roy Nelson, Josh Koscheck edged Mike Pierce, and Renan Barão continued his long unbeaten run. The eleven-fight card also introduced Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson to the Octagon and featured Dustin Poirier’s submission of a 20-year-old Max Holloway.
Event video: Carlos Condit versus Nick Diaz.
Condit wins the interim title with movement and volume
The welterweight championship picture had changed repeatedly before UFC 143. Diaz had beaten B.J. Penn at UFC 137, setting up a title fight with St-Pierre. When the champion suffered a serious knee injury, Condit and Diaz were matched for an interim belt instead.
Diaz spent much of the fight advancing, trying to trap Condit near the fence and force sustained boxing exchanges. Condit refused to give him a stationary target. He circled away, attacked the legs and body with kicks, and scored while exiting exchanges. Diaz had his best late opportunity in round five when he took Condit down, reached his back, and threatened with a rear-naked choke, but Condit escaped the danger and reached the final horn.
The judges scored the fight 48–47, 49–46, and 49–46 for Condit. The unanimous decision made him interim welterweight champion and positioned him for a future unification bout with St-Pierre. Diaz strongly disagreed with the verdict and announced after the fight that he was considering retirement, adding to the controversy that followed the event.
Werdum returns with a striking-heavy win over Nelson
Fabricio Werdum had not competed in the UFC since 2008, but his return showed a broader offensive game than his reputation as an elite grappler alone suggested. Against Roy Nelson, Werdum repeatedly used knees from the clinch, kicks, and combinations to damage his opponent while avoiding long stretches on the ground.
Nelson remained dangerous and landed enough to keep the fight competitive, but Werdum controlled the majority of the action and won every round on all three scorecards, 30–27. Their physical, high-output heavyweight bout earned Fight of the Night honors.
Koscheck edges Pierce; Barão and Herman keep climbing
Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce fought a close three-round welterweight bout decided by split decision. All three judges scored it 29–28; two favored Koscheck and one favored Pierce. The narrow verdict reflected a fight built around clinch control, short exchanges, and small momentum swings rather than a clear separation between the two.
Renan Barão defeated Scott Jorgensen by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bantamweight bout 30–27. Barão managed distance with his jab and kicks, defended Jorgensen’s wrestling attempts, and extended the unbeaten stretch that would soon carry him into an interim title fight.
Ed Herman handed previously unbeaten Clifford Starks his first professional loss. After absorbing some strong right hands, Herman shifted the fight to the mat, advanced position, took the back, and finished a rear-naked choke at 1:43 of round two.
Poirier submits Holloway; Thompson announces himself
Dustin Poirier faced Max Holloway in the Hawaiian prospect’s UFC debut. Holloway showed confidence on the feet, but Poirier forced the fight to the ground, mounted, trapped him in a triangle, and transitioned into an armbar. Holloway submitted at 3:23 of round one. The finish earned Poirier Submission of the Night.
Stephen Thompson made an immediate impression in his own UFC debut. The decorated karate and kickboxing stylist kept Dan Stittgen at range before landing a head kick that ended the fight at 4:13 of round one. Thompson received Knockout of the Night.
Elsewhere on the preliminaries, Edwin Figueroa defeated Alex Caceres by split decision after Caceres was penalized two points for repeated low blows. Matt Brown stopped Chris Cope with punches in round two, Matt Riddle edged Henry Martinez by split decision, and Rafael Natal defeated Michael Kuiper by unanimous decision.
Complete UFC 143 results
Main card
- Carlos Condit def. Nick Diaz — unanimous decision; round 5, 5:00. Condit won the interim UFC welterweight championship.
- Fabricio Werdum def. Roy Nelson — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
- Josh Koscheck def. Mike Pierce — split decision; round 3, 5:00.
- Renan Barão def. Scott Jorgensen — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
- Ed Herman def. Clifford Starks — submission (rear-naked choke); round 2, 1:43.
Preliminary card
- Dustin Poirier def. Max Holloway — submission (mounted triangle armbar); round 1, 3:23.
- Edwin Figueroa def. Alex Caceres — split decision; round 3, 5:00.
- Matt Brown def. Chris Cope — TKO (punches); round 2, 1:19.
- Matt Riddle def. Henry Martinez — split decision; round 3, 5:00.
- Rafael Natal def. Michael Kuiper — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
- Stephen Thompson def. Dan Stittgen — KO (head kick); round 1, 4:13.
UFC 143 became known for the debate surrounding Condit’s title-winning decision, but its longer-term importance also came from the arrival of Thompson, Holloway’s UFC debut, Barão’s continued rise, and Werdum’s successful return. Explore more of our MMA coverage.
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UFC 143, UFC Results, MMA History, Condit Outpoints Diaz for Interim Welterweight Gold
