UFC 143 was supposed to be a huge extravaganza, featuring the long-awaited matchup between welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and top contender Nick Diaz. However, back in December, St-Pierre tore his ACL, and the mega matchup was scrapped until the champ is recovered from surgery.
Since the fight everyone wanted to watch was canceled, UFC president Dana White put together a consolation, but still solid, welterweight interim championship bout between two top contenders—Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. They will mix it up on Super Bowl weekend—Saturday, Feb. 4.
Another UFC 143 highlight will be a tough wrestler-versus-wrestler battle between Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce. The two were set to meet a couple of years ago, but fate made them wait. This fight could decide who’s next in line to face the new interim champion.
UFC big boys Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum will also step into the cage at 143, showcasing some of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the league has to offer. Werdum is making a UFC reappearance after nearly a four-year absence, and he’s coming off of a tough Strikeforce loss to Alistair Overeem. He needs to beat Nelson to stay in the UFC. However, Nelson is a tough opponent who’s made good showings in his last couple of fights. Werdum could find himself lying flat on the mat when the final bell rings.
Also on the card: Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway, Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa and Rafael Natal vs. Michael Kuiper.
Tune into UFC 143 on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 10 p.m. EST for this highly respectable consolation card. Then watch the Super Bowl on Sunday to cap a weekend filled with great competition.
Photo:  fiveouncesofpain.com