18°c Overcast
13°c Cloudy with showers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
GSP wants Diaz, then Silva
'Unfinished business' before super-fight
Ryan Remiorz / the canadian press archives Georges St-Pierre after defeating Carlos Condit in their UFC welterweight title fight. (CP)
SEATTLE -- Georges St-Pierre is putting a proposed super-fight with Anderson Silva to the side to pursue "unfinished business" with Nick Diaz.
UFC president Dana White says the Montreal mixed martial arts star has asked to fight Diaz next.
White told reporters Thursday that St-Pierre (23-2) made the request after returning from vacation following his welterweight title defence against Carlos Condit at UFC 154 in Montreal.
"We were talking about Anderson Silva," White said. "He (St-Pierre) said 'I want Nick Diaz. Me and Nick Diaz have unfinished business. We were supposed to fight. That's the fight that I want.'
"Georges St-Pierre has been a phenomenal champion, a phenomenal human being, just a great guy to deal with for us. And he doesn't ask for things. So if he wants to fight Nick Diaz and Nick Diaz wants to fight him, then that's probably the fight we'll make."
St-Pierre and Diaz were slated to fight last year but White yanked Diaz, who does not play well with others, for being a no-show at news conferences in Toronto and Las Vegas.
Diaz was replaced by Condit but St-Pierre injured his knee in training. Condit then beat Diaz in February for the interim title, earning the right to meet the Canadian champion in Montreal last month.
Diaz (27-8-1) was hit with a one-year suspension after the Condit fight for testing positive for marijuana.
White said he has yet to talk to the 29-year-old Diaz about a GSP fight. But that may happen this week since Nick is in Seattle to watch his younger brother Nate take on Benson Henderson for the lightweight title Saturday.
St-Pierre's coach Firas Zahabi raised Nick Diaz's name in talking to reporters Wednesday, saying more fans in Canada ask him about a GSP-Diaz fight then GSP-Silva. He said it was the other way around in the U.S.
The St-Pierre camp has said their fighter is up for a lucrative Silva fight. But they have said they will only do it in the right circumstances -- and at the right weight.
St-Pierre is currently in Europe. Reached by The Canadian Press by text, he declined comment until he returned home.
The 31-year-old Canadian champion has to cut to weigh in at 170 pounds as a welterweight. Silva, the middleweight title-holder, has to make 185 as a middleweight and has fought at light-heavyweight (205).
Silva is a bigger man. And the St-Pierre camp wants to make the playing field as even as possible.
A fight with Diaz gives them more time to negotiate the super-fight.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 7, 2012 C5
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Other Sports
- Back to Top
- Return to Other Sports
More Other Sports
(1 of 11 articles for today)
Cheetahs surprise Queensland Reds 27-13 for 8th win of Super 15 season
2:44 PM 0BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - Piet van Zyl's two first-half tries set up a surprisingly one-sided 27-13 win for the Cheetahs ...
Poll
Most Popular Other Sports
- Owl River opens to paddlers
- Handball family gathering
- Ailing Hesjedal gets off the bike
- Canberra ends Melbourne's 15-match win streak in the National Rugby League
- Why does Manitoba get short end of fishing rod?
- Rochette pondering return to Olys
- Dynamic duo do it again
- NZ race to 153-4 in reply to England's 232 on day 2 at Lord's
- Manitoba Marathon / Half Marathon Results
- Lacrosse Hall of Fame welcomes new inductees
- Jocks behaving badly...
- Why does Manitoba get short end of fishing rod?
- Fighter a tattoo artist
- Riley family's $500-K donation covers most of Sports Hall of Fame
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Canberra ends Melbourne's 15-match win streak in the National Rugby League
- Bows, guns, ammo & camo for every hunting occasion
- Owl River opens to paddlers
- Former Wallaby winger Ben Tune tried to commit suicide due to chronic depression
- Rochette pondering return to Olys
- Jocks behaving badly...
- Why does Manitoba get short end of fishing rod?
- Sports scientist admits offering peptides to rugby league players, denies link to cancer death
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Impact study: Questionnaire aims to help local medical researcher shape new guidelines for when and how to safely get kids back on the field or rink after a concussion
- Wax sculpture of Sachin Tendulkar brings cheers from fans at Sydney Cricket Ground
- Unexpected Honours
- Riley family's $500-K donation covers most of Sports Hall of Fame
- On the HomeFront
- Rochette pondering return to Olys
- Impact study: Questionnaire aims to help local medical researcher shape new guidelines for when and how to safely get kids back on the field or rink after a concussion
- Love the wilderness? Put Bloodvein on life list
- Trappers are happy -- very happy
- California man identified as victim of fatal skiing accident in southeast B.C.
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Bugs don't ruin day at Downs, they rule it
- Jocks behaving badly...
- Handball family gathering
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.