UFC
Georges St-Pierre discusses potential Nick Diaz fight, says he won't enter the cage at UFC 143
Feb 3, 2012 - 9:55:58 PM Georges St-Pierre discusses potential Nick Diaz fight, says he won't enter the cage at UFC 143

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Georges St-Pierre is rooting for Nick Diaz to win at UFC 143 on Saturday night, as he wants to meet him inside the cage later this year. In a fan chat at MMAFighting.com on Friday afternoon, St-Pierre touched on what he felt their matchup would be like.

"Nick Diaz is better than me at what he does best and I'm better than him at what I do best," St-Pierre wrote. "So I'm going to make the fight my fight and fight him where I'm better than him. I've got a lot of things in mind but it's part of my strategy and I don't want to elaborate on it other than to say I'm not going to fight his fight, I'm going to fight my fight."

Diaz's training as a triathlete has many considering him one of the most well conditioned athletes in the sport, but St-Pierre doesn't believe Diaz's abilities in that area should be attributed to his triathlon work.

"It's not about cardio," St-Pierre said. "Fighting is a different system of energy. He always finds a way to fight his fight and that's why he looks like he has good cardio. Triathlons and marathons don't translate to MMA. The cardio you build for triathlon is for triathlon, for MMA is MMA. It's very specific. If he stays in shape and has a passion for triathlon, OK. But I've never trained cardio and I never get tired in a fight so I don't believe in cardio."

"Nick Diaz doesn't get tired because he's more efficient and he fights his fight."

Diaz has to get past Carlos Condit on Saturday in order to make this fight happen, and while St-Pierre wants to see that happen he acknowledges that it's not going to be an easy fight.

"I believe it's going to be a very, very tough fight," St-Pierre said of the matchup. "I don't think it's a one-sided fight. I'm expecting a great, great fight. I would not be surprised if Condit wins. But I do hope Diaz wins. I want Diaz to win because that's a fight everyone wants to see and people rank Diaz higher right now. But if Condit wins people will rank him higher. I want to fight the best guy."

With St-Pierre in Las Vegas this week for the fight, many expect an in-cage showdown following the conclusion of the night's main event. However, St-Pierre said that's not something he's interested in taking part in.

"I will be there but I don't want to step into the Octagon," he said. "That's not my style. When someone wins it's their moment of glory. Maybe the UFC will force me to do it or Diaz will call me in but it's not my style to do that."

One of St-Pierre's most infamous moments was when he entered the cage at UFC 63 after Matt Hughes defeated B.J. Penn, telling Hughes he "wasn't impressed" with his performance. Fans may be hoping for a repeat of that moment on Saturday night, but he said it's not a moment that should have happened.

"I wish I would not have done that 'I'm not impressed with your performance' thing," he said. "I have apologized to Matt Hughes for that. It was a mistake on my part."

Penick's Analysis: St-Pierre's take on strength and conditioning when it comes to preparing for MMA fights is unique. He insists he doesn't lift weights outside of cosmetic reasons, and here he discusses not training specifically for cardio, yet he's continually shown an ability to fight for 25 minutes time and time again. There will be a lot of disappointed people if he doesn't get into the cage on Saturday, and I have a feeling the UFC will nudge him in there for a face off with Diaz should Diaz be victorious, but I suppose that's another reason to tune in, to see just what will happen.

[Georges St-Pierre art by Travis Beaven (c) MMATorch.com]