LAS VEGAS - Should the UFC 137 top level between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz could equal the drama which led as long as Saturday night's main event, it could be Ultimate Preventing Championship's match with the year.
The weeks ahead of the pay-per-view (10 p. m. EST, Mandalay Bay Occurrences Center) have been filled with twists and turns, stressful announcements and also stunning comebacks. Seeing that fight night time has lastly arrived, however, both Diaz as well as Penn will be putting all of that in it. It's time to supply inside the particular cage, many people say.
"I've already been there setting up 100 %. I continually said that's what's critical. You've got people that interested in fights, they interested in good battles, they interested in a very good fighter along with that's what I'm wanting to bring for the table, " said Diaz (26-7-1), probably the most intriguing characters inside sport.
At first, Diaz - the particular Strikeforce welterweight champion - was introduced to accept UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre inside a dream bout. But as soon as Diaz no-showed media events in Toronto and Vegas, UFC chief executive Dana White-colored replaced him within the title session with Carlos Condit. In lieu of fire Diaz, nevertheless, White gambled and matched him or her up having Condit's unique opponent during UFC 137 - Penn.
In that case, just 16 days ahead of the event, the concept bout involving St-Pierre and Condit has been delayed immediately after St-Pierre suffered an injury in exercise sessions camp. As a result, Penn and Diaz have been moved into your main-event slot. As whenever that wasn't more than enough to gossip about, Diaz was 45 minutes late to get a media meeting call the following day, saying he didn't even be informed on it.
Bought all this?
"It's already been a roller seacoast ride, " mentioned Penn (16-7-2) which includes a chuckle.
"I maintain telling them, 'When accomplish we strike the quit button and head to work? ' "
Gathered Thursday in Vegas with the pre-fight media conference using a Brooklyn Fill replica in the garden New York-New York Inn and Cyber casino, Diaz was even in a position to joke in relation to his go back to UFC after five decades away. UFC staff had Diaz with the event an hour early, this fighter mentioned.
"I have no idea of if this was a modify of ideas or what, " said Diaz, pulling laughter by both fans and press.
Though Penn as well as Diaz consider the other a pal - Diaz, in fact, calls Penn certainly one of his beginning MMA idols - each one knows precisely how important the fight is actually on Thursday. The winner are going to be at the most notable of the list for the next welterweight name shot.
"I don't wish to speak too early. I'd love to get one more title in advance of I step outside the game, " said Penn, who may have worn UFC gold both in the easily portable and welterweight divisions.
"But as far as everything will go, I'm just endeavoring to take the item one fight at any given time. If Dana feels which i look impressive in the next battle and he wants to grant me that occasion, I'd be very gracious considering the offer. "
The fit features two of the most skilled fighters inside sport. Each has world-class jiu jitsu plus they are arguably the very best boxers within the welterweight category. White views something else the two have around common.
"The similarities are that the two these individuals are crazy, " Whitened said which includes a laugh.
Penn and also White have experienced their differences over time, often related to contracts, money or this both will be incredibly outspoken. Diaz, relationship, has designed news to get incidents which range from a fight from a hospital using Joe Riggs following two fought at UFC 57 to his admitted use of marijuana to being part of a brawl on CBS immediately after he cornered Jake Shields within a Strikeforce top level.
"The various other thing can be, these folks are warriors, " continuing White. "I'm excited for this fight. This fight's going becoming a war. "
Diaz, an one who did that of ten fights from a row dating to 2007, said the causes he's back UFC usually are simple.
"I followed to fight with the money. I came to fight with the title, " he said.
Penn thinks about both he and Diaz will be "in a must-win predicament, " but he relishes task.
"My pressure hails from, I love to do this. I love to do ufc, I enjoy fighting with the UFC and I want to proceed doing that just the summer more years, " said Penn.
"Nick's below to demonstrate himself, that he's here to keep and that they're a name contender. Both individuals have many pressure upon us arrive Saturday night. "
Throughout other pay-per-view matches at UFC 137:
Matt Mitrione (5-0) assumes on Cheick Kongo (26-6-2) within a heavyweight co-main celebration.
Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic (27-9-2, 1 NC) assumes on Roy Nelson (16-6) within a heavyweight onslaught between a pair of veterans, both wanting to end some sort of two-fight shedding streak
Scott Jorgensen (12-4) squares off of against Jason Curran (35-13-1) from a bantamweight spell
Japanese legend Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) fulfills veteran George Roop (12-8-1) from a featherweight sweepstakes.
FIGHT RECORDS: A funeral service service seemed to be being placed Friday with the TapouT workouts centre to get popular Canadian instructor Shawn Tompkins. This Ontario native, who existed in Vegas along with his wife, died Aug. 14 of an heart strike in her sleep. "Shawn touched many people in your profound means, so it's crucial to celebrate owning been part of his lifetime, " mentioned UFC legend and near friend Make Hominick from a statement.
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