UFC 137 experiences another face-lift

Nitesh Dutt
CSNBayArea.com

When it was first announced, UFC 137 was looking like a great card. Nick Diaz was set to make his long-awaited UFC return against Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight title and B.J. Penn was fighting against Carlos Condit.

Fans will have to wait to see GSP defend his title as he
suffered a knee injury while training.

Come early-September, Sept. 7 to be exact, and Diaz is MIA from press conferences. UFC President Dana White pulls Diaz out of his fight with GSP and replaces him with Condit. This left Penn without an opponent for the card. Less than 24 hours later, Diaz is back on the card. This time against Penn as co-headliners.

For many fight fans, the Diaz vs. Penn fight was more intriguing and main event worthy than the GSP vs. Condit title fight. 

Flash forward to this past Tuesday and Diaz vs. Penn is now headlining UFC 137 in Las Vegas. 

This time the main event didn't change because someone went missing or anything of that sort. News broke early Tuesday morning that GSP had sustained a knee injury while training for his title fight. It is bad news for fans that had planned on watching St. Pierre defend his title, but even worse news for UFC executives that were banking on a huge PPV buy with the headlining title fight.

Not to say that Diaz and Penn can't sell a card, but a three-round main event is not as promotable as a five-round title fight. 

As for Condit? He's more than okay with waiting for GSP to heal up and have his title shot. Normally I wouldn't mind this, but if White is able to find a willing opponent for Condit I say put him back on the card.

I completely understand why he rather not fight anyone and wait for Pierre though. I mean, why risk losing a non-title fight and thus losing your opportunity to fight for the championship? If winning titles are the ultimate goals for fighters, then it is a smart move on Condit's part. However, fight fans would still hope that fighters would rather fight then wait around. 

However this plays out in the next week or so will be interesting to see. It is more than likely that Diaz vs. Penn remains the main event and White will definitely hear a majority of fans pleading him to make this a five-round main event. 


Follow me Twitter @NiteshDutt.