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Here is my delayed reaction to Diaz vs Condit in UFC 143. Wow! I have been a fan of both men over the years. I like Diaz because of his aggressive, continuous straight punches that keep up the pressure. I like Condit because of his fighting savey. Both men could have won this bout on a good day but Diaz was the favorite with most folks.
Watch some of this interview and I’ll talk about this in a bit more detail.
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As a former point and full contact fighter I know there are several ways to win a fight. First you can go out there and knock out your opponent. That is generally the way you can win for sure but in prize fighting there are many times that the other guy is just too good to knock him out or even get a submission on. In those cases a fighter has to not only have a game plan but fight his fight to get the win.
I’ve seen many a fight where the guys just wrestled around or traded seemingly endless light strikes but there just was no decisive damage! Can I say boring? Sure. Can I say the fans were not too happy? Sure. Can I say a win is a win? Yes! I for one think that a fighter has to work within the rules of the game. If the object of the game is to win – it does not matter how that is accomplished.
Now about Diaz – he is very aggressive and mostly overwhelms whoever he fights. Condit probably made the decision that was not going to be him. Condit was very effective in getting the most strikes and swayed the judges. Diaz was not able to change his fighting strategy to get the win so he lost.
Condit came in the best shape I’ve seen him. Diaz looked good too. Neither fighter tired really but Diaz’s main weapon – the endless peppering of punches just did not happen. Condit did not stay in the same place long enough to become the target. Had Diaz changed his strategy too and become more mobile and less aggressive – the outcome might have changed.
Sometimes a fight is about not getting hit as much more than being aggressive. Do I think Diaz would have won if Condit was not as mobile? Yes! Diaz did well the few times he could throw multiple punches.
So here is the crux of the biscuit – fighting is not about being invincible or aggressive. While that can have a major part – it only makes sense as part of an overarching strategy if it make sense. Fighting is also about out strategizing your opponent in your mind first and if the fight is not going your way – transitioning to another strategy.
I hope to see these two fighters again soon but I also hope they both use their heads and have some alternate game plans or I suspect the result will be the same.
As a parting thought – boy that Roy Nelson has a tough chin! 
April 15th, 2012 at 5:28 am
Thoughtful analysis, John! A good fight plan can really make the difference in a fight at any level.
I had a good friend who had no martial arts training, but played Div 1 middle linebacker in college and was hard as nails! We decided to put on some boxing gloves one day and have a go at it! I just kept circling away from his right (fighting open-stance) and peppered him with jabs! The only good punch he ever got was when, in his frustration, he went to a nearby wall and punched a hole in it! My plan won the “fight.” If it was a “real” fight with his obvious superior strength and size, I knew I could run faster than him, lol!
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April 15th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Hey Dr J!
I enjoyed hearing about the jabs from the outside. Once I was trying to teach a 6′ 4″ neighbor how to spar and he wanted to see if he could take me in a match… I said what? but agreed and just let his strikes miss with a half-step back and reverse punch to his ribs… over and over until he saw the “little guy” knew his stuff.
April 18th, 2012 at 5:36 am
Good analysis John, you only have to look at the success of GSP to see this in action. He figures out what he needs to do against each opponent, and sticks to his game-plan. The results are not always exciting, but he gets the job done. You do not always need a knockout or submission to win. But you better be damn fit to get to the judges decision!
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April 29th, 2012 at 10:40 am
I think both guys are pro in their own ways. Who is really your bet? And did you expect him to win? Thanks for sharing your views here.
-Jaydee
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April 29th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Hi Matt!
I’ve not seen a lot of GSP but understand his is a tactician.
And yep – getting the win is the goal – by hook, submission or decision!
Hi Jaydee,
On a good day – any vetted fighter might win the day no matter what the odds makters think. That is the fun of watching a fight. As for who did I expect to win? I’ve already shared my thoughts in this post. But I will say this – Condit seems to be the “nicer” guy outwardly. I like nice guys to win but being realistic – that has nothing to do with anything in fighting – the only thing that does matter is the fighters plan – any needed adjustments and what actually happened in the fight.
May 9th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
In fighting you must be able to change your tactics. I have seen so many UFC fights that a grappler wins by a knock out punch and it’s just a simple understanding that why should you waste time in the mat if you can practice your knock out punches.
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