- (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to its stomping grounds at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, Nevada tomorrow night to present UFC 143, a card packed with world class talent including emerging prospects and top contenders alike. Kicking off the main card festivities on Pay-Per-View is a middleweight bout between TUF alum “Short Fuse” Ed Herman (17-8) and undefeated Arizona native Clifford Starks (5-0). Former bantamweight title challenger “Young Guns” Scott Jorgensen (12-3) takes to the cage next with the intentions of putting a stop to Renan Barao’s (27-1) impressive 27-fight win streak. Trashtalker extraordinaire and staple of the UFC’s welterweight division “Kos” Josh Koscheck (16-5) faces a fellow NCAA Div. I wrestler in heavy-handed Mike Pierce (10-3). The evening’s sole heavyweight match-up sees former IFL champion “Big Country” Roy Nelson (16-6) welcome renowned BJJ practitioner “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1) back to the UFC’s Octagon after a three-year hiatus. Saturday’s UFC 143 main event boasts a pairing that will make history in the 170lbs. weight class as former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz (26-8) and former WEC champ “Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit (27-5) vie for the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship title.
With a night full of possibilities ahead, the staff of MMA Gospel determines what may be in the cards for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit.
Dan Griffin, MMA Gospel CEO
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: Condit via Unanimous Decision
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum: Nelson via TKO (Strikes), Round 2
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce: Koscheck via TKO (Punches), Round 1
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen: Jorgensen via Unanimous Decision
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks: Herman via TKO (Strikes), Round 2
Mallory Mejia, MMA Gospel Editor-in-Chief
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: Diaz via Unanimous Decision
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum: Nelson via TKO (Punches), Round 2
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce: Koscheck via Unanimous Decision
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen: Jorgensen via Split Decision
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks: Herman via TKO (Strikes), Round 2
Spilled Bag of Ice, MMA Gospel Columnist/MMA Gospel Radio Host
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: Diaz via Submission (Armbar), Round 3
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum: Nelson via TKO (Punches), Round 2
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce: Koscheck via Unanimous Decision
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen: Barao via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 3
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks: Herman via TKO (Punches), Round 3
TJ Martinez, MMA Gospel Staff Writer
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: Diaz via Unanimous Decision
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum: Nelson via (T)KO (Strikes), Round 3
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce: Koscheck via Unanimous Decision
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen: Jorgensen via Split Decision
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks: Herman via Submission (Kimura), Round 1
Patrick Guera, MMA Gospel Staff Writer
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: Diaz via Submission (Triangle Choke), Round 4
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum: Werdum via Unanimous Decision
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce: Koscheck via (T)KO (Punches), Round 1
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen: Jorgensen via Unanimous Decision
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks: Herman via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 2
Cole Moorman., MMA Gospel Staff Writer
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: Condit via Unanimous Decision
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum: Werdum via Split Decision
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce: Pierce via Unanimous Decision
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen: Jorgensen via TKO (Punches), Round 1
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks: Herman via KO (Punch), Round 2
Matt Homeyer, MMA Gospel Staff Writer
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: Condit via TKO (Punches), Round 4
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum: Nelson via KO (Punch), Round 2
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce: Koscheck via TKO (Punches), Round 2
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen: Jorgensen via Unanimous Decision
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks: Herman via KO (Punches), Round 2
SBoI’s Randomly Generated Picks
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit: Condit via (T)KO, Round 1
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum: Werdum via (T)KO, Round 3
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce: Koscheck via Decision
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen: Barao via (T)KO, Round 2
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks: Herman via Decision
