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UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit is an upcoming mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event is expected to take place on February 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Official fight card

Main card

Interim Welterweight Championship bout: United States Nick Diaz vs. United States Carlos Condit
Heavyweight bout: United States Roy Nelson vs. Brazil Fabricio Werdum
Welterweight bout: United States Josh Koscheck vs. United States Mike Pierce
Bantamweight bout: Brazil Renan Barão vs. United States Scott Jorgensen
Middleweight bout: United States Ed Herman vs. United States Clifford Starks

Preliminary card (FX)

Featherweight bout: United States Dustin Poirier vs. United States Max Holloway
Welterweight bout: United States Matthew Riddle vs. United States Henry Martinez
Bantamweight bout: United States Alex Caceres vs. United States Edwin Figueroa
Welterweight bout: United States Matt Brown vs. United States Chris Cope

Preliminary card

Welterweight bout: United States Dan Stittgen vs. United States Stephen Thompson
Middleweight bout: Brazil Rafael Natal vs. Netherlands Michael Kuiper


Background

Georges St-Pierre was originally scheduled to defend his Welterweight Championship against Nick Diaz in the main event. However, on December 7, 2011, it was revealed St-Pierre had suffered an ACL injury that forced him to withdraw from the bout. Diaz will now face Carlos Condit with the winner receiving an interim title belt. Condit's original opponent, Josh Koscheck, is now expected to face Mike Pierce at this event.

Erik Koch was scheduled to face Dustin Poirier at the event, but pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Ricardo Lamas. However, Lamas also pulled out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Max Holloway.

Amir Sadollah was expected to face Jorge Lopez at the event, but was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Matt Riddle. Lopez was also forced out of the bout and replaced by promtional newcomer Henry Martinez.

UFC Primetime will return to promote the main event.

Mike Stumpf was expected to face Justin Edwards at the event, but was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Stephen Thompson. Justin Edwards himself was forced out of the bout and Daniel Stittgen will step in to fight Stephen Thompson.



Jan 1 - updated fightcard & background
Jan 11 - updated poster, fightcard & background
Jan 27 - updated fightcard & background
Jan 30 - updated fightcard & background (Lopez out, Henry Martinez takes his place)

Jan 27 - updated fightcard & background (Justin Edwards himself was forced out of the bout and Daniel Stittgen will step in to fight Stephen Thompson)

Jorge Lopez out at UFC 143, Matt Riddle now meets Henry Martinez





The lineup shuffling continues for UFC officials, as Jorge Lopez (11-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has been forced out of his planned contest with Matt Riddle (5-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC).

In his place steps octagon newcomer Henry Martinez (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC).

UFC officials recently announced the change.

Featuring an interim welterweight title fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit UFC 143 takes place Feb. 4 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Riddle looks to snap a two-fight losing streak, the first such run of his career. A rare fighter who has fought all of his professional contests in the octagon, he was beaten by UFC newcomer Lance Benoist this past September but was rewarded with a "Fight of the Night" bonus following the UFC Fight Night 25 bout. Riddle also dropped a decision to Sean Pierson at 2010's UFC 124 card.

He now faces Martinez, a Greg Jackson product who makes his UFC debut. Martinez, who competed as a featherweight in 2009 at Bellator Fighting Championships 2 (where he suffered his lone career loss), carried a four-fight win streak into the contest. All four wins have come via submission.

Lopez made his UFC debut at September's UFC Fight Night 25 event, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Justin Edwards. The result snapped a 10-fight win streak for "Lil' Monster," who had defeated the likes of Waachiim Spiritwolf, Chidi Njokuani, Dave Terrel and David Marshall on the regional circuit.




Source:

Jan 30 - updated fightcard & background (Lopez out, Henry Martinez takes his place)

yeah awesome lol

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Carlos Condit (169) vs. Nick Diaz (169)
Roy Nelson (246) vs. Fabricio Werdum (246)
Josh Koscheck (170) vs. Mike Pierce (170)
Renan Barao (136) vs. Scott Jorgensen (135)
Ed Herman (185) vs. Clifford Starks (185)

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)
Max Holloway (144) vs. Dustin Poirier (146)
Alex Caceres (136) vs. Edwin Figueroa (135)
Matt Brown (171) vs. Chris Cope (171)
Henry Martinez (169) vs. Matt Riddle (170)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Rafael Natal (186) vs. Michael Kuiper (183)
Dan Stittgen (170) vs. Stephen Thompson (171)