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The first major UFC grudge match of 2013 will be taking place at UFC 158 when Georges St. Pierre battles Nick Diaz. The future title challengers in the welterweight division can also be determined as Johny Hendricks battles Carlos Condit and Jake Ellenberger battles Nate Marquardt. Also, Chris Camozzi looks to keep his impressive run going and a pair of TUF alumni will battle in the octagon.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division fight as Colin “Freakshow†Fletcher (8-2-0) does battle with Mike “The Martian†Ricci (7-3-0). Fletcher made it to the finals of the UFC Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes before losing to Norman Parke by decision. Ricci made it to the finals of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 16 before dropping a decision to Colton Smith. This is a must win fight if either fighter is to remain in the UFC and it will be Colin Fletcher keeping his spot.
A pair of middleweights will battle next as Chris Camozzi (18-5-0) competes against Nick “The Promise†Ring (13-1-0). Camozzi enters the fight on the strength of a three fight winning streak, last defeating Luiz Cane at UFC 153. Ring has won three of four in UFC competition, with that lone defeat coming at the hands of Tim Boetsch at UFC 135. The winner of this fight will move up to bigger fights within the division and it will be Camozzi getting those fights.
Welterweights will fight in the octagon next as Jake “The Juggernaut†Ellenberger (28-6-0) battles Nate “The Great†Marquardt (32-11-2). Ellenberger has won seven of his last eight under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Diego Sanchez at UFC On Fuel TV I. Marquardt returns to the UFC after a two year absence, but he did win the Strikeforce Welterweight Title between appearances. Marquardt has had a lot of problems with wrestlers in the past and Ellenberger will use that to his strength to get the win.
Up next is a welterweight division fight as “The Natural Born Killer†Carlos Condit (28-6-0) takes on Johny “Bigg Rigg†Hendricks (14-1-0). Condit will be competing for the first time since losing the UFC Welterweight Title unification fight to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 154. Hendricks enters the fight riding a five fight winning streak, last defeating Martin Kampmann at UFC 154. The winner of this fight will get a UFC Welterweight Title shot and that fighter getting the shot will be Hendricks.
Headlining this card is a UFC Welterweight Title Fight as champion Georges “Rush†St. Pierre (23-2-0) defends against Nick Diaz (26-8-0-1NC). St. Pierre has successfully defended the gold seven times already and enters the fight riding a ten fight winning streak. Diaz returns to the UFC after a year layoff following a failed drug test and is a former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion. This is easily the biggest MMA feud thus far in 2013 and it will be St. Pierre keeping the gold to end the feud.
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