GSP Tears ACL; Diaz, Condit to Fight for Interim Belt at UFC 143

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For the first time since 2008, someone other than Georges St. Pierre will wear a UFC welterweight championship belt.

UFC President Dana White announced Wednesday via Twitter that reigning 170-pound king St. Pierre has suffered a torn ACL will be sidelined for roughly 10 months.

As a result of the champion’s knee injury and inevitable layoff, White revealed that Nick Diaz will now face Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight title on Feb. 4 at UFC 143. The event is expected to take place at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

The undisputed welterweight champion for more than three years, St. Pierre was originally supposed to defend his title against Diaz in October at UFC 137. When Diaz failed to make a pair of media obligation, the promotion pulled the Cesar Gracie pupil from the headlining slot in favor of Condit. That bout was also not to be, however, as “GSP” suffered a knee injury in training just over one week before the event.

Due to the late notice of the injury, Condit was removed from the card and was expected to meet St. Pierre when he returned. However, due to Diaz’s gutsy performance against B.J. Penn at UFC 137 and some subsequent comments which infuriated St. Pierre, the Stockton, Calif., native was awarded the shot at St. Pierre instead.

Condit was slated to square off with Josh Koscheck at UFC 143. Now without a foe, it is unknown whether Koscheck will still compete at the event.