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Fresh off unifying the welterweight title in November following an 18-month absence due to injury, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre returns to Montreal’s Bell Centre on March 16, 2013 to face former STRIKEFORCE champion Nick Diaz. St-Pierre (23-2) has scored 10 consecutive victories in his dominant reign atop the 170-pound division but no other opponent has motivated him as much as the fiery and unpredictable Diaz.

“Georges St-Pierre asked to fight Nick Diaz because he knows they have unfinished business, and Nick Diaz agrees,” UFC President Dana White said.

The always-diplomatic St-Pierre, 31, has defeated the likes of Carlos Condit, Matt Hughes (twice), Jon Fitch, BJ Penn (twice), Josh Koscheck (twice) and Jake Shields, but no other opponent has fueled him as much as the southpaw from Stockton, Calif. The pair was originally slated to meet at UFC 137 but a series of events, including a St-Pierre knee injury, prevented the match up from ever taking place.

“There’s been a lot of talk about who I should fight next but this was really the only choice for me,” said St-Pierre. “He’s made it personal and I personally can’t wait.”

During his reign as STRIKEFORCE welterweight champion, Nick Diaz defeated archrival KJ Noons and finished both Evangelista Santos and Paul Daley en route to becoming the organization’s best 170-pound fighter. He’s since returned to the UFC with an impressive win over former two-time champion BJ Penn before an interim title loss to Carlos Condit and a year-long disciplinary suspension. Diaz now, though, gets the fight he’s so eagerly awaited.

“This is the fight I want,” Diaz said. “I want to go out there and beat Georges St-Pierre in Montreal and show that I’m the best welterweight in the world.”

In addition to St-Pierre-Diaz, four more of the UFC’s top-10 welterweights will clash at the Bell Centre while one fighter gets a shot at redemption following a controversial disqualification loss at the same venue just four months removed.

With his recent dominating win over legend BJ Penn, Rory MacDonald (14-1) looks to avenge his only career loss against former interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit (28-6). The pair met at UFC 115 in a bout that saw Condit come from behind and register a third-round TKO win with mere seconds remaining.

Not to be overshadowed, title-hungry Johny Hendricks (14-1), coming off his recent Montreal knockout win over welterweight Martin Kampmann, will be looking to cement his place as number one contender as he meets the always-dangerous Jake Ellenberger (28-6).

Shortly after the announcement of the UFC 158 rematch between Alessio Sakara and Patrick "The Predator" Côté, Sakara was forced to withdraw from the bout for health reasons. Perhaps inspired by the welterweight lineup on the rest of the card, Cote then announced that he would be moving to 170 pounds. Montrealer Cote has verbally agreed to make his divisional debut at that event against "Vicious" Bobby Voelker.

www.ufc.com

UFC 158 has added a fifth welterweight bout to its powerhouse roster of 170-pounders as Canadian Jordan "Young Gun" Mein has verbally agreed to make his UFC debut against 11-time UFC veteran Dan Miller, a New Jersey native known for his toughness. Mein, a 23-year-old Albertan, comes in with a record of 24-8 including victories over veterans Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, Joe Riggs, Marius Zaromskis, Josh Burkman and Forrest Petz.

www.ufc.com

After loading up on welterweight match-ups, UFC 158 has begun to spread its fight card wings by adding three fights in other weight classes. Coming off of three straight wins, middleweight Chris Camozzi has verbally agreed to face Calgary's 13-1 Nick "The Promise" Ring. Kickboxers Daron "The Detroit Superstar" Cruickshank and Montreal’s own John "The Bull" Makdessi will clash in what promises to be a lightweight firefight.

www.ufc.com

UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has posted an impressive 10-fight win streak during his reign atop the 170-pound division. On Saturday, March 16, he will look to extend that streak by one more as he steps back into the Octagon in his hometown to face former STRIKEFORCE champion Nick Diaz at Montreal’s Bell Centre. On the heels of unifying the welterweight title in November 2012 after an 18-month absence due to injury, St-Pierre (23-2) requested the fight against his fiery rival Diaz (27-8-1, fighting out of Stockton, California), telling UFC President Dana White it was “unfinished business.” Diaz agreed.

In a compelling welterweight co-main event, Rory MacDonald (14-1, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) will get his shot at redemption as he aims to avenge his only career loss against former interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit (28-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.). The duo met at UFC 115 in a Fight of the Night bout that saw Condit come from behind and register a TKO win with seconds remaining in the third round. MacDonald comes into the fight after a dominant decision win over UFC legend BJ Penn at UFC on FOX 5 in December. Meanwhile, Condit looks to re-establish his prominence at 170 pounds after an incredible battle with St-Pierre in November.

Completing the welterweight triple-header on the main card, power-punching wrestler Johny Hendricks (14-1, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) meets former US Marine Jake Ellenberger (28-6, fighting out of Lake Forest, Calif. by way of Omaha, Neb.) in a bout with title implications. The hard-hitting Hendricks is confident of his standing in the 170-pound division and looks to add a sixth consecutive win on March 16 to solidify his place as number one contender.

In addition to Montreal’s St-Pierre and MacDonald, six other Canadians will step into the Octagon® at UFC 158 including Calgary’s Nick Ring (13-1) who faces middleweight Chris Camozzi (18-5, fighting out of Lakewood, Colo.) on the main card. Ring was originally scheduled to face Costa Philippou at UFC 154 but had to withdraw at the last minute due to an illness. Camozzi has won three straight, earning his last win via unanimous decision over Luiz Cane.

Making his debut at welterweight, hometown favorite Patrick Côté (19-8) will square off against former STRIKEFORCE fighter Bobby Voelker (24-8, fighting out of Kansas City, Kan.) who will be making his UFC debut. Côté is coming off a disqualification win against middleweight Alessio Sakara at UFC 154, while Voelker comes in on a three-fight win streak.

Other Canadians in action are Jordan Mein (26-8, fighting out of Lethbridge, Alberta) who will make his UFC debut against veteran Dan Miller (16-6, 1 NC, fighting out of Whippany, N.J.), while Toronto’s Sean Pierson (13-6) battles welterweight Rick Story (14-6, fighting out of Vancouver, Wash.), Montreal’s John Makdessi (9-2) returns against Daron Cruickshank (12-2, fighting out of Detroit, Mich.) and Montreal’s Yves Jabouin (18-8) challenges bantamweight Johnny Eduardo (26-9, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

Additional bouts for UFC 158 will be announced in the days to come at www.ufc.com.

UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz
March 16, 2013
Bell Centre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada


Georges St-Pierre (23-2) vs. Nick Diaz (26-8) - UFC welterweight title bout
Carlos Condit (28-6) vs. Rory MacDonald (14-1)
Johny Hendricks (14-1) vs. Jake Ellenberger (28-6)
Dan Miller (14-6) vs. Jordan Mein (26-8)
John Makdessi (10-2) vs. Daron Cruickshank (12-2)
Patrick Cote (18-8) vs. Bobby Voelker (24-8)
Chris Camozzi (18-5) vs. Nick Ring (13-1)
Sean Pierson (13-6) vs. Rick Story (14-6)
Antonio Carvalho (15-5) vs. Darren Elkins (15-2)
Mitch Gagnon (9-2) vs. Issei Tamura (7-3)

UFC 158's welterweight tournament will continue -- with a slight reshuffling of the participants -- as Rory MacDonald has been injured and forced out of his anticipated rematch with Carlos Condit. Stepping up to face Condit in Montreal will be heavy-hitting Johny Hendricks, who had originally been pitted against fellow slugger Jake Ellenberger. A new opponent for Ellenberger will be announced shortly.


UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz
March 16, 2013
Bell Centre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada


Georges St-Pierre (23-2) vs. Nick Diaz (26-8) - UFC welterweight title bout
Carlos Condit (28-6) vs. Johny Hendricks (14-1)
Jake Ellenberger (28-6) vs. TBA
Dan Miller (14-6) vs. Jordan Mein (26-8)
John Makdessi (10-2) vs. Daron Cruickshank (12-2)
Patrick Cote (18-8) vs. Bobby Voelker (24-8)
Chris Camozzi (18-5) vs. Nick Ring (13-1)
Sean Pierson (13-6) vs. Rick Story (14-6)
Antonio Carvalho (15-5) vs. Darren Elkins (15-2)
Mitch Gagnon (9-2) vs. Issei Tamura (7-3)
Mike Ricci (7-3) vs. Colin Fletcher (8-2)