Dana White: GSP vs. Nick Diaz targeted for March 2013, but “deal is not done” yet | UFC News

The highly anticipated bout between current UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (23-2 MMA, 17-2 UFC) and contender Nick Diaz (26-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) is all but finalized according to sources close to the UFC.

“Georges St-Pierre has been a phenomenal champion, just a great guy to deal with for us,” stated UFC president Dana White last week. “He doesn’t ask for things. So if he wants to fight Nick Diaz, and Nick Diaz wants to fight him, then that’s probably the fight we’ll make.”

Diaz’s manager, Cesar Gracie, confirmed that the fight has been offered to Diaz, however, he said Diaz has yet to sign the contract. He was hoping to get that done either today or tomorrow. As far as Gracie is concerned, signing the contract appears to be a formality.

GSP and Diaz were originally scheduled to fight in October of 2011 at UFC 137, but Diaz failed to show-up for a pair of promotional appearances and was subsequently pulled off the card. However, in an odd twist, he was later placed back on the card against B.J. Penn after St. Pierre was forced to withdraw from the event with a knee injury.

GSP vs. Diaz was then planned to take place at UFC 143, but once again “Rush” was forced off the card, which allowed Carlos Condit to step in and defeat Diaz in a hotly-contested decision win and in doing so claim the UFC interim welterweight title. Diaz then tested positive for marijuana metabolites in a post-fight drug test, resulting in him being suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission through February 2013.

The GSP vs. Diaz fight is being targeted for March of 2013 in St. Pierre’s backyard of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Dana White also recently announced that a rematch between welterweights Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit will take place at the same event in Montreal, which is expected to serve as UFC 158.