Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Georges St-Pierre mused that perhaps he was the victim of an elaborate prank. Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White only wishes it was.

Calling the situation “beyond comprehension,” White announced Wednesday that he had pulled Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz from the main event of October’s UFC 137 in Las Vegas and inserted Carlos Condit into the slot versus UFC welterweight champ St-Pierre after Diaz went missing this week.

Diaz, the reclusive California native, first no-showed a media day on Tuesday in Toronto. After he didn’t show up Wednesday in Las Vegas for another media event, White made the call to remove him from the champion-versus-champion bout on Oct. 29.

“I expected some problems and some headaches over the next couple months,” said White. “But I didn’t expect this.”

St-Pierre struggled to understand why Diaz wouldn’t take full advantage of being in the biggest match of his career. At first, the Montreal native was concerned for the health and safety of Diaz. But once he learned that Diaz had rescheduled $15,000 worth of multiple flights to Toronto only to miss all three, one word came to mind: “Unprofessionalism,” said St-Pierre.

“I’m surprised. I’m shocked. I don’t know what to say . . . I don’t have the words,” added St-Pierre.

“I just don’t understand how a person just does not show up. I just can’t believe it. It’s amazing. It’s crazy.”

Diaz fought in UFC for three years but not since 2006, in large part because of his unpredictable personality. Following a bout at UFC 57 versus Joe Riggs, the two got into a fight at the hospital that night. Before a title bout versus K.J. Noons last year, Diaz simply didn’t take part in a conference call to promote the bout. He’s made no secret of his marijuana use, which has resulted in a previous suspension.

According to White, Diaz was at the home of trainer Cesar Gracie this week but “snuck out the back door.” Since then, Gracie, brother and fellow UFC fighter Nate Diaz along with White and other UFC officials desperately tried to track him down.

“I’ve had my reservations about Nick Diaz for a long time,” said White, who has said time and again that he sincerely likes Diaz but has been hesitant to do business with him.

“All I’ve asked this kid to do is play the game this much.”

When Zuffa LLC — the parent company of UFC — purchased Strikeforce earlier this year, fans instantly clamoured for a bout between St-Pierre and Diaz. White knew it would present challenges, but he says he gave the fans what they wanted.

Now, the future of Diaz with UFC is very much in question.

(Story Continues…)
Written by  DAVE DEIBERT, POSTMEDIA NEWS & FULL STORY HERE