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WATCH: Ariel Helwani Shares His Favorite UFC Moment of 2021 as Two Bitter Rivals Embrace in the Locker Room

Published 12/30/2021, 4:28 AM EST

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The UFC has been home to some of the most thrilling, exciting, and gruesome rivalries ever witnessed in the world of MMA. The best ones begin with the mic and end up with the championship belt on either side of the table. Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre’s rivalry was just that.

Notably, the two icons of the welterweight division were involved in a feud back in 2013 that was endearing to many UFC fans, including prominent journalist Ariel Helwani.

The longtime MMA journalist shared a video on Twitter, revealing one of his ‘favorite’ moments from 2021. “One of my favorite moments of 2021 lasted about 3 seconds,” Helwani tweeted.

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The video showcases UFC legend Nick Diaz going over to greet his former rival and welterweight GOAT Georges St-Pierre. However, their reunion lasted for only a few seconds as both parted ways after a mild handshake.

The two met each other at the venue of ‘Diablo’s comeback fight against old-time foe Robbie Lawler in September. However, Diaz wasn’t able to perform in the fight as he retired in the third round of his bout against ‘Ruthless’ at UFC 266- Volkanovski vs. Ortega.

Georges St-Pierre versus Nick Diaz- A UFC rivalry etched in stone

The rivalry between ‘Diablo’ and ‘Rush’ is touted as one of the most iconic ones in the promotion. The Stockton native went after the then welterweight champion after he defeated the former UFC two-division champion B. J. Penn at UFC 137. He called out ‘Rush’ with his iconic line “Where you at Georges?”

After a lot of talk and a chance encounter with Carlos Condit, both the fighters finally met in the octagon at UFC 158  with the welterweight strap on the line.

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The highly anticipated bout took place in Montreal, Canada, i.e. Georges St-Pierre’s hometown. Meanwhile, the fight took on its course as ‘Rush’ dominated proceedings with his superior grappling skills accompanied by his signature superman punches. The match ended up becoming a 5 round thriller, with ‘GSP’ taking the win home through a unanimous decision.

via Getty

As of now, Georges St-Pierre has enshrined his name in the world of Mixed Martial Arts as the GOAT of the 170-pounds division. Plus, the UFC has inducted him in the UFC Hall of Fame, class of 2021. Meanwhile, Diaz, who is still active, has cemented himself as a cult favorite in the combat sports community.

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WATCH THIS STORY- Top 5 Rivalries in the History of the UFC

Do you think GSP and Nick Diaz’s rivalry was one of the best in the UFC? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Aashish Kumar

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Aashish Kumar is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. A graduate in Journalism & Mass Communication, this Israel Adesanya fan has interned at reputed media houses and gained valuable reporting experience. Building on that experience, Aashish will look to tap into his love for combat sports and let fans benefit from his passion and journalistic expertise.
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