Georges St. Pierre to Nick Diaz: Don’t Retire

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre doesn’t want Nick Diaz to walk away from MMA.

Immediately after his loss to Carlos Condit on Saturday at UFC 143, Diaz said in the Octagon that he would not fight again. St. Pierre doesn’t exactly like the outspoken welterweight, but he doesn’t think he should retire.

“As far as Diaz, of course I would like to fight him because he thinks he’s better than me,” St. Pierre told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “It’s Time” show with Bruce Buffer. “I think I’m better than him. But I think he should not retire. He did all of the sacrifice in his life to be where he’s at right now. He’s at the highest point of his career, and if he retires now, he’s left a lot of money on the table that could pay for all of the sacrifices he has made during all those years. I think the sport of mixed martial arts needs a guy like him.”

Condit defeated Diaz via unanimous decision -- a call that Diaz clearly disagreed with. St. Pierre watched the bout but didn’t score it. He complimented both fighters, and although he hoped to fight Diaz, he now wants to take on Condit.

“Of course because of the emotion I wanted to fight Diaz, but now I want to fight Condit,” St. Pierre said. “I want to fight the best man, and the best man is Condit.”

That doesn’t mean St. Pierre isn’t open to a meeting with Diaz down the line, though, should Diaz decide to stick around.

“I wanted to fight him because of what he was, not because of what he said,” St. Pierre explained. “He was ranked No. 1 before that fight. … As much as we dislike each other, I like the guy in a way that I need a guy like him to motivate me and to make me a better martial artist.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:14).