The UFC has gone through many changes and growing pains through the past nine years, but through it all, MMA fans could count on one constant: gladiator man. The anonymous man in a possibly-plastic gladiator costume opened UFC pay-per-views.

Now, he will be replaced by a one-minute long clip that is supposed to encompass all eras of the UFC. The update is to help the UFC get with the times.

"The UFC is heading into a new chapter and taking the brand to the next level," UFC president Dana White stated. "We've had the same show open for the past nine years, and with his monumental FOX deal and the global expansion of the UFC, we wanted to come up with a new show open that paid tribute to the fighters who helped us build the business and grow the sport."

But what of gladiator man? Word is he will enjoy a nice retirement package and is moving to a nice home at Del Boca Vista.

LAS VEGAS -- Roy Nelson isn't afraid to say what's on his mind even if he's risking a beatdown somewhere down the line.

Speaking to the gathered media at the UFC 143 workout day, "Big Country" is a big backer of Junior dos Santos and had nothing but nice things to say about Fabricio Werdum, his opponent on Saturday night. When it comes to the recently retired Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, he's not too impressed.

"Other people have the easier roads [to a title] shot, like Overeem. He beat Brock ... ooh. Now you get a title shot. Whatever," joked Nelson. "Overeem does really good at what he does. He's a good striker. Ground? Maybe not so much. Talk about dos Santos here, all he does is knock people out."

Nelson can crow loudly about JDS because he went 15 minutes with the champ and couldn't be finished.

On the topic of Lesnar, Nelson was pretty blunt during a discussion on his hometown radio station ESPN1100/98.9 FM in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS -- Nick Diaz is saying, but he's not saying.

The UFC interim welterweight title challenger showed up for his first round of media duties yesterday in Las Vegas. Our videographer Silton Buendia did a beautiful of piecing together what he could.

On the topic of being the favorite in his UFC 143 fight against Carlos Condit:

"We have a really even sort of record. One of us might ha fought harder opponents. I can't say that I have. I just figure that one of us, with all those fights, one of us has had harder opponents in there," Diaz told the media at UFC 143 workout day. "I know that everybody I've fought has been really, they've been really tough. I've never been fed any squids."

So Condit's resume is less impressive, right? That's exactly what Diaz said, or did he?

On the subject of Georges St-Pierre's ACL injury, Diaz has his doubts yet he doesn't.

LAS VEGAS -- Mike Pierce is a pretty reserved dude, but you can feel a quiet confidence coming from the welterweight prospect this week before UFC 143.

Pierce is trying to become the second straight fighter to knock off one the division's traditional gatekeepers. Between Koscheck (16-5, 14-5 UFC) and his teammate Jon Fitch (lost to Johny Hendricks), it's been pretty tough to crack the top three behind champion Georges St-Pierre.

"For a long time, those guys have been at the top. . they've had their chances fighting for the title ..josh kos jsut recently again fought Gsp for the title," Pierce told Cagewriter. "And I think this is a great opportunity for me to take advantage of an opportunity and get a win and move myself up."

Pierce didn't say much on "Countdown to UFC 143," but it definitely made an impression on Josh Koscheck. The veteran was irked by the fact that Pierce said Koscheck's striking game was predictable and that he wouldn't be able to use his heavy right-handed attack to score a knockout. Pierce says the fighters of today are versatile and unpredictable.

Carlos Condit, foodie and fighter (Getty)Carlos Condit spends most of his time on MMA. From training rabidly for this weekend's interim welterweight championship bout with Nick Diaz to reviewing tape to conducting media interviews and making sponsor appearances, Condit's life is full of MMA.

When he gets home, he wants to shut MMA out, and indulge in some cooking shows. Condit says he is quite the cook. However, Condit told the Orange Country Register that he married an MMA fan and doesn't have control of the remote.

"Sometimes after a long week of training I don't want to watch a Strikeforce card or whatever UFC Fight Night is on. I've been doing it all week and I don't really want to think about it. She's all about watching every single fight card. She gets what she wants and she wants to watch fight cards. I watch a lot of Food Network," Condit said. "I'm a food junkie."

Happy wife, happy life, Carlos. Watching the fights with your wife is a smart move, even if you are missing the latest "Cupcake Wars."

You can watch UFC 143 right here on Yahoo! Sports

You can watch UFC 143 right here on Yahoo! Sports

GSP talks recovery, downtime and Nick Diaz at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas (Cagewriter.com)

LAS VEGAS -- Think Georges St-Pierre isn't obsessed with Nick Diaz? Consider this: The UFC welterweight champion didn't know who is playing in Sunday's Super Bowl.

When the Montreal native was asked if he'd be rooting for the New England Patriots against the New York Giants during a media availability at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, St-Pierre replied "Are the Patriots playing? I don't even know who's in the [game]. I think New York is in it. New York is closer to Montreal, so I hope New York will win."

One would think St-Pierre would have plenty of time to keep up with the rest of the sports world, since he's been on the sidelines in Los Angeles, rehabbing from his December surgery to repair his torn left ACL.

But it's clear he's fixated on Diaz, the one fighter who has proven his ability to get under his skin.

"I can be a little, what do you call it? OCD. Obsessive-compulsive," said St-Pierre.