Nick Diaz avenges his loss to K.J. Noons
Nick Diaz successfully defended his Strikeforce welterweight title at the Strikeforce: Diaz vs Noons II event in a grudge rematch with K.J. Noons. The five-round slugfest was an entertaining battle between
two fighters who clearly had a strong dislike for each other.
When the fighters were introduced, Noons walked into the cage with the San Jose, California crowd showing their disdain for him. Diaz, practically a hometown boy from nearby Stockton, was greeted with
loud cheers.
This rematch that was three years in the making would not disappoint. Early in the first round it seemed as if the two would engage in a true mixed martial arts bout as more than just strikes were attempted.
At one point Diaz had Noons on the ground, but he was unable to use his superior ground game to do any damage and the fighters took their feet. That brief struggle on the ground was the last true effort at grappling as the next 20 plus minutes was a boxing
match with four-ounce gloves.
In the second round Noons delivered a nice strike that cut Diaz and blood started to flow freely down the face of the champ. Many in the crowd had to recall the stoppage in the first fit due to cuts, but
after the second round ended and he was attended to in his corner, the cut was not an issue.
For the remaining three rounds the two fighters seemed content to fight on their feet and just exchange a ridiculous amount of strikes. While on their feet, the fighters combined for over 800 strikes thrown.
When the fight went to the scorecards the bout was judged a unanimous decision for Diaz.
In his post fight interview Diaz implied that his intention all along was to stand in and beat Noons in a boxing match.
Diaz said, “The thing is, no offence or disrespect, it's all over with, but I beat this guy on the ground or standing up. It's mixed martial arts out here and it's hard not to go for the takedown. It makes
me look really bad as if I need to do that, and I'll beat this guy in a boxing match, but I'll also tap him out on the ground."
Diaz’s next opponent will most likely be Scott Smith or Paul Daley while Noons will most likely return to the lightweight division for his next battle.
Diaz entered the ring with a record of 22-7-0-1 while Noons was 9-1. Diaz had not lost since 2007 when the doctors stopped his first fight with Noons after the first round due to cuts around his eyes.
Diaz was livid with the decision and flipped off the doctor before storming from the cage. The fight was for the vacant Elite XC lightweight championship.
Noons defended his title one time before Elite XC went out of business in October 2008. Noons then took a hiatus from MMA and concentrated on a boxing career before joining Strikeforce in late 2009. Noons
was victorious in both of his Strikeforce bouts before his rematch with Diaz.
After his loss to Noons, Diaz went on a seven-fight win streak, fighting for Elite XC, DREAM, and Strikeforce. He won the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title with a first round technical knockout over
Marius Žaromskis in January 2010.
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