Strikeforce CEO will consider a Jason Miller vs. Nick Diaz fight for 2011
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told MMAWeekly Radio that a potential fight between Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Strikeforce welterweight champion, Nick Diaz, has been the topic of conversation
within the organization. Coker said that the fight was something that Strikeforce was contemplating.
Mixed martial arts fans have been clamouring for a fight between Miller and Diaz since the Strikeforce event in Nashville Tennessee on 17 April of this year. Miller entered the cage after
Jake Shields had defeated Dan Henderson, interrupting Shields’ post-fight interview to ask Shields, “What’s up, where’s my rematch?” Shields pushed Miller away and Miller was then jumped by Shields’ entourage, which included Nick Diaz.
Since that time Miller and Diaz have had other run-ins and Miller has continuously asked Diaz and Strikeforce for the opportunity to settle the issue inside the cage. Diaz has not been
receptive to the requests. A fight between Miller and Diaz would be a big draw for the Strikeforce promotion.
The biggest sticking point seems to be the weight of the fighters. Miller fights as a middleweight, while Diaz is a welterweight. Diaz has been reluctant to move up in weight to fight
Miller.
Another issue is one of security. Coker stated, “I just couldn’t imagine the extra security that I’d probably need to get to make that fight happen.”
Coker had more to say about the potential Diaz vs. Miller fight, “Would it be a fun fight to promote? Sure. I think we should wait until the beginning of the year, and let’s have another
conversation on that…”
Even if Diaz and Miller do not meet inside the cage, Coker does have plans for both fighters in 2011. He had this to say about the future for the welterweight champion, “I think there’s
some fights ahead of him that we would love to promote.”
Coker sounded more enthusiastic when discussing the future of Miller with Strikeforce, “For Mayhem, we’ve got some great fights for him ahead. I saw him fight in Japan against Sakuraba.
I was pretty impressed. I think he’s getting better and better with every fight.”
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