STRIKEFORCE
RESULTS
-
NICK DIAZ RETAINS BELT
10-10-2010
Denver,
CO
A grudge rematch lived up to its hype and more
Saturday when Nick Diaz (22-7, 1 NC) of Stockton,
Calif., won his eighth consecutive fight and
retained his STRIKEFORCE welterweight championship
with an exciting, crowd-pleasing five-round decision
over KJ Noons (9-2) of San Diego, Calif. in a
25-minute slugfest at HP Pavilion on SHOWTIME® that
SHOWTIME announcer Mauro Ranallo called “one of the
most exciting stand-up contests in MMA history.’’
By winning a unanimous decision by the scores of
49-46, 49-47 and 48-47, Diaz evened the score with
heated rival Noons, who defeated him by disputed
first-round TKO on Nov. 7, 2007. Noons had a
six-fight winning streak end.
The first bout ended in bloody controversy; the
return bout was highlighted by high drama and
intense two-way exchanges that left both proud,
courageous fighters bloody and spent at the finish.
Diaz was cut around the right eye and nose. Noons
was cut around the nose and mouth.
In other results on the televised portion of the
“Diaz vs. Noons II’’ event presented by STRIKEFORCE
and Rockstar Energy Drink: Marlos Coenen (18-4) of
The Netherlands captured the STRIKEFORCE Female
Welterweight title with an impressive third-round
submission (arm-bar) over previously unbeaten Sarah
Kaufman (12-1) of Victoria, British Columbia; former
STRIKEFORCE belt-holder Josh Thomson (18-3) of San
Jose earned a hard-fought three-round decision over
Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (15-4-1) of Brazil in a
battle of world-ranked lightweights and Tyron
Woodley (8-0), of St. Louis, Mo., registered a 1:28,
first-round knockout over Andre Galvao (5-2) of Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, in a matchup of up-and-coming
welterweights.
“I knew I won the decision but I’m a little
disappointed I didn’t finish him in the first
round,’’ said Diaz, a Cesar Gracie Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu black belt who only attempted a handful of
takedowns.. “I’m a little surprised he hung in like
he did because he took a lot of punishment. But he
has a good chin.’’
Diaz was cut on the right eye early in the second
round, but his corner did an excellent job of
minimizing and controlling the cut and it was not a
major factor for the most part the remainder of the
bout.
“I was worried about the cut, but my corner told me
it wasn’t a big deal,’’ he said. “I am not opposed
to a third fight down the road if Noons wins a few
fights. Whatever the fans want. Anything is
possible.’’
Noons took the tough setback with class. “Honestly,
he beat me fair and square. But I landed more
punches than him. I out-struck him. Even though I
got a little tired at the very end, I kept pushing
all the way. I know I was getting to him. If they
want a third fight, you know I’ll go for it.’’
Thomson, who may have earned himself a third fight
with STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert
Melendez, was happy with the win but unhappy with
his performance.
“I probably could have fought much harder but JZ is
a very dangerous guy and one of the best in the
world and it was obviously very important for me to
win so I played it a little safe,’’ Thomson said. “I
felt this might go the distance but no way I won
that fight, 30-27. He got me a few times, but I hurt
more from his two headbutts (that required
stitches).’’
Coenen, a strikingly attractive submission whiz, was
pitching a shutout on all three judges’ scorecards
after two rounds although some at press row had the
fight even. After scoring her eighth career triumph
by arm-bar, she was in near tears inside the cage.
“Like I said before, winning the world title can be
a life-changing thing for me,’’ said Coenen, whose
first defense is slated to be against Miesha Tate,
who won a four-woman, one-night 135-pound
elimination tournament earlier this year on
STRIKEFORCE Challengers on SHOWTIME.
“Miesha won the tournament, she’s a great grappler
and obviously very good,’’ Coenen said. “I will
definitely have to stand with her. For tonight’s
fight, I worked very hard. This is an unbelievable
feeling.’’
A disappointed Kaufman took the defeat in stride but
is hopeful of a rematch. “This kind of thing
happens,’’ she said. “I made a mistake and Marloes
capitalized. Up until then, I was fine and felt I
was hurting her. She never hurt me. If I have to get
back in line and win a fight or two to get a
rematch, that’s what I’ll do. I’d love to fight her
again.’’
Woodley entered the fight intent on proving his
striking ability and he did, landing a couple of
right hands as Galvao, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
specialist, went for a takedown. Galvao made it to
his feet, but was still woozy. When he attempted
another takedown, Woodley delivered a few more
shots, the ref stepped in and stopped it, and
Woodley had registered his first pro KO win.
“I feel awesome,’’ said 5-foot-9, 28-year-old
Woodley, a two-time All-American NCAA wrestler for
the University of Missouri who was making his first
start on the Saturday championship series after
fighting three times on STRIKEFORCE Challengers. “I
knew I hurt him but wasn’t sure if he was faking or
not so I had to be patient.
“Strikeforce Challengers prepared me for this, and
it is a tremendous win. But I really expected it to
go a lot longer.’’
Saturday’s thrilling event will re-air as follows:
DAY CHANNEL - Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT
SHO2
The telecast also will be available On Demand
beginning Tuesday, Oct. 12, and running through Oct.
25.
In Saturday’s non-televised professional results:
James Terry (8-2), San Jose, unanimous decision
(39-27, 30-27 and 30-26) over David Marshall (8-2),
Sacramento, at 170 pounds; Josh McDonald (8-4),
Concord, Calif., unanimous decision (29-28 three
times) over Ron Keslar (5-3), San Jose, at 180
pounds; and Jean Bouscal (3-2), Dublin, Calif.,
submitted (arm-triangle choke) Luis Mendoza (0-1),
San Jose, at 3:00 of first round at 155 pounds.
