Plans have changed for Jay Hieron. Photo by Terry Goodlad/Sherdog.com.

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Jay Hieron set his sights on gold, which is why the former IFL welterweight champion said he chose a three-fight deal with Strikeforce over leading competitor, the UFC.

“The UFC, nothing bad to say about them, they offered me a great deal, but definitely, I can’t turn down a title shot right now,” said Hieron during a Strikeforce conference call Monday. “That’s what I’m looking forward to. That’s what I want to be, is a world champion.”

Plans have since changed. Hieron’s opponent, Nick Diaz, was replaced Monday afternoon by “Ultimate Fighter” alumnus Jesse Taylor after Diaz skipped out on the necessary pre-fight drug testing. Hieron-Taylor will be a non-title bout. During the call held before the announcement, Hieron, who was picked up after Affliction’s Aug. 1 event fell through, seemed at least aware that his bout with Diaz was on the ropes.

“I’m just happy if I’m fighting,” said Hieron. “I think I’ve been through everything a fighter could be through his career. I just chalk it up and keep moving forward.”

Meanwhile, recently signed Gegard Mousasi’s immediate goals include becoming a two-division champion if he wins the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship against Renato “Babalu” Sobral this Saturday (Mousasi had already been crowned Dream’s middleweight titleholder.)

Mousasi, who competes in the semi-finals of Dream’s open-weight “Super Hulk” tournament on Oct. 6 in Japan as well, said he also hopes to get an opportunity to box on Showtime. Coker said he’s spoken with the premium pay channel already about the opportunity.

“When we sat down, (Mousasi’s management) made it very clear that he wants to box,” said Coker. “I thought there was a lot synergy between –- we have a relationship with Showtime. I had a conversation with Ken Hershman (Senior Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports Programming) and he said we could put him in with someone that helps build his boxing career.”

In addition to his three-fight contract with Strikeforce, Mousasi said he has two fights remaining on his Dream contract. Strikeforce announced an “alliance” with the Japanese promotion last week.

“As far as fighting in Japan, fighting here and staying busy, as long as (Mousasi) makes the fights that we have set for him, then we’ll all be happy, so why not?” stated Coker.

In other notes:

• Coker estimated that 10 to 12,000 tickets will be sold for this weekend’s “Carano vs. Cyborg” event. Coker said those figures are on target with expectations.

• Among Mousasi’s conquests, he said he’d like to someday tackle the heavyweight division, and didn’t rule out a bout with top-ranked Fedor Emelianenko. “We have the same management and I don’t think it will happen, but sometimes if the money is right, we do crazy stuff,” said Mousasi.

• On a potential counter-programming move by the UFC in October: “When we did our first (Showtime) Frank Shamrock vs. Nick Diaz fight (in April), they counter-programmed as well. It’s in their business model to do it,” said Coker.

• The Sobral-Mousasi bout had first been matched to take place in Strikeforce, according to Coker. “That fight was originally scheduled to be on the Aug. 15 card before Affliction called me and asked for Babalu on its Los Angeles card,” said Coker.

• Coker said he was frustrated by the Diaz situation, but not with the fighter himself. He said the outcome would not kill future promotional efforts with Diaz.