Diaz, Noons Hit Marks for Strikeforce Headliner

Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz waited more than three years for a second crack at K.J. Noons. In a little more than 24 hours, he can realize his wish.

Diaz checked in at 169.5 pounds for his rematch with Noons (169) in the Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Noons 2” headliner on Saturday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The six other fighters who will populate the main card -- unbeaten Strikeforce women’s welterweight champion Sarah Kaufman (134.25) and challenger Marloes Coenen (134) included -- also met their mandated weight requirements at Friday’s official weigh-in.

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Cesar Gracie, Diaz went to blows with Noons, then EliteXC’s 160-pound champion, in November 2007. The bout was stopped after the first round after Diaz’s face was sliced open with multiple cuts, though Diaz vehemently protested the decision, flashing middle fingers as he left the cage. It was just the second time in Diaz’s career he had been finished. The 27-year-old Stockton, Calif., native has not lost since and will carry a seven-fight winning streak into the rematch. Diaz last appeared at Dream 14 in May, when he submitted Japanese standout Hayato “Mach” Sakurai with a first-round armbar at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. He counts victories over former UFC middleweight champion Frank Shamrock, reigning Dream welterweight titleholder Marius Zaromskis and one-time EliteXC middleweight king Robbie Lawler among his 22 career conquests.

Noons has rattled off six consecutive wins since his embarrassing knockout loss to journeyman Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett in February 2007. A boxer by trade and one of the sport’s best pure strikers, the 27-year-old has secured seven of his nine victories by KO or technical knockout. Noons has not competed since he stopped UFC veteran Jorge Gurgel on second-round punches at Strikeforce “Houston” in August.

Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Noons 2”
Saturday, Oct. 9
HP Pavilion
San Jose, Calif.

Strikeforce Welterweight Championship
Nick Diaz (169.5) vs. K.J. Noons (169)

Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship
Sarah Kaufman (134.25) vs. Marloes Coenen (134)

Josh Thomson (155.25) vs. Gesias Cavalcante (155.75)
Tyron Woodley (170.5) vs. Andre Galvao (170.5)
Josh McDonald (179) vs. Ron Keslar (180)
James Terry (170) vs. David Marshall (169.5)
Jess Bouscal (154.25) vs. Luis Mendoza (155)