Noons Shifts Gears for Heun in Strikeforce Return

The opportunity to avenge one of his only two career losses has slipped away, but K.J. Noons said he’s more than game to square off against new opponent Conor Heun at Strikeforce “Live” this Wednesday at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

Noons found out two weeks ago that original opponent Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett had been pulled from their June 26 bout in San Jose, Calif. In February 2007, Bennett accomplished something that Noons’ five previous foes hadn’t -- he knocked the promising pro boxer out. The unexpected defeat ruined Noons’ coming-out party for EliteXC on Showtime, where he’d been trumpeted as the next great lightweight striking attraction. So, avenging the defeat had an added appeal for the Hawaiian-born fighter.

“I'm kind of disappointed. I wanted to erase that loss,” Noons recently told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I trained my butt off. I trained hard. But I'm ready for whomever Strikeforce wants to throw at me...To tell you the truth I really did prepare myself mentally for anybody. I really didn't know if (Bennett) was going to show up or not.”

Noons left MMA in 2008 over a contract dispute with Pro Elite, which promoted the EliteXC events. In that time, the 27-year-old lightweight continued to build up a 12-2 pro boxing resume and when he decided to return to the cage, he called a promoter he’d previously kickboxed for -- Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. With newly signed broadcast deals for Showtime and CBS and many shows to fill, Coker promptly signed the fighter to a multi-fight contract, one which also allows Noons to box again if he wants it.

“It was just an easy transition,” said Noons. “ (Besides knowing Strikeforce), I used to fight on Showtime with all the same guys that worked on EliteXC. One of the main reasons no matter what, if I want to go back and box, I want to go back and box. They let me do that and that was one of the main factors that came down to it.”

Noons’ first fight back actually took place in Japan’s Dream promotion, which shares a strategic talent alliance with Strikeforce. Noons outboxed Andre “Dida” Amado to a unanimous decision in late March -- all on a broken foot he’d damaged in training throwing a kick on UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens.

“I couldn't walk a couple of weeks before and I just kept training through it,” said Noons. “I really wanted to fight MMA. I didn't want to back out. I was still icing my foot on the plane over to Japan, but luckily I could walk a couple of days before and I knew the adrenaline would carry me over. I couldn't kick with it so that's why I used my hands most of the time. I couldn't do any takedowns or anything risky. The adrenaline carried me over.”

Noons will have the benefit of all his working appendages against Heun, a local grappling standout who trains under Brazilian jiu-jitsu innovator Eddie Bravo. Heun lost his promotional debut to Jorge Gurgel a year ago at Strikeforce Challengers 2 in a spirited three-round standup battle.

“They threw some names out there,” said Noons of the last-minute switch-up. “I was actually on the 16th starting off and then it got pushed to the 26th and then back to the 16th and then the opponent change and they threw a few names out there and I just said yes to all of them. I don't care -- whoever they want me to fight. I guess this was the best match for them to make happen, the easiest for Strikeforce.”

Nearly two years to the day since he iced Yves Edwards with punches and elbows in 48 seconds at an EliteXC event in Hawaii, the former 160-pound champion said he’s just glad to be back.

“I mean it feels the same to me to tell you the truth. Getting in the ring -- I just enjoy it. I love it,” said Noons. “The only difference is I was in front of 15,000 Japanese people (in March) instead of in the States in a ring. It's the same for me: just go out there and perform.”