The full, uncut, profanity-filled interview can be seen in its entirety here. Here are some of the best quotes as compiled by MixedMartialArts.com: “If you can’t beat my style, then you suck. Sorry. If you can’t beat it, you can’t beat it… I don’t see you as a complete fighter if you can’t f—— stay off your back… I’m irritated. I’m pissed off. I wanna hurt some people. I wanna finish a lot of people and I wanna do it in style. I’m tired of being skipped over and I’m tired of being ignored, and it’s time for me to make some noise.”

The interview also features Fitch talking about Nick Diaz at length. Fitch calls out Diaz for attacking his style, saying that Diaz was protected by being in Strikeforce when he made those claims. Fitch also states that he would love to fight Nick Diaz.

When the subject of a potential fight with Josh Koscheck comes up, Fitch was almost-painfully blunt. Remember, some insiders and fans have pointed to Fitch and Koscheck refusing to fight each other as one of the chief reasons why UFC President Dana White was so hesitant to give Koscheck a second fight with GSP and why Fitch is also having trouble getting another fight with St. Pierre. Nevertheless, Fitch says that he would rather “murder everyone and spend the rest of my life in jail” than fight his teammate and friend.

No matter what kind of fighter you are, these are some really strong words. When you consider that it’s Jon Fitch speaking them, you’ve just got to be surprised.

And since Fitch was so bluntly honest and open in this interview, here’s some open and honest bluntness of my own: I’ll believe it when I see it.

Make no mistake, I’m a fan of Jon Fitch. I coined the term “beautiful ugliness” to describe his way of grinding down opponents and making them look like they never took a wrestling defense class in their life. But Jon Fitch has never been a finisher, and one fired-up interview does not lead me to believe that Jon Fitch will come back to the UFC and start finishing people left and right.

Is it possible for Fitch to start finishing people? Of course it is. The man is ridiculously talented and vastly under-appreciated. But here’s even more blunt honesty for you: I’m a bigger fan of Nick Diaz than I am of Jon Fitch, and Jon Fitch will be in for a lot of trouble if he really wants to fight Nick Diaz. Let’s forget for a moment that everything is on the line for Diaz when he fights GSP. If Diaz fights Fitch, Jon Fitch will more than likely lose. Diaz is no joke on the ground, and most of the time he only goes to the ground if he chooses to. Also, and you can trust me on this one… as good as Fitch’s chin is, Nick Diaz can and will crack it. Nick Diaz can and will KO Jon Fitch if they ever met in the Octagon.

As a fan of Jon Fitch, that’s very tough for me to say. And as a fan of Jon Fitch, I really empathize with Fitch’s feelings of being alienated, alone, and under-appreciated. I think he has a legitimate argument, and the optimist in me hopes that he comes back to the UFC and starts absolutely destroying people.

But the realist in me knows that one interview does not make a fighter, and that if Jon Fitch wants to change the way people see him, he needs to start actually finishing and not just talk about finishing.

5. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson

It’s the last call for a legend, and one of the greatest MMA fighters in MMA history. If Emelianenko can’t beat Dan Henderson, I have a strong feeling that he’ll retire. And Dan Henderson is currently riding a major wave of momentum now that he’s Strikeforce’s Light Heavyweight Champion. It’s going to be an awesome showdown between two of the best old-school MMA veterans still actively competing today.

4. Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson

It may not have the bitter rivalry of the inevitable showdown between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans… but this is certainly one colossal match-up. I honestly and fully believe that this fight will set the stage for years to come: depending on how Jones does against Jackson, we’ll know for sure whether or not Jones is “the chosen one” that will break the curse of UFC Light Heavyweight Champions losing the belt in their first few fights. I definitely can’t wait to see this fight.

3. Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami

Yushin Okami can’t beat Anderson Silva… right? Of course he can. Anybody can beat anybody, and anything can happen in Mixed Martial Arts. And this is a rematch that’s been years in the making. To a loyal contingent of fans, Okami is one of the most under-rated, under-appreciated fighters currently fighting in the UFC. To a vast majority of people, Anderson Silva is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. Any time Anderson Silva fights, you can definitely expect it to chart high on my lists like this. The fact that there’s such an interesting story between Okami and Silva is just icing on the cake.

2. Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio Silva

Now this is a fight everyone can really dig their teeth into. Alistair Overeem has been living up to his nickname “Demolition Man” for a long time now, although he didn’t give the best performance against Fabricio Werdum. Meanwhile, Antonio Silva gave arguably the best performance of his life when he defeated Fedor Emelianenko. Whether you’re an Overeem fan, a “Bigfoot” fan, or simply a fan of great fights, this should definitely be the premiere showdown for the rest of Strikeforce’s year.

And my number-one most-anticipated fight for the rest of 2011 is…

1. Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre

The night Nick Diaz faced Paul Daley, I was on the edge of my seat from the moment that fight started. When Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre goes down, I won’t even need a seat. I’ll be too busy pacing back and forth. I’ve followed Nick Diaz for a long, long time, and in that time, he’s changed from one of the fighters I absolutely despise to one of only a handful of fighters I consider my favorites. Even though he’s incredibly controversial and one of the biggest “bad boys” in MMA, I just can’t help but love Diaz’s take-no-prisoners style and his gruff type of “us against the world” affection that he shows to both his fans and his teammates. I know that Nick Diaz is a legitimate “best in the world” athlete, and I want him to prove that against Georges St. Pierre. But to do that, he’ll have to beat a man that I consider one of the greatest Mixed Martial Artists of all time. This isn’t just my most-anticipated fight for the rest of 2011, it’s probably my most-anticipated fight of the last few years. Everything, and I do mean everything, will be on the line when Nick Diaz fights Georges St. Pierre.

Nick Diaz… what else can I say about Nick Diaz? A whole lot, to be truthful. Nick Diaz struggled to reach his potential all throughout his UFC run, and that’s where he first established his status as a bad boy who loves to take risks and will eat your best shot just so he can laugh at you when it doesn’t knock him out. It would take a close loss to KJ Noons in Elite XC for Diaz to finally go on the epic run all his fans knew he had in him.

And what a run it’s been: across several different promotions, Diaz has ruled the non-UFC Welterweight division with a pair of iron fists. When Elite XC imploded and Strikeforce became the new “next big thing” by acquiring the bulk of Elite XC’s assets, Strikeforce called on Nick Diaz to headline. He responded by TKO’ing Frank Shamrock and humbling the former multi-promotion champion to the point where Shamrock would announce his retirement shortly afterwards.

When Strikeforce needed to crown their first Welterweight Champion, they again called on Nick Diaz and he again delivered. He out-struck and finished Marius Zaromskis, who was coming off of a great streak of high-kick KO’s in Japan. After going to Japan and submitting veteran Hayato Sakurai, Diaz then got sweet revenge on KJ Noons. After another win, this time a submission victory over Cristiane Santos, Diaz was on his way to becoming the most dominant champion in Strikeforce history. And that’s not the hype talking: before his fight with Paul Daley, no Strikeforce champion in the history of the promotion had ever successfully defended his or her championship at least three times.

And for the most part, everyone thought Paul Daley would be cannon fodder when (not if) Nick Diaz brought this fight to the ground. Daley’s lack of ground game was always his Achilles Heel, and Diaz has that vaunted BJJ black belt under Cesar Gracie. A few fans were hopeful that Diaz would strike with Daley, but a lot more were realistic in thinking that the smarter move by far was to take this fight to the ground. As great of a striker as Nick Diaz is, Paul Daley’s nickname is a British explosive for a reason.

But of course, with Nick Diaz being Nick Diaz, doing the smart thing was one of the last things he wanted to do.

We all thought Nick Diaz would be a fool if he were to stand there and openly taunt a knockout artist like Paul Daley… and then he stood there and openly taunted Paul Daley. We all thought Paul Daley may finally be able to crack Nick Diaz’s chin… and then Paul Daley cracked Nick Diaz’s chin. But remarkably, Diaz survived and even thrived, to the point where the fight would end only minutes later with Paul Daley suffering the first proper (T)KO loss of his career.

It was, perhaps, one of the most exciting one-round fights in MMA history. It was an all-out brawl between two heavy-handed strikers. It was a fantastic comeback. It was an unexpected finish, given that no one had ever stopped Daley due to strikes. It was all that and more. Even though the fight lasted just one round, I definitely think Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley is the “Fight of the Half-Year”.

The three bits of news have been revealed throughout the week, and the one and only Sherdog provides us with a great recap of the situation. Here’s what we know so far: Nick Diaz is now a UFC fighter, which has caused him to relinquish his Strikeforce Welterweight Championship. So his upcoming championship encounter with Georges St. Pierre will not be a “champion vs. champion” fight.

In addition to that, the UFC has mandated that all future live event main events will be five-round fights. This will likely not apply to “co-main event” fights. However, upcoming main events that have already been signed as three-round fights, such as the upcoming fight between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, will proceed as agreed upon and be three-round fights. This applies to both Pay-Per-View main events and the UFC’s televised main events, such as their “Fight Night Live” specials.

And finally, word has come down that the UFC is interested in opening up a Flyweight division for fighters that weigh a maximum of 125 pounds. This would be the UFC’s eighth division, and the smallest weight division officially recognized by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. According to several rumors, the UFC may implement a Flyweight division by the year’s end. Two additional rumors peg Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson as two likely Bantamweight fighters that could possibly drop to Flyweight if/when the weight division is announced.

First and foremost, I’d like to address the reaction that the Flyweight division has been getting. I see a lot of disinterest, I see a lot of people making fun of these lighter-weight fighters and saying that they weigh as much as little girls. I see a lot of internet tough guys saying “I used to weight 125… when I was twelve years old”.

To which I say: get over yourselves. A fighter is a fighter, and it takes a tremendous amount of heart and skill to be a Mixed Martial Artist.

I know I’m getting on the soapbox right now, but I’m just really tired of the lighter-weight fighters not getting the respect they deserve. Talent is talent, regardless of weight class. I measure a fighter by his talent, not by what weight class he competes in. A good fighter will be a good fighter no matter what weight class he competes in. I once held a prejudice against lighter-weight fighters, and the WEC didn’t just shatter it completely, it made me realize that lighter-weight fighters are pound-for-pound the most consistently entertaining fighters on the planet. If the Flyweights come in and start stealing shows left and right with their great fights, then I’ll be more than happy to welcome them to the UFC with open arms.

In regards to Nick Diaz vacating his Strikeforce championship? It is what it is, although I really wish it didn’t have to be this way. Now that it’s officially confirmed that Nick Diaz is a UFC fighter, this had to have been a major acquisition for the UFC. If Strikeforce was still on its own, the UFC would have basically plucked Strikeforce’s best and most dominant champion right out from under them and while he’s in the prime of his career. Whoever takes Diaz’s place as Strikeforce Welterweight Champion will have a long way to go if they want to get out of Diaz’s shadow.

And finally, I don’t have too much to say about five-round non-title fights. I think it’s a good idea, but it’s such a drastic change that I’ll hold off judgment until I see it put into practice.

The news comes to us straight from the Twitter of UFC President Dana White himself. Here’s what White said: “U wanted it! U GOT IT!!! GSP vs DIAZ Oct 29th UFC 137 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.”

Both these men defy description, but I’ll attempt to do them justice.

Georges St. Pierre has fought twenty-four times and lost twice. For the past several years, St. Pierre has fought only the best UFC Welterweights, which in turns me the best welterweight MMA fighters in the world. St. Pierre’s current win-streak would enter the double digits if he were to beat Nick Diaz. Currently, Georges St. Pierre is widely regarded as one of the premiere faces of Mixed Martial Arts worldwide. St. Pierre continues to enjoy idol-like status in Canada, the place of his birth. UFC 129, which featured Georges St. Pierre and took place in Canada, drew a record-obliterating 55,000 fans.

Nick Diaz has undergone a colossal metamorphosis since controversially losing to KJ Noons in 2007. Since that time, Diaz has been undefeated in ten straight fights. Nine of those fights have been stoppages. As stated previously, Diaz holds the distinction of having successfully defended his Strikeforce Welterweight Championship more times than any other champion has successfully defended their title since Strikeforce was founded. He is literally the most-dominant Strikeforce champion in history, and he’s also an incredibly controversial and top-drawing star.

If you’ll permit me a bit of fanboyish glee, fans and friends, let me tell you the first thing I did when I heard that Nick Diaz would be fighting Georges St. Pierre.

I threw my fist into the air and shouted “YES!”

That sums up my reaction to this fight very well, in fact. I think this fight not only should happen, but needs to happen for several major reasons.

First and foremost, Nick Diaz is the only legitimate threat left for Georges St. Pierre. He’s beaten everybody, and he’s beaten them so thoroughly that as time has gone by and GSP continues to dominate, the allure of seeing the UFC’s best rematch him has declined very swiftly. Nick Diaz is someone who GSP has never faced before, both literally and figuratively. He’s never faced someone who is such an interesting mix of knockout power, a fantastic striking style, tremendous heart and will, and a wholly under appreciated ground game.

Secondly, Nick Diaz deserves this fight because he deserves to be making the big dollars. He’s earned all of that and more with his fantastic run in Strikeforce. Time and time again, Diaz delivers huge television ratings and big attendance numbers whenever he fights. Pound-for-pound, Nick Diaz should be considered Strikeforce’s best draw. I think it’s high time he got the chance to prove that he really is one of the best in the world.

Finally, we as fight fans deserve these kinds of “Strikeforce vs. UFC” match-ups. This is what happens when you buy out your competition, and if that means we no longer operate under “business as usual”, then so be it. It’s time to give us the fights we’ve been waiting years to see, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

This is going to be an epic fight, and it’ll be a long wait until October.

Many have pointed out that some of the holes that St. Pierre displayed in his last outing with Shields would be picked up by possible a more intelligent, or rather more adept striker–such as Diaz, whom arguably holds some of the best hands in the mixed martial arts world.

And though some obstacles may be lingering in the potential for the bout, that hasn’t left people speculating the inevitable outcome. Urijah Faber, the former WEC featherweight champion and current number one contender for the UFC bantamweight title, has officially jumped on the Diaz bandwagon.

Nick Diaz has run a roughshod through all of his opposition that he has faced inside the Strikeforce cage. Since his inception into the organization, Diaz has gone undefeated, claiming the welterweight title and defending it three times over. Since his stint under the San Jose banner, Diaz has become one of the best fighters in his class and is often regarded as one of the ten best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, having the sort of boxing acumen and jiu-jitsu prowess that most fighters could only dream for.

However, are his skills enough to rival those of Georges St. Pierre?

Well, one man thinks so, and that’s none other than “The California Kid” himself, Urijah Faber.

“I’m going to go with Nick Diaz on that one, just because I don’t see GSP knocking him out”, said Faber in an interview with FiveKnuckles.com.

“He’s never been knocked out and GSP’s been more into wrestling guys. I think that from watching Diaz, he’s super, super deceiving, and is able to pressure guys and make them get tired and fatigued like no one else. It’s constant pressure, and he’s got that persistent punching style that wears guys down.”

While the opinion of Faber’s may be an unpopular one, there is no question that Diaz will at least provide GSP his toughest challenge to date. But–what do you think, MMA peeps? How will Diaz fare in a match with GSP and do you agree with Faber’s assessment of the bout? Sound off in the comment section below.

Having long been criticized for his lack of finishes or rather his inability, GSP faced arguably his toughest challenge to date when he met with the former Strikeforce middleweight champion. After five-rounds of “some” action, St. Pierre walked away the winner, but not without having drawn the ire of the fans and media alike.

Since his last outing at UFC 129 this past April, many have called for a “super fight” pitting GSP against the Strikeforce welterweight champion and UFC veteran Nick Diaz, and while there are some roadblocks and even an impending boxing match with Jeff Lacy, Diaz would be willing to put all that aside if it means a match with St. Pierre.

Under the Strikeforce banner, arguably, there has not been a more dominating or more imposing figure inside the cage than Diaz. The Stockton native and Cesar Gracie black belt has gone undefeated within the promotion, holding a perfect 6-0 mark, and has impressed everyone in each outing. In his last performance, Diaz added former UFC contender Paul Daley to his most recent list of victimes, knocking out the “knockout artist” inside of the first-round. With the win, Diaz has now successfully defended his welterweight title three consecutive times.

As per his contract with Strikeforce and Showtime, Diaz is afforded one boxing match to take place within the fiscal year. Initially, Nick was rumored to be facing former boxing world champion Fernando Vargas, however after alleged medical issues, the fight was scrapped.

Now, manager and head coach Cesar Gracie has recently issued a press-release stating that Diaz will be taking on Jeff Lacy, a former IBF super middleweight champion, in an impending boxing match.

Following UFC 129, UFC President Dana White spoke of his intentions to fly down to Stockton, California in order to speak with Diaz one-on-one about his future and what he hopes to accomplish. White has stated on several occasions that he would much rather have Diaz stay in the mixed martial arts game, as Nick could be used as a name in order to lend respectability to the boxing world by beating a mixed martial arts world champion.

While Nick’s striking skills have been unrivaled inside the cage, a bout in the ring could be a whole different story, and that’s something that White would have Diaz avoid altogether. Dana now has invested interest in Diaz since Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, has recently acquired Strikeforce.

Cesar Gracie says that Diaz’ bout with Lacy is all but a done deal, and the only thing that will deter the inevitable bout would be a meeting with the reigning UFC champ in Georges St. Pierre.

“Barring something like (UFC president) Dana White telling us, ‘Hey, we really need you to fight GSP at such-and-such a date and it conflicts with [boxing] – barring that, we’re going to fight Lacy,” said Gracie in an interview with MMAJunkie.com.

So what do you think MMA peeps–should Diaz attempt to avenge his teammate and best friend Jake Shields’ defeat to GSP, or should he take on Jeff Lacy? It remains to be seen where Nick will garner the most amount of money, some may argue boxing but who’s to say. Do you warrant Diaz with the opportunity of defeating either GSP or Lacy in respective matches? Sound off in the comment section below.

But before we begin, I’d like to say that his is a “fantasy list” and nothing more. I’m not saying these fighters would dominate in boxing, I’m not saying they’d be obliterated in boxing. These are just five fighters that I think have great striking that could possibly translate to pro boxing. It’s all in fun, and feel free to contribute your own lists and thoughts, but please, keep the arguing to a minimum. Let’s begin.

5. Nate Diaz

If Nick can do it, so can Nate. In fact, I think Nate would have more to gain as a pro boxer than Nick would, who’s putting a lot on the line when he steps into the boxing ring later this year. When Nate fights a pure striking contest, he shows flashes of brilliance that makes me think that he could one day fill the shoes of Nick. But Nate continues to struggle against dominant wrestlers, and when his opponents start to grind him out, he always makes the same mistakes because he keeps getting frustrated. I think it would be interesting to see what Nate would be able to do in a boxing ring, free from any of the burden of defending takedowns or trying to separate from a clinch.

4. Paul Daley

Paul Daley doesn’t strike me as a profoundly technical striker, he never has. But there is one thing nobody can ever take away from Paul Daley: the man has dynamite in his hands. In a sport filled with ridiculous nicknames, “Semtex” does a good job of describing the type of power Daley puts behind his punches. If only to see if that kind of gruesome knockout power would translate, I’d like to see Daley step into the boxing ring against some good competition.

3. Alistair Overeem

I know Alistair Overeem is a great striker, believe me I know. Not only is Overeem a Strikeforce champion and DREAM champion, he’s also a K-1 champion, which is the world’s largest and most prestigious kickboxing promotion. I say it’s time to see if Overeem can still be dominant when you take the “kick” out of “kickbox”.

2. Georges St. Pierre

A lot of people tend to criticize George St. Pierre’s striking, but I honestly think that’s one of the strongest and most versatile weapons in his arsenal. Let’s not forget the huge amount of jabs he landed on Josh Koscheck, so many that it broke his orbital bone. GSP’s nuances and technique may even be more appreciated by fans of “the sweet science”.

And the number-one fighter I’d like to see have at least one fight as a professional boxer before they retire is…

1. Anderson Silva

Before people even entertained the notion of Nick Diaz fighting as a pro boxer, everyone was talking about Anderson Silva wanting to fight Roy Jones, Jr. That fight never materialized, but only because Dana White put his foot down and didn’t allow it. I’d love to see “The Spider” get into a boxing ring, it could be against RJJ or anybody else. In terms of pure excitement and spectacle, I can’t think of anything better than the man with the longest win-streak in UFC history stepping into the boxing ring to test himself.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any MMA fighter you’d like to see strap on boxing gloves?

For a complete breakdown of the situation, head on over to MMA Junkie. For those who just want the basics, here’s what we know so far: in the fall months, Nick Diaz will make his debut as a professional boxer when he takes on former IBF champion Jeff Lacy. Apparently, only the rumored “champion vs. champion” super-fight with Georges St. Pierre could possibly cause Diaz to back out of this fight.

If you’re like me and don’t follow professional boxing very much, here’s what I’ve managed to find out about Jeff Lacy. As previously stated, Lacy is a former IBF champion. Lacy is thirty-three years old, and has been fighting since 2001. Since that time, Lacy has assembled a record of 25-4 with one No Contest. Seventeen of his twenty-five wins have been by KO, and he’s only been KO’d once. However, it’s important to note that according to BoxRec.com, Lacy has lost back-to-back fights and has only won one fight in his last four.

I think this could end up being an interesting fight for Nick Diaz. Even though I don’t follow boxing, I’m not an MMA elitist that thinks that both sports are “at war” and that MMA will kill boxing. I think boxing will always persevere in one form or another, and I’ve got a lot of respect for the practitioners of the sweet science. However, I think Jeff Lacy is a bit of a “gimme” fight for Nick Diaz, allowing him to get his feet wet while not competing against the absolute best of the best. I’ve heard this happens all the time in boxing, though, so I’m not sure exactly how I feel about it. I suppose Diaz deserves to have at least one “warm up” fight considering that he’ll be taking a significant gamble making the transition to pro boxing.

And do I blame Nick Diaz? I honestly don’t. I’m in the Stockton war wagon, as it were. A lot of people mocked him for it when he said it, but I honestly do think that Nick Diaz is over-trained and under-paid. If Dan Henderson gets a quarter of a million dollars every time he fights, Nick Diaz needs to be making as much or more. I like Dan Henderson, I respect him immensely, but Dan Henderson isn’t the most-dominant champion in Strikeforce history. The same goes for any of the big money makers in Strikeforce. Bottom line: Nick Diaz is Strikeforce’s best asset, he’s a fantastic fighter that is ridiculously marketable. I think that Nick Diaz is a superstar, and if he’s not pulling in that type of big, big money… then it’s his right to do whatever he is contractually allowed to do in order to get the kind of paycheck he deserves.

But what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on what the future holds for the always-controversial Diaz?

Nick Diaz is a controversial man, who says controversial things. In the days and weeks leading up to his mega-fight with British knockout machine Paul Daley, Nick Diaz made himself no stranger to controversy. Although he kept it mostly civil with Daley, Diaz let his heated opinion fly on many different subjects. First and foremost, he claimed to be the most over-trained and under-paid fighter in the business, constantly comparing himself to Georges St. Pierre and asking why he wasn’t making that kind of money. Diaz also stated that if everyone thought GSP was so much better than him, they should get GSP to fight him and prove it. In another now-infamous interview, Diaz accosted MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani, one of the most notable and respected journalists in the business, claiming that Helwani is an instigator and that he should be slapped.

Leading up to this fight, many fans wondered if Nick Diaz would be brave enough (or foolish enough, in the eyes of some) to engage in a striking battle with Paul Daley. Many pointed out that Daley had and continues to have true one-hit knockout power in his hands, and to this day, Daley has an astounding twenty out of twenty-seven wins by some form of (T)KO. But Daley’s Achilles Heel is and likely always will be his ground game, while Nick Diaz is a Gracie-trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wizard.

But of course, this is Nick Diaz we’re talking about. If you tell him he can’t do something, more than likely he’ll do it just to spite you.

And that’s exactly what Diaz did when he fought Paul Daley: he played the game exclusively in Daley’s element, and he beat Daley where Daley was strongest. Diaz’s cockiness never wavered, and he taunted Daley several times throughout their one-round fight. It nearly cost Diaz everything, with Daley flooring Diaz several times. But Diaz always found a way to survive and get back on his feet, and eventually, Diaz’s “punches in bunches” style won out. After an amazing first round, Paul Daley went down and was finished. It was the first legitimate TKO loss of Paul Daley’s career.

Shortly after the fight, it was announced by both Nick Diaz and his coach, Cesar Gracie, that Diaz would be pursuing at least one fight as a professional boxer. Currently, it is not known if Diaz plans to end his MMA career to focus on becoming a boxer. It’s not even known if he’s really allowed to fight as a boxer, although both Diaz and Gracie say that that’s a part of his contract. With the recent purchase of Strikeforce by Zuffa, it’s been said that UFC President Dana White will personally sit down with Nick Diaz to figure out his future. Even a rumor of a potential super-fight with Georges St. Pierre is currently floating around.

Here’s why Nick Diaz earns “Fighter of the Month” for April 2011: he lives up to the hype. He doesn’t care what you think, and he’ll say whatever he feels like saying whenever he feels like saying it. You can love him or you can hate him, but you can’t ignore him, especially when he’s spent the last several years tearing apart the non-UFC Welterweight division. Nick Diaz is one of the most controversial MMA fighters in the world, but he’s also one of the best MMA fighters in the world. And he proved that once again in April 2011.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Do you agree or disagree, and why?

5. Daniel Straus vs. Kenny Foster at Bellator 41.

Starting this list off is a three-round war at Bellator 41 that saw the young and dangerous Kenny Foster take on the soft-spoken “dark horse” of Bellator’s current Featherweight tournament, Daniel Straus. It was clear from the moment the fight started that Kenny Foster had more tenacity and exuberance, but Straus utilized a grinding style and several well-timed blows to take the fire out of Foster. In the end, Straus would win it with a little over a minute left in the fight, submitting the hot prospect and cementing his status as the “dark horse favorite”. As someone who entered Bellator’s tournament with almost no fanfare or hype, Straus rocketed past two very tough, young competitors and sealed his fate with a big stoppage to earn his shot in the finals.

4. Gegard Mousasi vs. Keith Jardine at Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”

Everyone knew how tough Keith Jardine was going into this fight, that was never in doubt. What was in doubt, though, was his ability to remain competitive against top-flight competition. And in Strikeforce, it doesn’t get much better than a former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. But Jardine persevered through three tough rounds of action, taking down Mousasi frequently while absorbing all of Mousasi’s best shots. The fight would end in a controversial draw, with many thinking Mousasi should have won. Nevertheless, this was a very tough test for Keith Jardine, and he responded by putting on a very heartfelt display of guts and fortitude, taking a former champion to the limit.

3. Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture at UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”

It may have ended quickly, but I can’t think of a better finish in April 2011 in terms of pure brilliance and awesomeness. I’ve called it the Jumping Front Face Kick of Death, mostly out of humor, but that’s exactly what it was. No matter what the technical name of that kick is called, it was a beautiful, expertly-timed knockout blow from former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida. Plus, before that kick, Machida managed to neutralize the clinch game of one of the best pure wrestlers in MMA history. With the way the fight ended, and with Randy Couture going out on his shield and finishing his stellar career by taking on a former champion, there’s no doubt in my mind that this fight belongs on here.

2. Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick at UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”

For five straight rounds, Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick pushed each other to their limits. Seeing Aldo struggle against Hominick was the first time I’ve ever seen Jose Aldo have problems dealing with a fighter. Seeing Hominick battle on while having a giant lump on his head was just plain astounding. It was a five-round all-out war of attrition, and it was closer than I ever thought it would be. This could be a “Fight of the Year” candidate before all is said and done.

And the number-one best fight of April 2011 is…

1. Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley at Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”

It may have only lasted one round, but what a round it was. I honestly think you could make an argument that Diaz vs. Daley was one of the best one-round fights of the last several years. People were afraid that Diaz wouldn’t want to strike with Daley and turn it into a boring ground battle… and then Diaz started taunting Daley and brawling with him. It was an incredibly back-and-forth fight, with Daley nearly stopping Diaz several times before Nick’s “punches in bunches” style finally cracked Daley’s near-impenetrable chin. Even if it ended at 4:57, I was on the edge of my seat for every single second. And that’s why this fight earns “Best Fight of April 2011”.

And what about you, fans and friends? What were some of your favorite fights of the month?

“They don’t have anybody else for me to fight now (Strikeforce),” Diaz told Inside MMA. “I’m better than all these guys they have. The guys they have ranked above me, I’m sure they don’t want to fight me. So, I don’t know, I don’t see much of a future in this sport for me, I honestly don’t. Especially if there’s not a whole shitload of money going on. I’m signed into some contract that I don’t know anything about. I don’t know anything about that s***, I got a manager. All I know is that my life’s a living hell, full of training, grueling exercise, training everyday, cater to everybody else and not worry about myself sort of thing.”

Nick Diaz may very well have the best pure boxing skills of any experienced MMA welterweight. He’s got a great jab, straight left, and understands how to use the cumulative effect of punches on opponents as well as anyone. After all, we are talking about a fighter that defeated KJ Noons, a professional boxer with an 11-2 record, in a recent MMA bout that was really all about their stand up (mostly hands). That said, Diaz only has one true professional boxing match to his credit (unanimous decision victory). So the fact that he wants to take on Jeff Lacy, a former Olympian and International Boxing Federation super middleweight champion, certainly has some people taking notice. On one hand, Lacy has lost two straight boxing matches and hasn’t looked the same since a loss to Joe Calzaghe in 2006. On the other, as much as Diaz works his stand up and trains with excellent boxers, Lacy has a huge experience advantage over him in the “sweet science,” having posted over 200 amateur bouts and a 25-4 professional record (17 (T)KO’s).

Said another way, even if Lacy hasn’t looked anywhere near as good as he used to, he’s still a guy that has gotten in there with the likes of Jermain Taylor, Robin Reid, Peter Manfredo Jr., Joe Calzaghe, and Roy Jones, Jr. So it’s no surprise that if the money is right, Lacy is down with the idea of taking on the Strikeforce champion.

“Nick has accomplished a great deal in mixed martial arts and is certainly one of the best in the sport,” Lacy said in a statement. “But getting in the ring with me for a boxing match is a path he needs to be very wary of taking. I’m willing to put it all on the line anytime, anywhere.”

“For the right price, I’m more than interested in heading to his turf and putting my fist in his mouth and silencing him.”

Some might compare what Diaz is planning to do with what James Toney tried to do in reverse when taking on Randy Couture at UFC 118, but the majority of this is vastly different. Toney had almost no MMA training coming into his fight with Couture; whereas if Diaz does jump into the boxing world, he’s already got a ton of training and even a professional bout under his belt. In other words, there’s a world of difference between he and other professional MMA fighters taking the plunge, as friend and teammate Gilbert Melendez said on Inside MMA recently.

“I know I can’t hang with (top level) pro boxers, I’m realistic, I know I’d get smashed,” Melendez said. “Nick Diaz goes (to) spar with Andre Ward and to me is the best 167 pounder in the world out there and he survives. He has bad days; he might even have good days and that’s the toughest guy in the world. If he can hang with him and have good days against him, I think Nick Diaz will do just fine with someone like Fernando Vargas and a lot of guys out there. (Diaz) spars a lot of tough guys. He’s already doing it, he’s already there. He’s also not naive about stuff, so I think it’ll be great for him.”

In the end, Lacy at his best, even now, will likely be a tough pill for Diaz to swallow. Diaz might be best served with a couple tune up fights beforehand; though that isn’t what he’s going to do- remember, he’s clearly seeking high sums of money here. Still, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Diaz perform admirably, as his toughness, cardio, and general background says this is possible.  But Lacy is a very fast and bold move for him to make in the boxing world at this juncture.

Looking forward to seeing what happens.

We head first to Bleacher Report for a full list of “Diaz vs. Daley” medical suspensions, which stand as such:

Nick Diaz is suspended 60 days, with no contact for 60 days due to eye lacerations. Paul Daley is suspended 45 days, with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons. Tatsuya Kawajiri is suspended for 45 days, with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons. Keith Jardine is suspended 60 days, with no contact for 60 days due to right-eyebrow and nose lacerations. Hiroyuki Takaya is suspended 60 days, with no contact 60 days due to right-cheek laceration. Brett Albee is suspended 60 days, with no contact for 60 days due to nose and temple lacerations. Saad Awad is suspended 180 days, with no contact for 180 days due to fractured right hand, though he can be cleared early by a physician. A.J. Matthews is suspended 45 days, with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons. Paul Song is suspended indefinitely due to a possible right-elbow injury, though he can be cleared early by a physician.

Up next is a ratings breakdown courtesy of MMA Junkie. According to their report, the Showtime broadcast of “Diaz vs. Daley” averaged just over 525,000 viewers, with over 800,000 viewers tuning in to watch the night’s main event. Also according to their report, the rating was good enough to put “Diaz vs. Daley” in the top 5 most-watched Strikeforce events in the history of their partnership with Showtime, coming in at number four.

Above all else, I think these ratings perfectly demonstrate the drawing power of Nick Diaz. Wait, let me rephrase that: they reaffirm the drawing power of Nick Diaz. If MMA Junkie’s numbers are correct, that means that three of the top five most-watched shows in Strikeforce history have been headlined by Nick Diaz: “Diaz vs. Daley”, “Diaz vs. Cyborg”, and “Miami”, which featured a main event between Nick Diaz and Marius Zaromskis.

Laugh at him and make fun of him all you want, but I think these numbers prove that Nick Diaz wasn’t joking when he claimed to be the most underpaid and over-trained MMA fighter right now. The man is a wrecking machine on legs, and he’s the most dominant champion in Strikeforce history. I think it’s high time we all started giving Nick Diaz a little credit. He may give the occasional bizarre interview, but does any of that really matter when he steps into the cage and keeps on delivering?

Overall, I’m very glad Strikeforce earned such a high rating. With this being the first “Arena Series” show under Zuffa management, I was certainly hoping that the number would be high. Moving forward, I think Strikeforce will continue to put on fantastic shows so long as Strikeforce remains Strikeforce. What happens when the Showtime contract is up is anyone’s guess, but for now, I’m content to sit back and enjoy the ride for however long it lasts. Because ever since Strikeforce emerged as a top-level promotion, it’s been one of the best rides going.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts to the medical suspensions or the ratings?

Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez, teammates under the infamous Cesar Gracie brand, were both successful in their respective title bouts, with Diaz laying claim as one of the best and most dangerous welterweight fighters in the world with his first-round TKO over UFC castout Paul Daley, and Gilbert with his highly anticipated rematch with Japanese sensation Tatusya Kawajiri, which resulted in a one-sided TKO win for “El Nino”.

While the two men were perhaps among the nights most impressive winners, they were also among the top-earners for the entire event.

Here are the full fighter payouts, which are courtesy of MMAJunkie.com by way of the California State Athletic Commission:

Nick Diaz: $175,000 (no win bonus)
def. Paul Daley: $65,000

Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus)
def. Tatsuya Kawajiri: $97,612.50

Gegard Mousasi: $150,000
drew Keith Jardine: $25,000

Shinya Aoki: $73,637.50 (no win bonus)
def. Lyle Beerbohm: $10,000

Robert Peralta: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus)
def. Hiroyuki Takaya: $2,740

Virgil Zwicker: $3,000 ($1,000 win bonus)
def. Brett Albee: $1,000

Joe Duarte: $2,000 ($1,000 win bonus)
def. Saad Awad: $1,500

Herman Terrado: $1,500 ($500 win bonus)
def. A.J. Matthews: $1,000

Rolando Perez: $3,000 ($1,000 win bonus)
def. Tom Peterson: $1,000

Casey Ryan: $2,000 ($1,000 win bonus)
def. Paul Song: $750

So, MMA peeps, any surprises here? What stands out first for me is Mousasi’s payday. So, had he won, how much money would he have made? Should his pay scale be more than that of Nick Diaz? Sound off in the comment section below.

Many were split on who would come out victorious come last Saturday. Many pointed to Diaz’ lack of takedown ability coupled with Daley’s punching power as variables that would sway in favor of the Brit, however the Stockton native played fire-with-fire and though he survived a scare earlier in the round, he came back with a vengeance to claim a TKO win in the waning moments of the bout.

Just moments after the bouts conclusion, Diaz can be seen pointing and shouting in Daley’s face as he sat stunned atop a stool inside the cage. So could you imagine what would happen should the two men meet later in the hotel after the fight?

At the weigh-ins is when the tension first began to mount. As far as normal Nick Diaz standards go, he was relatively calm leading into his bout with Daley, with neither man really taking any jabs against one another, however all of the respect went out the window when the two men were first introduced face-to-face opposite of one another, screaming verbal obscenities towards one another.

The fight, however, took on a life of it’s own. During the ceremonial staredown, Diaz stood face to face with his opponent, taking his last moments to put in a few expletives towards the way of Daley who in return just smiled and welcomed the violence that was about to come his way.

During the bout, the two men stood toe-to-toe for the the entire round, with Daley dropping Nick early with a powerful left hook that sent him crashing to the canvas. Diaz quickly recovered, came back to his feet to record the TKO win.

Needless to say, both men should have been sour towards one another, so when I first heard word that the two men met in the hotel just moments after the fight was over, I was almost certain that there would be an immediate rematch taking place right then and there.

However, in this clip captured by MiddleEasy.com, both men immediately embrace and congratulate one another on a fight that will be remembered for a long, long time.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of this side of Daley and Diaz? I was pleasantly surprised. There is more than meets the eye with both men. Sound off in the comment section below.

The win helped extend a 10-fight win streak for Diaz which dates back to a controversial loss due to cuts when he fought KJ Noons back in the EliteXC days in 2007, though Nick has since avenged the loss by dominating Noons en route to a decision victory last October.

Now on the heels of his third title defense, Diaz has already fought three-times in the last six-months, and though he has looked ultra-impressive, head trainer Cesar Gracie believes that the best is yet to come. Time to give the champ a break.

“As far as Nick is concerned, I’m thinking about taking him off the schedule for a while, giving him some time off”, said Cesar during an interview with MiddleEasy.com, who were on scene for the action last weekend in San Diego.

The numbers show that Diaz is one of the most popular fighters on the strikeforce roster. Among the top-5 highest rated shows in the company’s history (broadcasted on Showtime), Nick has graced three of the five. His last outing with Daley peaked at over 806,000 viewers, which according to MMAJunkie.com, coincided with the main-event of the evening (Diaz and Daley).

So of course, why wouldn’t Strikeforce and Showtime want to keep Diaz busy? He’s arguably their biggest star on the roster. However, if Cesar, his trainer who doubles as his manager, has it his way—Diaz won’t be gracing the cage anytime soon, and will be taking a much deserved break from action.

“Even though he looked great out there, we’re not seeing the best Nick Diaz”, asserted Gracie.

“He never has anytime between fights. He’s just got a fight, another fight, and it’s training…it’s kind of tough. He needs to back up a little bit.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Should Diaz take a step back and watch the dust settle for the welterweight class? How did you think he performed last Saturday? Sound off in the comment section below.

5. Jorge Masvidal

Masvidal limps in at number five due to several facts. First and foremost, he’s only had one fight in Strikeforce. Also, he was recently defeated by Paul Daley, and we all know (or should know by now) what Nick Diaz did to Paul Daley. But I have to admit, Masvidal does have some drawing power, and despite my issues with the man, he could one day become a Welterweight contender. So long as Diaz remains champion for the rest of the year (which he probably will), I can see Strikeforce giving Masvidal a shot at the belt by the end of 2011 or the start of 2012.

4. Jason Miller

This fight seems less and less likely to happen, which is why it’s taken a tumble from the last time I did a “Top 5 Opponents for Nick Diaz”. But still, if it ever did happen it would probably be one of the biggest fights of the year. These two men absolutely loathe each other, and would like nothing more than to knock each other’s heads off if given the chance. It’s just unfortunate that they may never get that chance.

3. Ben Askren

Whenever talks emerge surrounding a Bellator vs. Strikeforce superfight, it always seems to be focused on a fight between Gilbert Melendez and Eddie Alvarez. But this is one cross-promotional fight I would also love to see. Ben Askren really impressed me at Bellator 40, and as a stocky wrestler that knows how to get in and out of some very intricate positions on the ground, he could be a perfect foil to Nick Diaz. Can Askren deal with Nick’s power? Can Nick lock a submission in on a notoriously slippery wrestler? I’d certainly love to find out.

2. Tyron Woodley

The reason Tyron Woodley is ranked above Ben Askren is because this fight is more likely to happen. In fact, this is the likeliest fight to happen out of all on this list. Woodley is undefeated both in Strikeforce and as a whole, and much like Askren, he’s a very dominant wrestler. But unlike Askren, Tyron has shown some pretty decent power in his hands. He even has a bit of a submission game. With his undefeated record and his history of stoppages, Woodley is honestly Strikeforce’s best bet moving forward.

And my personal pick for the #1 opponent for Nick Diaz is…

1. Georges St. Pierre

It’s time to unify the belts. Gilbert Melendez will have to wait until the UFC’s Lightweight Championship scene figures itself out, but what about Georges St. Pierre? What else is left for GSP if he beats Jake Shields in front of 55,000 screaming Canadians? This is the fight everyone wants to see and deserves to see now that Strikeforce and the UFC are operating under one umbrella. It’s worth all the trouble and legal mumbo-jumbo. This fight needs to happen.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Who would you like to see challenge Nick Diaz?

Nick Diaz, the regining Strikeforce welterweight champion, arguably had his toughest test to date when he met with UFC castout and perennial top-10 fighter Paul Daley last Saturday.

While both men shared the edge in experience, it would look as if on paper Daley would hold the advantage when it came to the stand-up department, as he is known as one of the more pure striking specialist in the MMA world. However, in true Diaz fashion, the Stockton native fought fire with fire and engaged his opponent in a fight that would easily have won the “Fight of the Night” award, had Zuffa implemented such an award for Strikeforce, though in the future it might become a very serious possibility.

While Diaz is known for his style of fighting which is categorized as nothing less than “electrifying”, everyone knew the smart thing to do for Diaz would be for him to clinch to Daley, wear him down, and eventually work for the takedown. Whether or not Nick fought the way he did for the fans or not, it certainly felt that way, as the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt stood toe-to-toe with “Semtex” for the entire bout.

Diaz began getting the better of the exchanges, using his reach (though it held no advantage over Daley) coupled with his height in order to wing shots to both the head and the body. Just as Daley seemed to be withering against the cage, he uncorked a powerful left hook that sent Diaz crashing to the mat. However, just moments later Diaz regained his composure and Paul failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

Back to the feet the two met again, with Nick again working Daley against the corner. Punches in bunches had the Brit again reeling, and once a short right-hook landed in an exchange for Diaz, Paul clinched immediately. Once separated, Daley immediately stumbled back, falling face first to the canvas—a consequence of the repeated blows. Diaz pounced immediately, and with only three-seconds left in the round, Nick claimed the TKO stoppage once referee “Big” John McCarthy deemed the former Cage Rage champion unable to continue.

While the stoppage has been panned as a bit “premature” initially, replays reflected that Daley was not intelligently defending himself and thus justified the ending.

With the win, Diaz remains undefeated in Strikeforce with a perfect 5-0 record over notables which include former UFC champ Frank Shamrock, Scott Smith, DREAM titleholder Marius Zaromskis, former EliteXC champ KJ Noons (which helped Diaz avenge his last loss), “Cyborg” Santos, and now Daley. It’s an impressive list for Diaz, and while Paul tasted defeat by form of knockout for the first time in his MMA career, he has little to be ashamed of as he put on one of the most memorable bouts in MMA history, which will be talked about for years to come.

Sound off in the comment section below.

Coupled with his world class skills which consist of his a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a professional boxing background, Diaz is perhaps known for both his exciting style of fighting as well as his sometimes not-so-personable personality.

In the lead up to his fight with Paul Daley, which will be an attempt to successfully defend his welterweight title for a third time, Diaz has done the whole press thing. Answering the same questions over and over again, and that’s just fine by him. It’s part of the job. But when Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com approached the Stockton native yesterday on his thoughts on the upcoming title bout, Diaz had plenty to say for the 2010 “Journalist of the Year”.

In the moments leading to the bout, Diaz has heard little ramblings here and there from Ariel, who is revered as one of the leading men in the media side of the mixed martial arts community. During the pre-fight interview, Nick suggests that Ariel’s style of interviewing gears towards pitting fighters against one another, and simply put, Nick Diaz don’t play that, homie.

Not in the usual Diaz fashion, there has been very little back-and-forth between neither Nick nor Daley, who in the past have been known for their verbal assaults on their respective opponents, though the weigh-ins yesterday painted a different story—nonetheless, they have both been relatively mild mannered heading into their main-event match, which takes place later tonight.

However, Helwani tried to drudge up the reasoning behind why Diaz may have laid back on those verbal attacks, which were on full display like in his matches with KJ Noons or Frank Shamrock. From there, Diaz took the opportunity to call out the privy journalist on the spot and did not hold back any punches, figuratively speaking of course.

“I feel like you instigate fights quite a bit…that’s your job, but where I come from, people like that get slapped”, exclaimed Diaz with a smile on his face as Helwani initiated conversation with the champion.

Helwani’s style of interviewing is one to be admired in the mixed martial arts community, where the Canadian has a way of pulling memorable moments from each fighter whom he engages in conversation, however to make a story sometimes one needs to be stoked like a budding fire.

Often times, to gain a more compelling interview, Helwani will use quotes from an opposing fighter in order to being a more lively interview about–such was the case when in an earlier conversation, Daley went on to say that he would “knock out” the iron chinned Diaz, which would later prove to be not quite the case.

“You’re the only one that started any (expletive) talking about this fight, that’s what I’m saying”. exclaimed the Stockton native.

So, MMA peeps, once you’ve seen the video in the link above–what did you think of the conversation between Diaz and Ariel? Both sides I feel like have their own opinions, and in a sport like mixed martial arts, tempers can be heated, but it looks like Helwani wasn’t “slapped” after all—but should he have been? Sound off in the comment section below.

The Cecil Peoples Award For The Best Display Of Utter Blindness And Ineptitude: The judges who scored the bout between Gegard Mousasi and Keith Jardine a Draw. I keep having to hand this award out, and it keeps infuriating me each and every time. Even with Mousasi losing a point for an illegal upkick, there’s no way this fight was anything other than a commanding victory for Mousasi. Gegard got taken down a few times, but Jardine was a bloody, bruised mess by the end of this fight. It was another fight plagued by horrendous judging, and a further reminder of why I’m so very glad that most Strikeforce fights nowadays don’t go to the judges.

The Phoenix Award: Shinya Aoki, who breathed new life into his career with a thrilling first-round submission over Lyle Beerbohm. Aoki displayed that his ground game is still as flawless as ever, and that he could one day possibly be a major star in Strikeforce. Strikeforce is definitely in need of more stars in their Lightweight division, and so long as Aoki is used correctly and given opponents where his ground game is allowed to shine, Aoki could become Strikeforce’s Lightweight “submission magician”.

The Evil Mirror Universe Award: This is a reference to a classic Star Trek episode, and it goes to Gilbert Melendez because of how he rocked a goatee and showed up a very different fighter at “Diaz vs. Daley”. Melendez was always tough and loved to brawl, but he showed up to this event wanting to knock Tatsuya Kawajiri’s head off. It honestly startled me to see Gilbert Melendez go headhunting, and in fact, this was only the third first-round stoppage of his career. While his performance was radically different than what I’m accustomed to, it was also a fantastic performance, so it deserves to be highlighted as much as possible.

The “So Close And Yet So Far Away” Award: Paul Daley, for hurting and nearly finishing Nick Diaz several times throughout their epic first-round encounter. Daley had Diaz in a whole lot of trouble at several different points in this fight, but somehow he was unable to bring the fight to a close. He certainly came close, but whether it was Diaz’s ability to adapt when the fight went to the ground (even if the fight went to the ground because Diaz was floored) or Diaz’s near-impenetrable chin, the fight did not end with Daley as champion. But it certainly could have.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. And remember, it’s all in good fun… mostly. What about you? Any thoughts/opinions ready to be shared?

Let’s begin as we always do: by putting the fight into context.

Paul Daley was known for his one-hit knockout power heading into his championship bout with Nick Diaz. However, he was also known for his fiery temper, which got him kicked out of the UFC. Nevertheless, Daley boasted an impressive win-streak, having won his last four fights and eight of his last nine fights. Those eight victories included seven stoppages, which included six first-round stoppages.

His opponent, Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz, also boasted an impressive win-streak of his own. Diaz had won his last nine fights, during the course of which he became the first-ever Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and then proceeded to defend it twice. Much like Daley, Diaz had finished a large majority of those fights: eight of nine, in fact.

And then the fight began, and everything fans wanted to see happen, did happen.

Nick Diaz doing what he always does and starting the match taunting his opponent? Check.

Daley landing several big blows that nearly toppled Diaz’s reign? Check.

Diaz keeping the fight standing in order to give fans one of the best brawls of the year? Check.

A very, very dramatic stoppage? Oh yes.

The end of the fight came after another scary close call that had Nick Diaz wobbly and wounded. But eventually Diaz was able to close the distance and land his trademark “punches in bunches”, attacking Daley from all angles and hitting him at multiple areas of his body. Whether it was a slip, fatigue, or Daley being stunned and/or rocked, Daley would end up falling to the canvas shortly after shoving Diaz away from him. Diaz would pounce, land several more hard fists, and force the referee to stop the fight with only three seconds left on the clock.

There are already some fans out there claiming that it was an early stoppage, even Daley himself seems to think so. But here’s what I remember. While Team Cesar Gracie was busy in post-fight celebration, I clearly remember the Strikeforce cameras cutting to Paul Daley. And I also clearly remember Paul Daley needing help from several men in order to make it to his corner’s stool. That, above all else, leads me to believe that this was definitely a fair stoppage.

With this victory, Nick Diaz has become the best fighter in Strikeforce. He’s ran through his division. He’s defended his championship more times than any other champion in Strikeforce history. In an era where even the UFC’s champions can lose their belts in their first defense, Nick Diaz has defended his belt three times. He may be difficult to deal with, he may be controversial, a large section of the fanbase may hate him. But none of that really matters. What does matter is what happens in the cage, everything else is just filler and pre-fight hype. And inside the cage, Nick Diaz is one of the best fighters in the world. There’s not a single doubt in my mind that he deserves “Best Performance of the Night” for Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who took home your unofficial end-of-night accolades?

1. Lyle Beerbohm – surprising he went down so easily, I thought he would give Aoki fits with his smothering style.  Japan’s finest executed quickly with the Rear Naked Choke.  Two losses in a row for LB.  His tremendous surge up the ranks has been stopped cold with two losses in a row.

2. I thought Jay Hieron lost to Weedman?  Am I alone?  Hieron won round 1 with his reversal on the ground and near choke out but then lost two close rounds to Weedman who controlled the pace and showed more aggression, moving forward in round 2 and 3.

3. Sorry for this Ben Askren. But, wearing my “commentary” hat today, and pure wrestling apparently is very effective for you … yet terribly hard to watch as a fan.  You are so dominating as a wrestler, which is to your credit, but the fun of watching MMA is for the surprise, waiting for the unknown to happen.  Your dominating take down/ground control style wins points and fights, but not fans.  It is what it is!

4. Gegard Mousasi is the Roger Federer of MMA.  Forget that he won his fight against Keith Jardine but it was called a draw due to a low kick.  But is there anyone who expends less energy fighting than Mousasi?  He keeps his system so calm, he breathes easier and just seems less stressed, internally, than his opponents.  He seems not to waste any movement. For any tennis fans out there – Roger Federer is known for almost never physically sweating.  Really, the man rarely perspires.

5. Gilbert Melendez. What can you say?  The most impressive take away for me is the pace he fought at.  Once he started to fight he gave his opponent very little time to regroup.   From a viewing standpoint that is fun.  Constant fury.  Not exchange, rest, exchange, rest … ETC.  Melendez should be a Dana White favorite going forward.

6. Nick Diaz.  Wow.  I have always loved this kid.  I love he talks trash in and out of the cage and it is real, not fabricated to sell fights.  I love that he loves body shots.  I love that he did not run from his opponent’s biggest strength and out punched a puncher.  George St. Pierre would have made this a boring ground fight as he did with Dan Hardy.

If Nick Diaz can play the media game and not piss off Dana White, a huge future lies ahead.  But, then again, that inner rage and loose cannon style is why we love him.  Don’t go changing Nick!

7. What in the world is Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez thinking today?  All the worlds’ best 155 pounders are in UFC/Strikeforce.  Until he leaves his safe haven of Bellator, he will not be in the top ten discussion.

8. Strikeforce, I think, took a huge step forward on Saturday as a product that is nearly the equal of the UFC re: the talent level of the belt holders.  Soon, all this will be irrelevant, maybe – unless they find value in keeping the two different labels for marketing purposes in squaring off the champions in a Strikeforce Vs. UFC type series before they formally become one.

Start chirping.  Am I on point here?

5. Shinya Aoki’s domination of Lyle Beerbohm.

Shinya Aoki is an interesting case of “what should have been”. Or at least, that’s generally how fans thought of him before this fight with Lyle Beerbohm. Now fans are thinking of Aoki as a case of “what still might be”. Shinya Aoki may never be a multi-dimensional threat, but last night he proved that no one save for the best in the world can hang with him on the ground. So long as Strikeforce utilizes him correctly, they can look forward to many more first-round submissions. Aoki’s heartfelt performance combined with an emotional post-fight celebration was a great way to start the night.

4. Gilbert Melendez’s “Hellbows”.

I’ve made it no secret that I loathe Mauro Ranallo. But I agreed with him on this matter: Gilbert Melendez’s vicious, vicious elbows, the ones that put an end to his fight with Tatsuya Kawajiri, deserve to be called “Hellbows”. I remember emphatically telling my friend “This is what you get when you allow elbows on the ground!” It was a very dramatic finish, and if it weren’t for the Zuffa brass doing away with the Strikeforce-only rule that prevented such a strike, it may never have happened. I for one am very, very glad that elbows to the head on the ground are now legal in Strikeforce.

3. Keith Jardine taking Gegard Mousasi to a three-round decision.

Let’s put aside our feelings of anger over this fight going to a Majority Draw. If you can do that, then answer me this: how tough is Keith Jardine? The man took the fight on ultra-short notice, and he still managed to take down Mousasi several times throughout the fight. He finished the fight a swollen, bloody, and tired mess… but he did not go down. He did not submit and he was not knocked out. Jardine has the heart of a warrior, and seeing him reaffirm that at “Diaz vs. Daley” was honestly a great moment even when taking into account the horrendous decision.

2. Gilbert Melendez’s call to unify the UFC and Strikeforce championships.

I want it, you want it, everyone wants it. But Gilbert Melendez voiced it. It’s one thing for fans and journalists to get together and call for action. It’s another thing entirely when one of your most high-profile champions, one of your biggest stars, takes the microphone in front of a live audience, in front of hundreds of thousands of fans watching live on Showtime, and asks for some unification bouts. Melendez’s performance will have everybody talking for weeks to come, but his post-fight call to arms for a “Strikeforce vs. UFC” war will likely have people talking for months.

And my personal pick for the best moment of Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley” is…

1. Nick Diaz finishing Paul Daley.

In February 2006, Paul Daley lost by TKO due to a dislocated thumb. It was the first and only TKO on Daley’s record. That was the case… until last night. Last night, Nick Diaz fought Paul Daley’s game, survived Paul Daley’s best shots, and then served up his own unique form of brutal punishment. Whether it was the killer body blows or the hard shots right to the dome, Daley ended the fight staggered and defeated, needing help to even make it onto his corner’s stool. Nick Diaz dropping and stopping Paul Daley was by far the best moment of “Diaz vs. Daley”.

So there you have it, fans and friends: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from “Diaz vs. Daley”. But what about you? What do you think everyone will be talking about in the days/weeks to come?

Next for Lyle Beerbohm: I’ll make this short and sweet: Lyle Beerbohm is headed back to Strikeforce’s “Challengers” series of shows. I hate to say that about a man I’ve found so entertaining, but there’s really no other option for him after Shinya Aoki made such quick work of Beerbohm. I definitely think Beerbohm could one day be a major player in Strikeforce, but for now, he’s best served filling the co-main or main event slots of a “Challengers” show.

Next for Shinya Aoki: Aoki’s future is a bit uncertain. Aoki’s home is the Japanese-based DREAM promotion, but Japan is still dealing with its numerous tragedies, and DREAM has been plagued with rumors of its financial demise for the last several months. If not Japan, Aoki’s next fight will definitely take place in Strikeforce, since Aoki breathed new life into his career at “Diaz vs. Daley”. Aoki may not be ready for another shot at Gilbert Melendez, but he proved that he’s still very much the “Master of Flying Submissions”.

Next for Keith Jardine/Gegard Mousasi: Each other, which is why I’m grouping them together. Keith Jardine will likely postpone his move to Middleweight for one more fight, in order to give fans a firm winner. I know Gegard Mousasi can beat Keith Jardine, and I think we all know Mousasi should have won that fight. But at “Diaz vs. Daley”, Jardine showed that he’s still game, and that he can take on anyone at any time. I say: give Jardine a full camp to prepare, and let’s see who wins the rematch.

Next for Gilbert Melendez: What’s left in Strikeforce’s Lightweight division? “El Nino” has pretty much done it all, and his performance at “Diaz vs. Daley” was one of the most dominating of his career… and Melendez was coming off nearly a year-long layoff. Melendez needs to take on Bellator’s Eddie Alvarez, because there’s very few people left in Strikeforce that could conceivably pose a threat to him.

Next for Paul Daley: “Semtex” will likely take one or two fights in Britain before making his Strikeforce return in the late summer or early fall. Expect Daley to get some more (T)KO’s on his record and then show up ready to take on someone like KJ Noons or Evangelista Santos. So long as Daley makes weight and isn’t involved in any more post-fight shenanigans, Daley will have a home in Strikeforce so long as Strikeforce remains Strikeforce.

Next for Nick Diaz: Much like Gilbert Melendez, I’m struggling to find a worthy opponent for Nick Diaz in Strikeforce. Diaz is now the most dominant Strikeforce title holder in the history of the promotion. I supposed Tyron Woodley would be an interesting match-up. But I think it’s high time that Nick Diaz moves up to Middleweight or a 180-pound catchweight. Whoever he fights there is up to him.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? What do you see happening in the near and not-so-near future of the big winners and losers of “Diaz vs. Daley”?

Virgil Zwicker defeats Brett Albee via TKO at 1:46 of Round 1. Joe Duarte defeats Saad Awad via armbar submission at 2:45 of Round 2. Herman Terrado defeats AJ Matthews via TKO at 4:16 of Round 1. Rolando Perez defeats Edgar Cardenas via Unanimous Decision. Casey Ryan defeats Paul Song via triangle at 1:39 of Round 1. Robert Peralta defeats Hiroyuki Takaya via Split Decision. Shinya Aoki defeats Lyle Beerbohm via submission at 1:33 of Round 1. Gegard Mousasi and Keith Jardine fight to a Majority Draw. Gilbert Melendez defeats Tatsuya Kawajiri by TKO at 3:14 of Round 1. Nick Diaz defeats Paul Daley via TKO 4:57 of Round 1.

I was very, very surprised that it only took Shinya Aoki a minute and a half to submit Lyle Beerbohm. But it was a pleasant surprise. For all his flaws, part of me still very much enjoys watching Shinya Aoki fight. This fight once again proved that Aoki’s ground game is without question one of the best in the sport. It was a dramatic performance for the Japanese fighter, and with the rumored downfall of the Japanese-based DREAM promotion, I can see Aoki finding a new home and new life in Strikeforce.

I thought Gegard Mousasi would win this fight. I knew Keith Jardine would make him work for it. What I didn’t know is that my respect for Jardine would grow higher while my hopes around Mousasi being a good opponent for current champion Dan Henderson crashed and burned. Mousasi displayed great striking, as always, but Mousasi also displayed an inability to deal with takedowns. I was very surprised that the fight ended in a Draw, and I think that was the final straw in killing Mousasi’s comeback hype.

Ring rust may be real… but Gilbert Melendez is much, much realer. Without a doubt, he deserves to be ranked near the top of the Lightweight division… not just in Strikeforce, but in all of MMA. I honestly don’t know what’s left for him in Strikeforce. I want Melendez to finally get the chance to fight Bellator’s Eddie Alvarez. But no matter what happens, Melendez proved tonight that he’s one of Strikeforce’s best fighters.

And in the main event, Nick Diaz and Paul Daley simply gave Strikeforce fans the best round of the year so far, one of the best rounds of the past several years in fact. I was biting my nails when Diaz decided to strike with Daley, and I was very, very worried about Paul Daley stopping Nick Diaz. He certainly came close. But then Nick Diaz did what he does best, he landed a crazy number of shots, remained focused, remained tough, and finished Paul Daley. It was an amazing performance, and there can be no doubt: Nick Diaz is the best fighter in Strikeforce.

Overall, this was a great night of fights for Strikeforce. Shinya Aoki grabbed a very dramatic finish, while Gegard Mousasi and Keith Jardine was a tough war that really displayed Jardine’s heart. And there’s one word that perfectly describes Gilbert Melendez’s performance: perfect. And as for Nick Diaz, what’s left to say? Love him or hate him, loathe him or revere him, Nick Diaz is for real. He’ll fight your fight and knock you out. Laugh at his interviews if you want, but no amount of money will ever convince me to step into a cage against Nick Diaz. Not even for a minute.

And what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of “Diaz vs. Daley”?

Is it wrong that I still like Shinya Aoki? I know he’s been faltering a lot lately, I know he’s done some stupid things, I know his stand-up is utterly atrocious. But I still love it when he gets a fight to the ground and is able to work his wizardry. This is the guy that gave us the Mounted Gogoplata, remember? Aoki may have taken a tumble down the rankings, but when he gets the fight in his comfort zone he’s a very entertaining and incredibly dynamic performer. So part of me does still honestly hold out hope for the “Tobikan Judan”.

I feel like some of my comments I’ve made towards Keith Jardine could be construed as disrespectful, so I apologize if it came off that way and I would like to once again state that I consider myself a fan of Keith Jardine. It is quite saddening that my opinion of him has become so deflated. At one point, I considered Jardine a very under-rated and under-appreciated fighter. But now? It’s going to be a long, hard road back to relevancy, and Gegard Mousasi is a former champion. Part of me really, really hopes Jardine pulls off the upset, but the other 99% of me knows that that’s almost impossible.

Am I a bit angry at Gilbert Melendez? Maybe I am. He did take almost a year off, and his fight with Eddie Alvarez never materialized. It may be unfair to blame Melendez considering how insanely difficult it must be to make a co-promotional champion vs. champion super-fight happen, but I just generally don’t like it when a fighter takes a prolonged absence that isn’t injury-related. I’ve made some exceptions, of course, but normally I don’t. However, I will say that a rusty Melendez should be more than capable of beating Tatsuya Kawajiri so long as he doesn’t get caught and puts Kawajiri on his back with regularity.

Nick Diaz isn’t knocking out Paul Daley. I’m sorry, but, it’s just not happening. I’m one of the biggest Diaz supporters out there, but Nick Diaz’s style prides itself on cumulative damage that takes a few rounds to really start hurting the opponent. That just isn’t going to work against a striker like Daley, who has demonstrated an iron chin for most (if not all) of his entire career while also demonstrating true one-hit knockout power. Diaz is far, far more likely to submit Daley than he is to (T)KO him. And no matter what, I’m still in Nick’s corner and I can’t wait to see him win again.

And that’s that, fans and friends: my final say on “Diaz vs. Daley”. But what about you? Any last thoughts on the card?

5. This will be the first “Arena Series” event under the Zuffa umbrella.

While “Challengers 15” holds the distinction of being the first-ever Strikeforce event now that Strikeforce exists as a subsidiary of Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, this will be the first major show of Strikeforce’s “Zuffa Era”. “Challengers 15” didn’t feature a whole lot of changes, other than the obvious rule change about elbows to the head on the ground now being allowed, but that could be due to the fact that “Challengers” is and always will be the “B” show. There’s still a chance that we could see some pretty big changes to the way Strikeforce presents itself, and that’s a pretty alluring reason to give this show a watch.

4. What’s left of Shinya Aoki?

A few years ago, Shinya Aoki’s ground game was approaching “legendary” status. It didn’t matter that he had terrible stand-up because he always found a way to get the fight to the ground and work his magic. Then several things all happened to cause Aoki’s star to come crashing back down to earth: he got KO’d by Hayato Sakurai and then had an atrocious match with Vitor Ribeiro, he became a “bad boy” only to get dominated by Gilbert Melendez, and on New Year’s Eve 2010, he embarrassed himself before getting KO’d once again. Now Aoki is set to face Lyle Beerbohm, a rising star that is hungrier than ever considering he just lost for the first time ever. It’ll certainly be interesting to see if Aoki has anything left to give, because if he doesn’t, this fight should prove once and for all that Aoki’s one-dimensionality has finally caught up to him.

3. How on earth does Keith Jardine survive against Gegard Mousasi?

I like Keith Jardine, I really do. But Jardine just barely put two wins together after losing five, count ‘em, five straight fights. It’s great that Jardine is on a two-fight win-streak, but when you put it into context, those wins are the beginning of a long, hard climb out of “rock bottom”. This fight against Mousasi just isn’t one that Jardine needs if he wants to keep the win-streak going. Jardine is tougher than almost anybody and will also fight everybody, so he definitely gets my respect for taking this fight. I can’t see him winning, but part of me hopes he proves me wrong, and all of me knows that he’s going to make it a fun fight no matter what happens.

2. Will Gilbert Melendez dominate even though he’s been gone for almost a year?

With the skill and technique he’s demonstrated in Strikeforce so far, Gilbert Melendez could stay a champion for a long, long time. But it’s been almost a year since he last fought, and as I keep saying, ring rust is very real. Tatsuya Kawajiri is still a good fighter, and he can still be a threat to Melendez if Melendez shows up rusty. And getting to see which Gilbert Melendez shows up at “Diaz vs. Daley” is one of the biggest reasons to check out this show.

And the number one reason to watch Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley” is…

1. Diaz. Daley. ‘Nuff said.

Now this is a main event. In one corner, you’ve got the powerful champion that’s absolutely wrecked everyone he’s ever been paired up against in Strikeforce. In the other, you’ve got a man with over twenty KO’s on his record and a very high-profile mean streak. If Diaz takes this fight to the ground, this could be one of the most dominating performances of the year. If it turns into a brawl, it could be one of the best brawls of the year. There’s only one way to find out, and that’s definitely the main reason to tune in and watch “Diaz vs. Daley”.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see “Diaz vs. Daley”. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event?

Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley: This one’s the million-dollar question of the night. Here’s how I think it will go: I think Diaz will put the ego away and focus on his counter-striking. Daley will land, but he’ll never land with the kind of power to one-hit KO Diaz. He might stagger Diaz, but Nick will go into survival mode and take Daley down. If Daley doesn’t land that kind of shot, Diaz will take him down anyway just because he can. Once Diaz realizes how easy it is to put Daley on his back, he’ll keep doing it. Nick Diaz wins by Submission in Round 3, possibly Round 2.

Gilbert Melendez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri: Although he’s primarily known as a striker, the last time “Crusher” Kawajiri (T)KO’d anyone was in 2009. In fact, the last time he was able to string together at least two straight (T)KO wins was in 2006. Worse yet, Melendez already holds a victory over Kawajiri. There’s a chance that Melendez will show up rusty and Kawajiri will nail a KO blow, but I just don’t see that happening. Gilbert Melendez will win this one by Unanimous Decision.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Keith Jardine: It’s too much and too soon for “The Dean of Mean”. Since getting the boot out of the UFC on the heels of a four-fight losing-streak that saw him get KO’d twice, Jardine has gone 2-1 on the regional circuit, beating two non-entities and losing to Trevor Prangley. It truly pains me to say this, but I don’t think Jardine has done anything to deserve a fight with a former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. If Jardine wins this one, I’d be beyond shocked. I’d even be surprised if he makes it out of the first round, which I don’t think he will. Gegard Mousasi wins by first-round TKO.

Shinya Aoki vs. Lyle Beerbohm: If this was a few years ago, back when Aoki was tearing people’s limbs off with reckless abandon, I’d immediately call for Beerbohm to lose by submission. But not only has Aoki slowed down a bit, several of his glaring weaknesses continue to be exploited, namely his relatively weak chin and his nearly-nonexistent stand-up game. I think Beerbohm will have to fight through some submission attempts, and I won’t rule out Aoki grabbing something and forcing the tap, but my gut and my head are in agreement: Beerbohm will more than likely be able to dominate Aoki standing as well as on the ground, all the while avoiding and/or eventually breaking any submission attempts. Lyle Beerbohm wins by Unanimous Decision.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? Who do you see winning, and why, at Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”?

The Event: Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”, currently scheduled for April 9, 2011 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. The main card will be broadcast live on the Showtime network starting at 10:00 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: This is the first “Arena Series” event after Zuffa’s surprise purchase of the Strikeforce promotion. Also, two championships are on the line, with two of Strikeforce’s biggest and brightest stars taking on some pretty tough challenges. As if that wasn’t enough, former UFC star Keith Jardine makes his Strikeforce debut by taking on former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley is being marketed as one of the biggest matches of the year, both for Strikeforce and for MMA in general. While it may not quite measure up to some of the UFC’s mega-matches planned for this month and beyond, it’s definitely one of the biggest matches Strikeforce could make at this point in time. At least for Strikeforce, it doesn’t get much bigger than putting your best, most marketable, most notorious champion against an iron-fisted knockout artist that is almost as notorious.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Gilbert Melendez looks to make the second defense of his Strikeforce Lightweight Championship after unifying the belt back in 2009. Much like his first defense, Melendez will take on a Japanese import. But unlike his fight against Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri is an exciting brawler that loves to knock people out. And Melendez has been out for almost a year. It’s a fight where anything is possible, and it should be one of the night’s most entertaining bouts.

Why You Should Watch This Card: Simply put: there are two titles on the line, featuring two of Strikeforce’s best fighters facing legitimate, tough challengers to their championships. You’ve also got the aforementioned Jardine/Mousasi bout, which should be a real proving point for both men. It remains to be seen what happens if Jardine wins, but if Mousasi wins he’ll most likely be getting a shot at the title. And you’ve even got ground wizard Shinya Aoki taking on Lyle Beerbohm, who recently suffered his first loss in a great fight with Pat Healy.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: Here’s some rare criticism of Strikeforce: if all four of these televised fights go the way assorted fans are predicting they’ll go, we’re in for a night of mismatches. Don’t believe me? If Nick Diaz takes Paul Daley to the ground, it’s all over. If Gegard Mousasi can keep the fight standing against Keith Jardine, it’s all over. If Gilbert Melendez can outwrestle Tatsuya Kawajiri, it’s all over. If Shinya Aoki can get and keep Lyle Beerbohm on the ground, it’s all over. All of the fights could be competitive, or they could end up being like the recent Anthony Johnson vs. Dan Hardy fight. I’m not saying they will turn out like that, and I definitely still have a lot of faith in Strikeforce, but I do feel the need to point out that the possibility is there.

Closing Thoughts: In the end, I think Strikeforce’s recent track record of incredible shows more than earns them the benefit of the doubt for this show. In fact, I’ll go one step further: I think this could end up being one of the best Strikeforce events of 2011. Not only do I think the fights will live up to their potential, I think a few of them will even exceed it. I’m very pumped for this show, and I look forward to tuning in and watching live.

And what about you, fans and friends? What are your thoughts on “Diaz vs. Daley”?

April 9, 2011 – “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley”: Nick Diaz looks to become the most dominant champion in Strikeforce history by defending his Welterweight Championship for a third time. Standing in his way is iron-fisted power-puncher Paul Daley. Also on the card, Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez defends his championship against international star Tatsuya Kawajiri.

April 9, 2011 – “Bellator 40”: Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren fights grizzled veteran and former champion Nick Thompson in a non-title bout. Also in action is another tough veteran, as Jay Hieron fights for his shot in the finals of the Bellator Welterweight Tournament against Brent Weedman. And Michael Chandler fights Lloyd Woodard to determine one of the finalists for Bellator’s current Lightweight Tournament.

April 16, 2011 – “Bellator 41”: Both the Bellator Bantamweight and Featherweight Champions will be in action, although in non-title bouts. 125-pound champ Zach Makovsky fights Chad Robichaux while Joe Warren fights Marcos Galvao. Also, both the Featherweight semi-final match-ups are scheduled for Bellator 41, with Daniel Straus taking on Kenny Foster and Wilson Reis fighting Patricio Freire.

April 23, 2011 – “Bellator 42”: The Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final round is scheduled for Bellator 42. Richard Hale will be taking on DJ Linderman while Tim Carpenter faces Christian M’Pumbu.

April 30, 2011 – “UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields”: In front of over 55,000 fans in Toronto’s Rogers Centre, UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre will defend the title against multiple-promotion champion Jake Shields. Also, Featherweight engine of destruction Jose Aldo makes the first defense of his newly-minted UFC Featherweight Championship against Mark Hominick. And to top it all off, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida will face legendary UFC Hall of Fame member Randy Couture.

And now, here are some thoughts on how I think the month of April 2011 will unfold.

I’m really looking forward to “Diaz vs. Daley”, it has the potential to be perhaps the best event Strikeforce has given us in 2011 so far. I think the main event will be an excellent fight, and I think Diaz will be willing to stand and trade with Paul Daley just to prove that he can.

The month of April will be a good time to be a Bellator fan, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the Bellator champions compete, even in non-title bouts. The semi-final match-ups of Bellator’s various tournaments all have serious potential, and as a whole, I think April 2011 will be a very good month for the upstart promotion.

I can’t even begin to imagine how utterly insane UFC 129 will be. GSP/Shields, Couture/Machida, and Aldo/Hominick could have all been the main event of a Pay-Per-View on their own, but the UFC saw fit to cram those three mega-matches inside the sold-out Rogers Centre. I truly believe this will be a massive turning point for the UFC, it may even go down as the most important UFC event since UFC 100. I absolutely cannot wait for this event.

And what about you, fans and friends? What MMA events are you looking forward to in April 2011?

Diaz will probably have to fight Jorge Masvidal.

The first thing on everybody’s minds if Diaz beats Daley will certainly be who he fights next. And given the nature of Strikeforce’s Welterweight division, Diaz has some slim pickings. As much as I dislike him both as a fighter and as a person, I have to admit that Jorge Masvidal stands out as one of the most-likely candidates for a title shot.

Diaz will also probably have to fight Tyron Woodley.

Another very likely candidate is the currently-undefeated Tyron Woodley, who has been lighting it up in the “Challengers” series of shows and is perhaps only one more fight away from a title shot. Woodley’s record stands at a perfect 6-0 in Strikeforce and 8-0 overall, with six stoppage wins (five by submission, one by TKO). Woodley is also a high-level wrestler, and would be a very different challenger for Diaz, stylistically, than any of the fighters he’s faced to both win and retain his championship.

Diaz will officially become Strikeforce’s most dominant champion.

If Nick Diaz defeats Paul Daley, it will mark the third time that Diaz has successfully defended his Welterweight Championship. That’s the most successful title defenses any champion has ever had in Strikeforce since the promotion’s inception. That’s no small feat when you consider that Strikeforce didn’t even have a Welterweight Championship until Diaz fought and beat Marius Zaromskis for the vacant title in 2010. In just over one year, with just one more victory, Diaz will become the most dominant champion in Strikeforce history.

Nick Diaz will move up to 185 at least once.

What’s left for Nick Diaz at Welterweight, aside from the aforementioned Masvidal and Woodley? Not much, if we’re being honest. So I think Nick Diaz will make his move up to 185 for at least one more fight, or perhaps a 180-pound catchweight. Diaz has pretty much ran through his division, but there’s a lot of challenges and big-money encounters left for him at Middleweight. So he’ll probably make the switch, even if it’s just a one-off deal, before long.

Nick Diaz still won’t fight Jason Miller.

I know, I know. Everyone wants to see this fight. You best believe I want to see it to. But it’s just not going to happen. Or at least, there are several strong factors holding it back from happening. First and foremost, Nick Diaz wants a truckload of money to make this fight happen. It’s always tough to navigate those kinds of political waters, but maybe the recent purchase of Strikeforce by Zuffa will smooth things a bit. But then there’s the second, equally-large problem: even though he’s a recognizable name, one of the most-recognizable in Strikeforce in fact, Jason Miller hasn’t done anything in Strikeforce to warrant a shot at Nick Diaz. Both men absolutely hate each other, but Miller has fought in Strikeforce twice, and his record of 1-1 isn’t anywhere close to Diaz’s Strikeforce record of 5-0. Everyone will still be talking about this match, but it still won’t happen. At least not in the immediate future.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Any predictions for what the future holds if Diaz beats Daley?

He’s proven such accolades in the past, as he has taken fights in the lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, and even light heavyweight division. So now with the acquisition of Strikeforce into the Zuffa fold, things have gotten a little bit skewed once again.

The loyalty that him and his team (Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu) share is undeniable–arguably the most loyal team in the sport of mixed martial arts. When Jake Shields and Nick Diaz were both under the Strikeforce banner, Shields moved up to the middleweight class exclusively, just so he can avoid having to run into his teammate, and eventually both men became champions.

So when people ask whether Diaz will fight any of his teammates, the answer is clear. So in Diaz’ opinion, were Rashad Evans and Jon Jones ever “real teammates”? Definitely, not. Because that’s not loyalty.

“They’re not real training partners though,” said Diaz during a recent conference call leading up to his fight with Paul Daley on April 9, regarding Evans and Jones.

“You don’t understand, they’re like 10 years apart for one and they didn’t grow up training together. That guy’s just brand new into the sport. He’s just doing whatever, they’ve got him busy making photo shoots and press conferences, and conference calls and all this.”

Diaz went on to explain more about his training styling’s and highlighted the fact that the wars he has with his brother Nate Diaz, and his best friends Gilbert Melendez and Shields are the only fights that you will see any of them in. Real teammates do not fight each other, is a point he tries to make clear.

“That’s what they’ve got them doing and they’re not focused on what’s important to them in life. I’ve got what works, and I’ve got what’s got me there and that’s my team. That’s a disgusting thought to have to fight my brother. I don’t even appreciate being asked about that,” said Nick.

Thank to MMAWeekly.com for the transcribe from the teleconference.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the whole “not fighting teammates” routine? Does it hurt the sport? I think in some cases, it’s not necessary, but when their all under the same roof and if they all reach the top of the division, questions will begin to arise. Sound off in the comment section below.

5. Will “punches in bunches” work against a fighter that’s never been KO’d?

Much has been made of Nick Diaz’s punching style, and I’ll be the first one to say that I find it very effective and surprisingly powerful. Diaz’s strikes may look like pitter-patter shots at first glance, but they do a large amount of cumulative damage and it’s resulted in him earning five of his nine most-recent wins by (T)KO. But will that style of striking work against a man who has only ever been TKO’d once? And not even properly TKO’d, Daley’s lone TKO loss was due to a dislocated thumb. Diaz will have to land an even bigger number of shots, more than he’s ever nailed before, if he ever hopes to crack Daley’s granite chin.

4. Paul Daley’s massive size could allow him to bully Nick Diaz.

Daley’s continuing battle to successfully make 170 is a hindrance, of that there can be no doubt. But it has its benefits. Daley may have missed weight recently, but the three most-recent examples of Daley missing the scales? He won all three of those fights, two of which were by first-round highlight-reel KO. Daley’s sheer muscle mass could allow him to bully the smaller, lankier Diaz. It’s not for certain, but if that does indeed end up happening, that’s a big advantage that Daley will have over Diaz.

3. Nick Diaz has never faced a striker as good as Paul Daley.

I referenced this in the first part of today’s two-parter, and now I get to properly do this reason justice. Paul Daley has twenty wins by (T)KO. Think about that for a second: that’s four times the amount of wins he has by decision, and ten times the amount of wins he has by submission. And when you consider that those submission wins were due to strikes, you could say that Daley actually has twenty-two (T)KO’s. The term “knockout artist” is given out a bit too readily these days, but Paul Daley defines that term. If you give him a chance, he will knock your head off of your shoulders. And striking-based fighters give Daley that chance countless times, which is why…

2. Paul Daley shines against strikers.

Paul Daley may forever be a one-dimensional fighter, but when faced with a fellow striker, it’s no contest: the other guy is the one that goes down. Consider his recent victory over Scott Smith, the “Comeback King” of Strikeforce. There was no comeback in that match: Daley’s fist met Smith’s head, Smith’s head met the Strikeforce canvas. Nick Diaz may be a high-level Brazilian Jui Jitsu fighter, but he also loves to strike. And Paul Daley loves to knock out strikers.

And the number-one reason Paul Daley could beat Nick Diaz is…

1. One hit knockout power could be deadly against a fighter that normally has to eat a few to get fired up and unleash his full potential.

Scott Smith is no Nick Diaz, but both men share a common trait: they have to eat a few in order to fully realize that they’re in a fight. In particular, both Nick and his brother Nate Diaz are guilty of taunting opponents and basically giving them free shots. This usually results in said opponents taking those free shots, which focuses the Diaz brothers and allows their true potential to shine through. But will that work against Daley? Can Diaz afford to eat even one single, well-timed punch from a striker famous for being able to knock men out with a single blow? If Diaz gets even a little bit cocky, Daley could turn out the lights. And let’s be honest, Diaz has been accused of being too cocky for a long time.

And that’s that, fans and friends. While I’m obviously pulling for Diaz, I won’t deny that this should be a very competitive match. And what about you? Who’ve you got winning, and why?

5. Paul Daley was rushed to a title shot because they’re running out of interesting opponents for Nick Diaz.

Paul Daley had one fight in Strikeforce and was immediately awarded a shot at the title. Granted, that one win was a highlight-reel KO, but is one fight really enough to prove that Diaz is ready for a shot at the championship of a high-level promotion? Plus, that one fight was against Scott Smith, who had just gotten TKO’d by Cung Le and had lost two of his last three fights before meeting Daley. The fact that Daley may not be able to deal with the pressure of rocketing to the top is a key weakness that, if present, Diaz can wholeheartedly exploit.

4. Paul Daley continues to have issues with his weight.

Paul Daley has missed the mark and tipped the scales over his weight class five times in his eleven most-recent fights. He missed weight in Shark Fights, he missed weight in his recent fight at BAMMA, he even missed weight in his high-profile run in the UFC. If Daley comes into this fight overweight, this may even be changed to a non-title bout. Even if he does come in at weight, it’s becoming painfully obvious that the monster weight cut he must undergo leaves Daley very gassed if the fight goes past the first or second round. And this is a five-round fight… if Daley makes weight.

3. Nick Diaz has faced experienced strikers before.

The last five opponents Nick Diaz has faced have all been high-level strikers. Scott Smith has fourteen wins by (T)KO. Marius Zaromskis has twelve. Hayato Sakurai has eleven. KJ Noons has seven and has competed as a professional boxer. Evangelista Santos has eleven. Daley is certainly more imposing with twenty wins by (T)KO, and I’m not arguing that that’s not an impressive number. It’s very impressive that Daley has KO’d so many people, and I’ll talk about that a little later. But what I am arguing is that Daley isn’t bringing anything to the table that Diaz hasn’t seen before, except for stronger and harder fists.

2. Nick Diaz hasn’t lost in over three years.

That’s when he lost to KJ Noons due to a cut, a decision that’s still debated to this day. But a loss is a loss, and what’s remarkable is that Diaz hasn’t posted up a loss since that one way back in 2007. Since then he’s been on an absolute monster tear, finishing people left and right in a variety of ways. Diaz has fought and won nine times since that loss, with eight stoppage victories. Diaz is quite likely one of the most legitimate champions in MMA and especially in Strikeforce. This is arguably the toughest test of Daley’s career.

And the number-one reason Nick Diaz could beat Paul Daley is…

1. If this fight goes to the ground, consider Daley submitted.

Here’s the best way I can describe Paul Daley’s lack of ground game: this Achilles Heel is as big as the Trojan Horse. Time and time and time again, this is the one aspect of the game that Daley has shown a supreme susceptibility to. It doesn’t matter if it’s against submission specialists or high-level wrestlers, if the fight goes to the ground and Daley goes on his back, he’s not a dead man walking, he’s a dead fish flopping. Daley’s lack of ground game is by far his biggest weakness, especially against a Cesar Gracie-trained grappler with eight submission wins on his record who just got done submitted a striking-based challenger. If Diaz plays it smart and takes this fight to the ground for the entire fight, Daley will eventually serve up his neck, a limb, or a ligament on a silver platter.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. Stay tuned for the reverse, soon to follow. But what about you? What are your thoughts on this upcoming match-up?

Before I begin, I’d like to point out that I’d like to see all five of these matches no matter when they happen and no matter who holds what championship in whichever division. Also, this list doesn’t take into account the army of dominoes that would have to fall into place for many of these fights to occur. In a perfect world where there are no such things as contract disputes and everyone can fight everyone else at their best, these are the five fights I want to see the most.

5. Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez

I think of this match and I can’t help but smile. I also can’t even begin to imagine the potential insanity both men could unleash in the cage against each other. Gilbert Melendez is Strikeforce’s best Lightweight by far, while Anthony Pettis has fully and finally reached top-division status after an amazing five-round war with Ben Henderson. This fight would probably set the standard for years to come.

4. Quinton Jackson vs. Muhammed Lawal

It’s two of the best characters in MMA fighting each other… what’s not to love? Also, let’s not forget that both “Rampage” and “King Mo” love to bang and would probably spend every single second of this fight trying to knock each other’s heads off. Plus, I can’t even imagine how awesome the pre-fight trash talk will be between these two. Nothing about this fight or its build-up would be pretty, but entertaining? This fight has that in spades.

3. Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre

Although I don’t have a problem with taking a firm and even controversial stance on important issues, I’m not so rigid in my opinions that a fighter has no chance of winning me over. To this day, Nick Diaz stands out as the clearest example of that rule: I once utterly loathed him, but thanks in no small part to his many brilliant performances, I now consider myself a fan. I’ll go even one step further: he’s one of my favorite fighters, and currently one of the best Welterweights in the business. I’d love to see him fight GSP, who is already regarded as one of the best ever. Both men have a shot at winning this match, and I think Nick Diaz is one of the last, great challengers for GSP at 170.

2. Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar

This is the kind of fight where you wouldn’t be surprised if the ground shook the first time these two colossal titans locked horns. And that’s really the best way to describe these two hulking behemoths: they have a physique right out of Roman legends. And let’s not forget that these are two of the top Heavyweights in the business. Despite constant abuse from his cynics, Brock Lesnar is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and one of the highest-drawing UFC stars of all time. Despite constant accusations of chemical enhancement, Alistair Overeem is a K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, and the DREAM Interim Heavyweight Champion. This would be an awesome match no matter where both men are at in their careers when it does finally get around to happening.

And my number-one pick should come as a shock to virtually no one that’s followed me and my musings for any prolonged period of time.

1. Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko

When you talk about a “legacy fight”, this is what you’re talking about. Neither man has anything left to prove, both men will go down as one of the best in the history of the sport. However, I can and will admit that this fight doesn’t have the appeal it did back when Fedor was undefeated and Randy Couture was the UFC Heavyweight Champion. But none of that would matter if these two ever stepped into the Octagon against each other. I can’t think of a better way to end an era, as I think this fight would virtually close the book on Fedor’s and Randy’s careers. This fight still has an incredible amount of appeal, and it’s still easily the number-one “Strikeforce vs. UFC” fight I absolutely want to see.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What fantasy fights do you hope one day to see?

Courtesy of Strikeforce itself, there’s plenty of new info on their upcoming show on April 9. According to Strikeforce’s latest press release, the following four matches are now official for Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”.

In the main event, Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz defends the belt against British knockout artist Paul Daley. Also, Gilbert Melendez will put his Strikeforce Lightweight Championship on the line against “The Crusher”, Japan’s Tatsuya Kawajiri. In another co-promotional effort between Strikeforce and the Japanese-based DREAM promotion, Lyle Beerbohm will face Shinya Aoki. And finally, it’s been confirmed that Mike Kyle will face Gegard Mousasi at “Diaz vs. Daley”, with the winner most likely getting the first shot at Dan Henderson’s newly-won Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.

With just four matches, Strikeforce has already put together an event I have no intention of missing. These are fights literally exploding with potential. Lyle Beerbohm is coming off a fantastic (though losing) performance against Pat Healy, while Shinya Aoki is a dreaded submission master even though his stand-up isn’t anything to write home about (and that’s putting it lightly). Although both fighters have their flaws, this is a fight where their styles match up perfectly, so I’m expecting an excellent and supremely technical ground war.

I also love the idea of Mike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi, I think Mousasi is an incredibly tough opponent for Kyle while a win over Kyle will restore most of Mousasi’s luster. Many still think that Mousasi will one day be the future of the division, and many are now once again interested in Mike Kyle after a dramatic performance against Antonio Silva at Heavyweight, a bout that Kyle came very close to winning.

I’m also glad to see Gilbert Melendez back in action, although to be perfectly honest, I would have much rather had the long-hyped and fiercely-debated “champion vs. champion” bout between him and the Bellator FC Lightweight Champion, Eddie Alvarez. But this is not said to disrespect Kawajiri, I simply think that’s a better match. But it’s Kawajiri we’ll be getting, and I think he’s a pretty good replacement. He’s incredibly tough, a knockout artist, and one of Japan’s best.

And in the main event, we see two of the best strikers in Strikeforce battle it out with a championship on the line. This is a very interesting, potentially catastrophic match-up for Diaz. Nick usually has to take a couple to fire him up and really get him into his groove, but when you face someone that has one-hit KO power from virtually any angle, those are shots you can’t afford. I do think Nick Diaz can wear Daley down and even finish him, but I also think that Daley is going to have ample time to land that one huge sledgehammer that has made him so famous. It’ll likely be a strong candidate for “Fight of the Year”, and I can see myself biting my nails from the first second to the last.

And what about you, fans and friends? How excited are you for “Diaz vs. Daley”?

5. Stamina

To his credit, Diaz is rightfully known as a finisher, with twenty of his twenty-four wins coming by way of (T)KO or submission. But Diaz has also been the distance four times in his career, including a recent fight with KJ Noons that saw Diaz take a five-round Unanimous Decision. Throughout that fight with Noons, Diaz showed remarkable cardio and stamina while constantly staying active and constantly landing punches. Diaz could easily go twelve three-minute rounds and remain lethal each and every round, which you unfortunately can’t say for most pro boxers nowadays.

4. Elusiveness

Many boxing pundits love to point out how “MMA boxing” and the sweet science are vastly different, and let’s be honest, that argument does hold at least a modicum of merit. But the fact remains that Diaz is an incredibly elusive striker, and a very dangerous counter-puncher. He’s great at positioning his body in order to absorb a minimal amount of damage, and many times an opponent will try to hit Diaz and he’ll have dodged the strike completely. And that’s an invaluable tool to have no matter what striking-based sport you compete in.

3. Speed

Another invaluable tool that spans all striking-based sports is speed: the speed to close the distance, the speed to land punches quickly and accurately, the speed to quickly and safely disengage when not getting the best of the current hit-and-counter encounter. Diaz has shown aptitude in all areas where speed is concerned. He’s good at forcing opponents to engage, and he’s good at completely disengaging and usually not receiving any further damage on the rare occasions when he’s not getting the better of someone standing up. And to top it all off, his vaunted “punches in bunches” style prides itself on landing the highest amount of strikes possible in the shortest amount of time possible.

2. Strength

But fast punches don’t mean much if they don’t have any real power behind them, which is why strength outranks speed. But not only does Diaz possess the ability to land three or four or even five when most fighters land one or two, he also knows how to put some serious power behind each and every one of his blows. People sometimes criticize Diaz’s style by saying that he throws “pitter-patter” punches, but Diaz currently holds twelve (T)KO’s on his record and has been (T)KO’d only twice in his career… and one of those times was due to a cut. Obviously Diaz is doing something right.

But the number one reason why I think Nick Diaz would be a successful boxer is…

1. The Current State of Pro Boxing

Yes, fans and friends, I’m officially pulling “that” card. In today’s world of pro boxing, even the champions take on the occasional tomato can. Some of them can even be outright accused of fighting cans almost exclusively. Most of the time championships don’t matter much anyway because there’s far too many of them currently in circulation for any of them to hold any real value. If Diaz made the transition to pro boxing he would almost immediately be fed a steady diet of sacrificial lambs, and he’d likely get a pretty solid record together before taking on anyone who poses any sort of serious threat to him.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Could Nick Diaz cut it as a professional boxer?

According to MMA Junkie, the Showtime broadcast of “Diaz vs. Cyborg” was watched by as many as 850,000 people, which is the number of fans that tuned in to watch the main event, which saw Nick Diaz successfully defend his Strikeforce Welterweight Championship against a game (but clearly outmatched) Evangelista Santos. The report also states that the show averaged about 561,000 viewers for the entirety of its broadcast. It should be noted that these are some of the highest ratings Strikeforce has ever gotten for their live, televised events on Showtime.

I’m very glad this show turned in such an awesome number. I very rarely side against Strikeforce (although I did so recently, read more about it here) and as a big Strikeforce fan, this number gives me a lot of hope for the future. I hope Strikeforce continues to push forward with big events and huge ratings for the remainder of 2011, especially when it comes to their upcoming shows centered around the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. I remain very excited for this tournament, and I hope it delivers both in terms of fight quality and in generating interest and new fans.

I also think these numbers speak volumes about Nick Diaz’s power as a top-drawing star. Diaz has been a part of several of Strikeforce’s highest-rated shows, and the evidence clearly points to something I’ve also been saying for quite some time: love him or hate him, people will watch Nick Diaz fight. Sometimes controversy really does create cash, and if anyone had to be the guy with the bullseye on his back, I’m glad it’s someone as skilled and at such a high level as Nick Diaz.

So, in all honesty, I think Strikeforce should spare no expense to keep Nick Diaz gainfully employed. If the highly-anticipated grudge match between Nick Diaz and Jason Miller is ever going to come to fruition, Strikeforce will have to pay Diaz a sizable sum. But who else is realistically worth the green? Even with stars like Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem on the roster, what’s the one match everyone always clamors for, that always drums up interest and intense debate? It’s always Diaz vs. Mayhem. So I say: pay the man.

All in all, I’m glad that “Diaz vs. Cyborg” was such a success in terms of ratings, attendance, live gate receipts, and everything else that’s being reported on. I think Strikeforce needed a big show to start them off in 2011, and they most certainly got one. It will be very interesting to see where they go from here, and I certainly can’t wait to see what the future holds.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your take on the “Diaz vs. Cyborg” rating?

Outside of Diaz himself, Daley is the only other world ranked welterweight fighter that the organization currently has under roster, and Nick has stated on several occasions that those are the sort of fights that he is specifically looking forward to.

Last Saturday, the Stockton native defeated PRIDE veteran Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos with a second-round arm bar, with a performance lauded by the mixed martial arts community as another classic Diaz performance, full of action throughout. However, one man was not nearly as impressed by the the title affair: Paul Daley.

MMAFighting.com was able to catch up with the controversial slugger where he gave his thoughts on the championship bout.

“I hit unlike any other welterweight in MMA. I will knock Diaz out. I will knock him out”, began the UFC cast out.

“Nick doesn’t have great wrestling. Most of his takedowns come from the clinch or he’s dropping guys with bodyshots, but that ain’t gonna happen with me. Yeah he’s fast but he’s not explosive like me when it comes to MMA. He’s got great conditioning, yeah, but what happens when I’m moving three or four times as fast as anybody he’s fought in the past? How’s he going to deal with that?”

Granted, it was exciting, but it wasn’t one of Diaz hottest performances, where he took an insurmountable amount of leg kicks, though he was still able to outbox the Chute Boxe fighter, and eventually lock up a fight ending arm bar after Santos foolishly went for a take down with 30 seconds left on the clock of the second-round.

Daley does present some interesting problems for the Cesar Gracie product. Coupled with solid takedown defense, “Semtex” is one of the hardest hitting men in the welterweight class, which is evident by his 18 career knockouts among his 26 victories. Technical and visceral in his approach, he will be one of his toughest challenges to date, at least that’s in my own humble opinion.

Paul will first face off against Yuya Shirai, a DREAM veteran, for the vacant BAMMA 170-pound title in Machester, England on February 26. His title shot with Diaz is contingent on whether or not Daley claims a victory over the Japanese fighter.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Daley’s quotes from MMAFighting? Most of it is just what a confident fighter says, where as the rest is what the Brit truly believes. Diaz hasn’t suffered a loss in his last 9 fights, and was only TKO’d once in his career against Jeremy Jackson back in 2002. Afterward, Nick would go on to beat Jackson twice over, first with strikes then via submission. Sound off in the comment section below.

Daley is a different kind of fighter.  In other words, he’s a dynamo on his feet, displaying awesome power plus outstanding technical striking.  Where Diaz has had a distinct striking advantage over most of his opponents during the aforementioned nine fight winning streak, he will not in this potential bout.  Which leads to a different kind of analysis.

Here are the three things that should make the difference if Diaz and Daley do get to throw down.

Wrestling: Here’s a fact- Diaz is a way better submission fighter than Daley.  In the end, he’s one of those guys that you simply do not want to hit the ground with for any length of time.  The Cesar Gracie product is flexible and outstanding technically.  But the problem for Diaz would be getting Daley to the ground, not fighting him once there. 

 ”Nick doesn’t have great wrestling,” Daley told The MMA Hour on Monday. “Most of his takedowns come from the clinch or he’s dropping guys with bodyshots, but that ain’t gonna happen with me. Yeah he’s fast but he’s not explosive like me when it comes to MMA. . .” 

So yes, the easiest way for Diaz to win this fight would be with a takedown, followed by a submission.  But Daley is right; that’s easier said than done.  If Diaz is not able to take him down early- which is a distinct possibility- then we move onto the next piece to the puzzle.

Toughness: Diaz has one of the best jaws in MMA.  He’s simply a tough hombre.  That said, guess is that his jaw would be tested by Daley early in their fight.  As was mentioned in the previous quote,  Daley is explosive.  He hits hard and fast.  That plus his solid technical stand up skills would likely translate to a couple of big shots landing on Diaz, particularly early on.  There is no doubt that the Cesar Gracie product has proved his mettle in the past, but Daley is a different kind of fighter.  Can Diaz withstand an early onslaught?  That will go a long way toward determining what happens in this potential battle.

Cardio: “He’s got great conditioning, yeah, but what happens when I’m moving three or four times as fast as anybody he’s fought in the past?” asked Daley, during the aforementioned interview. “How’s he going to deal with that?”

Daley is correct with his question.  But as explosive as he is, as fast as he is, those later rounds would likely belong to Diaz.  His cardio is simply amazing, and the longer he’s able to survive, come the third and fourth rounds, it’s likely that the tide would turn in his favor.  Those pitter patter shots of his would begin to hit their mark.  Daley would likely begin to tire, as seemingly all of Diaz’s opponents do.  And that would leave him open to punches and or that takedown which was likely all-too-hard to get earlier in the fight.

In the end, a Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley match up is interesting on numerous levels.  Diaz has probably never seen the likes of Daley’s striking/athleticism on his feet.  Daley has not gone up against a guy with the combination of mettle, cardio, boxing, and submissions that Diaz possesses.  Here’s hoping that the fight eventually goes down as hoped.

The Showtime televised event featured a dual-title headliner, featuring middleweight Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza successfully defending his title against veteran Robbie Lawler with a third-round rear-naked choke, as well as Nick Diaz dominating a game Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos en route to a second-round arm bar win.

And for their efforts, these men took home some of the evenings largest paydays, with the Stockton native taking a large portion of the $463,500 payroll.

MMAJunkie.com has reported the following figures which it had successfully obtained from the governing bodies of the California State Athletic Commission, who oversaw the event which was held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Cali.

Champ Nick Diaz: $150,000 (no win bonus)
def. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos: $20,000

Champ Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza: $85,000 ($15,000 win bonus)
def. Robbie Lawler : $65,000

Herschel Walker: $5,000 (no win bonus)
def. Scott Carson: $5,000

Roger Gracie: $75,000 (no win bonus)
def. Trevor Prangley: $30,000

Nate Moore: $4,000 ($2,000 win bonus)
def. Nathan Coy: $3,000

Isaiah Hill: $3,000 ($1,500 win bonus)
def. Bobby Stack: $1,500

Ron Keslar: $3,000 ($1,500 win bonus)
def. Eric Lawson: $1,500

Germaine de Randamie: $3,000 ($1,000 win bonus)
def. Stephanie Webber: $1,000

James Terry: $3,000 ($1,500 win bonus)
def. Lucas Gamaza: $1,500

Jenna Castillo: $3,000 ($1,500 win bonus)
def. Charlene Gellner: $1,000

So, MMA peeps, any surprises here from the figures? Anybody gaining more or less than what you expected? Sound off in the comment section below.

5. Herschel Walker steamrolling Scott Carson.

Say what you want about Herschel Walker’s skill level and the skill level of his opponents, but a dominant win is a dominant win. Walker’s performance was one of the best of the night simply because Walker continues to defy people’s expectations. He’s a physical marvel, incredibly humble, and decidedly vicious when it comes time to step into the cage and go to work. Against all odds and despite the harshest cries of his cynics, Walker continues to walk through opponents like it was easy, and that definitely made for a highlight of the night.

4. Souza’s constant submission attempts and Lawler’s uncanny ability to stave them off.

Ronaldo Souza defending his Strikeforce Middleweight Championship against Robbie Lawler was a great fight in general, but one of its best moments came late in the fight. Souza flawlessly and expertly applied a series of submission attempts, transitioning from one to the next with a speed that can only be described as lightning-fast. Somehow, someway, Lawler found a way to get out of each and every one. It made for some incredibly tense moments, and it was definitely a highlight of the night.

3. Roger Gracie giving the Gracie name hope for a new generation.

When was the last time you could truly consider a Gracie fighter as a top-ranked Mixed Martial Artist? The pioneers of the sport haven’t had a lot of luck adapting to the new generation: some have been successful only to falter in the end, others have had outright embarrassing performances before vanishing from the major MMA landscape entirely. Not true for Roger Gracie. Despite my early protests, Gracie is giving the family name hope for a new generation as he continues to face and defeat some of Strikeforce’s best mid-level Light Heavyweights. Gracie made it look almost too easy when he submitted Trevor Prangley. We may finally be seeing the rebirth of the Gracie name, and that definitely made for one of the best moments of the night.

2. Ronaldo Souza becoming a true Strikeforce champion.

I think Souza’s performance against Lawler was so great that he deserves two spots on this list. This performance signaled a change in my outlook on “Jacare”: I’ve gone from a respectful middle-of-the-road semi-follower to an outright fan of the man. Souza showed incredible heart and fortitude  when he staved off a Lawler blitzkrieg, he remained calm and collected throughout the bout and even kept the fight standing for awhile after coming so close to going out. Then to top it all off, he snatches up another submission victory. Souza is a true champion, and I’m proud to say that his fantastic performance at “Diaz vs. Cyborg” won me over as a fan.

And my top best moment of Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg” is…

1. This is why you don’t take Nick Diaz to the ground.

The official time of this bout’s end was listed at 4:50 of Round 2, meaning that Nick Diaz and Evangelista Santos had officially fought for nine minutes and fifty seconds. I want to say that roughly 9:40 of that 9:50 was fought standing up, with Diaz more-or-less dominating even though Santos threw up some good leg kicks. Then the fight went to the ground and it was over almost before I could blink. Everyone, including me, always talks about how Diaz is evolving into one of the best strikers in the game. This fight reminded us that Diaz’s submission skills have been and always will be as sharp or even sharper than his stand-up. It was a classic Nick Diaz performance, and it easily takes the top spot.

And what about you, fans and friends? What were your top 5 moments of the night for “Diaz vs. Cyborg”?

Next for Roger Gracie: Gracie isn’t ready for top-tier competition just yet, but he might be before 2011 is through. Gracie ran through a pretty talented veteran in the form of Trevor Prangley, I think Gracie should now take on a Light Heavyweight that, like himself, is a fast-rising relative newcomer that is on a good win-streak. In that regard, Ovince St. Preux fits the bill quite nicely. I think this would be an excellent test for both men and would truly test how multidimensional both men are. Even if it’s not OSP, I think big things are in store for Roger Gracie in 2011.

Next for Herschel Walker: Walker will fight at least one more time, you don’t completely run through two opponents just to call it quits no matter how old you are. Furthermore, Walker’s competitive nature will get the better of him once again: he’s had a taste, he wants more, and he’ll be back. For Walker’s third fight, Strikeforce may finally give him a somewhat-credible opponent. I’m a fan of the man and even I can admit that his name value has got him on Strikeforce shows, not the quality of the opposition he’s faced. In 2011, Walker will continue to be an interesting double-edged sword: many MMA diehards will still consider him a joke, but those willing to give him a chance will take what he’s done in stride and warm up to the idea of Walker being a great ambassador for the sport.

Next for Robbie Lawler: Lawler will bounce back from this as he so often has bounced back from other deflating losses. Strikeforce knows what they have in Robbie Lawler: an entertaining striker that’s not afraid to engage and enters the cage with the sole intention of either finishing or being finished. Even though he may never reach the top of anyone’s rankings, Lawler is an effective tool in Strikeforce’s arsenal and I see Strikeforce letting Lawler fight as many times as he wants to in 2011. Look for Lawler’s next fight to be against another heavy-handed striker, though, that’s usually where he shines brightest and that’s the kind of fight Strikeforce will use to help rebuild his reputation following his deflating loss to Ronaldo Souza.

Next for Ronaldo Souza: With this victory over Lawler, Souza is now a reigning and defending champion. “Jacare” proved that he can swim and not sink when Strikeforce throws their best Middleweights at him, so expect Souza to continue to be matched up in interesting fights against worthwhile competition. Maybe even a high-profile Light Heavyweight will drop down to challenge Souza. No matter who he faces next, look for Souza to continue to build his credibility with exciting fights which will one day help transform him into a real Strikeforce star.

Next for Evangelista Santos: I really hate to say this, but I think it’s my obligation to say what I mean and mean what I say. Santos never deserved a shot at the championship in the first place, and he’ll continue to plod along at or around the middle of the division for the foreseeable future. Santos is a good fighter overall and can look dominating at times, but he’s simply not at a high enough level to ever pose a serious threat to a top-ranked opponent. It’s all downhill from here for Evangelista Santos in 2011.

Next for Nick Diaz: Most likely it’ll be Paul Daley, which should be an amazing match-up so long as it stays standing. It’ll certainly be an incredibly short one if Diaz is able to take Daley to the ground. As I’ve so often been saying, Nick Diaz once again proved he’s one of the best Welterweights in the world. His reign as champion won’t be ending anytime soon, and look for 2011 to be The Year of Diaz. It’s Nick’s time now, and all Strikeforce welterweights need to know that the King isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think the future holds for the big winners and losers of Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg”?

Nick Diaz defeats Evangelista Santos by Submission (Armbar) at 4:50 of Round 2. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza defeats Robbie Lawler by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:00 of Round 3. Herschel Walker defeats Scott Caron by TKO (Strikes) at 3:13 of Round 1. Roger Gracie defeats Trevor Prangley by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:19 of Round 1. Nate Moore defeats Nathan Coy by TKO (Strikes) at 0:25 of Round 2. Isaiah Hill defeats Bobby Stack by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:02 of Round 1. Ron Keslar defeats Eric Lawson by Submission (Triangle/Armbar) at 1:57 of Round 1. Germaine De Randamie defeats Stephanie Webber by KO (Knees) at 4:25 of Round 1. James Terry defeats Lucas Gamaza by TKO (Strikes) at 3:26 of Round 1. Jenna Castillo defeats Charlene Gellner by KO (Knees) at 3:57 of Round 2.

I’ll start out by admitting that I was wrong in thinking that Trevor Prangley would beat Roger Gracie. It’s not the first time I was wrong, it certainly wasn’t the most high-profile time I was wrong, but I’ll eat my humble pie nonetheless and I have no problem admitting that Gracie obliterated my preconceived notions. I look forward to seeing what’s next for Roger Gracie, he seems to be a new Gracie for a new generation and I think that’s been a long time coming in modern-day Mixed Martial Arts.

I’m very glad Herschel Walker won again, and I hope he continues to fight for as long as he considers himself healthy enough to do so. I don’t know what the future holds for Walker, but I certainly wish him nothing but the best and I sincerely hope that this second fight was enough to change some of the naysayer’s opinions. Herschel Walker is the real deal, and while he may never hold a championship, tonight he fully and wholly earned the right to call himself a Mixed Martial Artist.

I’m very happy that Ronaldo Souza won, I think he’s a perfect fit for the Strikeforce Middleweight division and I think he’s definitely a worthy champion. A true champion doesn’t just survive under pressure, he thrives, and Souza came back from a Robbie Lawler blitzkrieg that has stopped so many of Lawler’s previous opponents. “Jacare” is much more than just submissions, even if he keeps living up to his “Alligator” nickname. With a tremendous amount of heart, a tough chin, some constantly-improving stand-up and some incredibly deadly submission skills, Souza has all the makings of a dominant champion.

The night ended with Nick Diaz proving once again why I think he’ll rule the Strikeforce Welterweight roster for years to come. There seemed to be very few holes in Diaz’s gameplan, he did eat some good leg kicks but he always answered back with punches. His ducking and dodging has never been better, and it was Diaz who had “Cyborg” backing up with those patented “punches in bunches” fists that hurt far more than they look. Diaz finishing the fight by submission was just icing on the cake, it proved that Diaz hasn’t forgotten his expert ground game in the midst of this new resurgence that’s seen him evolve into one of the best strikers in the game. If you’ll allow me one simple moment of fanboy bliss… I believe the saying goes “WAR DIAZ”, fans and friends.

As a Strikeforce fan, I really enjoyed this show. Every single fight ended with a finish! Fans were in for a real treat with this show, and Strikeforce is off to an awesome 2011. With the Grand Prix soon upon us, I think Strikeforce will have a banner year in 2011. It’s going to be an amazing ride, fans and friends. I’m certain of it.

And what about you? What did you think of “Cyborg vs. Diaz”?

Evangelista Santos, perhaps better known as simply “Cyborg”, was as the game as they come. The PRIDE veteran stalked Diaz early with fast-paced strikes, and was doing damage in spots, however the testament of Diaz’ fortitude was on display as he eventually found his opening and closed out the show in the end of the second-round.

Santos looked impressive early, utilizing his Chute Boxe background early on, throwing lots of kicks to the legs, hoping to hamper the mobility of the Stockton native. Diaz though, waded through and picked his shots. “Cyborg” would retaliate with wild hooks as Nick moved closer, however the 27-year-old eventually connected on a jaw-cracking right-hand that had the Brazilian rolling against the cage.

Evangelista was able to survive the early onslaught and made into the second-round. Diaz continued to pour on the pressure as he normally does, which is also a testament to his amazing conditioning as he kept the tempo of punches high, eventually forcing the 33-year-old to work the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt to the ground with only 30 seconds remaining in the round. For Nick, he only needed twenty of those seconds left in the round in order to quickly lock up a fight-ending arm bar.

Nick has not only cemented himself as the premier welterweight in the Strikeforce division as he has shown his obvious ground prowess coupled with a dangerous stand-up arsenal, but arguably one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.

Paul Daley will most likely be next for the Cesar Gracie product, should he get past his own title fight with takes place under the BAMMA banner this May in his native U.K.

So, MMA peeps, what did you think of Diaz’ performance? He never ceases to surprise me, and while his usual lack of defense has me cringing, he always finds a way to win. Who do you think he should fight next? Of course Tyron Woodley is still up and coming, however he has failed to record a victory over a world-ranked opponent, but that should be in his immediate future. Sound off in the comment section below.

Nick Diaz will be defending his welterweight crown against the resurgent Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos while Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza takes on former 3-time middleweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler.

All participants for tonight’s Saturday event, which takes place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, all successfully made weight–but it wasn’t without it’s problems.

The weigh-ins ceremony, as far as the main-card is concerned, went off without a hitch. Both Diaz and “Cyborg” came in under the required welterweight limit, both weighing in at a svelte 169.5-pounds. Both men gave an intense stare down, which helped solidify that the main-event of the evening will be fireworks as these two-dynamic strikers enter the cage.

Much like his usually stoic self, Lawler offered up a subdued stare down with his Brazilian foe, as the H.I.T Squad co-founder weighed in at 184-pounds while the Jiu-Jitsu specialist came in at 184.25 for the middleweight title affair.

Both Nate Coy and Jenna Castillo came in just over their respective weigh-limit, however had the chance to retry and just a few hours later hit their marks.

The rest of the weigh-ins are as follows, courtesy of MMAJunkie.com:

MAIN CARD

* Champ Nick Diaz (169.5) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (169.5)
* Champ Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (184.25) vs. Robbie Lawler (184)
* Herschel Walker (220.75) vs. Scott Carson (214)
* Roger Gracie (206) vs. Trevor Prangley (205.25)

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Nate Coy (170.5)* vs. Nate Moore (171)
* Isaiah Hill (155.5) vs. Bobby Stack (154.75)
* Ron Keslar (179.5) vs. Eric Lawson (180)
* Germaine de Randamie (135.5) vs. Stephanie Webber (135.75)
* Lucas Gamaza (171) vs. James Terry (170.5)
* Jenna Castillo (121) vs. Charlene Gellner (118)^
* Anthony Dariano (149.5) vs. Alan Perez (151) (a)
* Niko Jackson (166) vs. Ricky Jackson (164.5) (a)
* Sam Bracamonte (168) vs. Armin Safiari (169.5) (a)

* – Coy made weight on his second attempt after initially weighing one-quarter pound heavy
* – Castillo made weight on her second attempt after initially weighing one-half pound heavy

(a) – Amaetur bout

The CBS brawl–where Jason “Mayhem” Miller challenged then champion Jake Shields for a rematch amongst his posse of Cesar Gracie teammates in Nashville, Tennessee last April.

Well what ensued was a near riot, when the entire camp attacked Miller on national television. Those infamous Gus Johnson words keep rattling in my head “gentleman we’re on national television! Gentleman!”. But the fruit of such a riot contributed to now one of the most publicized feuds in the mixed martial arts world, and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker hopes to capitalize on it.

Nick Diaz currently serves as the promotion’s reigning (and soon to be defending) welterweight champion, while Jason competes in the organization’s ultra-competitive middleweight class.

The two fighters have had a hard time coming to terms on a proper weight-class to meet one another. Miller contends that it would be easier for Diaz to move up to the middleweight class, since he has come close to doing so on two separate occasions in catch-weight bouts with Frank Shamrock (180-pounds) and Scott Smith (179-pounds).

Pitting the two against one another has seemed like a losing battle in of itself, and while the CEO has remained patient on the sidelines, he’s ready to be more assertive if need be.

“Sometimes I’ll call Cesar (Gracie), but on that occasion I didn’t call Cesar and I let my guys handle it, and it was really close. I thought it was going to happen, but at the last minute it fell apart”, said Scott speaking of the anticipated match between Diaz and Miller.

“I know weight was definitely one of the issues…The weight they say ‘oh it’s only two pounds, three pounds, but you know what? When you’re two or three percent body fat, five percent body fat, there’s just not a lot to lose and we just couldn’t bridge the gap.

“In the future, I’d still like to put that fight together because I think they have some unfinished business with that match-up.”

Miller has perhaps been the one that is most interested in the match-up, which is evident through his online campaign, DontBeScaredHomie.com, dedicated to his fight with the Stockton native of the 209-area, even stealing one of Diaz’ infamous tag lines in hopes to escalate a future encounter.

While Nick has his welterweight title defense against Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos later on tonight and Miller has his own encounter with Tim Kennedy in March for the promotion’s Ohio event, the Diaz-Miller match is something the CEO would like to revisit once the smoke is clear following their respective bouts.

“That’d be my vote. To me whether it’s at a higher weight or a lower weight, those guys need to get it on”, said Scott.

“We all know what happened in Nashville, all the drama there, and he was after one of the boys of Nick and whatever happened, happened, and we’re all through with it, but I think the bad blood between those two guys is still there.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Coker’s views on the future match-up? Thanks to MMAWeekly.com for the transcribe. Sound off in the comment section below.

5. Two championships are on the line.

It’s always a special occasion when a championship is on the line. All the best fighters want one, all the best events are built around one. This card has two. A show with a championship on the line always seems to have a certain special aura, and this show should be no different. Everything seems and feels a little bit bigger when there’s gold on the line, and this show features gold going on the line twice in one evening. It should certainly make for some dramatic television.

4. Herschel Walker is controversial, but entertaining.

Whether you like him or loathe him, few people don’t have an opinion on former NFL great Herschel Walker. What will Walker do next as he continues this MMA excursion? Doesn’t part of you want to find out, even if it’s the morbidly curious part of you? Walker is an interesting man, and that’s made him into an interesting fighter, which should make his upcoming bout at “Diaz vs. Cyborg” against Scott Carson a (you guessed it) interesting encounter.

3. You can watch all the prelims online for free.

For those wondering where they can get all the details, please click here. In short: you could watch this entire fight card from beginning to end, from top to bottom, every single fight… if you were of the mind to do so. It’s not often that we get to see every single fight of a major MMA show, and to tell you the truth, I’m happy if all we get is two free prelims. Instead, we’re getting six. And six free fights online mixed in with four free fights on cable is a powerful one-two blow.

2. Robbie Lawler vs. Ronaldo Souza should be an awesome match.

While it’s undoubtedly one of the most basic match types in the entirety of MMA, the “striker vs. grappler” fight continues to be one of the ones that MMA fans look forward to the most. And while it’s unfair to say Robbie Lawler is purely a striker and Ronaldo Souza is purely a grappler, that is what this fight boils down to at its simplest and also at its most appealing. Can Lawler land that big punch? Can Souza lock in that big submission? This clash of styles is what MMA as a whole was built upon, and since both men are high-level fighters, this should be a very good encounter.

And the number one reason to look forward to this show is because…

1. Diaz vs. Cyborg should be a great war.

Leading up to this fight I’ve made two things clear: one is that I’m a big fan of Nick Diaz, the other is that I don’t think Evangelista Santos poses any great threat to the current Strikeforce Welterweight Champion. However, that doesn’t mean that I think the fight will be boring. In actuality, I see Cyborg fighting Diaz tooth-and-nail and giving us a great scrap between two gifted strikers. Even though I think “Cyborg” will be outmatched and outplayed, I’m very excited about this match and I think it’ll be a vastly entertaining brawl.

That’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What are some of the reasons you’re looking forward to Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg”?

Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista Santos: The best thing I can say about Evangelista Santos is that he’s the husband of my favorite female fighter, Cristiane Santos, who is also one of my favorite fighters period. Without an ounce of hyperbole on my part, I truly believe that Nick Diaz has Evangelista Santos beat in all facets of the game. From striking to tactics to pacing to cardio to ground prowess to everything in-between, this will be a classic Nick Diaz performance and the bad-boy we all either love or love to hate will give us another reason to keep actively discussing him. Diaz wins by second-round TKO.

Ronaldo Souza vs. Robbie Lawler: I think both men pose some very interesting threats to each other, which is why I gave this fight the “5 Reasons Why” treatment. Check out part 1 here and part 2 here. Now that I have to make an official prediction, here’s what I think will happen: I think Lawler will come out guns blazing and he may even score a big shot or two, but Souza will survive, take this fight to the ground, and work his game. That’s what I see this entire fight boiling down to: Souza will be able to survive Lawler’s onslaughts, but Lawler won’t be able to survive on the ground with “Jacare”. Ronaldo Souza wins by submission in the second, maybe third round.

Roger Gracie vs. Trevor Prangley: I think Gracie only has a passing interest in MMA, his flirtation with the sport seems to come and go. Trevor Prangley, meanwhile, is a very active veteran MMA fighter who’s coming off of a big win over former UFC star Keith Jardine. While Gracie will always hold the advantage on the ground, Prangley is too skilled in all major areas of the game. He won’t finish Gracie, and he may lose a round, but I see Trevor Prangley fighting a smart fight and winning via Split Decision.

Herschel Walker vs. Scott Carson: I’ve got a lot of respect for Herschel Walker, and I honestly think everyone else should too. He’s the first one to admit how inexperienced he is, but he trains like an animal and he trains at one of the best MMA camps on the planet. Walker will never be a big MMA superstar, and he knows it. Beneath all that humble attitude lies an MMA fighter with some rough edges, but with the raw power and surprising speed to overcome his hindrances. It wouldn’t surprise me if Walker was still greener than a forest when he steps into the Strikeforce cage for the second time, but it also wouldn’t surprise me to see the man win again. I’m picking Herschel Walker by first-round TKO.

And there you have it, fans and friends: what I think will happen (and why) for all the big fights of Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg”. But what about you? Who do you think will win at the event, and why?

The Event: Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg”, scheduled for January 29, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The four-fight main card will be broadcast live on the Showtime network starting at 10PM ET/PT.

Why You Should Care: Two championships will be on the line during the main televised broadcast, both the Strikeforce Middleweight and Welterweight Championships will be defended. The always-controversial Nick Diaz defends his 170-pound strap, while Ronaldo Souza defends his 185-pound belt against the hard-hitting Robbie Lawler. Former NFL great Herschel Walker will also make an appearance on the card, fighting in his second professional MMA bout.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Look for leather to start flying the second the first bell rings. Both men are technically brawlers, although their styles and methods of inflicting damage are vastly different. Nevertheless, both men are going to come out swinging, hoping to influence the pace of the fight and force their opponent into their world. It may not be long, but it’ll probably be bloody, and it’ll certainly be exciting.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Although Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza is primarily famous as a submission expert, his stand-up has shown some good improvement in his recent fights. But has it improved enough to where he can hang with a dangerous striker with vicious one-hit KO power? Robbie Lawler finds himself in a similar dilemma: does he go in throwing wildly, hoping that something hits? Is it worth it to risk being taken down if it means throwing with the reckless abandon that got him this title shot in the first place? There are several different ways this match could turn out, but since both men are high-level fighters, we’re practically guaranteed an interesting fight.

Why You Should Watch This Card: It’s two title fights, plus Herschel Walker, plus Roger Gracie. Both championship fights have the potential to last five rounds or five minutes, and that always makes for edge-of-your-seat television. Strikeforce seems to be amping up for a major 2011 in general, and this card should be a great indicator on what the future holds for the surging MMA promotion.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: It’s a pretty solid card for Strikeforce, but it’s clear that the A-Game is being reserved for the upcoming Heavyweight Grand Prix. If you wanted to, you could make a case that neither Evangelista Santos nor Robbie Lawler have done enough and beaten enough quality competition to deserve a shot at the title. And of course, many MMA fans still have their doubts and prejudices towards Herschel Walker. Those that do intend to watch the show will most likely be entertained, but I’ll be frank and admit that the show doesn’t have the kind of universal appeal that fuels a “must-watch” event.

Closing Thoughts: As a huge fan of Nick Diaz, I’ll tune in to watch him no matter who he’s fighting. I’m also a moderate fan of Ronaldo Souza, who I think has a tremendous ground game and has shown a lot of improvement in his stand-up recently. I also like Herschel Walker, so that’s another reason to tune in. This show probably won’t capture my imagination or dazzle my senses like the upcoming cards booked around the amazing Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, but it looks like a solid event from top to bottom and, at the end of the day, I’ve got a good feeling about this card.

And what about you, fans and friends? What are your thoughts on “Diaz vs. Cyborg”?