Strikeforce Diaz vs. Noons: KJ Noons - King Karl Needs a Throne

KJ Noons challenges Nick Diaz for the Strikeforce Welterweight title on October 9

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KJ stands for Karl James, but it might as well be “Killer Jab.” Noons is a pinpoint stand-up striker specializing in San Shou, Muay Thai and boxing, currently fighting for Strikeforce, and he is fighting for the welterweight title as he headlines Strikeforce: Diaz Vs. Noons II versus Nick Diaz, this October 9th live on Showtime. Considering how bloody their last fight was, this rematch is not for the faint of heart.

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Noons and Nick Diaz first threw down in November of 2007 at Elite XC: Renegade. To Diaz’s immense chagrin, the Elite XC ringside doctor called the fight at the end of the first round, due to a Grand Canyon-esque gash on Diaz’s forehead. It was grotesque. It was Diaz’s seventh loss and only the second loss of seven in thirty fights that he didn’t lose to decision. Notably, it was his last loss. That was 2007. Noons hasn’t lost since 2007 either; two fights prior to the Diaz match-up he face Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett, who felled Noons with a punch less than two minutes into the opening round.

Since then, fighting mainly at lightweight or at a 160-lb catchweight, Noons has amassed an impressive six-fight win streak. Diaz, Jorge Gurgel, and Yves Edwards have all been forced to bow to the crisp stand-up prowess displayed by Noons. Noons faced some controversy in his most recent fight versus Gurgel, as he appeared to hit Gurgel after the first round bell, and Gurgel took an apparently illegal knee as the fight ended.

Noons is 27, but he’s still a relative newcomer in the MMA fight game, despite holding and defending the now-defunct Elite-XC’s lightweight belt. He’s been a pro since 2002, but he didn’t fight in 2009 – which wasn’t his first vacation from MMA. Why? Noons is also a professional boxer with an 12-2 record, with 5 KOs. This is why we have not seen Noons in the UFC – he seeks the freedom to thicken his wallet in two paying martial disciplines.

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The bottom line is that Noons is a very accurate striker with KO power in every limb. in his second last fight, however, Conor Heun put Noons on his back in their June 2010 fight, and managed to keep Noons guessing on the feet. Noons eked out a split decision. Noons went on to defeat Jorge Gurgel by KO (Heun also lost to Gurgel). Noons is not invulnerable to a counter-striker, nor has he proven himself off of his back. If Noons wants to win, he needs to outstrike Diaz and stay on his feet. Since Diaz has the reach and size advantage, Noons needs to keep moving, work Diaz’s legs and body, counter strike, and punch in and out. In other words, a win for Noons would look a lot like Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn II.

By Roy Kok
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer