Strikeforce Diaz vs. Noons: Nick Diaz - Nick of Time

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

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Nick Diaz has the best scowl in MMA. He’s been a professional MMA fighter since 2001, so he’s had time to tweak it. In January of 2010, Diaz won the Strikeforce welterweight belt in a first-round beatdown of vaunted Marius Zaromskis, despite fighting his two prior matches at heavier catchweights. On October 9th, Nick Diaz defends his belt in a rematch against KJ Noons, who is moving up to 170 pounds to accommodate the veteran. Their first fight was at lightweight in 2007, where Noons dealt the hardy Diaz a knee to the forehead, which opened up a huge gash that was deemed stop-worthy.

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Diaz is a Cesar Gracie black belt. That sentence would normally finish an article about a fighter, but this is Nick Diaz. He trains out of Stockton, California, with his brother Nate (a UFC lightweight fighter), Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez. Don’t let the grappling prowess of his camp distract you. Diaz has developed a machine-gun, 1-2, herky-jerky punching style that has completely baffled and staggered notable strikers Marius Zaromskis and Scott Smith. Neither one had an answer for Diaz, and neither went to the mat with him. Diaz does triathlons in his spare time, so don’t be surprised if you see him run laps between rounds.

Although MMA is a surprisingly laid-back sport spectacle-wise, Diaz is no stranger to shenanigans. He has played a part in two on-screen post-fight brawls. The first involved his next opponent – and his dad – after Noons defeated Yves Edwards in Honolulu at Elite XC: Return of the King in 2008. Noons was on camera speaking about his victory, when Nick Diaz appeared, saying “don’t be scared, homey” in reference to a rematch. Punches and middle fingers were extended. Then, in 2010, at Strikeforce: Nashville, 2010, Nick Diaz, his brother and other Cesar Gracie camp members were gifted a three-month suspension after they brawled with Jason “Mayhem” Miller, who challenged Jake Shields during a post-fight interview.

Diaz also faced a six-month suspension following his win over Takanori Gomi at PRIDE 33 in 2007. He tested positive for THC (the active agent in marijuana).

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Diaz could now be the kryptonite for Noons’ stand-up. Diaz has dispatched some excellent strikers with ease in his recent fights, utilizing his movement and his amazing reach (which is anywhere from 74-80” depending on the source). He lacks in pure wrestling, so given his recent history, enjoy the bloodbath this Saturday with Strikeforce.

By Roy Kok
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer