Strikeforce returns to its birthplace of San Jose for its next event tomorrow night. Headlining the event is a grudge match between Nick Diaz and KJ Noons for the welterweight title.
Diaz is known for his behavioural problems as much as his skill. He commits one absurd act after another, even getting into a brawl at the hospital. After losing to Noons due to a cut, Diaz has been waiting a long time for this rematch, interrupting a postfight interview Noons was giving with the line ‘Don’t be scared homie.’
Noons is usually a collected person, but makes no secret of his dislike of Diaz. After Diaz no-showed the conference call promoting the fight, Noons used a number of unprintable words to describe Diaz. The Noons camp has also mocked the style of boxing used by the Diaz brothers, calling it “advanced pattycake.” Strikeforce has beefed up security for the match, hoping to prevent some of the antics that have occurred in the past with serious grudge matches. There is going to be a lot of bad blood when the cage door closes for this fight, and this could produce a very entertaining tilt.
In the co-main event, undefeated women’s 135 pound champion Sarah Kaufman takes on Marloes Coenen. Kaufman has been vocal in the past about getting onto a major event rather than the ShoMMA cards, and this is her chance to showcase her skills to a bigger audience. She is coming off of a highlight reel powerbomb knockout victory and is a strong striker. Coenen is making her debut at 135 after getting stopped by Cyborg at the beginning of the year. She trains with the Golden Glory team in the Netherlands- this could turn into a standup battle for the ages. The winner of this match will go on to face Miesha Tate, who won the women’s 135 pound tournament to become #1 contender.
Kaufman:
Coenen:
This Strikeforce event could wind up as most entertaining of the year. Viewers should be so lucky as to see another Diaz gogoplata:
I’m hoping Noons pulls it off. Cant stand the Diaz brothers.
Well, the appeal of the Diaz brothers to many is what makes other people hate them.