Source: Champ Nick Diaz denied spot on Strikeforce's June 26 card due to brawl

A post-fight melee that followed an April 17 Strikeforce event cost Jason "Mayhem" Miller a headlining spot next month at "Strikeforce: Los Angeles," and Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz appears to have suffered a similar fate.

A source close to Diaz told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the fighter was told his request to compete on Strikeforce's June 26 fight card in San Jose, Calif., also was turned down because of his role in the televised brawl.

Diaz was one of multiple Cesar Gracie team members involved in a post-"Strikeforce: Nashville" scuffle that broke out when preliminary-card fighter Miller interrupted main-event winner Jake Shields during a post-fight speech.

Miller entered the cage to campaign for a rematch of their November meeting, when Shields won a lopsided unanimous decision to earn Strikeforce's then-vacated middleweight belt.

When Shields shoved Miller, teammates such as Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez continued the shoving. Some of the group members eventually wrestled Miller to the mat, and punches and kicks were thrown until security and commission officials broke up the brawl. The entire episode aired live on CBS as part of Strikeforce's second nationally televised event, and it's been widely condemned by the MMA industry.

As MMAjunkie.com reported soon after the show, the Tennessee Athletic Commission executive director Jeffrey Mullen confirmed the commission had opened a formal investigation into the situation. Commission officials are expected to penalize some of the fighters involved in the event, including Diaz and Miller, though Mullen said the process could take weeks or months to finish.

Even before Miller's victory over Tim Stout at the April show, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker talked of a possible June 16 headliner between "Mayhem" and fellow middleweight Robbie Lawler. However, earlier this week, the executive instead replaced Miller with former champ Renato "Babalu" Sobral and told MMAjunkie.com that "Mayhem" now is unlikely to compete on the card because of his role in the brawl.

Ten days after that Showtime-televised event, which coincides with the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Strikeforce is expected to return to its home in San Jose for another major Showtime-televised event. Diaz hoped to secure a spot on the show, which could be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum. However, as with Miller, Strikeforce officials apparently will sideline Diaz until the Tennessee commission announces its findings.

Although he won't be a part of the June 26 Strikeforce card, Diaz still is scheduled to fight four weeks earlier at DREAM.14, which takes place outside of U.S. commissions' jurisdiction in Japan. Diaz is scheduled to fight Hayato Sakurai in a non-title fight at the May 29 event.

teach the Dildo a lesson

Agreed he should be punished but a fine probably not keeping him off shows.

Bull Shit. Cant wait till Nick is back with the UFC.

Nick won't be back in the UFC if he keeps up his antics, def deserved some punishment, how many times do u have to see that replay to realize it was Nick and Gil who started throwing punches?

Oh and that wasn't me

Probably the same reason they denied Mayhem. They don't want to begin promoting them for a card and then find out they got suspended because TAC said their little "investigation and penalties" could take up a few weeks up to a couple of months.

I'm also not the responsible party for oggy's negation.

Nick didn't start that fight. He just finished it. But honestly SF has NO ONE that can even make it out of the 1st with Diaz. There is no comp for him there. I'd rather see him in fuckin Bellator for christ sake. People can blame Diaz all they want, but you're just using him as a scape goat. There is A LOT of blame to go around for that brawl, and if Coker wants to act like he had no responsibility for what happened then shame on him.

and for whoever Neg'd me, DONT BE SCARED HOMIE!!!!!

wasnt me

like it or not Nick Diaz is one of the biggest draws SF has. If there has been no official suspensions announced then why are they gonna shoot themselves in the foot and say he cant fight until the suspensions are announced. They said it could take months for the suspensions to be announced. Who the fuck are they gonna fill these upcoming cards with then? There are only so many cans for Lashley to fight and it's obvious he's ducking any real comp. All their HW's are scheduled to fight. Shields is as good as gone. Who does that leave?

Oh wait i forgot.... they always have Hershel pfft!

oh I dont know KJ Noons?

I think Nick got whats coming to him. Actions should have consequences.

IMO if Mayhem got suspended or whatever, so should Nick and Gil for that matter, pretty sure he was involved too.

ugghh not a fan of the sig LA

Birdofthad wrote:

ugghh not a fan of the sig LA

A-Rod needs to step it up. He's been a worthless #4 pick.

Arod is slumping but still have 15 rbi's. Just be glad he's not like Texeria in april. He'll pick it up dont worry. He always does.

I did it for a reason, if I was pickin a Yankee it'd be Mo or Cano, or maybe Jeter

I think a simple fine would have been more sensible. Despite his horrendous attitude, Nick is an entertaining fighter, one you want on your card.

Exactly. Fine all involved and let's move on.

oggy420 wrote:

Exactly. Fine all involved and let's move on.

All this talk about suspensions is a bit much in my opinion, a fine and a slap on the wrist would be more convenient.

yea i agree. This whole thing has been blown way out of proportion. But because it's Nick Diaz people want his head on a fucking platter for it.

I'm not a Diaz hater, but repeat offenders get more flak the the shit they do, and rightfully so.

Everyone deserves a second chance. Not everyone deserves a 23rd chance.

He's not in this situation because his name is Nick Diaz, he's here because he's spent his entire MMA career finding trouble and he's continuing to do so.