Diaz vs. Noons II Likely:

I think Nick would rape him in a rematch

http://mmajunkie.com/news/19575/strikeforce-boss-noons-vs-diaz-ii-likely-king-karl-eyes-three-future-titles.mma

LOS ANGELES – Prior to Wednesday night, two years and two days had passed since former EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons (9-2 MMA, 1-0 SF) had fought in front of an American TV audience.

For at least two of the three rounds, "King Karl" went toe to toe with a motivated Conor Heun (8-4 MMA, 0-2 SF) at Wednesday's Showtime-broadcast "Strikeforce: Los Angeles" event.

Noons looked like he hadn't lost a step despite a recent 21-month layoff from competition.

Now Noons is anxious to prove that theory, and it appears a second meeting with current Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz is a near certainty. And then there's the small matter of the three titles Noons wants to pin down.

"I think there's a lot of great fights out there for me," Noons said. "There's so many great competitors at [155 pounds]. Whoever (Strikeforce CEO) Scott (Coker) wants me to go up against, I'm definitely down. I know they are very interested in the Diaz fight. So am I.

"I just want to put on good fights, so whatever – 170, 155. I want to win two titles. I want to win another title at 155. I only want to fight one person at 170, so I want that title, and then I want to win a boxing title eventually, too. Everybody says I can't do it. Why can't I do it? I want it. That's one of my dreams."

Noons originally upset Diaz in a November 2007 bout under the EliteXC banner. With the promotion's vacant lightweight title on the line, Noons battered his opponent in the standup department for five minutes, and the bout was halted between rounds due to the cuts on Diaz's face.

Coker said the ultimate goal is for Noons to establish himself as a top 155-pound star, but he feels the 27-year-old probably has earned the right to prove the first result against Diaz was no fluke.

"(With) the fights in the 155-pound weight class that he's going to want, we're going to be able to deliver, and the fight with Nick Diaz – he's the last guy to beat Nick Diaz, so that's a fight that probably should happen," Coker said. "I'm sure that K.J. would love to fight Nick, and I'm sure Nick would love to fight K.J. At some point, they should probably get it on again."

One rematch that appears less likely is a Noons vs. Charles "Krazy Horse/Kid Khaos" Bennett. Noons suffered the only knockout loss of his career to Bennett in a February 2007 matchup, and he was supposed to get a shot at redemption at "Strikeforce: Los Angeles" before scheduling conflicts left Conor Heun as a late replacement.

Coker said Bennett's actions leading up to the fight mean it's probably unlikely he'll be given another chance with the organization.

"Will we try to put it back together again?" Coker asked. "We might. Are we going to be as motivated as we were before? Probably not. We'll just wait and see."

Noons admits he's a little disappointed at missing out on a shot at revenge, but with plenty of other options available to him moving forward, the Hawaiian native is just ready to put on a show for the fans.

"I'm glad to be back and give the fans what they want: a great fight," Noons said. "I'm willing to fight wherever. I feel like I can contend with anybody.

"I want to just put on good fights. This is what I do, and people pay for that."

Nick is gonna fuck Noons up in the rematch. He got that scare tissue on his eye fixed Noons's only chance is gone.

he might win, i don't think he would rape him. Noons would still fuck him up standing anyday of the week IMO and Noons is hard to take down. Diaz beats Noons by resorting to his ground game, if he goes in there trying to swing them, he's gonna get fucked up...again.

I would rather see Diaz/Mayhem than see Noons fight out of his weight class at 170. Noons can get Melendez, i would not move up if i were him.

noons whipped his ass once before no reason he cant again

i actually have that fight on dvd haha

Watching these guys fight opponents other then themselves and I'd say Diaz all day, but watch their 1st fight again and it is hard not to pick Noon's. The aggressive relatively slow handed style of Nick, just may not work against a counter puncher like Noon's. But at 170 that may be a big adv Nick. Glad Noon's has come around on this fight.

Yeah, Diaz got mugged in their first fight. Diaz is a completely different fighter at the lower weight classes though but Noons complete battery on Diaz has created probably the biggest cloud of denial in MMA history. People just don't want to admit that Diaz with two cut eyelids, two black eyes beginning to swell up and a busted nose was in any condition to keep going...it was a legit stoppage from a legit ass whooping.

Of course, Nick would have kept going but less than a minute in that round the blood would have started flowing again, he would not be able to see...considering he could not even touch KJ before his eyes got cut up, it was going to get Jake LaMotta at the end of Raging Bull vs. Robinson ugly in that second round had they not stopped the fight.

it Depends on what weight the fight takes place at. If it's a Welterweight fight Diaz has it all day. If it's some kind of crazy ass catchweight between 155-170 then Noons might have a shot at repeating.

Diaz is light years beyond where he was when he fought KJ the first time.

I suppose it is good they just get this fight out of the way so Diaz can continue focusing on his career at higher weights.

Noons didn't even look all that good to me. He was in big danger in that 1st round. Once Huen got him down Noons looked like a fish out of water. I couldn't help but ponder what this Nick Diaz would do to him now. It would be over quick.

oggy420 wrote:

Noons didn't even look all that good to me. He was in big danger in that 1st round. Once Huen got him down Noons looked like a fish out of water. I couldn't help but ponder what this Nick Diaz would do to him now. It would be over quick.

Noons got careless and gave his back to a very dangerous submission fighter, it was iffy for a bit, but he survived, otherwise he did what he did to Nick, avoid the takedown, work the body, and bust up the dude's face.

nick has had some not so impressive cometition lately

Meh, not really excited about this now.

Yeah, I wouldn't overestimate Nick's strength of schedule, plus he will look slower than slow at LW again. Noons didn't look great against Huen, but I think that was more about Huen looking really good and less about Noons being overrated. I would pick Nick now, but I can't think it would be by much.

I've got Noons big in this one. Nick Diaz sucks, and has the most inflated record in elite MMA.

boomer sooner wrote:

Yeah, I wouldn't overestimate Nick's strength of schedule, plus he will look slower than slow at LW again. Noons didn't look great against Huen, but I think that was more about Huen looking really good and less about Noons being overrated. I would pick Nick now, but I can't think it would be by much.

No way this fight takes place at 155.

Noons can't win at 170 and Diaz can't win at 155. Let these guys develop at their own weight classes. I think Noons can make some noise against the Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomsons of Strikeforce. And Diaz is their WW champ for heaven's sake. Let him defend the title before pitching Noons. Jay Heiron, Joe Riggs and maybe now Cyborg could all offer a decent shot.

boomer sooner wrote:

Noons can't win at 170 and Diaz can't win at 155. Let these guys develop at their own weight classes. I think Noons can make some noise against the Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomsons of Strikeforce. And Diaz is their WW champ for heaven's sake. Let him defend the title before pitching Noons. Jay Heiron, Joe Riggs and maybe now Cyborg could all offer a decent shot.

But Noons want's the shot, Im sure Nick would love to avenge the loss, while Nick has expressed little interest in Heiron. Cyborg needs a couple wins b4 he should be mentioned for a title fight(though Diaz Cyborg does look interesting).

I think it makes perfect sense. Like Lawler, a loss at a higher weight class won't hurt Noon's title prospects at the lower weight.