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Round One: Three Years Of Hatred Settled In Twenty Five Minutes
Several months back during a Strikeforce event, a poll was run asking what MMA rivalry fans would like settled in Strikeforce, Nick Diaz vs. KJ Noons won the poll. After three years of waiting, Nick Diaz finally got his long awaited revenge on KJ Noons via a unanimous decision victory. Nick Diaz will now get to settle another dispute in the future, as he and longtime rival Jason Miller got into a post fight altercation backstage after the title fight. Props must also be handed to KJ Noons, who jumped up a weight class to face Nick Diaz, as he primarily competes in the Strikeforce Lightweight Division.
Next Round For Nick Diaz: Jason Miller, Tyron Woodley or a rubber match with KJ Noons
Next Round For KJ Noons: A return to the Strikeforce Lightweight Division or a rubber match with Nick Diaz.
Round Two: There’s A New Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Champion
While the Strikeforce “Men’s†Welterweight Title didn’t change hands on Saturday Night, the female version of the title did change hands. Marloes Coenen survived a brutal ground and pound attack from Sarah Kaufman to lock the former champion in the arm bar to force a tap out. Following the fight, Sarah Kaufman gave new champion Marloes Coenen some drama for supposedly not releasing the submission hold during the tapping. However, one cannot blame Marloes Coenen for the incident, because fighters are told not to stop fight until a bell sounds or the referee stops the fight.
Next Round For Marloes Coenen: Meisha Tate
Next Round For Sarah Kaufman: Hitomi Akano
Round Three: JZ Gets Punked Out
Outside of Fedor Emelianenko, there hasn’t been a fighter in the past year who I was excited to see debut more than Gesias Cavalcante. However, Josh Thomson showed why he is a former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion when he defeated Gesias Cavalcante by decision after three exciting rounds. Gesias Cavalcante nearly choked Josh Thomson out with a guillotine choke at the end of the first round, but Josh Thomson escaped and won the final two rounds to win the fight. During the fight, current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez provided color commentary alongside of Mauro Ranallo, Frank Shamrock and Pat Miletech.
Next Round For Josh Thomson: A rubber match with Gilbert Melendez
Next Round For Gesias Cavalcante: A battle with KJ Noons or Jorge Gurgel
Round Four: A Star Is Born
Ironically, the nights opening contest was originally set to be Matt Lindland vs. Luke Rockhold, but an injury to Luke Rockhold halted the fight. In its place, Strikeforce Challengers veteran Tyron Woodley got an opportunity on a bigger Strikeforce event to face Andre Galvao. Tyron Woodley used the opportunity well as he took apart Andre Galvao in less than three minutes to earn the victory. Maybe a little premature, Tyron Woodley stated that he wants an opportunity at current Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz.
Next Round For Tyron Woodley: Jay Hieron or Joe Riggs
Next Round For Andre Galvao: Strikeforce Challengers Series
Round Five: Fights Are Supposed To Happen In The Cage
As I eluded to in “Round One†of this column, Nick Diaz and Jason Miller got into a near physical confrontation backstage after Nick Diaz defeated KJ Noons. This is not the first time these two have been on the opposite side of a pull apart, as they were both in the cage during the brawl at the Strikeforce On CBS II event in the middle of this year. At the post fight press conference, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said he was willing to put together a Nick Diaz vs. Jason Miller fight. One must feel a little for Nick Diaz, who has a heated rivalry with Jason Miller, both Jay Hieron and Tyron Woodley demanding title shots, along with a possible rubber match with KJ Noons in the future.
Next Round For Jason Miller: Nick Diaz or a contenders fight with Tyron Woodley and/or Jay Hieron
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
