SAN JOSE, Calif. – It took three years to happen, but the rematch between Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz and challenger K.J. Noons was well worth the wait.
Noons was the last fighter to hand Diaz a loss back in 2007, but tonight would prove different as Diaz beat Noons in a boxing match that went the full five rounds. In the end Diaz would come out holding his 170 pound crown by way of unanimous decision in a true war of attrition.
Diaz struck first, countering with a short right hand that dropped Noons in the first round. Once on the ground, Diaz advanced to a dominating side mount position, but did little with his ground game, giving Noons enough space to scramble and get back to his feet.
Noons finally found his rhythm in the second frame, and began to settle in, landing crisp punches in the pocket, cutting Diaz with a grazing left hook. It appeared that a replay of the first fight might ensue, but the corner of Diaz got the cut under control between the second and third rounds. However, it was apparent that Noons was back in the fight.
The third round was pivotal in the fight, and it was Diaz that established his stiff jab, along with looping right hands that consistently found their mark. By the end of the round, both fighters were bleeding and the war was on.
The pace would slow somewhat in the fourth and fifth rounds, but Diaz kept Noons off balance by switching stances frequently and kept the distance with his pawing jabs. Both fighters hunted the body, landing significant strikes multiple times, but in the end it would go to the judges.
When the decision was in, it was Diaz (23-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC, 4-0 SF) that retained his title, being awarded the unanimous decision victory with scores of 48-47, 49-47, and 49-46.
“No offense or disrespect since it’s all over with,” Diaz said following the fight. “I’ll beat this guy on the ground or standing up.”
Despite the bad blood between these two, Noons was gracious in defeat, pondering a possible third fight against Diaz.
“He beat me fair and square,” Noons (9-2 MMA, 2-1 SF) said. “That’s it. Good job, Nick. … Whatever the fans want to see. I’ll either do it again or work my way back up.”
Coenen dethrones Kaufman
In the night’s other title fight, Sarah Kaufman was looking to remain undefeated while defending her Strikeforce women’s welterweight title, but saw it all slip away as challenger Marloes Coenen slapped on a fight ending armbar in the third round.
The first two rounds were competitive as both fighters looked to establish their will on the other. The fight remained on the feet for the most part, and surprisingly, at least to some, Coenen effectively worked her reach advantage and held her own in the striking department.
Coenen managed to get the fight to the ground in the third round with a nice hip toss, but soon found herself on her back as Kaufman scrambled and reversed. Kaufman then appeared to be in control, landing some nice ground and pound, but Coenen remained calm on her back and stayed very active with her high guard.
Coenen threatened the arm on more than a couple of occasions, but found Kaufman’s strength to be a problem, as the champion powered through the submission attempts. Later in the round however, Coenen capitalized on Kaufman’s high posture to secure an arm, and lock up the fight ending submission.
The tap came quickly, but there was a delay in the stoppage from the referee, and even then, Coenen held the secured arm a couple of seconds longer, prompting an angry response from Kaufman. The official time of the stoppage was at 1:59 of the third.
Coenen apologized to Kaufman after the fight, then did so to the entire crowd.
“I want to apologize to Sarah because I really didn’t know,” said Coenen. “Normally in training, I know when I have to let go. But the referee came in a little too late. I do apologize.”
The win moves Coenen to 18-4 overall, and 2-1 in Strikeforce, and sets up a future meeting with number one contender and recent tournament winner Miesha Tate.
Thomson defeats “JZ” by unanimous decision
Former Strikeforce lightweight champion and Josh Thomson and Gesias Cavalcante put it all on the line, delivering on the hype that was generated prior to their number one contender fight at 155.
The first round saw momentum swing to both sides, all in the last minute of the round. The action really picked up when Cavalcante locked up a very tight arm-in guillotine choke attempt on Thomson, and when he secured the body of Thomson in his full guard, it looked like it was all but over for the former champion.
Somehow, Thomson worked free from the choke and turned the tables on Cavalcante, with a slick arm triangle that nearly finished the fight, but the bell sounded on the round before Thomson could put “JZ” away.
After a close initial round that Pro MMA now scored for Cavalcante despite the late surge by Thomson, it was “The Punk” that earned a take down in the second frame. Thomson maintained control throughout the second, and after two it was all tied up on the Pro MMA now scorecard.
The third round saw Cavalcante get the take down and dominate position for much of the first two minutes. After both fighters made their way to the feet, Thomson got clipped with a punch while going for a take down, and once again Cavalcante controlled position, although he did little from the top. Cavalcante got busy near the end of the bout, prompting Pro MMA now to award him the 3rd round and the fight overall.
The judges saw it different, and when the scores came in it was Thomson that was awarded a baffling unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 30-27.)
How any judge could have given the third round to Thomson is beyond me. At any rate, Thomson moves to 18-3 (9-2 SF), and will likely get yet another shot at current 155 pound king, Gilbert Melendez.
Woodley puts Galvao away in the first
Tyron Woodley took one step closer to going from top prospect to top contender with his dominating finish of Andre Galvao.
There was no surprise that Galvao would look to take the fight to the ground where he could implement his world class jiu jitsu. The problem was, how would he get Woodley on the mat?
Galvao could not answer this question, and every time he tried, he was punished. Woodley timed the shoots of Galvao perfectly, landing flush right hands that staggered Galvao. Woodley continued to land punches each time that he would stuff a take down, and the last time that Galvao made his way to his feet, he was visibly wobbly on his feet.
Woodley smelled blood, and as Galvao dove for his ankles out of desperation, Woodley connected with another big right hand then pounced, battering Galvao with short strikes, forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight.
Woodley was impressive, winning his first fight by TKO, and moving one step closer to title contention at 170.