Diaz vs. Riggs Becomes *Fourth* Title Fight on 'Carano vs. Cyborg' Card
(Strikeforce's coveted "Hater of the Year" title will also be up for grabs. Image courtesy of CageToday.)
Talk about making up for lost time. After a 12-month drought that gave us only one light-heavyweight championship match and an interim lightweight title scrap, Strikeforce has decided to just say "fuck it" and call every bout on their next card a title fight.
It has been confirmed that the upcoming grudge match between Nick Diaz and Joe Riggs — originally slated for the undercard of the "Carano vs. Cyborg" show on August 15th — will now decide Strikeforce's vacant welterweight title. The bout will join the lightweight title rematch between Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez, the heavyweight championship battle between Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum, and the main event, in which Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg will go five rounds for Strikeforce's first-ever 145-pound women's title. So yes, three of these four title fights will be rematches. Deal with it.
We can only hope that Strikeforce finds a way to get Diaz/Riggs II on the main card, even if they have to drop Thompson vs. Melendez II to the prelims, because let's face it, that match is going to get swallowed up in the hype of all the other ones, and nobody seems too psyched about it anyway. You don't relegate your most entertaining fighter (Diaz) to the undercard, unless you want a hundred-thousand pissed-off Stocktonites rioting in the streets. (Hint: You don't want that.) So we'll see. In the meantime, don't make plans on 8/15 — particularly if you're employed as Strikeforce's belt-polisher.
Related: The Diaz brothers are helping BJ Penn train for his UFC 101 fight against Kenny Florian. To the death, homey.
(Props: 0fficialbjpenn via BloodyElbow)
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ianmar9 Says:
Diaz should dominate Riggs this time around. I still think that first one was close enough for him to have won.
NateGetsIrate Says:
Cannot wait for the mean muggin to begin.
ihateemo Says:
I wonder how Jake Shields feels about this? $20 says he gets the winner.
Canadian Chronic Says:
Are the Diaz bros trainin(schoolin) BJ in the ways of the Cali Green too?
PingPong Says:
BJ's Ego vs Nick's Sociopathy...Who ya got?
ReDx Says:
ihateemo...
Diaz already said he wont fight Shields. They train together.
LoneWolf Says:
WAR BJ!!!!!!!
portland mma Says:
Their first fight was close, I think Diaz took it, but it was almost too close to call. However, since Riggs back imploded (against Cory Devela I think) he hasn't looked the same. He did beat Baroni but so does everyone else. Joe Riggs is a d bag and I hope Nick beats his ass then Shields beats his ass then they tell him its not 1995 and he stops bleaching his hair.
Jay Smith Says:
That Strikeforce card is turning out to be pretty awesome. I startin to actually look forward to it. It's about time another organization put some fights together that people actually want to see (actually more than one on the card that is). Good for Strikeforce.
Fuckyerfrat Says:
with the vacant title being contested, and shields being the only other legit contender, that makes me believe that shields is leaving strikeforce soon. or he's just going to move to 185 so more cesar gracie guys can hand frank shamrock his ass.
Swedish Says:
these titles are more moronic than the W(Y)AMMA titles
831 Son Says:
That was one of the best skits that Chapelle did. Hilarious would be an understatement. But yeah Nick would for sure win both titles.
Titos Head Says:
bj is gonna need all the help he can get
portland mma Says:
Its good, I think Samuel Jackson's beer is my favorite. Used to love the Rick James skit until everyone on earth starting saying i'm rick james bitch.
Dante Says:
If you think that Penn needs any help from the Diaz brothers, or that they're bjj is even on the same level, then you are retarded.
I'm kind of bummed he even made that video showcasing that he knows those dudes.
WAR DIESEL
WAR GUILLARD
WAR PENN
Judo Im Right Says:
Riggs beat diaz!? Where can I watch this fight? Riggs is tough, but diaz has progressed. I think Diaz would have a real decent shot at the LW or WW UFC titles if given the chance. What's everyone think on about his chances?
TheSlothman Says:
Where are all the KFlo nut huggers? sittin around so smug, figuring B.J. was too busy crying to train? Florian is getting WRECKED, you know that right? regardless of Penns frequent folly in wanting to fight bigger and better opposition, you should remember that at 155 , the man is simply unstoppable by anyone other than himself....
Judo Im Right Says:
I'm a biiiiig BJ fan and hope he wins, but Florian is no joke and is huuuuge for 155. He fought at 185 on TUF and comes from an elite camp. He has enough jitz to avoid a submission. So, I think it is gonna come down to stand up and cardio, which is gonna be a problem if BJ doesn't come out like his old crazy self and do some serious damage early. He was really timid in the stand up against gsp then just let GSP lean on him until he was too tired. I'm sure kenny has a similar game plan and with his length he may even out point him in striking all day like he did Huerta. Kenny made it look easy to just tag Huerta in the face, while circling. I have a bad feeling about this one for BJ.
BUT! here's to hoping BJ pulls some sweet BJJ out and gogo's kenny or something.
common sense Says:
fuck yeahhhhhhhhh go diaz
Old_Bald_and_Irish Says:
Whoa.....
Ditto to EVERYTHING "Judo Im Right" said. Dude, you're right on the money.
While Nate and Nick's BJJ is not on the same par as B.J.s, I would say that B.J. is making a step in the right direction by training with some very agressive fighters with good stand-up and ground skills
....much like Mr. Florian.
Good move by B.J.
UFC 101 just got even more interesting for me.
But, being a KenFlo 'nuthugger' (as Mr. 'TheSlothman' likes to put it), I'm still giving Kenny the edge on this match-up. KenFlo has almost "Faber-esque" cardio. Distance will be the key in this fight.
Kenny wants it go 5 rounds.
B.J. doesn't.
Kenny will make sure that this bout at least gets into the fourth round.
agentsmith Says:
Now BJ has some training partners he "can work with."
Ohhhhh SNAP! In your FACES, Troy Mandaloniz and Justin McCully!
Times Infinity Says:
I hope Nick picks up some jits from BJ to add to the repetoire while he is training in Hawaii or wherever the fuck they are. Damn two bad ass cards in a row for strikeforce. Hopefully Brett Rogers will get a fight on the next card so he can train full time and not have to go back to changing tires at Sam's Club.
WAR DIAZ!
WAR PENN!
WAR STRIKEFORCE?
Nick Bruiser Says:
I only watch strikeforce for Nick Diaz.
Sheps Says:
Both of the Diaz bros have faces you just want to punch in, btw what happened to Diaz's boxing? His punches against scott smith were the weakest punches I've seen in the cage.
Far gone are the days when he beat robbie lawler.
sp00ki kabuki Says:
old bald and irish have it right, diaz is one of the top fighters right now period. to shep, did u see the scott smith fight? the guy has ko power in both fist and diaz "wasnt scerred homie" he is the only non-videogame chacter to land 200 punches in a 3 round fight. Thats tecnique. so... if u dont know what ru talking about... please shut the fuck up. ty
BuckWild Says:
Why is bj training with Gracie students ? I thought the Gracie's hated BJ ?
Also Nick does utilize his KO power (he does have it) He drills people like a machine gun 200+ punches. If it works why would anyone criticize him?
Diggler Says:
I bet the Diaz bros just get high and laugh at the size of BJ's dome piece.
Sheps Says:
Spooki your outright retarded, you obviously wasn't watching the same fight as everyone else, you completely contradict yourself by saying that he landed so many punches but he has KO power?
Then why did it take him 200 of the weakest jabs and straights to finish Scott who was beaten more by exhaustion than anything else if he has KO power, surely it would have taken a much lesser number you dumb fuck. So please, shut the fuck up.