Nick Diaz to fight Joe Riggs for Strikeforce welterweight title on August 15
by Jesse Holland on Jul 7, 2009 1:23 AM EDT
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Strikeforce today added a fourth championship title bout to its August 15 mega-card as bitter rivals Nick Diaz and Joe Riggs are set to collide in a 170-pound rematch at the "Carano vs. Cyborg" event from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, for the promotion's newly created welterweight title.
This bout will serve as the rubber match between the two, who first went to war at UFC 57: "Liddell vs. Couture III" back in February 2006 with "Diesel" squeaking out a close unanimous decision victory.
The mortal enemies staged an immediate (albeit unsanctioned) rematch in a nearby hospital following the event, with Diaz winning via TCO (Technical Crap Out) after Riggs defecated on himself during a botched takedown attempt.
Diaz comes into this fight on an absolute tear. Aside from dismantling the clearly-overmatched Scott Smith at June's "Lawler vs. Shields" event, the Cesar Gracie-disciple busted up the legendary Frank Shamrock en route to a second round TKO at the last San Jose-based event back in April.
The Stockton, California native is riding a five-fight win streak and has finished each of his opponents in dominating fashion.
Like Diaz, Riggs has found success since leaving the UFC and has put together two impressive back-to-back wins under the Strikeforce banner. After pounding out Luke Stewart at least year's "Destruction" event, the one-time heavyweight breezed to a unanimous decision victory over Phil Baroni in St. Louis just last month.
No question this bout is going to produce fireworks -- probably more so outside of the cage with all the trash-talking that's anticipated from these two competitors leading up to the event.
Strikeforce: "Carano vs. Cyborg" will feature a 145-pound title fight between female fighting sensation Gina "Conviction" Carano and her nemesis Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos as well as a lightweight title unification bout between reigning champ Josh "The Punk" Thomson and interim champ Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez.
Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum will also hook 'em up for "Demolition Man's" heavyweight gold.
For all the latest on this still-developing fight card click here.
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are we going to have riggs cry like a baby about paying his bills and not having money to feed his family again..
by mikeybear on Jul 7, 2009 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions
The crazy thing about these two is they are 25 and 26 years old, both have a ridiculous amount of experience for their age and at least 10 if not 15 year careers ahead of them so I say its a good fight as a benchmark of where they are at right now.
It’s likely that Riggs and Diaz will end up back in the UFC at some point and I think Diaz is trying to fight as much as possible to accelerate his progression before returning to the UFC at 27/28 for a title run. At the rate he’s improving, what will he be like in 2-3 years? The Nick Diaz story has only just begun.
by paniczoo on Jul 7, 2009 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions
It would be great to see Nick back in the UFC at some point and it will only happen so long as there is not enough competition for him to fight outside of the UFC.
Strikeforce is providing him with worthy opponents at the moment but that will eventually run out as Nick is just to good.
The fact that he is willing to fight at Welterweight and Middleweight means there is more options too but this will eventually dry up and there will be no other option if he wants to test himself against the best Welterweights which are undoubtedly in the UFC.
by Ca$z on Jul 7, 2009 4:48 AM EDT up reply actions
wouldnt quite write off riggs just yet… the guy is tough as nails, has good wrestling, decent striking… i believe he can win a decision if he can mix up his striking with his takedowns and keep diaz guessing…
by brendan on Jul 7, 2009 7:16 AM EDT up reply actions
I actually prefer watching Nick fight outside of the UFC. He has had much more interesting fights and is showing a more improved skill set. I would however like to see him drop back down to LW just once to face BJ, Florian, or Diego.
by Cogito Ergo Sum on Jul 7, 2009 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions
BREAKING NEWS!!! i just heard that lashley is going to fight don frye in september!!!! WTF??
by bradpittfightclub on Jul 7, 2009 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I posted your breaking news, 3 days ago! lol
This is for the strikeforce welterweight title? Isnt Jake Sheilds already the Welterweight champion?
This could be a competitive fight for a little while, but Diaz’s jits should be the difference!
by JOhn G on Jul 7, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Strikeforce needs to stop messing around and book:
Diaz vs. Mayhem. the prefight hype would be EPIC. Mayhem would really piss Diaz off.
Is this august card on Showtime or CBS? I think this card is way too good for Showtime. CBS needs to showcase this card filled with AWesomely (if thats even a word) competitive fights featuring top ranked fighters
For me, its sad when CBS was featuring KIMBO, but now that they have a chance to showcase REAL FIGHTERS, they are just sitting on their hands!
This card will probably be better then any UFC European ppv card!
by JOhn G on Jul 7, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I have to admit, I want Rigg’s to win pretty bad.
Not only due to my general disdain for all thing Diaz, but also so that Jake S would have to face Riggs for a belt if he wants it.
That should be great, seeing Shields eat crow. I hope Riggs turns down a fight with him if given the opportunity.
by Jas on Jul 7, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
John, Shields is/was the EliteXC WW champ. The Elite belts did not carry over to Strikeforce.
This card is getting better and better by the minute!!!! Thank you Scott Coker. Now, one of the top things on his agenda better be to extend to the East Coast and get an event booked for the northeast! We haven’t had a solid event since, well, UFC 55. And that main event was laughable – yeah, I paid money to see Paul Buentello fight live in a main event… ANd actually, this card BLOWS UFC 55 away in my opinion.
If Strikeforce has an event every 2 months or so, they can really put on some very exciting matchups.
For this fight, Diaz is just going to have to be on the lookout for the takedown. Only way I see Riggs winning is by a decision because he was “on top” for 3 minutes per round.
As for the pre-fight smack talk, I can’t wait for Diaz to start talking sh*t about Riggs sh*tting his pants. If we can go on and on about it, just imagine what Nick got planned!
by ViolentMike on Jul 7, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
not gonna argue with that, mike! chee hee!
DIAZ! DIAZ! DIAZ!
by boardRIDER on Jul 7, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Nick is the only guy (if Alves loses) that could give GSP a good fight at ww.
*********
I mailed 12 tickets to 101 out today to maiacs who are going. I can order 4 more tickets for anyone interested in joining us in the luxery box. all food/drink is included.
email me kevjack115@yahoo.com for any info! it’s first come first serve!
by kevin on Jul 7, 2009 7:07 AM EDT up reply actions
I would have to agree. I don’t think Diaz would win, but he would make it competitive, for sure.
by Dragon on Jul 7, 2009 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I got the tuesday morning joke:
Farrah Faccett dies and goes to heaven. She gets to the gates and god says she’s been a wonderful human, does she have any last wishes. She says she hopes that all the children around the world will be safe. The next second, god kills Michael Jackson.
by kevin on Jul 7, 2009 7:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah last tuesday that joke is old is as shit!!
by Dragon on Jul 7, 2009 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions
And Jackson’s Last words were “Take me to childrens Hospital”
by Crazy on Jul 7, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
NICK DIAZ all the way!!!!
DIAZ! DIAZ! DIAZ!
not to mention……
GINA! GINA! GINA! no matter if you win, lose, or draw.. WE LOVE YOU… well, I LOVE YOU! chee hee (:
by boardRIDER on Jul 7, 2009 1:39 AM EDT reply actions
Riggs is no can and has world of experience for his age!
It won’t be as easy as you think
i’ll be rooting against Diaz in almost ANY and EVERY fight……except for a rematch with KARO! :)
by SoCalStunNa on Jul 7, 2009 2:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I root against him every fight too… which is why i’m disappointed in this matchup, despite the fact that Riggs holds a victory over Diaz. It’s a 5 round fight and Riggs is walking away with an L most likely before the end of 3. Strikeforce has no intention of challenging Diaz, and therefore will never get his ego down to anywhere near a reasonable size.
by Skatanicus on Jul 7, 2009 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Diaz by whatever he wants. I would put money on him against GSP too. That’s if he isn’t greasing..
by xxBAxx816 on Jul 7, 2009 3:18 AM EDT reply actions
That’s because you have been spending time with Diaz smoking the wacky tabacky. No way this clown beats GSP- NO WAY!!!!!!
by Rich on Jul 7, 2009 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions
This is a title fight!? Ridiculous! You would never see this as a championship fight in the UFC. Proof that it has the more quality fighters. Diaz couldn’t cut it in the UFC so he bailed to fight chumps like Riggs.
by Wes on Jul 7, 2009 7:28 AM EDT reply actions
Wes wake up look at his record in the UFC before you make foolish statements.
by Mike on Jul 7, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
His record against who? Who deat he beat of REAL significance in the UFC. He lost to Diego Sanchez for pete’s sake!
by Wes on Jul 7, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Did you see the Diaz/Sanchez fight? It was a fucking classic…and could have went either way.
Seems to me that Sanchez went through Florian like he wasn’t even there…..how do you explain Florian fighting for the title? Maybe Kenny improved since then?…wow, what a concept.
Diaz is a top 10 P4P fighter, whether you like it or not.
by introvert on Jul 7, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
You do realize that Diaz hasn’t fought in the UFC for a long time and is twice the fighter now than he was back then don’t you? Or did you just start watching MMA yesterday?
by introvert on Jul 7, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Diesel is no contest in this. Gonna be one aided. He just isn’t as good . Won’t be close and yes he is a can. Diazboxing will pick him apart
by Daniel worby on Jul 7, 2009 9:04 AM EDT reply actions
its shaping up to be one hell of a card intro. Still not sold on the main event though
by kevin on Jul 7, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Meh, we all know that Gina is going to bring in tons of female viewers. I do agree with you, but I don’t really care which order the fights are in.
As it stands, there is 4 title fights on this card….fucking awesome.
by introvert on Jul 7, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
btw,
….Cyborg by absolute demolition.
….Overeem by KO
….Thompson by decision
….Diaz by submission
by introvert on Jul 7, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
we’re looking at cutting our anniversary (which is today) vacation short to go to this event!
by kevin on Jul 7, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Rumor was jake was to fight Matt lindland to be the final fight on this card.. and jake has no desire to go after this or any strikeforce belt as he has 2 fights left with them and youll see him next in the UFC come january
by Nick Diaz 209 on Jul 7, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions
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