Strikeforce MMA had among the most legendary fighters who competed within the organisation.
Names like Ronda Rousey, Luke Rockhold, Daniel Cormier, Robbie Lawler, and Dan Henderson fought for the promotion as prospects or profession revivals.
However, nobody could be more durable than Stockton’s personal, Nick Diaz, who actually made a reputation for himself with the MMA promotion.
Diaz had beforehand fought within the UFC, the place he took on the likes of Jeremy Jackson, Diego Sanchez and Sean Sherk.
The Californian left the most important MMA organisation as a result of a strained relationship with the UFC, which was the place his wonderful momentum would have picked up.
Particularly when he made his arrival at Strikeforce.
The Debut
Diaz entered Strikeforce on a three-fight win streak, all of these victories ending by KO/TKO.
The BJJ black belt made his arrival with an enormous take a look at as he confronted fellow Californian, Frank Shamrock, in a Catchweight bout at 179lbs.
Shamrock was the primary man to grow to be the UFC Mild Heavyweight Champion, which on the time was the Middleweight title.
The Santa Monica fighter had defeated the likes of Kevin Jackson, John Lober and Tito Ortiz.
Heading into the battle, Diaz was the underdog regardless of being the youthful fighter, in addition to having a top and attain benefit.
Throughout the combat, the Stockton blended martial artist was piecing up the previous UFC Champion with a number of combos all through the combat.
Whereas Shamrock was in search of highly effective knockout punches, however was unsuccessful on quite a few events.
The unbelievable boxing and combos from Diaz would quickly take their toll on Shamrock, as after an enormous physique shot, the 36-year-old was set in opposition to the cage, earlier than a vicious ground-and-pound stopped the combat.
After claiming a second-round TKO win, Diaz confirmed his respect to Shamrock by elevating his hand straight after the battle.
The San Jose fighter wouldn’t step into an MMA cage once more as he retired a yr after his grudge match with Diaz.
The Champ is Right here
Lower than two months after his Strikeforce debut, the 25-year-old competed in his subsequent bout, which was in opposition to Scott Smith.
Smith was on a two-fight win streak with two consecutive KO/TKO victories over Benji Radach and Terry Martin, as he was recognized for ending fights.
The 2 males squared off in St Louis, Missouri, in what could be a three-round battle.
In an exciting battle, the boxing technician dropped Smith twice with two brutal physique punches earlier than taking the again and submitting the Nevada fighter with a Rear-Bare Choke.
After this victory, Diaz was allowed to combat for the Inaugural Welterweight Championship.
On January 30, 2010, the Stockton fighter confronted Strikeforce newcomer and, on the time, DREAM Welterweight Champion Marius Zaromskis.
The Lithuanian was getting into the MMA organisation on a five-fight win streak, with 4 of his triumphs ending by first-round KO/TKO.
The championship combat occurred in Miami on the BankAtlantic Middle.
The competition may solely be described as a one-round slugfest as each males exchanged strikes, with the Californian being knocked down at one stage.
In direction of the top of spherical one, Diaz damage Zaromskis with a number of punches earlier than an enormous proper hook despatched ‘The Whitemare’ crashing down onto the canvas.
An excellent knockout win meant title triumph for Diaz as he grew to become the primary Strikeforce Welterweight Champion.
Incomes Revenge and Erupting Chaos
After competing in a Dream 14 in a non-title bout in opposition to Hayato Sakurai, profitable by first-round Armbar submission, Diaz ready for his first championship defence.
The Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fighter defended his 170-pound title in opposition to KJ Noons in San Jose, California.
Noons had beforehand fought Diaz again at EliteXC: Renegade in November 2007, the place he defeated the man Californian by first-round TKO, as a result of a Physician’s Stoppage.
This meant that the Welterweight Champion may declare revenge whereas making a profitable title defence.
In a gruelling five-round battle, the combat went to the judges’ scorecards with Diaz profitable by unanimous determination. A battle that was thought to be among the finest in 2010.
Three months later, after his revenge, Diaz set his eyes on defending his Welterweight belt in opposition to Evangelista Santos.
Santos was hungry to grow to be the highest fighter of the division after a first-round knockout win in opposition to Zaromskis.
To not neglect that the Brazilian was the husband on the time to probably the most harmful feminine blended martial artist, Cristiane Justino, in any other case often known as Cris Cyborg.
Throughout the wild combat, Santos landed some brutal leg kicks, which had been an enormous issue within the battle, however Diaz was inflicting issues together with his crisp boxing expertise.
The Curitiba-born fighter landed a takedown on the finish of spherical two, which might be an enormous mistake because the champion locked in an Armbar, which compelled a faucet from ‘Cyborg’.
After claiming the win, Diaz started cursing on the crowd, which was a results of followers heckling throughout the combat.
The American needed to be held again by his coach whereas drinks had been being thrown into the cage from the gang.
It was assumed that Diaz was shouting and cursing at Cris Cyborg, because the digital camera panned on her, wanting very emotional.
However the Strikeforce matchmaker, Shannon Knap,p believed that was not the case.
An Notorious Comeback Victory
The final bout Diaz had in Strikeforce was possibly his most memorable combat within the organisation.
The Californian was set to defend his title in San Diego in opposition to Paul Daley for the Welterweight Championship.
Daley had three fights within the UFC earlier than this specific alternative, profitable his first two matchups by first-round knockout.
Nevertheless, within the Englishman’s third bout at UFC 113, it led to disaster as ‘Semtex’ punched Josh Koscheck not lengthy after their combat had completed. This left the UFC President, Dana White, no selection however to launch him from the organisation.
Earlier than the title combat, Daley was on a four-fight win streak with two consecutive first-round KO/TKO wins.
A contest which had plenty of pressure and pleasure didn’t disappoint, regardless of the battle lasting just one spherical.
Diaz pressured Daley whereas throwing his quite a few punch combos to the Englishman, making the combat look as if it might not go the gap.
Unexpectedly, the London-born blended martial artist landed a strong left hook, sending the champion crashing down whereas receiving a vicious ground-and-pound.
Remarkably, the combat was not stopped as Diaz managed to get better in a high-paced one-round battle.
Diaz started to show the tables on Daley, beautiful the Englishman with pinpoint punches, and the Stockton fighter completed the job with three seconds remaining to win by TKO.
The unbelievable rise of Diaz put him on a 10-fight win streak, and after talks about dealing with the UFC Welterweight Champion, Georges St-Pierre, the 27-year-old vacated the Strikeforce title to return for his second stint within the UFC.
It was initially thought that the Strikeforce warrior would face St-Pierre at UFC 137. Nonetheless, as a result of an damage sustained by the Canadian, Diaz confronted BJ Penn as a substitute, profitable by unanimous determination.
After a return win, it was clear that the Californian wouldn’t be returning to Strikeforce; nevertheless, he has been thought to be one of many biggest fighters to compete within the organisation.
