SAN DIEGO --This is the Strikeforce live blog for Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley, the main event of tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event at the Valley View Casino Center.

Diaz (24-7), who is making his third title defense, submitted Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos in January. Daley (27-9-2) has knocked out his last two opponents in Scott Smith and Yuya Shirai.

The live blog is below.

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Round 1: Diaz has his hands out, inviting Daley in right away. Diaz tries to wrap him up in a clinch, but Daley wings a hard right over Diaz's arm. Diaz goes down, but whether from a punch or slip is hard to tell. Daley lands several punches while Diaz is down, followed by a kick to the body, but Diaz is back up quickly. Diaz back Daley against the cage and wobbles him with a hard shot. Punches coming rapidly from Diaz now, and Daley is hurt and reaches for Diaz's legs. Diaz brings him down with a front headlock and they work in Diaz's guard briefly. Back on the feet, Diaz continues to hammer away at Daley. Daley fires back with a big counter that rocks Diaz. He goes down hard and this could be stopped. Big John McCarthy warns Daley about punches to the back of the head, but doesn't step in. Somehow, Diaz recovers quickly and gets back to his feet. A hard punch from Diaz, and now Daley is rocked again. It's a frantic seesaw fight. Diaz steps back and Daley's equilibrium fails him. He staggers and collapses against the fence. Diaz jumps on him and after a few hard rights, McCarthy stops it. Diaz retains the title in a wild fight.

Nick Diaz def. Paul Daley via TKO (punches) at 4:57 of round 1




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