Returning to mixed martial arts for the first time since June of 2008, former EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons defeated Andre Dida by unanimous decision Monday at Dream.13.Noons spent 2009 trying to be a professional boxer, and he fought like a boxer in his return to MMA, basically just standing up and throwing punches for the entire 15 minutes. He'd be a more effective fighter if he'd vary his attacks, but it was enough to beat Dida on Monday.
The fight (which started with Dida accidentally kicking Noons in the groin in the opening exchange) featured plenty of striking from both guys, but it wasn't a great battle. It was more a matter of Noons doing just enough to control the fight, and Dida doing just enough to lose.
HDNet announcer Michael Schiavello said on the air that Noons' next fight could come against Tatsuya Kawajiri. A Noons-Kawajiri fight would be a good one -- and it would be a fight that Noons won't win without a better showing.
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