The Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley fight card on April 9 in San Diego won't feature the next pair of heavyweight tournament quarterfinal bouts as initially planned, but fans are in for an arguably more intriguing lineup.
In the main event, top-ranked Nick Diaz (24-7-1) will make his third defense of the Strikeforce welterweight title against heavy-handed British striker Paul Daley (27-9-2). Diaz has built a reputation on fighting his opponent's style, but will he continue the trend against someone who coming off two devastating first-round knockout wins?
Diaz's teammate Gilbert Melendez (19-2) is back in action after renewing a deal with Strikeforce and he'll welcome top Japanese lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri (27-6-2) to the U.S. The fight will be Melendez's second title defense since unifying the Strikeforce titles in December 2009.
The current Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley card from the Valley View Casino Center is below.
The main card will air live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET.
Televised Bouts
Nick Diaz (c) vs. Paul Daley - Strikeforce Welterweight Championship
Gilbert Melendez (c) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri - Strikeforce Lightweight Championship
Gegard Mousasi vs. Keith Jardine
Shinya Aoki vs. Lyle Beerbohm
Preliminary Bouts
Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Robert Peralta
Virgil Zwicker vs. Brett Albee
Joe Duarte vs. Saad Awad
Herman Terrado vs. A.J. Matthews
Rolando Perez vs. Edgar Cardenas
Casey Ryan vs. Paul Song
In the main event, top-ranked Nick Diaz (24-7-1) will make his third defense of the Strikeforce welterweight title against heavy-handed British striker Paul Daley (27-9-2). Diaz has built a reputation on fighting his opponent's style, but will he continue the trend against someone who coming off two devastating first-round knockout wins?
Diaz's teammate Gilbert Melendez (19-2) is back in action after renewing a deal with Strikeforce and he'll welcome top Japanese lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri (27-6-2) to the U.S. The fight will be Melendez's second title defense since unifying the Strikeforce titles in December 2009.
The current Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley card from the Valley View Casino Center is below.
The main card will air live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET.
Televised Bouts
Nick Diaz (c) vs. Paul Daley - Strikeforce Welterweight Championship
Gilbert Melendez (c) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri - Strikeforce Lightweight Championship
Gegard Mousasi vs. Keith Jardine
Shinya Aoki vs. Lyle Beerbohm
Preliminary Bouts
Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Robert Peralta
Virgil Zwicker vs. Brett Albee
Joe Duarte vs. Saad Awad
Herman Terrado vs. A.J. Matthews
Rolando Perez vs. Edgar Cardenas
Casey Ryan vs. Paul Song