Diaz-Noons Rematch Announced for Oct. 9

Diaz went to blows with Noons, then EliteXC’s 160-pound champion, in November 2007, but the bout was stopped after the first round after Diaz’s face was sliced open with multiple cuts. Diaz has gone on a seven-fight victory spree since then, winning all but two of his bouts via strikes. In May, Diaz submitted Japanese legend Hayato Sakurai with an armbar at Dream 14 in Saitama, Japan.

Diaz is currently serving a three-month disciplinary suspension for his involvement in a post-fight, in-cage brawl that broke out following his teammate Jake Shields’ victory over Dan Henderson at Strikeforce “Nashville” on April 17 in Nashville, Tenn. That suspension will be completed in September.

Noons earned a commanding second-round technical knockout against Jorge Gurgel in a lightweight bout last week in Houston. The 27-year-old Noons, also an accomplished pro boxer, earned a split decision against Conor Heun in his promotional debut for Strikeforce on June 16 in Los Angeles.

Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Noons” will air live on Showtime.