Diaz, Noons Avoid Fireworks at Presser

Nick Diaz and K.J. Noons : Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker promised to bring in extra security for the long-awaited rematch between welterweight champion Nick Diaz and K.J. Noons, but the added protection wasn't necessary.

At least, not yet.

Thursday's pre-fight news conference went off without a hitch, as neither champion nor challenger instigated a conflict.

“It went smoothly, but we'll see,” said Coker. “That's the think about Nick. You never know.”

Diaz was reserved for the entirety of the conference and discussed the upcoming fight and his opponent at length. The welterweight title fight, taking place on Saturday at the HP Pavilion, will be a rematch of a 2007 scrap between Diaz and Noons for the EliteXC 160-pound title. That bout ended in controversy after the ringside doctor called a halt to the contest after examining a badly lacerated Diaz after round one. Obviously, Diaz was unhappy with the stoppage and the loss on his record.

“Yeah, I was angry at the time [about the stoppage.] I think it was just an inexperienced doctor who stopped the fight,” Diaz said. “My brother's last fight wasn't stopped, and he had a large cut. That happens all the time. It's a title fight, and you don't really stop it. It's not like I was hurt and running. I was on top. When he knocked me down, I started scooting forward immediately. I'm just glad K.J. took the fight. I didn't think he'd take it years ago.”

Although the loss got under the champion's skin at the time, he hasn't been obsessing over it. Since defeating Diaz, Noons has fought infrequently, competing only once in 2008 and then taking a near two-year break from the sport.

“I dropped it. I figured he'd stopped fighting MMA,” said the champion. “So I just forgot about it.”

Noons was even more diplomatic during the presser as he commented on his upcoming title opportunity.

“I trained hard for this fight. I think it's a fight people want to see. Regardless of all the stuff on TV, I have respect for Nick as a fighter, because he's a good fighter,” said Noons. “You're going to see two good fighters in an exciting match. I'm ready to fight best guy in the world at 170.”

As the challenger noted, another important distinction between the first fight and the upcoming rematch is the weight difference.

“I feel good at the weight. Nick might be better [because of his frame], but I don't have to go through the whole body transformation I had to go through to make 155,” Noons said. “I had to cut off an arm to make 155. Now I can get through my workouts and feel really strong. I'm working everything in MMA, because Nick's dangerous. He's beaten legends, but I'm not those guys. I have a different style than those guys. So it's going to be interesting.”

Though the press conference was cordial, it's a sure bet that the fight will be anything but. The two fighters will lock horns live on Showtime at 10 ET/7 PT.