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Make your predictions for KJ Noons vs. Nick Diaz (the rematch)
By Zach Arnold | October 8, 2010
Scott Coker says Strikeforce’s relationship with CBS is good, but Steve Cofield is wondering where the big Heavyweight fights are.
Nick Diaz says he doesn’t hate KJ Noons again because Noons is actually fighting him. So, why aren’t people fired up to see the fight?
I’m going to list the four main fights on the card here, since the undercard features Jeremy Lappen’s CAMO (amateur) creation for fights. They’re having a bunch of amateur fights for a “Bay Area region” bracket.
- Welterweights: Tyron Woodley vs. Andre Galvao
- Lightweights: Josh Thomson vs. JZ Calvan (Gesias Cavalcante)
- 135-pound women’s title fight: Sarah Kaufman vs. Marloes Coenen
- Welterweight title fight: Nick Diaz vs. KJ Noons
Interesting UFC fights coming up on the calendar: Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim & Dan Miller vs. Joe Doerksen (via MMA Junkie), Kenny Florian vs. Evan Dunham.
Quotes from the UFC 120 conference call.
My favorite headline — Norway rejects MMA fighter and ultranationalist ‘Red Tarzan’.
Topics: Media, MMA, StrikeForce, UFC, Zach Arnold | 29 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Noons is still a much better striker and a much better athlete than Diaz, and Nick is still much larger and better on the ground than Noons. Nick’s takedowns are still nothing to write home about, but they aren’t horrible, either. I think I am leaning Noons via sprawl and brawl, but I guess we could see Nick Diaz pull guard and maybe off his back he could be very dangerous as well.
Good, compelling fight.
Woodley via dec (coin flip fight)
JZ via upset tko (I think im in the minority on this so I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Josh took a dominating UD)
Coenan via submission (Again not confidant in that pick at all)
Diaz via beatdown then sub
Noons will continue the streak of fighters moving up a weight class and winning a Strikeforce belt.
Don’t care about the female fight.
JZ will win. This has more to do with the fact that Thomson looked so bad in his last fight. I think the injuries finally caught up to him.
Woodley wins.
It’s really too bad the last of JT’s injuries was due to some a-hole weekend warrior at his gym applying a f#cking leglock on him…
I should clarify – the last of his knee/leg injuries. I think he’s hurt himself a half dozen times since then (broken ribs, hands, dislocated fingers, etc.).
Thomson broke two ribs in the first round of the fight. That is why he looked “so bad” in his last fight.
I’ve got Noons by decision, using head movement to avoid most of the punches, then countering with overhand rights and nailing Diaz’s stationary upright head, similar to the first fight.
Kaufman by decision.
JZ by decision.
Don’t know the other two, don’t really care either.
Noons has excellent takedown defense, kind-of like a poor man’s Chuck Liddell in the way that he just gets up when taken down. Diaz relies on jiu-jitsu takedowns like the single leg, which don’t work as well when the opponent can use a cage for support. Noons would likely struggle more against a pure wrestler who can take him down with power doubles from anywhere, but that’s definitely not Diaz. Noons by 2nd round TKO.
Wow it seems like I am the only one picking Diaz. Do you guys really think KJ is that good? I don’t understand it.
Noons is 50x the striker Diaz is, has good takedown defense, and Nick isn’t exactly GSP with his wrestling. Styles make fights.
To me, Noons has future champion written all over him. I can’t really think of another pure boxer off the top of my head who’s been able to translate his skills to MMA as well as him. Beyond that, his toughness and counter-punching style are the perfect antidote to Diaz’ swarming style. Who knows how he would do against wrestlers on the level of Melendez and Eddie Alvarez, but against a technically unsound striker like Diaz with a passive ground game I gotta think he pulls out the win.
I think you guys are overrating what you see from Noons. We’ll see tomorrow night. Should be a good night of fights.
I actually don’t think Noons is that good. He isn’t even a Top 15 Lightweight in my opinion. He just matches up well to Diaz, who has a bad takedown and striking that can be exposed by a better striker. Noons is taylor made to beat Diaz 9 times out of 10. Now, let me eat my words… hahaha
Cavalcante by decision
Kaufman by decision
Diaz by submission
Woodley decision
Coenen decision
JZ decision
Noons TKO. I think it will go about the same as their first fight did.
Coenen by Sub
Galvao by Sub
JZ by TKO
Noons by TKO and a WAR.
I’m torn on both of the title fights.
Kaufman has not had anywhere near the tough competition Coenen has faced, so all the talk about Kaufman automatically outclassing her because she’s 12-0 should go out the window. I’m not saying she’s not a great fighter, but if the fight turns into a war, you’ve got to give the edge to Coenen being more experienced to handle it. But if Kaufman keeps it standing the whole fight she definitely wins. Especially if Coenen pulls a Serra and stupidly purposely keeps it standing to prove something in their own mind. But you have to give the edge to the ground fighter so I’m going with Coenen by submission.
As for Diaz-Noons, on paper Diaz is a million times the better fighter. He is more well rounded, he has faced much tougher competition, and he’s one of the best BJJ fighters in the sport. So if he fights a smart fight, he wins no question. The problem is, he tends not to fight smart. He hasn’t evolved his talent either because he believes his own hype too much, or all that pot makes him incredibly lazy in the gym, or a combination of both. If he doesn’t improve his takedowns (and he’s training with freakin’ Jake Sheilds, so if he didn’t try to up his takedowns with him that is a disgrace) and if he thinks he can play pitter-pat punching because it worked once against a boxer for Gomi, he’s going to get destroyed. He must take him down immediately. So on paper, Diaz’s skill plus his size is a no-brainer pick. But sometimes he fights like a no-brain fighter. But I still have to go with him. He’s won bigger upsets than Noons while the internet thought he was going to get destroyed.
He big trouble locally he dont.
Werk kut!
@ SF, Good job spotting players.
Coonan won?!
How boot that!
I was hoping for it.
(Kaufman is a bit of a diva apparently.)
Oh jeez, I hope this doesn’t make a fave lose in trade.
Apparently Punk is perfectly capable of moving his hands and elbows, bit prefers to do so in the last 10 seconds.
I AM NOT anti wrestling, but thats
pussy shitby any measure.CA isn’t corrupt.
Or driven by politics and popularity.
I reckon its over. Diaz has never been that quick. He has been technical before, but he wont out technique or out speed this noons.
Lah…
Oh, 4 and on?!
this might play into Diaz.
I forgot that it was a title shot.
Shit!That MF was close enough!
I’d give it to Diaz for the constitution and a major rubber band.
Nah.
It was closer then that.
5 for 5 baby.
Hahaha never mind said that because I thought it should be a draw or a JZ dec.
Noons/Diaz2 was a better fight than it seemed at first.
Noons is a better brawler.
Whenever Diaz gets in the phone booth with noons he gets rocked.
Diaz is the drawing bead we always said he was.
Marshmellow you into a living death.
Diaz won fair this time.