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FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
GOES OFF WITHOUT A HITCH; FIGHTER QUOTES
Photos: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE
Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010,
HP Pavilion, San Jose, California
“DIAZ VS. NOONS II” – This Saturday at HP Pavilion
Live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT
SAN JOSE (Oct. 7, 2010) – There may have
been tension in the room, but all the fighters, specifically Nick
Diaz and KJ Noons, were respectful and reserved and made like true
professionals during Thursday’s final press conference for this
Saturday’s “DIAZ VS. NOONS II’’ mega-fight card at HP Pavilion live
on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
Diaz (22-7-1, 1 NC), of Stockton, Calif., will risk his STRIKEFORCE
Welterweight (170 pounds) World Championship against Noons (9-1), of
San Diego, in the main event. In a second world title fight,
undefeated Women’s Welterweight (135 pounds) Champion Sarah Kaufman
(12-0), of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, will make the second
defense of her 135-pound title against No. 1 contender and Dutch
superstar Marloes Coenen (17-4).
 “Diaz-Noons
II’’ is a grudge rematch of a bloody, controversial slugfest won by
Noons on a disputed first-round TKO on Nov. 7, 2007, when a cageside
physician halted the proceedings due to excessive cuts around Diaz’
eyes. Both fighters have gone unbeaten since. Diaz has won seven in
a row; Noons has triumphed in his last six fights.
Popular local favorite and former STRIKEFORCE champion Josh Thomson
(17-3), of San Jose, will meet Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (15-3-1) of
Brazil in a battle of world-ranked lightweights in a featured
televised match. The winner could be next up to challenge
STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez.
In the opening bout of the telecast, Tyron Woodley (8-0), of St.
Louis, Mo., faces Andre Galvao (5-1) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in a
welterweight weight.
Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com, at the HP Pavilion ticket
office, or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
Doors will open at 4 p.m. PT. The first live, non-televised fight is
at 4:30 p.m.
What the eight fighters had to say Thursday:
 NICK
DIAZ
“I feel good and weight-wise I am almost perfect. I was angry for a
long time (about the first fight). I was real upset that it ended
the way it did because it wasn’t like I was hurt.
“Then I kind of dropped the idea of ever fighting a rematch because
he got out of MMA. I never considered the first fight as a loss. I
just always looked at it as a fight that was stopped (too soon).
“I don’t feel that this fight is about revenge. But I’m happy now
that he took the fight.’’
 KJ
NOONS
“I love to fight and I love my job and I want to thank STRIKEFORCE
and SHOWTIME and Nick for taking this fight. I’ve trained very hard
and I’m excited about Saturday. This is a fight the fans want to
see.
“I have respect for Nick as a fighter. His style works for him and I
like to watch him fight. (But) I’m really pumped and ready to fight
the best at 170 pounds.
“The first fight I worked on going forward against Nick because Nick
never fights going backward, but I’ve been working on all aspects of
the game. I’m sure at some point he’s going to try and take me down
but I am ready for anything.’’
 JOSH
THOMSON
“JZ is a savage and a beast and I think it’s a joke that you guys
have a guy like Ben Henderson ranked above a guy like him. I could
go out there and fight the fight of my life and still lose. I have
to beat him everywhere; there is no way I am going to win this fight
doing one thing. JZ has fought some good ones all over the world. He
is probably bigger and hits harder so I know I have to lay it on the
line and see what happens,
“Everybody wants to talk about Gilbert Melendez but all my training
and focus is on JZ. If I don’t get past this one, everything else is
out the window.’’
JZ CAVALCANTE
“This will be an excellent fight and I’m really looking forward to
it and fighting for STRIKEFORCE. I like being part of a fight fans
want to see and are talking about. This is my chance to make a name
for myself in America.
“I was off a long time because of my injuries but I’ve seen a lot by
working with teammates and other guys that has helped me stay
involved in the game. But there is nothing like a real fight.’’
 SARAH
KAUFMAN
“I like winning. This is definitely a big fight and, like always, I
know I’ll have to come out confident and aggressive.
“This is definitely a big deal for the 135-pound division and a big
push forward for it. The more attention and exposure we get, the
more the fan base will grow. There’s already a good fan base for the
STRIKEFORCE women at 145 pounds, so this is a great opportunity for
us and the division.’’
MARLOES COENEN
“The closer we get to the fight, the more excited I am. All the work
is done. I’ve trained really hard and feel great. I’m good on my
weight and feel strong. That helps my confidence a lot fighting at
135 pounds. Coming down from 145 was a gradual process, but I had a
good nutritionist and team working with me.
I don’t think I’ve lost any strength but I definitely feel faster.
 “This
fight means the world to me. I won a world tournament in Japan 10
years ago and, here I am again, 10 years later with another
opportunity to win another potentially life-changing event. A
victory means I can stay and have a career in America. I would love
that to happen very much.’’
TYRON WOODLEY
“I can’t concern myself on what an opponent my do. It’s up to me to
turn my weaknesses into strengths.
“This fight means a ton to me. I fought through the STRIKEFORCE
Challengers series. Fans got to learn my story as a fighter, they
got to see me develop and get better each fight. They got to submit
guys fast. They got to see me go through wars. This is definitely a
step forward towards my dream to be a champion. We’ll get those
fireworks going on Saturday.’’
ANDRE GALVAO
“Tyron is a tough fighter, a top wrestling guy who has fought three
times on STRIKEFORCE. I am excited and have a good game plan. I’m
ready to go.’’
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