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KJ Noons: Ready For
Another Round With Nick Diaz By Johnny
Preston
 Don’t
be scared, homie.” It’s become a catchphrase of sorts for
STRIKEFORCE Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz. For his next opponent,
recent STRIKEFORCE: Houston victor KJ Noons, it’s become a rallying
cry.
On October 9th, live in San Jose, California at HP Pavilion,
televised on SHOWTIME®, Diaz and Noons will engage in one of the
most anticipated rematches in MMA history. Three years ago, these
two fought for the now-defunct EliteXC Lightweight Championship,
with Noons claiming the vacant belt via TKO. The Hawaiian native
knocked down Diaz with a right hand, belted him with brutal knees,
and after the first round, the doctor waved off the fight due to
excessive cuts around Diaz’s eyes.
The pride of Stockton resisted, but the fight was over. Seven months
later, after Noons defended the belt in his home state, a standoff
ensued between Diaz and Noons, as well as their respective camps.
The situation almost came to blows.
Afterwards, the fighters were decidedly less than complimentary of
one another, and the stage was set for an eventual rematch. After
the demise of EliteXC, Noons temporarily found a new career in
professional boxing and it appeared the rematch might never happen.
Now, STRIKEFORCE has put together the fight everyone’s been waiting
to witness for three years.
Noons, despite having vanquished Diaz once before, is more than
happy to face the Stockton, California native once again.
“I’m super excited about the opportunity, and I think it’s a great
thing for me. To be in the STRIKEFORCE main event on SHOWTIME, to be
in line to be a two-time, two-division world champion, and getting
to beat Nick again in the process…I couldn’t ask for a better
fight.”
Diaz, known for his psychological games and enduring trash talk, has
already launched verbal volleys in preparation for stepping into the
cage once again with his archenemy. Not to be outdone, Noons is
firing back.
“I already got one up on Nick. I beat the crap out of the guy. He’s
had a good run, and there’s a lot of build-up for this rematch.
We’ve both improved, this is a different weight class now, he’s
gotten better, I’ve gotten better…it’s a different situation. But at
the end of the day, I’m a true mixed martial artist, I have respect
for the sport, and I am a good role model.”
A passion enters Noons’ voice as he continues.
“Nick’s good for entertainment, but I come from a family of
fighters. I started early, and I have respect for martial arts. It
teaches you discipline, how to become a good person, and I feel that
I am. On October 9th, I’m fighting a guy that, if I had a kid, I
wouldn’t want him looking up to. He’s a trash-talking, pot-smoking
chump.” Noons isn’t afraid to poke and prod his opponent’s cage.
As if fighting Diaz for the belt is not enough, Noons will also be
facing the champ in San Jose, just an hour outside of the Diaz’s
hometown of Stockton. Does the challenger consider that to be a
factor heading into the bout?
“It’s motivation for sure,” said Noons. “I love being the underdog.
Even when I’m not, I still try to picture myself as the underdog so
I train harder and push myself. Nick says he’s bringing his guys,
but so am I. They’re going to need to beef up security. (Laughs)”
While focused on Diaz, the Hawaiian fighting favorite also has an
eye towards the future. Before he’s done with his fighting career,
Noons, a very successful pro boxer, has made it clear what his
ultimate goal is: to be an MMA word champion while facing a boxing
world champion in the ring.
But before Noons gets to that, Diaz looms large. And about that,
Noons is very serious.
“This is beyond a grudge match. I’m going to light him up like a
Christmas tree. He’s going to have to kill me to lose. It’s very
personal.” |
