Nick Diaz vs. Scott Smith Added to June 6th Strikeforce Event
PRESS RELEASE — Fresh off their respective thrilling wins, the versatile Nick Diaz (19-7) and knockout artist Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (17-5) are eager to get back in the cage. The pair will square off on Saturday, June 6, in a special 180-pound showdown during the live SHOWTIME telecast of Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields” from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.
“I think this is a great fight for me, but I really hate that (Smith) brings his kids to every one of his fights because now I’m going to be made out to be the bad guy or some sort of villain after I beat him up,” said the 25-year-old Diaz, who shocked the MMA world with his complete dominance of four-time world champion Frank Shamrock in the Strikeforce main event on SHOWTIME from HP Pavilion in San Jose on Saturday, April 11. “At the end of the day, I’m going to do what I have to do though and take him out.”
Against Shamrock, Diaz demonstrated his versatility. The Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt spent the majority of the match trading strikes—and getting the better of the exchanges. Known for his prowess on the mat, Diaz is also a professional boxer.
Known for his outstanding endurance, Diaz just completed a 5K race and will compete in an upcoming triathlon near his hometown in Stockton, Calif., in order to prepare for what could be a marathon slugfest in the cage with Smith.
Earlier on the “Shamrock vs. Diaz” fight card, the 29-year-old Smith prevailed in a brutal and action-packed fight that surely will be candidate for 2009 Fight of the Year. The thrilling, seesaw battle with middleweight Benji “The Razor” Radach ended when Smith landed one monstrous punch in the middle of the third round.
“I’m pretty much 100 percent right now, other than some stitches I have that are tender,” said Smith, who returned to training on Monday, April 13, two days after his victory.
“I usually take a few weeks off, get out of shape and go up to about 210 pounds and wind up spending a few weeks just getting back in shape,” he said, “but I decided I wasn’t going to do that this time. I’m 195 pounds right now and I feel great.”
With 15 of his 17 wins having come by way of knockout, Smith, a Muay Thai specialist, has lived up to his nickname. To prepare adequately for Diaz’s grappling capabilities, Smith will work with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Ricardo Barros.
“Diaz is a great fighter,” acknowledged Smith. “He’s going to come in there and out grapple me and out strike me so what I have to do is go in there and beat him up. I actually think this is more of a dangerous fight for him than it is for me.”
Tickets for Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields” are on sale at the Scottrade Center box office as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com), and Strikeforce’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).
The live SHOWTIME telecast of the event begins at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). In the highly anticipated main event, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) will face off with fellow top-ranked superstar Jake Shields (22-4-1) in a 182-pound catch weight fight.
Additionally, “The New York Badass” Phil Baroni (13-10) will collide with Joe “Diesel” Riggs (29-10) in a 170-pound contest.
Doors at the Scottrade Center will open for Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields” at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, June 6. The first non-televised preliminary bout will begin at 7 p.m.
(Pictured: Nick Diaz)
Tags: Nick Diaz, Scott Smith
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I really am getting annoyed by Nick Diaz getting all of these special weight contests (catch weight), or a special belt made up for him thx to the ProElite group… Nick has a problem with good boxers KJ Noons comes to mind… This should be a good test for the both of them and a rather good test as well….. Perhaps Smith can get by the elder Diaz, we shall see it is a nice addition forsure…..
o and really? “shocked the MMA world”, perhaps maybe but not really, I think that most people were secretly rooting for him to whoop LiL Shammy Shamm, yet those people won’t admit it or they were like I knew Nick would win yada yada, now they’re all on Nicks nuts…. (thats more a shot at the pups and small fries of the interwebbie)
You’re tired of Nick getting special weight classes… well, there is that.. but I’m already tired of the special weight classes with Strikeforce. They picked up the ProElite guys, now their last main was at a catch weight, the women’s fight was rubbish as far as the weight classes goes, and now this June 6th card will be co-headlined by two catch weight bouts… separated by two pounds. Why don’t they just go ahead and make the Baroni v. Riggs fight at 173.38 lbs?! I had a lot of respect for Strikeforce, but if they keep doing this catch weight crap, my respect for them is going to continue to dwindle.
Yea, I’m with you on that Justin.
Agreed,these catchweights are a little lame.But if they continue to put on cards like this,you will continue to watch?This card is looking like it will be very entertaining.
Did you mean “will you continue to watch?” instead of “you will…”?
Yes, I will still watch, but they don’t make any money off of me anyways, I don’t have Showtime, and I’m not paying their stinking $25 PPV when I could get Showtime for ~$12/month. I just don’t want Showtime, when all I care about is Strikeforce.
Ha Ha Ha,sorry man.The ? was rhetorical.Just being a smartass.
dude lets see you fight between one sixty and one eighty five its tough dude diaz is one of the best welterweights in the world
see how terrell sub him with ease, diaz should out box him with his reach and sub him if he wants to, diaz reach creates alot of problems for people, strickforce needs to stop the catch weight and stay with thr traditional weight classes,that way these fights will mean something and affect rankings
Diaz can not and will not out box Scott Smith
If you read the article,even Smith says Diaz will out strike him(he don’t mean hit harder)and the ground game is a no contest.
Quick Question?
What catch weight are they fighting at??
I have to give it to Diaz, since leaving the ufc he been on a tear. I really dont like him that much but he gets mad respect from me.
When watching that Shamrock fight I couldn’t believe Shammy didn’t attempt to take him down, he just stayed at the end of Diaz jabs and ate punches. Diaz dont look like much nor does his boxing style but he will finish you giving the chance.
Diaz/Scott Diaz by submission.
they are fighting at 180 OnlyTrue1. this card might be good, but I do not like diaz. he is too cocky and annoying. now he says “I think this is a great fight for me, but I really hate that (Smith) brings his kids to every one of his fights because now I’m going to be made out to be the bad guy or some sort of villain after I beat him up,” first off he needs to beat the other guy, yea he beat frank, but frank looked horrible. I didnt want either guy to win because I knew the winner wouldnt stay quiet. I want to see phil “macaroni” baroni and riggs fight. I think that fight will end real early, probably halfway through the first.
I just saw the last Strike Force. WTF was up with Big John in the final fight. It should have been stopped about 3 times WTF was he looking at.