In a potential candidate for Fight of the Year in the main event, sizzling STRIKEFORCE Welterweight (170 pounds) World Champion Nick Diaz (24-7, 1 NC), of Stockton, Calif., will seek his 10th consecutive victory when he defends against the hard-hitting, notorious British striker, Paul “Semtex” Daley (26-9-2), of Nottingham, England.
Keith Jardine answers questions from the press before his fight against Gegard Mousasi this Saturday. “The Dean of Mean” stepped in to fight Mousasi after Mike Kyle injured his hand on 1 week’s notice.
The confrontation between Melendez, a Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stylist who re-upped with STRIKEFORCE in February, and Kawajiri, a former Shooto welterweight champion, will be a rematch of a fight that Melendez won on a close, unanimous decision on Dec. 31, 2006.
The 5-foot-9 Melendez will be making his first start since scoring a lopsided five-round decision over Aoki on April 17, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn., on SHOWTIME. Melendez has been triumphant in his last four starts, including a unanimous decision over Thomson in a rematch to regain the title on Dec. 19, 2009.