Nick Diaz will not fight Hayato “Mach” Sakurai at the Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka, Japan, during the DREAM 5 event on July 21, according to GracieFighter.com. The two were set to lock horns for the first-ever DREAM welterweight title, but Diaz will not be allowed to compete because of contractual obligations with Elite XC.
Perhaps Elite XC has plans of their own to include a rematch between Diaz and lightweight champ KJ Noons on the next CBS card set for July 26, which would clearly interfere with the DREAM 5 event on July 21. Diaz’s contract with Pro Elite is non-exclusive, however, he is not allowed to compete outside the company within 30 days of a scheduled Elite XC fight.
Previous speculation indicated that the second installment of “Saturday Night Fights” would be held in St. Louis, Missouri. However, those plans may have have fallen through and there a handful of new rumors that place the event in Diaz’s hometown of Stockton, Calif.
If indeed accurate, the rematch between Noons and Diaz will be a great addition to an already promising July 26 card on CBS — it would potentially be the fourth title fight set for the card. Regardless, Diaz isn’t exactly thrilled with being pulled from his title fight in Japan.
Here’s a snip from Diaz:
“I was happy to be fighting Sakurai and hoping to get back there to Japan where they have you fight in a ring and there seems to be more respect for the art of MMA. I hope they will still have me back soon to fight him (Sakurai) for the belt.”
Hopefully, fighting in front of his hometown fans to settle some “Unfinished Business” will help Diaz forget all about the scheduling conflict.
33 Comments »
cool… a good fight ruined so we can watch noons vs diaz again.
this is why cross promoting sucks balls.
This really sucks. I was really looking forward to that fight. Although, if that fight needed to be sacraficed for the time being to have Diaz/Noons II take place in STOCKTON, I am down! It only sounds fair. How many of Noon’s handfull of fights have taken place in Hawaii now?
Just before work I was reading part of the OC Register Nick Diaz interview to my wife and double checked the day of this fight…
If this fight is in stockton, I will NEED to be cage side. ANYONE (including you mania) with any connections needs to please get me cage side. Nick Diaz has been one of my favorite fighters for years, and to see him kick the sh#t out of noons would make my year. I will gladly give my left nut for those seats!! By the way, all you guys saying I hug the nuts of UFC, I wouldn’t give up a testi for a UFC card as of yet!
i will be going and sitting cageside.
i won the mega millions about 2 years ago and i have been going to alot of mma and nba over the years.
i am thrilled that nick gets to fight in his and my hometown.
stockton represent!
Kevin, have you gotten a chance to meet Nick Diaz at Caesar’s (or anywhere else)? I always wonder how certain fighters and athletes treat their fans. I know some of them seem like they’re cool and real on TV, but could give a shit about their fans.
nope, he was like 10 when my wife trained there (and I didn’t know her then) and I hate going to stockton. I’m sure I could since my wife knows caesar and her cousin boxes out of stockton, but to be honest thats not my thing. Autographs and such are for a different breed of people. Would I say no to meeting and having a conversation with him, no, but would I seek it out, no!
“nope, he was like 10 when my wife trained there ”
lol.
I would totally seek out a conversation with Nick, during our smoke session!
lol you like that mike?? it’s true i think!!
nick will kill noons next time around.
he jus has some personal probs roght now.
he was saying he put that mess behind him and is ready to fight.
waaaaaar DIAZ
jus wait till diaz hold exc and the dream gold- whoooos next
GOMI
Cross Promoting is awesome, but the owner of the contract (Shaw) must let the fighter now he is scheduled to fight sooner than 4 weeks out. Diaz/Noons II hasn’t even been announced and the card is already 4 weeks away. That is techinically short notice. But for Diaz, that is plenty of time. (however, the last time he had 4 weeks to prepare, he came in heavy).
Given proper notice of the Noons fight, the Sakurai fight would have never been booked.
Its really too bad for Nick because he could use the money and respect that the Japanese MMA community provides to its stars. They know how to appreciate a true warrior, unlike some of the “straight as an arrow, never sipped alchol or said the F word in my life” people that are around the states.
Violentmike: Gary Shaw also stated that he wants Diaz fighting Alvarez! Now thats a GREAT fight, IMO better than Noons Diaz 2 would be!
I just want the noons fight to happen, so that Diaz can rip his arm off!
Diaz vs. Sakurai would have been one of the biggest WARS of the summer. I feel bad for Diaz, because like VM said, he would be appreciated and do good for himself in Japan!
THIS SUCKS!!
I read this yesterday and I am still mad!
The only good thing is Diaz will be on the next CBS card, and will get the opportunity to showcase his skills to many more people then Dream could of offered..
But the Mach fight was like a “wake-up” call for Diaz..He needed a fight like that to get his mind right…
oh well’
Like Diaz said, I too hope he gets invited back to Dream for a title fight…Because then Diaz could possibly hold two title, in two different MMa promotions…
Watch out Noons!…You wont be fighting the same guy!!!..i hope
diaz is a good fighter but he is a scumbag!
How is he a “scumbag”??
why djgalvin?
because he swears?
because he sticks up his middle fingers?
do u swear or have u evr gave someone the middle finger?
- u probubly do cause u just called someone a scummbag
so heres two middle fingers for u buddy- and yes they are stinky
Nick? Is that you?
huh?
LOL, nice.
haha.lol
Well put Stinky!
This is a disgrace! Diaz vs. Sakurai would have been one of the best matches of the summer. Instead we will have to watch Diaz on a BS EliteXc card, filled with tons of comercials! JOKE!!!
EliteXC said that they want Diaz to either face Noons, or Eddie Alvarez!
I am getting sick of orgamiaztions interpretations of the lightweight division. There needs to be universal weight classes. In the UFC LW is 155 lbs, other organization lightweights fight at 160 lbs….This is so stupid!
john, I just went onto the stockton arena wewb site…it says nothing. My heart is pumping so fast right now. If anyone in the stockton ara wants to get a group together and split the costs of a luxary box or suite, or has a connection for cage side, please let me know!!!! the boxes/suites aren’t too high up, and have a good view!!
i will be going.
and i will be sitting cage side.
i won the mega millions lotto 2 years ago.
i am from stockton-born and raised-
i usually go about once a month to see family and friends.
i wish i could help you out
but you are just some dude on the net and i dont know what your about.
I just called my connection. My wife trained with caesar 12 years ago when women didn’t train. She is also from stockton, so I had her put a call in to torres to see what he could do. Thanks though stinky, you’re in a better mood since the last time we spoke. I’m from the east coast, but currently live in bay area. If I can’t get cage side (which I would give my left testicle for), I’ll rent a suite! If you can hook a brother up, I’d appreciate it, but something tells me my wife will come through!
Elite XC is so fake, they had that has been Kimbo as a main event and handpicked a washed up Pride fighter for him and
Kimbo lost but the the ref stopped the fight and gave it to Kimbo. I hope Fedor fights on a card then they will see a real
MMA.
This sucks, I would much rather see him fight Mach then KJ Noons. I hate Elite XC.
God dam it. Why the hell would they ruin a perfectly good fight with Diaz & Sakurai only to make a crappy fight with Noons & Diaz that will probably have some kind of pre-mature stopage anyway especialy since its on CBS. Is Sakurai still fighting than, any new opponent yet?
come on you guys, lay off on the whole early stoppage stuff, it’s not up to CBS nor EliteXC to end the fights, only to the fighters and the athletic commission can do that. Even big john defended big dan for how he refereed.
But I’d also have rather seen the sakurai fight instead.
Hope Diaz destroys Noons and then gets the title in Japan
Maybe he’s not a class act in some eyes, but all his fights are entertaining!!
He still seems like a cool and honest guy too
good point fingers i dont know y scumbags like dj have 2 voice negativaty ?
I was really looking forward to this fight too. However, seeing Diaz fight for free on CBS will be nice. I hope he can beat Noons and get the title. Hope they reschedule the fight with Sakurai.
I’d rather see Sakurai vs. Noons
Diaz is pretty lucky to have 2 title shots lined up for him in the same month. lol.
where’s mexicutioner? is he going to do it?
Mach would have obliterated Diaz, anyway. He can lose to him after Noons beats him again