Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley

Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce, the event took place on April 9, 2011, at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.^[1]

Background

This was the first "Arena Series" event under Zuffa management.^[2]

This event was originally expected to feature Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers, the two remaining quarter-final fights in the Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament. Both the event and the fights were listed on Strikeforce's official site. However, on March 2, 2011, Scott Coker confirmed the bouts were being moved to the Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum event to be held in Dallas, Texas, on June 18.^[3]

K.J. Noons was expected to make his return to lightweight on this card,^[4] but a bout did not materialize.

Mike Kyle was scheduled to face Gegard Mousasi, but withdrew from the bout on March 31, 2011, due to a broken hand.^[5] Keith Jardine agreed to step in on one week's notice to fight Mousasi.^[6]

The event drew an estimated average of 528,000 viewers, however peaked at 806,000 viewers.^[7]

Results

Main card

• Welterweight Championship bout: Nick Diaz (c) vs. Paul Daley

Diaz defeated Daley via TKO (punches) at 4:57 of round 1 to retain the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship.

• Lightweight Championship bout: Gilbert Melendez (c) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri

Melendez defeated Kawajiri via TKO (strikes) at 3:14 of round 1 to retain the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship.

• Light Heavyweight bout: Gegard Mousasi vs. Keith Jardine

Mousasi and Jardine fought to a majority draw (29–27, 28–28, 28–28). Mousasi was deducted one point in round 1 for an illegal upkick.

• Lightweight bout: Shinya Aoki vs. Lyle Beerbohm

Aoki defeated Beerbohm via submission (neck crank) at 1:33 of round 1.

Preliminary card

• Featherweight bout Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Robbie Peralta

Peralta defeated Takaya via split decision (30–27, 30–27, 28–29)

• Heavyweight bout: Brett Albee vs. Virgil Zwicker

Zwicker defeated Albee via TKO (strikes) at 1:46 of round 1.

• Lightweight bout: Joe Duarte vs. Saad Awad

Duarte defeated Awad via submission (armbar) at 2:45 of round 2.

• Welterweight bout: Herman Terrado vs. AJ Matthews

Terrado defeated Matthews via KO (punch) at 4:16 of round 1.

• Catchweight (140 lb) bout: Rolando Perez vs. Edgar Cardenas^[1]

Perez defeated Cardenas via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

• Middleweight bout: Casey Ryan vs. Paul Song

Ryan defeated Song via submission (triangle choke) at 1:39 of round 1.

Payroll

Nick Diaz: $175,000 (no win bonus) def. Paul Daley: $65,000

Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Tatsuya Kawajiri: $97,612.50

Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 drew Keith Jardine: $25,000

Shinya Aoki: $73,637.50 (no win bonus) def. Lyle Beerbohm: $10,000

Robert Peralta: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus) def. Hiroyuki Takaya: $2,740

Virgil Zwicker: $3,000 ($1,000 win bonus) def. Brett Albee: $1,000

Joe Duarte: $2,000 ($1,000 win bonus) def. Saad Awad: $1,500

Herman Terrado: $1,500 ($500 win bonus) def. A.J. Matthews: $1,000

Rolando Perez: $3,000 ($1,000 win bonus) def. Tom Peterson: $1,000

Casey Ryan: $2,000 ($1,000 win bonus) def. Paul Song: $750

References