Strikeforce MMA had some of the most legendary fighters who competed in the organisation.
Names like Ronda Rousey, Luke Rockhold, Daniel Cormier, Robbie Lawler, and Dan Henderson fought for the promotion as prospects or career revivals.
But, no one would be tougher than Stockton’s own, Nick Diaz, who really made a name for himself with the MMA promotion.
Diaz had previously fought in the UFC, where he took on the likes of Jeremy Jackson, Diego Sanchez and Sean Sherk.
The Californian left the biggest MMA organisation due to a strained relationship with the UFC, which was where his glorious momentum would have picked up.
Especially when he made his arrival at Strikeforce.
The Debut
Diaz entered Strikeforce on a three-fight win streak, all of those victories ending by KO/TKO.
The BJJ black belt made his arrival with a big test as he faced fellow Californian, Frank Shamrock, in a Catchweight bout at 179lbs.
Shamrock was the first man to become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, which at the time was the Middleweight title.
The Santa Monica fighter had defeated the likes of Kevin Jackson, John Lober and Tito Ortiz.
Heading into the battle, Diaz was the underdog despite being the younger fighter, as well as having a height and reach advantage.
During the fight, the Stockton mixed martial artist was piecing up the former UFC Champion with multiple combinations throughout the fight.
While Shamrock was looking for powerful knockout punches, but was unsuccessful on numerous occasions.
The incredible boxing and combinations from Diaz would soon take their toll on Shamrock, as after a huge body shot, the 36-year-old was set against the cage, before a vicious ground-and-pound stopped the fight.
After claiming a second-round TKO win, Diaz showed his respect to Shamrock by raising his hand straight after the battle.
The San Jose fighter would not step into an MMA cage again as he retired a year after his grudge match with Diaz.
The Champ is Here
Less than two months after his Strikeforce debut, the 25-year-old competed in his next bout, which was against Scott Smith.
Smith was on a two-fight win streak with two consecutive KO/TKO victories over Benji Radach and Terry Martin, as he was known for finishing fights.
The two men squared off in St Louis, Missouri, in what would be a three-round war.
In a thrilling battle, the boxing technician dropped Smith twice with two brutal body punches before taking the back and submitting the Nevada fighter with a Rear-Naked Choke.
After this victory, Diaz was allowed to fight for the Inaugural Welterweight Championship.
On January 30, 2010, the Stockton fighter faced Strikeforce newcomer and, at the time, DREAM Welterweight Champion Marius Zaromskis.
The Lithuanian was entering the MMA organisation on a five-fight win streak, with four of his triumphs ending by first-round KO/TKO.
The championship fight took place in Miami at the BankAtlantic Center.
The contest could only be described as a one-round slugfest as both men exchanged strikes, with the Californian being knocked down at one stage.
Towards the end of round one, Diaz hurt Zaromskis with multiple punches before a huge right hook sent ‘The Whitemare’ crashing down onto the canvas.
A glorious knockout win meant title triumph for Diaz as he became the first Strikeforce Welterweight Champion.
Earning Revenge and Erupting Chaos
After competing in a Dream 14 in a non-title bout against Hayato Sakurai, winning by first-round Armbar submission, Diaz prepared for his first championship defence.
The Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fighter defended his 170-pound title against KJ Noons in San Jose, California.
Noons had previously fought Diaz back at EliteXC: Renegade in November 2007, where he defeated the fellow Californian by first-round TKO, due to a Doctor’s Stoppage.
This meant that the Welterweight Champion could claim revenge while making a successful title defence.
In a gruelling five-round war, the fight went to the judges’ scorecards with Diaz winning by unanimous decision. A battle that was regarded as one of the best in 2010.
Three months later, after his revenge, Diaz set his eyes on defending his Welterweight belt against Evangelista Santos.
Santos was hungry to become the top fighter of the division after a first-round knockout win against Zaromskis.
Not to forget that the Brazilian was the husband at the time to the most dangerous female mixed martial artist, Cristiane Justino, otherwise known as Cris Cyborg.
During the wild fight, Santos landed some brutal leg kicks, which were a big factor in the battle, but Diaz was causing problems with his crisp boxing skills.
The Curitiba-born fighter landed a takedown at the end of round two, which would be a big mistake as the champion locked in an Armbar, which forced a tap from ‘Cyborg’.
After claiming the win, Diaz began cursing at the crowd, which was a result of fans heckling during the fight.
The American had to be held back by his coach while drinks were being thrown into the cage from the crowd.
It was assumed that Diaz was shouting and cursing at Cris Cyborg, as the camera panned on her, looking very emotional.
But the Strikeforce matchmaker, Shannon Knap,p believed that was not the case.
An Infamous Comeback Victory
The last bout Diaz had in Strikeforce was maybe his most memorable fight in the organisation.
The Californian was set to defend his title in San Diego against Paul Daley for the Welterweight Championship.
Daley had three fights in the UFC before this particular opportunity, winning his first two matchups by first-round knockout.
However, in the Englishman’s third bout at UFC 113, it ended in catastrophe as ‘Semtex’ punched Josh Koscheck not long after their fight had finished. This left the UFC President, Dana White, no choice but to release him from the organisation.
Before the title fight, Daley was on a four-fight win streak with two consecutive first-round KO/TKO wins.
A contest which had a lot of tension and excitement did not disappoint, despite the battle lasting only one round.
Diaz pressured Daley while throwing his numerous punch combinations to the Englishman, making the fight look as if it would not go the distance.
All of a sudden, the London-born mixed martial artist landed a powerful left hook, sending the champion crashing down while receiving a vicious ground-and-pound.
Remarkably, the fight was not stopped as Diaz managed to recover in a high-paced one-round war.
Diaz began to turn the tables on Daley, stunning the Englishman with pinpoint punches, and the Stockton fighter finished the job with three seconds remaining to win by TKO.
The incredible rise of Diaz put him on a 10-fight win streak, and after talks about facing the UFC Welterweight Champion, Georges St-Pierre, the 27-year-old vacated the Strikeforce title to return for his second stint in the UFC.
It was initially thought that the Strikeforce warrior would face St-Pierre at UFC 137. Still, due to an injury sustained by the Canadian, Diaz faced BJ Penn instead, winning by unanimous decision.
After a return win, it was clear that the Californian wouldn’t be returning to Strikeforce; however, he has been regarded as one of the greatest fighters to compete in the organisation.
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