Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
{{short description|Strikeforce mixed martial arts event in 2011}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name=Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
|image=Diazvsdaley.jpg
|promotion=Strikeforce
|date=April 9, 2011
|venue=Valley View Casino Center
|attendance=
|gate=
|city=San Diego, California, United States
|previousevent= Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson
|followingevent= Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum
}}
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, United States.{{cite web |url=http://strikeforce.com/events/2011/04/san-diego-diaz-vs-daley/|title=San Diego: Diaz vs Daley|publisher=strikeforce.com |date=2011-03-03}}
Background
This was the first non-Challengers event that Strikeforce held under the management of their new owners Zuffa, who bought the promotion the previous month.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/22807/ufc-purchases-strikeforce.mma|title=UFC purchases Strikeforce|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2011-03-12|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731021112/http://mmajunkie.com/news/22807/ufc-purchases-strikeforce.mma|archivedate=2012-07-31}}
This event was originally expected to feature Alistair Overeem vs. Fabrício 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{{cite web |url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/22662/april-9-strikeforce-diaz-vs-daley-event-set-for-san-diego-sports-arena.mma|title=April 9 "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley" event set for San Diego Sports Arena
|publisher=mmajunkie.com |date=2011-03-02}} with Overeem & Barnett winning the rescheduled bouts.
K. J. Noons was expected to make his return to lightweight on this card,{{cite web |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Report-Noons-Eying-April-9-Strikeforce-Return-at-Lightweight-30492|title=Noons Eying April 9 Strikeforce Return at Lightweight|publisher=sherdog.com |date=2011-02-28}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/31/mike-kyle-withdraws-from-gegard-mousasi-fight/|title=Mike Kyle Withdraws From Gegard Mousasi Fight|publisher=mmafighting.com |date=2011-02-28}} Keith Jardine agreed to step in on one week's notice to fight Mousasi.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/23087/jardine-replaces-injured-kyle-faces-mousasi-at-strikeforce-diaz-vs-daley.mma|title=Jardine replaces injured Kyle, faces Mousasi at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley"|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405164429/http://mmajunkie.com/news/23087/jardine-replaces-injured-kyle-faces-mousasi-at-strikeforce-diaz-vs-daley.mma|archivedate=2011-04-05}} The Mousasi/Kyle bout finally took place at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine in January 2013, where Mousasi submitted Kyle with a rear naked choke in the first round.
This is the last non-Challengers Strikeforce event to feature men's bouts in weight classes below lightweight.
The event drew an estimated average of 528,000 viewers, however peaked at 806,000 viewers.{{Cite web|url=http://mmapayout.com/2011/04/strikeforce-diaz-vs-daley-peaks-at-806000-viewers/|title = Strikeforce Diaz vs. Daley peaks at 806,000 viewers}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main card}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|Nick Diaz (c)
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|1
|4:57
|For the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|Gilbert Melendez (c)
|def.
|TKO (elbows)
|1
|3:14
|For the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|vs.
|Draw (majority) (29–27, 28–28, 28–28)
|3
|5:00
|Mousasi was docked one point in round one for an illegal upkick.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Submission (neck crank)
|1
|1:33
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|Casey Ryan
|def.
|Paul Song
|Submission (triangle choke)
|1
|1:39
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (140 lbs)
|def.
|Edgar Cardenas
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|KO (punch)
|1
|4:16
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Submission (armbar)
|2
|2:45
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|def.
|Brett Albee
|TKO (strikes)
|1
|1:46
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (30–27, 30–27, 28–29)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
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