Hieron signs to strikeforce - expected to face Diaz


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Affliction refugee Jay Hieron has found a new home.

Three days after the clothing company ceased its prizefighting operations, the former International Fight League welterweight champion has signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce.

In his first fight, Hieron is expected to step in for Joe Riggs to face Nick Diaz at Strikeforce “Carano vs. Cyborg” in San Jose, Calif., on Aug. 15. The fight will likely be for the first ever Strikeforce welterweight title.

Carano vs. Cyborg, which boasted no less than four title fights, recently saw its championship schedule halved by injuries and withdrawals. Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, who was scheduled to defend his title in June, was forced to withdraw from a return against Fabricio Werdum due to a re-aggravated hand injury. Riggs withdrew last week after reportedly suffering an adverse reaction to prescription medication.

Hieron (17-4) was on the front lines for the collapse of the IFL in summer 2008 and fielded offers from the UFC and Strikeforce before accepting an offer with Affliction. In January, he fought Jason High in the swing bout for Affliction’s second event, “Day of Reckoning,” earning a brutal knockout in 64 seconds. A native of Long Island, New York, he is a mainstay of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

The main event between Gina Carano and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos for the women’s 145-pound divisional championship, and a lightweight title rematch between reigning champ Josh Thomson and former champ Gilbert Melendez remain the only five-round fights untouched, though rumors have circulated about a possible injury to Thomson.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/tem ... &zoneid=13


(Editor's Note: This article initially stated that Jay Hieron had signed a multi-fight contract with Strikeforce. It was updated at 10:15 a.m. PT Tuesday to state that he has agreed to the deal in principal, but has yet to actually sign a contract with Strikeforce.)

Beat me to the punch, its gonna be a good 1, its a title fight now Kam i thought id add it to the title

http://mmamania.com/2009/07/29/nick-dia ... or-aug-15/

Foul-mouthed fightmonger Nick Diaz will face International Fight League (IFL) veteran Jay Hieron for the newly-created Strikeforce welterweight championship at the “Carano vs. Cyborg” event from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Aug. 15, MMAmania.com has learned.

Hieron — who was training to fight Paul “Semtex” Daley this weekend at Affliction: “Trilogy” before the promotion folded — apparently beat out Phil Baroni as a late replacement for Joe Riggs, who was hospitalized and forced out of the rematch against Diaz last week.

Diaz comes into this fight on an absolute tear. Aside from dismantling the clearly-overmatched Scott Smith at June’s “Lawler vs. Shields” event, the Cesar Gracie-disciple busted up the legendary Frank Shamrock en route to a second round TKO at the last San Jose-based event back in April.

The Stockton, Calif., native is riding a five-fight win streak and has finished each of his opponents in dominating fashion.

Hieron is also currently enjoying a five fight winning streak, including his most recent first round knockout win over the previously unbeaten Jason High on the Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” card back in January.

The Xtreme Couture trainee was a staple under the now defunct IFL, fighting nine times for the promotion in a span of just under two years. Since then, however, “The Thoroughbred” has only been in action twice, defeating High earlier this year and also out-pointing Chris Kennedy en route to a unanimous decision victory at a “Super Fights MMA” event last October.

Hieron and Diaz were actually rumored to face off at the Strikeforce event back in June; however, the promotion instead ended up booking Scott Smith as Diaz’s opponent for the event. It was a fight that Hieron wanted real bad at the time.

That’s because he was part of KJ Noons corner the night he and Diaz had that melee in the cage following KJ’s technical knockout win over Yves Edwards at Elite XC: “Return of the King.” There’s even video footage of Hieron throwing a punch at the Cesar Gracie-trained black belt.

Now he may get another opportunity to do that several times over, and much more, on Aug. 15.

Strikeforce: “Carano vs. Cyborg” will feature a 145-pound title fight between female fighting sensation Gina “Conviction” Carano and her nemesis Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos as well as a lightweight title unification bout between reigning champ Josh “The Punk” Thomson and interim champ Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez.