Strikeforce Notebook: Coker Comments on Babalu, Noons and Kimbo Slice

Noons wants bigger fights

With a razor thin decision over Conor Heun, K.J. Noons has restarted his MMA career in the United States.

Now, he says he’s ready for a big step-up in competition. Not only does he want to win the lightweight title at his current fighting weight, Noons also wants to move up to claim the welterweight crown.

“I think there are a lot of great competitors out there for me at 155,” Noons said, “but I know there is a lot of interest in the (Nick) Diaz fight. I’m interested as well.”

Noons defeated Diaz back in 2007 while both were in EliteXC. A few months later, Noons and Diaz were involved in a post-fight brawl following Noons’ knockout of Yves Edwards.

The bad blood has been around ever since.

“I want to win two titles,” said Noons. “The title at 155, and then there’s one fight I want at 170, and that would be for a title again.”

Noons is clearly calling out Diaz. Strikeforce President Scott Coker is all for a potential rematch.

“That’s a fight that probably should happen,” Coker said. “I know KJ wants to fight Nick, and Nick wants to fight KJ.”

Noons also claimed that he also wanted to return to the boxing ring to win a championship in that sport, but Coker was less than enthusiastic about that possibility.

“We’re going to have 20 fights over the next 12 months,” Coker said. “We’ll be keeping these guys very active.”

Friends will not fight. Or will they?

Prior to the televised main event between Robbie Lawler and Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Strikeforce proclaimed that the winner would receive a title shot.

With Sobral getting the decision win over Lawler, he would seem to be next in line for a fight with current Strikeforce light heavyweight kingpin Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.

However, immediately after the victory, Sobral went in a different direction. Instead of challenging Lawal, Sobral called out former UFC star Dan Henderson.

Sobral and Lawal are regular training partners and have formed a close friendship. The two clearly stated that they would not fight each other.

Strikeforce President Scott Coker has other ideas though.

“We are definitely going to have that conversation (about Lawal and Sobral),” Coker said. “Sometimes, in this business, friends have to get it on.”

Return to the cage

One of the most celebrated debuts in mixed martial arts history took place last January, when former NFL star Herschel Walker defeated Greg Nagy.

Since the victory, Walker has remained non-committal on whether or not he would be returning to the cage. Apparently, the wait for a return will soon be over.

“Herschel Walker will definitely be fighting again—sometime in the fall,” Coker said.

At 48 and with only one MMA fight, Walker has to be very careful with who his next opponent will be.

“Who he will fight, we don’t know yet,” Coker said. “We hope to know for sure within the next couple of weeks.”

No chance just yet

Boasting four straight victories including the last three in Strikeforce, the 12-2 Tim Kennedy would seem poised to make his case for an opportunity at the middleweight title.

Not according to Kennedy.

“I have losses to guys in the division,” Kennedy said alluding to a 2007 loss to Jason Miller and a 2001 loss to Scott Smith. “I want to work my way to the top. I’m not running around asking for a title shot.”

Strikeforce President Scott Coker did mention one man as a possible next opponent though.

“We’re going to be keeping him very busy,” Coker said about Kennedy. “One potential opponent is Jacare (Renaldo Souza). “Why not?”

New heavyweights coming in

As Strikeforce looks to strengthen their heavyweight division, Coker has once again turned to the former home of current Strikeforce stars Fedor Emelianenko, Fabricio Werdum, and Alistair Overeem.

All three competed in the now defunct Pride FC organization.

“We did a deal with (Sergei) Kharitnov and Valentijn Overeem,” Coker said about the two former Pride competitors. “They will be in Strikeforce.”

Not the right Slice

Since his sudden entrance and equally sudden departure from the UFC, YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice is now looking for a new fighting home.

When Strikeforce originally made the deal the purchase the remnants of the now-defunct EliteXC, Coker admitted to trying to work out a deal to bring in the former television ratings star.

That ship has apparently sailed far into the distance.

“Kimbo is a very unique athlete,” Coker said. “I have a lot of respect for what he’s done, but some things are better just to go in a different way.”

Dream bout

Coming off a scintillating victory over Dream welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis, Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos created multiple new opportunities for his career.

One of those options could very well be a title shot against the guy he just knocked out in the first round.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Santos said about a potential rematch in Japan for Zaromski’s title. “I’m open to fighting anywhere.”

Due to the existing relationship with the Japanese-based Dream promotion, Coker would not stand in the way of rematch.

“If the fighters are open to going over there to fight, I’m open to it as well,” Coker said.