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Sam Caplin at Pro eliteIn an exclusive interview with ProElite.com (SamCaplan.ProElite.com) on Wednesday afternoon, EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons fired back at the camp of Nick Diaz following a post on the web site GracieFighter.com that accuses Noons of turning down a proposed rematch against Niaz on April 26 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
GracieFighter.com, which is operated by Diaz's long-time trainer, Cesar Gracie, posted the following:
KJ Noons has refused a rematch with Nick Diaz. Noons won the EliteXC title after defeating Diaz by doctor's stoppage due to a cut. Diaz subsequently went in for plastic surgery after a specialist determined that the sharpness of the bones above his eyes would lead to more cuts and make it impossible for him to pursue a successful MMA career. The surgery was a complete success.
EliteXC suggested a rematch just as the UFC had when Vitor Belfort defeated Randy Couture for their title due to a cut, however KJ and his camp have now responded that they do not want anything to do with a rematch. Diaz will still be fighting at the event against another EliteXC fighter, most likely Muhsin Corbbrey (6-2).
Noons, normally calm and reserved, had already read the comments when contacted by ProElite.com and took great issue with the claims made by Diaz's camp. They are claims he categorically disputed.
"First of all, I don't dodge anybody," Noons stated in an uncharacteristic stern tone. "Whoever is the best, I want to fight them. As champion, you can't decline who you want to fight. You only have one option as to who you're going to fight, and that's the best. Whoever the best is, that's who I have to fight. In regard to a rematch with Nick, that would be a great pay day for me. Unfortunately, he's not the best."
Noons continued to rebut GracieFighter.com's statements, claiming that he has no incentive to dodge a rematch with Diaz because he considers it an "easy pay day." He indicated that he felt if anyone was entitled to a rematch, he deserved one against Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett stemming from a knockout loss during EliteXC's first-ever show last February.
"As for Nick, of course he's going to get a rematch in the future," Noons commented. "They created a weight division for this guy (and) he's such a big crybaby. Eventually they are going to be able to rebuild him and of course he's going to get a rematch but he's not the best right now. So I'd love an easy pay day. If he deserves a rematch right now, what about my rematch with Krazy Horse? I'd love a rematch with Krazy Horse and I've won a few fights so I think I'm more deserving than someone like Diaz in regards to getting a rematch right now. As far as declining the fight, I don't decline fights. You don't get an option as champion to decline a fight. You're only option is to fight the best."
Noons not only took issue with the claims from Diaz's camp during the interview but expressed frustrations with the fact that he believes he's not getting the credit he deserves for his title victory over Diaz at EliteXC's Renegade show in Corpus Christi, Texas this past November.
"People are doubting me after that fight and all I can do is take everyone back to what happened in that fight," said Noons. "The fight was one round with Nick. I stuffed his takedowns like eight times; he couldn't take me down. I out-boxed the kid; I hit him at will. I had a scratch on my nose, at most. I kneed the guy in the face. I dropped him on his ass with a right hand. He fell to the ground and was wiping the ground because he probably shit on himself. He had cuts on his both eyes and his nose. He spit his mouth piece out because he couldn't breath through his nose. The kid has re-constructive surgery on his face -- plastic surgery. It was one round and I was ready to go four more. I don't get what people wanted me to do? Did they want me to kill the kid?"
When asked if he would be involved with the April 26 card in Honolulu, Noons revealed that a title match with Yves Edwards was on the verge of being made official.
"What's coming up next for me is that I'm going to fight the best," answered Noons when asked about his next opponent. "And the best right now is Yves Edwards. EliteXC is going to put that fight together and I believe that the best up and coming guy should get the next shot and I want to test my skills. He (Diaz) doesn't deserve a rematch; he can earn his way like everybody else. Just because you can take a beating doesn't mean you're the best. The next best guy is Yves and that's where I'm at right now.
"Edwards is a former UFC veteran who has fought a bunch of great guys. I love the guy's style. I'm a personal fan of the guy. We used to fight back in the day about ten years ago back in Houston. We go way back and I have a lot of respect for the guy. He's a great contender... That's what EliteXC wants. That's what he wants. And that's what I want."
Noons ended the interview on a positive note by thank his friends and family for their recent support, but before the interview concluded he still had a parting shot for critics.
"I read something in an article with somebody talking about that I was jumping around (after the fight vs. Diaz) like I won the lottery," said the lightweight champion. "I don't think a lot of people know, but I just want to point out that I have over 30 professional fights between boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA. I have a very long background in amateur fighting. I was fighting back in the day when Nick Diaz was still getting picked on in high school like a little dork. So I don't look at this like a lottery win because this is a lifetime thing for me...
"I don't know where people come up with these rankings. It's almost like you've these guys sitting behind a computer and they just rank guys that they have a hard-on for. You've got Sean Sherk in the top 10, a guy who tested positive for steroids. If that's the case, then they should let anyone who's tested positive for drugs in the top 10. So even though Diaz tested positive for drugs, he beat Gomi, which means I should be in the top 10 somewhere. I don't really understand that."
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