Welterweight champ Diaz keeps Strikeforce title

SAN DIEGO -- Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz stayed uncharacteristically quiet during the buildup to his title defense against Paul Daley on Saturday.

He chose to do his talking in the cage instead, and it nearly cost him the belt.

In the end, Diaz stopped Daley with three seconds remaining in the first round of a back-and-forth match to retain the title in the main event of a Strikeforce card at Valley View Casino Center.

Gilbert Melendez, a teammate of Diaz at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, turned in the most impressive performance of the night to retain the lightweight belt, knocking out Tatsuya Kawajiri in the first round of the co-main event.

Diaz took the center of the cage after the opening bell, dropped his hands and began jawing at Daley.

"I just had stuff to say, so I said what I was going to say," he said. "I think it threw him off a little bit."

Moments later, Diaz found himself on the ground trying to survive an onslaught from the British slugger.

"I didn't ever really feel like I was in trouble," Diaz said. "I was probably better off on my knees anyway. He couldn't hit me once I was down."

Once Diaz got back to his feet, he was able to use his technical striking superiority to his advantage. He dropped Daley after an exchange against the cage and was close to finishing the fight. Surprisingly, Daley responded and again had Diaz on the brink.

The champion again got back to his feet and responded to back his opponent against the cage again. This time, Diaz backed off and Daley stumbled and went to the ground.

Diaz dived on his downed opponent and did enough damage to get the referee to stop the fight at 4:57 of the round..

"I figured it was probably close to the end of the round, but I wasn't sure. I knew we had been fighting for a while," Diaz said. "It could have gone a little cleaner for me."

His teammate kept the lightweight belt with a much tidier performance. Melendez rocked Kawajiri with a right hand almost immediately and followed with several crushing knees.

He kept the pressure on in all corners of the cage until he finally got Kawajiri on all fours and started landing punches. Melendez threw him over on his back and landed elbows until the fight was stopped at 3:13 of the opening round.

"That's my style, man, that's how I train. I don't know how to fight any other way. It was amazing, just the way we planned it," Melendez said. "I don't know what to say. I'm just really happy right now. I'm really happy with my performance."

The one rule change that was in effect for Strikeforce's first card under Ultimate Fighting Championship ownership was allowing elbows to downed opponents, which was precisely how Melendez finished the fight.

"I haven't used them since my sixth fight," he said. "I think it adds to my game, and I'm pumped up about that."

He is also excited about the chance to eventually fight the best the UFC has to offer, should he get the opportunity.

"I think it's time to unify some titles," he said.

UFC veteran Keith Jardine settled for a majority draw against Gegard Mousasi after Mousasi suffered a point deduction for an illegal upkick.

Mousasi conceded the deduction was fair, indicating it was an accident.

Though Jardine took the fight on a week's notice and was a big underdog, he wasn't ready to accept a moral victory.

"Anybody who says you don't have nothing to lose going into a fight has clearly never fought before," he said with a badly bloodied face. "It sucks."

Japanese superstar Shinya Aoki atoned for a subpar American debut by submitting Lyle Beerbohm in 1:33 of the first round.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.