KJ Noons to fight Billy Evangelista

Strikeforce is close to putting the finishing touches on its upcoming Showtime-televised fight card from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011.

"Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening.

In addition, former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessess defensive standout Ovince St. Preux.

That's not all.

Check out the current Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" fight card and line up:



Main Event:

155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal

Main Card (Showtime):

145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux
155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons

Preliminary Card (May not be televised):

155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox
265 lbs.: Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones
205 lbs.: Keith Jardine vs. TBA

MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Dec. 17. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night.

We're still a few weeks away from fight night; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions for "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event.

To get up to speed on all the Strikeforce news and notes check out our extensive event archive right here.

KJ Noons down for a return to MMA and a rematch with Nick Diaz

“Scott (Coker) and I have been talking the past few days. I used to fight on Scott’s fight cards in San Jose ten years ago, so I’ve known him a long time … I never said I was giving up MMA, I just enjoy competing in both sports, I boxed since I was a kid and just love to box. I love MMA also, I’m just going back and forth. There is some bad blood, drama, and history between [me and Nick Diaz], so I think people would want to see it again. I’m down for it. I want to fight anybody that people think is an interesting fight. I don’t mind going up or down in weight. I’ll train hard and fight hard for the fans.”

Former EliteXC Lightweight Champion KJ Noons, who was forced to turn down a fight against Josh Thompson on April 11 due to previous boxing commitments, talks about negotiating his return to MMA with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. Noons also states that he’s willing to fight anyone the fans deem interesting. If that’s the case, I think there are a lot of fans clamoring for a rematch with Nick Diaz in the near future. Diaz lost to Noons back in 2007 via TKO due to cuts - and Diaz has since had surgery to correct that area of his face that was so easily opened. Noons vs. Diaz II — who ya’ got?

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