• Strikeforce: Diaz v Daley

Diaz could be eight months from St-Pierre collision

Nick Diaz's body shots were shuddering against Paul Daley © Getty Images

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For all the latest UFC talking points, including reaction to Diaz v Daley, don't miss the next ESPN UFC Podcast on Monday

Nick Diaz may only have to defend his Strikeforce title one more time before his employers force through an agreement to see him attempt to unify the Strikeforce and UFC welterweight championships.

Diaz showed exactly why he is so highly regarded in the sport with his victory over Paul Daley, which saw the American twice dropped before he battled back for a TKO triumph.

A rematch with Daley could certainly make sense, given the barnburner produced on Saturday night, but Diaz is now 10 fights unbeaten and looking seriously impressive at 170lbs. His relentless striking, supported by a granite chin and world class ground game make him a hugely interesting rival for UFC champion Georges St-Pierre, and that battle may be on the horizon in the future.

"It's been about 30 days since Zuffa purchased Strikeforce," Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said. "We really haven't had that conversation. But I think when the fans demand it, those fights will happen."

Victory for Jake Shields against St-Pierre at UFC 129 would cast a different light on matters, with Diaz adamant he would never fight a team-mate, but asked how far down the line MMA fans may have to wait for Strikeforce v UFC battles, Coker said it could only take eight months (starting in 2012), and he confessed he would be fully in favour of unification showdowns.

"Personally, for myself, as a fan, I would love to see Gilbert [Melendez] fighting Frankie [Edgar] or Alistair Overeem fighting Cain Velasquez or Nick fighting [Georges St-Pierre], 'Jacare' [Souza] fighting Anderson Silva," Coker said. "There are some amazing fights out there.

"To me, we have a great relationship with Showtime, and I think the fighters you see on Showtime will continue to fight on Showtime, but at some point, I think that, let's get it on.

"I think we will finally get to see the fighters fight at some point. To me, it's always something that I've wanted to see. In boxing, sometimes it doesn't happen because of the promoters, but now, at some point, there will not be one fight that will not be possible to see, and we're all going to watch it."

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