• Strikeforce

Coker wants Diaz to fight Tyron T-Wood Woodley

ESPN staff
April 20, 2011
Nick Diaz is reportedly in talks with Jeff Lacy © Getty Images
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Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker is aiming to stop Nick Diaz making the move to boxing, in order to pair the current welterweight champion with Tyron Woodley.

Diaz has been vocal since his win against Paul Daley earlier this month, insisting he is worked too hard by Strikeforce and not paid enough.

Boxers of champion standard generally earn far more than Diaz, and a host of names have been linked to the Cesar Gracie jiu-jitsu fighter, who is seriously considering the switch. Jeff Lacy, the former IBF super middleweight champion, is reported to be in talks with the Stockton brawler, who has won his last 10 fights.

Part of the problem is that Diaz does not appear to have many worthy challengers to his Strikeforce crown, but Coker believes he has a solution to that problem in the shape of Woodley, the undefeated American Top Team wrestler.

"Tyron Woodley has been bugging me all weekend," Coker said on Sherdog. "Nick doesn't feel like he has anybody left to fight, but T-Wood is a guy that's getting better and better.

"I think Nick fighting T-Wood is probably his best wrestling test to date. I don't think Nick's fought a wrestler that has better skills in wrestling than Tyron. That's a fight we're definitely looking at."

Daley has also expressed an interest in creating a rematch with Diaz, following their explosive battle on April 9.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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