Diaz ready to rumble for national audience

Highly regarded mixed-martial arts fighter and Morada native Nick "El Diablo" Diaz says he has nothing to prove. His opponent, Thomas "Wildman" Denny, is predicting he will, "shock the world."

Nick Diaz

Denny and Diaz will face each other in a lightweight bout on the undercard of the CBS-Elite XC Saturday Night Fights series that will feature an Elite XC World Middleweight title rematch between champion Robbie Lawler and challenger Scott Smith of Elk Grove as the main event on Saturday at the Stockton Arena.

The first bout will begin at 3:15 p.m. with Showtime broadcasting the bouts starting at 5 p.m. and CBS following suit at 6 p.m. In another championship bout for the vacant Elite XC World Welterweight title, Mountain Ranch native Jake Shields will square off against Nick Thompson for the 170-pound belt.

"We listened to the fans and others after putting on our last Elite XC show to combine with CBS and Showtime in order to make this a better and more quality production here at the Stockton Arena," said Doug DeLuca, Executive Chairman of ProElite, Inc. "One venue, two networks and seven exciting world class fights will all add up to an entertaining and memorable mixed martial arts event in prime time."

The talented Diaz, (18-7) a lanky 160-pounder who is coming off his third victory in three months, needs a win over Denny to stay in the hunt and gain a rematch with Elite Lightweight Champion K.J. Noons following a controversial TKO loss to Noons after the ring doctor called a halt to the fight because of lacerations to Diaz's face last November in Las Vegas.

Diaz is coming off a win in his last fight on June 14 with a third-round TKO over Muhsin Corbbrey in the Elite XC Return of the King card in Honolulu.

"I am happy to be fighting in front of my friends and family at the Stockton Arena again," Diaz said during a press conference Thursday at the arena. "I am not taking Denny lightly and looking past him to a rematch with Noons. I mean, I am a professional fighter, I prepare for fights and that is my job."

Denny (26-16-0), is considered a journeyman fighter at age 37 but is tough and experienced. Judging from his wild haircut, colorful tattoos, oversized sunglasses and his swaggering bravado at the press conference podium, he certainly does not lack confidence.

"I have been waiting a lifetime for this fight with Nick Diaz. I am in the best shape of my life and ready to go," Denny said. "Come Saturday night here in Stockton, I am going to shock the world."

Denny won his last fight in making his Elite XC debut with a disqualification win (due to illegal elbows) over a Thai fighter named Malaipet on the SHO-XC card on March 21 of this year.

Also on the fight card Saturday will be a 140-pound bout featuring two women, Shayna Baszler of Sioux Falls, S.D. and Cristiane Cyborg from Brazil. Rounding out the rest of the card will be Antonio Silva against Justin Eilers for the Elite XC Heavyweight title, Wilson Reis vs. Brian Caraway in a matchup at 140-pounds, and Rafael Feijao against Travais Galbraith in a light-heavyweight match.