KJ Noons ducking Nick Diaz? Hmm..

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

EliteXC issues KJ Noons 24-hour deadline to accept Nick Diaz fight

by John Morgan on Aug 20, 2008 at 10:59 pm ET
EliteXC officials have distributed a fight agreement and set a deadline for EliteXC 160-pound champion KJ Noons (7-2) to accept an Oct. 4 title fight with challenger Nick Diaz (18-7).

EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw contacted MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) late Wednesday to discuss the deadline that the organization set.

"A bout agreement has been sent to KJ Noons," Shaw said. "He has until 5 (p.m. PT Thursday) to accept it, or he can face public opinion."

That public opinion has already been decidedly mixed since MMAjunkie.com reported Noons' unwillingness to commit to the bout earlier today. Shaw claims he has been unable to contact Noons' camp but hinted that the fighter may be unhappy with his contracted pay.

(Check out our earlier Jared Shaw interview for more on the situation.)

Messages MMAjunkie.com left with Noons and his manager, Mark Dion, to discuss the deadline weren't immediately returned.

When contacted earlier in the day about the fight, both individuals declined to comment.

In their original Oct. 2007 bout, Noons was crowned EliteXC's first-ever lightweight champion after forcing a TKO stoppage due to Diaz's multiple facial cuts.

John Morgan is the lead staff reporter for MMAjunkie.com.

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

This is the article published before the 24-hour "notice."

EliteXC's frustration mounts with lightweight champion KJ Noons
by John Morgan on Aug 20, 2008 at 7:30 pm ET
EliteXC has big plans for its Oct. 4 appearance on CBS. With stars Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and Gina Carano already contracted for the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. card, the next piece of the puzzle should be a 160-pound title rematch between champion KJ Noons (7-2) and Nick Diaz (18-7).

But EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the organization has hit a roadblock in securing Noons' services for the evening.

"I'm sitting here and I'm drinking from a carton of milk right now," Shaw said. "And the EliteXC lightweight champion KJ Noons' face is on the back of this milk carton because he's missing in action. I can't seem to find him."

Shaw said he's been attempting to reach out to Noons in order to finalize plans for the rematch. Those attempts have thus far been unsuccessful.

In the original Oct. 2007 bout, Noons was crowned EliteXC's first-ever lightweight champion after forcing a stoppage due to Diaz's multiple facial cuts.

"When [Noons' camp] wants to track us down and tell us how Nick Diaz isn't the right fight for them -- or they want more money, or they want this out of their contract, or this and that -- they're easy to get a hold of," Shaw said. "But to actually make the fight? Impossible.

"We like to think that KJ Noons is a true champion, a true mixed martial artist. He realizes the opportunity that he's been given that other MMA fighters haven't been given -- the opportunity to be showcased on national television, the opportunities for championships, the money he's already making. We expect him to honor the contract he signed and to fight Nick Diaz, the No. 1 contender. The only contender right now. The leading contender for KJ Noons."

Shaw said he believes EliteXC has been more than supportive of Noons during his time under the ProElite banner. After the organization's commitment to Noons following a Feb. 2007 knockout loss to Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett, Shaw is perplexed by the delay on Noons' behalf to commit to the bout with Diaz.

"Since day one [Noons' manager] Mark Dion has been insinuating that EliteXC has been out to get KJ Noons," Shaw said. "I just can't figure that out. When a guy appears on the very first card -- and the very first fight gets knocked out in the very first round off the very first punch -- and we're there to hold his hand and pick him back up and put him right back on television in a main event on ShoXC?

"And then when he's 1-1, get him right back into a main event situation for the world championship against Nick Diaz, the legend who beat Gomi, how are you going to say that we're not trying to help your kid? What more opportunity could we give the kid?"

Shaw said he supports Noons as a champion but believes his management has made decisions that have led to the current concerns.

"We will not be held hostage by their camp," Shaw said. "Maybe the problem with his camp is it's called City Boxing. They think that they can manage a career like a boxer.

"I come from the boxing world and these are two totally different careers. These contracts are totally different. Fighters in boxing fight on a per-fight basis. [Noons] already has a deal that states what he's going to make. And when you sign that, you already know what you're going to make in your fourth fight. So we expect you to honor that."

Shaw explained that the apparent disagreement over wages was unsubstantiated.

"[Noons] is earning in his next fight about $23,000 to show," Shaw said. "That to me is already more than any fighter who has under 10 fights is making. He's highly paid."

While the full reason for Noons hesitation to commit to the bout with Diaz is unknown, Shaw claimed that any difficulties in booking the bout fall squarely on Noons' camp.

"There's a spot for KJ Noons to face Nick Diaz on the Oct 4. card," Shaw said. "If this fight doesn't go off then this a textbook case in business law of harbor. It would be called the KJ Noons case. It will be the biggest mismanagement of an athlete's career you will ever see. This is a chance to maximize his exposure right now."

MMAjunkie.com spoke with both Noons and Dion regarding Shaw's comments. Both declined to comment at this time.

 

[kickserv]

Hope it is hype just to sell tickets.....if not, KJ should go bowling with Fedor :142smilie

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

I will say this, I got a sense from KJ Noons when watching an "Inside MMA" video on MMAJunkie that he didn't want any part of Nick Diaz. Everytime they asked him any question pertaining towards a rematch with Diaz he basically ducked the question with the political, "I want to fight whoever deserves a shot, I want to fight other challenges, etc..."

I wish I could find the video...

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

KJ Noons on INSIDE MMA

http://www.mmascraps.com/2008/06/kj-noons-talks-nick-diaz-rivalry-on.html

 

[kickserv]

I agree....I saw that as well.....on the other hand Nick Diaz is a massive prick and already lost to KJ. I hate guys like Fedor who fight nobodies, but when your ducking a prick like Diaz I guess it is ok :142smilie

Although hard to respect a "champ" who won't fight anyone......it is not like he has said "I don't want to fight Nick I already beat him, I want to fight so and so, and so and so. He's not stepping up and fighting anyone....it's like he's hiding in a cave somewhere:mj07:

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

The Diaz's are pricks in general. However, they will fight anyone anywhere, so I give them all the credit in the world there. Also, Nate Diaz wanted to scuffle with Karo, gotta love that!

 

[kickserv]

http://mmajunkie.com/news/5115/kj-n...oing-to-happen-by-bout-agreement-deadline.mma

well that explains everything.....same prick that managed Vera......now I get it:SIB

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

That Dion guy sounds like a real tool box. What a joke. I don't like KJ Noons as is, now he's got that idiot as his manager.

It was 100% Dions faul that Vera didn't fight for so long.

 

[muhr]

diaz has neither the standup, speed nor the wrestling to beat kj, so i don't see why he doesn't just accept the fight.

 

[kegray1]

I think KJ wants to get paid to defend his title.
PROBLEM is ELITEXC is going bankrupt.

They are banking on Kimbo vs Ken Shamrock(likely) to save the company???

Elitexc is toast before year's end.

 

[muhr]

I think KJ wants to get paid to defend his title.
PROBLEM is ELITEXC is going bankrupt.

They are banking on Kimbo vs Ken Shamrock(likely) to save the company???

Elitexc is toast before year's end.

i agree, elitexc is done. i imagine kj's salary will more than cover his training expenses, so he should just fight the haggard looking diaz and cash his last elitexc paycheck.

 

[kickserv]

http://mmajunkie.com/news/5122/kj-noons-versus-nick-diaz-definitely-not-happening.mma

His manager is officially retarded:SIB

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

I read that. But honestly, I think him not fighting Diaz has a bit more to do with Noons then people want to lay on him. If you watch that inside mma edition, it's pretty clear. I just don't get why he won't fight him.

 

[The Sponge]

I read that. But honestly, I think him not fighting Diaz has a bit more to do with Noons then people want to lay on him. If you watch that inside mma edition, it's pretty clear. I just don't get why he won't fight him.

My take on this I have two reasons. One just like people have said NIck Diaz is a dochebag and until he grows up i wouldn't fight him either just to break balls but two if Elite really is ready to crumble why fight Diaz for peanuts when someone like Affliction or the UFC will pull them in when Elite collaspes and pay them ten times more? I think it is a good business move by Noons. Its a Fedor type move. The more publicity the better it is for the fight.

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

No matter what, he has a contract with EliteXC. EliteXC just extended it as well...the TIME, not the fights. He's only going to cost himself money in the meantime, and he's also going to get rusty, rusty, rusty.

It's not a smart business move if you think you're a legit fighter. Does Gabriel Gonzaga deserve to get paid like these other top fighters in the world because he beat CroCop?

 

[layinwood]

Does Gabriel Gonzaga deserve to get paid like these other top fighters in the world because he beat CroCop?

Does Gonzaga have a belt or was that just a regular win? You can't compare a champ in an org to someone that doesn't.

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

Gonzaga beating CroCop...at the time considered top 5 fighter in the world.

Noons, fighting in EliteXC, beating a guy who isn't a top 10(IMO), who's shining career victory is over Gomi, while he was doped up on marijuana big time.

Noons needs to man up and honor his contract. He will get paid after his contract is up, if he deserves it. He's only going to cost himself atleast 100k if he holds out. They extended the time on his contract, and he can't just go somewhere else in the meantime.

Noons has to realise where he's at, and how he got to where he's at. I personally hope he gets his ass kicked by whoever he fights.

 

[kickserv]

Say goodbye to the belt.........kurby kurby


http://mmajunkie.com/news/5325/elitexc-lightweight-champion-kj-noons-stripped-of-title.mma

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

good. the kid needs to pay his dues and just defend the title to whoever they put in front of him. be a real champion. he hasn't accomplished anything over time in the sport to dictate who he fights and what he gets paid.