Strikeforce Los Angeles Preview: KJ Noons Aims to Regain Elite Status Against Conor Heun
by Leland Roling on Jun 14, 2010 4:03 PM EDT
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One of the busiest weeks in mixed martial arts history will begin early this week as Strikeforce: Los Angeles will take place on Wednesday, June 16th from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The event will be headlined by a catchweight battle featuring devastating middleweight striker "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler and light heavyweight UFC and PRIDE veteran Renato "Babalu" Sobral. Special forces sniper turned MMA pro Tim Kennedy will also make an appearance against long-time MMA veteran and South African-born Trevor Prangley at middleweight, and Lithuanian striker Mariusz Zaromskis will return to the Strikeforce cage against Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos in welterweight action. It will air LIVE on Showtime at 11:00 PM EST.
Before those three battles take place, a lightweight contest between former EliteXC lightweight champion KJ Noons (7-1, 1-0 Strikeforce) and Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt Conor Heun (8-3, 1-1 Strikeforce) should serve as a nice starter to the evening of action. Noons has recently returned to mixed martial arts after trying to make a career for himself in the boxing world, going 4-1 in competition. He did manage to defeat Nick Diaz to attain the EliteXC lightweight title in 2007, and he defended that title against Yves Edwards in 2008 -- defeating both fighters via first round stoppages. His return came at DREAM.13 in March against Brazilian striker Andre "Dida" Amade, a fight that Noons won by unanimous decision.
Heun has been on the shelf for quite awhile as he hasn't fought since June of last year. That battle was a memorable war with former UFC fighter Jorge Gurgel at Strikeforce Challengers II, but Heun came up short against the veteran. Despite the setback, Heun still remains a very dangerous, high-paced fighter who could enter the mix at lightweight with a victory on Wednesday night.
Stylistically, I'm somewhat in the dark as to how this fight will go. Noons is obviously the easier of the two fighters to predict. He'll more than likely look to trade with Heun, pepper him with shots and mix in his heavy overhands to down him early in the fight. Heun is a bit more dynamic in that he has good wrestling and jiu-jitsu ability, but Noons has proven that he has the overall athleticism to stuff takedowns and get back to his feet.
The real question is whether Heun is ignorant to the fact that Gurgel absolutely bombed him in their fight in June of last year for at least two out of the three rounds. Gurgel is by no means a top-notch striker, but his aggressiveness and use of combinations was tough for Heun to stop. Noons will be an obvious favorite in the stand-up game, especially if Gurgel was successful.
Ring rust will also be an issue as Heun hasn't fought since last June. Making an appearance to beat up a bully on MTV's Bully Beatdown doesn't count. Noons, on the other hand, was professionally boxing during his layoff from the sport, and he was involved in a return fight at DREAM.13. One could say that all of those fights in a ring instead of a cage could hurt him, but I think I'll take activity against actual opponents trying to hurt you over being sidelined in the gym.
Heun has a chance in this fight if he can neutralize Noons' striking with quick pace and clinch tactics that eventually lead to a ground fight however. Noons hasn't really battled fighters who are more willing to hit the floor than strike, and the opponents who have a background in jiu-jitsu or wrestling have tried to stand with him instead.
I'll go with Noons in this fight as I think his speed in his striking will ultimately be the difference. Heun hasn't shown tremendous takedown ability, but I think he can implement that type of gameplan if he can wade through Noons' strikes to the clinch. He might not be a bad beat for bettors looking for some value.
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He’ll be pushed toward the top of the division in victory, I’m willing to bet. Since he’s the former EliteXC champion who beat Nick Diaz, I’m sure Coker is looking for more blood at the top of the division, no matter how much we all think he’ll get owned by Gilbert or Thomson.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jun 14, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d put “Regain Elite Status with Strikeforce” but that’d sound redundant with Strikeforce Los Angeles Preview in the title.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jun 14, 2010 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I wasn't criticizing the title
It was just a question, I was asking what we were supposed to learn from KJ fighting Huen.
I don’t think we’ll learn much, but I think Heun is an interesting opponent. Look at Noons’ record and then the fights. Almost none of those fighters tried to take him down, and Heun can be that guy.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jun 14, 2010 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Since the only fight Noons has been in that went to a decision was his last one in Dream I have to go with Noons by TKO in the second.
Yeah, Andre Dida doesn’t have the greatest chin, but he is a solid Chute Boxe striker and KJ basically controlled the whole fight.
by HarmlessNinja on Jun 14, 2010 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions
KJ Noons torpedoed his career before EliteXC had the chance to do it for him.
KJ should have taken the rematch with Diaz when he was offered. Instead he played it like Anderson Silva saying his opponent wasn’t worthy, blah blah blah. Then Diaz moved on to defeat a bunch of name guys, while Noons gave a lame attempt at pro boxing. Then KJ wanted to rematch Diaz because his career had ground to a halt. Very Lame. KJ noons had alot of opportunity, but threw it away in a diva moment instead of fighting whoever was put in front of him like a true champion.
by jj420 on Jun 14, 2010 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
It wasn't about being a diva, it was about getting paid
Noons’ whole issue stemmed from Nick Diaz making more money than him and he wasn’t going to take a rematch if he as the champion and the guy who beat Diaz was going to make less than him.
Really pulling for Hurricane in this one...
Not a fan of Noons at all. Glad to see Heun get a chance at a name opponent.
I cannot even express how much that I hate KJ Noons...
I think that it was the way that he ducked Diaz so badly for a rematch before EliteXC collapsed.
Take ONE Karate class, if you're so into Karate... - Charlie to Mac
"The Iceman has officially melted..."
That is what they all say...
when they are ducking somebody. But hey! You have your opinion and I have mine. That is what makes this country so great…
Take ONE Karate class, if you're so into Karate... - Charlie to Mac
"The Iceman has officially melted..."
Just a for instance...
that was the excuse that Tito used for years when he was ducking Chuck… That is just one of many examples of this strategy.
Take ONE Karate class, if you're so into Karate... - Charlie to Mac
"The Iceman has officially melted..."
Here's the difference from the Tito/Chcuk thing...
Noons already beat Diaz! What did he have to prove? He was the champ and all he was asking was that he get paid more than the challenger whom he had already beat. I don’t see how that’s in anyway unreasonable.
I know Nick Diaz is the “cool kid” and his fans are a rabid and largely unreasonable bunch but even they should be able to wrap their head around this one.
nope...
I gues that I am on the “cool kid” side… Everybody knows that in this business, the bigger draw/name, brings in the bigger checks. Why can’t the Diaz haters be reasonable and wrap their heads around that one.
Take ONE Karate class, if you're so into Karate... - Charlie to Mac
"The Iceman has officially melted..."
I don't like either fighter
But the idea that Noons was ducking a fighter he just beat is patently ridiculous to me.
I hate Nick and Nate Diaz
but I still don’t get it. I’ve never understood it. Whatever they were offering him was better than nothing. Instead he quit MMA for two years to be a boxer. How much money did he make boxing? I doubt it was as much as he could have made in MMA.
I don't think he was making much with EXC
I don’t think EXC really banked on him beating Diaz and being the champ. I think the whole he was ducking Diaz angle came from EXC themselves when they realized they didn’t have the money that he wanted to fight.
And btw...
I am starting to really feel trolled by you… This comment by you.. “I know Nick Diaz is the "cool kid" and his fans are a rabid and largely unreasonable bunch but even they should be able to wrap their head around this one.” was meant to passively aggressive attack me… How about relaxing and chill. You have your opinion and I have mine. No need for attacks.
Take ONE Karate class, if you're so into Karate... - Charlie to Mac
"The Iceman has officially melted..."
I agree with you, but comparing him to Tito is obviously going to elicit a reaction.
by HarmlessNinja on Jun 14, 2010 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I think it’s fighter bashing to accuse a fighter of ducking particularly when all signs point to the contrary. It smacks of manufacturing reasons to dislike a fighter.
Rather than accuse me of trolling (which I am in no way doing) why not offer a reasonable counterpoint. If you don’t have a reasonable argument to counter me calling me a troll seems like a bit of a cop out, don’t you think?
Whatever you say, dude..
Just leave me alone please.
Take ONE Karate class, if you're so into Karate... - Charlie to Mac
"The Iceman has officially melted..."
I just don't like to feel attacked.
you just don’t know when you quit, do you. I asked you very nicely to leave me alone. You are now officially stalking me. Go stalk somebody else please. I am not interested in trading opinions with you. Please… leave me alone. This is the last time I will reply to you no matter what you post to me. Have a nice day.
Take ONE Karate class, if you're so into Karate... - Charlie to Mac
"The Iceman has officially melted..."
Suck it up
Like I said, you don’t like people disagreeing with you, this isn’t the place to post your opinions. If you feel attacked, tough luck, grow thicker skin.
How do all signs point to the contrary
They wanted him to fight Diaz, he refused. Sounds like ducking to me.
I don’t know the specifics on money, but in my mind fighting is always more lucrative than not fighting.
I know you have to get as much as you can get, but at some point you have take their best offer and fight.
If he had beat Diaz again it would have made him a legit star, worthy of more money.
You have to fight eventually and some people have to do more to earn the big paydays, that’s just the way it is.
Champions take on all comers
it’s not like KJ was a contender looking for a title shot. He was the champ and they had a challenger for him.
If a champion refuses a fight, it’s usually ducking.
Money is a poor excuse because you always make more money fighting than you do sitting on your ass.
"Champions take on all comers"
That’s a cheesy line and it’s also false. Anderson Silva and Fedor, both have had numerous stories reported about them turning to down competition and yet they are both widely regard as 1a and 1b the best fighters on the planet.
and they've been called out for ducking
I’ve called Fedor on it myself. I think he is the best heavyweight in the world, but I also think he had no business fighting guys like Zulu and Hong Man Choi.
Who has Anderson Silva turned down? He bitches about everybody but he always ends up fighting them.
Anderson
There was a lot o f speculation when Anderson was dealing with his elbow issues that he was ducking competition or searching for a name fighter for a big payday. Obviously in the case of Anderson he ends up fighting whoever at the end of the day anyway because the UFC can exert a lot of pressure on him to get back in the cage regardless of the opponent.
As for Fedor, I think it’s much the same as Noons, it’s all about money. If not for him then for M-1. I know it’s nice to idealize fighters and think that all these fighters are in it for the love of sport and the glory of competition but the reality is that MMA is a professional sport and as such money tends to be the driving force behind almost every aspect of the industry.
I'm not saying he shouldn't have taken the fight
But I tend to believe that money was the main reason, not ducking. He had just beat this guy, why would he duck him? It makes no sense.
“Ducking” implies he’s somehow scared of the fight, which I don’t think is the case here, given that he’d just beaten Diaz.
I know you have to get as much as you can get, but at some point you have take their best offer and fight.
I hope you don’t negotiate for a living, because if they know you’re eventually going to agree, their ‘best offer’ isn’t going to be very good. Sometimes you have to be willing to walk away to show you’re serious.
by HarmlessNinja on Jun 14, 2010 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions
That contributes here I believe
It was Noons’ father doing the negotiations and I think he was in over his head. You gotta remember that this is EXC an organization that popped up and started spending money like crazy left right and center. I can understand how Noons would feel slighted. Did you overplay his hand? Maybe but I don’t believe he was ducking Nick Diaz. Noons wanted to get paid.
lol and how did that work out for him?
they didn’t agree and he got his belt taken away from him and didn’t fight for two years.
Sounds like my advice is better than whatever advice he got.
I don't know the specifics though
They could have been offering him 10,000 and Diaz 100,000 (just an example), if that was the case I would have walked too.
But I hope he didn’t throw his title away over 5% or less.
I don't think EXC had the money
I think they were tapped, I don’t think they could have brought the difference to 5%. EXC handed out a lot of big contracts and KJ Noons wasn’t on the gravy train.
The thing is
why wouldn’t KJ want to fight Diaz again? It would be another win over a top name and further cement his rising stardom.
Some people (not me) were trying to discredit his win over Diaz, saying it was stopped early and that it didn’t really count because he won due to cuts. Another win would have shut everyone up and made him a bigger star and got him the big paydays.
You gotta go out there and perform, or “pay your dues”, if you want to get paid just like everyone else. The big money comes later after you’ve established yourself, that’s the way it usually works.
If they were both getting paid the same
then the fight would have happened, of that I have no doubt. Noons paid his dues in this case by beating Diaz the first time and I can sympathize with not wanting to fight him again unless he was going to be paid more.
This could go on forever
so I’ll sum up my thoughts on KJ by saying I hope he fights Diaz again at some point soon. I’m expecting him to fight a better opponent in his next fight, Dream/Strikeforce has plenty of names for him to fight.
I’m actually looking forward to Babalu/Lawler, seems like a mismatch to me and that’s why I put money on Babalu.
Crazy that anybody would have Babalu as the underdog.
Diaz/Noons 2
Will never happen at this point. SF doesn’t book LW at 160lbs and I doubt Noons would move up to 170.
I’d like to see the fight again too. Doubt it’ll happen though. Diaz is too big now.
by HarmlessNinja on Jun 15, 2010 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Well he fought five boxing matches in that time, so he probably did okay, money-wise.
by HarmlessNinja on Jun 15, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
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