Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz survived a couple of very close calls to stop Paul Daley at 4:57 of the first round in the Strikeforce welterweight title fight. 

Champ Diaz came out dropping his hands and showing his chin but Daley quickly capitalized and dropped him against the fence. Diaz was helpless on the ground for a long 15 seconds but Daley failed to capitalize. Diaz then backed him up with punches and seemed to have Daley hurt against the fence. Daley was working a Thai plum but Diaz' body punches seemed to land with the greater impact. Diaz was landing hard standing elbows and body punches. Daley then dropped Diaz with a vicious left hand and Diaz had to desperately fight for survival as Daley brought down a huge hammer fist to a grounded Diaz. Diaz survived and came roaring back to hurt Daley and followed him down. Referee John McCarthy stopped the fight with only seconds left in the round.

Diaz brought a 9 fight winning streak into the bout. 

Daley came into the fight carrying a cloud of controversy. He was cut by the UFC after cheap shotting Josh Koscheck after the bell at UFC 113 and has been unrepentant. He responded to the UFC acquisition of Strikeforce by publicly musing about whether or not he'd fulfill his contract for this fight since he didn't want to "line Dana White's pockets" but thought better of it.

SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley