Strikeforce lightweight K.J. Noons is UFC bound despite loss to Ryan Couture

Greg Bartram-US PRESSWIRE

K.J. Noons and Ryan Couture put up an entertaining fight on the preliminary card of Strikeforce's final show, and while Couture came away with the win, Noons will not be shut out of the UFC.

Perhaps the best fight from Strikeforce's final show over the weekend was the preliminary card "main event" between lightweights Ryan Couture and K.J. Noons. It was a quality action-packed battle seemingly won by Noons, but the Oklahoma judges gave the fight to Couture. There was much talk over the potential UFC future of Strikeforce fighters, particularly those who were on the losing end. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Noons made it clear that he is UFC bound.

"They said, 'Heal up, and as soon as you're healed up, then start training, and we'll get you on a card," Noons today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).

Noons had only fought once all of last year (a loss to Josh Thomson) as Strikeforce slowly dissolved, and this weekend's controversial loss significantly affected his payday. KJ earned $41,000 for show money but would've collected an additional $36,000 as a win bonus.

Bloody Elbow's own Brent Brookhouse contacted the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission and is waiting to hear back from them for their thoughts on the decision. He scored the fight 30-27 Noons live, as did many other members of MMA media.

The interview also stated that Noons was interested in a rematch with Ryan, but this time it would be in the UFC.

Noons, of course, has yet to put pen to paper with the promotion. But when he does, he's interested in a rematch with Couture.

"I can pout on it and complain, or dust myself off, know that in my head I won the fight, and take this and turn it into a positive," Noons said.

There are plenty of great fights for Noons in the UFC, including a rematch with Couture, or the likes of Melvin Guillard, Joe Lauzon, Sam Stout, etc. Hopefully he'll be able to fight more than once in 2013 and get a chance to snap his recent 1-4 run in his last 5 bouts.

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