This news from Gracie Fighter seems to confirm previous reports that Nick Diaz will be fighting K.J. Noons for the Elite XC 160lb belt on July 26th:
Nick Diaz will not be fighting Mach Sakurai. At least not in the July Dream card, as EliteXC has decided to not let him fight due to "contractual obligations'. Apparently EliteXC has other plans for Diaz and the July date might conflict with their plans.
'I was happy to be fighting Sakurai and hoping to get back there to Japan where they have you fight in a ring and there seems to be more respect for the art of MMA. I hope they will still have me back soon to fight him (Sakurai) for the belt..'
This is exactly the sort of conflict that argues in favor of the UFC's hard-ass exclusive contract approach. Now DREAM's welterweight championship fight has been screwed twice. First by Hayato Sakurai fighting in Shooto and losing to David Baron and now by Diaz being forced to cancel due to commitments to EliteXC.