Media Workout Quotes & Photos: Noons, Kaufman, Thomson
SAN JOSE – Three of the top fighters who will appear on this Saturday’s mega-fight card at HP Pavilion live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) – KJ Noons, STRIKEFORCE Women’s Welterweight Champion Sarah Kaufman and former STRIKEFORCE lightweight titleholder Josh Thomson – participated Wednesday in an Open Media Workout at Crowne Plaza.
Noons (9-1) will challenge STRIKEFORCE Welterweight World Champion Nick Diaz (22-7, 1 NC) in the main event. Noons, of San Diego, Calif., has won his last six fights, including a thrilling slugfest against Diaz that ended when a cageside physician halted the proceedings due to excessive cuts around Diaz’ eyes. Diaz, of Stockton, Calif., has not lost a fight since he faced Noons, losing via disputed first-round TKO on Nov. 7, 2007. He has won seven in a row.
In the co-feature, the unbeaten Kaufman (12-0), of British Columbia, Canada, will make the second defense of her 135-pound title against No. 1 contender and Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen (17-4).
Thomson (17-3), of San Jose, will meet Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (15-3-1) of Brazil in a battle of world-ranked lightweights. The winner between Thomson and Cavalcante could be next up to challenge STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez.
In the opening bout of the telecast, Tyron Woodley (8-0), of St. Louis, Mo., faces Andre Galvao (5-1) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in a welterweight weight.
Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com, at the HP Pavilion ticket office, or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Doors will open at 4 p.m. PT. The first live, non-televised fight is at 4:30 p.m.
What they had to say Wednesday:
KJ NOONS
“I’m closing in on my fourth fight this year, I’m on a good winning streak and I feel great. I’ve trained very hard and am looking forward to Saturday. This has been the best camp I’ve had. It’s been a hard camp, but a fun one. I’ve put in a lot of work and I am super confident. I’m ready for a fight.
“For sure, Diaz is going to try and take me down. He’s going to do what he does best.
“The difference between fighting at 170 pounds and 155 is that I don’t have to break off a part of a leg to make the weight.
SARAH KAUFMAN
“All fights are important, but this is the one that will give me the most exposure and I am definitely very excited about Saturday.
“I expect a tough fight. Marloes is extremely experienced and I expect her to come out bombing. If she takes it to the ground, I expect her to go for the submission.’’
JOSH THOMSON
“I expect another tough fight. We have totally contrasting styles. It’s all going to come down to who enters the ring with the best strategy and to who implements their plan the best.
“I feel good and I’m as ready as can be. Get past this one and, deep down, I hope to fight (STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion) Gilbert (Melendez). But it depends on STRIKEFORCE and other things, likes injuries. Plus, Gilbert might have a commitment to fight next in Japan.
“But I definitely want to fight again soon — in December, January or February.’’
