Welterweight champ Nick Diaz at ready for April 9 Strikeforce event

[Travicity]

Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz could defend his title a third time on short notice at an as-yet-unannounced event planned for April 9, though it's far too early to call it a done deal.

Diaz (24-7 MMA, 5-0 SF) has been told to be ready for a fight on that date, according to manager Cesar Gracie, but has yet to receive an opponent.

"We don't have anybody that's set," Gracie today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

A report Monday on Sherdog.com said Paul Daley (26-9-2, MMA, 2-0 SF) and Tyron Woodley (8-0 MMA, 6-0 SF) are under consideration to vie for Diaz's belt, as the second quarterfinal matchups of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix will presumably be pushed to a later date.

Daley, though, is mere days away from a title fight overseas at BAMMA 5 against Yuya Shirai and would have but six weeks to prepare for Diaz.

"We'd love to fight Diaz; it's our goal this year to be the first U.K. fighter ever to bring back a major U.S. title," Daley's manager, Wad Alameddine, told MMAjunkie.com. "But right now the focus is Shirai. He's very tough and a skillful opponent, so we need to get past him on Saturday before we start looking at Diaz."

Woodley this past month told MMAjunkie.com that he'd welcome a fight with Diaz, though he could not be reached for comment about a potential short-notice opportunity.

"Diaz, I don't even he would try to stop me from getting him to his back because of his extensive jiu-jitsu background," he said.

However, his manager Sam Spira said today that an Apr. 9 fight "hasn't been offered."

"Besides, [Woodley's wife] just had a baby this morning," Spira added.

Gracie said Diaz is currently training and is ready for any opponent that materializes.

As of late, the April 9 event has yet to receive a city or venue. A report earlier this month in the Los Angeles Times said Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas were under consideration to host the show, though recent rumors have pointed toward California as the event's home, possibly in Oakland.

Additionally, a lightweight matchup between Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Tatsuya Kawajiri has been rumored for the event, though Strikeforce has yet to make official confirmation.

Representatives for the California-based promotion could not be reached today, and CEO Scott Coker is currently battling the flu. A representative for Strikeforce broadcast partner Showtime today deflected questions about the April 9 event and the possible tournament delay.

[The Mac]

this is why strikeforce will always be behind ufc, do you think gsp finds out when he is fighting just 2 months before the match, and worse still not even know who he is facing, strikeforce needs a guy to come in and book the fights kinda like what silva does for ufc

[the madscotsman]

Still dont see why the ufc dont bring Diaz and Lawler back.

[The Mac]

they left on bad terms...plus im sure SF made them a huge contract offer