Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz will return to action on May 29, facing Japanese heavy hitter Hayato “Mach” Sakurai, according to GracieFighter.com, the web site of Diaz’s trainer and manager, Cesar Gracie. GracieFighter.com says that the bout will take place under the fighter sharing partnership between Strikeforce and Dream. A Diaz rematch with Dream champion Marius Zaromskis for his belt was under consideration, according to the report. The Japanese promotion instead decided to match Diaz up with Sakurai, who is an extremely popular fighter in his native land. Diaz welcomed the bout, saying, "Good, I've been trying to fight this guy for a long time now." Diaz (21-7) hasn’t lost since he faced K.J. Noons for EliteXC in late ...

Is EliteXC on the verge of coming back from the dead? A press release circulated earlier today indicated that it might be. Stratus Media Group, which describes itself as “a live entertainment company” announced today that it has assumed control over the board of directors and the management of ProElite, the parent company of EliteXC. EliteXC was founded in 2006 but went under in October 2008, a combination of debts and adverse publicity sounding the death knell. The organisation sold off many of its assets, including fighters, and was stated to be defunct. Paul Feller, President and CEO of Stratus, said today that his company‘s acquisition “allows Stratus and ProElite to combine forces at the ...