The opening fight of the "Strikeforce:Diaz vs. Daley Video Replay" event featured two fancy lightweights in Shinya Aoki and Lyle Beerbohm.
Melendez started aggressively in the first round, dropping Kawajiri with a right hook then following up with a bevy of strikes. He took Kawajiri's back, and continued to land strikes even as Kawajiri struggled to his feet.
Daley cracks Diaz with a leg kick as the fight begins. It's 30 seconds into the ffight until they're throwing haymakers, and Daley lands a crushing hook that puts Diaz on his knees. Daley savagely flurries, smashing Diaz, but the incredibly tough champion fights back to his feet.
Daley gets the Thai clinch, while Diaz drills him to the body. Rolling hooks by Diaz land, rocking Daley to his heels, and prompting "Semtex" to shoot for a takedown. Diaz is taken down, but works his way back to his feet, and punches Daley to the head and body.
Daley hits the mat, and Diaz follows up with punishment on the folded Brit. Referee "Big" John McCarthy is forced to step in to save Daley at 4:57 of the first round. Absolutely incredibly fight. Nick Diaz retains his Strikeforce welterweight title.
He hadn't been in the cage for a year, as Melendez's last win was over another Japanese fighter, Shinya Aoki. Melendez's record is now 19-2. Kawajiri, who faced numerous training difficulties because of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, was making his American debut. He now falls to 27-7-2.
