“SHAMROCK Vs. DIAZ --  April 11’’
“This is going to be  the new MMA 2.0. We’re starting over. We’ve been presenting boxing on SHOWTIME  for 20 years and we think boxing and MMA complement each other. The younger  audience the MMA brings us will only help us add more
viewers and ultimately  subscribers. “We’ve assembled the  best announce team in the business--Gus Johnson,
Stephen Quadros, Frank  Shamrock, Mauro Ranallo and Pat Miletich. We feel like we have some incredibly  compelling matchups. When Scott (Coker) mentioned the matchup of Frank  (Shamrock) and Nick (Diaz) I said, ‘Done. Next.’
“Let’s move on to the  next one.”
SCOTT  COKER

“Today is a great day  for MMA, for Strikeforce and for SHOWTIME. We are going to be able to put on  some of the best fight matchups out there. We’ve been doing this for 24 years  and we know what works. We know how to put on a
successful martial arts  show. “An era has begun  where every fighter gets into the cage to prove they are the best and where  every fan can afford to participate. We have entered an era that will begin with  two incredible matchups on April 11.”
FRANK SHAMROCK
“Someone asked me the  other day how my comeback was going so I guess I’ve come back. I love fighting.  I love this art. I want to thank Nick Diaz for the opportunity and just warn him  that when I punch his head and he lands in the second row he’ll need someone to  catch him. “I’m not going to  show a lot of things I have in the past. This time I’m
just showing up to smash  some people and make a few dollars.”
NICK  DIAZ
“Training has been  going great and I am very happy with it. I am clear-headed and ready to  fight. “I feel I am the  perfect candidate for this fight. Shamrock thinks he can beat guys with styles  like me. “I don’t care about  the weight. I feel more energetic. My strength is great. I hit harder. I like  this fight because I will be able to control what goes on when we’re on the  ground. “Frank can talk all  he wants, but I’m going to beat him up. Let’s see how much he fights  back.’’
JOSH  THOMSON
“There is much more  pressure on me this fight. There was no pressure when I fought him the last  time; I was just the challenger.
“But now that I am  Strikeforce champion, I have to work ever harder and be more prepared for  anything and everything.
“I don’t feel I got  the respect I should have after beating Gilbert. But that doesn’t bother me. As  long as I know I am giving the fans what they want – and the fans know what they  will get when I fight – then I am fine.“Our second fight  will really showcase our new skills, things people haven’t seen in the past. It  will be more action-packed and fast-paced. “Gilbert is someone I  admire and I’m actually dreading this fight. I know it ’s going to go for five  rounds and will be full of action. There will be a
lot of blood, sweat and tears  shed to get ready for this fight but it’s going to be fun come April  11.’’



GILBERT  MELENDEZ
“It is definitely a  great thing for me to have a chance to redeem myself for my only loss and to do  it on SHOWTIME is a dream come true. This fight will give both of us a lot of  exposure. “All I will say about  our first fight is that Josh trained harder and was
the better man that night. “Losing is never a  good thing, but you live and learn from experiences and that fight has made me  train even harder. I did the best I could in our first fight, but I feel I am a  better fighter now and will do better on April 11. This time, I am  going to take it to him, dictate the pace and make him fight me. This time, I am  going to fight my fight.’’ SCOTT  SMITH
“I am very excited  about this show and excited to be able to ride this new wave. This is going to  be a great fight, one of the best of the night. “I totally respect  Benji. This will not be easy. I’ve changed a few things in my  fighting. “I’m trying not to  get hit too much. People like to see fun fights and our fight will definitely be  a fun fight to watch.’’
BENJI  RADACH
“He has been in a lot  of wars but by no means do I think they have taken a toll on Scott. He is always  is top shape and always comes to battle. “My advantage is, I  think I am faster and maybe a little better wrestler. My quickness is going to  be key. “But the bottom line  is to be better and win the fight no matter where it goes.’’
CRIS “CYBORG”  SANTOS
“It’s really exciting  what SHOWTIME has done for women’s MMA and I am proud that they want me back on  their next show. I am not looking past my opponent, but the fighter I want is  Gina Carano. “People have been  talking about us fighting so I think it is only a matter of time. I think we  both want the fight and I know it is a fight the fans would love to see. “I can’t wait for  April 11 and I can’t wait to fight Gina Carano.’’
ROBBIE  LAWLER
“Everybody knows I am  always ready and willing to fight anybody, anytime, any place so I am just  looking forward to getting out there and fighting. “I might be bigger,  but it sure doesn’t look it when we stand side by side. This will be my first  fight since July but I’m always in the gym and I stay in shape.  So I’ll be 100  percent.’’

JAKE  SHIELDS
“I am super excited  about this fight and this opportunity. I’ve always wanted to fight the top level  guys. That’s not to say the guys I’ve fought recently weren’t good fighters  because they were. “But Lawler is a  high-profile fighter, a top-five middleweight. So this is a real challenge for  me and a fight that has me highly motivated. “I am very happy to  be fighting on SHOWTIME again. This is definitely going to be a great fight and  I am super happy to be part of this. Strikeforce is going to be doing a lot of  good things in the future.’’