Hayato Sakurai Next in Line for Nick Diaz's Strikeforce Welterweight Championship

Strikeforce: Miami is in the books an some questions were answered as the first round of DREAM fighters saw their way into the Strikeforce cage in the United States. Melvin Manhoef, K-1 and DREAM fighter made his second U.S. appearance battling Robbie Lawler in a bout he controlled until a right hook from Lawler put an early end to the impending massacre. Marius Zaromskis, the DREAM Welterweight Champion was handed a tough knockout loss against one of the best and most controversial fighters in the world, Nick Diaz. Diaz, now crowned the Welterweight Champion in Strikeforce has a target on his back.

Firstly, he has soundly defeated the DREAM Welterweight Champion, Marius Zaromskis. Zaromskis roared through the DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix with his deadly high kick, at DREAM 10 defeating Hayato Sakurai and up and comer Jason High in the same night with that high kick. This would leave the door open for DREAM to send over another fighter to contend for Diaz's newly won title.

Secondly, the man I've described as the albatross worn around the neck of every promotion he has been with in the past few years, Jay Hieron feels entitled to a shot at Nick Diaz. Hieron of course has a lot to say about this matter, with claims that he is a "TV fighter, not an undercard fighter" and that Nick Diaz is ducking him. Hieron pulled off a decision victory over a fighter fallen from grace in Joe "Diesel" Riggs, whose UFC run came to a screeching halt after a loss to Diego Sanchez. Riggs is no doubt a tough test for Hieron (Riggs holds a win over Diaz), but Hieron has yet to impress in the major leagues, with 3 out of his last 4 fights post-IFL coming via decision, often-times in unimpressive fashion.

Nick Diaz as well as his teammates Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez are in the process of being courted by UFC when their Strikeforce contracts are up, so it is easy to understand that a fighter like Diaz is looking for exciting "money" fights. We've seen tactics like this from Anderson Silva and while fans might not understand, it should be noted that fighting is their job and why take a challenging fight that might not yield a good payday when you can take a challenge that will yield a big payday? 

This brings us to Diaz's likely next challenge, as Scott Coker has gone on record saying Hayato "Mach" Sakurai looks to be the next challenge for Diaz. I'm not quite sure that is a "money" fight for Diaz, but bound for a highlight reel it very well could be. This of course along with Shinya Aoki vs. Gilbert Melendez look to be the next inte inter-promotional rpromotional fights between DREAM and Strikeforce.