Mark Out Moments - Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley: Nick Diaz defends the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship vs. Paul Daley and Gilbert Melendez defends the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri

By Mark Gessner

Writers note: I apologize for the delay. I had plans over the weekend and was unable to watch or cover the show.

- One of the best changes I wanted to see in Strikeforce following Zuffa buying the company was a change in the announcing team. Viewers were then welcomed to the show by Gus Johnson and his "holier than thou" mentality when it comes to MMA and Frank Shamrock. Keep Mauro Ranallo on play-by-play and bring Stephan Bonnar in to do color commentary.

- UFC 129: GSP vs. Shields advertisement on the Strikeforce cage floor. It was just as strange seeing that as hearing Mike Goldberg promote this show at UFC 128.

- I like Strikeforce adopting the universal rules of MMA and now allowing elbows on the ground. As Jon Jones displayed in his fight with Brendan Vera, elbows and forearms are a huge weapon on the ground and this should add more excitement to Strikeforce fights on the mat.

- There was a really impressive submission win by Shinya Aoki by neck crank over Beerbohm. Aoki ook his back early and the former Dream Lightweight Champion put his phenomenal submission background to use tapping out Beerbohm quickly.

- Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White (wearing a Strikeforce t-shirt, surreal), and UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz were all shown in attendance. UFC Welterweight Championship number one contender Jake Shields was shown backstage in Gilbert Melendez and Nick Diaz's locker room.

- There was a great 15-minute slugfest between Keith Jardine and Gegard Mousasi. While draws suck, I had the fight scored the same way as two of the three judges. 10-8 Jardine first round with the point deduction and 10-9 Mousasi in the second and third. It was an impressive fight from Mousasi, who was dominant but he needed to be more aggressive in trying to knockout a tired "Dean of Mean," who took the fight on nine days notice.

- Gilbert Melendez is a freaking beast. Utter domination from the opening bell. Completely obliterated Tatsuya Kawajiri and after there being some doubt in their first fight as to whether Melendez won or not, he left zero doubt whatsoever.

- Melendez also took advantage of the new rules change ending the fight with vicious "H-elbows" (credit Mauro Ranallo) to the head of Kawajiri. Loving the rule change.

- After the fight, in his post fight interview with Gus Johnson (groan), Melendez said he want the winner of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard and wants to unify the championships. Assuming Anthony Pettis defeats Clay Guida this summer, I think Pettis is probably next in line for a title fight following UFC 130. The WEC Lightweight Championship needs to be unified with the UFC Lightweight Championship first. Melendez vs. either Edgar or Maynard would be phenomenal.

- Another change I'd like to see is Jimmy Lennon Jr. replaced by Bruce Buffer. Buffer is high energy, charismatic, and gets you even more hyped for a fight. Lennon is laconic.

- Diaz dropping his hands and saying "what you got?" to start the fight against Daly was awesome.

- Nick Diaz is awesome. He's good, he knows it, he shows it, and is one of the most well-rounded fighters not just at 170 pounds, but pound-for-pound. Most Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters rely on their ground game only and win their fights with submissions. Diaz is equally as good with his boxing as he is on the ground. Daley is a puncher and he out punched him two-to-one.

- There is no one left in Strikeforce for Diaz to fight. He signed a multi-year contract with Strikeforce this past December prior to Zuffa buying Strikeforce. While Dana White has said it will be business as usual when it comes to UFC and Strikeforce, fighters having possible fights, there is nothing left in Strikeforce for Diaz. He has a clause in his contract that he can participate and try his hand at professional boxing. Diaz has said he thinks there is good money in boxing so rather than face fighters below him and UFC cast-offs, he most likely will be looking to concentrate on boxing. UFC needs to bring him in while he is in his prime and on a ten fight win streak.

Thank you all very much for clicking the link that brought you to my "Mark Out Moments" for Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley. I apologize again for the delayed coverage. If you have any thoughts, questions, comments, or critiques, feel free to email me at kliq4life28@gmail.com or tweet me at Twitter.com/MarkGessner. I'll be back later this week with my coverage of The Ultimate Fighter and I will be covering TNA Impact live for the site for the first time this Thursday night.