By Brian Knapp

Karl James Noons – known as K.J. to the combat sports community – sees a first-class ticket to mixed martial arts stardom when he looks at Nick Diaz, the irreverent Cesar Gracie protégé with the troubled past, white-knuckled bravado and intimidating skill set. A professional boxer and kickboxer, Noons has steered clear of the world’s elite to this point in his career. His crossover has been smooth, outside, of course, of the Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett right hand that relieved him of his senses at EliteXC “Destiny” nine months ago.

His baptism into the main event ranks will become official this Saturday when Noons meets Diaz for the vacant EliteXC lightweight (under 160 pounds) championship at EliteXC “Renegade,” which originates from the America Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Opportunity has never knocked louder for the native Hawaiian.

“He’s the number one guy in the world,” Noons says. “He beat [PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori] Gomi. I’m getting an opportunity to face the number one guy for a title with EliteXC.”

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