3. Nick Diaz vs. KJ Noons II
It's perhaps Nick Diaz's proudest victory, but he wouldn't tell you that.
The former Strikeforce welterweight champion was pitted against rival KJ Noons in his first title defense in October of last year.
It was a rematch from nearly three years prior, where the two met in a 160-pound championship bout, where Noons' sharp boxing prowess was on display, dropping Diaz in the early going of their match while opening up several cuts along the face of the Stockton native.
The bout was eventually called at the end of the first round under the advice of the doctor, due to the multiple lacerations.
In their second outing, Diaz had come into the bout with less scar tissue and a better understanding of his stand-up arsenal, dropping Noons in the first round with a counter right hook.
Throughout the course of the next four rounds, Diaz peppered Noons with shots to the head and body, eventually out-landing the former pro boxer by more than 40 strikes.
In the end, Diaz exacted revenge when he settled for the decision win in a bout that was dubbed "Fight of the Year" at Strikeforce's Best of 2010 Awards.