There may have been tension in the room, but all the fighters, specifically Nick Diaz and KJ Noons, were respectful, reserved and made like true professionals during Thursday's final press conference for this Saturday's "Diaz vs. Noons II'' fight card at HP Pavilion.

Diaz (22-7-1, 1 NC) will put his Strikeforce welterweight title on the line against Noons (9-1) on the cards main event. In a second title fight, undefeated women's welterweight champion Sarah Kaufman (12-0), will make the second defense of her 135-pound title against No. 1 contender and Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen (17-4).

"Diaz-Noons II'' is a grudge rematch of a bloody, controversial slugfest won by Noons on a disputed first-round TKO on Nov. 7, 2007, when a cageside physician halted the proceedings due to excessive cuts around Diaz' eyes. Both fighters have gone unbeaten since, with Diaz notching wins in each of his past seven fights and Noons coming out on top in all four of his MMA appearances since the fight.

Also, popular local favorite and former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson (17-3), will meet Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante (15-3-1) in a battle of top-ranked lightweights, with the winner possibly in line to challenge STRIKEFORCE lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.

In the opening bout of the telecast, super-prospect Tyron Woodley (8-0), faces fellow highly regarded prospect Andre Galvao (5-1) in a welterweight action.

You can catch the event live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

What the eight fighters had to say at today's press conference:

Nick Diaz:

"I feel good and weight-wise I am almost perfect. I was angry for a long time (about the first fight). I was real upset that it ended the way it did because it wasn't like I was hurt.

"Then I kind of dropped the idea of ever fighting a rematch because he got out of MMA. I never considered the first fight as a loss. I just always looked at it as a fight that was stopped (too soon).

"I don't feel that this fight is about revenge, but I'm happy now that he took the fight.''

K.J. Noons:

"I love to fight and I love my job. I've trained very hard and I'm excited about Saturday. This is a fight the fans want to see.

"I have respect for Nick as a fighter. His style works for him and I like to watch him fight. I'm really pumped and ready to fight the best at 170 pounds.

"The first fight I worked on going forward against Nick because Nick never fights going backward, but I've been working on all aspects of the game. I'm sure at some point he's going to try and take me down but I am ready for anything.''

Josh Thomson:

"JZ is a savage and a beast and I think it's a joke that you guys have a guy like Ben Henderson ranked above a guy like him. I could go out there and fight the fight of my life and still lose. I have to beat him everywhere; there is no way I am going to win this fight doing one thing. JZ has fought some good ones all over the world. He is probably bigger and hits harder so I know I have to lay it on the line and see what happens,

"Everybody wants to talk about Gilbert Melendez but all my training and focus is on...