When KJ Noons steps into the cage tonight to face Nick Diaz for the Strikeforce welterweight belt, he's hoping that history will repeat itself.

The last time the two men met, in 2007, Noons emerged as the lightweight champion of the now defunct EliteXC promotion, after a doctor stoppage due to cuts he had inflicted on Diaz. For Diaz, that fight was his only loss in the past four years, but neither man has lost an MMA bout since, although Diaz has been more active over the stretch, winning seven straight to Noons' four.

For Noons (9-1) fighting Diaz (22-7 1 NC) for the Strikeforce title represents a huge opportunity, and he plans to make the most out of it.

Noons was tight-lipped about his strategy when asked how he expects his fight with Diaz to go down this time around.

"Make it exciting and you gotta watch the fight see what's gonna happen," Noons told FightersOnlyMagazine when asked about his gameplan, but, he admitted, "Every fight I go in to, I try to go for the finish."

Noons also feels that he needs to keep Diaz out of his element to win tonight, and is hoping for a stand-up war.

"To keep it standing and he is the most dangerous on the ground," Noons elaborated on his strategy.

Although Diaz has seen a great deal of success in the years since the two men last fought, Noons is confident that he has improved as well.

"I think I have become a more well rounded MMA fighter," Noons stated. "I think I'll be stronger and faster. I think he (Diaz) has gotten better, but so have I. I train at all different schools and different people. I think my ground game is good, nobody gets to see it because I would rather stand."

And whether or not he emerges with his hand raised at the end of the night, Noons says he is glad to be where he is.

"I have one more fight on my contract with Strikeforce," Noons said, "and I am happy with them and don't plan on going anywhere."