The strategic partnership between StrikeForce and DREAM has once again been utilized to produce another interesting match up, as Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz will take on Japanese veteran Hayato "Mach" Sakurai at May's DREAM 15 event in what will be a non-title bout.

The match up was first reported by GracieFighter.com, which is the web site of Diaz's trainer and manager, Cesar Gracie.

The Diaz vs. Sakurai is nearly two-years in the making, as they were first rumored to meet at DREAM 5 in July 2008 for the promotion's vacant welterweight title before the bout was scrapped. They were again rumored to face each other at DREAM 6 in September 2008, however, it also never came to fruition.

Diaz (21-7) is currently riding an impressive six-fight winning streak, which includes wins in his first three Strikeforce fights over Frank Shamrock, Scott Smith and most recently current DREAM welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis at Strikeforce: "Miami" in January for the promotion's vacant 170-lb strap.

Diaz has not been defeated since Noveber 2007, where he suffered a much-talked-about first-round TKO loss against K.J. Noons.

During his eight-year career, Diaz has competed for an array of other notable promotions such as; Pride, EliteXC, WEC, Shooto and the UFC, where he put together a 6-4 mark in 10 fights with the promotion from 2003 to 2006. He has finished 18 of his 21 career wins and holds other notable victories over the likes of Muhsin Corbbrey, Thomas Denny, Chris Lytle, Robbie Lawler Josh Neer and Gleison Tibau.

Sakurai (35-10-2) has lost his last two bouts against Zaromskis at DREAM 10 and Akihiro Gono in his most recent fight at Dynamite!! 2009 on New Year's Eve. He owns a near perfect 3-1 record with DREAM, picking up wins over Hidetaka Monma, Kuniyoshi Hironaka and Shinya Aoki.

Sakurai has competed the majority of his long 13-year career with Japanese promotions Pride and Shooto, while also fighting for the UFC and Deep. He has defeated a laundry list of notable names in the sport such as Frank Trigg, Caol Uno, Luiz Azeredo, Dave Menne, Mac Danzig, Hidehiko Hasegawa and Jens Pulver.

DREAM 15 is expected to take place on May 30 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and will air in North America on HDNet. The event will also feature the opening round of DREAM's light-heavyweight tournament featuring Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi, Renato Sobral, Sokoudjou and Christian M'Pumbu.