Returning to mixed martial arts after a successful tenure in boxing, former EliteXC Lightweight Champion “King” Karl James (KJ) Noons has signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce and is expected to make his promotional debut on January 30, 2010 in Sunrise, Florida.

Noons is most famous for his heated grudge match title fight with the ever-controversial Nick Diaz at EliteXC: “Renegade” in November of 2007, which Noons won when the cageside doctor stopped the fight after the first round due to cuts around Diaz’s eyes.

Noons (7-2-0), whose victories have all come by a form of knockout, was nearly written off entirely after a massive upset loss to Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett at EliteXC: “Destiny” in February of 2007, but he battled back with a knockout of James Edson Berto.

The win set up the fateful 160-pound title fight with Diaz, which concluded with an enraged Diaz flipping off the crowd as he stormed to the backstage area following a first-round doctor stoppage due to cuts.

Noons competed once more in EliteXC, in a quick TKO win over highly-touted veteran Yves Edwards, before leaving the promotion amidst a contract dispute.

Since departing from MMA, Noons racked up a respectable 4-1-0 record in boxing and won his most recent bout on November 10th.

While Diaz is now competing between 170 and 185 pounds, a future catchweight rematch between the two is not out of the question and would surely attract interest from fans.

Though the date of his Strikeforce debut has not been made official, Noons’s heavy hands will undoubtedly lead to a number of exciting fights in the promotion’s competitive lightweight division.