Marshall Replaces Injured Bergmark at ‘Diaz vs. Noons 2’

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A last-minute change has shaken up the Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Noons 2” undercard on Saturday at the HP Pavilion, as welterweight Bret Bergmark was forced to withdraw from his bout with James Terry with a knee injury. Strikeforce officials confirmed Bergmark’s exit at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.

Replacing “The Angry Hick” will be Team Cesar Gracie teammate David Marshall. The 170-pound showdown will go down as part of the non-televised portion of the event.

Marshall, 26, will be making his Strikeforce debut. He will carry a six-fight winning streak into the cage. Defeated only once in his professional career, Marshall has never been finished. Marshall holds 75 percent of his wins by submission, and only one of his victories has gone to the judges’ scorecards. Before taking the Terry fight on short notice, Marshall fought mainly in the Gladiator Challenge promotion, winning five of his six bouts in the organization. Marshall is coming off a first-round technical knockout victory over Josh Neal at an IFC event in August. Also notable is the fact that only two of Marshall’s fights have made it past the first round.

Terry is looking to use the home field to his advantage. Fighting out of San Jose, the Cung Le understudy is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Tarec Saffiedine at Strikeforce Challengers 6 in February. That marked Terry’s only loss in Strikeforce competition, as his first two fights in the promotion both ended in victory against the same man. Terry first defeated Zak Bucia by unanimous decision in April 2009 and then again by head-kick TKO in August of that same year. Prior to signing with Strikeforce, Terry spent most of his career in the Cage Combat Fighting Championships, earning a 4-1 record in the promotion.

The event will be headlined by the long-anticipated rematch between Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz and challenger K.J. Noons. The pair's prior scrap for the now-defunct EliteXC 160-pound title ended in controversy after the ring doctor declared a lacerated Diaz unfit to continue despite the Cesar Gracie product’s protests. The women’s welterweight strap will also be on the line, as champion Sarah Kaufman defends against Marloes Coenen.

Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Noons 2”
Saturday, Oct. 9
HP Pavilion
San Jose, Calif.

Strikeforce Welterweight Championship
Nick Diaz vs. K.J. Noons

Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship
Sarah Kaufman vs. Marloes Coenen

Tyron Woodley vs. Andre Galvao
Josh Thomson vs. Gesias Cavalcante
Eric Lawson vs. Ron Keslar
James Terry vs. David Marshall
Jess Bouscal vs. Luis Mendoza