Nick Diaz vs Cyborg Santos official for Strikeforce on January 29th

Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz has been pitted against Brazilian slugger Evangelista ”Cyborg” Santos, in a championship bout for Strikeforce’s January 29th event in San Jose, California. According to sources close to the situation, both fighters have agreed verbally on the fight, and are expected to put pen to paper in the coming days.

Nick Diaz had been rumoured to take on Jason ”Mayhem” Miller, but both camps could not agree on a suitable weight for the bout to take place, dashing any hopes some may of had to of seen these two square off. Cyborg Santos is currently 1-1 in his Strikeforce campaign, defeating Marius Zaromskis at Strikeforce: Los Angeles.

The welterweight title collision is expected to serve as the Main Event, and will be televised on Showtime.Middleweight title encounter between Champ Jacare Souza and Robbie Lawler will also feature on the card, and a further two bouts have also been confirmed with Herschel Walker taking on Scott Carson, as Roger Gracie will face South African vet Trevor Prangley. There will be only four televised bouts on Showtime, due to two of them being title fights.

HT: MMA Fighting.com

Update:

Strikeforce officially confirm the fight via a press release

NEW YORK (Dec. 22, 2010) – STRIKEFORCE World Welterweight (170 pounds) Champion Nick Diaz (23-7, 1 NC) will make his second title defense when he faces Brazilian powerhouse Evangelista Cyborg (18-13) in main event action and STRIKEFORCE World Middleweight (185 pounds) Champion “Jacare” Souza (13-2, 1 NC) will put his belt on the line for the first time when he squares off with power-punching knockout artist “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (18-6, 1 NC)  in the co-main event of a stacked Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight card at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

In other featured televised fights on SHOWTIME, football legend and MMA upstart, the incredible Herschel Walker (1-0) will return to the cage to face Scott Carson (4-1) in a heavyweight bout.  The latest prospect from MMA’s first family, undefeated Roger Gracie (3-0), will battle former South African national wrestling champion and MMA star Trevor Prangley (23-6-1) at light heavyweight (205 pounds).

Tickets go on sale Monday, Dec.27, at 10 a.m. PT at the HP Pavilion ticket office, online at Ticketmaster.com http://www.strikeforce.com/insider.html and Strikeforce.com, and Ticketmaster by phone at (800) 745-3000.