Passed on for Nick Diaz fight, Strikeforce's Phil Baroni says future will be different

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

Strikeforce welterweight brawler Phil Baroni (13-11) was the first person to raise his hand when the organization was in need for a replacement opponent for Nick Diaz.

It's the warrior mentality that has been a career hallmark of the "New York Bad Ass," but it wasn't enough for Showtime to allow Baroni to step in for Joe Riggs on the main card of the Aug. 15 event, "Carano vs. Cyborg."

Baroni recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) he was a bit disappointed that he wasn't allowed to take the fight, and he's using that emotion to fuel his next trip to the cage.

"With Showtime, I haven't done as well as I planned for them," Baroni said. "They're not high on me, so they don't think I'm worthy of a fight with Nick."

Showtime has broadcast two of Baroni's career losses – a June decision to Joe Riggs and a June 2007 submission defeat to Frank Shamrock. But Baroni believes the potential fireworks of a matchup with Diaz should have been enough to warrant a slot on the card.

"If I would have won the fight (with Riggs), [Diaz and I] would have been fighting each other," Baroni said. "The fight was a decision. I thought I was the No. 1 guy that would definitely be able to fill in.

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