Strikeforce return tapped for April 11, Nick Diaz vs. Frank Shamrock Rumored for Main Event

The California based promotion, Strikeforce, is putting the pieces together quickly after acquiring assets from the defunct Pro-elite corp and some of the results can now expect to be put on display as a scheduled return to televised action is set for April 11 at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, CA. The good folks over at fiveounesofpain.com are reporting a possible main event pairing of former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Frank Shamrock (23-9-2) against UFC, Pride FC, and Elite XC veteran, Nick Diaz (18-7). Announcements could be made official as early as this evening.
This will mark a return to action for both fighters after sitting out a combined 18 or so months.
Shamrock hasn't fought since losing the Strikeforce Middleweight strap to kickboxing phenom Cung Le back in March, 2008. Shamrock chose to stand and bang it out with Le as promised, but suffered a broken arm from relentless kicking attacks and was unable to answer the bell going into the championship 4th round.
The MMA pioneer will be participating in a media phone call at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT with Showtime Senior VP Ken Hershman and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker in attendance. A source or two close to the event indicate that a formal announcement of the matchup could be made at that time.
As for Diaz, this will be his first fight under the Stikeforce banner. The brash older brother of UFC Lightweight standout Nate Diaz will look to keep a three fight win streak in tact, the latter of those a TKO victory way back in July over mma journeyman Thomas Denny. This will also mark a departure from the lighter weight classes (160 and 170) for Diaz as the fight will presumably take place at Shamrock's natural fighting weight of 185 lbs.
More on this as it develops.