by BRIAN KNAPP, The Fight Network

Updated: May 7, 2008, 1:18 PM EST 5 comments

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Diaz was scheduled to meet former King of Pancrase Katsuya Inoue, with the winner moving on to challenge Hayato "Mach" Sakurai for the Dream welterweight championship.

Diaz's contract allows him to compete outside the organization but not within a 45-day window before an EliteXC bout in which he has been scheduled to appear. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Cesar Gracie, he was already booked to fight Muhsin Corbbrey at EliteXC's next Showtime event on June 14 in Honolulu. Only 34 days separate that date from Dream 3.

Diaz (15-7), who had the MMA world buzzing a year ago after his submission victory over Pride lightweight champion Takanori Gomi, needs a strong performance. After a narrow split decision win over Hawaiian Mike Aina in September, Diaz was stopped on a cut in his bout with K.J. Noons for the EliteXC lightweight championship two months later.

Still only 24 years old, Diaz appeared sluggish and uninspired in his match with Noons. A former welterweight, he holds victories over UFC veterans Chris Lytle, Drew Fickett and Josh Neer and remains the only man with a knockout against reigning EliteXC middleweight titleholder Robbie Lawler.

Diaz's gogoplata submission against Gomi in one of the year's best fights in 2007. It was a career-defining performance, though later ruled a no contest by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after Diaz tested positive for suspected marijuana use. He has not been the same fighter since.