EliteXC has pulled Nick Diaz from competing against Katsuya Inoue at DREAM.3 on Sunday, reports Josh Gross of Sports Illustrated. Diaz's camp has also confirmed the report.

Diaz was given permission by EliteXC to take a fight against Marcelo Garcia on the DREAM.2 card on April 29, but his fight was moved to May 11 without EliteXC's knowledge.

Upon learning of the change on Saturday, EliteXC President Gary Shaw put the brakes on Diaz's return to Japan. Shaw didn't want to risk Diaz suffering an injury when he is scheduled to fight Muhsin Corbbrey on June 14 at an EliteXC on Showtime event in Hawaii.

DREAM has not yet found a replacement for Inoue. DREAM had planned for the winner of Diaz VS Inoue to face Hayato "Mach" Sakurai to crown the promotion's first welterweight champion.

Nick Diaz and Jason "Mayhem" Miller will join the DREAM.3 card on Sunday, May 11 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Diaz (15-7) will take on Pancrase star Katsuya Inoue (16-5-3) in a bout with a weight limit of 167.6 pounds. Diaz hasn't fought since November 2007, when he lost an EliteXC title bout via doctor stoppage to KJ Noons. He also has another fight lined up with EliteXC on June 14 against Muhsin Corbbrey in Hawaii.

Miller (20-5) will fight pro wrestler Katsuyori Shibata (2-3) in a middleweight bout. Miller has been bouncing around lately from promotion to promotion, as this DREAM appearance will be his fourth straight fight with a different organization.

DREAM.3 Lightweight Grand Prix 2nd Round

- Tatsuya Kawajiri VS Luis "Buscape" Firmino
- Caol Uno VS Mitsuhiro Ishida
- Joachim Hansen VS Eddie Alvarez
- Katsuhiko Nagata VS Shinya Aoki (if he is medically cleared)

Other Bouts

- Jason "Mayhem" Miller VS Katsuyori Shibata
- Melvin Manhoef VS Kim Dae-won
- Nick Diaz VS Katsuya Inoue
- Daisuke Nakamura VS Yung Jung-buk