Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson (18-3) is headed to Japan to face Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-6-2) on Dec. 31st. Their fight will take place on the Dynamite!! 2010 event set for New Years Eve at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Both men have signed bout agreements so the fight is all set, it will take place as part of the agreement between DREAM and Strikeforce to cross promote. An official announcement is expected to come in the next few days from the Fighting and Entertainment Group, the parent company of DREAM.
The news was first reported by MMAFighting.com late Monday evening.
Thomson has won two straight bouts since losing his Strikeforce title to current champ Gilbert Melendez back in December of 2009. “The Punk” as he’s nicknamed, went on to submit Pat Healy at last Junes Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum event, and earn a unanimous decision over Gesias Cavalcante at Octobers Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II show.
Kawajiri is coming off a loss to Shinya Aoki for the DREAM title, losing to the champ by submission in the first round at DREAM.15 in July. Before that he had won four straight under the DREAM banner going 7-2 in his last nine bouts. The other loss was to current Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez in the semi-final round of the DREAM lightweight Grandprix in July of 2008.