Josh Thomson isn’t wasting any time. Bellator’s latest free-agent signing is expected to make his promotional debut on Sept. 19 against former Fightmaster runner-up Mike Bronzoulis, Bellator officials announced Monday. That fight will round out the main card of Bellator: Dynamite.
Thomson (20-8, 1 NC) inked a deal earlier this month with Bellator after losing a trio of fights to finish out his contract with the UFC, joining the likes of Phil Davis and Josh Koscheck as recent fighters to jump ship upon reaching free agency.
The 36-year-old Thomson ended his second Octagon run with an overall record of 1-3. A former Strikeforce lightweight champion, Thomson knocked out Nate Diaz with a devastating high kick in his first back in the UFC. That win earned Thomson a title shot against then-champion Anthony Pettis, but injuries led to a replacement fight against Benson Henderson, which Thomson lost via narrow split decision.
Thomson dropped another split decision to Bobby Green before losing a lopsided but gritty decision to Tony Ferguson last month. A veteran of the sport for over 14 years, Thomson holds notable wins over Gilbert Melendez, Pat Healy, and Gesias Cavalcante, among others.
Now he’ll meet the streaking Bronzoulis (18-8-1), a 36-year-old striker who took second place on Bellator’s only season of Fightmaster. Of late, Bronzoulis has turned his career around with a three-fight win streak which culminated in a victory over Dave Burrow for the vacant Legacy FC lightweight title.
Bellator: Dynamite takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The event is co-promoted by Bellator and GLORY kickboxing, and will feature both a ring and cage in the arena. The main card will air live on Spike TV.
An updated Bellator: Dynamite fight card can be seen below.
- Liam McGeary vs. Tito Ortiz – for the Bellator light heavyweight title
- Saulo Cavalari vs. Zack Mwekassa – for the GLORY light heavyweight title
- Gabriel Varga vs. Serhiy Adamchuck – for the GLORY featherweight title
- Phil Davis, Emanuel Newton, Linton Vassell, Muhammed Lawal – one-night Bellator light heavyweight tournament
- Paul Daley vs. Fernando Gonzalez – GLORY welterweight fight
- Josh Thomson vs. Mike Bronzoulis – Bellator lightweight fight