Lightweight fighter Maximo Blanco (8-2-1, 1NC) will reportedly make his North American debut under the Strikeforce banner this fall when he meets Josh “The Punk” Thomson (18-4, 1NC) at a previously unannounced Strikeforce 36 event.
MMAWeekly.com broke the news on Wednesday after learning of the bout from sources close to the fight. The website noted that contracts have been signed by both fighters, with the match taking place on Sept. 10 at an unknown venue. This is the first bout to have surfaced concerning this particular Strikeforce event.
Blanco recently signed with the Strikeforce promotion and told MMAWeekly.com that “I would like to fight Josh Thomson” for his first fight on North American soil. The former Sengoku fighter has won six straight fights and last competed on Dec. 30 at the WVR Presents: Soul of Fight event in Japan. The Venezuelan earned a unanimous decision over Won Sik Park at the event, marking the first time in eight victories that Blanco did not win by (T)KO.
Thomson, a former Strikeforce lightweight champion, enters the fight on a loss after losing a unanimous decision to Japanese fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri at the Dynamite!! 2010 event on New Years Eve. ‘The Punk’ injured his hand in that loss and has had to sit on the sidelines recovering. Previous to the loss, Thomson earned a unanimous decision over Gesias Cavalcante in October, and a submission win against Pat Healy in June. Both bouts were under the Strikeforce banner and were his first two wins after losing the lightweight title to Gilbert Melendez in December of 2009.