Josh Thomson
Former Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh ‘The Punk’ Thomson (19-5) will reportedly return to the cage next month when he faces Caros Fodor (7-2) at the upcoming Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy event.
Thomson broke the news to Sherdog.com in an interview this past weekend (watch the video below).
Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy is expected to take place on September 29, 2012 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The event is headlined by a lightweight title bout between defending champion Gilbert Melendez and No. 1 contender Gilbert Melendez.
Thomson is coming off a close split decision defeat versus Melendez this past May in the third meeting of their careers, all of which have involved the Strikeforce title. ‘The Punk’ earned his title shot by beating KJ Noons by decision this past March. The win erased a decision loss to Tatsuya Kawajiri in Japan at a Dynamite!! 2010 event.
Fodor was submitted by the current No. 1 contender last March at the Tate vs. Rousey event, having suffered a third round submission versus Healy. The defeat ended a five fight win streak for Fodor, who earned all of his victories in the Strikeforce cage. His last victory came in December of last year, stopping Justin Wilcox by knockout in just 13-seconds of the first round.