Tag: Josh Thomson

Anthony Pettis Wants to Fight Nate Diaz After Recovering From Knee Surgery


(Before he was champion, Anthony’s entire life was devoted to training. Now he’s out every night, partying with cool badger statues. I’m just saying, the belt changes you. / Photo via Getty)

Though he was hoping to avoid surgery to repair a torn posterior cruciate ligament (aka “knee thingy”), UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will indeed go under the knife next Thursday. Pettis explained yesterday on UFC Tonight that he is looking at a 6-8 month recovery period, and when he returns to action, he wants his first title defense to be against Nate Diaz — not TJ Grant (thank God), not the winner of Ben Henderson vs. Josh Thomson*, not Khabib Nurmagomedov, or Gilbert Melendez, or anybody else who might deserve it more than a guy who just snapped a two-fight losing streak.

Oddly enough, it wasn’t Nate’s one-round blitzkrieg of Gray Maynard at the TUF 18 Finale that convinced Pettis that Diaz is worthy of a title shot — it was what Diaz said in his post-fight interview.

“Nate Diaz has been talking so much and in his last fight, he actually looked pretty decent, but it’s harder to judge against Gray Maynard,” Pettis said on UFC Tonight. “I hope Nate works his way up so we can fight…Nate’s been talking for a while. Even after his last fight, saying ‘this is the No. 1 and No. 2 lightweights in the world.’ That’s taking a shot directly at me. That belt’s in my front room. It’s there for a reason.”**

In classic Diaz fashion, Nate responded on twitter by saying that Pettis needs to work his way up for a fight against Nate Diaz. (#stocktonlogic) Though Pettis seems to think that Diaz should keep fighting and winning before an eventual title-fight showdown, Diaz would rather skip that part entirely. In case you missed it, he made a startlingly wise statement about the subject during the TUF 18 Finale’s post-fight press conference last Saturday:


(Before he was champion, Anthony’s entire life was devoted to training. Now he’s out every night, partying with cool badger statues. I’m just saying, the belt changes you. / Photo via Getty)

Though he was hoping to avoid surgery to repair a torn posterior cruciate ligament (aka “knee thingy”), UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will indeed go under the knife next Thursday. Pettis explained yesterday on UFC Tonight that he is looking at a 6-8 month recovery period, and when he returns to action, he wants his first title defense to be against Nate Diaz — not TJ Grant (thank God), not the winner of Ben Henderson vs. Josh Thomson*, not Khabib Nurmagomedov, or Gilbert Melendez, or anybody else who might deserve it more than a guy who just snapped a two-fight losing streak.

Oddly enough, it wasn’t Nate’s one-round blitzkrieg of Gray Maynard at the TUF 18 Finale that convinced Pettis that Diaz is worthy of a title shot — it was what Diaz said in his post-fight interview.

“Nate Diaz has been talking so much and in his last fight, he actually looked pretty decent, but it’s harder to judge against Gray Maynard,” Pettis said on UFC Tonight. “I hope Nate works his way up so we can fight…Nate’s been talking for a while. Even after his last fight, saying ‘this is the No. 1 and No. 2 lightweights in the world.’ That’s taking a shot directly at me. That belt’s in my front room. It’s there for a reason.”**

In classic Diaz fashion, Nate responded on twitter by saying that Pettis needs to work his way up for a fight against Nate Diaz. (#stocktonlogic) Though Pettis seems to think that Diaz should keep fighting and winning before an eventual title-fight showdown, Diaz would rather skip that part entirely. In case you missed it, he made a startlingly wise statement about the subject during the TUF 18 Finale’s post-fight press conference last Saturday:

“I think I’ll sit on the sideline for a good long minute until someone gets injured and I get a title fight.”

That’s as good a plan as we’ve ever heard come from the mouth of a Diaz brother. There might be loads of talent at the top of the UFC lightweight division, but it doesn’t really matter who the legitimate #1 contender is. The only thing that matters is who’s ready at the time the UFC wants to book a lightweight title fight, and who’s available when that fight inevitably falls apart.

So, Pettis vs. Diaz…you into this, or what?

* Thomson, of course, TKO’d Diaz in April of this year, and was going to get a title shot at UFC on FOX 9 until Pettis withdrew due to his knee injury. And most likely, Thomson will be passed right the fuck over when Pettis returns, in favor of a guy he beat the crap out of, because the world is a cold and horrible place.

** Pettis went on to say that he wants a super-fight against Jose Aldo at the end of 2014, but honestly, the less said about that the better. Message to all MMA fighters: Stop talking about super-fights that you’re planning on having a year from now. It never, ever works out. In fact, talking about them guarantees that they will never happen. That goes double for boxers hoping to fight MMA fighters.

ICYMI: Benson Henderson vs. Josh Thomson Booked for UFC on FOX 10 Headliner


(Hastily thrown-together poster via FansofUFConFOX)

In the midst of all the panic and fury surrounding UFC 167‘s aftermath, a rather notable fight-booking completely slipped past us. Apparently, Josh Thomson and Benson Henderson are fighting in the main event of UFC on FOX 10 (January 25th, Chicago). I had no idea. I found this out randomly today while reading one of Crooklyn’s interviews on BloodyElbow, in which Thomson describes his match-up with Henderson as “like looking in a mirror” and suggests that Anthony Pettis doesn’t really need surgery for his PCL tear.

This will be Henderson’s first fight since losing his UFC lightweight title to Pettis in August — and marks his return to FOX, the channel that didn’t quite make him a star. As for Thomson, he’s been on ice since his TKO of Nate Diaz in April, and was supposed to fight Pettis for the belt next month at UFC on FOX 9 before Showtime pulled out.

With TJ Grant’s return still in question, the winner of this fight would seem poised for a title shot. Your predictions, please.


(Hastily thrown-together poster via FansofUFConFOX)

In the midst of all the panic and fury surrounding UFC 167‘s aftermath, a rather notable fight-booking completely slipped past us. Apparently, Josh Thomson and Benson Henderson are fighting in the main event of UFC on FOX 10 (January 25th, Chicago). I had no idea. I found this out randomly today while reading one of Crooklyn’s interviews on BloodyElbow, in which Thomson describes his match-up with Henderson as “like looking in a mirror” and suggests that Anthony Pettis doesn’t really need surgery for his PCL tear.

This will be Henderson’s first fight since losing his UFC lightweight title to Pettis in August — and marks his return to FOX, the channel that didn’t quite make him a star. As for Thomson, he’s been on ice since his TKO of Nate Diaz in April, and was supposed to fight Pettis for the belt next month at UFC on FOX 9 before Showtime pulled out.

With TJ Grant’s return still in question, the winner of this fight would seem poised for a title shot. Your predictions, please.

Anthony Pettis Out of UFC on FOX 9 Main Event With Knee Injury; Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 Named as New Headliner


(Pettis perfectly executes an off-the-cage “Showtime Gloat.” / Photo via Getty)

Over the weekend, UFC president Dana White revealed that lightweight champion Anthony Pettis had suffered a knee injury in training, but was still expected to defend his belt against Josh Thomson in the main event of UFC on FOX 9 (December 14th, Sacramento). “He’s going to fight,” White said. “For sure.”

Well, not really. UFC officials announced last night that Pettis has pulled out of the match. We have no details on the nature or severity of Showtime’s injury at this time, or if it’s related to the knee injury that pushed Pettis out of UFC 163 back in June. We’ll keep you posted.

The UFC plans to re-book Pettis vs. Thomson when the champ is recovered, but you never know with these things. Thomson was already the second choice for Pettis’s UFC on FOX 9 opponent after TJ Grant had to stay sidelined due to concussion. If Grant is healthy by the time Pettis is, the UFC might just do Pettis vs. Grant like they had originally planned. Meanwhile, Josh Thomson’s immediate future is in limbo, and the famously cursed fighter just saw the biggest opportunity of his career go up in smoke. [Ed. note: We’ll start working on his illustrated timeline.]

Pettis’s injury has led to new main events for two upcoming cards…


(Pettis perfectly executes an off-the-cage “Showtime Gloat.” / Photo via Getty)

Over the weekend, UFC president Dana White revealed that lightweight champion Anthony Pettis had suffered a knee injury in training, but was still expected to defend his belt against Josh Thomson in the main event of UFC on FOX 9 (December 14th, Sacramento). “He’s going to fight,” White said. “For sure.”

Well, not really. UFC officials announced last night that Pettis has pulled out of the match. We have no details on the nature or severity of Showtime’s injury at this time, or if it’s related to the knee injury that pushed Pettis out of UFC 163 back in June. We’ll keep you posted.

The UFC plans to re-book Pettis vs. Thomson when the champ is recovered, but you never know with these things. Thomson was already the second choice for Pettis’s UFC on FOX 9 opponent after TJ Grant had to stay sidelined due to concussion. If Grant is healthy by the time Pettis is, the UFC might just do Pettis vs. Grant like they had originally planned. Meanwhile, Josh Thomson’s immediate future is in limbo, and the famously cursed fighter just saw the biggest opportunity of his career go up in smoke. [Ed. note: We’ll start working on his illustrated timeline.]

Pettis’s injury has led to new main events for two upcoming cards…

— UFC on FOX 9 will now be headlined by the flyweight title fight rematch between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez, which was originally scheduled to headline the TUF 18 Finale on November 30th.

— The TUF 18 Finale rubber-match between Nate Diaz and Gray Maynard will now serve as that event’s headliner. Due to the relative short-notice of the switch, the match will remain scheduled for three rounds.

Josh Thomson Believes Anthony Pettis Is Starting to Believe His Own Hype

Josh Thomson has been one of the top lightweight fighters on the planet for the past decade. The 35-year-old American Kickboxing Academy staple has retained his status among the elite at 155 pounds by proving to be one of the most versatile fighters in…

Josh Thomson has been one of the top lightweight fighters on the planet for the past decade. The 35-year-old American Kickboxing Academy staple has retained his status among the elite at 155 pounds by proving to be one of the most versatile fighters in a weight class that is filled with world-class talent.

“The Punk’s” blend of grappling, endless cardio and striking talents have kept him at the top of the heap in the lightweight division, and on Dec. 14 at UFC on Fox 9, he will finally get his long-awaited opportunity to prove he’s the best of the best.

The former Strikeforce lightweight champion will square off with newly minted UFC champion Anthony Pettis in what is figured to be one of the most action-packed clashes of the year. “Showtime” is heralded as one of the premier strikers in MMA, and Thomson has a well-deserved reputation for being as game as they come in the standup department.

In addition to the stylistic matchup, the bout will present an opportunity Thomson has been eyeing for years. Despite being one of the top lightweights in the UFC during his initial run back in 2003, the Californian never had the chance to compete for UFC gold.

When the organization eliminated the 155-pound weight class in 2005, Thomson moved onto numerous top-level promotions and scrapped it out with the best the world had to offer outside of the UFC banner. Nevertheless, he made a triumphant return to the biggest stage in MMA last April at UFC on Fox 7 and did so in impressive fashion, as he knocked out former title challenger Nate Diaz in the second round of their tilt in San Jose.

The victory put him within striking distance of a title shot, but the road ahead still was unclear. That is until proposed No. 1 contender T.J. Grant’s time away from the cage was extended due to a slow recovery on a head injury he had suffered in training.

With Grant out, an opportunity a decade in the making presented itself, and Thomson was given a chance to face Pettis for championship gold. He believes he has what it takes to unseat the Milwaukee native from the throne and promises their scrap in Sacramento will be a “can’t miss” fight for the fans.

The No. 1 contender to the lightweight crown stopped by Bleacher Report’s studio to talk about his return to the UFC and his upcoming collision with Pettis.

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Josh Thomson: From UFC Washout to UFC Title Contender

Josh Thomson will finally get his shot at UFC gold when he battles Anthony Pettis this December. The former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion has had a long road to get to this point, but it will all be worth it if he can upset the new champion.
 
…

Josh Thomson will finally get his shot at UFC gold when he battles Anthony Pettis this December. The former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion has had a long road to get to this point, but it will all be worth it if he can upset the new champion.

 

A Rising Star

Thomson began his career with five straight victories. That gave the UFC enough to call him up to the show back in the fall of 2003. Even a decade ago Thomson was being billed as one of the best lightweights in the world.

He began his UFC career with two straight wins. A knockout over Gerald Strebendt and a decision against Hermes Franca. His third UFC fight was against Yves Edwards, a fight that resulted in a highlight reel KO still shown to this day.

In a competitive first round, Edwards capitalized when Thomson made a small error and landed a huge head kick that floored Thomson. Edwards would finish it up with a couple punches, but it was the head kick that stole the show. That KO loss would be enough to send Thomson out of the promotion.

In today’s UFC, Thomson would have gotten another chance after going 2-1. A loss to Edwards is nothing to complain about. However, in 2004 the lightweight division was not a priority for the UFC. Zuffa was still trying to build the brand, and The Ultimate Fighter had yet to send the sport to new heights.

Thus, Thomson was released out into the wild, wild west of the MMA world to fend for himself.

Thomson would move right to PRIDE and Strikeforce. He won his PRIDE Bushido 8 fight against Daisuke Sugie, but dropped his Strikeforce debut to Clay Guida. The Guida loss was a turning point for Thomson. After that fight he won six straight bouts—five in Strikeforce—to earn a shot at the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship.

 

Trilogy with Gilbert Melendez

Strikeforce is remembered for a lot of things: Fedor’s surprising losses, Cyborg’s dominance, Diaz‘s battles and Rousey’s ascent. Yet what it should be remembered for is the classic trilogy of fights between Thomson and Melendez.

Their first bout came on June 27, 2008.

All five rounds it went: A war of attrition between two lightweights who were not getting their due because of where they were fighting. To those who were watching, they were every bit as accomplished.

Thomson would win the first fight and claim the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship. He would not get to successfully defend it.

His next title fight was against Melendez. The December 19, 2009 fight was just as good as, if not better than, the previous. Though, this time it was Melendez who would get the nod on the judge’s scorecards.

Thomson would not get another shot at the gold for two years. He went 3-1 with all three wins coming inside the Strikeforce organization. He dropped a decision to Tatsuya Kawajiri at the Dynamite!! 2010 card. Importantly, his Strikeforce wins came against Pat Healy, JZ Cavalcante and K.J. Noons. Those quality wins would give him one last shot at the Strikeforce strap.

The trilogy completed with another decision, but Melendez walked out with the title. This time, the decision was split: A testament to just how close the fight was, and how the series played out. It was a classic trilogy that will live on. It helped establish both fighters in the division, and made Thomson’s UFC return highly anticipated.

 

The Punk Returns

After the UFC ended Strikeforce and brought over the roster, one of the most anticipated fighters was Thomson. His return was set against Nate Diaz on April 20.

Heading into the bout, this was thought to be a potential Fight of the Night contender, but it would only be Thomson who collected a bonus check. He would stun everyone with a Knockout of the Night performance, becoming the first man to stop Nate Diaz.

Thomson was the more athletic fighter, and it showed. He looked sharp.

The finish came in the second frame when Thomson rocked Diaz with a head kick, and then finished up his handy work with punches for the TKO win.

It was a head kick that sent him out of the UFC, and a head kick announced his return to the elite of the lightweight division.

Through the summer, the lightweight title was held up. Injuries have played a big role in Thomson getting his title shot, which is ironic as the talented 155-pound fighter has had trouble staying healthy throughout his career.

Anthony Pettis replaced TJ Grant against Benson Henderson at UFC 164, and he was able to walk out with the title after an armbar stoppage. It was supposed to be Grant getting his shot, but he was not ready to return. Thomson got the call, answered it and now he has his shot at the ultimate glory.

After being unceremoniously released from the UFC years ago when lightweights were fighting for acceptance, Thomson has a chance to grab the title he never had a shot at when he fights Pettis at UFC on Fox 9 in the main event.

It has been a long road back for the AKA product. One that has injury roadblocks and several top level fighters trying to derail him. He has navigated his way through it all, and now only one more is in front of him.

UFC on Fox 9 is the last stop. Thomson’s long road back has led him to this point. We will find out if he can finally wear UFC gold on December 14.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Anthony Pettis vs. Josh Thomson: Early Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Anthony Pettis took gold from Benson Henderson for a second time when he submitted the UFC lightweight champion at UFC 164 in August. The attention then turned to top contender TJ Grant.
Pettis and Grant were expected to meet at UFC on Fox 9, but Grant…

Anthony Pettis took gold from Benson Henderson for a second time when he submitted the UFC lightweight champion at UFC 164 in August. The attention then turned to top contender TJ Grant.

Pettis and Grant were expected to meet at UFC on Fox 9, but Grant would not be ready in time to see action. Thus, the UFC went looking for another challenger for the new champion and they came up with Josh Thomson. The longtime veteran will try to capture UFC gold for the first time when they meet in December.

Thomson, a former Strikeforce lightweight champion, made a successful return to the UFC with a Knockout of the Night performance against Nate Diaz in April. He gets a shining opportunity thanks to injuries to others, and his dream of becoming the UFC champion has a real possibility of coming true.

The dynamic lightweights will meet on December 14, and this is your early breakdown for the UFC Lightweight Championship bout.

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