A rematch between Strikeforce’s top lightweights has been scheduled for the December 19 Strikeforce: Evolution card. From GracieFighter.com:
Gilbert Melendez v. Josh Thomson Added to Strikeforce: Evolution
Gilbert Melendez will be fighting Josh Thomson in Strikeforce’s December 19th show at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. The anticipated rematch had been cancelled twice previously with Thomson citing injury for withdrawing on both occasions.
Melendez has 2 losses on his record. Once against Mitsuhiro Ishida and the other against Josh Thomson. He later avenged the Ishida loss by a resounding tko victory and will be looking to do the same against Thomson.
As stated above, this is the third time the rematch has been scheduled. If it doesn’t happen this time they’re going to have to figure out a different direction for the fighters to go. This is scheduled to be a lightweight title unification bout but again, they can’t just sit on this fight forever when neither guy has enough name value to feel like it is a major build-up.
This will be a much anticipated rematch of their June 2008 championship fight in which Thomson dethroned the then-champion (Melendez) after recording a five round unanimous decision victory.
It was actually supposed to go down much sooner on the "Shamrock vs. Diaz" card in April 2009; however, Thomson was forced to withdraw because of a serious leg injury while training for the bout. As a result, Melendez was paired with Rodrigo Damm to determine the interim lightweight champion, which "El Nino" won via second round technical knockout.
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