Gilbert Melendez has dominated the Strikeforce lightweight division for several years now.
So, when it was announced that “El Nino” would be fighting on the upcoming May 19 card from San Jose, rumors of a lightweight from the UFC entering Strikeforce heated up.
However, it wasn’t Anthony Pettis or BJ Penn named for Melendez. No, it was Josh Thomson, the last man to defeat Melendez inside the cage.
While the fight isn’t the one the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter was looking for, he knows Thomson will be a tough foe and will give him everything he can handle. The two each own a victory over the other, with the Strikeforce title exchanging hands each tim.
“I was hoping for something better, for some top talent, and it didn’t work out,” said Melendez, in a recent interview with MMA Junkie. “Something to raise my stock. Josh Thomson is tough because it’s always going to be tough with him.”
Melendez-Thomson will be the co-main event for the Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale card, as Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier to crown a champion in the year-long tournament.
Photo credit: Tracy Lee/Yahoo! Sports
