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Josh Thomson will have the spotlight Saturday night when he takes on Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 7.

The lightweight bout will be part of the FOX-televised main card, giving the former Strikeforce standout a chance to shine on the network.

Thomson (19-5) last fought in the UFC in 2004, falling to Yves Edwards and suffering his first career defeat. He left for mostly Strikeforce after that, winning the lightweight title.

“I’m going to go out there and put on a show. I’ve been in this sport for too long. I wouldn’t say it doesn’t bother me when I lose, but I don’t think about losing when I go out there,” said Thomson, in an interview with the UFC. “I’m just focused on doing the best that I can and putting on a show and making sure I give it all I got. The fans will always get the best out of me knowing that it was what I’m planning on doing.”

The veteran has gone 3-2 in his last five, including a loss last May to Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce title.

Thomson should be able to hang with Diaz, as he pushed “El Nino” for 25 minutes – and some believed he was actually the winner of the fight.

Another UFC vs. Strikeforce fight has been made official by the UFC for April, as Nate Diaz will take on Josh Thomson.

The event, UFC on Fox 7, goes down April 20 from San Jose. The card features Benson Henderson-Gilbert Melendez for the UFC lightweight title, and Frank Mir-Daniel Cormier in the co-main event.

Diaz (16-8) will be looking to get back on track after a loss to Henderson this past December.

Thomson (19-5) is returning to the UFC for the first time since 2004, where he went 2-1. His last fight was a loss to Melendez for the Strikeforce title.

It appears the UFC is looking into San Jose for an upcoming Fox card, as MMAjunkie.com is reporting UFC on Fox 7 will go down from the HP Pavilion.

The event is scheduled for April 20, as the 2013 Fox cards have already been scheduled.

Strikeforce called San Jose home for 15 events, and a number of fighters from the promotion could be in store to fight on the UFC card.

One potential rumored fight would pit Daniel Cormier, who trains at nearby American Kickboxing Academy, against Frank Mir. Cormier is signed to the UFC, though he will fight in Strikeforce later this month.

Cormier and Mir were booked for 2012, but an injury to Mir called off the contest.

Also, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and Josh Thomson all call the Bay Area home.

Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson hopes to get a call from the promotion he works for soon.

Thomson, who owns a career record of 19-5, is hoping to be part of what is expected to be the final card for Strikeforce in January, titled Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine.

The event has been hit hard by injuries, which could open up a slot for Thomson.

“We’re just waiting on the higher powers to make their decision on what they want to do,” said Thomson, during an interview with Sherdog. “As fighters, we’re the kid stuck between two parents. The Showtime and UFC guys are trying to figure out how this is all going to work out. It would be nice to get a fight.”

Thomson has gone 9-4 with Strikeforce, but has not fought since falling to Gilbert Melendez earlier this year. Back in 2003-04, Thomson went 2-1 inside the Octagon, defeating Gerald Strebendt and Hermes Franca, while falling to Yves Edwards in what was his first career loss.

“I’m just trying to stay buys and the big thing is staying healthy,” said Thomson, who has missed months at a time dealing with injuries. “Now, I’m healthy and unable to get a fight. It’s a little bit frustrating, but that’s business.”

Photo credit: Showtime

Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson made sure to let everyone know he is down for a potential fight with Pat Healy.

After news of an injury to Gilbert Melendez came out, Thomson offered up his services to keep this Saturday’s Strikeforce card still on.

“I offered to fight Healy, 3 or 5 (round) fight,” Thomson posted on Twitter. “(Healy) is a champion, he woulda fought me to save the event an integrity of the sport.”

Showtime decided they would not televise the card without Melendez, the Strikeforce lightweight champion, competing. The promotion proceeded to cancel the entire event after that decision was made.

The extend of the injury suffered by Melendez is currently unknown, but Thomson offered up a potential interim title match with Healy as a great idea for November. Healy responded by saying, “Read my mind.”

Photo credit: Showtime

Lightweights Josh Thomson and Caros Fodor will hit the cage in September, as Sherdog.com reported the two have signed to meet at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy.

The card takes place September 29 from Sacramento. In the main event, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will defend his title against Pat Healy.

Both Thomson (19-5) and Fodor are familiar with Melendez and Healy. Thomson was defeated in a razor-close decision by Melendez earlier this year.

Fodor (7-2), meanwhile, had his five-fight win streak snapped at the hands of Healy when he last entered the cage.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE

Josh Thomson gave Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez everything he could handle for five rounds recently. Thomson, who lost the bout via a decision, recently told Jens Pulver on the Scrap Radio Show that he feels like Melendez is avoiding certain fights and that it’s hurting his legacy.

“I look at it a bunch of different ways. You have to understand, you want to be considered the best lightweight in the world, you have to fight whoever they put in front of you. You don’t hear GSP (Georges St-Pierre) or Anderson Silva turning fights down with people in their weight class, saying, ‘Oh, I don’t want to fight him again.’ We don’t really have that option. If you want to be considered the best, quit ducking people.”

Thomson was the last fighter to defeat Melendez, scoring a decision over him in 2008. “El Nino” has won the last two meetings between them.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE