Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez II set for “Strkeforce: Evolution” in December
Hopefully the third time will be a charm in regards to bringing fellow Strikeforce lightweight champions Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez together for their highly anticipated, and twice previously announced rematch.
The two will face off during “Strikeforce: Evolution” on December 19 from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
The news of the bout was confirmed in a midnight bulletin over at GracieFighter.com early Monday morning.
Thomson was forced to the sidelines in both of the pair’s previously scheduled rematch bouts due to ankle and leg injuries. The December showdown with Melendez will mark The Punk’s first return to action since he TKO’d Ashe Bowman at the Playboy Mansion in September of 2008.
Melendez has seen action twice since the decision defeat at the hands of Thomson in July of 2008, knocking out Rodrigo Damm in April of this year, and avenging a former loss while battering Mitsuhiro Ishida in August.
A full list of the bouts expected for “Strikeforce: Evolution” are listed below:
Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez
Cung Le vs. Scott Smith
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Matt Lindland
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal vs. Mike Whitehead
Robbie Lawler vs. TBA
Scott Lighty vs. Antwain Brit
Cory Brady is the managing editor of FiveOuncesOfPain.com, along with being a regular feature writer with Ultimate MMA Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/corybrady
| All posts by Cory Brady
Over/Under on Thompson going down again before this fight?
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gil is the man! hopefully josh can stay healthy so they can do it this time. wonder if shinya will fight the winner or loser of this fight if he makes it to SF
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This is off topic, but Cory your gonna go ahead and have to change the URL on the website. Black widow finally found 5oz and its in the sports category. Uber gay.
This card is starting to shape up though. Would really like to see Lawal fight the winner of Britt/Lighty. That is if he gets through whitehead obviously. Which I think he will… violently.
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Good card so far but nothing too amazing. It would be good if Hendo or Santiago was Lawler’s opponent, but I doubt it.
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gilbert vs josh is going to be boring as hell-not to be on dana whites nuts but these guys are half ass performers
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you’re fucking kidding? these are two of the best lw outside of the ufc, did you see the last fight? that wasn’t boring. i dont think i seen many dull fights involving these two, except when Gil lost to Ishida.
Only way its gonna be dull is if its too soon for Josh to be fighting someone of Gils calibre, which i think it might be.
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HEY HINDSIGHT-PUT TYSON GRIFFIN IN THERE AND I GUARANTEE HE WILL BEAT BOTH OF THEM-THE FIRST FIGHT WAS A BUNCH OF FRONT KICKS-WOW
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Yep yep.. The bottom of the ufc 155lb barrel is as good if not better than Meldendez or the Punk have to offer. Franky Edgar would smash both of them. Still going to be a entertaining fight to watch. Unified Belts is what I would like to see. Knowing the same fights have to happen gets pretty old.
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