Josh Thomson blames himself, not judges, for loss to Gilbert Melendez
It’s common knowledge Josh Thomson is a 33-year old Strikeforce lightweight who has been plagued by injury issues and may only have a limited number of fights left in him as a result. However, nobody knows exactly how important winning the divisional title this past weekend was to Thomson at this stage in his career better than “The Punk” himself. Thomson took champion Gilbert Melendez to the... [Read More...]
Gilbert Melendez not interested in fourth fight with Josh Thomson
Entering last night’s Strikeforce event the questions surrounding lightweight Josh Thomson had to do with his health after rumors of a knee injury surfaced a little more than a week ago. Exiting his fight with champion Gilbert Melendez the chatter was not focused on how his leg had held up but rather whether the ringside judges had scored things correctly after awarding “El Nino” was a razor-thin... [Read More...]
Gilbert Melendez knows he is in for a battle with Josh Thomson this weekend
Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez always knew a third fight with Josh Thomson was a possibility. And, while the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter had hoped Zuffa would bring over a fighter from the UFC, Melendez is prepared to go to war with Thomson once again. Melendez-Thomson will serve as the co-headliner at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final this Saturday night from San Jose, California.... [Read More...]
Strikeforce Grand Prix Final Conference Call Highlights
In a little more than a week Strikeforce will finally crown the winner of their long-running Heavyweight Grand Prix when Josh Barnett duels Daniel Cormier in headlining action. The two talented competitors have looked exceptionally sharp over the past few years, racking up a combined record of 17-0 since 2008. Also set to mix it up on the May 19 card, lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will defend... [Read More...]
Gilbert Melendez was “hoping for something better” than Josh Thomson as an opponent
Despite an initial flirtation with the idea of taking a different route, UFC President Dana White made it clear a few months back Gilbert Melendez would be sticking with Strikeforce for the immediate future. However, the lightweight champion remained hopeful White might bring the UFC to him if not the other way around, injecting Strikeforce’s solid but not spectacular 155-pound division with some... [Read More...]
Gilbert Melendez matched with Josh Thomson for May title-defense
Former Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh Thomson may have thought his previous performance was akin to excrement but it was apparently good enough in the eyes of some to earn “The Punk” a crack at current title-holder Gilbert Melendez’s belt. Thomson outpointed opponent K.J. Noons in a convincing though not particularly exciting effort a month ago at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Strikeforce... [Read More...]
Josh Thomson: “I am going to go back to the way I used to train and make sure I whip Gilbert’s ass.”
Before last night it had been more than a year since Josh Thomson took part in a fight inside the cage with injuries have keeping the former Strikeforce lightweight champ from returning in a more prompt fashion. In the co-main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, Thomson earned a decision victory over K.J. Noons in a bout likely vaulting him into a title-fight with Gilbert Melendez later this year.... [Read More...]
Strikeforce targeting March 3 for lightweight bout between K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson
Lightweights Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons appear to be on a collision course for March, as reports have the two Strikeforce fighters set to meet at the company’s Columbus, Ohio event. Given the 155-pound division’s landscape it’s likely the winner of Thomson-Noons would likely become the #1 contender to Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez. Thomson (18-4) has been on the... [Read More...]
Josh Thomson injured, out of September 10 Strikeforce fight
More bad news for Josh Thomson. The often injured lightweight will once again be sitting on the sidelines, this time with a foot injury. Scheduled to fight Maximo Blanco at the September 10 Strikeforce event, Thomson has been forced to pull out of the fight with the injury, which was suffered while training for the bout. The injury is said to be, “a worst-case scenario” for Thomson. News... [Read More...]
J.Z. Cavalcante targeting February fight in Strikeforce
Gesias “J.Z.” Cavalcante was viewed as being one of the lightweight division’s toughest draws, and among the top 155-pounders in the world, after opening up his career with a 14-1-1 record including wins over a number of notable opponents. However, the 27-year old Brazilian has found himself of the losing end of the judges’ scorecards three of the last four times he’s fought, and as a result... [Read More...]
Josh Thomson vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri booked for Japan on New Year’s Eve
Former Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh Thomson will look to extend his current win streak to three in a row this New Year’s Eve when he faces popular Japanese competitor Tatsuya Kawajiri on the annual “Dynamite!!” card being held at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The 18-3 Thomson most-recently saw action this past October when he beat American Top Team’s Gesias “J.Z.” Cavalcante... [Read More...]
“Strikeforce – Diaz vs. Noons II” fighters sound off for final time
The eight combatants scheduled for the “Strikeforce – Diaz vs. Noons II” main card spoke to media on Thursday afternoon one last time prior to making the final march towards their impending in-ring action. Though additional security was brought in by the promotion in lieu of the potential for problems between Nick Diaz’s and KJ Noons’ camps, all in attendance acted professionally and things... [Read More...]
JZ Cavalcante: “I like the challenge and I think the fans want to watch this fight. As a fan, I want to watch this fight.”
Relatively new fans of Mixed Martial Arts may not be familiar with Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante. The American Top Team-trained product hasn’t fought in America since mid-2007 nor competed under the UFC/PRIDE/Strikeforce banner a single time in his career. However, ask a more-informed individual and the response is likely to involve a great deal of admiration for the lightweight’s in-ring ability,... [Read More...]
Josh Thomson: “He’s got the fighter spirit in him and he will never give up. He will fight to the end.”
Former Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh Thomson has never been afraid to dive into a challenge head-first. The outspoken Californian has battled back from numerous injuries, faced all-comers, and always shown a willingness to engage his opponent over nearly a decade-long career. Based on that self-belief and ability to shrug off adversity, there’s little doubt as to why he stepped up to welcome... [Read More...]
JZ Cavalcante making Strikeforce debut against Josh Thomson on October 9th
American Top Team’s Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante was long-considered one of the top lightweights in Mixed Martial Arts before enduring a slew of injuries and eventually dropping back-to-back decisions in DREAM against Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri. Prior to the losses, Cavalcante had gone 14-1-1 in the first sixteen bouts of his professional career and had gained a reputation for being both solid... [Read More...]
Josh Thomson: ‘I didn’t even watch the last fight’ with Gilbert Melendez
Fellow Strikeforce lightweight champions Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez are far from strangers heading into this Saturday evening’s “Strikeforce: Evolution” card where the pair will face off for the second time to decide who the true king of the hill is in the promotion at 155 pounds. Thomson edged out Melendez via unanimous decision in the first battle between the California based... [Read More...]
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... [Read More...]
Strikeforce claims Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez bout is not in jeopardy
After a weeks worth of cancellations and let-downs, it appears as though there is one anticipated match-up in August that the MMA community can breathe a collective sigh of relief about. Earlier reports had surfaced that the Strikeforce lightweight championship bout between Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez was in danger of being scrapped due to Thomson’s inability to fully recover from a recently... [Read More...]
Thomson forced to withdraw from Strikeforce lightweight title fight vs. Melendez
A much-anticipated Strikeforce lightweight title rematch between reigning champion Josh Thomson and the former champion Gilbert Melendez that had been scheduled for April 11 has been canceled. Showtime officials issued a press release Wednesday night announcing that Thomson vs. Melendez II had been scrubbed in light of the fact that Thomson recently broke his leg during a sparring session with fellow... [Read More...]
5 Oz. Video Interview with Josh Thomson: “It’s going to be a tougher fight than the first time”
FiveOuncesOfPain.com’s Jay Tan was on location in Los Angeles, Calif. on Thursday for a press conference hosted by Showtime and Strikeforce in anticipation of April 11’s “Shamrock vs. Diaz” event. Watch as Tan and Josh Thomson discuss Thomson’s upcoming Strikeforce lightweight title defense vs. Gilbert Melendez on April 11, whether he wants to fight more frequently, what happened regarding... [Read More...]
