Thomson

Gunning for Title: Ready or Not - On Strikeforce’s Friday event, Josh Thomson finally got his opportunity to fight current Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez for his title. This highly anticipated matchup was initially slated to take place back in March, however a shoulder injury forced Thomson to pull out and have surgery. Thomson dominate Melendez and has has finally arrived, ready or not.

“I don’t think the shoulder will be an issue at all,” stated Thomson.  “I mean, after surgery, is it ever 100% (again)?  You go in there with no excuses, no fighter goes in there 100% healthy and if they do, that means they didn’t train hard enough.”

It is this warrior mentality that has allowed Thomson to compile his impressive 15-2 record, not losing a fight in over two years. However, Melendez was the toughest opponenet that he had fought to date. A fighter that the San Jose  native knew all too well.

Just a few years back, Thomson and Melendez used to train against each other. Melendez grew up just across town, and perhaps those epic sparring and grappling sessions were a sign of things to come.

“We knew that when he came in here to train, we would develop a friendship as training partners, that one day it may come (that we would have to fight each other). He wouldn’t be my friend if he didn’t fight me,” Thomson expressed.

As the fight was inching closer and closer, all Thomson has to do is recall on those training sessions together.

“There is no reason to watch tapes. I had him here sparring with me, training with me,” stated the challenger. “There’s no scouting tapes. We know each other, that’s how it comes down. It’s almost like training with your brother. You don’t want to lose to your brother. Now all of a sudden you have bragging rights.”

However, bragging rights wasn’t the only thing at stake against Melendez,  Thomson wanted the title, and he wanted it badly.

“That’s my belt. ” stated a determined Thomson.

And he certainly proved it in the eyes of all three judges, as they all scored the bout a dominating 50-45 Unanimous Decision for Thomson.

“…I gotta say every interview I did before this they asked me if Gilbert was going to be the toughest fight I ever had, and I told them I didn’t think so. I take that (expletive) back, he’s the toughest (expletive) I ever fought,” said the newly crowned Champion.

Ready or not, the new Champ is here.