From MMATorch.com
STRIKEFORCE NEWS: Lightweight Champ Josh Thomson's return pushed back after re-break of injured leg
By By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Sep 24, 2009 - 10:32:02 PM
For Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson, 2009 is a year he'd like to forget. After breaking his leg in the spring, delaying a rematch with Interim Champion Gilbert Melendez, Thomson was denied a license to fight on the August Strikeforce event as well due to the injury not being fully healed.
Now, according to a story at MMAWeekly.com, Thomson's expected November return has been pushed back to December to to another injury to that same leg.
Thomson told MMAWeekly.com that two weeks after getting pulled from the August card, one of the "kids" in his gym grabbed him in a leg lock and turned the hairline fracture in his leg into a full on break.
He still wants his fight with Melendez, though he won't be able to go on November 7th for Strikeforce's debut on CBS like he'd hoped. Instead he's anticipating a return on an as of yet unannounced card for December 19th on Showtime.
Said Thomson, "I want to get this whole interim title thing dissolved [with Melendez]. I want all the complications of, who's the camp and who's not the champ...I mean, everyone knows that I am, but I've been inactive for a year and he deserves what he's been given, but it's time to put it all to a close. I'd rather fight him my first fight back and I can move on with my career and he can move on with his."
Link to Original Source Article
Penick's Analysis: It's another setback for Thomson this year that has just seemed like one thing after another. The rematch with Melendez is one that a lot of people are interested in seeing, and getting the Champion back in the picture would be nice for one of the divisions for Strikeforce, considering the status of Alistair Overeem and Cung Le and the fact that Melendez has defended an Interim Title more times than any of the actual Champions. Hopefully nothing more happens to Thomson and he'll be able to get back into action against Melendez by year's end.
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