Gilbert Melendez vs Mitsuhiro Ishida 2 booked with Josh Thomson ruled out of Strikeforce fight Aug. 15

by Jesse Holland on Jul 30, 2009 6:26 PM EDT

Strikeforce confirmed earlier today that Interim Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez (15-2) will no longer rematch current Strikeforce 155-pound champ Josh Thompson at "Carano vs. Cybrog" on Aug. 15 because "The Punk" was denied medical clearance to compete.

Thompson -- who is apparently still not completely healed from a broken left leg sustained while training to take on Melendez back on April 11 -- will be replaced by Mitsuhiro Ishida.

It's certainly more bad news for the injury-riddled fight card; however, "El Nino" is perhaps comforted in knowing that even though his opponent was switched, he still has the opportunity to exact revenge.

Melendez was out to avenge a decisive unanimous decision loss to "The Punk" from their June 2008 encounter. The loss was only the second of his sparkling 16-fight career, which includes notable wins over Hiroyuki Takaya, Clay Guida, Tatsuya Kawajiri and others.

His only other defeat came via unanimous decision to, you guessed it, Ishida, at Yarennoka on New Years Eve 2007. Ishida has since signed with Strikeforce and made a successful debut for the promotion with a first round submission win over Justin Wilcox last September.

Now the two will once again collide in a five-round title fight with Melendez's interim belt on the line. It may not be Melendez vs. Thomson, but it's the next best thing under the difficult circumstances.

The August 15 Strikeforce event will feature Gina Carano finally taking on Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos as well as Nick Diaz facing off against Jay Hieron for the newly-created Strikeforce welterweight championship.

For all the latest on the 'Carano vs. Cyborg' fight card click here.

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Comments

Weak. This Strikeforce card has really taken some hits.

They need Cung Le back to defend the StrikefArce MW title against Jet Li.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 30, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

id be rooting for jet li in that one

by JG on Jul 30, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions

i ust to like strike force but fuck them and all their “champions”

by JG on Jul 30, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

2 belts are being defended on this card, what more do you want? Also, just because they might sign Fedor is no reason to hate the organization.

P.S. it is used, not ust.

by Bill Maher on Jul 30, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Both of those belts were just invented in the last few weeks. Nobody is ‘defending’ anything. And I really can’t consider a fight between a chubby wannabe pin-up model and a dick-tucked freak a title fight – especially considering they are basically the only two women on Srikeforce’s roster right now – and both would be battered by a tougher-than-average fifteen year-old boy.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 30, 2009 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

are you retarded ? I said nothing about fedor and i hate them because of cung le, overeem, thompson for not defeding there damn belts, anymore words you wanna correct?

by JG on Jul 30, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

4 title fights. LHW Champ Babalu vs Mousasi, Womens Championship Gina vs Cyborg, LW Interim champ El Nino vs Ishida, and WW championship Diaz vs Hieron

Dude this is just freaking stacked!!

by Synyster on Jul 30, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

naw babalu won it from bobby southworth…….babalu is the type of champ they need atleast he defends his belt unlike overeem, cung lee and josh thompson

by JG on Jul 30, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I meant the WW title.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 30, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

What a joke, the Melendez fight has gone from somewhat interesting to I-seriously-couldn’t-give-a-fuck-now.

by Kobajack on Jul 30, 2009 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

This card is getting way better. Mousasi and Babalu. I am also glad Heiron replaced Riggs. Ishida is a viable replacement. I’m way more excited for this card than UFC 101.

by dn99 on Jul 30, 2009 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Please. 101 kicks the shit out of this card. Are you kidding me? The #1 and arguably #2 LW in the world (I would put Kenny top 5 for sure), and the P4P king moving up to fight a high-profile LHW? The Strikeforce card is good, but 101 has two epic main events.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 30, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

The only fight that interests me on that card is BJ and Ken flo.

by dn99 on Jul 30, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly, JJ. I’m really looking forward to 101. For the reasons you mentioned as well as for Amir’s return (I drive his wagon). Also, Grove/Almeida and Neer/Pellegrino are good too. It’s a solid card. Good to see Leites vs Sakara as well. I can forgive Leites for the 97 debacle. Give him some time. And finally, I’ll be hanging for it by the time it comes around because Affliction was cancelled, and therefore we had to wait longer between worthy events.

by Kobajack on Jul 30, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Leites is forever dead to me. May he burn in the darkest pits of hell.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 30, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

lmfao

by JG on Jul 30, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha. Yeah, MMA Hell, along with Kalib Starnes, Josh Barnett, and — screw it, let’s chuck Ken Shamrock in there too.

But seriously, I liked Leites beforehand, and I agree, it’s hard to forgive, but I’m willing. But the longer I ruminate on it, the less forgiving I get. He would have done better if he started swinging for the fences expecting to get KO’d.

by Kobajack on Jul 30, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL,no sh!t…he’s dead to me too.After scraping my main even at 97 and taking all the heat b/c I was defending A.Silva…I say fu<k him too.I got to say like dn99…,besides the 2 main events,i’m not stoke for 101!

by Alpha Male on Jul 30, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Endless Fighter UD.

by NameNotRequired on Jul 30, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Really, Alpha? Like Kobajack said, I just can’t wait for high-level action again. It seems like it’s been forever since 100, and I was REALLY looking forward to Affliction and Fed Feds. It will also be cool seeing Amir finally fight, and Neer/Pellegrino should be violent.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 30, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Holla for Sadollah! (I stole that line. But it’s MINE!)

by Kobajack on Jul 30, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

One whopper for the COPPER!

by Kobajack on Jul 31, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Anybody know if Showtime is available in Canada on cable? It doesn’t seem to be.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 31, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know why JJ,but it can be,b/c a # of factors all cumulated together that make me saying that.I really don’t like Amir,for me a guy who kind a look like Forrest is enough for already be not in my grace.Also the fact that he won TUF with a guillotine against a “sloppy pups” doberman(2x)doesn’t help…c’mon who can’t choke that mofo.A.Silva,well you know why.Forrest is 1 of the 4 fighters that I totally despised(A.Silva,Murr and David Heath the others).BJ,well the only interest that I got is b/c I think he’s gonna lose.The rest of the card is below average IMO.Plus i’m gonna be busy partying on that weekend…might be a contributed factor also!

by Alpha Male on Jul 31, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

It is JJ,we got 2 or 3 different Shotime channels though.I cant remember which exact channel but if you got Bell its in the 200,600 I think…

by Alpha Male on Jul 31, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I get Shaw. Thanks though, I’ll check it out. Are you on satellite? Did you get the last Strikeforce event on TV?

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 31, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I got a post in mod(again)…Man I just lol,i’m watching cannonball right now and JJ is Renolds name.I completely forgot about that.

by Alpha Male on Jul 31, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Hahaha.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 31, 2009 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah i’m on sat.No I couldn’t find the last event.Then again I might didn’t look correctely.Sometimes it’s not describe whats playing in the sat guide,so I usually don’t bother to check channel buy channel.

by Alpha Male on Jul 31, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I’m going to see if I can order it on a cable package … but I don’t see it as an option on their list, which is why I asked. I don’t like watching streams, but it’s better than nuttin.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 31, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions

True that.But when it’s steams from cable like(spike,setanta,Showtime,Dream,ect)the quality is still good.Depends were you get your stream from.I put it on a projector instead of the plasma,and man you can’t tell the difference between stream and cable(my projector is not HD though).

by Alpha Male on Jul 31, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Damn my post on 101 is not there again??

by Alpha Male on Jul 31, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Alpha – have you seen the vid at sherdog of Kitaoka running a grappling train on uno, mitsuoka and the likes? Caol is one impossible f’er to sub and he was gettin straight clowned on. Also Vasquez-Davis is going down at WEC 49, who do you have?

by NameNotRequired on Jul 31, 2009 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions

First off, Ishida/melendez is a damn good scrap between 2 top 20 lightweights and lightweight division is the deepest talent pool so being a top 20 lightweight is like being a top 10 middleweight.

Babalu vs. MOusasi for me, is every bit as good as Penn/Florian or Anderson/Forrest

Nick Diaz ALWAYS puts on a show, and standing and wrestling-wise, Heiron is NO slouch. zits just that his Jits doesnt match up with NIcks.

Who cares that there are only 2 good woman in the division, enjoy it for what it will be, A VERY COMPETITIVE AND EXCITING WAR!!!!!!!

Is Werdum still fighting? I wouldnt be surprised if they snuck Fedor vs. werdum on this card! STRIKEFORCE AINT FOCKING AROUND!

by john G on Jul 31, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

That’s good, because he’d probably win.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 30, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey guys, off topic, but since Fedor may end up in Strikeforce…I just saw a friend who’s brother use to train with Chuck Lidell (doesn’t anymore-they had a falling out- different story, another time). Anyways, Fedor is training while in the states. He spared with him yesterday. Claims to have taken him down once, but admits Fedor subbed him many times. I wonder if Fedor let him take him down for a good sub. My friend’s brother says the same stuff we already know “he doesn’t speak a lick of English”, he is a “real nice guy”, and his quickness/transitions are more fluid than you can imagine. Anyways thought you guys might be interested.

by Victory Is Ours on Jul 30, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Who is this Fedor fella I keep readin’ about? Sounds like he has really gone and done it this time…jeez…And who is this Brock character I keep hearin’ about too…sounds nice enough

by McArthur on Jul 30, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

this card keeps getting weaker in my opinion! Yes it’s only 1 guy per fight, but I was looking forward to all the title fights! Babalu/Mousassi better save the event along with Diaz and Cyborg crushing Gina!
anyone in the bay area going or got a hook up for good seats? I’ll pay, just don’t want to sit in cheeps!

by kevin on Jul 30, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

just tell us you went…then watch it on your fancy dancy American Showtime while we Canadian’s gather firewood to stay warm through the night…we’ll see it in a couple months when it comes out on Beta ;) (the joint I just smoked is kickin’ in :cool: )

by McArthur on Jul 30, 2009 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

lol Mac

by Synyster on Jul 31, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Syn,you saw my message Tuesday night?If not I wasn’t available last evening sorry.I can’t next week either .After that i’ll be good to go.

by Alpha Male on Jul 31, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions

I am fully expecting a pretty boring 5 round wrestling match in this fight….

by ViolentMike on Jul 31, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

just strip the dude already this is ridiculous

by jk85 on Jul 30, 2009 7:30 PM EDT reply actions

I’m not really into dudes stripping. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 30, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Zing!

by DB on Jul 30, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Decent replacement again, Strikeforce have been hit by a lot of bad luck, mainly due to pretty much all of their champions being unreliable and never fighting for varying reasons, but at least they look to put on the best possible fights even if things don’t go as planned. Plus they are giving us Babalu-Mousasi so they clearly care about the fans and putting on the best card possible.

Saying that, Overreem, Le and Thomson should all lose their titles, this is getting ridiculous. Alistair doesn’t seem to have any intention in fighting in the US, whether that is due to drug testing or the travel is anyones guess but he hasn’t defended his belt in years.

Cung Le is not a fighter, the guy is now a D-list actor who appears in awful films and is living off a victory over a past his prime Frank Shamrock. The guy is an embarrassment to the sport and I have no interest in watching fighters who show no interest or respect to the sport and want to become actors instead.

As for Thomson, he is too injury prone and after failing to face Gilbert twice I think that he should be awarded the title, with Josh getting an immediate title shot when he is finally ready to compete. It’s no good having an interim champ defending his title because the real champ is injured all of the time, it does more harm than good for the belt and the brand.

Strikeforce are a great promotion but they need to sort out their champions, if they can’t or won’t compete then let someone else represent the company. Jake Shields would be a much more worthy MW champion than Cung third rate Bruce Lee (if that) and Werdum-Rogers should take place for the HW title seeing how Alistair isn’t interested in defending his belt. Gilbert might as well be the LW champion anyway as he’s already defending his title more than Josh has. Hopefully the WW and women’s titles won’t have these same problems as SF’s titles have been the weakest point of the promotion for a while now and a promotion is only as good as their champions.

by David W-S on Jul 30, 2009 8:12 PM EDT reply actions

Reason for Overeem could also be money. I don’t think Strikeforce pays nearly as well as Dream/K-1 do out in Japan. I certainly agree though that they should sort out their champions-dilemma. I think this is a great replacement for Thomson, I might even take Ishida to win.

by Belisarius on Jul 30, 2009 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions