MMA Quick Quote: Josh Thomson is 100 percent for Gilbert Melendez rematch on Dec. 19

by MMAmania.com on Dec 9, 2009 10:29 PM EST

"I don’t want the media to make any excuses if I go out there and he beats me fair and square. I don’t want people thinking that he beat me because I had all this time off or ring rust or whatever. I’m telling you right now I’m 100 percent. I’m ready to fight and if he beats me it’s because he was the better fighter that night. There is nothing else to it. I want to make that clear to the media now and to everyone who talks to me and to all my friends even and even to the guy who comes up to me in an alleyway and says something to me. I’m 100 percent, I’m ready to fight and I’m ready to bring my title home. If he beats me it’s because he was the better fighter."

-- Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson wants everyone to know that he is completely healed from a string of injuries that have kept him out of competition since Sept. 2008. "The Punk" is set to rematch interim 155-pound kingpin Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce: "Evolution" on Dec. 19 to unify the titles. And win, lose or draw he wants to make it perfectly clear that he's ready to rock and roll once and for all against his former training partner. Thomson dominated Melendez in their first encounter in June 2008, earning a hard-fought, five-round unanimous decision. He's under no illusions that he will have similar success the second go around ... especially since "El Nino" has kept quite active waiting for Thomson to recover. So can Thomson knock the rust off and topple Melendez once again or is this exciting pairing rubber match material?

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I see Gilbert taking this one

It can definitely go either way they are both top notch but i believe Gilbert not having any ringrust will take it for that reason alone.

If you dont like drugs then dont do them.....give them to me!

by Khaos_Warrior on Dec 9, 2009 10:52 PM EST reply actions

my boy gil is getting his strap back~

by stinky~fingers on Dec 10, 2009 7:01 AM EST up reply actions

yeah6, I g5ot El Nino in th6is one!

classy thing to say by tHomson. This should be a great fight that will be much more competitive then the 1st match up….Really getting pumped for this fight!

by John G. on Dec 10, 2009 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

100%

Tito was 100% until he lost, then he had a bulged disc and i believe a cracked skull?

by day1er on Dec 9, 2009 11:44 PM EST reply actions

I agree, that's making me feel dubious

Props to Thomson but he better keep his word once Gilbert beats him, Melendez has improved a lot since their last fight whilst Josh hasn’t been able to do anything so I have to go with Gilbert on this one. If he does a Tito then I’ll remember this quote.

"I’ll continue to watch their events and I hope they’ll (Zuffa) tune in to my fights in Strikeforce. After all, I’m a true fan of our fantastic sport and would love only to see MMA continue to grow."
Dan Henderson, classy.

"The reality is that I pushed him into signing that deal... I wanted him to s**t or get off the pot."
Dana White, classless.

by David W-S on Dec 10, 2009 8:25 AM EST up reply actions

cant flippin wait! its a shame this isnt headlining tho.

"I’m not going to stop yelling because that would mean, I lost the fight!"-Kenny Powers
shooter/cutter for AllElbows.com

by ekc on Dec 9, 2009 11:46 PM EST reply actions

It is headlining, as far as I know.

"The reality is that I pushed him into signing that deal... I wanted him to s**t or get off the pot."
Dana White, classless.

by David W-S on Dec 10, 2009 8:23 AM EST up reply actions

Yep, its headliner.

by daniel worby on Dec 10, 2009 8:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

100%...

Until the inevitable injury which seems to be the latest MMA fashion statement… ;p

by Jimrod on Dec 10, 2009 1:35 AM EST reply actions

More fighters need to stick to there guns about shit like this!!

Im a big J thompson fan, and i love that he came out and said this! A lot of fighters, like tito act like there 100% going in then after the fight they always say they came in with this or that injury. Thats bullshit! Just shut your mouth because it just looks like your making excuses! I dont think josh is that kinda guy though, if gilbert beats him im positive he will give him his credit. I dont think he will beat him but stranger things have happened.

by ItsNormlToSmokePot on Dec 10, 2009 2:06 AM EST reply actions