Josh Thomson 'sick to his stomach' over Pettis vs. Melendez, wants to fight Jose Aldo at lightweight

Never leave it in the hands of the judges matchmakers.

Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight contender Josh Thomson is going to have to watch from the sidelines as Gilbert Melendez coaches against Anthony Pettis on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 20, then fights "Showtime" later this year for the 155-pound strap (details).

That's the same Melendez who many mixed martial arts (MMA) fans thought "The Punk" defeated in the conclusion of their trilogy back in May 2012, against the same Pettis who bailed on a Thomson title after hurting his knee.

So it's understandable how that pairing, according to comments he made on MMA Junkie Radio, made him sick to his stomach:

"It made me kind of sick to my stomach. I think it's a good chance I'll be back. There's no doubt in my mind I've still got good fights in me. The thing is, a fighter needs to know when to walk away. As you get older, your speed goes, and once your speed goes, you're dealing with these light guys, these small guys that are fast and young up-and-comers. That's when you end up with problems. That's how your career can end fast. I'm not concerned about [my] legacy. What it is is that I know it's right there within my reach of grabbing it, and that guys that I know I can beat and should have beaten are already getting those shots, and not just once, but twice. Hopefully, there's a chance to welcome Jose Aldo to the lightweight division, and we'll make a case from there."

Forward-looking statements?

Thomson has his eyes on Aldo, who currently rules the roost at 145 pounds; however, the champ was considering moving up in weight for a Pettis "super fight," and may not be so easily lured away from his existing weight class, despite the fact that few -- if any -- challenges for him still remain.

And "The Punk" is still dealing with a busted mitt.

Regardless of how things shake out in the 155-pound division, it sounds like Thomson has the motivation to return. But where does he fit into the current title picture?