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Seven years after he left, Josh Thomson (19-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is returning to the octagon.
UFC officials today announced the ex-Strikeforce lightweight champ will fight Nate Diaz (16-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) at UFC on FOX 7, which takes place April 20 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
It's not yet known whether the bout will be broadcast on the event's FOX-televised main card or on the preliminary-card, which serves on FX and Facebook.
The venue, however, is a familiar place for Thomson, whose post-UFC residency with Strikeforce netted him his first world title. He later ceded it to current champ Gilbert Melendez.
This past May, Thomson failed to reclaim the belt in a razor-close fight with Melendez, who was booed at the announcement of a split call in his favor.
Nicknamed "The Punk," Thomson ended his Strikeforce tenure with a 10-4 record. He went 2-1 in his first stint with the UFC, which ended in 2004 with a highlight-reel knockout loss against Yves Edwards.
Diaz most recently vied for UFC gold when he took on champ Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX 5. Dominated over five rounds, he lost a unanimous decision, which snapped a three-fight win streak he built following an unsuccessful stint at welterweight.
Diaz's longtime teammate, Melendez, is now set to challenge Henderson for the title in UFC on FOX 7's main event.
UFC officials today announced the ex-Strikeforce lightweight champ will fight Nate Diaz (16-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) at UFC on FOX 7, which takes place April 20 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
It's not yet known whether the bout will be broadcast on the event's FOX-televised main card or on the preliminary-card, which serves on FX and Facebook.
The venue, however, is a familiar place for Thomson, whose post-UFC residency with Strikeforce netted him his first world title. He later ceded it to current champ Gilbert Melendez.
This past May, Thomson failed to reclaim the belt in a razor-close fight with Melendez, who was booed at the announcement of a split call in his favor.
Nicknamed "The Punk," Thomson ended his Strikeforce tenure with a 10-4 record. He went 2-1 in his first stint with the UFC, which ended in 2004 with a highlight-reel knockout loss against Yves Edwards.
Diaz most recently vied for UFC gold when he took on champ Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX 5. Dominated over five rounds, he lost a unanimous decision, which snapped a three-fight win streak he built following an unsuccessful stint at welterweight.
Diaz's longtime teammate, Melendez, is now set to challenge Henderson for the title in UFC on FOX 7's main event.
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