Josh Thomson Breaks Leg Again, Hopes for December Return

("I’ll have the usual." Photo courtesy of MMA TKO.)

We can officially add Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh Thomson to the list of Epically Cursed fighters that already includes James Irvin and Amir Sadollah. The Punk told MMA Weekly that he re-broke his leg in training, postponing his return — and rematch against interim champion Gilbert Melendez — even further:

“I was really just playing around, just working on my technique, and this kid, this little blue belt, grabbed a leglock—I was wearing a gi—and I couldn’t slide my leg out. He just bellied out on the leglock in the standing position and you just heard the bone go crunch. The hairline fracture turned into an actual break.”

Thomson first broke his leg before a scheduled fight against Melendez at "Shamrock vs. Diaz" in April. Then, the lingering injury (plus a jacked-up toe) forced Thomson to drop off the "Carano vs. Cyborg" card two weeks before that event. Josh now expects to return to competition at a yet-to-be-announced Strikeforce card slated for December 19th, and he won’t be taking a tune-up fight first:

“I want to get this whole interim title thing dissolved. I want all the complications of, who’s the champ 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 [Gilbert Melendez] my first fight back and I can move on with my career and he can move on with his.”

Luckily, Melendez might have another solid opponent to pass the time if Thomson’s recuperation stretches out even longer. According to Sherdog, former top-ten lightweight Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro has signed a multi-fight contract with Strikeforce. Ribeiro most recently dropped a unanimous decision to Shinya Aoki at DREAM.10, and holds notable victories over Tatsuya Kawajiri, Joachim Hansen, and Mitsuhiro Ishida.

Tags: Gilbert Melendez,injuries,Josh Thomson,MMA,Strikeforce,Vitor Ribeiro

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Horror Fighter- September 25, 2009 at 11:25 am

Give that blue belt a purple.

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Clyde- September 25, 2009 at 9:16 am

Fair point Las. I once broke some guys arm at a grading and felt really guilty about it (and feeling the bone pop out at his elbow joint was pretty fucking nasty). Then I met the guy later and it turns out his arm had been broken a few weeks ago and hadn't fully recovered. I can't really be mad at him but still, he did volunteer to have armlocks demonstrated on him. Not the wisest move is it?

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battleminnow- September 25, 2009 at 6:51 am

Put Lyle Beerbohm in there. He would make it a good fight.

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Douchey McDoucherton- September 25, 2009 at 6:44 am

Clearly that little blue belt kid was hired by the scrap pack. Well played melendez, well played sir.

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Fedor vs. Bas- September 25, 2009 at 6:40 am

Man, no luck. Vitor will be a good fight against Melendez. A win over Hansen is no joke, and a decision lost to my man Shinya is nothing to be embarrassed about.

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LAS- September 25, 2009 at 6:36 am

Isn't this like the second time he has rebroken it? Don't you think he'd tell someone he's rolling with, 'hey, dipshit, I'm recovering from a broken leg, so watch the leglocks, ok chief?'

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Josh Thomson Breaks Leg Again, Hopes for December Return