Thomson, Melendez Set for Strikeforce Rematch

Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson and interim champion Gilbert Melendez cleared their final hurdle by weighing in successfully for their five-round rematch at Strikeforce "Evolution" this Saturday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

Thomson, who’d withdrawn from the rematch twice prior due to training injuries, weighed in at 153 pounds. Melendez came in at 154 pounds.

Thomson’s shutout decision over Melendez in June 2008 is considered one of the high points of the returning champion’s career. The 31-year-old San Jose fighter has been off the shelf since September 2008, when he overwhelmed Ashe Bowman in a 74-second, non-title bout at the promotion’s second event at the Playboy Mansion.

Melendez, a former Pride Bushido star, earned the interim belt in Thomson’s absence with a second-round technical knockout against Rodrigo Damm last April. The voracious 27-year-old wrestler defended the title in August when he demolished Mitsuhiro Ishida with strikes inside three rounds.

Contrasting strikers Cung Le and Scott Smith weighed in at 184 and 185.6 pounds for their main-event middleweight bout.

The 37-year-old Le, a former San Shou champion and uber-popular local attraction, relinquished the 185-title last September after 18 months of inactivity to pursue acting opportunities. The undefeated Le stopped Frank Shamrock in three rounds to take the Strikeforce title in March 2008.

UFC, EliteXC and WEC veteran Smith is known for his come-forward style and highlight-reel knockouts. “Hands of Steel” clocked in two such examples with his victories against Terry Martin and Benji Radach before he was submitted by a persistent Nick Diaz in the third round at Strikeforce “Lawler vs. Shields” last June in St. Louis.

Strikeforce newcomer Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal weighed in at 218.6 pounds for his heavyweight contest against fellow wrestler Mike Whitehead, who came in a much heftier 261.6 pounds. Lawal, who fought at middleweight and light heavyweight in Japan’s Sengoku promotion, is undefeated in his five career bouts. Whitehead outwrestled former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman for a unanimous decision in Strikeforce last June.

Matt Lindland (185.2) and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (185.4) will also make their promotional debuts in a middleweight bout. Lindland, 39, is an Olympic Greco-Roman silver medalist; the 30-year-old Jacare is a world-decorated jiu-jitsu black belt.

Strikeforce “Evolution” airs live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Strikeforce "Evolution" Weigh-in Results
Josh Thomson (153) vs. Gilbert Melendez (154)
Scott Smith (185.6) vs. Cung Le (184)
Matt Lindland (185.2) vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (185.4)
Muhammed Lawal (218.6) vs. Mike Whitehead (261.6)
Antwain Britt (205.6) vs. Scott Lighty (203)
Daisuke Nakamura (154.4) vs. Justin Wilcox (155.6)
Bobby Stack (153.8) vs. David Douglas (156*)
Alexander Crispim (145.6) vs. AJ Fonseca (143.2)

David Douglas made weight on his second attempt.