Strikeforce, Bellator updates

The debut of Strikeforce on Showtime will be bolstered by a rematch of the highest-profile lightweight fight in company history. Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson will defend his belt against the man be beat for it, Gilbert Melendez, on the April 11 card from San Jose, Calif. Tickets went on sale this week for the show, which is headlined by Frank Shamrock vs. Nick Diaz. Thomson defeated Melendez in an impressive five-round performance in June 2008. Strikeforce matchmakers were initially looking at matching Thomson with the first and last EliteXC lightweight champion, Karl James Noons, but Noons turned the fight down due to prior commitments to his pro boxing career.

In addition to Noons, opponents like Mitsuhiro Ishida, Caol Uno, and Jorge Gurgel were batted around for Thomson. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has said in several interviews he is interested in working with other promotions to make big fights, including working with K-1/Dream to tap fighters like Shinya Aoki, Joachim Hansen, Melvin Manhoef and Bob Sapp.

The head of the Bellator Fighting Championships, which premieres a television show on ESPN Deportes in April, told MMAWeekly.com this week that he's willing to match fighters he has under contract, like Jorge Masvidal and Wilson Reis, with Strikeforce fighters.

Bellator will hold its debut event the week before, as the April 3 premiere will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., then broadcast the next day on ESPN Deportes. The show will feature opening bouts in three tournaments, including Eddie Alvarez vs. Daniel Morales and Masvidal vs. Diego Garijo.