Josh Thomson (Pictures) may have struck a good balance of business and pleasure for his forthcoming trip to the Playboy Mansion.
The reigning Strikeforce lightweight king will now meet Lion's Den product
Ashe Bowman (Pictures) on Strikeforce's second trek to Hef's House in Los Angeles on Sept. 20 in a three-round, non-title affair. Strikeforce's Mike Afromowitz confirmed the bout to Sherdog.com Friday.
The 29-year-old Thomson (15-2) is two months removed from the biggest win of his pro career, when he earned a lopsided five-round decision over highly regarded
Cesar Gracie (Pictures) pupil
Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) to win the Strikeforce 155-pound crown. The win pushed the talented Thomson's winning streak to seven straight since his March 2006 upset loss to
Clay Guida (Pictures).
Bowman (6-4) edged out scrappy journeyman
Jay Estrada (Pictures) during selections for the opportunity to face the top-10 ranked Thomson. Winner of six of his last seven, Bowman has competed largely on the local California scene under Lion's Den founder
Ken Shamrock (Pictures)'s promotional banner.
The Thomson-Bowman bout joins
Bobby Southworth (Pictures)'s Strikeforce light heavyweight title defense against Renato "Babalu" Sobral and
Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) taking on
Joe Riggs (Pictures) on the confirmed portion of the Sept. 20 “Strikeforce at the Mansion” card.