LOS ANGELES -- Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson told Sherdog.com on Wednesday that he is hoping to return to the cage this year.

Thomson (16-2), who is in Los Angeles for teammate Cain Velasquez’s UFC 104 bout against Ben Rothwell, has had a recurring issue with his left leg, first broken while training for an April rematch with Gilbert Melendez.

In August Thomson was again scheduled to face the man he had defeated to become champion but then reinjured his leg, this time breaking his tibia at the top of the spot where a surgical plate was screwed into the bone after the initial injury. A seemingly harmless kick in training was the culprit, and once again Thomson-Melendez was put on hold.

Thomson stated Wednesday that all he was waiting for was a decision from his orthopedic surgeon on whether he would be cleared in time to prepare for a tentative Dec. 19 date in his hometown of San Jose.

“For me, I feel the chances are great, but … it’s going to take a little bit of planning with Scott Coker and Showtime to make sure this happens,” said the 31-year-old champ. “The last thing we want to do is advertise this fight again, especially in San Jose.

“Knowing that I sell tickets and knowing that I have a big fan base there -- both of us do -- and for us not to follow through with this fight again, for a third time, we might as well scrap the fight till the end of next year then. We could go our separate ways, fight a couple different people, then come back, but I am really looking forward to hopefully December.”