By FCF Staff; photo courtesy Esther Lin / Strikeforce
Strikeforce has confirmed that the promotion’s former lightweight champ Josh Thomson will face highly regarded veteran Tatsuya Kawajiri, at Dream’s New Year’s Eve Dynamite card in Saitama, Japan. The card, which will be broadcast throughout North America on HDNet, will also see Dream Featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes look to defend his title against Hiroyuki Takaya. (Pictured: Thomson hitting "JZ" Cavalcante)
Thomson (18-3) will head into the bout having won back-to-back bouts since failing to defeat Gilbert Melendez in their rematch last December. Since the decision loss, Thomson has gone on to submit Pat Healy in June, before earning a UD win over Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante in October.
“I've wanted this fight forever,’’ Thomson was quoted saying in a press release from Strikeforce. “He’s somebody that excites me.’’
Kawajiri (26-6-2) has not competed since July, when he was submitted by Dream champion Shinya Aoki with a first round Achilles Lock. The loss ended Kawajiri’s four fight winning streak, which included wins over Kazunori Yokota, Ross Ebanez and the aforementioned Cavalcante.
The NYE bout is a result of a continued cooperation between Dream and Strikeforce, who have utilized fighters from each promotion’s roster on several occasions.
