The injury bug has bitten Josh Thomson (18-4 MMA, 9-2 SF) once again.
The former Strikeforce champ has been forced to withdraw from a fight with Maximo Blanco (8-2-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) at "Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov" due to an injured foot.
The event takes place Sept. 10 at Cincinnati's U.S. Bank Arena, and Thomson was slated to compete on the Showtime-televised main card.
Word of the injury first spread on popular MMA forum "The Underground," and MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) subsequently confirmed it with a source close to the fighter. It's unknown whether Strikeforce is seeking a replacement.
The frequently injured Thomson hasn't fought since DREAM "Dynamite!! 2010," where Tatsuya Kawajiri outpointed him. That setback came three months after a narrow decision win over Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II."
Thomson, a product of the American Kickboxing Academy, won the Strikeforce lightweight strap in June 2008 by upsetting Gilbert Melendez – only to relinquish the belt a year and a half later to the Cesar Gracie disciple.
"The Punk" has suffered from a toe injury before that's kept him out of action. His rematch with Melendez was delayed when he broke his leg in training.
Former King of Pancrase Blanco is perhaps best known for a seven-fight stint in World Victory Road's Sengoku event series. He is riding a six-fight win streak, which included a unanimous-decision victory over Won Sik Park in December. The previous five victories, including wins over Rodrigo Damm and Katsuya Inoue, all came via knockout. In fact, seven of his eight career wins have come via stoppage, four in the first round.
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