Josh Thomson preps shoulder for June 27 fight with "mini Fedor"

MasterShake · 05-13-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Josh Thomson preps shoulder for June 27 fight with "mini Fedor"
by Dann Stupp on May 13, 2008 at 1:22 pm ET
Source:UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com

He's made steady progress since a Jan. 15 shoulder surgery, but Josh Thomson (14-2) knows he'll need to be near 100 percent when he takes on Gilbert Melendez (14-1), an opponent he's dubbed "mini Fedor."

The two fighters will put their belts on the line -- Melendez's Strikeforce world lightweight title and Thomson's Strikeforce U.S. belt -- when they meet in the main event of a June 27 Strikeforce event.

Thomson discussed the bout while a recent guest on TAGG Radio (TAGG Radio Network - Home of TAGG Radio & The Lights Out Show!), a content partner site of MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com).

"Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson" takes place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and airs live on HDNet.

Thompson has won his past six fights but hasn't competed since a September 2007 victory over Adam Lynn.

"I had a SLAP tear in my labrum in the back part of my shoulder," Thomson said. "My doctor told me to go ahead and rehab it. Usually you can't really rehab it, so I don't know what he was thinking. He said that given the fact that I was an athlete that it might not be that bad of a tear and that I might be able to rehab it. So we started rehabbing it, and I started training, and it felt fine. But it slowly and gradually started tearing to the front."

He soon wrecked it for good.

"I was down training with Rob McCullough, and I shot in on a double-leg (takedown), and he sprawled out, and my arm stretched over my head and dislocated. I made the decision from then to ... get surgery. I got it all fixed up."

Thomson began working out as soon as possible, but he admits that simple things, such as throwing a kick, required the use of his upper body. That, in turn, caused excruciating pain and hampered his progress.

He's not at 100 percent now, but he's getting closer.

"I'd probably give it about 70 (percent), but you've got to get busy, and you get paid to fight, and it's time to fight," Thomson said.

As for his upcoming opponent, Thomson isn't really expecting any surprises. The fighters -- two of the top lightweights outside the UFC -- are friends and very familiar with each other's fighting style.

With that knowledge, Thomson doesn't expect the fight to go the distance.

"There's really no secrets at all," Thomson said. "The feeling-out process is over now, so we just come out and throw. He may be a little more timid than I am. I'm going to be someone who comes out and gets it done, so I don't see it going the distance."

However, that's not to say Melendez won't attempt to grind it out. Thomson said that his stamina has been a problem in recent fights as he tries to balance weightlifting with his overall conditioning. He said that caused him to tire in later rounds, but Thomson is confident that he's got the balance figured out.

"I think he's going to try to push the pace and try to push the fight into the later rounds, but I can assure you that I'm going to be ready for the deeper rounds, and I'm actually looking forward to the deeper rounds," he said.

While the 5-foot-9, 155-pound Melendez may not immediately conjure up images of Fedor Emelianenko, one of the world's most dominating heavyweight fighters, Thomson said the similarities are numerous.

"He has a big right hand, and he's got good takedowns, and he's got vicious ground and pound," Thomson said. "He's a little mini Fedor basically. He throws wild on his feet but he's got heavy hands, and he's got a great chin."

Thomson will compete in the fourth fight of a non-exclusive six-fight deal with Strikeforce.

While on TAGG Radio, Thomson also discussed his thoughts on a potential fight with rival Frank Shamrock and other topics. To hear the full interview, download Thursday's edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio archives.

This story was produced by TAGG Radio (TAGG Radio Network - Home of TAGG Radio & The Lights Out Show!) specially for MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com). The show -- which is hosted by fighter/broadcaster Frank Trigg, Gorgeous George and Goze -- books some of the biggest names in MMA. Download all the former episodes at TAGG Radio Network - Home of TAGG Radio & The Lights Out Show!, or tune into TAGG Radio's live shows Monday-Friday at noon ET/9 a.m. PT

.

Thats great a little mini Fedor I don't know what to say about that