Strikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Preview

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Lightweights
Josh Thomson (18-4, 8-3 SF) vs. K.J. Noons (11-4, 3-2 SF)

The Matchup: Injuries continue to plague Thomson, as the American Kickboxing Academy product was scheduled to take on Maximo Blanco in September until a foot injury forced him to withdraw from the bout. As a result, Thomson has been out of action for more than a year, his second extended absence since 2008.

At his best, Thomson is a fluid, mobile striker who can mix in leg kicks and knees with his effective jab. He will need to shake off the ring rust quickly against Noons, whose boxing is among the best in the sport. That said, Noons was not dominant in winning a decision over Billy Evangelista at Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” in December. Evangelista landed more significant strikes than did “King,” but Noons stayed busy and controlled enough of the action to get the nod from the judges. While Thomson knows how to make diligent use of his jab, standing in the pocket with Noons is almost always a losing proposition. Thomson will want to vary his approach to keep Noons off balance, while eventually looking to shoot for a takedown.

On the ground is where Thomson can win this fight. Although he was dominated by Tatsuya Kawajiri in his last fight, “The Punk” has underrated wrestling, especially when faced with a foe such as Noons, who is historically uncomfortable fighting from his back. Noons has had cardio issues, even at 155, and Thomson’s rapid pace can test him in that area.

Thomson has good enough footwork and can throw enough combinations to keep Noons honest in the early going, but he does not want to allow the San Diegan to get comfortable. Once Noons gets rolling on the feet, he can be tough to stop.

The Pick: If Thomson is back to his usual form, he is plenty versatile enough to make Noons uncomfortable. He cannot allow himself to be baited into a slugfest, however, as Noons is a dangerous counterpuncher who can feint and utilize angles with the best of them. Look for a close fight, with Thomson holding on to win a decision on the basis of superior conditioning.

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