Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Strikeforce Fighters

7. Josh Thomson

Thomson had a pretty good career in the UFC, recording the first ever knockout of Nate Diaz, and then being downright robbed against very recent UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson one fight later. However, he was even better in Strikeforce, when he was one of the elite lightweights on the planet, and perhaps the best on certain nights. Thomson was a great wrestler with very good BJJ and superb conditioning, but he also developed very potent striking over his career, which reached its zenith during his years in the promotion. He also had 13 fights in Strikeforce, an incredible number given how briefly the organization lasted, and more than anyone else on the list. His ledger of 10-3 is also very impressive when one considers the high caliber of opponents he faced. On an early Strikeforce card in 2006, Thomson lost a decision to Clay Guida for the inaugural Strikeforce lightweight title. He then rattled off six straight wins, five of which occurred in Strikeforce, four by stoppage, choking out Duane Ludwig and dominating Nam Phan for 15 minutes among his more significant triumphs. Then, he got another shot at the Strikeforce lightweight championship, this time against Gilbert Melendez, arguably the best 155 pounder on the planet, whom we will see later on this list. Despite being a massive underdog at over +350, Thomson shocked the world and utterly dominated Melendez for 25 straight minutes, winning every round on every card. Thomson then knocked out hapless journeyman Ashe Bowman before rematching Melendez. In one of the greatest fights ever, Melendez won a clear decision to recapture his crown. No longer the champ, Thomson choked out Pat Healy and then won a very controversial decision over Gesias Cavalcante that he probably should have lost. After an easy win over highly talented striker K.J. Noons, Thomson had rubber match for the crown against Melendez. Though Melendez was an even bigger favorite than he was in their first bout, the two battled on incredibly close terms for five rounds, with Melendez walking away with a split decision in yet another all-time great battle. Thomson then joined the UFC where, at 34, he was no longer in his prime, but had established a legacy of true greatness in the Strikeforce promotion.

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