FanHouse Josh Thomson

The lightweight division in mixed martial arts consists of B.J. Penn and everyone else.

We all know that Penn, the UFC champion, has established himself as the top lightweight in the sport. But after Penn, there are about a dozen guys who are practically interchangeable. That list includes UFC fighters like Penn's next opponent (Diego Sanchez), his last opponent (Kenny Florian), and some past and future UFC opponents like Gray Maynard, Frank Edgar and Sean Sherk.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Gilbert Melendez has been waiting almost two years to avenge his December 2007 loss to Mitsuhiro Ishida, and he finally got to do so on Saturday night. "El Nino" defeated Ishida via third-round TKO, and in the process retained his Strikeforce interim lightweight title.

Next, the much-improved Melendez hopes to avenge his loss to lightweight champion Josh Thomson, but if Thomson isn't medically cleared -- and Melendez wants to see an official doctor's note when he is -- he told FanHouse that he hopes to just continue building on Saturday's impressive win. Check out the full video interview below.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - When Josh Thomson wasn't medically cleared to defend his title against Gilbert Melendez on Saturday's Strikeforce card, a lot of MMA fans groaned. But when Thomson was replaced by Mitsuhiro Ishida, the general consensus was that the organization had found a more than suitable replacement.

Saturday's interim lightweight tilt will be a rematch of a December 2007 fight, which Ishida won via unanimous decision. FanHouse spoke to the Japanese veteran about accepting this fight on short notice and what he expects to see from Melendez in the cage. The full interview is below.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Josh Thomson will be an interested observer on Saturday night during the Gilbert Melendez vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida Strikeforce interim lightweight title fight. Of course, the current Strikeforce 155-pound champion was supposed to defend his title against Melendez on this card but was forced to pull out of the bout when his doctor would not medically clear him. Thomson broke his left leg in April.

FanHouse spoke to Thomson on Thursday about his road to recovery and who he expects to win on Saturday night. The full video interview is below.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Gilbert Melendez (15-2) only has two losses on his professional MMA resume. He was hoping to avenge his June 2008 loss to current Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson on Saturday night, but is instead facing late replacement Mitsuhiro Ishida, who beat "El Nino" in December 2007.

When FanHouse spoke to Melendez on Thursday, he wasn't shy about expressing his displeasure with the late change to his bout due to Thomson not being medically cleared to fight him. He also talked about preparing for Ishida on short notice. The full video interview is below.

In B.J. Penn's seven fights since returning to the UFC in 2006, he's 4-3. That record doesn't even come close to telling the story of Penn, the most dominant lightweight fighter in MMA history.

PHILADELPHIA -- For years, there's been a respectful peace between UFC President Dana White and Strikeforce President Scott Coker. In the past, White has pointed him out as a class act and an effective leader. Even when Strikeforce signed a deal with NBC, White had nothing bad to say about Coker.

But after the upstart San Jose, Calif.-based promotion signed coveted free agent and heavyweight star Fedor Emelianenko, the gloves are off, and the first shots of the UFC-Strikeforce war have been fired.

While White still holds a personal respect for Coker, he pulled no punches in bashing the company Coker runs in the moments after a UFC 101 press conference, calling it "Strike-Farce" and characterizing it as a "regional show."

---

---

Mitsuhiro Ishida will replace Josh Thomson against Gilbert Melendez at the Aug. 15 "Carano vs. Cyborg" Strikeforce event. Strikeforce director of communications, Mike Afromowitz, confirmed the news with FanHouse on Thursday.

Thomson (16-2) could not receive medical clearance from his doctor and has been once again forced out of a scheduled title defense. It is the same leg injury that forced him out of a title defense against Melendez (15-2) in April.

It was a big weekend for the lightweights in MMA, with Eddie Alvarez winning the Bellator lightweight tournament on Friday night (above) and Diego Sanchez beating Clay Guida by split decision in a fight of the year candidate Saturday at the Ultimate Fighter Finale.

So what's next for Alvarez and Sanchez? Bellator will have to work hard to attract some top-notch lightweights to challenge Alvarez in their second season (I'm hoping they sign Joachim Hansen), while Sanchez thinks he's earned a shot at the UFC lightweight belt (but I think he should fight Gray Maynard first). My list of the Top 10 lightweights in MMA is below.

The first lady of MMA is back. During its broadcast on Showtime Saturday night, Strikeforce announced that Gina Carano has finally signed with the promotion and will return on Aug. 15.

Carano will fight Cris Cyborg in the most anticipated women's fight ever.