STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight (155 pound) Champion Josh “The Punk” Thomson (16-2) is healthy and ready to defend his title after twice being forced out of the rematch due to injuries.

Thomson will take on Interim Champion Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (16-2) on Saturday, December 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

Thomson won the lightweight in a five round, unanimous decision over Melendez in the main event at HP Pavilion on June 27, 2008 and has been out of action since September 20, 2008. Thomson took and economical 1 minute and 14 seconds to take out Ashe “The Archer” Bowman during STRIKEFORCE’s second event at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California.

After undergoing surgery for a broken fibula in his left ankle earlier this year, Thomson sustained a break in the bone located above the original injury and then had another setback after the bone broke a second time.

“Everything feels great now.  Nothing is going to keep me out of this fight,” Thomson said. “I’m looking forward to getting back in there and going to work.”

While Thomson was sidelined, Melendez scored a second round knockout on Brazil’s Rodrigo Damm at STRIKEFORCE:  Shamrock vs. Diaz on April 11, 2009 and followed that win up by avenging the first defeat of his career when he notched a third round (3:56) TKO of Mitsuhiro “The Endless Fighter” Ishida at STRIKEFORCE:  Carano vs. Cyborg in August.

“I’ve been training for this fight for a long time now and have been thinking about it ever since Josh beat me last year,” Melendez said. “I’ll be getting the best Josh Thomson out there and he’s going to get the best Gilbert Melendez so it’s going to be a great fight for the fans.”

Tickets, priced from $30, are on sale at the HP Pavilion box office as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online www.ticketmaster.com and STRIKEFORCE’S official website www.strikeforce.com.

The live SHOWTIME® telecast will begin at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), and conclude with a sensational, strikers’ main event featuring undefeated superstar and former STRIKEFORCE World Middleweight (185 pounds) Champion Cung Le (6-0) against power punching Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (16-6).

Also in action will be 2000 Olympic wrestling silver medalist Matt “The Law” Lindland (21-6), who will take on fellow superstar Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (10-2) at middleweight.  Light heavyweight (205 pounds) star Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (5-0) and middleweight knockout artist “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-5) will each face opponents to be announced.