The winner of Saturday's Strikeforce "Shamrock vs. Diaz" co-headliner between Gilbert Melendez (14-2) and late-replacement Rodrigo Damm (8-2) will be crowned the promotion's interim lightweight champion.

The Fight Network is reporting that Rodrigo Damm (8-2) has been tapped to replace the injured Josh Thomson and square off with Melendez (14-2) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

In addition to negotiations for a rematch between Mitsuhiro Ishida and Gilbert Melendez, Strikeforce is reportedly in talks with undefeated lightweight Lyle Beerbohm regarding a possible bout against Melendez this Saturday at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz.

Josh Koscheck has been forced off UFC 98 due to a foot injury, UFC President Dana White will reportedly reduce his public UFC role, Strikeforce is considering a rematch between Mitsuhiro Ishida and Gilbert Melendez for its April 11th event, and more.

A broken leg sustained during a sparring session earlier today has forced Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson to withdraw from his scheduled title defense against Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce’s “Shamrock vs. Diaz” event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on April 11.

Kevin Randleman has signed with Strikeforce, Showtime has announced the Strikeforce broadcast team, Joe Riggs and Brett Rogers are under consideration to complete the April 11th main card, plus quotes and photos from Strikeforce's Thursday press conference.

After struggling to find opponents for both men on April 11th, Strikeforce has decided that it was time for Gilbert Melendez to get a shot at reclaiming the title Josh Thomson took away from him last June. Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz today confirmed the rumored matchup.
From the time the event was first announced both men [...]

Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez have been added to the rumored lineup for Strikeforce’s April 11th event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
According to GracieFighter.com Diaz and Melendez will both return to action on the card, which is also slated to include Frank Shamrock, Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson, and Benji Radach vs. Scott [...]

Former UFC lightweight champion and current WEC featherweight Jens Pulver, who is coming off of a loss to WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber, will likely return to the cage in October, possibly against Alexandre Franca Nogueira.
The UFC is planning to hold an event in Chicago in October and in Boston in November and will also [...]

Strikeforce 10 “Melendez vs. Thomson” took place on Friday, June 27th, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
The event featured a Strikeforce lightweight championship bout between title-holder Gilbert Melendez and challenger Josh Thomson and a Strikeforce light heavyweight championship fight between reigning-champion Bobby Southworth and challenger Anthony Ruiz.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest [...]

Gilbert Melendez (155) vs. Josh Thomson (155)
Strikeforce Lightweight Championship
Bobby Southworth (204.5) vs. Anthony Ruiz (203)
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship
Elaina Maxwell (146) vs. Miesha Tate (145)
Raymond Daniels (184) vs. Jeremiah Metcalf (185)
Chris Cariaso (135.5) vs. Anthony Figueroa (135)
Nam Phan (154) vs. Billy Evangelista (155)
Jesse Gillespie (186) vs. Eric Lawson (185)
Bobby Stack (155) vs. Jose Palacios (155)
Brian Caraway [...]

Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Thomson” betting odds courtesy of Bodog. Support MMAFrenzy.com by opening an account today!
STRIKEFORCE “MELENDEZ VS. THOMSON” BETTING ODDS

Gilbert Melendez (-500) vs. Josh Thomson (+350)
Bobby Southworth (-260) vs. Anthony Ruiz (+200)
Nam Phan (-140) vs. Billy Evangelista (+110)
Elaina Maxwell (-330) vs. Miesha Tate (+260)
Luke Stewart (NA) vs. Drew Fickett (NA)

Bet on MMA at Bodog

Following a year of anticipation, Strikeforce World Lightweight (155 lb. limit) Champion, Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (14-1), will put his coveted title on the line against number one contender and Bay Area arch-rival, Josh “The Punk” Thomson (14-2), in the main event of a Strikeforce mixed martial arts mega-card at San Jose’s HP Pavilion on [...]

Cung Le def. Frank Shamrock via TKO (injury) – Round 3, 5:00
Drew Fickett def. Jae Suk Lim via submission – Round 1, 1:14
Gilbert Melendez def. Gabe Lemley via TKO – Round 2, 2:18
Wayne Cole def. Mike Kyle via submission – Round 1, 0:45
Joey Villasenor def. Ryan Jensen via KO – Round 1, 4:45
Billy Evangelista def. [...]

All 18 fighters participating in tomorrow’s Strikeforce/EliteXC co-promoted event hit the scales earlier today in San Jose at the official weigh-ins for “Shamrock vs. Le”
Though most of the card made weight the event was not without its own share of issues, continuing the show’s string of recent problems. Frank Shamrock, who will be looking to [...]