Possible injury may scratch Melendez-Thomson fight

Rumors have been circulating all day that Josh Thomson had injured his knee and tore his PCL (Posterior cruciate ligament) jeopardizing his scheduled Strikeforce® Lightweight title fight against Gilbert Melendez, scheduled for May 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. No official word has been released from Thomson, Strikeforce®, Zuffa or Showtime® as of this writing.

A PCL injury is a serious knee injury, although not a common one. It results from forced knee flexion, or a direct blow to the front of the lower leg. With less than a week before the fight, it may be cancelled or another fighter may fight in his place for the title. According to Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com and NBCSports.com on his Twitter feed: Thomson is planning on fighting through the injury.

Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) Latest I was told was he is going to fight through it. RT @GetInfo @arielhelwani Latest I was told was he is going to fight through it. @arielhelwani any truth to the thompson knee injury rumor? May 11, 2012

In the event that Thomson cannot fight through the injury, on his Twitter feed Pat Healy has volunteered to step into the ring with Melendez on May 19:

Pat Healy (@BamBamHealy)If Josh Thomson is injured and they need someone to fight Gil, you already know I’m down May 11, 2012

More information will be posted as it becomes available