As the days went by following the announcement that Bellator 172 would be held in San Jose, Josh Thomson started getting antsy.
The card was scheduled for HP Pavilion, and if you’re a NorCal guy with American Kickboxing Academy ties like Thomson, the venue is as close to a home game as anyone in this sport is going to experience.
It’s where he’s had the two most memorable victories of his career: His 2008 win over Gilbert Melendez to claim the Strikeforce lightweight title, and his head-kick knockout of Nate Diaz to finish a thrilling two-round brawl on a 2013 UFC on FOX card.