"Anytime you have this long of a layoff, you have the energy, it's just wanting to get in the ring and get it over with. The hardest part is knocking off the ring rust and I want to just get in there and make sure I perform my best. It's really not how he changes his game but it's how I implement mine. As long as I stick to my game plan, and I put the pressure on, I don't think it will be any different outcome. He might win a round this time but that might be it. Whatever it takes. There is no secrets in what's going to happen. He's going to go out there, punch, try to push the pace and take me down. I'm going to try to keep it on the feet and mix it up. I'm a well-round fighter. I can sub him. I can knock him out. I can go the distance with him. I can do whatever. I need to stop him from implementing his game plan and that's really what this whole thing comes out to." -Josh Thomson

Current Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson gives insight into his upcoming rematch with Interim Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. The two will meet for the second time when they square off this Saturday at the stacked Strikeforce: Evolution event in San Jose, Calif. 

Thomson (16-2) handily won their first encounter last year via unanimous decision, but was forced to withdraw from a rematch with Melendez twice before and hasn't fought in over a year with various injuries. He holds notable wins over Rob McCullough, Hermes Franca, Duane Ludwig and the aforementioned Melendez. 

Melendez (16-2) is coming off of two impressive knockout victories over Rodrigo Damm, and Mitsuhiro Ishida respectively. He hopes to continue his "revenge" tour by taking out Thomson who was the second man to defeat him -- the first was Ishida back in 2007.