In addition to Noons, opponents like Mitsuhiro Ishida, Caol Uno, and Jorge Gurgel were batted around for Thomson. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has said in several interviews he is interested in working with other promotions to make big fights, including working with K-1/Dream to tap fighters like Shinya Aoki, Joachim Hansen, Melvin Manhoef and Bob Sapp.
The head of the Bellator Fighting Championships, which premieres a television show on ESPN Deportes in April, told MMAWeekly.com this week that he's willing to match fighters he has under contract, like Jorge Masvidal and Wilson Reis, with Strikeforce fighters.
Bellator will hold its debut event the week before, as the April 3 premiere will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., then broadcast the next day on ESPN Deportes. The show will feature opening bouts in three tournaments, including Eddie Alvarez vs. Daniel Morales and Masvidal vs. Diego Garijo.