Newly signed lightweight Josh Thomson will make his Bellator MMA debut against Mike Bronzoulis on Sept. 19 in San Jose, California.
Bellator officials announced the 155-pound matchup on Monday. Bellator 142 will take place within Bellator's Dynamite event, a co-promotion with GLORY kickboxing at SAP Center.
Thomson, 36, announced he had signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator last week. The former Strikeforce champion is coming off a four-fight run in the UFC, where he compiled a 1-3 record. He enters Bellator on a three-fight skid.
Fighting out of American Kickboxing Academy, Thomson is a native of San Jose and has fought in the city throughout his 14-year career. He won the Strikeforce title in a unanimous decision against Gilbert Melendez in June 2008 in San Jose.
Bronzoulis (18-8-1) will make just his second appearance in the Bellator cage. He fought for the promotion once in November 2013, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Joe Riggs. He carries a three-fight win streak into the Thomson fight.
Thomson recently told ESPN.com he would like to work his way to the top of Bellator's lightweight division, but admitted he would need to pay his dues first. His signing reunites him with his longtime promoter at Strikeforce, current Bellator president Scott Coker.
A light heavyweight title fight between Liam McGeary (10-0) and Tito Ortiz (18-11-1) will headline the Spike TV-televised event.
