Former Strikeforce lightweight champion and UFC contender Josh Thomson has been pegged to headline Bellator 147 on Dec. 4.
Thomson (21-8) will meet Pablo Villaseca in the main event of the Spike TV-televised card, which will take place at the San Jose State University Event Center. It will mark Thomson's second appearance under the Bellator MMA banner.
A San Jose, California, native, Thomson debuted for the promotion in September, defeating Mike Bronzoulis via submission in the third round of a bout at Bellator 142. The win broke a three-fight skid for Thomson, who trains out of American Kickboxing Academy.
The 37-year-old went 1-3 in four UFC appearances from 2013 to 2015. According to Thomson, UFC attempted to extend his contract, but he chose to reunite with his former promoter, former Strikeforce CEO and current Bellator president Scott Coker.
Villaseca (10-1) will look to earn what would easily be the biggest win of his four-year professional career. The Chilean lightweight suffered a split-decision loss in June, his only Bellator appearance. He has recorded finishes in five of his 10 career wins.
In addition to the main event, Bellator officials announced that a featherweight bout between Georgi Karakhanyan (24-4-1) and Daniel Weichel (35-9) will co-headline the event.
