Josh Thomson is open to adding another chapter to one of the most notable rivalries in MMA history.

Thomson (22-9) has set his sights on a fourth showdown with longtime counterpart Gilbert Melendez (22-8) after the one-time UFC title challenger was recently released from the UFC to become a free agent.

Thomson and Melendez had an epic trilogy under the now-defunct Strikeforce banner, going the distance in five-round championship contests in 2008, 2009 and 2012. Melendez ultimately came out ahead 2-1 in the series, but the third bout was hotly contested, ending in a split decision for “El Nino.”

It’s been more than seven years since they shared the cage, but Thomson is still left with a bad taste in his mouth.

“This would not be like a money fight. This would be more of a situation where the two of us feel like there’s unsettled business,” Thomson said on his YouTube page. “I won the first fight hands down, convincing. He won the second fight, hands down, convincingly. The third fight was a split decision loss. It was very controversial. As he was leaving the cage, people were booing. People were throwing things.

“As we walked down the tunnel (backstage) – I felt this was extremely inappropriate – people started spitting at them as they were leaving the arena. If you go back and watch that fight, I obviously felt like I won; he obviously felt like he won.”

Although Thomson has not competed in nearly two years, and Melendez is on a five-fight skid, Thomson said he views the tetralogy as logical – so long as fans want to see it.

Thomson said he still has fights remaining on his Bellator contract, so if the matchup did materialize, Melendez would have to join the promotion and reunite with former Strikeforce boss Scott Coker, which seems plausible.

At 41, Thomson knows he and Melendez, 37, aren’t the fiery youngsters they were when they first met in the cage more than a decade ago. That doesn’t mean they still don’t have reason to fight, though, and Thomson in particular feels compelled to punch Melendez in the face.

“We spent 75 minutes in the cage,” Thomson said. “Every time it was for the title. This time it’s not for the title. This time is a three-round fight. Bellator doesn’t do five-round main event fights. This is a good opportunity for the two of us. We know that we’re not what we used to be. There’s no doubt about that. There’s no denying that. But we both feel like there’s unsettled business.”

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