Former Lightweight King of Pancrase Maximo “Maxi” Blanco will reportedly make his Strikeforce debut against former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson at an event planned for September. MMAWeekly.com first reported on the potential 155-pound matchup earlier today.

Blanco most recently earned a Unanimous Decision win over Won Sik Park at SRC: “Soul of Fight” on December 30th. He has won six straight fights, with five ending by way of knockout. Thomson last fought at K-1 Dynamite!! on New Year’s Eve and dropped a decision to Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri.

Blanco (8-2-1, 1 NC) began his career with a modest 2-2-1, 1 NC record while competing for Pancrase and Sengoku Raiden Championships. His last loss came via disqualification in a May 2009 bout with Akihiko Mori; a fight that Blanco had won by knockout, but illegally soccer kicked his downed opponent just as the fight was stopped. Blanco has tamed his reputation as a wild fighter in recent bouts, but still possesses devastating knockout power. He first captured the Lightweight King of Pancrase title in 2009, but vacated the belt earlier this year due to injuries.

Thomson (18-4-0, 1 NC) has encountered mixed success in recent bouts after capturing the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship on June 27, 2008. Sidelined for 15 months due to injury, Thomson lost his Strikeforce title in a rematch with current champ Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez and has since fought three times. Thomson earned a submission win over Pat “Bam Bam” Healy late in the third round of a close fight last June and edged Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante via Unanimous Decision in October.

With Blanco riding a lengthy winning streak that includes devastating knockouts over decent opposition in Sengoku, he will carry that momentum into his Strikeforce debut, but Thomson will certainly be his toughest test to date. A win for either fighter will bring the victor one step closer to a title shot, though Thomson’s recent inconsistency and injury woes have likely placed him a few wins away from a third fight with Melendez.

Blanco and Thomson are expected to face off in September, though an exact date and location for the targeted Strikeforce event have not yet been announced.

(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)