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Thomson to headline Strikeforce Mansion show

Misaki, Riggs also expected to compete in second annual Playboy event

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Josh "The Punk" Thomson beat Adam Lynn by TKO at last year's Playboy Mansion show. This time around, he'll defend his newly won title.
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  UPCOMING MMA EVENTS  
  
UFC 88: Breakthrough
September 6 - Atlanta
World Extreme Cagefighting
September 10 - Hollywood, Fla.
UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Neer
September 17 - Omaha, Neb.
Strikeforce at the Mansion II
September 20 - Los Angeles
Strikeforce: Payback
October 3 - Denver
EliteXC on CBS
October 4 - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Affliction: Day of Reckoning
October 11 - Las Vegas
UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben
October 18 - Birmingham, England
UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote
October 25 - Chicago
  Ask the MMA reporter: Mike Chiappetta
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By Mike Chiappetta
NBCSports.com
updated 1:06 p.m. ET Aug. 8, 2008

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Mike Chiappetta

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Strikeforce will return to the Playboy Mansion for the second consecutive year to host a mixed martial arts show, which will take place on Sept. 20.

The event, "Strikeforce at the Mansion II," will feature a full night of matches and is likely to feature the first lightweight title defense of Josh "The Punk" Thomson, who earned the belt in June with a resounding unanimous decision win over Gilbert Melendez.

During the event, Japanese fighter Kazuo Misaki is expected to make his debut in the San Jose, Calif.-based organization. Misaki is generally considered a world Top 10 middleweight and holds a win over former PRIDE champ Dan Henderson on his resume.

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Also expected to compete is longtime MMA veteran Joe "Diesel" Riggs.

More event details are expected to be announced shortly, according to Strikeforce vice president Mike Afromowitz.

Last year's Playboy mansion show drew a star-studded crowd including Hugh Hefner and the "Girls Next Door," actors Michael Clarke Duncan and Jaime Pressly and several MMA notables.

Television broadcast information is not yet available, but for ticket information, see the Strikeforce web site.

Matches will eventually air on NBC's late night Saturday series "Strikeforce on NBC."

© 2008 NBC Sports.com

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