Third time the charm for Thomson-Melendez?

Third time’s the charm, right? Strikeforce certainly hopes so.

A long-rumored lightweight title unification bout between current champion Josh Thomson and interim champion Gilbert Melendez has been scheduled for Dec. 19 when Strikeforce returns home to the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The main card will air live on Showtime.

The bout was first revealed on the website of Melendez’ trainer Cesar Gracie. MMAWeekly.com confirmed the bout with Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz on Monday.

The two first met in June of 2008, when Thomson captured the belt, then held by Melendez. Thompson has fought only once since, in September of 2008, when he defeated Ashe Bowman in a non-title bout. Melendez has fought twice after losing the title, defeating Rodrigo Damm in April for the interim designation, then defending it against Mitsuhiro Ishida in August.

Thomson and Melendez have been scheduled for a rematch twice before, but Thomson had to withdraw both times due to injury, which lead to the interim title bouts.

“I want to get this whole interim title thing dissolved,” Thomson told MMAWeekly.com in a prior interview. “I want all the complications of, who’s the champ and who’s not the champ… I mean, everyone knows that I am, but I’ve been inactive for a year and he deserves what he’s been given, but it’s time to put it all to a close.

“I’d rather fight him my first fight back and I can move on with my career and he can move on with his.”