A toe injury forced lightweight champion Josh Thomson to withdraw from his first title defense against Yves Edwards at Strikeforce “Destruction” on Nov. 21 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

Strikeforce officials announced the change to their main event on Wednesday. UFC veteran Duane Ludwig will meet Edwards in Thomson’s stead.

Thomson, who tore ligaments in his toe while training, has not competed since he stopped Ashe Bowman on strikes in 74 seconds at the Playboy Mansion two months ago. The 30-year-old American Kickboxing Academy product has rattled off eight consecutive victories since his decision loss to Clay Guida in 2006, re-establishing himself as one of the world’s premier 155-pound fighters. Thomson (16-2) captured the Strikeforce lightweight crown from Gilbert Melendez in a career-defining performance in June.

The bout against Edwards (34-14-1) represented a chance for Thomson to avenge one of his two career losses. Edwards knocked out the Californian with a highlight-reel head kick at UFC 49 four years ago.