Gilbert Melendez: I'm ready for a shot at the UFC Lightweight title
Posted on October 11, 2011, 07:16 AM by Anton Gurevich
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez might well be next in line for a shot at the UFC Lightweight title. Speaking on MMAFighting.com's MMA Hour, Melendez declared himself "ready" for a fight with the reigning Champion Frankie "The Answer" Edgar, and the new adventure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Still, Cesar Gracie product refused to look past Jorge Masvidal, who defeated KJ Noons and moved up in the Strikeforce Lightweight ladder to become the #1 contender for Melendez's belt:
"I'm definitely impressed by Frankie. He's an amazing fighter. He's great, I honestly feel like I'm the number one contender and I feel like I'm ready for the title shot now. I've been focusing on Jorge Masvidal, he's the first guy in line. I think he's the No. 1 contender, as of now, in Strikeforce, and as of now I have to focus on that guy. He's real tough. But it's hard not to get excited when you hear all these rumors. The most frustrating thing is the recognition, a lot of people don't recognize me as a great fighter because I haven't beaten any UFC guys." - quote via MMAMania.com.
Gilbert Melendez is currently 19-2 in his MMA career, enjoying a 5-fight winning streak. Melendez is also well known for finishing his fights, with no less than 11 KO/TKO finishes on his record.
If officially announced, the fight between Gilbert Melendez and Frankie Edgar would be the fourth UFC bout involving reigning Strikeforce Champion (Alistair Overeem, Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson) and the first Champion vs. Champion bout. Hendo will be the first man "to defend Strikeforce" in a UFC 139 main event bout with Mauricio Rua in San Jose, California.
Stay tuned to LowKick.com for more.
Comments
Lesnar TKO's Overeem in the first.
Penn dominates Diaz for a UD.
Shogun TKO's Henderson in the first.
Melendez TKO's Edgar in the first.
All gonna be exciting fights though, no matter what the result.
& honestly Lesnar/Overeem could be the other way round, could go either way, depends where the fight goes.
I would rather say the opposite of everything you have picked...
Melendez TKO over Edgar Round 1???
Dream on.
Lol. This is MMA though & it's pretty tough to predict everything perfectly...
And guess what i predicted Werdum to submit Fedor in the first round back then, so don't underestimate my picks. :P
Well that's a good prediction then. How have your others been since then? :-D
mma math doesnt work like that
yeah i agree with dabs i would have picked the complete opposite on everything you said
actually i have no opinion of of the shogun or melendez fight i think they will be too close to make a prediction
Umm well i'm #22 all-time in picks, so i'm not a bad guy at predicting fights... :D
I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are trolling here, well done sir in that regards.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I haven't really been checking that section a lot. Let's hear your predictions for UFC 129's main card.
UFC 129 I came #8... Got Henderson Decision & Machida KO Round 2... only got three picks wrong on that card.
Melendez is overrated imo . I doubt he'll be a ufc champ.
Agree- completely over-rated.
Get in line & while in there try to get past Dan Miller or Bendo.
Jim? Melendez vs Bendo would be a tough fight for Melendez.
Bendo is probably the most well-rounded lightweight out there.
Dan Miller is a MW.
Gilbert Melendez: "I'm ready for a shot at the UFC Lightweight title"....
So are several other UFC top LW fighters who have earned the shot, so get in line buddy.....
Not yet actually Guida/Bendo still hasn't happened yet.
J-Lau spoiled a possible Guillard vs Edgar match-up aswell.
So Edgar vs Melendez makes sense.
Just what I was ready to say. In that division you have to beat a UFC top contender 1st. I predict Bendo to beat Guida and fight for the title next. Melendez should fight Gray Maynard next.
Melendez vs Maynard winner gets the next shot after Guida vs Bendo winner.
Would that make people happier? :D
Guillard vs Miller / J-Lau vs dos Anjos / Stout vs Pettis
G-Sot vs Stephens / all other possible match-ups in the future.
& Barboza vs anybody = fireworks
pettis just got a W also
Barely though, could've gone either way.
I say Guillard spoiled that one. He could have won if he wasn't so ****y out there. Disappointment...Hopefully he can climb his way back up the ladder. You can NEVER overlook or underestimate an opponent. You're right though..that nice little matchup is ruined for now(Edgar vs. Guillard). I don't think it's right to put Melendez to fight Edgar next though. He should just jump into "The mix" first.
I hope dana doesnt let this rat come in & get an immediate shot ; thats shiioty man ; theres alot more deserving lightweights that keep getting screwed on getting their shots ; People who deserve it more : Guida, Bendo, Pettis, & maybe even jim miller to be honest . All of these should get a title shot or number 1 contender fight before melendez.
make him fight aldo
a number one contender fight like all of the other sf champs
I'm just hoping that Gil whoops up on Jorge Masvidal. If he loses, the argument for a shot at UFC gold evaporates.