MMA-URLS

So, who's ready for another round of Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez? "The Punk" is ready for another six, actually, disappointed that his "epic trilogy" against "El Nino" ended in a controversial split decision loss last Saturday night (May 19, 2012) in the co-main event of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. But do the fans want to see it? In victory, Melendez will likely move on to defend his 155-pound strap against rugged lightweight veteran Pat Healy, while Thomson gets his injuries checked out before getting back into training. Still, it hasn't stopped him from wondering aloud how his longtime nemesis can consider himself the division's best with such a hotly-contested decision lingering on his resume. Those comments (via Bloody Elbow) after the jump. "I was just looking on Yahoo, and there's a story there about our 'epic trilogy' not being settled, and I think that just says it all. The question shouldn't be asked of me, but should be asked of him. How can you consider yourself one of the best and leave something so controversial like this? The first thing people ask him is are we going to see a fourth fight. I know I don't want to leave it like this, but maybe it's easier said than done. The judges went his way that night. All three fights were great. I mean, we watch thousands of fights, and only a handful of them are great. We have the opportunity here to put on a fourth one, where it will probably end living up to the hype of the first three. There's some unsettled business, and we should just get it all out in the open. Let's add a round. Let's do six rounds. We could do it like the ultimate fighter, and go to an extra round if it's necessary. If you have a split decision coming out of the fifth round, that extra round let's it all get figured out. Something along those lines would be great. I think the very last straw that broke the camel's back is the judge that gave him the first round. I think they scored it for him because it was too close, and he's the champ, so they gave it to him. The champ comes in with that aura. He's the last one to get introduced, and his dad is running around the cage with the belt. Judges look at that. They remember that. So, when the first round is close, they're like, 'We'll just give it the champ.' I think that's why he won. It wasn't anything he did in the cage, that's for sure. Without a shadow of a doubt, I thought I won." Thomson defeated Melendez in their first encounter at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Thomson" in 2008. "El Nino" would successfully defend his belt in their 2009 rematch and temporarily settle the score with his second straight win over "The Punk" last weekend. It was the fourth time Melendez has gone to the judges' scorecards in his past five fights. So how about it fight fans? Are you ready to see these two mix it up once again? Or is it time to (finally) put this rivalry out to pasture and see what they can do inside the Octagon?

Posted in: fight, round, melendez, thomson, epic trilogy

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett come up on the losing end of his battle with Daniel Cormier in the finals of the heavyweight grand prix Saturday, but he's also the highest paid athlete on the fight card according to commission-reported salaries. Barnett took home $200,000 for his efforts. Right behind him is Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, who pocketed $175,000 after besting Josh Thomson by split decision at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. Despite winning, the commission did not report Melendez took home a win bonus for his efforts. At the bottom end of the financial ladder, Yuri Villefort only managed to earn $2,500 in his loss to grappling-centric Quin Mulhern. Virgil Zwicker, Derrick Mehman both took home $3,000 while Guto Inocente earned $4,000 after earning a $2,000 win bonus. Please note that salaries reported by Strikeforce to the commission do not necessarily reflect a fighter's actual earnings, once other possible bonuses and sponsorship money is factored in. The list of full payouts from Saturday's event listed below: James Terry $9,000Bobby Green $12,00 ($6,000, $6,000 bonus)Quinn Mulhern $12,00 ($6,000, $6,000 bonus)Yuri Villefort $2,500Gian Villante $24,000 ($12,000, $12,000 bonus)Derrick Mehman $3,000Virgil Zwicker $3,000Guto Inocente $4,000 ($ 2,000, $2,000 bonus)Gesias Cavalcante $18,000Isaac Vallie-Flagg $6,000 ($3,000, $3,000 bonus)Nah-Shon Burrell $7,000Christopher Spang $12,000 ($6,000, $6,000 bonus)Mike Kyle $25,000Rafael Cavalcante $66,000 ($33,000, $33,000 bonus)Josh Thomson $90,000Gilbert Melendez $175,000Josh Barnett $200,000Daniel Cormier $100,000 ($50,000, $50,000 bonus)

Posted in: strikeforce, josh, barnett, melendez, cormier

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After defending his title and winning his rubber match with Josh Thomson this past weekend, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez heard the boos. He was confident his victory was just, so he immediately watched a recording of the fight and came to one logical conclusion about the dissenting fight fans. "Man, they're trippin','" he thought.

Posted in: fight, melendez, josh thomson, weekend strikeforce, highfivin fiancee

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A lot of people don't understand why a guy like Gilbert Melendez would have ever re-signed with Strikeforce. Well, $175,000 a fight goes a long way I guess. The Strikeforce lightweight champion was second on the $748,500 total payroll for last Saturday's Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier card, with only Josh Barnett ($200,000) making more. Daniel Cormier picked up a tidy 100k for his victory in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals, and Josh Thomson got 90k for almost dethroning Melendez in the co-main event. All info came from the California State Athletic Commission. Here are the numbers for the main card guys, and you can catch the preliminary card fighters after the jump. Daniel Cormier: $100,000 (includes $50,000 win bonus)Josh Barnett: $200,000 Gilbert Melendez: $175,000 (no win bonus)Josh Thomson: $90,000 Rafael Cavalcante: $66,000 ($33,000 bonus)Mike Kyle: $25,000 Chris Spang: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)Nah-Shon Burrell: $7,000 SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Isaac Vallie-Flagg: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus)Gesias Cavalcante: $18,000 Guto Inocente: $4,000 ($2,000 win bonus)Virgil Zwicker: $3,000 Gian Villante: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)Derrick Mehmen: $3,000 Quinn Mulhern: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)Yuri Villefort: $2,500 Bobby Green: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)James Terry: $9,000

Posted in: strikeforce, card, barnett, melendez, cormier

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Josh Barnett ($200,000) and Gilbert Melendez ($175,000) were the two big money winners on Saturday's Strikeforce card in San Jose, Calif.

Posted in: strikeforce, josh, barnett, melendez, money winners

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It’s common knowledge Josh Thomson is a 33-year old Strikeforce lightweight who has been plagued by injury issues and may only have a limited number of fights left in him as a result. However, nobody knows exactly how important winning the divisional title this past weekend was to Thomson at this stage in his career better than “The Punk” himself. Thomson took champion Gilbert Melendez to the limit on Saturday night in their co-headlining clash at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final and nearly came away with the belt thanks to a spirited performance highlighted by his success while standing and near finish of “El Nino” in the fourth frame. Though Melendez ultimately won a decision some would label as controversial, Thomson seemed content with the result when asked about it after the fight and had no harsh words to offer up on the scoring or his rival’s victory. “Everyone keeps telling me I got robbed but I don’t really think on that. I just think it was a good performance by both fighters. We gave the crowd what they wanted to see and it seems like everyone was happy. I mean I’m not happy I lost but it was a great fight,” said Thomson in an interview with Showtime, adding he was also pleased to have turned in an entertaining effort on the heels of his self-labeled “sh*tty” showing in an outpointing of K.J. Noons a few months back. “It just goes back to the old adage that you can’t leave it in the judges’ hands,” continued the 19-5 Thomson. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left it. I should’ve done it myself. I should’ve finished him in the fourth, to be honest, with the Rear-Naked. Had the opportunity and just couldn’t get it done.” With Melendez unlikely to accept another match-up against Thomson in favor of focusing on new opponents it’s hard to say who the American Kickboxing Academy staple will step in the cage with next. What is certain, however, is the likelihood of Thomson doing his damndest to keep it exciting even if he comes up short in the end. Check out the full interview with Thomson below: PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, ’t, melendez, thomson

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It was a situation where most fighters would have reacted with bitterness, especially given the stakes at hand. But with a belt on the line, and the charged rubber match of his thoroughly entertaining trilogy against Gilbert Melendez barely in the rear-view mirror, Josh Thomson had lost by the closest of margins -- one point on a split decision -- and yet was all class. Despite a booing San Jose, California, crowd last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion, Thomson urged them to support the champ who'd retained his belt in a bout that wasthisclose -- especially in the throes of a strong fourth and fifth round by "The Punk," who threatened with a seemingly sunk-in rear-naked choke in the fourth, prior to lighting Melendez up on the feet and then scoring a takedown in the last stanza. Thomson didn't complain. He didn't berate the judges, two of whom went 48-47 for Melendez. He even lent an olive branch to defuse the situation, by citing that Melendez and he were part of the larger Northern California mixed martial arts (MMA) scene, and asking the fans to support Gilbert. It was a classy move by a guy that fought his heart out and came up just short. There was certainly an argument for Thomson to have won, especially if you scored that close first round for him. However, Melendez's work rate and takedowns in the second and third were clear-cut rounds for him, and as a result, the Strikeforce lightweight belt stayed with him. It's refreshing to see athletes exit with their heads high and a sense of respect for their fellow fighters. Thomson was the epitome of that last night.

Posted in: gilbert melendez, melendez, thomson, class act, lighting melendez

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It took 16 months to get there, but Strikeforce was finally able to seal the deal on their Heavyweight grand prix tournament last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) in San Jose, California. Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" marked the end of the tournament, as well as the end of the division as well, with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) absorbing the majority of the 265-pounders from the organization to deepen their own wells. It was an odd scene, seeing Cormier adorned with a belt he will never get to defend. Hopefully, none of that takes any of the shine away from a moment that will go down in history as when we saw "DC" officially rise to greatness. It was a massive win for the rapidly rising prospect, who showed the world that he is no longer an up-and-comer...he has arrived. Gilbert Melendez looked to stake his claim as being the number one 155-pounder in the universe when he took on Josh Thomson in a five-round rubber match for the belt. "El Nino" was able to secure a very close split decision win, but don't look for anyone to be placing him at the top of their rankings after Saturday night.Follow me after the jump where we'll analyze the list of big winners and lowly losers from Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier." WINNERS: Daniel Cormier -- It's official. This kid is for real. Okay, it probably was already official, but this dominant decision victory puts him in the mix with the top heavyweights in the world. He was faster. He had better striking. He had better wrestling. Ready or not, UFC, here "DC" comes! Josh Thomson -- Nobody expected this guy to win. There was no pressure and no real expectations. If anything, the majority of the experts picked Melendez to dominate him. Credit to "The Punk" for not backing down and even coming close to finishing Melendez at the end of round four. Rafael Cavalcante -- They say revenge is a dish best served cold. Hot, cold, lukewarm, whatever temperature it was, the dish was in the form of a super tight guillotine that "Feijao" was able to cinch in against Mike Kyle, after nailing him with a big overhand right and a nasty knee in the face. The walkout lasted longer than the fight itself. "Feijao" appears to be back. Chris Spang -- After his brother Andreas came out short at Bellator 69 on Friday night, Chris came out looking to defend the family name. His mission was accomplished, as he jumped all over Nah-Shon Burrell from the get-go. Burrell was willing to meet in the center and exchange from the opening bell...but he shouldn't have been. The disparity in striking was clear immediately. "The Kiss" was able to secure the muay thai clinch and brutally punish his opponent with knees in the face before Burrell finally went crashing to the canvas in a pile of unconsciousness. Frank Shamrock -- Did you SEE those pearly whites?! Did you?? Everytime Strikeforce hits the Showtime airwaves, I watch Shamrock with anticipation to see if the braces are still there. They always are. But not last night. They were gone! He's still the worst (and we will get to that later), but good for Frank for finally getting the machinery out of his mouth. Pat Miletich -- He's not the best, but he's decent, and he's done nothing to deserve being stuck between bottom-dwellers Shamrock and Ranallo. Every broadcast, I think he's finally going to snap and rip Mauro's head off for insulting him or correcting him on some point of minutia. He hasn't done it yet, and for that, I've got to declare him a winner for his exorbitant patience. LOSERS: Gilbert Melendez -- I know, I know. What's Melendez doing on the "Losers" list? He may have won the fight, but he lost the war. Thomson is tough, I'll give you that. But you can't convince me that Ben Henderson or Frankie Edgar would have trouble with him. I'm not buying it. I think they both finish him. Maybe Thomson is just the fly in Melendez's ointment, but if you're gonna declare yourself the best lightweight in the world, you better prove it. As far as I'm concerned, he didn't do anything close to that. Josh Barnett -- Time will bear out just what this loss means. Cormier may go on to crash through the UFC's heavyweight division like a wrecking ball, and then Barnett will get somewhat of a pass. However, it may signal the beginning of the end. Dana White may have gotten over their past "misunderstandings," but I just don't see him doing much fawning over "The War Master" after this five round butt kicking. I think Barnett will get absorbed, because the UFC can use more depth in the 265-pound division, but he's going to be on a short leash. Mike Kyle -- It's hard to get too in depth with this one. The fight lasted 33 seconds. Kyle got caught, never recovered and was overwhelmed by a much better fighter. Every loss is a bad loss, but this one particularly unfortunate. Mauro Ranallo -- I'm not going to let go of this. Ranallo is terrible. I appreciate that he helped you through your childhood and adolescence and explained what was going on to you while you watched PRIDE. You have a sentimental attachment to him. That's fine. But he sucks. In the first prelim bout of the night, he said "gluteus maximus" several times when a fighter was taken down. Later in the broadcast, when a fighter was punched in the nose, Mauro referred to it as his "proboscis." It made me want to mute the TV. Unfortunately, I need to hear some of the things being said. If only there was a radio broadcast. Frank Shamrock -- He's still Frank Shamrock, with or without the braces. He still stares into the camera like a small child who is mesmerized by the device and what it can do. He still fails to finish thoughts and sentences. He still comes in on the tail end of one of the other boneheads and makes their already terrible sentiment even more terrible. He's just brutal. What does your list of winners and losers from Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" look like? Let us know in the comment section below.

Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, melendez, cormier, he

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Entering last night’s Strikeforce event the questions surrounding lightweight Josh Thomson had to do with his health after rumors of a knee injury surfaced a little more than a week ago. Exiting his fight with champion Gilbert Melendez the chatter was not focused on how his leg had held up but rather whether the ringside judges had scored things correctly after awarding “El Nino” was a razor-thin Split Decision. Thomson looked as strong as any opponent has over the past few years against Melendez with his performance echoing that of a 2008 victory he holds over the company’s 155-pound king. However, as close as their fight was, Melendez is ready to close the chapter of his career titled “Thomson” and move on to new things. “No, I won the trilogy and it’s supposed to be the end of it,” Melendez explained in a post-fight interview with Showtime after the bout’s conclusion. “I think it was settled once and for all. You guys wanna pay me triple or double, we’ll talk.” “I just couldn’t let the inner-beast out for some reason,” he added on his inability to do more damage to Thomson, later turning his focus to his future on which he stated, “I’m ready for whoever. I’m proud to be a part of Showtime, proud to be a part of Strikeforce. I’m gonna keep holding the throne and watching the throne.” Melendez improved his overall record to 21-2 with the successful showing against Thomson and had been very vocal regarding his desire to fight top opponents as a means of helping build his stock instead of being in “lose-lose” situations. Check out the full interview with Melendez below: PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, melendez, thomson, josh thomson

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Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" featured eight fights, including four preliminary match ups from the event that was held in San Jose, Calif., on Sat., May 19, 2012. With that said, there were really only two fights that garnered national attention. Those, of course, being the title fights between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier (for the Strikeforce Heavyweight grand prix championship) and the rubber match between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson. In the main event, Cormier took control of the fight from the opening horn and never let go. After five rounds of inflicting damage on his opponent, Barnett, Cormier was given the well deserved unanimous decision nod and the Strikeforce belt. Melendez notched a somewhat controversial split decision win in the co-main event. He took home the victory, but his stock as a mixed martial arts (MMA) lightweight definitely plummeted a bit. Let's look into the crystal ball and discuss what might be next for the big winners from last night, Daniel Cormier and Gilbert Melendez. The win and the belt for Cormier come somewhat bittersweetly. The analogy seems akin to that of a tree falling in a forest with no one there to hear it. If a man holds a belt, but there's no one left in the division to defend it against, does it matter? Don't get me wrong. Cormier's win over Barnett matters plenty. It was a huge coming out party for "DC," and says much about how far he's come and where his career is headed. But where does he go from here? It's almost one hundred percent certain that a contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will be coming soon. On the one hand, it means Cormier is starting all over from scratch. But on the other, it means he'll be fighting the best in the world and getting a chance to show just what he can do against the "cream of the crop." There are a lot of good options available. Mark Hunt had to pull out of his UFC 146 match up opposite Stefan Struve due to an injury. But the "Super Samoan" won't be on the shelf forever. By the time Cormier is all healed up and ready to go again, Hunt should be in the clear. Can you imagine the massive amount of bombs that would be exchanged between Cormier and Hunt? I'm in love with the fight and it hasn't even been booked yet. Shoot, I might even start a Kickstarter campaign just to fund it. Anybody else care to join? Gilbert Melendez has been telling us all for a long time that he's the bets lightweight in the world. As far as he's concerned, he shouldn't have to go anywhere else to fight the best. They should come to him. At least that's what he's been trying to sell us. Look, I'm not trying to disrespect Josh Thomson, but no one is putting "The Punk" in the top ten. No one. Yet, for five rounds, it was hard to tell who was the clear-cut better fighter. Do you think Ben Henderson would have had the same dilemma? Yeah. Me either. So, what's next for Melendez? He still has to come to the UFC. It's inevitable. But it doesn't have nearly the shine it would have had if he'd been able to finish Thomson or even dominate him in a unanimous decision win. He'll get thrown into the Octagon with the pack of wolves that is its lightweight division. Time to put up or shut up. A title shot is out of the question. I say, let him fight Donald Cerrone. "Cowboy" is coming off a great win over Jeremy Stephens. He's one of the better strikers in the division and also has a pretty nice ground game. After his fight versus Thomson, Melendez has something to prove. A win over Cerrone would do that. A loss to him would do the same (although it would prove something very different). That's the best I can come up with. I'm probably right on, but in the event that I'm not, feel free to correct me in the comment section below.

Posted in: fight, gilbert melendez, melendez, cormier, he

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Forgive Josh Thomson if he is a little grumpy today. Following a third five-round fight with consensus elite lightweight Gilbert Melendez Saturday night, Thomson was on the wrong end of a split decision defeat, as “El Nino” kept his Strikeforce title in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. Thomson had defeated Melendez in [...]

Posted in: gilbert melendez, decision victory, melendez, thomson, josh thomson

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While mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have continued to grovel over the status of Gilbert Melendez, bemoaning the fact that he's yet to make his way over to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Cesar Gracie trained slugger has continued to run roughshod over the Strikeforce lightweight division. Save for one opponent -- Josh Thomson. Indeed, the two have clashed three times now with last night's (Sat., May 19, 2012) sojourn in San Jose representing the third and final chapter in their thrilling trilogy. And for the second time in as many attempts, it was Melendez who emerged victorious. But, no different than last time, it didn't come without a bit of controversy. Follow me after the jump for our review of Melendez's split decision victory over Thomson. It should be pointed out straight from the get-go that the large disparity in Melendez (3) and Thomson's (17) placement in the lightweight rankings is in no way indicative of how they actually match up against each other. That's not just an indictment on the entire rankings system, but simply a way to suggest that every now and again a fighter comes along who simply brings out the best in another fighter. Such is the case with these two. Melendez never quite looked comfortable throughout the 25 minutes he was in the cage. The opposite applies, as well. Thomson never quite found his groove and while he had his big moments, like taking "El Nino's" back and nearly locking in a rear-naked choke, he was often backpedaling and searching for his spots, all too often never finding them. That's why it was no surprise when the final horn sounded and the reaction on social media sites was split. Realistically, any scorecard could be defended. If you had it 48-47 in favor of Thomson, hey, more power to you. If you thought Melendez took it by the same score, yeah, that's cool. Ultimately, two judges scored it for Melendez 48-47 while the other said Thomson won by the same score. The Fight Metric report released shortly after the conclusion of the event agreed with the judges, so the statistics back up the decision. Yet, there is no consensus. Naturally, this led Thomson to jokingly ask fans at the HP Pavilion if they wanted to see a fourth fight. Put on the spotlight right there in the cage, Melendez said, "Sure, whatever." Later, though, he told media members at the post-fight press conference that no, there will absolutely not be another fight between the two. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker also confirmed as much. With that out of the way, and their paths never to cross again, it becomes time to look toward the future. For Thomson, he's got plenty of potential fights left in Strikeforce with up-and-coming opponents making themselves available all the time. But it's a far trickier situation for Melendez. I won't suggest he move over to the UFC simply because we know that's not going to happen, even if it should. But when you click on over to the Strikeforce website to cruise the list of 155-pound fighters on the roster, you realize rather quickly that there is not one single credible challenger to Melendez's title. Not one. That means someone has to come in from the outside and believe it or not, if the stars align just right, there is a man who could be available to step in to fill the void. Eddie Alvarez. Bellator will have the right to match any contract offer but, not unlike Hector Lombard, Zuffa can make it happen if they really want to and judging by Alvarez attending a recent UFC event as promotion President Dana White's personal guest, it's safe to say they want him in the fold. Assuming that doesn't work out, UFC Matchmaker Joe Silva is going to have to part ways with one of his lightweights and send them over to see if they can make some noise in San Jose. Maybe Gray Maynard beats Clay Guida and they offer him a title shot against Melendez. It makes sense, considering he's not likely to be looking at a UFC championship showdown again anytime soon. You Maniacs got any other ideas? For complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here, and here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, melendez, thomson

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SAN JOSE -- The majority opinion in the HP Pavilion press room after Saturday night's Strikeforce event was Gilbert Melendez won the first three rounds of his lightweight championship fight against Josh Thomson, with the challenger taking the last two rounds. Thomson, who lost the bout on a split decision (Melendez took two of three 48-47 scores), didn't see it that way. At the post-fight press conference, Thomson said that if he was the one filling out a scorecard, it would have gone 49-47 in his favor. In his view, the first five minutes were a draw, Melendez won round two, and Thomson won the final three rounds. "I fight like the first round was a 10-10 round," said Thomson. "I should have went out and got it. It's my fault I left it in the judges hands. The third was a close round too, I thought I won that one, and then the fourth and the fifth. But, you know, whatever." Thomson's best shot at winning came during the fourth round, when he got Melendez in several rear-naked chokes. But he wasn't able to get the job done, as Melendez fended off the submission attempts as time ran out in the round. "The first one was probably close," said Thomson. "The rest of them, I was just trying to reach his chin. He's hard to submit. I trained with him for two-and-a-half years, I maybe subbed him two times that entire time. He's a tough man, he's almost impossible to finish. ... He's one of the greatest mentally strong fighters out there, that's what makes him so great." Thus ends a trilogy that began with Thomson taking Melendez's title in a 2008 upset and continued the following year with Melendez winning the rematch. As far as Strikeforce's Scott Coker is concerned, Melendez-Thomson belongs among the great fight trilogies. "I personally can watch this fight every month," Coker said. "It's going to go down in history as one of the great [trilogies] in the history of mixed martial arts. It reminds me of one of those great battles, let's say ‘Sugar' Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns or Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard. These guys have the chemistry to bring it. They both brought their A game tonight, it was an amazing fight, I'm proud of both of them." While Thomson wasn't happy with the judges' scoring, the American Kickboxing Academy fighter still saw the bright side of fighting in front of his home fans. "I started fighting in '98 for, like, $100," said Thomson. "With what I'm getting paid now, I mean of course I love it. I don't want to get a real job ever."

Posted in: fight, round, melendez, thomson, josh thomson

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After a long awaited hype period, the finals of Strikeforce's Heavyweight grand prix finally came together, as Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" blasted full throttle through the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., last night (Sat., May 19, 2012). The main event featured the grand prix championship fight between veteran Josh Barnett and relative newcomer and wrestling aficionado Daniel Cormier. It took all five rounds to determine a winner, but it was never close as "DC" took home the title and showed the world that he is, indeed, for real. Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez looked to finish off the rubber match and defend his title against Josh Thomson. It wasn't the fight for "El Nino" that mixed martial arts (MMA) fans were hoping for, but it was the fight in front of him. Melendez was able to secure the win, though the split decision announcement was met with boos from the San Jose crowd who appeared to feel otherwise. Those are just some of the dynamics that comprised Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier." After the jump, we'll run through the details, top to bottom. It's hard to say enough just how impressive Daniel Cormier was in his fight versus Josh Barnett. He was better in every regard. I don't think anyone was necessarily counting Cormier out in this fight, but I also don't believe anyone was predicting that he'd totally pick apart one of the best heavyweights of all time. Either way, it happened, and now Strikeforce has a new heavyweight champion. Will come back to that in just a minute. Check out a recap of the Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier heavyweight gran prix championship fight here. Gilbert Melendez was ostensibly auditioning during his fight opposite Josh Thomson. The bigwigs at Zuffa had to have been watching. So was the entire MMA community. Everyone wanted to see if Melendez could back up his brash claim of being the clear number one lightweight fighter in the world. Unfortunately, that didn't come to fruition. He won the decision, but it was razor thin and could have gone either way.I have trouble believing that anyone who matters watched this fight and was sold on the fact that Melendez needs to be in the UFC right now. Especially with how stacked the lightweight division currently stands. With that said, it will probably happen anyway. Be real. Who else is he gonna fight in Strikeforce? Do you wanna see Melendez vs. Thomson, part four? Mauro Ranallo might, but I don't. For a full review with analysis of Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson, click here. Rafael Cavalcante came into the night looking to prove something. It's been almost a year since he lost to Dan Henderson at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. That's a blemish he'll have to wait a while to make right, as "Hendo" has since made his way over to the UFC and will be taking on current Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones, at UFC 151 in "Sin City" on Sept. 1, 2012. "Feijao" would, however, get the opportunity to right a different wrong, by getting to take on Mike Kyle, who beat Cavalcante in 2009 via a second round KO. Things went differently this go-round, and dramatically so. After Kyle rushed in carelessly, he was nailed by a big overhand right and then a knee in the face from "Feijao," who proceeded to pounce on his wounded prey and secure a guillotine choke. It was over in just 33 seconds. If you looked away, you may have missed it. Read an in-depth summary of Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle here. In the opening fight of the main card, Swedish-born Chris Spang used impressive striking to silene the often big-mouthed Nah-Shon Burrell. If you ever want to see what a muay thai clinch clinic looks like, try and find the video of this fight and watch it repeatedly. For several minutes, Spang mercilessly tied up Burrell in the clinch and bludgeoned him with big knees. Finally, one knee in particular found its home and caused Burrell to go plummeting to the canvas, bringing about the calling of the fight. If you missed any or all of the action from Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier," click here for detailed blow-by-blow rundowns of each fight from the main card.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, melendez, cormier

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After a long year, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is finally done. And it's the tournament's Cinderella Story Daniel Cormier who stands tall at the end, claiming a unanimous decision victory over Josh Barnett. The card on the whole was a good example of what Strikeforce does best - a pair of fun fights with fast finishes, a 25 minute classic Lightweight fight, and a breakout performance that announces the arrival of a legitimate superstar. There's no doubt Strikeforce has lost some of its shine in the last year, but this show proved that it still can deliver the goods. On to the winners and losers to see who made the most of the night, and who stumbled. Winners Daniel Cormier: What else is there to say? Clearly, a lot of people, myself included, underrated Cormier. Even after his KO of Antonio Silva, he seemed a bit over his head here. How wrong we were. Cormier turned in an absolutely incredible performance, outworking Barnett on his feet and on the mat with a non-stop pace for the full 25 minutes. Barnett is one of the all time great Heavyweights, and Cormier just took him apart. He showed he's not only ready for the big leagues, he's ready for the highest level of the big leagues. Get him inside the Octagon ASAP. Josh Thomson: After losing all of 2011 due to injuries, Thomson was the definite underdog heading into this rubber match. It almost seemed pointless to actually complete the trilogy, simply because Melendez looked to have moved clearly past his rival. But Thomson pulled off an incredible showing, winning 2 of 5 rounds definitively and coming so close to taking the upset win. It didn't happen, but still, this was his best performance since the last time they fought. In the relatively thin Strikeforce ranks, this probably earned him another title shot and a 4th fight with Melendez. Rafael Feijao: Great performance from Feijao here who just poured the pressure on Kyle and took him out. Feijao used a knee to take the title from King Mo in 2010, and used the same one again here at the beginning of his fight-ending rally. After getting bombed by Dan Henderson, he's now won back to back fights via nice stoppage. At a time when you know the UFC is watching, those kind of fast-paced fights with exciting finishes are very important. I'm not sure Feijao has what it takes to contend in the UFC division, but he deserves a shot. Though he seems stuck in Strikeforce for now. Tyron Woodley: No, he didn't fight on the card, but it was officially announced that he will face Nate Marquardt for the vacant Strikeforce Welterweight title on July 14. Woodley is undefeated, but his last fight drew great derision from fans who find Woodley tremendously boring. He's an example of the idea that you need to do more than just win if you want to move up the ladder. Drawing Marquardt is a great plus for him - there will be a lot more attention on that fight just because of Nate, and if Woodley can win impressively, it can help him erase that bad taste. Losers after the jump. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Losers Josh Barnett: Given his contentious history with Zuffa and Dana White, Barnett needed the win here badly. While Cormier was likely to move quickly into the higher UFC ranks regardless of the outcome in the Grand Prix, Barnett was in a position where he had to prove to Zuffa that they needed to bring him back. And he didn't prove that at all, getting totally dismantled over the course of a grueling 25 minutes. Barnett had a few bright moments, but not nearly enough. The question now - was his tournament performance enough to earn him a spot back in the UFC? I fear the answer may be no. Gilbert Melendez: Yes he won, and yes, I put Thomson in the winners category, but as Frank Shamrock said in the fight, the pressure was all on Melendez here. Strikeforce is really trying to push the idea that Melendez is the #1 Lightweight in the world, and while that makes sense from a promotional standpoint, it also creates a huge level of expectation on Melendez's shoulders. He's at the point now where just winning isn't enough - he has to win big. That didn't happen last time against Masvidal, and it didn't happen here. So despite his seven fight win streak, Melendez ends up looking like a bit of a let down. JZ Cavalcante: This was a close fight, and some may argue with the decision, but at the end of the day, JZ came out on the losing end. Again. At one time, JZ was considered by many to be the #1 Lightweight fighter on the planet, period. But a combination of injuries and the decline of Japanese MMA slowed his progress down. Since 2007, JZ has only won 2 out of 8 fights. Both of those were close split decisions, and it's not like he's only facing top level talent. I'll always be a fan of JZ for what he accomplished in Hero's, but it's hard to figure where he fits in to the MMA scene at this point.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, barnett, melendez, cormier

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Gilbert Melendez got the job done, but it was clear-cut by no means.

Posted in: couldn, melendez, couldn ’t, rubber, beast ’

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In the co-main event of the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" fight card that took place last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, Gilbert Melendez retained his lightweight championship with a split decision victory over Josh Thomson. And completed their trilogy by going up 2-1 in the process. It didn't come without some controversy, however. Indeed, the fight was a hotly contested bout over five rounds and 25 minutes of action that saw quite a few ups and downs, too many swings in momentum to count. Ultimately, the judges awarded the fight to Melendez by scores of 48-47, 47-48 and 48-47. As is usually the case in close contests like this, the fine folks at Fight Metric quickly released their report to show the statistical analysis on top of what we all witnessed ourselves. The report agrees with the two judges who scored the bout for Melendez, although it shows how very close it actually was. Get striking, grappling and performance ratings after the jump. First, the striking: As you can see, Melendez was better everywhere and if you look at the round-by-round breakdown, there isn't a single one that is scored in favor of Thomson. But that's just one aspect of the fight, of course. Onto the grappling: "El Nino" was successful on five of his 10 takedown attempts, though he did very little once he got Thomson to the floor. "The Punk," meanwhile, scored just two takedowns but is credited with a pass to back mount and two submission attempts. Remember that fourth round where he very nearly ended the fight? Yeah, that was his big one. After looking at both and breaking down all five rounds, the performance ratings were razor thin: Thomson was that close to winning the lightweight championship. It was a close fight, there's no questioning that, but the stats would seem to back up the judges. Do you Maniacs agree? Or did you think Thomson should have been given the nod? For a more detailed breakdown of their fight click here and for complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

Posted in: fight, judge, melendez, thomson, performance ratings

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Strikeforce - Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson

Posted in: vs, josh, official, melendez, thomson

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After 15 rounds of fighting between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson, little is solved. Thomson won the first bout, Melendez won the rematch, and the trilogy fight at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier was nearly a tossup. In the end, the judges scored it a split decision, with two judges scoring it 48-47 for Melendez and the third scoring it for Thomson 48-47. The fans seemed to believe Thomson deserved the nod, booing the decision. Melendez had been considered a huge favorite to win handily, coming in as a 6-to-1 favorite. He had to survive through several difficult situations to win. His most perilous moment came in the fourth, when Thomson scored a takedown, took his back and applied a rear naked choke. While he had his hands locked, he could never fully get his choking arm under Melendez's chin, and so Melendez eventually worked free. The second half of the fight was definitely Thomson's, as he landed the heavier blows and marked up Melendez's face. The Strikeforce lightweight champ left with a badly swollen left eye after taking several uppercuts and a head kick in the final two frames. Melendez couldn't really explain what went wrong late. "I had control and started cupcaking it out there," he said. "It wasn't my best performance. The early part of the fight belonged to Melendez. After a slow-paced first round, he began to assert himself in the second. Much of the action came in sudden, violent bursts after periods of respectful distance. Melendez seemed to inch closer in the second round after figuring out the distance, and had the round's best sequence with a flurry, takedown, and strikes against the cage just after Thomson returned to his feet. Melendez turned up his pace in the third, moving forward and putting Thomson on his heels. Thomson did get a brief takedown, but Melendez popped up to his feet in a flash and responded with a series of uppercuts. Melendez was the volume puncher, but Thomson did land a few power strikes, and by the end of the round, Melendez's right eye began to swell. One note to the fight was that Thomson suffered multiple eye pokes, but the referee never deducted a point from Melendez. If he had, the scores would have made the fight a majority draw. That could have led to yet another matchup between the two, a possibility Thomson seemed like he wouldn't dismiss. "Who wants to see a fourth fight?" he asked afterward. Melendez improved to 21-2 following his seventh straight win. Thomson fell to 19-5 with 1 no contest.

Posted in: fight, round, split decision, melendez, thomson

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In a surprisingly competitive bout to defend the Strikeforce lightweight title, Gilbert Melendez outworked Josh Thomson early on to take the split decision victory and retain his belt. Rounds 1 through 3 saw Melendez generating more offense and negating most of Thomson's salvos and tactics. The fourth round saw Thomson finally capitalize on a trip and take Melendez's back to threaten a rear naked choke for some time. The fifth round again saw Thomson stay more active and take the round. Score card controversies could arise over how to score the fourth (10-9 or 10-8, Thomson) or how to score the first round (10-9 Melendez or 10-10). Melendez moves to 21-2 and has now capped off the trilogy with Thomson with a 2-1 advantage - although with some controversy. His lone other setback was a decision loss to Mitsuhiro Ishida back in 2007 and Melendez avenged that with a third round KO back in 2009. At this point, Melendez has very few Strikeforce-based challengers left in his division. Thomson drops to 19-5-1 for his career and probably has to be raring for a rare MMA quadrilogy to show that he can indeed beat Gilbert and take that belt for himself.

Posted in: round, melendez, thomson, thomsons salvos, mma quadrilogy

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The co-main event of the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" fight card taking place tonight (Sat., May 19, 2012) in San Jose, California, featured a lightweight championship showdown pitting titleholder Gilbert Melendez against a man he had met twice before, Josh Thomson. Indeed, these two tangoed in 2008 and 2009, respectively, splitting those bouts. Melendez wasn't just here to bring and emphatic end to the trilogy, however; he was here to prove once again he's one of the very best lightweights in all of MMA. He may not have done that in the emphatic fashion he had hoped but he did manage to pull off a split decision victory by scores of 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47 to retain his lightweight championship. The fans in attendance loudly protested this decision by booing boisterously. Melendez didn't mind, saying "I know some are booing but I got my boys cheering for me. I thought I won most of the rounds." All he needed were two judges to score him three of five and that's exactly what they did. Early game was patience but Thomson was getting off with fast punches. Melendez played with him there but looked to get the worse of the exchanges. A trip takedown didn't result in anything and they went back to standing. Melendez shot in for his first takedown and executed a double leg. Thomson used the fence to wall walk and managed to get back to his feet. Once they reset, the striking exchanges were fairly uneventful. Melendez worked a clinch a few times but it was his late takedown that helped seal the round in his favor. The second round saw Melendez get aggressive once again, shooting in for a takedown and mixing up strikes. Thomson was getting beaten to the punch consistently but wasn't throwing at nearly the same volume as his opponent. Again, though, it was mostly slow rolling in the second. That is until an errant eye poke from Melendez seemed to wake Thomson up. Still, "El Nino" was too strong, pushing the action and earning yet another takedown. "The Punk" tried to steal a late takedown but Melendez defended well and even landed a few elbows towards the end of the frame. The third round was the best offensively for Thomson, though, as he finally started throwing hands that were finding a home. In fact, contrary to the opening two frames, it was Thomson who was walking Melendez down in key spots. That's not to mention a nice trip takedown, though he failed to capitalize on it. That spelled trouble, too, considering Melendez finally started landing the lead uppercut he was throwing with such nasty intentions. There was a bit of restlessness from the live crowd after Thomson acted as though he was poked in the eye again but the referee wasn't having any of it and he immediately restarted the match. By this point, Melendez was comfortable again and pushing forward with punches. Thomson opened that round strong but Melendez may get it on the scorecards for regaining the momentum in the final two minutes or so. Into the championship rounds and both men still looked relatively fresh. Thomson landed a strong left hand early that looked to startle Melendez but once again, Thomson failed to capitalize on the opening. This led to a quick scoop slam takedown from Gil but they went right back to standing after "The Punk" wall walked back to his feet. Thomson landed another trip takedown but this time, he came down with Melendez and ended up taking his back with both hooks. he then locked in a body triangle and worked hard for the rear-naked choke with around one minute to go. Melendez defended with everything he had and managed to make it to the end of the round. The final round began with the crowd having come to life and the momentum firmly on Thomson's side. There wasn't a ton of urgency early in the final frame, however, with neither man particularly strong in his offense. Finally, they started working hard and throwing bombs at each other. Takedown attempts from both sides failed. Thomson got aggressive and started getting the better of the exchanges. Both men were still going strong with one minute to go. Another late takedown from Melendez was stuffed and Thomson started pouring on punches. They reset and Thomson scored another trip takedown with just 30 seconds left. Melendez got busy from his back, throwing punches galore. Thomson looked like he just wanted to ride out the rest of the bout on top with superior position while Melendez tried to stay busy. After five rounds, any combination of judges scorecards would have been understandable. Ultimately, they sided with Melendez and he's still the champion. Anyone still want to see him in the UFC? Remember, too, to check out MMAmania.com's complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results and live coverage of all the night's action by clicking here.

Posted in: takedown, round, melendez, trip takedown, thomson

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SAN JOSE -- This is the Strikeforce live blog for Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson, a lightweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce event from HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.Melendez, who has won six straight fights, will defend his lightweight title against Thomson, who has won his last three Strikeforce fights, on the main card. It will be the third meeting between the two fighters.Check out the live blog below. More Coverage: Barnett vs. Cormier Results | Strikeforce News Round 1: Trilogy fight here. Thomson won the first bout and Melendez the rematch. Thomson got a mixed reaction from the crowd and Melendez a big ovation. Dan Stell is your referee. Thomson counters Melendez's early flurries. Melendez scores a takedown. They scramble back to their feet. Thomson clearly doesn't want a firefight. Brief exchanges. One minute left. Thomson with a combo and a high kick late, Melendez follows with a quick takedown. MMAFighting scores the round for Melendez, 10-9. Round 2: Round 3: Round 4: Round 5:

Posted in: strikeforce, round, melendez, thomson, rematch thomson

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As a champion, expectations are a good thing. You have already won the title, so now you are expected to continue winning. But as a contender, expectations are different. They range from fighting for the title in the future, to no longer fighting at all. But for Josh Thomson, expectations have been quite different. Since fighting Gilbert Melendez for the second time in 2009, he has fought just four times. Three of those matches came in 2010, while he did not enter the cage at all in 2011. Thomson has endured a litany of injuries since losing the Strikeforce lightweight title to Melendez in that December 2009 match. While he has continued his successful career in that time, going 3-1 in those four matches, there still were not many fans campaigning for Thomson to take on Melendez for a third time. Expectations have come to be that Thomson did not deserve a third matchup with Melendez, despite winning the first match in June 2008. Melendez has won six consecutive matches since then, winning both the lightweight and interim lightweight titles. Expectations have become that he will storm through his opponents, and that he deserves a chance in the UFC. But come Saturday night, Thomson will look to show that not all things happen as we expect them to. “I feel blessed I was able to roll my last camp into this camp,” Thomson said to MMAFrenzy.com, alluding to having fought just two months ago in a win over KJ Noons. “I had something to build off of in my last fight. There is still so much I can improve on. Yeah, everyone knows I was upset with my performance, but to be able to get the win on a crappy performance still makes me feel good about myself.” Another performance that Thomson is disappointed in is the loss to Melendez in their rematch. Melendez lost the first match, but earned a rematch the following year with two consecutive wins. Thomson expected it to go the same way as the first, and he was on his way to fulfilling those expectations. “I won the first match convincingly,” said Thomson. “I fought a smart fight the first time around, but I didn’t in the second one. I really need to use my advantage, which is my speed. Another key is that I have to keep my hands high and tight, and make sure to continually throw straight punches. That has been the focus of my training. Before my match with [KJ] Noons, I was very cautious in training. We cut back a lot of my training for that fight, because I used to over-train so much, which is where injuries were easy to cause. But this camp we found a happy medium with my training.” Another happy medium in training that Thomson has found is his persona inside the American Kickboxing Academy gym. Nicknamed “The Punk” for his attitude throughout training camps, Thomson admits that he is longer the man or the nickname of his younger days. “The name ‘The Punk’ has faded away,” Thomson admitted. “That name came from the gym when I was 19 or 20 years old, and I am not really that same guy anymore. I really feel we are going to have to end up changing the nickname. If I could have given myself a nickname, I would have given myself something cooler. Something like “The Prodigy” or “The Prototype”. In fact, I really like Frankie Edgar’s nickname, “The Answer”. I wish I could steal that. I guess we will just have to fight for it.” For now, Thomson will just have to focus on “El Nino”. He will not be the only one fighting for a championship in San Jose, as AKA teammate Daniel “Kung Fu Panda” Cormier takes on Josh Barnett in the Heavyweight Grand Prix Championship in the main event. “As if I didn’t have enough pressure going into this fight, having Daniel fight after me only adds more to it,” said Thomson. “I will be pretty pissed off if I go out there and lose and he wins after me. But I think it is great that all of us at AKA are in the same situation as me, and I hope that continues. We all expect it to.” MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: fight, training, melendez, thomson, expectation

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Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier Brent Brookhouse: I like Cormier here. I don't think either man has a particular advantage in the stand-up and I'd give Cormier an obvious edge in wrestling and Barnett a clear edge in overall grappling (as in submissions and ground transitions). I also can't stand Barnett, so what little uncertainty I had is overcome by personal feelings. Daniel Cormier by TKO, round 3. KJ Gould: People were rightly stunned by the striking display Cormier put on against Bigfoot Silva, which may be why some feel the speed and power will be enough for Cormier to beat the experienced veteran that is Josh Barnett. There's also the belief that because Cormier competed at the Olympic level, Barnett doesn't stand a chance in taking him down. Barnett has proven in past fights that there is more than one way to skin a cat, and has more ways to take someone down than shoot a double-leg, and I think this is getting largely ignored. His striking is also underrated, perhaps because it's overshadowed by his grappling acumen. Knowing who he gets to train his striking with, I think a combination of experience and technique will overcome athleticism this time out. Josh Barnett by decision. Fraser Coffeen: It's easy to overlook just how good Josh Barnett is. He can be written off by some because of his drug testing past, the fact that he has not faced elite heavyweights in some time, and to some due to his pro wrestling persona. But Barnett is really, really good. Only 3 men have ever defeated him - Rizzo, Cro Cop, and Minotauro, all in their absolute primes at the time. Cormier has a bright future, but Barnett is a true elite. He has too many tools in his arsenal, and will be able to break Cormier down as the fight progresses. Josh Barnett by submission, round 2. Tim Burke: I'm leaning the same way as KJ and Fraser. Josh Barnett is extraordinarily crafty and I definitely think he can get Cormier to the ground. I don't think he'd mind getting taken down himself either. On the feet, I'd give a slight advantage to Barnett. Cardio might be the biggest factor in a dogfight, but I'm going with The Warmaster. Josh Barnett by decision. Dallas Winston: I thought I would be one of the few giving the nod to Josh. Cormier has been amazing, but out-striking Monson and Bigfoot, the latter of whom he had a serious quickness advantage over, isn't convincing enough to pick him here. Josh's boxing is under-rated and Cormier's wrestling advantage will only lead him into submission territory. Josh Barnett by submission. David Castillo: Josh Barnett is only forgotten because he has yet to figure out how to pass a roid test. Were that not the case, people would still speak of him highly, and I fully agree that this will be a stern, perhaps even insurmountable test for DC. However, I can't pick against Cormier. He's too quick on the feet, where he'll have the advantage in power. Josh's boxing is good, but it's not great. Aleks tore into him before gassing, and his striking is at its most effective when it leads to takedowns, which he won't get against DC. Plus, I think age and lack of activity will be factors. It should be a very competitive fight, but I expect DC to win. Cormier by decision. Staff picking Barnett: KJ, Fraser, Stephie, Tim, DallasStaff picking Cormier: Brookhouse, David Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez Brent Brookhouse: Thomson's career hasn't seen the improvement that Melendez's has, be it due to injury or just a different threshold of actual individual talent. This won't be an easy fight but Melendez will pull away around the 3rd round. Gilbert Melendez by decision. KJ Gould: Thomson is a tough lightweight, but I think this match is fairly pointless other than it technically being a rubber match. El Nino got a fairly solid decision over Thomson in their last fight, and I see the same happening this time if not a TKO finish because Melendez is constantly trying to prove he deserves better than being stuck in Strikeforce, and is one of the best lightweights in the world. Gilbert Melendez by TKO. Fraser Coffeen: I love both of these guys, think their first two fights are both incredible, but this is not a great match-up. Ever since the first fight, Melendez has been steadily improving, while Thomson has been declining, mainly due to injuries. Thomson looked good against Noons, and he'll make this another exciting fight, but Melendez is just too good at this point. Gilbert Melendez via decision Tim Burke: I'm not sure if Thomson is physically capable of repeating his performance against Gil in their first bout. He used a push kick masterfully to keep Melendez out of range and Gil couldn't adjust. In the second fight he completely abandoned that and wanted to brawl, which clearly wasn't the right decision (though it made for one of the best fights of the year). I think Thomson shouldn't be written off completely and is definitely capable of winning this if he can execute his gameplan to perfection. But Melendez has improved so much, you just have to go with him. Should be fun as hell though. Gilbert Melendez by decision. Dallas Winston: I'll just echo what's already been said: Josh Thomson was hell on wheels in his prime. The key element of his kickboxing and wrestling was the ability explode into motion with quickness and power, and that's exactly what seems to be amiss after the 1st-round nowadays. Even when he beat Melendez, who has never been finished, he had to out-hustle him with an insane work-rate for 5 rounds. Thomson has never been stopped either, so he'll have to dig deep in later rounds to avoid that here. Gilbert Melendez by decision. David Castillo: Melendez just might be the best LW in the world right now. Of course I'm not picking the challenger, who seems more concerned with letting people what he thinks of Obama, and continues to struggle with injuries. Even a healthy Thomson doesn't stack up to Gilbert at this stage of his career. Melendez has come a long way from struggling with Hiroyuki Takaya, and frankly, I think his bout with Masvidal was masterful. Although I know I'm in the minority. He'll control the action on the feet, and will get takedowns when he wants them. Melendez by decision. Staff picking Thomson:Staff picking Melendez: KJ, Fraser, Stephie, Tim, Dallas, David Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle Brent Brookhouse: Kyle is dangerous in every fight but Feijao is just as dangerous and a bit better, so that takes care of that for me. Rafael Cavalcante by TKO, round 2. Fraser Coffeen: Feijao is a technically solid and, importantly, patient striker. He knows how to wait, and he knows how to finish when it's time. Kyle is too reckless, and that will make the difference here. Rafael Cavalcante by TKO round 1 Tim Burke: I actually think Kyle's recklessness is what's going to win him the fight. Feijao is definitely technically sound, but he didn't engage much in their first bout because he didn't know what Kyle was doing to do, and gassed in the second round which led to the Kyle KO. Feijao should take this to the ground like he did in the second round of their first fight. It's the biggest advantage he has. Standing and trading with Mike Kyle is bad news, and I think he's going to try and do that to prove something. I'm goin with MAK. Mike Kyle by TKO, round 1 KJ Gould: I remember when Cavalcante was tipped to be the future of the Light Heavyweight division several years ago, based mostly on being with Black House and being praised by the likes of Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. For a while he progressed nicely, until he ran into Mike Kyle the first time, back in 2009 for Strikeforce. Kyle is as tough as they come, and when you consider his only two losses in recent years have come at Heavyweight to Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva, it's easy to forget how good he is at this level. A focused Cavalcante should win the rematch, but it's much closer than some people are making it out to be. Cavalcante by TKO. Dallas Winston: I actually think Kyle has harnessed his raw aggression well with boxing improvements. He's pumping a long jab and pivoting left to keep his opponent centered in his power zone, and throwing hard often. He's also a huge light-heavy and tough as nails, so I agree this is a razor-thin fight. Overall, Feijao is too technical and just needs to avoid the big bomb, and I agree with Tim that he'd be wise to spring a surprise double leg and hunt for submissions. Feijao by submission. David Castillo: Feijao is still quality, and on paper, he's the smart pick, but not by a wide margin. Kyle's power is pretty evil, and he does a better job nowadays of shoring up the holes in his game. However, Feijao should recognize the stakes in this fight...knowing a loss will stick him the WAMMA pit. He's obviously the more well rounded fighter, and I expect that to be pay dividends late in the fight. Feijao by submission, round 3. Staff picking Cavalcante: Fraser, KJ, Dallas, David, BrookhouseStaff picking Kyle: Stephie, Tim Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang Brent Brookhouse: Burrell is better and I think they're pretty high on him. Thus, better positioning than expected on the main card. Fraser Coffeen: Here's where the picks get tough and I feel like I'm picking fights on a Tachi Palace show. And this is on the main card? Rough. I have not much confidence in pretty much every pick from here on down. Nah-Shon Burrell via decision Tim Burke: Nah-Shon's actually a decent fighter, but there's no way in hell this should be on the main card over established names. Spang...isn't that good. Why isn't Nah-Shon fighting Ricky Legere, the guy that beat Spang in his last bout? Odd. Anyway, this is Burrell's fight all day. Nah-Shon Burrell by decision. KJ Gould: Spang, bad. Burrell, good. Both should be on the prelims. Burrell by decision. Dallas Winston: I really like Spang's chances here. Even though Burrell has more fights, Spang has more martial arts experience, more polished kickboxing and BJJ and will also have the height/reach advantage. I'm going to play it safe and pick Burrell with the disclaimer that Spang is a legit "live dog." Nah-Shon Burrell by decision. David Castillo: I was wondering when we'd get to the fights that remind us that this is a strikeforce show. Unlike Dallas, I'll take my chances and pick the less experienced, but slightly more dynamic prelim fighter. Chris Spang by TKO, round 2. Staff picking Burrell: Fraser, Tim, KJ, Dallas, BrookhouseStaff picking Spang: Stephie, David Gesias Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg Fraser Coffeen: It pains me to pick against JZ, really it does. I picked him in all of his last 3 fights, but it's time to face the music. The guy has not had a definitive win since the Hero's tournament in 2007 as injuries have taken it all out of this former Lightweight king. I would absolutely love to get this pick wrong. Isaac Vallie-Flagg via decision Tim Burke: I cannot, in good conscience, pick against JZ. He beat Josh Thomson but got robbed by the judges. I think he can beat a dude named Isaac, even if he is pretty good. Gesias Cavalcante by split decision. KJ Gould: During the days when there was this romanticism with the quality of fighters in Japan, especially at the lighter weights, Gesias Cavalcante was right up there among the greats like Shinya Aoki, Joachim Hansen, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Shaolin Ribeiro. Cavalcante in recent years has had a string of bad luck, whether it's suffering the wrath of bad judges, or a no contest caused by an accidental eye poke. Vallie-Flag just hasn't fought the level of competition Cavalcante has, but this is a great step up for him and a feather in his cap should he win. I don't think Cavalcante has fallen that far yet, and should get the win. Cavalcante by decision. Dallas Winston: JZ's definitely a step slower, but I'm not sure he's declined as badly as everyone things. Vallie-Flagg was taken down and almost choked out by Melancon in his last welterweight bout, and I think JZ is still quick enough to dictate the tempo and work his ground game. JZ Cavalcante by submission. David Castillo: JZ's decline has been significant (Wilcox was absolutely throttling him in their scrap), but not significant enough to lose to someone like Vallie-Flagg. He's still formidable on the feet, but especially on the ground. It's either the easy way, or the really easy way for JZ's path to victory. JZ Cavalcante by submission. Staff picking Cavalcante: Stephie, Tim, KJ, Dallas, David, BrookhouseStaff picking Vallie-Flagg: Fraser Virgil Zwicker vs. Guto Inocente Tim Burke: Finally Guto's getting a fight. Dude hasn't been in the cage in like 19 months, and he's been signed with Strikeforce for almost a year. Zwicker probably should have been at LHW a long time ago, but this is a really tough test for his first bout. He's got heavy hands, but Inocente is worlds ahead of him in terms of well-roundedness. Pretty easy pick. Guto Inocente by decision. Dallas Winston: Guto! It's about damn time. Zwicker is tough as nails and a big puncher, but Guto should be too quick and violent for him. I see him capitalizing on the feet with low kicks and fast handiwork before locking on a submission on the mat. Guto Inocente by submission. David Castillo: A nice scrap that should end in the first given the ability on display, but I'm going with Inocente for simply being the better, more dynamic fighter. Guto Inocente by submission. Staff picking Zwicker: Fraser, KJStaff picking Inocente: Stephie, Tim, Dallas, David, Brookhouse Gian Villante vs. Derrick Mehmen Tim Burke: Villante was on the 2011 BE Scouting Report, but he just never really panned out. He got dusted by Chad Griggs and dropped back to 205, but lost to Lorenz Larkin there. He's rebounded with two wins over marginal guys though. I'd say that Villante would probably have a better chance if he took the fight to the floor, but I think he can outstrike Mehmen too. I'm not exactly confident with the pick, but I'll go Gian Villante by decision. Dallas Winston: This should be a slugfest. Mehmen is truly a "caveman" and will come out swinging. He's a monster 205er and a load in the clinch too. Villante will have to out-box the brawler and use his speed and technique to survive the early onslaught. Gian Villante by decision. David Castillo: I'm not counting on Gian surviving Mehmen's onslaught. Derrick Mehmen by TKO, round 2. Staff picking Villante: Stephie, Tim, DallasStaff picking Mehmen: Fraser, KJ, David, Brookhouse Quinn Mulhern vs. Yuri Villefort Tim Burke: This is actually an excellent prospect matchup and should be on the main card. Villefort was the # 1 welterweight on the 2011 BE Scouting Report, Mulhern was # 8. Mulhern rebounded from a loss to Jason High in his SF debut to win two fights, while Villefort has been out for close to two years with various injuries. I think Villefort is the better fighter but 2 years off is a long time, even if you're only 21. This could be better than almost anything on the card. I want Mulhern to win, but logic says Yuri Villefort by decision. Dallas Winston: Mulhern has sick Jiu-Jitsu but lacks physical strength and quickness, and I see Villefort peppering on the feet, bullying him in the clinch and having the BJJ savvy to avoid Mulhern's clever submission attempts. Yuri Villefort by TKO. David Castillo: Villefort should be able to keep the fight standing, and rough up Mulhern wherever the fight goes. Yuri Villefort by decision. Staff picking Mulhern:Staff picking Villefort: Fraser, Stephie, KJ, Tim, Dallas, David, Brookhouse James Terry vs. Bobby Green: Tim Burke: James Terry is a tank at 155. Unless Bobby Green Lauzon's him a few times, I don't think he's going to be able to do a whole lot. James Terry by decision Dallas Winston: This fight will be a firecracker. James Terry has some ridiculous kickboxing prowess and he's been wrestling since age 5. Green is just as high-paced and aggressive but much wilder, so I expect an exciting back-and-forth match in which Terry's striking and wrestling technique prevails. James Terry by decision. David Castillo: I forgot about that Lauzon fight. Poor Tom Atencio. Anyway, I like Terry in this fight though not by much. I think Green is pretty scrappy, but he's not as polished, and perhaps that'll be the difference. James Terry by Decision. Staff picking Terry: Fraser, KJ, Tim, Dallas, David, BrookhouseStaff picking Green: Stephie

Posted in: fight, decision, barnett, tim, melendez

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It's almost to the point where you feel like you should feel sorry for Gilbert Melendez. Almost. The Strikeforce lightweight champion has been languishing in the second tier promotion as one of the most talented 155-pound fighters on Earth. He'll continue to do so for the foreseeable future, too. Tonight (Sat., May 19, 2012), he defends his title against an old rival, Josh Thomson, in the co-main event of the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" fight card set to go down on Showtime from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. That's part of why sympathy seems prudent. This is the third fight between these two and while they've split the first two meetings, their careers have gone on entirely different trajectories since they last met back in Dec. 2009. Melendez has been dominant, destroying Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Jorge Masvidal, respectively. He's been so good, in fact, that UFC President Dana White started speaking openly about bringing him over to swim with the sharks inside the Octagon. But that talk suddenly stopped, for reasons that were never made apparent, and "El Nino" has been stuck in Strikeforce ever since. And that means he's at the mercy of the talent pool available outside the UFC, which, in short, is quite shallow. Thomson is no can, don't mistake that. He's a former Strikeforce lightweight champion and he does own a victory over Melendez, although it came all the way back in 2008. That said, his 3-1 record since his loss to Melendez in the rematch is a tad misleading. Sure, he submitted Pat Healy with a rear-naked choke and looked extremely impressive considering the fact that he had broken two ribs early in the contest. But it went downhill from there. He was awarded a unanimous decision victory over Gesias Cavalcante that some would argue should have gone the other way. He followed that up by losing to Tatsuya Kawajiri before turning in an uninspired performance against K.J. Noons. He won a decision in that fight but his win hardly inspired confidence that he was ready to take on Melendez to complete their trilogy. Nonetheless, because of Strikeforce's dwindling roster, this is what we're left with. Melendez, one of the most talented lightweights in the world, giving out undeserved rematches. He signed a contract to stay in San Jose, so it's difficult to feel too sorry for the man. But it's difficult not to wonder how well he would do in the UFC if given the opportunity. A loss tonight could go a long ways toward changing that ... and not in a good way.

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, way, melendez

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Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez remained the undisputed Strikeforce Lightweight champion, after five rounds of war with Josh "The Punk" Thomson at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. Both fighters had their moments during the fight, but it was Gilbert Melendez who won on judges' scorecards via split decision 47-48, 48-47, 48-47. Melendez looked impressive on his feet, constantly changing levels, and tagging Thomson with a lot of strikes. But Thomson proved he can take a punch, as Gilbert Melendez quickly

Posted in: gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, thomson, punk thomson

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Interviews with Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix finalist Josh Barnett and Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez before they step into the cage tonight. Thanks to MMA Weekly for the clips. More clips after the jump.

Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, melendez, clip, strikeforce heavyweight

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With the lightweight strap on the line, 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez will conclude a trilogy with Josh Thomson in the co-main event of Saturday night's Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier show. The featured lineup starts at 10:00 p.m. ET on Showtime and includes a light-heavyweight rematch between Rafael Cavalcante and Mike Kyle along with a welterweight clash between Nah-Shon Burrell and Chris Spang. Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez (20-2) and Josh "The Punk" Thomson (19-4) have carried the Strikeforce lightweight division on their shoulders. Melendez amplified his credibility overseas with a monumental upset of Japanese bruiser Tatsuya Kawajiri and cemented it even further with stateside performances against Mitsuhiro Ishida (effectively avenging his first loss) and submission elitist Shinya Aoki. Thomson demonstrated his top-level status with a strong 2-3 run in the Octagon right before the UFC liquidated their lightweight division, notched a slick victory by kneebar in Pride and then held down the fort in Strikeforce with legit stoppages over Nam Phan (TKO) and Duane Ludwig (submission). Shortly after, Thomson got a crack at Melendez's championship and, in top form, unreeled 5-rounds of crisp kickboxing and staunch takedown defense to dethrone him. More Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Dissections Feijao vs. Kyle | Burrell vs. Spang | Preliminary Card Dissection The pair would trade ownership of the strap in their next encounter, after which Thomson's momentum faltered through a rash of ongoing injuries while Melendez ascended all the way up to the #3 spot in the consensus world lightweight rankings. Since their last match in 2009, Melendez has been flawless (decisions over Aoki and Jorge Masvidal; finished Kawajiri by TKO in the rematch) while Thomson has won 3 of 4 against excellent competition -- but definitely seems to have lost some of the spring in his step. Continued in the full entry. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier I don't think Thomson has ever received enough credit. In his prime, he was a downright mean S.O.B. with voracious wrestling and rapid-fire kickboxing. The magic ingredient of his style was the ability to explode offensively and generate velocity on his lightning-fast combinations and powerful takedowns. Additionally, as he did in his win over Melendez, Thomson could uphold a furious pace for a full 5-round fight. That high level of athleticism, conditioning and explosiveness has been lacking lately, and that's exactly why his past injures are getting so much attention and he's considered a different fighter. Thomson came out like his old, boisterous self in the first round against Pat Healy, Gesias Cavalcante and K.J. Noons, but fizzled out in the 2nd and 3rd. He's still a risk-taking scrapper, fully competent in all phases of combat and exciting as hell when he's not gassed. "El Nino" looks better in every performance. He was always a pressure-puncher and overbearing wrestler, but his striking displays against Tatsuya Kawajiri and Jorge Masvidal showed a substantial improvement in boxing technique. Melendez was clipping with short and tight punches that packed a big wallop, and also took complete ownership of the pace with agile, in-and-out footwork and excellent timing. He and Frankie Edgar are the rare type who almost seem to increase in activity as the fight progresses -- even after 20 minutes of energized combat. He appears to be more confident and dominant than ever before. In his loss to Thomson, he struggled to keep up with Thomson's intelligent phase-shifting. Thomson put leather all over him early and often, threw in beautiful level changes when they were trading in the pocket to take Gil down, mixed up his strike selection and fought tooth and nail for 25 minutes. That's the strategy Thomson needs to replicate and I just don't think he's got it in him. Neither fighter has ever been finished, so I expect a big gut- and heart-check for Thomson to avoid being overwhelmed when he slows down in later rounds. My Prediction: Gilbert Melendez by decision. Poll Gil Melendez vs. Josh Thomson Melendez Thomson   4 votes | Results

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, jorge masvidal, melendez, thomson

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Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez always knew a third fight with Josh Thomson was a possibility. And, while the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter had hoped Zuffa would bring over a fighter from the UFC, Melendez is prepared to go to war with Thomson once again. Melendez-Thomson will serve as the co-headliner at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final this Saturday night from San Jose, California. The main card will air live on Showtime starting at 10:00 PM EST. “El Nino” and “The Punk” have split their previous two meetings with Melendez winning in 2009 and Thomson in ’08. Both matches went five rounds. “I know what he’s got and I’ve been through that with him,” said Melendez, in a recent interview with Strikeforce’s website. “We’ve been through two five-round battles, and I feel like I do know him very well. You build a relationship because you respect the guy as well, but more so than anything, I know what he has and the main things I did take from that is I know he has a lot of heart, he has great conditioning, and he’s tough.” Melendez has not lost since that match with Thomson. He is currently on a six-fight winning streak with three stoppage victories and three decisions during that time. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, melendez, thomson, josh thomson, stoppage victories

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The Strikeforce lightweight title is on the line with two warriors gear up for their trilogy fight this Saturday night (May 19, 2012) as 155 pound champion Gilbert Melendez looks to defend his belt against Josh Thomson in the co-main event of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" in San Jose, California. Josh Thomson came back from a long layoff to defeat former welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons in his last bout, a performance he wasn't particularly proud of, but he got the title shot anyways due to the lack of depth in the promotion. He has a very interesting history, having spent 50 minutes thus far in the cage against Melendez, splitting their first two bouts and he'd love to win the rubber match. Gilbert Melendez is widely regarded as one of the best lightweights in the world. He's unbeaten in nearly four years and has avenged both of his losses. He still wants to be the number one ranked 155-er and he'll need to have a dominant showing against Thomson, the last man to beat him, if he wants to prove it. Will "El Nino" bring the heat against Thomson on Saturday night? Can Thomson gut through his nagging injuries and pull off the upset? What's the key to victory for both men this weekend? Let's find out: Josh Thomson Record: 19-4 (1 no contest) overall, 10-2 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson), Pat Healy (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum), K.J. Noons (Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey) Key Losses: Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce: Evolution), Tatsuya Kawajiri (Dynamite!! 2010), Yves Edwards (UFC 49) How he got here: Josh Thomson, now 33 years old, has been competing in mixed martial arts professionally since 2001. After just six fights, he was already making his UFC debut in 2003, which was right before the promotion shut down the division for a few years. "The Punk" went 2-1 in the UFC before transitioning to Strikeforce where, after losing a title fight against Clay Guida in his debut, he was able to take over the division with an eight fight winning streak which included capturing the title and defending it twice, even defeating Gilbert Melendez in a thrilling five round battle. Unfortunately for the American Kickboxing Academy product, Thomson would suffer a series of leg injuries which forced Strikeforce to create an interim championship, and he would lose his title to Gilbert Melendez in his return. Since losing hit belt, Thomson has narrowly squeaked past Pat Healy and JZ Cavalcante and was defeated by Tatsuya Kawajiri. He's had his Strikeforce return delayed by another long string of injuries but was finally healthy and ground out an ugly decision in his last bout against Noons to earn his shot. How he gets it done: Josh Thomson is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. He's got a very well-rounded game and, when healthy, he's one of the most dangerous lightweights in the world. In the stand-up department, he should really focus on bringing back those brutal push kicks which were so effective in the first fight with Gilbert Melendez. He got away from them in the rematch and he hasn't really gone back to them much, but they are really powerful and can keep "El Nino" off-balance. I'd highly recommend he not stand and trade punches with Melendez in the pocket as he'll just be asking for trouble. Thomson likely has a short window in this fight so if he wants to make something happen, he needs to do it early. I don't know what his cardio will be like, but his best round the last time against Melendez was the first and he'll likely only have 10 minutes tops before Melendez completely takes over so he has to make the most of it. Gilbert Melendez Record: 20-2 overall, 10-1 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Shinya Aoki (Strikeforce: Nashville), Clay Guida (Strikeforce: Revenge), Tatsuya Kawajiri 2x (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, Pride Shockwave 2006) Key Losses: none How he got here: Gilbert Melendez had his first professional fight in the WEC, actually becoming the first Strikeforce lightweight champion in just his fourth professional bout. After a terrific run in Shooto, Melendez would debut in Strikeforce, eventually defeating Clay Guida to capture the Strikeforce lightweight title. After losing his Strikeforce title to Josh Thomson in the middle of 2008, Gilbert would go on to win the interim title and then avenge both of his career losses to Mitsuhiro Ishida and Thomson, unifying the belts in the process. The Cesar Gracie fighter handily defeated consensus number two-ranked lightweight (at the time), Shinya Aoki, on national television at Strikeforce in Nashville last April. Melendez accepted a title defense against Kawajiri on relatively late notice last year and then absolutely thrashed him with a first round technical knockout victory. He made great use of the new unified rules Strikeforce employed, blasting "Crusher" with a series of elbows to the head. There were rumors of him joining many of his fellow champions in the UFC, but instead he defended his belt against Jorge Masvidal in a rather lackluster affair. After Nate Diaz gave him a tremendous shoutout on national television, calling him the best in the world at lightweight, Melendez will have a shot to prove it on Saturday night. How he gets it done: Where he once stood a sloppy, brawling wrestler, now stands as a very aggressive and technically sound striker. Melendez can pick his opponents apart with his jab or he can lunge inside and go to work with his powerful and precise hooks. He's got a multitude of weapons at his disposal and don't be surprised one bit to see him really utilize his elbows, even standing if the fight enters the clinch or gets up close and personal. Melendez still has the wrestling base to fall back on, but I don't expect him to go to the ground unless he hurts Thomson standing. He's going to be using his footwork to create an opening to pounce inside and land big strikes. He wants to prove he's the best lightweight in the world and he can't afford to slip here. Expect Melendez to be very aggressive, perhaps even leaving himself open to counters simply because he wants to continue making statements. After having gone the distance against Thomson the last two times around, there would be no bigger statement than if he can finish "The Punk" early in the first. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight has to be the injuries, age and the wear and tear on Josh Thomson. He looked great the first time he faced Melendez but that seems like an eternity ago now. He's gone through so many leg, foot and knee injuries since that he is not going to have the same hop in his step, the same conditioning, the same power or the same anything. Melendez, however, is still very much in his prime and has looked solid in his last few fights. If Thomson isn't 100 percent, he might be on the receiving end of a serious beatdown, especially as this fight moves into the later rounds Bottom Line: I expect both men to come out of the gate on fire. The first round of the last Melendez-Thomson fight was one of my favorite rounds of 2010. Both guys can still bring it and they've got a strong history with each other. I expect them to exit their comfort zones in a hurry and get right down to slugging it out and trying to take each other's heads off. However long this fight lasts, it should be entertaining, much more entertaining than Thomson's last bout against Noons. Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier?" Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will be the Strikeforce lightweight champion when it is all said and done on Saturday night? Gilbert Melendez Josh Thomson   2 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, melendez, gilbert, thomson

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Josh Thomson holds a win over Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, something only one other man on Earth can say. With that 2008 win, Thomson won the Strikeforce title, a belt that Gilbert won back in their rematch the following year. Thomson will face Melendez for a third time this Saturday in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier and he spoke to "TheSHOOT" about the fight and what it means for him: Quote after the jump... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Here's the quote as transcribed by MMA Mania: If there's one thing people can never take away from me, it's that I've been a world champion. There's only a handful of people in the world that can say they've been a mixed martial arts world champion and I'm a legit world champion. At the time I beat Gilbert Melendez, he was ranked number three in the world, I believe, and there was a lot of talk about him being even higher than that. Now he's basically considered to be number one and I'm sittin' in the same spot as when I beat him the first time. Gettin' no respect and no one cared and it's gonna end up bein' the same type of fight.

Posted in: world, strikeforce, champion, melendez, thomson

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Being a big fish in a small pond can be a frustrating endeavor in the subjective, insulated world of mixed martial arts. Fairly or unfairly, a fighter is often only as good as his résumé, and when that résumé begins lacking the flashier names of his counterparts, regaining momentum to climb up the divisional rankings can seem like an impossible task. It's an inherently skewed system, but it's the only one we've got, and it's the one the Gilbert Melendez has been struggling with for years. Despite being universally heralded as one of the top-three lightweights in the world, Melendez has drifted into divisional limbo as the Strikeforce lightweight champion. With a roster devoid of any glitzy names or world-ranked opponents, the 30-year-old fighter has found himself fighting a parade of barely top-20 opposition, from last year's bout against Jorge Masvidal to this week's rubber match against Josh Thomson. For Melendez, the lukewarm reception to his fights is a tough hurdle to clear. "It's not the easiest to be motivated for," he conceded on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "Part of being the champ is just defending the belt a little bit, and that's just what I've got to do. It's tough, but the paychecks, my family, my team, and just my fans, that motivates me. It's what I do. Regardless of being motivated, there's no question if I'm going to train or not." Making matters more frustrating, as Melendez prepares for a third fight against Thomson, rumors of an injury to Thomson's knee have seemingly tempered public anticipation for the match, which unfortunately already bordered on tepid. To his credit, Thomson has refuted all claims of a significant injury, instead voicing frustration with certain members of the MMA media for irresponsible reporting. While Melendez isn't quite sure what to believe, he'd be a fool to overlook an opponent who has already beaten him once. "To be honest, if you're 100-percent walking into the cage, you probably didn't train hard enough," Melendez explained. "Maybe some guys have to do whatever they have to do to get motivated, make it easy for themselves -- I'm not saying that's what he's doing -- but I'm definitely not anticipating an injured Josh Thomson. That'd be stupid of me. I'm anticipating a 100-percent guy ready to bang it out with me and take advantage of the great opportunity he's been given." Even as Melendez says the right things, it's clear the frustration of fighting another non-big name is starting to boil over. More so than usual, in fact, because for a while it looked like a headline-worthy superfight was headed his way. Earlier this year, word spread that Zuffa was looking to tap the services of legendary UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn to come over to Strikeforce and challenge "El Nino" for his belt. It would have been one of stiffest tests of Melendez's career, but ultimately, plans were scrapped and Penn later referred to a move to Strikeforce as a "downgrade." "I was having some high hopes, and I think even Dana (White) had high hopes," Melendez admitted. "It was looking positive. I don't know the politics behind-the-scenes and I don't know exactly what happened, but it just never came to. "I understand why no one (will come). I think Strikeforce and Showtime is a great promotion, and they've done great things, but it's no secret that the main stage is the UFC. Some people don't want to go into Strikeforce, and maybe, they don't want to get stuck there. I understand where they're coming from." Truthfully, Melendez also understands that the public doesn't have much sympathy for his plight after the fighter elected to re-sign a lucrative, long-term deal with Strikeforce early last year. And besides, he knows he has a life that many would envy, so for now, Melendez is focusing on the positives and hoping everything will work itself out. "I've got to be optimistic and look at the glass half full right now," he said resolutely. "I'm doing what I love. I'm getting paid well, and I never imagined I'd be here. I was fighting barnyards deep down for $200. I'm old-school in this sport. I'd never thought I'd see it come this far, and I'm appreciative of what I've got."

Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, im, thomson

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Clay Guida speaks to Dustin De La Torre about Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson and believes that Melendez is at his peak right now. He also comments on his upcoming fight with Gray Maynard.   in association with fight hub tv

Posted in: right, clay guida, melendez, game right, peak right

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Despite having spent 10 rounds together already, there has been no trash talk between Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez before their rubber match for the Strikeforce lightweight championship this Saturday night. No bad blood, no mean mugging, just a high level of respect between two professionals who know that no matter what happens before they step into the cage at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, when the bell rings, they’re going to have to fight just as hard as they always have, talk or no talk.That’s just the way Thomson likes it.“People always talk about how they love watching the grudge fights,” said the number one contender for the crown. “Granted, they make for great hype videos and stuff, but when it comes down to the fights, if you think about it, the fights generally end up being boring because both fighters are afraid of losing to that person that they hate so much. But Gil and I, we have a mutual respect for each other, and my honest opinion is, if I lose to him I know he’s gonna be a gentleman, I know he’s not gonna talk down or talk bad about anything to do with me or the sport, and it’s easier to fight harder against somebody like that, knowing that no matter what happens, they’re going to show you respect. When it’s somebody that you hate, you’re really afraid to pull the trigger because you don’t want anything to happen to you where you get caught or knocked out. You don’t want that guy to have bragging rights over you. With Gil, we’re 1-1 right now, both fights have been Fight of the Year candidates, and they’ve both been impressive fights.”Truer words have never been spoken. In boxing, Maurice Blocker and Simon Brown were best friends, but their 1991 fight for the welterweight title was one of the most brutal back-and-forth brawls ever. In MMA, Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture were cordial and respectful toward each other, but they had no problem punching each other over the course of their own trilogy. The same goes for Thomson and Melendez. No, they’re not best buddies, but after two championship fights in 2008 and 2009 (the first won by Thomson, the second by Melendez), they have developed an admiration and respect for each other that can only be created through the cage battles they’ve endured.“There’s no doubt about that,” said Thomson with a chuckle. “I’d say we know each other pretty damn well. If you listened to Gil commentate my last fight with KJ (Noons), he was kinda calling out the positioning I was gonna use and do before I was actually even doing it in the ring. So he knows me pretty well, I know him very well, and I know that if I go for the knockout and I land three punches and follow him, he’s still gonna be standing, he’s still gonna be right there. He’s definitely not gonna back down, and if anything, he’s gonna push forward. That’s the kind of fighter he is, that’s the person he is, so I don’t anticipate him changing anything in his mentality because that’s the way he’s been ever since I’ve known him and he’s always been that fighter inside that when you hit him with a good shot, he wants to show you that he can take it and he wants to be right back in your face and let you know it didn’t bother him. There’s a lot you can know about a guy by spending that much time in the ring with him.”Winner of three of four bouts since he lost his Strikeforce title back to Melendez, the man he won it from 18 months prior, Thomson’s greatest nemesis may not even be “El Nino,” but the injuries that have hampered him throughout his career. So there was great anticipation for the San Jose native’s return to the cage in March after a nearly 15 month layoff. Asking the Strikeforce brass for the fastest road to the title, he was matched with talented striker KJ Noons, and while it wasn’t vintage Thomson, he got the unanimous decision win. Initially, “The Punk” was critical of himself and his performance, but upon further viewing, he was able to learn to live with the result.“I was hard on myself, but I wasn’t disappointed with my performance in how I was able to get the job done,” he explains. “I thought I should have been able to finish him, submission wise or ground and pound, but I had cut back on my training so much that I was really exhausted for that fight. I was tired. I always considered myself to be one of the more fit athletes, and I’ve always been in shape, ready to fight, and this fight was something I hadn’t experienced in years, feeling tired like that. So I felt that had I been in better shape, I would have been able to finish him, probably in the second or third round. But you have to take the win when you can. When you don’t perform to your best ability and still get the win against somebody like him, you really gotta look at the positives of that and that’s kinda what I did after the fact. I was upset with myself in the ring, but then later on, a week or two down the road, I actually went back and looked at it. I dominated the fight in all areas; I just needed to focus more on my conditioning and get back to the hard training I used to do.”By the time the dust settled on the Noons fight, the die had been cast for his next one, a championship bout against Melendez, a rubber match that was almost inevitable given their history and standing in the organization. Add in that this weekend’s event is taking place in the backyard of both Bay Area battlers, and this was a natural.“Yeah, of course,” said Thomson. “Obviously I think the two of us are the best guys in Strikeforce, so I think when that happens, we always find a way to meet at the top. When I beat him the first time, he made his way back up to me, and now I made my way back up to him. So it was just a matter of time, and this is where we ended up.”Yet despite their history, Thomson doesn’t believe the results of his first two meetings with Melendez will have too much, if any, bearing on what happens the third time around.“I beat him in ‘08 and that doesn’t do anything for me, and he beat me at the end of ‘09, so realistically it doesn’t do anything,” he said. “Those fights were years ago, and a lot of things have changed. Our games have changed, our age has changed, our mentality has changed, and I think the way we fight has changed a little bit. I think we’ve both gotten better and more confident in our skills, and things have changed. If I go in there with the mindset of ‘I’m gonna fight him the way I fought the first fight,’ he’s changed it up a little bit and he’s learned from that first fight a lot. So if I go back to just trying to do that, it’s not gonna work. And if he thinks I’m gonna fight him the same way I did last time, he’s mistaken, because I’m not gonna be that stupid to just go out there and brawl with him. He can expect me to try and pick him apart and do a lot of things that I did similar to the first fight, but I just gotta make sure I get in and get out and use my speed. That’s the biggest thing.”And while the fight is technically the co-main event to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final between Josh Barnett and Thomson’s AKA teammate Daniel Cormier, another five round classic with Thomson and Melendez in the birthplace of the promotion could not only steal the show, but amp the company’s profile up even higher. That would be a satisfying result all around for the 33-year old veteran.“Gil and I have been with the organization since the beginning and it’s nice to know that they’ve built the promotion around the two of us, along with Cung Le and Frank Shamrock,” he said. “The four of us feel like we carried this promotion on our backs to make it as successful as it has been, and it’s been wonderful. We’ll see what happens and where it goes from here, but at the end of the day, as a fighter, we just really worry about going in there, putting the best fights together that we can and giving the fans what they want. I’ve hit the age where it’s not so much about the wins and the losses anymore; it’s about really going out there and seeing what I still have left in the tank and just showing that I still want this. That’s a fight you have with yourself every day. As an athlete, you have to ask yourself ‘do you still want this?’ And certain fighters bring it out in you. Gil is one of those guys I’m gonna go and train my ass for, and there’s no doubt about it. He’s found a way to bring it out of me to perform my best and that’s really what it comes down to.”  

Posted in: fight, way, ’t, melendez, thomson

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Gilbert Melendez isn’t exaggerating when he calls Nate Diaz’ win over Jim Miller on May 5th the “most important night” of his friend’s life. It was a network televised win against a legit contender that thrust the Stocktonite into a UFC title fight, and sitting back home in Northern California, Melendez, the Strikeforce lightweight champion, couldn’t have been prouder of his longtime training partner.But as soon as the fight ended, Diaz, speaking to the world, didn’t heap praise on himself; instead, he told anyone listening about Melendez and his place in the 155-pound pecking order. It was a selfless act from Diaz, and an unforgettable one for “El Nino.”“We are one hundred percent family, and I was touched,” said Melendez. “There are no words for me to explain what he did. It was the most important night of his life and he shared the spotlight with me and the rest of our team, and me especially. It feels really good and I’m proud of him as well. We go through this together a lot and he knows the road I’m on and I know the road he’s on, and we’re only as good as our last fight, so it’s a rollercoaster, but it feels really good.” Melendez pauses, then continues.“He didn’t have to do that at all.”But Diaz did do it, adding to the chorus of voices proclaiming Melendez as an elite lightweight in one of the sport’s most competitive divisions. It’s recognition that the Santa Ana native is appreciative of, even if he had to watch as the furor over a rumored move to the UFC died down.“As a fighter and from my peers and the media who are educated in the sport, I’ve done a lot,” he said. “I’ve been ranked pound for pound, I’ve avenged losses, I’ve done some great things, and I can live with myself with that.” He’s been unbeaten for over three years, has had two reigns as Strikeforce’s lightweight champion, and wins over the likes of his Saturday opponent Josh Thomson, Shinya Aoki, Clay Guida, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Rumina Sato, and Jorge Masvidal, speak for themselves. Consider that he has avenged the only two losses of his 20-2 career (to Thomson and Mitsuhiro Ishida) as well, and you can understand why fans and pundits salivated at the idea of Melendez crossing over like another training partner of his, Nick Diaz, as well as recent UFC signees Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, and Lavar Johnson. Those rumored plans were put on hold though, and the 30-year old Melendez has moved on, ready to continue his reign in Strikeforce by being even more dominant in the cage.“I had to redo my goals,” he said. “Right now my goal is to represent my team well, make a living for my family, to continue to become a better mixed martial artist, and I want to take some risks out there and not just win. I want to go out there and perform and have some fun. I’ve been having a lot more fun in my training, and that doesn’t mean I’m not training hard; it just means I’m trying new things, I’m being more aggressive, and that’s my way to stay motivated.”And if he needed any more of a push, he’s got it in the form of fellow Northern Californian Thomson, a respected rival looking to regain the title he lost to Melendez in 2009. Both of their bouts (Thomson won the first meeting in 2008) were heated five round battles, and after 10 rounds in the cage together, Melendez has a pretty good idea of what “The Punk” is bringing to the HP Pavilion in San Jose this weekend.“I feel like I do,” he said. “I know what he’s got and I’ve been through that with him. We’ve been through two five round battles, and I feel like I do know him very well. You build a relationship because you respect the guy as well, but more so than anything, I know what he has and the main things I did take from that is I know he has a lot of heart, he has great conditioning, and he’s tough.”Melendez-Thomson III also has the potential to do one of two things. It can either show Melendez off as a dominant champion getting better by the day, or if Thomson wins or has a stellar performance in a close fight, it can be the ray of hope for other 155-pounders in the organization that the division isn’t all Melendez all the time. That’s a lot for the 10-year pro to have on his plate, but he’s dealing with it well while also looking forward to possible defenses against contenders like Pat Healy or Gesias Cavalcante.“Obviously I anticipate a tough Josh Thomson, but I always look forward,” he admits. So what’s the plan for the future?“The plan is to win.”That begins on Saturday, and like every fight for Melendez these days, no matter the venue, he has to win to keep everything he’s worked so hard for intact. So if Thomson’s expecting to see the same fighter he fought twice before, “El Nino” has a surprise for him.“I think the difference between me and Josh is he thinks he knows me like he knew me in 2009, and I see him and I feel like he hasn’t evolved,” said Melendez. “He’s always tough, he’s always in shape, but the difference between me and him now is that I’ve been working my butt off day in and day out to become a better striker, wrestler, and mixed martial artist, and I plan on showing that. And I want to be way more aggressive. This is part of my goal of having a good time in there. It’s not sitting back and just winning and fighting. I want to get in there and I want to throw those dogs and I want to do it intelligently and technically. I think it’s gonna be one of those fights where I force this guy to fight me.”

Posted in: fight, ’t, ’ve, melendez, thomson

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It is always painful for us fans to see a fighter or athlete we have grown up watching be forced to hang ‘em up before their time. I can only imagine how hard it must be for the athlete themselves knowing they are still in peak physical condition, still capable of achieving great things and [...]

Posted in: time i, couple months, athlete, month, melendez

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"My goal was to become the UFC champ and that might be put on hold for a little bit so now my goal is to do my best, become a better mixed martial artist, and put on a show for the fans, and represent my team well. That's what motivates me and so does the paycheck, so let's do it... Of course I want to finish Josh. I want bad intentions towards him; I want to destroy this guy. I want to make a statement but if a great fighter shows up and it's a war, then it's a war. I don't plan on sitting back and cruising through a victory, sitting on a lead or something like that. I want to take some risks and I plan on it." -- Gilbert Melendez has had to put his dreams of being the number one lightweight in the world and the UFC champion on the backburner ever since the Ultimate Fighting Championship stopped signing over its talent. Speaking to MMA Weekly, the Strikeforce lightweight champion discusses taking out his frustrations on a man he's had some major history with in former Strikeforce 155 pound champion Josh Thomson. Melendez and Thomson split their first two meetings in a pair of five round wars which were two of the best fights of their respective years. Will history repeat itself or can "El Nino's" dream of a big finish against "The Punk" come true this Saturday night (May 19. 2012) at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier?"

Posted in: strikeforce, champion, gilbert melendez, melendez, thomson

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Gilbert Melendez has found new motivation since a UFC future seems unlikely, so now instead he's going to take out his aggression on Josh Thomson. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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In a week Gilbert Melendez will put his Strikeforce title on the line against Josh Thomson, the latest in a line of talented foes “El Nino” has faced lacking elite status. While a win over Thomson is an accomplishment to be proud of, it’s also one doing little to cement Melendez’s place at the top of the 155-pound division. Melendez is all too familiar with the unfortunate truth that the world’s best lightweights do their work inside the Octagon, even going so far as to ask Zuffa to bring one or two over for him to tackle given that the company owns both Strikeforce and the UFC. The 30-year old Californian recently addressed his current reality where his attitude seemed to be one of mild acceptance mixed with understandable disappointment. “I think the common fan still hears my name and says, ‘Who the hell is that? I think the reason is because they haven’t seen me fight or that I’m not in the UFC,” explained Melendez in an interview with Heavy.com. “I get respect from my fellow fighters, but the common fan doesn’t know who I am because they don’t follow Strikeforce the way they follow the UFC.” “I wish some of these guys in the UFC would take the risk,” Melendez continued on his frustration with seemingly being bogged down in the prime of his career. “At the end of the day I understand the business moves. I’m sure their managers tell them fighting me in Strikeforce isn’t the best business move, and I understand.” At one time, both B.J. Penn and Anthony Pettis were named as possible options according to Melendez’s camp with some confirmation coming from UFC President Dana White as well. Though the future of Strikeforce remains uncertain, and he may not necessarily be happy about his circumstances, Melendez still seems intent on finishing out his deal with the organization before moving on (or moving over to the UFC’s roster as the case may be). “I’m going to be with Strikeforce for a while, or at least until my contract is up. I have this fight plus three more, and I respect that,” said Melendez, showing he’s a man of honor above all else. If Melendez gets by Thomson there appear to be slim pickings in terms of future contenders to the crown. First in line is likely Pat Healy who is on a four-fight winning streak or possibly Eddie Alvarez if Zuffa decides to sign him away from Bellator when he becomes a free agent in a few months. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, ’t, ’m, melendez

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has heard Josh Thomson injury rumors before their last two fights. He still expects a game opponent on May 19. The champ talks to HeavyMMA's Duane...

Posted in: gilbert melendez, melendez, champ talks, game opponent, thomson

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According to a report by underground journalist Front Row Brian, Josh “The Punk” Thomson has injured his knee and now his scheduled Strikeforce lightweight title fight against Gilbert Melendez is now in jeopardy. The two are scheduled to meet on the main card of the Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Cormier event, which is slated to take place on May 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. FRB reports that Thomson blew the posterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees, a major injury that would make it very difficult for Thomson to compete next weekend. Melendez and Thomson are bound for their third meeting at what will be Strikeforce’s 40th event. In their first encounter, Thomson defeated Melendez by unanimous decision to take El Niño’s Strikeforce title back in 2008. In the 2009 rematch, Melendez avenged the loss and reclaimed his title by handing Thomson a unanimous decision loss. No official word yet on Thomson’s injury or any planned replacement opponents. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: title, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, thomson

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It's difficult to find an elite fighter in a more unenviable position than Gilbert Melendez. The Strikeforce lightweight champion is caught in some sort of negotiated space where he can't be poached for the UFC's needs, yet UFC is seemingly unable to find anyone from its considerable roster to take the up the Strikeforce challenge against him. At this point, Melendez knows he's stuck. That doesn't mean, however, he's got a negative attitude about it all. At least not right now. "Obviously to be the number one fighter in the world you got to be the UFC champ. It's just the way it is," Melendez told the media on conference call on Thursday to promote his co-main event bout at the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. "And right now I'm just trying to put on shows and get better in the sport. It's just to get better and take some risk out there." Translation: I can't advance my career, so I might as well focus on being an entertainer who takes risks in fights I should be able to win rather handily. This is the position Melendez occupies today. He's facing Josh Thomson for the third time on May 19th in a fight that's very winnable and does nothing to advance his position as one of MMA's three top-ranked lightweights. Thomson is no pushover, but if Melendez is as focused on winning as he is winning with flash and style, maybe it's not the appropriate fight for someone at his level. Melendez's limbo didn't always seem hopeless. UFC President Dana White once suggested Melendez would be welcomed into the UFC lightweight division. Top UFC lightweights were also rumored to be going to Strikeforce to give Melendez the fights he merited. "Well, I initially had those discussions and there was some hope of maybe fighting BJ. [Penn]. Even some talk of maybe Gray [Maynard]," Melendez confirmed during the call. Those discussions, however, never amounted to any change and Melendez's situation is unchanged. "But, that's all it was, talk. It never became inked in paper or nothing like that." With neither possibility likely to ever happen, the Strikeforce champion is forcing himself to not dwell on dreams deferred. "I'm not worried about [becoming the top lightweight in the world] no more," said Melendez. "I'm just going to keep doing my thing and performing and I'm trying not to look at that anymore. I'm just trying to find different motivations like the paycheck and my team and my family." Is there really an upside to Melendez's predicament? Maybe. It can't be all bad, right? Without the challenges that come with facing the world's absolute best, Melendez suggests there is a good side to be had. Specifically, he believes training is more fun, his stress levels lower and he can focus camps around generally getting better as a fighter without too much attention being paid to a particular opponent. "It's actually been good. It's been fun," Melendez suggested. "I'm going to be doing this for a long time. I hear Josh Barnett talking about he's been fighting for 15 years. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to have fun and not be stressed going out to every practice and just do the best I can do." You have to hand it to Melendez. His situation would drive a lesser man to the point of frustrated madness. Yet, the 30-year-old champion seems intent to not let the limits of his Strikeforce predicament dictate whether he's able to be fulfilled. For now, there's nothing he can reasonably do except win and improve, so Melendez is forcing himself to dwell only on the portions of his life that can be changed or improved. "And, that's what I've been doing. Just training my butt off and the stress is there but not so bad. And, it is what it is. I just got to roll with the punches on this."

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Nate Diaz has positioned himself for a run at the UFC lightweight championship. His training partner and close friend, Gilbert Melendez, currently holds the Strikeforce lightweight title. So, as frequent training partners, how does Diaz feel he stacks up with Melendez? Well, he let us all know in a recent interview with Sherdog. I’ve been [...]

Posted in: diaz, training partners, nate diaz, training partner, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson collide next week for the third time. Catch a preview of that fight and highlights from their first two meetings.

Posted in: strikeforce, josh, melendez, gilbert, thomson

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On a conference call today concerning the Strikeforce® Heavyweight Grand Prix Final scheduled for May 19, fighters Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez fielded questions from the media. Melendez answered the burning question of his future as a fighter.  Specifically his multi-year contract with Strikeforce® and his one-time goal of being the number one Lightweight in the world: "Obviously, to be the number one guy in the world, you've got to be a champion in the UFC. I have changed my goals.

Posted in: strikeforce, goal, gilbert melendez, melendez, ufc i

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When Nate Diaz was interviewed in the Octagon following his tour-de-force win over Jim Miller at last weekend's UFC on FOX 3 card in New Jersey, he left no doubt who he considered the number-one lightweight in the world: Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez. You'd expect him to say this, of course, since the two are training partners. But figuring out where Melendez should rank, exactly, isn't so cut and dried. With six straight wins, the 20-2 Melendez has the second-longest current win streak of any top-10 lightweight, trailing only unbeaten Bellator champ Michael Chandler (10). During that run, "El Nino" avenged his only two career losses, to Josh Thomson and Mitsuhiro Ishida. But can Strikeforce provide the quality of competition necessary to make a case for Melendez as No. 1? Strikeforce has put together Melendez and Josh Thomson in San Jose on May 19 in what might be the least-anticipated trilogy fight of recent times. If Melendez wins that matchup, as most expect, then what? Strikeforce's 155-pound division is running pretty thin these days. As is its stable of bankable headline talent. With Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Dan Henderson all back in the UFC; Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos suspended due to steroids, and the seemingly interminable heavyweight tournament finally winding down next week. Showtime isn't about to let go of one of the few remaining television draws it has at its disposal, which means Melendez might fritter away his prime against less-than-elite competition. Diaz could very well be correct in calling Melendez the best in the world. But as long as Melendez is in Strikeforce, we'll never find out. (Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.) 1. Benson Henderson (4) If you want to find something to nitpick about the champion, he hasn't finished an opponent since submitting Donald Cerrone back in 2010. Beyond that, there's not much to criticize about the current king of the hill. 2. Gilbert Melendez (2) It's probably not fair that Melendez is being judged for a situation that's out of his control. But at the same time, the situation puts more pressure on the champ to look impressive in each outing, beginning with his bout against Thomson. 3. Frankie Edgar (1) When undersized fighters who take a lot of damage hit their career turning point, it happens in the blink of an eye. I'm not saying Edgar is there yet, but he's taken beatings in his past several fights and he's only won one of his past three. 4. Nate Diaz (10) The hottest fighter at 155 pounds not wearing major-promotion gold at the moment. Will a long wait for the winner of the Henderson-Edgar rematch serve to cool him off. 5. Gray Maynard (3) Yes, I'm aware Maynard beat Diaz on a split decision two-and-a-half years ago and that I'm ranking Diaz ahead of Maynard anyway. But Maynard hasn't won a fight in 21 months, while Diaz has blazed his way through the weight class. The good news for "The Bully" is that he can rectify this next month when he meets the next fighter on the list. 6, Clay Guida (5) The only loss on his record in this decade was his Fight of the Year-candidate decision against Ben Henderson in November. But he's hardly the only one to lose to Bendo, and a win over Maynard would put him right back into the Top 5. 7. Anthony Pettis (6) Still nothing on the docket for "Showtime," who has won seven of his past eight fights. Highly unlikely it will be a UFC title shot, though. 8. Jim Miller (7) Miller had a strong run in winning seven consecutive UFC fights form 2009-11. But he's also 0-4 against guys ranked ahead of him on this list. He will need a strong win in his next outing to stay ranked. 9. Michael Chandler (NR) The unbeaten Bellator champ KOd Japanese legend Akihiro Gono directly into retirement. 10. Eddie Alvarez (NR) The Philly phenom rebounded from his Bellator title loss to Chandler with a convincing TKO of Shinya Aoki, avenging a previous loss. Want more? Then check out Bloody Elbow's consensus rankings for each weight class from bantamweight to heavyweight.

Posted in: fight, diaz, strikeforce, melendez, maynard

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At one point in time Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez felt like he was headed to the UFC, following the footsteps of his fellow Strikeforce fighters such as Dan Henderson, Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, and Alistair Overeem. However, today he still calls Strikeforce his home, remaining as the promotion’s main star. Now, as he prepares for a third bout with Josh Thomson, “El Nino” understands why UFC President Dana White left him to carry the flag of Strikeforce. Of course, that doesn’t mean Melendez doesn’t want to face the likes of UFC lightweight title-holder Benson Henderson, Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard and his other highly-touted peers who do their business inside the Octagon. “I’m coming for all the 155-pounders and I really want to prove I’m No. 1,” said Melendez in a recent interview with MMAWeekly. “Part of being No. 1 is beating everyone, every match-up. I think I can beat every style out there.” Melendez and Thomson have split their previous two meetings. Their bout will be the co-main event on May 19 on Showtime. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, melendez, time strikeforce, highlytouted peers

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Former UFC champion B.J. Penn stopped by The MMA Hour recently to discuss what has become a weekly question with the MMA media: Will Penn compete again? While he didn’t confirm – or deny – his retirement plans, Penn did offer up his explanation for turning down a fight with Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, [...]

Posted in: bj penn, mma hour, penn, melendez, mma media

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Things were supposed to have gone differently, but Gilbert Melendez got stranded out on an island as part of the Strikeforce deal with Showtime. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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Gilbert Melendez (20-2) is scheduled to fight Josh Thomson (19-4-1) for a third time on May 19, 2012 in San Jose, California at Strikeforce 40: Barnett vs. Cormier. The odds are favoring Melendez, and even though Thomson is coming off a recent victory, his last loss was to Tatsuya Kawajiri (31-7-2), whom Melendez had defeated in 2011. The question becomes: What happens next for Melendez? Dana White has gone on record saying that he wanted to bring Melendez over to UFC. White went so far as to attempt to

Posted in: fight, gilbert melendez, melendez, thomson, melendez dana

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight and Welterweight Champion B.J. Penn fighting under the Strikeforce banner on Showtime? Hawaii don't play dat. Despite an abysmal 1-3-1 record over his last five fights,"The Prodigy" wanted nothing to do with a superfight against reigning Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, who's riding out his current contract in the bowels of San Jose. Penn wasn't scared, just retired. UFC President Dana White (via MMA Fighting) explains what happened, after the jump. "Gilbert Melendez is a Strikeforce fighter and he's been great dealing with it. He wants to come over [to the UFC] and he wants to challenge himself against the best and I know a lot of other people want to see it too, but he's in that Strikeforce deal. I tried to do [Melendez vs. Penn], but it was at a time when BJ was like 'Yeah, I'm not fighting for awhile.' The thing that sucks for Gilbert is that I was 100 percent fired up and gung ho to go over there and work on Strikeforce, but the whole thing fell apart." Penn came up short as the main event headliner for UFC 137 back on Oct. 29, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The unanimous decision win for Nick Diaz, which left Penn battered and bruised, sent him straight into an Interim title bout against Carlos Condit at UFC 143. And sent "The Prodigy" straight into retirement. Penn said he'll be back "if he ever feels it again," which could lead White to move forward with plans to bring his mixed martial arts (MMA) brand to Hawaii. Stay tuned.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, penn, melendez, gilbert

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Dana White sat down with the media following the UFC on FOX 3 pre-fight press conference to talk about a variety of topics including Ronda Rousey, King Mo, Gilbert Melendez and more. Video via MMA Fighting

Posted in: melendez, gilbert, king, rousey, ronda

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Sometimes the rumors, no matter how vociferously denied. are true. A few months back there was a little bit of commotion to the effect that Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez wanted to face one of the top names from the UFC, someone like B.J. Penn. And Melendez certainly has a right to call out anyone in the Lightweight division. He's currently the #3 ranked LW in the world according to the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings. He's cleaned out the Strikeforce 155lb division. At the time UFC president Dana White had to shoot those rumors down. Now the truth can be told. Dana wanted to book Melendez vs. B.J. Penn but couldn't talk the mercurial Penn into taking the fight. Instead Melendez will face Josh Thomson for the third time. He lost to Thomson in 2008 but won a rematch in 2009. More after the jump...More Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier coverage from SBN White spoke to MMA Junkie and here's what he said: "I tried to do [Melendez vs. Penn], but it was at the time when B.J. was like, 'Yeah, I'm not fighting for a while.'" It's good to know that White is at least trying to secure better opponents for Melendez and presumably the other Strikeforce champions. It's not clear what exactly is the issue, but it is clear that the alliance between Showtime and the Zuffa-owned Strikeforce is not working for the fighters under contract to Strikeforce. Penn has indicated he might be interested in fighting at 170lbs again soon. I would love to see Penn fight for the vacant Strikeforce title against Tyron Woodley, Kazuo Misaki or even Paul Daley.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, penn, bj, melendez

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UFC president Dana White, in an interview with MMA Junkie following Thursday’s pre-fight press conference for UFC on FOX 3, confirmed that he did his best to get B.J. Penn and Gilbert Melendez inside the cage together. I tried to do (Melendez vs. Penn), but it was at the same time when B.J. was like, [...]

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

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Gilbert Melendez has dominated the Strikeforce lightweight division for several years now. So, when it was announced that “El Nino” would be fighting on the upcoming May 19 card from San Jose, rumors of a lightweight from the UFC entering Strikeforce heated up. However, it wasn’t Anthony Pettis or BJ Penn named for Melendez. No, [...]

Posted in: bj penn, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, josh thomson

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Despite an initial flirtation with the idea of taking a different route, UFC President Dana White made it clear a few months back Gilbert Melendez would be sticking with Strikeforce for the immediate future. However, the lightweight champion remained hopeful White might bring the UFC to him if not the other way around, injecting Strikeforce’s solid but not spectacular 155-pound division with some top-level talent. Names like B.J. Penn and Anthony Pettis were even mentioned as opponents Melendez would love to mix it up with. Instead he got Josh Thomson, a former rival he split a pair of previous bouts with that also happens to be 1-1 in his last two fights including a recent outpointing of K.J. Noons. Melendez addressed the situation while serving as a guest on MMAJunkie Radio where the 30-year old’s less-than enthusiastic attitude was evident. “I was hoping for something better, for some top talent, and it didn’t work out,” admitted the genuinely disappointed Melendez, adding he wanted, “Something to raise my stock.” “You want to be the #1 guy, and right now, it seems like it’s put on hold for a minute,” he continued, trying to stay positive throughout the process. “I’ve just got to have fun, do what I do, and stay focused on kicking butt.” Just because he may not seem motivated to match up with Thomson doesn’t mean he won’t be ready, labeling his upcoming adversary as “tough”, but clearly Melendez is not necessarily satisfied with his career’s direction. “El Nino” holds an overall record of 20-2 with six straight wins including those over Thomson, Jorge Masvidal, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Shinya Aoki. Thomson and Melendez face off on May 19 at Strikeforce: Grand Prix Final. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, thomson, josh thomson

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A week and a half into the realization that he won't be going to the UFC, Gilbert Melendez is getting used to the idea of fighting Josh Thomson a third time. "I guess it was inevitable," he told MMAjunkie.com Radio with a laugh. But the Strikeforce lightweight champ would be lying if he said he isn't disappointed.

Posted in: champ, melendez, time i, mmajunkiecom radio, josh thomson

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One of the best Lightweight fighters in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) today, Gilbert Melendez, has long desired to get his chance to enter the world-famous Octagon and test his skills against the best of the best in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ranks to prove that he is deserving of being called the best 155-pound fighter in the world. Rumors ran rampant last year that "El Nino" was set to take his talents to the eight-walled cage, but were quickly shot down as he was matched up with Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" on Dec. 17, 2011. Gilbert's training partners, Jake Shields and Nick Diaz, made the jump from Strikeforce to the UFC in 2010 and 2011, respectively, but he was left to hold the fort down with the San Jose based promotion as its poster boy Lightweight champion. Though a move over the world's largest MMA promotion to join his Cesar Gracie trained companions isn't in his near future, he would settle for Zuffa to send down some of the best Lightweights currently in the UFC to challenge him for his Strikforce throne. Those pleas, unfortunately, have fallen on deaf ears and everyone, for the time being, is staying put with their respective organizations. Now, Melendez will take on Josh Thomson for the third time after the two split their first two previous meetings under the Strikeforce banner. Though he isn't too thrilled about a third meeting with "The Punk," he says he will look to make a statement. Make the jump to see what he told Middle Easy: "Dude, probably the females (will be in the UFC first) the way things are looking right now. That's not even nice. I was hoping for something big. I was hoping I would get a higher profile person from the UFC, something to help my stock go up. But you know what, I'm going to try and make a statement with Thomson and I am going to show him there is a big difference between the guy he fought in 2006, 2009 and now 2012. I really want to display my skills so I am going to get pumped for this." When asked what it would take to get Zuffa to bend a little bit and send him some 155-pound sharks from the UFC his way, "El Nino" says he is trying, but he doesn't see the same eagerness from those Lightweights: "You're asking the wrong guy bro, you know what I mean? I want to make it happen, I'm asking for it, I don't hear them really asking for me. I don't know, it's tough; it's a tough situation for everybody." Currently riding a six-fight win streak with his last loss coming at the hands of his next opponent, Melendez definitely has made a case for his status as one of the elite Lightweights in the world. But will never having competed inside the Octagon hinder his climb up the ladder? Maybe, just maybe, a decisive win over Thomson on May 19, 2012, at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs Cormier" will get him closer to finally making his Octagon debut. Though the chances will still be very slim, one can always hope. Anyone think Melendez will ever make his way to the UFC and put his skills on full display against the likes of Frankie Edgar, Ben Henderson and Anthony Pettis? Or is he destined to stay with Strikeforce for as long as the organization clings to life? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, world, strikeforce, melendez, i dont

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Something tells me that if Gilbert's last name wasn't 'Melendez,' people would have never called him 'El Nino.' It's probably something that FOX News created in order to invalidate Gilbert Melendez's status as an American. They could have called Gil 'Quasiperiodic Southern Oscillation' and prevent cheap pandering to his cultural heritage. If it was Gilbert 'Quasiperiodic Southern Oscillation' Melendez, we could make a top ten list just from the amount of announcers that would have screwed up his moniker throughout his career. Damn, FOX News always throws salt in our game -- and then claims we're supporting terrorism by accepting it. This article got off to an unnecessarily harsh political start. Basically what we're trying to say is if Gilbert Melendez was sponsored by FOX News, then Gilbert Melendez is no longer sponsored by FOX News. We just sort of ruined that for the Strikeforce lightweight champion. He'll thank us for it later when those guys all turn into Sith lords that seek control of the Galactic Empire. We'll stand on the sidelines with light sabers and star in two really dope sequels and one whack one (sorry Amanda Lucas). Actually, no one at MiddleEasy has any problem with FOX News. I just needed to write something before I show you this video of Gilbert Melendez talking to LayzieTheSavage in his newly built gym.

Posted in: fox, gilbert melendez, fox news, melendez, gilbert

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Hey, did you guys hear that Brock Lesnar is back ... in the WWE? Of course you did. You have to give the man credit: when he steps outside, it's news. While his return to pro wrestling basically ensures that his octagon career is over for good, it's also raised some questions about what exactly his legacy was when it comes to MMA. Was Brock overrated, undervalued, or simply a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon that defies rational explanation? I invited Luke Thomas down to the MMA Roundtable to discuss Brock, MMA's next reality TV show, Gilbert Melendez's recent fight announcement and more. 1) Now that he's moved back to pro wrestling, what is Brock Lesnar's MMA legacy?Mike Chiappetta: Lesnar deserves a great deal of credit for his accomplishments. For all of his shortcomings as a fighter, he was incredibly game simply for choosing to take on the challenge of competing on MMA's biggest stage against the best available talent. You can point to Lesnar's collegiate background as a great base, but he hadn't wrestled in seven years when he decided to make a run at No. 1. At the time, he was bluntly honest in his own personal assessment, saying either he would compete at that high level or be quickly weeded out.The crazy thing is, on limited training, he made it to the top. Sure, he had a short cut to a title shot, but beating Randy Couture, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin consecutively is a legitimate run that validated his championship. Unfortunately, we'll never know just how good Lesnar could have been due to his late start in the sport along with his recurring diverticulitis issues. He won mostly on brute strength and raw talent, and when his health began to erode, he left. I respect him for declining to stick around and make a big paycheck when that would have been the easy thing to do.In the end, Lesnar won't be ranked among the all-time heavyweight greats; his run at the top was just too brief. But he used the tools he had to become a pay-per-view phenomenon and a champion, and that's a legacy that few can match.Thomas: I agree with Mike. Lesnar deserved more credit than he often received, but I also think the criticism of him late was fairly on target.Let's be clear about the terms here: it is highly unlikely we'll ever see another Brock Lensar in MMA. And by that, I mean someone who can come into the sport with virtually no experience and beat the top guys in the world in his division all while being a hugely popular figure among mainstream masses. It's possible an Olympian like Henry Cejudo could do it, especially since he has a small but notable background in boxing and like Muhammad Ali, has injected himself into political issues by speaking out on immigration policy. But even then that seems like a stretch. A lot of planets have to align to get the magic Lesnar brought to the table. I don't know if we'll see it again in our lifetime, especially with collegiate wrestlers going into professional MMA directly out of college.However, critics were right to dismiss him at the end of his run. Lesnar's battle with diverticulitis snatched his soul and hampered his ability to keep pace with the growth of MMA heavyweight talent. Dealing with his own mortality was bad enough, to say nothing of how much time he lost not training and developing. By the time he tried his hand at defending his title, it was clear the road ahead was not going to get any easier. Against Alistair Overeem, it was even clearer Lesnar could not compete with the sport's top heavyweights anymore. And that, in all actuality, is a good thing for MMA. Someone shouldn't be able to march into the UFC and wreck shop. Lesnar certainly couldn't do it in the NFL. Why should the UFC be any different? Let's thank Lesnar for what he did for MMA. He sold pay-per-views, accomplished some really incredible feats, energized the mainstream media to cover MMA and more. But he also was on borrowed time and needed to leave when he did. His legacy is important, but part of that is examining his exit and what that said about the state of the sport.2) Strikeforce recently announced Melendez-Thomson III. Is this the right call?Thomas: Unequivocally, no. There are a few ways to parse this situation, but let's look at the rankings for a clear illustration on why this "keep Melendez in Strikeforce" policy is madness. According to the USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings, Melendez is currently the third best lightweight in the world. But since he's in Strikeforce and can only face Strikeforce fighters, that means the next closest contender is....? If you guessed, Pat Healy at number 20, you are correct. In other words, not only is Thomson not even the best possible contender Melendez could face, but the best possible contender Melendez could face isn't even in the top 15 of all MMA lightweights.What is going on here? Does it not seem far more rational to remove Melendez from the organization and let him fight people closer to his skill level? That's obviously better for Melendez, but it's better for the Strikeforce lightweights. Short of some miraculous punch or accident, none of them have any shot of ever beating Melendez. And that's not the same as a Yushin Okami vs. Anderson Silva situation where at least Okami, at the time they fought, was clearly deserving above most of his others peers (Sonnen, notwithstanding). Healy or Thomson or Masvidal are all contenders by default, not by hierarchy. Melendez may be in Strikeforce with fighters he absurdly outclasses, but he's in a league of his own. That's a lonely and deeply unfair place to be.Chiappetta: No, it's not the right call, but for different reasons than Luke mentioned. Melendez re-signed with Strikeforce only about one year ago, when the division wasn't much different than it is today. Yes, I know Zuffa didn't own Strikeforce at the time, but that's the decision he made. He probably made it because a) Strikeforce promised to build around him, and b) he felt he received a good financial deal. That's a deal he made in good faith, so he should honor it as he is doing. But that also means that Strikeforce needs to honor their side, and that's trying to bring him an opponent worthy of his talent. No knock on Josh Thomson, but his last performance didn't beg for a title match.There are plenty of UFC lightweights that Zuffa could bring over to challenge Melendez. They certainly entertained the idea before settling on a third fight with Thomson. The bottom line here is that Dana White constantly reminds fans that he tries to set up the matchups that people want to see, and there's no question that fans want to see Melendez fight a top five lightweight, even if it meant bringing him someone from the UFC. White also said he was going to find a way to keep the Strikeforce fighters happy. Who's happy about Melendez-Thomson III? Well, I tell you who's not happy about it: Melendez and the fans.3) What can Bellator do with their recently announced reality show that will differentiate them from TUF?Mike Chiappetta: I thought long and hard about this one, and it's tricky because everyone in the world is going to be quick to compare it to TUF. That means one thing is for certain: they need a fresh angle. This is obviously a good opportunity for Bellator to build some familiarity with their roster. If I was part of the team, I would insist that the series have some focus on the champions. The tournament format almost ensures that the champion has to sit around and wait while a No. 1 contender moves through the process. That means the champion can be highlighted while he awaits a challenger to emerge.The scheduling might be tough, but I would feature a format where each episode is split. Half would be dedicated to the champion, and the other half would feature tournament contestants working their way towards him. That makes for an easy-to-follow narrative, and as the tourney advances and fighters are eliminated, more time can be devoted to each entrants' story and getting viewers emotionally invested in the eventual title bout.In that way, it would be sort of a hybrid of Primetime and TUF, with the all-access behind the scenes of the former, and the tournament format of the latter.Thomas: This is a really tough one. I've long been a critic of the 'The Ultimate Fighter' and said there was a poverty of imagination when it came to improving the show's content. It could very well be (and I'm sure is) that doing so is a lot more difficult than it looks.Really, this show will forever live in TUF's shadow. So many other kinds of MMA programming have come and gone, but TUF is iconic. This show will have to have a core concept that's distinct from TUF. TUF has gone through a ton of iterative development, but at it's core is still the same show: fighters live in a house and compete to earn a six-figure contract in the UFC.And much of what TUF has done is based on how all reality shows operate. The contestants live in a house, each week one person 'goes home', their personal rivalries and bickering are played up for ratings and so on. Some in MMA often decry these aspects of TUF, but in truth, it's simply what all of reality television offers with very little differentiation.I certainly wouldn't go live. I admit I enjoy TUF Live, but satellite time is expensive and based on the ratings, I'm not sure FX is getting the right kind of bang for their buck. I'd also change up the prize at the end of the show and to what extent coaches are involved. But really, and some might call me crazy, I'd question the very premise of using prospects rather than established fighters. Bellator needs to create stars, but there's a reciprocal relationship here: they need all the existing star power they can muster for the show. I don't know what the perfect solution is, but watching a bunch of completely unknown names duke it out for dubious rewards is not something MMA fans really care about in great numbers. I say make the show about what you've already got and worry about making that bigger and better. The prospects will come. We want to see your best, not your maybes, also-rans or John Does.4) UFC action finally returns next week, with Alexander Gustafsson fighting Thiago Silva. Is this the fight in which Gustafsson makes himself a legit 205 contender?Thomas: I believe so. At the end of 2011, I told CSN Washington Gustafsson was my breakout fighter for 2012. Alexander has so much of the raw material critical for success: good athleticism, technical skills, high fight IQ and the capacity to add skills quickly to his game with a high level of proficiency. I'm constantly amazed at not just how he augments his existing skills, but adds entirely (and seemingly) foreign techniques to his arsenal yet implements them with aplomb.Thiago Silva is certainly a tough test and the appropriate type for Gustafsson at this juncture in his career. He needs to work against someone who has faced championship caliber fighters, has legitimate offensive ability in two dimensions of the game, and is an aggressive and potent power puncher. But what we're looking for is not just for Gustafsson to beat him, but to see how he beats him. Can the Swede get by him in the way other elite fighters have? Eventual superiority in a relatively tough fight is what I'm expecting/hoping to see.I certainly don't think he's ready for a title shot. He needs to beat several more established, high-ranking talents before talk of that is even merited. Without a shadow of a doubt, though, he is the sort of fighter that with more seasoning in a cauldron of world-class preparation and resources, can be the next-level talent everyone suspects that he is.Chiappetta: Gustafsson certainly looks ready to make the leap from prospect to contender. As Luke notes, he's got a well-rounded skill set to work with, and his 6-foot-5 frame makes him a difficult physical matchup for many. His best attribute is clearly his striking, as he has a great idea of how to use his length to his advantage. Since his lone loss came via submission, it will be interesting to see what happens if BJJ black belt Silva can get him to the ground. That's not likely though, as wrestlers Vladimir Matyushenko and Matt Hamill had trouble bringing the fight to the mat against him. Silva is a great opponent for him because he'll be willing to bang with him on the feet but certainly won't shy away from any ground work. In the past, some of Gustafsson's opponents have been a bit one-dimensional. Even coming off a one-year suspension, Silva presents more problems than Gustafsson's seen in a while, and if the Swede solves them, we can conclude that he's just as legitimate a prospect as we originally guessed.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, fighter, lesnar, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is set to defend his belt against top contender Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament Final, slated for May 19, 2012 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Strikeforce officials confirmed the booking on Monday. Heavyweight grand prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier headline the night's main card, which airs live on Showtime. All undercard bouts are expected to broadcast live on Showtime Extreme. UFC imports B.J. Penn and Anthony Pettis were at one time linked to Melendez for his next title defense, and Melendez himself recently revealed he was expecting a name other than Thomson to be given the shot. However both sentiments eventually failed to come to fruition. Melendez and Thomson have met twice before, with each man taking home a win. Thomson struck first blood back in 2008, stealing the lightweight strap away via a five-round unanimous decision. However 17 months later "El Nino" exacted his revenge, taking the judges' scorecards in another 25-minute decision. Melendez (20-2) has yet to stumble since his initial loss to Thomson, ripping through six straight victories, capped by a hard-fought win over Jorge Masvidal. Thomson (19-4, 1 NC), on the other hand, struggled with injuries for much of the last two years, before returning from a 15-month layoff to defeat K.J. Noons in a lethargic unanimous decision at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Following his win, "The Punk" was heavily critical of his own performance, boldly stating, "It was s***." In addition, a light heavyweight rematch between former Strikeforce champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (11-3) and Mike Kyle (19-8-1), and a welterweight bout between Nah-Shon Burrell (8-1) and Bobby Voelker (24-8) have been confirmed for the night's fight card.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, josh, melendez, thomson

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Old friends and familiar foes, Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez and former 155-pound kingpin, Josh Thomson, will collide for the third and likely final time at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on May 19, 2012. The mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion tonight (April 2, 2012) announced that the rubbermatch will serve as the co main event of the evening, which is scheduled to air on SHOWTIME with a 10 p.m. ET start time. Melendez has ripped through the competition since his loss to "Punk" in their initial encounter way back in 2008, stringing together six consecutive victories and establishing himself as one of the top-ranked fighters in the division in the world. After his most recent win over Jorge Masvidal, a unanimous decision, "El Nino" lobbied for a move to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which undoubtedly has stiffer competition and more big-money fights. In fact, UFC President Dana White declared not too long ago that Melendez would see this inside of the Octagon "as soon as possible." Perhaps a win over Thomson, the last real meaningful fight remaining for him under the Strikeforce banner, will finally do the trick. Thomson, meanwhile, has been plagued with various injuries over the years, which have seemingly prevented him from achieving his full potential. He was not 100 percent when he dropped a decision to Melendez in their rematch in Dec. 2009 and has struggled to regain top form ever since. Nonetheless, he has won three of four fights since that time, including an impressive performance his last time out against K.J. Noons just last month, which ended with a decision in his favor. With such a quick turnaround time between fights, perhaps Thomson's injury issues are resolved once and for all and the outcome of the defining trilogy fight with Melendez will be asterisk-free. The main event of this Strikeforce show will feature a showdown between Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, which is the final fight of the promotion's Heavyweight grand prix. In addition, a clash between former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle and a Welterweight tilt between Bobby Voelker vs. Nah-Shon Burrell are also on tap. For all the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" news be sure to check out our complete event archive right here.

Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, vs, melendez

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Despite rumors of a UFC lightweight being brought in as his next opponent, Strikeforce 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez will instead defend his divisional gold against former title-holder Josh Thomson. The fight will mark the third in a trilogy between the two with each taking home a decision win in the previous offerings. Strikeforce confirmed the match-up today along with two other fights for the May 19 card: Bobby Voelker vs. Nah-Shon Burrell and Mike Kyle vs. Rafael Cavalcante. The San Jose show will be headlined by the already-announced Grand Prix final featuring Daniel Cormier-Josh Barnett. The 20-2 Melendez is on a six-fight winning streak with his last loss, interestingly enough, coming at the hands of Thomson when the two met in June 2008. “El Nino” avenged the defeat in 2009 and has looked incredibly sharp since, dominating Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and most recently Jorge Masvidal. Melendez Feels He’s Ready for a Shot at the UFC Title Comparably, Thomson has split his last two bouts but holds consecutive victories over Pat Healy, Gesias Cavalcante, and KJ Noons in his last three Strikeforce appearances. He holds an overall record of 19-4 with thirteen stoppages including nine submissions. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, melendez, ufc title, thomson, offerings strikeforce

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It appears Josh Thomson will face Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez at the upcoming May event to settle their score.

Posted in: strikeforce, melendez, thomson, josh thomson, melendez thomson

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Trilogies seem to be the theme of 2012 so add one more to the list. On May 19, Gilbert Melendez will defend his Strikeforce lightweight title against old foe Josh Thomson as part of the upcoming even headed to San Jose.

Posted in: strikeforce, josh, melendez, gilbert, thomson

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According to multiple reports, including MMA Junkie, Gilbert Melendez has agreed to defend his Strikeforce lightweight title against Josh Thomson. The third fight between the two will take place May 19 at May 19 from San Jose, California at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. The bout is likely to serve as the co-main event, with the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier holding down the main headline. Melendez (20-2) has lost just once in 11 Strikeforce fights, dropping the title to Thomson back in 2008. “El Nino,” however, took back the crown 17 months later. Thomson (19-4) has won 10 of his 12 fights in Strikeforce, including a recent victory over K.J. Noons to secure the shot at Melendez. Several reports had Strikeforce and the UFC trying to work out a deal to bring in a major-name lightweight from the Octagon to Strikeforce. Instead, it will be Thomson, which should offer at least a strong story for the fight promotion to present.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, melendez, thomson, josh thomson

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Some people were hoping to see it again, other wanted something new. It's hard to deny that the first two fights were very exciting, so Strikeforce decided to set up round three. Gilbert Melendez will be defending his Strikeforce lightweight title against Josh Thomson on May 19th at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. My Canadian brethren Mauro Ranallo tweeted the info a little while ago: @mauroranalloMauro Ranallo Just as I had heard but wasn't allowed to say.Melendez vs Thomson 3 for the Strikeforce Lightweight title May 19 in San Jose. Rubber match. Apr 02 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply Melendez (20-2) and Thomson (19-4, 1 NC) first met back in 2008 in a title unification bout, which Thomson won by unanimous decision. Melendez avenged the loss in late 2009 at Strikeforce: Evolution, again by decision. Melendez has won all three of his bouts since then, while Thomson has gone 3-1 in that time period. As I stated above, their first two bouts were awesome and while some fans are going to complain about Melendez not getting new challengers, I doubt they'll be complaining on May 19th. The bout is expected to be the co-main event of the night. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier

Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, melendez, thomson

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Although it has not been the most highly anticipated possible rubber match, the trilogy between Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson is near, as the two will square off again on May 19th. The event, which is headlined by the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, will take place at the HP Pavillion in Strikeforce’s hometown of San Jose, California. Melendez (20-2) last fought in December, defeating Jorge Masvidal by decision in San Diego, for his third consecutive defense of the Strikeforce lightweight title. Interestingly enough, his last fight in San Jose was against Thomson, whom he defeated in 2009 after losing to “The Punk” the year before. The Cesar Gracie product has not lost since losing that first matchup with Thomson, winning six consecutive fights in the four years since. Thomson (19-4-1NC) earned the title shot and third matchup after defeating KJ Noons in March via unanimous decision. Although he was not happy with his performance, Thomson will certainly relish the opportunity to determine the winner of he and Melendez’s series, after being even after ten minutes of cage time. The longtime American Kickboxing Academy member has just one loss since losing to Melendez in their rematch, and that took place under the Dream promotion in 2010. With a 10-2 record in Strikeforce, Thomson has had a strong showing since leaving the UFC in 2004. Also added to the card is a light heavyweight matchup between Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante and Mike Kyle. “Feijao” (11-3), has not fought since defeating Yoel Romero Palacio in September in Cincinnati, his first fight since losing the light heavyweight title to Dan Henderson earlier in 2011. He will take on Kyle (19-8-1NC), who has struggled with injuries over the last few years. He has been scheduled to take on Gegard Mousasi on multiple occasions, but the matchup has never taken place due to Kyle and Mousasi both withdrawing due to injury issues. Those two fights will take place on the main card that will be headlined by the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, along with a welterweight matchup between Naj-Shon Burrell and Bobby Voelker. For complete coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

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Is Cesar Gracie trying to "Punk" Josh Thomson? The longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer, who keeps charge over current and former Strikeforce champions Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez, is already ruling out a trilogy between "El Nino" and Thomson. According to Gracie, the reigning 155-pound champion (and winner of six straight) has bigger fish to fry. Namely former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn, or if "The Prodigy" is not available, the last man to hold the World Extreme Cagefighting title, Anthony Pettis. Gracie breaks it all down for Tatame.com, after the jump. "Melendez’s situation is complex right now. We still don’t have an opponent, date or place set. They said he could fight in San Jose but it’ll probably change. They mentioned Josh Thomson but then said it was not going to happen. It depends on the relationship between Dana White (UFC president) and Showtime (TV channel that broadcasts and managers Strikeforce). That’s the problem. I spoke to Joe Silva (UFC’s matchmaker) and he told me maybe some UFC fighters will go to Strikeforce. We would really like to see him fighting Pettis or BJ, but we are still not sure about what’s going to happen." With the Showtime network calling most of the shots in Strikeforce, it may be difficult to snatch Melendez from the 155-pound ranks and insert him into the division title chase under the UFC banner. However, if his star pupil can't go to the UFC, perhaps the UFC can come to him. B.J. Penn inside the Hexagon? Stranger things have happened. Then again, Gracie is known for his politics and ability to talk his way into favorable situations. The MMA fanbase isn't exactly screaming for Melendez vs. Thomson II, despite "The Punk's" victory over K.J. Noons earlier this month. It may just be a question of striking while the iron is hot. We know how Gracie feels, but who do you, as a fan, want to see Melendez fight next?

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gracie

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Photo via www.tkomanagement.net. Jorge Masvidal is coming off a loss to Gilbert Melendez in a fight where the scorecards did not tell the entire story. The Cuban-American did plenty of damage to the reigning Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and the fight was competitive for all five rounds. but he couldn't quite do enough to win more than one of them. The outcome could have been different had Masvidal not fought with a broken hand, an injury he exacerbated in the opening round, forcing him to stick to a jab-dependent offense for much of the remainder of the fight. There is no shame in losing to a top five lightweight like Melendez and the fact that Masvidal was even headlining a Strikeforce card shows how far his career has come. He started out a long way from arenas complete with television crews and large crowds. His first taste of fighting was in backyards in Miami where famously he took on one of Kimbo Slice's protegees in a video which is still available on YouTube. Masvidal says he much prefers fighting on sanctioned shows and is not sure how much his street fighting experience has helped him as a fighter. 'I don't know if it helped develop me as a fighter but it definitely makes you wanna win. It's nice to fight people your own weight and get paid good though. You mighta seen my street fights on youtube, it just went from there. I just like to fight, if i can get paid for it and make a living then that's good." Masvidal is currently spending some time training at Phuket Top Team in Thailand which is also home to Roger Huerta and a number of up and coming fighters such as Andrew Leone and Rodrigo Praxedes. He is still recovering from his hand injury but hopes to be back in action soon. "The hand? Yeah it affected me a bit in the Melendez fight, I've had surgery and getting it fixed up now for another fight. I think if I fight Melendez 10 times I win nine, that's always how I feel.... so yeah its a fight I should of won. I want to fight again soon... once my hand is 100% I'm fighting." Although Masvidal can have no complaints with the outcome of that fight he feels that the 50-45 shut out which two of the judges awarded Melendez didn't accurately reflect his efforts. His previous loss, to Paul Daley in 2010, was much more contentious and he still believes he was robbed of victory that night. "I feel like I won that fight and yeah I would take a rematch. That's a fight I win. I been robbed more than your local 7/11 but I just want to fight and win. If I fight Melendez again, I will win." Cain Velasquez made history by becoming UFC heavyweight champion last year and Masvidal, whose family originates from Cuba, is one of the more recognizable Hispanic fighters. He is spending time with Phuket with another famous Hispanic mixed martial artist but says he hasn't had too much time to train with him. "Roger Huerta's here and we've talked and stuff but he's recovering from a rib, I'm recovering from a hand injury. We both been training at PTT but just haven't had the time to roll together. I trained with Andrew Leone and Rodrigo Praxedes and Olavo Abreu on the mats." According to Masvidal, mixed martial arts will never occupy the same place as boxing does in the hearts of the Cuban people but he does have plenty of fans in Miami. "It's not big in Cuba, boxing is what Cuba is all about, that and some wrestling. A lot of Cubans in Miami follow my career and I'm sure some at home do as well." There has been a steady exodus of fighters from Strikeforce to the UFC but Masvidal is happy to fight whoever is put in front of him regardless of which organization the fight is taking place in. "Sure, whatever comes - where ever the money is, where ever I need to fight and win. Right now I'm just enjoying my vacation, Thai people are very relaxed, the place is kinda like Miami and the training is good here at Phuket Top Team." www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, fighter, masvidal, melendez, fight i

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You know all those animals in the Cadbury commercial with the faux bunny ears? They're all dead now. That advertisement was shot like over a decade ago. Now tell that to your kids. While you're at it, stop putting pictures of your kids as your Facebook profile picture. That's not even remotely close to being socially acceptable. You're already living vicariously through your offspring. Life is over for you, you might as well give me those shoes you're wearing and sign over your will to Wallid Ismail. It's the only way you can prove that you're not 'cheeken' in your soon-to-be posthumous state. Oh, check out the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill - The Wednesday Night Edition. The following items are not verified, but are just what's floating around in the MMA world. If you repost any item with the words 'MiddleEasy reports...' then you don't deserve to reproduce, ever. Earlier this week, Gilbert Melendez told us that he will be fighting on May 19th in Strikeforce, but it will not be against Josh Thomson. This lead to a wide range of speculation in the MMA community. The two names that were heavily mentioned was former UFC champion BJ Penn and former WEC champion, Anthony Pettis. I've heard that the Gilbert Melendez fight was offered to BJ Penn, but he considers himself 'retired' and turned it down last month. That left Anthony Pettis fighting Gilbert Melendez, a rumor that was heavily refuted by Anthony Pettis' manager. Yesterday, I heard from a source that Takanori Gomi had a five-fight contract with the UFC and as of UFC 144, it ended. Therefore, one can only assume that Gomi could be tapped to fight Melendez. This rumor hasn't been confirmed or refuted, but from a progressive stand point this seems like a step back for Gilbert. What's left is Gray Maynard, Clay Guida or Strikeforce's Bam Bam Healy. An all-heavyweight main event was something the UFC wanted to do since late 2010. However a long string of unexpected injuries prevented this from taking place. Now with UFC 146, their concept has finally been realized -- fingers crossed, of course. Legend FC has canceled their April show in Indonesia due to low ticket sales. It appears the promotion plans to move the card to Hong Kong. M-1 Global.com is no more. It appears the promotion did not pay their webmaster/IT person and it's rumored the domain will be 'up for grabs' in the next few days. The producers of EA Sports MMA pitched to executives 'EA Sports MMA 2' as a DLC. Essentially, the engine would be the same (with a few minor tweaks) but with a new updated roster and a few new features. It appears the execs shot the idea down. A few people theorized that UFC leaked an unsigned Rampage vs. Shogun fight so that MMA outlets can publish the news and 'back Rampage into a corner' to accept the fight. Due to the fact that Rampage has asked for the fight both on Twitter and in interviews, I don't think this is the case. Brett Rogers will be fighting on Super Fight League's second show, going down in April. Urijah Faber claimed that he kicked Miesha Tate out of Team Alpha Male because she owned him money. Miesha Tate's version of the story is somewhat different. It appears MTV/Viacom is in full control of the development of the new Bellator videogame. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has accused Nick Diaz of lying in his pre-fight screening at UFC 142. Apparently they claim he failed to disclose prescription medications (non-marijuana) he was taking before the bout. Apparently TapouT's 'Punkass' is threatening former employees of TapouT and allegedly this screen cap is proof. Despite the rumors, DREAM's next event will not be held in April.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, rumor, melendez

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It's been a long time since we sidled up to the old MMA roundtable and threw down on some of the biggest questions of the day, so I invited my colleague Luke Thomas to his first showdown to see what he's got. Wednesday's topics include how to keep Gilbert Melendez happy in Strikeforce, what to make of Nick Diaz's suspension appeal, and how going on a Rampage can lead to fun and profit. 1. Who will be Gilbert Melendez's next opponent in Strikeforce?Mike Chiappetta: There's been all kinds of speculation about who Melendez would face ever since he beat Jorge Masvidal in December. I think I unintentionally helped to jumpstart the possibility of Zuffa sending a UFC fighter to Strikeforce to fight him the day after the Masvidal fight when I proposed he face BJ Penn, and those kinds of rumors have persisted. Cesar Gracie recently fanned the flames by saying that Melendez would fight on May 19, and he hoped to face Penn or Anthony Pettis.But recently, a well-placed source informed me that a different name was a possibility: Gray Maynard.He hasn't fought since his knockout at the hands of Frankie Edgar last October, and given that he had two cracks at the UFC belt in 2011, he's not likely to get another title bout anytime soon. He also doesn't have a huge salary that would make the move to Strikeforce cost prohibitive. And because Maynard gave Edgar a run twice, it would also be a fight that could provide a frame of reference for just how good Melendez is. I like it, and I think it's going to happen.Luke Thomas: I really hope Mike's inside information comes true. Gray Maynard would be an excellent choice for the Strikeforce organization, its fans and the two fighters involved. It's especially the right kind of challenge for the underserved Melendez. No matter what happens, neither Josh Thomson nor KJ Noons are suitable contenders and the champion couldn't possibly be less interested in either fight. Who can blame him? He so outclasses both that the fights are basically matters of procedure. Keeping Melendez in Strikeforce is neither fair to the champion nor his challengers. It'd be much more equitable to the rest of the Strikeforce lightweight roster to move Melendez to the UFC and let the division sort itself out with it's existing talent. If Maynard's not up for it or not available, but we still could move talent let's consider other top UFC lightweights. They'd have to be those who likely wouldn't contend for titles, but could be stiff tests for Melendez as well as provide a dose of excitement for Strikeforce. What about Joe Lauzon or Sam Stout? Couldn't we move Dennis Siver or Gleison Tibau? Lightweight is one of those divisions that's young enough and talent-rich enough where it can be carefully poached without truly doing damage to it. And as long as Melendez is isolated, the case for doing as much gets stronger by the day.2. Since Frankie Edgar is staying at lightweight, what does UFC do next with Jose Aldo?Thomas: Aldo is a truly frustrating fighter for the UFC. He's got all the tools to be a major star and is young enough that with the right promotion could be a lasting figure for the promotion. I honestly believe if Aldo spoke English fluently and could more readily participate in media pushes, he'd be a significantly bigger star. Yes, Anderson Silva has never truly spoken English, but it took him years to turn into a star and he was able to fight and beat known commodities that helped turn him into an attraction.That is what the UFC must do with Aldo. Either entice lightweights to drop to featherweight or have Aldo move to lightweight. Hatsu Hioki and Dustin Poirier are supreme talents and worthy of everyone's respect, but Aldo will only be marking time (promotionally speaking) by fighting them. A much better option is to have him fight and beat known entities. That's how stars are born in MMA. Names on the way out are fed to names on the way up. Aldo's talent wouldn't exactly be squandered facing the current line of contenders at featherweight, but it's hardly best use of his time.Chiappetta: First off, I disagree with moving him to lightweight. Why are we always so quick to tell fighters what weight their bodies should handle? It's no small thing. Anyway, dominant champions are historically big draws, and as Aldo continues to solidify his hold on the featherweight division, he'll become one, too. There's no need to push him up a weight class in order to make that happen. So what now? Well, there's nothing wrong with Luke's first idea of having a lightweight move down to face him, as long as that fighter is a) a credible opponent and b) inclined to make that cut. Anthony Pettis has said he'd consider such an offer, but a rematch with Ben Henderson down the line seems like a more viable option for him, and a bigger money draw for the UFC. So I think UFC will stay within the division and Aldo will draw Hioki next. If I was a UFC decision-maker, I'd think long and hard about showcasing that fight on FOX. 3. Is Rampage vs. Shogun II the right call by the UFC?Chiappetta: No. I stick by my column from Monday, that the UFC should have released Jackson. But in some ways, this is a decision I think can be looked at from different perspectives as a fan, and as a business decision.As a fan, the Jackson-Rua rematch is an interesting fight, and I'll be intrigued to watch it, even though it's almost as if Jackson is being rewarded for his threats to leave the promotion. From a business perspective though, if I was a UFC decision-maker, I wouldn't offer him a fight that would allow him to go out on a high note, thereby increasing his value to prospective employers. The fact they did that makes me believe they think the relationship will be patched up ... again. Thomas: Most certainly. I disagree with my colleague on this one. Rampage has claimed the UFC has told him his appeal has waned. He even noted their argument was that rappers don't show up to watch him fight anymore. I have no idea if any of that is true (although it's hilarious), but if the UFC believes Rampage's star power has faded somewhat, then they're correct. It has. But it's not so faded that it's negligible. There's a key consideration to understand that makes keeping Rampage around for one more fight borderline essential: the old guard of MMA is about to depart en masse. Consider that within the next two years (or less) the following fighters could be gone from the ranks of the UFC: Anderson Silva, B.J. Penn, Matt Hughes, Tito Ortiz, Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, both Nogueira brothers, Roy Nelson and Rich Franklin. On the bubble (up to three years) are fighters like Chris Leben, Rashad Evans and Josh Koscheck. There may well be others. All of these fighters have either expressed sincere interest in retirement, will be deep into their thirties (or forties) in the stated time span or be both. Stated plainly, UFC needs all of the star power they can get. The UFC brand itself is hugely important, but this is a star-driven sport. Perhaps the relationship with Rampage is too fractured to be repaired, but Rampage as either a headliner or co-main event makes sense as long as it's a viable option. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. 4. How likely is Nick Diaz's appeal defense of reducing or eliminating his suspension?Thomas: Impossible to tell. Diaz is not working through a normal court of law procedure. He is not entitled to a traditional appeals system nor is an appointed, practicing judge presiding over his challenge. In short, whatever the commission wishes to do is what they'll do. They're both jury and judge here and that makes forecasting his chances of success rather difficult.That said, his case is air tight in my opinion. I don't know if his lawyer lifted the blueprint for this challenge from a post written by Jonathan Tweedale over at BloodyElbow.com, but either way Tweedale was first. He's also a member of the athletic commission in Vancouver and an attorney. And what he found was a clear misapplication of the stated guidelines of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Urine tests do not tell us when a fighter used, just that he used. Since NSAC follows WADA's guidelines on marijuana (it's not banned out of competition), then they must have testing measures in place that allow us to follow that rule. For Diaz, everything hinges on how the NSAC will try to define 'out of competition' and whether they'll directly follow WADA's guidelines there as they do with other banned substances protocol. I'll just say this: there's bellyaching among the MMA community about Diaz trying to backdoor his marijuana use into legalized territory. I could not possibly disagree more. This isn't about Diaz at all. This is about making sure the athletic commissions we trust to regulate this sport are using and applying guidelines they are bound by correctly. It's not about Diaz. It's about every fighter who competes in Nevada and arguably any other state.Mike Chiappetta: Diaz might have a legitimate defense here. There is precedent. In 2008, Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen tested positive for cocaine but was not suspended by WADA because his test came out of competition. Diaz's legal team will have to prove that his use was out-of-competition. That will be tricky because despite the fact that they claim WADA has excluded marijuana metabolites as a positive result, it has been accepted as a positive result in the past. The drugs were in his system and there's really no dispute he took them, it now all hinges on when he took them.As Luke mentioned, this isn't a court, so the process isn't structured or easy to predict. Because of that, neither is the outcome. Some state commissions have shown a willingness to reduce penalties when faced with a strong defense argument, but NSAC hasn't historically been one of them. Given that it's his second offense, I still think Diaz will be faced with a 6-9 month suspension. But the good news is the fact that since he is appealing this result, he must be planning to fight again.

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, fighter, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will fight on May 19, but a trilogy with Josh Thomson is not likely in the works.

Posted in: melendez, work, josh thomson, trilogy, melendez returns

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Gilbert Melendez Strikeforce Lightweight Champ Returns In May Strikeforce lightweight champion is set to return to action on May 19, though an opponent has yet to be announced. The promotion announced the event and the news on Melendez, who will fight in the main event of the card. Melendez last fought last December against Jorge Masvidal, earning a fairly one-sided unanimous decision win. The victory was his sixth in a row, as he has not lost since June of 2008 when he was defeated by former champion Josh Thomson. Melendez would redeem himself against his rival in December of 2009, earning a unanimous decision and the 155 lb. Strikeforce title. Talk of the rivalry resurfaced at “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey” earlier this month, leading to speculation the Melendez and Thomson would complete their trilogy in late Spring or early Summer. Melendez joined Frank Shamrock, Mauro Ranallo, and Pat Miletich to call Thomson’s fight against K.J. Noons cageside. Thomson earned a unanimous decision win, though the fight was hardly the exciting contest he and Noons predicted. Throughout the three-round fight, Melendez was asked who he thought his next opponent would be, saying that either guy could earn the title shot. However, he was not direct in his responses, stating that there were several fighters that were in the title mix. Predicting the next opponent for Melendez became even more difficult after Thomson’s post-fight interview. The contender, clearly disappointed in his performance, said to Ranallo, “It was (expletive). It was (expletive).” He went on to discuss how a staph infection hindered his training camp, while he also claimed that he tried something new for the eight-week preparation, though he plans to get back to his old training regiment for his next contest. However, that contest will not likely be against Melendez, putting their trilogy off until late 2012 at the earliest. According to MiddleEasy.com, Melendez has been made aware of his next opponent, but did not disclose that information. Still, he made it clear that Thomson will likely not be the next in line, which does not come as a complete surprise considering the American Kickboxing Academy product’s last fight and post-fight remarks. The likelihood that Melendez and Thomson will not likely meet makes predicting his next challenger a bit difficult, considering how shallow the Strikeforce lightweight division is and the fact that Melendez has basically run through any and all challengers with ease. Pat Healy, who earned a submission victory at the March 3 event, is one name in the title mix, as he is on a four-fight winning streak, and Melendez mentioned him as a contender during the Showtime broadcast, impressed with his performance. Heavy.com will reveal more information about Melendez’s next fight and the May 19 event as a whole as it becomes available.

Posted in: melendez, thomson, fight, strikeforce, title mix

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Cesar Gracie knows a lot about MMA, apparently including when Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez will fight next. One of Melendez’s core coaches, Gracie revealed the date of the 29-year old’s next fight. “Gil is fighting May 19,” the BJJ wizard wrote on Twitter, adding two names he’s crossing his fingers for though neither actually happens to be signed to the organization’s roster. “I hope (B.J.) Penn or (Anthony) Pettis.” The date lines up with the final of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, rumored for San Jose, with Nate Marquardt also expected to debut at the summer event. UFC President Dana White has been stated repeatedly the 20-2 Melendez was not likely to join the UFC anytime soon.  As such, Melendez may be hoping for a big name like Penn or even Pettis to help raise his stock in the division. Penn, a former double-divisional champion, has stuck to his retirement since losing to Nick Diaz last October while Pettis has become the odd man out at 155 in the UFC with champion Benson Henderon taking on Frankie Edgar in a rematch and Nate Diaz-Jim Miller fighting for top contendership in May. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, petti, penn, melendez, date lines

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Gilbert Melendez is fighting May 19. That much he does know. Who his opponent will be however is still the big mystery. Melendez’s trainer/manager Cesar Gracie confirmed on Twitter today that Melendez is fighting on the May 19 Strikeforce card which will feature the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. More interesting though is what he tweeted after. @ufc Gil is fighting May 19th. I hope Penn or Pettis Both BJ Penn and Anthony Pettis would make great match-ups for Melendez. Better than any match-up Strikeforce could make for him. But the question is are they actually on the table as potential opponents or is Gracie just giving his wishlist? That remains to be seen, however Melendez did tell MiddleEasy in a recent video interview that he didn’t think it would be Josh Thomson who seemed to emerge as the frontrunner to fight for the Strikeforce lightweight title next when he beat KJ Noons earlier this month at Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” Anyone want to see Melendez vs. Penn or Melendez vs. Pettis?

Posted in: strikeforce, anthony pettis, petti, penn, melendez

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Strikeforce’s May 19 card, currently rumored for San Jose and expected to feature the Grand Prix final between heavyweights Daniel Cormier-Josh Barnett, will apparently host a title-fight too featuring lightweight king Gilbert Melendez. While nothing official has been announced, Melendez’s trainer Cesar Gracie revealed the likelihood of the bout taking place via Twitter where he also had a few opponents in mind for “El Nino”. “Gil is fighting May 19,” wrote Gracie on the social networking outlet before adding his interest in Zuffa bringing over someone with UFC ties rather than giving Melendez an opponent currently on Strikeforce’s roster. “I hope BJ Penn or Anthony Pettis,” stated Gracie in terms of a potential opponent for his star student. Melendez Content with Strikeforce but Keeping Eye on the Octagon Penn, a former lightweight champion himself, has not fought since losing to Gracie-trained Nick Diaz at UFC 137 this past October, opting to retire from MMA after the loss. The Hawaiian has yet to back off his status as a former fighter and is unlikely to return outside of the UFC. Comparably, Pettis is coming off a February knockout over Joe Lauzon and is a former WEC title-holder. While he may be a more realistic choice based on current activity the UFC has previously stood firm in terms of avoiding any transfer of talent over to Strikeforce. If neither man surfaces as an opponent and Melendez is indeed relegated to one of his promotional peers it will likely be Josh Thomson. Thomson and Melendez have split a pair of previous fights, plus “The Punk” has won his last three bouts under the Strikeforce banner including victories over Gesias Cavalcante, Pat Healy, and most recently KJ Noons. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, opponent, melendez, gracie

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will fight at the organization's recently announced May 19 event. Against whom? That's a good question. Josh Thomson and Pat Healy have emerged as top contenders. However, one of Melendez's coaches, Cesar Gracie, has two suggestions: current UFC fighters B.J. Penn or Anthony Pettis.

Posted in: petti, coach, penn, melendez, pettis strikeforce

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Gilbert Melendez looks to get back in action on May 19, but who will he face? According to his coach, they are hoping for a UFC transfer like BJ Penn or Anthony Pettis.

Posted in: bj penn, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, ufc transfer

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will defend his title on the May 19 Strikeforce card and it will not be against Josh Thomson. Melendez will be looking to extend his six fight win streak. According to MiddleEasy, Melendez knows who his opponent is but cannot reveal it yet. A likely opponent for Melendez could be Pat Healy. Healy has won four straight and was more impressive in his victory over Caros Fodor at Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey” than Josh Thomson was in his victory over KJ Noons. The May 19 card is expected to be headlined by the heavyweight grand prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. A lightweight title fight would make a fitting co-headlining fight for the unnamed May card.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, card, melendez, caros fodor

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According to Gilbert Melendez, his next title defense is scheduled for Strikeforce’s upcoming Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals show on May 19. Don’t ask him who he’s fighting though, because he doesn’t know. What he does know however is that he doesn’t think it should be a rubber match with Josh Thomson. In fact, from what he told Heavy.com in a recent interview, he thinks Pat Healy is more deserving of a title shot based on their performances at Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” “I know that’s what he said, and he can try,” Melendez told HeavyMMA after the event. “I think he was trying to make me laugh. It was a good fight, but I wasn’t super impressed. Josh Thomson said it himself – that he looked like sh*t, and I don’t know if he was complete sh*t, but those were his words and I’ll let him be the one to say it.” “I thought (Pat) ‘Bam Bam’ Healy looked really good, and he might be more deserving of a title shot than Josh, in my opinion,” Melendez said. “Josh was losing in his fight against Healy, and he got a Hail Mary rear naked choke at the end. But it’s whatever to me. K.J. and Josh both lost to the last two guys I beat. I just smashed (Tatsuya) Kawajiri, and he beat Josh Thomson in his fight before this and (Jorge) Masvidal beat Noons. It is what it is, and I’ll fight whoever they bring me.” Ultimately though, Melendez says he really doesn’t care who Strikeforce matches him up against. He is holding out hope however that Dana White brings him a top five opponent. “I’m fighting May 19,” Melendez said. “I don’t know against who yet but I don’t care – I’m fighting May 19 in San Jose (Calif.). I need to stay busy and I’m going to be on that card. We’ll see, and I have to keep faith they will deliver. It would be nice if they could bring over some Top 5 competition, and hopefully there is something in the works. I talked to (UFC president) Dana (White), and he told me he would do me justice – and I have to have faith in what he says.” But did Melendez talk to Dana before or after he basically washed his hands of everything Strikeforce? Because prior to Saturday Dana was all gung-ho about getting his hands on Strikeforce and turning it into a promotion that would be loved by fans and fighters alike, but basically did a 180° once Showtime decided they didn’t want his input after all. Dana may have had every intention of bringing over a top five opponent for Melendez before, but is that still the case now that he wants nothing to do with Strikeforce? Dana has surprised me before so maybe so, but I can’t say I’m not skeptical. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: strikeforce, dana, josh, melendez, josh thomson

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez told HeavyMMA's Duane Finley after Saturday's card in Ohio that Pat Healy, not Josh Thomson, might be the best bet to face him next.

Posted in: josh, melendez, healy, josh thomson, saturdays card

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

After grinding out a ho-hum unanimous decision over K.J. Noons last night (March 3, 2012) at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Josh Thomson may have set the postfight interview record for S-bombs. Uttering four of them, he described his performance as "Sh*t," and it went downhill from there. But even in an off night, Thomson, who'd been inactive for 15 months recovering from injuries, is still far and away the best challenger for Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. The fact that he stands alone, despite considerable mileage on a body that seems to constantly betray him, says a lot about him and the rest of the Strikeforce 155-pound ranks. For his part, Melendez has seemed content with not facing Thomson again after taking a decision in Dec. 2009 to knot their rivalry at one decision win apiece. Saturday night, Melendez, doing guest commentary with the broadcast team, appeared more receptive. It's good that Thomson was able to get the decision, because there's nobody remotely close to Melendez' level in the promotion. Gilbert's improvement between the first and second Thomson bouts was considerable. His stand up has evolved to the point where he can hang with good strikers on the feet, and Thomson's talented, but vulnerable body, may well have seen their best days. They'll make for a rousing rubber match, but who else is there? Noons is somewhere between a fringe top-20 lightweight and an opponent living off the shine of his Elite XC days and a cut stoppage win over Nick Diaz; Pat Healy is serviceable journeyman, and he took out Caros Fodor on the card, who was a rising prospect in the Strikeforce ranks. For all intents and purposes, it appears that after Thomson-Melendez III, the champ (assuming he defends successfully) won't have many dance partners to make for interesting fights. Of course, we were also saying the same thing about Eddie Alvarez in Bellator before Michael Chandler upset him and upended the entire division in that promotion. A lot of things can happen in a fight, but Melendez' consistency over the long haul suggest that it might be a good move to transition him to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight division. He's in his prime, turning 30 in April, and with the depth of the UFC 155-pounders, it'd be a shame for "El Nino" to spend the next couple years fighting long shot underdogs at the peak of his talents.

Posted in: ufc, decision, melendez, championship ufc, thomson

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Before last night it had been more than a year since Josh Thomson took part in a fight inside the cage with injuries have keeping the former Strikeforce lightweight champ from returning in a more prompt fashion. In the co-main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, Thomson earned a decision victory over K.J. Noons in a bout likely vaulting him into a title-fight with Gilbert Melendez later this year. For Thomson the win over Noons was welcome but his performance was a huge disappointment, mentioning in the post-fight interview inside the cage he was far from pleased with how he picked up the victory. “It was sh*t,” said Thomson in a frank assessment of his showing. “How else do you explain it; it was sh*t. I haven’t fought in fifteen months. I tried something different (in training to avoid getting injured), but I got staph twice, so my conditioning was sh*t. So, my fight was sh*t.” Thomson improved his record to 19-4 in his career with the win including a victory over Melendez. “El Nino” claimed the title from Thomson back in 2009 via decision meaning a third tussle would settle the score. Melendez provided commentary during the bout and welcomed the fight. “I do feel (fighting Melendez) is next,” Thomson said. “I am going to go back to the way I used to train and make sure I whip Gilbert’s ass.” Watch below as a visibly disappointed Thomson elaborates more on his win over Noons in an interview backstage after the bout’s conclusion: PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, way i, melendez, sht, thomson

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Josh Thomson easily beat K.J. Noons on Saturday night's Strikeforce card, dominating him for three rounds in a fight that showed Thomson had superior takedowns and wrestling, but didn't show much else: The fight wasn't particularly aesthetically pleasing, and it left the crowd booing. All three judges scored it 29-28 for Thomson, who described his performance as "s--t" afterward. Now Thomson may get a rubber match with Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. Thomson beat Melendez in 2008, then lost to Melendez in 2009. Melendez has steadily improved and Thomson hasn't, however, and Melendez will be a heavy favorite heading into a rubber match. Most of the first round of Thomson-Noons was a stalemate, with Thomson holding Noons down against the fence but not really advancing his position at all, and the fans began to boo the lack of action. Thomson deserved to win the round because he was the one in control, but it wasn't a particularly impressive round for either man. Early in the second round Thomson threw a head kick and slipped onto his back, allowing Noons to get on top of him on the ground. But Thomson was able to reverse positions and wind up on top of Noons, once again controlling things from the top position. The fans were growing restless again, and the loudest cheer of the fight came when the referee stood the fight up because Thomson was on top and not doing much of anything. It wasn't long, however, before Thomson took Noons down and got on top of him again near the fence, and that's how the round ended, with the fans booing again. In the third round it only took Thomson 30 seconds to use a trip takedown to get on top of Noons, and from the top position he sunk in an arm-triangle choke. Noons bucked Thomson off to escape that choke, but Thomson remained relentless on the top and wouldn't give up, and Thomson also got more active with ground and pound than he had been in the first two rounds. It was an easy round for Thomson and an easy win.

Posted in: fight, round, melendez, noon, thomson

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Gilbert Melendez will get a top notch opponent for his next fight, but he will be remaining in Strikeforce for the foreseeable future.

Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, notch opponent

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez talks to HeavyMMA's Megan Olivi in Japan about cornering Jake Shields against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 144 and what will be next for him.

Posted in: ufc, jake shields, melendez, gilbert, yoshihiro akiyama

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

There's not a day that goes by when I don't slam my head against a hard surface thinking of the possibilities of Gilbert Melendez fighting in the UFC. It's about as frustrating as trying to type the word 'archipelago' without checking the spelling on Google. See, even there I had to spell check it. In a sense, calculators are to math as spell check is to the entire English language. In reality, the assistance of computers just makes us less reliant on our cognitive abilities, and eventually our entire planet is just going to turn into a society of mentally dull drones that would be nothing without relying on computers. Damn, this article got off to a depressing start. That definitely wasn't my intention. Just check out this video of Scott Coker being asked a multitude of Gilbert Melendez related questions -- and try to stay away from that spell check today. Humanity deserves better.

Posted in: check, scott coker, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Following the UFC 143 pre-fight press conference on Thursday, February 2nd, Dana White held a scrum for the attending MMA media. In what can only be described as a mosh pit styled interview. During this time Dana will answer any questions that he is asked. One of the big topics of conversation was the UFC's return to Japan and the status of Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. On February 24th, Fankie Edgar will defend his lightweight title against Ben Henderson in Tokyo, Japan. While fans and media have been outspoke that this is merely a vanity project for the UFC, White was adamant that this was important for Zuffa's Asian expansion. He stated, "As far as I know everything is going well over there. You don't know how successful it's going to be until you go. When we pull that event off and we do it and we see how it goes. It's very important. It's a very important show for our intro into Asia. Not just Japan but China and all the other markets we want to go to over there." The UFC President was also asked about the rumors that B.J. Penn would be making his way over to Strikeforce to challenge Gilbert Melendez. It turns out that there was no truth to the rumor. In his own words. "That's not true. That's absolutely not true. But I have been talking to B.J. Penn. I talked to B.J. Penn last week and it was the first time that B.J. and I talked since his fight. He's just chilling right now. He wants to relax and figure out what he wants to do with his career. I'm working on Melendez. Melendez is all over my ass." He added, "I think he's a great fighter and I've said this a million times and I want to say it again. I want to get my hands on Strikeforce. I want to dive into this thing and I want to do it the way that it should be done. And the way that I think it should be done. We'll see what happens." He later addressed his goals to improve the Strikeforce brand saying "why not the UFC's level? If you talk to anybody they will tell you that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best fighters in the world. There's a ton of guys. Now you got Rockhold over there. Yes, these guys are great. I just want to do things that I want to do things over there. We'll see what happens. You guys know how I am. If I take this Strikeforce thing then I will dive into this thing 100% because I have so much free time. I'm looking for a side project. Honestly, I will dive into this thing and I will make it right and I will make it good. I will make the fighters who fight over there not worry about what's going on in the UFC." Two more videos after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, thing, bj, melendez

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

When Zuffa revealed Strikeforce lightweight king Gilbert Melendez would continue to compete under the embattled organization’s banner rather than bring his talents to the Octagon the question quickly turned to one of contendership. With no clear cut challengers in place the public’s speculation on the situation often involved the possibility of a top level UFC fighter switching over to Strikeforce to give Melendez the “Top 10” opponent he deserves to defend his title against. However, critics of such a scenario argued any 155ers within sniffing distance of the UFC’s divisional championship would likely prefer to remain where they were rather than deal with the dwindling stability of Strikeforce. In the case of stand-out scrapper Jim Miller, a 20-3 lightweight who headlines tonight’s UFC on FX event, it appears the latter group is onto something. Miller spoke with Five Ounces of Pain during the lead up to this evening’s affair where he offered a frank assessment when asked about his interest in moving over to Strikeforce if it meant an immediate crack at Melendez’s strap. “Melendez is a great fighter and could come over to the UFC and jump right into the mix without a doubt. I don’t know what’s left for him over there, but I am sure they will find him some quality opponents,” Miller began on the widely respected 155-pounder before talk turned to fighting in Strikeforce. “Even if the money was comparable I don’t think I would make the move over there,” said Miller. “Once you have been in the UFC you don’t want to go backwards. This is the major leagues of MMA. Nothing against Strikeforce, but the opportunities here are far better. More exposure, more sponsors, bigger crowds and obviously more challenging fights.” What the future holds for Miller remains to be seen though his present focus is clearly on beating Melvin Guillard tonight in Nashville. Action starts on FX at 9:00 PM EST with prelims coming on Fuel TV a few hours earlier. It is likely Melendez will eventually face the winner of a scheduled bout between K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson who face off in early March. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, miller, melendez, mma nothing

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

It's only appropriate that we start off 2012 with a topic that we've been endlessly discussing since 2009. Back then, the essential lightweight fight everyone salivated over was a cross-promotional bout between Strikeforce's Gilbert Melendez and Bellator's Eddie Alvarez. People initially believed that if the bout did happen, the primary issue would be over what promotion would retain broadcast rights for the event. That was until Bjorn Rebney publicly stated that he was willing to relinquish the idea of a co-promotion and was even open to having the event in Strikeforce at San Jose, CA. Weeks went by, then Bjorn Rebney insisted that Scott Coker was ducking the text messages he sent regarding Melendez vs. Alvarez. Scott Coker denied receiving the texts, then Bjorn Rebney released pictures of the texts from his phone -- and all talks just sort of collapsed. Now fast forward a couple years to 2012 into the post-ZUFFA Strikeforce era that we all inhabit. Gilbert Melendez still remains locked into a Strikeforce contract (while riding a 6-0 winning streak) and Michael Chandler toppled Eddie Alvarez to be the new Bellator lightweight champion at Bellator 58. Unfortunately, whatever luster Melendez vs. Alvarez once had is no more. It's finished, like all of those hopes and dreams you wanted to accomplish in 2011. Maybe you need to take it easy on the innumerable cans of Pringles you consume while watching Harry and the Hendersons. We're in 2012, the year of the Mayan prophecy -- and Gilbert Melendez is still not in the UFC. Those Mayans probably saw it coming. Damn them and their incredibly unique clairvoyance. We caught up with Scott Coker to discuss the future of Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce along with a few other topics I'm sure you'll find interesting.

Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, bjorn rebney

Read the full article at Middle Easy

After outpointing Billy Evangelista on Saturday, K.J. Noons is already getting asked about a potential matchup against Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.

Posted in: strikeforce, champion, melendez, noon, outpointing

Read the full article at Sherdog

ESPN recaps Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” and preview UFC 141 on this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live. ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: mma, espn, vs, espn mma, melendez

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Contrary to popular opinion (and LowKick.com's own Community Rankings), UFC Champion Frankie Edgar is not the best Lightweight in the world. Instead, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, that honor belongs to the San Jose based organization's title holder, Gilbert Melendez. Undefeated since 2009 and currently riding a six-fight winning streak, Melendez recently made his third consecutive title defense, defeating top contender Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision...

Posted in: san jose, title defense, melendez, frankie edgar, streak melendez

Read the full article at Low Kick

A pair of championship bouts were the highlights of the recently completed Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal card, as Gilbert Melendez defended his Strikeforce lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal. The other title match featured Cris “Cyborg” Santos knocking out Hiroko Yamanaka in just 16 seconds to successfully defend her crown at featherweight. K.J. Noons and Billy Evangelista, along with Ovince St. Preux and Gegard Mousasi, were also featured on the Showtime-televised show. Check out the video below for highlights from the night:

Posted in: strikeforce, gegard mousasi, masvidal, melendez, championship bouts

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

If you were not among the group tuning in last weekend to Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal you not only missed an entertaining show but likely heard about some of the evening’s action including featherweight champion Cristiane Santos‘ massacare of 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka and 155-pound title-holder Gilbert Melendez‘s successful, strike-oriented defense against polished striker Jorge Masvidal. Forunately, Strikeforce has produced a clip of highlights from the show summarizing the festivities in less than five minutes with all of the night’s biggest moments meaning folks who missed the event can catch up on all of the action. Play-by-Play from the Main Card of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Watch as Melendez outclasses Masvidal while standing and Santos solidifies her spot as the top woman in MMA, as well as how things unfolded in other match-ups like Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux and KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista. Check out the full feature below: Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, action playbyplay

Read the full article at Fighters.com

Didn't get a chance to watch Saturday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event on Showtime? Check out ShoSports' video recap of the night's main card.

Posted in: strikeforce, video, vs, melendez, showtime check

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Or so says Strikeforce CEO and General Manager Scott Coker, who is, admittedly enough, not an unbiased observer. In a recent conversation with MMAWeekly, Coker gave his take on the match-up we may never see, Gilbert Melendez vs. Frankie Edgar: "I believe (Melendez) is the number one lightweight in the world. Believe me, those other guys, I take nothing away from them. Listen, styles make fights, and I'm really looking at Frankie Edgar and Gilbert, that match-up as to who would win that fight and how that fight would look. Ben Henderson, Cowboy Cerrone, all those guys are extremely talented, but like I said, styles make fights. I think Gilbert and Frankie would be a great fight, but I think Gilbert would come out on top." It's an intriguing match-up. Melendez is 20-2 in his fighting career, and has avenged both losses. Edgar is 14-1-1 and has avenged the lone defeat of his career. Both are titleholders in their weight class in different promotions but Edgar surely holds the edge in strength of schedule. His finding "the answer" to B.J. Penn in back-to-back bouts is still one of the more impressive feats in MMA. The unfortunate issue in all this is that Strikeforce just recently re-upped with Showtime to continue broadcasting events on the network. The promotion needs a face and that honor has been given to Melendez. That means no superfights against Edgar, who is preoccupied, anyway. He's got a tough match-up against Ben Henderson coming up on Feb. 26 at UFC 144 in Japan. "El Nino" has said he'll be there, though, always watching and wondering when he'll get his chance to prove Coker correct. If that day ever comes, Maniacs, who are you putting your money on? Melendez or Edgar?

Posted in: fight, melendez, gilbert, edgar, frankie

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and former light heavyweight title-holder Gegard Mousasi each earned $150,000 for their respective wins this past Saturday to top the $580,000 payroll for “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.” The Showtime-televised event took place on Dec. 17 in San Diego, California and included Melendez outpointing Jorge Masvidal in the main event to retain his belt, women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg knocking out Hiroko Yamanaka in just 16-seconds, and decision wins by Mousasi and KJ Noons. The complete salaries for the main card were: Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Jorge Masvidal: $23,000 Cris “Cyborg” Santos: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus) def. Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000 Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Ovince St. Preux: $17,000 KJ Noons: $65,000 ($30,000 win bonus) def. Billy Evangelista $20,000 The event drew an attendance of just 2,995 for a live gate of $154,075, while 460,000 viewers tuned in on Showtime. For complete coverage of Strikeforce stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Gilbert Melendez

Posted in: strikeforce, mousasi, bonus, masvidal, melendez

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Why does Scott Coker think Gilbert Melendez is the top lightweight in the sport? Beyond his record, the Strikeforce CEO thinks Melendez could and would beat UFC champ Frankie Edgar.

Posted in: scott coker, gilbert melendez, melendez, frankie edgar, strikeforce ceo

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

The holidays are upon us, and whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or Tiamat’s birthday (dust off your old Monsters Manual, son; she’s the queen of the Chromatic dragons), it’s hopefully a time for giving and receiving.  Well, I’ve given a lot to the sport of MMA this year – a book on underground fighting, articles for MMA Convert four to six times a week, blog posts on the local MMA scene and enough Tweeted results from live shows to sink a battleship.  Plus, I painstakingly sat through every episode of the Ultimate Fighter, and my monthly bill for UFC pay-per-views is through the roof.  I think it’s time I enumerate to Santa exactly what it is I wish for in return.  And yeah, sure, the obligatory “peace on Earth, goodwill towards men” should be on there, but this is my list, dammit.  Ultimately, I don’t think jolly Saint Nick/Hanukah Harry/Zeus/the Great Pumpkin cares. -I wish promoters would stop giving Jens Pulver fights.  At this point, it’s clear the former UFC lightweight champ isn’t angling so much for a graceful retirement as a painful and debilitating permanent exit from the cage.  Which means it’s up to the promoters of the world to stop giving Pulver fights.  Yes, he’s beloved and charismatic, and at one point his name was synonymous with “stand and bang”.  But alas, those days when he could be competitive – and take a punch – are gone.  So please, anyone out there with matchmaking duties, just cut it out.  Let the man ride off into the sunset in peace. -I wish MMA would get sanctioned in New York.  Don’t get me wrong, I love underground fight shows.  But there comes a time when you look around at the other states with athletic commissions and wonder how the in the hell your supposedly “progressive” state is so behind when it comes to sanctioned mixed martial arts.  Seriously, it’s embarrassing.  I want a UFC at Madison Square Garden, a Strikeforce at Nassau Coliseum, a Bellator in the ballroom at the Crowne Plaza in Times Square and a Ring of Combat at the Beacon Theater.  Is that so much to ask for? -I wish “Big Nog” would tap more often.  Yes, I get it, the Brazilian legend is so durable, not even getting run over by a truck as a child can slow him down.  However, watching the man get his arm snapped, and knowing that he’s going to need so many pins and screws to put it back together that he can legally be considered a cyborg… that’s… that’s too much.  And I say this is a fan.  Dude, just tap next time. -I wish for more cheesy C-grade promotions on pay-per-view.  Remember Moosin?  MMA Pit Fight?  All these one-off pay-per-view offerings that cost like 24 bucks a shot, they’re good for weekends when there’s no UFC soaking up your dollars.  And they’re GREAT for laughs.  I swear, I think Bas Rutten was drunk when he commentated for Moosin.  Or at least he should have been. -I wish for good health for Daniel James Miller.  UFC middleweight Dan Miller’s son Daniel James was born with a host of medical issues, and like a trooper (and like his dad would in the cage), the little guy has been battling them back.  To help defray some of the costs of his treatment, Zuffa ponied up, and Dan Sr.’s team helped out with a fundraising seminar – all of which is a credit to the MMA community.  But in the end, I just want Junior to keep smiling.  And folks, I’ve seen his smile.  It’s precious. -I wish for a fresher TUF.  Supposedly, with the UFC’s marriage to FOX, we’re going to get this.  Supposedly.  However, if we get more lameness… I might just go Travis Bickle on the FOX studios. -I wish some UFC lightweights would pay Strikeforce a visit so Gilbert Melendez can be challenged.  Right now, the only person on the Strikeforce roster who has a chance at defeating Melendez is Cris “Cyborg” Santos.  And the word on the street is Scott Coker offered Melendez that fight and he wisely turned it down.  (Just kidding.) -I wish for Eddie Alvarez and Mike Chandler to rematch.  I love Bellator’s whole tournament motif.  To death.  But they caught lightning in a bottle with Alvarez/Chandler I; that rematch needs to happen immediately.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, melendez

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Dream light heavyweight titleholder Gegard Mousasi each walked away from Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” with $150,000 paychecks, the largest disclosed fight purses awarded at the Dec. 17 event.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, mousasi, melendez, fight purses

Read the full article at Sherdog

Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi each made $150,000 for their efforts last Saturday at the promotion's event in San Diego, each nearly topping what the show generated in ticket sales. The California State Athletic Commission released the numbers for the entire show Tuesday and MMA Fighting reported on them, revealing a paltry attendance of 2995 and a final gate at $154,075. From high to low, here's the breakdown of who earned what Saturday. Like always, these don't include discretionary bonuses given by Zuffa: Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus) Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus) Cristiane Santos: $66,000 ($33,000 win bonus) K.J. Noons: $65,000 ($30,000 win bonus) Jorge Masvidal: $23,000 Billy Evangelista: $20,000 Caros Fodor: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) Ovince St. Preux: $17,000 Roger Bowling: $14,000 ($7,000 win bonus) Devin Cole: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) Justin Wilcox: $12,000 Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000 Eddie Mendez: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus) Herman Terrado: $6,000 ($3000 win bonus) Gabriel Salinas: $3,000 Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000 Chris Brown: $3,000 Jerron Peoples: $2,000 SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: strikeforce, bonus, melendez, show tuesday, promotions event

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez made $150,000 for his Saturday win over Jorge Masvidal, and Gegard Mousasi also made $150K for his win over Ovince St. Preux.

Posted in: gegard mousasi, jorge masvidal, gegard, melendez, gilbert

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Main-event fighters Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal were among 10 fighters slapped with medical suspensions after their Strikeforce fights on Saturday.

Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, jorge masvidal, melendez, strikeforce fights

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

This past Saturday’s Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal failed to generate much interest around the MMA community, and, after seeing the attendance figures, it seems most fans in the San Diego felt the same way. According to official numbers from the CSAC the only card drew 2,995 people for $154,075 in gate. The number is one of the organization’s lowest to date and on par with a pre-Vegas Strikeforce Challengers show rather than a major card featuring two title-fights/ As far as salaries go, Gilbert Melendez, earned $150,000 for successfully defending his Strikeforce lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal, as did Gegard Mousasi who stopped Ovince St. Preux in their main card match-up. Masvidal, in his first big-time main event, was awarded $23,000. Cris “Cyborg” Santos, who knocked out Hiroko Yamanaka in just sixteen seconds, earned $66,000 including a $33,000 win bonus. Other fighters who walked away with win bonuses included K.J. Noons, Caros Fodor, Roger Bowling, Devin Cole, Eddie Mendez, and Herman Terrado. The salaries for each fighters is just what was reported to the California State Athletic Commission and does not include any post-fight bonuses awarded. Read below for a full list of paydays frrom Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal: Herman Terrado: $6,000 ($3000 win bonus) def. Chris Brown: $3,000 Eddie Mendez: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus) def. Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000 Devin Cole: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Gabriel Salinas: $3,000 Roger Bowling: $14,000 ($7,000 win bonus) def. Jerron Peoples: $2,000 Caros Fodor: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Justin Wilcox: $12,000 K.J. Noons: $65,000 ($30,000 win bonus) def. Billy Evangelista: $20,000 Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Ovince St. Preux: $17,000 Cris ‘Cyborg’ Santos: $66,000 ($33,000 win bonus) def. Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000 Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Jorge Masvidal: $23,000 PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, san diego, bonus, masvidal, melendez

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" took place this past Sat., Dec. 17, 2011, from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California, and featured the new face of the promotion, Gilbert Melendez, defending his lightweight championship against Jorge Masvidal. And if the ratings are any indication of the what's ahead for the recently resurrected promotion, there may be hope just yet. That's because the event averaged 460,000 viewers on Showtime and recorded a 1.35 household rating, according to Sherdog.com. That's up considerably from the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament semifinals, which drew just 274,000 viewers back on Sept. 10. Much has changed since then, of course, including the outlook for the promotion. No longer is it a lame duck organization waiting to be put out of its misery. Sure, these numbers aren't blowing anyone away but it's a good start under the new agreement. And you gotta start somewhere. In the main event of the evening, Gilbert Melendez turned in yet another solid performance and retained his 155-pound championship by outworking Jorge Masvidal over the course of five grueling rounds. He followed that up by calling out the UFC but he'll have to sit tight and take on whoever Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker can find him. That may be K.J. Noons, who also won a unanimous decision on the card, besting the always game Billy Evangelista. He did just lose a title eliminator to Masvidal, who earned his shot on this card by defeating Noons, but such is the revolving door in a smaller promotion. Cristiane Santos once again showed the world why she might actually belong fighting men, as it took her just 16 seconds to dispose of Hiroko Yamanaka, a highly ranked 145-pound lethal lady. Not so lethal against "Cyborg." For complete "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" results and recap of all the night's action click hhere and here.

Posted in: promotion, strikeforce, event, masvidal, melendez

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" drug test results are in from the California Athletic Commission (CSAC), which today confirmed that all eight fighters tested for illegal/banned drugs of abuse after competing at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011, have all passed with flying colors. Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, as well as his opponent in the main event of the evening, Jorge Masvidal, were among those who were put under the microscope, as well as Gegard Mousasi, Ovince St. Preux, Cristiane Santos, Hirako Yamanaka, Devin Cole and Gabriel Salinas. Each competitor was screened for drugs of abuse such as cocaine and marijuana, among others, the results for which all returned negative. Additional testing for performance-enhancing substances such as steroids was also taken; however, those results won't be in for at least another two weeks. Stay tuned. "El Nino" outlasted "GameBred" to earn a unanimous decision after five rounds of action to retain his 155-pound title. In the co main event of the evening, 145-pound female champion, "Cybrog," annihilated yet another poor soul, erasing Yamanaka in a furious 16-second assault. "Melendez vs. Masvidal" also featured a 205-pound clash between former division champion, Gegard Mousasi, looking to topple the upstart Ovince St. Preux to earn the opportunity to compete for the light heavyweight title that Dan Henderson vacated earlier this year. MIssion accomplished. For complete results and coverage of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal," which attracted a crowd of 2,995 for a live gate of $154,075, click here.

Posted in: result, vs, drug, masvidal, melendez

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Strikeforce earned an average of 460,000 viewers for its live Saturday broadcast of “Melendez vs. Masvidal” on Showtime.

Posted in: strikeforce, viewer, melendez, saturday broadcast, showtime strikeforce

Read the full article at Sherdog

Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Melendez vs. Masvidal" event this past Saturday night (Dec. 17, 2011), which aired on Showtime from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., were released to MMAmania.com this evening by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). Unsurprisingly, lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez led the payout pack, earning $150,000 for his five-round unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. "El Nino" was adamant after the fight that he could compete against the cream of the crop in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 155-pound division; however, he might want to reconsider based on his payday, which was $48,000 more than the base salary that Frankie Edgar took home for his performance at UFC 125 earlier this year. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi was also rewarded handsomely for his 15 minutes of work, defeating Ovince St. Preux via unanimous decision to inch himself closer to another championship opportunity. That's not all. Here is the complete list of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" salaries and payouts: Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus)Jorge Masvidal: $23,000Melendez defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision Cristiane Santos: $66,000 ($33,000 to show, $33,000 to win) Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000Santos defeated Yamanaka via knockout in round one Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus)Ovince St. Preux: $17,000Mousasi defeated St. Preux via unanimous decision KJ Noons: $ 65,000 ($35,000 to show, $30,000 to win) Billy Evangelista: $20,000Noons defeated Evangelista via unanimous decision Caros Fodor: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Justin Wilcox: $12,000Fodor defeated Wilcox via knockout in round one Roger Bowling: $14,000 ($7,000 to show, $7,000 to win) Jerron Peoples: $2,000Bowling defeated Peoples via knockout in round one Devin Cole: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win) Gabriel Salinas: $3,000Cole defeated Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision Eddie Mendez: $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000Mendez defeated Gonzalez via split decision Herman Terrado: $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win) Chris Brown: $3,000Terrado defeated Brown via submission (armbar) in round three The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" was $580,000. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For complete Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

Posted in: strikeforce, show, decision, masvidal, melendez

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Filed under: Strikeforce, News, Sports Business and MediaLast Saturday night's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event at the San Diego Sports Arena drew only 2,995 fans and a gate of $154,075, according to information released by the California state athletic commission. That total was far short of covering the payroll for the event, which was $580,000 in disclosed purses. Topping the athlete salaries list were headliner Gilbert Melendez and Gegard Mousasi, each of whom made $150,000 for their bouts. Melendez retained the lightweight title in a unanimous decision win over Jorge Melendez, while Mousasi outworked Ovince St. Preux en route to a decision. Women's featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos pulled in a total of $66,000 in salary and bonus for her 16-second knockout of Hiroko Yamanaka, while KJ Noons collected $65,000 for defeating Billy Evangelista. The complete list of salaries is as follows: Herman Terrado $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) Chris Brown $3,000 Fernando Gonzalez $3,000 Eddie Mendez $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) Devin Cole $12,000 (Includes $6,000 win bonus) Gabriel Salinas $3,000 Roger Bowling $14,000 (includes $7,000 win bonus) Jerron Peoples $2,000 Justin Wilcox $ 12,000 Caros Fodor $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) KJ Noons $65,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) Billy Evangelista $20,000 Gegard Mousasi $150,000 (no win bonus) Ovince St. Preux $17,000 Cris "Cyborg" Santos $66,000 (includes $33,000) Hiroko Yamanaka $8,000 Gilbert Melendez $150,000 (no win bonus) Jorge Masvidal $23,000 The California commission also noted that it tested eight fighters for drugs of abuse. Those athletes were Mousasi, St. Preux, Santos, Yamanaka, Cole, Salinas, Melendez and Masvidal. All tests came back clean. Steroid test results for Masvidal, Melendez, Santos, Yamanka, St. Preux and Mousasi are not expected to be completed for two weeks. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mousasi, preux, bonus, masvidal, melendez

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A video recap of Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” courtesy of Showtime.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, recap, melendez, video recap

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The CSAC has released the fighter payouts for Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal”. Keep in mind, these figures represent the base contracted pay the fighter receives from the promotion. These figures do not include any additional bonuses or sponsorship money, which in many cases exceeds a fighter’s base pay. These numbers also do not account for taxes, insurance, and license fees. Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi led the pack with flat $150,000 paydays. Strikeforce women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg was next in line with a $66,000 payday with her win bonus. It was a significant bump from the $35,000 she pocketed for beating Jan Finney at Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Werdum.” KJ Noons was right behind her with $65,000 in total earnings. The total disclosed payroll came to $580,000, however the $154,000 live gate was barely enough to cover Gilbert Melendez’s purse, let alone the rest of the payroll. Payouts Courtesy of MMA Junkie: Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus) Jorge Masvidal: $23,000 Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos: $66,000 ($33k + $33k win bonus) Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000 Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus) Ovince St. Preux: $17,000 K.J. Noons: $65,000 ($35k + $30k) Billy Evangelista: $20,000 Caros Fodor: $20,000 ($10k + $10k) Justin Wilcox: $12,000 Roger Bowling: $14,200 ($7k + $7k + $200 Peoples weight fine) Jerron Peoples: $1,600 ($2k – $200 fine to Bowling – $200 fine to CSAC) Devin Cole: $12,000 ($6k + $6k) Gabriel Salinas-Jones: $3,000 Eddie Mendez: $6,000 ($3k + $3k) Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000 Herman Terrado: $6,000 ($3k + $3k) Chris Brown: $3,000 Total Payout A disclosed total of $580,000 was paid out to the fighters.

Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, bonus, melendez, taxes insurance

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Gilbert Melendez and Gegard Mousasi earned the largest disclosed paydays at this past weekend's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" event, with each netting $150,000. MMAjunkie.com today obtained the figures from the California State Athletic Commission. The total disclosed payroll for the Dec. 17 event was $580,000.

Posted in: vs, event, gegard mousasi, melendez, california state

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Last weekend's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," which featured lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez's victory against Masvidal, drew 460,000 viewers on Showtime.

Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, viewer, masvidal, melendez

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Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsStrikeforce lightweight Jorge Masvidal will be sidelined for as long as six weeks due to hand injuries sustained both before and during his recent title fight loss to Gilbert Melendez, his manager Tina Vidal-Smith told MMA Fighting. The Florida-based fighter, who dropped a unanimous decision in the main event of last Saturday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal card, suffered a severe contusion to his right hand about 10 days before the fight, and then damaged it further, incurring a ligament injury during the fight's first round, Vidal-Smith said. On Monday, he had his hand set in a cast and a hand specialist advised him to spend the next 4-6 weeks on the shelf in order to heal the damage. "He is hoping to work his way back up to fight Gilbert Melendez again when he is 100 percent, but stresses that Gilbert won the fight fair and square and extends his utmost respect to the current champion," Vidal-Smith said. The 27-year-old Masvidal fell to 22-7 with the loss. In his post-fight press conference comments, Masvidal made no reference to the problems but his performance suggested something could have been wrong. According to FightMetric, Masvidal was only out-struck 122-100 overall, but there was a stark difference in power punches. Melendez threw 182 power strikes to the head, more than triple the number thrown by Masvidal, who fired off just 53. Normally an orthodox fighter, Masvidal was reliant on his lead left jab, as that particular punch counted for 183 of his 262 overall thrown strikes. He also switched to a southpaw stance several times but was unable to do enough to earn the judges' decision. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, jorge masvidal, hand, masvidal, melendez

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For all the talk of how "thrilled" Gilbert Melendez is to remain in Strikeforce, there are still plenty of moments where he indicates otherwise. Most recently in an interview he did with Famous TV. ESPN has a transcript of Melendez's statements: "I don't feel like I shouldn't be in this position, I'm not crying about my position but I think I've done more than Ben Henderson," told Fighting Famous TV. "You know, these guys were on The Ultimate Fighter - I was already fighting in PRIDE and ranked top three in the world but some people just don't understand that. "I'm not trying to be a cry baby again, but I just know my history and I've been there. I've already hit these bumps in the road and come back. Some of these guys haven't hit that bump in the road where they have to reinvent themselves and I've already hit that and they're still going to hit that." This is the ultimate problem with Melendez in Strikeforce. Yes, he's a professional, but when a man feels that he isn't getting the opportunities that he deserves, it can lead to complacency through a sense of dissatisfaction. For Melendez, his future is fights with men he has already defeated or men who aren't truly on his level. When you've spent your career establishing that you're one of the best in the world, get to the #2 spot and now are relegated to fighting fringe talents while you watch men you feel haven't "earned it" as much as you get bigger opportunities, it is bound to create some level of animosity. For Melendez, what's the end game here? I'm holding firm to the idea that Zuffa must send some fighters to Strikeforce to challenge Melendez. Yes, it may result in payouts that somewhat outpace the cash generated by the events, but that's what it takes to build up a promotion and fighters. There's a lot of talk that a UFC fighter may see a temporary move to Strikeforce as some sort of horrible demotion, but it's an opportunity to fight the number two lightweight on the planet. For a man like Kenny Florian, unlikely to ever get another shot at a UFC title, that may be something tempting as a mark on his resume. A title run (yes, a secondary title) and the marquee win in his career. Or even a Sean Sherk, unlikely to ever get to the top of the UFC heap at this point in his caeer but a fully legitimate test for Melendez. An option like these is something that has to happen for the good of Melendez and Strikeforce as a whole. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: title, strikeforce, ben henderson, gilbert melendez, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez successfully defended his crown against Jorge Masvidal this past weekend. Now, “El Nino” is ready to take on anybody that Zuffa throws at him. With the recent Strikeforce-Showtime contract hashed out, Melendez will remain part of the Strikeforce lineup for the foreseeable future. However, that doesn’t mean someone from the UFC cannot be brought in to face him for the title. For Melendez, it doesn’t matter who it is, as the champion said in an interview with Showtime following the Masvidal fight, “It’s tough, but it’s great (to be the champion) because everyone is coming after my belt. I am happy to say I am still the champ.” The 29-year old decided to stand and strike with Masvidal instead of relying on his excellent ground game, something many did not expect. “I was eager to prove everyone wrong (in regards to the stand-up),”Melendez said. “I knew I had to strike with him, and (Masvidal) was the toughest striker I have ever faced. But I feel like I might be the best striker in the 155 division now.” Check out the video below:

Posted in: “ i, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez, strikeforce lineup

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Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker shared his thoughts about last weekend's fight card in San Diego, California, and the future of the promotion's Lightweight champion Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez. Coker promised "big fights" for Gilbert Melendez, hinting at crossover opponents from what is now a parent promotion - the UFC. Coker currently finds himself with a limited choice of potential challengers for Gilbert Melendez's title, with Caros Fodor (7-1 in MMA, five-fight win streak) currently being the most likely #1

Posted in: melendez, gilbert, coker, crossover opponents, mma fivefight

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If you’re wondering why Jorge Masvidal threw almost exclusively jabs on Saturday night against Gilbert Melendez, it might have something to do with a broken right hand. Masvidal’s management team released a statement following the bout saying that the fighter suffered the injury just weeks before the bout, but decided to remain in the main event rather than dropping off the card. In the first round of the five round title affair, Masvidal re-aggravated the hand, which left him to use only his jab as his primary weapon. Masvidal was hoping for additional treatment on his hand prior to the bout, but was told by the commission that it was too late. According to “Gamebred” the strategy was to takedown Melendez, but due to his injured hand, couldn’t execute the game plan laid out by his American Top Team trainers. The end result was Masvidal ending up on the losing end of a 25-minute decision to lightweight champion Melendez in the title bout. Masvidal will get his hand checked out by doctors in the coming days to determine the severity of the injury and whether or not it will keep him out of action for long. The California State Athletic Commission will also release their medical suspensions list, which could feature Masvidal due to his hand injury. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: bout, hand, gilbert melendez, masvidal, melendez

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Filed under: StrikeforceStrikeforce's 2011 came to a close on Saturday night in San Diego, but the organization will live on in 2012. Whether that's good news or bad news for the fighters on the roster remains to be seen, but this latest event did seem to be some kind of harbinger of things to come, for better or worse. And now, a look at the winners, losers, and everything in between after Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. Biggest Winner: Cris "Cyborg" Santos There aren't many ways to enter a bout as a 9-1 favorite and still exceed expectations, but by crushing Hiroko Yamanaka in 16 seconds, Santos found one. If anything, Santos is a little too dominant for her own good. After a year and a half out of the cage, she probably could have used a round or two of work just to stay sharp. Instead she went out there and Mike Tyson'd yet another overmatched opponent, leaving us to wonder whether there's any woman in the world who can possibly compete with the Brazilian. The powers that be seem to be eyeing Ronda Rousey as the next challenger, but Rousey seems savvy enough to know she'd be better off dropping to 135 pounds and chasing smaller, less terrifying prey. Now that Santos has laid waste to the 145-pound division, she might have no choice but to try and follow her down. If she can lose that much weight without the aid of a tapeworm, that is. Biggest Loser: Jorge Masvidal This might have been his last best chance to break out of the journeyman mold and claim some bit of greatness for himself, but he sure didn't fight like it. Word is that he went into this one with an injured hand, which might explain why he wasn't swinging for Melendez's brain stem with wild abandon down the stretch. Still, he had to know he was down on the cards and wasn't going to end it with takedowns in the final round, so what exactly was his plan for victory? Even with Strikeforce's lean roster, he'll have a hard time getting another title shot while he's still young and able. He needed to make this one count, and he didn't. Even with Melendez's eye swelling shut in the fifth, Masvidal kept fighting like he had two more rounds to make his move. It isn't easy to go for broke with an injured hand, but when you're running out of time to dethrone the champ in what might be the only shot you'll ever get, what other choice do you really have? Most in Need of a Change: Gilbert Melendez What's the worst part about his continued stay in Strikeforce? Forget the lack of money and attention, it's the dearth of quality opponents. You look around the Strikeforce roster and there's not a single potential challenger who Melendez wouldn't be a huge favorite against. And when you're the favorite, as he was against Masvidal, it's not always enough to win a smart, strategic decision. Not if you're trying to create a buzz and get fans to demand your presence in the UFC. You can't fault Melendez for fighting the way he did, but neither can you say that it upped his stock on Saturday night. Unless Strikeforce signs some new talent -- or the UFC loans it some -- Melendez is looking at more and more of these fights for as long as he's stuck in the Hexagon. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. And if you can't even get a fight with the best, then you need to absolutely smash the other guys just to stay in the conversation. It's a tough situation for Melendez, and it isn't getting any easier. Most Improved: Gegard Mousasi Looks like someone finally had enough of getting out-wrestled on the American MMA scene. After having that aspect of his game exposed by Mo Lawal (and, to a lesser extent, Keith Jardine), Mousasi clearly spent some time in the wrestling room and made some real strides of late. Granted, he's still not going to double-leg his way to a win over someone like King Mo, but maybe he can at least get good enough to stay upright against him. That is, maybe he can get there if only he'd start believing in himself a little more. After his decision win over Ovince St. Preux, Mousasi did his best to talk his way out of a potential title shot, implying that maybe there were others who might be more deserving. It reminded me of his demeanor after the draw against Jardine. He stayed in his seat well after the post-fight press conference ended, staring down at the table as his coaches tried to cheer him up. No matter how much they told him that he got robbed by the judges (which he did) or that he fought well (which he sort of did), he still looked and talked like a kid whose puppy had just been run over. It's nice to be honest with yourself about where you stand. It's also good to expect better and better performances from yourself. But at some point you cross the line from demanding to unnecessarily negative, and that doesn't help you. Cheer up, Gegard. You're not doing so bad for a 26-year-old pro fighter. Least Improved: Showtime broadcast You'd think that with as many Strikeforce events as the Showtime crew has done, they'd have it down cold by now. You'd be wrong. First they got off to a late start after the Super Six aftermath turned into a Wimbledon-style trophy presentation. Then, once the transition from boxing to MMA was complete, the simple task of reading the results of a clumsy Facebook poll proved more than any one person could handle. Between awkward interviews, weird sound miscues, and a broadcast team that seemed like it would have rather been somewhere else, it was a rough night. Even Pat Miletich, who's usually the very best ex-fighter commentator out there, had to be repeatedly dragged into the conversation by Mauro Ranallo. What's normally fun banter between the broadcast team became simply distracting, and you almost wished some producer would have stepped in and told them to play nice. I realize that broadcasting live sporting events isn't easy, and anybody can have an off-night, but if you compare Showtime's product to the one the UFC puts on pay-per-view more than 20 times a year, they aren't even close. It's like the difference between the picture of the cake that's in the cookbook and the half-sunken, dried-out mound you pull out of your oven after failing to read the directions carefully. If you want me to believe that Strikeforce is a top-tier organization, start with presentation. Most Surprising: KJ Noons and Billy Evangelista Who would have guessed that this would be one of the most exciting and competitive fights on the card? Noons and Evangelista mixed it up something fierce, and in the end the judges got it right when they gave the nod to Noons. But what's also surprising is the word that Noons was supposedly considering retirement (at least in theory) if he lost to Evangelista. I can understand feeling like he needed to win one -- after two losses in a row, he did -- but it's not like Evangelista is some chump that any decent fighter should be able to stroll through. He's a skilled, game opponent, and he showed it in the later rounds. Noons can be proud of that win, and with a few tactical changes here and there he's right back in the conversation at lightweight. Strikeforce's roster might be thin right now, but that's good news for guys like Noons. It means there's a short climb to the top of the 155-pound division, even if there's a heap of trouble waiting for you when you get there. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, noon, he

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After easily winning a decision over Jorge Masvidal at last weekend's Strikeforce event, Gilbert Melendez called for the UFC to bring him a worthy opponent. While Melendez later commented saying it was mostly post-fight adrenaline that fueled the comments, one look at the Strikeforce lightweight roster shows that he has a reason to gripe.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, jorge masvidal, melendez, postfight adrenaline

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Scott Petersen's fight night photo gallery from Saturday night's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal in San Diego.

Posted in: night, strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez

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Coming off a unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal last night (Dec.17, 2011) in San Diego, Calif., where he defended his Strikeforce lightweight title, Gilbert Melendez has now won six straight fights dating back to 2009. Even though his most recent performance opposite "GameBred" proved to be tougher than Melendez may have wanted, "El Nino" not only climbed the ranks of the mixed martial arts (MMA) lightweight division, but also staked his claim as the new face of the Strikeforce promotion. With Nick Diaz, Cung Le and Dan Henderson now fighting for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Melendez now carries the San Jose-based promotion squarely on his shoulders for the foreseeable future. At the moment there are no shortages of opponents for him under the Strikeforce banner with Caros Fodor and K.J. Noons earning impressive wins at last night's Strikeforce event, and in the process, tossing their names in the hat as possible next challengers for "El Nino's" title. Not to mention Gesias Cavalcante, another Strikeforce contender who could prove to be a tough test for Melendez. However, that hasn't stopped the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter from talking about the rest of the top lightweight talent that reside over in the UFC. Speaking to Fighting Famous TV, "El Nino" say's that he would smash challengers from the UFC and also says he loves Japan because the Japanese people really know who the true number one lightweight in the world really is. Check it out: "I don't feel like I shouldn't be in this position, I'm not crying about my position but I think I've done more than Ben Henderson. You know, these guys, all these guys were on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) show you know? Like I was already fighting in PRIDE and ranked top three in the world but some people just don't understand that. I'm not trying to be a cry baby again, but I just know my history and I've been there. I've already hit these bumps in the road and come back. Some of these guys haven't hit that bump in the road where they have to reinvent themselves and I've already hit that and they're still going to hit that. I think Ben Henderson is someone who is going to be amazing, I think he is amazing and I actually think he is going to continue to be amazing and he is going to be a great champ. As for Pettis, I would welcome that challenge. I would like to fight that dude, bring him over I think I can smash him." When asked about his upcoming trip to the "Land of the Rising Sun" to corner his training partner Jake Shields for his upcoming fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 144 on Feb. 26, 2012 -- who just so happens to be headlined by two of the UFC's premiere lightweights, division champion Frankie Edgar and number one contender Ben Henderson -- "El Nino" says he loves Japan because fans there know who the true number one lightweight in the world really is in MMA today. "I'm going to try to pump up MMA out there too. I think I'm a big deal in Japan for MMA. They think I'm the number one lightweight in the world out there, they definitely think I'm the number one lightweight in the world. Maybe it's different in the US, but they definitely think I'm the number one lightweight in the world." Back to back victories over some of Japan's best lightweights in Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri may be the primary reason Melendez believes the Japanese people would consider him the greatest 155-pound fighter in the world. Not lacking any confidence, Melendez truly feels he is the number one lightweight on the planet and would love nothing more than a chance to prove it it against some of the best the UFC has to offer. Though a fight with Anthony Pettis or any lightweight on UFC's roster could prove to be entertaining and a good test for Melendez, don't expect any cross promotion fights for "El Nino" anytime soon, even with Zuffa owning both Strikeforce and the UFC. With Strikeforce renewing its contract with Showtime, it could be at least two more years before Melendez ever gets his chance to step up up against the UFC's best lightweights. What do you say Maniacs, is Melendez the true number one lightweight in the world? Or will he always be second best as long as he carries the Strikeforce belt and not the UFC title?

Posted in: ufc, world, strikeforce, number, melendez

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Can someone explain why this video of Gilbert Melendez playing as himself in EA Sports MMA against Eddie Alvarez didn't get over 10,000 views on YouTube? It has indistinct, drunken yells from everyone, videogame playage and above all else, it showed Gilbert Melendez TKOing Eddie Alvarez in the first round. Now whether the latter scenario would actually happen is up for debate, but Gilbert Melendez sincerely believes that he's the number one lightweight in mixed martial arts -- and it seems like he will do everything to prove it. Check out this 3-D interview from last night's Strikeforce in which Gilbert Melendez talks about the adjustments he made to fight Jorge Masvidal.

Posted in: gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, latter scenario, nights strikeforce

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If Jorge Masvidal’s striking looked off last night in his championship clash with Strikeforce title-holder Gilbert Melendez it may have been because he was working with one paw for most of their pairing. According to Masvidal’s camp, “Gambred” injured his right hand a few weeks out from the fight but opted to fight rather than withdraw and pursue further treatment. The 27-year old aggravated the injury in the first round of his meeting with Melendez and was forced to fight without it as a result. Full Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Results Melendez, primarily known as a grappler, was able to outwork the typically sharp Masvidal in the striking department and took home a Unanimous Decision because of the superior stand-up. “I should have listened to my corners and tried to take him down more,” said Masvidal in a prepared statement. “At the end of the day Melendez won fair and square. He’s a great fighter and I have a lot of respect for him. I just hope I get the chance to fight him again.” Masvidal is expected to see a physician next week once he settles back in to get a detailed prognosis on the condition of his hand. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: fight, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez, right hand

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Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" took place last night (Sat., Dec. 17, 2011) from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California, featuring Gilbert Melendez successfully retaining both his lightweight championship and his status as the face of the promotion. Jorge Masvidal was "Gamebred," though. Big ups. Cristiane Santos also made it a night to remember (for the rest of us, at least), as it took her just 16 seconds to knock out Hiroko Yamanaka in their featherweight title tilt. Move along, folks, nothing to see here. In other action, Gegard Mousasi put himself in line for a light heavyweight championship bout with a unanimous decision win over Ovince St. Preux while K.J. Noons may have done the same at 155-pounds with his win over Billy Evangelista. A photo gallery (via Strikeforce.com) is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump. Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista

Posted in: vs, hiroko yamanaka, masvidal, melendez, ups cristiane

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More and more information continues to be released concerning the recent Strikeforce-Showtime extension that was worked out last week. Strikeforce recently held an event on the television network that featured Gilbert Melendez defending his Strikeforce lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal. Melendez, who seemed to be a lock to follow the likes of Dan Henderson and Jake Shields into the UFC, was part of the agreement between Strikeforce and Showtime that allowed the deal to be made. Also, Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold was worked into the contract, as well, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. “That was just a situation of the Showtime agreement,” said Coker to MMAWeekly after last night’s Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event. “That was part of the deal, that these fighters would stay. UFC feels that they have enough challengers in their divisions now. We’re going to keep building our league and keep plugging in new fighters that aren’t for the UFC into Strikeforce. There’s plenty of fighters out there and we’re gonna keep building them.” Rockhold will be in the main event of the first Strikeforce card of 2012, as he defends his title against former UFC veteran Keith Jardine. As for keeping Melendez, Coker was extremely pleased with that deal. “Gilbert fought for Strikeforce in 2006. He’s one of the cornerstones of Strikeforce,” Coker said. “I’m happy that he is with us and he’s gonna stay with us.” PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, deal, melendez, coker

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Gilbert Melendez tells MMAWeekly.com's Erik Fontanez he's confident Strikeforce will find opponents for him.

Posted in: strikeforce, melendez, gilbert, faith, mmaweeklycom

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Before we get started, will someone pick up that ball? You know, the one Gilbert Melendez dropped last night? If Dana White -- and Melendez himself considering his broad, sweeping post-fight challenge -- is to be believed, the Strikeforce lightweight champion is staying put and will likely serve as the new face of the promotion. Melendez is, after all, ranked as a top five 155-pounder and can serve as the anchor for a company looking to avoid being written off as a second-rate league. If that is in fact the plan, someone in the Zuffa chain of command is going to get a stern talking to on Monday morning because it certainly didn't seem like "El Niño" was privy to it. Whether Melendez is staying or leaving, last night's main event was extremely important for his career and he turned in a rather uninspired effort. He got the job done, defeating Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision, however where was the seamless mixing of striking and grappling fans saw in his rematch with Josh Thomson? Where was the brutal ground and pound that took Tatsuya Kawajiri out? Where was the Melendez that was supposed to take the UFC by storm? Strikeforce is hurting for star power. It has already lost Alistair Overeem, whose defection to the UFC -- combined with an overall shallow talent pool sport-wide -- gave Zuffa all the reason it needed to cut the weight division from Strikeforce's ranks. Also gone is Nick Diaz, the former welterweight champion. Here is a man any combat sports company -- be it mixed martial arts (MMA), boxing or pro wrestling -- could build its promotion around. Even Dan Henderson has returned to the Octagon after winning three out of four fights inside the Strikeforce cage. Already well-known thanks to his stint as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and his subsequent decapitation of Michael Bisping, "Hendo" brought that name recognition to San Jose with him but absconded back to Las Vegas with it just as quickly. The void that the departure of those three men has created is prime to be filled by any number of Strikeforce's stars. New middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has youth and 12 pounds of gold helping him along that path while contender Tim Kennedy can play up his military background to gain more traction with fans. But no fighter is better suited to become THE guy in Strikeforce than Melendez. Going into last night's bout against Jorge Masvidal, "El Niño" was already a two-time champion with two defenses to his name. An impressive win over "Gamebred" would have sealed the deal for Melendez in one of two ways. Either he makes the jump to the UFC and puts his top five ranking to the test against lightweights like Ben Henderson, Gray Maynard, and champ Frankie Edgar or he sticks around in Strikeforce and uses his status as a top 155-pounder to help legitimize the rest of the roster while continuing to fatten his bank account. Despite winning a rather one-sided decision, he was still taken to the limit -- and busted up -- by a fighter who barely registers as a top 25 lightweight. I don't know if that ranking correctly gauges Masvidal's talent; no one does. It's impossible for anyone to get a proper read on his skill level and compare it to the top fighters at 155 pounds as he's been fighting mid-tier talent so far. In this situation, two lines of thinking arise but only one is given any serious thought. Either Masvidal is for real and last night -- despite losing -- would be looked back on as his coming out party or Melendez -- who couldn't finish off the guy who got upside down choked in Bellator -- just isn't that good. I'm sure you can figure out which point of view prevails. As unfair as it may be -- to both Melendez and Masvidal alike -- a lot of fans are going to look at last night's performance and decide the Strikeforce champ isn't on par with the top flight of the Octagon. Wins are important in the fight game; the most important part but perception comes in a close second. "El Niño" had the power to control public opinion with his performance. Friday night, Melendez was seen as possibly being the uncrowned number one lightweight in the world. He simply needed his chance to prove it. Sunday morning, he's the champion of a second-rate promotion who talks bigger than he bites. Which is true?

Posted in: night, strikeforce, champion, masvidal, melendez

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Rundown of Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” post-fight news and notes… — Gilbert Melendez didn’t dominate Jorge Masvidal last night, as evidenced by his busted up face, but he did enough to pick up the win and successfully defend his Strikeforce lightweight championship. With the victory, Melendez was supposed to move over to the UFC where he and the rest of the world could find out once and for all if he truly is worthy of being called the number one lightweight in the world like he says he is. Alas, that wasn’t meant to be though now that Strikeforce is going to survive for at least another year. Melendez doesn’t exactly sound “f-ing excited” about it as Dana White claimed, but he does have faith that the powers that be will take care of him. “It’s been a roller-coaster trying to stay focused with all of this,” Melendez told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) following his win over Jorge Masvidal (22-7 MMA, 4-1 SF) in the main event of Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal” card in San Diego. “I’ve got people telling me I’m going to the UFC. I’ve got people telling me I’m not. I also bring this pressure on myself saying I’m No. 1, you know what I mean? You’ve got to back it up when you talk like that. “I’ve just got to have faith. What can I do? I’ve got no time to be crying or be negative about [expletive]. I’ve just got to stay focused and see what they bring to the table. We’ll go from there.” “I’m happy to be a part of Strikeforce and Showtime,” Melendez said. “I’ve got faith that they’re going to do what’s good for me. Dana told me that. ‘It’s going to be great for your career.’ “When I signed with Strikeforce, I was like, ‘I don’t know, Scott.’ Then I was fighting on Showtime. I’m like, ‘Alright, I don’t know, Scott,’ and then he brings me Aoki, the No. 2 fighter in the world. Then I get a great challenge like Jorge. A lot of people underrate him. For me, this was a big win for me to get. Jorge is a guy I’ve seen in the circuit for a long time. I guess what I’m trying to get at is they manage to deliver for me, and I’ve got to continue to have faith that they will continue to deliver for me. “We’ll all sit down together, and we’ll start talking. I think I’m in a position to ask some questions, and we’ll ask some questions and see what’s next.” Gilbert Melendez isn’t the only one who has questions. The media and fans are all asking the same thing he is: What’s next? There’s no clear cut answers, however Scott Coker is confident they’ll find someone worthy of challenging Melendez. “We’re going to keep building our league and keep putting new fighters that aren’t fighting for the UFC in Strikeforce,” Coker said. “There’s plenty of fighters out there. Not sure if you guys feel that way or not, but there’s plenty of fighters out there. “In 2006, Gilbert fought for Strikeforce, and we had no TV deal. We had no sponsorship. He’s run the course with Strikeforce. I’m so happy that he is with us and has stayed with us. Really, I feel he’s still the No. 1 lightweight in the world. That’s just how I feel personally. He’s been around a long time. He and Frank (Shamrock) and Cung (Le) and Josh were the guys that were there from the very beginning. I’m proud to say he’s our champion, and we’re going to continue getting him great fights.” Time will tell I suppose, but unless they bring over a worthy challenger from the UFC, there will be plenty of critics who claim his opposition isn’t good enough. —Another Strikeforce champion in desperate need of worthy challengers is Cris Cyborg. Hiroko Yamanaka proved to be no match for the world’s best female fight last night when she found herself on the wrong end of a Cyborg blitzkrieg in the opening seconds of the fight. Ronda Rousey’s name came up as a possible contender after the fight, but Scott Coker says she is probably going to fight at 135 “for a bit,” presumably to set up a women’s bantamweight title fight with Miesha Tate, before she gets a crack at Cyborg. “Ronda’s name keeps coming up, but I think Ronda is going to fight at 135 for a bit,” Coker said. “But Ronda has expressed interest in fighting at 145 and fighting for the title at some point.” “I think all the fights that the media wants to see, the fans want to see, Showtime would like to see and we would like to see, I think all those fights will happen; just be patient,” Coker said. “Sean is out there scouring the earth, and we’re going to find some opponents for ‘Cyborg.’ Truly, she’s the Mike Tyson of female MMA.” If the opportunity presents itself though, Cyborg says she’ll be ready. Working her way down to 135 is also a possibility. “I’m ready for a fight with her,” Santos told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I think she talks too much, but she can keep training, and when she’s ready, I’m ready.” “I’m going to put in a valiant effort to try and make 135,” Santos said through in interpreter. “Maybe if I can make a catchweight and fight at 140 first and slowly make my way down to 135, but I’m going to put in a good effort to get down to 135.” — Gegard Mousasi may have earned himself a shot at the vacant light heavyweight title with his decision win over prospect Ovince St. Preux last night. Scott Coker says it’s not official yet, but it’s definitely possible that Mousasi could end up facing the King Mo-Lorenzo Larkin winner for the title sometime next year. “I think the fight we had tonight definitely had title implications for that championship belt,” Coker said. “Then on Jan. 7, we’ve got the fight between ‘King Mo’ and Lorenz Larkin which will have title implications, as well. It hasn’t been decided, but I think that’s kind of the path it’s headed in.” — It’s unclear what’s next for KJ Noons following his victory over Billy Evangelista. Whoever Noons ends up facing, he just wants to put on a show for the fans. “I’ll just take whoever Strikeforce throws at me,” Noons said. “I put on fights for the fans. Every single time, no matter who I fight, whether they’re the best or whatever, I always put on the best fight of the night – every time. I just want to get better as a fighter and put on more exciting fights. “You’re going to get your money’s worth when K.J. Noons shows up, no matter what. I’ll fight anybody at any weightclass, and I’ll put on a good show, but I want to be the best. I’m ready to get back on this winning streak and put on good shows.” The win was Noons’ first in a little over a year, but considering the lack of depth in Strikeforce’s lightweight division, it seems like the opportunity is there for Noons to clinch a title shot sooner than later. Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, melendez, coker

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Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” post-fight interviews with Gilbert Melendez, Cris Cyborg, Gegard Mousasi and KJ Noons courtesy of Showtime.

Posted in: vs, interview, mousasi, melendez, noon

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Video: Highlights: Strikeforce Highlights from Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” courtesy of Showtime and Fox Sports.

Posted in: strikeforce, video, vs, masvidal, melendez

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This weekend's Strikeforce card wasn't the most memorable. In fact, the card did nothing but emphasize the lack of depth in the organization. It was frankly disappointing (much like the Dark Knight Rises prologue). Even the commentary booth seemed disinterested, and unorganized, as if they were offering a play-by-play of a game of Farkle instead of MMA. Perhaps it was warranted, given the action. One of the best prospects at LHW, Ovince St. Preux was blitzed and manhandled by Gegard Mousasi (in addition to being blitzed and manhandled by an impressively incompetent ref). Cris Cyborg, fighting the #2 ranked female in the world, answered the question 'what would happen if Jonathan Goulet got in the cage with Dan Henderson?'. And then Gilbert Melendez dominated one of their most compelling contenders in Jorge Masvidal. First, a word about Gilbert's performance. I have to disagree with my colleague, Matt Roth on this one. I think Melendez was very impressive. Masvidal, for all of his faults (which were on display), is a rugged and talented fighter. He's a good counter puncher, is tough as nails, and well polished overall. And Melendez shut him down. Working his head movement, using angles, and boxing like he wanted a shot against Andre Ward, Masvidal was utterly neutralized. He also displayed some useful quirks: feinting the takedown for an uppercut, and controlling the arm Jorge used to touch the ground in order to avoid knees to the head so as to be a "grounded" opponent. It was frankly, a masterful performance. If Melendez looks "bad" last night, it's because Masvidal had no sense of urgency and seemed only interested in not gambling for victory. You got the feeling Gilbert himself knew this. He knew this was a big fight. He knew the stakes. All things considered, his performance reflects his knowledge of the political landscape he's now a part of. He engaged as much as he could have with his overly patient foe. And so in his post-fight interview, he called out the UFC LW division. Well played Gilbert. But his call to action was inevitable. When rumors persisted that he was coming to the UFC, Melendez perked up: he's historically been one of the few fighters who explicitly acknowledges his status can't be validated until he's part of that misguided and soon to be deceased Gladiator intro. There must have been a slight sting when it was announced that Strikeforce was staying, and Melendez wasn't going anywhere. Gilbert's 'call out' is a microcosm of the Strikeforce dilemma where the Sharks continue to swim with nothing but flounders. Unfortunately he's stuck. A call out, in conjunction with a performance that revealed the gap between himself and their best contenders, was the best course of action Melendez could have taken. But any potential solution that doesn't involve Gilbert going to the UFC will demand either turning over the dirt underneath the rocks for prospects, or sending guys in the UFC to Strikeforce. But who has name value enough to garner interest against Melendez, but not enough name value to incur a cost to the UFC? I hope the brass are thinking about that question. Because Melendez doesn't belong in a cage where Frank Shamrock restricts his contributions to misinterpretations of compustrike statistics. Or where Heido Androl struggles for relevant questions while wearing a dress that makes her look like she was grown on a tree in Papua New Guinea. He belongs in the UFC. Poll Was Gilbert's performance enough to convince you he deserves a UFC title shot? Yes. I thought it was a good technical performance worth rewarding. No. Low connect percentage, and he failed to mix it up with takedowns.   4 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, performance, melendez, gilbert, he

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Strikeforce Lightweight contender Jorge Masvidal, who came up short against Gilbert Melendez in last night's main event, discusses the defeat, as well as his quickest route back to a title shot. Masvidal says, though he may be bias towards himself, he felt the fight was closer than the judges scored it, and insists that Melendez never hurt or rattled him.

Posted in: jorge masvidal, gilbert melendez, masvidal, jorge, melendez

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"If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man." That was the task that faced Strikeforce lightweight number one contender Jorge Masvidal as he took on 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" last night (Dec. 17, 2011) from San Diego, California. After five rounds of non-stop fists smashing against skulls, "El Nino" was able to come out on top and keep his belt. However, the shoe is now on the other foot, so to speak. Melendez wants to be "the man" at 155 pounds in mixed martial arts (MMA). The problem? He fights for Strikeforce. After the jump, we'll examine what's next for Melendez, as well as what he may need to do to be considered a legitimate contender for the number one lightweight in the world: Rankings are overrated. MMA fights don't happen on paper or on the Internet -- they happen in the cage. You can say a guy is better than another fighter up and down, but until the two square off in a ring of combat, all bets are off. Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez has long been ranked near the top of the lightweight heap by almost every ranking system available. He also doesn't mind tooting his own horn. After his victory last night, he challenged the best-of-the-best from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to come on over to Strikeforce and fight him in "his hexagon." But, that's not going happen. Never. Zuffa didn't purchase Strikeforce so it could ship the top fighters in the UFC over to Strikeforce. It also isn't interested in cross-promoting. If you believe otherwise, you clearly haven't paid attention to what has happened with Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum (just to name a few). The harvesting has begun, in a big way. It's abundantly clear which way the filtering is going to occur, regardless of what Strikeforce President Scott Coker may tell you. With that said, Melendez has two choices: Stay in Strikeforce and be a big fish in a small pond, continuing to risk a legacy on up-and-comers who most fight fans haven't heard of Be brave and do whatever he has to do to get into the Octagon There's been much talk that if Melendez were to sign with the UFC, he would get an instant title shot. That may or may not be true, but that shouldn't matter. A fight for Melendez versus any of the UFC's top five lightweights would do unspeakably more for his career than a fight against anyone that Strikeforce has left to offer. He has a big, multi-fight contract with Strikeforce, but do you really believe that's an issue? The truth is that the UFC doesn't need him in a big way. Not right this second, anyway. Its 155-pound division is stacked. But, just wait until they have a big event featuring lightweights and someone gets hurt. Melendez will be there, waiting in the wings as a wonderful option for a fill-in. The only question is: Does he respond to the call? In my opinion, saying "yes" would be the only option. He's 29 years old. Not past his prime, by any stretch, but also not getting younger. If he's the best, he should want to prove it. And he's just not going to do that against the Joe Duarte's or Pat Healy's of the world (no disrespect, gentlemen). What say you, Maniacs? Is it time for "El Nino" to make the move to the UFC, or are there still valid fights for him in Strikeforce? Sound off!

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, melendez, championship ufc

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(Awesome pics already up at All Elbows! And do you need a great belated xmas gift for that special chick in your life?) Gilbert Melendez vs Jorge Masvidal: Depending on what blog you're reading, Gilbert Melendez either amazed with his technical dismantling of Masvidal or did not impress with his decision over a less than worthy opponent. Standing on it's own, it was a fine performance. But for everyone wanting to see Gilbert ride the hype train into the UFC at 200MPH gunning for the belt, not so much. In order to keep that going, Melendez would have had to stomp Masvidal into the canvas. Instead, he used superior striking to control the fight. Impressive? Sure. Exciting? Of course. Just not in that "Wow, Gilbert just raped a man" way.Cris Cyborg vs Hiroko: Women who step into the cage against Cris Cyborg are set to take a beating. That's what refs need to understand when overseeing these fights. Sure, her opponent may not have much of a chance. Sure, they may take some epic blows. But that doesn't excuse stopping these fights early as the Hiroko fight was. "But Fightlinker!" you say. "Hiroko was about to be toast anyways!" Then what's the point of even having the fight? Why not just bring both women into the ring, raise Cyborg's hand, then send them back out again?Gegard Mousasi vs Ovince St Preux: What ever happened to the Mousasi that set genitals a jingle back in 2008 / 2009? This was the same Gegard Mousasi that blew wins against King Mo and Keith Jardine. Ovince St Preux is a promising up and comer but should have been the kind of fighter Gegard eats for breakfast. Instead, Mousasi controlled the fight without doing much to capitalize on that control, leading to a sloppy three round affair. Mousasi blamed being sick and let's hope for his sake that was the case. It was an uninspired meh performance, something I'm coming to expect from Mousasi.KJ Noons vs Billy Evangelista: I like Improved Wrestling Noons, but what ever happened to Deadly Striking Noons? KJ used to harness the mystic powers of the sweet science to throw perfect punches that knocked dudes out or turned their face to hamburger. In this fight Evangelista ate everything Noons threw at him and kept coming forward. It was a fun if generally pointless fight, a nihilistic complaint that I think is probably going to apply to 95% of Strikeforce fights moving forward.

Posted in: fight, vs, mousasi, melendez, noon

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Last night was the final Strikeforce event of 2011 and featured two title fights. Earlier this week Strikeforce and Showtime announced an extension to their deal with one of the points of interest being that Gilbert Melendez will remain a Strikeforce fighter. As the last of Cesar Gracie's champions in Strikeforce, it is assumed that a majority of the marketing will go towards 'breaking' Gilbert Melendez to the casual MMA fan. Saturday also marked the return of Cris Cyborg after a year outside of the cage. As with every show there are winners and losers. I'll also give my thoughts on the overall show. WINNERS Gilbert Melendez - I said last night that he failed to impress and I stand by my words. That was not a star making performance. That wasn't even a star maintaining performance. That was the single worst performance in a championship fight that I can remember in 2011. His face was a mess post-fight and he landed 24% of his strikes. That's a terrible statistic. He's listed as a winner because he won but he has some work to do to even enter discussions on top lightweights. Cristiane Santos - Cyborg was a -1800 favorite. She trounced Hiroko Yamanaka and scored the only stoppage of the main card. Glad to see she's back but there's no way she can make 135. She looked massive last night and the cut to 145 is difficult enough for the champ. It's a shame since 135 is where most of the talent in Women's MMA resides. Gegard Mousasi - Nice win I guess? OSP was scared to fight on the feet and just isn't a good enough grappler to stay competitive with Mousasi on the ground. Gegard has skills but if he fights Mo Lawal again it will be a repeat of the first fight. KJ Noons - Speaking of winners with terrible striking statistics, KJ won the fight with a striking success rate of 32%. Noons still has some of the best boxing in the division but I feel like he's regressed as a fighter. He barely got past Billy Evangelista. Boxing - Last night Boxing won. The Carl Froch-Andre Ward fight was great and created a new star in Ward. Though the judges tried to give Froch the fight, they didn't and Ward walked away with the Super Six title. More after the jump... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal LOSERS Jorge Masvidal - What the hell was wrong with Masvidal last night? Actually better question: what the hell was wrong with Jorge Masvidal's corner? Jorge was down on all score cards and there wasn't any bit of urgency to try and finish the fight. Embarrassing performance in a title fight for a usually exciting fighter. Jorge Masvidal's Corner - Seriously, their fighter was down on all cards and the best advice they could muster was 'throw the right if you feel comfortable'. That's the best advice they had? To 'throw the right' if Jorge felt 'comfortable'? Jorge didn't have a championship performance and it started with his corner. Hiroko Yamanaka - I got nothing. She either landed 0 or 1 punches depending on your source. She had to know she wasn't gonna win. Her post-fight quote was 'I don't remember anything'. Yikes! Ovince St. Preux - Had the opportunity to transition from prospect to top talent. He just looked like a fish out of water when put on his back. He finally came to life in the third round but he's just not there and hasn't developed like a guy of his athletic potential should. Billy Evangelista - Less taunting. More fighting. Allowing someone to throw punches at his face is letting judges score for his opponent. There is a certain machismo in fighting but last night was a terrible idea. OTHER THOUGHTS - The referee in OSP/Mousasi should never referee a fight again. That was one of the worst performances of the ref who was telling fighters to work literally seven seconds after the fight hit the ground. He stood the fighters up multiple times while they were working from dominant positions and made himself a part of the fight. A direct contrast to the referee for Froch-Ward who allowed the boxers to fight out of the clinch. - I'm happy that Strikeforce and Showtime are continuing their relationship for the next two years but if there is any desire to build the brand they can't have Melendez be that tentative. He wasn't impressive and as the face of the lightweight division he needs to showcase all his talents every night. I tweeted last night that Ben Henderson would ruin Gil Melendez and I stand by that assessment. - WMMA may be fun to watch but if the best they could do was book Cyborg vs Yamanaka then it may be time to close up shop for 145. Not only did no one actually ask for that fight, it was a like a squash match between the Ultimate Warrior and Steve Lombardi. It lasted as long as one at least. - Who will be the first MMA journalist to write about Cyborg's ridiculous physique. I don't want to make any sort of insinuations but I personally have never seen a female look that muscular. Her muscles had muscles. I'm not making any sort of implication though so don't read this as such. I'm just giving some food for thought. - Scott Coker must be an alum of the Milford Academy because he is neither seen nor heard. Yes there are people who don't enjoy Dana White's tendency to be front and center but Scott just isn't willing to play the part of promoter. 2012 will be interesting when he's traveling with Dana and the two need to work together at events. - Gus Johnson definitely enjoys calling boxing more than MMA. His work on the microphone during Froch-Ward was refreshing and reminded me why I enjoy his work for the New York Knicks and football. People were happy on twitter he wouldn't be calling Strikeforce but after last night's booth work, I'd have preferred Johnson been calling the action.

Posted in: fight, night, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal resultsSan Diego, CAGilbert Melendez def. Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos def. Hiroko Yamanaka via TKO (punches) 0:16 R1Gegard Mousasi def. Ovince St. Preux via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)K.J. Noons def. Billy Evangelista via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Caros Fodor def. Justin Wilcox via knockout (punches) 0:13 R1Roger Bowling def. Jerron Peoples via knockout (punches) 0:42 R1Devin Cole def. Gabriel Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Eddie Mendez def. Fernando Gonzalez via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)Herman Terrado def. Chris Brown via submission armbar 4:05 R3

Posted in: decision, hiroko yamanaka, masvidal, melendez, billy evangelista

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For some reason, many people weren't certain that Gilbert Melendez would stand and trade strikes with Jorge Masvidal last night (December 17, 2011) while defending his Strikeforce lightweight title in the main event of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in San Diego. In all, the 25 minute bout spent less than 10 seconds on the canvas as both men looked to showcase their striking skills. It turns out that Melendez was more than game enough to handle his taller, lengthier opponent on the feet as he turned in a strong performance which resulted in a clean sweep of nearly every scorecard. So what did 'El Nino" do correctly to help him earn the decision? And what's next for both fighters? Both men had very set plans of attack and they would primarily implement them over the course of the five round battle. Melendez looked to move forward, cut off Masvidal against the fence and lead the way with his punches, either snapping his left jab or throwing big 1-2 combinations in succession. He was also looking to throw a big lead uppercut as his primary power attack, either looking to land it to the head or the body. Masvidal, however, was able to primarily ignore the uppercut because he utilized a more upright-centered stance. He kept his hands high in a defensive position and would occasionally flash his jab, which actually did cause some swelling on Melendez's face. Masvidal's secret weapon appeared to be his jumping knee attack as he tried to catch it with Melendez about one time each round but he never caught the champion napping. For a significant portion of the bout, the following scenario would play out: Melendez would push forward forcing "Gamebred" towards the fence and then he would lunge inside throwing 1-2 combinations. He repeatedly landed his right hand to close off the combo and whenever Masvidal would get hit, he'd showboat, dropping his hands and moving his head around as if to say, "That was nothing. The problem with this was he did it so many times that it actually could have been used by the judges ringside as proof that Masvidal had been hit hard. This scenario basically played out for the course of five rounds. Masvidal seemed content to lose the decision, never picking up the pace despite clearly being down in every round. There were only about 6 seconds of ground time and barely any clinch as both men were content to stand. The problem is that neither man was actually able to do enough damage or land anything significant enough to make the fight compelling or dramatic. It was jab, hook, back off, 1-2, over and over and over again. The judges officially scored it 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 for Melendez to give him his third official title defense ever since he unified the belts with Josh Thomson. For Jorge Masvidal, he proved he could hang with Melendez, but that appears all he was content on doing. Other than very few brief spurts of action, he was very defensive for much of the night. He worked his leg kicks pretty well early but the second Melendez caught a kick and took him down for a few seconds, he completely went away from them. Worst of all was that despite being down badly on the scorecards, he showed no sense of urgency whatsoever in the fifth round when he needed a home run. Instead, he actually spent the last 15 seconds of the fight pressing Melendez into the fence and looking for a takedown as if he thought he could steal the round and the fight. He either was being delusional or was getting very bad advice from his corner who told him he was winning. Expect Masvidal to step in against someone along the lines of Gesias Cavalcante for his next bout, or perhaps fellow event loser Justin Wilcox. If he's finally healthy, they could also throw him in against former champion Josh Thomson. For Gilbert Melendez, he put on a strong, aggressive showing but it wasn't the type of victory that will be getting people talking about him as the number one lightweight on the planet. Jorge Masvidal was number 24 in the consensus lightweight rankings. If the UFC did similar matchmaking, it would be as if Frankie Edgar took on Sam Stout for the title. One would expect a blowout, most likely a stoppage but Melendez just didn't seem like he could pull the trigger when he had Masvidal cornered. Every time the American Top Team fighter started bobbing and weaving goofily after getting hit hard, it seemed to force Melendez to back off. He should have punished Masvidal for his bravado but he simply didn't. Who's next for a shot at Melendez's title is a mystery. If the promotion wants to give a title shot to someone from within, there are a couple options. Pat Healy is coming off a big win this past September over Maximo Blanco. Caros Fodor scored a huge 13 second knockout on the undercard last night against Justin Wilcox which gives him a 5-0 record in the promotion. Another intriguing option could be Gray Maynard, who fought for the UFC lightweight title twice this year against Edgar, drawing once and losing once. It's very unlikely he'll get another shot at the belt in the next two years so why not give him a shot against Melendez? That's about as relevant a fight as could be made but we'll just have to wait and see if it's a viable option. So what did you think, Maniacs? Were you impressed by Melendez's strong showing, or did you want more? Why do you believe Masvidal never kicked it up a notch event as time was winding down? Opinions, please. For complete Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

Posted in: time, title, round, masvidal, melendez

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Fresh off the victory over Jorge Masvidal in San Diego, California, Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez continued to call out UFC 155'ers, this time targeting the former WEC champions Ben Henderson and Anthony Pettis. Melendez gave credit to Ben Henderson for "being awesome", but still declared that he achieved more as a fighter than the current #1 contender for the UFC Lightweight title. As for Pettis, would Melendez declared he would smash "Showtime" if ZUFFA choose him as the

Posted in: petti, henderson, ben henderson, jorge masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez won again Saturday. Now he says he must continue to put faith in Strikeforce that he'll get tested.

Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, strikeforce tests

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Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceIf Dana White won't bring Gilbert Melendez to the UFC, he should bring the UFC to Melendez. Or at least, someone for him to fight. After beating Jorge Masvidal at last night's Strikeforce event in San Diego, what more is there for him to do? Who else is there for him to beat? What matchup are fans clamoring to see? The answers are nothing, no one and none. Melendez is a top five fighter with nothing left to prove in the division as it stands right now. He's beaten Masvidal, Shinya Aoki and Josh Thomson, three of the best lightweights outside of the UFC, but there's no signed fighter in the division who has truly earned the right to face one of the best. Sure there are fighters like KJ Noons and Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante with some name value, but both of those guys have won exactly one fight in a row. Solution: Bring someone over from the UFC to fight him. It doesn't have to be the champion. Bring one of the many quality guys over to challenge him. I have just the guy. He's a big name, he can bring attention to the promotion, and he offers the instant credibility that only a former UFC champion can provide. Bring over BJ Penn to fight Melendez. Right now, Penn is on a break from fighting. He's home in Hilo, Hawaii spending time with his family after his hard-fought loss to Nick Diaz in October. But Penn does plan to fight again, and he even said that he'd be willing to rematch Diaz. That's not going to happen, as Diaz has moved on to preparing for a big interim UFC welterweight title fight with Carlos Condit. So we need to find something that excites Penn, something that motivates him. Regardless of the skeptics who still refuse to believe that Melendez is for real, Penn knows the truth, that Melendez is for real and has a set of skills that would provide a challenge. Because of that, a bout with Melendez might interest him. As an added bonus, Melendez comes from the same Team Cesar Gracie as Diaz, making the marketing of the fight simple. BJ Penn comes looking for revenge against Diaz's teammate. Penn loves fighting for belts, and as long as Frankie Edgar is the lightweight champ, Penn is stuck. He isn't going to get another shot against Edgar after losing to him twice. The same holds true for his chances of getting a welterweight title fight. He's already lost to Georges St-Pierre twice and Diaz once, so his chances of earning his way back for another title bout anytime soon are slim. So where does that leave him? He's in a legend-at-large role, looking for interesting matchups wherever they might appear. And is there really anything in the UFC that is so much more interesting than Penn-Melendez? Let's face it, Penn would be one of the biggest stars ever to fight in the Strikeforce hexagon, with only Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko able to rival his popularity. He's a former two-division champ in the UFC, every MMA fan knows him, and his presence would certainly bring attention to the promotion. Just as importantly, it would illustrate that Zuffa is serious about Strikeforce. Just last week, White promised that Strikeforce wouldn't be a B-league, or a feeder system for the UFC. They would go after top talent, he said. They would find a way to make Strikeforce's best fighters happy, he said. This match would prove it. The biggest hurdle in this plan would be making it worth Penn's while. Because Strikeforce is on Showtime and not pay-per-view, the pay scale is different, and White would have to dig into his his pocket to make him whole. That investment would be worth it for Strikeforce, to show that they are truly committed to MMA. It's one thing for White to say it on a conference call, it's another entirely for him to send over a UFC legend. That's a statement. That's a promise kept. BJ Penn would be just the fighter to satisfy White's promise, fan interest and Melendez's ambitions. Melendez doesn't just need a legitimate challenge, he deserves one. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, penn, melendez

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Gilbert Melendez took another step on his quest to be recognized as the world’s top lightweight on Saturday night, as “El Nino” outpointed a game Jorge Masvidal to retain his Strikeforce lightweight title at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif.

Posted in: saturday night, strikeforce, el, melendez, world ’s

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SAN DIEGO - Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez admits he may bringing some of it upon himself. After all, if you're going to claim to be the best in the world, you'd better be ready to prove it. But with the recent announcement that Strikeforce will be sticking around for the foreseeable future and that Melendez will be a key fixture in the promotion, "El Nino" isn't exactly sure what will come next - other than an apparent wave of non-stop criticism if he's unable to offer a highlight-reel finish of every opponent.

Posted in: strikeforce, future, melendez, criticism, world youd

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Jorge Masvidal was looked upon as the fighter that was going to put Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez to the test. While he did take the champion to the five round limit, you would be hard pressed to say he put him to any type of test. Yes, Melendez’s face was far more marked up than that of Masvidal, but the stats told another story as Melendez outstruck Masvidal 145 to 109 and delivered far more power strikes, landing 94 to Masvidal’s 21. Questions after seeing Gilbert

Posted in: test, masvidal, melendez, gilbert, round limit

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Strikeforce: “Melendez vs. Masvidal” took place tonight in San Diego, California. The card was headlined by a pair of title fights with Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez taking on Jorge Masvidal and women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos taking on Hiroko Yamanaka. Both champions successfully defended their titles in the Strikeforce cage with definitive victories.Melendez retains title over MasvidalWhile Jorge Masvidal was clearly not afraid to taunt and talk trash to the champion, the challenger was unable to translate that into a victory. Melendez controlled the fight from start to finish and kept Masvidal from being able to find his range. Melendez’s training and more polished skill proved to be the main difference as he had multiple answers for nearly everything Masvidal threw.After the fight Melendez challenged the winner of the UFC lightweight championship fight between champ Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson to “come in his hexagon.” While that particular fight is unlikely to materialize, Melendez expressed in the post-fight conference that Strikeforce has always found good opponents for him and he expects that will continue.“Cyborg” crushes YamanakaDespite an 18-month layoff, Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos made quick work of challenger Hiroko Yamanaka. Santos managed to land 15 power shots on Yamanaka in the span of only 16 seconds.Santos expressed her desire to remain at 145 but did state that she would like to fight fast-rising Ronda Rousey since she believes the former US Olympic Judo bronze medalist talks too much.Mousasi defeats St. PreuxDespite winning a close third round, Ovince St. Preux spent the majority of his fight with former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi being thoroughly dominated. Mousasi’s reported work with the Iranian wrestling team appeared to payoff as the Iranian-born fighter out wrestled his opponent in addition to controlling the striking game.After the fight a refreshingly honest and humble Mousasi stated he was unhappy with his performance due to illness. Mousasi also stated that he believed he was at least a fight away from challenging for the currently vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title despite pressure from Mauro Ranallo to call for a title shot.Noons defeats Evangelista in sloppy fightThe night opened with a sloppy but action packed bout between KJ Noons and Billy Evangelista. After a dismal first round Noons ditched the wrestling he had been training and reverted back to his old self. The move paid off as Noons was able to rebound and secure the hard fought victory.Main Card (Showtime)Lightweight title fight – Gilbert Melendez (c) def. Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)Women’s featherweight title fight – Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (c) def. Hiroko Yamanaka via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:16Gegard Mousasi def. Ovince St. Preux via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)K.J. Noons def. Billy Evangelista via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)PRELIMINARY CARDCaros Fodor def. Justin Wilcox via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:13Roger Bowling def. Jerron Peoples via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:42Devin Cole def. Gabriel Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Eddie Mendez def. Fernando Gonzalez via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)Herman Terrado def. Chris Brown via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 4:05

Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez

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Behind a relentless stream of two-, three- and four-punch combinations, Gilbert Melendez kept his stranglehold on the lightweight championship with a one-sided unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal in the Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” headliner on Saturday at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.

Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez, strikeforce crown

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Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm not heading into writing this with the intention of being negative, but I fear that's the direction it'll go. Normally I kick these post-event articles off by talking about the main event, but I'll get to that in a few minutes. First up is the sham of a "championship fight" between Cristiane Santos and Hiroko Yaminaka. Cyborg is a fantastic talent and deserves the attention and credit she gets as the top female mixed martial artist in the world. That being said, when a fight between the #1 and #2 fighters in a weight class have odds favoring the champion by -1400 it says a lot about how ready for prime time WMMA is. I know it sounds harsh, but it's not a competitive division and, it's probably best for it to become one before being pushed on television. Cyborg sat on the sidelines for over a year and the best they could dig up for her was an opponent who was lucky to make it sixteen seconds (but was still ranked #9 pound-for-pound in WMMA). The entirety of "interesting WMMA fights" seems to depend on if Ronda Rousey feels up to dropping an extra ten pounds or not. Whichever division she doesn't end up in seems to lack an interesting challenge for the champion. More thoughts after the jump... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal For all my complaining, Cyborg is a great fighter and just put another beating on another challenger. In the main event, Gilbert Melendez thoroughly dominated Jorge Masvidal. It was five rounds of basically exactly the same thing. Masvidal would circle around and work either leg kicks or jabs only to have Melendez counter with combinations. For Melendez, it was just an easy night of working jab-straight, jab-jab, jab-jab-straight or double left hooks without ever truly being in any danger. The issue isn't "is Melendez good." He's very good. He got up to the top three in the world by not having skills. It's that he lacks top level challengers and he needs to do something a little more impressive as a top level talent against a guy who is lucky if he's considered top 25 in his weight class. Twitter was buzzing with talk during the fight of all the guys Gil couldn't beat or all the guys people would rather see, and that's not the tone you're hoping to accomplish during a title fight. Ovince Saint Preux looked terrified to get hit in the early part of his fight with Gegard Mousasi. He basically refused to engage in the first round until Mousasi put him on the ground and beat him up. It wasn't until the third round that OSP looked like he could really compete with some takedowns and work from the top. The referee in the Mousasi/OSP fight should never be allowed to call another fight. He stood up the fight when Mousasi was on top landing punches in high volume, stood the fight up with OSP in side control and threatened to stand it up again when OSP was in side control. OSP was forced to abandon working for a crucifix and try an ill-advised pass to mount to avoid the stand-up which led to Mousasi getting to his feet and effectively ended any comeback hopes. It seems like we'll get Mousasi against the Muhammad Lawal/Lorenz Larkin fight for the Strikeforce 205 title. K.J. Noons has lost the trust in his punches that made him dangerous. He spent so much time feinting instead of punching against Billy Evangelista that he almost lost a fight he should have ran away with. I guess the long term plan here has to be to get Noons into a title shot with Melendez, but K.J. needs to look better to truly "earn it."

Posted in: fight, mousasi, masvidal, melendez, osp

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Gilbert Melendez pitched a shutout to beat Jorge Masvidal and then called for the UFC or Zuffa to bring him some contenders.

Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, contender, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce - Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal

Posted in: vs, official, masvidal, jorge, melendez

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Gilbert Melendez defeated Jorge Masvidal by a unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46. The first round began when Jorge Masvidal landed a leg kick and Gilbert Melendez countered with an overhand right. Jorge Masvidal taunted and left his chin out calling for Melendez to throw on him. Melendez landed another overhand right. Masvidal landed several jabs and a jumping knee. Gilbert is dropped after a well timed leg kick. Masvidal continued to throw jabs a kick is caught. Melendez takes Masvidal down and then comes up with a standing guillotine. Masvidal ate several knees to the face before escaping. The round ended with them feeling each other out. Melendez opens the second round with punches. Masvidal worked to establish his jab. High kick from Masvidal is blocked by Melendez. Malsvidal is getting picked apart against the fence. Leg kick-1-2 from Melendez. Melendez landed a leg kick. Masvidal with a digging body punch and knee in response. Melendez settled into his pace midway through the round and landed unanswered jabs. The round ended with Melendez landing a jab. In the later rounds the fight slowed to a crawl. Jorge Masvidal just didn't have any desire to push the fight and allowed Gilbert Melendez to pick him off for rounds three and four. In the final round Masvidal fought with urgency but it was too little too late. Gilbert Melendez' victory was certain. Gilbert Melendez defends his belt and picks up a unanimous decision win. In his post-fight interview he called for UFC fighters to challenge him in the hexagon. Jorge Masvidal was unimpressive and picks up a loss after two wins in Strikeforce. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: round, gilbert melendez, masvidal, melendez, gilbert

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After tonight, we can make the accurate claim that being filmed by MiddleEasy in 3-D will enable you to successfully defend your championship strap. According to statistics, every fighter filmed by MiddleEasy in 3-D has enjoyed a 100% success rate in their future fights. It's been scientifically proven. There's no arguing about it. Your debating abilities hold no weight here at MiddleEasy. We operate on science -- and Twizzlers. In the candy game, Twizzlers stand alone. It has no clone. Alright, Twizzlers has Red Vines -- but let's pretend they don't exist for the sake of this upcoming segue. In MMA, Gilbert Melendez is authentic. There is no imitation. He's not enriched with vitamins and minerals. Gilbert Melendez is not infused with electrolytes nor does he come contained in a trendy plastic bottle. El Nino stands alone, and tonight he proved it by defeating Jorge Masvidal in a 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 unanimous decision. 49-46? Yes, Cecil Peoples was a judge, but the jokes on you -- it was Big John McCarthy that gave the third round to Jorge Masvidal. At the end of the day, Cecil Peoples is right. Leg kicks don't win fights, but outstriking your opponent by 131 total strikes will. So realistically, what's next for Gilbert Melendez? Dana White insisted that El Nino would remain in Strikeforce even if he did defeat Jorge Masvidal tonight. Some people believed Justin Wilcox would be next in line, but after Caros Fodor decimated him tonight on the prelims in just thirteen seconds, the Strikeforce lightweight picture looks pretty hazy to say the least. During the event, a lot of people were talking about KJ Noons possibly being Gilbert's next opponent at lightweight, but after what some considered a lackluster fight against Billy Evangelista, even that match-up looks awkward. Regardless, massive congratulations to Gilbert Melendez on another successful title defense and hopefully we'll get some more 3-D video with El Nino later tonight.

Posted in: people, gilbert melendez, el nino, melendez, gilbert

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In the main event for tonight's (Sat., Dec. 17, 2011) Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" main card in San Diego, California, Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez looked to successfully defend his strap against the always dangerous Jorge Masvidal. "El Nino" had not a lot to gain and much to lose as he sought to prove he truly belongs at the top of the 155-pound heap of fighters. He also hoped to prove himself worthy of a shot at a contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). "Gamebred" had no intention of just rolling over and letting Melendez have an easy night. Anyone who has seen Masvidal fight in his last two opportunities knows that he has been beating people up and doing it violently. It was the biggest fight of Masvidal's career. He looked to be up the challenge. At the end of the day, Melendez was too tough and showed himself to be a worthy champion, winning the fight via unanimous decision after five grueling rounds. The fight started off with a patient pace, as each fighter looked to find the distance and figure out what the other sought to do. After about a minute, the fists began to fly. Midway through the round, Masvidal started to showboat and he paid for it. Melendez punished the challenger every time he dropped his hands with one-two punch combinations that knocked him backwards. Masvidal landed a few good shots of his own, after he figured out that he was in a fight and that he needed to be a bit more cautious. With one minute left, the champion caught a kick, rushed in and tied Masvidal up in a front headlock that did not threaten to finish the fight, but did seem to slow Masvidal down a good deal. It was a close round, but Melendez appeared to do enough to outpoint Masvidal in the opening frame. In the second round, Melendez began to pick his shots more cleanly and delivered a decent amount of punishment during the stand-up exchanges. Though Melendez did get tagged a few times, the surly champion looked like a train, unwilling to alter its course. He never stopped coming forward. As the fight went on, it became more and more apparent that Masvidal was simply not in Melendez's class. Each punch received a counter-punch. Each combination was answered a combination that looked a little better and crisper. Masvidal fought with bad intentions. Melendez's intentions were worse. Through three rounds, Melendez had the lead in power strikes, with a whopping 55-to-8 margin. By the time the fight made it to deep waters of the championship rounds, Melendez's right eye appeared to be fairly swollen. It's hard to say if the swelling was a problem for Melendez in the fifth round, but it did end up being the only round in which Masvidal appeared to have been more effective. Though Masvidal a lot of respect with this performance, Melendez proved why he is a deserving champion. The signs would seem to strongly suggest that Melendez's next fight will be in an eight-sided cage. Remember to check out MMAmania.com's ongoing coverage of the Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" main card by clicking here.

Posted in: fight, round, champion, masvidal, melendez

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SAN DIEGO - Gilbert Melendez is becoming an increasingly bigger fish in an increasingly smaller pound. The Strikeforce lightweight champion and top-10 pound-for-pound fighter earned a shutout unanimous-decision victory over noted striker Jorge Masvidal in his latest title defense. The bout headlined the Showtime-televised main card of "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," which took place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.

Posted in: strikeforce, title defense, san, masvidal, melendez

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Tonight (Sat., Dec. 17, 2011) The women took center stage on the main card for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal", as reigning Women's Featherweight Champion Cristiane Santos defended her belt against heralded Japanese fighter Hiroko Yamanaka, LIVE from San Diego, California. "Cyborg" entered the bout having won her last ten mixed martial arts (MMA) fights and looking to continue to cement her legacy as quite possibly the best fighter in all of Women's MMA (WMMA). Her opponent, Yamanaka, was making her Strikeforce debut and riding an impressive eight-fight win streak of her own. The fight was supposed to be the first real test that Santos has received in a good, long while. Santos may eventually be tested, but tonight was not the night as she was able to notch the knockout victory in the very first round. Within seconds, "Cyborg" swarmed Yamanaka and had her on the mat after eating several punches in the head. Instantly, the champion was all over her opponent, throwing punches in bunches and causing the referee to step in and call a stop to the action. After just 16 seconds, it was all over. The pre-fight entrances took longer than the actual fight itself. Who's next? Remember to check out MMAmania.com's ongoing coverage of the Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" main card by clicking here.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, yamanaka, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez won a unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal while women's title-holder Cris (Cyborg) Santos took out Japanese challenger Hiroko Yamanaka Saturday.

Posted in: strikeforce, saturday, jorge masvidal, melendez, cyborg

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Live results and commentary from tonight's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" event in San Diego, California.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, blog, masvidal, melendez

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Filed under: StrikeforceGilbert Melendez won't get a chance to demonstrate that he's the best lightweight in the world any time soon. But he demonstrated once again on Saturday night that he's the best lightweight in Strikeforce. In the main event of Saturday night's fight card in San Diego, Melendez had a fairly easy time beating Jorge Masvidal, winning 50-45 on two judges' scorecards and 49-46 on the third. The fight came just days after Zuffa, the parent company of Strikeforce and the UFC, confirmed that it will keep the Strikeforce and UFC brands separate, and that Melendez will stay in Strikeforce. That had to come as a disappointment to Melendez, who had said he wanted to fight the best of the best in the UFC, but nothing he did on Saturday night will have fans clamoring to see him fight the UFC champ. This was a workmanlike victory, but not a dominant performance. After the fight Melendez said he hopes Zuffa will give him some better opponents to face. More: Strikeforce Results | Melendez vs. Masvidal Live Blog "I'm proud to be a part of Strikeforce, and Showtime's amazing," Melendez said. "But you know what? They need to bring some guys over here to challenge me." In the first round Melendez landed quick combinations of punches while Masvidal did a lot of showboating and challenging but not a lot of actual fighting. Masvidal did knock Melendez down briefly with a leg kick, but the first round clearly belonged to Melendez, who threw more punches, and landed more punches, with more power. In the second round Melendez continued to batter Masvidal with punches, and Masvidal didn't do much in response other than try to jab Melendez away. Melendez wasn't spectacular in the second round, but he was solid, and he built up a 20-18 lead. As the third round wore on Melendez began to look tired, and some of Masvidal's jabs were starting to get through. Masvidal had been less active in the first two rounds, and that allowed him to stay fresher into the third, and it appeared that the tide in the fight was beginning to turn. If Masvidal was building up any momentum in the third round, however, he didn't do much to capitalize in the fourth. That round was basically a boxing match, and Melendez landed more punches -- although both fighters had slowed down, and by the end of the fourth round the fans were booing. By the fifth both fighters were exhausted and the pace had slowed, and Masvidal surprisingly didn't seem to think he needed to press the action and finish the fight. Melendez did enough to win the round and win the fight, even if it wasn't a great performance. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, round, masvidal, melendez

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It has been a tumultuous year for Strikeforce but the promotion is poised to close 2011 out on a high-note. Emanating live from San Diego it’s Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal, an event featuring a pair of title-fights in the form of Gilbert Melendez putting his lightweight strap on the line against always-tough Jorge Masvidal and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos returning after an eighteen-month layoff to face 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka. The lineup is also highlighted by bouts like Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux and K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista. As always Five Ounces of Pain will be watching from the start and ready to relay live results back to readers. Preliminary pairings start at 8:00 PM EST with the Showtime broadcast firing up at 10:30 PM EST Here is a full list of results including play-by-play for televised bouts: Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez Chris Brown vs. Herman Terrado Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones Roger Bowling vs. Jerron Peoples Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal

Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, masvidal, melendez

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Despite speculation surrounding the possibility of Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez joining the UFC‘s roster, even though his bosses have said the move is unlikely, “El Nino” still has a massive challenge ahead of him tonight when he faces polished pugilist Jorge Masvidal in the main event at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. The card also features female featherweight title-holder Cristiane Santos putting her gold up for grabs against Japanese newcomer Hiroko Yamanaka, as well as former 205-pound champion Gegard Mousasi against streaking contender Ovince St. Preux and KJ Noons trying to test the chin of kickboxer Billy Evangelista. Check Out a Video Mash-Up of Highlights from Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Fighters The night’s action starts at 8:00 PM EST with the main card hitting Showtime at 10:30 PM EST. Fighters.com will be tuned in throughout and delivering live results to readers as things unfold in real time. A full list of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal outcomes can be found below: Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez Chris Brown vs. Herman Terrado Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones Roger Bowling vs. Jerron Peoples Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, video mashup

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Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal, the main event of tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. In April, Melendez (19-2) retained his title by scoring a first-round TKO over Tatsuya Kawajiri. Masvidal (22-6) won both his Strikeforce fights this year against Billy Evangelista and K.J. Noons. The live blog is below. More Coverage: Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Results | Latest Strikeforce News Round 1: Round 2: Round 3: Round 4: Round 5: Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, round, masvidal, melendez, kj noons

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As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. The event kicks off at 10:30 p.m. ET on Showtime, directly following the conclusion of the finals of the Super Six World Boxing Classic between Andre Ward and Carl Froch. The main event for the card sees Gilbert Melendez defend his Strikeforce lightweight championship against Jorge Masvidal. In the co-feature bout, Cristiane Santos puts her women's featherweight title on the line against Hiroko Yamanaka. Scheduled to round out the televised broadcast is Gegard Mousasi taking on Ovince St. Preux in a light heavyweight bout and K.J. Noons squaring off with Billy Evangelista in a lightweight scrap. Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down and stick around afterward as we recap all the action and fallout from this card. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

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Filed under: Strikeforce, ResultsMMA Fighting has Strikeforce results of Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal and the rest of Saturday's Strikeforce on Showtime card happening at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. Melendez will defend his Strikeforce lightweight belt against Masvidal. Meanwhile, Cris Cyborg is back in action as she defends her women's 145-pound title against Hiroko Yamanaka. Strikeforce results are below. More Coverage: UFC 141 Fight Card | UFC 141 Results Showtime Bouts Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal (live blog) Cris "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (live blog) Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux (live blog) Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons (live blog) Undercard Justin Wilcox vs. Caros Fodor Roger Bowling def. Jerron Peoples via first-round knockout Devin Cole def. Gabriel Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision Eddie Mendez def. Fernando Gonzalez via majority decision Herman Terrado def. Chris Brown via submission (armbar) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, blog, masvidal, melendez

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At the start of Miesha Tate's beef with Ronda Rousey, Tate said something that made no sense to me when she insisted that if women's MMA needs a "face" that it means that the sport will never make it. That's an incredible detachment from the reality of combat sports. I'd actually argue that it's much more "unhealthy" to not have one or two superstars who can bring extra attention to the sport and whose starpower can rub off somewhat when someone beats them. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Chuck Liddell, Brock Lesnar, Georges St. Pierre...etc. Those men were all the face of their sport at one time or another and without them that sport would have been profoundly less healthy. This isn't specific to just a discussion on WMMA or MMA in general. Strikeforce will need one or two fighters who emerge as their top draws. Previously we saw Gina Carano, Fedor Emelianenko and Nick Diaz serve as the top drawing stars in the promotion. They were more than simply fighters, Gina was a rare combination of skills and mass appeal, Fedor had a tremendous run and incredible mystique, Diaz is one of the most exciting fighters on earth to watch and is such a loose cannon that it makes it hard to watch to see what happens. So, knowing that the promotion isn't going anywhere any time soon, what happens now? Despite Stephen Espinoza claiming Gina will return, it looks somewhat unlikely. And even if she does, it's unlikely to be a full-time return. Diaz has been poached by the UFC, same with Alistair Overeem. And Fedor is off in M-1. After the jump we'll look through the current options to be the face of Strikeforce... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Gilbert Melendez - Melendez is a guy they seem to be positioning as the promotion's top star. He's the #2 lightweight in the world (according to the USA Today / SB Nation Consensus Rankings) and having that level of talent makes him a natural choice. Unfortunately, there isn't exactly a line of challengers that can create much buzz for a Melendez fight. A third fight with Josh Thomson may happen down the road, tonight's fight with Jorge Masvidal represents the only Strikeforce top 25 fighter that Melendez hasn't yet beat. Melendez vs. KJ Noons may be a fight down the road that could get a little attention since Noons can talk a little bit, but I have my doubts about Gil emerging as a superstar. Cristiane Santos - "Cyborg" was expected to emerge as a big star following her dismantling of Gina Carano. Unfortunately, Strikeforce has only been able to find her three fights in the almost 28 months since that win. There is no depth at 145 pounds, especially if Rousey drops to 135 as expected. It's hard to have Cyborg get any bigger as a star without fights to make it happen. Miesha Tate - If she's more worried about facing challengers she feels have "earned it" than taking fights that people want to see? I don't know how far she can go. Still, she has a look that gets her attention and the skills to deliver the goods in the cage. I have my doubts, but she could eventually turn into a real star. Ronda Rousey - I hate pointing this out, but Ronda was on two of the three least watched Strikeforce events in the history of the Showtime deal. She's going to need some very good positioning on the 2012 cards to break out into the mainstream. It'll take a lot of effort an more than putting her on the Showtime Extreme undercard broadcasts. Luke Rockhold - Now we're talkin'. Rockhold has skills and charisma to spare, he fights a fairly exciting style and, in a rematch with Jacare or a fight with Tim Kennedy, has a pair of legitimate fights that can be made. Unfortunately, he has to face Keith Jardine first. Maybe beating a former UFC fighter will do him some good, but it still feels like a waste of time. Still, Rockhold has a good chance of being a breakout star for the promotion. Muhammad Lawal - Lawal has the flash, the skills the willingness to be special and the ability to talk a big game. Should he work his way back to the light heavyweight title, he is probably the guy (along with Rockhold) to be something more than "just another guy" on the Strikeforce roster. 2012 will be an interesting year for Strikeforce and the ability to create stars may be the make or break factor for their long time future.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, star, sport, melendez

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The fun starts at 10:30PM EST on Showtime and here in the chat! Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons Nice bowtie, brah

Posted in: vs, showtime, chat, melendez, strikeforce chat

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On the eve of "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal", it was announced Thursday (Dec. 15) that Strikeforce and its longtime television partner Showtime had struck up a new deal through the end of 2014. It put to bed the rumors that Dana White and the rest of the Zuffa brass were going to pull the plug on the San Jose promotion when its original deal expired early next year -- but not before ravaging it of its top talent, continuing what the UFC had started with Nick Diaz and Alistair Overeem. The news came as a bit of a surprise to most but even more surprising was the language White used to describe Strikeforce's future. While he didn't give much thought to the idea, he didn't flat out deny co-promotion between the two fight companies. He spoke as if Strikeforce would operate on a level comparable to that of the UFC. He denied that Scott Coker's baby would become a "feeder league" and that its titles would not be looked at as "secondary" during Thursday's press conference. I just wish someone had asked the question that was on my -- and likely many others' -- mind: Exactly who does White think he's kidding? Let's get one thing straight: Strikeforce won't have to worry about beginning to look like a second-rate league because it already does. But so does every promotion not named UFC. In one of the rare instances where fact syncs up with opinion, the Las Vegas promotion is the top dog in the mixed martial arts (MMA) worlds. Ask any Affliction-clad guy in a bar during a pay-per-view (PPV) if he likes "MMA" and you'll see a deer in headlights. Use the term "UFC" and hope you have comfortable shoes because you're going to be standing there, talking to him for a while. That settles the opinion half of the equation. And it doesn't take Rain Man to figure out the math on the fact portion. Take a look at the USA Today/SBNation consensus rankings and it becomes obvious that it'd be easier to count how many top 25 fighters are not in the UFC than tallying up how many are. The Octagon has a stranglehold on what pundits consider to be the best talent in the world. You'll see Strikeforce pop up maybe a handful of times per division but that presence isn't nearly enough to warrant comparisons to the talent pool its bigger brothers has at its disposal. Strikeforce is in a situation that is wholly unique in the MMA world. It's a promotion with relatively strong nationwide brand recognition -- something that a Shark Fights or an XFO doesn't have -- that also happens to have a decent TV deal backing it. The only other company that comes close in comparison is Bellator but the meager ratings it gets on MTV2 -- only ten of thousands of people tune in week in and out -- would have been its death knell had Viacom not decided to replace its UFC programming on Spike with Bjorn Rebney's offering. Bellator simply doesn't register with your casual fan. Strikeforce -- on top of being the promotion that housed Fedor Emelianenko and up until recently Diaz and "Hendo" -- is leagues ahead of Bellator in terms of recognition. And with the Zuffa's marketing muscle hyping up each event on its PPVs, its FX cards, and even its Fox events, its status in the public eye has nowhere to go but up. And that does wonders for fighters like Chad Griggs and Shane Del Rosario. These are guys who are obviously talented and have already bulldozed their way through the regional MMA scene en route to Strikeforce. But for as talented as they are, there's no denying that each would get absolutely obliterated against anyone of note inside the Octagon. That's the situation as is now for both fighters. In a couple of years, that might not be the case. Two years in the UFC though would likely result in both of them picking up two or three consecutive losses and getting bounced from the promotion. Being in Strikeforce, they'll get good exposure and will be able to evolve and progress naturally. The WWE employs a similar strategy. They'll sign someone they see potential in and then send them off to a smaller promotion they have a working relationship with. That way, they can hone their skills and get ready for the big time and the WWE need not worry about a rival company signing the wrestler away. Strikeforce can absolutely be that for the UFC. What else is there, unification bouts? It's a laughable idea. Of the two divisions that actually have champions, there is all of one unification bout that fans want to see between the two promotions. And trust me, Luke Rockhold taking on Anderson Silva is definitely not it. The only other titleholder -- Overeem, Diaz, and Henderson were snatched up by the UFC and vacated their belts -- is Gilbert Melendez who hasn't been able to not talk about how excited he is to finally fight inside the Octagon. But according to White, Melendez is "really f'n excited" to be in Strikeforce. I can see why White lost thousands of dollars in one night gambling; the guy can't bluff to save his life. "El Niño" has been nothing but vocal about his desire to step inside the Octagon and prove his mettle. In October, he spoke almost as if his contract with Strikeforce was a hinderance, shackles that he couldn't wait to shrug off. He wanted more exposure and more money, both equally proportionate to the talent he feels he possesses. Of course, Zuffa may have driven a dump truck full of money to Melendez's house to convince him to stay put. The only other thing the Mexican-American brought up more than wanting to prove he was the best was his "brand." It's obvious that he is taking his post-fighting future into consideration already, not wanting to end up like countless retired pro athletes who have nothing to fall back on. A hefty pay increase could have assured Melendez that security he desired while also helping him forget about his goals inside the cage. The phrase "big fish in a small pond" has already been thrown around. Beyond that, I couldn't think of a single reason why the Strikeforce champ wouldn't want to jump at the chance at fighting on the world's biggest stage. Despite what White says, Strikeforce is almost fated to become a place where the Griggs and del Rosarios of the world -- too talented for the regionals but not yet at the UFC level -- cut their teeth and where Octagon also-rans either get their career back on track or use whatever residual star power to finish it up. Plain and simple, Strikeforce has never and will never be on par with the UFC. And if positioned properly, it doesn't need to be.

Posted in: ufc, world, promotion, strikeforce, melendez

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The main attraction of Saturday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event will pit Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal, two of the most voracious and talented lightweights outside of the UFC. Cesar Gracie standout Gilbert Melendez exploded off the starting line with ten straight victories. For a green fighter, the competition he devoured was quite admirable: Stephen Palling, Olaf Alonso, Hiroyuki Takaya, Rumina Sato and Clay Guida, the latter earning him the Strikeforce lightweight strap. His initial dominance vaulted him overseas to the lustrous Pride ring where he was quickly aligned with perennial Japanese legend Tatsuya Kawajiri. The decision victory over "Crusher" would officially put Melendez on the map. Flawless after thirteen appearances, "El Nino" suffered his first defeat to explosive wrestler Mitsuhiro Ishida in the Yarennoka New Year's Eve show of 2007. Back in the states, he defended his Strikeforce title successfully before Josh Thomson would assume the mantle by handing Melendez his second loss. The defeat would be his last. Melendez transformed into a bloodthirsty carnivore with an afro, trampling Rodrigo Damm and then avenging both of his previous losses to Ishida and Thomson to retake the Strikeforce lightweight throne. Continuing his ascension, Gil notched career-defining wins with a dramatic upset of Shinya Aoki and merciless thrashing of Kawajiri in a rematch. Much of the buzz that's surrounded Melendez is that he's either destined for the UFC or should be, and he deserves every bit of that gushing praise. However, while his increasing recognition could pave a lucrative future, high standards accompany his elevated status and, frankly, he's also got a lot to lose. The Melendez situation exemplifies the dilemma that top-ranked, non-UFC fighters are faced with: if he loses, he'll be branded as over-rated and undeserving; if he wins, he'll merely accomplish what everyone is expecting. Intensifying this high-risk, low-reward scenario is the dangerous complexity of his opponent. American Top Team's Jorge Masvidal has been brilliant at times and disappointing in others. He first attracted attention when he blitzed current UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon by TKO in his seventh fight. Defeats were incurred immediately before and after. "Gamebred" then carved an eight-fight path that included more reputable lightweights, many on the larger stages of BodogFight and Strikeforce, such as Keith Wisniewski, Steve Berger, Ryan Healy (all decisions) and the wily Yves Edwards (head-kick KO). When Masvidal signed with Japan's Sengoku promotion, he seemed destined to rise above the crowd and collide with former Pride champion and apex lightweight Takanori Gomi. In his debut performance, he was knocked flat by Rodrigo Damm. Masvidal recuperated well with two more wins, then set up shop in the states with a Bellator contract. Fans salivated over a match up with elite lightweight Eddie Alvarez but, this time just two fights in, Masvidal was victimized by Toby Imada's highlight-reel worthy inverted triangle. Again notching two wins afterward, what seemed like a tune-up against Luis Palomino resulted in another loss. Developing a reputation for squandering ideal opportunities, Masvidal would regain favor by capitalizing on what should have been a no-win situation. Facing one of the most feared strikers a weight class up in Shark Fights, Masvidal fearlessly traded leather with Paul Daley and enforced a shockingly competent wrestling game. The unanimous decision awarded to Daley was received bitterly and Masvidal's stock rose for the gutsy showing. Now, consecutive wins under the Strikeforce banner over Billy Evangelista and a vicious unhinging of K.J. Noons has put him in title contention. Match up analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal What makes this match up uniquely appealing is that, despite a handful of losses between the two, neither Melendez nor Masvidal have any glaring weaknesses to exploit. They are both strong across the board and have been phenomenal in fortifying their arsenals and enhancing their strengths. The variables dictating the engagement will rely heavily on having the intelligence to draw from their many weapons with split-second reactions in the heat of battle. Rather than constructing a strategy attuned to one or two clear goals, the combatants will feel out the dynamics of movement and range while jousting strikes, gauge the availability of takedowns (and takedown defense), measure how they fare when tying up in the clinch and adjust accordingly. The one spot where Melendez should have the edge is if he can put Masvidal on his back, but he'll be challenged by fluid footwork and boxing, being a few inches shorter in height and reach, solid scrambling and a resilient clinch structure. The stand up of Melendez has easily been his largest improvement. After stellar wrestler and kickboxer Josh Thomson kept the fight standing and outpointed him on the feet, Melendez has rounded out his arsenal, polished his technique and added some serious power. With his wrestling still firmly intact, his quickness and intelligence propels aggressive attacks that alternate from aggressive striking combinations and adroit takedowns. His defense and has been sound and his beard adequately deflects the few blows that do slip through. While Melendez has evolved to become thoroughly diverse, Masvidal has shined brightly with his kickboxing. Seeming more composed, complete and comfortable than ever before, the street-wise scrapper went toe-to-toe with "Semtex", who is one of the welterweight division's most prestigious Muay Thai machines. Showing an astounding control of distance, Masvidal sliced jabs, hooks and crosses through Daley's defense at tight range, then skated out to the fringe to frustrate him further with elaborate circles and angles. The big shocker was how effective his takedowns were. He entranced Daley with artful boxing and then pounced with deep double-legs when Daley planted his feet while committing to his strikes. This was more of a case of timing, set up and the fight I.Q. of a complete fighter than anything else. This was convincing of Masvidal's offense wrestling, but it's his defensive wrestling and sprawl that will be tested tonight. Having fallen to strikes in the past, an obvious outlet for Melendez is targeting the chin with big power. In intimate quarters, Gil packs a wallop with short-range punches, which is why Masvidal will likely maintain a cushion of space with his footwork and plug away with crisp punches to keep Melendez at bay. How well Melendez can shrink the distance on the feet will be the most pivotal factor. From outside, Masvidal is an accurate sniper and excels in tailoring his output to his opponent's patterns. Melendez will have to decide if he's going to encroach by dropping levels for a takedown from outside or cutting angles on his way in to lock horns in the clinch, where he's an effective brawler who can still work takedowns from there. I'm thinking, on the outside, Masvidal will wreak havoc. He was excellent in using his reach and cage motion against a much bigger and longer fighter in Daley, so I expect Melendez to struggle with finding his range. While Gil is the more accomplished takedown artist, he's yet to finish a fight by submission and Masvidal has clocked a lot of time with the BJJ and grappling experts at ATT to enhance his ground wit. I have to admit that, ever since this fight was announced, I've been leaning toward Masvidal. He's much better than his record portrays, he's a big, agile lightweight who's learned to maximize his height and reach advantage and I think he's considerably more technical and diverse on the feet than Melendez. I understand why Melendez is favored so highly and would be far from bewildered if he won. I'm going with my gut on this one and predicting the upset. My Prediction: Jorge Masvidal by decision Poll Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Melendez Masvidal   3 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, he

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Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” takes place later tonight at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. The event will air on Showtime at 10:30pm ET/PT. In the night’s main event, Gilbert Melendez puts his lightweight title on the line against Jorge Masvidal. In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg defends her women’s featherweight championship against Hiroko Yamanaka. Gegard Mousasi meets Ovince St. Preux in a light heavyweight match-up. KJ Noons takes on Billy Evangelista in a lightweight bout. Results and recap after the jump. Results Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons Roger Bowling vs. Jerron Peoples Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez Chris Brown vs. Herman Terrado Recap Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux: Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal:

Posted in: vs, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez, billy evangelista

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When the UFC flirted with the notion of signing Gilbert Melendez away from Strikeforce a few months ago the 29-year old lightweight champion winked back, letting the world know he was equally interested in joining their 155-pound ranks. Melendez’s motivation for doing so was in part due to establishing himself as the #1 fighter in his division but also as a means of getting his name out there on a greater scale. Melendez, who fights Jorge Masvidal tonight on Showtime, spoke recently about the way he feels he is perceived by the general public who aren’t always as informed as they should be when passing judgment. “I feel like I’ve always got respect from my peers, and I think a lot of the real fans and the journalists have known,” Melendez explained in an interview with Strikeforce’s website when asked about his profile as a top fighter. “I think it’s more of the common fan. The common fans think I’m in the minor leagues because I’m not in the UFC. The common fan thinks I’m no good because I’m not in the UFC. It’s not that I care so much, but it’s important for me to brand myself in the future and have a life outside the cage. I need to be accepted by everybody, so that does feel good, and that’s what I’m going for. I’ve had a lot of entertaining fights and I would like a lot of people to check those out.” Melendez Excited About Being the Face of Strikeforce in 2012 “El Nino” also believes the mainstream’s lack of knowledge regarding his abilities is a common characteristic he and Masvidal share. “I definitely see an underrated fighter,” said the Californian of his challenger. “He’s a 170-pounder dropping to 155, he’s got some long, straight punches, some really strong knees and kicks, and some tricks. He’s a talented guy and I think he poses some threats, so he’s definitely a great challenge for me. He’s another guy that’s capable of beating a lot of those guys in the UFC, and just because he’s not in the UFC he hasn’t gotten quite the credit he deserves. So I’m pumped about this. He’s a guy who’s even talked a little crap about kicking my butt for a long time now, so I’m kinda pumped about that as well.” As for what comes after this weekend, Melendez isn’t sure but referred to past bouts with Mitsuhiro Ishida and Shinya Aoki as examples of Strikeforce bringing in new talent to challenge him. “I just look at what’s ahead of me right now, and I can’t look past that until after this fight. I’ve got a really big task ahead of me, and once I get past that then I can start talking about any new number one contenders…I think Jorge is one of the last tough top guys out there, but who knows, maybe they’ll bring someone in, and I have faith in them for that.” Fans, common and educated, can catch Melendez vs. Masvidal tonight at 10:30 PM EST with other bouts on the card including Christiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka, Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux, and Billy Evangelista vs. KJ Noons. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

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Filed under: StrikeforceThe grand Strikeforce experiment will continue, whether fighters like it or not. Zuffa's other organization takes its next step tonight in San Diego with Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal, and it's already been a whirlwind week for the company that Scott Coker built. Below, a few questions, concerns, and comments heading into Saturday night's event on Showtime. I. That silence you hear? Yeah, that's one reason why guys like Gilbert Melendez can't wait to get out of Strikeforce and into the UFC. Fighters may not care how many articles get written about them in the lead-up to a fight, but they are still risking their health and whatever remains of their good looks in the cage on fight night, so they would prefer if people gave a damn. When it comes to Strikeforce these days, not many do. Maybe that's why Melendez still talks openly about how much he'd like to move to the UFC, trying to paint this title defense against Jorge Masvidal as if it's the last perfunctory step in the job application process for a UFC lightweight. Can you blame him? There's no buzz for Saturday night's event -- not among media or fans. Dana White can "make it right" for Melendez by cutting him a check to compensate him for being stuck in Strikeforce, but he can't make people care. II. Money might help to make it right, but only for so long. Sure, Melendez's desire to get to the UFC is partially motivated by financial concerns, and that's the part White can help with. But don't underestimate the role of ego here. Melendez wants to get paid, but he also wants to know that he's testing himself against the best in the world, and on the biggest stage in the sport. He's not getting the chance to do that right now, and he knows it. Nothing against Masvidal, but a win over him doesn't do much to boost Melendez's status in the lightweight rankings. It's a fight where he has far more to lose than gain, in other words. The longer he stays in Strikeforce, the more of those he's likely to have. III. So what is Strikeforce, now that it's not going away any time soon? Stephen Espinoza of Showtime Sports insisted on this week's media call that "Strikeforce is not a secondary brand. ...This is a top-tier organization." If that were even close to true, however, you probably wouldn't need to say it. People would just look at the fighters and the fights, and then they'd know. But what we see when we look at Strikeforce is an organization with a few very good fighters and a diminishing cast of also-rans to match them up against. It's true that Melendez isn't a second-tier fighter, but what does it matter if Strikeforce can't find first-tier opponents for him? It's like White has said about the UFC for years, usually when he wants to disparage the accomplishments of someone like Fedor Emelianenko: the UFC is the place where the best fight the best several times a year. Strikeforce might have some great champions, but they aren't fighting the best right now. Melendez could make his case as one of the world's best lightweights, but Jorge Masvidal can't. Luke Rockhold is an excellent middleweight, but Keith Jardine isn't a middleweight at all yet, much less a top contender in the division. It would be utterly unthinkable for Jardine to get a crack at Anderson Silva's middleweight title. But in Strikeforce? Sure, why not. That probably tells us everything we need to know about whether this is a top-tier organization. IV. Cris "Cyborg" Santos had to wait a year and a half to get another fight in Strikeforce. If she rolls right over Hiroko Yamanaka the way most people are expecting her to, how long will she have to wait for the next one? The answer to that question probably depends on whether she could realistically cut to 135 pounds or not. There simply aren't enough opponents to keep her on a steady diet of challengers at 145 pounds, but you take one look at her frame and it's hard to see where the excess pounds would come from. At the same time, if she stays put she's not going to have much to do. V. For a guy who hasn't lost in nearly two years, Gegard Mousasi sure needs a win in a bad way. He's 3-0-1 since dropping the title to Mo Lawal, but all three of those victories have come in Dream, against fairly unimpressive competition. He should have stomped an aging journeyman like Jardine, but instead ended up with a disappointing draw. If Mousasi is going to live up to his initial promise, he needs to start putting some wins together against opponents who matter. Beating up-and-comer Ovince St. Preux would be a good start, but it would only be a start. That's what makes this such a tough fight for Mousasi. He has to win. OSP just needs to look good and stay competitive. VI. Now that Zuffa runs Strikeforce, is KJ Noons in danger of getting cut if he loses his third straight fight? It's hard to believe that the guy who was Nick Diaz's nemesis and Gilbert Melendez's would-be challenger now finds himself on a two-fight losing streak. In fairness, the first was a decision loss to Diaz, and there's no shame in that -- especially when you're fighting out of your natural weight class to begin with. But then Noons dropped a decision to Masvidal in a bout he was favored in, so he now finds himself in a must-win situation against Billy Evangelista. Or does he? While the UFC might not have much use for serial losers, Strikeforce needs anyone with a name and even a modicum of drawing power. Noons still has both, so maybe that would be enough to justify holding on to him even if he loses. At least that's one way Strikeforce's peculiar status could actually work for fighters rather than against them. VII. Justin Wilcox and Roger Bowling make you wonder: is it better to star on Challengers, or fight in the shadows of the Strikeforce prelims? For the last few years Strikeforce has used the Challengers shows to highlight up-and-comers (and occasionally down-and-outers), while using the prelims of its other events to sell a few tickets with local draws. But now that Challengers is disappearing, it seems as though guys like Wilcox and Bowling will get stuck on Strikeforce prelims instead, which seems both good and bad. For one thing, Challengers wasn't ever a ratings winner, and the association had a certain negative connotation, like being on the JV squad. On the other hand, at least Challengers fights were on TV. At least they were the show, rather than the unaired show before the show. They might have thought they were playing to a tiny audience before, but now they're really knocking down trees in a lonely forest. If you put on a great fight and nobody sees it, does it really make a sound? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, challenger, melendez

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Gilbert Melendez felt validated when he heard Dana White mention his name as one of the top fighters in the sport. Now he wants to prove the UFC President was right about him.

Posted in: right, ufc president, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert

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SAN DIEGO - It's amazing how much a single phone call can completely change the stakes of a fistfight. For the past few weeks, it was generally assumed that Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez was taking part in what amounted to a UFC qualification bout against sometimes welterweight Jorge Masvidal. But on a Thursday media conference call, UFC president Dana White revealed Melendez would be staying put, win or lose. Has the rapid turn of events proven distracting for Melendez?

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, san, san diego, melendez

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SAN DIEGO - MMAjunkie.com is on scene and reporting live from tonight's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" event. The event, which features title fights with champs Gilbert Melendez and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, takes place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. The main card airs on Showtime. Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) for the preliminary card and 10:30 p.m. ET for the main card.

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Filed under: StrikeforceDuring a recent interview with the press, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez voiced his displeasure with some of the people who discounted his next challenger, Jorge Masvidal. "A lot of people have been talking nonsense; that Jorge, like he's no good. That you're going to run by him," Melendez said. "And that talk kind of bothers me because some people are ignorant. They don't really follow the game that much. If you don't fight in the UFC, they think you're no good." Like most fighters, Melendez is much more attuned to the subtleties of an opponents' fight style and skills than most observers, and he understands he's truly in for a fight in Saturday night's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal main event. And he probably understands he's in a no-win situation as well. If he does emerge victorious, that's exactly what he was supposed to do, and if he loses, detractors will say his consensus No. 2 lightweight ranking was never quite deserved. Masvidal (22-6) is a crafty fighter with a style Melendez hasn't really experienced in the cage. He keys his offense off a long jab that lengthens his reach and moves his opponent backward, an important strategy that plays into his preference for counter-fighting. Overall, though, he's a very complete fighter. Despite having no real base in wrestling, he's proven his excellence in that department through the most recent part of his career. For example, his last fight was against KJ Noons, who loves to strike and uses his wrestling to keep the fight upright where he thinks he has an advantage. That has largely been a successful strategy for him. According to FightMetric, Noons has successfully defended 71 percent of takedown tries against him, but Masvidal took him down on seven of nine attempts en route to a dominant win. So that's one thing for Melendez (19-2) to be concerned about. The other is Masvidal's striking. As mentioned, Noons has a reputation as a striker but Masvidal had a field day against him on the feet, knocking him down once and out-landing him 73-38 in signature strikes. That's a fairly common outcome for Masvidal, who has one pro boxing fight under his belt and prides himself on his offensive skills and defensive movement. Masvidal lands about 50 percent of his strikes while his opponents land less than 30, according to FightMetric. In addition to his jab as a favored weapon, he is one of few fighters who takes advantage of criminally underused body punching, occasionally firing off left hook liver shots. His easy motion and comfort level in his standup often lull his opponents into a false confidence, and then he can use his speed to strike or shoot in for the takedown. But other times, he himself might slow things down, too. That's good in some matchups, but it's not the best idea for this one. Melendez's style is much more well known than Masvidal's. Melendez has refined his boxing over the last few years, adding power along the way (four of his last six wins are by KO or TKO). Coupled with an effective wrestling game and ability to create a grinding match, he often forces opponents into a fight that favors his skills. Melendez is also one of those fighters who can take his foe's best weapon away and turn the bout into his favor that way. But really, Melendez's most important single trait is his conditioning, a quality that allows him to push the fight in any direction he wants with little fear of running out of gas. Particularly in five-round bouts, many fighters will pace themselves early, aware that they might need reserve fuel in case they still find themselves fighting 20 minutes or so later. Melendez doesn't have to think about that. He's also trained for five-round title fights multiple times. This will be his seventh straight time preparing for the 25-minute distance, while Masvidal is doing it for the first time. From a pure skill level, Masvidal is certainly capable of the upset, but it's hard to overlook some of his past uneven performances. In a fight against Paul Daley that took place in Sept. 2010, for example, the win was there for the taking in round three after the two split the first two rounds, and Masvidal never showed a sense of urgency to seal the deal, allowing Daley to steal it on the scorecards. Given Melendez's aggression, any kind of passivity may be Melendez's undoing. Masvidal has to be more offensive than usual and push forward, but that's not really not his style, and it's not likely he'll change that overnight. If he sits backs and waits to counter, Melendez's more straightforward style will make a bigger impact with the judges. Masvidal has the chin and boxing skills to bring this fight into the late rounds, but Melendez's stamina will be the edge to get him to the finish line first. Expect this one to be closer than the wide odds indicate, but Melendez holds on to the belt with a decision win. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Sherdog.com will report from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego at approximately 8 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal,” which is headlined by a lightweight title showdown pitting champion Gilbert Melendez against challenger Jorge Masvidal.

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Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal live results and play-by-play on Saturday, Dec. 17, in San Diego. The main event features Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal.

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Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal quick results on Saturday, Dec. 17, in San Diego. The main event features Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal.

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Strikeforce is all set to pull the trigger on its final fight card of 2011, as the promotion will hit the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., tomorrow night (Sat., Dec. 17, 2011) with "Melendez vs. Masvidal." The event is headlined by a lightweight championship throwdown pitting the new face of the organization, Gilbert Melendez, putting his title up for grabs against a very "Gamebred" Jorge Masvidal. The two made it official today by hitting their 155-pound mark. Another championship is being contested in the co-main event, as Cristiane Santos makes her long awaited return to the cage to defend the women's 145-pound title against Hiroko Yamanaka. A main card photo gallery (via Strikeforce.com) is after the jump. For complete Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" weigh-in results click here. 145 lbs.: Cyborg Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka 155 lbs.: KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista 205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux

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Shoo away those circling vultures and other carrion feeders, because Strikeforce is going to live!  But you knew that already, just as you knew that Dana White had rolled up his sleeves and entered into the consecrated offices of the Showtime network with the determination to keep some kind of worthwhile MMA property on the channel.  So yes, Strikeforce will remain alive, albeit without its heavyweight division, without its low-calorie Strikeforce Challengers series, but with female bouts and no more fighters fleeing for the greener pastures of the UFC’s Octagon.  Wahoo!  More MMA!  Which brings us to Saturday night, and an event headlined by a meeting between Strikeforce champ (whatever that’s still worth) Gilbert Melendez and the always-scrappy Jorge Masvidal.  Savor that bout, for reasons that will soon follow, but ultimately, savor the fact that the event won’t be one of the organization’s last.  Because without Strikeforce in our lives, what MMA show would we watch on Showtime eight times a year?  M-1 Challenge?  Ha! -Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal – Given his hard-fought win over Josh Thomson, his dominant performance over Shinya Aoki, and his prison-rape of Tatsuya Kawajiri, Melendez can be considered among one of the best lightweights in the world (but the inter-dimensional portal between Strikeforce and the UFC has closed, so we’ll never know if he’s the best!).  And with his wrestling mixed with pinpoint striking and laser-like intensity, it’s not hard to see why he’s such a badass.  The dude is a machine.  Challenger Masvidal is no slouch, either, but he’s not quite the same caliber of machine as Melendez.  Put another way, if Melendez is a T-1000 Terminator-kind of machine, then with his competent jiu-jitsu, solid Muay Thai, accurate high-kicks and propensity for starting somewhat slowly, Masvidal is an espresso maker.  Which, hey, is a great machine if you like coffee-type drinks, but when it comes to dethroning one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world from their royal seat, forget about it.  Melendez is finishing this one via TKO early. -Cris “Cyborg” Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka – There’s a tale Brazilian mothers tell their children to scare them into behaving, a tale about a creature that lives in the jungle and comes out at night to devour the unwary.  That fabled creature – that feared monster that preys upon mankind – is called the dreaded “Lobisomem”.  Recently, Strikeforce 145-pound female champ Cyborg was hungry, so she ate the Lobisomem.  And now she wants to feed again.  Who’s next for her, and is it someone who stands a chance?  Sadly, it’s not Ronda Rousey, so the answer is “no”.  A well-rounded Japanese fighter named Yamanaka is the one that gets sacrificed to appease the appetite of Cyborg, which means we have to wait a while longer for something meaningful to happen in female MMA.  Given her unyielding aggression and ability to strike better than most of the men on the planet, Cyborg is winning this one via TKO in what should be a quick, violent and ugly match. -Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux – I admit, I drank the Kool-Aid when it came to believing that DREAM champ Mousasi was the next big thing.  Then King Mo laid on him and took his Strikeforce belt, and he drew against Keith Jardine, and I realized that maybe, just maybe, there were some holes in the ace striker’s game.  Oh well, he can still be exciting, and his skills are nothing to be trifled with.  Which begs the question: will St. Preux, who sometimes likes to stand and bang as well as get guys down and manhandle them, trifle with Mousasi’s superior submissions and superior face-punching?  If you’re the up-and-coming St. Preux’s coach, you have to hope your kid plays it smart and tries to grind out the win.  I’m guessing that’s not what’s going to happen, though.  Mousasi is finding St. Preux’s chin in the later rounds, and that’s all she wrote. -Billy Evangelista vs. KJ Noons – Despite his top-notch boxing and ability to avoid trouble on the ground, Noons got completely housed by Masvidal and Nick Diaz in his last two fights, while the well-rounded Evangelista blew his chance at breaking out into the big time when Masvidal beat him too.  Well, here we are, with a pair of guys who aren’t the best, but who are very capable at throwing leather and putting on a show.  Which actually seems like a pretty good metaphor for Strikeforce itself – it’s pretty much not going to be the absolute best fighters throwing down, but it’s going to be good, skilled fighters doing it in entertaining fashion.  In that spirit, I see this bout going the distance.  The winner: who cares!  It will be fun no matter what!

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SAN DIEGO - MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today's official "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" weigh-ins, where all but one of the 18 competitors successfully made weight for Saturday's fight card. And it was the one that missed, along with his opponent, that provided the most fireworks during the day's official ceremony. After tipping the scales at 170 pounds, four-time Strikeforce vet Roger Bowling charged right over to opponent Jerron Peoples, who not only failed to make the welterweight limit but also missed an agreed-upon 179-pound catchweight limit, as well.

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The Strikeforce lightweight title is on the line tomorrow night (December 17, 2011) as champion Gilbert Melendez takes on challenger Jorge Masvidal in the main event of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in Las Vegas, Nevada. Melendez is highly regarded one of the best 155 pound fighters on the planet. He made a statement earlier this year in a rematch against Tatsuya Kawajiri, showcasing his evolution as a fighter and he'll be looking to prove he's simply on another level compared to the rest of the division. Jorge Masvidal has been on a terrific run in Strikeforce. He halted Billy Evangelista's undefeated streak in his return to the promotion and then destroyed former EliteXC lightweight champion and Strikeforce welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons over the course of three rounds to earn his shot at the belt. He feels now is his time to be champion and he's got a tall order. Will Melendez continue to prove he's head and shoulders above the Strikeforce lightweight division? Does Masvidal have what it takes to play spoiler? What is the key to victory for both men tomorrow night? Let's find out: Gilbert Melendez Record: 19-2 overall, 9-1 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Shinya Aoki (Strikeforce: Nashville), Clay Guida (Strikeforce: Revenge), Tatsuya Kawajiri 2x (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, Pride Shockwave 2006) Key Losses: none How he got here: Gilbert Melendez had his first professional fight in the WEC, actually becoming the first Strikeforce lightweight champion in just his fourth professional bout. After a terrific run in Shooto, Melendez would debut in Strikeforce, eventually defeating Clay Guida to capture the Strikeforce lightweight title. After losing his Strikeforce title to Josh Thomson in the middle of 2008, Gilbert would go on to win the interim title and then avenge both of his career losses to Mitsuhiro Ishida and Thomson, unifying the belts in the process. The Cesar Gracie fighter handily defeated consensus number two-ranked lightweight (at the time), Shinya Aoki, on national television at Strikeforce in Nashville last April. Melendez accepted a title defense against Kawajiri on relatively late notice earlier this year and then absolutely thrashed him with a first round technical knockout victory. He made great use of the new unified rules Strikeforce employed, blasting "Crusher" with a series of elbows to the head. There were rumors of him joining many of his fellow champions in the UFC, but he'll instead defend his belt against Masvidal tomorrow night. How he gets it done: Where he once stood a sloppy, brawling wrestler, now stands as a very aggressive and technically sound striker. Melendez can pick his opponents apart with his jab or he can lunge inside and go to work with his powerful and precise hooks. He's got a multitude of weapons at his disposal and don't be surprised one bit to see him really utilize his elbows, even standing if the fight enters the clinch or gets up close and personal. Melendez still has the wrestling base to fall back on, but I don't expect him to go to the ground unless he hurts Masvidal standing. He's going to be using his footwork to create an opening to pounce inside and land big strikes. He wants to prove he's the best lightweight in the world and he can't afford to slip here. Expect Melendez to be very aggressive, perhaps even leaving himself open to counters simply because he wants to continue making statements. Dana White says "El Nino" is going to stay in Strikeforce for a while, but perhaps if he can go out and destroy his opponent quickly, he'll spawn a movement from the fans that will force the UFC's hand. Jorge Masvidal Record: 22-6 overall, 4-0 in Strikeforce Key Wins: K.J. Noons (Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum), Billy Evangelista (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson), Joe Lauzon (AFC 12) Key Losses: Toby Imada (Bellator 4), Rodrigo Damm (Sengoku 3) How he got here: Jorge Masvidal has been everywhere. After starting his career with a plethora of fights in the Absolute Fighting Championships, he made his debut in the upstart Bodog Fights promotion where he would go 3-0 before the promotion disbanded. Masvidal would take his talents to Japan, going 2-1 for Sengoku Raiden Championships before signing to compete in the inaugural Bellator lightweight tournament. After defeating Nick Agallar in just over a minute in his quarterfinal fight, Masvidal would be placed on the receiving end of one of the greatest submission in mixed martial arts history as Toby Imada scored an impromptu inverted triangle choke after getting thoroughly beat on for two-plus rounds of the Bellator lightweight semifinals. "Gamebred" bounced around several promotions, even fighting eventual Strikeforce welterweight title challenger Paul Daley at welterweight (and holding his own) before making his return to the promotion in 2011. Masvidal would dominate previously undefeated lightweight Billy Evangelistain his return to Strikeforce earlier this year to jump up to contender status in Strikeforce's thin lightweight division and he would cement that status by smashing K.J. Noons with a dominant decision victory that saw him hurt the former welterweight title challenger badly in the first round. How he gets it done: Masvidal is a very patient fighter, but his skills are top notch. He won't shy away from standing with Melendez as long as he feels he can spot an opening and pounce. Look out for his knees. Masvidal has long legs and can explode forward with a flying knee either to the head or the body and both are equally dangerous. Something that would not surprise me one bit would be to see Masvidal utilize some of his wrestling at times in this bout. He's been improving leaps and bounds and his single leg is actually getting pretty good. If Melendez gets too aggressive, Masvidal will be prepared to change levels and take him down where he can work some strikes from top position or at least win some points for the judges. Masvidal has a very slight height and reach advantage, so I expect him to stay back a bit, work his jab and not commit to anything unless he's absolutely certain there won't be any negative repercussions. This is his moment to shine and he can't afford to make a mistake by being reckless. Fight X-Factor: Gilbert Melendez has talked openly about wanting to fight for the UFC title, even battling former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez. He wants to fight the best lightweights in the world and unfortunately, those don't belong in Strikeforce at the moment. Jorge Masvidal is a solid opponent, but he's nowhere near the top level of 155 pounders, so is Gilbert Melendez motivated for this fight? He has all the skill and talent in the world, but if he takes Masvidal lightly, he could be in for some serious trouble. Masvidal has a dangerous skill-set and he could easily take advantage of Melendez if he catches his opponent sleeping. Bottom Line: While Jorge Masvidal may not be a major household name, he's done more than enough in his last two Strikeforce fights to earn this shot. He's got enough talent to make this an interesting fight, even if Melendez shows up in top form. Expect some fun striking exchanges, although with Masvidal's patience, this won't be a stand-up "war" that fans would probably like to see. There is potential for a very exciting knockout from either man as both have power in their punches. If Masvidal can take Melendez down, however, it could get a bit ugly as he hasn't mastered his top control to the point where he can really rain down punches on his opponent. Either way, each man should have his moments and this should be a terrific main event. Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will win the main event of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal tomorrow night? Gilbert Melendez Jorge Masvidal   3 votes | Results

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All but one fighter hit their weigh-in mark Friday evening for Saturday’s Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal card, including main event fighters Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal. Melendez, the Strikeforce lightweight champion, weighed in at 155, while Masvidal hit the scale at the exact same number. The four-fight main card, which goes down at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California, will be televised by Showtime. Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos and Hiroko Yamanaka each were right on the number for their women’s championship match, weighing in at 145 pounds. Meanwhile, Gegard Mousasi and Ovince St. Preux came in at 206 for their light heavyweight scrap, while K.J. Noons and Billy Evangelista were at 156 for their meeting at lightweight. The lone fighter to not make weight was Jerron Peoples, who tipped the scale at 180.5 pounds – 10 over his projected weight for a meeting with Roger Bowling. The bout will now be contested at a catchweight of 179 and has gone from business to personal as Bowling got in the face of Peoples regarding his lack of respect in terms of gross missing weight. Fans can catch the main card tomorrow night on Showtime starting at 10:30 PM EST. Here is a complete list of weigh-in results: Fernando Gonzalez (186) vs. Eddie Mendez (186) Chris Brown (170) vs. Herman Terrado (170.5) Devin Cole (248) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (265) Roger Bowling (170) vs. Jerron Peoples (180.5)* Caros Fodor (156) vs. Justin Wilcox (156) Billy Evangelista (156) vs. K.J. Noons (156) Gegard Mousasi (206) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206) Cristiane Santos (145) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (145) Gilbert Melendez (155) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155) * – Fight will now be a 179-pound catchweight bout PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

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The Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” weigh-ins took place earlier this evening at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. Jerron Peoples was the only fighter on the card to miss weight, and man, he wasn’t even close. His opponent Roger Bowling, who hit his 170 mark just fine, agreed to a 179 lbs. catchweight just prior to the weigh-ins, but Peoples couldn’t even make that, coming in at 180.5. He was given extra time to cut to 179. The weigh-in results: Gilbert Melendez (155) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155) Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (145) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (145) Gegard Mousasi (206) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206) Billy Evangelista (156) vs. K.J. Noons (156) Caros Fodor (156) vs. Justin Wilcox (156) Roger Bowling (170) vs. Jerron Peoples (180.5) Devin Cole (248) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (265) Fernando Gonzalez (186) vs. Eddie Mendez (186) Chris Brown (170) vs. Herman Terrado (170.5) Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit. Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” will take place tomorrow, Dec. 17, at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California and will air live (tape delayed on West coast) on Showtime at 10:30pm ET/PT. More Strikeforce weigh-in pics at CombatLifestyle.com

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The final Strikeforce event for 2011 takes place Saturday in San Diego, CA, headlined by Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal with Women's Featherweight Champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. the debuting Hiroko Yamanaka in the co-main event. Unfortunately, the weigh-ins aren't being streamed but fortunately for you, Bloody Elbow will bring you the live weigh-in results starting at 7 PM EST.Can Melendez keep his streak going? Will Santos spend more than a round in the cage? Comment below and let's hear what you have to say. Main Event: 155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez ( ) vs. Jorge Masvidal ( )145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos ( ) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka ( ) 205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi ( ) vs. Ovince St. Preux ( ) 155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista ( ) vs. K.J. Noons ( ) Prelims: 155 lbs.: Caros Fodor ( ) vs. Justin Wilcox ( ) 265 lbs.: Devin Cole ( ) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones ( ) 170 lbs.: Roger Bowling ( ) vs. Jerron Peoples ( ) 145 lbs.: Fernando Gonzalez ( ) vs. Eddie Mendez ( )170 lbs.: Chris Brown ( ) vs. Herman Terrado ( ) SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

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Gilbert Melendez vs Jorge MasvidalBrent Brookhouse - I didn't expect Masvidal to do anywhere near what he did to Noons, but that being said, Gilbert Melendez is not KJ Noons. I think on the feet we see a fairly even fight with both men having their moments. At some point Melendez is taking this to the ground though and he is worlds better there than Jorge. Gilbert Melendez by TKO, round three.KJ Gould - Masvidal has been one of the most surprising fighters of 2011, and had largely been underrated by everyone going into his fights. He's shown he's got sharp, effective stand up and could hold his own even against much bigger opponents. I just feel Melendez is at least a level above and with news that he's remaining in Strikeforce in the foreseeable future, I think he still has that hungry fighter mentality with something to prove, outclassing Masvidal along the way. Melendez by Decision.Leland Roling - Masvidal has made the case as a legitimate contender to Melendez's crown with his recent run in Strikeforce, but the talent gap between these top-tier fighters is too vast for me to think Masvidal can win. Masvidal's gameplan will be striking-centric, and Melendez, in my opinion, is a highly-effective distance striker. As Masvidal gets deeper into this fight and lit up by Melendez, he really has no recourse. Melendez has better wrestling, great takedown defense, and excellent cardio. Melendez works over Masvidal standing, then puts his foot on the gas late. Gilbert Melendez via TKO, Round 3Anton Tabuena - Masvidal seems like the kind of guy you always want to root for. The very game (bread?) fighter always has a chance, but he's up against one of the top lightweights in the world, and he's going to have a tough time handling him. I think this will last a few rounds, with Melendez eventually stopping the fight on the later part of the fight. Gilbert Melendez by late TKO.Matthew Roth - I like Masvidal a lot but this just is a bad match up for him. Gilbert Melendez is just better at everything Jorge is good at. Power? Gil. Wrestling? Gil. BJJ? Gil. Maybe if this was a game of Call of Duty I'd favor Masvidal but not in this fight. Gilbert Melendez by 3rd round TKO. David Castillo - For as talented as Masvidal is, he always finds a way to sabotage himself, and his performance, regardless of who he's fighting. I expect him to be sharp(ish), and when he's on top of his game, he has the talent to be an elite fighter. I expect Gilbert to have a tough first round, and possibly two. But that's it. Melendez is still kind of wild on the feet, and it's entirely possible he gets caught. But I can't pick against him. Not when you consider the absolutely destruction of a still really good LW (now FW) in Kawajiri. Gilbert Melendez by decision. Fraser Coffeen - Masvidal surprised me quite a bit in the Noons fight as he outboxed the boxer with sharp striking. He seems out of his league here, but expect he'll make it a close contest, and may get Melendez in trouble standing. Difference maker will be Gilbert's significant ground advantage, where he can drag Jorge down, rough him up, and in the end, hurt him enough to finish. Gilbert Melendez, round 3, TKOBen Thapa - Masvidal is going to shock the world - just like he did against K.J. Noons - and snatch rounds from the heavily favored Melendez with that underrated boxing. I have a feeling Gil will come back in the later rounds, but since everyone here is picking Melendez, I'll go out on a limb and say that Masvidal takes the first three rounds and the decision victory. Jorge Masvidal, decision. Tim Burke - Masvidal is not going to shock the world here. Jorge has severe motivation issues, and luckily this type of bout is exactly what he needs to get off his duff and train. Unfortunately, he's in there against a guy that mirrors his style. And Gil's better at it. Gil's boxing is pretty underrated, and it's very unlikely he's going to get taken down. In a boxing battle I've got Melendez 95 times out of 100, even if he gets wild and wants to trade like the Thomson fights. I'm surprised that people think Gil will finish Masvidal though, especially by TKO. I've got this going five almost for sure. Gilbert Melendez by decisionStaff Picking Melendez: Anton, David, Fraser, Leland, Tim, Brookhouse, Gould, RothStaff Picking Masvidal: Ben SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Cristiane Santos vs Hiroko YamanakaBrent Brookhouse - Yesterday Dana White said that they have "the 135 pound division and Cyborg." The embarrassing lack of depth at 145 shows through again as Cyborg has sat on the sidelines for over a year and has only fought twice since winning the title and the best they could do was someone no one outside of the hardcores has ever heard of who has no chance to win. Cyborg Santos by TKO, round 2.Leland Roling - Despite the recent renewal of the Strikeforce's deal with Showtime, I'm still down on women's MMA, mainly because it has a tendency to produce fights like this far more often than its counterpart. That's understandable due to the lack of talent, but this is just a one-sided drubbing that holds no interest for me. Cyborg demolishes Yamanaka by brute force. Cristiane ‘Cyborg' Santos via TKO, Round 1KJ Gould - This is a throw back to the days of Wanderlei Silva beating on some over-matched, undersized Japanese opponents. It's hard to imagine anything less than a brutal Muay Thai beating ending with a Level 3 Tiger Destruction Ultramove. Cyborg Santos by TKO. Round 1Anton Tabuena - She's improved on her ground game during her time away from MMA, but being out this long will still probably make her a bit rusty. That being said, a rusty Cyborg, is still probably better than everyone in her division. Cyborg by one sided beating.Matthew Roth - Unknown Japanese lady makes her debut in Strikeforce against Cris Cyborg who may actually be a machine built by Skynet. This isn't ending well for the unknown Japanese lady. Cyborg by TKO. David Castillo - Yamamaka seems like a kind soul. That's what makes her sacrifice that much more painful to watch. If Hiroko knew how to use her incredible height, I'd give her a chance just to get out of the first round. She doesn't, so she won't. Cyborg by TKO, round 1. Fraser Coffeen - I hate picking fighters who have been out for so long. But Cyborg is just in a different place than other women's fighters. Yamanaka has decent stand-up skills, but won't have an answer for Cyborg's aggression, which has led her to many victories. I see Cyborg blitzing her hard here and ending it. Cris Cyborg by TKO, round 1.Ben Thapa - It is a blessing and a curse that Cristiane Cyborg is so far beyond her peers as a mixed martial artist. Hopefully she can make 135 and keep the momentum going in that division as the year turns. In the meantime, I bet she'll revert to her usual pattern of playing with her food a bit before finally ending the fight in the second round with her brand of ultra-violence. Yamanaka will probably give a valiant performance, but get overwhelmed by the non-stop forward motion of Cyborg and eventually be battered into defeat. I'd love to see a hard-fought decision here though, if Yamanaka can do it. Cristiane Cyborg, KO, Round 2.Tim Burke - Yamanaka seems like a kind soul? She's a dominatrix! She's also completely outclassed here. Cyborg is -900 with good reason - what is Yamanaka going to do to her? Catch her standing? Nyet. Take her down? Nada. Submit her? Pishaw! She's going to have her soul removed from her body and it's going to get TKO'd too. Cris "Cyborg" Santos by TKO.Staff Picking Santos: Anton, David, Fraser, Leland, Ben, Tim, Brookhouse, Gould, RothStaff Picking Yamanaka: Gegard Mousasi vs Ovince St. PreuxBrent Brookhouse - I think OSP is a really bad match-up for Mousasi. I'm a fan of Gegard, but I think that the athleticism of OSP is going to be a factor here. I think at one point Mousasi almost gets the finish but OSP is able to win two rounds through top control for the upset win. Ovince St. Preux by decision.Leland Roling - Interesting fight considering the doubt in Mousasi's wrestling defense and inability to stop Muhammed Lawal from repeatedly putting him on his back. OSP's athleticism coupled with his enormous frame could cause big problems for Mousasi, but I think Mousasi batters OSP's foundation to soften him up and slow him down. Mousasi takes advantage of OSP's defensive lapses, wins by TKO. Gegard Mousasi via TKO.Anton Tabuena - Mousasi SHOULD take this, cause in my opinion, he's just the better overall fighter... But if he looks like he did on the Jardine fight, OSP can give him a huge run for his money. Still picking Gegard though. Gegard Mousasi by Decision.KJ Gould - Interesting match up of experience versus athleticism. Mousasi's one of those guys I've had a hard time being impressed with when he was doing well in Japan, and didn't make me a believer until he dismantled Babalu. Of course the loss to King Mo, Draw with Jardine and getting some wins in Dream leaves me feeling the same as before, where as OSP has been on a role for nearly 2 years. Yes Mousasi has faced the better competition over all, I just sense OSP has the style and physicality to neuter a lot of Mousasi's offense to get the judges nod. OSP by Decision.David Castillo - I'm not sold on St. Preux. His boxing has just enough holes for Mousasi to capitalize on. Yes, Mousasi looked like crap against Jardine, and he's not doing himself any favors by feasting on cans in DREAM, but Mousasi will only ever look bad at this point if he's fighting someone that can take him down. Will Ovince turn this into a ground war? I don't even think so, but even he does, Mousasi is still capable from his back. Still, I fully expect Mousasi to land some on OSP's chin. And I predict OSP won't handle it well. Mousasi by TKO, round 2. Fraser Coffeen - Mousasi has become unfairly overlooked and underrated. He's much better than many give him credit for, particularly standing. St. Preux has promise, and this is a good step up for him, but he hasn't been able to finish any mid to upper tier opponents, and if he tries to get into a 3 round kickboxing battle with Mousasi, he won't be able to keep up. Mousasi by KO, round 1 Ben Thapa - Can we stop with the "Down with OSP" jokes? Can I give Mauro Ranallo a preemptive stern look of disapproval before he busts that out this Saturday? I suspect St. Preux will bully Mousasi early on and surprise Gegard with his athleticism. However, Gegard has shown an adaptability (outside of the King Mo fight) that leads me to believe that he'll get back to his feet or get off the cage and start lighting Ovince up on the feet. That's the moment when we'll see if Ovince has the grit and the skills to impose his gameplan on a high level opponent who is dealing out massive damage in bursts. Great match-up here, but I suspect that Ovince is still too fresh in his career progression to truly dominate Gegard. Mousasi, KO, Round 1.Tim Burke - OSP is not King Mo. Let's get that out of the way right now. No one has ever bullied Mousasi except for Mo, and OSP is not about to become the second guy to do it. I'm still ridiculously high on Moosassy as a contender, and I think he's going to steamroll St. Preux here. Drop him, submit him while he's hurt. Gegard Mousasi by submission.Staff Picking Mousasi: Anton, David, Fraser, Leland, Ben, Tim, RothStaff Picking St. Preux: Brookhouse, GouldKJ Noons vs Billy EvangelistaBrent Brookhouse - Noons looked really bad against Masvidal but I'm still thinking that was more fluke than anything. People continue to forget that Noons has had the most success of anyone against Nick Diaz at welterweight. He's much better than Evangelista and should bust him up before stopping him late. KJ Noons by TKO, round three.Leland Roling - Jorge Masvidal confirmed my suspicions about Evangelista, and Noons, who's a better boxer by far, will likely prove my suspicions once again. Evangelista just doesn't have the technical skills standing to beat better strikers. Noons blasts him. KJ Noons via TKO.Anton Tabuena - He's the better fighter, and if past fights are an indicator, he also has... better hair. KJ Noons by Decision.David Castillo - Evangelista has improved over the years, and did better than expected against Masvidal (though you could always chalk it up to Masvidal's occasional indifference), but he'll be forced to stay on the feet against Noons. Which is not where he has the advantage. I don't expect him to get obliterated like Gurgel, but he will be comfortably outboxed. Noons by decision. KJ Gould - This feels like it could be a little one sided in Noons favour, who also benefits from having a beat of a mean streak and being able to stretch the rule to the limit in terms of getting a last couple of shots in at the bell. I think Noons will be too crafty for Evangelista and rip him to shreds. Noons by TKO.Fraser Coffeen - Noons let me down in the Masvidal fight, but he's still a very technically sound striker with enough skills to keep the fight standing and outbox Evangelista here. I can't see him finishing, but he should comfortably outpoint Billy here. KJ Noons by DecisionBen Thapa - Over/under on how many hair touches Noons does? 10? Evangelista has displayed more well-rounded gameplans than Noons ever has, but Noons is rather good at turning fights into straight boxing matches. Nick Diaz and Jorge Masvidal beat him at his own game, but Evangelista has not displayed similar caliber stand-up skills. I'd love to see some improvement out of Billy, but five years and thirteen fights means that this is pretty much what we get. Hard to go against the guy who is better at implementing his gameplan and battering opponents for three rounds. K.J. Noons, decision.Tim Burke - KJ's the best bet on the card at -190, IMO. Leland nailed it - Billy E. can't hang on the feet with Noons, even if Noons gets all wild like he did in the Heun fight. That's really all it comes down to. Can KJ finish? Doubt it. K.J. Noons by decision.Staff Picking Noons: Anton, David, Fraser, Leland, Ben, Tim, Brookhouse, Gould, RothStaff Picking Evangelista: Jerron Peoples vs Roger BowlingBrent Brookhouse - I think Bowling/Voelker is just one of those weird stylistic situations where I think Bowling is actually the better fighter but Voelker had the exact right style to offset what he does. Peoples is alright but he's being set up to be the rebound fight here. Roger Bowling by decision.Leland Roling - Despite what people may think of Bowling from the outcome of the Voelker trilogy, Bowling was a highly-touted prospect for a reason. He's durable, strong, and runs at a high pace. He'll overwhelm Peoples with ease. Roger Bowling via submissionDavid Castillo - It was a serviceable trilogy while it lasted, and Bowling wasn't the better fighter of the two between himself and Bobby Voelkner, but Bowling is a good fighter. And he's a better one than Peoples, who will try to keep it standing and throw wildly in the process. Jerron's takedown defense is nothing especially stellar, so I expect a one-note performance from Bowling. Bowling by decision. Ben Thapa - Bowling has to get his groove back. He lost to Voelker due to a couple of technique slips and an attitude of "This guy can't hurt me". This fight is probably a good spot for him to do that and work Peoples over. Roger Bowling KO, Round 2.Tim Burke - I still see a lot of promise in Bowling. Voelker just had his number for whatever reason. Bowling makes Pellegrino-like stupid mistakes in fights which could cost him against a guy like Jerrod, but I don't see it. Safe gameplan, late TKO. Roger Bowling by TKO.Staff Picking Peoples: FraserStaff Picking Bowling: Anton, David, Leland, Ben, Tim, Brookhouse, RothCaros Fodor vs Justin WilcoxBrent Brookhouse - The fact that this fight isn't main eventing a Challengers show should be all you need as proof that the series is done. Fodor is a pain to deal with, but Wilcox should be able to out muscle him for most of the fight before putting Fodor on his back and pounding him out. Justin Wilcox via TKO, round two.Leland Roling - Wilcox's wrestling combined with his excellent conditioning will overwhelm Fodor in this fight. Justin Wilcox via TKO.David Castillo - Wilcox all day. I was highly impressed by Justin in his fight with JZ. Cavalcante has always been known for being extremely well rounded, and having rugged standup, and there were moments in that fight when Wilcox was simply outclassing JZ. The man has come a long way since being part of Ishida's lone submission highlight reel. With continued improvement, he's a worthy contender to Gilbert's title. Who is Fodor again? A moderately talented guy who will get taken down at will by someone at the top of their game right now (hate to gush, but I really was impressed in his fight against JZ). Wilcox by TKO, round 2. Ben Thapa - Fodor gonna surprise y'all and beat this MuscleSherk2 guy. On a more serious note, Fodor is still a rising prospect with improving skills and Wilcox is basically a "what you see is what you get" deal. Don't get me wrong, Wilcox is going to be bringing the wrestleboxer mentality in full force, but I think Fodor will be slippery enough and smart enough on the feet to deal out the damage to Wilcox that JZ tried to. Caros Fodor, KO, Round 2.Tim Burke - Justin Wilcox is a beast. He did an excellent job of landing shots against JZ and avoiding the counter, and he straight beat the crap out of Rodrigo Damm. Fodor's definitely a quality prospect as well and it kind of sucks that these two have been built on Challengers shows and now sit on the untelevised undercard, but it is what it is. I'll go with Wilcox in an all-out war, simply because he'll control where the fight takes place. Justin Wilcox by decision.KJ Gould - I support Fodor because of the Matt Hume connection, but otherwise this is a pretty tough fight for the AMC Pankration product. Wilcox has the wrestling and power to present Fodor with a lot of problems, and Fodor certainly has some very evident holes in his game. Being able to gut your way through to get a win will only take you so far, and it might be enough for Fodor against Wilcox this time. Fodor by Decision.Staff Picking Fodor: Ben, GouldStaff Picking Wilcox: Anton, David, Fraser, Leland, Tim, Brookhouse, RothDevin Cole vs Gabriel Salinas-JonesDavid Castillo - I'm hoping this fight falls into the "so bad it's good" territory that so many non-Zuffa HW fights fall into so comfortably. The fight certainly has the right ingredients: Salinas-Jones' wrestling has that flavor of Jonathan Weizorek where he looks like he's pushing a wheelbarrow and responding to a night of heavy drinking at the same time when attempting a double leg. Gabriel is no Cormier, but I can see him getting takedowns here and there despite Cole's pedigree. Still, Cole is a bit more rugged, and more durable. And more experienced, for whatever that's worth. Cole by decision. Fraser Coffeen - Cole could easily wrestle his way to a decision here, but if he does, it won't be pretty. Salinas-Jones has more options here - better stand-up, better submissions. He's also shown his ability to hang in there and get a victory late in a fight, which is not something you see in every Heavyweight. I think he'll be able to catch a tired Cole eventually. Gabriel Salinas-Jones by submission, round 3Ben Thapa - Fraser said it. Looks like I can finish this post early. If only it were summer, so I could go fish or something... Gabriel Salinas-Jones, sub, Round 2.Tim Burke - I believe Cole was charged with rape a few years ago and pled down to assault or something. Did a few months in jail. I hope Salinas-Jones knocks him out. Gabriel Salinas-Jones by KO.Staff Picking Cole: Anton, DavidStaff Picking Salinas-Jones: Fraser, Leland, Ben, Tim, Brookhouse, Roth

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Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsMMA Fighting has Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal weigh-in results for Saturday's Showtime event at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. In the main event, Gilbert Melendez puts his lightweight belt on the line against Jorge Masvidal. Weigh-in results are below. Showtime Bouts Gilbert Melendez () vs. Jorge Masvidal () Cris Cyborg () vs. Hiroko Yamanaka () Gegard Mousasi (206) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206) K.J. Noons (156) vs. Billy Evangelista (156) Preliminary Bouts Justin Wilcox (156) vs. Caros Fodor (156) Jerron Peoples (180.5) vs. Roger Bowling (170) *catchweight bout Devin Cole (248) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (265) Fernando Gonzalez (186) vs. Eddie Mendez (186) Herman Terrado (170.5) vs. Chris Brown (170) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, strikeforce newsmma

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Results from Friday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal weigh-ins at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.

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Fresh off a major announcement that will see the promotion extend its stay on Showtime for at least another year, Strikeforce looks to demonstrate why its survival will be our gain with a decent card capped off by a promising main event. Arguably the best fighter not under contract with the UFC, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez returns to the cage to take on challenger Jorge Masvidal. The lightweight division has already brought us some absolute crackers this year, with Frankie Edgar‘s fights with Gray Maynard, Ben Henderson‘s frantic battle with Clay Guida, , and Mike Chandler‘s title-capturing win over Eddie Alvarez setting some extremely high standards, and if Saturday’s main event comes close to replicating the high level action set by those fights, we’re in for a treat. The card also features the return of featherweight women champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, who will likely be partaking in another massacre of an over-matched Japanese foe, while Gegard Mousasi and Ovince St. Preux square off in a potential show-stealer. Preliminary Predictions *Chris Brown to defeat Herman Terrado by TKO in Round 2 * Eddie Mendez to defeat Fernando Gonzalez by Decision * Devin Cole to defeat Gabriel Salinas-Jones by Decision * Justin Wilcox to defeat Caros Fodor by TKO in Round 3 * Roger Bowling to defeat Jerron Peoples by TKO in Round 2 Main Card Predictions Lightweight Fight: K.J. Noons vs Billy Evangelista While Noons’ boxing ability isn’t what many make it out to be, the stand-up game should favor him here. He is the more technical striker, and Evangelista has always struggled with fighters who can stick a jab in his face, punish his body, and avoid his overly aggressive offense. Evangelista tends to stay inside the pocket for too long, and someone like Noons will make him pay. Moreover, when Evangelista struggles to get much going on the feet, his pursuit of a takedown becomes somewhat reckless and not really properly set up, which makes his takedown attempts telegraphed. Noons struggled with Masvidal’s diverse attacks in his last fight, and Evangelista would be wise to follow a similar approach. However, while utilizing kicks is good in theory, Evangelista has a habit of leaving himself exposed when throwing leg kicks and it makes him prone for counters. While Noons’ defensive stance and bobbing and weaving isn’t suited for MMA, his head movement should be enough to avoid most of Evangelista’s attacks. Nevertheless, Noons’ habit of keeping his feet planted makes it very possible that he finds himself on his back repeatedly, so footwork and constant movement will be key. As long as Noons can avoid getting stuck on the bottom for too long, this is his fight for the taking. Official Prediction: K.J. Noons to defeat Billy Evangelista by Decision Light Heavyweight Fight: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux For as talented a fighter as Mousasi is, he has been somewhat underwhelming in recent times. While he definitely deserved the nod in his fight with Keith Jardine, it was a fight in which Mousasi struggled far more than he really should have. His wrestling has let him down in his last two Strikeforce outings, and he will need to show significant improvement in that regard if he is to get back on track. The Dutchman will be the better and more technical striker, but he needs to learn from the mistakes he committed against Mo Lawal and do a better job at controlling the distance, as any mistake means he could well end up on his back. Mousasi needs to be particularly wary when throwing body kicks, as St. Preux possesses the speed and reflexes to simply catch one and take him to the mat. In fact, Mousasi’s offense is heavily reliant on kicks, and he needs to pick his spots carefully while throwing them. Most importantly, Mousasi needs to get rid of his nasty habit of simply covering up whenever his opponent throws a feint. It got him in serious trouble against “King Mo”, as the American repeatedly faked a right cross, changed levels and put Mousasi on his back while the latter was doing nothing but stand his ground and cover up. In his defense, Mousasi knows how to avoid damage once taken down, but he’s almost too comfortable fighting off of his back. He does a very good job of controlling his opponent’s posture and even mounting some offense from the bottom, particularly with his elbows. Unfortunately, it is next to impossible to win a fight from the bottom on the judges’ scorecards, and unless Mousasi outright polishes St. Preux off with a submission, he’ll be looking at another disappointing loss. St. Preux’s conditioning has been at times shaky in the past, and he is occasionally guilty of getting too wild on the feet. Doing that against a striker of Mousasi’s caliber is risky business, not to mention that it would be hugely detrimental to his cardio. Expect a highly competitive affair that ends in yet another disputed decision… Official Prediction: Ovince St. Preux to defeat Gegard Mousasi by Decision Women’s Featherweight Title Fight: Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (c) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka With all due respect to both ladies, there isn’t much to talk about here. Despite the layoff, “Cyborg” will turn yet another poor woman’s face into a hamburger on her way to retaining the title. Hopefully, her next challenge will be sterner. Official Prediction: Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos to defeat Hiroko Yamanaka by TKO in Round 1 Lightweight Title Fight: Gilbert Melendez (c) vs Jorge Masvidal The kind of improvement Melendez has shown since his loss to Josh Thomson a few years back is truly astounding. His striking in particular, has progressed tremendously throughout the years. The increasing technique in his boxing is apparent, and it has allowed him to develop serious power as well. Most impressive is the confidence Melendez possesses in his boxing ability. That confidence, coupled with a granite chin, has enabled him to have the conviction to be constantly aggressive and set up some devastating power shots. He has also developed a very solid jab, and uses to set up his right hook (or right uppercut) especially well. Melendez’s willingness to get on the inside, land some power punches or knees up close is especially troubling for a fighter with Masvidal’s history of ignoring strategy and engaging in ill-advised slugfests. To his credit, when Masvidal chooses to be more patient, he possesses some very competent counter-punching and a deep striking arsenal. Masvidal is especially underrated in the clinch, where his knees to the body are something Melendez wouldn’t want to experience. And yet, fighting on the inside with someone like Melendez is a very dangerous proposition. Masvidal will be best served to use his jab — which when used, is quite effective — and look to set up the counter right cross as Melendez moves forward. The problem for Masvidal however, is that even if he is to have some success countering, “El Nino” is the superior wrestler, with some brutal ground-and-pound to boot. Mavidal has a solid sprawl and is good in the scrambles, but fending off Melendez’s takedowns for twenty-five minutes is a daunting task, especially given the pace that Melendez’s otherworldly cardio allows him to set. The match-up is simply too difficult for Masvidal to overcome. Look for Melendez to put on yet another impressive display that will make many momentarily forget about Henderson’s existence and clamor for a fight with Edgar. Official Prediction: Gilbert Melendez to defeat Jorge Masvidal by TKO in Round 3 PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

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The recently re-energized Strikeforce promotion will finish up its 2011 fight campaign tomorrow night with "Melendez vs. Masvidal," a stacked Showtime card emanating from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. Leading the charge will be lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, as he defends his 155-pound strap against fierce competitor Jorge Masvidal. Strikeforce women's champion (145-pounds) Cristiane Santos will also get in on the action, returning from an extended layoff to answer the call of Hiroko Yamanaka. A couple of familiar faces round out the network televised rumble as former light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi takes on Ovince St. Preux while Billy Evangelista clashes with K.J. Noons. As always, MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Dec. 17. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night. So, who gets it done on Saturday night and who runs home to mama? Follow me after the jump to find out. 155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez (19-2) vs. Jorge Masvidal (22-6) Remember that fight between Clay Guida and Anthony Pettis a few months back? Add two more rounds to that memory and you have a pretty good idea of how this thing plays out. The good news for fight fans is that Melendez has a more refined arsenal than "The Carpenter," so we won't be lulled to sleep with five rounds of hug-and-mug. But make no mistake about it, this thing is going south. Masvidal is the better, or at least the more dynamic striker of the two, and his wrestling ain't too shabby either. While I give him the edge on the feet, it's difficult for me to envision a scenario where he puts "El Nino" to sleep. That begs the question, can "Gamebred" do enough in the striking department to overcome the time spent on his back? Probably not. It wouldn't surprise me to see the challenger have a terrific first round and he may even claim part of the second, but sooner or later he's going to tire and Melendez won't. This kid can do five rounds without even batting an eyelash and once Masvidal loses a little pep in his step, he's getting dragged to the mat and beaten up. Prediction: Melendez by unanimous decision 145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Let's be real here, there isn't anyone digesting this word vomit who needs convincing that "Cyborg" is going to win, any more than I can persuade you to believe the gazelle has a chance against the lion on those Discovery channel bloodbaths. But, for the sake of word count, we might as well discuss it. Remember that fight between Cristiane Santos and Jan Finney? "Cuddles" punched her square in the jaw as hard as she could -- and nothing happened. Marloes Coenen was beaten so badly that by the time she was peeled off the cage floor, she actually looked like Cyborg. I'm not kidding! Santos is the Jon Jones of the women's 145-pound division. She looks downright invincible. I mean for Pete's sake people, she powerbombed Tito Ortiz in training camp, am I supposed to give Hiroko Yamanaka some kind of chance here? "Cat's Eye" is not a can and she's beaten some formidable opponents, but fighting Cyborg is like fighting a gorilla. And I mean that in the sexiest way possible. Prediction: Santos defeats Hiroko by TK-oko 205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Gegard (pronounced gay-guard) Mousasi (pronounced Mousasi) is kind of head-scratcher when it comes to predictions. I mean seriously, this guy has all the tools in the world to be considered one of the pound-for-pound best, but unfortunately he shuts down when his opponents don't play to his strengths. We saw that glaring hole in his game exposed by Muhammed Lawal, who gave a textbook example of what it means to be taken down "at will." Mousasi was flustered and frustrated and any semblance of a competent defense was missing in action. That also came back to haunt him in his stinker against Keith Jardine. "The Dreamcatcher" is light years ahead of "The Dean of Mean" in the stand-up, but he was befuddled by Jardine's unorthodox stance and Frankenstein footwork, causing his gameplan to crash to the blue screen of death. The good news for him is that his opponent, the physically gifted but still unproven Ovince St. Preux, has a bit of a paint-by-numbers offense, which should allow Mousasi to attack on his terms. The takedown is always a concern, but while he's a freakish athlete, he's not the kind of hard-nosed wrestler that would give Mousasi pause. With that in mind, a sloppy takedown with no effective top control gets him triangled somewhere in the second frame. Prediction: Mousasi by submission 155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons These guys have the distinction of sharing the title of sloppy seconds, since both K.J. Noons and Billy Evangelista are coming off unanimous decision losses to Jorge Masvidal. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to see this one play out like "Gamebred's" win over Evangelista, depending on how well "King Karl" can defend the takedown. I know Noons is touted as having a boxer's hands, though his loss to Masvidal proved that no matter how good your mitts are, you have to make them adaptable to cage fighting, which he failed to do, and got lit up with a creative and varied offense. That ain't happening here. Evangelista is a competent striker with serviceable hands, but if he wants to try and duke it out for three rounds, he's gonna get smoked like an unfiltered Camel. That means he's gotta get K.J. to the mat and while he's not exactly a newborn calf on the ground, he's no Demian Maia, either. This one all boils down to how long Noons can stay upright. I believe he does, just long enough to convince the judges he's the better man. Prediction: Noons via unanimous decision Alright folks, you've heard what I've had to say about tomorrow night's fights, now it's your turn. Let's hear some main card predictions in the comments section below. Who ya' got?

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Weigh-ins for tomorrow’s “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal” event take place today at 7pm ET in San Diego, as Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, challenger Jorge Masvidal, and the rest of the card weigh in to make their fights official for the Showtime-televised event.The Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal weigh-in results are:MAIN CARDGilbert Melendez (c) vs. Jorge Masvidal Strikeforce Lightweight ChampionshipCristiane “Cyborg” Santos (c) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight ChampionshipGegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. PreuxKJ Noons vs. Billy EvangelistaPRELIMINARY CARDJustin Wilcox vs. Caros FodorJerron Peoples vs. Roger BowlingDevin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-JonesFernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie MendezHerman Terrado vs. Chris BrownPictured: Gilbert Melendez

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The official weigh in event for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs Masvidal" is set to take place later today (Dec. 16, 2011) LIVE from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. "Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. In addition, former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessee defensive standout Ovince St. Preux. K.J. Noons and Cristiane Santos are also in action. Complete Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" weigh in results, after the jump: Main Event: 155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez ( ) vs. Jorge Masvidal ( ) Main Card (Showtime): 145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos ( ) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka ( ) 205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi ( ) vs. Ovince St. Preux ( ) 155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista ( ) vs. K.J. Noons ( ) Preliminary Card (May not be televised): 155 lbs.: Caros Fodor ( ) vs. Justin Wilcox ( ) 265 lbs.: Devin Cole ( ) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones ( ) 170 lbs.: Roger Bowling ( ) vs. Jerron Peoples ( ) 145 lbs.: Fernando Gonzalez ( ) vs. Eddie Mendez ( )170 lbs.: Chris Brown ( ) vs. Herman Terrado ( ) For those fortunate enough to be in San Diego this weekend, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 3:00 p.m. PT. MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Dec. 17), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7:30 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight Strikeforce coverage you can handle For the latest "Melendez vs. Masvidal" news and notes click here.

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - MMAjunkie.com is on scene and reporting live from today's official "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" fighter weigh-ins, where 18 fighters look to make weight for the Saturday night fight card. Included among the participants are Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez and challenger Jorge Masvidal, as well as Strikeforce female titleholder Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos and Japanese opponent Hiroko Yamanaka. Today's festivities take place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif.

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Jorge Masvidal has worked hard and now he plans to showcase his masterpiece performance against Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce Saturday night.

Posted in: gilbert melendez, jorge, melendez, plan, masterpiece performance

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Filed under: StrikeforceIt's Strikeforce time again, for better or worse, and that usually means one thing to the betting MMA fan: opportunity. I don't know if it's the built-in talent inequality on the roster or the penchant for one-sided squash matches, but it seems like Strikeforce always features fights with big favorites and hefty underdogs. If you know how to parlay the former and spot the latter, that could mean some profitable fight nights. If you don't, it's just another night of crying into the couch cushions. Let's see how oddsmakers see it going down on Saturday night's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal card. Gilbert Melendez (-380) vs. Jorge Masvidal (+290) On any Strikeforce card, both in the pre and post-Zuffa eras, you're bound to find some long odds to go with total mismatches. But while Saturday night's main event has the long odds part down, I doubt it's quite as much of a mismatch as it looks like on paper. Masvidal doesn't have the name recognition or the big wins that Melendez does, but he's still a tough, experienced fighter who's difficult to put away. That means Melendez could be looking at five hard rounds with this guy, which is plenty of opportunity for us to find out whether he took this challenge seriously enough in training camp. This is a tricky fight for Melendez, because there's just not that much to gain. Masvidal, on the other hand, could go from solid journeyman to potential star with one good night. Skill-for-skill, the edge has to go to Melendez. He's the all-around better fighter, and he should win this. But Masvidal is the kind of guy who won't give you anything. Melendez is going to have to go out there and take it. My pick: Melendez. I can't bring myself to take the underdog risk on Masvidal, mostly because there are better options on this very same card. Speaking of which... Gegard Mousasi (-380) vs. Ovince St. Preux (+290) I get it: Mousasi's a familiar name and St. Preux is just some Challengers guy, right? Wrong. St. Preux is a genuine prospect, a gifted athlete, and maybe even a future Strikeforce champ with the right experience and adjustments. He hasn't lost a fight since 2009 and he's looking more and more comfortable in the cage of late, albeit against a series of opponents who seem as if they might have been selected for just that purpose. Mousasi, on the other hand, has looked a little uninspired in recent fights. He had that weird little draw with Keith Jardine, and he hasn't faced anyone really tough since he dropped the belt to Mo Lawal in 2010. He was the flavor of the month for a little while, but he just never progressed past a certain point and couldn't develop the appropriate sense of urgency about it, either. Maybe he deserves to be the favorite just based on the difference in experience against high-level opponents, but to give him Gilbert Melendez odds is insane. Not only does St. Preux have a chance, it's a pretty good one. I'd consider him a good bet at +190. At +290 he's a steal. My pick: St. Preux. It feels like oddsmakers are just begging me to take their money here. I'd hate to disappoint them. Cris "Cyborg" Santos (-900) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (+550) Oh, here we go. Hide your kids. Hide your girlfriend's delicate face. Hide anything you don't want smashed to pieces by the most intimidating fighter in women's MMA. "Cyborg" is back on the scene and it's looking like another squash match for the 145-pound champ. This time you can't blame matchmakers. There simply aren't many women out there who could give Santos much of a fight. Granted, Santos hasn't fought in a year and a half, while Yamanaka's been pretty active, but come on. You look at Yamanaka's record and there's nothing to suggest that she's ready for the intensity and the force of this one-woman wrecking crew. Nothing at all. My pick: Santos. But at -900, I can't even put her in my parlay without feeling weird about it. It's like betting on a bull in a fight with an ostrich. You know you're almost certainly going to be right, but who wants to profit off something like that? KJ Noons (-190) vs. Billy Evangelista (+155) Here's one where you can actually learn something by comparing their performances against a common opponent. Both these guys dropped decisions to Masvidal in their most recent outings, though Noons' loss was the one that seemed to catch oddsmakers off-guard. This isn't one of those fights where they both do very different things, and it's a contest to see who can shut the other one down and make it into his kind of fight. Instead, it's a fight where they have similar styles and approaches, but one guy is just a little sharper at it. And who's that one guy, you ask? Easy: he's the one with the minus next to his name. My pick: Noons. I don't see him blowing two in a row where he's the favorite, but I'll save it for the parlay. Quick picks: - Justin Wilcox (-170) over Caros Fodor (+140). I'm still bitter that we didn't get a Wilcox-Cavalcante rematch after the unfortunate eye-poke ending to the last bout. This should be slightly less competitive. - Devin Cole (-155) over Gabriel Salinas-Jones (+125). I don't expect the fight of the year, but I do expect a win for Cole. The 'For Entertainment Purposes Only' Parlay: Melendez + Noons + Wilcox + Cole Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, guy, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez and the challenger Jorge Masvidal will step on the scale tonight at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California, as part of the official weigh-in session ahead of tomorrows stacked fight card. Strikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal will also feature the return of Cristiane Cyborg to the cage against Hiroko Yamanaka, as Gegard Mousasi tests his skills against Ovince St. Preux. The weigh-ins will go underway at 7PM EST, with Melendez and Masvidal going

Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, cristiane cyborg, weighin

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Video: Jorge Masvidal confident he is better than Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez everywhere, including in the wrestling department, and will prove it on Saturday night (Dec. 14, 2011) when they collide in the main event that will air on Showtime.

Posted in: strikeforce, video, champion, jorge, melendez

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Weeks before he was gunned down in the middle of the Las Vegas strip, rapper 2Pac recorded the song "Hail Mary," the second line of which is, "Revenge is like the sweetest joy next to getting ..." Well, let's just say Shakur more than enjoyed spending time with the ladies. Seeking revenge is a natural human reaction. Every person seeks to one-up whoever did the same to them previously. It's a basic, instinctual emotion and is one that needs to be actively suppressed if someone decides not to take the road to vengeance. When Gilbert Melendez steps inside the Strikeforce cage for what will likely be the last time this Saturday (Dec. 17, 2011), he won't be seeking revenge against Jorge Masvidal; he has no reason to do so as the two have never met in combat before. Instead, "El Niño" will be fighting for respect, something that is only earned by fighters outside the UFC through grit, toughness, and of course, wins inside the cage. Revenge won't be on Melendez's mind, it hasn't been since nearly two years ago to the day when the champion defeated longtime rival Josh Thomson. Four months prior, Melendez had run through Mitsuhiro Ishida, the only other man to defeat him. Let's take a look back to those two bouts. After losing a five-round decision to Thomson, an immediate rematch was booked by the promotion. An injury forced the champ out so it was decided that an interim title match between "El Niño" and Brazilian Rodrigo Damm would take its place instead. Even though the shallow Strikeforce roster was to blame, some pundits still called the fight a mismatch. As impressive as Damm's credentials were, he seemed ill-matched for Melendez, already a 16 fight and six year veteran of the sport. Melendez proved those people right by putting the boots to his opponent and finishing him before the end of the second round. It was his first of what would be three wins in 2009 and sounded off the beginning of the "Melendez Revenge Tour 2K9." With Thomson's leg injury still giving him trouble, the rematch between him and Melendez was once again put on hold. In a stroke of matchmaking genius, the brass at Strikeforce replaced "The Punk" with Ishida, the only other man who had bested Melendez. The Japanese fighter made a successful promotional debut a year prior and despite coming off a loss in Shooto, boasted an impressive résumé. The first round saw both fighters implementing smart gameplans. One of few Japanese stars to boast good wrestling skills, Ishida looked to get the fight to the ground as soon and as much as possible. The American, not wanting to turn the bout into another wrestling stalemate, opted to defend the takedowns and punish Ishida in the stand-up. It wasn't until the second stanza that "El Niño" began to pull away from his opponent. Mixing striking and grappling well, he kept Ishida on his heels, never allowing the Japanese veteran to get comfortable. Bleeding and battering going into the third round, it seemed the end was nigh for "The Endless Warrior." Minute later, a takedown from Ishida was defended against perfectly by Melendez who began to batter his opponent's body. Punches, elbows, knees ... they all served as weapons in the American's arsenal. Before long, they took their toll on Ishida and the referee was forced to step in to prevent any further damage. Melendez had done it. Nearly two years prior, Ishida had handed him his first professional loss. Now he stood inside the Strikeforce cage triumphant, his arms raised while ringside physicians attended to the Japanese fighter. But there was still yet some unfinished business he needed to tend to. When "El Niño" and "The Punk" once again stepped inside the ring -- this time to unify both lightweight titles -- it was a rematch worth waiting for. Thomson came out as if the first round was actually the sixth of their previous bout and easily took the first five minutes from Melendez. Not content to lose two in a row to Thomson, the interim champ came out in the second round and blasted him with a right that dropped "The Punk" to the mat. From that point, Melendez never looked back. Using intelligent boxing melded with perfectly executed takedowns, the interim champion became undisputed after 25 minutes of action. Since then he's bested Japan's number one 155-pounder Shinya Aoki and steamrolled another former foe in Tatsuya Kawajiri. I sat down and spoke with Melendez during the UFC Fan Expo in October and he exuded what can only be described as a casual confidence. He spoke as if he was one of -- if not the -- best lightweights in the world. He just needed the opportunity to show everyone what he already knew. With a win at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal", he'll likely get that chance against either Frankie Edgar or Ben Henderson. How will "El Niño" do inside the Octagon?

Posted in: melendez, thomson, ishida, el nintildeo, nintildeo

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On Sat., Dec. 17, Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez may end up defending his belt for the final time as he takes on number one contender Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in San Diego, Calif. The rumor mills would seem to strongly indicate that Melendez will seek to ink a contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), should he be able to successfully defend his title. The pressure is nothing new for "El Nino." Saturday will mark Melendez's seventh straight title fight. His opponent, Masvidal, comes into the bout fresh off a dominant decision win over K.J. Noons at Strikeforce: "Overeem vs. Werdum" on June 18 in Dallas, Texas. After the jump, we'll take a look at the statistical breakdowns of each fighter competing in Saturday night's championship battle: Melendez and Masvidal share one common opponent in Rodrigo Damm. Melendez was victorious in his bout with Damm, securing a knockout victory. Masvidal, on the other hand, lost to Damm by way of a second round TKO. CompuStrike took the time to analyze nine of Melendez' bouts, as well as 5 of Masvidal's. Being in the Christmas spirit, they decided to share their findings with you Maniacs. First, let's examine the overall striking games of both of these explosive lightweights: Total Strikes: Melendez -- 104 of 232Masvidal -- 72 of 129Percentage: Melendez -- 45%Masvidal -- 56% Total Power Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 60Masvidal -- 33 Total Non-Power Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 44Masvidal -- 39 Both of these guys throw punches in bunches and plenty of kicks, to boot. Though Masvidal appears to be a bit more accurate, Melendez seems to be a busier overall striker and also a little more frequent with the power shots. Masvidal has a boxing background. Melendez is more a ground game specialist. You'd expect "Gamebred" to hold the "arm striking" advantage. Let's take a look: Total Arm Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 50 of 146Masvidal -- 29 of 68 Percentage of Arm Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 34%Masvidal -- 43% Power Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 29Masvidal -- 10 Non-Power Strikes Landed Melendez -- 21Masvidal -- 19 These statistics are very similar to those of the overall striking picture. Again, Masvidal is more precise, but Melendez seems to be more active and causing more damage. What about kicks and knees? Is it more of the same? Total Leg Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 6 of 8Masvidal -- 10 of 13Percentage of Leg Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 65%Masvidal -- 72%Power Leg Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 4Masvidal -- 5Non-Power Leg Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 2Masvidal -- 5 Very close, but Masvidal wins this leg of the race by a hair. Melendez has a strong wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) background. You'd think he'd have an overwhelming advantage in this aspect of their games. Do the numbers prove that out? Ground Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 48 of 78Masvidal -- 33 of 48Percentage: Melendez -- 62%Masvidal -- 69%Power Ground Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 27Masvidal -- 18 Non-Power Ground Strikes Landed: Melendez -- 21Masvidal -- 15 Takedowns: Melendez -- 11 of 28 for 39%Masvidal -- 18 of 23 for 78%Submission Attempts: Melendez -- 2Masvidal -- 5Dominant Positions: Melendez -- 4Masvidal -- 3 Masvidal seems to have had more success in getting his fights to the canvas. However, once the fight gets there, Melendez gets the nod in the amount of damage done and overall dominance. Do these statistics make you think any differently about this championship showdown? Who do you see taking home the belt after it's all said and done? Input, please!

Posted in: leg, strike, masvidal, melendez, power

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"I have experience. I've been training for five round fights my last eight or nine fights and I've gone the distance four or five times. When you look at my tapes, I'm not the same fighter. I break out a certain style for every fight and I'm constantly evolving. I'm willing to take it to that dark place and I think a lot of fighters aren't willing to take it there and I'm more than happy to take it there. My prediction is I'm gonna take him into deep water and drown him." Bag full of unwanted kittens, Jorge Masvidal, it's all the same to Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez (via MMA Weekly), who puts his 155-pound strap on the line against "Gamebred" this Saturday night (Dec. 17) at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. Five round fights are the norm for Melendez, who expects to have the edge in experience and endurance come fight night. Anyone think he locks this one up? Or will Masvidal make sure this fight doesn't go the distance? Predictions?

Posted in: fight, round fights, masvidal, melendez, im

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Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsFor most fighters, winning a major championship is an ultimate career goal. Few, however, will ever get the chance to compete for one, let alone have a shiny, gold belt strapped around their waist. Jorge Masvidal gets that chance on Saturday, yet for him, that material possession comes secondary to the personal satisfaction that would come from defeating current Strikeforce lightweight titleholder Gilbert Melendez. "He's the No. 1 or No. 2 in most peoples' opinion," he told MMA Fighting during a recent teleconference. "That's what really matters to me. The belt, I could really care less for it." Melendez is currently ranked second, behind only UFC champ Frankie Edgar in most lightweight rankings, and the prospect of knocking off his highest-ranked opponent means more to Masvidal than anything else. The 27-year-old has won both of his Strikeforce fights since re-signing with the company in 2011 (he had also gone 2-0 in a previous run in 2007-08). While Masvidal has yet to crack a top 10 on his own, he has been considered a talented but sometimes inconsistent fighter with the ability to do so. In recent years, he has led a bit of a nomadic existence, fighting in promotions including Bellator, Bodog Fight, Sengoku and Shark Fights before settling back in Strikeforce's hexagon. Essentially, he's chased the best available fights, which is no different than his current focus. "To me it doesn't really matter what people say about him or anything," he said of Melendez's reputation. "I just want to fight him. I know he's a solid fighter and that's all that matters to me. And that's it, really. To me it's just another fight. Train hard and that's it. Train long because it's five rounds. That's the only difference. And that's it. Go in and do my job." For his part, Melendez said that just because Masvidal has gone under the radar of some, he shouldn't be counted among that group. In fact, it's a fight that he has been anticipating for some time, and he expects Masvidal to be just as game as he says is. "You get motivated when you're the underdog or you get motivated when there's a lot of hype," he said. "A lot of people have been talking nonsense; that Jorge, like he's no good. That you're going to run by him. And that talk kind of bothers me because some people are ignorant. They don't really follow the game that much. If you don't fight in the UFC, they think you're no good." Melendez goes into Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal as a sizable favorite, but many observers believe that when Masvidal is at his best, he's a legitimate threat to anyone. And that means he's a legitimate threat to win a belt, even if it's one he says he doesn't particularly care about. "When I say 'just another fight,' it's not like I'm dissing my opponent skill-wise or anything," he said. "I'm just saying that it doesn't mean anything that it's a title and it's a main event on Showtime or nothing like that. It's just at the end of the day no matter what's at stake, it's just a fight. It's not like Gil has a gun and I'm going in there empty-handed. It's just another fight. That's exactly what I mean." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Lightweight title contender Jorge Masvidal says he's going to beat Gilbert Melendez on Saturday night and prove he's one of the best in the world.

Posted in: saturday night, gilbert melendez, masvidal, jorge, melendez

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Filed under: StrikeforceWill Gilbert Melendez make a statement that he deserves to be fighting for the UFC lightweight belt, or will Jorge Masvidal pull off a major upset? Will Cris Cyborg continue to look like the toughest woman in the world after a layoff of more than a year? Can Gegard Mousasi stop a takedown? Will MMA fans remember to watch Strikeforce on Saturday, more than three months after the last major Strikeforce card? We'll answer those questions and more as we predict the winners of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal below. What: Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Where: Valley View Casino Center, San Diego When: Saturday, the Showtime broadcast begins at 10:30 PM ET Predictions on the four televised fights below. Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal For Melendez, this fight is less about defending his Strikeforce lightweight title than it is about demonstrating that he deserves to be brought into the UFC and given huge pay-per-view fights, like the Strikeforce champions at heavyweight (Alistair Overeem) light heavyweight (Dan Henderson) middleweight (Jake Shields) and welterweight (Nick Diaz) have been. Melendez needs more than just a victory -- he needs a sensational performance, a spectacular submission or knockout that has everyone clamoring to see Melendez fight the winner of the upcoming Frankie Edgar-Ben Henderson fight. Melendez should beat Masvidal handily, but finishing him in highlight-reel fashion is going to be tough to do. Masvidal has only been finished three times in his 28-fight MMA career. Melendez will win, but it's going to be tough for him to win in a way that convinces the UFC that he deserves the next crack at the belt. Pick: Melendez Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Cyborg is finally returning to the cage a year and a half after she demolished Jan Finney in a serious mismatch. Give Strikeforce credit for the matchmaking this time around, however, because Yamanaka is no mismatch -- she's probably the second-best145-pound woman in the world, after Cyborg, and she presents some interesting matchup problems for Cyborg. The 5-foot-11 Yamanaka taller and longer than Cyborg, and Cyborg's tendency to swing wildly with her chin up and her hands down could leave her exposed to an opponent with a reach advantage. But Yamanaka isn't much of a finisher (eight of her 12 wins are by decision), and in a 25-minute title fight, eventually Cyborg is going to hit her and hit her hard. Look for Cyborg to win, but look for Yamanaka to give her the toughest test she's had since she made her EliteXC debut three and a half years ago. Pick: Cyborg Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Mousasi has much more experience than St. Preux and a much, much more well-rounded game than St. Preux. Some fans view this fight as a mismatch that Mousasi should win easily. I'm not so sure about that. I think St. Preux, a former University of Tennessee defensive end who has gone on a tear in the cage over the last couple of years, has just the kind of style to drive Mousasi crazy: St. Preux is stronger than Mousasi and has good takedowns, and Mousasi has shown in his loss to Mo Lawal and his draw with Keith Jardine that he has a really, really hard time staying off his back. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see St. Preux take Mousasi down enough to grind out a decision. However, while Mousasi isn't very good at staying off his back, he is good at finishing his opponents from his back. And that's what I see him doing: Look for him to catch St. Preux in a triangle choke or an arm bar and force him to tap. Pick: Mousasi KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista Noons and Evangelista are both coming off losses to Masvidal, and the loser of this one may be done in Strikeforce, where no fighter on a losing streak can expect to be safe. I see this fight going the distance, and Noons landing more effective strikes and winning the decision. Pick: Noons Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, mousasi, melendez, cyborg

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Top Lightweight contender Jorge Masvidal, who will challenge Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez on Saturday, discusses his opponent, as well as his training and preparation for the bout. Masvidal says, other than his cardio, Melendez isn't "great" at any one area, and insists that the Cesar Gracie fight is "not at all" the most dangerous opponent he's faced in his career.

Posted in: opponent, masvidal, melendez, bout masvidal, opponent hes

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MMAWeekly.com caught up with Gilbert Melendez in San Diego as he prepares for his Strikeforce title defense against Jorge Masvidal.

Posted in: san diego, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, video mmaweeklycom

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Posted in: vs, workout, gallery, masvidal, melendez

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The first major Strikeforce card in three months is coming up this weekend, and the betting lines for the main card dropped today. And folks...there's not much to see here. Three lopsided lines and one that's sort of close. It should come as no surprise to anyone that champions Gilbert Melendez and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos are heavy favorites, Cyborg in particular. Mousasi as a big favorite isn't that out there either, though there might be a tiny bit of value in OSP at +300. To me, the best value on the main card is Noons at -190. Evangelista has little finish and KJ is the more polished striker. Anyway, here are the lines for the main card. Lines via bodog.ca Gilbert Melendez -400 vs. Jorge Masvidal +300 Cristiane Santos -900 vs. Hiroko Yamanaka +550 Gegard Mousasi -400 vs. Ovince St. Preux +300 K.J. Noons -190 vs. Billy Evangelista +155 Images via Strikeforce SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, line, melendez

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This weekend Gilbert Melendez hopes to defend his lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal in San Diego. As with every event Zuffa held a phone conference for the media to ask questions of the fighters. One talking point that Gilbert couldn't escape was his desire to fight in the UFC. He went as far as saying that he believes he'll be in the UFC soon and that talks are on-going to bring him to the "major league" of MMA. He continued his praise of Masvidal as a legitimate opponent but was open about his view that there were no longer any competitive match ups in Strikeforce after Saturday night. Just this week it was finally confirmed that Zuffa will continue to run the Strikeforce product and that it will still air on Showtime. Negotiations between Zuffa and Showtime stalled when the broadcasting partner believed that Zuffa acted in bad faith by signing Strikeforce champions away from the promotion. There is a new deal in place and a major sticking point is that Strikeforce fighters will remain in Strikeforce. Gilbert Melendez will be the sole champion not signed to the UFC. The big question is can he remain relevant in top 10 talks without ever fighting in the UFC? Melendez missed his window. According to the USA Today/MMA Nation rankings, there are two lightweights in the top 25 besides Melendez and he fights one of them on Saturday. The other is Josh Thompson. In fact, 19 of the top 25 lightweights call the UFC home. Following the fight with Masvidal, is it even possible for Melendez to remain relevant in a division that that calls the UFC home? The lightweight landscape changes after every event and with Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar squaring off in Japan, it's safe to say that Melendez can't continue to be ranked in the top 5 without another top 10 win. There are rumors that Zuffa may start sending UFC fighters to Strikeforce in 2012 to create new match ups in stagnant divisions. However, the issue for Melendez is that no matter who the UFC sends, they won't be top 10 lightweights nor will they be proven draws. Melendez is in MMA purgatory and there is no escape in sight. With the portal to the UFC effectively closed due to renegotations, Melendez is slowly becoming a fighter like Eddie Alvarez, a top talent who isn't fighting people that can truly push him up the rankings. Melendez will face Masvidal this weekend but will it even matter? All this talk of finally fighting in the UFC is now a moot point. Dream fights with Edgar and Maynard surely won't happen and he'd never fight against Ben Henderson who shares the same representation. Gilbert Melendez is slowly going the way of the dinosaurs in a company that won't invest in signing top lightweights to challenge for his belt. Even his title is viewed as a number two with the UFC lightweight belt regarded as the true champion of the division. Hopefully this weekend we'll see the best Gil Melendez because if we don't, I'm not sure we'll ever get the chance to see him against another top tiered talent. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

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It's no secret Gilbert Melendez wants to fight for the UFC title, but for now he's happy in Strikeforce.

Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, ufc title, strikeforces melendez

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The fight card for Saturday's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" card is complete with nine bouts. Officials recently finalized the lineup with two preliminary-card bouts: middleweights Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez and welterweights Chris Brown vs. Herman Terrado. "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" takes place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.

Posted in: strikeforce, fight card, vs, melendez, welterweights chris

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Of Strikeforce’s top four champions in 2011, only lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez remains in the organization following the Zuffa buyout. Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson and Nick Diaz have all left Strikeforce for greener pastures in the UFC. While Melendez insists he’s focused on an “underrated” Jorge Masvidal, he has made no bones about it — the UFC is where he wants to be so he can prove he’s the number one lightweight in the world. “It’s obvious it’s something we’ve been talking about. I think it’s inevitable,” he said of a future move to UFC. “I think some of the top fighters need to go to the UFC. And I’m one of those guys, so it’s in the works. Things have been talked about. Am I in [the discussions] all the time? Am I the one talking to them? No. But there’s some dialogue going on and I mean, the goal is to be the UFC champion at the end of the day. The goal is to be No. 1 in the world at the end of the day. And the only way to do that is by getting the UFC title.” “The goal is to be No. 1 in the world, you know what I mean?” he said. “If I have to beat Jorge, if I have to beat someone else, if I have to beat five more people before that, then so be it. But, the sooner the better. I think I deserve the chance at the UFC title. So, if I can get it as soon as possible that would be great. If not, I’ll have to keep winning and keep working hard. If I feel like I have to constantly prove myself in this MMA industry, then so be it. It’s inevitable. I’m coming for that spot.” When Strikeforce’s demise seemed inevitable, Dana White matter-of-factly declared that he wanted to bring Melendez over ASAP, however now that the tide has turned and it looks like Strikeforce might have a future after all, Dana has unfortunately changed his tune about Melendez moving to the UFC. “The guys that are in Strikeforce are staying in Strikeforce,” the fight executive said on Saturday. “Strikeforce lives.” “Gilbert Melendez and all the guys that are in the Strikeforce show and with Showtime, I will make this right,” White said. “They will be happy to be there. Believe me. I’ve got this thing worked out. I’ve got it figured out. It’s going to be good for everybody. It’s going to be good for the fighters, it’s going to be good for Showtime, and it’s going to be good for Strikeforce. Trust me, I got this.” That may be good news for Melendez’s bank account, but unless Dana White plans to do some crossover fights (doubtful), it’s not good news for Melendez’s goal to be universally recognized as the number one lightweight in MMA. It’s not really good for the fans either who want to see if Melendez has what it takes to beat the Frankie Edgar’s of the world. The situation may be out of his control, but the best thing Melendez can do is put on the kind of performance against Jorge Masvidal this weekend that makes Dana White salivate for a Frankie Edgar vs. Gilbert Melendez title fight and hope everything works out like it should. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: ufc, world, strikeforce, dana, melendez

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Looks like we have a pick 'em in the Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka 145-pound title fight, scheduled for the co-main event of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" this Saturday night (Dec. 17, 2011) at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., live via Showtime. Santos hasn't been seen since eating Jan Finney's soul back in June 2010, when she threw a frightening 158 total bombs in the opening frame alone and finished with a total of 141 out of 236 total strikes (60-percent) including 63 "power strikes" and six knockdowns. That's one strike every 3.3 seconds. It should come as no surprise then, in light of four straight violent (T)KO finishes, that "Cyborg" is a slight favorite against Yamanaka at -900. Bet $900 to win $100. What a bargain! Yamanaka, to her credit, has been kicking the crap out of the Japanese fight scene under the Jewels banner, last submitting the unpronounceable Bolormaa Erdenebileg back in July of this year. "Cat's Eye" will need more than just a feline's retina against the Brazilian bomb-dropper, she'll need all nine of its lives as well. But at +550, anyone gonna throw a five-spot on this kid just for the hell of it? "Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. In addition, former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessee defensive standout Ovince St. Preux. For the latest "Melendez vs. Masvidal" news and notes click here. See more Strikeforce lines and odds here.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, yamanaka, masvidal, melendez

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Filed under: StrikeforceStrikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will step into the cage on Saturday night to defend his title against Jorge Masvidal, but before he does that he'll take some time out on Wednesday to chat with readers here at MMAFighting.com. The chat is your opportunity to ask Melendez whatever you'd like to know about his career, his preparation for this fight, his thoughts on Masvidal as an opponent, what he thinks 2012 will hold for him, or anything you'd like to know. The chat will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET Wednesday below. <a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=23f482c04a" >Gilbert Melendez MMAFighting.com Live Chat</a> Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: saturday night, jorge masvidal, chat, gilbert melendez, melendez

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Filed under: Strikeforce, News Gilbert Melendez is a Strikeforce original, one of only two fighters the promotion retains from its inaugural event in 2006, and its only remaining male fighter who receives true consideration among the top five of his division. Since April, Melendez (19-2) has been on the shelf, awaiting his next assignment, but despite that, he's seen his fame grow, mostly because of UFC president Dana White uttering his name regularly during that time in reference to possibly bringing him over to make his octagon debut. That possibility for now has been moved to the back-burner, but it's one Melendez gets asked about on a regular basis, and one that is lurking in the background of his Saturday night title defense in the main event of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. Many athletes would refuse to acknowledge the possibility of a future past their next scheduled date, but not Melendez. In fact, he candidly states that he's not long for Strikeforce, even as he prepares to headline their event on Showtime. "It's obvious it's something we've been talking about. I think it's inevitable," he said of a future move to UFC. "I think some of the top fighters need to go to the UFC. And I'm one of those guys, so it's in the works. Things have been talked about. Am I in [the discussions] all the time? Am I the one talking to them? No. But there's some dialogue going on and I mean, the goal is to be the UFC champion at the end of the day. The goal is to be No. 1 in the world at the end of the day. And the only way to do that is by getting the UFC title." Melendez, ranked No. 2 among world lightweights by MMA Fighting, takes on the role of big fish in a small pond, a star capable of competing among the UFC's deeper, more established talent pool. Yet, if there's one last challenge he sees for himself in Strikeforce, it's his Saturday opponent, Jorge Masvidal. The Floridian has quietly been considered among the top talents unsigned by the UFC for a few years. He's also been regarded as a sort of mercurial talent, one who may look like a world-beater on his best days and unmotivated on others. Masvidal (22-6) signed with Strikeforce in early 2011, moving to the lightweight class in the process, and since then has defeated Billy Evangelista and KJ Noons in consecutive fights. Melendez calls Masvidal an "underrated" fighter who he has been expecting to fight for a couple of years, but the odds will be big in his favor on Saturday, and the pressure is on him to win. "A lot of people have been talking nonsense, that Jorge is no good," he said. "You're going to run by him and that talk kind of bothers me because some people are ignorant. They don't really follow the game that much. If you don't fight in the UFC, they think you're no good. So what's been the challenge for me is motivating myself and staying motivated and pumping myself up. "So this means a lot to myself; not to fans, not to anybody," he continued. "This fight is for me, just to prove that I can defend my throne, and I'm the big favorite here and I have a tough guy who's underrated and I got to really come through. So that's what's been motivating me and I think if I can get past this and look real good, I think it will mean a lot to me more than I think it will to anyone else." If Melendez wins, he won't necessarily push for a shift over to the UFC -- he still has multiple fights left on his current deal -- but he also says that he can't think of any other lightweight on the Strikeforce roster that he's hoping to face or is deserving of a title shot against him. That will make for a tricky situation. He might be the face of Strikeforce, with nothing more to do there. If that happens, we'll all know what he wants to do. It's UFC title or bust, all in due time. "The goal is to be No. 1 in the world, you know what I mean?" he said. "If I have to beat Jorge, if I have to beat someone else, if I have to beat five more people before that, then so be it. But, the sooner the better. I think I deserve the chance at the UFC title. So, if I can get it as soon as possible that would be great. If not, I'll have to keep winning and keep working hard. If I feel like I have to constantly prove myself in this MMA industry, then so be it. It's inevitable. I'm coming for that spot." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, strikeforce, melendez

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MMA Junkie reports that the Strikeforce-Showtime relationship may continue as Dana White stated to the web site that a deal for Strikeforce to continue on Showtime is imminent. “Showtime lives,” White stated to MMA Junkie. Scott Coker appeared on Inside MMA on Monday to talk Strikeforce: Coker didn’t reveal too much about the future of Strikeforce. According to White, Strikeforce fighters are staying put although it was rumored that Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez would move over to the UFC. Payout Perspective: The move to continue the Showtime relationship is interesting considering the amount of programming Zuffa intends to put on Fuel TV. Its also surprising with the Fox deal that there would be a need to continue with the Strikeforce promotion on Showtime. Keeping Strikeforce talent such as Melendez in Strikeforce is disappointing considering Melendez has outclassed his division in Strikeforce. Certainly, a superfight with Frankie Edgar would create some PPV buzz. One think about keeping Strikeforce  is that it keeps women’s MMA. While its unlikely to see women in the UFC anytime soon, keeping the women’s divisions in Strikeforce would have Zuffa observe whether its something that fans want to see.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, showtime, melendez, strikeforce fighters

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Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez is ready for a "technical fight" this Saturday night (Dec. 17, 2011) in defense of his 155-pound strap against Jorge Masvidal at the Valley View Casino Centre in San Diego, California. Anyone think "El Nino" is going to rule the 155-pound roost through 2012? Or would a win over "Gamebred" send him to the UFC for a lightweight superfight?

Posted in: pound, jorge masvidal, el nino, melendez, saturday strikeforce

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With the news that Strikeforce will be renewing its relationship with Showtime, and a statement from Dana White last Saturday that fighters would no longer be migrating between the two Zuffa-owned promotions, December 17's Strikeforce card takes on heightened significance. Whereas before it was assumed that Gilbert Melendez would be the next to jump into the Octagon and that his title defense was a mere perfunctory exercise, it now seems that Melendez will be the face of Strikeforce's 155-pound division for as long as he can hold on to his belt. We, as fans, are now left to view the lightweight division less as a thing to be stripped for parts, and more in terms of hierarchy, talent development, and coherent matchmaking--the stuff that successful divisions are made of. For the sake of their champ and their fans, one hopes that Strikeforce is doing the same. Let's take a look at the field... Top Five Jorge Masvidal (22-6-0) earned a shot at Melendez's belt with a shellacking of boxer-turned-mixed-martial-artist K.J. Noons. With an aggressive style and a Strikeforce record of 4-0-0, Masvidal is, no matter how Saturday's fight turns out, an asset to the organization. Aside from his promotional debut, which he lost to Mitsuhiro Ishida, Justin Wilcox (11-3-0) has remained undefeated in Strikeforce, with victories over Rodrigo Damm and Vitor Ribeiro highlighting his résumé. He'll be stepping into the ring this Saturday for the first time since his no-contest bout with Gesias Cavalcante, which ended when Wilcox was accidentally poked in the eye. Caros Fodor (6-1-0) has, despite his slight record, excelled on the Strikeforce stage, remaining undefeated during his time with the organization, with a win over James Terry topping his ledger. A victory this Saturday against Justin Wilcox would place him firmly among Strikeforce's better lightweights. Next to Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson (18-4-0) is easily this division's best competitor. Wins over Pat Healy, Gesias Cavalcante, and Melendez himself are particularly noteworthy. Thomson is, however, also quite injury prone, and is often absent for long stretches of time, making him an inconsistent, if considerable, factor in the lightweight picture. Pat Healy (26-16-0) has played spoiler three times since his 2010 debut with the promotion, which saw him out-hustle lauded prospect Bryan Travers en route to a lopsided, unanimous decision win. Since then, Healy's also handed Lyle Beerbohm his first loss and put the breaks on Maximo Blanco who, prior to submitting to Healy's rear-naked choke, was on a six-fight tear. A loss to Thomson is his lone blemish from the last two years. After the jump, the best of the rest and a few concluding words... Best of the Rest Carlo Prater (29-10-1) has had the best year of his recent career, going undefeated across four fights and submitting every one of his opponents, including Bryan Travers in Strikeforce this past February. Though he's stumbled a bit in 2011, KO artist K.J. Noons (10-4-0) should remain a consistent presence in the division given his exciting style. Much the same could be said for Bobby Green, who's reeled off two submission wins since dropping a split-decision to Cavalcante. And what do you know, they're both nicknamed "King." Billy Evangelista (11-1-0) and Lyle Beerbohm (15-2-0) enjoyed lengthy undefeated runs before some rare losses this past year took a bit of the shine off their records. Evangelista will have the chance to right ship this Saturday against Noons. Finally, Joe Duarte (10-2-0) has made the most of his time with Strikeforce, going 2-0-0 within the organization, including a win over Jorge Gurgel. And so... Strikeforce's lightweight division is probably one of its strongest, being extensive and possessed of both dependable roughnecks and some aggressive up-and-comers. As such, Strikeforce doesn't need any sensational imports so much as they need to make effective use of the stable they already have. To this end, I'm always in favor of a tournament. In contrast to their heavyweight tournament, which came with big names and, most likely, a big price tag, a lightweight tournament could be an expedient as well as economical way to put the division in order. Populated with the likes of Wilcox, Duarte, and Green in addition to more established talent like Cavalcante and Thomson, capital would be relatively small while the natural pageantry and marketability of a tournament--something they did do right with the heavyweights--would draw fan interest. By the end of such a series, unknown contenders will be introduced to the fans and a clear, appreciable challenger for the belt will have emerged. Strikeforce must stop cobbling together title fights. Certainly Gilbert Melendez deserves better. Given the range of 155-pound competitors fighting under the Strikeforce banner, there's no reason why they couldn't put their lightweight house in order post-haste.

Posted in: time, strikeforce, division, gilbert melendez, melendez

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Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, who will put his title on the line against Jorge Masvidal this Saturday night, discusses his opponent, as well as his fighting future. Melendez explains that he's expecting a "good challenge" from Masvidal, but says he would like to "kick some a--" and then sign with the UFC.

Posted in: jorge masvidal, gilbert melendez, masvidal, melendez, future melendez

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Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez will be strapping on the gloves this Saturday night (Dec. 17, 2011) to defend his 155-pound strap against Jorge Masvidal at the Valley View Casino Centre in San Diego, California. Melendez (19-2) hasn't seen the inside of a cage since a successful title defense against Japanese "Crusher," Tatsuya Kawajiri, back in April. That win marked "El Nino's" fifth in a row and shot him into the top five of the divisional rankings. It should come as no surprise then, to learn he's a -360 favorite against Masvidal. After coming up short in a unanimous decision loss to Paul "Semtex" Daley under the Shark Fights banner, "Gamebred" (22-6) made a successful Strikeforce debut opposite Billy Evangelista back in March, punching his way to a sweep on the judges' scorecards despite a less-than-enthusiastic response from the Columbus crowd. The Bellator and Sengoku veteran turned that around and staked his claim to the Melendez throne with his impressive win over K.J. Noons, a former pro boxer, earlier this year. Yet he's still a pretty sizable underdog at +300. Are the oddsmakers giving the champion too much respect? Or the challenger too little? See all the Strikeforce odds and betting lines for this weekend's Showtime-televised event right here. To get up to speed on all the news and notes for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" click here.

Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, judges scorecards, strikeforce fight

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Sorry, Gilbert Melendez. No UFC for you! Strikeforce, you know, the promotion that appeared to be on its deathbed as early as one month ago, has struck a deal to continue broadcasting events on Showtime in the year 2012. Details have remained scarce, though, as UFC President Dana White has maintained his silence regarding what exactly the situation is. Until now. White revealed last night at the UFC 140-post fight press conference (via MMAWeekly.com) that not only does Strikeforce live but its fighters will remain with the promotion. Here's the word from the man himself: "The guys that are in Strikeforce are staying in Strikeforce. Strikeforce lives. Gilbert Melendez and all the guys that are in the Strikeforce show and with Showtime, I will make fights (for them). They will be happy to be there. Believe me, I got this thing worked out. It's going to be good for everybody. It's going to be good for the fighters, it's going to be good for Showtime, and it's going to be good for Strikeforce." Melendez is just one week away from defending his Strikeforce lightweight championship against Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 in San Diego, California. It was expected that he would make the jump to UFC shortly after. This thought was perpetrated by White himself, who said he wanted "El Nino" fighting inside the Octagon "ASAP." Not anymore, apparently. But if Strikeforce lives, they'll have to figure out a few things and fast. Most importantly, a champion needs to be crowned in the welterweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Surely, that will all be worked out in 2012. Business as usual.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, showtime, melendez, live

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The official weigh in event for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs Masvidal" is set to take place at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Fri., Dec. 16, 2011. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. "Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. In addition, former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessee defensive standout Ovince St. Preux. K.J. Noons and Cristiane Santos are also in action. Here is the current Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" fight card and line-up: Main Event: 155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Main Card (Showtime): 145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka 205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux 155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons Preliminary Card (May not be televised): 155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox 265 lbs.: Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones 170 lbs.: Roger Bowling vs. Jerron Peoples145 lbs.: Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez For those fortunate enough to be in San Diego this weekend, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 3:00 p.m. PT. MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Dec. 17), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7:30 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight Strikeforce coverage you can handle For the latest "Melendez vs. Masvidal" news and notes click here.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, masvidal, melendez

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LIsten as Strikeforce champions Gilbert Melendez and Cris Cyborg, as well as challengers Jorge Masvidal and Hiroko Yamanaka field questions from the media.

Posted in: strikeforce, media, masvidal, melendez, cris cyborg

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It's almost impossible now for Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez to conceal his true feelings. A few months after the promise of a UFC contract seemed as real as the cage in which he fights, Melendez is set to defend his belt a third time when he meets Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 at "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal." But can he see any challenges beyond that?

Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, ufc contract, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce on Tuesday revealed the preliminary bouts for its upcoming Melendez vs. Masvidal event on Dec. 17 in San Diego.

Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez believes he deserves a UFC title shot

Posted in: ufc, title, shot, melendez, mailbag melendez

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A fight between Roger Bowling, left, and Jerron Peoples is among the bouts added to the Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal prelims for next week in San Diego.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, melendez, roger bowling, jerron peoples

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Strikeforce returns to Showtime after and extended time away from the network with two title fights. Headlining the card will be Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defending his belt against Jorge Masvidal. As the co-main event Cristiane Santos returns after a year in purgatory to defend his title against Hiroko Yamanaka. As with all events, Zuffa is holding a conference call for the press. The conference call, hosted by STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker, will feature STRIKEFORCE lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and No. 1 contender Jorge Masvidal, as well as STRIKEFORCE women's featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos and challenger Hiroko Yamanaka. For instant updates follow Matt Roth on twitter (@mattroth512). Immediately after the call I promise to post the tweets after the jump for those that don't have twitter. STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. MASVIDAL airs live on SHOWTIME at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed on West Coast) on Saturday, Dec. 17. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, instant updates, events zuffa

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While a UFC title may be on the line this weekend at UFC 140, two other Zuffa championships will be up for grabs on December 17 when “Top 3” lightweight Gilbert Melendez gives a golden opportunity to talented American Top Teamer Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. Also set for the Showtime broadcast, explosive female champ Cris “Cyborg” Santos scraps against 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka with the winner being crowned queen of the 145-pound division. Other match-ups include K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista and Ovince St. Preux vs. Gegard Mousasi. Before mixing it up in the ring, the quartet of competitors at the top of the lineup will face off in a conference call with media scheduled for this afternoon at 1:00 PM EST. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in and relaying live results back to readers including scintillating soundbytes and other relevant nuggets of information. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker will also participate in the festivities. Read below for a breakdown of events: Gilbert Melendez Jorge Masvidal “Cyborg” Santos Hiroko Yamanaka Scott Coker PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, zuffa championships

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Strikeforce will hold a special media conference call today (Dec. 6, 2011) to promote Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal, which is scheduled to take place at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California for Dec. 10, 2011. The call, which begins at 1 p.m. ET, will feature Gilbert Melendez, Jorge Masvidal, Chris Santos, Hiroko Yamanaka and Strikeforce President Scott Coker. Melendez is the current Strikeforce lightweight champion and is a top three ranked lightweight in the world. The Cesar Gracie fighter is coming off a dominant destruction of Tatsuya Kawajiri this past April and has hinted at potentially fighting in the UFC soon. His challenger is rising prospect, Jorge Masvidal. "Gamebred" was awarded a title shot after dominating former EliteXC champion K.J. Noons in his last bout, which was a number one contender match in the promotion. Cristiane Santos is the current Strikeforce women's 145 pound champion. She has had significant issues finding fights, most recently battling 20-1 underdog Jan Finney over a year ago. She signed a new contract with the promotion over the summer and is ready to prove she's the most violent female fighter in the world once again. Lastly, Hiroko Yamanaka is one of the best female fighter in the world that you've never heard of. She has been dominant in Japan competing in the Jewels promotion and sports a 12-1 record which includes avenging her only career loss. She appears to be the best available option in the thin women's featherweight division. We'll have complete updates of the Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET.

Posted in: strikeforce, conference, hiroko yamanaka, masvidal, melendez

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Filed under: StrikeforceThe final Strikeforce fight card of 2011 features Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal and Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka, two championship bouts on Dec. 17 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. Melendez, who is on a five-fight win streak, will look to defend his Strikeforce lightweight title for the third time. Masvidal is 2-0 this year and defeated K.J. Noons via unanimous decision in June to earn this title shot. Cyborg, who is making her return after having her Strikeforce contract renewed in August, last fought back in June 2010. She'll defend her 145-pound belt against Yamanaka, a fighter who's made her name through the Smackgirl and JEWELS promotions in Japan. The current fight card is below. Showtime Bouts Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Cris "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons Preliminary Bouts Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, time masvidal

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After a two-month break from the scene Strikeforce is back with a solid show scheduled to take place in less than three weeks. Headlined by lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defending his title against rising star Jorge Masvidal, the December 17 lineup also features explosive female featherweight Cristiane Santos putting her gold up for grabs against 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka as well as a battle between top light heavyweight contenders Gegard Mousasi and Ovince St. Preux. Melendez Content with Strikeforce but Eyeing UFC The promotion released a preview for the event today where KJ Noons‘ scheduled appearance against Billy Evangelista was also mentioned. Fans can catch the show live on Showtime when the broadcast fires up at 9:00 PM EST. Check out the complete video below: Tweet

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Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” takes place on Saturday, Dec. 17., at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California and will air on Showtime at 10:30pm ET/PT. The latest Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce is ready to kick off its final Showtime-televised fight card of 2011 when it invades the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011. "Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. K.J. Noons and "Cyborg" Santos are also in action. For the current Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" fight card and line-up click here.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, lineup click

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Strikeforce is close to putting the finishing touches on its upcoming Showtime-televised fight card from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011. "Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. In addition, former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessess defensive standout Ovince St. Preux. That's not all. Check out the current Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" fight card and line up: Main Event: 155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Main Card (Showtime): 145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons Preliminary Card (May not be televised): 155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox265 lbs.: Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones205 lbs.: Keith Jardine vs. TBA MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Dec. 17. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night. We're still a few weeks away from fight night; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions for "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event. To get up to speed on all the Strikeforce news and notes check out our extensive event archive right here.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal will be headlined by a Lightweight title clash between division Champion Gilbert Melendez and fast-rising challenger Jorge Masvidal, while Women's 145-pound champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos returns against Hiroko Yamanaka in the co-main event. Also featured will be former Light Heavyweight title holder Gegard Mousasi taking on Ovince St. Preux and top Lightweights K.J. Noons and Billy Evangelista battling it out in a possible title eliminator. Strikeforce returns to

Posted in: title clash, hiroko yamanaka, melendez, billy evangelista, comain event

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Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez was unsure what was in store for his fighting future, as rumors of an impending arrival to the UFC hit a fever pitch earlier this year. UFC president Dana White seemed to be the main voice behind the probability of Melendez being signed by the UFC, so the odds looked bleak as far as “El Nino” ever defending his Strikeforce title again . However, in the ensuing weeks it was revealed that Melendez would be back inside a Strikeforce cage and not the UFC Octagon later this year, as he’s set to face Jorge Masvidal in the main event of a Strikeforce card on December 17 from San Diego, California. It will be his second fight this year with a first round TKO over Tatsuya Kawajiri a few months back. With all that being said, is Melendez upset about remaining in Strikeforce and not being paired up with UFC 155-pound king Frankie Edgar or any other of the elite lightweights in the UFC? Not a chance. “Nah, I’m not disappointed at all. The hype was there for a second. I was jazzed. I was hoping,” said Melendez, in a recent interview with MMAFighting. “I’m more popular than ever now…Dana White, the man, said go check Gilbert out and now people are checking me out. So I’m actually grateful on that. I’m an optimistic guy. I look at that like a glass half-full.” Melendez has put together a 19-2 record, including 11 victories by knockout. He has not lost since 2008 when Josh Thomson defeated him via decision. Melendez has since avenged that loss, along with his only other career defeat to Mitsuhiro Ishida. As for making the leap to the UFC – which seems inevitable – Melendez is just letting his managers take care of that, saying, “I’m ready for the big stage, I’m ready for all challenges.” PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, i ’m, ’m, melendez

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Before Ben Henderson emerged as the UFC’s top lightweight contender by beating Clay Guida a different curly-coiffed 155er was rumored to be in line for a shot at champion Frankie Edgar after UFC President Dana White mentioned the company’s interest in giving him an express route to the Octagon. Even Gilbert Melendez, Strikeforce’s title-holder at the same weight, thought he might be the latest fighter from the floundering organization to head to deeper waters in the UFC. However, with a previously planned bout against Jorge Masvidal ultimately materializing, Melendez saw his plans put on hold for at least the immediate future. Melendez Feels He’s Ready for Shot at Edgar “El Nino” reflected on the process in an interview with MMAFighting where he explained he viewed the entire situation as a positive even if he admittedly was excited about the potential move. “Nah, I’m not very disappointed at all,” Melendez said. “The hype was there for a second. I was jazzed. I was hoping, ‘Yeah, maybe it’s really happening,’ but I’m pumped – I’m pumped to be fighting Jorge. I’m pumped to be testing myself.” “I’m more popular than ever now…Dana White, the man, said go check Gilbert out and now people are checking me out,” continued Melendez on the silver-lining surrounding the situation. “So I’m actually grateful on that. I’m an optimistic guy. I look at that like a glass half-full.” What happens after December 17 is anyone’s guess though Melendez made it clear he’ll find his way into the UFC at some point, saying, “At the end of the day it’s gonna happen.” Melendez holds an overall record of 19-2 and has won his last five fights including successful showings against Josh Thomson, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Shinya Aoki. Other match-ups on the Strikeforce card include Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux and Billy Evangelista vs. KJ Noons, as well as a title-fight between female 145-pound champ Cris Santos and 12-1 Hiroko Yamanaka. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, i ’m, ’m, melendez

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There was a time not too long ago that UFC President Dana White proclaimed he wanted Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez fighting inside the Octagon "ASAP." But that didn't happen. In fact, "El Nino" will be defending his belt on Dec. 17 against Jorge Masvidal at the next Strikeforce event in San Diego. So what's the explanation for his not going to the UFC? "There really was no real explanation except we still got business with Showtime and Strikeforce and this and that. But there wasn't much questions asked on my part. I'm kind of a soldier here, I let the managers deal with all that. I, basically, was there to just state my case and let everyone know I'm ready. I'm ready for the big stage. I'm ready for all challenges. Let me know. I'm ready to do work and put some entertaining fights on for the fans, too." Assuming he gets past Masvidal next month, it's hard to imagine a scenario that doesn't involve Melendez coming over to the UFC, possibly for a title unification bout. Perhaps he'll meet the winner of the Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson fight going down at UFC 144 in Japan?

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, melendez, im, octagon asap

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Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, who will put his title on the line against Jorge Masvidal on December 17th, discusses his opponent, as well as whether or not he's disappointed to still be fighting in Strikeforce rather than the UFC. Melendez admits that he was "jazzed" when Dana White said he would be competing in the octagon "asap," but says he's not too upset to be defending his title against Masvidal.

Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, masvidal, melendez, ufc melendez

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Event: Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal"Date: Sat., Dec. 17, 2011, at 10 p.m. ET on ShowtimeLocation: Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California Main Event: 155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Main Card (Showtime): 145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons Preliminary Card (May not be televised): 155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox265 lbs.: Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones205 lbs.: Keith Jardine vs. TBA For all the news and notes surrounding the Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" Showtime card check out our extensive news archive by clicking here.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, card, melendez

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Strikeforce hasn't presented a major card since the Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi-Finals card in September, but they're back on December 17th. San Diego will play host to the event, which could possibly be the last major event the promotion ever puts on. The main event will see Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defend his title against Jorge Masvidal. Melendez is on a five-fight winning streak and is universally considered one of the top three lightweights in the world. A win in this fight would surely see him move over to the UFC. In the co-main, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos will defend her women's 145 lb. title against former dominatrix Hiroko Yamakana. Keith Jardine will also be making his middleweight debut. Here's the current card: Gilbert Melendez (19-2) vs. Jorge Masvidal (22-6) [LW Title] Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (10-1) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (12-1) Gegard Mousasi (31-3-2) vs. Ovince St. Preux (11-4) K.J. Noons (10-4) vs. Billy Evangelista (11-1, 1 NC) Caros Fodor vs. Justin WilcoxDevin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-JonesKeith Jardine vs. TBA More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, masvidal, melendez

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A heavyweight matchup between Devin Cole and Gabriel Salinas-Jones has been added to December's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal." MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with sources close to the fighters that both have verbally agreed to the matchup, and bout agreements are expected to be finalized shortly. Featuring a pair of championship matches, "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" takes place Dec. 17 at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. The event's main card airs on Showtime.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, bout agreements

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submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [comment]

Posted in: melendez, gilbert, edgar, frankie, alphahouse

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Preparing to face Jorge Masvidal next month, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez believes UFC 155-pound champ Frankie Edgar is beatable. Will he be the one to do it?

Posted in: melendez, gilbert, edgar, frankie, month strikeforce

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"King Karl" is back. Former professional boxer and EliteXC champion K.J. Noons will return to face Billy Evangelista at the upcoming Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" event scheduled for the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011. The promotion recently confirmed the long-rumored bout via its official website. Noons (10-4) has some work to do if he expects to be picked up by ZUFFA in the near future. Despite winning his first two fights as a Strikeforce employee, he's now dropped to 2-2 for the former San Jose-based organization, falling to Nick Diaz and Jorge Masvidal in back-to-back unanimous decision losses. A third straight could spell doom for the San Diego striker. Evangelista (11-1) is also coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jorge Masvidal, going down on points at the "Feijao vs. Henderson" event back in March. It was the first loss of the Fresno native's career but that could quickly be erased with a convincing win over a name like Noons. "Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessee defensive standout Ovince St. Preux. For more on the Dec. 17 Showtime event check out our Strikeforce archive by clicking here.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez discusses UFC on FOX, the current lightweight division and how he would fight Frankie Edgar in this exclusive interview.

Posted in: division, interview, melendez, gilbert, frankie edgar

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Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” will take place on Saturday, Dec. 17, and air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has recently been the subject of much speculation regarding how much longer he would remain with that organization. UFC president Dana White recently said that he wanted to bring him over to the UFC, but he was still booked in a title defense against Jorge Masvidal at a Strikeforce event on December 17th in San Diego. Gil's coach Cesar Gracie made it clear to Tatame that he's going to the UFC after that fight though: "Absolutely it’ll be his last fight (in Strikeforce)", assures the coach, who didn’t have any doubts about Melendez’s situation on the lightweight division of Ultimate, which title holder is Frankie Edgar. "I believe Melendez is the best of the world in this division". This isn't exactly shocking news to anyone, but it's the first time that Gracie has made such a definitive statement about it. Gracie also talked about how he actually didn't want Melendez to take the fight with Masvidal: "It’s a very dangerous fight. Melendez has nothing to win, there’s the problem," Cesar said. "I didn’t want him to do it. I believe he’s gonna win, he’s a better fighter, but in any fight you can either win or lose and it’s not different this time. Melendez has everything to lose and nothing to gain. He needs to fight the top fighters. Masvidal sometimes is good, but sometimes he loses to some guys nobody knows". Cesar's speaking the truth here. A loss to Masvidal would kill a lot of Gil's cred coming into the UFC. Was Melendez smart to take one last title defense in the UFC? I wonder if he was even given much choice in the matter. More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: ufc, fight, world, melendez, mattyblayze

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Some things in life are just inevitable. It looks as though the folding of Strikeforce has recently fallen into this category of events. After losing three of their champions (Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem) to the greener pastures of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), rumblings regarding current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez following suit have filled up the airwaves and "tweets" for months now. The timeframe for his alleged departure changed a bit when it was confirmed that "El Nino" would be defending his title against number one contender Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in San Diego, California. Melendez's trainer, Cesar Gracie,  told Tatame.com that he absolutely believes this will be the champion's final fight under the Strikeforce banner:  "Absolutely. It'll be his last fight (in Strikeforce)", assures the coach, who didn't have any doubts about Melendez's situation on the lightweight division of the UFC, whose current title holder is Frankie Edgar. "I believe Melendez is the best of the world in this division." Gracie went on to elaborate on Melendez's next fight, a bout which Gracie says he was not in favor of: "It's a very dangerous fight. Melendez has nothing to win. There's the problem," Cesar said. "I didn't want him to do it. I believe he's gonna win. He's a better fighter, but in any fight, you can either win or lose. It's not different this time. Melendez has everything to lose and nothing to gain. He needs to fight the top fighters. Masvidal sometimes is good, but sometimes he loses to guys nobody knows." Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have been clamoring for a fight between Melendez and Edgar for some time now. Both fighters have been ranked near the top of their division for at least the last year. Getting them in the cage would settle the matter, once and for all.  The other question would have to be in regard to how this all affects Strikeforce. Could they really afford to lose Melendez? Would it be the final nail in the coffin if he walks? It looks as though it's going to happen either way. The writing is on the wall. What say you, Maniacs? Is it a foregone conclusion that Melendez will defeat Masvidal on Dec. 17? How eager are you to see him enter the Octagon versus Edgar to clarify who the number one lightweight in the world is? Sound off! 

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, gracie

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is pretty confident he could stop UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.The Cesar Gracie fighter thinks...

Posted in: ufc, champion, melendez, title strikeforce, melendez eyes

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SAN DIEGO - At a press conference in support of "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," Gilbert Melendez notes Frankie Edgar did a good job defending his belt at UFC 136. But he scrunches his face a bit in a way that says there's something else on his mind. The truth, found beside the podium after the gathering, is that he's salivating at a chance to beat the UFC champ.

Posted in: press conference, champ, melendez, theres something, hes salivating

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Coming off of a five-fight win streak, and looking to make his third defense of the Strikeforce lightweight title, Gilbert Melendez is said by some to be the last bastion of legitimate pound for pound talent outside of the UFC (for now). Holding notable victories over Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri, Melendez’s official record is 19-2 and includes him having avenged both of his losses (to Josh Thomson and Mitsuhiro Ishida respectively). Melendez’s next opponent has been officially announced as Jorge Masvidal, thus dispelling rumours of Melendez defecting to the UFC, Masivdal is coming off of an impressive decision win over former welterweight contender KJ Noons and should be looking to impress in his first major title fight. In a recent interview with MMAWeekly, Melendez commented on his upcoming opponent, as well as a few other topics, saying, “He’s definitely a very talented fighter, he has a very good reach, he uses it well, he has a good jab and some really good straight punches, he knows how to get back to his feet, he knows how to use the cage real well.” “He’s become a well rounded Mixed Martial Artist. So he definitely poses a threat and should be a good challenge for me,” he concluded. He also talked about the UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar, explaining the New Jersey native needs to drop down in weight to confirm his newfound pound-for-pound stature. On the subject, Melendez stated, “Frankie is very well deserving of being a pound for pound guy, but until he goes to 145lb and takes care of business, I don’t know how he’s going to be a pound-for-pound (great).” Afterwards, he hinted at increasing his own P4P status by moving up again for a second time after an earlier run in his career at featherweight. “I’ve done it in two weight-classes, I’m on my second weight-class, and if things go well here then maybe I’ll go to (welterweight).” Melendez will look to extend his unbeaten streak once more against Masvidal on Decmeber 17 at Strikeforce’s show in San Diego, California. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: pound, jorge masvidal, gilbert melendez, melendez, i ’ll

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Following the UFC on Versus 6 card, UFC President Dana White said that he wanted to bring Gilbert Melendez, the Strikeforce Lightweight Champion into the UFC as soon as possible. However, it looks like that will be delayed as Strikeforce recently announced that Melendez would defend his crown against Jorge Masividal on December 17. While the 19-2 Melendez is not looking past Masvidal, he has some long term plans in mind, including claiming his spot in the pound for pound rankings and maybe moving up to the

Posted in: ufc, gilbert melendez, melendez, pound rankings, term plans

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It's make or "break" time. Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez may be dreaming of an eventual UFC "superfight," but he's still got some unfinished business to take care of in his own backyard. That's because newly-minted division number one contender Jorge Masvidal is getting his shot at "El Nino's" belt at the upcoming Strikeforce event scheduled for Dec. 17, 2011, at the Valley View Casino in San Diego, California. While "Gamebred" doesn't pack a lot of punch from a box office perspective, he's an experienced and well-rounded fighter that can easily pose problems for Melendez on the feet. A "happy" Masvidal breaks it all down for Jonathan Shrager: "I’m gonna beat him up. I’m keeping that fight wherever I want it. I can take him down, or I’ll just keep hitting him in the face til he doesn’t want to be hit no more. I’m happy I got the fight because Melendez is one of the world’s top lightweights. According to most people, he is considered top three. Most of the time when I enter a fight, I’m not looking to stop a guy, but rather win a solid decision, but in this fight, I’m going for the stoppage. I’m going to put the pressure on him and make him break. I don’t want to leave it in the judges hands, especially with all the fucked up decisions these days. This is my title shot and I have to take full advantage. I don’t know if I’ll ever get another one. Who knows what’s gonna happen in life?" After coming up short in a unanimous decision loss to Paul "Semtex" Daley under the Shark Fights banner, Masvidal (22-6) made a successful Strikeforce debut opposite Billy Evangelista back in March, punching his way to a sweep on the judges' scorecards despite a less-than-enthusiastic response from the Columbus crowd. The Bellator and Sengoku veteran turned that around and staked his claim to the Melendez throne with his impressive win over K.J. Noons, a former pro boxer, earlier this year. But was it enough to convince you he can steal the strap? Or is Melendez on another level? Opinions, please.

Posted in: fight, &rsquo, i &rsquo, masvidal, melendez

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Tickets for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal," which was recently made official for the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011, will go on sale to the general public on Sat., Oct. 15, 2011, at 10 a.m. PT. UFC Fight Club members and Strikeforce/UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption. "Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessess defensive standout Ovince St. Preux. Here is the Strikeforce tickets sales schedule: UFC Fight Club presale: Thurs., Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PT Strikeforce/UFC Newsletter presale: Fri., Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. PT General tickets sale: Sat., Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. PT Strikeforce tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET on fight night. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates to this still-developing fight card.

Posted in: strikeforce, ticket, melendez, ., oct, melendez vs

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Strikeforce has announced the main card for their upcoming show in San Diego titled Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, san diego, melendez, melendez vs

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Speculation surrounding where 19-2 Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez would fight next has been put to rest. According to his superiors at Zuffa, Melendez will face Jorge Masvidal on December 17 in San Diego as had been rumored before discussion recently heated up regarding a run in the UFC. Other match-ups on the card include Cristiane Santos defending her featherweight title against Japanese grappler Hiroki Yamanaka and Gegard Mousasi mixing it up with Ovince St. Preux. “El Nino” is seen by many as the #2 155-pounder in the world and is currently on a five-fight winning streak including success against Josh Thomson, Shinya Aoki, and most recently Tatsuya Kawajiri. While he has ten fights under the Strikeforce banner, Melendez has already expressed his desire to test himself against the best in the UFC with Dana White backing the cause. Melendez has Head on Masvidal, Heart on UFC Comparably, Masvidal earned his crack at the Californian’s championship by taking out KJ Noons in June is as impressive a performance as has been seen from the 26-year old. “Gamebred” holds an overall record of 22-6 with past wins over Billy Evangelista, Yves Edwards, and Joe Lauzon. Other fighters expected to compete alongside Melendez and Masvidal include Noons and Keith Jardine. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez

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Gilbert Melendez’s run at the UFC lightweight title will have to wait. Instead of following Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson and Nick Diaz over to the UFC this winter, Strikeforce announced today that he and Jorge Masvidal will headline their upcoming December card in San Diego. Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” is scheduled to take place at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California on Saturday, Dec. 17, and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET. Melendez will put his Strikeforce lightweight title up for grabs against Masvidal in the main event. Other match-ups official for the card include Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka and Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux. KJ Noons is also expected to compete on the card. Gina Carano was believed to make her long awaited return on the card, but she was not included in the announcement. Neither was Keith Jardine who is expected to make his middleweight debut. Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Saturday, Oct. 15, at 10am PT and will be priced at $175, $125, $75 and $45. They can be purchased at the Valley View Casino Center box office, online at ValleyViewCasinoCenter.com and Ticket Master, by phone at 800-745-3000 and at all Ticketmaster outlets. The latest Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” fight card and event info can be found in our fight cards section. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will defend his title against challenger Jorge Masvidal on Saturday, December 17 in San Diego, California.

Posted in: december, san diego, melendez, melendez vs, masvidal official

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Strikeforce announced today that lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will indeed be defending his title against Jorge Masvidal on December 17 as originally planned. Per the promotion's Twitter: @StrikeforceStrikeforce Sorry to keep you waiting folks! @GilbertMelendez WILL be defending his title vs @GamebredFighter in San Diego on Dec. 17. Tix on sale Sat!Oct 11 via webFavoriteRetweetReply   UFC President Dana White had talked last week about bringing Melendez into the UFC "asap" but apparently he'll have to fight at least one more bout with Strikeforce before moving over to the big show.  Melendez (19-2) is currently ranked #3 in the world at lightweight according to the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings. Masvidal (22-6) is currently ranked #20. More SBN coverage of Strikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez, title vs

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Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez will not be coming to the UFC to fight Frankie Edgar in a title unification bout. At least, not yet. That's because the promotion today announced that he will instead defend his 155-pound strap against Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 in San Diego, California. From the Striketweet: Sorry to keep you waiting folks! @GilbertMelendez WILL be defending his title vs @GamebredFighter in San Diego on Dec. 17. Tix on sale Sat! Melendez (19-2) hasn't seen the inside of a cage since a successful title defense against Japanese "Crusher," Tatsuya Kawajiri back in April. That win marked "El Nino's" fifth in a row and created a matchmaking conundrum for his Zuffa employers. No longer. After coming up short in a unanimous decision loss to Paul "Semtex" Daley under the Shark Fights banner, "Gamebred" (22-6) made a successful Strikeforce debut opposite Billy Evangelista back in March, punching his way to a sweep on the judges' scorecards despite a less-than-enthusiastic response from the Columbus crowd. The Bellator and Sengoku veteran turned that around and staked his claim to the Melendez throne with his impressive win over K.J. Noons, a former pro boxer, earlier this year. But was it enough to convince you he can steal the strap? Or is Melendez on another level? And how disappointed are you that he's not fighting "The Answer?" Opinions, please.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, dec, san diego, melendez

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Is Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is moving to the UFC, it won't be before a Dec. 17 title fight with top contender Jorge Masvidal. UFC president Dana White, whose company acquired Strikeforce earlier this year, recently said he wants Melendez in the UFC as soon as possible. But first, he'll headline an event that officials today announced: "Strikeforce" Melendez vs. Masvidal."

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, melendez vs

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Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsGilbert Melendez will have to wait a little longer to fight in the UFC. Strikeforce announced on Tuesday that "El Nino" will in fact defend his lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 in San Diego, Calif. The card will take place at Valley View Casino Center, and tickets go on sale to the public on Saturday, Oct. 22. Melendez met with UFC president Dana White over the weekend to discuss the possibility of unifying the Strikeforce and UFC lightweight title but no deal was reached. "I just wanted to discuss my future with the organization," Melendez said Monday on The MMA Hour. "I just expressed that I want to fight the best." Melendez (19-2) has won his last five fights in a row. He most recently defeated Tatsuya Kawajiri via first-round TKO at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, which also took place in San Diego. Masvidal (22-6) is 2-0 since returning to Strikeforce, defeating Billy Evangelista and KJ Noons. Also officially announced for the card is Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka for the Strikeforce women's featherweight title, Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux and local favorite KJ Noons is expected to meet Billy Evangelista. The main card will air live on Showtime. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Everyone wants to see current Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez in the UFC including top executive Dana White. With the 155-pound division boasting a deep roster of talented fighters, Melendez would be another central point to build around and further solidify the organization as the sport’s elite. For now, though, Melendez remains in Strikeforce, where he has an upcoming title bout set with Jorge Masvidal in December. That hasn’t kept Melendez from thinking about what the UFC has to offer, especially in terms of a super-fight with champion Frankie Edgar. “The UFC title is the best belt. I want that belt and I want it as soon as possible,” said Melendez recently on The MMA Hour. “I’m definitely impressed by Frankie. He’s an amazing fighter. He’s great. I honestly feel like I’m the No. 1 contender and I feel like I’m ready for the title shot now.” Melendez, who trains with the likes of Nate Diaz and Nick Diaz, as well as with Jake Shields, is 19-2 with five straight wins since a loss to Josh Thomson in 2008. He has finished three of his last five opponents. While White tries to figure out a way to get Melendez out of Strikeforce and into the UFC, Melendez continues to focus his training on 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,” Melendez said. “He’s real tough. But it’s hard not to get excited when you hear all these rumors.” PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/ESTHER LIN

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, mma hour, jorge masvidal, melendez

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Is Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez the most well-rounded 155-pounder in the world? And the most credible threat to Frankie Edgar's UFC gold? Tommy Myers has the answers to those burning questions right here.

Posted in: melendez, frankie edgar, ufc gold, tommy myers, questions right

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It appears Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez is not yet headed to the UFC to face Frankie Edgar after all.Instead, according to the official Strikeforce Twitter account, he'll first defend his belt against Jorge Masvidal on December 17th."Sorry to keep you waiting folks! @GilbertMelendez WILL be defending his title vs @GamebredFighter in San Diego on Dec. 17. Tix on sale Sat!"The match-up will mark Melendez's third consecutive title defense since dethroning Josh Thompson to recapture the

Posted in: strikeforce, san diego, melendez, title vs, !"the match-up

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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

Posted in: mma hour, jorge masvidal, melendez, kj noons, champion gilbert

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It may sound strange to hear Strikeforce’s lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez refer to himself as a “contender” or plead his case when it comes to receiving a shot at gold. However, with Dana White recently expressing his desire to bring Melendez over as soon as possible it appears “El Nino” could be poised to join fellow former Strikeforce champions Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, and Nick Diaz in the UFC. UFC President Expresses Strong Interest in Inking Melendez Immediately Melendez addressed the issue on Monday in a conversation with The MMA Hour where he made it clear his mind is on Jorge Masvidal but his heart is set on the Octagon. “I’ve been focusing on Masvidal,” Melendez commented on his rumored opponent at a December 17 Strikeforce event. “He’s the first guy in line. I think he’s the #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 UFC title is the best belt,” the 29-year old continued. “I want that belt and I want it as soon as possible…I’m definitely impressed by Frankie. He’s an amazing fighter. He’s great. I honestly feel like I’m the (top) contender and I feel like I’m ready for the title shot now.” The 19-2 Californian has won his last five fights including one-sided performances against Mitsuhiro Ishida, Josh Thomson, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Shinya Aoki. He has won eleven of his total bouts by way of TKO while never having been finished himself. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: ufc, title shot, strikeforce, melendez, inking melendez

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Gilbert Melendez may not be in the UFC (yet), but he damn sure wants to be. He also wants a UFC title shot and believes he’s ready for it now, as he told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour today. “The UFC title is the best belt,” he said. “I want that belt and I want it as soon as possible.” “I’m definitely impressed by Frankie. He’s an amazing fighter. He’s great,” Melendez said. “I honestly feel like I’m the No. 1 contender and I feel like I’m ready for the title shot now.” While it’s still unclear if he’ll get that opportunity, Melendez says he’s still focusing on Jorge Masvidal, who he’s expected to fight in December if the UFC doesn’t pull him over sooner. As patient as Melendez is trying to be though, he feels like he’s put in his time and deserves the chance. “I’m a vet in this sport,” Melendez told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’ve been here for a long, long time, and I’m ready to prove I’m No. 1. I’m ready to start taking over and holding down the weightclass, promoting the sport and representing MMA. I’ve been ready for that awhile.” “I’ve been here longer than Frankie,” Melendez said. “I’ve been here longer than Gray. I’ve been here longer than Melvin Guillard. I’ve been here longer than Clay Guida. I’ve been here longer than all these dudes. It’s not like I’m a new kid that needs to get his feet wet. ” “I know the common fan thinks I haven’t made the big leagues yet,” Melendez said. “I’ve been working my butt off to put on really good shows and really good, entertaining fights. I’ve proven myself.” With Melvin Guillard knocked out of contention, Frankie Edgar vs. Gilbert Melendez really is the fight that needs to happen. When I think of contenders I don’t just look at who they beat, but how they beat them. Not only has Melendez defeated some of the best lightweights outside the UFC in the last couple years, he dominated them. It’s hard to watch him destroy Tatusya Kawajiri and not want to see him fight Frankie Edgar next. It would be a great lightweight title fight and I hope it happens. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, gilbert melendez, melendez

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez would like some recognition.In an appearance on The MMA Hour this week he discussed his recent talk of...

Posted in: mma hour, week, champion, melendez, ufc-level recognition

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Gilbert Melendez is one of the best lightweights on the planet, but there are many MMA fans out there who don't know who he is. His 19-2 record and having avenged his two career losses have raised him to the #3 spot in the USA Today / SB Nation Consensus Rankings. With seemingly every other Strikeforce champion leaving the promotion for the UFC, it only made sense that Dana White started talking about wanting to bring Melendez into the UFC fold very soon. Melendez was on The MMA Hour and talked about the buzz surrounding the eventual move: "I'm definitely impressed by Frankie. He's an amazing fighter. He's great," Melendez said. "I honestly feel like I'm the No. 1 contender and I feel like I'm ready for the title shot now." ... "I've been focusing on Jorge Masvidal," Melendez said. "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." Regardless of who you favor in Melendez vs. Edgar, I feel confident saying that you're out of your mind if you don't think it would be a great fight.

Posted in: ufc, title shot, gilbert melendez, melendez, career losses

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Why should Frankie Edgar, fresh off a UFC 136 technical knockout victory over Gray Maynard, now put his 155-pound title on the line against Gilbert Melendez? Common sense, of course. The UFC needs to strike while the iron is hot -- and "El Nino," the reigning Strikeforce lightweight champion, is the biggest threat to the Edgar era at the present time. Strikeforce has also become irrelevant, and so has pillaging their divisions of its champions. That's probably why, in the last few months, we've seen Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem all head to Zuffa. Furthermore, UFC President Dana White has a job to do: Put on the best fights avaliable. You can easily set up Edgar vs. Melendez for Superbowl weekend and have the winner of Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson get the next shot in summer 2012. Melendez hasn't seen the inside of a cage since a successful title defense against Japanese "Crusher," Tatsuya Kawajiri back in April. That win marked "El Nino's" fifth in a row on a record that also includes a win over Clay Guida. So why not? Melendez was in talks to fight Jorge Masvidal, who is a legitimate threat, but why derail the biggest lightweight fight you have while unifying the division titles? How about it fellow fight fans, do you agree that Gilbert Melendez deserves the next shot at Edgar? Why or why not?

Posted in: ufc, gilbert melendez, melendez, edgar, frankie edgar

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Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, NewsStrikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez sat down with UFC President Dana White recently and put it out there that he'd love to get a crack at the UFC lightweight title. "I just wanted to discuss my future with the organization," Melendez said Monday on The MMA Hour. "It looks like I have a good future. ... I just expressed that I want to fight the best." Although Melendez described himself as a loyal Strikeforce fighter who still has four fights left on his contract, he made no secret of the fact that his ultimate goal in the sport is to be the champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. "The UFC title is the best belt," he said. "I want that belt and I want it as soon as possible." Melendez said he believes he matches up well with UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and has done enough that he deserves the next shot at Edgar's belt. "I'm definitely impressed by Frankie. He's an amazing fighter. He's great," Melendez said. "I honestly feel like I'm the No. 1 contender and I feel like I'm ready for the title shot now." The UFC has already brought in Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem and Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, and Melendez is hoping he's next. Melendez stressed, however, that he's not allowing the possibility of fighting in the UFC distract him from his planned December 17 Strikeforce fight with Jorge Masvidal. "I've been focusing on Jorge Masvidal," Melendez said. "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." Melendez had nothing but positive things to say about Strikeforce, but he has been frustrated at times that the general public recognizes only UFC fighters as the best in the world. "The most frustrating thing is the recognition," Melendez said. "A lot of people don't recognize me as a great fighter because I haven't beaten any UFC guys." Melendez hopes to change that soon. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, belt, champion, melendez

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HOUSTON - Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez attended this weekend's UFC Fan Expo Houston 2011 representing his longtime employer, but he hopes to leave the city with a different tag: UFC title challenger. Melendez today said he plans on pressing UFC president Dana White for the next crack at the winner of UFC 136's lightweight championship bout. "I'm a vet in this sport," Melendez told MMAjunkie.com. "I've been here for a long, long time, and I'm ready to prove I'm No. 1."

Posted in: ufc, championship bout, melendez, melendez today, main-event winner

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Today at the UFC 136 Fan Expo, current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion spoke with media and of course, the question of whether or not mixed martial arts (MMA) fans would see "El Nino" inside the Octagon sooner rather than later came up. Melendez treated the question and answer session much like he does his fights. He went full speed ahead and didn't hold anything back. He stated that he always feels like he has to prove himself in the sport. While teammates Jake Shields and Nick Diaz are being brought over from the Strikeforce cage to the Octagon, no official word on Melendez's exodus from the San Jose-based promotion has been made. Dana White has said he wants "El Nino" to fight under the UFC banner but as of right now, he has a date with Jorge Masvidal on December 17 to defend his Strikeforce belt. "A lot of other fighters and the media respect me but the common fans, they think that I haven't made it to the big leagues," Melendez said. "I've been working my butt off, putting on really good shows and exciting fights and not getting the recognition I think I deserve has been frustrating." "But nobody here is bitter," the Strikeforce champ added with a smile. More with Melendez including how he felt after his rematch with Tatsuya Kawajiri after the jump! Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, and Nick Diaz. All three men once wore Strikeforce gold but now have "UFC" on their four-ounce gloves. So why not Melendez? The lightweight has run through every lightweight put in front of him the past two years. He said that since the Strikeforce buy-out, he feels he's gotten more of a PR push. "My name is getting out there but that's inevitable, I'm going to be number one. One way or another, I'm gonna be number one," he added. But despite the recent talk of having "El Nino" drop his Strikeforce obligations to become the latest big name to sign with the UFC, nothing is concrete. "The boss Dana White is saying stuff like, 'We're going to yank him over' and you want to get excited but you have to come back to reality and remember what's been inked and what hasn't. My fight with Masvidal is inked. Until I'm told different, that's where my focus is," Melendez told reporters. The fight with Masvidal has been pretty much official since the American Top Team product defeated K.J Noons back in June on the Strikeforce: "Overeem vs. Werdum" card in Dallas. Unofficially, though, Melendez has been wanting to step inside the cage with Masvidal for some time now. "He has talked trash on me in the past so I knew I was going to fight this guy eventually," the champion explained. "I thought he was going to beat K.J. [Noons] so I was visualizing a fight with Masvidal even before that." Dana White has already made it clear that he wants Melendez inside the Octagon. As the number three 155-pounder in the world according to SBNation, it would only make sense that he plies his wares in the promotion that holds most of the top talent.  When asked if he would accept an immediate title shot in the UFC, Melendez said, "I don't think a warm-up fight is necessary. I'm a veteran in this sport, I've been fighting for a long, long time. I'm ready to be number one. I'm ready to take over and start representing the sport. "I'm not a new kid that needs to get his feet wet. Yeah, this is the biggest stage in the world and that can make someone nervous or you can take all those vibes and emotions and people yelling and use it. That's what I do, that's what I've always done." He did just that about as perfectly as possible the last time he fought. He was inside the cage with Tatsuya Kawajiri who he held an oft-debated decision win over from back in 2006. The second time they faced off, "Crusher" ended up getting crushed. He ran through Kawajiri, ending the fight with a series of brutal elbows which had just become legal inside the Strikeforce cage. "That felt really good. I just ready to fight when I stepped inside the cage. Not being dumb but just turning it on as soon as the fight starts. It felt great to throw some elbows. I loved it," he said. Of course, this entire weekend's festivities have been used to help promote tonight's (Oct. 8) event headlined by thelightweight title rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Putting on his predictions cap, Melendez said he has been visualizing a bout with Frankie more. Why? "Because I think he's going to win," he went on to explain. "I think about a fight with Maynard but I lean towards Frankie. He'll win on the scorecards but Maynard will win the feet. Maynard will hit the big punches and takedowns but Edgar will jump in, land some quick punches, and jump out. That's how I think he'll win."   After nearly a decade in the game, it seems the future is brighter than ever for "El Nino." But despite feeling overlooked at times, Melendez insists there are no hard feelings.   "There's no chip on my shoulder but I don't need a warm-up. I want to come over, of course. Masvidal has earned the shot to face but I've earned 10 times what he has. I've been here longer than Edgar, Maynard, Melvin Guillard, Clay Guida. I've been here longer than all of those guys. I would take an immediate title. I want to fight the top guy."

Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez

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HOUSTON - There have been strong indications that Gilbert Melendez's run in Strikeforce is over and that his UFC run is just beginning. Following Saturday's UFC on Versus 6 event, UFC president Dana White said he wanted the lightweight champ in the UFC "ASAP," which prompted speculation that Melendez's headliner with Jorge Masvidal at a December Strikeforce event had been dissolved, Masvidal and his representatives say the bout is still a go, and while White said today that he isn't sure when Melendez will make the jump.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, ufc prez

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There's much confusion and debate over Gilbert Melendez's status with Strikeforce, but one thing is clear, UFC president Dana White wants him in the Octagon now.

Posted in: ufc, ufc president, president, gilbert melendez, melendez

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I meant "shank tark". Sorry Gus. With the news that Gilbert Melendez is UFC bound, it'll be interesting to see whether Melendez can avoid the stereotype of non-Zuffa fighters under-performing in the 'big show'. At 29 years old, he's got plenty of time to make waves, but will he? Melendez is on an impressive winning streak. Within that streak is the avenging of his only two losses, and two emphatic wins over then top 10 competition in Tatsuya Kawajiri and Shinya Aoki. Moreover, Gilbert brings with him a style perfect for the division. His wrestling is top notch, and his striking, while highly competent (with elements of both power and speed), is made stronger by the fact that he's a rangy LW. Of course, what's odd about the news being made so public, with both parties willing to talk about Gil's prospects in the UFC is that Melendez still has a title fight scheduled in December against a fighter he'd be wise not to underestimate in Jorge Masvidal. It's possible Dana and Melendez forgot about that fight. I know the fans did, including myself.  Masvidal has taken bad losses: to Palomino (questionable decision), Imada, and Damm (to be fair Sengoku refs make the Yamasaki brothers as of last night look like the Wright Brothers with that terrible stoppage). But he's highly talented, and when he's focused, he can almost be mistaken for world class. As he showed in his dominating victory over KJ Noons. Of course, the news also underscores what many have long suspected: that Strikeforce is a corpse. The only thing missing is the engraving on the tombstone. The Strikeforce HW, LHW, and WW champions have already signed into the UFC, and now the LW champion is heading in the same direction. One of their most marketable fighters in Cung Le is in the UFC. No word on when Luke Rockhold is coming over. What kind of show is Strikeforce expected to run without their champions? None at all, which is what many suspected in the beginning, but I suppose it's nice to finally have confirmation. Poll How good are Gilbert's chances in the UFC? Good. He does all the things every other wrestle-boxer in the UFC does but better. Bad. Beating Kawajiri and Aoki doesn't prove you've got a chance in the UFC.   4 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will join the UFC “ASAP” according to Dana White. The UFC president was quizzed about...

Posted in: ufc, ufc president, gilbert melendez, melendez, ldquo ;asap

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Four down, one to go. The UFC has slowly but surely taken every champion from the Strikeforce roster, siphoning every bit of top talent from the promotion. Last night, Dana White put yet another nail in the soon to be completed coffin for the San Jose based organization. With Dan Henderson, Nick Diaz and Alistair Overeem already having made the jump, White indicated he's about to bring in one more. Speaking at the UFC on Versus 6 post-fight press conference, the President had this to say regarding current Strikforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez: "We do want to bring Gilbert Melendez over and we're looking at it right now. We're going to bring Melendez over ASAP. We're looking to bring him over now." White, however, stopped short of guaranteeing "El Nino" an immediate tite shot: "It's a possibility. The thing is that division is so stacked. And usually timing has a lot to do with it." The timing couldn't be better, what with the UFC lightweight title being up for grabs on Oct. 8, live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, as current champ Frankie Edgar defends his strap against Gray Maynard. Could we get an announcement as early as next weekend regarding the status of Melendez? And if the move is made, what will become of his rumored December title defense against Jorge Masvidal? Maybe just bring them both over? How's that sound to you Maniacs? Discuss.

Posted in: ufc, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, tite shot

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] A small percentage of those that read this article will likely have googled the topic climate change and will be searching for the hard proof that it is indeed a real phenomena. The other group, the group that we target day in and day out, will better understand this type of climate change. Gilbert Melendez began his career under the WEC banner which says a lot in itself. Taking his first five fights in decisive form, all by form of TKO, Melendez has never taken the easy path. In the midst of his WEC adventure, Melendez fought for the Rumble on the Rock promotion, the same night that BJ Penn and Takanori Gomi met. At the time, Gomi and Penn were the two most highly touted lightweights in the world and frankly no one was really close to them. Little did we know what the future would hold - yet, do we ever? Melendez would go on to win that evening, defeating Stephen Palling by TKO with a tick of the clock left in the second round. BJ Penn would also go on to win that evening, cementing himself as the most dominant lightweight fighter of the modern era. Fast forward nearly 8 years to the day: Takanori Gomi just suffered a tough loss to a very polished Nathan Diaz, BJ Penn is about to face Nick Diaz, and Gilbert Melendez is, in this writers opinion, the most dominant lightweight fighter in the world. Read More...

Posted in: bj penn, penn, gilbert melendez, melendez, climate change

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Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, and Nick Diaz all abandoned their Strikeforce titles to sign with the UFC and are scheduled for action in the Octagon over the next three months. Now, assuming UFC President Dana White has his way, lightweight Gilbert Melendez will join the group of former Strikeforce champions with the date of his arrival coming sooner than later. White opened up about the company’s interest in bringing the gold-wearing grappler on board where he made it clear Melendez’s days as Strikeforce champ are numbered (much like the promotion itself it seems). “We’re going to bring Melendez over ASAP. We’re looking to bring him over now,” White explained to MMAWeekly. “El Nino” certainly doesn’t appear opposed to the idea, telling the media outlet in a follow-up discussion that he’s currently focused on a December defense against top contender Jorge Masvidal but would “be there in a heartbeat” if asked to join the UFC lightweight division. Melendez holds an overall record of 19-2 and is widely considered to be one of the “Top 3” 155-pounders in MMA. He is currently on a five-fight winning streak and owns past victories over a number of respected peers including Josh Thomson, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Shinya Aoki. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, strikeforce champ

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is reportedly closer to entering the UFC’s stacked lightweight division, according to UFC President Dana White. “We do want to bring Gilbert Melendez over and we’re looking at it right now… We’re going to bring Melendez over ASAP. We’re looking to bring him over now,” White told MMAWeekly. “Getting an immediate title shot is) a possibility. The thing is, that division is so stacked. And usually timing has a lot to do with (who gets the next shot).” Bringing Melendez over to the UFC’s ranks, where he’ll join teammates Jake Shields and Nick and Nate Diaz, seems to make the most sense. Since a decision loss to Josh Thomson in 2008 — which Melendez avenged one year later — the San Francisco native has been on a five-fight win streak. Melendez is one of the top-ranked lightweights, and is the best lightweight currently outside the UFC’s ranks. Matchups between Melendez and Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, Clay Guida, Ben Henderson, and Melvin Guillard all seem appealing — along with a handful of other current UFC lightweights.

Posted in: ufc, ben henderson, gilbert melendez, melendez, ’re

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez's days in the organization appear over. The standout lightweight will join the UFC's roster "ASAP," according to UFC president Dana White. A debut date and opponent haven't been determined, but White said it'll happen sooner rather than later. And if the timing is right, it could lead to an immediate UFC title shot.

Posted in: ufc, debut date, melendez, opponent haven, asap

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Looks like another Strikeforce star is jumping ship and heading over to the UFC real soon. Dana White says that Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, will be moving to the UFC as soon as possible. MMAWeekly has it: "We do want to bring Gilbert Melendez over and we’re looking at it right now... We’re going to bring Melendez over ASAP. We’re looking to bring him over now." "(Getting an immediate title shot is) a possibility. The thing is, that division is so stacked. And usually timing has a lot to do with (who gets the next shot)." While the move hasn't been finalized, Melendez sounded happy about the opportunity: "It’s exciting that the boss definitely wants me over to the UFC, because it’s definitely a good move for me... Basically, it would (only take) a phone call from Dana saying drop everything you’re coming to the UFC. I’d be there in a heartbeat. Money doesn’t really mean nothing at this point, my money’s good, I’m happy with my money, if he told me to come fight for the same price, I would do it." "...I’m coming for all the 55lbers and I really want to prove I’m No. 1. It would be nice to get a title shot, but if I need to come through it and work my way up, I’m more than willing. Part of being No. 1 is beating everyone, every match-up, I think I can beat every style out there. It doesn’t really matter to me. Whatever Dana wants. Whatever he wants, I’ll do." Melendez is currently ranked as the #3 lightweight on the USA Today / SBNation Consensus Rankings, only behind Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, who will both be fighting for the UFC title next week. If, or better yet, when, he moves to the UFC, he will be joining other Strikeforce champions Alistair Overeem and Nick Diaz who recently made the jump to the UFC; Definitely signaling that Zuffa doesn't have much plans on keeping things "Business as Usual" for them.

Posted in: ufc, title shot, &rsquo, i &rsquo, melendez

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If the UFC Lightweight division isn't already stacked enough, you can expect it to be even more top-heavy as soon as possible.That's according to UFC President Dana White, who told members of the media following Saturday's UFC on Versus 6 post-fight press conference that the promotion is planning to bring over Strikeforce 155-pound kingpin Gilbert Melendez "ASAP.""We do want to bring Gilbert Melendez over and we’re looking at it right now," White revealed (via MMAWeekly.com). "We’re going to

Posted in: ufc, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, division isn

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It was an exciting night for Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and he wasn't even fighting.

Posted in: gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, ’s hitman, ufc offer

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is reportedly coming to the UFC. MMAWeekly’s Damon Martin reports that UFC President Dana White says the deal is currently being worked on and that the UFC wants Melendez in the octagon. Melendez’s agent, Malki Kawa, has apparently not received the offer but expressed over twitter that “Melendez would love nothing more than to come the UFC today! Dana White just has to make that call and he’ll be there. Meeting with the boss on monday. Got a couple of champs that got business to handle.” Kawa’s company, First Round Management, also represents UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. If the deal is completed, Melendez will become the fourth former Strikeforce champion to join the UFC following teammate and former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, former heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, and light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson. The move would leave only middleweight champion Luke Rockhold as the remaining Strikeforce men’s champion. Melendez is currently scheduled to put his lightweight title on line against hard-hitting Jorge Masvidal this December at Strikeforce 37 in San Diego, California. Melendez is generally considered one of the top three lightweights in the world and has lobbied for a move to the UFC several times since UFC parent company Zuffa LLC. purchased a controlling interest in the company earlier this year. For more on this story and all your MMA needs, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, champion, jorge masvidal, melendez

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Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, according to UFC president Dana White, will be the latest talent siphoned away to the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, melendez, gilbert, … asap

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

This is easily the most stacked division in MMA. What makes it my favorite is there's no GSP or Silva dominating. There's no undisputed "GOAT" either at the weight class. Champion Edgar Maynard as #1 contender Contenders in UFC: Jim Miller Ben Henderson Anthony Pettis Melvin Guillard Close: Evan Dunham Charles Oliveria George Sotiropoulis Dennis Siver Contenders outside of UFC: Melendez, Eddie Alvarez, Kawajiri, Aoki Contenders currently in different weight classes: BJ Penn Jose Aldo Fights I want to see: Winner of Edgar / Maynard vs. Gilbert Melendez Melendez is booked in December vs. a nobody. Every Strikeforce champion has come over, it's time for Melendez. He's in the prime of his fighting career and he would be an amazing champion since he brings it. Winner of Henderson / Guida vs. Loser of Edgar / Maynard If the winner of Henderson / Guida can win this matchup, I feel they should get the shot after Melendez. Winner of Guillard / Lauzon vs. Winner of Pettis / Stephens Fuck I would love to see Guillard vs. Pettis. This match can determine who's going to be a champion one day. The future: I can see Aoki and Kawajiri making their way to the UFC eventually. I'm not sure how much impact Aoki can make since you can say Melendez really showed the game plan to beat him. I don't see Eddie Alvarez coming anytime soon. Seems like he's getting paid well over at Bellator and is content with being the big fish in a small pond. Jose Aldo will come to lightweight eventually. I'm guessing within 3 fights. If he can get past Chad Mendes and Hioki....he's cleared the division imo. But the main reason why he'll move up is the weight cutting is getting too hard on his body. His body is telling him to pack on more muscle. BJ Penn's kind of the x factor. He can't beat Edgar...but I would love to see him fight Maynard and Melendez. What I'm hoping is that the loser of Edgar vs. Maynard won't become the lightweight "Fitch". They can beat everyone else in the division except the Champion...and we're not exactly going to be shouting for Edgar vs. Maynard 4 anytime soon. submitted by DrNgo [link] [comment]

Posted in: vs, winner, melendez, edgar, maynard

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Before LayzieTheSavage worked for MiddleEasy, he lived on the beach and spent months on end manifesting highlight reels. He was born on The Underground, but since he linked up with MiddleEasy, the guy dates a friggin' model. As mentioned earlier, all of this stuff is not coincidence. It's all delicately planned out by some celestial and omnipresent entity. We call him the 'MiddleEasy Monster' and he presides over everything. He's like God, but unlike God, he refuses to get involved in the outcomes of MMA bouts. He just stands and carefully observes everything, including this new highlight reel of Gilbert Melendez created by LayzieTheSavage.

Posted in: middleeasy, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, mma bouts

Read the full article at Middle Easy