#4
Gilbert Melendez
“El Niño”
(Strikeforce Champion)
(Strikeforce Champion)
Record: 19-2
Age: 28
Height: 5 ft 9 in
Weight: 155 lb
Fighting out of: San Francisco, California
Style: Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Muay Thai
Melendez began fighting in the old World Extreme Cagefighting and Rumble on the Rock shows and also spent some time overseas where he fought for Shooto and PRIDE Fighting Championships
Melendez won the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship from Clay Guida by split decision on June 9, 2006.
Melendez held the belt for two years before losing it on June 27, 2008 to Josh Thomson by unanimous decision (50–45, 50–45, 50–45) at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson.
On April 11, 2009, Melendez was scheduled to rematch Josh Thomson for the title at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz but the bout was cancelled on April 1 as Thomson broke his ankle in training for the fight.[4] Rodrigo Damm replaced Thomson on the card and the two squared off for the interim title which Melendez would go on to win, stopping Damm with strikes in the 2nd round.
On August 15, 2009, Melendez was again set to rematch Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg but Thomson was not cleared to fight, due to lingering problems with his leg. Mitsuhiro Ishida was selected to replace Thomson in what became Melendez' first Interim title defense.
On December 19, 2009, Melendez fought Josh Thomson to unify the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship belts.[5] Melendez won the fight via unanimous decision to become the Undisputed Lightweight Champion. With the win he also avenged the second of his only two losses to date.
Melendez successfully defended the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship against current DREAM Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Middleweight Champion Shinya Aoki on April 17, 2010.
A rematch between Melendez and Tatsuya Kawajiri took take place on April 9, 2011 at Strikeforce 33 in April. Melendez dominated his opponent showing excellent striking, knocking down Kawajiri with a right hand near the beginning of the fight. Melendez then again knocked down Kawajiri with a combination of knees to the body and a right hook followed by a right uppercut. The beginning of the end came when Melendez sprawled one of Kawajiri's takedowns and then began landing short left hands which knocked Kawajiri down into half-guard where Melendez began landing vicious right elbows before the referee stopped the fight declaring Melendez the winner by TKO 3:14 into the first round.
Melendez was one of the members of the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team who participated in a post fight brawl live on CBS after Jake Shields defeated Dan Henderson. Jason Miller somehow gained access to the cage, and interrupted Shields, asking "Where's my rematch buddy?", into the microphone referring to a previous fight between the two at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers in 2009. Melendez and Jake Shields then shoved Miller and Nick Diaz threw a punch at Miller, which led to the brawl. Miller was wrestled to the floor by members of Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. While Miller was restrained on the ground, members of Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu began to attack him. The fight was eventually broken up by members of security and Dan Henderson's corner. Melendez and five others were given three-month suspensions and fines of $5,000–7,500.
