It was a little over a year ago that Gilbert Melendez last fought inside the Octagon. With just one victory under the UFC banner he has earned his second lightweight title shot. In the co-main event at UFC 181, “El Nino” will step inside the cage opposite Anthony Pettis.
During his time off many things have happened, but the big news, was this past week’s UFC-Reebok uniform partnership. Melendez’s teammate Nate Diaz was not too pleased with the announcement, in fact, he tweeted out a photo of the middle finger, however Melendez has yet to wrap his head around it.
“I haven’t quite made a decision yet on it, it hasn’t sunk in completely,” Melendez told MMASucka.com. “I think it’s neat to be professional and all look like the same brand, the same team or like a professional organization. But at the same time, I really appreciate all of my sponsors, these people have been supporting me for years and I didn’t fight the last 15-months and they kept the cheques coming. They helped me stay and survive and I really appreciate all of my sponsors. I still haven’t made a decision, I don’t know how I feel and I don’t know what the whole Reebok deal is, except that’s all we’re going to be wearing. It’s a tough situation and I have to weigh it all out before I make a decision.”
The reason Melendez was out of action for so long was for two reasons — contact negotiations and coaching the twentieth season of The Ultimate Fighter. This was where he had to see his arch-nemesis Pettis on a daily basis. The filming of the season took quite some time and ultimately put the 32-year-old out of action for almost the entire 2014 calendar year.
“I wish I had at least one more fight, but it is what it is and it’s finally here. Now I’m ok with it; about five months ago, I was like damn, I wish I could have fought before this TV show started airing. It is what it is and now it’s going to happen and now I can get the ball rolling after this fight as well.”
On the set of TUF 20 the two foes got along just fine. In fact, it was fairly boring with the amount of non-drama going on between Melendez and Pettis.
Leading up to their UFC 181 battle, the champion however, has turned up the heat and is starting to trash talk the challenger.
“I’m not really surprised, I think he needs to say what he needs to say to pump himself up.,” Melendez said. “I think he’s a little over confident and that kind of makes me happy. I like that he thinks that and he’s underestimating me. I hope that’s all true talk and that will just make my victory that much better. Getting out of the first round and I’m going to look at him in the face and let him know he’s in for a long night.”
In an interview with Damon Martin of FOX Sports, Pettis stated that he feels like Melendez is very basic in his stand-up and that he doesn’t see a way this fight goes past the first round.
“I feel like I’ve boxed with some really good guys and I know how to handle myself in there. I’ve been in the sport for a long time and I’ve took on a lot of great fighters and he’s another one. I’m excited to test myself; I think he is a great striker, I think he is a great mixed martial artist. That’s what I focus on; not what he’s saying about me, but just focus on what I need to do to be successful.”
Much like Melendez, Pettis has been out of action for quite some time. “Showtime” hasn’t stepped foot inside the Octagon in nearly 16-months, due to a nagging knee injury and the filming of TUF 20.
It seems as if all the pressure will be on Pettis in this match-up — not only is it his first time in the cage in a very long time, but it’s also his first title defense since beating Benson Henderson to earn the crown on August 31, 2013.
“I believe he has some pressure. I believe he’s just adding more pressure on himself, saying all these things he’s saying. I’m sure he has some pressure, maybe that’s how he deals with it. Maybe he does better under pressure, who knows? It seems like he’s always complaining that he has doubters and people are always giving him a lot of flack for not fighting, so he feels like it’s him against the world type thing. I really don’t care.”
Pettis is expected to unveil some, “new, flashy striking moves” against Melendez. This won’t phase the Cesar Gracie product though, as he’s brought in some decent striker’s to emulate the Duke Roufus fighter.
“I brought in Ky Hollenbeck and Kevin Ross. Kevin Ross is the Lion Fight champion and Ky Hollenbeck fights in Glory, so they’re really good kickers and good kicks come out of nowhere. Just seeing that range and seeing that explosiveness with the kicks, so I feel like I’m prepared for that. I’m more of a boxer, I like to get inside the pocket and box. It is difficult to deal with these kicks that come out of nowhere and to get that game going, but he’s going to be better from the outside and I think I’ll be better from the toe-to-toe inside action.”
The fight isn’t going to be easy for either man, by any means.
On December 6, Melendez feels someone will get finished, but it won’t be without a grind.
“I think it’s going to be a grind. I think it’s going to go into deep water; deeper rounds. I think we’re going to both push the pace, but I think someone will be finished towards the end and I think it will be him. I think this fight’s going to end in the fourth or fifth round.”
