Gilbert Melendez
From FightWiki
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Name | Gilbert Melendez |
| Nickname | El Nino | |
| Association | Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu | |
| Weight Class | Lightweight (155 lbs.) | |
| Height | 5' 9" (176 cm) | |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling | |
| Birth Date | April 12, 1982 | |
| Fighting Out Of | San Francisco, California | |
| Country | USA | |
| Gilbert Melendez Pictures | Official Website |
Gilbert "El Niño" Melendez is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist from Santa Ana, California. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the :ightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce. He has trained extensively with Jake Shields, Cesar Gracie, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, and David Terrell. Melendez is the current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, regaining his title from Josh Thomson, and he was also the first WEC Lightweight Champion.
Professional Record
| Record | 18 - 2 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 10 (T)KOs 1 Submissions 7 Decisions |
| Losses | 0 (T)KOs 0 Submissions 2 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Shinya Aoki | Decision (Unanimous) | Strikeforce: Nashville | 4/17/2010 | 5 | 5:00 | Defended Strikeforce Lightweight Championship |
| Win | Josh Thomson | Decision (Unanimous) | Strikeforce: Evolution | 12/19/2009 | 5 | 5:00 | Became Undisputed Strikeforce Lightweight Championship |
| Win | Mitsuhiro Ishida | TKO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg | 8/15/2009 | 3 | 3:56 | Defended Interim Strikeforce Lightweight Chamionship; Avenged first career loss |
| Win | Rodrigo Damm | KO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz | 4/11/2009 | 2 | 2:02 | Won Interim Strikeforce Lightweight Championship; Damm took the fight on one week notice |
| Loss | Josh Thomson | Decision (Unanimous) | Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson | 6/27/2008 | 5 | 5:00 | Lost Strikeforce Lightweight Championship |
| Win | Gabe Lemley | TKO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le | 3/29/2008 | 2 | 2:18 | Defended Strikeforce Lightweight Championship |
| Loss | Mitsuhiro Ishida | Decision (Unanimous) | Yarennoka: New Years Eve 2007 | 12/31/2007 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Tetsuji Kato | Decision (Unanimous) | Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion | 9/29/2007 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Tatsuya Kawajiri | Decision (Unanimous) | PRIDE: Shockwave 2006 | 12/31/2006 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Nobuhiro Obiya | Decision (Unanimous) | PRIDE: Bushido 12 | 8/26/2006 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Clay Guida | Decision (Split) | Strikeforce: Revenge | 6/09/2006 | 5 | 5:00 | Won Strikeforce Lightweight Championship |
| Win | Harris Sarmiento | Submission (Punches) | Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie | 3/10/2006 | 2 | 0:44 | |
| Win | Rumina Sato | TKO (Cut) | Shooto: Alive Road | 8/20/2005 | 1 | 1:32 | |
| Win | Naoya Uematsu | TKO (Cut) | Shooto: 5/4 in Korakuen Hall | 5/04/2005 | 2 | 4:30 | |
| Win | Hiroyuki Takaya | Decision (Unanimous) | Shooto: Year End Show 2004 | 12/14/2004 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Kaynan Kaku | TKO (Punches) | ROTR 6: Rumble on the Rock 6 | 11/20/2004 | 2 | 3:58 | |
| Win | Olaf Alfonso | TKO (Punches) | WEC 10: Bragging Rights | 5/21/2004 | 3 | 4:54 | Became first WEC Lightweight Champion, later vacating his title |
| Win | Stephen Palling | TKO (Punches) | ROTR 4: Rumble on the Rock 4 | 10/10/2003 | 2 | 4:59 | |
| Win | Jeff Hougland | TKO (Punches) | WEC 6: Return of a Legend | 3/27/2003 | 2 | 2:05 | |
| Win | Gary Quan | TKO (Punches) | WEC 5: Halloween Fury | 10/18/2002 | 1 | 4:37 | |
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Gilbert Melendez began competing in mixed martial arts in 2002, competing in the WEC. After three straight wins, two with the WEC and one outside of the organization, Melendez was given the honor to compete for the first ever Lightweight Championship against Olaf Alfonso. Melendez won the title at the end of the third round via TKO (Punches).
He would go on to compete in Shooto, PRIDE, and Strikeforce events, defeated Clay Guida to become the Strikeforce Lightweight Champion in 2006. Melendez would go on to successfully defended his title against Gabe Lemley. Melendez holds victories over notable Japanese fighters Rumina Sato and Tatsuya Kawajiri. Melendez suffered his first professional loss at Yarennoka!, losing to Mitsuhiro Ishida via unanimous decision.
On June 27, 2008, he lost his Strikeforce Lightweight Championship by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson.
On February 24, 2009, Strikeforce executives confirmed Melendez would fight Josh Thomson for the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship in a rematch scheduled for upcoming Strikeforce event Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz on April 11, 2009. The bout was canceled on April 1 as Thomson broke his ankle in training for the fight. Strikeforce found Brazilian submission specialist Rodrigo Damm to replace the injured Thomson. It was then announced that the bout was to be for the Interim Strikeforce Lightweight title, where the winner would go on to compete against Josh Thomson once he was healed and ready to fight. Melendez became the Interim Strikeforce Champion after defeating Damm at 2:02 in the second round via KO (Punches).
Melendez was expected to fight Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg, for the undisputed Strikeforce Lightweight Championship, but when Thompson was forced off the card, he was replaced by Mitsuhiro Ishida, who had previously defeated Melendez. Melendez not only avenged his first career loss, but he successfully defended his Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Championship, defeating Ishida by TKO (Punches) in the third round.
With Josh Thomson finally getting back to full health, the two faced off at Strikeforce: Evolution on December 19, 2009. The bout was to determine the undisputed Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, as Thomson had the Lightweight title, and Melendez had the interim title. In what was a wild and entertaining, fast-paced fight, Thomson easily took the first round, but was unable to stop Melendez in the other remaining four rounds. Melendez became the undisputed Strikeforce Lightweight Champion at the end of the fifth round.
With Melendez avenging his only two career losses against Mitsuhiro Ishida and Josh Thomson, Melendez went on record shortly after he won the Strikeforce Lightweight title back, saying that he was ready to face DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki. The two squared off on April 17, 2010 at Strikeforce: Nashville. Melendez controlled the fight for five straight rounds, dominating the Japanese fighter in every aspect of the game, earning the Decision (Unanimous), going 50-45 on all judges score cards, to defend his Strikeforce Lightweight title.
After defending his title, Melendez went on Inside MMA, where he called out reigning Bellator Fighting Championships Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez.
- “I think he’s an amazing fighter and that’s why I call out Eddie Alvarez – let’s unify those titles,” Melendez said. “I’d love to fight that guy and test myself. I think if I could beat him, I could be No. 1 and vice-versa.”
Championships and Accomplishments
- First WEC Lightweight Champion (2004)
- 2X Strikeforce Lightweight Champion (2006 and 2009)
- Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Champion (2009)
