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**Rauno** · 12-06-2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Gilbert Melendez is currently negotiating with the UFC and is considering
a drop to featherweight if his teammate in Nate Diaz wins the title this weekend.

Strikeforce is folding up soon, and one of the promotion's biggest stars in Gilbert Melendez remains as one of the best fighters who could make the jump to the UFC.

Melendez currently has fights left on his Strikeforce contract, but his trainer Cesar Gracie told MMAJunkie that they're currently on the preliminary stages of negotiations for a possible UFC contract. It's still too early to tell, but it looks like this weekend's UFC on Fox 5 main event could determine their next move.

Nate Diaz will be challenging for Ben Henderson's UFC lightweight title, and if successful, he says his teammate in Melendez will seriously consider a drop to featherweight.

The two close friends and training partners seem dead set on not facing each other, and while that's understandable, the prospect of having the Strikeforce champ and #2 ranked lightweight in the world making a run at the UFC featherweight title is truly intriguing.

Former UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar is already set to drop down to take on Jose Aldo at UFC 156, and adding Melendez to the mix would significantly beef up the division and add several potential bouts worth salivating for.

Melendez is still currently recovering from a shoulder injury, and won't be participating on Strikeforce's January 12 event, which is also expected to be the promotion's last card.

Bloodyelbow

**AmdM** · 12-06-2012, 10:27 AM

Can´t wait for the time when Strikeforce is something from the past.
It's ridiculous the few fights fighters from that promotion get.

**TheLyotoLegion** · 12-06-2012, 10:29 AM

Hmm, that could be interesting but I think Gil would starch Ben.

**Rauno** · 12-06-2012, 10:35 AM

Aldo has some really dangerous guys possibly after him. Also can't wait for Thompson to come over who in my mind fought at least to a draw against Gil the last time.

cdtcpl · 12-06-2012, 10:41 AM

Melendez would have to drop down. I see him being beaten by a lot of the top 10 UFC LW's. Dude is seriously overrated.

Ludinator · 12-06-2012, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdtcpl

Melendez would have to drop down. I see him being beaten by a lot of the top 10 UFC LW's. Dude is seriously overrated.

Have to agree here. Melendez wouldnt hang up the top in the UFC lightweight devision.

**HitOrGetHit** · 12-06-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdtcpl

Melendez would have to drop down. I see him being beaten by a lot of the top 10 UFC LW's. Dude is seriously overrated.

I think this as well. But unfortunately for him, I don't think he will beat Edgar or Aldo either.

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**TheLyotoLegion** · 12-06-2012, 12:15 PM

I don't know why people think Gil won't thrive in the UFC, really the division is not that good and it never was the deep shark tank that Joe Rogan and Dana White promoted it as. If Gil goes to the UFC the only guys that could beat him are probably Pettis and Maynard, both guys who I think would beat Henderson whose not even the best Lightweight in the world, that title belongs to Michael Chandler as long as the UFC title isn't around Anthony Pettis' waist.