Mixed Martial Arts Forum banner

Bendo vs. Melendez targeted for UFC on FOX 7

2K views 30 replies 14 participants last post by  Guy Incognito 
#1 ·
After negotiating a new eight-fight extension, Benson Henderson appears poised to accept his next marching orders in the form of a highly anticipated champion vs. champion matchup.

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, the UFC has its sights set on April 20's UFC on FOX 7 event to pair UFC lightweight titleholder Henderson against Strikeforce's last reigning divisional champion, Gilbert Melendez.

The event is likely to take place in Melendez's backyard, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, where he competed eight times while on the Strikeforce roster. That promotion went out of business after last Saturday night's event.

Henderson (18-2) has shot up the world's pound-for-pound rankings since defeating Frankie Edgar for the belt last February and successfully defending it twice. Most recently, he dominated Melendez's teammate Nate Diaz in a lopsided unanimous decision victory at UFC on FOX 5.

Melendez (21-2) has been for a long time considered among the top fighters never to appear in the octagon. The two-time Strikeforce 155-pound champion currently boasts a seven-fight win streak, although he has been shelved since a decision win over Josh Thomson last May. Melendez was twice expected to face Pat Healy in recent months but was forced to withdraw due to lingering shoulder problems. If he fights Henderson in April, it will amount to an 11-month layoff.

According to sources, there are still potential roadblocks to the Henderson vs. Melendez that could force the organization to take a different path, but that matchup is the organization's intended direction.

Just last week, it was reported that coveted free agent Eddie Alvarez could find himself fighting for the UFC championship in his promotional debut, but legal wrangling between Alvarez and Bellator over his UFC offer sheet and Bellator matching rights have stalled his career for the time being.
Source: MMAFighting.com
 
#9 ·
Gil is good at everything and will make for a good fight but I don't thing he has a single advantage were he can win. Bendo's far more versatile and sound striking will win him the fight.


Sent from my iPhone using Verticalsports.com App
 
#10 ·
Looking forward to this one. I've found it hard to rank Melendez considering the fact that hes always been in Strikeforce and hasn't fought anyone who I consider to be a real elite top five lightweight. My prediction is Henderson will control Melendez and win a decision in a spirited fight. Either way after this bout is done everyone will know what Melendez is made of and whether he is one of the best or the best lightweight in the world like many people believe.
 
#12 ·
Bendon will decision a lot of people IMO. The only guy I think that will be able to stop him now that Frankie is gone is Maynard. Alvarez might KO him though (I don't rate Alvarez as no.1 but he has legit KO power and probably matches up better with Bendon than anyone else aside from the Bully).
 
#14 ·
Bellator has good guys all throughout the lighter weight classes, they are really quite a good organisation. It's the majority of their HWs that make me want to rip my eyes out of their sockets.

Maynard matches up well cos he can probably put Bendo on his back and his striking was already good but training with Pederneiras, Aldo and Barao at Nova Unaio will have improved him tenfold.
 
#19 ·
Pettis come on people he shouldn't even be in contention right now and the rematch if it happens won't be competitive. Same with Cerrrone guys are good fighter but not title material.


Sent from my iPhone using Verticalsports.com App
 
#24 ·
I think Bendo wins. Probably not by domination, but comfortably I think.

Now Pettis is starting to cry I see. Says "no more Mr. Nice Guy" in reference to saying the title shot will come. Well hey Pettis, maybe if you weren't out for a year you could have been getting it. You lost to Guida, won a split over Stephens, and then KO'd Joe Lauzon....then you sat out for a year. Bendo needs an opponent. You have a tough fight in 2 weeks. Get real Pettis, you aren't entitled to anything. And I like Pettis, but now he will start sounding like Hendricks. At least Hendricks has a case. Pettis really doesn't.
 
#25 ·
Melendez will win if there's any justice in this world, can't stand Bendo and I hope we see the guy who pounded out Kawajiri and steamrolled Aoki and not the guy who looked unmotivated against Masvidal and Thomson.
 
#27 ·
He has good wins and I will root for him in this fight. But in my opinion Aoki and Kawajiri are pretty overrated fighters. Aoki is as one-dimensional as they come who strokes his ego by fighting straight cans. Kawajiri went down to 145 and really wouldn't do anything in the UFC 155 division. Melendez straight wrecked him though.
 
#28 ·
I think Thomson would do some damage in the UFC, not a Champion but could he creep into the lower end of the top ten? In my mind yes, he's better than a guy like Lauzon and I'd place him on the same caliber as a Jim Miller or someone like that. I think that was just a rough fight for Gil everything considered, Masvidal's another guy who I think can make some noise but not as much as Thomson can, Gil was fighting good guys in Strikeforce but his motivation was lacking towards the end, in the UFC I expect him to shine bright, this is what he's been wanting.
 
#29 ·
From the 2013 prediction thread:

1. Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones headlines UFC's first ever show in New York City. (Non title or catch-weight bout)

2. Gilbert Melendez will fight for the LW title in his UFC debut and come up short.

3. The flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight belts will NOT change hands. (Risky!)

4. Jose Aldo will NOT move up to LW.

5. Ben Henderson will rematch Pettis and win by TKO.
It's happening guys! :p
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top