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UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts organization, recognized as the largest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and is owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC. This promotion is responsible for solidifying the sport's postion in the history-books.
UFC is currently undergoing a remarkable surge in popularity, along with greater mainstream media coverage. UFC programming can now be seen on FOX, FX, and FUEL TV in the United States, as well as in 35 other countries worldwide.
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01-14-2013, 02:18 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Denmark
Posts: 8,711
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Bendo vs. Melendez targeted for UFC on FOX 7
Quote:
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.
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Source: MMAFighting.com |
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01-14-2013, 02:26 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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BOOMER SOONER
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,241
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Awesome. Looks like we could see a number of SF fighters on this card. Looks like we got DC and Jacare on this card as well. I'm sure there will be more as well.
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01-14-2013, 02:53 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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You're Welcome.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Eh?
Posts: 6,288
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Sweet.
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01-14-2013, 04:08 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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'England Elite'
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,366
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Bendo will wreck Melendez.
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01-14-2013, 04:14 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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TheAbominableFlowman
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Phuket Top Team, Thailand
Posts: 4,079
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Yeah I think Bendo is too good everywhere. Gil probably won't be able to get him down or keep him there for any significant amount of time and Bendo has very good striking aswell.
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01-14-2013, 04:16 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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BOOMER SOONER
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,241
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Quote:
Originally Posted by El Bresko
Yeah I think Bendo is too good everywhere. Gil probably won't be able to get him down or keep him there for any significant amount of time and Bendo has very good striking aswell.
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I think Gil has the better striking and Bendo has the better wrestling.
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01-14-2013, 04:18 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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TheAbominableFlowman
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Phuket Top Team, Thailand
Posts: 4,079
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I'd imagine that Gil gets boxed up by the Diaz boys though. Benson is a smart guy that follows gameplans perfectly. Gilbert isn't that tricky of a puzzle IMO. He is a good fighter but I don't see this as his best matchup. He'd smash a Jim Miller though.
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01-14-2013, 04:22 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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BOOMER SOONER
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,241
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Quote:
Originally Posted by El Bresko
I'd imagine that Gil gets boxed up by the Diaz boys though. Benson is a smart guy that follows gameplans perfectly. Gilbert isn't that tricky of a puzzle IMO. He is a good fighter but I don't see this as his best matchup. He'd smash a Jim Miller though.
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Gil is tough and has never been finished. It's going to be tough to put him away so Bendo will have his hands full. I think people are too down on Gil after the latest Thompson fight. IMO Thompson is just a tough matchup for Gil. Kind of like KJ Noons is a tough matchup for Nick Diaz. I think people underrated Gil right now.
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01-14-2013, 04:24 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: See that guy over in the window, with the binoculars?
Posts: 19,704
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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.
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"If you get hit and it hurts hit him back you not knocked out yet."-Joe Doerksen The Toxic Terrors (FFL) Georges St. Pierre*Sarra McMann*Pat Curran*Patricio Freire*Uriah Hall
NP FFL Team Toxic Challenge Fabricio Werdum*Gilbert Melendez*Rick Hawn*John Dodson*Urijah Faber
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01-14-2013, 04:31 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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Flyweight
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 329
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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.
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Bendo vs. Melendez targeted for UFC on FOX 7
