Gilbert Melendez

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Gilbert Melendez (born April 12, 1982) is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce. He has trained extensively with Turbo Fairtex, Jake Shields, Cesar Gracie, Nick Diaz, and Dave Terrell. Melendez is the Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and has avenged both his career losses. Melendez is ranked by both Sherdog and mmaweekly as the #2 best lightweight in the world.

MMA career

Melendez began fighting in the old World Extreme Cagefighting and Rumble on the Rock shows and also spent some time overseas where he fought for Shooto and PRIDE Fighting Championships

Melendez won the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship from Clay Guida by split decision on June 9, 2006.

Melendez held the belt for two years before losing it on June 27, 2008 to Josh Thomson by unanimous decision (50–45, 50–45, 50–45) at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson.

On April 11, 2009, Melendez was scheduled to rematch Josh Thomson for the title at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz but the bout was cancelled on April 1 as Thomson broke his ankle in training for the fight.Rodrigo Damm replaced Thomson on the card and the two squared off for the interim title which Melendez would go on to win, stopping Damm with strikes in the 2nd round.melendez has no wrestling pedigree

On August 15, 2009, Melendez was again set to rematch Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg but Thomson was not cleared to fight, due to lingering problems with his leg. Mitsuhiro Ishida was selected to replace Thomson in what became Melendez' first Interim title defense.

On December 19, 2009, Melendez fought Josh Thomson to unify the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship belts. Melendez won the fight via unanimous decision to become the Undisputed Lightweight Champion. With the win he also avenged the second of his only two losses to date.

Melendez successfully defended the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship against current DREAM Lightweight Champion and WAMMA Lightweight Championship and former Shooto Middleweight Champion Shinya Aoki on April 17, 2010.

Strikeforce: Nashville Post-Fight Brawl

Melendez was one of the members of the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team who participated in a post fight brawl live on CBS after Jake Shields defeated Dan Henderson. Jason Miller somehow gained access to the cage, and interrupted Shields, asking "Where's my rematch buddy?", into the microphone referring to a previous fight between the two at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers in 2009. Melendez and Jake Shields then shoved Miller and Nick Diaz threw a punch at Miller, which led to the brawl. Miller was wrestled to the floor by members of Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. While Miller was restrained on the ground, members of Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu began to attack him. The fight was eventually broken up by members of security and Dan Henderson's corner. Melendez and five others were given three-month suspensions and fines of $5,000–7,500.

Personal life

Melendez and his girlfriend Keri Anne Natasha have a daughter, Leylakay Valentina Melendez (Valtyana), born August 8, 2010.

MMA record

Professional record breakdown

20 matches 18 wins 2 losses

By knockout 10 0

By submission 1 0

By decision 6 2

Draws 0

No contests 0

18–2 Win Shinya Aoki Decision (Unanimous) Strikeforce: Nashville 2010-04-17 Round 5 5:00 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Defended the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship

17–2 Win Josh Thomson Decision (Unanimous) Strikeforce: Evolution 2009-12-19 Round 5 5:00 San Jose, California, U.S. Won and Unified Strikeforce Lightweight Championship

16–2 Win Mitsuhiro Ishida TKO (Punches) Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg 2009-08-15 Round 3 3:56 San Jose, California, U.S. Defended the Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Championship

15–2 Win Rodrigo Damm KO (Punches) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz 2009-04-11 Round 2 2:02 San Jose, California, U.S. Won the Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Championship

14–2 Loss Josh Thomson Decision (Unanimous) Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson 2008-06-27 Round 5 5:00 San Jose, California, U.S. Lost the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship

14–1 Win Gabe Lemley TKO (Punches) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le 2008-03-29 Round 2 2:18 San Jose, California, U.S. Defended the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship

13–1 Loss Mitsuhiro Ishida Decision (Unanimous) Yarennoka - New Year's Eve 2007 2007-12-31 Round 2 5:00 Saitama, Japan

13–0 Win Tetsuji Kato Decision (Unanimous) Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion 2007-09-29 Round 3 5:00 Beverly Hills, California, U.S.

12–0 Win Tatsuya Kawajiri Decision (Unanimous) PRIDE Shockwave 2006 2006-12-31 Round 2 5:00 Saitama, Japan

11–0 Win Nobuhiro Obiya Decision (Unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 12 2006-08-26 Round 2 5:00 Nagoya, Japan

10–0 Win Clay Guida Decision (Split) Strikeforce: Revenge 2006-06-09 Round 5 5:00 San Jose, California, U.S. Won Strikeforce Lightweight Championship

9–0 Win Harris Sarmiento Submission (Strikes) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie 2006-03-10 Round 2 0:44 San Jose, California, U.S.

8–0 Win Rumina Sato TKO (Cut) Shooto: Alive Road 2005-08-20 Round 1 1:32 Yokohama, Japan

7–0 Win Naoya Uematsu TKO (Cut) Shooto 2005: 5/4 in Korakuen Hall 2005-08-20 Round 2 4:30 Lemoore, California, U.S.

6–0 Win Hiroyuki Takaya Decision (Unanimous) Shooto 2004: Year-End Show 2004-12-14 Round 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan

5–0 Win Kaynan Kaku TKO (Punches) K-1 Fighting Network Rumble on the Rock 2004 2004-11-20 Round 2 3:58 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

4–0 Win Olaf Alfonso TKO (Punches) WEC 10: Bragging Rights 2004-05-21 Round 3 4:54 Lemoore, California, U.S. Became first WEC Lightweight Champion

3–0 Win Stephen Palling TKO (Punches) Rumble on the Rock 4 2003-10-10 Round 2 4:59 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

2–0 Win Jeff Hougland TKO (Punches) WEC 6: Return of a Legend 2003-03-27 Round 2 2:05 Lemoore, California, U.S.

1–0 Win Greg Quan TKO (Punches) WEC 5: Halloween Fury 2002-10-18 Round 1 4:37 Lemoore, California, U.S.

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