The Past and Future 06.16.09: Gilbert 'El Nino' Melendez

Posted by Robert Steele on 06.16.2009

This week a look at Gilbert Melendez. We profile highlights of his career fights, and analyze his August 15th rematch against Josh Thomson.



15-2 Gilbert Melendez had lost his only two fights by way of decision. One of those losses, against Josh Thomson, where he lost his Strikeforce Lightweight title, he will get a chance to avenge this August on the card featuring the much anticipated "Cyborg" vs. Carano fight, and an Alistar Overeem Heavyweight title defence.

The Past:

The Californian Melendez, with his high school wrestling background, took up MMA with immediate success at the professional level.

He debuted with the WEC, winning his four fights and becoming the first WEC Lightweight Champion with a win over Olaf Alfonso at WEC 10. All of these first four fights were won by way of TKO due to strikes.

In November of 2004, Melendez fought Hawaiian Kaynan Kaku at Rumble on the Rock 6. Both fighters came into the fight undefeated. Melendez scored an early takedown and slam showing his dominance in strength. Kaku was active on his back, counter punching. Kaku got back to his feet and landed good combinations. After getting back to the ground, Kaku attempted an arm bar, but Melendez escaped.

In the second round, Melendez opened with some good strikes, and Kaku clinched tight and dropped against the cage, positioned on the bottom. Melendez worked several knees to the head and body of Kaku. Melendez got some good clean punches to Kaku's head to force the referee to stop the fight.

Melendez would go on to win three more fights before debuting with Strikeforce in March of 2006. He fought Harris Sarmiento on the card headlined by Frank Shamrock and Cesar Gracie. Melendez scored the victory due to a submission by way of strikes in the second round.

With his impressive victory and his 9-0 record, he earned a title fight against Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Clay Guida. The fight went as follows:

Round 1

Guida shot for a takedown attempt to open the round, but Melendez countered to end up in top position. Melendez got in a slam. After standing, Guida got a slam of his own. Melendez scored a takedown near the end of the round.

Round 2

Guida did the same thing at the start of the first round, going for the takedown. This time he had success and got the back of Melendez. Melendez escaped a rear naked choke and ended up on top of Guida. After standing again, Melendez got a few strikes connected.

Round 3

Melendez opened with a good punch. Guida looked worn, but he kept moving like a zombie like he always does. Melendez connected a few more times. Guida gained position on top to end the round.

Round 4

Melendez connected with a few clean but light punches to open the round. He stuffed a takedown attempt from Guida. Melendez landed more clean strikes to end the round.

Round 5

Guida went back to the game plan and got an early takedown. Guida tried, but failed to get Melendez from the back. They got back to their feet and traded punches. Guida got another takedown and again failed to obtain control from the back. Guida worked from the bottom to get a submission as the fight ended.

In the end, Melendez won by split decision. Melendez was able to win on his feet and do enough to stop Guida's submission attempts.

Melendez won a couple fights with PRIDE following his win over Guida. And then another win with Strikeforce. At 13-0 he looked unstoppable.

For Yarenokka on New Year's eve, just before the start of 2008, Melendez ran into unorthodox wrestler Mitsuhiro Ishida. Ishida grabbed a leg early, gained control from the back attempting an arm submission. After being back on their feet, Ishida circled and again grabbed for a takedown. Melendez got Ishida's back, but could not sink in anything. Ishida climbed on Melendez's back only to get slammed onto his head. Melendez attempted a guillotine, but to no success. After standing again, Ishida grabbed Melendez by the arm, picked him up, and slammed him. Ishida pressed for submissions, forcing Melendez to be defensive. Ishida attempted a guillotine at the close of the round.

Ishida again pressed for submissions to open the second round, hopping up on the back of Melendez, but having to pull guard. Ishida hooked an arm and pulled with his closed guard around the back of Melendez attempting at an arm submission. Melendez escaped and worked some ground and pound. Melendez threw a furious flurry to end the round, but he wasn't able to pass the guard of Ishida and land anything clean.

Ishida won by unanimous decision, a fair result, but Melendez may have gotten a win if there was any extra time to do so. Melendez seemed to find difficulty with both the ring and Ishida's aggressive clutch and grab style.

He would bounce back with a win over Lemley to defend his Strikeforce title. His next opponent, Josh Thomson, would pose a greater threat to his title. They had trained and sparred with one another, and Thomson was coming off of shoulder surgery. Thomson, however, came in at a tremendous fitness level. The fight went as follows:

Round 1

Melendez worked the jab to start. Thomson stuffed a takedown, then got one of his own. Thomson worked to gain position on the ground, but Melendez was good defensively from his back. Thomson looked to go for the back, but Melendez countered and took control of the top briefly. They got back to their feet for a bit of standing before the round ended.

Round 2

Thomson landed good body kicks and a knee to start the second round. Thomson controlled the pack, getting a few knees and kicks in, sticking and moving with great speed. The round ended with Thomson scoring a takedown at the horn.

Round 3
Thomson again landed the cleaner of shots to open the round. The pace slowed in the middle with both fighters being cautious and looking for openings. Melendez landed a few continuous two punch combinations. Thomson again scored a takedown near the end of the round.

Round 4
Melendez opened with a flurry of tight punches and elbows to the head. Melendez pushed, but was kept at bay by Thomson's front kicks. Thomson got a double-leg takedown. Thomson moved position well on the ground, attempted a couple rear-naked chokes, but Melendez was able to escape both.

Round 5
Thomson gained top position, and control from the back briefly at the start, but both got back to their feet. Melendez swung for the fences but again Thomson succeeded in avoiding strikes and countering.

In April, Melendez bounced back with a win over Brazilian fighter Rodrigo Damm in a second round KO. He has already been penciled in for the rematch against Thomson for this August, and he says he is ready.

The Future

To me personally the fight between Thomson and Melendez was an exciting enough fight. Melendez doesn't seem to think so, and he has suggested that he wants to make this upcoming fight more exciting than the last one.

He has also said in interviews that his loss was due to a poor game plan, and Thomson having a better game plan. This could be the case, however, Thomson seemed to dominate every aspect of the fight. He had the ability to stuff takedowns at will, and he dominated in striking. Thomson's greatest asset in the last fight was his speed at connecting clean shots and retreating to avoid any counter striking.

As far as game plan, Melendez may be looking for some way to slow the pace without having to take Thomson down. This does not sound exciting, but strategically it would be a change from the last fight. He may be looking to find a way to clinch or make use of the cage. If this is the case, he will need to avoid front kicks that create space and beware of Thomson's knees when inside.

In any case, Melendez who trains with the Diaz boys and Jake Shields and has sparred with Thomson, must have something in mind already. If the fight is even more exciting than the last as he has promised, it will be a great one.

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