411 MMA Interviews: Gilbert Melendez
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 04.08.2011
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, Gilbert Melendez, checks in with 411mania.com for an exclusive interview right before his upcoming title fight with Tatsuya Kawajiri this weekend. Gilbert speaks on his rematch with Kawajiri, the status of his current fight deal, potential match-ups in the UFC, and much more.
Reigning Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, Gilbert Melendez (18-2, MMA; 8-1, Strikeforce), will be putting his title up for grabs yet again at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley on April 9. Melendez's latest challenge will be against an old foe in Tatsuya Kawajiri (27-6, MMA). Melendez previously fought Kawajiri to a decision at Pride Shockwave 2006 four years ago, where Melendez was awarded the victory. During fight week, Melendez was gracious enough to set aside some time to speak with us mere days before his big return bout with Kawajiri on an event that is the first really big Strikeforce fight to be held since the buyout by ZUFFA, parent company of the UFC:
Jeffrey Harris: How are you feeling right now and how do you feel about this fight?
Gilbert Melendez: I'm actually feeling great about this fight. I mean it's definitely a very big challenge and not an easy task in front of me. Kawajiri and I have some unfinished business from 2006 overseas and I'm looking forward to testing myself and I know he is as well. At this point I'm feeling pretty good with my weight. I had a good meal, I'm keeping it under control; the body is feeling good. I'm in great shape. And I'm finally relieved the hard part is over and all I got to do is make weight and fight.
Jeffrey Harris: You mentioned unfinished business with Kawajiri, but I feel you soundly defeated him in Pride. That fight was in a ring in Japan. This fight will be in a cage in the US. So with that difference in mind, are there any surprises to expect or will you be ready for anything?
Gilbert Melendez: You know what man, I'm glad you said that man. I felt like I did win that fight as well, but a lot of people seem to think it's debatable. So for me to be number one, I want everyone to be 100% on Gilbert's side with that so that's why I got to do. But what I am expecting for him is showing him how dangerous I can be in the cage. In the ring, I know he felt my wrath and I felt his as well, so I think we both know we're in for it and I expect him to be stronger and be a lot smarter and patient at times. And I feel like his top game and his jiu-jitsu have improved as well. I expect a great Kawajiri, but I'm excited to show up and excited to be opposed to him.
Jeffrey Harris: Your first fight with Kawajiri was a little over four years ago. And in that time, I don't think we've seen as much improvement from Kawajiri compared to the rise you've been on in the past several years, you know?
Gilbert Melendez: I honestly agree with you on that. And I'm excited to try and expose that especially in my stand-up and especially in my intelligence. To me MMA is just a test of who has the bigger -- excuse my language – the biggest balls to go out and there and get the show done. And now it's that plus intelligence and game-plan and strategies. This sport has evolved and I try to treat it like a professional now so I thank you for recognizing that.
Jeffrey Harris: Your fight with Shinya Aoki last year on CBS was a huge fight for you. Aoki was held in high regard by the fans. You beat him decisively in a five round fight and after that fight even Dana White admitted you are one of the top five lightweights in the world. So how did it feel getting the biggest win of your career and on such a big stage?
Gilbert Melendez: Amazing. Amazing because I was able to neutralize this guy and I felt like I was able to dominate and it was my last fight on my contract, and I knew it was great for business, great for my rankings, great for my future, and great for my family. So there were a lot of great things. A lot of happy emotions. It means a lot to me to be considered one of the best out there. I've worked hard in the sport and it's hard to get that respect not having ZUFFA behind you. So it feels good, even the fact that Dana mentioned me; that was the first time I've ever heard him really mention my name. It felt really – I felt respected.
Jeffrey Harris: In that fight Aoki really wanted you to try and go to the ground with him, and you did a great job of neutralizing his best weapons and used your experience with the cage and clinch game against him. Were you surprised at all by any of Aoki's game plan or what he tried to do to you in that fight?
Gilbert Melendez: No, not at all man. I did my homework long and hard man. And I thought it showed out there. He went 0 for 18 on takedowns, and I even stayed on the ground a little bit, but not too much; just enough to give a couple punches and engage at the appropriate times. But nah man, I knew it was going to be one way or the other. If I made a mistake, he'd capitalize on it. And I didn't make any mistakes in that fight, I really felt like I didn't make any.
Jeffrey Harris: It's come out that Kawajiri doesn't train for a fight using a cage at all. To be honest, something like that sounds insane to me. I know Japanese fighters generally have more experience fighting in a ring, but fighting in the cage is just different. We've seen how it affects top level fighters, even Fedor Emelianenko, in coming to fight in the US and fighting in the cage. Wouldn't you agree?
Gilbert Melendez: A hundred percent, a hundred percent. Do I bank on that kind of stuff? No. But if I see him a little lost in there, I'll definitely expose it. And if there's one thing I know, is I do know that hexagon. That's my cage right there. That's my home. And I know my foot steps to the left, to the right, forward, back, all around that place. And I feel very comfortable in there . . . but like I said, I'm not banking on him not doing his training in the cage, but I hope he didn't. If he didn't, I'm going to expose that.
Jeffrey Harris: One of your potential opponents before this fight was made was Josh Thomson, a guy you went to war with twice. Kawajiri beat Thomson by decision at the Dynamite!! 2010 event on New Year's Eve in Japan. Did you get a chance to watch that fight and did you learn anything from seeing it?
Gilbert Melendez: A hundred times, man. I watched the fight a hundred times. I felt like Josh Thomson – it seemed like he brain farted a little bit out there. I thought it should've been a lot closer. I thought Kawajiri brought some really great takedowns, but I also thought he should've made him work harder to get that clinch. I felt like Josh Thomson would have these great combinations and he would end in the clinch, almost like he gave Kawajiri the clinch where I thought Kawajiri should have to work a little harder for that. But with that said, I thought Kawajiri did a great job; great takedowns, showed a lot of strength and great top game. But at the end of that fight, Josh didn't look very tired, and Kawajiri looked like he was huffing and puffing. I think it's just his style because he uses so much muscle out there and I'm looking forward going to deep waters with this guy too, if he can hang that long.
Jeffrey Harris: Now to the hard stuff. The big topic right now is this new MMA era with ZUFFA's buyout of Strikeforce. The parent company of the UFC now owns Strikeforce. You mentioned in a recent interview being in a good position right now having re-upped with Strikeforce. It sounds like you weighed getting bigger exposure, marketing, and sponsors in the UFC versus getting the "dollar amount" for re-upping with Strikeforce. Since you re-upped with Strikeforce before the buyout, I imagine if things go well at the end of your current deal, it would probably be better for you financially if you go to the UFC at that time, correct?
Gilbert Melendez: Yeah. I mean I love Strikeforce and I hope that it can build and that it and the UFC will be able to co-exist together and build Strikeforce as a bigger brand, but it all depends. If UFC decides to keep UFC stronger than Strikeforce than of course I want to go where there is more exposure and better opportunities for me. But I love Strikeforce and I love fighting in that hexagon as opposed to that huge UFC cage anyways. But I like fighting being the Strikeforce champ. I'd like to see Frankie Edgar come fight me over here . . . so like that would be OK with me. But you know what . . . whatever Dana White and Scott Coker say, I'm a soldier man. I'm ready to work. I'm ready to take the sport to another level and I'm ready to do some work. So just tell me what to do Dana. Just tell me what to do Coker and I'll do it.
Jeffrey Harris: You obviously had a lot of history with Strikeforce going back the last few years. So with your last fight beating Aoki on a big stage and that being the last fight on your previous fight deal with Strikeforce, was there an offer out there to go and fight for the UFC before you decided to re-up with Strikeforce?
Gilbert Melendez: Well to be honest, the way they structured the agreements, it wasn't very easy to walk away from Strikeforce especially with the championship clause. So what would have to happen was I would have to fight one more time and maybe sit out for a whole year. So basically I'd probably be fighting now, like as this [fight with Kawajiri], and have to wait an official eight months to even talk to the UFC. So that's what I was even waiting out and maybe possibly willing to do. And I let Strikeforce know I was willing to do that because I wanted to – I'd take a pay cut to brand myself in the sport. And we came to an agreement and they showed how loyal they were to me and they were. But yeah, I never even got a chance to negotiate with them [UFC] because I didn't have the proper authorization or my contract didn't allow me to.
Jeffrey Harris: How many fights are on your current deal with Strikeforce?
Gilbert Melendez: Five.
Jeffrey Harris: So depending on how things go at the end of this current deal, would you like to make a go for it in the UFC or are you just focused on these fights right now?
Gilbert Melendez: I'm just kind of focused on this fight, but where I'm concerned, I'm with ZUFFA now, you know what I mean? That's Strikeforce and the UFC. And I'm sure it's not going to be what I want, it'll be whatever the UFC wants – whatever ZUFFA wants. And if they want me fighting in the UFC, I'll be fighting in the UFC. And I think – when you talk about these big fights coming, I see a lot happening within the – the next six fights to me is about two years. Or five fights is about another year and a half. I see a lot more playing out in the business a lot faster than my contract. I'm honestly not even really concerned with that part.
Jeffrey Harris: But since you mentioned Frankie Edgar, and seeing how you've grown as a fighter, I really like how you match up with a lot of the top lightweight UFC fighters. And I hope some time in the future we will see you fighting those guys where ever because I think you are among the top lightweights in the world.
Gilbert Melendez: Thank you. I appreciate that. Yeah man, I would love to test myself against those guys. Basically I just want whoever has the strap.
Jeffrey Harris: There has been a lot going on for you in the last year. You've become a father and you've rehabbed a hand injury. A lot of us talk about long layoffs for fighters and how that can negatively affect fighters in their first fight back in terms of things like ring rust, cardio, and reaction time. Do you have any response to you coming into this fight almost a year removed from your last one and how it might or won't affect you?
Gilbert Melendez: Yeah man, I definitely take that into consideration. There's a little anxiety because of that. But I welcome the pressure. I've been campaigning I'm number one in the world, and I've been saying that for a while. I know there is extra pressure on me, and I know there's the chance for ring rust, but you know what man? Fighting is a way of life for me, you know what I mean? I feel like I've been putting on free shows at the gym fighting Nick [Diaz], Nate [Diaz], Jake [Shields], all my boys for free and just for the members. So I think ring rust is for those who just don't stay active in training. And yeah man, I think this anxiety or urgency of me wanting to get in there and just "let's do it," it will be there. But to me, this is my job. I can flip that switch on when I need to, and I think I'm a true professional and also I think I'm just fine about going in there.
Jeffrey Harris: Japan right now is going through harsh times in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. The media has sort of run with the angle that Kawajiri is fighting for Japanese MMA and his homeland that is going through an extremely tough time right now. Do you look at things like that or avoid them?
Gilbert Melendez: You know what, I don't know Kawajiri personally, but I can tell you what kind of man he is. I can just tell. He's like me, you know what I mean? He and I fought before when no one gave a rat's ass, you know what I mean? When his parents didn't care, when Japan didn't care, when no one cared. And he and I had to both fight for ourselves, to test ourselves, and challenge ourselves; for no one else. And I think they may try to tag that along, but I don't feel like he's that guy. I think he fights purely for himself just like I do. And it's great to have the support of Japan behind him. I think it's great to have the support of the fans and California behind me, but I think we just do it for ourselves because we just genuinely like to test our souls and our hearts. And I think that has more power behind it than anything. So that's just kind of how I see it.
Jeffrey Harris: Any sponsors or people you would like to thank or give a shout out to?
Gilbert Melendez: Just all my fans and my team, Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Jeffrey Harris: Thanks for your time and good luck with the fight this weekend. I can't wait to see what will be happening with you in the future because it's a really exciting time in MMA right now.
Gilbert Melendez: Thank you man, I really appreciate that.
Thank you to Gilbert Melendez for taking the time to speak with us. Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley will be broadcast live on Showtime Saturday, April 9. Remember to check out 411mania.com/mma for the quickest and best live play-by-play coverage of the event. And also don't miss a brand new edition of the fastest growing weekly MMA radio podcast in the world, 411 Ground and Pound Radio, as we will be recapping this weekend's Strikeforce event. You can also listen to last week's show here:
