Gilbert Melendez (pictured) will return to action at the now-defunct Strikeforce's home arena, HP Pavilion, in San Jose, Calif. when he challenges Benson Henderson for the UFC lightweight title

By Joshua Molina

Whataya know. Strikeforce isn’t dead, yet.

Hey, all the Strikeforce haters and UFC cheerleaders, listen up:

Two ex-Strikeforce guys are about to headline a big UFC show on Fox. In Strikeforce’s hometown of San Jose, California.

Guess those Strikeforce fighters weren’t so second-tier afterall.

In what should be a fantastic fight, Benson Henderson, UFC Lightweight Champion, will challenge Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez.

The scrappy Melendez has been battling for recognition as the best lightweight in the world for years and now he will get a chance to prove it.

He will also get a chance to avenge friend and training brother Nate Diaz’s loss to Henderson.

Henderson is on a hot streak. His superior wrestling ability will vex Melendez, who stole a decision from wrestler Josh Thomson in his last fight.

But Melendez hits hard and had more fire than Diaz, which should make for a slugfest. If Melendez can block out distractions in training camp, and fight like he has something to prove, he could win, even KO Henderson.

This could be the fight of the year.

Daniel Cormier will finally get Frank Mir — in the Octagon.

Cormier is on the rise and Mir is fighting to remain relevant.

Cormier has his eyes on fighting Jon Jones for the light heavyweight championship later in the year, but beating the submission savvy Mir won’t be easy for The Next Big Thing.

Mir tapped out Brock Lesnar, and Cormier has yet to face trouble inside the cage. It’s an interesting fight that is tough to predict, but Cormier has more weapons to hurt Mir and win the fight.

The UFC on FOX show will be staged at the HP Pavilion, the home of Strikeforce, and the backyard of Cormier and Melendez.

Those guys know the Shark Tank like Vin Scully knows Dodger Stadium.

These Strikeforce guys will headline a UFC on Fox  show, and probably spark huge ratings for the network. Let’s hope UFC can book some other Strikeforce stars, such as Josh Thomson, KJ Noons and Cung Le and Gegard Mousasi, on the show, and give Strikeforce the real sendoff that it deseved.