Gilbert Melendez

By Joshua Molina

It’s all you, Gilbert.

Jake failed. Nate fell short. Nick fell flat.  The Cesar Gracie team is 0-3 in big UFC fights.

All three were capable of winning those fights, but fell short because of a breakdown in strategy and a lack of fire when it mattered. Gilbert Melendez is the last hope when he steps into the cage against Benson Henderson.

The great thing about Melendez is that he will do whatever he can to keep the fight out of the judges’ hands.

And he will fight. And he’s smart. And he’s fearless.

Melendez isn’t as fast as Henderson, or as technically skilled. He is, however, gutsy and a powerful puncher.

The Gracie team has failed in big-match opportunities.

Melendez has the legacy of the underwhelming Diaz brothers and Shields’ performance in his hands.

. . . Georges St-Pierre is beatable. So beatable. And Johny Hendricks is likely the man to do it.

GSP looked old and tired in rounds three, four and five and had Diaz fought hard to win, he might have come out on top.

In both the Carlos Condit and Diaz fight, GSP’s eyes looked momentarily dazed.

Both fighters left him off the hook.

GSP is at a serious crossroads. He’s a great fighter, but he’s having trouble finishing fights. He’s probably over-training.

There’s no doubt that GSP is in  good shape, but these days he resembles more of a well-conditioned athlete than a fighter willing to win at all costs.