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Saturday, Jun 15, 2013

Opinion: Why Make Gilbert Melendez Fight Diego Sanchez?

UFC lightweight Gilbert Melendez

By Michael Hatamoto

In what is a rather confusing matchup announcement, Gilbert Melendez will fight Diego Sanchez in a main card fight sometime later in 2013, it has recently been confirmed.

I wish this fight would be featured on a free fight card, because there is no reason it should be on a pay-per-view card, nor do I think MMA fans would be in a big hurry to pay to see this fight.

Last month, Melendez was one of three fighters Sanchez called out, including Josh Thomson and Nate Diaz, hoping to make a fight happen for UFC 164 in Milwaukee. Instead, it looks like the fight will take place sometime this fall after it was confirmed Sanchez won’t fight on the late August card – with UFC 166 in Houston this October and Las Vegas hosting a fight card in November.

If Sanchez is barely able to scrape by against Takanori Gomi, then how is he going to beat Melendez, who is still considered one of the top lightweights? I just can’t see it happening and believe Melendez has the wrestling and submission defense to keep Sanchez from grinding him down – and El Nino’s boxing should prove to be just a tad bit too much for Sanchez.

I hope UFC President Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva decide to put Melendez against a top 10 lightweight, so he can try to fight his way back to a lightweight title shot.

posted by FCF Staff @ 3:06 pm
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