What were you doing in June 2005? UFC lightweight contender Gilbert Melendez was already a top ten fighter in MMA ten years ago today. During prefight hype sometimes fighters oversell their accomplishments but Melendez is actually 100% right with his claim of being a top ten fighter for ten years.
Insane.
According to historical ranking MMA site Fight Matrix, Melendez might have actually undersold his accomplishments. Ten years ago Melendez was widely considered an unbeaten top two ranked featherweight. In 2006, “El Nino” would move up to 155 pounds and the rest is MMA ranking stuff history.
At UFC 188, the MMA world gets a fight six years in the making. Look it up! Our MMA bodies have craved former Strikeforce 155 pound champ Melendez versus former Bellator 155 pound champ Eddie Alvarez for roughly 72 months. Be cool, the time is almost here for all of MMA to lay down with the sexy light weight co-promotional bout that is Melendez vs. Alvarez. We’re kind of nervous.
