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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez has won six straight fights following his five round win against Jorge Masvidal last weekend, and that continued success leaves Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker with the belief that Melendez is the best fighter at 155 lbs.
"I believe he is the No. 1 lightweight in the world," Coker said in an interview with MMAWeekly.com.
Melendez still doesn't have the option to prove his standing against the top fighters in the UFC, but Coker favors Melendez in a fight with current UFC Champ Frankie Edgar.
"Listen, styles make fights, and I'm really looking at Frankie Edgar and Gilbert, that match-up as to who would win that fight and how that fight would look," Coker said. "Ben Henderson, Cowboy Cerrone, all those guys are extremely talented, but like I said styles make fights. I think Gilbert and Frankie would be a great fight, but I think Gilbert would come out on top."
Penick's Analysis: Of course Coker still believes his fighter is the best, but it's simply something Melendez won't rightfully claim until he actually fights the best. Defeating the likes of Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Jorge Masvidal as one-sidedly as he has in his last three fights is no small feat, but again, he's not in the Octagon defeating the top of the heap on a regular basis the way his contemporaries have. Melendez will not be at the top for as long as he's in Strikeforce, and until he is in the Octagon that's simply the way it's going to be seen.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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