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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"There's a couple of things to weigh out with Strikeforce. Strikeforce is a great organization, and they've taken care of me really well. Everyone knows the UFC is the biggest organization out there, branding yourself and getting your name out there, it's no secret that they're the best. There wasn't much to weigh out. These agreements are structured for a champion not easily to walk away, but there was things to debate about with Strikeforce here and there.
But at the end of the day I came to the conclusion that it was a great deal on the table and they showed how much I mean to the organization. At the end of the day I'm pretty happy with my deal and yes I'm getting taken care of pretty well
I think it's important for me to dominate now. I really truly believe I'm the No. 1 fighter in the world, and the only way I'm going to get that spot is by dominating. I can't have these draws or get knocked down or almost lose, I need to completely dominate everyone out there. I think I'm ready to do that. I'm going to try to make a statement, and that's how I'm going to do it."
-Gilbert Melendez talks to MMAWeekly.com about why he re-signed with Strikeforce and what he plans to do to keep himself in the conversation as the best lightweight in the world.
Penick's Analysis: Melendez currently holds the mantle as the "best lightweight not in the UFC," (although Eddie Alvarez and Bellator might argue otherwise), but despite his belief that he's the best in the world he won't have an opportunity to prove that in Strikeforce. There are plenty of entertaining and exciting fights for him to have in Strikeforce and in Japan, and he should do just what he says he wants to in dominating most of them. But he's still not facing the best competition in the division. Not by a long shot, and though it's a cliche sometimes to be the best you do need to beat the best. That holds true very much in this lightweight division that is so stacked with talent, because the UFC's roster, especially at the top, is constantly being matched up against elite talent. Melendez is an elite level fighter, and he very well could beat some of the top guys in the UFC, but until he's facing that level of competition on a regular basis no one outside of his camp and Strikeforce is going to think of him as the #1 lightweight in the world.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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