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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Gilbert Melendez's re-signing with the UFC could be a major turning point for fighters in the future. Taking an offer from Bellator that UFC had the right to match allowed Melendez to get pay-per-view points at a lower starting rate than any other fighter, and gave him the opportunity to make a significant amount of money.
But Melendez isn't holding himself up as a major influence here, and feels he just did what he needed to do in order to provide get what he felt he deserved, and to provide for his family.
"I wasn't trying to start anything, just doing what I thought was best for my future," Melendez said in an interview with The Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I got fair market value and I'm very happy where I'm at. My goals aren't some sort of crusade, but I feel like I'm a great fighter and also a smart business man."
"I have a great team behind me and I knew what I was getting into. I knew I was on the last fight of my contract and I had a goal to perform well, get a nice raise and fight in the UFC together. It worked out for me."
Penick's Analysis: It worked out quite well for him, and though he doesn't see himself as the influence he might be, he's opened a door to fighters whose contracts come up for negotiation next. Those with leverage will be able to get more money out of the UFC because of this than they may have gotten prior to Melendez signing, and that's a good thing overall.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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