Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Can Jorge Masvidal derail Gilbert Melendez's UFC Title hopes? Hansen, Hyden, Hobaugh, Amadi, and Penick
Oct 22, 2011 - 5:15:21 PM ROUNDTABLE: Can Jorge Masvidal derail Gilbert Melendez's UFC Title hopes? Hansen, Hyden, Hobaugh, Amadi, and Penick

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How will Jorge Masvidal fare against Gilbert Melendez? Do you believe he can derail Melendez's UFC title aspirations?

RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Look, I like Jorge Masvidal, and I've been a fan since he fought valiantly against Paul Daley. But come on, man. Melendez is gonna smash him like a bug.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I don't think Masvidal can beat Melendez. I just think Melendez has too many tools in the chest and he'll find a way to win. Masvidal is a good opponent, but Melendez is too well-rounded for him. 


ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I feel Gilbert Melendez is the best lightweight fighter in the world.  I do not think Jorge Masvidal will do anything to stop Melendez's quest to fight for the UFC lightweight belt.  I think Melendez submits Masvidal in the first or second round.  I also think Melendez will be too much for Frankie Edgar.


JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
 
I'm not ready to make a firm prediction on this fight yet, but I definitely see a lot of similarities between this fight and a lot of other lightweight fights we've seen this year. Just like with Guillard vs. Lauzon, Sotiropoulos vs. Siver, and Miller vs. Henderson, we have someone already in mind for a UFC title fight, but he still has to get by a dangerous opponent with the skills to derail him.
 
Jorge Masvidal is an excellent fighter, but tends not to fight up to his potential in certain bouts. But the fact is, everything Masvidal has ever dreamed of is right in front of him. A win over Melendez makes him an instant player at 155 pounds, it gets him top 10 status, and it gets him into the UFC title contention.
 
We're going to see the very best version of an incredibly talented fighter when Masvidal squares off against Melendez this December. I'm still leaning towards Melendez, but Masvidal has everything to win, nothing to lose, and a world class skill set at his disposal. This could all go very wrong for Melendez very quickly.


JAMIE PENICK, MMATORCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Melendez absolutely should defeat Masvidal in this fight. He's the more experienced, more accomplished fighter and he's been destroying opponents in the Strikeforce cage. However, Masvidal looked fantastic in his last fight with K.J. Noons, and this is a potential "trap" fight for Melendez if he takes Masvidal lightly in any sense.

After seeing numerous fighters in this division alone in the past year losing in fights they were heavily favored in, it would be ridiculous to believe that can't happen here as well. With that said, I really think Melendez understands what could happen should he lose this fight, and he knows what challenges Masvidal presents to him. I don't think he's going to let himself fall short before getting to the UFC.