Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Predictions for Strikeforce "Melendez vs. Masvidal" main event - Ennis, Hyden, Perez, Hobaugh, Park, and Pelkey
Dec 17, 2011 - 4:05:21 PM ROUNDTABLE: Predictions for Strikeforce "Melendez vs. Masvidal" main event - Ennis, Hyden, Perez, Hobaugh, Park, and Pelkey

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Predict the outcome of the Strikeforce Lightweight Title bout between Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal

SHAWN ENNIS, MMATORCH COLUMNIST


Melendez wins big here. With the future of Strikeforce announced this week, let's hope whatever is coming down the road allows for Melendez to get a date in the UFC at some point before the prospect of it happening isn't as exciting.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR



I think Melendez is too good of a fighter for Masvidal, I think he's too well-rounded. My prediction is that Melendez gets a TKO in the third round. It should be a pretty good fight, though.


ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I see no chance of the championship changing hands, so predict Gilbert Melendez to submit Jorge Masvidal in the second.  Should be a good fight, but Melendez is just too good, and really, his real challenges await him in the UFC.


ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR




Gilbert Melendez will prove too much for  Jorge Masvidal.  Masvidal lost to Paul Daley in 2010 and Paul Daley was not even close to being one of the top ten fighters in the world. Melendez is a legit top five lightweight. His wrestling, Muay Thai and  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are some of the best in the game. Masvidal has a boxing background and his lack of skill in the other disciplines will hurt him in this fight.  One interesting thing  I heard on Inside MMA on HDNet Melendez saying in an interview that Masvidal has nothing to lose, and I agree completely.  This could be a great fight. It is possible Masvidal could pull off a huge upset like  Michael Chandler in his fight against huge favorite Eddie Alvarez, but it is not likely.  I think Melendez wins this by KO in the third round.


CHRIS PARK, MMATORCH UK SPECIALIST

Jorge Masvidal upset the odds when he defeated K J Noons and with that win is more than deserved of this shot at the Strikeforce title.

Melendez, on the other hand, is easily one of the best lightweights in the world, and in fact, my top three are:

1.Ben Henderson
2.Gil Melendez
3.Frankie Edgar

Melendez will be too much for Masvidal, although I think it will go deep into the fight, if not all the way to the judges.

Melendez via unanimous decision. @MMATorchUK


MATT PELKEY, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Melendez by TKO. I'm tempted to pick him by decision, as Masvidal is as tough as they come, but I thought the same about Tatsuya Kawajiri and Melendez went through him like a hot knife through butter. Melendez is better in every facet, and my only real concern for him is a lack of motivation. He wants, needs, and deserves to be fighting for the UFC lightweight title, so the wild card is whether or not that's been in the back of his mind throughout this training camp. Even if it has, I still think Melendez is good enough to sleep walk through this one and take three of the five rounds.